Valve assembly

Claim 1

Valve assembly for use within a flow path for permitting relatively free flow in said flow path in a first direction and for preventing flow in said path in a second, opposite direction, comprising: a flow regulator constructed as a single piece from a resilient material, said regulator including a pair of lips, each of said lips having a lip base and an outer end; said lips being arranged in a converging relationship to define for said regulator an open end adjacent said lip bases, and a normally closed end at said lip outer ends whereat said lips are disposed adjacent each other to define a normaly closed slit therebetween, said regulator further including at least one side wall interconnecting said lips and an annular flange extending outwardly at said open end; a housing outlet portion defining a housing interior approximating the shape of said regulator, said housing interior having a pair of planar surfaces corresponding to said pair of lips, each of said planar surfaces having a planar surface base, said surfaces being arranged in a converging relationship from said planar surface bases toward an outlet end, said housing outlet portion further including an outlet port communicating with said outlet end and an annular collar disposed outwardly adjacent said planar surface bases; and a housing inlet portion having a cover plate and an inlet port communicating therethrough; said regulator being disposed within said housing outlet portion with said annular flange contained within said annular collar and said lip outer ends extending toward said outlet end of said housing interior, and with said lips being substantially adjacent to but not in contact with said planar surfaces; said regulator further including a tab formed on at least one of said lips and extending outwardly therefrom near said lip base; said housing outlet portion further including a recess formed within at least one of said planar surfaces for receiving said tab therein when said regulator is properly positioned within said outlet portion, and further including at least one first notch defined within said collar whereby said notcn may be engaged for proper orientation of said outlet portion for receiving said regulator; and said cover plate being attached to said annular collar for securing said regulator by contact with said flange and for sealing said housing interior.