Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second direction comprising: a housing having an upper section and a longitudinal axis therethrough, said upper section having diverging walls; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said upper section having two sealing members generally equally spaced and diverging generally downwardly and away from said longitudinal axis for substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls of said upper section; and a lower section adapted to mate with said upper section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second direction comprising: a housing having an upper section and a longitudinal axis therethrough, said upper section having diverging walls; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said upper section having two sealing members generally equally spaced and diverging generally downwardly and away from said longitudinal axis for substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls of said upper section; and a lower section adapted to mate with said upper section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A check valve of claim 1 wherein said upper section of said housing includes a fluid inlet port having means for connecting said valve to a suitable fluid supply.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A check valve of claim 1 wherein said lower section includes means for connecting said valve to a suitable fluid receiving line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A check valve of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric valve member includes an apex adapted for enduring repeated flexure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A check valve of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of radiation sterilizable plastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A check valve of claim 1 wherein said valve member is formed of radiation sterilizable elastomeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A check valve of claim 6 wherein said valve housing includes an inlet port and a ring section coaxially located about said longitudinal axis for mating with said outlet port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having a longitudinal axis and diverging walls generally equally spaced about said longitudinal axis; a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said housing; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said valve housing having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, said valve member including two diverging sealing members generally equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and forming an acute angle with said longitudinal axis for providing substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls; and a lower section having an outlet port and adapted to mate with said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having a longitudinal axis and diverging walls generally equally spaced about said longitudinal axis; a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said housing; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said valve housing having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, said valve member including two diverging sealing members generally equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and forming an acute angle with said longitudinal axis for providing substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls; and a lower section having an outlet port and adapted to mate with said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein differential fluid pressure in said housing tending to produce fluid flow in the first direction through said valve will deflect said sealing members inwardly out of contact with said diverging walls allowing substantially unrestricted fluid flow through the valve, and wherein differential fluid pressure in said housing tending to produce a second generally opposite flow through the valve will deflect said sealing members outwardly into contact with said diverging walls preventing said generally opposite flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein said flow regulator and valve support is adapted for supporting said valve member and for regulating flow out of the valve to ensure steady turbulent free fluid flow into a fluid receiving line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein said valve housing is formed of radiation sterilizable plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein said valve member are formed of radiation sterilizable elastomeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein the valve is sufficiently narrow to naturally purge air using capillary attraction of the fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A check valve of claim 8 wherein said apex is adapted for enduring repeated flexure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having a longitudinal axis and diverging walls equally spaced about said longitudinal axis: a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said housing; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said valve housing having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, said valve member including two diverging sealing members equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and providing substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls; and a lower section having an outlet port and adapted to mate with said housing; wherein said sealing members are generally rectangular shaped.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having a longitudinal axis and diverging walls equally spaced about said longitudinal axis: a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said housing; an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said valve housing having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, said valve member including two diverging sealing members equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and providing substantially linear sealing contact with said diverging walls; and a lower section having an outlet port and adapted to mate with said housing; wherein said sealing members are generally rectangular shaped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having an upper section, a lower section, and a longitudinal axis therethrough, said upper section including an inlet end and a pair of walls generally equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and arranged in a diverging relationship away from said inlet end, wherein said diverging walls each comprising an inner surface having an outer perimeter and a concave surface extending inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said upper section further comprising generally oppositely facing walls, generally equally spaced and parallel to said longitudinal axis and generally perpendicular to said diverging walls; a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said upper section; and an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said upper section having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, and two mutually diverging, sealing members equally spaced from said longitudinal axis for substantially linear sealing contact with said outer perimeter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
178 words
A check valve allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second generally opposite direction comprising: a valve housing having an upper section, a lower section, and a longitudinal axis therethrough, said upper section including an inlet end and a pair of walls generally equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and arranged in a diverging relationship away from said inlet end, wherein said diverging walls each comprising an inner surface having an outer perimeter and a concave surface extending inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said upper section further comprising generally oppositely facing walls, generally equally spaced and parallel to said longitudinal axis and generally perpendicular to said diverging walls; a flow regulator and valve support disposed longitudinally within said upper section; and an elastomeric valve member disposed longitudinally within said upper section having an apex cooperating with said flow regulator and valve support to position and support said valve member, and two mutually diverging, sealing members equally spaced from said longitudinal axis for substantially linear sealing contact with said outer perimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A check valve of claim 16 wherein said lower section includes an outlet port and is adapted to mate with said upper section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A check valve of 16 wherein said sealing members are generally rectangularly shaped.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A check valve of 16 wherein said sealing members are generally rectangularly shaped.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A check valve of claim 16 wherein said apex is adapted for enduring repeated flexure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A check valve of claim 16 wherein said valve housing is formed of radiation sterilizable plastic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A check valve of claim 16 wherein said valve housing is formed of radiation sterilizable clear plastic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A check valve of claim 16 wherein said valve member is formed of radiation sterilizable elastomeric material.