Suction canister system

Claim 2

A suction cannister system comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein and further having an inside and an outside; a cover for the container for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside, the port wall also including a first side external to the passageway, a second side within the passageway and a surface which defines a passageway from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall; and a connector for connecting the port to a tube, the connector including a first portion adapted to be placed over the port and engage the side of the port external to the passageway.

Claim 3

The suction cannister system of claim 1 wherein the port rim defines the surface such that a fluid such as air is allowed to pass below the rim and from the first to the second sides of the port wall.

Claim 4

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein and further having an inside and an outside; a cover for the container for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; and a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside, the port wall also including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and wherein the port wall includes three notches substantially equally spaced around the rim which define passageways from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall.

Claim 5

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein and further having an inside and an outside; a cover for the container for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; and a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside, the port wall also including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and wherein the port wall includes three notches substantially equally spaced around the rim which define passageways from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall.

Claim 6

The suction cannister of claim 3 wherein the notches are rounded.

Claim 7

The suction cannister of claim 4 wherein each notch includes oppositely facing rounded sides connected by a relatively flat surface at the bottom of the respective notch.

Claim 8

The suction cannister of claim 5 wherein each notch is connected to an adjacent notch by a flat rim surface extending from a respective rounded side of one notch to a rounded side of an adjacent notch.

Claim 9

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port in said cover, said port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having an interior side defining a passageway, an exterior side and a top rim, said top rim defining a gap through said port wall; and a connector for connecting the port to a tube, the connector including a first portion adapted to be placed over the port and engage the exterior side.

Claim 10

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port in said cover, said port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having an interior side defining a passageway, an exterior side and a top rim, said top rim defining a gap through said port wall; and a connector for connecting the port to a tube, the connector including a first portion adapted to be placed over the port and engage the exterior side.

Claim 11

The suction fluid collection system of claim 7 wherein said gap is sufficiently large as to allow air to pass therethrough when an air pressure differential is applied across said gap.

Claim 12

The suction fluid collection system of claim 8 wherein the gap is sufficiently large to prevent a flapper valve biased away from the top rim from being sucked against the top rim.

Claim 13

The fluid collection system of claim 7 wherein said top rim is rounded.

Claim 14

The suction fluid collection system of claim 7 wherein the gap is defined by a rounded wall.

Claim 15

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port on said reservoir, said port including a port wall having an inside face defining a passageway and an outside face, said port wall having a passage from said inside face to said outside face; and a connector for connecting the port to a tube, the connector including a first portion adapted to be placed over the port and engage the outside face.

Claim 16

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port on said reservoir, said port including a port wall having an inside face defining a passageway and an outside face, said port wall having a passage from said inside face to said outside face; and a connector for connecting the port to a tube, the connector including a first portion adapted to be placed over the port and engage the outside face.

Claim 17

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; and a port in said cover, said port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having a top rim, said top rim defining a plurality of gaps defined by a rounded wall, each gap including oppositely facing sides having upper portions that are rounded and wherein the sides of a respective gap are connected by a flat surface at the bottom of the gap.

Claim 18

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; and a port in said cover, said port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having a top rim, said top rim defining a plurality of gaps defined by a rounded wall, each gap including oppositely facing sides having upper portions that are rounded and wherein the sides of a respective gap are connected by a flat surface at the bottom of the gap.

Claim 19

The suction fluid collection system of claim 13 wherein each gap is connected to an adjacent gap by a flat rim surface extending from a respective rounded side of one gap to a rounded side of an adjacent gap.

Claim 20

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a first port in said cover, said first port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having a top rim, said top rim defining a gap through said port wall; a second port in the cover; a tube extending from the second port; a connector for connecting the tube to a first port in a second fluid collection reservoir while in a position of full engagement, the connector including: a first portion defining a first opening for engaging the first port in the second fluid collection reservoir; a second portion for engaging the tube; and a sealing member in the connector configured to seal the first opening when the connector is completely disengaged from the first port, and to move away from the first opening when the connector is at least partially engaged with the first port.

Claim 21

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for said reservoir; a first port in said cover, said first port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having a top rim, said top rim defining a gap through said port wall; a second port in the cover; a tube extending from the second port; a connector for connecting the tube to a first port in a second fluid collection reservoir while in a position of full engagement, the connector including: a first portion defining a first opening for engaging the first port in the second fluid collection reservoir; a second portion for engaging the tube; and a sealing member in the connector configured to seal the first opening when the connector is completely disengaged from the first port, and to move away from the first opening when the connector is at least partially engaged with the first port.

Claim 22

The suction fluid collection system of claim 15 wherein the connector further includes a wiper valve for reducing any loss of fluid when the connector is disengaged from the first port of the second fluid collection reservoir.

Claim 23

The suction fluid collection system of claim 15 wherein the sealing member is a flapper valve.

Claim 24

The suction fluid collection system of claim 17 wherein the first portion of the connector has a wall defining the first opening which accepts the first port and wherein the flapper valve is adjacent the wall.

Claim 25

The suction fluid collection system of claim 17 wherein the flapper valve includes a flat surface facing outwardly of the connector and wherein the top rim of the port includes at least one substantially flat surface for engaging the flat surface on the flapper valve to open the flapper valve when the connector is at least partially engaged with the port.

Claim 26

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein and further having an inside and an outside; a cover for the container for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside, the port wall also including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and a surface which defines a passageway from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall, the surface being in spaced relation to and distinct from the port rim.

Claim 27

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein and further having an inside and an outside; a cover for the container for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside, the port wall also including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and a surface which defines a passageway from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall, the surface being in spaced relation to and distinct from the port rim.

Claim 28

A suction fluid collection system comprising: first and second fluid collection reservoirs; a port on the second reservoir, the port having a wall including an interior face defining a passageway, an exterior face and a gap extending from the interior face to the exterior face located and configured such that a substantially planar surface is incapable of simultaneously blocking both the passageway and the gap; and a fluid conduit engaged with both the first reservoir and the port on the second reservoir for establishing fluid communication therebetween, the fluid conduit including: a closeable valve in the fluid conduit, wherein the closeable valve is held open when the fluid conduit is fully engaged with the port on the second reservoir; and a wiper valve for substantially preventing loss of fluid upon disconnection of the fluid conduit.

Claim 29

A suction fluid collection system comprising: first and second fluid collection reservoirs; a port on the second reservoir, the port having a wall including an interior face defining a passageway, an exterior face and a gap extending from the interior face to the exterior face located and configured such that a substantially planar surface is incapable of simultaneously blocking both the passageway and the gap; and a fluid conduit engaged with both the first reservoir and the port on the second reservoir for establishing fluid communication therebetween, the fluid conduit including: a closeable valve in the fluid conduit, wherein the closeable valve is held open when the fluid conduit is fully engaged with the port on the second reservoir; and a wiper valve for substantially preventing loss of fluid upon disconnection of the fluid conduit.

Claim 30

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein, an inside and an outside; a container cover for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; and a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside of the container, the port wall including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and the rim including at least one surface which defines a passageway from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall, the at least one surface defining a first width at an open longitudinal end and a second width at a closed longitudinal end, the first width being substantially greater than the second width.

Claim 31

A suction cannister comprising: a container for receiving fluids having a wall defining an opening therein, an inside and an outside; a container cover for sealing the opening in the container; a suction port associated with at least one of the container and the cover; and a port in at least one of the container and the cover for providing a passageway between the inside of the container and the outside of the container, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally to a port rim defining a port opening for providing the passageway between the inside and the outside of the container, the port wall including a first side external to the passageway and a second side within the passageway and the rim including at least one surface which defines a passageway from the first side of the port wall to the second side of the port wall, the at least one surface defining a first width at an open longitudinal end and a second width at a closed longitudinal end, the first width being substantially greater than the second width.

Claim 32

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for the reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port in the cover, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having an interior side defining a passageway and an exterior side and; means for providing a fluid passage from the exterior side of the port to the interior side of the port when a connector is placed over the port and engages the exterior side.

Claim 33

A suction fluid collection system comprising: a fluid collection reservoir; a cover for the reservoir; a suction port associated with at least one of the reservoir and the cover; a port in the cover, the port including a port wall extending longitudinally from the cover and having an interior side defining a passageway and an exterior side and; means for providing a fluid passage from the exterior side of the port to the interior side of the port when a connector is placed over the port and engages the exterior side.