Valve assembly

Claim 2

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, including: a housing (40) having first and second ports (48, 68) and defining a housing interior having an interior surface; a flow regulator (52) constructed as a single piece from a resilient material, said regulator including a pair of lips (54) arranged in a converging relationship to define for said regulator (52) an open end and a normally closed end whereat said lips (54) are disposed adjacent each other to define a normally closed slit (56) therebetween and to define inner and outer surfaces for said lips, said regulator (52) further including at least one side wall (58) interconnecting said lips (54); means (46, 62) for securing said regulator (52) within said housing inter.ior with said normally closed end toward said second port (68) and said open end toward said first port (48); and means (46, 62) for forming a seal between said open end of said regulator (52) and said housing interior so that flow in said first direction is from said first port (48), through said open end, through said normally closed end and to said second port (68); characterized in that: said housing interior defines a shape such that said regulator (52) is secured therein by said securing means (46, 62) with said outer surface of each of said lips (54) being substantially adjacent to said housing interior surface (76).

Claim 3

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said regulator securing means and said seal means include an outward flange (62) formed about said open end of said regulator (52), and wherein said housing (40) includes a body portion (42) and an inlet cap member (44) mounted thereto, said cap member (44) having inner and outer surfaces and having said first port (48) defined therethrough, said body portion (42) and said cap member (44) cooperating to define an annular groove (64) therebetween about said interior surface of said housing (40), said flange (62) being fitted within said groove (64).

Claim 4

A valve assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap member (44) is formed so that said inner surface thereof is disposed adjacent said open end of said regulator (52), whereby flow from said first port (48) passes directly through said open end.

Claim 5

A valve assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap member (44) is formed so that said inner surface thereof is disposed adjacent said open end of said regulator (52), said cap member including a projection (47) carried on said inner surface thereof and extending througn said open end of said regulator (52), said first port (48) being further defined through said projection (47), whereby flow from said first port (48) emerges directly into said regulator (52).

Claim 6

A valve assembly as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said housing (40) includes a body portion (42) and an outlet cap member (66) mounted thereto, said cap member (66) having inner and outer surfaces and having said second port (68) defined therethrough, and wherein said cap member (66) includes a projection (72) carried on said inner surface within said body portion (42) and having a distal end forming a portion of said interior surface of said housing, said projection having a V-shaped notch defined therein with the opening of said second port (68) defined at the case (78) of said notch, said lips (54) of said regulator (52) being disposed within said notch whereby said outer surface of each of said lips (52) are thereby adjacent to said housing interior surface (76).

Claim 7

A valve assembly as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further including a Y-injection site (94) having a pair of inlet conduits (92) and an outlet conduit, one of said inlet conduits (92) defining said second port (68) of said housing (40).

Claim 8

Valve assembly for use within a flow path for permitting relatively free flow in a first direction and for preventing flow in said path in a second, opposite direction, including: a housing (40) having first and second ports (48, 68) and defining a housing interior having an interior surface; a flow regulator (52) constructed as a single piece from a resilient material, said regulator including a pair of lips (54) arranged in a converging relationship to define for said regulator (52) an open end and a normally closed end whereat said lips (54) are disposed adjacent each other to define a normally closed slit (56) therebetween, said regulator (52) further including at least one side wall (58) interconnecting said lips (54), said lips (54) and said side wall (58) defining inner and outer surfaces for said regulator; means (46, 62) for securing said regulator (52) within said housing interior with said normally closed end toward said second port (68) and said open end toward said first port (48); and means (46, 62) for forming a seal between said open end of said regulator and said housing interior so that flow in said first direction (52) is from said first port (48), through said open end, through said normally closed end, and to said second port (68); characterized in that: said housing interior defines a shape and size substantially identical to the shape and size of said outer surface of said regulator (52) such that said regulator (52) is secured within said housing (40) with said outer surface of said regulator (52) adjacent said interior surface of said housing (40).

Claim 9

Valve assembly for use within a flow path for permitting relatively free flow in a first direction and for preventing flow in said path in a second, opposite direction, including: a housing (40) having first and second ports (48, 68) and defining a housing interior having an interior surface; a flow regulator (52) constructed as a single piece from a resilient material, said regulator including a pair of lips (54) arranged in a converging relationship to define for said regulator (52) an open end and a normally closed end whereat said lips (54) are disposed adjacent each other to define a normally closed slit (56) therebetween, said regulator (52) further including at least one side wall (58) interconnecting said lips (54), said lips (54) and said side wall (58) defining inner and outer surfaces for said regulator; means (46, 62) for securing said regulator (52) within said housing interior with said normally closed end toward said second port (68) and said open end toward said first port (48); and means (46, 62) for forming a seal between said open end of said regulator and said housing interior so that flow in said first direction (52) is from said first port (48), through said open end, through said normally closed end, and to said second port (68); characterized in that: said housing interior defines a shape and size substantially identical to the shape and size of said outer surface of said regulator (52) such that said regulator (52) is secured within said housing (40) with said outer surface of said regulator (52) adjacent said interior surface of said housing (40).

Claim 10

A valve assembly including a duck-bill type regulator (52) having an open end and a normally closed end defined by a pair of converging lips (54), said regulator (52) being secured within a housing (40) having an inlet port (48) and an outlet port (68) enclosing said regulator (52) with said inlet port (48) communicating with said open end of said regulator (52) and said normally closed end of said regulator (52) communicating with said outlet port (68), characterized by: said housing (40) having interior surfaces defining a housing interior; and said interior surfaces conforming closely to the outer surfaces of said regulator (52) to substantially reduce the accumulation of air therebetween and facilitate clearance of air therefrom.

Claim 11

A valve assembly including a duck-bill type regulator (52) having an open end and a normally closed end defined by a pair of converging lips (54), said regulator (52) being secured within a housing (40) having an inlet port (48) and an outlet port (68) enclosing said regulator (52) with said inlet port (48) communicating with said open end of said regulator (52) and said normally closed end of said regulator (52) communicating with said outlet port (68), characterized by: said housing (40) having interior surfaces defining a housing interior; and said interior surfaces conforming closely to the outer surfaces of said regulator (52) to substantially reduce the accumulation of air therebetween and facilitate clearance of air therefrom.