Filtertek Inc.

Edward Kandel

Ronald J Kay

Michael Leonhard

Ricky R Ruschke

Jan W M Mijers

Rick R Ruschke

John A Leahey

Mark A Kinsley

Jan W Mijers

Brian J Franzene

Michael G Leonhard

A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is in the inlet channel and an open position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing. The piston section, biasing section and outlet section are connected together such that they can be handled as one piece when assembled with the housing to make the needlefree access device. The access device can be configured as a Y-site access device, or used on other devices such as an IV bag. A check valve made by a two shot molding process is also disclosed.

Fluid handling device and method of making same

A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing.

A method of making a head for a semisolid product dispenser, such as a gel deodorant dispenser, comprises the steps of: providing a piece of porous media having a desired shape with a perimeter and openings through the media in the area inside of the perimeter, compressing at least the portion of the media inside of the perimeter between two parts of a hard tool so as to crush the media, thereby reducing the size of the openings, and affixing the porous media to a head frame to form the semisolid product dispenser head. Preferably the porous media is affixed to the head frame by an insert injection molding process, and the media is crushed in the same mold tool as is used to mold the head frame. A preferred porous media is made of two layers of extruded strands of polymer, where the strands in one layer are generally parallel to one another but are non-parallel to the strands in the adjoining layer, the strands are bonded at crossover points between the layers and have openings defined by spaces between the strands in one layer superimposed over spaces between strands in the adjoining layer. Preferably the head of the semisolid product dispenser is made by ultrasonically welding the head frame to a transfer member using a combination of double shear and energy-directing ultrasonic weld joints, coupled with a positive stop.

Semisolid product dispensing head

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McHenry, IL, United States of America

Edward Kandel