Vernay Laboratories, Inc.

James R Kunce

Gordon E Atkinson

Dennis A Boehmer

James C Bailey

David O Werbil

A dual valve assembly for use with a dispensing apparatus including a pump and a plurality of fluid containers. The valve assembly includes a housing containing an elastomeric regulator wherein the regulator includes a diaphragm portion for controlling fluid flow through the housing, and a vent valve structure for opening and closing air passages to supply air to the containers. The diaphragm portion includes an orifice, and the diaphragm portion is movable into and out of contact with a seat defined on the housing to control fluid flow from the containers and through the orifice during actuation of the pump. In addition, the vent valve structure includes a pair of vent membranes which open vent openings to the containers in response to negative pressure applied from the pump.

Dual dispensing valve assembly

A non-stick treated valve including a pair of cooperating elastomeric surfaces positioned to engage each other to control fluid flow through the valve. A non-stick coating is applied to the cooperating surfaces to facilitate separation of the surfaces from each other during opening of the valve. The non-stick coating is in the form of an oily substance such as a fluid lubricant for forming a fluid film coating on the cooperating surfaces. In addition, the coating material is formed of a material which is dissimilar from the material forming the cooperating surfaces.

Non-stick treatment for elastomeric slit valves

A miniature valve is provided for use in a medical administration set wherein the valve is designed to be fit into very small areas while operating with performance characteristics comparable to those provided by larger valves. The valve is formed as a duckbill valve having very thin substantially planar lips extending in converging relationship to each other. A slit is defined by the lips at an outlet end of the valve wherein the slit is movable to an open position as the lips pivot about a pivot point located on the lips in spaced relation to the outlet end. A support structure in the form of a sleeve is provided for ensuring that the contact surfaces remain in alignment with each other during operation of the valve and to prevent the thin, delicate lips from inverting when a large back pressure force is applied and for improving the inherent sealing characteristics of duckbill valves. In addition, a thin area is provided adjacent to the inlet end of the valve for decoupling the lips from forces which are applied to the valve at the inlet end which could tend to bias the lips apart.

Growing community of inventors

Springfield, OH, United States of America

James R Kunce