Filtertek Inc.

Rick R Ruschke

Edward Kandel

Brian J Franzene

Ralph L Davis

Michael H Leason

A normally open check valve, incorporating a bell-shaped check valve member, and filter assembly incorporating same, wherein the specific gravity of the bell shaped member volume as defined by the throat, and exterior wall of the bell shaped member is less than one, and the bell shaped member is disposed adjacent a valve seat in a chamber with the throat opening thereof generally facing a liquid source, among other things. The low specific gravity for the bell shaped member volume may be attained by way of example, by the bell shaped member interior capturing and retaining a gas bubble when the throat of the member is exposed to a liquid-gas interface, or by a thin member covering the throat of the bell shaped member to encapsulate a gas bubble, or by a foamed synthetic resin material in the interior of the bell shaped member, or a combination thereof.

Check valve and filter assembly incorporating such valve, especially for water cooler assemblies

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

A process for the manufacture of hermetically sealed filter units and a product made thereby. The process comprises aligning a porous filter element between two housing parts and a thermoplastic skirt that overlaps the edge of at least one housing part to shield the edge of the filter element disposed adjacent to the skirt, pressing the housing parts together and then injection molding a thermoplastic overmold band around the outer portions of the housing parts to form a hermetic seal at the edge of the filter element.

Process for making hermetically sealed filter units

Process for making hermetically sealed filter units and filters made

A needleless access device and method of using the device is disclosed. The needleless access device has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a channel formed therethrough. Movably friction fitted in the channel adjacent the inlet opening is a piston. The piston is biased upwardly by a stretchable element. The stretchable element allows the top of the piston to be depressed by a syringe to a level adjacent internal flow channels to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.

Growing community of inventors

Woodstock, IL, United States of America

Rick R Ruschke