The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1992
Gordon E Atkinson, Cedarville, OH (US);
James R Kunce, Springfield, OH (US);
James C Bailey, Yellow Springs, OH (US);
Vernay Laboratories, Inc., Yellow Springs, OH (US);
Abstract
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.