Fluid delivery valve system and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the valve assembly comprising:
- an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, said upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough;
a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein said base is designed to be matingly coupled to said upper member;
a stem member designed and dimensioned to be disposed in part within said base fluid channel, said stem member having an actuation portion and having a top portion having a lower surface; and
a sealing member integrally formed with said upper member and disposed in said base fluid channel, said sealing member having a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface, said sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate sealing of said flow apertures when said sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of said stem member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of forming a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal can include forming, in an injection molding machine, an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member. The upper member has a fluid channel defined therethrough; and forms, in an injection molding machine, a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough. The base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The method can further include forming, in an injection molding machine, a stem member designed and dimensioned to be disposed in part within the base fluid channel. The stem member has an actuation portion extending through a spring element. The stem member has a top portion having a lower surface.
49 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the valve assembly comprising:
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an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, said upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein said base is designed to be matingly coupled to said upper member; a stem member designed and dimensioned to be disposed in part within said base fluid channel, said stem member having an actuation portion and having a top portion having a lower surface; and a sealing member integrally formed with said upper member and disposed in said base fluid channel, said sealing member having a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface, said sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate sealing of said flow apertures when said sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of said stem member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A valve assembly comprising:
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an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, said upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein said base is designed to be matingly coupled to said upper member; a stem member designed and dimensioned to be disposed in part within said base fluid channel, said stem member having an actuation portion and having a top portion having a lower surface; a sealing member integrally formed with said upper member and disposed in said base fluid channel, said sealing member having a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface, said sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate sealing of said flow apertures when said sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of said stem member; and a spring element disposed within said base fluid channel; wherein a portion of said spring element abuts said lower surface to apply a biasing force to said stem member.
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23. A valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the valve assembly comprising:
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an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, said upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein said base is designed to be matingly coupled to said upper member; a stem member designed and dimensioned to be disposed in part within said base fluid channel, said stem member having an actuation portion and having a top portion having a lower surface; and a spring element disposed within said base fluid channel; wherein a portion of said spring element abuts said lower surface to apply a biasing force to said stem member, and said spring element comprises at least one group of dead coils, thereby facilitating prevention of a tangling of a plurality of spring members when said spring members are arranged during the assembly process. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification