초록 ▼

A port closure system (20) including a retention structure (22), and a valve (24). The retention structure (22) includes a port (28) for establishing communication between an exterior environment (30) and interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance. The valve (24) includes a flexible, r

A port closure system (20) including a retention structure (22), and a valve (24). The retention structure (22) includes a port (28) for establishing communication between an exterior environment (30) and interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance. The valve (24) includes a flexible, resilient, self-closing, slit-type valve head (36) with an orifice that is normally closed in an unconstrained condition. The port (28) has a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34) and the valve has a laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) that is compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the surface (34) to increase the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening when the head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential. The system (20) further includes an annular flange (62) located to extend over at least a portion of an exterior side (38) of the valve head (36) to limit movement of the valve head (36) towards the exterior environment (30).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A port closure system (20), said system comprising: a port (28) to establish communication between an interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance and an exterior environment (30), the port (28) having a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34);a valve (24) including a flexible

1. A port closure system (20), said system comprising: a port (28) to establish communication between an interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance and an exterior environment (30), the port (28) having a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34);a valve (24) including a flexible, resilient head (36) extending across the port (28), the head (36) having: an interior side (40) facing the interior volume (32);an exterior side (38) facing the exterior environment (30);at least one self-sealing slit (50) through the head (36);confronting, openable portions (51) along the slit (50) to define a normally closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions (51) can move in a first direction toward the interior volume (32) to an open orifice configuration and in a second direction toward the exterior environment (30) to an open orifice configuration; anda laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the engaging surface (34) to thereby impose a closing force on said self-sealing slit (50) to increase the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening in at least the second direction when the valve head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head (36); andan annular flange (62) located to extend over at least a portion the exterior side (38) of said valve head (36) to limit movement of the openable portions (51) in the second direction. 2. The system (20) of claim 1 wherein the interior side (40) is defined by an arcuate, convex surface (44). 3. The system (20) of claim 1 wherein the exterior side (38) is defined by an arcuate, concave surface (38). 4. The system (20) of claim 3 wherein the concave surface (38) is semi spherical. 5. The system (20) of claim 1 wherein the at least one self-sealing slit (50) comprises two self-sealing slits (50) extending transverse to each other. 6. The system (20) of claim 1 wherein the engaging surface (34) is a cylindrical surface with a diameter D and the laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) has a maximum diameter (56) adjacent the interior side (40) that in the unconstrained condition is greater than the diameter D. 7. The system (20) of claim 6 wherein the laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) is a frusto-conical surface in the unconstrained condition. 8. The system (20) of claim 1 further comprising a seat (80) and wherein the valve (24) further comprises a peripheral attachment portion (60) engaged in said seat (80). 9. The system (20) of claim 8 further comprising a retention structure (22) located to clamp the peripheral attachment portion (60) between the retention structure (22) and the seat (80), and wherein the port (28) is located within the retention structure (22). 10. The system (20) of claim 9 further comprising a one-piece housing (26) defining said seat (80) and said annular flange (62). 11. The system (20) of claim 10 where said retention structure (22) is permanently fixed within said housing (26). 12. The system (20) of claim 8 wherein said valve (24) further includes a flexible, resilient, intermediate portion (59) extending from said peripheral attachment portion (60) to said head (36), the intermediate portion (59) having an arcuate shaped exterior surface (66) facing the exterior environment (30), and the annular flange (62) having a surface (64) overlying the exterior surface (66) and shaped to conform to the arcuate shape of the exterior surface (66) of the intermediate portion (59). 13. The system (20) of claim 12 wherein the exterior surface (66) of the intermediate portion (59) is convex and the overlying surface (64) of the annular flange (62) has a conforming concave shape. 14. The system (20) of claim 1 wherein said annular flange (62) has an arcuate configuration in transverse cross section. 15. The system (20) in accordance with claim 1 wherein a flow of said fluent substance is provided via a probe (52) that selectively penetrates said valve head (36), and said annular flange (62) includes a probe directing surface (68) sloped toward said valve head (36) as said probe directing surface (68) extends laterally inwardly.