Abstract: A male reflux valve comprising a distal body portion and a proximal body portion, the proximal body portion having a male connection for connection to a female connection of an access device, a valve element operatively positioned within the distal body portion, a core operatively positioned within the distal body portion to retain the valve element into sealing engagement with the distal body portion and an actuator reciprocably retained within a generally circular cylindrical longitudinal bore of the proximal body portion in engagement with the valve element to open the valve element when engaged by the female connection of the access device.

Abstract: A swabable valve having a collapsible valve stem with a concave curvilinear upper surface extending from rim-to-rim of the valve stem, the concave curvilinear upper surface comprising a radius that is sufficient to prevent the collapsed valve stem from becoming lodged within the valve body upon collapsing thereby assuring that the collapsed valve stem will return to its closed position with the concave curvilinear upper surface substantially flush with the end of the valve.

Abstract: A Luer medical connector having a male Luer body for connection with a female Luer assembly which includes a female Luer body, a fluid channel insert within the female Luer body, an elastomeric seal between the female Luer body and the male Luer body, and an elastomeric stopper at a proximal end of the female Luer body.

Abstract: A high flow rate inflator intended to be threaded into or onto the threaded neck of a conventional gas cylinder. The inflator comprises a spring-loaded ballasted firing pin that is retained in a cocked position by a tethered trigger pin. Upon firing by pulling on the trigger pin, the firing pin forcibly moves into engagement with a power primer mounted with a power primer holder to ignite the same, whereupon the ignition gases forcibly drives a hollow larger diameter pierce pin mounted within an interior cylinder into the frangible seal of the gas cartridge to cut a large-bore hole therethrough and allow gas escaping from the gas cylinder to flow at a high rate through the inflator into an inflatable device.

Abstract: A clamp for flexible tubing such as medical tubing or micro-tubing. The clamp comprises a clam-shell design having lateral non-opposing sidewalls that prevent the micro-tubing from bending out from under the mating clamping anvils when closed. The lateral non-opposing sidewalls of the clamp are non-opposing in order to facilitate injection molded in two halves of an injection mold without the use of additional slides.

Abstract: An inflator for inflating an inflatable device to which it is connected via fill tubes or in which it is positioned. The inflator comprises a power module assembly and an adaptor assembly intended to be threaded into or onto the threaded neck of a gas cylinder (not shown). The power module assembly employs one or more power primers that are fired when a tether is pulled to remove the actuator cup to release a spring-loaded actuator pin to fire the power primer(s). The escaping gases from the power primer(s) then drive a pierce pin to fracture a frangible seal allowing gas in the gas cylinder to then flow into the inflatable device and inflate the same.

Abstract: A check valve including an elastomeric valve element having a dome-shaped configuration that seals in its at-rest position occluding fluid flow in both directions. The dome-shaped elastomeric valve element is constructed in such a way to be deflectable, such as being activated by the external device such as a male luer whereupon the valve is cracked open to become a two-way valve allowing flow in both directions. The valve element may also be cracked open by sufficient fluid pressure in its inlet. The valve element is self-aligning. The dome-shaped of the valve element includes cut-outs for additional fluid flow, thereby streamlining flow while reducing the potential for air entrapment. The underside of the dome-shaped valve element also includes a thickened concave undersurface and thickened support legs to significantly increase the resistance to high backpressures, while also minimizing potential air entrapment.

Abstract: An indicator to be snapped onto an inflator to indicate the “ready” operating condition of the inflator and, upon firing of the inflator by jerking the jerk handle to pivot the firing lever, the firing lever pops off the indicator from the inflator, thereby indicating the “fired” inoperable operating condition.

Abstract: An inflator for inflating an inflatable device to which it is connected via fill tubes or in which it is positioned. The inflator comprises a power module assembly and an adaptor assembly intended to be threaded into or onto the threaded neck of a gas cylinder (not shown). The power module assembly employs one or more power primers that are fired when a tether is pulled to remove the actuator cup to release a spring-loaded actuator pin to fire the power primer(s). The escaping gases from the power primer(s) then drive a pierce pin to fracture a frangible seal allowing gas in the gas cylinder to then flow into the inflatable device and inflate the same.

Abstract: A luer medical connector having a male luer body for connection with a female luer assembly which includes a female luer body, a fluid channel insert within the female luer body, an elastomeric seal between the female luer body and the male luer body, and an elastomeric stopper at a proximal end of the female luer body.

Abstract: A relief valve having a crenelated exhaust ring surrounding the poppet. The crenelated exhaust ring comprises a series of alternating crenels and merlons which together define an increasing cross-sectional exhaust area circumferentially about the poppet during cracking (i.e., once the pressure in the inflatable device exceeds the cracking pressure) as the poppet rises in the relief valve in response to increased pressures and, conversely, a decreasing cross-sectional exhaust area about the poppet during closing as the poppet lowers to its re-seated, sealed position. The design of the crenels in the form of a larger upper cross-sectional area to a smaller lower cross-sectional opening, advantageously achieves a reseating pressure that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the cracking pressure while minimizing possible oscillations during re-seating of the poppet.

Abstract: A manual inflator having a status indicator that indicates whether a fully-charged, unspent gas cylinder has been installed on the inflator. The status indicator comprises a “single point” indicator having an indicator window that displays the color “green” when the automatic inflator is fully operational or the color “red” when the inflator is at least partially inoperable automatically due to the removal of the gas cylinder or due to the firing of the inflator resulting in a spent gas cylinder.

Abstract: An assemblable jerk handle for a lanyard cord including in one embodiment a base portion having a center channel with interior progressive teeth for receiving the lanyard cord and a cap portion for permanently snap-fitting to the base portion to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion. In another embodiment, the assemblable jerk handle comprises a base portion having a center channel positioned therethrough for receiving a bifurcated plug that receives the lanyard cord therein and forcibly closes about the lanyard cord to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting an inflator, exhaust valve or relief valve interiorly of an inflatable article, comprising a receiver having an integral mounting flange formed about its upper periphery that is heat sealed interiorly about an opening in the fabric of an inflatable article to be substantially flush with the contour of the inflatable article once inflated. The receiver comprises a generally circular cylindrical bore for removably receiving a corresponding generally circular cylindrical portion of the inflator, exhaust valve or relief valve therein. A locking key removably engages into corresponding detents in the mounting flange to removably secure the inflator, exhaust valve or relief valve in the bore. An O-ring is provided about the generally circular cylindrical portion of the inflator, exhaust valve or relief valve to form a seal with the bore and prevent any leakage of gas from the interior of the inflatable article.

Abstract: An assemblable jerk handle for a lanyard cord including in one embodiment a base portion having a center channel with interior progressive teeth for receiving the lanyard cord and a cap portion for permanently snap-fitting to the base portion to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion. In another embodiment, the assemblable jerk handle comprises a base portion having a center channel positioned therethrough for receiving a bifurcated plug that receives the lanyard cord therein and forcibly closes about the lanyard cord to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion.

Abstract: A pneumatically assisted inflator for gas cylinders comprises an inline configuration such that gas contained within the gas cylinder flows axially through the inflator to be exhausted therefrom and inflate an inflatable article. The inline configuration of the inflator reduces the stress otherwise imparted to the component parts thereof and thereby allows most of the component parts to be manufactured from an injection molded high-strength plastic or the like. The inflator comprises an inflator piston positioned within a piston cylinder that moves against a rotatable cam surface, such as a rotatable collar connected to a pull lanyard, to force a pierce pin to make at least a small pin hole in a frangible seal and allow high pressure gas from the gas cylinder to flow into the piston cylinder, whereupon the high pressure gas in the piston cylinder further moves the inflator piston to more fully force the pierce pin into the frangible seal to fully open the frangible seal.

Abstract: A valve comprising an inlet housing, an outlet housing, an elastomeric valve element having a generally dome-shaped configuration with a central integral stem positioned substantially concentrically therewith, the inlet housing and outlet housing being fastened together at a joint with the elastomeric valve element positioned therein and the valve element including a plurality of longitudinal ribs formed along an outer annular periphery of a lower end of the dome-shaped configuration that define flow channels that allow fluid flow from across an upper surface of the dome-shaped configuration through the flow channels.

Abstract: An injection molding manufacturing apparatus and method that facilitates the formation of a blind hole in a two-component assembly in which a first component is molded in-situ in a second component. A first cylindrically-shaped component having a transverse socket with a blind hole is injected molding and then transferred into and molded in-situ within the second component in such a way that the blind hole is blocked-off by a second central core pin during molding of the second component. In this manner, the two-component in-situ assembly includes a blind hole formed in a socket.

Abstract: An automatic inflator comprising a body for receiving a dissolvable pill, said dissolvable pill including an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said surfaces including an undulating configuration.

Abstract: An inflator comprising a housing having an integrally formed mounting flange adapted to be heat-sealed directly to an inflatable article. A sleeve is injection molded in-situ inside the housing in which a pierce pin assembly is reciprocatably mounted within a central bore thereof. The sleeve within the housing allows the wall thickness of the housing to be significantly reduced and assures that the escaping gas from the cylinder always contacts the housing material. The sleeve includes a skirt extension with a socket defining the blind hole for receiving the end of the pivot pin of the firing lever to allow the injection-molding of a blind hole for the pivot pin without the need for subsequent drilling of the hole.