Fluid delivery valve adapter

1. A fluid delivery system for use with a wire bar lid comprising:

a fluid bag;

a fluid delivery valve; and

a fluid delivery adapter for supporting the fluid bag, the fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve;

the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid;

the fluid delivery adapter further comprising a side portion pivotally displaceable between a first position wherein the aperture is exposed, and a second position wherein the aperture is covered by the side portion, said side portion being selectively removable to provide a variety of arrangements of the adapter.

2. The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the side portion extends away from the support base and provides lateral support for the fluid bag when the side portion is in the first position.

3. The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the side portion extends away from the support base and provides lateral support for the fluid bag when the side portion is in the first position, and wherein a plurality of wire bar lids having a recess, in which the fluid delivery adapter positioned, is stackable when the side portions are in the second position.

4. The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the side portion is pivotable between the first position and the second position.

5. The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery adapters are stackable one on top of the other.

6. A fluid delivery system for use with a wire bar lid comprising:

a fluid bag;

a fluid delivery valve; and

a fluid delivery adapter for supporting the fluid bag, the fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve;

the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid, wherein the fluid delivery adapter includes a locking mechanism constructed and arranged to maintain the fluid delivery adapter on the wire bar lid.

7. A fluid delivery system for use with a wire bar lid comprising:

a fluid bag;

a fluid delivery valve; and

a fluid delivery adapter for supporting the fluid bag, the fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve;

the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid, wherein the fluid delivery adapter includes a locking mechanism having a projection constructed and arranged to extend into gaps between wire bars of the wire bar lid, the projection being rotatable between a lock position and an unlock position.

8. A fluid delivery adapter system for use with a wire bar lid, the system comprising:

a wire bar lid;

a fluid delivery valve 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; and

a fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve, the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid; the adapter also including a displaceable side portion for covering and exposing the aperture of the fluid delivery adapter.

9. The fluid delivery adapter system of claim 8 , wherein the support base is constructed and arranged to prevent an animal in a cage from rupturing the fluid bag.

10. The fluid delivery adapter system of claim 8 , wherein the wire bar lid and fluid delivery adapter combination is stackable.

11. A fluid delivery adapter system for use with a wire bar lid, the system comprising:

a wire bar lid;

a fluid delivery valve 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; and

a fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve, the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid, wherein the fluid delivery adapter includes a locking mechanism for securing the fluid delivery adapter to the wire bar lid.

12. The fluid delivery adapter system of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a projection designed and dimensioned to extend into a gap between wire bars of the wire bar lid, the projection being rotatable to secure the fluid delivery adapter on the wire bar lid.

13. A fluid delivery adapter comprising:

a support base having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure a fluid delivery valve, wherein the support base is constructed and arranged to be disposed on top of a wire bar lid to facilitate providing fluid from a fluid bag supported by the wire bar lid; and

one or more side portions for providing lateral support, the one or more side portions being pivotally connected to the support base, wherein the one or more side portions are selectively removable to provide a variety of arrangements of the adapter;

wherein the fluid delivery adapter is stackable.

14. The fluid delivery adapter of claim 13 , wherein a first of said adapters is positioned adjacent to a second of said adapters, wherein the side portions between the adapters are removed to provide a larger volume collectively between the first and the second adapters.

15. A method for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag using a fluid delivery valve for use with a wire bar lid, the method comprising:

providing a wire bar lid having a gap between two wire bars;

providing a fluid bag;

providing a fluid delivery valve;

providing a fluid delivery adapter on a wire bar lid, the fluid delivery adapter comprising a support base having an aperture defined therein,

the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to secure the fluid delivery valve,

the support base being adapted to be disposed on top of the wire bar lid and facilitate providing fluid from the fluid bag,

the support base being supported by the wire bar lid,

the fluid delivery adapter including one or more displaceable side portions,

the fluid delivery adapter further including a projection;

inserting the projection through the gap between two wire bars;

rotating the projection to secure the fluid delivery adapter on the wire bar lid;

displacing the side portions to extend away from the support base;

placing the fluid bag on the support base; and

disposing the fluid delivery valve within the aperture of the adapter.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the aperture is shaped and dimensioned to maintain the fluid delivery valve in position via a friction fit, the fluid delivery adapter further comprising an annular holder piece positioned at the aperture, the holder piece constructed and arranged to maintain the fluid delivery valve in position via a friction fit.