Swabable valve with curvilinear valve stem
A swabable valve ( 10 ) comprising a valve stem ( 100 ) that collapses into a valve body ( 12 ), said valve body ( 12 ) including a generally cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) having a generally circular rim, said valve stem ( 100 ) having a generally cylindrical reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) that extends fully into said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ), said cylindrical reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) including a through-slit ( 52 ) that opens when said valve stem ( 100 ) collapses into said valve body ( 12 ), said valve stem ( 100 ) having a concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) that is substantially flush with said circular rim of said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ) when said valve stem ( 100 ) is not collapsed into said valve body ( 12 ); said concave curvilinear upper surface ( 102 ) of said valve stem ( 100 ) extending rim-to-rim within said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ).
1. A swabable valve ( 10 ) comprising a valve stem ( 100 ) that collapses into a valve body ( 12 ), said valve body ( 12 ) including a generally cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) having a generally circular rim, said valve stem ( 100 ) having a generally cylindrical reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) that extends fully into said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ), said cylindrical reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) including a through-slit ( 52 ) that opens when said valve stem ( 100 ) collapses into said valve body ( 12 ), said valve stem ( 100 ) having a concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) that is substantially flush with said circular rim of said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ) when said valve stem ( 100 ) is not collapsed into said valve body ( 12 ); said concave curvilinear upper surface ( 102 ) of said valve stem ( 100 ) extending rim-to-rim within said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ).
2. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) further comprises an annular radius edge ( 110 ) extending about the periphery of the rim of the reduced-diameter portion ( 38 ) such that the concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) extends rim-to-rim from an inner rim of the radius edge ( 110 ) of the generally cylindrical reduced-diameter portion ( 38 ).
3. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) further comprise an annular notch ( 39 ) and wherein said annular radius edge ( 110 ) extends about the periphery of the rim of the annular notch ( 39 ) such that the concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) extends rim-to-rim from an inner rim of the radius edge ( 110 ) of the annular notch ( 39 ).
4. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) further comprises an annular chamfer ( 120 ) extending about the periphery of the rim of the reduced-diameter portion ( 38 ) such that the exposed concave curvilinear surface 102 extends rim-to-rim from an inner rim of the chamfer ( 120 ) of the generally cylindrical reduced-diameter portion ( 38 ).
5. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said reduced diameter portion ( 38 ) further comprise an annular notch ( 39 ) and wherein said annular chamfer ( 120 ) extends about the periphery of the rim of the annular notch ( 39 ) such that the concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) extends rim-to-rim from an inner rim of the chamfer ( 120 ) of the annular notch ( 39 ).
6. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said concave curvilinear upper surface ( 102 ) of said valve stem ( 100 ) comprises a radius that is sufficient to prevent said valve stem ( 100 ) from becoming lodged within said valve body ( 12 ) upon collapsing thereby assuring that said valve stem ( 100 ) will return to non-collapsed position with said concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) substantially flush with said circular rim of said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ).
7. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said radius of said concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) is not too great such that said concave curvilinear surface ( 102 ) of said valve stem ( 100 ) is too deep within said circular rim of said cylindrical reduced diameter section ( 18 ) of said valve body ( 12 ) and therefore too difficult to adequately swab.
8. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said through-slit ( 52 ) formed in said valve stem ( 100 ) comprises a generally straight through-slit ( 52 ).
9. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said through-slit ( 52 ) formed in said valve stem ( 100 ) is normally-closed when uncompressed but is forced tighter closed due to the compression of said valve stem ( 100 ) when inserted into said valve body ( 12 ).
10. The swabable valve ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said through-slit ( 52 ) formed in said valve stem ( 100 ) comprises a normally-open slit ( 52 ) which is then squeezed closed when said valve stem ( 100 ) is inserted into said valve body ( 12 ).