Patent ID: 8186973
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: A47L,F04B

Abstract:
1. A tubular fluid pump, comprising: a chamber for receiving and discharging fluid, the chamber including walls defining a first opening for receiving fluid into the chamber, a second opening distal the first opening for discharging fluid from the chamber, and a length of resilient tubular material in fluid communication with each of the first and second openings and extending axially there between, the chamber further including a first valve disposed at the first opening and a second valve disposed at the second opening, each of the first valve and the second valve being a one-way valve, the first and second valves being cooperatively configured and oriented to permit fluid to pass through the chamber in only one axial direction from the first opening to the second opening; and a squeezing mechanism configured to interoperate with the chamber to pump fluid there through, the squeezing mechanism including a substantially rigid base on which the length of resilient tubular material is mounted, and a substantially rigid displaceable actuator aligned to alternately squeeze the length of resilient tubular material against the base to pump fluid out of the chamber via the second opening, and release the length of resilient tubular material from the base to draw fluid into the chamber via the first opening, wherein the base defines a reaction surface for physically supporting the length of resilient tubular material against force imparted thereto by the actuator, and wherein each of the length of resilient tubular material and the reaction surface physically supporting same is substantially curved in shape along a corresponding axis of extension defined by the length of resilient material.