Patent ID: 7937836

Claim:
A method of assembling a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the method comprising: coupling an upper member having a piercing member to a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough; disposing a stem member at least partially within the base fluid channel, the stem member having an actuation portion and a top portion having a lower surface; injection molding a sealing member in the base fluid channel so that the sealing member is secured to the upper member during the injection molding of the sealing member to form a unitary structure, the sealing member having a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface to facilitate sealing of the flow apertures when the sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of the stem member, disposing a spring element within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the lower surface to apply a biasing force to the stem member.