Patent ID: 7931253

Claim:
A resilient boot for releasably coupling a first fluid conduit with a nozzle connected to a second fluid conduit together to establish fluid-flow communication between the two fluid conduits, said nozzle having a mating portion with an external mating surface, said boot comprising, in combination: a hollow structure with an interior including a fitting portion with a first opening that communicates with said interior for receiving said first conduit, a coupling portion with a second opening spaced from said first opening that communicates with said interior for receiving said nozzle connected to said second conduit, and said boot having an internal valve means spaced between said first opening and said second opening, said fitting portion having a first deformable wall defined by the interior boot surface and the exterior boot surface, said first wall extending the longitudinal length of said fitting portion from said first opening to said valve means, said mating portion having a second deformable wall defined by the interior boot surface and the exterior boot surface, said second wall extending the longitudinal length of said mating portion from said first opening to said valve means, said second wall deformably receiving said nozzle and having a substantially fluid-tight seal with said external mating surface of said nozzle, said valve means at least partially terminating fluid-flow when said nozzle disengages said valve means, further said valve means at least partially permitting fluid flow when said nozzle engages said valve means, said nozzle being removable from said interior of said boot mating portion to disconnect said boot and said nozzle upon application of disconnection means, wherein said valve means consisting of a deformable closure with at least one slit formed therein, said at least one slit being at least partially closed when a tip of said nozzle disengages said at least one slit terminating fluid-flow between said boot and said nozzle, said at least one slit deformed partially opened when said tip substantially penetrates said at least one slit allowing fluid-flow between said boot and said nozzle.