Patent ID: 8322378

Claim:
A check valve for one-way flow of a fluid, comprising: (a) a proximal end having an inlet opening through which the fluid enters the valve; (b) a distal end having an outlet opening through which the fluid is discharged from the valve when the valve is open, wherein the proximal and distal ends are spaced apart from one another along a central axis of the valve; (c) a valve body formed of a resilient material and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the valve, wherein the valve body encloses a fluid flow passage extending between the inlet and outlet openings, and wherein the valve body defines three pairs of axially-extending sidewalls; (d) a first pair of the sidewalls arranged in opposed facing relation to one another and defining a first pair of resilient lips which are in sealing contact with one another when the valve is closed, with a first slit opening being formed between the first pair of lips, wherein the first slit opening comprises part of the outlet opening; (e) a second pair of the sidewalls arranged in opposed facing relation to one another and defining a second pair of resilient lips which are in sealing contact with one another when the valve is closed, with a second slit opening being formed between the second pair of lips, wherein the second slit opening comprises part of the outlet opening; (f) a third pair of the sidewalls arranged in opposed facing relation to one another and defining a third pair of resilient lips which are in sealing contact with one another when the valve is closed, with a third slit opening being formed between the third pair of lips, wherein the third slit opening comprises part of the outlet opening; wherein the second pair of lips is joined to the first pair of lips at an angle, and the first and second slit openings intersect one another at an angle; wherein the third pair of lips is joined to the first pair of lips at an angle, and the first and third slit openings intersect one another at an angle; and wherein the angle between the first and second pair of lips is about 90 degrees, and the angle between the first and third pair of lips is about 90 degrees.