GB2118685A - Drainage valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A drainage valve for a liquid container such as, for example, a body fluid drainage bag comprises an inlet and an outlet member (5, 4) which respectively define a first and second open passage (10, 6). The outlet member is mounted on a cylindrical element (9) of the inlet member (5) for rotation between an open and closed position in which the two passages are respectively connected and disconnected. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drainage valve The present invention relates to a drainage valve and in particular, a drainage valve for a body fluid collection bag such as, for example, a urinary diversion bag.

Urinary diversion bags are provided with an outlet through which liquid may be withdrawn from the bag. The outlet is closed by a closure device when the bag is in use, but from time to time, it is necessary to open the closure to enable liquid to drain from the bag. One such closure device comprises a flexible outlet tube which operates by deformation of the tube wall using, for example, clamps or clips which are usually bulky, and cause discomfort to the wearer of the bag.

Such clamps or clips are often difficult and expensive to manufacture and also necessitate the use of a connector when connecting this tube with the inlet tube of a drainage bag. in another example, the outlet tube is deformed by bending it through an obtuse angle to form a kink. This valve can be difficult and unpleasant to operate since there is almost bound to be a certain amount of spillage from the tube during the kinking operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drainage valve for a liquid container particularly one used in the medical field, such as a drainage bag, but also one used for other purposes, such as a wine container.

Accordingly, the invention provides a drainage valve for a liquid container, said valve comprising an inlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a first open passage and an outlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a second open passage, the two cylindrical elements being mounted one within the other in sealing contact such that the outlet member is rotatable with respect to the inlet member between an open and closed position in which the two passages are respectively connected and disconnected.

Means are preferably provided for retaining said outlet member in said closed position and optionally also in said open position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a disc-shaped element of the inlet member, said first open passage extending eccentrically through this element.

The circumference of the disc-shaped element is preferably provided with a rim for preventing leakage from the valve. This rim bears against the surface of the recess to form a seal. In addition, the exit to the eccentric open passage is preferably provided with an upstanding lip for preventing leakage between this passage and that of the outlet member when in the closed position. In this position, the lip bears against the inner surface of the recess in the outlet member.

The open passage of the outlet member conveniently extends into a nozzle whose axis is preferably perpendicular to that of the passage.

In a further embodiment in which the outlet member is again rotatably mounted on the inlet member, the outlet member has a recess adapted to receive a cylinder shaped element of the inlet member. In this case, the first open passage preferably executes a 900 turn as it extends through this element, exiting through its cylindrical side walls, and the second open passage extends from the side wall of the recess again extending into a nozzle.

Annular projections concentric with the cylinder shaped element are provided on the side wall of this element, respectively above and below the exit of said first open passage. Ridges are also provided on either side of this exit and extend perpendicular to these annular projections. These projections and ridges bear against the wall of the recess to prevent leakage between this passage and that of the outlet member and also between the inlet and outlet members at the base of the element.

In another embodiment, a projecting ridge is provided around the entire periphery of the exit to the open passage.

A hinged retaining ring is preferably provided for holding the outlet member in position on the inlet member. This ring has an inwardly extending flange for engaging a groove at the base of the cylinder-shaped element, and a groove for receiving an outwardly extending rim on the outlet member. The ring may be integral with or separate from the outlet member.

The means for retaining the outlet member in the closed position may comprise, for example, a plug or cap which is attached to the inlet member and/or the wall of the container and is adapted to be push-fitted into or over the free end of the nozzle when the outlet member is in the-closed position. In a preferred embodiment, means are provided to prevent rotation of the outlet member beyond the open and closed positions. Preferably, the outlet member is rotatable through 90 between these positions.

The disc- shaped/cylinder-shaped element and outlet member are conveniently moulded from plastics materials of different rigidity, that of the element (e.g. of polyvinylchloride) preferably being more flexible than that of the outlet member. The outlet member is preferably of a fairly rigid material such as, for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene.

The inlet member of the drainage valve may be mounted to or be integral with the wall of the liquid container.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid container having a drainage valve in the bottom region thereof, said drainage valve comprising an inlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a first open passage which extends through the container wall, and an outlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a second open passage, the cylindrical. elements being mounted one within the other in sealing contact such that the outlet member is rotatable with respect to the inlet member between an open position and a closed position in which the two passages are respectively connected and disconnected.

In an embodiment of the container of the present invention, the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a disc-shaped element provided on the container wall. In this case, the first open passage extends eccentrically through the disc-shaped element.

In another embodiment, the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a cylindershaped element provided on the container wall.

The first open passage extends through this cylinder-shaped element and exits through its cylindrical side wall.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the container is a bag for the collection of body fluids, such as, for example, a urinary diversion bag. In this case, means are preferably provided for retaining said outlet member in the closed position and optionally also in the open position.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a urinary diversion bag, the open position of the drainage valve being indicated in dashed lines; Figure 2 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the embodiment of a drainage valve shown in Figure 1 viewed in the direction of arrows A; Figure 3 shows a top plan view of an inlet member of the drainage valve shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of a further-embodiment of a drainage valve of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a top plan view of an inlet member of the drainage valve shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a retaining ring of the valve shown in Figure 4, in an open position.

A urinary diversion bag 1 is shown in Figure 1 having an inlet 2 conveniently located on one side of the bag towards the top and a drainage valve 3 on the other side of the bag towards the bottom.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the drainage valve 3 comprises two elements namely an inlet member 5 and an outlet member 4 which is mounted for rotation on the inlet member 5. The outlet member 4 comprises a nozzle 6 which communicates with a recess 7 via a passage 6a.

The longitudinal axes of the nozzle 6 and the recess 7 are perpendicular to one another.

The recess 7 which is circular in plan, has an inwardly turned lip 8 and is adapted to snap fit over a disc-shaped element 9 of the inlet member 5. In this position, the outlet member 4 is rotatably retained on the inlet member 5, the lip 8 entering a groove 18 formed between the element 9 and a base member 17. The surface formed by the inner surface of the recess side walls and the lip 8 is concave and co-operates with a correspondingly shaped convex surface of the element 9 to urge outlet member 4 down towards the surface of the element 9.

An open passage 10 extends through the inlet member 5. This passage is defined by a tube 19 on the bottom of the element 9 and by the disc shaped element 9 through which it extends. The exit of the passage 10 is eccentric to the top surface of element 9 and is provided with an upstanding lip 11. When in the closed position, the lip 1 1 bears against the inner surface of the recess 7 and acts to prevent leakage from the passage 10.

A further upstanding lip on rim 12 is provided on the circumference of the disc-shaped element 9 9 which serves to prevent leakage at its periphery.

This rim 12 is conveniently manufactured to be shorter than the lip 1 1 to ensure that lip 1 1 makes good sealing contact with the surface of the recess 7.

The base member 17 attached to the base of the disc-shaped element 9 is provided for mounting the inlet member 5 to the wall of the container, in this case, the urinary diversion bag 1.

A plug 13 on a flap 14 is attached to the base member 17 by means of a flexible strap 15. This plug is provided for insertion in the open mouth of the nozzle 6 when the outlet member 4 is in the closed position. As can be seen from Figure 3, the plug 13 is located with respect to the centre of the element 9 at a position 900 from the centre of the tube 10.

The inlet member 5 is mounted so that that portion of element 9 through which the passage 10 exits is closesttothe bottom of the bag 1.

In the open position of the drainage valve 3, the passages 6a and 10 are in alignment and the nozzle 6 points in the direction of the bottom of the urinary diversion bag 1. This is shown in dashed lines in Figure 1. From this position, the valve is brought to the closed position illustrated in full lines in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, by rotating the outlet member 4 through 900. This member 4 is retained in this closed position by insertion of plug 13 in the mouth of nozzle 6, as shown in Figure 1.

Flap 14 has a projection 16 to facilitate gripping of the flap for removal of the plug 13 from the mouth of the nozzle 6.

The mouth of the nozzle 6 has a conically widening surface portion 20 for retaining a tube on the nozzle to connect the urinary diversion bag 1 with, for example, a urine collection bag for drainage at night.

The inlet and outlet members are moulded from plastics material, that of the inlet member being more flexible than that of the outlet member.

This allows the outlet member 4 to snap fit-over the disc-shaped element of the inlet member and enhances the sealing effect provided by the abutting surfaces of the two members.

The base member 17 is preferably radio frequency welded to the wall of the urinary diversion bag which is also composed of a plastics material. A line weld 21 is also formed across the strap 1 5 at the end adjacent the flap 14 so as to hinge this flap to the bag wall. This hinging of the strap facilitates insertion of the plug 1 3 in the mouth of the nozzle 6.

In place of or in addition to rim 12, element 9 may be provided with a projecting rim which extends in or parallel to the plane of its top surface to bear against the surface of recess 7 for sealing.

Figs 4 to 6 illustrate a particularly preferred embodiment of the drainage valve according to the present invention. In this case, the valve comprises an outlet member 4 which is mounted for a rotation on inlet member 5 and is held in position by a retaining ring 22. The outlet member 4 comprises a nozzle 6 which extends from a recess 7 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the recess. The inlet member 5 comprises a base member 17 carrying a cylindershaped element 9. An open passage 10 passes through the base member 17 and enters the element 9 along its longitudinal axis, exiting through its side wall.

The cylinder-shaped element 9 fits snugly into the recess 7 of the outlet member. The element 9 has two annular projections 23 located on its side wall above and below the exit of the open passage 10. Two pairs of parallel ridges 24 are provided on either side of this exit and together with the annular projections 23, bear against the internal wall of the recess 7 and serve to prevent leakage from the passage 10 to the outside.

A projection 25 extends into the recess 7 from its end wall and is received in an arc-shaped groove 26 in the top surface of the element 9. The length of the arc-shaped groove 26 is such as to limit the rotation of the oulet member 4 with respect to the inlet member 5 to between the open and closed positions. In these two extreme positions, the outlet nozzle 6 is in alignment with the exit of passage 10 and at 900 with respect to this exit.

The hinged retaining ring 22 holds the outlet member 4 in position on the inlet member. This ring 22 has a recess 27 which receives an outwardly extending rim 28 at the entrance to the outlet member recess 7 and an inwardly extending annularflange 29 which is retained in a groove 18 at the base of the cylinder-shaped element 9. In this embodiment, the ring 22 comprises two semicircular elements which are hinged together at one end of their common diagonal and at the other end of this diagonal are provided with flanges on which a projection 31 and a cooperating recess 32 are respectively provided for holding the ring closed when located in position on the valve.

The configuration of the flexible strap 1 5, plug 13 and flap 14 of the inlet member and its method of mounting together with the outlet member, on a urinary diversion bag 1 are similar to those described in connection with the previous embodiment. However, in this case, as an alternative to the line weld 21 to the bag, shown in that embodiment, the strap 15 has a hinge 33 provided by a constriction in the strap crosssection which extends across the strap 15.

The inlet and outlet members and the retaining ring are moulded from plastics material, that of the inlet member preferably being more flexible than that of the outlet member, as in the previous embodiment.

The retaining ring is of a fairly rigid plastics material such as, for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene.

Although the inlet member is described above as being of a more flexible plastics material than that of the outlet member, the outlet member may alternatively be made of the more flexible material or both members may exhibit a similar degree of flexibility.

Claims (12)

1. A drainage valve for a liquid container, said valve comprising an inlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a first open passage and an outlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a second open passage, the two cylindrical elements being mounted one within the other in sealing contact such that the outlet member is rotatable with respect to the inlet member between an open and closed position in which the two passages are respectively connected and disconnected.

2. A valve according to claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said outlet member in said closed position.

3. A valve according to claim 1, or 2, wherein the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a disc-shaped element of the inlet member so as to mount said outlet member on said inlet member, the disc-shaped element having a rim which bears against the surface of the recess to form a seal, thereby to prevent leakage from the valve, and said first open passage extends eccentrically through the discshaped element and has an upstanding lip at its exit which bears against the inner surface of the recess in the outlet member to prevent leakage between said eccentric open passage and the open passage of the outlet member when in said closed position.

4. A valve according to claim 1, or 2, wherein the outlet member has a recess adapted to receive a cylinder shaped element of the inlet member so as to mount said outlet member on said inlet member, the first open passage extending through said cylinder shaped element and exiting through the cylindrical side wall thereof, and the second open passage extending from the side wall of said recess.

5. A valve according to claim 4 further comprising a hinged retaining ring for holding the outlet member in position on the inlet member.

6. A valve according to claim 4 or 5 wherein two annular projections, concentric with the cylinder shaped element, are provided on the side wall thereof, respectively above and below the exit of said first open passage and ridges are provided on either side of said exit of the first open passage and extend perpendicular to these annular projections, said projections and ridges bearing against the wall of said recess to prevent leakage between said first and second open passages and between the inlet and outlet members at the base of the cylinder shaped element.

7. A valve according to any preceding claim, wherein said second open passage extends into a nozzle on said outlet member.

8. A drainage valve for a liquid container substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 or 4 to 6 with or without reference to Figure 1.

9. A liquid container having a drainage valve in the bottom region thereof, said drainage valve comprising an inlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a first open passage which extends through the container wall, and an outlet member which comprises a cylindrical element and defines a second open passage, the cylindrical elements being mounted one within the other in sealing contact such that the outlet member is rotatable with respect to the inlet member between an open position and a closed position in which the two passages are respectively connected and disconnected.

10. A container according to claim 8, wherein the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a disc-shaped element provided on the container wall so as to mount said outlet member on said inlet member, said first open passage extending eccentrically through the disc-shaped element.

11. A container according to claim 9 wherein the outlet member has a recess which is adapted to receive a cylinder-shaped element provided on the container wall so as to mount said outlet member on said inlet member, the first open passage extending through said cylinder-shaped element and exiting through the cylindrical side wall thereof and the second open passage extending from the side wall of the recess.

12. A bag for the collection of body fluids comprising the container claimed in any of claims 9to 11.

1 3. A bag according to claim 12 further comprising means for retaining said outlet member in the closed position.