Check valve

A check valve comprising:

• a generally dome-shaped flexible membrane including a center portion, a sealing portion and a connecting portion at least partially disposed between the center portion and the sealing portion;
• a generally dome-shaped rigid cap including a center support portion and a contact portion, the center support portion of the rigid cap being disposed at least proximate the center portion of the flexible membrane, the contact portion of the rigid cap being sized and configured to contact the sealing portion of the flexible membrane when the flexible membrane is in a closed position;
• a rigid base of the rigid cap, the rigid base including one or more partial spokes extending towards the center portion of the rigid cap, the partial spokes including an end that is spaced apart from the center portion of the rigid cap;
• one or more flexible spokes at least partially disposed between an outer edge of the flexible membrane and the center portion of the flexible membrane;
• and
• one or more collapsible zones at least partially disposed between an outer edge of the flexible membrane and the center portion of the flexible membrane.

A check valve that helps regulate fluid flow by allowing fluid flow when a positive pressure differential that is greater than a predetermined amount is applied to the check valve, the check valve comprising:

• a substantially flexible portion that is sized and configured to allow fluid to flow in a first direction when the positive pressure differential is greater than the predetermined amount, the substantially flexible portion having a generally dome-shaped configuration, the substantially flexible portion comprising:
• a sealing portion that is movable between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• a center portion;
• and
• an opening in the center portion that is sized and configured to allow fluid to a direction generally opposite the first direction;
• and
• a substantially rigid portion that is sized and configured to at least partially position and control movement of the substantially flexible portion, the substantially rigid portion having a generally dome-shaped configuration, the substantially rigid portion comprising:
• a contact portion that is sized and configured to contact the sealing portion of the substantially flexible portion when the sealing portion is in the closed position;
• a center support structure that supports the center portion of the substantially flexible portion in a generally fixed position;
• and
• a plurality of spokes connecting the contact portion and the center support structure, each of the spokes having a curved inner surface that engages an outer surface of the generally dome-shaped substantially flexible portion when the substantially flexible portion is in a closed position, the inner surface of each of the spokes being sized and configured to help maintain the substantially flexible portion in the generally dome-shaped configuration when the substantially flexible portion is in the closed position.

A check valve that helps regulate fluid flow by allowing fluid flow when a positive pressure differential that is greater than a predetermined amount is applied to the check valve, the check valve comprising:

• a generally dome-shaped rigid portion comprising:
• a base
• having a generally circular configuration;
• a plurality of spokes extending upwardly and inwardly from the base, each of the spokes having a curved inner surface;
• and
• a support structure that is spaced apart from the base by a distance, at least one of the plurality of spokes connecting the base and the support structure;
• and
• an opening in a center portion of the support structure;
• and
• a generally dome-shaped flexible membrane that is at least substantially disposed within the generally dome-shaped rigid portion, the flexible membrane being sized and configured to allow fluid to flow in a first direction when the positive pressure differential is greater than the predetermined amount, the flexible membrane comprising:
• a sealing edge that is capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, the sealing edge being sized and configured to contact the base of the rigid portion when the sealing edge is in the closed position;
• a center portion that is supported by the support structure of the rigid portion in a generally fixed position;
• an opening in the center portion of the flexible membrane, the opening in the center portion of the flexible membrane being at least partially aligned with the opening in the center portion of the support structure to allow fluid to flow through the openings;
• and
• an outer surface that engages the curved inner surface of the spokes when the flexible membrane is in a closed position, the inner surface of the spokes being sized and configured to help maintain the flexible membrane in the generally dome-shaped configuration when the flexible membrane is in the closed position.

A check valve comprising:

• a flexible membrane having a generally dome-shaped configuration, the flexible membrane including a center portion and an outer edge, the flexible membrane comprising:
• one or more flexible spokes at least partially disposed between the center portion of the flexible membrane and the outer edge of the flexible membrane;
• one or more collapsible zones at least partially disposed between the center portion of the flexible membrane and the outer edge of the flexible membrane;
• and
• an elongated body with a length at least equal to a distance separating the outer edge and the center portion of the flexible membrane;
• a support member constructed from a generally rigid material, the support member including a center portion that is sized and configured to be connected to the center portion of the flexible membrane, the support member including an outer rim;
• the support member comprising:
• one or more spokes connecting the outer rim of the support member and the center portion of the support member;
• an elongated body with a length at least equal to a distance separating the outer rim and the center portion of the support member;
• and
• a flange extending from the outer rim, the flange being sized and configured to hold the flexible membrane in a generally fixed position relative to the support member by contacting the outer edge of the flexible membrane.