Fluid delivery system

Abstract

A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the fluid bag to facilitate the providing of the fluid to the caging system. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough, a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a spring element disposed within the base fluid channel and a stem member disposed in part within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the stem member to apply a force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid delivery valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the valve assembly comprising:
 a hollow member defining a fluid channel, the member having a proximal end for delivery of water to a cage and a distal end adapted to cooperate with a fluid bag to deliver water from the bag through the fluid channel to the caging system;   a stem member disposed in part within the fluid channel, the stem member having a first surface at a distal end thereof and a proximal end at or about the proximal end of the hollow member;   a spring element disposed within the fluid channel;   wherein a portion of the spring element interacts with the stem member to apply a force to the stem member; and   a sealing member disposed in the fluid channel in abutment with the first surface of the stem member, for preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid channel, the sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate the flow of fluid in the fluid channel in response to displacement of the proximal end of the stem member by an animal.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , the hollow member comprising:
 an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; and   a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stem member has a second surface at a distal end of the stem member; and   a portion of the spring element abuts a portion of the second surface of the stem member to apply the force.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sealing member defines a flow aperture, the sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate the flow of fluid through the flow aperture in response to displacement of the stem member.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing member has a surface that has a lower ridge extending therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem member is designed and dimensioned to selectively facilitate the flow of the fluid when the stem member is pushed by the animal. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the stem member is designed and dimensioned to selectively facilitate the flow of the fluid when the stem member is pushed by the animal. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , the hollow member comprising a flange member, wherein said flange member is substantially perpendicular to the hollow member. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a piercing tip formed on the distal end of the hollow member, the piercing tip being substantially sharp to allow the hollow member to puncture and enter the fluid bag to permit the fluid to flow through the fluid channel. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fluid channel is tapered to prevent the spring member from passing completely therethrough which facilitates compression of the spring member within the fluid channel. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid deliver valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow member comprises a distal member having a first gripping portion and a base having a second gripping portion, wherein the first and second gripping portions are designed and dimensioned to facilitate the coupling of the distal member and the base via a friction fit. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow member is formed of an autoclaveable material. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow member is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the flange member is substantially circular. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow member has an abutment wall, wherein the abutment wall is designed and dimensioned to restrict the movement of the stem member such that the flow of the fluid is not more than a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid delivery valve assembly of  claim 1 , the hollow member further having an extension portion, the extension portion having a length, the length being designed and dimensioned to protect the stem member from inadvertent bumping by the animal. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the system comprising:
 a fluid bag; and   a fluid deliver valve assembly comprising:
 a hollow member defining a fluid channel, the member having a proximal end for delivery of water to a cage and a distal end adapted to cooperate with a fluid bag to deliver water from the bag through the fluid channel to the caging system; 
 a stem member disposed in part within the fluid channel, the stem member having a first surface at a distal end thereof and a proximal end at or about the proximal end of the hollow member; 
 a spring element disposed within the fluid channel; 
 wherein a portion of the spring element interacts with the stem member to apply a force to the stem member; and 
 a sealing member disposed in the fluid channel in abutment with the first surface of the stem member, for preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid channel, the sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate the flow of fluid in the fluid channel in response to displacement of the proximal end of the stem member by an animal. 
   
     
     
         18 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 17 , the hollow member comprising:
 an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; and   a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a portion of the spring element abuts a portion of the stem member to apply the force.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member defines a flow aperture, the sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate the flow of fluid through the flow aperture in response to displacement of the stem member. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid bag comprises a water bag constructed from flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         22 . A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the fluid delivery system comprising:
 a fluid delivery valve assembly, comprising;
 a body having a piercing member with a connecting member and a flange member, the body having a fluid channel defined therethrough; 
 a spring element disposed within the fluid channel; 
 a stem member disposed at least in part within the fluid channel, the stem member having an actuation portion extending through the flange member, the stem member having a top portion with a first surface and a second surface; 
 wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the first surface of the stem member to apply a force to the stem member; and 
 a sealing member disposed in the fluid channel, the sealing member having a flow aperture and a surface, the sealing member being designed and dimensioned to facilitate sealing of the flow aperture when the surface of the sealing member abuts the second surface of the stem member; 
 wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the fluid bag to facilitate the providing of the fluid to the caging system.