Valve for an oral evacuator system

Claim 1

A valve structure for an oral evacuator system adapted to be connected to a source of negative pressure, said valve structure comprising: a member adapted for contact with the mouth; an elongated housing including a lingitudinal bore extending through said housing connecting to said member at its distal end and adapted to connect to source of negative pressure at its proximal end, having a valve seat formed by a reduced diameter portion of said bore, and a slot extending through said housing to said bore and lonitudinally of said housing; a valve member moveable distally of said source of negative pressure in said bore for abutting engagement with said valve seat to prevent passage of flowable materials therebetween; a spring connected to said housing and to said valve member for biasing said valve member into abutting engagement with said valve seat, said spring including an offset portion extending outwardly through said slot; and a manually operable member exteriorly of said housing and connected to said offset spring portion remotely of said valve member for moving said offset spring portion in said slot and compressing said spring, whereby said valve member moves out of engagement with said valve seat to permit passage of flowable materials therebetween, said operable member being adapted to substantially seal said slot when said spring is compressed.