A contact valve 1 has a pair of opposing valve members 8 each with lip portions 11 extending from support portions 50 defined by a flexible, resilient, circular diaphragm 9 extending radially inwardly from the walls of a mounting tube 2 and having a rectangular slit 10 and a valve surfaces 12 which lie flat against each other in sealing engagement until an upward force is applied to abutment portions 15 upon connection to a second component, which may be a further contact valve 1, which causes valve members 8 and support portions 50 to deform such that lip portions deflect upwardly and valve surfaces 12 to separate opening a fluid passageway. When the upward force is removed upon disconnection, the resilience of valve member 8 causes valve surfaces 12 to return to rest in mutual sealing engagement.
