Patents Examined by Gene Mancene
  • Patent number: 6736171
    Abstract: An assembly for transferring solid particulate matter has a pressurized vessel for retaining a pre-determined quantity of the solid material. A discharge conduit connected to the vessel carries the solid material to a loading vessel, be it a processing tank, a storage vessel, or any other similar container. A discharge nozzle carried by a distant end of the discharge conduit is also connected to a dust collection container. Vacuum created in the dust collection container facilitates entrapment of dust particles generated during transfer of the solid material through the discharge container and carrying of the dust particles away from the discharge opening of the discharge nozzle into the dust collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Jack Harris
  • Patent number: 6736294
    Abstract: A rinse water additive dispenser having an upper housing having a opening and a lower housing releasably connected to the upper housing, the lower housing walls defining an internal chamber for containing a rinse water laundry additive. The dispenser further comprises a valve assembly having a valve for sealing the opening in the upper housing, the valve movable between closed and open positions and being biased towards an open position. In addition, the dispenser includes a weight assembly having a counterweight that is actuated by centrifugal force, and which prior to actuation, prevents the valve from biasing to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Christopher Lawrence Smith
  • Patent number: 6732999
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic valve device having a valve housing, a valve member slidably accommodated in the valve housing to control oil communications among ports formed in the valve housing, a spring biasing the valve member, a stopper retaining the spring and an electromagnetic drive member for generating, when energized, a driving force to displace the valve member against a biasing force of the spring, the valve housing is provided at an axial end with a small diameter portion whose wall thickness is thinner and the stopper is press fitted substantially to an inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion so that radially outward resilient deformation of the small diameter portion is larger than radially inward resilient deformation of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Matsusaka, Tomoyoshi Minami, Kenichi Oishi
  • Patent number: 6732950
    Abstract: An improved gear drive sprinkler has a pop-up spray head adapted for adjustable part-circle or full circle operation to deliver irrigation water over a selected terrain area. The sprinkler includes a pop-up riser; a gear drive transmission mounted within the riser includes a water-driven turbine for rotatably driving a speed reduction gear train, which in turn rotatably drives the spray head. A reverse assembly includes an upper trip unit defining an individually adjustable pair of end trip stops, and a lower shift mechanism including a shiftable director plate having first and second sets of angularly oriented jet nozzles for respective alignment with turbine jet ports for respectively driving the water-driven turbine and the gear train in a forward-drive or a reverse-drive direction. The upper trip is coupled to the director plate by an elongated trip rod which shifts the director plate between forward-drive and reverse drive positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Ingham, Jr., Jerry D. Lawyer, Charles D. Lemme, Michael A. McAfee, Derek M. Nations, Matthew S. Prucinsky, David E. Steimle
  • Patent number: 6732809
    Abstract: An apparatus for explosion suppression. The apparatus includes a flange proximate a volume wherein explosions are to be suppressed, a burst seal affixed to the flange, and a spreader insert proximate the flange. The seal is made to burst when pressure is applied to it. The insert defines apertures therethrough that form the shape of at least one annulus. The apertures are aligned with the seal, so that suppressant supplied to the insert passes through the insert into the protected volume. The insert directs suppressant passed therethrough under pressure with an effective explosion suppressing spread of at least 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Kidde-Fenwal
    Inventors: Richard Zaven Karadizian, Peter Paul Bouchard
  • Patent number: 6732997
    Abstract: An improved control valve for a pressurized water closet, having a housing, a spool rotatable within the housing, a valve stem threading engaging the spool but fixed from rotating relative to the housing and a needle valve extending from the valve stem and into the housing orifice, creating a self cleaning valve adjustable by rotating the spool, which adjusts the depth of the needle valve in the orifice, and thus adjusting the effective opening of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Beh, Raymond Bruce Martin
  • Patent number: 6732886
    Abstract: A container adapted to include a pressurized medium therein for purposes of dispensing the contents of the container or alternatively, to function as a heat exchange unit to heat or cool beverage or food contained therein. The container housing the pressurized medium includes an over pressure release mechanism which includes a barrier member disposed adjacent a valve stem which when depressed releases the pressurized medium. The valve including the moveable valve stem is carried by a mounting member at least that portion of which carries the valve is moveable outwardly responsive to the pressurized medium exceeding a predetermined pressure internally of the container. Upon such movement, the valve stem contacts the barrier which is stationary with respect thereto and after such contact, further moves the valve stem to activate the valve and release the pressurized medium contained within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Cull
  • Patent number: 6729564
    Abstract: Spa nozzles having dual fluidic nozzles capable of submerged operation and of selectively providing straight, concentrated, non-oscillating jets with air entrainment or an oscillating jet or slugs of water in water to provide a soothing massaging effect with no moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Dharapuram N. Srinath, Ronald D. Stouffer
  • Patent number: 6729601
    Abstract: An extended range proportional valve which can control rates of mass flow over continuous low, intermediate and high ranges has a pilot member mounted on an armature of a solenoid which can be dithered onto and off of a pilot opening in a main valve member which seals a main valve opening to control mass flow rates over the low range by varying the duty cycle and/or frequency of a pulse width modulated current in the solenoid coil. Intermediate and high flow rates are achieved by dithering the pilot valve member with a duty cycle and/or frequency sufficient to raise the main valve member relatively short and relatively long respective distances from the main valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: ASCO Controls, LP
    Inventors: Paul W. Freisinger, John J. Haller, Peter A. Holborow
  • Patent number: 6729500
    Abstract: A fluid pump dispenser includes a spring biased pump piston having a generally hollow stem and reciprocable between pressure and return strokes within a pump cylinder therewith defining a variable volume pump chamber for dispensing fluid through a discharge opening at an outer end of the stem. The stem defines a valve controlled discharge passage leading from the pump chamber to the discharge opening. A driver nut may be mounted adjacent the pump piston and include at least one flange engaged with at least one respective spiral turn on a spindle disposed within the pump chamber to thereby rotate the spindle during reciprocation of the pump piston. A dip tube may be disposable within a container and affixed to the spindle for rotation with the spindle. A figurine may be mounted onto the dip tube for complementary rotation with the dip tube and the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Dobbs, Kevin O'Neill
  • Patent number: 6729501
    Abstract: A dosing pump for dispensing two or more liquids, gels, slurries and/or pastes, and adapted to be connected to two or more containers for the two or more liquids, gels, slurries and/or pastes is described. The dosing pump may include an operating button, and two or more liquid, gel, slurry and/or paste dispensing assemblies. Each such assembly may be in mechanical contact with an actuator which in turn is in mechanical contact with the operating button, so that on movement of the operating button liquid, gel slurry and/or paste is dispensed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Peterson
  • Patent number: 6729502
    Abstract: A self-contained viscous liquid dispenser includes a housing defining an internal liquid reservoir, and an opening defined through a front surface of the housing. An insert member is fitted through the opening, extends into the reservoir, and defines an internal pump chamber having a back end open to the reservoir and a front end open to the outside of the housing. A pump cylinder is slidably disposed and retained in the chamber. The pump cylinder is movable within the pump chamber from a rest position to a pressurizing position to pressurize and dispense liquid within the pump chamber through a delivery channel and out a dispensing orifice in the pump cylinder. The pump cylinder may be a multiple component device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Lewis, Cleary E. Mahaffey, Pamela J. Mayberry, Paul F. Tramontina, David J. Powling, Mark A. Bennett, Randall M. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 6726061
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous comestible product. The system receives a bag containing the viscous comestible product. The bag has a bag body and a bag nozzle. The system includes a dispenser having a dispenser body defining a chamber for receiving the bag. The chamber has a surface with an opening defined therein adapted to receive the bag nozzle. A first protrusion is disposed proximate to a perimeter of the opening. The first protrusion extends from the surface generally inwardly into the chamber and is adapted to abut and flex the bag body into a configuration facilitating a flow of the viscous comestible product therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Richard L. Good
  • Patent number: 6726065
    Abstract: An automatic colorant dispenser having a compact modular design incorporating simply installed, precision stepper-motor driven, colorant pump modules, specifically designed to provide maximum abrasion resistance using advanced aerospace technologies plus exceptional operational life utilizing high quality, high precision and high reliability mechanical and electrical components. By employing advanced performance materials and space saving, compact geometric and ergonomic design methodology in the fully modular automatic colorant dispenser, up to sixteen space saving, two gallon colorant canister modules are efficiently grouped and directly connected to their respective energy-saving colorant pump modules. All component modules have been ergonomically located behind large open access panels to ultimately maintain the system with maximum convenience and simplicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Brian C. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6726064
    Abstract: A pump for fixing onto a receptacle to dispense a substance contained therein. The pump has a pump body that includes at least one air intake vent. A pushbutton is movable relative to the pump body between a low position and a high position. A suction valve includes a shutter-forming member. A piston co-operates with the pump body to define a pump chamber of variable volume. Also, a dispenser duct is provided through which the pump chamber can communicate with a dispenser orifice. A sealing skirt surrounds the dispenser duct on at least a fraction of the height of the dispenser duct. The sealing skirt is configured to co-operate with the pump body when the pushbutton is in its low position so as to isolate the vent from an outside ambient environment. As examples of a few aspects, the dispenser duct is provided as an element attached to the pushbutton and the piston is movable relative to the dispenser duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Philippe Bonningue
  • Patent number: 6726062
    Abstract: A system is provided for producing at least two beverages having different percentages of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: William Segiet
  • Patent number: 6722589
    Abstract: Problems are posed by slip prevention particle injection devices by wheels of railway rolling stock. Namely, if the injected quantity of slippage-preventing particles is adjusted so as not to be excessive and to be a suitable quantity, it is not possible to obtain a predetermined injection pressure and it is not possible to inject the particles at the target location. The injector device of the present invention is constituted by providing an air through-flow duct 5 inside a particle retainer tank 1, and connecting an air supply duct 17 to this air through-flow duct 5. In the above mentioned tank 1, in addition to an air inflow duct 6 being provided in the vicinity of the inlet side of the air through-flow duct 5, an air discharge duct 18 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet side of the air through-flow duct 5. This air inflow duct 6 and air discharge duct 18 are connected to the air through-flow duct 5 and one end of these ducts 6 and 18 is open into the tank 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Railway Technical Research Institute, Nicchu Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohno, Kosuke Matsuoka, Kouzou Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6722536
    Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing a viscous material from a source of the viscous material. The nozzle includes a dispensing orifice, a nozzle throat in flow communication with that orifice; and a transition in flow communication with the nozzle throat and the source of viscous material. These portions of the nozzle have a specific size relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Smith Kline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Bremner, Helen H. Karask, Christine R. Tanner
  • Patent number: 6722626
    Abstract: A canister purge valve increases flow through the valve for an increased power level. The canister purge valve includes a housing that defines a volume and has an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the volume. A coil is disposed in the volume proximate the outlet. A stator is disposed in the volume proximate the outlet, the stator having a first surface. An armature is disposed in the coil, the armature having a second surface proximate the first surface of the stator and defining a gap therebetween. The armature is movable to an open position permitting fluid flow through the volume in response to an energization of the coil. A biasing member is disposed between the stator and the armature, the biasing member urging the armature to a closed position prohibiting fluid flow through the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Balsdon
  • Patent number: 6719175
    Abstract: A system for dispensing beverages, in particular for dispensing mixed drinks can be configured to be implemented in conjunction with existing draft systems, for example, draft systems for dispensing beer and the like. Pumps used to dispense the beverages can be powered by the pressurized gas used with the existing draft system. A dual pump system may be used wherein one pump can circulate or mix the beverage within its storage container, while the other pump can pump the beverage for dispensing from a tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Island Oasis Frozen Cocktail Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A. Mackenzie, Keith M. Crawford