Patents Examined by Philippe Derakshani
  • Patent number: 7487891
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed for actuating an aerosol valve for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container. The actuator comprises an actuator button being rotatable relative to a base for movement between a locked rotational position and an unlocked rotational position. The actuator button has a rigid sidewall supporting a rigid top actuating surface with an actuator button orifice defined in the sidewall of the actuator button. The actuator button is movable relative to the base for actuating the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product when the actuator button is rotated into the unlocked rotational position. The actuator button is inhibited from actuating the aerosol valve when the actuator button is moved into the locked rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seaquist Perfect Dispensing Foreign
    Inventors: Patrick Timothy Yerby, Gerald J. Marquardt, Craig Braun, Jonathan D. Werner
  • Patent number: 7396019
    Abstract: A valve gasket for sealing a fluid dispenser device comprising a valve, in particular a metering valve, mounted on a fluid reservoir, said gasket being characterized in that it comprises an alloy of vulcanized ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or of butyl (IIR) or of vulcanized halobutyl (CIIR or BIIR) with one or more materials selected from the group constituted by polyoctene ethylene (POE), ethylene propylene (EP), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and chloroprene rubber (CR), all of these materials being vulcanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Valois S.A.S
    Inventors: Sandrine Barranco, Patrice Leone
  • Patent number: 7374069
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable food product such, for example, as a condiment, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the food product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the viscous food product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target food item, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable food material onto the target item in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron
  • Patent number: 7367479
    Abstract: A device that allows a user to retain carbonation in conventional plastic beverage bottles for extended periods of time. In a first embodiment, a fluid impermeable, inflatable, elastic bladder is employed to fill the vapor space in the bottle when the beverage is dispensed. With the vapor space filled, the CO2 carbonization gases cannot dissipate. The bladder is removably attached to a nozzle cap. The nozzle cap incorporates an arrangement including an inflating tube that permits a user to inflate the bladder by simply blowing into the inflation tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventor: William G. Sitz
  • Patent number: 7367476
    Abstract: An airless dispenser pump assembly includes a pump mechanism with an inlet valve that is configured to efficiently pump viscous fluids and that is able to be pre-primed when the pump mechanism is attached to a container. In one form, the inlet valve includes a seal member that seals an inlet port of the pump and an outer support member that secures the inlet valve to the rest of the pump mechanism. Two or more legs generally extend in a circumferential direction between the support member and the seal member in order to create a large flow opening for fluid flow through the inlet valve when opened and to rapidly close the inlet valve. The pump mechanism further includes an outlet valve that is configured to draw fluid back from a nozzle of the pump after dispensing in order to minimize build up around the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Law, Jeffrey William Spencer, Robert D. Rohr, David J. Pritchett
  • Patent number: 7364055
    Abstract: A tilting valve for dispensing a product from a pressurized container includes an opening/closing element with at least two inlet apertures. The opening/closing element is capable, in response to a force transmitted to the opening/closing element laterally to a longitudinal axis of the tilting valve, of moving from a closed position to a first open position in which the product under pressure is dispensed at a first flow rate. The opening/closing element is further capable, in response to a force transmitted to the opening/closing element parallel to the longitudinal axis, of moving from the closed position to a second open position in which the product is dispensed at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Yquel, Guiseppe Dalsant
  • Patent number: 7360672
    Abstract: A sustained duration non-aerosol mechanical sprayer includes a spray head which is screwed onto the top of a bottle. The spray head includes a spring biased piston in a cylinder, a lever which is coupled to the piston via a flexible cable. A thumb support is provided to facilitate movement of the lever. A load bearing surface is provided to absorb force exerted by moving the lever. Anti-rotation structure is provided to locate the spray head relative to the bottle. A window in the spray head allows the contents of the cylinder to be viewed. According to some embodiments, the nozzle is located at one end of the spray head and the end of the accumulator to which the inlet and outlet are connected is located at an opposite end of the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve L. Sweeton
  • Patent number: 7357280
    Abstract: A foodstuff feeding apparatus to convey foodstuff to a metering unit from a hopper without masking or kneading the foodstuff. The apparatus includes a piston pump provided between a lower portion of a hopper and an end of a first pipe to draw foodstuff from the hopper and to press out the drawn foodstuff into the first pipe toward a metering unit. A draw-side valve is provided between the lower portion of the hopper and the piston pump, a discharge-side valve is provided between the piston pump and the first pipe, and setting is made such that when the draw-side valve is opened and the discharge-side valve is closed, the piston pump draws the foodstuff, and when the draw-side valve is closed and the discharge-side valve is opened, the piston pump presses out the foodstuff, and that the piston pump presses out the foodstuff into the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishinomiya, Ishii Yoichiro
  • Patent number: 7357266
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a venting closure that reduces the amount of headspace in a container. The venting closure has a patch that changes the location and reduces the size of the vent opening. Accordingly, the vent closure enables a container which has a vent opening to holds more product without having to expand the size of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward John Giblin, Jaimee Terese Simone
  • Patent number: 7350675
    Abstract: A sustained duration non-aerosol mechanical sprayer includes a spray head which is screwed onto the top of a bottle. The spray head includes a spring biased piston in a cylinder, a lever which is coupled to the piston via a flexible cable. A thumb support is provided to facilitate movement of the lever. A load bearing surface is provided to absorb force exerted by moving the lever. Anti-rotation structure is provided to locate the spray head relative to the bottle. A window in the spray head allows the contents of the cylinder to be viewed. According to some embodiments, the nozzle is located at one end of the spray head and the end of the accumulator to which the inlet and outlet are connected is located at an opposite end of the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve L. Sweeton
  • Patent number: 7344052
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing liquids which is made up of a rectangular container having a collapsible inner shell and a rigid outer shell, a fill neck mounted on the collapsible inner shell, the fill neck being designed to extend through an opening in the outer shell and being rigidly secured and supported to the outer shell. The fill neck includes a spout which may form a primary quick release connection with the fill neck or a secondary non-releasable connection with the fill neck to allow for single use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Gas-O-Haul, Incorporated
    Inventor: Bradley J. Light
  • Patent number: 7344053
    Abstract: A sustained duration non-aerosol mechanical sprayer includes a spray head which is screwed onto the top of a bottle. The spray head includes a spring biased piston in a cylinder, a lever which is coupled to the piston via a flexible cable. A thumb support is provided to facilitate movement of the lever. A load bearing surface is provided to absorb force exerted by moving the lever. Anti-rotation structure is provided to locate the spray head relative to the bottle. A window in the spray head allows the contents of the cylinder to be viewed. According to some embodiments, the nozzle is located at one end of the spray head and the end of the accumulator to which the inlet and outlet are connected is located at an opposite end of the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve L. Sweeton
  • Patent number: 7341168
    Abstract: An assembly including a pump attachment particularly adapted to form an nonaerosol pump sprayer, and a method of using the same. The apparatus desirably includes an attachment having a pump sprayer which is pressurized on the upstroke enabling the sprayer to be shipped and stored in a relaxed position. The attachment includes a body, a coupling, a shaft, a piston, an inlet valve and a biasing member. The body defines an elongate chamber having the first end, second end, and an interior wall extending between the first end and second end. The coupler is sized and shaped to secure the body to the neck of a container. The shaft extends through the opening in the first end of the chamber and defines an internal flow channel. The piston is reciprocally mounted within the chamber and includes an inner annular surface surrounding the shaft and an outer annular surface sized and shaped to form a sealing engagement with the interior wall of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Shanklin, Ronald F. Englhard
  • Patent number: 7337924
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a drink supply container holder for a beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including the drink supply container holder for holding or maintaining at least one and preferably a plurality of drink supply containers, and at least one and preferably a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply containers, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply containers to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply containers and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Lee Crisp, III, Todd Erik Duff
  • Patent number: 7337928
    Abstract: A pressure activated self opening frangible closure seal is bonded over the interior nozzle opening of a pressure operated cartridge container used for storing and dispensing flowable material when pressurized in an application gun. The seal provides a leak proof closure that is strong enough to remain intact during the filling operation of the cartridge, and at the same weak enough to break open and dispense the contents out through the nozzle when a consumer pressurizes the cartridge with the application gun. The seal is constructed from a first layer of leak proof frangible sheet material that is bonded to a second layer of strengthening sheet material. The strengthening layer contains a cut out void configuration that forms a breaking pattern which forces the seal to break open only in the weaker single frangible layered configuration of the cut out void forming the breaking pattern when the cartridge is pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Brian F. Jackman
  • Patent number: 7334705
    Abstract: The invention provides a container 10 which simultaneously discharges agents A and B respectively charged in an outer container 11 and an inner container 21 from an outer nozzle portion 40C and an inner nozzle portion 40D in accordance with a tilting of the container 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Yashima, Yoshinori Inagawa
  • Patent number: 7334709
    Abstract: A pneumatic caulking gun includes a gun body, an air valve, a control unit, a trigger, a barrel, a push plate, a connecting base, a safety valve, and a push rod. Thus, the trigger is pressed to fill the pressurized air with the barrel successively to push the push plate forward to compress and squeeze the silicone gel, thereby injecting the silicone gel outward from the nozzle of the barrel automatically. In addition, the user only needs to slightly press the trigger by his one hand to squeeze the silicone gel outward, thereby facilitating the user operating the caulking gun, and thereby saving the manual work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kai Shyun Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7334704
    Abstract: An apparatus for flattening a flexible tube sidewall comprises a frame, a gripping roller and a handle. The frame includes a central portion extending transversely between first and second end walls. A first brake element is formed on an inner face of one wall. The roller is rotatably mounted to the walls and includes first and second ends and a cylindrical surface disposed parallel to the frame central portion to define a transverse slot. The roller end adjacent to the first brake element includes a second brake element that is engageable therewith to resist relative rotation between the roller and frame. The handle extends from the roller through the end wall for manually rotating the roller relative to the frame and drawing the tube through the slot. The brake elements cooperate to resist retrogressive movement of the tube through the slot when the handle is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: William C Bynum
  • Patent number: 7331485
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing materials is provided including a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a plurality of frame portions for holding decorative items, locking apparatus for locking the frame portions to the container, and a dispensing means for dispensing materials from the container. The dispenser also includes a base for receiving the container and frame portions, a memory device for playing a sound when the dispenser is removed from the base, and a switch for activating the memory device when the container is removed from the base. The plurality of frames each contain an aperture and each aperture contains an inner edge operable to lock onto the container. The frames each contain clips to lock onto each other and hold the container. The dispenser includes a dispensing mechanism and the base includes an opening for receiving the dispensing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher Peterson, Daniel James Lewis
  • Patent number: RE40219
    Abstract: The invention provides a pump of type comprising a moving member mounted to move relative to a support, the moving member having a central duct into which the substance to be dispensed penetrates via at least one opening, the support co-operating with the moving member to define a variable volume pump chamber around said central duct, the pump also having a diaphragm having a central portion in the form of a sleeve that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said central duct being inserted in said central portion, the diaphragm being organized in such a manlier as to isolate the opening(s) of the pump chamber when the volume of the pump chamber increases and the substance is sucked into it. The bottom portion of the central portion of the diaphragm presents, at least over a sector of its periphery, a preferred deformation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Philippe Bonningue