Patents Examined by Stephanie Willatt
  • Patent number: 7174902
    Abstract: Hair ornament with a resilient attaching clip comprising a pair of complementary transversally elongated limbs (12, 14) having handle portions (30, 32) and which are connected by hinge and spring means (16) and having suitably shaped prongs (18) extending from each elongated limbs (12, 14) and forming a pair of clipping portions wherein each elongated limb comprises a socket (20, 22) having a hollow cylindrical recess and which forms at the inner opposite end abutting sliding planes (23, 25), as well as a bushing (24) which is received in a recess provided in the respective socket of each limb, whereby the limbs are pivoted to each other and a spring (26) inserted in the bushing extending into the sockets and being attached at both ends by suitable means at the outer end of the sockets in order to bias the limbs in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventor: Leandro P. Rizzuto
  • Patent number: 7104266
    Abstract: A flossing tool, for use with flossing string, includes a handle having a forked head at its first end. The forked head has first and second arms extending outwardly to first and second distal ends for supporting flossing string therebetween. A tensioner is slidably disposed on the handle and includes a clamp for receiving ends of the flossing string. The tensioner is movably between a first position wherein the flossing string is freely receivable in the clamp and a second position wherein the flossing string is secured in the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Chee Yin Lee
  • Patent number: 7073517
    Abstract: A hair cutting guide, for use by a hairdresser in cutting the hair of a person using scissors, having a pair of guide halves that are hingeably attached and selectively enter an open position and a closed position. Each of the guide halves have a plurality of teeth arranged along its longitudinal edges. The teeth have an inner surface that face the inner surfaces of the teeth in the other guide halve when the guide is in the closed position. Combs extend perpendicularly to the inner surfaces such that hair is extended transversely between the longitudinal edges and is held in place by the combs when the guide is closed. Straight cutting and point cutting is carried out by cutting with the scissors adjacent to the teeth along one of the longitudinal edges when the guide is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Travis W. Burnette, III
  • Patent number: 7069935
    Abstract: A hair braider includes a body having a handle and a head portion. A selectively rotatable drive source is disposed within the body. First and second overlapping, rotatable rotors are disposed within the head portion and are operatively coupled to the drive source through a plurality of gears such that the first and second rotors rotate in opposite directions when the drive source is actuated. The hair braider includes a plurality of hair retaining members that are received within openings formed through the first and second rotatable rotors. Each hair retaining member has a bore formed within it for receiving a bundle of hair. A mechanism transfers one hair retaining member from one rotor to the other rotor as the rotors rotate. The rotation of the rotors and the successive transfer of one hair retaining member from one rotor to the other rotor results in a braid being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Elysee Beauty Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Bousfield, Ole Boysen
  • Patent number: 7059334
    Abstract: A dental floss device includes a handle having a head piece and a disposable holder for a length of dental floss. The holder includes a base portion and a pair of spaced-apart jaws extending from the base and which extend to embrace the head piece of the handle when the holder is in a correct alignment configuration with respect to the handle. The device has an interlock which ensures that the holder can be interengaged with the head piece only when the holder is correctly aligned with the head piece. The interlock includes a head interlock part provided by interlock grooves and a holder interlock part provided by corresponding interlock tongues. There are two interlock grooves and corresponding interlock tongues which slidably interengage when the holder is correctly aligned with the head piece. If the holder is turned so that it is not correctly aligned with the head piece, the interlock tongues of the holder prevent engagement of the holder with the head piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: APC Limited
    Inventors: Michael Dougan, Paul Sullivan, Conor Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7017781
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved collapsible bag having a spout and one or more grooves on the interior surface of a wall of the bag. The grooves, which are integral to a wall of the bag rather than on a separate evacuation strip, are in liquid communication with the spout and are sized such that the opposing wall of the bag is not completely forced into the grooves under the suction of conventional pumps which are used to withdraw the liquid from the bag. Thus, the grooves enable substantially complete withdrawal of the liquid from the bag without the use of an evacuation strip. Additionally, the present invention may be used in any orientation and does not require a slanted rack. Although the primary intended application of the present invention is in bag-in-box packages for containing and dispensing beverages, this invention may also be used to advantage in other liquid dispensing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Dr Pepper/Seven-Up, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank L. Provenza
  • Patent number: 7014045
    Abstract: A cosmetic compact includes a base member, a pair of covers having a first cover and a second cover, and the first cover and the second cover are pivotally connected to the base member. A plurality of flexible members are attached to both sides of the base member, and at least one latch structure is formed on the pair of covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Rexam Der Kwei Cosmetic Packaging Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-lang Lin
  • Patent number: 6976608
    Abstract: A cartridge-loading device is provided, to which a cartridge charged with a fluid material is loaded. The device comprises a cylindrical device body, piston, and nozzle. Both ends of the device body are opened to provide a bore therethrough. The cartridge is inserted into the bore. A notch is formed at an end portion of the device body. The piston, which is slidably arranged in the bore, is used for pushing the cartridge for ejecting the fluid material. The nozzle is detachably fitted into the opening of one end of the device body. The one end is located oppositely to the piston and have the notch formed thereat. Further, the cartridge has a cartridge body covered tightly by a cover member having one end protrude from an end of the cartridge body on an ejecting side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignees: Hosokawa Yoko Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Polymer Systems
    Inventors: Tooru Ichikawa, Youji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6973933
    Abstract: A flosser apparatus has a handle with a first slot formed into a surface at a first end of the handle and a second slot formed into the surface adjacent the first end and extending in transverse relationship to the first slot, a locking member affixed to the handle, and a flosser element removably received in one of the first and second slots. The locking member retains the flosser element within one of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Patrick Gwen
  • Patent number: 6945256
    Abstract: A folding toothbrush assembly is provided with an integral toothpaste dispenser. The toothbrush is formed with an elongated arm having a head portion at one end with bristles for brushing the teeth and a pivot portion at an opposite end of the arm. The arm is pivotally received at one end of an elongated handle that is provided with an exterior stepped recess for receiving the arm when the assembly is folded for storage. A piston chamber is provided in the handle of the toothbrush for receiving toothpaste. A piston in the chamber is operated by a screw cap at the bottom of the handle to dispense toothpaste from the chamber through a passage in the arm and into the bristles of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Gerald W. Earl
  • Patent number: 6892908
    Abstract: A cartridge-loading device is provided, to which a cartridge charged with a fluid material is loaded. The device comprises a cylindrical device body, piston, and nozzle. Both ends of the device body are opened to provide a bore therethrough. The cartridge is inserted into the bore. A notch is formed at an end portion of the device body. The piston, which is slidably arranged in the bore, is used for pushing the cartridge for ejecting the fluid material. The nozzle is detachably fitted into the opening of one end of the device body. The one end is located oppositely to the piston and have the notch formed thereat. Further, the cartridge has a cartridge body covered tightly by a cover member having one end protrude from an end of the cartridge body on an ejecting side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: Hosokawa Yoko Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Polymer Systems
    Inventors: Tooru Ichikawa, Youji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6863075
    Abstract: A hair braiding and weaving accessory for holding 1-7 packs or bundles of commercial or artificial hair while the hairstylist is braiding or weaving selected small groups of such commercial or artificial hair with a customer's natural hair. The device comprises a base, a pole and a disc. The pole is attached to the base in a conventional manner. The disc has a hole through the middle, the pole is placed through the hole and positioned towards the top of the pole. The plane of the disc is at an angle of approximately forty five (45°) degrees to the pole to allow the commercial or artificial hair to be draped around the pole without falling off the disc. The height of the pole and disc is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Brenda Lee Wells
  • Patent number: 6824015
    Abstract: A closure device for closing off the dispensing orifice (5) of a fluid dispenser. The closure device comprising a removable cap (10) provided with a closure element (20) which, in the closed position, closes off the orifice (5). The closure device being characterized in that the closure element (20) is provided with a bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic substance which acts on the small quantity of fluid remaining at the orifice (5) after the dispenser has been actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Valois S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Ammann
  • Patent number: 6823874
    Abstract: The present invention is a comb that includes curved or angular teeth placed perpendicular to a cylindrical handle in a straight or helical path. It can be drawn through a lock of hair to create a ringlet curl that hangs free from the scalp. It may optionally include a second row of teeth, or an individual tooth, that incorporates additional strands of hair into the curl. The comb may include an extension that smoothes hair over the teeth. In operation one uses the comb to dress wet or dry hair. The first row of curved teeth is applied to the hair at the root, and drawn through the hair with a rotating motion that is consistent with the direction of the curve of the comb's teeth resulting in a ringlet curl that hangs free from the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Frances Josephine Lexcen
  • Patent number: 6808088
    Abstract: A spigot device for a liquid container includes a single-piece molded conduit confining a primary passage and a channel which are surrounded by an outer surrounding wall and which are not communicated with each other within the conduit. An intake end of each of the primary passage and the channel is in fluid communication with a bottom outlet of the container. An exit end of the primary passage is in fluid communication with a fluid passage in which a valve body is disposed to control flow of liquid from the container into a spout. An upright branch tube is in fluid communication with the channel to permit the liquid in the container to flow into the branch tube so that the level of the liquid in the container can be monitored by observing the level of the liquid in the branch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Fuu Hwa Vacuum Bottle Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Chiu
  • Patent number: 6808085
    Abstract: A first reservoir body (13) includes two necks (19, 20). One neck (19) carries a thrust piston pump (11) including a medium outlet (37). The other neck (20) carries a closed second reservoir body (14) including a second medium. When the closure (9) is opened, the second medium is transferred into the first reservoir body (13) where it is mixed with or dissolved in the first medium. Thereafter, the mixed media can be discharged by the dosing pump (11) from the first reservoir body (13) in discrete doses in sequence. Thus, the media are stored separately and are not merged until being discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Greiner-Perth, Hans Merk, Thomas Eberhard
  • Patent number: 6799582
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cosmetic container, and more particularly, to a cosmetic container which is constructed to facilitate elevating and lowering of a brush, and opening and closing of upper and lower caps through an interaction between the caps, in order to solve inconvenience where the brush is naturally deformed by the contents in a container (vessel) when liquid cosmetics such as lip gloss, eyeliner, eye shadow or manicure are put into and used within the container. A cosmetic cosmetic comprises a container body having a threaded portion provided on an opening portion thereof, a packing body seated on the opening portion, an upper cap and an elevating holder for elevating and lowering the brush, and a lower cap for separating all the caps from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Yoon-Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 6772919
    Abstract: A device for dispensing fluid foodstuffs, particularly for automatic or semiautomatic hot or cold beverage vending machines, comprising a hollow body inside which there is a chamber connected to an intake which is connected to a duct for introducing a fluid to be dispensed and to an outlet which is connected to a fluid dispensing duct. A flow control element connected to actuation means is arranged in the chamber and can move on command, through the action of the actuation means, in order to interrupt the connection between the intake and the outlet. The flow control element is arranged proximate to the intake and can move on command in order to open or close the intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: I.V.L. Innovative Valve Lab S.r.l.
    Inventor: Curzio Aldo Magri
  • Patent number: 6766807
    Abstract: A dental floss dispenser includes a floss spool having two spool ends and wound with a certain length of floss; a dispenser body including an external dispenser first end wall and an external dispenser second end wall and a longitudinal external dispenser side wall extending between the dispenser first and second end walls, and containing a spool retaining floss bore sized to longitudinally receive the floss spool wound with floss, the floss bore having a bore opening in the dispenser first end wall, a bore side wall and a bore end wall with a spool end recess for receiving an end of the floss spool; a floss panel covering the floss bore opening and retaining the floss spool, the floss panel having a floss panel port through which the floss may be progressively passes when dispensed; a floss cutting element; and a floss bore door hingedly mounted to the dispenser body adjacent to the bore opening, and sized and oriented to close over and cover the floss panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Snow Ellen Piccolo, Dylan Frank Piccolo
  • Patent number: RE38785
    Abstract: A stackable container for storing and dispensing a liquid has upright walls, a top wall and a bottom wall providing a chamber for storing a liquid. Adjacent upright walls are joined to corners. One corner has a bottom portion located above the plane of the bottom wall providing a space below the one corner. The top wall has a fill opening at the top of the one corner. An ON-OFF valve attached to a lower portion of the upright wall of the container is used to drain liquid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Anthony L. Schmitt