Patents by Inventor Daniel M. Willis

Daniel M. Willis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190133383
    Abstract: An dispenser includes a housing, a container disposed in the housing for holding a liquid, a nozzle, and a pump. The pump is disposed between the container and the nozzle. The pump includes a pump inlet, a pump outlet, a pump chamber, a first check valve, and a second check valve. The pump inlet is in fluid communication with the container and the pump chamber, and the pump outlet is in fluid communication with the pump chamber and the nozzle. The pump chamber is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position. The first check valve is disposed between the container and the pump, and the first check valve has a first cracking pressure. The second check valve is disposed between the first check valve and the pump, and the second check valve has a second cracking pressure. The first cracking pressure of the first check valve is greater than the second cracking pressure of the second check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: John J. McNulty, Donald R. Harris, Aaron D. Marshall, Daniel M. Willis, Nick E. Ciavarella
  • Publication number: 20180311127
    Abstract: A low-water cleansing composition is provided that includes 5.0 wt. % to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C1-C8 alcohol, at least 10.0 wt. % of a mixture of two or more surfactants, at least 0.05 wt. % of a pH adjuster; and water, the concentrations being based on a total weight of the low-water cleansing composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Venkatesan Padyachi, Srini Venkatesh, Daniel M. Willis, Nick E. Ciavarella, Dewain Garner
  • Publication number: 20180289223
    Abstract: A foam dispenser includes a housing, a drive motor, and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a pump housing, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm. The molded multi-chamber diaphragm includes a liquid pump diaphragm having a liquid pump stem and two or more air pump chambers each having an air pump stem. The length of the liquid pump stem is longer than the air pump stem. The foam pump further includes one or more outlet valves, a mixing chamber, an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and an actuator for sequentially actuating the liquid pump chamber and the two or more air pump chambers, wherein there is lost motion between the actuator and the liquid pump diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. Harris, John J. McNulty, Aaron D. Marshall, Daniel M. Willis, Nick E. Ciavarella
  • Patent number: 9579613
    Abstract: Exemplary foam-at-a-distance systems, refill units and foam generators are disclosed herein. An exemplary foam generator includes a body having an inlet for receiving air and an inlet for receiving liquid. The foam generator includes a plurality of baffles located within the body. A plurality of elongated spaces are formed at least in part by the baffles. The elongated spaces have a length that is greater than a width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Fawcett, Nick E. Ciavarella, Daniel M. Willis, Cory J. Tederous
  • Publication number: 20150165392
    Abstract: Exemplary foam-at-a-distance systems, refill units and foam generators are disclosed herein. An exemplary foam generator includes a body having an inlet for receiving air and an inlet for receiving liquid. The foam generator includes a plurality of baffles located within the body. A plurality of elongated spaces are formed at least in part by the baffles. The elongated spaces have a length that is greater than a width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Fawcett, Nick E. Ciavarella, Daniel M. Willis, Cory J. Tederous
  • Publication number: 20150126662
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to dispensers, dispenser components and related methods for reducing or preventing sticking, drying, buildup, clogging, and/or misdirection of carbomer gel based products such as hand sanitizers by incorporating one or more salts, such as sodium chloride, as an additive to the polymer used to make certain pump and nozzle components of dispensers in such a way as to allow the salt crystals to access the polymer surface. The polymer/salt mixture is then formed into the desired dispenser component part by any conventional means, including without limitation, injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, liquid injection molding, over molding, insert molding and/or blow molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Shelby Buell, Daniel M. Willis, John James McNulty, Janice Lynn Moore, Touby Khamphilapanyo
  • Publication number: 20150053791
    Abstract: Exemplary pumps, nozzles and refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a container, a pump and an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle has a lower conical shaped portion that reduces in cross-sectional area in the direction of fluid flow. The conical shaped portion has a helical groove about its inner surface and the helical groove has an end proximate an outlet. Another exemplary refill unit includes a container, a pump and an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle has a lower portion that has a passage. At least a portion of the walls of the passage contain a plurality of partial conical shapes that intersect and the passage has a cross-sectional area that reduces along the fluid flow path. The outlet has a multi-lobed cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shelby J. Buell, Daniel M. Willis, Touby Khamphilapanyo
  • Patent number: 8360287
    Abstract: A foam pump for pumping a foamable liquid from a foamable liquid source includes a premix chamber having an interior volume receiving the foamable liquid from the foamable liquid source. The foam pump also include a premix chamber air inlet valve, and a collapsible air chamber surrounds the premix chamber and fluidly communicates with the interior volume of the premix chamber through said premix chamber air inlet valve. The collapsible air chamber has an expanded volume and a compressed volume, and, when the collapsible air chamber is moved from its expanded volume to its compressed volume, air within the collapsible air chamber is forced into the premix chamber through the premix chamber air inlet valve and mixes with the foamable liquid received in the premix chamber. An outlet communicates with the premix chamber and, upon compression of the collapsible air chamber from its expanded volume to its compressed volume, foamable liquid and air are advanced from the premix chamber into the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella, Daniel M. Willis
  • Patent number: 7819289
    Abstract: A foam soap generator is provided for implementation with various types of foam soap delivery systems. The foam soap generator includes converging air and liquid soap passages at a mixing chamber, where a prefoam is generated for ultimate extrusion through a porous passage member. In one embodiment of the invention, the soap and air are delivered through coaxial tubes, with the soap being introduced axially into the mixing chamber and the air being introduced radially angularly. In another embodiment, the liquid soap is drawn into an entrainment zone by high velocity air passing through the air passageway and into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel M. Willis
  • Patent number: 7806301
    Abstract: A pump for dispensing soap from a container in a dispenser, the pump including a base, a flexible dome attached to the base defining a chamber therebetween, an inlet and an outlet formed in the base and opening into the chamber, the inlet being in fluid communication with the container, and wherein the dome has a fold line that facilitates collapsing of the dome. The dome may include an inwardly extending flange that selectively closes the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Nick E Ciavarella, Aaron R Reynolds, Daniel M Willis, Robert H Yeager
  • Publication number: 20090294477
    Abstract: A foam pump for pumping a foamable liquid from a foamable liquid source includes a premix chamber having an interior volume receiving the foamable liquid from the foamable liquid source. The foam pump also include a premix chamber air inlet valve, and a collapsible air chamber surrounds the premix chamber and fluidly communicates with the interior volume of the premix chamber through said premix chamber air inlet valve. The collapsible air chamber has an expanded volume and a compressed volume, and, when the collapsible air chamber is moved from its expanded volume to its compressed volume, air within the collapsible air chamber is forced into the premix chamber through the premix chamber air inlet valve and mixes with the foamable liquid received in the premix chamber. An outlet communicates with the premix chamber and, upon compression of the collapsible air chamber from its expanded volume to its compressed volume, foamable liquid and air are advanced from the premix chamber into the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella, Daniel M. Willis
  • Patent number: 7543722
    Abstract: A foam soap generator and pump is provided for receipt by a liquid soap container in a foam soap dispenser. The foam soap generator and pump comprise an air cylinder and a liquid cylinder, integral with each other, and in parallel arrangement. Each receives a respective air and liquid piston, again of integral construction. The pistons are provided with arms having passages therethrough that ultimately bring the liquid and air together under pressure for the generation of foam and extrude of the same through an appropriate screen or open cell foam disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventors: James M. Yates, Daniel M. Willis
  • Patent number: 7011237
    Abstract: A dip tube assembly for use with a fluid container and a pump attached to the container includes a dip tube support attachable to the pump and disposed in the interior of the container for access to the contents thereof. The dip tube assembly includes a hollow support attachable to the pump and extending downward from a distal end of the pump and opening toward the end of the container to which the pump is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventors: Richard C. Sayers, Nick E. Ciavarella, Mark E. Rosenkranz, Daniel M. Willis