Patents by Inventor David G. Vella

David G. Vella 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).

  • Patent number: 5510820
    Abstract: An ink refill device includes a body having a chamber with ink therein. The chamber has one wall formed of a frangible material. The body has a needle communicating the chamber with a reservoir, which has a foam of a controlled porosity therein, in a print cartridge when the needle is inserted in a vent of the reservoir to fill the reservoir. Breaking of the frangible wall of the chamber with the needle extending downwardly enables ink to flow from the chamber at a controlled flow rate to the reservoir in the cartridge. In the preferred embodiment, the needle has one or more notched openings adjacent its distal end to increase its surface area through which ink flows to increase flow of ink to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney O. Aulick, Bradley L. Beach, Terence E. Franey, James M. Mrvos, David G. Vella