Patents by Inventor Donald D. Foster

Donald D. Foster 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: 7571836
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer includes U-shaped springs that bias the trigger sprayer trigger away from the trigger sprayer pump chamber, where the U-shaped springs are connected to a piston rod by a snap-fit connection. The connection includes a compressible forward end of the piston rod that is pressed through an opening on the forward end of the spring to connect the piston rod to the spring. The rearward end of the spring is connected to the sprayer housing by a curved surface that engages around an exterior surface of the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090179047
    Abstract: A manually operated vertically reciprocated pump dispenser has a simplified construction with two separate pumps that pump two separate liquids from a container and keep the two separate liquids separated from each other as they are pumped through the dispenser, mixing the liquids for the first time in a discharge passage of the dispenser just prior to the mixed liquids being discharged from the dispenser. The dispenser has a rotatable sleeve that covers the two pumps and is rotated to lock and unlock a dispenser head that operates the two pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090152304
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer has an integral plastic spring and pump piston rod that are connected by a breakable connection, whereby the spring and piston rod can be assembled to the trigger sprayer as one piece and are subsequently broken into two separate pieces in response to their assembly to the trigger sprayer, or subsequent manual operation of the trigger sprayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 7510101
    Abstract: A manually operated vertically reciprocated pump dispenser has a simplified construction with two separate pumps that pump two separate liquids from a container and keep the two separate liquids separated from each other as they are pumped through the dispenser, mixing the liquids for the first time in a discharge passage of the dispenser just prior to the mixed liquids being discharged from the dispenser. The dispenser has a rotatable sleeve that covers the two pumps and is rotated to lock and unlock a dispenser head that operates the two pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7478739
    Abstract: A connector cap of a trigger sprayer is integrally formed with the sprayer housing of the trigger sprayer. The connector cap has a flexible cylindrical sidewall of varying thicknesses that enables the cap to be flexed and snap fit on a bayonet-type connector of a bottle neck by pressing the cap downwardly onto the bottle neck. The different thicknesses of the sidewall allow portions of the sidewall to flex, while maintaining a smooth, cylindrical exterior surface appearance of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 7455198
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer includes a feature that limits the forward pivoting movement of the trigger. By limiting the forward pivoting movement of the trigger, the novel construction of the trigger sprayer prevents the trigger from engaging against the nozzle assembly attached to the sprayer housing of the trigger sprayer and potentially dislodging the nozzle assembly from its attachment to the trigger sprayer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson, Walter J. Clynes
  • Publication number: 20080110941
    Abstract: A cap closure that dispenses liquid from a liquid container has a cylindrical base that is removably mounted on the liquid container. A valve spout is mounted on the base for linear reciprocating movement. A valve actuator is mounted on the base for rotation. The spout is movable between closed and opened positions where in the opened position liquid can be dispensed through the spout and in the closed position the liquid is blocked from passing through the spout. The actuator is operatively connected to the spout whereby rotation of the actuator between first and second positions relative to the cap base moves the spout between the respective closed and opened positions of the spout on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080083784
    Abstract: A manually operated, vertically reciprocating liquid pump dispenser is removably connectable to a bottle containing liquid and simultaneously pumps liquid from the bottle and air from the exterior environment of the dispenser and mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provides a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080011882
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer has a nozzle assembly that dispenses a spray of liquid in a fan pattern that is selectively oriented horizontally or vertically. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle housing and nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle housing, where the nozzle cap is rotatable relative to the nozzle housing to direct a fan spray pattern of liquid from the nozzle cap in both a vertical and horizontal orientation, and prevent the discharge of liquid from the nozzle cap in cap positions between the horizontal and vertical orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip P. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7311227
    Abstract: A venting system of a manually operated trigger sprayer vents the interior of a liquid container connected to the trigger sprayer. The trigger sprayer is provided with a vent chamber that surrounds the pump chamber, and a vent piston that surrounds the pump piston. The vent piston is received in the vent chamber for reciprocating movements between a vent closed and vent opened position in the vent chamber, and the vent chamber having two different interior diameter sections with a larger interior diameter section reducing drag on the vent piston when the vent piston is moved to the vent opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Publication number: 20070215648
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer is constructed with a reduced number of parts and in a novel manner in which the conventional metal coil spring is replaced with a pair of plastic bowed springs that are integral with the piston rod and the pump piston is connected to the piston rod by a pivoting connection that prevents radial force components acting on the piston rod from the springs from being transferred to the pump piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20070215647
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer is constructed with a reduced number of parts and in a novel manner in which the conventional metal coil spring is replaced with a pair of plastic bowed springs that are integral with the piston rod and the pump piston is connected to the piston rod by a ball and socket connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Jeffrey P. Stark
  • Publication number: 20070210117
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer includes U-shaped springs that bias the trigger sprayer trigger away from the trigger sprayer pump chamber, where the U-shaped springs are connected to a piston rod by a snap-fit connection. The connection includes a compressible forward end of the piston rod that is pressed through an opening on the forward end of the spring to connect the piston rod to the spring. The rearward end of the spring is connected to the sprayer housing by a curved surface that engages around an exterior surface of the pump chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20070210106
    Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer includes U-shaped springs that bias the trigger sprayer trigger away from the trigger sprayer pump chamber, where the U-shaped springs are connected to a piston rod by tamper evident connections. When the trigger of the trigger sprayer is manually operated, the tamper evident connections between the spring and piston rod break, indicating that the trigger sprayer has been operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 7198180
    Abstract: A closure is removably attachable to a container and comprises a dispensing orifice and a tubular valve element that is biased closed blocking communication of the container with the orifice. By inverting the container so that a liquid contents of the container exerts pressure on the valve element, or by squeezing the container causing the liquid contents to exert pressure on the valve element, the valve element opens communication with the dispensing orifice allowing the liquid contents to be dispensed from the container. On removing the pressure from the valve element, the valve element resiliently closes the dispensing orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey
  • Patent number: 7195138
    Abstract: A closure is removably attachable to a container and comprises a dispensing orifice and a valve element that is biased closed over the orifice. By inverting the container so that a liquid contents of the container exerts pressure on the valve element, or by squeezing the container causing the liquid contents to exert pressure on the valve element, the valve element opens the dispensing orifice allowing the liquid contents to be dispensed from the container. On removing the pressure from the valve element, the valve element resiliently closes the dispensing orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7124914
    Abstract: A manually operated vertically reciprocated pump dispenser has a simplified construction with two separate pumps that pump two separate liquids from a container and keep the two separate liquids separated from each other as they are pumped through the dispenser, mixing the liquids for the first time in a discharge passage of the dispenser just prior to the mixed liquids being discharged from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: ContinentalAFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: D543106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Dale L. Picolet, Jeffrey P. Stark
  • Patent number: D547182
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Dale L. Picolet
  • Patent number: D570214
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Continentalafa Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Jeffrey P. Stark