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).

  • Publication number: 20030230641
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a handheld and hand operated liquid trigger sprayer includes a nozzle housing and a flow control member contained in the nozzle housing. The nozzle housing has an oblong liquid discharge orifice and a plurality of liquid breakup channels that radiate outwardly from the orifice. The flow control member has a head with a conical surface that engages over the liquid breakup channels and together they break up a flow of viscous liquid into separate liquid streams that impact with each other at the entrance to the discharge orifice and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle orifice in a narrow, fan spray pattern of the viscous liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6659369
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a handheld and hand operated liquid trigger sprayer includes a nozzle housing and a flow control member contained in the nozzle housing. The nozzle housing has an oblong liquid discharge orifice and a plurality of liquid breakup channels that radiate outwardly from the orifice. The flow control member has a head with a conical surface that engages over the liquid breakup channels and together they break up a flow of viscous liquid into separate liquid streams that impact with each other at the entrance to the discharge orifice and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle orifice in a narrow, fan spray pattern of the viscous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6644516
    Abstract: A manually operated liquid foaming dispenser is attached to the top of a container of liquid and is manually vertically reciprocated to dispense the liquid from the container as a foam. The dispenser includes a liquid pump chamber and an air pump chamber that respectively pump liquid and air under pressure to a discharge passage of the pump where the liquid and air are mixed, generating the foam dispensed from the dispenser. The air pump chamber has a tube valve controlling the discharge of air from the air pump to the discharge passage, and the air pump chamber is charged with air by opening the air pump chamber to the exterior environment of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6641003
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer construction is provided with a single valve member having both a sleeve valve and a disk valve on the single valve member that is assembled into a sprayer housing having a continuous discharge passage and supply passage to provide a trigger sprayer construction with a reduced number of separate component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20030201339
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a trigger sprayer which is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is manipulated to draw the separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers to a discharge passage of the sprayer. In the discharge passage the two separate liquids are mixed together prior to their being dispensed from the discharge passage as a spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Publication number: 20030201342
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a trigger sprayer which is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is manipulated to draw the separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers through two separate discharge passages and check valves to a mixing chamber of the sprayer. In the mixing chamber the two separate liquids are mixed together prior to their being dispensed from the trigger spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20030192964
    Abstract: An adjustable nozzle is attachable to the end of a garden hose and is also attachable to a separate product container, for example, a bottle containing a garden fertilizer or a bottle containing a cleaning soap concentrate. The adjustable nozzle receives a flow of water from the garden hose and dispenses a product from the container attached to the nozzle. The nozzle has a simplified construction with a reduced number of component parts and the operation of the nozzle is simplified yet enables a user to selectively discharge a flow of water or a mixture of water and product from the nozzle, to control the ratio of water to product when the nozzle is employed in dispensing the mixture of water and product, and to direct the discharge as a stream or disperse the discharge in an upwardly or downwardly directed fanned spray pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson, Jeffrey P. Stark
  • Publication number: 20030098368
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer valve assembly that has a conical flange that controls the flow of liquid in a downstream direction through a liquid passage of the trigger sprayer. The valve is constructed with an elongate stem or shaft that facilities the assembly of the valve into the trigger sprayer and a positioning plug that solely holds the valve in a centered position in the liquid passage of the trigger sprayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20030098369
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly including a nozzle member, a cap member, a spinner and a foam tube. The cap member is rotationally mounted on the nozzle member and may be rotated from an “off-position” to a “foam-position” with continued rotation bringing the cap member to a “spray-position” and then to a second “foam-position” and then to the “off-position.” Rotation of the cap member drives foam tube from a retracted position to an extended position extending forward of the nozzle member when the cap member is in the “foam-position.” The spinner rotates to atomize liquid flowing through the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip Nelson, Jeffrey Stark
  • Patent number: 6557783
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly including a nozzle member, a cap member, a spinner and a foam tube. The cap member is rotationally mounted on the nozzle member and may be rotated from an “off-position” to a “foam-position” with continued rotation bringing the cap member to a “spray-position” and then to a second “foam-position” and then to the “off-position.” Rotation of the cap member drives foam tube from a retracted position to an extended position extending forward of the nozzle member when the cap member is in the “foam-position.” The spinner rotates to atomize liquid flowing through the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philipp Nelson, Jeffrey Stark
  • Patent number: 6550694
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a trigger sprayer which is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is manipulated to draw the separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers to a discharge passage of the sprayer. In the discharge passage the two separate liquids are mixed together prior to their being dispensed from the discharge passage as a spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 6032814
    Abstract: A container assembly comprising a container for containing a fluid and a container closure. The container includes a neck having a mouth therein for passage therethrough of liquid in the container. The container closure comprises a closure cap portion adapted for releasable connection to the neck of the container. The closure cap portion comprises a generally annular-shaped skirt and at least three lugs extending generally radially inwardly from an inside surface of the skirt. The container further includes at least three bayonet provisions on an outer surface of the neck for matably receiving the at least three lugs of the closure cap portion, the bayonet provisions and the lugs being shaped and configured to releasably lock the skirt of the closure cap portion to the neck of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 6006949
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating liquid pump of the type comprising a plunger that reciprocates vertically in a pump chamber to dispense liquid from a container to which the pump is attached includes a vent opening to vent air to the interior of the container as liquid is drawn from the container by the pump. The pump plunger locks in its vertically downward position in the pump chamber and is provided with a stopper that plugs the vent opening and prevents liquid in the container from passing through the vent opening when the plunger is in its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, John Patrick Hinson
  • Patent number: 6003738
    Abstract: A child resistant lock for manually-operated pump dispensers such as trigger sprayers, prevents movement of the trigger and reciprocation of the sprayer pump element when the lock is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International,Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5938081
    Abstract: A closure comprising a cap and container where the cap is integrally formed with a trigger sprayer housing and the cap and container have four thread connectors that attach the cap to the container by a quarter turn of the cap relative to the container, and where the cap also has locking tabs that snap over detents on the container and hold the cap securely to the container preventing unintended separation of the cap from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5938082
    Abstract: A container assembly comprising a container for containing fluid, and a container closure. The container includes a neck having a mouth therein for passage therethrough of liquid in the container, and a flange circumscribing and extending radially outwardly from the neck of the container. The flange includes a generally downwardly facing surface. The container closure comprises a closure cap portion adapted for releasable connection to the neck of the container. The closure cap portion comprises a generally annular-shaped skirt, and at least three protrusions extending generally radially inwardly from an inside surface of the skirt. The protrusions are circumferentially spaced from each other along the inside surface of the skirt. The protrusions of the closure cap portion and the flange of the container are configured for a resilient snap-fit engagement of the protrusions with the generally downwardly facing surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Mark Ochs
  • Patent number: 5927561
    Abstract: A manually operated pump comprises a pump housing and a plunger. The pump housing has a pump chamber and an intake port. The plunger extends into the pump chamber. A piston is on the plunger and is reciprocally and axially slidable within the pump chamber between a bottom stroke position and a top stroke position. The fluid pump further includes a priming valve, a check valve, a sealing plug, and a plug seat. The priming valve permits fluid to flow upward through the pump chamber when the piston stroke moves the piston downward from the top stroke position toward the bottom stroke position, and prevents fluid from flowing upward through the pump chamber when the piston stroke moves the piston upward from the bottom stroke position toward the top stroke position. The check valve has a valve seat and a moveable valve member moveable between a closed position in which the moveable valve member moveable between seated and unseated positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5928594
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump configured to be secured to a container's mouth comprises a dispenser body and a lower member connected to the dispenser body. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The lower member is of a molded one piece construction and comprises a housing portion and a seal portion. The housing portion has an intake port adapted for fluid communication with liquid contained in the container. The housing portion at least in part defines an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism. The seal portion is engageable with the container and is shaped and configured for providing a fluid-tight seal between the lower member and the mouth of the container. The seal portion is of a first material and the housing portion is of a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5906301
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump for securement to a container's mouth. The fluid pump comprises a disperser body, a closure cap, a seal assembly, and a priming check valve. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The closure cap is connected to the dispenser body and is configured for closing the mouth of the container. The seal assembly has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is shaped and configured for preventing leakage between the closure cap and the mouth of the container when the closure cap closes the mouth of the container. The second portion has an intake port adapted for fluid communication with liquid contained in the container. The second portion of the seal assembly and the dispenser body define an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: D475294
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Jeffrey P. Stark