Patents by Inventor Simon Christopher Knight

Simon Christopher Knight 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: 20200206763
    Abstract: A pump dispenser has a pump body and a reciprocable plunger with a lock-down mechanism, comprising internal or external lock formations of the plunger and body, such as thread formations, by which the plunger can be locked down for shipping and released subsequently by a rotational release movement. To supplement security for demanding shipping conditions the dispenser also has a supplementary catch mechanism in which respective catch formations of the plunger and body engage selectively in the locked-down position to inhibit the rotational release movement. The catch formations may have circumferentially-directed surfaces which engage between the underside of a plunger head having a shroud and a nozzle and the top of the body beneath the plunger head. They can be released by resilient deformation of one or more of the catch formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Knight, Brian Robert Law, Thomas P. Kasting
  • Publication number: 20200139391
    Abstract: A dispenser pump has a plunger (3) operable in a body including an outer cylinder body (6) having a vent opening (66) in its sidewall and a body insert (7) fitting into the top of the outer body and providing an external collar through which the plunger stem operates. The body insert (7) has lock-down threads (722) to lock down the plunger for shipping. The insert (7) also has formations for blocking or unblocking the vent opening (66) by rotation between the outer body (6) and body insert (7), driven by rotation of the plunger head (31) which makes a catch engagement with the top of the body insert (7). This plunger head rotation is the locking or unlocking action for the plunger lock-down. Blocking the vent during shipping reduces leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Knight, Gaurang MITTAL, Ashish SINGH, Pratham PAL
  • Publication number: 20200061649
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a flowable product from a container has a pump module mounted on the container at an opening thereof. The pump module includes a pump body, which defines a pump chamber and a pump chamber inlet for product to flow from the container interior into the pump chamber. A pump actuator is operable in a pumping stroke relative to the pump body to vary the volume of the pump chamber and dispense the product. The pump includes a movable body portion which is operable in a displacement stroke into the container. The movable portion has a displacement body with a product-engaging face directed onto an interior product space of the container upstream of the pump chamber inlet, to assist priming. Below this a disrupter member, a grid of narrow bars, projects to penetrate the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Knight, David John Pritchett, Thomas P. Kasting, Mark Edward Box, Raymond Yu
  • Publication number: 20200047204
    Abstract: A pump dispenser has a deformable pump chamber constituted by first and second part-chambers each having a respective resiliently deformable faceted chamber wall and a connecting conduit communicating between them. They may be moulded in one piece and require no separate restoring spring. The first and second part-chambers may be disposed in line between a pump body providing an inlet valve from a container and a movable actuator cap providing a valved outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Patent number: 10549299
    Abstract: A pump dispenser has a deformable pump chamber constituted by first and second part-chambers each having a respective resiliently deformable faceted chamber wall and a connecting conduit communicating between them. They may be moulded in one piece and require no separate restoring spring. The first and second part-chambers may be disposed in line between a pump body providing an inlet valve from a container and a movable actuator cap providing a valved outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rieke Packaging Systems Limited
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Patent number: 10537905
    Abstract: A foam dispenser has a foam-generating pump (1) mounted on a container (100) to hold liquid. The pump (1) has a liquid intake conduit with a ball valve (27) and an air intake conduit (45) provided partly by a jacket component (4) fitting around the pump body (2) with clearance. The pump has structure defining a mixing zone (50) for mixing air and liquid, a foam chamber (28) for holding foam received from the mixing zone, and a discharge conduit leading from the foam chamber to a discharge outlet (36). The mixed air and liquid pass through a permeable foam regulator mesh (54). One or more air inlets (47) lead into the mixing zone (50) from the air intake conduit (45). A liquid inlet in the form of a restricted jet orifice (89) leads into the mixing zone (50) from the liquid intake conduit, upstream of the inlet ball valve (27). A regulator mesh (53) is also provided between the liquid inlet and mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: RIEKE PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Patent number: 10464088
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a flowable product from a container has a pump module mounted on the container at an opening thereof. The pump module includes a pump body, which defines a pump chamber and a pump chamber inlet for product to flow from the container interior into the pump chamber. A pump actuator is operable in a pumping stroke relative to the pump body to vary the volume of the pump chamber and dispense the product. The pump includes a movable body portion which is operable in a displacement stroke into the container. The movable portion has a displacement body with a product-engaging face directed onto an interior product space of the container upstream of the pump chamber inlet, to assist priming. Below this a disrupter member, a grid of narrow bars, projects to penetrate the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: RIEKE PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Knight, David John Pritchett, Thomas P. Kasting, Mark Edward Box, Raymond Yu
  • Publication number: 20190283055
    Abstract: An outlet valve for a dispensing nozzle comprising a first valve component constructed and arranged to be received by the dispensing nozzle and a second valve component constructed and arranged to cooperate with the first valve component. The first valve component and the second valve component define a normally-closed flow interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Publication number: 20190233180
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for dispensing fluid product from a squeeze container consists of an outer cap element (3) and an inner element or valve disc (4) fitting inside the cap element. Each is moulded from thermoplastics; no elastomer is used. The cap element includes an outwardly-deflectable diaphragm wall (35) around a central outlet opening (361). The inner element (4) has a peripheral mounting ring (41), a central blocking portion (48) and a set of support spokes (46) providing flow clearance between them. In a closed position the blocking portion closes the outlet opening. In an outflow condition the diaphragm wall (35) deflects outwardly to allow flow. In a recovery mode the blocking portion (48) deflects inwardly for compensation air or residual liquid product to enter the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Patent number: 10350620
    Abstract: An outlet valve for a dispensing nozzle comprising a first valve component constructed and arranged to be received by the dispensing nozzle and a second valve component constructed and arranged to cooperate with the first valve component. The first valve component and the second valve component define a normally-closed flow interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Rieke Packaging Systems Limited
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Publication number: 20190118205
    Abstract: A pump dispenser comprising a container having a neck (6) to which the pump is attached. A pump body (1) has an outward flange (91) through which it is supported on the edge of the container neck (6). A body/neck rotation stop mechanism (64,7) is provided by an interlock engagement between the pump body and the container neck, and has widely-spaced interlock projections (64) on the container neck (6), e.g. one or two projections, each having a circumferentially-directed abutment face (642). A series of spaced interlock teeth (71) projects down from the outward flange (91) of the pump body and these have respective abutment faces (711) to engage the neck projections and limit relative rotation of the pump body and neck. This can assure reliable action of a plunger-locking mechanism of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Patent number: 10252841
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for dispensing fluid product from a squeeze container consists of an outer cap element (3) and an inner element or valve disc (4) fitting inside the cap element. Each is molded from thermoplastics; no elastomer is used. The cap element includes an outwardly-deflectable diaphragm wall (35) around a central outlet opening (361). The inner element (4) has a peripheral mounting ring (41), a central blocking portion (48) and a set of support spokes (46) providing flow clearance between them. In a closed position the blocking portion closes the outlet opening. In an outflow condition the diaphragm wall (35) deflects outwardly to allow flow. In a recovery mode the blocking portion (48) deflects inwardly for compensation air or residual liquid product to enter the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: RIEKE PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Publication number: 20190091710
    Abstract: A dispenser pump for spraying a fine mist has a plunger (2) reciprocable in a pump body (3). The plunger has a head (4) and a stem (5). A closure (8) holds the pump in a container neck, and has an external decorative crimp sleeve (82). The plunger head has a matching external trim (72). A pump spring (7) is mounted outside the pump chamber (71), around the stem above the piston thereof. A pre-compression spring (75) acts to delay opening of the outlet piston seal until sufficient pressure builds in the pump chamber (71).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20190083995
    Abstract: A foam dispenser has a pump body and a sprung plunger (2). A one-piece moulded cylinder component (31) comprises a larger diameter portion (32) for an air cylinder and a smaller diameter portion (33) for a liquid cylinder. The plunger (2) carries respective pistons (22,21) movable in the air cylinder and liquid cylinder to pump air and liquid through valved outlets to a mixing chamber (8) in the plunger for foam production. The liquid cylinder has a discrete inlet piece (9) including an inlet valve. The liquid outlet valve is operated by a valve pin (25) connected to a valve pin retainer (39) which is formed integrally as a one-piece moulding with the cylinder component (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20190031405
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for dispensing liquid, comprising an outer nozzle component (6) defining a nozzle opening (66) and a valve assembly (7) disposed in the closure upstream of the nozzle opening, the valve assembly comprising an outer valve element (3) and a generally rigid intermediate valve seat element (4) disposed inwardly of the outer valve element, the outer valve element comprising an outer valve flap (38) and the intermediate valve element (4) defining an outflow opening (451) bordered by an outer seat region (411,471), the outer valve flap (38) being movable between a closed position, in which it overlaps the outer seat region of the intermediate valve element to close the outflow opening (451) against inflow therethrough, and an open position, in which it is deflected away from the outer seat region (411,471) to open the outflow opening for outflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Simon Christopher Knight, John Anthony Faria
  • Publication number: 20190023463
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a squeeze bottle comprises an outer element, an intermediate element and an inner element. The outer element (3) comprises an outwardly-deflectable diaphragm (35) surrounding an outlet opening (36). The intermediate element (5) comprises an annular seat (57) underlying the outlet opening (36) of the outer element and support structure (56) for the annular seat, with an inflow opening (552) through the annular seat (57) and an outflow opening (551) through the intermediate element around the annular seat (57). The inner element comprises a blocking portion (48; 148) and support structure (46; 146) mounting the blocking portion in the closure aligned with the annular seat. The diaphragm has an inward closed position in which the annular seat of the intermediate element engages around the outlet opening to block flow, and an outwardly-deflected position in which it allows outflow through the outflow opening and outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight
  • Publication number: 20180318861
    Abstract: A dispenser pump is constituted by a closure body (2), a diaphragm body (3) which forms a pump chamber with the closure body and optionally a top actuator (4) for pressing the diaphragm body (4). The diaphragm body has a deformable wall (35) formed integrally in the same polymer as its annular mounting portion (31). An inlet valve (5) through the floor (21) of the closure body has a flap (52) which is formed and hinged integrally with that floor (21). An outlet valve may also be formed in the same polymer, either integrally with the diaphragm body or as a separate component. The deformable wall of the diaphragm body is shaped to generate a restoring force itself without a separate spring, so that the entire pump may be made from the same polymer e.g. polypropylene and without metal components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Simon Christopher KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20180304291
    Abstract: A dispenser has a plunger (3) operable in a pump body (4). The plunger can be locked up or locked down, and formations (88,89) of a pump plunger stem and pump body insert (6) for achieving this are described. Components of the dispenser, including a pump body cylinder/closure component (5), container neck and a pump body insert (6), are rotationally locked together with non-selective alignment and sealed by sliding-fit seals to prevent damage or leakage caused by relative turning of the components in transit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Simon Christopher KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20180299310
    Abstract: A dosing device is described, for dispensing doses of liquid from a container. It has an outlet passage with a front outlet tube (44) and a control chamber (2,29) positioned behind the front outlet tube. A flow path for dosed flow of liquid squeezed from the container leads in around the front of the control chamber (2,29) to the outlet tube (44), via flow openings (23). The control chamber (2) has control openings (28) to admit a restricted flow and time the fall of a blocking piston (3) to a blocking position where it blocks the outlet passage to terminate a dose. To improve uniformity of dosing, the outlet tube (44) has a tortuous flow-restricting formation (449) formed by a set of inward radial finger projections (49).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: REIKE PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon Christopher KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20180154379
    Abstract: A foam dispenser has a foam-generating pump (1) mounted on a container (100) to hold liquid. The pump (1) has a liquid intake conduit with a ball valve (27) and an air intake conduit (45) provided partly by a jacket component (4) fitting around the pump body (2) with clearance. The pump has structure defining a mixing zone (50) for mixing air and liquid, a foam chamber (28) for holding foam received from the mixing zone, and a discharge conduit leading from, the foam chamber to a discharge outlet (36). The mixed air and liquid pass through a permeable foam, regulator mesh (54), One or more air inlets (47) lead into the mixing zone (50) from the air intake conduit (45). A liquid inlet in the form of a restricted jet orifice (89) leads into the mixing zone (50) from the liquid intake conduit, upstream of the inlet ball valve (27). A regulator mesh (53) is also provided between the liquid inlet and mixing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventor: Simon Christopher Knight