Article Retained By Discharge Assistant For Manual Removal Patents (Class 221/255)
  • Patent number: 11158150
    Abstract: A boxed battery dispenser configured to hold a plurality of battery trays. Each battery tray of the plurality of battery trays is configured to hold a plurality of batteries, and each battery tray can be independently removeable from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen James Wilson
  • Patent number: 10845358
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises a housing, a plurality of test sensors, a mechanical mechanism, and a pusher assembly. The housing forms at least one opening therethrough. The plurality of test sensors is stacked in the housing. The plurality of test sensors is adapted to assist in testing at least one analyte. The mechanical mechanism is adapted to urge the plurality of test sensors in a first direction. One of the plurality of test sensors is positioned for extraction from the cartridge. The pusher assembly is adapted to push one of the plurality of test sensors from the cartridge. The pusher assembly includes a ferromagnetic material or a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Reynolds, John P. Creaven
  • Patent number: 10017319
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser bin includes a housing for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets. An electronic drive mechanism in the housing moves the tickets in a forward and reverse direction. A scanner is disposed within the housing at a location to detect a forward edge of a leading lottery ticket in the housing. A controller is in communication with the scanner and the electronic drive mechanism and controls the drive mechanism so that subsequent to the leading lottery ticket being dispensed out the slot, power is supplied to drive mechanism to generate a retarding reverse direction torque by a drive roller on an adjacent lottery ticket for a predetermined time period without reversing direction of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Henrik Moelgaard, Sten Hallundbaek Mejenborg
  • Patent number: 9842472
    Abstract: A consumer gaming loyalty system, which can include: an electronic data processing system operated by a loyalty program operator, the electronic data processing system being independent of a state lottery and a lottery retailer; and a user account defined within the data processing system, the user account configured to store a lottery transaction history provided by at least one of a consumer, the state lottery, the lottery retailer, and the loyalty program operator; and wherein the electronic data processing system is configured to provide least one contest to the consumer through the user account, and the contest is provided by the loyalty program operator independently of the state lottery and a lottery retailer contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Lotto Points Plus, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Board, Jeffrey S. Perlee
  • Patent number: 9033184
    Abstract: A blade dispenser (100) has a blade supply container (110), a blade disposal container (120), and a detachable and reconnectable connecting means (130, 131, 132) that is embodied to connect the blade supply container (110) and blade disposal container (120) detachably to one another. The blade supply container (110) has a blade supply container upper side and a blade supply container underside, and is embodied to receive a blade stack (111) made up of multiple mutually abutting blades (112, 115). The blade supply container (110) also has a removal opening (116) through which at least one blade (112, 115) of the blade stack (111) is removable from the blade supply container (110). The blade disposal container (120) has a blade disposal container upper side and a blade disposal container underside, and is embodied to receive blades (120) to be disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventor: Roland Walter
  • Patent number: 9010570
    Abstract: A container adapted for dispensing a product is provided. The container includes an outer casing body for receiving a dispensing tray. The dispensing tray has an internal storage compartment for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and includes a cover plate defining at least one dispensing aperture through which a stored unit of product is accessible when the outer casing body is in a dispensing position. The container includes a locking mechanism that releasably locks the outer casing body in the closed and locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Ryan A. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8960495
    Abstract: A straw dispenser that hold two individual straws, sequentially selected from an inventory of straws. The upper straw is staged in a position to fall, and the lower straw is in a position made available to a person. The person grasps the available straw and pulls the same, which moves a lower movable part of the dispenser. The forward movement of the lower movable part allows the upper staged straw to fall downwardly to a transitory position, and during backward movement of the lower movable part the straw moves from the transitory position and is made available. At the same time a successive straw is selected from the inventory and held in the staged position. The person need not touch any other part of the dispenser or touch other straws to be dispensed. A subsequent straw cannot be dispensed until the available straw has been removed from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Antonio Domit
  • Publication number: 20140299622
    Abstract: A needle storage magazine for storing and dispensing a plurality of needle assemblies is presented, the needle storage magazine has: a plurality of mounting sleeves each adapted to mount an unused needle assembly or a used needle assembly, a case holding the mounting sleeves side by side, and a feeding and storage mechanism which feeds one of the unused needle assemblies within the mounting sleeve to an opening as well as which draws back one of the used needle assemblies into the mounting sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Verena Hofmann, Uwe Dasbach, Thorsten Mutter, Peter Nober, Leo Zeimetz
  • Patent number: 8777055
    Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
  • Patent number: 8757433
    Abstract: A dispenser automatically dispenses beverage cans. A housing has a conveyor along which cans are conveyed by gravity to a removal opening. A dispensing flap is on the removal opening and can be pivoted between a closed position, in which it prevents the removal of products through the removal opening, and a removal position. The dispensing flap has two trough-shaped receptacles lying at right angles to the conveyor section for one can, and is pivotal such that in the closed position a can is conveyed from the conveyor section into the first receptacle positioned to the inside of the housing, removal of the can from the first receptacle being prevented. In the removal position the can rolls from the first receptacle into the second receptacle, at the same time a new can is prevented from being conveyed from the conveyor into the first receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Gastro-Cool GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Machers
  • Patent number: 8651322
    Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus has a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber that are divided by a dividing wall, a lid covering the second chamber and a cover covering the first chamber, with the first chamber holding a plurality of articles, and an opening provided in the dividing wall to allow an article to pass through to the second chamber. A figure is retained inside the second chamber, the figure having a pair of arms that are normally positioned adjacent the opening in the dividing wall to receive an article that is transferred from the first chamber via the opening in the dividing wall. An actuator is coupled to the figure to push the figure upwardly through the lid so that the figure, and the article held in the arms of the figure, are delivered outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sweet N Fun, Ltd.
    Inventor: Candona Y. S. Fung
  • Publication number: 20130313276
    Abstract: A straw box engageable with a dispenser during dispensing of straws to a user. The straw box includes an elongate door that can be opened while the straw box is engaged with the dispenser so that the dispenser is not required to be turned upside down. A pull tab is attached to the door and is accessible so that the door can be opened after the straw box is attached to the dispenser. The straw box remains engaged with the dispenser until all the straws have been fed from the straw box to the dispenser, and thus to users of the straws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Antonio Domit
  • Patent number: 8567640
    Abstract: A portable carousel assembly for storing and facilitating access to medicine containers, such as plastic bottles commonly used for prescription or over-the-counter medications. Each medicine bottle is housed in a station that includes an aperture formed in a top plate of a rotatable receptacle. The rotatable receptacle is coupled to a stationary base. An ejection mechanism, such as a lever, cam track or ramp is operable to partially eject a selected medicine bottle from the receptacle so that it can be viewed or removed from the receptacle. The medicine bottle is maintained in the partially ejected condition by grasping means, such as flaps, gaskets, or webbing, or by operation of the cam track or ramp, so that the user need only use one hand to operate the carousel assembly and remove the medicine bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LJC Therapy Services. Inc.
    Inventor: Connie Johnson-Lofton
  • Publication number: 20130213990
    Abstract: A removable media container for use in a media dispenser is described. The media container comprises: a diverter entrance for receiving diverted media items prior to stacking of the media items; a non-present stack entrance for receiving a stack of media items subsequent to stacking of the media items but prior to presentation of the stack of media items to a customer; and a present stack entrance for receiving a stack of media items subsequent to presentation of the stack of media items to a customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: NCR Corporation
  • Patent number: 8498737
    Abstract: A low cost compact kiosk for media disc vending or rental is described. Reduced height and an effective disc drop arrangement allow gravity fed dispensing of media discs simplifying design by eliminating complex robotics requiring trained personnel for maintenance. One such kiosk is approximately 76 cm (30 inches)×58 cm (23 inches)×15 cm (6 inches) and can hold at least 375 standard 1.2 mm thick by 12 cm diameter DVDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Rafael Yepez
  • Patent number: 8453890
    Abstract: The product container, in particular for spices, is made of opaque material, wherein one wall (2) of the container (1) comprises a viewing window (3) made of transparent material. A dispenser (6) which is secured pivotably on a pivot axis (7) between two limit positions, is shaped and dimensioned so that in one limit position it completely covers the viewing window (3) and in the other limit position completely exposes the viewing window (3). The dispenser (6) is connected in a non-rotatable manner to an closing flap (8), which is pivoted at the same time as the dispenser (6) and closes an outlet opening (5) in one limit position and releases it in the other limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: WIBERG Besitz GmbH
    Inventor: Leon Widdison
  • Publication number: 20130098939
    Abstract: A cartridge for holding and ejecting fluid test strips and a test-strip metering device for use with such a cartridge. The cartridge holds the test strips in a sheet-like configuration. The metering device is able to extract test strips from the cartridge in response to an actuation of a single user-interface element. The metering device may test the fluids as each is extracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventor: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8397945
    Abstract: A container adapted for dispensing a product is provided. The container includes an outer casing body for receiving a dispensing tray. The dispensing tray has an internal storage compartment for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and includes a cover portion defining at least one dispensing aperture through which a stored unit of product is accessible when the outer casing body is in a dispensing position. A sealing member is engaged with one of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray, and is configured to interact with the other of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray to form a seal about an outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray when the outer casing body is in a closed and locked position. The container includes a locking mechanism that releasably locks the outer casing body in the closed and locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Ryan A. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20130032607
    Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus has a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber that are divided by a dividing wall, a lid covering the second chamber and a cover covering the first chamber, with the first chamber holding a plurality of articles, and an opening provided in the dividing wall to allow an article to pass through to the second chamber. A figure is retained inside the second chamber, the figure having a pair of arms that are normally positioned adjacent the opening in the dividing wall to receive an article that is transferred from the first chamber via the opening in the dividing wall. An actuator is coupled to the figure to push the figure upwardly through the lid so that the figure, and the article held in the arms of the figure, are delivered outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Candona Y.S. Fung
  • Publication number: 20130020347
    Abstract: A strip dispenser (70) for dispensing one strip (S) from a plurality of strips (S). The strip dispenser (70) includes a container (2) that is constructed and arranged to hold a number of strips (S). There is a first structure (3) that defines one or more thin slots (8) that are generally parallel to the perimeter of the container (2), and that have a smallest dimension that is greater than the smallest dimension of a strip (S), where the slots (8) are configured and arranged to inhibit two strips that are stuck together back to back from passing through the slot (8) together. There is also a strip sorting structure (4) that inhibits a strip (S) that has at least partially passed through a slot (8) from fully leaving the container (2) until the strip (S) is pulled out of the container (2) by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Union Street Brand Packaging
    Inventors: Christopher Gieda, David Honan, Nathan Rollins, Michael Price, Andrew Simon, Shane Yellin
  • Patent number: 8281955
    Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
  • Patent number: 8157126
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a probe cover dispenser, which comprises a base having a probe cover basin; a probe cover cartridge receiving probe covers; a gravitational member applying gravity to the probe covers; and a feeder assembly arranged between the base and the probe cover cartridge. The gravitational member makes a probe cover fall from the probe cover cartridge onto the base, and a feeder pushes the gravitationally released probe cover to the probe cover basin. Then, the user inserts a probe of an infrared thermometer into the probe cover inside the probe cover basin to sleeve the probe with the probe cover. Via the present invention, the user can fit a probe cover onto a probe without using his hands. Thus, the present invention can effectively reduce the pollution of probe covers and the infection of testees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Radiant Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Yu, Kevin Lin
  • Patent number: 8136696
    Abstract: A lottery ticket machine able to prevent tickets from being illegally drawn out includes a machine base provided with a driving device, two press rollers with pressed streaks on the wheel surface and a control device. One of the two press rollers is provided with a shaft extending out of the machine base for fixing the control device that contains a rotary gear with engage holes, a bushing and a control wheel bored with bushing hole to be fitted with the bushing and disposed with engage teeth and projecting members to be respectively engaged with the engage holes of the rotary gear. An outer cover covered on the control device is provided inside with engage teeth to correspondingly engage with the engage teeth of the control wheel, and a spring has opposite ends respectively pushing against the control wheel and the inner wall of the bushing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Yun-Lan Cheng, Hui-Jin Tong
  • Patent number: 8096444
    Abstract: A product discharge and delivery system for a vending machine includes a product delivery cup including a carriage portion and a shroud portion having an open bottom section and a discharge element. After receiving a selected product, the product delivery cup is shifted toward a dispensing chamber causing the discharge element to engage with a discharge member mounted within the vending machine. Engagement of the discharge element and discharge member causes the shroud portion to pivot relative to the carrier portion exposing the open bottom section allowing a selected product to release into a dispensing chamber. A delivery port is mounted in the dispensing chamber that rotated between a product receiving position and a product delivery position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Ardern, Dan Bowen, Paul Miller, Charles Wayne Percy, Kevin A. Poyck, Denise Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8083098
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of supplying needle covers to be used to cover or shield the sharp and contaminated ends of used syringe-needles. The devices, systems and methods can include a delivery mechanism sized and configured to supply a plurality of needle-shielding members arranged to automatically advance into a preferred position as each individual needle-shielding member is engaged and subsequently removed from the delivery mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8070013
    Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a dispensing tray with a floor and a region housing a cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil has first and second portions and is moved by an engagement portion of an actuator from a first orientation to a second orientation. In the first orientation, the cutlery utensil rests on the floor in the region and is within the cutlery utensil dispenser, inaccessible to a user. In the second orientation, the second portion of the cutlery utensil projects from the cutlery utensil dispenser and is accessible to the user. A wall of the region has a fulcrum end dimensioned to engage the cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil rotates about the fulcrum end responsive to the engagement portion toward an exit of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8061560
    Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Christopher Todd Hilliard, Jason Cora, Andrew Kirk Dummer, David J. Parrish, Dennis Vaders, Jennifer Ann Mauger
  • Patent number: 8028856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the packaging and dispensing of solid shaped bodies, especially oral tablets or/and capsules, which device has a container sealed with a cap suitable for storing shaped bodies, a dispensing opening, and tools forwarding the shaped bodies from the inside of the container to the dispensing opening. The container (5) is constructed in a house (1) in a way that it can be moved like a piston against elastic returning force. The dispensing opening (35) is situated in the bottom (2a) of the house (1); when the device is in a position when it is not used for dispensing, the end-part of the container (5), with an opening (20) for releasing one shaped body at a time situated opposite the end of the container (5) sealed with a cap, fits into the dispensing opening (35) by sealing it, and it is constructed in a way that in the course of the dispensing operations it makes it possible to dispense favourably one shaped body at a time outside of the house (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: CHINOIN Gyógyszer és Vegyészeti Termékek Gyára Zrt.
    Inventors: Zoltán Erdélyi, Zoltán Bencz, János Mezei
  • Patent number: 8028855
    Abstract: A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers having one or more passageways that provides a pathway for the containers. The dispenser includes an outlet for dispensing the containers and an inlet or opening for loading containers into the dispenser. The dispenser may include a plurality of shelves stackable on top of each other. The dispenser may include a housing and a moveable door. The dispenser may further include a stopper mechanism for blocking the movement of the containers within the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignees: Display Industries, LLC, PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel S. White, Bernard Primiano
  • Patent number: 7946450
    Abstract: A container for dispensing a product is provided, the container including an outer casing body having a cavity; a dispensing tray adapted for sliding movement within the cavity of the outer casing body between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position, the dispensing tray having an internal storage compartment for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, a dispensing window, and a stop for engaging the outer casing body to prevent removal of the dispensing tray from the cavity; and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the dispensing tray in the cavity, the locking mechanism including protrusions projecting from the outer casing body into the cavity and positioned adjacent to a moveable flap formed in the outer casing body, and recesses carried by the dispensing tray and positioned to engage the protrusions when the dispensing tray is in the closed and locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Caleb S. Loftin
  • Patent number: 7922038
    Abstract: A lottery ticket machine having function of preventing tickets from being illegally drawn out includes a machine base provided thereon with a driving device, two press rollers and a control device. One of the two press rollers is disposed with a shaft extending out of the machine base for assembling the control device, which consists of a rotary gear with engage holes, a bushing and a control wheel bored with a bushing hole to be fitted on the bushing and provided with engage teeth and projecting bars to be respectively engaged with the engage holes of the rotary gear. An outer cover covered on the control device is disposed inside with engage teeth to be correspondingly engaged with the engage teeth of the control wheel, and a spring has its opposite ends respectively pushing against the control wheel and the inner wall of a bushing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Yun-Lan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7918365
    Abstract: A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers has a housing with an inlet opening for loading containers into the dispenser, and an outlet opening for dispensing containers. The dispenser has a passageway connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening that includes at least one inclined ramp that the containers roll along. The dispenser has a loading mechanism positioned adjacent the inlet opening that is aligned relative to the passageway. The loading mechanism has a contact surface for receiving a container to be loaded into the passageway and maintains the container in a predetermined alignment with the passageway. Movement of the loading mechanism causes the contact surface to urge the container towards the passageway while substantially maintaining alignment of the container with the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Display Industries, LLC, PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel White, Bernard Primiano
  • Patent number: 7882927
    Abstract: A protective cover for a stethoscope head and an apparatus for quickly and easily interconnecting the protective cover with the stethoscope head. The apparatus includes a cover-positioning device that positions the protective cover so that it can be quickly and easily interconnected with the stethoscope head. The cover positioning device includes a base having a planar portion and an upstanding rim connected to the planar portion, the upstanding rim defining an opening for receiving the stethoscope head therethrough. Following examination of the patient using the stethoscope with the protective head covering, the protective covering can be quickly and easily removed from the stethoscope head and suitably disposed of so as to prevent skin bacteria and like contaminants that may have contaminated the protective cover during patient examination, from undesirably being transmitted to the next patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: Samvel Hmayakyan, Vahen Joakim
  • Publication number: 20100276440
    Abstract: A lottery ticket machine able to prevent tickets from being illegally drawn out includes a machine base provided with a driving device, two press rollers with pressed streaks on the wheel surface and a control device. One of the two press rollers is provided with a shaft extending out of the machine base for fixing the control device that contains a rotary gear with engage holes, a bushing and a control wheel bored with bushing hole to be fitted with the bushing and disposed with engage teeth and projecting members to be respectively engaged with the engage holes of the rotary gear. An outer cover covered on the control device is provided inside with engage teeth to correspondingly engage with the engage teeth of the control wheel, and a spring has opposite ends respectively pushing against the control wheel and the inner wall of the bushing cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Yun-Lan CHENG, Hui-Jin Tong
  • Patent number: 7789268
    Abstract: An assembly for dispensing sterile lancets one at a time from a clip holding a plurality of lancets is described. The assembly is configured to dispense the lancets easily and conveniently under laboratory conditions where the lancet user is gloved and must manipulate the dispenser using only one hand while holding the animal being bled in the other. The assembly and its components are made of polycarbonate and rubber and are therefore capable of being sterilized by steam autoclaving methods or by other means of sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: William T. Golde, Peter Gollobin
  • Patent number: 7757890
    Abstract: A system for dispensing cylindrical containers is disclosed. In an embodiment, a housing with an upper opening and a lower opening includes a track that connects the upper and lower openings. A drawer is mounted in the lower opening so that containers placed in the upper opening may travel along the track until they reach the drawer. In an embodiment opening the drawer allows a single container to be removed. A plurality of tracks connecting a plurality of upper and lower openings may be provided so that different types of containers may be dispensed. In an embodiment the drawer may be lockable and a cover that may include a lock may be mounted to the housing so as to cover the upper opening. In an embodiment, a sensor may be included to detect the opening of the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton E. Alford, Randall G. Singer, Lance Mastalka, Guillermo Bangit, Jeff Fridrich, John Ward
  • Publication number: 20100147869
    Abstract: A blade dispenser including a body comprising a housing and a cover. The housing is configured to store a plurality of new blades. The housing has an opening for receiving the blades. The cover is configured to close the opening. The blade dispenser further includes a blade ejector constructed and arranged to dispense blades through a slot in the body. The body comprises an attachment member configured to couple the blade dispenser to another blade dispenser to increase a storage capacity of new blades of the blade dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: Edward A. ILIFFE, Eric RANIERI
  • Patent number: 7731058
    Abstract: Semi-automatic dispenser for disposable cups, comprising a semi-automatic dispensing mechanism (1-50), defined by a box (2-51) having in its upper section a tubular drawer (4-43) for the accommodation of several common disposable cups (C), arranged as a stack with their mouths facing downwards, and further, each cup is expected to be dispensed in a bottom drawer (6-62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventors: Reynaldo Stamatis Filho, Mauro Moreira De Lima, Luciano Missurini
  • Patent number: 7669732
    Abstract: A cup lid dispenser is characterized by a cylindrical housing for containing a stack of relatively flexible cup lids in vertical orientation with a lip of the bottommost lid supported at points around its circumference on a plurality of shelves within and around a base of the dispenser at a lower end of the housing. The base has a forward opening that exposes just a front portion of the lip of only the bottommost lid of the stack for being gripped by a user. To dispense the bottommost lid, a user grips the exposed lip and pulls the lid downward to flex it away from the overlying stack and forward to move it off of the shelves and release it from the overlying stack of lids for downward movement into an underlying pocket in the base, with continued forward pulling of the lid then moving it through and out of a forward dispense opening from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventor: David Njaastad
  • Patent number: 7640851
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing both coffee in a reservoir and nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters, and then automatically filling individual filters with selected amounts of coffee and brewing the coffee while protecting the reservoir. Through a series of gears, an electric motor rotates an elastic projection with teeth and a disengaging curved tooth against the topmost filter in the stack, dragging it into a filter well beneath a coffee storage receptacle and then dropping it. Simultaneously, a rotating coffee dispenser fills with a selectable quantity of coffee and then dumps the coffee into the filter. The apparatus also includes a stirring device for insuring the stored coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle. A hot water dispenser operates in conjunction with a valve means for cutting off steam from the coffee reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Blair, Larry Moore Moore
  • Patent number: 7614478
    Abstract: A protective cover for a stethoscope head and an apparatus for quickly and easily interconnecting the protective cover with the stethoscope head. The apparatus includes a cover-positioning device that positions the protective cover so that it can be quickly and easily interconnected with the stethoscope head. The cover positioning device includes a base having a planar portion and an upstanding rim connected to the planar portion, the upstanding rim defining an opening for receiving the stethoscope head therethrough. Following examination of the patient using the stethoscope with the protective head covering, the protective covering can be quickly and easily removed from the stethoscope head and suitably disposed of so as to prevent skin bacteria and like contaminants that may have contaminated the protective cover during patient examination, from undesirably being transmitted to the next patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventors: Samvel Hmayakyan, Vahen Joakim
  • Publication number: 20090194557
    Abstract: A blade dispenser is provided to safely and easily dispense razor blades. Embodiments include a dispenser having a housing for accommodating a stack of blades; and a push button slidably mounted at a first end of the housing. The push button has a blade catch for engaging a button-engaging portion of a blade of the blade stack when the push button moves from a depressed position to a released position, to move the blade to an extended position partially outside the housing. A first spring engages the housing and the push button to bias the push button in the released position, and a blade pusher engages an end blade of the blade stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Gary E. VAN DEURSEN
  • Patent number: 7556177
    Abstract: A slide ejector mechanism for automatically removing a slide from a slide stack is set forth. The slide ejector mechanism comprises an ejector blade adapted to engage a longitudinal edge of the slide and an ejector drive. The ejector drive is connected to rotate the ejector blade through a curved ejection path. During this rotation, the ejector blade engages the longitudinal edge of the slide to remove the slide from the slide stack and place the slide at an output position for subsequent manipulation. In accordance with a further enhancement, the slide ejector mechanism may include structures that render the apparatus self-cleaning of broken slides. Such structures may include a platen having an opening therethrough along at least a portion of the ejection path. The opening has a width that is slightly less than a length of the slide so that the slide spans the opening and is supported at its edges by the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Domack
  • Patent number: 7487878
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively elevating objects stored in a container, the apparatus comprising a lift that includes a base, at least one guide having a first end coupled to the base, and an outer ring, wherein the at least one guide includes a second end coupled to the outer ring, whereby the outer ring may be vertically adjusted along a container sidewall surface resulting in vertical adjustment of the base within the container interior. The base may be configured to provide for insertion of objects through an opening in the base, allowing objects to be inserted into the container through the opening and prior to closing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventors: Panipal Giwargis, Ninos Youkhana
  • Patent number: 7481331
    Abstract: A wall mounted vertical, gravity fed dispensing container for use with a blister pack includes a pair of perforated sheets defining a holder portion for receiving and supporting the blister pack while holding the blister pack parallel to the wall. The holder portion is formed as a separate element which can be snapped into the container. The two sheets are hinged at the bottom. Behind the holder portion is a catching container fixed to the holder portion and to the wall such that medication expelled from the blisters through the openings by a manually movable punch is caught in the catching container. A bottom wall of the catching container converges the medications to a bottom chute with a manually movable press lever operating a flap valve to discharge the medications into a cup. A front door covers the holder and the blister pack and contains a receptacle for the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Manrex Limited
    Inventors: John H. Webster, John L. Webster, Fiona Webster-Mourant
  • Patent number: 7461760
    Abstract: A battery dispenser and a refill for a battery dispenser are provided. In one embodiment the battery dispenser includes a disk that supports a plurality of batteries, a cover that has an opening, a grip ring that rotates the disk to align the batteries with the opening of the cover, and a push element capable of advancing batteries from inside the cover to a landing external to the cover. The disk rotates relative to the grip ring between a load position and a dispensing position, and the disk is removable from the grip ring when the disk is in the load position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferguson, Todd B. Abernethy, Jon Gauthier, John M. Dupnik
  • Patent number: 7320413
    Abstract: A disposable container for holding and dispensing one oral care, candy and/or medicinal strip at a time, without the need to open the package or to insert one's dirty fingers into the package, thereby eliminating the contamination of the remaining strips, and allowing the use of only one hand to dispense a strip directly on to the tongue, thereby eliminating the need to place ones dirty hand into the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: John C. Fusi
  • Patent number: 7311222
    Abstract: A drug dispenser which can easily align drugs when filling it with the drugs. In a drug dispenser in which a lowermost drug of a plurality of drugs (100) stacked in a vertical direction and contained in a drug case (1) is pushed out in a horizontal direction to dispense it, a door (7) is provided on the front surface of the drug case (1). A drug aligning device (second door 11) is provided on the inner surface of the door (7), the drug aligning device pushes the front ends of the plurality of drugs (100) contained in the drug case (1) to align the rear ends thereof when the door (7) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shigeyama, Hiroyuki Kanda
  • Patent number: 7232041
    Abstract: A battery dispenser and a refill for a battery dispenser are provided. In one embodiment the battery dispenser includes a housing that has an opening, a landing, and a push element capable of advancing batteries from inside the housing to the landing external to the housing. The position of at least one of the push element and the landing is adjustable to enable the battery dispenser to dispense batteries that are one of at least two distinct physical sizes. A refill for the battery dispenser includes a base, a plurality of batteries disposed on the base and a retainer that contacts the batteries and is connected to the base. The refill base can cooperate with the dispenser to adjust the height of the landing or the push element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferguson, Richard H. Chapman, Todd B. Abernethy, Jon Gauthier, John M. Dupnik
  • Patent number: 7216776
    Abstract: A child-resistant dispenser for dispensing items, including a chassis (12) having a reservoir (40) for holding items (16) and a conveyor (14) including a conveyor pocket (18) for receiving an item (16a). The conveyor (14) is pivotably mounted within chassis (12) between a closed position in which the conveyor pocket (18) is inaccessible from outside the dispenser (10), and an open position, in which the conveyor pocket (18) is accessible from outside of the dispenser (10). The dispenser further includes a pathway positioned between the reservoir (40) and the conveyor pocket (18) when the conveyor (14) is closed. The pathway is blocked by the conveyor (14) when the conveyor (14) is open. A locking mechanism (20, 22) is provided for releasably locking the pill conveyor (14) in a closed position. A user must simultaneously apply pressure to both the conveyor (14) and the locking mechanism (20, 22) in order to open the conveyor (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi