Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Elizabeth M. Koch
  • Patent number: 6206058
    Abstract: A vent and fluid transfer fitment for sealing and transferring a fluid from an inverted fluid-filled container without premature leakage to a receiver attachment, has a transfer check valve and a venting check valve which are preferably duckbill valves. The transfer check valve is attached to the fitment for allowing fluid to be transferred from the container when the receiver attachment engages the transfer check valve. The venting check valve is also attached to the fitment for allowing air to displace the fluid as the fluid exits the container, wherein both the transfer check valve and the venting check valve have an inherent sealing pressure created by the static pressure of the fluid within the container. In addition, the inherent sealing pressure of the venting check valve is less than the inherent sealing pressure of the transfer check valve which allows air to enter the container due to the pressure differential created as the fluid is displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Phillip Gene Nagel, James Christopher Bailey, Gordon Edgar Atkinson, Arnold George Benecke
  • Patent number: 6142750
    Abstract: A gear pump and reservoir device for a fluid sprayer comprises a pump housing having a recessed portion for receiving and sealing thereto a fluid reservoir and a cavity for locating a drive motor and gears therein. The recessed portion has a rigid conical projection centered therein which has an orifice extending into a pump inlet. The gear pump further includes a fluid container mounted above the recessed portion of the pump housing to form a fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir has a discharge valve that is opened by engagement with the conical projection within the recessed portion to provide fluid communication to the pump inlet. A static head in the fluid reservoir maintains the gear pump in a primed state. A fluid line leading from the gear pump to a sprayer head has a discharge check valve located therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Arnold George Benecke
  • Patent number: 6109466
    Abstract: An interference threaded closure assembly includes a container and a cap. The container has a neck portion extending therefrom, the neck portion forming an opening and having on an outer surface screw threads and at least one interference bead on the screw threads. The cap has on an inner surface screw threads and a seal for releasably engaging the opening of the neck portion to form a leak free seal. The interference bead of the screw threads engages the screw threads of the cap to create an interference fit when the screw threads are threadably engaged, thereby maintaining the leak free seal of the seal within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Frank Leslie Carrier
  • Patent number: 6053375
    Abstract: A non-resealable, snap-fitted closure comprises a closure, a drop ring and a container. The closure has a sleeve with a sleeve snap. The drop ring has an internal snap and an external snap wherein the internal snap engages the sleeve snap of the closure when the closure engages the drop ring. The container has a neck and a neck snap, wherein the neck snap and the internal snap of the drop ring engage when the closure and the drop ring engage the neck. The neck snap of the neck and the internal snap of the drop ring are an order of magnitude stronger than the sleeve snap of the sleeve and the external snap of the drop ring. When the closure is removed from the neck, the drop ring remains attached to the neck and is free to move vertically up and down along the neck, thereby preventing reattachment of the closure to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Schwartz, Reuben Earl Oder, James Pyott Johnston, Adam Ross Nichols
  • Patent number: 5997759
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable, aqueous odor-absorbing composition, preferably for use on inanimate surfaces. The composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20%, by weight of the composition, of solubilized, water-soluble, uncomplexed cyclodextrin and an effective amount of at least one ingredient to improve the performance of the composition selected from the group consisting of: (1) cyclodextrin compatible surfactant; (2) cyclodextrin compatible antimicrobial active; and (3) mixtures thereof. Hydrophilic perfume improves acceptance. Optionally, the composition can contain low molecular weight polyols; metallic salts to help control odor; a humectant, etc. The composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric. The composition is preferably applied as small particle size droplets, especially from spray containers, preferably non-manually operated sprayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Toan Trinh, Anthony James Burns, William Tucker Campbell, Alen David Streutker, Ricky Ah-Man Woo, Daniel Scott Cobb, Eva Schneiderman, Ann Margaret Wolff, Erin Lynn Rosenbalm, Thomas Edward Ward, Alex Haejoon Chung
  • Patent number: 5988920
    Abstract: A cleaning implement has a reservoir, a dispenser and a fluid transfer tube. The reservoir retains a cleaning fluid and preferably is attached to a collapsible handle. The dispenser is attached to the reservoir by a universal joint which comprises a ball and fork configuration. The fluid transfer tube is connected to the reservoir in open communication with the dispenser, wherein the fluid transfer tube is positioned within the ball of the universal joint to prevent the fluid transfer tube from becoming entangled with the universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeffery Scott Kunkler, Arnold George Benecke
  • Patent number: D416802
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Zimmer, John Dwayne Walther, Peter Brian Clarke
  • Patent number: D416806
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter &Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Zimmer, Glenn Ilustre de Guzman, Ryoichi Tomishima
  • Patent number: D419884
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Zimmer, Lee Mathew Arent, Ronald De Vlam
  • Patent number: D420561
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jeffery Scott Kunkler
  • Patent number: D420763
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Mary Forward, Alasdair Duncan McGregor, Rhona Alexandra Knox
  • Patent number: D421222
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Christopher Todd Boyer, Arnold George Benecke
  • Patent number: D423742
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary William Kingry, Wilbur Cecil Strickland, Michael Earl Hardy, Philip Ebwin Hague
  • Patent number: D425274
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jeffery Scott Kunkler
  • Patent number: D425428
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Zimmer, Lee Mathew Arent, Ronald De Vlam
  • Patent number: D425792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: David Martin Haller
  • Patent number: D428226
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jeffery Scott Kunkler
  • Patent number: D429990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventor: Jeffery Scott Kunkler
  • Patent number: D431094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Mary Forward, Alasdair Duncan McGregor, Rhona Alexandra Knox
  • Patent number: D432747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jeffery Scott Kunkler