Patents Assigned to Contico
  • Patent number: 5645221
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer contains a valve element that vents air from a pump chamber of the sprayer, while priming the pump, to the interior of a liquid container to which the sprayer is attached. In an alternate embodiment, the valve element includes an integral check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5628461
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus is provided with a separate fluid spinner and fluid flow control valve in a fluid channel of the sprayer housing. The control valve controls the flow of liquid through the fluid channel and the fluid spinner imparts a spin to the flow of liquid prior to its discharge from the fluid channel to create a spray pattern in the liquid. The control valve and fluid spinner are formed as separate component parts of the trigger sprayer to facilitate the assembly of the control valve and spinner into the fluid channel of the sprayer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5628434
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer contains a pressure buildup valve that prevents liquid from being dispensed from the sprayer until the pressure of the liquid pumped from the sprayer pump exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5622317
    Abstract: A pressure buildup trigger sprayer contains a valve element that vents air from a pump chamber of the sprayer to the interior of a liquid container to which the sprayer is attached while priming the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5615835
    Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5609299
    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: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 5601211
    Abstract: A dispenser assembly for dispensing liquid from a container has a dispenser operable remotely from the container by way of a tube communicating the dispenser and the liquid within the container. The dispenser assembly has a hand-held dispenser and a tube connected to the dispenser for extension into the liquid within the container. The dispenser is operable to dispense liquid from the container by way of the tube. An adaptor is secured to the container with the tube operable for extending from the dispenser, through the adaptor, and into the container. With the dispenser disconnected from the adaptor and with the adaptor secured to the container, the dispenser may be operated remotely from the container to dispense the liquid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5593093
    Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5590834
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer has a one-piece housing with a shroud having sides which extend rearward to an integral ergonomic saddle the sides connected by ribs and a surface configured to rest upon the user's hand during trigger sprayer actuation. The housing also incorporates an integral barrel, pump cylinder and vent passage cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5575407
    Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5566885
    Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5564805
    Abstract: A plastic storage container with wheel assemblies having an axle pin rotatably fixed to the container, a secure lid latch having a double-wall construction to ease opening and closing as well as an offset hinge to allow protection of the latch during distribution, and an internal tray having dependent flanges which mate to the storage container to prevent the walls of the storage container from splaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Dickinson
  • Patent number: 5562250
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus for use with a container having multiple compartments, the apparatus having a pump for drawing liquid from the container compartments to the pump, wherein check valves prevent liquid from backflowing from the pump to the compartments and the pump has control valves for selecting the mixture ratio of the liquids entering the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. O'Neill
  • Patent number: D373953
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley D. Gale
  • Patent number: D373973
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dickinson, Bradley D. Gale
  • Patent number: D376259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dickinson, Bradley D. Gale
  • Patent number: D376318
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: George Hildebrand
  • Patent number: D376909
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dickinson, Bradley D. Gale
  • Patent number: D378874
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dickinson, Bradley D. Gale
  • Patent number: D379266
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dickinson, Bradley D. Gale