Patents Assigned to Tropical Ventures, LLC
  • Patent number: 7980423
    Abstract: An apparatus for discharging a stream of fluid includes a water pump, a trigger mechanism, a ratchet mechanism, a fluid reservoir, and a secondary fluid chamber. A pump handle is used to move a piston that draws the fluid from the fluid reservoir into the secondary fluid chamber before discharge. The pump handle is also used to selectively connect the trigger mechanism to the ratchet mechanism to allow incremental discharge of the fluid from the secondary fluid chamber. A handle is selectively connectable to the ratchet mechanism and configured to manually move the ratchet mechanism to a first position against the urgency of the spring. The handle is also selectably connectable to a pump mechanism, the handle being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the handle is connected to the ratchet mechanism in the first position and connected to the pump mechanism in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Patent number: 7861891
    Abstract: A device for discharging a stream of fluid is presented. The device includes a water pump handle and trigger mechanism that are selectively connectable to a ratchet mechanism to allow incremental discharge of the fluid. The device includes a body accommodating a water reservoir and a fluid line extending through the body. A spring urges the ratchet bar to allow the discharge of fluid during the spring-induced movement of said ratchet bar. A trigger mechanism arrests the spring-induced movement of the ratchet bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20100176150
    Abstract: Presented is an apparatus for discharging a stream of fluid. The apparatus includes a water pump, a trigger mechanism, a ratchet mechanism, a fluid reservoir, and a secondary fluid chamber. A pump handle is used to move a piston that draws the fluid from the fluid reservoir into the secondary fluid chamber before discharge. The pump handle is also used to selectively connect the trigger mechanism to the ratchet mechanism to allow incremental discharge of the fluid from the secondary fluid chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan AMRON
  • Patent number: 7731103
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable product such, for example, as a spin-art paint solution, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the flowable product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the flowable product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, which may be accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target surface, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable material onto a target substrate in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron
  • Patent number: 7549599
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a viscous fluid product, including a pump having an inlet; an outlet; a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder; and a piston rod attached to the piston with its first end being exposed. The pump pumps viscous fluid product from a container to the outlet when the inlet is submerged in the viscous fluid product and the piston rod is axially moved relative to the cylinder. The device further includes a handle attached to the piston rod; a nozzle rotatably mounted on the handle around a rotation axis, in fluid communication with the outlet, and having a discharge orifice offset from the rotation axis; and a mechanism for rotating the nozzle around the rotation axis when the piston rod is axially moved relative the cylinder so that the discharge orifice moves in a circular pattern for dispensing the viscous liquid product in a substantially helical pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Patent number: 7530474
    Abstract: A water discharging amusement device incorporates a housing defining an interior chamber, an inlet conduit dimensioned and arranged to receive water from a source of pressurized water and to direct received pressured water into the interior chamber, a rotatable nozzle assembly dimensioned and arranged to spin while receiving pressurized water from the interior chamber and to eject a substantially spiral stream of water as it spins, and a drive assembly disposed within the chamber and dimensioned and arranged to convert linear forces imparted by pressurized water arriving via the inlet into rotary forces for rotating the rotatable nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron
  • Patent number: 7475832
    Abstract: A portable water sprinkling amusement device incorporates a water storage reservoir for transporting its own supply of water, at least one nozzle assembly defining at least one discharge orifice, an avenue of release establishing fluid communication between the water storage reservoir and the at least one nozzle assembly, and a fluid transfer system operative to develop forces for causing a stream of liquid to flow through the avenue of release and out of the discharge orifice upon actuation of an on/off mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Patent number: 7458485
    Abstract: Toy water guns include a housing supporting a liquid storage chamber, a conduit for establishing fluid communication between the chamber and a discharge orifice disposed proximate a front end of the housing, a trigger mechanism, a fluid transfer system adapted to develop forces for causing a continuous or pulsed stream of liquid to flow through the conduit and out of the discharge orifice when the trigger is pressed. A first embodiment employs a rotatable nozzle assembly that is dimensioned and arranged to spin as it receives a stream of liquid via the conduit. The nozzle assembly ejects a stream of liquid as it spins to thereby obtain a helical “tornado” flow pattern. In a second embodiment, a fixed or movable deflector is used so that water exiting a nozzle strikes a surface of the deflector to thereby develop a “wave” or “hard rain” discharge pattern. Multiple modes of operation are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Patent number: 7374069
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable food product such, for example, as a condiment, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the food product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the viscous food product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target food item, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable food material onto the target item in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron
  • Publication number: 20070063069
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable food product such, for example, as a condiment, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the food product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the viscous food product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target food item, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable food material onto the target item in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC.
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20070018015
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a viscous fluid product, including a pump having an inlet; an outlet; a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder; and a piston rod attached to the piston with its first end being exposed. The pump pumps viscous fluid product from a container to the outlet when the inlet is submerged in the viscous fluid product and the piston rod is axially moved relative to the cylinder. The device further includes a handle attached to the piston rod; a nozzle rotatably mounted on the handle around a rotation axis, in fluid communication with the outlet, and having a discharge orifice offset from the rotation axis; and a mechanism for rotating the nozzle around the rotation axis when the piston rod is axially moved relative the cylinder so that the discharge orifice moves in a circular pattern for dispensing the viscous liquid product in a substantially helical pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20060273188
    Abstract: A portable water sprinkling amusement device incorporates a water storage reservoir for transporting its own supply of water, at least one nozzle assembly defining at least one discharge orifice, an avenue of release establishing fluid communication between the water storage reservoir and the at least one nozzle assembly, and a fluid transfer system operative to develop forces for causing a stream of liquid to flow through the avenue of release and out of the discharge orifice upon actuation of an on/off mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20060273199
    Abstract: Toy water guns include a housing supporting a liquid storage reservoir, a conduit for establishing fluid communication between the reservoir and a discharge orifice disposed proximate a front end of the housing, a trigger mechanism, a fluid transfer system adapted to develop forces for causing a continuous or pulsed stream of liquid to flow through the conduit and out of the discharge orifice when the trigger is pressed. An illustrative embodiment employs a nozzle translation assembly that is dimensioned and arranged to move the discharge orifice along a time varying path relative to the housing as a stream of liquid is discharged. The time varying path may be circular, as to obtain a helical or spiral flow pattern or non-circular as to obtain, for example, a zig-zagging or figure eight pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC.
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20060261189
    Abstract: A water discharging amusement device incorporates a housing defining an interior chamber, an inlet conduit dimensioned and arranged to receive water from a source of pressurized water and to direct received pressured water into the interior chamber, a rotatable nozzle assembly dimensioned and arranged to spin while receiving pressurized water from the interior chamber and to eject a substantially spiral stream of water as it spins, and a drive assembly disposed within the chamber and dimensioned and arranged to convert linear forces imparted by pressurized water arriving via the inlet into rotary forces for rotating the rotatable nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC.
    Inventor: Alan Amron
  • Publication number: 20060261184
    Abstract: A nozzle discharge assembly includes a housing having a connection for receiving a pressurized supply of liquid and a nozzle having a discharge orifice movable relative to the housing. A mechanism controls a movement of the discharge orifice so that the discharge orifice moves in a pattern relative to the housing for creating a substantially helical stream of liquid when the pressurized supply of liquid flows through the discharge orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Tropical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Amron