Patents Examined by A. Pomrening
  • Patent number: 5419461
    Abstract: A narrow profile substantially flat carbonator is shown, consisting of a pair of cold drawn sheet metal halves. Each half defines corresponding alternating seams and ridges and are welded together around a perimeter them of and along each corresponding seam. When both halves are welded together the ridges define an interior plurality of vertical interior columns, which columns are fluidly interconnected with top and bottom interior channels. The too channel includes a pressure relief valve, a carbon dioxide inlet fitting, a water inlet fitting, and a level sensor fitting for retaining a level sensor. A plurality of carbonated water lines extend from the bottom of the carbonator and up along and closely adjacent a side of the carbonator. The carbonated water lines terminate at a point above the carbonator and provide for direct securing to a beverage dispensing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas P. Goulet
  • Patent number: 5417348
    Abstract: A mixer tap unit has a body connected to a nozzle having two separate water passages extending the length of the nozzle. A hot water connection, a cold water connection and a filtered water connection are provided for the body. In use, the hot and cold water can mix in a mixing chamber in the tap body and flow along the passage. Filtered water flows separately along the passage. Valves are provided to respectively control the flow of the hot, cold and filtered water. In a preferred form, a chamber allows carbonization of the filtered water prior to delivery to the tap body and the supply of CO.sub.2 gas to the chamber is controllable by a valve. The valve is operated in a first direction to inject CO.sub.2 gas into water in the chamber, and in a second direction to allow the carbonated water to flow to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Avilion Limited
    Inventors: Robert B. Perrin, Gregory N. Rowe, Peter R. Charters, Patrick S. Racz
  • Patent number: 5415327
    Abstract: A dispensing jar for pasty products, of the type having a sealed chamber (3) containing the product to be dispensed under vacuum, the chamber (3) having a dispensing pump (4) actuated by a cap (8), the cap (8) having a peripheral skirt (9) in the form of a spherical segment whose free peripheral border forms an external collar (10) coacting with an internal flange (12) provided at the end of a cylindrical wall (11) of the jar (1, 2), the central portion of the cap (8) having a crown (13) directed toward the interior of the jar (1, 2) and whose free internal end (14) coacts with play with the actuating member (5) of the pump (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Lir France
    Inventor: Bernard Favre
  • Patent number: 5413255
    Abstract: A gas powered applicator for dispensing measured doses of a liquid comprising a handle with a detachable mounted dispensing unit and a manually operated gas control valve which selectively places the dispensing unit either in connection with a source of gas under pressure or in connection with an exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Mark Anderson
    Inventor: Hugh Dent
  • Patent number: 5411177
    Abstract: A foam dispensing apparatus which includes a foamable liquid container and a foam generating device for mixing a gas with a foamable liquid. The foam generating device has a plurality of passages through which pressurized gas flows simultaneously with foamable liquid into the foam generating chamber past a flow restrictor. The passages are formed by a plurality of vertical flutes or horizontal grooves in one of the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Jack W. Kaufman
    Inventor: Joseph W. Blake, III
  • Patent number: 5411174
    Abstract: An emptying balance contains a product flow setting device, which contains a rotary slide valve. The angle between a rotary slide valve wall and the facing fixed wall is consequently dependent on the opening position of the rotary slide valve. A fine blocking flap is also provided which is opened by means of two pressure cylinders arranged in series, and which are individually controllable. For subsequent metering of small product quantities only one of the two pressure cylinders is operated and this only leads to a limited opening of the fine blocking flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Optima-Maschinenfabrik Dr. Buhler GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Braun, Werner Gwinner
  • Patent number: 5409138
    Abstract: An ink filter having a fine mesh structure secured to an ink supply passageway is erected at a side portion of an ink reservoir. An upper portion of the ink reservoir communicates with the atmosphere through an air filter, a lower side portion communicates with the ink supply passageway. An ink filter interrupts the ink supply passageway at an upper portion and has a predetermined height to ensure maintenance of a column of ink in the ink supply passageway. As a result of the capillary phenomenon of the ink filter on the ink, the ink fills the entire portion of the ink supply passageway located below the ink filter so that the liquid surface of the ink is above the communication portion between the ink supply passageway and the ink reservoir but below the position of the ink filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 5409142
    Abstract: A dispenser device comprises a container body having two axial ends. A receptacle made from an elastic material is placed in the container body and contains the substance to be dispensed. A dispensing head provided at a first axial end of the container body communicates with the receptacle and can be opened and closed on command. The dispenser device further includes a bottom base provided at the second axial end of the container body which is opposite the dispensing head and to which the receptacle is fixed. An elongation limiter is fixed to the dispensing head and to the bottom base to limit the separation between the dispensing head and the bottom base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventors: Monique Wenmaekers, Edmond Wenmaekers
  • Patent number: 5409140
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing two components is disclosed which comprises a drum 10 in which a tube 20 is supported. A first piston 12 is arranged within the drum 10 and has an opening 22 through which the tube 20 extends. The opening is provided with a plug 80 which has an aperture also through which the tube 20 extends. The plug supports a blade 32 which bears on a second piston 40 arranged within the tube 22. The plug 80 is fixed relative to the piston 12 so that it and the blade 32 move with the piston 12. During movement of the piston 12 the blade 32 slices the tube 20 and bears against the second piston 40 so that the first piston 12 and the second piston 40 move in a fixed manner as a single unit. During movement of the pistons 12 and 40 the two components are dispensed from the drum 10 and the tube 22 in a particular ratio depended upon the volume displaced by movement of the pistons 12 and 40. The dispensed components can therefore be mixed together in the predetermined ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventors: James O. Camm, Stephen J. Camm
  • Patent number: 5407103
    Abstract: A device for discharging particulate material from a container with a table to support the particulate material includes a feed unit which is movable on the table for discharging the material through a peripheral outlet opening, and a drive for driving the feed unit; the feed unit includes at least two spaced feeding elements disposed to successively move the material in a direction from the center of the table towards the outlet opening; the feeding elements are arranged, during a full cycle of movement of the feed unit, to be alternately active within an arbitrary section of the table extending between the center part and outlet opening for feeding a layer of particulate material in front of them in the direction toward the outlet opening and inactive while returning to a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Kamyr Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Bo Clarstrom, Lennart Jonsson, Finn Oulie
  • Patent number: 5402921
    Abstract: An injection molded thermoplastic closure for a container having a generally planar wall and an integrally molded push-in tab within the area of the wall. The push-in tab has its boundary formed by discontinuities in the closure wall and the discontinuities are hermetically closed with a sealant applied locally in an arcuate pattern by rotation of the closure relative to a sealant applicator. A hinge line of the push-in tab has a construction that improves hinge integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventors: Michael J. Forsyth, Bruno A. Mediate, David E. Pecot
  • Patent number: 5400924
    Abstract: In an above ground fuel storage system, a containment vessel is selected to resist impact shock, as well as deformation from fire's heat and internal hydraulic pressures in the presence of such heat. The fuel delivery input port, the fuel tank, all fuel lines and dispensing equipment are mounted fully enclosed within the confines of the containment vessel. The containment vessel may be transportable or be permanently emplaced on use site. Solar energy is utilized to allow operation in undeveloped areas. A remote control device permits system shut down to be initiated from a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Richard G. Brodie
  • Patent number: 5400920
    Abstract: A valve for delivering a metered dose of a medicinal aerosol formulation. The valve has a filling state, a filled state, a metering state, and a dispensing state. A metering chamber is formed when the device is taken from the filled state to the metering state. Once the valve has been placed in the filled state it can no longer be placed in the filling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James B. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 5400922
    Abstract: An electric autoinflator for inflating inflatable devices such as personal flotation devices, life rafts, buoys and emergency signalling equipment. The electric autoinflator comprises an actuator assembly including a fusible link. A water-sensing electrical circuit and battery supplies electrical current to the fusible link actuator assembly upon immersion in water for a predetermined period of time. Upon fusing of the link, the actuator assembly forcibly causes a firing pin of the inflator to pierce the frangible seal of a compressed gas cartridge. The escaping gas then inflates the inflatable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Halkey-Roberts Corporation
    Inventors: Jacek M. Weinheimer, Michael T. Taylor, Richard A. Boe
  • Patent number: 5400926
    Abstract: A dispensing cartridge comprising a storage cylinder and a feeding piston. A sealing ring is inserted in the wall of the piston at a distance from the end of the feeding piston facing the cartridge contents. The end is additionally provided with a sealing lip and a V-shaped, circular groove disposed between the sealing lip and the piston wall. The bottom surface of the feeding piston facing the cartridge contents is provided with radially extending venting grooves which communicate with a venting bore, while the other ends of the venting grooves communicate with the V-shaped circular groove of the sealing lip. With the feeding piston sealed in this matter, outflow of the contents is effectively prevented even if aggressive substances, substances having a low viscosity, or substances having extremely high flow properties are contained. Moreover, the ability to store such substances is strongly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Wilhelm A. Keller
  • Patent number: 5398845
    Abstract: A dispenser for soap lather has a vessel for a larger supply of liquid soap and a tank for a smaller supply of liquid soap and for a body of air above the smaller supply. One or more bellows are used to pump compressed air into a portion of the tank when a user desires to obtain a batch of lather. The compressed air expels a certain quantity of liquid soap from the tank into a lather generator and the lather generator further receives some compressed air to form a batch of lather which is dispensed into or onto the hands of a user. When the bellows expands or expand, it or they can draw air into or along the outlet of the lather generator to retract any remnants of lather. Alternatively, a discrete pump can be provided to blow out any remnants from the lather generator in response to or during expansion of the bellows. The discharged quantity of liquid soap is replenished in the tank by way of an adjustable conduit connecting the vessel with the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Steiner Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Meyer
  • Patent number: 5397026
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for discharging the contents of a test tube which has a resilient self-sealing, reusable stopper at one end. The apparatus includes a flexible member that has a constricted end and a second end. The constricted end defines an outlet area that has an opening. A support having an aperture is disposed proximate to the flexible member. The interior of the flexible member defines a cavity. The apparatus further includes a single fluid transfer tube having a longitudinal bore. The fluid transfer tube has a sharpened end for insertion into and through the seal of the test tube and an outlet end that extends into the aperture. The longitudinal bore establishes a fluid flow path from the sharpened end to the outlet end. When the fluid transfer tube is inserted into the seal of the test tube, the interior of the sealed test tube and the outlet area opening are in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Helena Laboratories Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Mayes
  • Patent number: 5392967
    Abstract: A plug device for a liquid container is presented to enable cleaning of a flow passage of the liquid container as well as to eliminate the liquid being left in the flow passage during the operation of the liquid container, thus providing hygienic and safe operation of the container. The plug device consists of an outer plug member and an inner plug member which is detachably attached to the outer plug member. When the members are assembled, a flow passage is formed automatically to enable access to the liquid stored in the container. When a press button provided on the inner plug member is pressed down, the opening disposed at the bottom of a plunger device remains open, resulting in the interior space of the container being connected with the flow passage via the internal liquid passage. In this condition, the container can be tilted to dispense the liquid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Satomi, Seiichi Itoh, Isao Watanabe, Toru Goto, Shoji Sekihara
  • Patent number: 5390829
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a liquid injection container which comprises: a container body 1; a cylinder 10 depending into the container body from a cap-shaped member 3 fitted on the outer face of the mouth/neck portion of the container body; and an actuator 20 having a stem 17 erected through the top wall 4 of the cap-shaped member from a cylindrical piston 16, which is fitted in the cylinder, and a head 18 fitted on the upper end of the stem and having a nozzle opened forward. The actuator is moved up and down with respect to the cylinder for sucking a liquid in the container body into the cylinder and discharging the liquid in the cylinder out of the nozzle 19 through the stem. A finger knob 30 attached to the top face of the head for receiving a finger. The vertical movements of the actuator are accomplished by the tip of the finger inserted into the finger knob. The actuations of the actuator are facilitated by means of auxiliary walls 6 and 6 acting as a finger knob and guiding the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Saito, Takamitsu Nozawa, Kazunori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5388732
    Abstract: A vessel having a bottom with a vertical center-line and an annular side wall extending upward from the bottom of the vessel terminating into a rim portion. The vessel is further provided with at least one pouring spout formed in the side wall and extends peripherally about the side wall for at least a 75 degree arc with respect to the vertical centerline of the bottom. The pouring spout consists of two opposing concave upper pouring spout surfaces which converge upon and join a concave lower throat surface. The pouring spout thus provides a cross-sectional flow pattern initially in the shape of a convex-sided V that reforms into a round non-turbulent stream regardless of the flow rate of the liquid being poured. A complementary closure having at least one array of openings, for venting steam and/or straining liquids being prepared in the vessel is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard W. Greger