Patents Examined by A. Pomrening
  • Patent number: 5332131
    Abstract: A kicker latch for container closures includes a latch wall integrally hinged to the cap and having a latch tab extending from an end of the latch wall toward the cap and kicker lever extending in generally the same direction and spaced from the latch tab. In general, pivoting the kicker latch outwardly causes the kicker lever to urge a closure member of the cap away from its closed position to facilitate grasping the closure member to pivot it to its fully open position. On a folding spout type of cap, wherein the folding spout functions as a closure member, the latch wall may include a plug positioned between the latch tab and the kicker lever to seal the end of the spout. In general, the kicker latch has utility with a variety of types of container closures, including caps with nonfolding spouts, open top types of caps for pills and granulates, and containers for which the closure member is a lid which is completely separable from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: Harold T. Pehr
  • Patent number: 5325998
    Abstract: A pressurized inverted dispenser utilizes a hollow vertically elongated body having a lower end with an aperture, an upper end, a flat vertical cover and a front curved wall with a button receiving opening. The front wall, the cover, the upper end and the lower end are sealed together. The inside surface of the cover carries a connector support. A button is disposed in the opening which is slidably movable toward and away from the rear wall between depressed and extended positions. A horizontally elongated connector secured to the rear surface of the button and slidably engages the connector support. The button slidably supports a horizontal leg of a spring which also has a vertical end leg aligned with the aperture, and a U shaped central section disposed between and secured to the first and second legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignees: Charlotte Ambrogio, Sally Conant, Robert Bennett
    Inventor: Robert A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 5326003
    Abstract: A dispenser has a rubber socket with an opening at one end for fluid-tight coupling to a beverage container. An L-shaped, rigid tube has a first leg connected to receive the beverage from the socket, and a second leg with an opening about which a user's mouth can be placed to receive the beverage from the dispenser. Either the socket or the tube has an inlet opening through which a tubular plug extends. A flexible tube is attached to the inner end of the plug and projects outwardly from the open end of the socket. The tube provides passageway through which air enters the container to replace the beverage flowing out through the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventors: Robert Kitto, Tregg Peyton, William M. Hoag
  • Patent number: 5326000
    Abstract: A discharge apparatus (1) is constructed as an air pump with two axially interconnected and constantly communicating pressure chamber parts (20, 21). Of these one surrounds a cap-like mounting support (10) for a further medium pump (2) and/or a reservoir (3) on the outer circumference. The mounting support (10) serves as a piston-like displacement body for the other pressure chamber part (21) and as a guide for the displaceable component (5) of the discharge apparatus (1). From the outside a fixing cap (31) can be inserted in a substantially clearance-free manner into the mounting support (10) and forms the connection between all the separate subassemblies, namely the discharge apparatus (1), the medium pump (2) and the reservoir (3). This gives a very simple construction and installation, accompanied by a high delivery volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5323931
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing the extrudable contents of a collapsible container having a nozzle through which the container can be discharged by collapsing the container. The dispenser is of a piston/cylinder device, with the piston having a container-engaging face provided with a contoured structure of a predetermined configuration corresponding generally to a collapsing profile of the collapsible container. An elongated flexible valve device is slidably mounted relative to the housing and includes a coupling end coupled directly to a trigger member of the dispenser and a valve end for opening and closing an opening in the housing which defines the cylinder of the device. The flexible valve device is a band member of plastic material and is operatively associated with a mechanism for holding the valve open when a cover of the housing is removed and for automatically closing the valve when the cover is replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Prince Castle Inc.
    Inventors: Chester F. Robards, Jr., Daniel A. Rubino
  • Patent number: 5320257
    Abstract: An elongate peripherally defined ampule having a handle-like reservoir structurally communicating with a medial articulating element which interconnects an elongate spout to define an enclosed containment chamber. The ampule is formed of resiliently deformable material to allow dispersement of contents by manual deformation of the ampule structure and to allow accurate placement of expressed contents by manipulation of the articulating element and spout structure. The spout provides a relatively small end portion and an outwardly tapering medial channel for severance at selected positions to provide dispersement orifices of different sizes and shapes. The ampule defines a containment chamber of up to the two cubic centimeter volume range for dispersement of extrudable materials of a fluidic, gelatinous, or powdered nature, and especially for pre-measured single use quantities of chemicals, medicaments and the like. The ampule is preferably formed by molding polymeric or resinous plastic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: John Snedden
  • Patent number: 5318197
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for beverage dispensing control and monitoring. A bottle control cap is attached to a bottle and a micro processor positioned in the bottle control cap is programmed with data to identify that control cap from others in a system of programmable control caps. The micro processor controls an electric motor which opens and closes a flow passage in the control cap on command in response to a signal from a system control processor located at a remote location. The micro processor is also programmed to request the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls
    Inventors: William A. Martindale, Richard A. Martindale, Matthew Straddeck, Gregory J. Osborne
  • Patent number: 5314093
    Abstract: A toggle-action container dispensing closure is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. The closure includes an actuator mounted on a body secured to the container. The actuator is tiltable between a closed position and an open position, and the actuator has an engaging tab. A locking ring is mounted on the body for rotation relative to the body and actuator. The ring defines an abutment member for engaging the actuator engaging tab. In one position, the locking ring abutment member lies under the actuator engaging the tab to prevent pivoting of the actuator to the open position. When the locking ring is rotated to another position, the locking ring abutment member clears the actuator engaging tab to permit pivoting of the actuator to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Gross, John R. Nottingham, Dale A. Panasewicz
  • Patent number: 5312019
    Abstract: A freshness keeping cup including a cup body and a check valve disposed therein. A U-shaped fixing inner sleeve member and a fixing outer sleeve member are secured with the lower portion of the cup body. A leakproof ring and a top flange of a soft bellows member are clamped between the bottom of the inner sleeve member and a top surface of an upper slide sleeve of a slide assembly. An outer lower surface of a top flange of the upper slide sleeve abuts against an inner upper surface of the bottom portion of the outer sleeve member. A top flange of the middle slide sleeve is engaged in a bottom flange of the upper slide sleeve and a top flange of the lower slide sleeve is engaged in a bottom flange of the middle slide sleeve. An upward inward projection is formed on the top flange of the lower slide sleeve. Engaging grooves are formed on lower inner portion of the lower slide sleeve for engaging with corresponding engaging hooks of a bottom cover for securing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Ye-Ming Tsao
  • Patent number: 5310088
    Abstract: A bottled water station is provided for selective dispensing of uncarbonated and carbonated water. The station includes an upper water reservoir adapted to receive water from an inverted supply bottle. The upper reservoir is mounted in stacked relation on a lower carbonator reservoir, and uncarbonated water is dispensed from the upper reservoir via a first dispense conduit extending through the carbonator reservoir and a multiported fitting thereon to a first faucet valve. A portion of the uncarbonated water is diverted from the first dispense conduit and is supplied with a carbonating gas through the multiported fitting to the carbonator reservoir to form carbonated water. The carbonated water is dispensed in turn through a second dispense conduit connected between the multiported fitting and a second faucet valve. A chiller, coil of a suitable refrigeration system is wrapped about the upper and lower reservoir for simultaneous chilling of the water contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Ebtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 5310093
    Abstract: A vertical hollow cylinder has an open bottom end and a closed top end having a first opening. A vertical hollow tube is open at both ends. A vertical inverted truncated hollow cone is open at both ends. The smaller open end of the cone is connected to the upper open end of the tube. A vertical cup shaped element has a first flat horizontal surface having a central hole coincident with the larger cone end and containing a plurality of small holes spaced from each other and from the central hole. The element has a second flat horizontal surface spaced slightly above the first surface and disposed around the central hole and the small holes. The top surface of the element engages the top end of the cylinder, the tube, cone and element being aligned with the first opening. A flat flexible disc has a flapper valve disposed in its center aligned with the first opening and also has a plurality of short vertical flexible fingers closely spaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Robert A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 5310096
    Abstract: A device for spraying disinfectant foam into the opening of a garbage disposal is described. The device contains an aerosol propellant container and a substantially cylindrical adaptor. The adaptor is integrally formed, with both an upwardly-extending lip section and a downwardly-extending bottom section. The upwardly-extending lip section contains at least three flange portions separated by slots in which movable tabs are disposed. The downwardly-extending bottom section contains an orifice. The upwardly-extending section may comprise a single continuous flange with internal radial ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Cello Corp.
    Inventors: William Rogers, Keith E. Williams
  • Patent number: 5307952
    Abstract: A top dresser (10) is disclosed in a first preferred form including a discharge gate (56) of a pusher (44) movably mounted in a hopper (30) for forcing material forward towards a rotating, cylindrical, dispensing drum (66) as the top dresser (10) is being pulled forward. The pusher (44) is slideably mounted by slides (50) secured to ears (48) extending between the sides (36) and the bottom (34) of the hopper (30) and slideable on tubular rails (52) positioned on the outside of the hopper (30). The pusher (44) is moved by expandable and contractable actuators (58, 60) pivotally mounted by their opposite ends to the frame (12) and the pusher (44) in a non-parallel, crossing manner. The drum (66) includes corrugated sheeting (70) around its periphery for gripping the material in the hopper (30) and drawing it under a metering gate (72) and a rotating brush (74) which propels the material onto the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Turfco Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: Vernon J. Worrel, Terry Bondeson
  • Patent number: 5305926
    Abstract: An improved portable fueling facility for aircraft or ground vehicles includes at least one storage tank, an outer tank for providing secondary containment about the storage tanks, a number of saddle members for supporting the outer tank on a flat horizontal surface and a pump for dispensing fuel. A deck compartment may be provided beneath the pumps for providing secondary containment about the supply pipes which are used to supply the pumps and the refueling tubes which are used to refuel the storage tanks. The entire facility is portable, so that it may be redeployed at different locations or airports as needed. Fire retardant material may also be provided between the storage tank and the outer tank to prevent flames from reaching the storage tank during an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Michael Webb
  • Patent number: 5305929
    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: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventors: James O. Camm, Stephen J. Camm
  • Patent number: 5305916
    Abstract: In a pump, a piston rod is mounted for lost motion on a piston head so that when the piston rod 31 is advanced by a full stroke in a forward direction from a fully retracted position, only the piston rod moves for an initial stroke portion S2, then a piston head is also advanced with the piston rod for a final stroke portion which is equivalent to a difference between the full stroke S1 and initial stroke portion S2 (S3=S1-S2), and a liquid inside said cylinder is expelled from the exhaust port by a quantity corresponding the final stroke portion S3. When the piston rod is being withdrawn in the return direction, only the piston rod is moved during the initial stroke portion causing residual liquid in a passageway from the cylinder to the exhaust port to be sucked back to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha San-Ai
    Inventors: Michifumi Suzuki, Atsushi Matsuura, Kenji Tsukiji, Takahiro Tomioka
  • Patent number: 5297702
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a viscous material from a container having an outlet on the bottom thereof, including a standing frame with a base capable of supporting the container of viscous material. The device is portable and contains two side members which support a cross member. A drive lever is pivotally mounted to the cross member. As the drive lever is rotated downward, a rectangular actuating member attached thereto contacts a gripping plate which, in turn, locks onto a drive rod. The gripping plate is rectangular in shape with an extended contact surface. The device employs an angular member which serves to maintain the gripping plate in a canted position in order to facilitate contact with the actuating member. The drive rod moves downward, forcing a drive plate attached thereto to move downward against a seal member, thereby creating a reasonably tight seal between the seal member and the inner wall of the container, positioned within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Fibre Glass-Evercoat Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana B. Crosby, Ronald C. Dreyer
  • Patent number: 5292034
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of tubes from a prefinished pipe element, by pressing of heated plastic blanks to form a multi-layer tube head, with simultaneous bonding of the tube head to the pipe element. According to the invention, each layer of the multi-layer tube head is produced individually, by pressing of a newly introduced plastic blank in each case, where the next blank for the subsequent layer is not introduced and pressed until after the layer previously produced is stable in shape. The invention also relates to a tube made of a pipe element (1) having at least one plastic layer, and a multi-layer tube head (2) molded on by pressing heated plastic blanks, with a neck part (8) opening out centrally in a dispensing opening (9) with an outside thread (11) to screw on a closure cap, where according to the invention, each layer (3, 6, 5) of the multi-layer tube head (2) is pressed in individually, layer by layer, onto the upper end of the pipe element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: AISA Automation Industrielle SA
    Inventor: Gerhard Keller
  • Patent number: 5289949
    Abstract: A multi-cavity dispensing refill cartridge to be used with a reusable base. The refill cartridge has two hollow, separate parallel cylinders for containing flowable material. The cylinders have a first generally closed end and a second end which accommodates piston heads. The piston heads are compressably engageable with piston rods of the reusable base. Relative compression of the piston heads and cylinders cause flowable material to flow toward the first end of the cylinders and towards the outlet in the closed end. The outlet include means for causing the flowable materials to flow toward each other at the outlet opening. The refill cartridge is provides with means for selectively, engaging the reusable base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Gentile
  • Patent number: 5289953
    Abstract: A pitcher (10) for the controlled delivery of a liquid or a combination of liquids and solids together into another container. The pitcher has a front chute (18) for the pouring of liquids contained near the base of the pitcher and two side chutes (20, 21) for the pouring of a combination of liquids and solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventors: Joseph P. McMillan, III, Lawrence W. Owen, Jr.