Patents Examined by Dinh Q. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9386870
    Abstract: A fluid control drinking device is provided for reducing the backflow of fluid from a drinking straw into a larger container after a user has ceased drawing a vacuum on the outlet end. The device comprises a fluid conduit and a check valve. The conduit may be a standard drinking straw or similar structure. The check valve is a one-way hinge closure which acts as a sealing flap. Suction is applied by a drinking user, which results in the sealing flap rotating upwardly about its hinge. In this open position, liquid is allowed to flow through the conduit and past the sealing flap so that a user may drink from the straw outlet end. Cessation of suction causes the flap to return to a resting state, sealing off the fluid conduit and preventing fluid from returning to the container. In this way, the straw is continually filed with liquid, illuminating large pockets of air that the user ingests upon a subsequent suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Caesar Rossitto
  • Patent number: 9211553
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spraying a liquid relating to a gravity-fed spray gun are disclosed. Disclosed gravity fed spray guns may comprise a body and an attachment point located at a top portion of the body; and a spray nozzle located at a front portion of the body. An apparatus may further comprise a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be sprayed through the spray nozzle, the fluid reservoir comprising a container comprising an open end; a lid for cooperative engagement with the open end of the container, the lid comprising a connector to couple the fluid reservoir to the attachment point of the spray gun and an aperture through which the fluid can flow from the fluid reservoir to the spray nozzle in use; and a filter positioned to filter the fluid before reaching the spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F. Douglas, Alan F. Butler, David R. Bastow, Jerome E. Salhus, Margaret A. Hartfel
  • Patent number: 9199106
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ambient mist head for extinguishing fires that comprises a plurality of mist nozzles attached to a head. The mist nozzles are arranged spatially on the head at various angles. The number of mist nozzles, the spatial arrangement and the angular placement of the mist nozzles can vary, depending on the area of coverage required. The angular placement of the mist nozzles on the head is effected so that the mist stream emerging from one mist nozzle does not impinge on a mist stream emerging from another mist nozzle. The angular placement of the mist nozzles thereby provides a maximal amount of mist production, and minimizes the occurrence of streams of water droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: William Robert Lowry, Jean Lois Lowry
  • Patent number: 9192038
    Abstract: A target supply apparatus includes a tank for storing a liquid target material, a nozzle for outputting the liquid target material in the tank, and a gas supply source for supplying gas into the tank, and controls a gas pressure inside the tank with a pressure of the gas supplied from the gas supply source which is provided with a pressure regulator. The target supply apparatus also includes a pressure-decrease gas passage of which one end is connected to the tank and the other end forms an exhaust port, a pressure-decrease valve provided on the pressure-decrease gas passage, and a controller for controlling open/close of the pressure-decrease valve. The controller, when the target material is caused not to output from the nozzle, opens the pressure-decrease valve and decreases the pressure inside the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ishihara, Hiroshi Itafuji
  • Patent number: 9138768
    Abstract: A pop-up irrigation device for use in a low pressure irrigation device is described. The device has a housing, a riser partially extensible from the housing and a nozzle body removably attached to an end of the riser in a non-threaded manner, such as using a snap-fit, or in a threaded manner. One, two or more connection tubes or ports may extend laterally from the housing and can each be configured to be connectable to flexible irrigation tubing. Ribs may extend from the housing to facilitate retention when buried. An annular cap can be attached to the open end of the housing and may include an annular, radially-inward extending seal. The closed end of the housing may include a depending stake with a plurality of blades to facilitate mounting of the housing relative to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Rowshan Jahan, Donald B. Clark, Samuel C. Walker
  • Patent number: 9138040
    Abstract: An oscillating shower massager that provides a rotating or oscillating spray pattern that may be adjusted by the user. The oscillating shower massager has a housing with a forward facing water discharge outlet and a rotating side discharge outlet. A water driven gear system drives the rotating side discharge outlet. A series of stop pins are provided that may be used to adjust the rotation. When the stop pins are retracted, the rotating discharge outlet turns a full 360 degrees, allowing the user to spray all the walls and ceiling of the shower stall to facilitate cleaning. When the stop pins are extended, the rotating side outlet provides an oscillating spray pattern. A heated shaving mirror is incorporated onto the front of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Haresh S. Desai
  • Patent number: 9133801
    Abstract: A fuel injector including an injection control device valve spring preload adjustment device is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a transverse access passage extending at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector. The preload adjustment device includes at least one transverse slot that creates a cantilevered thread portion. The cantilevered thread portion is deformed at a deformation angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to form a locking feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Corydon E. Morris, David M. Rix
  • Patent number: 9127633
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement for an electromagnetically operated fuel injector includes a generally cylindrical actuator core having a longitudinal axis and defining an inner pole face of the actuator arrangement. The actuator core is formed of a bespoke magnetic material. A wire coil is disposed around the actuator core arranged to be connected to a power source to generate a magnetic field around the coil. A pole member is formed of a high strength material and defines an aperture for receiving the actuator core. The pole member defines an outer pole face of the actuator arrangement substantially co-planar with the inner pole face. An armature is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in response to the magnetic field. The magnetic field passes into the armature in the region of the inner pole face and into the armature in the region of the outer pole face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Canepa-Anson, Anthony Thomas Harcombe, Bashir Khan, Mark S. Graham, Mark S. Harper
  • Patent number: 9126217
    Abstract: An ink jet is disclosed that may be placed in a bell plate of a rotary atomizer and, when thus placed, forms an annular gap between the ink jet and a distribution disc recess of the bell plate. An exemplary illustration has a common rinsing agent channel running in the ink jet for conducting a rinsing agent for rinsing the bell plate, a first rinsing agent outlet that is supplied with rinsing agent by the common rinsing agent channel and directed forward in a substantially axial direction toward a distribution disc of the bell plate, and a second rinsing agent outlet that is supplied with rinsing agent by the common rinsing agent channel. In the installed state, an exemplary second rinsing agent outlet may empty into the annular gap between the distribution disc recess and the ink jet in order to clean the annular gap with the rising agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Nolte, Robert Heldt
  • Patent number: 9114412
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomization device that prevents the cooling capability from being lowered due to contact of an atomization electrode with another ember, while effectively preventing surplus production of condensed water that would destabilize discharging at the distal end of the atomization electrode. the electrostatic atomization device includes an atomization electrode having a cylindrical electrode body and a base which is informed at a basal end of the electrode body and has a larger diameter than the electrode from the base to produce condensed water on the atomization electrode. Voltage is applied to the atomization electrode when the condensed water is produced to generate charged fine water droplets. A partition plate includes an insertion hole that receives the electrode body of the atomization electrode. The partition plate and the base of the atomization electrode form a water collection region in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Omori, Takayuki Nakada, Hiroshi Suda, Junpei Oe, Kentaro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9108738
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a refueling system for a number of fuel tanks, a primary valve, and a secondary valve. The refueling system has branches capable of distributing fuel into the number of fuel tanks. The primary valve is associated with a primary branch in the branches. The primary valve and the secondary valve are independently controlled to change a distribution of the fuel through the branches into the number of fuel tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Tracy Lee Tweet, Arshad Nazir, Dennis W. Seibold
  • Patent number: 9101945
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a support member, a first tube, a second tube, and a baffling member. The support member defines a receiving hole and an opening communicating with the receiving hole. The first tube extends through the opening and defines a first space communicating with the receiving hole. The second tube is retained within the receiving hole and defines a second space communicating with the receiving hole. The baffling member is securely connected to an end of the second tube that is retained within the receiving hole. The baffling member forms a plurality of gaps for directing the airflow from the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Xu, Wang-Kai Yuan, Rui-Gang Xie, Li-Feng Xue, Bin Zeng, Nian Zhang
  • Patent number: 9101730
    Abstract: Discharging unit for discharging pharmaceutical media from a medium storage receptacle, including a first discharge orifice, a pump, an inlet duct connecting the medium storage receptacle to the pump, and an outlet duct for connecting the pump to the first discharge orifice. The first discharge orifice is part of a first subordinate device of the discharging unit and the pump, a portion of the outlet duct, and an outlet valve provided in the outlet duct are part of a second subordinate device of the discharging unit. The first subordinate device is capable, without the use of tools, of being coupled to, and decoupled from, the second subordinate device, and an internal volume of a portion of the outlet duct extending from the outlet valve to the first discharge orifice is less than 15 ?l.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Greiner-Perth, Joerg Bieg
  • Patent number: 9089866
    Abstract: Improved sprinkler apparatus for distributing water from a pressurized water supply line via a sprinkler case connected to the pressurized water supply line, the apparatus includes a spray head and nozzle pivotably mounted in the sprinkler case for distributing water in a vertical plane, and a hydraulic motor disposed within the sprinkler case for causing the spray head to oscillate in the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen Schultheis
  • Patent number: 9079198
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a squeeze-type container produces a fan-type spray in a low pressure environment. The dispensing closure includes a closure body having an upper deck and a skirt depending from the upper deck. The skirt is configured and arranged to attach to a product container, such as a squeeze-type container. A flow conduit extends from an interior of the closure body and through the upper deck to provide a flow path from an interior of the closure to an exterior of the closure. The flow conduit has an entrance orifice and an exit orifice. The flow conduit has an inner wall extending between the entrance orifice and the exit orifice. The flow conduit and the closure body are integrally formed. The flow conduit includes a tip portion with an exit orifice defining a shape to provide a fan-type spray in a low pressure environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MWV SLATERSVILLE, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Romanov, Clifford W. Skillin, Patrick J. Brannon
  • Patent number: 9073077
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) forms a desired spray pattern by atomizing by means of atomizing air (A) a spray liquid which is sprayed from a liquid ejection port (44) opened/closed by a needle valve (4), and jetting pattern air (P) to the flow of spray mist of the atomized spray liquid. A nozzle taper angle (?1) is set in a range of 5° to 15°, and a cap taper angle (?2) is set in a range of 20° to 40°. Atomizing air (A) is jetted from a nozzle insertion hole (58) toward the center of a nozzle (3). Pattern air (P) is jetted in a spreading suppressed region (R) wherein the flow of the spray mist does not spread over an area greater than or equal to a predetermined cross-sectional area, to the flow of spray mist, and as a result, the spray mist is more uniformly sprayed over a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: FREUND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuomi Unosawa, Shigemi Isobe, Takerou Adachi, Hirotsune Yasumi, Kouji Fukuda, Naoya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9073078
    Abstract: A member joint, in which a great rotating force is inevitably transmitted to a union nut connecting two members at the time of relatively rotating both the members, is structured such as to reliably carry out corotation prevention of the union nut, without complicating fixation of the nut and releasing of the fixation and without causing enlargement in size and deterioration of durability of a connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaho Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinari Imagawa, Naruki Yukura
  • Patent number: 9067225
    Abstract: A rotary switch valve has a main body with a division board hermetically set in a sleeve body and the sleeve body and has a water inlet and two water outlets, a let-off pipe rotationally joined to the back of the sleeve body and connected to the back cavity, and a water division plate which is rotationally set in the sleeve body to rotate between the first and second position and is fixed to the let-off pipe to rotate along the let-off pipe to connect or cut off the water outlet in the first water outlet or the second water outlet. The shower group with the rotary switch valve has an arm tube, a rain shower connected to the first water outlet and a head shower connected to the second water outlet. The head shower water outlets and the rain shower can be switched by rotating the let-off pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Tianyu Chen, Ziguang Liu, Qingshuang Li
  • Patent number: 9067227
    Abstract: A device and method for delivering water to a person who is unable to reach household or other types of water dispensing faucets. In some embodiments, the device comprises a trough for delivering the liquid and an attachment member for attaching the trough to a faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Peachy LLC
    Inventor: Susanna Lee
  • Patent number: 9061295
    Abstract: A spraying device includes a housing that has a spraying unit and a trigger assembly. The spraying unit is a removable insert within the housing. The spraying unit includes an air chamber that is coupled to a liquid tank. A front end portion of the air chamber has a nozzle. The air chamber receives a liquid tube that opens in the nozzle. The liquid tube receives a needle and the needle and the liquid tube are coaxial with each other. The trigger assembly controls the flow of liquid through the liquid tube by positioning a tapered front end of the needle. The trigger assembly includes a trigger that has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening of the liquid tube is closed by the needle. In a second position, the liquid tube is opened to discharge a liquid from an opening of the liquid tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Temptu Inc.
    Inventor: Gennadi Fedorov