Patents Examined by Ernest G. Cusick
  • Patent number: 5316057
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing the efficiency of the vapor recovery of a liquid dispensing and vapor recovery system wherein the system uses a spout with vapor recovery apertures. The apparatus includes a device for receiving the spout and its vapor recovery apertures with a space located therebetween. A sealing device is connected to the spout receiving device for providing a chamber which is sealed about the spout and vapor recovery apertures. A device is connected to the spout receiving device for responding to flow through the chamber about the vapor recovery apertures. With this arrangement the volume of air recovered can be determined and compared with the volume of liquid dispensed to indicate the efficiency of the vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Detlev E. M. Hasselmann
  • Patent number: 5316055
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first housing coaxially aligned with and separable relative to the second housing is provided, wherein the first housing includes a puncture rod arranged to address and puncture a gas charged cylinder within the second housing, whereupon the puncture rod includes pneumatic conduit structure to direct pressurized gas from the cylinder into a delivery conduit for mounting to an associated bicycle tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: John A. Brimmer
  • Patent number: 5316058
    Abstract: A container having a pouring spout for pouring oil into an engine (14). The container has a cap (24) which is screwed onto a neck portion (16) of the container. The cap (24) has radial ribs (32) tapering toward the cap bottom (28). The end of the neck portion (20) has a reduced diameter and is aligned with a breakable portion (28a) formed in the cap bottom. In use, the container is inserted in an inverted position so that the spout attends into an inlet opening (11) of the engine. Radial ribs (32) are wedged in the inlet opening by applying an axial force to the container body (10), and the body is then rotated with respect to the immovable cap (24). As a result of this rotation, the reduced-diameter portion (20) of the container neck moves axially toward the breakable portion (28a) until the portion (20) breaks it, thus opening the container and allowing the oil to flow into the engine oil tank (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventors: Semyon Spektor, Mark Gozokhovsky
  • Patent number: 5316060
    Abstract: A refuse collector for introducing solid refuse into commercial plastic trash bags is disclosed. One embodiment of the collector includes an open, peripheral frame having a collection tray hinged thereto, and a pair of bag expanders that are hinged thereto and extend rearwardly from the frame and into a plastic trash bag to hold the bag open. In a second embodiment the collector includes three inexpensive, interlocking disposable components. The collector is particularly adapted to collection of hazardous solid waste such as metal chips or refuse contaminated with hazardous, toxic or infectious materials. The collector may be used in a horizontal or vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventors: Marion Y. Hodgdon, Henn Oona
  • Patent number: 5313990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling bottles or similar containers, whereby the containers are rinsed and pre-pressurized with an inert gas in a preliminary pressurizing phase that precedes the filling phase. For the rinsing as well as the at least partial pre-pressurization, the return gas from a return gas channel is utilized. To keep the return gas as free from bacteria as possible, the containers are treated with a sterilization medium in a preliminary treatment phase that precedes the preliminary pressurizing phase. Furthermore, air and sterilization medium that are displaced in the sterilization phase and in the preliminary pressurizing phase are withdrawn to the atmosphere or to a channel that is separate from the return gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludwig Clusserath
  • Patent number: 5311913
    Abstract: According to the present invention we provide a method for the preparation of a dispersion to be coated onto a photographic support characterised in that one or a plurality of vessels visit one or more preparation stations until the dispersion is prepared and the dispersion when prepared is stored for a period and thereafter is supplied to an apparatus in which it is coated onto a photographic support, the rate of dispersion preparation and the vessel movements being matched to the requirements of each preparation station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Daivd G. N. English, Raymond H. Glabach
  • Patent number: 5309959
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprises a base, and a robot device on the base having opposing jaw members. A number of stations locate on the base, and cooperate with the robot device in a sequence of operations such as to produce a measured pharmaceutical dose from a supply of a pharmaceutically acceptable substance. One of the stations locates several hypodermic syringes in parallel and a container, and produces relative movement of the appropriate syringe and the container towards and away from each other to arrange that the syringe penetrates and withdraws from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels plc
    Inventors: Kevin Shaw, Robert Hardie
  • Patent number: 5309961
    Abstract: Nozzles for filler pipes employed in packaging machines of the type which meter a certain quantity of contents, e.g. milk, into individual packages which are advanced stepwise and placed beneath the nozzle of the filler pipe. In order to avoid frothing of the contents, of the nozzle is manufactured from flexible material and includes one or more transverse rigidifying ribs which are of substantially triangular cross sectional configuration and which define two or more separate outlets. The outlets are covered by flaps which are opened by the contents when the contents are caused, with the aid of a metering pump, to flow out through the filler pipe so that the flow of contents is divided and directed towards the vertical walls of the package via which the contents flow down to the bottom of the package with a considerably reduced risk of frothing and spatter as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Rickard Franke, Bengt Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 5309960
    Abstract: A cup holder is provided which is suited for attachment to a spout of a conventional beverage preparation machine so as to support a cup in a fluid-receiving orientation adjacent to such spout. The cup holder includes a base which is configured for securement to the spout, and a U-shaped cup-gripping member which includes a pair of space side walls separated by generally horizontal floor. One of the side walls extends from the base to the floor and the second side wall extends upwardly from the floor and terminates arcuately to provide a seat for a cup's lip. The arc of the second side wall is similar in shape to the side edge of a conventional lipped cup, accommodating angular placement of the cup on the second side wall during filling of the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Boyd Coffee Company
    Inventor: David D. Boyd
  • Patent number: 5309956
    Abstract: Aerosol spray cans are positioned one at a time at a workstation by inserting the bottom wall of each can through an appropriately sized centering ring to center the bottom wall relative to an annular seal that engages peripheral portions of the bottom wall to support the can at the workstation. The bottom wall is clamped into sealing engagement with the annular seal by using a lever operated clamping mechanism that is adjustable to accommodate all known standard sizes of aerosol spray cans. The bottom wall is punctured by using a lever operated, rack and pinion driven piercing mechanism that extends a piercing pin through the center opening of the annular seal. Contents that discharge from a pierced can are ducted into a receiving container, a lower portion of which is used to collect liquid contents for environmentally safe disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Louis G. Hajma
  • Patent number: 5307847
    Abstract: An applicator for fluid products includes a bottle enclosed by a cap having a partition defining in the cap an enclosed chamber. The partition includes an aperture which forms a passage between the enclosed chamber in the cap and the interior of the bottle. Rotating the cap for assembly to the bottle will place this passage in an unoccluded condition. As the bottle is inverted or shaken prior to use, the fluid contents of the bottle will travel through the passage and into the enclosed chamber in the cap. As the cap is rotated for removal from the bottle, a valve element will occlude the passage, trapping the fluid in the cap. Squeezing the cap to deform the sidewalls will force the fluid through a narrow bore in a supply stem leading to a dispensing tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventors: Stanford Pavenick, Donald Garofalow
  • Patent number: 5307848
    Abstract: A non-aerating fluid dispensing nozzle for dispensing fluid into a receiving tank has a vapor control and containment mechanism for vapors formed in the receiving tank. The mechanism has a chamber disposed within the housing of the nozzle and a gas passage that has a first end connected to the chamber and a second end connected to an intake aperture disposed near the distal end of the discharge nozzle. A pump is disposed in fluid flow communication with the chamber for pumping gases from the fluid receiving tank into the chamber through the gas passage during fluid flow through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Robert W. Murray
  • Patent number: 5307968
    Abstract: A tray for use on the passenger seat of a motor vehicle. The tray has a tray base which rests on the passenger seat and has one or more compartments for holding articles in a manner which is accessible to the motor vehicle driver. At least one sponge-like member is held to the edge of the tray which is next to the passenger door. The tray is secured to the passenger seat by opening the passenger door, allowing the resilient member to rest against the side of the passenger seat and then slamming the passenger seat door to compress the resilient member and hold the tray on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: John R. Kalmbach
  • Patent number: 5307846
    Abstract: An apparatus provides individual vehicle motorists with a simple, low-cost way to adjust and balance the pressure within their individual vehicle's tires without accidentally exceeding the maximum pressure level of the tires. The apparatus, interconnects the four tires with itself, and a pressure gauge and a conventional tire air-valve permits the internal air pressure of all four tires to be adjusted uniformly from one air source through a unique low cost combination of a commercial connector and a specially designed shut-off valve and to be disconnected without a loss of air in any of the four tires. If a pre-set air pressure level has been exceeded while air is being pumped into the tires, a safety air pressure-relief valve, coupled to a whistle, is triggered, notifying the motorist of this condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 5305806
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing system has a venturi section for removing liquid from a normal drape area of a hose assembly of the system and the venturi section has an inlet unit that is positioned in a vapor recovery fluid passage of the hose assembly generally at the actual drape area of the hose assembly even when the actual drape area is disposed intermediate the normal drape area and a nozzle or is disposed intermediate the normal drape area and the source of liquid fuel as well as when the actual drape area is disposed generally at the normal drape area, the inlet unit comprising a tube unit interconnected to the venturi section and having a plurality of inlets respectively disposed in different axial positions in the vapor recovery fluid passage along the length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Berger, Randy C. Foster, Timothy J. Hampton, Jack S. Hargus, Richard L. Marsh, Masseth, David A.
  • Patent number: 5305808
    Abstract: A device for loading dough into cylindrical containers is disclosed. A first conveyor is provided which delivers a plurality of cylindrical containers to a receiving surface which is declining with respect to the horizontal. The containers are oriented such that a central cylindrical axis of each container is substantially parallel to the container receiving surface as the containers approach the container receiving surface. A second conveyor then delivers a cylindrical object to the receiving surface in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to path of the containers in the first conveyor as the objects approach the container receiving surf ace. The second conveyor aligns the cylindrical objects and causes the objects to be inserted into the cylindrical container. Means for positioning the container on the container receiving surface and for releasing the cylindrical containers after filling is also provided. A method of inserting cylindrical objects into cylindrical containers is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Glen O. Rasmussen, James L. Schurz
  • Patent number: 5305805
    Abstract: A hydrant refueler is provided for refueling an aircraft. The hydrant refueler is suitable for use in an airport having a hydrant for supplying fuel. The hydrant refueler includes a hydrant cart and a self propelled land vehicle. The hydrant cart includes a fuel hose for coupling to the hydrant, and a delivery fuel hose for coupling to a fuel intake valve of the aircraft. The land vehicle includes a platform for supporting a refueling operator during transportation and during refueling. The platform may be raised and lowered. The platform has controls for operating the land vehicle, and for raising and lowering the platform. The hydrant cart may be attached to the land vehicle for transporting and controlling the hydrant cart. During operation, one end of the delivery fuel hose is raised with the platform to a height for coupling with the aircraft fuel intake valve for conducting fuel to the airplane. The land vehicle and hydrant cart are detached from one another for maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Robert G. Watkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5305807
    Abstract: An auxiliary vapor recovery device is described for use with a fuel dispenser for delivery of fuel from tanks into a vehicle and a recovery apparatus for return of hydrocarbon vapor/air mixture displaced by fuel delivery to ullage spaces of the storage tanks interconnect by a piping manifold. The auxiliary vapor recovery device includes a vacuum pump and a canister containing a substance for removal of molecules of hydrocarbon from a vapor/air mixture. The device also has a system of conduits, including between the vacuum pump and ullage space piping system for flow to and from the ullage space, to the canister, between the vacuum pump and canister, and from the canister for release of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Healy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Healy
  • Patent number: 5303860
    Abstract: A gun holster assembly includes a holster container having a lid to hermetically seal the holster to secure a pistol therewithin, and to further include a plurality of second containers arranged to receive an associated handcuff and pistol magazine respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Frank V. Serafini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5303750
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a drain by opening a container within a dispenser and dispensing drain cleaner from the container, through an outlet of the dispenser, and into the drain. The dispenser may have an upwardly extending pin for opening the container. Alternatively, the dispenser may have a cutter for opening an angled end of the container. In another alterative, the container may include a plug and a cooperating stem for opening the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Block Drug Company
    Inventors: Arthur Sternheimer, Anthony Delia