Patents Examined by F Nicolas
  • Patent number: 6758374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device for applying a cosmetic and/or care product, in particular to the hair and/or the scalp, the device comprising a receptacle including a bellows having first and second regions that are moved towards each other when the bellows is compressed. On being compressed, the bellows enables a quantity of substance to be dispensed. The device also has an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows, and thus the quantity of substance that is dispensed. The device is arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by thrust exerted by the user substantially on the axis of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Nicolas Albisetti
  • Patent number: 6655557
    Abstract: A dispensing device is provided for dispensing a product that may be of viscous consistency, such as, for example, a cream or a gel. The dispensing device includes a container having a first end closed by a bottom and a second end that has an opening. A dispensing element is configured to be arranged on the product and forms a passage comprising at least one inlet orifice extending in a plane not perpendicular to an axis of the device, and an outlet orifice formed at least partly some distance from the inlet orifice. The outlet orifice extends at least partially above the inlet orifice. Rotating the dispensing element on the product causes the product to be delivered through the outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Guilhem Rousselet, Nicolas Albisetti
  • Patent number: 6651843
    Abstract: A feedstock feeder for supplying feedstock to a system operating at a level of pressure. The feedstock feeder includes a pressure vessel having a pressure which is higher than the level of pressure; a mechanical feeder portion which meters the flow of feedstock to the system, the mechanical feeder portion located within the pressure vessel; a feedstock supplier which supplies feedstock to the mechanical feeder portion, the feedstock supplier located within the pressure vessel; a drive mechanism for driving a dynamically moving portion attached to the drive mechanism, the dynamically moving portion coupled to the mechanical feeder portion for moving the mechanical feeder portion; and wherein all dynamic seals operating to seal about the dynamically moving portion are positioned within the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Flame-Spray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Kowalsky, Daniel R. Marantz
  • Patent number: 6644519
    Abstract: A container having a body, a male element, a female element and a plug. The female element comprises a body having an axial bore which extends through the body from an insertion opening outside the container body, to a seat inside the container body. The plug is positioned in the seat of the axial bore to close off the bore. The male element has a closure means and a tubular part which fits into the axial bore. The tubular part has a head and is designed to interact with the plug in order to press the plug off the seat. A passage extends through the tubular part of the male element to the closure means. The container body and the male element are provided with interacting coupling means which provides resistance to the male element being pulled outwards out of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Itasac N.V.
    Inventor: Laurens Last
  • Patent number: 6637626
    Abstract: A container-mounted pump dispenser having a body with a vertical cylinder and piston is provided with a one-piece spring/gasket. The spring/gasket is a resilient bowl-shaped spring attached at its lower end about the piston stem and at its upper end comprises an annular gasket to be squeezed between the dispenser mounting cap and the container finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Bloom
  • Patent number: 6564973
    Abstract: A carton for a foam dispensing system which includes supply containers, a dispenser and hoses for connecting each container to the dispenser. The carton includes first and second face panels which are interconnected by respective first and second side panels. Bottom panels extend from the first and second face panels to define a bottom of the carton. The cover panel extends from the first face panel to define a cover of the carton. A first flap which is defined in the cover panel, which, in an open position, is disposed at an angle to the cover panel. A handle is connected to the containers for carrying the carton and projects through the first access opening. A second flap is defined in the second face panel and the first reinforcing element. A third flap is defined in the second flap. The hoses extend from the containers, through hose paths associated with the second flap to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Flexible Products Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Brown, Michael C. Dean, Ross Wilson, Gary Grunauer, Gurp Ahluwalia
  • Patent number: 6564978
    Abstract: A dispensing package for fluent products includes a container of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a hollow flexible body, and a rigid integral finish defined by a deck that spans one end of the body, a package dispensing opening in the deck and a wall upstanding from a perimeter of the deck surrounding the deck and the opening. An actuator disk is mounted within the peripheral wall overlying the deck and the dispensing opening, and is pivotal between a closed position closing the opening and an open position for dispensing product from the opening through the actuator disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Safian, Richard R. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6543654
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for emptying containers (2) filled with liquids, especially canisters and barrels, with an adapter (5)that can be fixed in a bung hole (3) of the container (2). The adapter (5) is fitted with a suction lance (7) pointing towards the container and has a degassing device. The device has a coupling piece (6) that can be attached to the adapter (5) for connecting a suction device (9). The adapter (5) has a set breaking point (10) surrounding the connection of the suction lance (7) by means of which the suction lance (7) can be pushed into the interior of the container. In a special embodiment, the set breaking point (10) is configured as a series of holes surrounding the central part (5b) connected to the suction lance (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ecolab GmbH & Co. OhG
    Inventors: Stephan Uhl, Wolfgang Huber, Frank Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 6540205
    Abstract: An addition of a fine adjustment flow-control mechanism that produces changes in fluid flow in increments of 0.1% or less, to any configuration high pressure fluid flow control valve that employs an axial valve stem and a rotatable rough control knob that moves the stem axially in increments of 1.0% or more, opening the valve flow chamber to fluid flow. The valve stem is designed and driven so that it does not rotate or twist, and provision is made to minimize control drive tolerance build-up. These aspects produce a high degree of adjustment accuracy during operation of the flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Bryan W Stafford
  • Patent number: 6520387
    Abstract: A cap assembly cooperates with a container to form a vent portion and a pour portion when a cap is oriented in an open position relative to the container. The cap is dimensioned to seal the container opening in a closed position. The cap and opening are oblong, preferably oval in configuration, and have cooperating thread assemblies that permit the cap to be selectively rotated between the open and closed positions. The cap preferably has a threaded shank that is engaged along a portion of its periphery by central threaded portions disposed on opposite sides of the generally oval container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Creative Edge Design Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Soehnlen, Gregory M. Soehnlen
  • Patent number: 6491187
    Abstract: An inverted aerosol dispensing device is disclosed comprising an aerosol container extending between a top portion and a bottom portion for containing an aerosol product and an aerosol propellant therein. An aerosol valve is located at the bottom portion of the aerosol container. The aerosol valve has a valve stem for displacing the aerosol valve from a biased closed position to an open position to discharge the aerosol product from the valve stem. An undercap is secured to the bottom portion of the aerosol container for supporting the aerosol container on a supporting surface. An actuator is movably mounted relative to the undercap for moving the valve stem upon displacement of the actuator for discharging the aerosol product from the valve stem in a generally downwardly direction through the undercap. The invention is particularly useful in the dispensing of viscous aerosol products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Seaquist Perfect Dispensing Foreign, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Walters
  • Patent number: 6484909
    Abstract: A tamper-proofing device for units consisting of a container tube (1) with a neck (5) to allow the product to leave the container, and a top (2) with a lower section (3) connected to the tube (1), in addition to a hinged lid (4) for this section which closes over. The neck passes through the lower section (3) to connect with a projection on the bottom of the lid (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Tuboplast Hispania .S.A
    Inventor: Juan Ignacio Valpuesta Landa
  • Patent number: 6481599
    Abstract: A dental center is disclosed which comprises, in combination, a dispenser body and a dispensing portion. The dispenser body has a wall bracket adapted to mount to a vertical surface. Extending in a horizontal plane from the wall bracket is a toothbrush holder having a plurality of holes positioned about the periphery thereof. Each of the plurality of holes is adapted to receive and releasably hold a toothbrush therein. The dispensing portion is mounted on the dispenser body and comprises, in combination, a toothpaste tube and a floss dispenser. The toothpaste tube and the floss tube are separable and replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Robert B. DeVaux
  • Patent number: 6454239
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluids, having a valve member (2), which is axially displaceable in a bore (7) of a valve body (6) and on one end has a valve closing member (8) that cooperates with a seat (9, 10), provided on the valve body (6), for opening and closing the valve (1); having a piezoelectric unit (3) for actuating the valve member (2); and having a tolerance compensating element (22) for compensating for elongation tolerances of the piezoelectric unit (3). The deflection of the piezoelectric unit (3) can be transmitted to the valve member (2) via a deflection element (20), and the piezoelectric unit (3) is disposed with its piezoelectric head (17) toward the valve member in the direction of motion of the valve member (2) essentially inside a length of the deflection element (20) and is connected to the deflection element via the tolerance compensating element (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6439442
    Abstract: A lid to dispense granular material. The lid includes a hole through which the granular material may flow and is closable by a combination seal and dispenser slidably mounted thereto. The dispenser has exit passages when extended located outwardly of the lid rim. A guide wall mounted to the lid main body extends into the seal and dispenser passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: C&N Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brooks R. Markert, Christopher J. Young
  • Patent number: 6419662
    Abstract: The present invention is a continuous irrigation system for medical applications, including transurethral resection procedures, which provides automatic bag switching. It includes: (a) a first and second liquid irrigation bag; (b) a first proximal tubing and a second proximal tubing extending from the first liquid irrigation bag and the second liquid irrigation bag, respectively, and (c) a control valve device. The control valve device includes: (i) a main housing having a hollow body and a top and a bottom; (ii) an outlet located on and extending downwardly from the bottom for attachment of distal delivery tubing thereto; (iii) two inlets, located on or near the top of the main housing for the first and second proximal tubing; (iv) a floatation valve for opening and closing the second inlet. There is a distal delivery tubing connected to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Anthony Solazzo
  • Patent number: 6308865
    Abstract: A pump device adapted to be mounted on a liquid container includes a nozzle head formed on a top portion of a piston reciprocatively held in a liquid accumulator mounted on the liquid container, a restoring spring resiliently retained between the nozzle head and a fastening ring which is secured on an upper portion of the accumulator, a container cap secured on a top portion of the liquid container and fastened between the fastening ring and a flange of the accumulator, a suction tube connected to the accumulator and inserted in the liquid container for sucking liquid into the accumulator; characterized in that the restoring spring is disposed around a piston rod outside an interior of the pump and of the accumulator to prevent contamination of the liquid by the spring or to prevent corrosion of the spring by the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Hui-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 6302305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pump (10) comprising a base part (13) and a telescopic assembly (30) defining a pumping chamber (60). The telescopic assembly comprises at least one outer sleeve (31) and an inner sleeve sliding inside it. The telescopic assembly (30) is arranged in such a way that, on the one hand, when the outer sleeve (31) is moved to reduce the volume of the pumping chamber, the assembly adopts a dispensing configuration and shut-off means (32) shut off the filling orifice (21) and, on the other hand, when the outer sleeve is moved to increase the volume of the pumping chamber, the telescopic assembly adopts its filling configuration and the shut-off means (32) cease to shut off the filling orifice (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Philippe Bonningue
  • Patent number: 6296151
    Abstract: A perfume sprayer includes a left half housing consisting of an upper and a lower cap, a right half housing consisting of an upper and a lower cap, a gasket in the left upper cap, a control member deposited on the gasket, a perfume bottle contained in a bag and placed in the left lower cap. A spray head fixed on the bottle has a spray nozzle in a recess of the left upper cap. After the two half housings are combined together and when the left and the right lower caps are pressed, the bottom of the bottle is pushed up by push blocks of the two lower caps to force the bottle move up along the push blocks and then the spray nozzle sprays the perfume out of the spray head. Thus, the perfume sprayer is easy to use and to carry out, a beautiful configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Sin-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 6293431
    Abstract: A container capable of being easily resealed is provided having a closure cap for the outlet nozzle and an outlet opening which is sealed by a membrane. The outlet nozzle has an outlet body with an outlet channel and a connecting element for connecting the outlet body to the outlet opening of the container. An element is provided for piercing the membrane during or after the connection of the outlet body to the outlet opening of the container. This element may be configured as a part of the outlet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Seymour, Johannes H. Kelders, Roy E. Van Swieten, Erwin P. Boes, Philip M. Regan, Luca Cella, Luigi Vanini