Patents Examined by Francis J. Bartuska
  • Patent number: 4169541
    Abstract: DIP components are released from storage in a generally vertical chute when a spring-biased first finger blocking the chute exit is pivoted away. A second finger presses laterally on a prong of the second lowest stored component and limits dispensing to a single component for each actuation of the first finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip A. Ragard, Robert H. Holmes
  • Patent number: 4169542
    Abstract: A dispenser for cup holders for flexible cup liners, in which the cup holders are stacked one on top of the other in a tube having a slot in the side thereof for receiving the handles of the stacked cup holders and the slot having an inlet slot portion for receiving the handles, an offset slot portion in which the handle of the lowest cup can rotate, and a discharge slot portion for discharging the lowest cup from the bottom opening of the tube after rotation of its handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Inventor: Walter L. Miller
  • Patent number: 4165824
    Abstract: This invention is a manually operated liquid dispenser designed in particular to dispense heavy soaps like hair washing shampoo. The dispensers which are presently available on the market are unsuitable for these reasons, (a) too expensive to manufacture, (b) have too many parts, (c) plug up the dispensing hole in a very short time. This dispenser has a very positive dispensing action and it positively vacuums out the dispensing hole during the return stroke. All parts can be molded from plastic or other moldable material and used without machining. The number of parts used to make this dispenser is far less than what is presently used in such dispensers. This dispenser is particularly suitable for domestic use. It has no flexible membrane or any spring loaded valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1979
    Inventor: Mohinder P. Sud
  • Patent number: 4164307
    Abstract: A cap with a supply stopper for use with ordinary containers comprising a detachable double cap, that is, an outer cap and an inner cap which is used as a supply cap having a supply opening and a supply stopper. By an engagement mechanism of the upper cap and the inner cap, when the upper cap is fastened, the supply stopper is firmly pressed against the supply opening so that the leakage of contents in the container during storage or transportation is completely prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Masanaga Imamura, Hisashi Sakai, Hiroaki Sugiyama, Seiji Ozawa
  • Patent number: 4163466
    Abstract: A safety support for mounting on a split rim inside a tire chamber to resiliently support the tread portion of the tire in the deflated condition and maintain the bead portions of the tire in separated positions. The support is in the form of an annular ring of resilient material having a base with a relatively wide radially inner surface for seating on the rim and separating the bead portions. A flange extends radially inward from the radially inner surface of the base for gripping by the rim sections to seal the space within the tire and retain the ring on the rim. The radially outer portion of the support has a diameter less than the diameter of the tread portion of the tire in the deflated condition and greater than the diameter of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1979
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: George T. Watts
  • Patent number: 4162744
    Abstract: A seed dispensing device comprising a housing in which is rotatably mounted a wheel member having a plurality of spokes each carrying a seed cup. The cups pick up seeds from a reservoir on rotation of the wheel member and under the combined action of centrifugal and gravitational forces discharge the seeds to an outlet chute. Opposed brushes are provided in the housing between which the cups pass to sweep excess seeds from the cups and to aid retention of a single seed in each cup to the discharge point. A rotatable cleaning brush element having tangential bristles is mounted in the housing to clean cups prior to the cups entering the mass of seeds in the reservoir. Further brushes and excess seed catching gutters may be provided to assist the reliability of solely a single seed being discharged at predetermined intervals. A power-operated ejector may be arranged to discharge foreign matter or broken seeds and so on from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Inventors: Robert J. Barker, Brynley M. Barker
  • Patent number: 4162747
    Abstract: Refill container for pumpable active ingredients of washing agents to replenish washing agents in supply receptacles in a washing machine, in which the refill container has a pouring spout which has a shape and size to fit the filling opening of the supply receptacle and can be tightly but detachably connected to the filling opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Bosch Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Graf
  • Patent number: 4162029
    Abstract: A double-walled, insulated portable cooler chest having a separate, self-contained, removable, non-insulated tapered liquid container disposed adjacent one end wall of said cooler and having a lower end wall hole and a dispenser tap therethrough communicating with the exterior through the end-wall of the chest. Liquid dispenser container is blow-molded of a polyolefin polymer with special lugs disposed on each side thereof to cooperatively engage wedge-shaped retaining shoulders in the interior side walls of the chest. An interior nut is utilized to screw threadably engage an inner extension of the tap in a manner so as to simultaneously maintain the tap and the liquid container in proper positions. The liquid container is provided with a lid closure for a top opening of a sufficient size to permit a person to extend one hand into the container for the purpose of removing the nut from the tap extension to permit removal of said liquid container from the cooler chamber for cleaning purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Inventors: Marten Gottsegen, Howard L. Esch
  • Patent number: 4161263
    Abstract: A system for storing and handling collapsible rubberized containers used in the transporting of fluent materials within bulk material transporting trailers and the like. The system utilizes a rack for lengthwise travel within the trailer with the rack incorporating a drum, power driven in opposite directions for a selective winding of the flexible container thereon and therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4160512
    Abstract: An automatic, intermittently operable proportional mixing attachment for non-carbonated beverage dispensing machines having holding tanks in which beverages, reconstituted from proportional volumes of water and liquid concentrate, are stored; said attachment including an aspirator, a water delivery structure for the aspirator and connected with a pressurized water service system, a liquid beverage concentrate delivery structure for the aspirator and connected with a static supply of liquid beverage concentrate, a beverage delivery structure extending from the aspirator to the beverage holding tank of a related dispensing machine, a normally closed solenoid operated on and off valve in the water delivery structure and a float actuated control switch for the on and off valve arranged with its float in the beverage in the holding tank and operated to open the on and off valve when the level of beverage in the tank drops below a predetermined minimum level; and a bypass to adjust the minus pressure established in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Inventor: Robert K. Cleland
  • Patent number: 4159066
    Abstract: There is provided a package for dispensing a plurality of flowable materials. A first container is composed of a closed bottom, associated side walls and an open top. A second container is composed of an apertured bottom, associated side walls and an open top. The second container can be slid into the first container and it will remain in essentially sliding contact with the inside of the side walls of the first container as it traverses the depth of the first container. A unitary conduit is in fluid-tight communication with the aperture of the bottom of the second container and a first dispensing orifice disposed near the top of the side walls of the second container. When the second container slides into the first container, flowable material in the first container is expressed through the dispensing orifice via the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Inventor: Jules Silver
  • Patent number: 4159068
    Abstract: A container and dispenser for dry particulated chemicals, such as agricultural pesticides, in which the container has two walls forming a corner at one end of the container, and an opening in the corner for discharging the chemical in the container therefrom. A removable closure seals the opening while the container is being shipped and stored and a retractable closure is disposed within the container for closing the opening when the closure has been removed in preparation for discharging the chemical into the dispensers. The dispenser is so constructed and designed that it holds the container in the position where the opening is at the bottom for discharging the contents from the container, and a projection is provided on the dispenser for retracting the closure disposed in the container when the container is placed in the dispenser. A spring may be provided for urging the closure in the container to its closed position so that the container is automatically closed when it is removed from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Inventor: Henry E. Lowe
  • Patent number: 4159054
    Abstract: A protective armor device adapted for use with machines having openings, particularly slot openings such as bill changers and the like. An armored frame is provided that can be secured to a machine with an opening such as a slot overlying the slot opening in the machine. The armored frame has a rigid bar adjacent to and overlying the slot opening. It also has a protective shield spaced outwardly from the opening and the bar, having a top edge at a level above the bar. The spacing of the bar and the top edge and the height of the top edge is set so that it is impossible to insert a crowbar or the like into the opening in the face plate and in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Inventor: Don K. Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4155438
    Abstract: A combination coin operated mechanism and a non-reusable frangible coin-simulating element that is operative to activate the mechanism. The mechanism is of the type having a coin slide which is adapted to receive the frangible element, and wherein the presence of said element in the mechanism is operative to allow projected movement of the coin slide to an operative position. A camming plate is provided to engage with and deflect the frangible element upon projected movement of the coin slide. A constraining plate is also provided to engage with the deflected frangible element upon projected movement of the coin slide and limit further movement of said element, whereby said element fractures upon continued projected movement of said slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Walter Kidde & Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Greenwald
  • Patent number: 4155484
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser is fabricated from plastic by means of conventional injection molding or other techniques. The dispenser comprises a first and second housing sections which are pivotally coupled by means of a hinge member partially formed on the bottom surface of each housing. Each section contains a napkin accommodating hollow which interfaces with a dispensing aperture on a front wall of the housing. Located between the napkin accommodating hollow and the bottom wall of the housing is a cantilever platform which has first and second recesses. The recesses of one housing are offset with respect to recesses contained in the associated housing on a similar platform. A first plastic spring member has two arcuate arms which are secured within recesses of one housing. A second plastic spring member of a similar configuration has two respective arms which are associated with the recesses in the other housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Cal Pak Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Pastore
  • Patent number: 4148412
    Abstract: An improved shelf configuration for a spiral vending machine is embodied in a novel support apparatus for rotatably supporting the forward or discharge end of a helical coil used to dispense packaged food products or the like from the machine. The support apparatus comprises a first elongated coil support member transversely spaced from and parallel to a second elongated coil support member. The coil support members each define a ramp at one end respectively thereof upwardly inclined between the shelf surface on which the food products to be dispensed rest and an upper planar surface disposed above the shelf surface. The coil support members each terminate at coplanar second ends which are connected together by means of a downwardly inclined ramp. One of the coil support members adjacent the downwardly inclined ramp has a beveled inner edge portion to allow at least some products moved by the coil to be oriented in a transversely tilted position immediately before dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Gross-Given Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Joseph A. Lotspeich
  • Patent number: 4148388
    Abstract: A coin testing apparatus for identifying non-circular coins of a particular denomination. The apparatus includes an array of coin presence sensors. Two reference sensors are located along a line perpendicular to the coin track equidistant above and below a line parallel to the track and approximately half the coin's mean diameter above the track. Two secondary sensors are located along the line parallel to the track so that when a coin of the said denomination first occludes one or other of the reference sensors it occludes one but not both of the secondary sensors. Other sensors are provided to indicate that the coin is non-circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Mars, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Reyner, Patrick A. Henehan
  • Patent number: 4148413
    Abstract: A vertically-mountable dispenser unit for storing and individually dispensing a large number of small boxes. The unit is formed by a frame including a pair of side walls having corresponding-positioned, inwardly-directed ridges thereon that divide the unit into parallel channels for receiving the boxes. Each channel has a discharge opening at the lower end thereof which is terminated by a ledge whereby the boxes are retained in the channels by the ledges and may be laterally withdrawn therefrom. The unit is fabricated of clear thermoplastic material and is created from a flat injection-molded blank that is thermally folded to assume the desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Display Originals, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent J. Immordino
  • Patent number: 4142651
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser including a container, or alternatively, one which is adapted to receive a bottle or the like for storing a supply of fluid, a push button valve, and a flexible tube connecting the container to the push button valve. The fluid flows by gravity from the container, through the flexible tubing, to the push button valve. The push button valve is spring-loaded, and has a pair of aligned openings through which the flexible tubing extends. In the inoperative or normal position of the push button valve, the flexible tubing is pinned shut at the point where it extends through the openings, thus cutting off the flow of fluid from the container to the push button valve. To operate the fluid dispenser, the push button valve is simply pressed downwardly to align the pair of openings, which reaction releases the crimping or pinching of the flexible tubing, allowing the fluid to flow through the flexible tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Inventors: Norbert Leopoldi, Leland K. Girard
  • Patent number: 4142657
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for liquid containing containers which have different neck diameters includes a cap having an annular skirt which engages the interior neck of the containers. The cross section of the annular skirt is noncircular due to an indented pouring spout which extends along the skirt, and which is distortable to maintain the annular skirt in engagement with container necks of different diameters. A follower bag when collapsed is housed entirely within the protecting annular skirt, and has an opening mouth sealed to the cap and contiguous with a vent aperture through the top of the cap. The follower bag is of a size, when inflated, on the order of the interior size of the container. A plunger has an elongated neck releasably secured within the vent aperture, and an enlarged head adjacent the open end of the annular skirt. Before liquid is dispensed, the plunger is forced into the chamber to cause the follower bag to fall onto the liquid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Inventor: Ronald L. Wanke