Patents Examined by Frederick C. Nicolas
  • Patent number: 11713238
    Abstract: An intermediate bulk container, valve and connector system is provided that includes a split nut connector. The split nut connector is rotatably mounted on a valve adapter plate which connects with the valve, and is internally threaded for engagement with external threads on the intermediate bulk container outlet. An O-ring seal is aligned and positioned between the adaptor plate inlet and intermediate bulk container outlet by positioning surfaces to provide compression and sealing between the component engaging surfaces, and sealing contact is provided between corresponding surfaces of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: ELKHART PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Charles A. Huston
  • Patent number: 11713179
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refillable product that includes a container containing two or more first dissolvable solid articles. The solid articles are characterized by a maximum dimension D and a minimum dimension z. The maximum dimension for D ranges from 1 mm to 300 mm and the minimum dimension for z ranges from 0.5 mm to 150 mm. The ratio between D and z ranges from 1:1 to 300:1. The refillable product also includes indicia for a user to put the dissolvable solid articles and a liquid carrier into another container. This product can provide an environment friendly product. For example, by not containing any liquid during transportation, the product can reduce energy consumption during the transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Glenn, Jr., Gloria Yu Hua Cheng, YunQin Lee, Todd Ryan Thompson, David Dean Tedesco
  • Patent number: 11708211
    Abstract: A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle that includes communicating a dispensing authorization message from a control unit to at least one of a server interface carried by a beverage server and a pour spout secured to a bottle, wherein the dispensing authorization message at least one of includes or initiates a dispensing command, and wherein the pour spout responds to the dispensing command by opening a spout valve through which a beverage flows from the bottle and out of the pour spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Berg Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Keating, Donald R. Lamond, Ronald F. Faust, Thomas E. Giles, Albert H. Dorsey
  • Patent number: 11702255
    Abstract: A fluid container cap includes a connection structure, a dispensing connector, and a movable restrictor that adjusts flow through the container cap is disclosed. A fluid container cap includes a connection structure, a dispensing connector, a restrictor, and a valve that is movably adjustable to alter fluid flow through the container cap is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Derk Reilink, David Hall, Gregory R. Alcott, Nathan French, Paul Larson
  • Patent number: 11691799
    Abstract: A bag-in-box assembly includes a box and a flexible container filled with a flowable material. The flexible container includes a front panel, a rear panel, and gusseted side panels adjoining the front panel and the rear panel along peripheral seals. Each peripheral seal having an arcuate body seal inner edge (ABSIE) and a tapered seal inner edge extending from each end of a body seal. The ABSIE has a radius of curvature from 1.0 mm to 300.0 mm. The bag-in-box assembly includes a top perimeter, a center perimeter, and a bottom perimeter as well as an aggregate contact length (ACL) at each perimeter. A top ACL is from 50% to 90% of the top perimeter, a center ACL is from 5% to 50% of the center perimeter, and a bottom ACL is from 50% to 90% of the bottom perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Fabrice Digonnet, Marc S. Black, Brian W. Walther, Jazmine Gosey, Jeffrey E. Bonekamp
  • Patent number: 11679924
    Abstract: A tube holder assembly includes a base plate, an attachment plate, and an optional securing element. The base plate may include guides into which protrusions of the attachment plate slide to alter the positioning apparatus from an open position to a closed position. The base plate also includes receivers to receive tubular members, which have their movement restrained by the receivers and the securing elements in the closed position. The tube holder assembly may also include a latch to help maintain the closed position during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tristan Wise, Charles Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11679973
    Abstract: A system for advance notification of replacing or ordering a water bottle based on historical consumption data, and a water dispenser. The system includes a server, a water dispenser, a weight sensor, and a user device. The weight sensor measures weights of a replaceable water bottle on the water dispenser at different times and transmits the weights back to the server, so as to make multiple determinations with respect to the weights and accordingly obtain the consumption of the replaceable water bottle over time, thereby reminding a user to replace the replaceable water bottle and to make a new order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Kuang-F Cheng
  • Patent number: 11679402
    Abstract: A dispenser for compounds in paste form has a storage volume with a bounding part that can move conjointly when drawing from the storage volume, and a head piece that is guided relative to the storage volume. A discharge chamber with an inlet valve and an outlet valve has a discharge channel with a discharge opening. A spring element is active between the storage volume and the head piece, forms a bounding wall of the discharge chamber, and has a lower ear-shaped plug projection and an upper retaining profile. The spring element is designed as a leg that connects to the plug projection, which leg transitions into the retaining projection via an upwardly curved portion. The retaining profile is designed as a retaining projection that has a larger cross section than the leg, with an upper projection base which is enclosed in the retaining recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RPC Bramlage GmbH
    Inventor: Sabine Goettke
  • Patent number: 11673727
    Abstract: A dispensing system for a flexible bag including a spout having a body, a plug and a first and second flexible coupling. The body includes a central bore extending therethrough, with a lower ring wall at a lower end. The plug has a cavity and plug ring wall attachable to the lower ring wall in sealed engagement. The first flexible coupling and the second flexible coupling each being formed from a base web and extending from the lower end of the body. A first arm is coupled to the base web at a first hinge. A second arm is coupled to the first arm opposite the base web at a central hinge. The plug is coupled to the second arm opposite the first arm at a plug hinge. A probe is likewise disclosed that is insertable into a flexible bag, as is a flexible bag assembly and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Scholle IPN Corporation
    Inventor: Anton Bloedt
  • Patent number: 11667511
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a liquid to a user, that includes a container having a reference container volume and a wall with: a bottom portion, a side portion adjacent to the bottom portion, a shoulder portion adjacent to the side portion, a liquid, in the container, a dispenser, arranged to receive and hold the container, characterized in that: the bottom portion and the shoulder portion have a similar male shape. The dispenser includes a receiving portion having a female shape arranged to mate either with the bottom portion or with the shoulder portion, so as to stably hold the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DES EAUX MINÉRALES D'EVIAN ET EN ABRÉGÉ “S.A.E.M.E”
    Inventor: Jean-Baptiste Tanchette
  • Patent number: 11661250
    Abstract: A flip-top dispensing closure is provided. The closure includes a base and a lid. The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout. The lid includes a fixing ring and a cap. The fixing ring is attachable to the base and the cap is hingedly attached to the ring. The closure is provided with tamper-evident parts including first and second parts which are initially frangibly connected to each other within the lid, and upon first opening of the cap the first and second parts are separated, one of the parts being retained by the cap and the other of the parts dropping onto the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: OBRIST CLOSURES SWITZERLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Rognard, Daniel Holmes
  • Patent number: 11661331
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a resource dispenser status for a resource dispenser associated with a facility. One system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a set of signals. The electronic processor is also configured to compare a first signal included in the set of signals to a set of thresholds. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a resource dispenser status based on the comparison of the first signal to the set of thresholds. The electronic processor is also configured to generate and transmit the resource dispenser status to a remote device, wherein the remote device provides the resource dispenser status to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Olmstead, Brandon Feil, Kevin Brockman, Kevin Ferenc, Arindam Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 11661329
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Russell H. Beavis, James J. Dattolo
  • Patent number: 11649156
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a gaseous fuel from a liquefied fuel and a method for operating such a system are provided. The system includes a storage tank, a pressure sensor, a dispenser, a temperature sensor, and a vapor supply unit. The storage tank stores a liquefied fuel including phases of liquid and vapor. The pressure sensor is configured to measure a vapor pressure inside the storage tank. The dispenser is configured to receive the liquefied fuel and dispense the gaseous fuel to a receiving tank. The temperature sensor is configured to measure temperature of the dispenser. The system further includes a vapor supply unit fluidly coupled with the storage tank and configured to provide the vapor of the liquefied fuel from the storage tank into the dispenser or in thermally contact with at least one portion of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: China Energy Investment Corporation Limited, National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy
    Inventors: Jerad Allen Stager, Xianming Li, Anthony Ku
  • Patent number: 11648577
    Abstract: The cosmetic container includes: a housing provided to be brought into close contact with an opened upper end of a container body and having a hole formed in a central portion thereof to communicate with an interior of the container body; a pumping member provided inside the housing to be connected to the hole, having a content accommodation space defined therein, and configured to be elastically compressed or expanded along an axial direction to transfer the contents in one direction along an axial direction; and a nozzle member coupled to the pumping member and having an internal conduit to allow the contents to move, and configured to connect the pumping member and the outlet, compress the pumping member with an operation of the discharge head, and selectively open or close between the inner conduit and an internal space of the pumping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUNG JIN COSMETICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young-Kwang Byeon
  • Patent number: 11633706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispenser for viscous materials that includes a static mixer, a first and second receptacle R1 and R2 for a first and second viscous material, connected in fluid communication with the static mixer, a first and second actuator configured for discharge of receptacle R1 and R2, an electrically or manually operable drive and a mechanical or hydraulic power transmission configured to translate drive motion into first and second actuator motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU SILICONES EUROPE B.V.
    Inventors: Gerhard Müller, Kin Saito, Makoto Ohara, Dennis Tenhünfeld
  • Patent number: 11634311
    Abstract: A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Russell H. Beavis, Benjamin W. Jones, Jr., John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray, Casey P. Manning, Felix Winkler, Robert A. Charles
  • Patent number: 11634274
    Abstract: A bulk fluid storage container has a top wall structure and a bottom wall structure held in spaced relation by a side wall structure. An internal baffle assembly is disposed in the fluid storage volume between the side wall structure for reducing fluid sloshing. A fill port formed in the top wall structure has a fill flange for coupling with a source of the fluid. A vent port formed in the top wall structure has a pressure vacuum value. A drain port formed in the side wall structure in a lower region adjacent the gutter region has a drain valve assembly is coupled to the drain port. A frame assembly includes an upper rectangular frame member and a lower rectangular frame member arranged in spaced relation by a plurality of post; wherein the frame assembly surrounds and supports the fluid storage vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SANDBOX ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Justin M. Shepherd, Daniel Miers
  • Patent number: 11629986
    Abstract: A squeeze doser with a childproof cap is described herein. The squeeze doser with a childproof cap includes a container, a reservoir, and a cap. The container includes a neck. A reservoir is coupled with the neck of the container, wherein the reservoir further comprises a spout and at least one notch located on an outer surface of the neck, said spout coupled with a fill tube that guides liquid stored in the container to the spout, the spout including one or more holes positioned to maintain a predetermined dosage of liquid within the reservoir. The cap is releaseably attached to the neck and includes at least one protrusion that is configured to mate with the at least one notch of the neck, whereby the at least one protrusion coupled with the at least one notch renders the container childproof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Curaleaf, Inc.
    Inventors: Katharine Mamos, Jessie Kater, Cristopher Benitah, Jason White, James McWhorter
  • Patent number: 11628986
    Abstract: A device for discharging a flowable substance, in particular for applying a medical substance, a pharmaceutical substance, a food supplement or a cosmetics, includes_an activation mechanism and a body which has a discharge opening at a first end and forms a containing space in which a frangible capsule is disposed. The capsule has two ends each having a first and a second tip and at least one of the two tips can be snapped off by actuating the activation mechanism so that the flowable substance is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Hiemer, Alberto C. Sögaro, Sebastian Seitz