Patents Examined by Jeremy W Carroll
  • Patent number: 9441618
    Abstract: Food dispenser for free-flowing food has a piston movable in a reciprocal manner in a cylinder by a drive and having a valve (2) having a valve body (5) which is rotatable about a rotational axis (7) between a first and a second switching position. In the first switching position, a first channel (14) of valve body (5) connects a suction opening (11) and a working opening of piston (12), such that a working stroke of the piston suctions food through suction opening (11) and working opening (12) into an intermediate space. In the second switching position, a second channel (15) of valve body (5) connects working opening (12) and a dispensing opening (13) such that a second working stroke of the piston conveys food from the cylinder through working opening (12) and dispensing opening (13). The suction opening (11), working opening (12) and dispensing opening (13) are offset, spaced from one another along rotational axis (7) of the valve body (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: UNIFILLER SYSTEMS UK LTD
    Inventors: Benno Bucher, Kuno Kurschner
  • Patent number: 9433963
    Abstract: An dispensing assembly comprising a body portion, and a blow-off mechanism operably attached to the body portion, the blow-off mechanism including a cap member having one or more openings proximate a dispensing nozzle configured to dispense a dispensing fluid, wherein a fluid is forced through the one or more openings to blow-off a dispensed fluid residue located at a tip of the dispensing nozzle, wherein the fluid is forced through the one or more openings while the dispensing fluid is not continuously exiting an outlet of the dispensing nozzle is provided. An associated method is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PRECISION VALVE & AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Neal Urquhart, Andrew John Nally, Max Egdorf
  • Patent number: 9414666
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a garment with an integrated hydration system comprising a jacket, a first fluid reservoir removably enclosed within a first pocket on the inside along a lateral side of said jacket, a second fluid reservoir removably enclosed within a second pocket on the inside along the other lateral side of said jacket, a first flexible connecting tube connecting said first fluid reservoir to a mouthpiece, and a second flexible connecting tube connecting said second fluid reservoir to said mouthpiece, said mouthpiece comprising a selector valve to allow a user to select between drinking from said first fluid reservoir and said second fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Keith Patrick Smith
  • Patent number: 9409201
    Abstract: A system and method for providing custom colored sealant are generally provided with a dispensing container, containing a quantity of sealant base solution. A bottom wall of the dispensing container is positioned to limit any headspace within the interior of the dispensing container until the contents are ready to be mixed. The bottom wall is moved prior to adding a coloring agent to the dispensing container, which is mixed with the sealant base by agitating the dispensing container, until a desired color is attained. A sealant thickener may then be added and mixed by similar agitation of the dispensing container. A rod may be provided to engage and move the bottom wall. A pull string may also be provided to move the bottom wall. A nozzle is then coupled with the dispensing container and the custom-colored sealant is ready to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SASHCO, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Summons, Elliot Summons
  • Patent number: 9409699
    Abstract: A capillary metering device for a powder product has a vibration body with a capillary formed within the vibration body for receiving and conveying the powder product. The vibration body is formed of at least two adjoining body parts, wherein the capillary is formed as a channel with at least one open side in the demounted state in at least one of the body parts. The open side of the channel in the mounted state is closed off by the adjoining body part. The vibration body is caused to vibrate with such an amplitude and frequency that a powder flow of the powder product passes through the capillary formed in the vibration body into a target container and that upon reaching a target quantity of the powder product in the target container the powder flow to the target container is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Weigel
  • Patent number: 9400200
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for use in dispensing a selected volume of granulated dry product. The dispenser includes a main body having a discharge opening, an open interior for holding a supply of the granulated product and a discharge spout for dispensing the granulated product. A loading and dispensing member is constructed with spaced apart receiving cavities, and is movably mounted between the discharge opening and the discharge spout. A portion control device defining one selected portion volume is received and retained in each receiving cavity, and is replaceable with a different portion control device having a different portion control volume. A handle is frictionally engaged with the loading and dispensing member to enable rotation of the handle with or relative to the loading and dispensing member to sequentially control loading and dispensing of granulated product from the portion control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Server Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Rusch
  • Patent number: 9393536
    Abstract: A paint dispensing apparatus having a housing with a turntable rotatably mounted to the housing about a vertical axis. A plurality of stations on the turntable are circumferentially spaced from each other and each station is adapted to receive a paint dispenser having a plunger in which movement of the plunger dispenses paint from the paint dispenser. An indexing drive, upon activation, rotates the turntable to sequentially position the stations at a dispensing position. When at the dispensing position, an actuator mounted to the housing mechanically engages the plunger of the paint dispenser positioned at the dispensing station. A receptacle is mounted to the housing beneath the turntable and aligned with the dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Dedoes Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Boboltz, Scott A. Albright
  • Patent number: 9393082
    Abstract: A viscous material container that makes it unlikely that air remains in a housing when a piston is inserted from an insertion port of the housing. A first section of the housing is formed with two groove portions communicating with a first passage to discharge air in the first passage when a piston is inserted from an insertion port. The two groove portions communicate with the insertion port, and extend along a first imaginary center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SHOFU, INC.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Sasaki, Ryouji Takei, Toshiyuki Nakatsuka, Katsuya Kimoto, Hideto Kasaba
  • Patent number: 9381531
    Abstract: Liquid dispensers with a housing, a reservoir for receiving liquid prior to discharge, a discharge opening, and a conveyor device for conveying liquid from the reservoir to the discharge opening. The conveyor device includes a metering chamber with a cylindrical wall, and a piston adapted to the cylindrical wall to allow a sliding movement thereon. The metering chamber and the piston displaced relative to each other between starting and end positions. An outlet side of the metering chamber is adjoined by an outlet chamber, and an inlet side of the metering chamber is adjoined by an inlet chamber. The piston is arranged in the inlet chamber when in the starting position and in the outlet chamber when in the end position. During the transition from the starting position to the end position, the liquid in the metering chamber is pressurized for discharge through the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBH
    Inventors: Judith Auerbach, Juergen Greiner-Perth
  • Patent number: 9370198
    Abstract: A deformable container for single serving of a viscous or semi-solid product from an associated dispensing machine, the deformable container having a cylindrical or conical shape with two opposing end walls and at least one collapsible side wall connecting the first and second end walls, wherein one end wall is provided an opening with a cover through which the product is dispensed from the container. The collapsible side wall may have a cylindrical shape with a plurality of pleats arranged in an accordion-like shape, and be configured to collapse on itself into a substantially flattened position while maintaining a vertical alignment of each pleat. The collapsible side may be conical with a plurality of pleats arranged in a corrugated-like shape, and be configured to collapse on itself into a substantially flattened position wherein the pleats are arranged horizontally next to each other. The container may additionally include a lock mechanism for maintain the flattened shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: CONTAINER INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roman Gamburg, Ilya Margolin
  • Patent number: 9359184
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid container and a metering unit is disclosed. The container comprises a fluid level sensor and the dispenser comprises a control unit configured to determine a parameter value representative for an amount of fluid in the container after refill on basis of a signal from the sensor. The sensor can for example be configured to generate a signal at a predefined fluid level (B, C), while the control unit is configured to calculate a fluid level on basis of an input value indicative of the fluid level (A) after refill, and a dispense value indicative of amounts of fluid dispensed since the latest refill. The control unit can be configured to compare the signalled predefined fluid level (B, C) with the calculated fluid level to generate a correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fast & Fluid Management B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Hermanus Nicolaas Post, Wouter Dijkstra, M. E. J. L. Driessen
  • Patent number: 9359116
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser member, including a chamber and an outlet valve having an actuator rod that is axially movable down and up, and on which a sleeve slides, under the effect of a pre-compression spring and the pressure of the fluid, over a maximum axial stroke. The effective axial stroke of the sleeve is dependent on the force of the spring and the pressure of the fluid in the chamber. The actuator rod includes side outlet mechanism that is suitable for being closed and uncovered selectively by the sleeve, the side outlet mechanism extending over an axial height that is greater than their radial width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: APTAR FRANCE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Stephane Beranger, Frederic Duquet
  • Patent number: 9359132
    Abstract: A liner sump dispensing system (10) is disclosed which is used in conjunction with a liner (11) and an intermediate bulk container (12). The liner sump dispensing system includes a liner cassette (40) and a tilting device (41). The liner cassette is mounted to the bottom of the liner. The tilting device includes a tray (51) and a reciprocating pneumatic arm (52) having a pneumatic cylinder (63) and a piston rod (64) pivotally coupled to a rear end (54) of the tray. The tray has a trapezoidal shaped floor (58) and a pair of inclined wings (60) extending upwardly along an incline from the floor. A L-shaped mounting flange (65) adapted to be coupled to the top end of the container is coupled to the end of the pneumatic cylinder opposite from the tray. The actuation of the pneumatic cylinder tilts the tray to tilt the liner bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Grayling Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Sullinger, Tony R. McKee
  • Patent number: 9352353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge device (1) comprising a tank housing (3) having at least one outlet (4) at one end and having a drive means at the opposite end. A connector (6) can be placed over the outlet (4) on the discharge device. The connector comprises a releasable mounting device that can be released by manual pressure on two opposite side surfaces of the connector. One guide surface (9) is provided on each of the two opposite side surfaces, each being oriented diagonally to the longitudinal axis (L) of the discharge device (1) and spaced in the direction of the discharge device. The connector is placed over the outlet on the discharge device in a mounting position. The guide surfaces (9) are moved radially toward each other in a released position by pressure (F) on the side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Kuros Biosurgery AG
    Inventors: Andy Greter, Ralph Egon Kayser, Wilhelm A. Keller
  • Patent number: 9345555
    Abstract: Provided herein is a viscous material container that is not likely to form continuous streaks or asperities on the surface of a viscous material discharged from the viscous material container even if the viscous material is highly viscous. A third section of a housing includes a wall having a wall portion that is positioned radially outwardly of a continuous angular portion with respect to a second imaginary center line, and extends along the continuous angular portion. The wall portion is configured to expand radially outward when a dental viscous material pushed out from a discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SHOFU INC.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Sasaki, Ryouji Takei, Toshiyuki Nakatsuka, Katsuya Kimoto, Hideto Kasaba
  • Patent number: 9334075
    Abstract: Discharge device for discharging a container containing viscous substances and having an elastic shell material, has a winding roller, a counter pressure roller, an actuator for rotating the winding roller and a control part for controlling the actuator. The inner part of the winding roller is hollow and includes therein an attaching arrangement, where the shell material of the container to be discharged is attached. The shell of the winding roller has an opening, in which opening there is a lid part having a shape for the shell material of the container attached to the attaching arrangement. The winding roller is rotated so that the shell material of the container attached to the attaching arrangement is wound around the winding roller. The winding roller and counter pressure roller are pressed against each other so that the shell material of the container winding around the winding roller passes between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: OY PRO-HYDRO AB
    Inventor: Esa Kuismanen
  • Patent number: 9327883
    Abstract: A dispensing closure comprising a body portion and a flap portion is provided. The body portion comprises an end wall, a skirt that depends from end wall, and an opening about the same size as end wall. Flap portion comprises a lid comprising at least one dispensing opening and a disk comprising one or more dispensing orifices. The disk is in rotatable contact with the lid. A lock portion comprising a surface area formed on the flap portion. Lock portion also comprises a first substantially vertical piece formed on a first side of surface area, a second substantially vertical piece formed on a second side of surface area, and a substantially horizontal piece formed at a bottom of the first substantially vertical piece and the second substantially vertical piece. Surface area, first substantially vertical piece, second substantially vertical piece, and the substantially horizontal piece form a latched opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: WEATHERCHEM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian David Groubert, Barry Daggett
  • Patent number: 9310238
    Abstract: The present technology allows for substances contained within containers to be transferred to a measuring cup so as to allow for a clean, efficient, and accurate transfer of a substance from a container in to a measuring cup. The measuring cup can be reversibly attached to the lid such that when the container is inverted, the measuring cup can fill with the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Kelly
  • Patent number: 9290306
    Abstract: A closure for flexible containers or pouches that contain food products that provides at least two visual indicators showing that the cap has been partially or totally unscrewed from the spout. The first indicator is a tab in a window section of the cap that has its mounting filaments or bridges broken when the cap is unscrewed. These filaments or bridges connect the tab to the top portion of the cap. The second indicator is a vertical break or rupture line in the tab that indicates that the tab has been bent to rupturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hoffer Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Totten
  • Patent number: 9290295
    Abstract: A resealable decanter associated with a gas evacuation system, the decanter having a body with an upper opening adapted to be closed with a removable sealing closure, a movable wall located within the body, the moveable wall moveable at least upwardly within the body through application of a vacuum thereto, a moveable wall guide portion associated with the moveable wall, and a valve assembly located adjacent the upper opening allowing the vacuum applied to move the moveable wall thus moving the liquid within the decanter to evacuate gas from the decanter while preventing loss of liquid from the decanter as the vacuum is applied whereby the liquid contents are removable from the decanter by pouring from the decanter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Alan John Poggio