Patents Examined by Joseph Kaufman
  • Patent number: 6908011
    Abstract: A cap device for bottles, which smoothly and naturally removes a vacuum pressure from a cavity containing an additive therein by opening a valve cock in response to a rotating action of a cap body. The cap device having a cap body provided with a cavity to contain an additive therein and tightened to an externally threaded mouth of a bottle. A funnel part being integrally formed in the cap body to discharge the additive from the cavity into the bottle through a lower end thereof. A small vent hole being formed at a top surface of the cap body. A breakable sheet being attached to the lower end of the funnel part to close the lower end of the funnel part. A valve cock being provided at the vent hole of the cap body to open or close the vent hole. A projection being provided at a predetermined position on a top edge of the mouth of the bottle to thrust and open the valve cock with downward rotation of the cap body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Young Kook Cho
  • Patent number: 6896156
    Abstract: A square paint container having recesses formed therein for facilitating the pouring of paint from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company
    Inventors: Robert E. McDonald, Paul R. Katterle, John F. Kramer
  • Patent number: 6896151
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing closure includes a housing having a base for securement to a container and a peripheral wall extending from the base toward an open end spaced from the base. A flexible resilient liner is captured within the peripheral wall of the housing, and has a flange extending through the open end of the housing peripheral wall. A flow tip has a body captured within the liner and an outer end extending through the open end of the housing peripheral wall and through the flange of the flexible resilient liner. The flow tip has at least two fluid flow passages disposed within the liner, and a circumferential channel underlying the flange and interconnecting ends of the passages. Pressure applied to the flange by fluid in the passages and channel expands the flange away from the flow tip and channel to permit egress of fluid from the channel, and removal of such pressure allows resilient collapse of the flange over the channel to seal the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6892903
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser, for mating with a bottle containing liquid contents and having a top, a mouth at the top, a bottom, and an upper portion. The dispenser includes a base having side walls, a top, and cradle and intermediate plates extending horizontally through the side walls. A pipe has an inlet end centrally located above the intermediate plate and having internal threading for accommodating and securing to the mouth of the bottle, and an outlet end extending horizontally from the base and having a spout. The cradle plate has a central opening which is substantially concentric with the inlet end and supports the bottle at its upper portion. The beverage dispenser is inverted to fasten the mouth of the bottle to the inlet end, and then is turned ‘right-side-up’ to invert the bottle, and allow the contents of the bottle to be easily dispensed through the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventor: Salvatore Bartolotta
  • Patent number: 6889870
    Abstract: A device for simultaneously dispensing at least two products is provided with each of the at least two products being packaged separately in at least first and second flexible-walled sachets. The device may comprise a holder configured to fixedly hold the first and second sachets in a superposed position so that respective outlet orifices of the first and second sachets are in the vicinity of one another, and a pressurizer movable with respect to the holder, the pressurizer being configured to apply pressure to the first and second sachets so as to force contents of the first and second sachets out through the respective outlet orifices in a predetermined ratio. A system and method associated with the device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: L'Oréal S.A.
    Inventor: Vincent De Laforcade
  • Patent number: 6889874
    Abstract: A dosing device for bulk goods comprises a mounting frame (2) in which a trough (4) with a dosing screw (28) is arranged, a drive motor (30) and at least one first vibrating paddle (48). The trough (4) comprises two opposing sidewalls (14, 16), of which at least one flexible sidewall (14) is flexible and the vibrating paddle (48) is arranged on said flexible sidewall (14). The upper edges of said sidewalls (14, 16) are not parallel to each other. A significant improvement in mass flow may be achieved, with a particularly effective prevention of cavity formation, whereby any bulk goods bridges which are formed are rapidly and effectively broken. Even bulk goods which have a clearly poor flow characteristic and tend to clump or stick to the trough sidewalls can be dosed without problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Brabender Technologie KG
    Inventor: Horst Vohwinkel
  • Patent number: 6889872
    Abstract: An electric dispensing gun for dispensing two part viscous materials. The dispensing gun features a directly driven pinion/rack assembly and an optional mixing manifold for dispensing material from sausage packaging. A controller controls operation of the dispensing gun to implement dosage control and automatic power reverse features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Meritool, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Timm Herman, Kevin Whited, Raymond Fritz
  • Patent number: 6880724
    Abstract: A photoresist supply system includes a storage bottle and a reservoir coupled in flow communication therewith. A vacuum pump is coupled in flow communication with the reservoir and creates a vacuum within the reservoir that draws photoresist out of the storage bottle and into the reservoir. An inlet into the reservoir is configured to flow photoresist down an inner wall of the reservoir. The photoresist flows out of the reservoir into a dispense reservoir from which the photoresist is pumped to a dispense nozzle for application to a wafer or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Tsai Liu
  • Patent number: 6880726
    Abstract: A toothpaste dispensing apparatus for dispensing toothpaste from a tube. The toothpaste dispensing apparatus includes a housing comprising a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall defines an interior space of the housing. The housing is designed for engaging a support surface whereby the support surface supports the housing. A dispensing assembly extends through the perimeter wall of the housing from the interior space of the housing. The dispensing assembly is designed for engaging the tube whereby the dispensing assembly squeezes toothpaste from the tube onto the toothbrush when the dispensing assembly is actuated by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Victor G. Perez
  • Patent number: 6877639
    Abstract: Liquid measuring and dispensing devices measure and dispense a quantity of cooking oil or other liquids or flowable powders. The liquid measuring and dispensing device attaches directly to the bottle containing the material, eliminating the need to search for measuring instruments when one desires to measure a quantity of material. Because of the direct bottle attachment, it is impossible to spill the material during the measuring process. Furthermore, because the use of external measuring instruments is eliminated, there is no cleaning process required after measuring and dispensing a quantity of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Tina R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 6877645
    Abstract: A container for dispensing comestibles, such as a dry cereal dispenser, is provided that is generally designed to be capable of being fully cleaned and sanitized in order to avoid exposing the comestibles to contamination. In this regard, the various components of the container, such as the handle, the lid and the bottom closure, are advantageously mounted to the vessel such that the inner surface of the vessel with which the comestible is in contact is smooth and uninterrupted and, therefore, capable of being thoroughly cleaned. By including a removable bottom closure, the container may capable of being refilled through the bottom, opposite the open top through which the comestible is dispensed, to prevent stagnation of the comestible in lower portions of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Six Continents Hotels, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward E. Barker, III, Thomas L. Bussiere, Mark A. Dark, Stephen C. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6877635
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and dispensing whipped soft drinks, hot chocolate and beverages which does not use mechanical whipping such as rotating blades, but rather accomplishes the whipping of the mixture of syrup and water by a whipper insert 28 that is mounted above the dispensing nozzle 24b of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Gus J. Stratton
  • Patent number: 6877640
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a predetermined measured volume of a fluent material, such as liquid and/or powder, to a washing machine. The device includes a container for storing the fluent material, a flexible tube for delivering the fluent material from the container to the washing machine and at least two control valves along the flexible tube for interrupting the flow of the fluent material. The two control valves define an intermediate portion of the flexible tube having a predetermined measured volume. The first valve is opened to allow the fluent material to flow into and fill the intermediate portion. The second valve is opened after closing the first valve to allow the predetermined volume of fluent material to flow into the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin Frushone
  • Patent number: 6874656
    Abstract: A vented closure for closing and venting a container with threaded engagement to a neck portion of the container for dispensing fluid from the container includes a unitary, molded plastic cap constructed and arranged for threaded engagement to the container. The threaded cap defines a septum orifice that is sized and arranged to receive a siphon tube. A gasket is assembled into the threaded cap for sealing the interfit between the vented closure and the container. An elastomeric venting valve is assembled into the threaded cap and the venting valve includes a septum with a slit therein for receiving in a self-sealing manner the siphon tube. A retainer ring is used to capture the venting valve within the threaded cap and a safety ring in unitary combination with the threaded cap retains the vented closure on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Rohr, Jay E. Witte
  • Patent number: 6871758
    Abstract: A powder dispenser includes: a dispenser housing having including a hopper for holding a powder; an outlet tube; a slider slidably mounted with respect to the dispenser housing between a feed position and a dispense position, the slider including a holding member for receiving powder supplied through a dispensing opening of the hopper in the feed position, the holding member having pores which permit gas passage therethrough but which prevent powder passage therethrough, and a vacuum passage for removing gas trapped by the powder in the holding member, through the holding member wall; an angled bore for supplying a pressurized gas at an angle to the hopper to provide a swirling effect; and a gas supply bore in the dispenser housing for supplying a pressurized gas to the receptacle portion in the dispense position to force the powder from the receptacle portion to the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Schering Corporation
    Inventors: Annaniy Berenshteyn, Rajesh K. Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 6871763
    Abstract: A gas spray valve permits easy recharging of gas containers after use. The gas spray valve is of considerable strength and rigidity and can be manufactured in a less costly manner. One of the openings of a gas conduit of a valve pin is positioned so that, when the valve pin is in the raised position, the opening is positioned above a second seal ring and, when the valve pin is pushed into a first stop position, the opening is positioned below the second seal ring. When the valve pin is in the raised position, a bottom end of the valve pin is positioned above a first seal ring, and as the result, the interior of a gas container is connected with a metering chamber. When the valve pin is pushed into a second stop position, the opening of the gas conduit is positioned below the first seal ring so that the interior of the gas container communicates with the gas conduit. This permits recharging of the gas container with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Bio Actis Limited
    Inventor: Tatsuo Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6871759
    Abstract: Disclosed is an infusion pump for expelling a fluid from a collapsible fluid reservoir to a patient. The pump includes a housing having a chamber therein for receiving the fluid reservoir. A first wall is provided on the housing for contacting the fluid reservoir, and a second wall is movable from a first position distanced from the first wall to form the chamber therebetween, and a second position relatively closer to the first wall. Advancing the movable wall from the first position to the second position expels fluid from the collapsible reservoir at a substantially constant rate by applying increasing force on the fluid reservoir through the dispensation cycle. Preferably, the first and second walls are provided with non-planar complementary surface configurations for contacting the collapsible reservoir. Retraction mechanisms for retracting the movable wall from the second position to the first position, and user readable indicium of the status of the dispensation cycle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: I-Flow Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Rake, Orvile L. Judge, Donald M. Earhart, Charles J. McPhee
  • Patent number: 6871762
    Abstract: A container for storage, dispensing, and spreading of ice-thawing materials for use around doorways, walkways, and other entrances where people walk and ice can form. It includes a storage hopper safe from the weather elements, a rotary dispenser drum which dispenses a pre-measured amount of ice-melt material or other granulate such as sand to a spreader try which can be removed and used to spread material where needed. The storage hopper has a discharge hole in the base that matches the hole in the rotary drum dispenser. The drum dispenser is a hollow drum suspended in air where the hole meets the hole in the hopper. The drum is secured in place by the ends which protrude through either the outside of the hopper wall or the unit container wall, the drum can be rotated manually or mechanically to place the hole either on top for filling of tube or on the bottom for discharging the materials from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Paul E. Cripps
  • Patent number: 6868993
    Abstract: A plastic pail having a dispensing closure and a diametrically opposed puncture zone to enable surge free pouring. The dispensing closure has a flexible pouring spout and threaded overcap. The spout dispensing passage is closed off by a tear out sealing diaphragm in initial shipping condition The puncture zone is surrounded by an upstanding retaining collar dimensioned to receive the separated tear out diaphragm which acts as a protective cover for the punctured anti-glug vent during storage and handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: American Flange Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Davis B. Dwinell
  • Patent number: 6866165
    Abstract: A trigger-actuated cleaning device dispenses an aerosol cleaning agent from a pressurized canister. The canister has a female valve assembly. In one form an over cap fits onto the canister over the valve and has a male stem on a pivotable part of the over cap that opens the valve when moved by a rod linked to a remote trigger. The stem is either formed integrally with the over cap or is removably attached to a stem socket formed in the over cap. In another form the actuator is a button having a stem that fits in the female valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Heathcock, Dale Aberegg, Cathal L. Fahy, Tracey A. Frosch, Steven A. Zach, Brian K. Linstedt