Patents Examined by Joseph Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7134575
    Abstract: A closure for a container having a body and a cover is disclosed. The body includes a base configured to be coupled to a receptacle, a top portion coupled to the base, a dispensing aperture in the top portion, and a recess extending around at least a portion of the periphery of the top portion. The top portion has a first contour, at least a portion of which is non-planar. The cover includes a bottom surface having a second contour and a skirt configured to be received within the recess in the top portion when the cover is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve
  • Patent number: 7134576
    Abstract: An inventive pouring spout for containers of liquid, having a removable lid and a strip with magnets located thereon. The spout is selectively attachable and is fitted to the diameter of an opening of a particular container. In a preferred embodiment, the spout is fitted to the diameter of a paint can opening, where it may replace the typical lid of a paint can for the duration of its use. Essentially, the spout effectively prevents the entry of paint in the sealing groove of the paint can or on the sides of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Allway Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Gringer, Yuan Fang Cheng
  • Patent number: 7134574
    Abstract: An improved resilient pour spout for paint cans and similar containers that seals off the groove into which the lid of the container mates while preventing the liquid contents from flowing down the surface of the container. When not in use, the spout is stored on the sealed container in an inverted position so as not to take up additional space on the storage shelf. In this position, the trough of the spout will be tight against the container while its exposed outer surface provides a surface for retailers to display advertising. The spout also acts as a base for a second container that may be stacked concentrically above, thereby safely and neatly interconnecting the two containers. The pour spout has the option to be molded in a set so as to provide a carrier for the bulk shipment of several containers thereby reducing the cost of packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Braunstein, Gregory Blake McKenna, Trevor Irvin
  • Patent number: 7134573
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders or flowable materials, such as colorants for paint, caulking or grout or components of cosmetics, comprising a plurality of containers for holding the powders or flowable materials, a plurality of metering pumps, connected to a container or having a connector for releasably connecting a container to the respective pump, wherein the capacity of the metering pump is selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fluid Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan H. N. Post
  • Patent number: 7131560
    Abstract: A lightweight beer dispensing system comprising a small carbon dioxide pressure bottle attached directly to an adjustable pressure regulator that can be set to avoid excess foaming is attached directly to a keg tap having a delivery faucet. The invention taps a full size beer keg and uses CO2 to keep the beer fresh thus avoiding the problem of introducing oxygen into the beer keg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Jerry Graham Hammond
  • Patent number: 7128242
    Abstract: A system top deliver liquid egg product in aliquot portions respective to a selected number of eggs, the system being totally contained in a cooled surround.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: David H. Erlandsen
  • Patent number: 7128244
    Abstract: A removable safety cap (10) for use with an ink cartridge or other fluid holding container having a nozzle (34) extending from the dispensing end. The safety cap (10) prevents the flow of ink out of the cartridge or, if ink escapes past the dispensing nozzle seal, prevents the flow of ink outside the cap (10). The cap (10) also enables the ink cartridge to be set upright with the dispensing end down without the need for a nest or fixture to help support the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Antal, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7124915
    Abstract: A handle assembly for engaging a pressure container having an outlet valve, the handle assembly including a base for engaging the pressure container and a handle pivotally connected to the base so as to locate the pivotal connection at least proximal to a vertical projection of a center of mass of the pressure container. The handle assembly also includes a flow control mechanism for continuous operable engagement with the outlet valve independent of the orientation of the handle and the container about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Fountainhead Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario J. Restive
  • Patent number: 7121434
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises an actuator assembly for an aerosol container in which a collar is attached to the aerosol container and substantially encloses an actuator. The actuator is functionally attached to an aerosol valve and includes slots that contact a plurality of guide rails attached to the inner surface of the collar as well as a passage from the valve to a nozzle shaped opening. When the actuator is pushed down, the downward movement is controlled by the interaction of the slots with the guide rails. Also provided is a cover that guards against accidental force being applied to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: The GPM Group LLC
    Inventor: Albert P. Caruso
  • Patent number: 7118011
    Abstract: A disposable tube set apparatus is provided for delivering a precise volume of a fluid to containers which comprise a reservoir for a fluid, an inlet conduit to the said reservoir, at least one first outlet conduits from the reservoir, a sight tube connected to each of the at least one outlet conduit, each of the sight outlet tubes having an interior wall tapered away from a central vertical axis of each of the sight outlet tubes, a return conduit connecting each of the sight outlet tubes to the reservoir, and a second outlet conduit connected to each of the sight tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen P. Proulx
  • Patent number: 7118012
    Abstract: A dispensing container (1) for a liquid comprises: (i) a bottle (2) having a main chamber (5) for holding a first liquid (21) to be dispensed from the container and a secondary chamber (8) for holding a concentrate (22) of the first liquid, and (ii) a closure element (3) removably located on the mouth of the bottle. The secondary chamber (8) is associated with an outlet aperture through which the concentrate (22) may be transferred from the secondary chamber (8) into the main chamber (5). The container (1) is further provided with a plugging assembly (16) which plugs the outlet aperture when the closure element (3) is located on the mouth of the bottle and allows liquid (22) to be transferred from the secondary chamber (8) into the main chamber (5) when the closure element (3) is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Bettix Limited
    Inventor: David George Butler
  • Patent number: 7114639
    Abstract: A self-contained viscous liquid dispenser having an improved vent valve is provided. The vent valve includes a plug member having a sealing ridge at its perimeter. The vent valve is activated at reduced pressure differentials between the inside and outside of the dispenser. The vent valve also provides redundant sealing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Randall Marc Bachtel
  • Patent number: 7114636
    Abstract: A discharging container including a laminated bottle having a delaminatable layer is designed such that it can be manufactured through reduced processing steps. The present discharging container has the ambient air inlet and the ventilation hole. The inlet is formed solely in the outer layer and always kept open. The ventilation hole is formed solely in the outer layer and normally closed with the closing member or the inner layer. The inlet may be formed in a peripheral wall of the outer layer's body part and the ventilation hole may be formed in the mouth part of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Taisei Kako Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Yoshimoto, Masaharu Nakao
  • Patent number: 7111761
    Abstract: A fluid discharge pump comprises: an outer cover connected to an upper portion of the fluid-storing portion; a nozzle head provided with a fluid discharge nozzle; a bellows member disposed between the fluid-storing portion and the nozzle head; a first valve mechanism for inflow coupled with a lower end of the bellows member; a second valve mechanism for outflow coupled with an upper end of the bellows member; and a third valve mechanism for anti-leakage disposed between the nozzle and the second valve mechanism inside the nozzle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Masatoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7111756
    Abstract: A dispensing system for controlled, especially remote controlled, dispensing of medicaments is disclosed. The system consists of a dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container of material to be dispensed and to validate that it is the correct material, and which includes a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container. The mechanical actuation mechanism may be inhibited from operation by a locking mechanism which, when actuated, locks the device against the further dispensing of a dose of material until release in accordance with the desired dispensing programme, e.g. until a certain time period has elapsed, or until the programme permits dispensing to occur on some other basis. The dispensing system may be in two parts, a hand-held hand-actuated dispensing mechanism (1) and a base or docking station (2) into which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: GW Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Matthew James Grey, Martin Philip Riddiford, Geoffrey William Guy, Rajiv Bobby Dave
  • Patent number: 7111760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a formula regulation and dispensing system for baby bottles, which allows a controlled volume of formula to be administered through a baby bottle for feeding. This controlled amount of formula allows the user to monitor and regulate the consumption of liquid by an infant between required burpings. Using the invention, the user will know the proper time to burp the baby, thus reducing the occurrence of reflux and other conditions resulting from excess stomach gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventors: Talia Pagovich, Gil Pagovich, Odelya Pagovich, Shimon Pagovich, Thomas J. Kiel
  • Patent number: 7108159
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser device a body (1), a fluid reservoir (3), a dispensing member, such as a pump or a metering valve having a piston or a valve member that is mounted to move axially, which dispensing member is fitted to the reservoir (3), and an actuating element (5) mounted to move between a rest position and an actuating position, for actuating the dispensing member and thus for selectively dispensing the fluid contained in the reservoir (3), fluid dispenser device being characterized in that the direction in which actuating element (5) moves is different from, and in particular perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the piston or the valve member of the dispensing member moves, the actuating element (5) having an end portion provided with the cam surface (6) which co-operates with the reservoir (3) or a fixing ring (8) adapted to fix the dispensing member to the reservoir (3) so that the actuating member (5) being moved substantially radially into its actuating position causes the reservoir (3) to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Valois S.A.S.
    Inventor: Guiseppe Stradella
  • Patent number: 7108157
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing valve assembly is provided with a vacuum release feature. The valve assembly is adapted to be fastened to a container opening. The assembly includes a unitarily formed one-piece cylindrical base having a vertical center axis. The base a mounting collar; an enclosure portion connected to the mounting collar forming an inner cavity within the base; a spout connected to the enclosure portion having an interconnected axial core substantially positioned within the spout forming an annular liquid passageway; and a gas passageway having at least one inlet orifice located on an outer surface of the spout, the gas passageway including at least one generally horizontally oriented radial pipe section having one end connected to the at least one inlet orifice and another end connecting to a vertically configured pipe section having an exit orifice. The valve assembly may further include a cap having a drain port, wherein the cap adapted to slip fit over the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Philip E. Alei
  • Patent number: 7104424
    Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a valve stem engaging portion, product dispensing opening, and flexible and expandable product conduit between the engaging portion and dispensing opening. The product conduit is molded at least in part of a first expandable flexible plastic material softer than a second plastic material of the remainder of the actuator. The remainder of the actuator is first molded, followed by molding the first plastic material to form at least a part of the product conduit. After the actuator has been actuated to dispense a foaming product and actuation ceases, the post-foaming product expands within the product conduit since the conduit expands to absorb the product expansion. Actuator cap and base product dispensing side openings align only during valve actuation. Base inwardly flexible members and cap internal ramps bias the cap upwardly when actuation ceases. Base upper portion telescopes in base lower portion during actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Precision Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Gunter Kolanus
  • Patent number: 7104422
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus is described, the operation of which involves installation thereinto of a single-use fluid dispenser cartridge. The cartridge itself comprises a pliable fluid reservoir and a fill tube assembly. The fill tube assembly—the component which most immediately acquires and delivers a definable volume of fluid into a vial or other container—is characterized by its incorporation of means for continuously measuring fluid volume therein, particularly, as a function of electrical capacitance. Accuracy, precision, and reliability are improved. The apparatus can be used to dispense a broad range of fluids, including viscous fluids. No moving mechanical parts are required in the measurement of capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony DiLeo