Patents Examined by Kevin Shaver
  • Patent number: 7159744
    Abstract: A flow promotion device (FPD) for use in conjunction with a bulk bag discharger is provided. The FPD includes a center plate pivotably connected to the bulk bag discharger frame. Extension plates are pivotably attached to each end of the center plate. A connecting element is connected between a lever arm on each extension plate and the discharger frame, and an actuator is connected between the center plate and the frame. Upon activation of the actuator, the center plate is moved upwardly, and the extension plates are pivoted upwardly and inwardly by the connecting elements in order to press against the bag from three different directions using a single actuator. Two FPDs are preferably used on the bulk bag discharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Flexicon Corporation
    Inventors: Keith W. Sterner, David R. Gill, John F. Simonof, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7152767
    Abstract: A guarantee closure having a closure body with a guarantee foil and a pour-out spout as well as a closure cap fitting onto the closure body. The pour-out spout is arranged on the closure body such that it may be pivoted up. The guarantee foil, by pivoting-up the pour-out spout into the pour-out position, is cut open and thus frees the passage to the pour-out spout. The closure body comprises a relief for receiving the guarantee foil and forms above the relief, by two shoulders arranged over one another and distanced from one another, a free space for receiving the lying pour-out spout. This is enclosed and held by a film-hinge material bridge which in the lying condition connects the two shoulders with a surface which seen from the outside is concave and on the upper side of the lying pour-out spout runs together to a point which defines the pivoting axis of the pour-out spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: SIG Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Fritz Seelhofer
  • Patent number: 7152814
    Abstract: A sprinkler has a housing with an inlet portion and an outlet portion in which a first outlet aperture is formed. The first outlet aperture may cooperate with other outlet apertures to define a spiral shape. A cam is disposed upstream of the first outlet aperture. The cam is rotatable about a cam axis to cover varying portions of the outlet apertures. After moving through the outlet apertures, water strikes a deflector and is sprayed outward from the head. The orientation of the cam establishes an arc angle through which water is sprayed, including a full-circle spray pattern. The deflector may be stationary or rotatable. In one alternative configuration, the outlet apertures and each leads to a different strip nozzle. The cam has an open portion that can be rotated into alignment with each of the outlet apertures to determine which of the strip nozzles are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Schapper, Christian M. Olsen, Chadwick L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7152766
    Abstract: An all-metal beverage can with a pour spout is disclosed. The can includes a can body for containing a beverage and a closure member. The closure contains a metal pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout. The pour spout and cap are in a recessed condition within the can body prior to opening the can, allowing the can to be shipped and stacked in the normal fashion. The closure further comprises a first layer forming the pour spout, a second layer forming the cap, and a scored area formed in the second layer. The cap separates from the closure by the user grasping the cap and breaking of the scored area (e.g., by twisting) and then removing the cap from the pour spout. When the container is opened, the pour spout is extendable from the can body to facilitate pouring of the beverage. In one possible embodiment, the pour spout is threaded. The cap threads onto the pour spout, enabling a resealing of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co.
    Inventors: William Walsh, Gopalaswamy Rajesh
  • Patent number: 7150376
    Abstract: A double-layered fluid container which includes an upper diaphragm and a lower diaphragm, which provides alternating squeezing action so that the upper diaphragm and the lower diaphragm causes an opening and a closing action to the container. The contents in the container are isolated from the external contact with air and therefore oxidation process is inhibited and the container provides a constant delivery of the contents and the contents are prevented from back flowing into the container. The delivery of the contents can be controlled at a stable squeezing pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Chang-Keng Tsai
  • Patent number: 7150413
    Abstract: A line marker carries a spray nozzle assembly for marking or painting a line on a horizontal surface. The spray nozzle assembly includes a mounting bracket that is clamped to a support arm in various pivotally adjusted positions. The mounting bracket carries both the spray nozzle and a pair of side shields. The spray nozzle is vertically adjustable up and down on the mounting bracket. The side shields have slides that slide transversely through the mounting bracket to provide horizontal adjustability of the side shields towards and away from one another. A clamping plate bears against the slides of the side shields when the clamping plate is tightened on the mounting bracket to hold the side shields in place on the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Bricko, Keith A. Goetz
  • Patent number: 7150411
    Abstract: A drinking straw (1) has a spherical transparent housing (2) formed part way up it in which there is a ball (3) which can be marked or decorated and when a drink is sucked up the straw (1) the ball (3) rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Daniel Sheedy
  • Patent number: 7150414
    Abstract: A rotary disc atomizer having a disc having an axis and rotatable about the axis, the disc also having two opposite surfaces as considered in an axial direction, and a peripheral edge, the disc having a plurality of throughgoing openings so that when a liquid is supplied to one of the surfaces and flows toward the edge and then droplets are sprayed, the liquid also flows through the throughgoing holes to another of the surfaces so as to also flow radially outwardly on the other surface and form droplets thrown from the edge in a region of the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Fima Goldin
  • Patent number: 7147171
    Abstract: There is provided a diffuser for volatile material such as a volatile aromatic or chemical agent. The diffuser has a flexible casing having one or more vent holes formed therein and a breakable glass capsule hermetically enclosing a volatile agent. The capsule is contained in the flexible casing. A liquid-absorbent member is adapted to hold the volatile liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Lumica Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Harada, Masahiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 7140509
    Abstract: A suction hose stop valve of a water bag comprised a holder having a central passage, a swivel cap and a suction hose penetrating through the central passage; a retaining member each on both sides of the central hole; a locking bolt each in front and rear of the holder, a hole in the swivel cap to admit penetration of the suction hose for delivery the water, a press tab on each side of the hole in the swivel cap; a locking trough at lower edge of the press tab to engage the retaining member to bend the suction hose to prevent delivery of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7124917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages so as to enable easy and convenient drinking of liquid beverages contained in the container through an associated straw and easily dispense the liquid beverages into another container. The spout assembly includes a main body coupled on a top of a container, a fluid spout assembly having a first fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can flow out of the container in a state where the container is inclined and a second fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can be socked in a state where the container vertically stands; and a cap coupled to the fluid spouting assembly. The fluid spout assembly can be folded on a folding portion or be elected so that the user can drink or dispense the liquid beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Jung Min Lee
  • Patent number: 7124914
    Abstract: A manually operated vertically reciprocated pump dispenser has a simplified construction with two separate pumps that pump two separate liquids from a container and keep the two separate liquids separated from each other as they are pumped through the dispenser, mixing the liquids for the first time in a discharge passage of the dispenser just prior to the mixed liquids being discharged from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: ContinentalAFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7121433
    Abstract: A lightweight portable battery powered pump for moving fluids from a reservoir to a variety of end applications is disclosed. A simple and easy to manufacture centrifugal pump impeller and housing are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: John E. Nelson, Hugh J. Reddington
  • Patent number: 7121432
    Abstract: A control unit in combination with a conventional self-defense spray container represents a combined light emitting and spray discharging self-defense device. The unit comprises a housing for a light source having a lower prismatic portion, a sleeve for securing the housing to a self-defense spray container and a cover coupled with the housing and having a free portion to support a battery source. The unit further comprises means for rotational mounting the cover on the housing at the coupling portion of the cover, an electrical circuit for connecting the battery source to the light source and a switch associated with said housing and said cover for closing and opening said electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: Bretislav Kostal, Vladimir Kupa
  • Patent number: 7117873
    Abstract: A device for removing lice and nits from affected hair and scalp of an individual, has first and second movable blades, the first blade including a plurality of first saw teeth, the second blade including a plurality of second saw teeth, and means for movably retaining the first and second blades parallel and adjacent to one another with their respective first and second teeth in opposition and parallel planes along their respective longitudinal axes, whereby the blades can be selectively moved toward one another to cause their teeth to mesh together with hairs captively held therebetween, the first and second teeth being configured to thereafter provide via combing a scraping action against the entrapped hairs for removing lice and nits therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: American Comb Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Bachrach, Steven Strauss, Richard Roig
  • Patent number: 7111759
    Abstract: A sanitary, disposable dispensing assembly especially useful in producing a substantially contaminant-free reconstituted mixture of diluent and pure, preservative-free concentrate includes an inner member linearly slidable between open and closed positions in an outer member provided with a concentrate inlet. The dispensing assembly features a vent arrangement for enabling a complete draining of the mixture and preventing bacterial growth. A rib arrangement improves mixing of the combined diluent and concentrate, and prevents dispersion of the mixture when dispensed. The dispensing assembly is utilized in mechanical pump type and non-mechanical pump type applications on a post mix food and beverage dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Karma, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris W. Gorski, Jerry D. Scheiber
  • Patent number: 7104266
    Abstract: A flossing tool, for use with flossing string, includes a handle having a forked head at its first end. The forked head has first and second arms extending outwardly to first and second distal ends for supporting flossing string therebetween. A tensioner is slidably disposed on the handle and includes a clamp for receiving ends of the flossing string. The tensioner is movably between a first position wherein the flossing string is freely receivable in the clamp and a second position wherein the flossing string is secured in the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Chee Yin Lee
  • Patent number: 7104426
    Abstract: The first and second check valve mechanisms, which are applicable to a small-size double-layered container, are created while maintaining high productivity. The discharge container provided with these check valve mechanisms comprises an outer container, which has the flexibility to make this outer container squeezable and recoverable to its original shape and which is provided with a cylindrical outer neck on top thereof. This discharge container also comprises an inner container, which is deformable with the decrease in the content and is disposed inside the outer container under the condition that cylindrical inner neck has been directly engaged with, and tightly fitted to, the outer neck. The first check valve mechanism is engaged with, and tightly fitted to, the inside of the inner neck and is used to open or close the opening of the inner neck while preventing outside air from creeping in the inner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7101182
    Abstract: A prophy angle comprising a body, a drive system, and a paste feed assembly. The body includes a cylinder and a head portion associated with the cylinder. The drive system extends through the body and includes a drive shaft assembly and a cup shaft assembly. The drive shaft assembly extends through the cylinder. The cup shaft assembly extends through the head portion. The cup shaft assembly is coupled to the drive shaft assembly and further includes a prophy cup disposed at one end thereof. The prophy cup is in fluid communication with the body. The paste feed assembly includes a piston assembly and a piston movement assembly. The piston movement assembly includes a handle member. The handle member includes a second end associated with the piston assembly, a first end distally spaced therefrom and a pivot point positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Garrison Dental Solutions
    Inventors: Thomas Garrison, Robert Anderson, David Allen Dunlap, Willard L Van Harn
  • Patent number: 7089945
    Abstract: A telescoping comb for lice removal is provided for removing head lice and nits from a person's hair. The comb has a telescoping handle with serrated teeth and a pivoting handle. Resilient springs are utilized for holding the pivoting handle in an open position and holding a head portion of the telescoping handle in a closed position in the resting state. Pressure applied to the pivoting handle actuates the head portion to an open position, and upon subsequent release thereof, the head portion is spring biased back to the closed position. When the invention is used on one's hair, the teeth of the comb separate any lice from the hair where they can be safely removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventor: Stanley D. Barge