Patents Examined by Lien Ngo
  • Patent number: 8590742
    Abstract: An apparatus and method rotate a first contact (80, 180, 380) of a fluid supply body (70, 170) into contact with a second contact (40, 140, 340) of a fluid receiving device (22, 122, 322, 522).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John A. Devos, Michael M. Morrow
  • Patent number: 8590744
    Abstract: A liquid storage and delivery apparatus utilizing a canister or container which holds a flexible diaphragm supported by a frame. The frame biases the flexible diaphragm against the inner wall of the container and allows expansion and contraction of the diaphragm in certain direction. A seal creates a substantially air tight space within the canister to allow directed pressurized gas to motivate the movement of the diaphragm within the canister. A lid or fitting supports a collapsible bag carrying a liquid within a second space within the canister such that movement of the flexible diaphragm against the collapsible bag forces or squeezes liquid from the same for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Timothy E. Orr
  • Patent number: 8584903
    Abstract: A child resistant container with inverting cap bottom lift features has a container main body adapted to receive a sprayer container with a vertical spray nozzle top-positioned spray actuator, and has at least one lift rod slot on its bottom; an inner cap for permanent connection to the open top of the container after a spray container is placed therein; and an outer cap with at least one downwardly projecting lift rod. The inner cap has a spray actuator orifice large enough to permit a vertical nozzle of a spray container to pass therethrough and small enough to prevent a spray container spray actuator from passing therethrough. A user removes the outer cap, inverts it and pushes up through the bottom to raise up the spray container nozzle and to push on the spray actuator to dispense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Patent number: 8584902
    Abstract: A child resistant cap with a U-channel safety component includes an inner and an outer member. The inner member has sidewalls with two horizontal tracks, being an upper and a lower track. There in a top horizontal flange with breaks to permit movement of outer member inwardly projecting lugs therethrough, and a central horizontal flange with breaks to permit movement of inwardly projecting lugs from the lower track upwardly past the central horizontal break, past the upper track, and through the breaks of the upper track top horizontal flange. There are vertical stops that prevent the lugs from entering the break when in the upper track, and one stop adjacent one break on the lower track to permit lugs to enter the break when in the lower track. A user rotates the outer member to a position for movement to the lower track, rotates to a stop, and lists to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart W. Dejonge
  • Patent number: 8579159
    Abstract: A foam dispenser includes a foam pump communicating with the contents of a container holding a foamable liquid. The foam pump includes a pump body, a passage extending through the pump body from an inlet to an outlet, an inlet valve including an inlet flow regulator, and an outlet valve including an outlet flow regulator. The inlet receives foamable liquid from the container. The inlet valve and outlet valve are positioned in the passage to define (a) an inlet stage, (b) an outlet stage, and (c) a transition stage. A liquid port extends through the pump body and communicates with the transition stage, and an air port extends through the pump body and communicates with the outlet stage. A liquid bellows surrounds the liquid port and an air bellows surrounds the air port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Nick E. Ciavarella
  • Patent number: 8579161
    Abstract: A low profile batter dispenser, for the housing of batter on a counter top for an extended period of time while cooling the batter to resist bacterial growth therein. The batter dispenser includes a housing, a batter container, and an ice pack assembly for holding an ice pack on the bottom of and in contact with the batter container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: William R. Steeb
  • Patent number: 8561845
    Abstract: Capsule (10) for two or more components of a material which are to be mixed together, comprising a cartridge (11) comprising an outlet (12), a first component chamber (13) for containing a first component, and a second component chamber (14) for containing a second component, the two chambers (13, 14) opening into the outlet (12); and a piston (15) which at least with its front end sits in the cartridge (11), lies with its rear end outside the component chambers (13, 14) and, when it is pushed forwards, presses the two components out of their component chambers (13, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Dean K Reidt, Darin J Meyertholen, Bruce R Broyles, Robert Lee, Robert M Biegler, Arno Hohmann, Marc Peuker, Michael Knee
  • Patent number: 8550312
    Abstract: An extrusion device for extruding material from cartridges, having at least one plunger rod which can be moved, at least one bendable traction element which is coupled to the plunger rod(s) at attachment points, and having an advancement device which is coupled to the traction element between the attachment points and which actuates the movement of the plunger rod, wherein the advancement device has at least one driven rotating body, the traction element being wound around the same between its attachment points, and being driven by the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Hefele
  • Patent number: 8550304
    Abstract: A Fluid Dispenser including a inline fluid dispenser removably attached to a handle which is well suited for usage such as spraying insecticide or anti-fungal solutions, spraying fire retardant solutions, spraying decontaminants, and other situations where mixing of the Inline Fluid Dispenser contents with a fluid source is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Harvey Elliott Berger
  • Patent number: 8550305
    Abstract: A water cooler includes a reservoir with an inlet and an outlet. The water cooler is separated into two compartments by a wall containing at least one opening allowing fluid communication between the compartments. A cooling element extends from a bottom surface of the reservoir through the bottom compartment and through the wall and into the top compartment. Water enters the top compartment through an inlet where it is cooled before flowing into the bottom compartment through any openings in the wall. Water exits the bottom compartment through an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nurakwa, LLC
    Inventor: Marwan Abi Aad
  • Patent number: 8550308
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of a stored fluid therefrom. The apparatus comprises a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid and a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, and a valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening. The valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening. The dispensing valve defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the valve, and further includes an outlet surface over which dispensed fluid flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis for preventing the collection of residual dispensed fluid thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Py, Brian Tulley, Jeff Willey, Norbert Assion, Nathaniel Houle, Julian Chan, Bing He
  • Patent number: 8550310
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump assembly and system that facilitates reliable and efficient engagement and removal of a flexible tube. A stator is pivotally retained on a structure and cooperatively operated by a lever arm and cam to engage and disengage the stator from the tube and a corresponding rotor. The stator pivots at a point distal from a point of rotation of the rotor and the lever arm moves about a fixed rotation axis to engage and disengage the stator with the tube relative to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: Knute Alstad, Todd James Bakken, Jesse Charles Darley, Jeffery W. Kadyk, Jason Ray Lieving
  • Patent number: 8544701
    Abstract: A system for storing and monitoring a pressurized fluid includes a pressurized fluid source and a plurality of fluid lines in communication with the supply line of a beverage dispensing system. The fluid lines are configured to selectively permit the passage of the pressurized fluid when the pressure of the source (e.g., a tank) reaches a predetermined threshold value. Specifically, the tank includes a high pressure line, an intermediate pressure line, and a low pressure or reserve line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Carbonation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Scott
  • Patent number: 8534500
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a personal use device, preferably a toothbrush, a shaving device, or a hair removal device. The invention relates to a refill pack for such a personal use device, having a supply container (2), particularly a supply bag, containing at least one hygiene or care substance such as toothpaste or the like, and a pump (3) tightly connected to the supply container, the pump chamber of which is connected to the interior (6) of the supply container via an input valve (5). By deformation of a membrane which bounds the pump chamber (7), the pump chamber volume can be changed. The invention also relates to a method for filling such a refill pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Baier, Bernhard Boland, Michael Schmid, Michael Sauer, Michael Stolper
  • Patent number: 8534508
    Abstract: An under counter storage and dispensing device for dry flowable consumables is disclosed. The storage dispenser is comprised of a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the underside of a wall kitchen cabinet, a central compartment connected to the mounting plate and configured for storage and dispensing of a dry flowable consumable. The storage dispenser is further comprised of compartments adjacent to the central compartment, which are configured for storage and retrieval of condiments and/or accessories for the dry flowable consumable, e.g. sugar packets, stirrers, filters. These adjacent compartments are also connected to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry Dwight Bush
  • Patent number: 8534509
    Abstract: Fluid dispenser head for mounting on a variable-volume fluid reservoir that has a movable wall. The head has a dispenser orifice, a sealing closure pin that closes the dispenser orifice, a resilient mechanism for urging the pin against the orifice, and a fluid inlet in communication with the reservoir. The head further includes a flexible differential membrane respectively defining bottom and top surface areas that are subjected to opposite pressure forces that are exerted by the fluid under pressure, the bottom surface area being substantially smaller than the top surface area, the closure member being formed by the flexible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Frédéric Duquet
  • Patent number: 8523016
    Abstract: A container having a body, the body defining a cavity for storing dispensable cavity contents and having an opening, a covering for covering said opening; and a lid connected to the body by a failure zone and openable, in use, after failure of the failure zone, about a hinge formed by the covering. The lid may have a re-closable arrangement, the covering may be hinged with the container and may include strengthening ribs. The body may also have multiple cavities and multiple lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sands Innovations Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Bradley Donald Teys
  • Patent number: 8523022
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a predetermined portion of a beverage or drink additive using a cost effective portion control valve that replaces electrical components with mechanical components. The present invention dispenses a controlled portion of a beverage when a lever is activated. A magnetically coupled linkage system can control the exact amount of fluid dispensed. A valve block contains a beverage input, a beverage outlet, and a valve seal. A lever arm is connected to the valve seal and connected to a magnetic housing containing a valve magnet. A yoke pivots about the valve block where the yoke contains a yoke magnet aligned to interface with the valve magnet. A lever arm return spring is connected to the lever arm and the valve block to bias the lever arm return spring to a resting position. As the yoke pivots beyond a predetermined distance, the yoke magnet separates from the valve magnet allowing the lever arm to return to the resting position closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sevcik, Andrew Tobler
  • Patent number: 8499979
    Abstract: Improvements in modular dispenser and chemical source cabinets include field-replaceable door hinges, field-serviceable dispenser manifolds, removeably mounted in the modular dispenser cabinets, and rotating water inlet fittings to facilitate interconnection to a water source and the placement of chemical cabinet modules in close proximity. These features are used together or separately and preferably with customizable rail mounting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Sand
  • Patent number: 8499978
    Abstract: A device receives water from a source (S), to be dispensed, by a single nozzle (18), in a container (R) at a final value of a plurality of temperature values. A first feed conduit (25a) is arranged between source (S) and includes a first heat exchanger (26) to cold water, yet been provided a second feed conduit (25b) and a third feed conduit (25c), this latter including a heat exchanger (46) which heats water. A control valve (24, 34, 44) is provided in each feed conduit (25a, 25b, 25c) and operated to supply water to the nozzle (18), at either conditions of cold water, normal water and hot water. Control valves (24, 34, 44) can be operated automatically, to dispense water at a predetermined temperature in a range defined from cold water to hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Carlos Dalchau, André Oliveira Pires, João Eduardo Santana Borges