Patents Examined by Lien T Ngo
  • Patent number: 7882988
    Abstract: A pump for dispensing a liquid product, including a pump body and a dispensing head manually movable on the latter, the head including a cylinder forming a dosage chamber of the pump, slidingly mounted in the pump body, and a channel allowing the passage of the product or air from the dosage chamber towards an ejection orifice. The rod includes means for airtightly sealing the channel consisting of a peripheral shoulder capable of coming to a rest against a complementary sealing seat arranged in the cylinder, the opening of the channel being performed by separating the sealing seat from the cylinder opposite the shoulder of the rod after the rod reaching its stop early during the axial movement of the cylinder in the pump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Dispensing Systems S.A.S.
    Inventors: Francois Nicolle, David Leuliet
  • Patent number: 7882983
    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: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    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: 7882990
    Abstract: An inverted aerosol dispensing device is disclosed having an undercap rotatably secured to the aerosol container with a bottom portion of the undercap supporting the aerosol container on a supporting surface to store the aerosol dispensing device in an inverted position. The undercap is rotatable into a first rotational position for enabling an actuator to discharge an aerosol product in a generally downwardly direction. The undercap is rotatable into a second rotational position for inhibiting the actuator from moving the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: SeaquistPerfect Dispensing Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Walters, Patrick Timothy Yerby, Craig A. Braun, Sean H. Cho
  • Patent number: 7878370
    Abstract: A system for introducing liquid additive into an alcoholic beverage is characterized by an alcoholic beverage dispensing faucet and at least one liquid additive delivery line routed between a supply of liquid additive and the faucet. Liquid additive may optionally, incident to dispensing alcoholic beverage and under control of a user of the faucet, be delivered through the at least one delivery line for introduction into the dispensed alcoholic beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: E. Scott Sevcik, Kevin A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 7874466
    Abstract: Packages for containing and dispensing consumer products comprise a push-pull closure connected to a bottle and having a dispensing opening covered by a slit valve. The combination of a push-pull closure and a slit valve results in a package that easily dispenses a liquid consumer product, while guarding against leakage of the consumer product from the package, especially during transportation and storage of the product, particularly when the package is a tottle package. The push-pull closure of the present package is simple to open and can also be easily closed with the use of only one hand, especially by pressing the closure against a flat surface, such as a shower wall or shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Su Yon McConville, Henry Dianxi Ren, Nicholas Arthur Ruebusch, Alfredo Pagan
  • Patent number: 7866514
    Abstract: A container has a hollow receptacle element (10) for holding a medium to be dispensed, and a dispensing opening (12) communicating with a hollow chamber (14) of a sealing element (18). The sealing element (18) is detachable by a point of separation (20). To reduce the free volume of the hollow chamber (14), opposite wall components (22) of the sealing element (18) are displaced into the hollow chamber (14). The dispensing medium stored in the receptacle element (10) is prevented from being able to unintentionally penetrate into the hollow chamber (14) where it would no longer being available for a removal process. The invention also relates to a device for production of such a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventor: Bernd Hansen
  • Patent number: 7861899
    Abstract: A single-use dispenser using air pressure and includes an outer vessel in which air and content material are charged, a fixed body coupled to an open upper end of the outer vessel, a valve installed in the fixed body for selectively dispensing the content material using pressurized air, and a push button coupled to a top of the valve for pushing the valve, thereby spraying out the content material and air, wherein the valve includes a hollow body, a hollow valve body elastically supported to a top of the body and moving into and out of a hollow of the body, a packing member installed on the valve body for blocking an orifice pipe, and an air suction hole formed to penetrate the body for supplementing air pressure of the outer vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Yong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7857168
    Abstract: A bottle comprising a body capable of containing a fluid; a spout fluidly connected to the body; a collar comprising at least one attachment area, said collar capable of removably securing a cap; a skirt functionally connected to the collar; and a drip concentrator concentrically interposed between the spout and the collar; wherein the bottle is continuous. In one embodiment, the skirt visually engages with the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Richard Lawrence Horstman, Douglas Bruce Zeik, Michael Anthony Majher, Alejandro Cedeno, Constance P. Lee, Brian Lee Floyd
  • Patent number: 7850045
    Abstract: A dispenser for flowable material includes a cylinder, a piston in and slidable along the cylinder for pressing and thus dispensing flowable material contained in the cylinder, and a shaft extending into the cylinder for sliding the piston. The shaft incorporates a thumb piece for engagement by the thumb of a user to drive the shaft in a forward direction into the cylinder for sliding the piston to dispense flowable material. The thumb piece is slidable along the shaft. A unidirectional clutch between the thumb piece and the shaft is operable in the forward direction to fix the thumb piece to the shaft such that the shaft may be driven forward by the thumb piece and is inoperable in an opposite, rearward, direction to release the thumb piece from the shaft such that the thumb piece can slide rearward along the shaft for operation at another position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventors: Kwok Kuen So, Yiu Chung Wan
  • Patent number: 7850049
    Abstract: A foam pump includes a piston housing and a piston assembly received in the piston housing thereby defining a collapsible liquid chamber and a collapsible air chamber. The piston assembly includes a premix chamber separated from both the collapsible liquid chamber and the collapsible air chamber by a premix chamber wall and fluidly communicating with both the collapsible liquid chamber and the collapsible air chamber through a mix aperture in the premix chamber wall. A biasing member urges the piston assembly to a non-actuated position. The foam pump is actuated by urging the piston assembly against the biasing member to an actuated position in which the collapsible air chamber and the collapsible liquid chamber are reduced in volume such that air and foamable liquid are expelled from their respective collapsible air chamber and collapsible liquid chamber through the mix aperture. The simultaneous movement of the air and foamable liquid through the mix aperture causes a turbulent mixing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella, David D. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7850047
    Abstract: A system for transporting measured amounts of bulk material from a first site to a remote site generally comprising means for holding a mass of material to be transported to the receptacle; means for transporting the material from the holding means to the receptacle; means for injecting a gas under pressure into the transporting means for pneumatically conveying material received from the holding means to the receptacle, operable in continuous and intermittent modes; means for sensing the weight of the receptacle; and a programmable logic controller operatively connected to the sensing means and the injecting means, operable responsive to a weight of the receptacle up to a first weight for operating the injection means in the continuous mode, a weight of the receptacle between the first weight and up to a second weight greater than the first weight for operating the injection means in the intermittent mode and to the second weight for discontinuing the injection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Young Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Boroch, Curtis Wykoff
  • Patent number: 7850043
    Abstract: A self-contained mixing and dispensing container having at least two chambers, a means by which fluid may be transferred from one chamber to another, a mechanism to dispense the mixture, and means for refilling at least one chamber with the desired fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Replenish Bottling, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Foster
  • Patent number: 7845519
    Abstract: Tamper-resistance of spice container closures and containers is provided through use of tamper-evident and tamper-resistant elements. A spice container package includes a container, a closure and a tear strip, with the tear strip being joined to the closure by a first hinge, and joined to the container by a second hinge. The container includes a side wall. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The first hinge connects the tear strip to the cover of the closure. The closure and the container may be integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Newberry, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Patent number: 7845522
    Abstract: Integrated and disposable dispenser assemblies that initially are contained entirely or at least substantially entirely within a beverage container, but which may be removed therefrom and placed in an operative position, pressurizing the contents of the container, avoiding prolonged contact between the contents of the container and air, providing a dispensing force for control by a simple dispensing valve and in those instances where it is desired, maintaining carbonation on the beverage. Two representative embodiments are disclosed, one of which may be contained in a single enclosure within a beverage container, and the other of which may be contained in two enclosures within a beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sturman BG, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Grill
  • Patent number: 7841493
    Abstract: A dispenser for a refrigerator is provided. The dispenser may include a cover which opens or shuts an opening of a duct that guides contents from an interior of the refrigerator to the dispenser for discharge. An actuator transmits an externally applied force to the cover to cause the cover to move and selectively open and shut the opening. A regulator controls action of the actuator to adjust movement of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyong Bae Park, Sung Jhee, Nam Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 7837070
    Abstract: A simplified pump for dispensing fluid substances withdrawn from a container of said substances, comprising a cup-shaped body into which a hollow stem extends, an endpiece of the cup-shaped body, said cup-shaped body presenting a passage, closable by a valve, and a seat for housing one end of a dip tube, a piston, an elastic member and a movable valve for closing the stem cavity, an elongated rod, a first end of which is inserted into and retained in a seat provided at the second end of the cup-shaped body, an intermediate portion of the rod having a cylindrical profile of diameter less than the diameter of the stem cavity into which said rod portion extends, said movable valve for closing the stem cavity comprising a continuous elastic lip projecting from a second end of the rod towards the outside of said cylindrical chamber, said lip being sealedly slidable in contact with the cylindrical surface of the stem cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: MEADWESTVACO CALMAR S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Marelli
  • Patent number: 7837073
    Abstract: An improved collapsible spreader with a spread rate selection mechanism including a knob and a rotatable cup-shaped structure. The cup-shaped structure includes an elongated setting tab and a thirty-six step edge corresponding to thirty-six spread rate settings on the knob. Operatively engaged with the cup-shaped structure is an abutment tab that is part of a closure structure for blocking and selectively unblocking a hopper opening. The tab engages the setting tab to define the adjustable length of the closure structure. Thereafter, abutment rate selection is a function of the rotatable position of the cup-shaped structure. Engagement of the abutment tab and a step defines the size of the hopper opening and thus the amount of product released from the hopper during operation. The spreader also includes a dual spring arrangement to bias the closure structure to a closed position and to prevent breakage. The disclosed spreader also features a one piece wheel to reduce parts and assembly costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: OMS Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Havlovitz, Steve Courtney, Michael Cavins, Randy Goodwin, Dan Larimore
  • Patent number: 7832595
    Abstract: A household liquid dispenser has a spout fitment with discontinuous beads or screw threads which define axial channels to interface with a pump inlet in a lock and key arrangement so as to maintain consistent quality of liquids dispensed by preventing the substitution of product refills of uncertain quality. Refills may be readily manufactured and at low cost. Mechanical and motorized dispensers may be used with the inventive spout fitment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lickstein
  • Patent number: 7828174
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a packaging assembly for flowable materials comprising a casing (1) having at least one opening (9), a valve assembly (7) mounted in the opening (9) of the casing (1) and a flexible liner (23) for accommodating the flowable material, said flexible liner (23) being housed in the casing (1) and connected to the valve assembly (7), whereby the valve assembly (7) comprises a dry break extractor valve (17) for closed transfer dispense of the flowable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: BASF SE, Wisdom Agricultural (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Detlef Doehnert, Richard Garnett, Roy Metcalf
  • Patent number: 7828172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dose indicator (A) which is intended for a fluid product dispensing device (B). The inventive indicator consists of at least one rotary counting means (10) which can move in rotation and which comprises indicator means (15), said indicator means indicating the number of doses that have been distributed or that remain to be distributed. Moreover, said at least one counting means is actuated by an actuation member (35) which is in turn actuated by a transmission element (34) that is designed to co-operate with the dispensing device each time the latter is actuated. The dose indicator comprises amplification means which are designed to amplify the movement of the transmission element (34) with each actuation, such that the movement of the actuation member (35) is greater than the movement of the transmission element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Valois S.A.S.
    Inventors: Fabio Stradella, Giuseppe Stradella