Patents Examined by M Cartagena
  • Patent number: 7337920
    Abstract: A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a few millilitres and few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is in direct fluid communication with a respective storage tank, and a control panel having a programmable microprocessor mounted to the cabinet for receiving user selections and controlling each individual pump. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod for advancing a piston by any one of several predetermined distances to dispense a corresponding volume of fluid. The control panel receives a valid user selection for actuating one or more pumps to dispense the appropriate volume of a concentrated flavouring fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: A.C. Dispensing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R Duck, Garth C. Illsley, Charles Jollymore, Ian MacLean, Kevin Stoneman, Dzung Tran, Avery Wilson, Kim Kanigan
  • Patent number: 7204392
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure pack aerosol can comprised of a body blank (2), of a dome (3) for accommodating a valve (4), of an inwardly arched bottom (5), of an inner sleeve (7), which is arranged on a disk (6), and of a tappet (9), which is arranged inside the inner sleeve (7), which is provided for splitting open said inner sleeve (7) and which can be displaced therethrough by the disk (6). According to the invention, the inner sleeve (7) is joined to the disk (6) via a spring cage (11), and the spring cage (11) contains a release mechanism (12), which is spring-mounted and which acts upon the tappet (9). Said tappet (9), in turn, acts upon a cover (8), which is arranged on the can-side end of the inner sleeve (7), and splits the cover open when actuated. A diaphragm (15) is arranged between the tappet (9) and the release mechanism (12) and hermetically seals the inner sleeve (7), on its disk-side end, off from the contents of the pressure pack aerosol can (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Peter Kwasny GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kwasny, Christian Maras
  • Patent number: 7201296
    Abstract: 1. A dosing device with a pump device. 2.1. A dosing device with a pump device and with an operating handle which is provided for the pump device is known. 2.2. According to the invention, the operating handle (20, 20a, 20b) is produced as a separate component and fixed to the pump device. 2.3. Applicable for pharmaceutical agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Graf
  • Patent number: 7070070
    Abstract: An improved lifting assembly for removing contents from containers consistent with mechanized containerizing operations are disclosed. The lifting assembly of the present invention comprises a support plate for lifting contents coupled to the top of a container by a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Gary K. Michelson, Wiley Alan Kittrell
  • Patent number: 7048152
    Abstract: A dispensing device comprising a base, a cover and a valve, in which the cover is releasably attached to the base by means of first hinge means, the movement of the cove defined by first hinge means operating the valve, and in which the cover is attached to the base by means of second hinge means, the movement of the cover defined by second hinge means exposing the base for loading or unloading a container of material to be dispensed, said movement defined by second hinge means only being possible when the cover is detached from the first hinge manes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Limited
    Inventor: Etienne Bunoz
  • Patent number: 7021497
    Abstract: A device for compressing flexible tubes containing pastes, creams and the like, provided with a receptacle for storing dental floss, making it easy to handle flexible tubes (2) for storing pasty or creamy products, thus providing the full utilization thereof thanks to a differentiated construction and design, wherein a device (1) inserted through its center gap (6) into the lower part of the flexible tube (2) and manually pushed toward the nozzle runs along and compresses the flexible body (2) to expel the product, said device (1) also being provided with a bevel (5) at one of the ends of its upper side, so that the handling thereof may cause a light displacement as it reaches the point wherein there is an accumulation of the product so that the device (1) is locked on the side edges of the flexible tube (2) after the product is expelled, and, because of such displacement, it is prevented from being pushed back, therefore becoming self-locked so that the next time the user uses same he/she will start dispensi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Takehiro Hara
  • Patent number: 6981619
    Abstract: Method and device for metering granular materials which comprises a least one dispensing element, driving means arranged to control the dispensing element, sensing means designed to detect the amount of granules delivered by the dispensing element, and a program control unit designed to control the control means and disable it as soon as the amount of granules delivered by the dispensing element has reached a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Moretto Plastics Automation Srl
    Inventor: Renato Moretto
  • Patent number: 6948643
    Abstract: A closure and container package includes a container having a finish with a mouth opening through which product is both filled into and dispensed from the container. A closure includes a base mounted on the finish and having an opening aligned with the mouth opening of the container finish. A lid is connected to the closure base by an integrally molded hinge to pivot between an open position in which the lid is spaced from the opening in the base and a closed position in which the lid is adjacent to the base. The lid includes facility for engaging either the mouth opening of the container or the opening in the closure base to close such openings in the closed position of the lid. In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, a fitment is removably carried by the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Lohrman
  • Patent number: 6892902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toy water gun including a pump for pressurizing the gun for shooting out a stream of water, a trigger for controlling the flow of the water, and a source of electricity and at least one light source for illuminating the stream, wherein the device is adapted to provide a lighted coherent stream of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Ryan A. Wolfinbarger, Joseph L. McGowan, Chad P. Stuemke, Marcellus R. Benson, David B. Midgett, Kurt V. Ulmer
  • Patent number: 6880733
    Abstract: An aerosol vessel, which can be prevented from deforming and exploding by discharging gas when an excessive pressure occurs in a main body, is provided. The aerosol vessel includes a valve assembly basically including a nozzle body fixed to the main body; a valve stem installed at the nozzle body such that it can move up and down and has a gas inlet and a gas ejection passage; an opening/closing ring installed between the nozzle body and the valve stem such that it contacts and is removably supported by a support sill of the nozzle body in order to open or close the gas inlet; and an elastic unit for restoring the valve stem after operation and elastically supporting the opening/closing ring with respect to the support sill. When an excessive pressure occurs in the main body, the opening/closing ring moves upward and overcompressed gas is discharged through the gas inlet or a gap between the valve stem and a support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Jin-Ha Park
  • Patent number: 6877642
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing liquid from a collapsible bag has a back plate and a cover hingedly attached thereto for movement between open and closed positions. The back plate carries a bag retainer and pump support which receives the bag which, in turn, carries a collapsible dome-type pump on its front surface adjacent its bottom edge. The pump includes a transparent collapsible dome and the dispenser cover includes a push bar for collapsing the dome to expel material. The push bar also has a clear window overlying the collapsible dome when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Maddox, Rexford R. Mast, Robert H. Yeager
  • Patent number: 6877638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-chambered tube for containing and dispensing a contents, comprising: (a) a body divided by at least one divider wall into at least two chambers, each chamber housing a portion of the contents, the body being sealed at one end by a crimp seal and one end of the divider wall being sealed within the crimp seal; (b) a shoulder attached to the body; (c) a nozzle attached to the shoulder and provided with an orifice through which the contents are dispensed; (d) a flow regulating element located in the shoulder of the tube and being comprised of as many sections as there are body chambers, and each section being provided with at least one aperture; (e) at least one partition separating the sections of the flow regulating element from each other and dividing the nozzle into as many nozzle chambers as there are body chambers, each nozzle chamber being in communication with a body chamber via the aperture(s) in the corresponding section of the flow regulating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Geoffrey Chan, Li Li
  • Patent number: 6851578
    Abstract: A self-standing type bag-shaped vacuum container has a self-standing container including a wall formed of a soft sheet, a pouring port, and a check valve mounted in the pouring port. The check valve is opened to allow the migration of a content of the container when subjected to a pressure in the pouring direction, but is closed when subjected to a pressure in a filling direction, so that the inside of the container is evacuated. The self-standing container can be optimized for storing beverages or the like which are negatively effected by contact with air, because the content will be oxidized with the air. The vacuum type container will not lose its self-standing property even if the content is reduced, and can stand stably by itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Tadashi Hagihara
  • Patent number: 6814261
    Abstract: A mouthwash dispenser comprising a housing having an inner cavity able to retain a liquid therein and an opening providing access to said inner cavity, a lid for selectively sealing said opening and thereby enclosing the liquid in said inner cavity of said housing, control means extending from said housing for selectively dispensing said liquid from said inner cavity, and a spout connected to said inner cavity for dispensing liquid from said inner cavity, wherein said control means is moveable between a first position preventing a flow of liquid from said inner cavity to said spout and a second position for allowing a flow of liquid from said inner cavity to said spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Nehme Gebrayel
  • Patent number: 6772915
    Abstract: Such dispensers must be easy to grasp or operate by a user, e.g. a user suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and whose capacity to manipulate objects is under certain circumstances limited. In addition, the dispenser must have a simple, inexpensive construction from a minimum number of components. The dispenser is used for the discharge of media, particularly fluids, e.g. a liquid, which preferably contain a pharmaceutical substance, as described in exemplified manner hereinbefore. In the case of the dispenser, the medium is discharged in at least two proportioned partial charges by actuating an actuating means. As a result of the actuation of the actuating means, a relative movement is produced between the actuating means and a housing having a dispenser discharge opening. According to the invention an elastically deformable material bridge is provided. The actuating means is held on the housing by means of the elastically deformable material bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Helmlinger
  • Patent number: 6758371
    Abstract: The invention concerns a dispensing device comprising a fluid product pump (1) defining: a pump chamber (112) with variable volume; an intake valve (14) allowing the fluid product to penetrate into the pump chamber; and an outlet valve (16) allowing the pressurized fluid to exit from the chamber; a dispensing orifice (195) downstream the outlet valve, and the outlet valve comprising a valve seat (126) and a mobile valve member (16) elastically stressed on said seat. The invention is characterized in that the mobile valve member (16) forms piston means for delivering the fluid product downstream towards the dispensing orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Valois S.A.
    Inventors: Firmin Garcia, Aline Abergel
  • Patent number: 6719267
    Abstract: A leaf spring for urging a spool toward a flange part of a yoke is provided between a guide fixed to a housing and the spool. Owing to the urging force of the leaf spring, the spool is pressed against the flange part of the yoke, and the yoke can be pressed against the cover through the spool. Thus it is possible to prevent the spool and the yoke from loosening. Further because the leaf spring is provided for each magnet valve, the leaf spring can be commonly used for respective modes of a fluid control apparatus and thus the cost can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Torii, Moriharu Sakai, Masuhiro Kondo, Masami Iwamoto, Takayuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 6715645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing capsule, especially for producing dental materials. The inventive capsule is provided with a cartridge which is closed on one end thereof by means of a piston. A hemispherical cavity is configured in the piston. Said cavity forms an additional chamber and is closed in relation to the main chamber of the cartridge by means of a separating device. A body that is present in the main chamber in the initial state serves for supporting the mixing process and for chopping through the separating device at the beginning of the mixing process in such a way that the main chamber and the additional chamber form a coherent mixing chamber. The body enters the hemispherical additional chamber and acts as a displacing body at the end of the output process. The mixing capsule is provided with a coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Marc Peuker, Michael Sick, Klaus-Peter Stefan, Gabriele Hager, Angela Stenger, Gunther Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 6705587
    Abstract: The positioning of the actuating drive in a fuel injector with a piezoactor (2) that is screwed into the housing (1) of the fuel injector is performed by applying a voltage (U) to the piezoactor (2) that corresponds to a given idle stroke (h), and the surface grinding of the housing (3) and base plate (4) of the piezoactor (2) when voltage is applied. Between the housing (1) of the fuel injector and the housing (3) of the piezoactor (2), there is also provided a compensation collar (9) of a suitable thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Frank, Stefan Lehmann, Martin Neumaier, Gerd Schmutzler, Wendelin Kluegl, Guenter Lewentz, Reda Rizk
  • Patent number: 6681958
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for associating a supplement compartment with a liquid container, wherein the supplement may be a vitamin, mineral, analgesic, antibiotic or other medicine, flavor or color additive or nutritional in nature, and may be readily accessible and retrievable for use with the liquid such as water or other beverage. The compartment may be nested atop a cap that covers the dispenser of the container or may be otherwise associated with the container in a secure but temporary and accessible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph T. Sorenson, Dan J. Walton