Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The dispensing apparatus comprises a liquid dispenser and a towel dispenser. The liquid dispenser further comprises a container member and an expelling member. The towel dispenser is disposed adjacent to and in contact with a portion of the container member of the liquid dispenser. Liquid is dispensed, through the expelling member of the liquid dispenser, in a substantially downward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-closing valve for the dispensing of flowable media from a container comprising a curved membrane, a support segment, a connecting wall as well as a slitting provided in said membrane.

Abstract: A material dispensing pump includes a drip prevention system and method so as to avoid undesired dripping of the dispensed fluid. In one example, the fluid path is sealed. Positive pressure is applied to the fluid during a dispensing operation to present the fluid to the auger-style pump at a desired rate. Between dispensing operations, or when dispensing is completed, the fluid is placed in suspension, for example by applying a negative pressure, thereby preventing the fluid from being inadvertently released at the dispense tip. In addition, following a dispensing operation, the pump dispensing controller can be programmed to reverse the rotation of the feed screw, in order to draw the material in a reverse direction and to further suspend the fluid.

Abstract: Substantially cylindrical condiment container with a vertically sliding cap to cover and uncover a dispensing outlet opening in the top portion of the container. Preferably, the outlet opening is in the side wall of the container body and the cap slides up to unblock the opening and down to block it. Optionally, a rotary pre-measuring dispense structure can be located at the lower end of the container to dispense condiments in pre-measured increments through an outlet in the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A hand operated liquid dispenser has a simplified, in-line construction that reduces the number of component parts of the dispenser and thereby reduces the dispenser's manufacturing costs. The in-line construction of the liquid dispenser coaxially aligns a liquid discharge orifice, a liquid discharge passage, and a pump chamber of the dispenser. The construction provides a compact liquid dispenser that can be easily held in one hand by a user and manipulated by the fingers of the user's hand to pump liquid from a bottle attached to the liquid dispenser and dispense the liquid in a variety of different discharge patterns.

Abstract: A combination dispenser and implement holder is disclosed. The combination comprises a plurality of containers, each for retaining a liquid. Each container includes a bottom wall, at least one side wall, and a top wall. The top wall of each container preferably includes a dispensing nozzle. Each container is fluidly isolated from each other container by at least one of the side walls so that mixing of the liquids does not occur. A towel rack projects from at least one side wall of at least one container, and preferably a sponge holder projects from the same wall below the towel rack. Drain holes are included in a bottom wall of the sponge holder. In one embodiment of the invention having three containers, the width of the third container is preferably larger than the width of the sponge holder and the towel rack. As such, when viewing the combination from the front, neither the towel rack or the sponge holder are visible.

Abstract: A sachet may include at least two sealed compartments. The sachet may include first and second opposite main walls, a partition separating an inside of the sachet into two compartments, and first and second foldable side walls situated on respective sides of the partition.

Abstract: A concentrate/extract cartridge for a beverage dispenser for dispensing a liquid concentrate/extract and a diluent is provided. The cartridge includes a hollow body and a dispensing tube connected to the hollow body. A piston is slideably contained by the dispensing tube. The cartridge includes a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube. The port defines a flow passage through the dispensing tube. The valve stem is connected to the piston at a first end of the valve stem, and a valve body is located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat for alternately opening and closing the port. A beverage dispenser having a removably insertable concentrate/extract cartridge and a method of dispensing a beverage made from concentrate/extract and a diluent are also provided.

Abstract: Certain pump dispensers, for example foam dispensers, are specially adapted for inverted use. One feature especially useful in a foam dispenser having both an air cylinder and a liquid cylinder with respective pistons is an intake conduit arrangement to increase the clearance of liquid from the container. An intermediate shell fits over the upright liquid cylinder body and carries an inlet valve positively urged upward to the closed position to prevent leaking. A conduit shell fits over the intermediate shell and creates an intake conduit extending down the side of the liquid cylinder to an intake opening lower down the pump body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a faucet for tapping a liquid stored under pressure of a gas in a container that has less moving parts subject to wear or breakage, and has a housing made of multiple parts which can be disassembled so the faucet mechanism can be easily cleaned, repaired, or replaced. The faucet mechanism contains a piece of flexible tubing and an arrangement of a pinch roller valve mechanism that compresses the flexible tubing to shut off flow of liquid through the tubing. In one arrangement of the present invention, since the housing does not move and does not come in contact with the beverage being poured, the housing is made of a non-metallic material, such as a plastic or petroleum-based material, which is less expensive than the previous brass or stainless steel housing.

Abstract: A container including a nozzle and body depending therefrom. The body is preferably tubular and defines an interior which retains a product to be dispensed. A cap engages the nozzle to prevent inadvertent release of the product. In order to dispense the product, the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the body and the nozzle allows release of the product. The nozzle releases the product without exposing the remaining product to the external atmosphere, thus the sterility of the interior of the body is maintained and the shelf life of the product is increased. The nozzle includes an inner body, coupled to the tubular body, surrounded by a flexible outer cover. A seam between the inner body and flexible outer cover forms a one-way release valve wherein a portion of the seam remains closed during dispensing the product.

Abstract: A dispensing system is disclosed which utilizes an electronically powered key device and/or identification code associated with a refill container to preclude the need for mechanical keys. The system utilizes a near field frequency response to determine whether a refill container is compatible with a dispensing system. In particular, the refill container is provided with a coil terminated by one of a number of capacitors. The container is received in a housing that provides a pair of coils that are in a spatial relationship with the installed refill container's coil. By energizing one of the housing's coils, the other coil detects a unique electronic signature generated by the container's coil. If the signature is acceptable, the dispensing system is allowed to dispense a quantity of material. The system also provides a unique latching mechanism to retain the container and ensure positioning of all the coils.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a container is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having a dispensing area. A pump or a control valve is in communication with a source of diluent which is to be dispensed into the dispensing area. A cartridge receiving area and a dispensing actuator are located in the housing. A concentrate/extract cartridge is removably insertable into the cartridge receiving area in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge being adapted to hold a beverage concentrate/extract and including a dispensing aperture for dispensing a beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing area upon placement of the concentrate/extract cartridge in the cartridge receiving area. A controller is located in the housing to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract into the dispensing area. A method of dispensing a selected beverage made from concentrate/extract and a diluent is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting discharge devices to packages (3) with liquid products, preferably foodstuff products, for discharging the products from the packages (3). The connecting device includes two connecting members which can be connected to each other, namely a first connecting member (9) which has a hole (11), the hole being closed by means of a closing member (13), and a second connecting member having a tubular member by means of which the closing member (13) can be penetrated for opening the first connecting member (9). The tubular member can be inserted into the hole (11) and pressed onto edge portions (16) of the hole (11) in the first connecting member (9). The hole (11) has four, five or six corners (15) and edge portions (16) which extend between the corners and the tubular member is designed to fit with the hole (11).

Abstract: A can assembly includes a can body, and a cap that is seamed to the can body, and a bag. The bag, which may be formed by a thermoforming process, includes a thickened portion as part of a peripheral flange that terminates in a bulb. A throat that receives the bulb is formed by necks on the body and cap such that the bulb is spaced apart from the seam. A constriction formed by the neck radially inboard from the bulb receives the thickened portion of the bag. The process for forming the can assembly includes forming the seam and thermoforming a billet into the bag. At least part of the flange is formed between matched portions of mold flanges.

Abstract: An automatic inflator comprising a body for receiving a dissolvable pill, said dissolvable pill including an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said surfaces including an undulating configuration.

Abstract: A tool for self-defense and safety includes a body defining a canister compartment and a flashlight compartment. A flashlight head is securable to the body at a first end. A switch assembly is housed by the body and regulates power delivery to the flashlight head from a battery disposed in the flashlight compartment. A nozzle is securable to the body at a second end. Actuation of a trigger assembly ejects spray through the nozzle from a spray canister disposed in the canister compartment. The trigger assembly is mounted on the body proximate to the switch assembly such that either the trigger assembly or the switch assembly may be actuated without changing grip on the body. In addition, a user may strike with the tool without changing grip on the body.

Abstract: A mixing module that includes a mixing chamber formed of a cold flow material and placed within a housing which includes a compression device for compressing the cold flow material through which extends a reciprocating rod, preferably in the form of a valve rod relative to one or more chemical ports formed in the mixing chamber to mix or deliver chemicals within a mixing reception recess. The mixing chamber features a locking arrangement between the cold flow material mixing chamber and the housing which acts to prevent movement of the mixing chamber within the housing due to a sticking of the reciprocating rod to the mixing chamber which otherwise produces a position change in the mixing chamber as the compression device is temporarily compressed until the rod be comes unstuck and releases.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a body having a base for extending from a container, and a support column projecting from the base. A discharge passage extends through the body and support column. A flexible, pressure-openable dispensing valve has a skirt mounted on the support column and has an outwardly extending, narrowing head defining a dispensing orifice at the distal end. A clamp member fits around the valve skirt and is engaged with the body to hold the body, valve, and clamp member together.

Abstract: A fluid pump having a pusher with a push wall defining a push outside surface and an inside surface; and a peripheral skirt which extends from the inside surface of the push wall. A pump chamber is provided with an inlet valve and with an outlet valve, a dispensing orifice via which the fluid is dispensed, a main piston, and a differential piston that is mounted to move in the pump chamber in response to variation in the pressure. The differential piston is mounted to move away from the push wall when the pressure increases in the pump chamber; the pusher and the differential piston being mounted to move along an actuating axis that extends substantially perpendicularly to the push wall. The differential piston is formed integrally with an inlet valve moving member that co-operates with an inlet valve seat.