Patents Examined by Michael J Melaragno
  • Self serve beverage by the glass
    Patent number: 11192770
    Abstract: Automated dispensing of beverages is provided by unattended software control. Grants are purchased or given from the administrative Portal (we call it Pass Manager, see screen shots in the ppt presentation). The redemption is initiated from the web page opened on a phone or tablet. Redemption can also be initiated by applying QR, bar code, RFID or CC cards to a Reader. dispensing tap may be accessed at the dispensing station interface or via a networked application interface. Authenticating the granting of automated access via a receipt includes acceptance of legal terms and conditions and assess limited by an access code. User may prepay for servings, with the tap remaining locked until the user specific access code is acknowledged. After dispensing, the tap is locked and the purchase or grant total updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sestra Systems
    Inventor: Lev Volftsun
  • Tap head having a 3/2-way valve
    Patent number: 11192771
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tap head for connecting to a keg for a bar system, the tap head having a tap head body, and a pressurization-gas supply line and a beverage removal line being formed in the tap head body, such that a 3/2-way valve is formed directly on or in the tap head body in the pressurization-gas supply line, which 3/2-way valve connects either the pressurization-gas supply line from a gas source to the interior of the keg or connects, in a gas-conducting manner, the interior of the keg to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DSI GETRAENKEARMATUREN GMBH
    Inventors: Mirco Wolter, Rudolf Klemm, Stefan Sueltrop
  • Ink bottle and bottle set
    Patent number: 11192380
    Abstract: Convenience of an ink bottle and a bottle set is improved. An ink bottle includes: a container portion that contains ink; a guiding portion that is formed in one end portion of the container portion, and includes an outflow port from which the ink in the container portion flow out; and a cover that covers at least an end portion of the container portion on the opposite side of the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Koichi Toba, Takumi Nagashima, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Tadashi Watanabe, Noriyuki Fukasawa
  • Device and method for dispensing product from a flexible package
    Patent number: 11192674
    Abstract: Dispensing devices and methods are provided. A dispensing device comprises an opening accessing an insertion path thereof, two opposing surfaces configured to compress a flexible package inserted into the insertion path while moving across the flexible package in two directions, and an opener configured to bend an opening region of the package out of a plane defined by the flexible package and further configured to cut a distal portion of an opening region of the flexible package. A method of dispensing product from a flexible package is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Uwe Nehus, Stefan Eberhardt, Davide Ronchi
  • Dosing apparatus and a container
    Patent number: 11187565
    Abstract: A dosing apparatus suitable for dispensing a dose of liquid from a resilient squeezable container including a cap, suitable for attachment to the container, the cap comprising an expulsion channel for the expulsion of liquid; a dosage chamber attached to the cap, the dosage chamber comprising side walls; at least one inlet opening in the side walls proximal to the cap; a pressure chamber located underneath the dosage chamber; a valve provided at the end of the pressure chamber distal to the dosage chamber, the valve being movable from an open position, allowing liquid to flow through one or more discharge openings, and a closed position where the valve closes each discharge opening, the valve incorporating at least one aperture; and a plunger provided in the dosage chamber, and movable relative to the dosage chamber so as to advance upon squeezing of the container, up to a blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Paterson, Gui Rendong, Yang Aiwen, Wang Gongfu, Mao Yin
  • Disposable Inflator
    Patent number: 11180230
    Abstract: An inflator including in combination an inflator body having at one end an input for receiving the neck of a gas cartridge, a manifold assembly intended to be fluidly connected to an inflatable, a combination automatic and manual actuator assembly including a spring-loaded actuator including a pierce pin for fracturing a frangible seal of the gas cartridge, a bobbin with a dissolvable pill that retains the spring-loaded actuator in a cocked position and a hood connected onto the end of the inflator body, said hood including an inwardly-extending tab that engages the actuator to securely retain the hood onto the end of the inflator body by means of the inwardly-extending tab being grasped by the forked end of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halkey-Roberts Corporation
    Inventors: Lyman Fawcett, Taylor Breau
  • Device for dispensing a liquid in the form of drops
    Patent number: 11155391
    Abstract: The device makes it possible to dispense predetermined metered quantities of liquid. It includes a sealing member that can take up a liquid release position, allowing liquid to flow out of the device, and a non-return position preventing liquid from flowing back into the device. The sealing member is provided with metering means for metering out the liquid to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Gaëtan Painchaud, Sylvain Lanzi, Xavier Julia, Guillaume Grevin
  • Lid
    Patent number: 11136171
    Abstract: A lid is disclosed having a spring mechanism that pushes up an activator lever while also lifting up a flow stopper that keeps fluid from the mug and out through the lid. Due to the design of the lid, a mug can be filled without having to remove the lid. Similarly, the user does not have to touch any part of the lid from which water flows. This makes the use of this lid more sanitary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: HIGHWAVE
    Inventor: Gary Ross
  • Fast hot melt adhesive gun
    Patent number: 11130149
    Abstract: A fast hot melt adhesive gun includes an adhesive gun housing, wherein an end part of one end of the adhesive gun housing is provided with an adhesive inlet, a heating cavity used for heating an adhesive rod is formed in the adhesive gun housing, an inner wall of the adhesive gun housing is fixedly connected with a chute for the adhesive rod to slide, the heating cavity comprises a funnel-shaped heating head, a rear end of the funnel-shaped heating head is in communication with a connecting pipe, an outside of the funnel-shaped heating head is wrapped with a PTC heating layer, an inner diameter of the funnel-shaped heating head is gradually reduced from a first end at the connecting pipe to a second end at the funnel-shaped heating head, a front end of the funnel-shaped heating head is in communication with a copper sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NINGBO YAOSHENG TOOLS INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD
    Inventor: Hongbiao Lu
  • Method and apparatus for calibrating remaining doses of product in a refillable dispenser
    Patent number: 11131575
    Abstract: An exemplary dispenser includes a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit being removable and replaceable. The dispenser also includes a processor, memory, a dose count stored in memory that is indicative of the number of doses in a full refill unit, a level sensor for detecting a predetermined level the refill unit and a dispense count indicative of the number doses of product dispensed from the refill unit. In addition, the dispenser includes memory and has logic stored in the memory for recalibrating the number of doses remaining in the refill unit as a function of the dose count, the number of doses of product dispensed and the predetermined level of product. The number of doses of product remaining in the refill unit may be displayed on the dispenser, on a remote station, or on both the dispenser and a remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Moore
  • System and method for piston detection in a metering mechanism for use with beverage dispensing system
    Patent number: 11124406
    Abstract: A dispensing and pour control system for a regulated beverage having a metering system that provides a discharge in a controlled and metered manner. A sensor system uses a Line Control Board (LCB) that detects a piston location inside a metering conduit. A plurality of magnetic sensors is positioned at equal intervals and in the same plane collinear with the movement of a magnetic piston within the metering mechanism conduit. The piston position is detected by obtaining a set of momentary readings of the magnetic sensors and estimating a location of the piston by interpolation of the piston position as an anticipate location between sensors that are adjacent and showing readings of opposing signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SESTRA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lev Volftsun, Alex Belfor, Anatoly Boshkin
  • Valve assembly for dispensers
    Patent number: 11117736
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispenser. The valve assembly includes a valve body that extends about a longitudinal axis and defines an outer surface and an inner passageway. A valve stem extends through the inner passageway and includes an outer stem surface, an inner stem surface opposite the outer stem surface, a fin extending radially outward from the outer stem surface, and a first orifice extending from the outer stem surface to the inner stem surface. The fin operatively engages a portion of the inner passageway forming a seal therebetween and providing controlled dispensing through the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, Scott Edward Smith, Andrew William Franckhauser, David Andrew Dalton
  • Valve assembly for dispensers
    Patent number: 11117735
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispenser. The valve assembly includes a valve body that extends about a longitudinal axis and defines an outer surface and an inner passageway. A valve stem extends through the inner passageway and includes an outer stem surface, an inner stem surface opposite the outer stem surface, a fin extending radially outward from the outer stem surface, and a first orifice extending from the outer stem surface to the inner stem surface. The fin operatively engages a portion of the inner passageway forming a first seal and providing controlled dispensing through the orifice. A valve seal may be joined to the valve steam. The vale seal may operatively engage a portion of the valve body forming a second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, David Andrew Dalton, Matthew David Fitts, Andrew William Franckhauser, Paul Owen Nutley, Scott Edward Smith, Kerry Lloyd Weaver
  • Gravity based soap dispenser
    Patent number: 11116364
    Abstract: Introduced here is a soap dispenser that uses gravitational force to dispense soap from a liquid soap bottle into a tray. The soap dispenser includes the tray and a socket. The socket is attached to the soap bottle socket, which is then securely held by an interlocking mechanism of the socket. The interlocking mechanism can be, for example, a threaded locking system. Once the soap bottle is secured by the socket, the soap dispenser and bottle are inverted together, such that the bottom surface of the tray is resting on a flat surface and the soap bottle is upside-down. The socket also includes an outlet that opens towards the tray. When inverted, the soap from the soap bottle is dispensed from the outlet into the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Malcomb Davis
  • Apparatus for supplying chemical liquid
    Patent number: 11121007
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying chemical liquid may include a chemical liquid discharging member, a reservoir, a chemical liquid supplying member and a chemical liquid circulating member. The chemical liquid discharging member may discharge a chemical liquid onto a substrate. The reservoir may store the chemical liquid supplied to the chemical liquid discharging member. The chemical liquid supplying member may supply the chemical liquid stored in the reservoir. The chemical liquid circulating member may circulate the chemical liquid from the chemical liquid discharging member to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Jae-Youl Kim, Jeeyong Jung, Young Ho Seo, Dae Sung Kim, Beomjeong Oh, Kwangbok Jun, Hyungoo Kwon, Sanguk Son
  • Keg sensor assemblies
    Patent number: 11117792
    Abstract: Keg sensors and keg sensor assemblies are disclosed. In some embodiments, the keg sensor may include a main body and a first connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a keg dispensing coupler. The keg dispensing coupler may be configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position; The keg sensor may additionally include a second connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a valve of a keg. The keg sensor may further include a sensor assembly attached to the main body and configured to detect one or more operating parameters of liquid dispensed, via the keg dispensing coupler, from the keg through the keg sensor. In some embodiments, the keg sensor assembly may include a keg sensor and a stack cage assembly. The stack cage assembly may include a cage sized to surround the keg sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Hunter Caputo
  • Dosing timer and dispensers using the same
    Patent number: 11099044
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes a pour cap for a container and a timing device configured to visually indicate when a dose has been dispensed from the dispensing system, the timing device being securable to either the pour cap or the container and configurable based on a product being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Silgan Dispensing Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Leah Smalley, Brian Van Houten
  • Synthetic resin container
    Patent number: 11097871
    Abstract: A synthetic resin container includes a mouth portion and body, the body being squeezed to discharge contents. The body has a flattened shape with a width larger than a thickness. An end on one side in an axial direction along a center axis line of the body is connected to the mouth portion, and an end on another side is closed and formed in a curved shape protruding toward the other side in the axial direction. Each widthwise ends of the body is provided with a bent portion extending in parallel with the axial direction. When the body is squeezed in the thickness direction to discharge the contents, the bent portion is configured to be a starting point when one of a front side wall and a rear side wall opposed to each other in the thickness direction of the body is inverted and deformed toward the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Tsuda
  • Large tube cover for plunger tube
    Patent number: 11097297
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for dispensing a fluid product, including a device for taking off the product under pressure, the device having a body in communication with a plunger tube, the system further including a tube cover surrounding the plunger tube over at least part of its length. This system is characterized in that the tube cover is expandable between a shrink state and an expanded state, the width of the tube cover in the expanded state being larger than the width of the tube cover in the shrink state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SILGAN DISPENSING SYSTEMS THOMASTON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher Scherer
  • Foam discharge container
    Patent number: 11090664
    Abstract: A foamer mechanism (20) of a foam dispensing container has a gas-liquid contact chamber (21), a liquid agent flow passage (22) through which a liquid agent supplied from a liquid agent supply portion (28) to the gas-liquid contact chamber (21) passes, and a gas flow passage (23) through which a gas supplied from a gas supply portion (29) to the gas-liquid contact chamber (21) passes. The gas flow passage (23) has a gas opening (23a) that is open to the gas-liquid contact chamber (21). The liquid agent flow passage (22) branches into plural branch flow passages (for example, branches into a first branch flow passage (221) and plural second branch flow passages (222)). Each of the plural branch flow passages has a liquid agent opening (22a, 22b) that is open to the gas-liquid contact chamber (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Uchiyama, Shinji Oguri, Ryohei Aoyama