Patents Examined by Nicholas J Weiss
  • Patent number: 9839928
    Abstract: A pumping container for blocking air comprises: a container for accommodating liquid contents; a pumping cap, coupled to an inlet of the container, for discharging the contents accommodated in the container to the outside according to a pumping operation; a suction line, coupled to the pumping cap, for sucking in the contents according to the operation of a pumping part; and an air blocking member for preventing the contents remaining in the container from making contact with air, by receiving and collecting air on the inside thereof in a volume equal to that of the contents discharged from the container by the pumping operation. Since the pumping container for blocking air, configured as described above, can always keep the contents accommodated in the container sealed from the outside so as not to be in contact with air, it is possible to prevent the problem of the shelf life of the contents rapidly shortening due to the decomposition or oxidation by contamination of the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Kook Sir Park
  • Patent number: 9841145
    Abstract: An axial piercing mechanism for a pressurized gas canister includes a housing, electric motor assembly, pushrod assembly, and lancet. The housing defines one or more radial exhaust ports and coaxial internal cavities. The electric motor assembly and pushrod assembly are disposed in the respective first and second cavities. The pushrod assembly is coupled to the electric motor assembly and is rotatably driven along the longitudinal axis thereby. The lancet is coupled to the pushrod assembly. The housing includes a second end that receives or couples to a sealed end of the pressurized gas canister proximate the lancet such that the electric motor assembly, when energized, causes the pushrod assembly and lancet to translate along the longitudinal axis, pierce a sealed end/diaphragm of the canister, and release pressurized gas through the exhaust port. A system includes the axial piercing mechanism and the pressurized gas canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Powell, Keith R. Huber, Earl H. Mark, Taylor J. Durrance
  • Patent number: 9833808
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: DL Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Fugere
  • Patent number: 9829362
    Abstract: A container and spout assembly in which the spout is pivotally attached to the container. The spout is pivotally moveable between a closed position in which a spout exterior wall is flush with the container sidewall and an open position in which a spout interior wall is flush with the sidewall and spout legs frictionally engage a detent. The spout accommodates a metered dose of product. In the fully open position, the spout seals the opening in the sidewall to prevent product from exiting the container while a metered dose is dispensed from the open spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Carpenter, Kurt Ziegenfelder
  • Patent number: 9827581
    Abstract: A pump system may include a blown-in dip tube connected to a valve body and having a connection which may include an improved blown-in dip tube connector having one or more of a lip for sealing with a blown-in dip tube, a seal ring configured to mate with a blown-in dip tube and seal therewith, a dip tube lock for mating with a blown-in dip tube, or an o-ring for providing an improved seal with a blown-in dip tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SILGAN DISPENSING SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Good, David L. Dejong
  • Patent number: 9828159
    Abstract: A storage and dispensing system for a flexible bag comprising a container assembly and a cover. The container assembly having a container storage and dispensing portion, and a container elevating portion. The upstand portion of the container storage and dispensing portion includes a wall defining a spout retaining portion defining an engaging end that is configured to retain a spout of a bag assembly. The spout retaining portion is spaced apart from the upper edge. A spout guiding portion extends from the upper edge to the spout retaining portion. The cover further includes a locking tab having a spout interfacing edge. Attaching the cover to the container assembly directs the locking tab over at least a portion of the spout guiding portion with the spout interfacing edge structurally configured to interface with a portion of the spout of the bag assembly, to retain the same in an engaging orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Scholle IPN Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Messacar, Ryan Balock, Charles Thurman
  • Patent number: 9829157
    Abstract: A machine for making and dispensing liquid and/or semi-liquid food products includes a tank for containing the product, and a dispensing tap mounted on the discharging outlet of the tank. The tap has a duct connected to the discharging outlet and a piston sliding in a sealed fashion inside the duct. The duct has a first stretch extending between a first end and a branch of the duct from which a dispensing outlet of the tap extends, and a second stretch extending between the branch of the duct and a second end of the duct. The first end is connected in a sealed fashion to the discharging outlet and the second end is closed by a plug The piston is movable between a position preventing the dispensing of the product and allowing the washing of the duct, and a position allowing dispensing of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ALI S.P.A.—CARPIGIANI GROUP
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 9820557
    Abstract: A fluid containment system that comprises a fluid container with a top, with an orifice and a wall extending from the bottom, a junction cap that can be mechanically attached to the extended wall, a tube leading from the junction cap, and a mouth piece attached distal to the junction on the tube suitable for an end user to draw fluid from the fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Robert G. Gottlieb
  • Patent number: 9815079
    Abstract: A liquid take-up mechanism may be used in connection with a spray bottle having a first and second vertical tube section, an internal member capture, a horizontal tube section, an angled tube section, and a rotation connection member. The internal member capture may be adjacent the first and second vertical tube sections. The horizontal tube section may be secured to the second vertical tube section. The angled tube section may be secured to the horizontal tube section. The rotation connection member may have a housing and an internal member, which may be carried by the internal member capture. The first and second vertical tube sections may be adapted to be carried by the housing. The internal member may be adapted to interface between the first and second vertical tube sections. The second vertical tube section may be able to freely rotate with respect to the first vertical tube section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley Taylor
  • Patent number: 9815597
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a fluent product by twisting a flexible bag which contains the fluent product. The bag ends are connected to a container composed of a lower hollow cylinder which fits into an upper hollow cylinder. The two parts have a mutual axis which enable twisting the bag by rotating one part with respect to the other. The lower part has elastic fins on its outer cylindrical surface and the upper part has ramp shaped grooves all along its inner cylindrical surface. The fins which fit the grooves implement a rotational ratchet mechanism with capability for vertical displacement which also allows for linear bag contraction during twisting. The ratchet mechanism enables accurate control of outflow and also keeps the bag in the last twisted pose it arrives to. The bag is connected to two container parts by two butterfly nuts which enable easy manual bag replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Jezekiel Ben-Arie
  • Patent number: 9815599
    Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for a container (44) of a fluent substance is disclosed. The closure includes a body (54) having an inlet portion (68) defining an inlet flow passage (74) for receiving the fluent substance from the container (44) and an elongate outlet portion (70) defining an outlet flow passage (78) for discharging the fluent substance. The closure (40) further has a valve (56) located within the body (54), across the inlet flow passage (74) and spaced axially inwardly of outlet flow passage (78) to define a chamber (216). The valve (56) has a flexible, resilient valve head portion (160) that has confronting, openable portions (212) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head portion (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head portion (160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Spiegelhoff, Frederic Duquet, Kenneth Phillips, Curt Prusko
  • Patent number: 9815678
    Abstract: An in-line drink dispensing system (1,16,17) for dispensing liquid such as water or other beverage. The system comprises a pump (6) in fluid connection with the system so that the pump can create a flow in the system and based on the current that the pump uses during operation a value can be determined and used for analyzing one or more statuses of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Richard Furberg, Andreas Aschan, Daniel L. Johansson, Ilan Cohen, Marco Coan
  • Patent number: 9808821
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present teachings provide, among other things, stabilizing apparatus, methods, and systems for pump-type dispensers, such as standing, hand-operable, pump-type dispensers. For example, according to various embodiments, a stabilizer for pump-type dispensers can comprise a base that includes one or more sidewalls defining an internal orifice including an open top. A pump-type dispenser can be received in an upright fashion within the orifice of the base, such that a pump at the top of the dispenser extends upward, above the open top, so it is directly accessible for operation by a user. In various embodiments, a majority of the dispenser, but not the entire dispenser, can be received within the orifice of the base. In a variety of embodiments, the base is more resistant to tipping than the dispenser it is configured to hold, alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Karen Svidler
  • Patent number: 9801505
    Abstract: A motion-activated dispenser includes a housing having a base and top defining a gap sized to receive a human hand. The top portion defining cavity sized to receive a fluid reservoir and an opening extending directly through a lower surface of the top portion to the cavity, a neck of the fluid reservoir extending through the opening. A pressing member is positioned within the cavity and an actuator is coupled to the pressing member and configured to urge the pressing member toward and away from the opening. The pressing member may include, for example, a sliding member positioned opposite a stop face; a roller moved by the actuator toward the opening; a plunger positioned above the opening and driven by an actuator toward the opening; or a pair of rods spanning the cavity and urged by the actuator through the cavity, the rods pressing against sides of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Jonathan B. Hadley, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Lilac Muller, Jeanine E. Spence
  • Patent number: 9796508
    Abstract: A caulk storage system for storing an opened calk container includes a calk container that has a tube and a spout. The calk container may contain a fluid calk. A pair of cylinders is provided. The cylinders are matable to each other to define a closed tube. The calk container is positioned in each of the cylinders when the cylinders are mated together. Thus, the pair of cylinders inhibits the fluid calk from drying thereby facilitating the calk container to be stored when the calk container is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Rutherford
  • Patent number: 9776776
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing device for allowing a user to drink liquid therefrom in a hands-free manner. The liquid dispensing device includes a container having a spring-loaded stopper therein, and further including an elongated tube having a mouthpiece thereon that extends from an end of the container. In operation, a user can fill the container with a liquid causing the spring loaded stopper to retract so that it is under tension. When the user wishes to drink the liquid, the user can bite the bite valve of the mouthpiece which enables water to be released from the container and into a tube connected to the mouthpiece. The spring pushes the stopper towards the mouthpiece and thus the liquid within the container is pushed through the tube to the mouthpiece so the user may drink therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Walter Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9759594
    Abstract: A container and overcap assembly includes an open mouth container and an overcap with a built-in spout that is hinged to the overcap. The spout snaps shut inside the overcap when in a fully closed position and snaps into a fully open position as well. The spout accommodates a metered dose of product. In the fully open position, the spout seals the opening in the overcap to prevent product from exiting the container while a metered dose is dispensed from the open spout. The container assembly is particularly useful for containing and providing metered dispenses of dry products such as powders and granulated materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Carpenter, Kurt Ziegenfelder
  • Patent number: 9757761
    Abstract: A fluid delivery device is provided. The fluid delivery device includes a melter having a loading chamber and a hopper disposed in communication with the loading chamber, the loading chamber having one or more heating elements. The hopper includes a second heating element. The melter also includes a container handling system for lifting a container a predetermined height and moving the container from a position remote of the melter to a position within the loading chamber. The container includes contents stored within. The heating elements heat the contents so that the contents may be received in the hopper. The hopper may continue to heat the contents to provide a fluid. The fluid may be discharged from the hopper by way of a pump assembly. A pressure of fluid may be regulated at the pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Angelini, Grant McGuffey, Mel Steven Lessley, Alan Pindrock, Scott Mercer
  • Patent number: 9752820
    Abstract: A refrigerator equipped with a water tank that is easily accessible to a user and a method of using the same. A water dispenser is installed on the front side of a refrigerator. A water tank coupled to the water dispenser is detachably installed on a lower inner inside of a refrigerator door such that a user can conveniently observe the state of the water tank and access the water tank for maintenance and refill thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 9744545
    Abstract: A bottle cap assembly for pressurizing a water bottle is described herein. The bottle cap assembly comprises a cap, a teeter valve coupled to the top of the cap, a pressurizing plunger, a hollow pump shaft receiving the plunger, a hollow uptake adapter, a relief tube extension and a flexible conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Lunatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Rhea, Eric Young