Patents Examined by Patrick Buechner
  • Patent number: 6811058
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid dispenser includes a housing having at least a first opening and a second opening, and a valve member fitted in the housing, the valve member being rotatable about an axis and including a first channel, extending along said axis and communicating with the first opening in the housing, and at least two outlet channels radially extending from the first channel to the circumference of the valve member, wherein each of the radially extending outlet channels can be brought into registry with the second opening by rotating the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fluid Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark M. J. Voskuil, Pieter J. M. Alkemade
  • Patent number: 6805263
    Abstract: A fluid product dispenser includes a reservoir (3) containing said fluid product and provided with at least one actuating wall (10) on which pressure is exerted to reduce the reservoir volume, a dispensing orifice (50) communicating with the reservoir and through which the fluid product is dispensed out of the reservoir in a mixture with a gas to create a two-phase spray, a detachable sealing unit (12) to seal the dispensing orifice (50) and so isolate the reservoir from the outside, and a spring (4) to bring the actuating wall (10) into a non-operational position defining the maximum volume of the reservoir (3) when the sealing unit (12) is withdrawn from the dispensing orifice (50), said spring (4) being compressed when the sealing unit (12) seals the outlet orifice (50), the reservoir (3) containing approximately only fluid product so long as the detachable sealing unit (12) seals the dispensing orifice (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Valois Sas
    Inventors: Firmin Garcia, Christophe Pierre
  • Patent number: 6805261
    Abstract: A package and method of making and filling it in the form of a tubular flexible bag of laminated plastic sheet material with a dispensing fitment including a spout and a removable closure mechanically fastened to a flat wall at one end of the tubular bag with the method of making the filled package being continuous starting with a flat sheet of material and ending with a filled and closed package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Profile Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd Laudenberg
  • Patent number: 6793101
    Abstract: The bottle cap unit (1) of this invention comprises an inner cap (2), which is tightly fitted to the bottleneck (24) to form a pour spout, and an outer cap (15), which is detachably screwed on or off the inner cap (2) to close or open the pour spout. The first locking part (5) is disposed on the outer wall of the attaching cylinder (3) of the inner cap (2). The second locking part (23) is disposed on the locking cylinder (22), which is connected to the outer cylinder (20) of the outer cap (15) via the breaking pieces (21). This second locking part (23) is engaged from underside with the first locking part (5) to lock the outer cap (15). The attachment of the inner cap (2) to the bottleneck (24) is set at such a strength that allows the inner cap (2) to be manually snapped out of the bottleneck (24). In this configuration, the bottle cap unit (1) can be easily snapped out of the bottleneck (24) for separate collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Natuo Shinozaki, Masaru Tamura
  • Patent number: 6789705
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving an aerosol dispenser and for operating the aerosol dispenser at a distant position from an operator. The device includes an elongated body, an extension pole mount, an actuation member mount and an actuation member. The elongated body includes an aerosol dispenser-receiving cavity therein. The aerosol dispenser-receiving cavity extends from a first end of the body toward a second end of the body. The extension pole mount is attached to the second end of the body. A longitudinal axis of a pole-receiving cavity of the extension pole mount is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aerosol dispenser-receiving cavity. The actuation member is attached at a first end thereof to an actuation member mount attached to the body. A spray head engagement portion is movable between at-rest and actuation positions and is translatable along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser-receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Frank M. Drew
  • Patent number: 6783029
    Abstract: A tube provided with a head and a skirt having an orthogonal cross section of particular shape in which the largest inscribed circle has a diameter D. The head, which is designed for fixing of a rigid closure, is provided with a circular cylindrical wall extending towards the inside of the tube and enclosing an orifice concentric to the inscribed circle and having a large diameter, typically more than 0.8D, and takes up substantially the internal volume of the skirt end over a height less than D, preferably less than D/3. The invention is further directed to a closure element, in particular a convenience closure, adapted for fixing substantially irreversibly on the tube head, comprising a base having an external outline matching the shape of the orthogonal cross section of the tube skirt, and a skirt having a diameter in the range of 0.5D to 0.9D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Cebal S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Schneider
  • Patent number: 6776307
    Abstract: A nozzle is attached to a tip of a fluid container which is formed of two flexible sheets overlapped with each other. The sheets have their internal surfaces fitted to each other in a normal state after contents are filled into the container such that even a very small portion of contents remaining in the container can be removed by a required amount without coming into contact with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Tadashi Hagihara
  • Patent number: 6776308
    Abstract: A apparatus with multiple paint intakes for providing a painting professional with the ability to draw paint from more than one container before having to reposition the spray painting equipment to draw from additional containers. The apparatus with multiple paint intakes includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a plurality of elongate support legs mounted on the housing for supporting the housing in an elevated condition above a surface. Each of the support legs has opposite ends, and each of the support legs has a passage formed therein extending between the opposite ends of the support leg and being in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the housing for permitting fluid to be drawn through each of the plurality of support legs and into the interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: Dave D. Davis, M. Shane Davis
  • Patent number: 6776309
    Abstract: Pump systems are provided which allow for highly-accurate dose control. The pump systems may be provided with a valve stem or a piston, either having a constant-diameter stroke portion interposed between reduced-diameter portions. At least one stationary sealing member immovably affixed to a pump body is also provided formed to sealingly engage the stroke portion of the valve stem or the piston. The sealing member is also formed to not engage the reduced-diameter portions. As such, the volume of the administered dose is controlled by the stroke length, which, in turn, is a function of the dimensioning of the constant-diameter stroke portion and the dimensioning of the sealing member. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a minimal number of tolerances can be implicated in controlling dosing volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Ben Z. Cohen
    Inventor: Robert S. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6772910
    Abstract: A resealable cap for a container is disclosed, the cap having a seal piercing element, the liquid in the container being initially separated from the piercing element by a seal. The cap includes a collar, a neck portion and a top portion. The top portion includes the seal piercing element. There is a liquid passageway through the cap, after the top portion has been moved from an initial position to a closed position (thus piercing the seal) and thence to an open position. Thereafter the cap can be resealed and opened repeatedly, by movement of the top portion from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. Numerous embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Fredrick Michael Coory
  • Patent number: 6772912
    Abstract: A liquid storage and dispensing tank for use individually or for use in a stacked manner. The tank has an upper sump formed therein which collects the liquid in the tank when the tank has been turned upside down to completely drain liquid from the tank. The upper end of the tank has a pocket formed in a raised central portion thereof which receives a bottom sump of a tank stacked thereupon. The tank has a pair of forklift pockets formed in the bottom thereof which are accessible from the front of the tank. The tank also has conveniently accessible fill and drain openings. The tank is comprised of one-piece plastic and is formed by rotational molding or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: James L. Schall, Steve J. Mertens
  • Patent number: 6755741
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention a gambling game system is disclosed, comprising a central station including a plurality of betting-type game devices, and an electronic camera for each game device. A plurality of player stations remotely located with respect to the central stations, each one including a monitor for displaying a selected game device at the central station, and input means for selecting a game device and for placing a bet by a player at the player's station relating to an action involving an element of change to occur at the selected game device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Yacob Rafaeli
  • Patent number: 6745921
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism for a hand tool comprises a body with a converging internal wall surface which is mounted on a rod. The body houses a set of ball bearings which are biased along the converging wall into an engaged position with a rod passing through the body. An axial force applied to one end of the body causes the balls to grip the rod. Whereas a force applied to the other end of the body releases the balls from the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: P.C. Cox Limited
    Inventor: Clifford Edward Beckett
  • Patent number: 6742764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic valve including a valve housing accommodating a magnet armature, a magnet core member, a valve closure member, and a valve seat to which a magnet coil can be fitted. The valve housing is composed of a first deep-drawn sleeve member and a second sleeve member that can be inserted telescopically into the first sleeve member. The second sleeve member has an open end remote from the first sleeve member which is preferably configured as a metal sealing seat with a valve accommodating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventor: Peter Volz
  • Patent number: 6739574
    Abstract: A fluid valve comprising a valve member (6) arranged to be movable in a first direction to control fluid flow through an orifice (5) and electrically actuable means (1a, 1b) for controlling movement of said valve member, characterised in that the electrically actuable means comprises at least one bender element (1a) disposed in said first direction but bendable in a direction transverse to said first direction, and the valve member is provided with a profiled surface (8) engaging one end (3a) of the bender whereby the position of the valve member is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Powell Simon
  • Patent number: 6736289
    Abstract: A substance container may be used for containing substances such as liquids or powders. The container assembly includes a body. The body contains a bag to contain the substance. At least a portion of the side walls of the body may include a double panel thickness to add strength to the container assembly. A first aperture located on the body to accommodate a dispensing assembly. A second aperture is also located on the body to accommodate a filling assembly. While the filling assembly is located near a top of the body, it does not protrude past a plane represented by a top surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: LBP Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Cook, Barry Silverstein, Kurt Wolf
  • Patent number: 6736292
    Abstract: A grease gun having a compressed-air-operated reciprocating motor for reciprocating a pump plunger through forward and return strokes. The motor comprises a motor cylinder and a motor piston operable in the cylinder and itself acting as a valve for effecting its return through each return stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Ayzik Grach, Viktor V. Alekseyev
  • Patent number: 6732886
    Abstract: A container adapted to include a pressurized medium therein for purposes of dispensing the contents of the container or alternatively, to function as a heat exchange unit to heat or cool beverage or food contained therein. The container housing the pressurized medium includes an over pressure release mechanism which includes a barrier member disposed adjacent a valve stem which when depressed releases the pressurized medium. The valve including the moveable valve stem is carried by a mounting member at least that portion of which carries the valve is moveable outwardly responsive to the pressurized medium exceeding a predetermined pressure internally of the container. Upon such movement, the valve stem contacts the barrier which is stationary with respect thereto and after such contact, further moves the valve stem to activate the valve and release the pressurized medium contained within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Cull
  • Patent number: 6732999
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic valve device having a valve housing, a valve member slidably accommodated in the valve housing to control oil communications among ports formed in the valve housing, a spring biasing the valve member, a stopper retaining the spring and an electromagnetic drive member for generating, when energized, a driving force to displace the valve member against a biasing force of the spring, the valve housing is provided at an axial end with a small diameter portion whose wall thickness is thinner and the stopper is press fitted substantially to an inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion so that radially outward resilient deformation of the small diameter portion is larger than radially inward resilient deformation of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Matsusaka, Tomoyoshi Minami, Kenichi Oishi
  • Patent number: 6729501
    Abstract: A dosing pump for dispensing two or more liquids, gels, slurries and/or pastes, and adapted to be connected to two or more containers for the two or more liquids, gels, slurries and/or pastes is described. The dosing pump may include an operating button, and two or more liquid, gel, slurry and/or paste dispensing assemblies. Each such assembly may be in mechanical contact with an actuator which in turn is in mechanical contact with the operating button, so that on movement of the operating button liquid, gel slurry and/or paste is dispensed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Peterson