Patents Examined by Robert Nichols, II
  • Patent number: 9981799
    Abstract: A method of dispensing includes the steps of exerting a force on an actuator of a dispenser having a conduit with an inlet and an outlet in a first non-actuation state, to place the actuator in a second actuation state. When the actuator is in the second actuation state, the inlet and the outlet of the actuator are moved from a first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Andersen, Lance D. Chady, Jeffrey J. Christianson, Mark E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9981278
    Abstract: A liquid sprayer apparatus includes a multi-chamber spray mechanism, with at least one chamber being adapted to accumulate pressurized fluid for dispensation over an extended time period. The liquid sprayer apparatus is capable of emitting a liquid spray over a period of time that is substantially greater than a manual pump action applied to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Zhejiang JM Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xufeng Tu
  • Patent number: 9976891
    Abstract: A device for dispensing spices and similar materials. The device includes a chamber member, an inner gate above the chamber member and an outer gate below the chamber member. The inner gate contains a filling aperture and the outer gate contains a dispensing aperture which is offset from the filling aperture. The chamber member contains dispensing chambers, each having an open top and an open base, and a non-dispensing chamber having a closed top. The inner and outer gates are linked together and can be rotated relative to the chamber member, so that material can be loaded through the filling aperture or dispensed through the dispensing aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Darren Adrian Fanton
  • Patent number: 9943867
    Abstract: A liquid sprayer apparatus includes a multi-chamber spray mechanism, with at least one chamber being adapted to accumulate pressurized fluid for dispensation over an extended time period. The liquid sprayer apparatus is capable of emitting a liquid spray over a period of time that is substantially greater than a manual pump action applied to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Zhejiang JM Industry Co., LTD
    Inventor: Xufeng Tu
  • Patent number: 9927213
    Abstract: A self-defense glove. The self-defense glove includes a body having a palm portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of finger openings, each of the finger openings configured to receive a finger therethrough. A pocket configured to receive a spray-deterrent canister such as a pepper spray canister is disposed on the rear portion. A control is disposed on the palm portion. When activated by a user, the control is configured to actuate the pepper spray canister, causing pepper spray to be emitted therefrom. The user may aim the pepper spray canister in the direction of an attacker and activate the control in order to incapacitate the attacker with the pepper spray. The rear portion further includes a warning label and a light thereon in order to deter would-be assailants from initiating a confrontation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: George Komperda
  • Patent number: 9919328
    Abstract: A fluid container comprises at least two fluid dispensing paths, wherein the fluid container comprises a container body and a fluid dispenser, and the fluid dispenser comprises a dispenser body connected to the container and a bottom portion enclosing the container. The dispenser body comprises a flow path extending through the bottom portion to a flow path exit, and a conduit aperture extending through the bottom portion and configured to accept a flexible conduit therein. A dispenser cap is operably connected to the dispenser body, wherein the dispenser cap comprises a fluid pump configured to pump fluid from the container via the flexible conduit. The dispenser cap is operable between a closed configuration in which the flow path exit is sealed and an open configuration in which the flow path exit is open, enabling fluid to flow out of the container via the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: James Stephen Emery, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9914124
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a housing and a deformable member that define a metering chamber that is configured to receive a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir. The deformable member is deformed from a rest position to an eject position and the deformation causes the volume of the metering chamber to change which results in a change in fluid pressure within the metering chamber. An increase in the fluid pressure within metering chamber causes a predetermined volume of fluid within the metering chamber to be ejected and a decrease in the fluid pressure within the metering chamber causes fluid to be drawn into the metering chamber from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Xuan S. Bui
  • Patent number: 9908130
    Abstract: Device to contain and dispense fluid, including: container including neck, connector with ring cap element; deformable bag, for housing inside a container cavity and including neck having opening to access bag cavity, and bag flange extending transversally to the bag neck; manual pump at least partially in the bag neck; ring cap element connected to container neck for connecting pump and bag to container neck; an annular support element for resting on a container neck free edge, annular support element including: seat including rest wall for bag neck flange, ring cap element, when connected to container neck, binding annular support element and at least one flange portion and annular element to container neck; and connector for cooperating with connection counter-part in ring cap element. Ring cap element includes connection counter-part for cooperating with container neck connector for removably connecting ring cap and container neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LUMSON S.P.A.
    Inventor: Matteo Moretti
  • Patent number: 9901219
    Abstract: A system and control method for an electronic liquid dispenser utilizes a motor to drive a pump mechanism from a home position in a dispense cycle for dispensing a metered dose of liquid from a reservoir. Upon initiation of the dispense cycle, the motor is started to operate the pump mechanism. Motor work performed by the motor during the dispense cycle is calculated as a function of motor current, motor voltage, and run time of the motor. Upon the calculated motor work exceeding a set point value during the dispense cycle, the motor is stopped and reversed to return the pump mechanism to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Francis Tramontina, Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9897475
    Abstract: A dispensing device has a cylinder, and a piston disposed in the cylinder and moveable in priming and dispensing directions, including a first spring device biasing the piston to move in the priming direction. An operating plunger is moveable between an engaged position where it is operatively connected to the piston and movement of the operating plunger is transmitted to the piston, and a disengaged position where it is operatively disconnected from the piston, in which the operating plunger is movable between an outer and an inner point. A second spring device biases the operating plunger to move from the inner to the outer point independently of the piston. The piston has an indicator member. The operating plunger having an end wall with an aperture. When the operating plunger is at the outer point and the piston is at the cylinder's top, the indicator member is disposed in the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Limited
    Inventor: Timothy David Penfold
  • Patent number: 9889465
    Abstract: A discharging device simultaneously delivers at least two flowable components of a multi-component compound from different storage volumes. The discharging device includes at least two pistons which are movable along an extension direction thereof to deliver the components from the at least two storage volumes, and an advancing unit for moving the pistons along the extension direction thereof. The advancing unit has at least one energy storage element, which is provided for supplying a force for moving the pistons and at least one release element, which is provided for releasing the movement of the pistons by the at least one storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SULZER MIXPAC AG
    Inventor: Josef Ettlin
  • Patent number: 9884336
    Abstract: A dispensing device is selectively operable in a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The device comprises a base and a refill removably connectable with the base. The base comprises a first dispensing system and a first actuator communicably connected with the first dispensing system. The refill comprises a reservoir having a sidewall and an orifice. The first dispensing system is in fluid communication with the refill in the first mode of operation and the refill is disconnected from the base in the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paulus Antonius Augustinus Hoefte, Olga Lahuerta Salas, Dominic Robert Doyle, Cedric Gobber, Ruben Garcia Fabrega
  • Patent number: 9861995
    Abstract: A dispenser device for a container containing a product to be dispensed, the device comprising a body for connecting to the container and presenting a chamber that is open at a bottom end of the body and in which a pump is arranged, connected to a top dispenser head. The dispenser device also comprises a driver that is suitable for being moved so as to cause the dispenser head to move between a storage position in which the dispenser head is substantially retracted inside the body, and a dispensing position in which the dispenser head projects beyond a top end of the body. The dispenser device further comprises a sealing diaphragm that defines a top end of the chamber and that presents a movable end that is connected to the pump, and a stationary end that is suitable for being connected to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR
    Inventors: Savine Lefevre, Francois Gautier
  • Patent number: 9839924
    Abstract: In a foamer dispenser, a depressing head includes: a head main unit with a top wall portion arranged above the stem and with an attachment cylindrical portion that extends downwardly from the top wall portion and is attached to the stem; and an exterior cylindrical portion that is provided beneath the top wall portion and surrounds the attachment cylindrical portion and the guide cylindrical portion from an outer side in a radial direction. An inside of the exterior cylindrical portion is communicable with an inside of the cylinder for air through an inside of the guide cylindrical portion. The head main unit and the exterior cylindrical portion are formed as separate entities and are fitted to each other. In an upper end portion of the exterior cylindrical portion, intake holes are formed that penetrate through the exterior cylindrical portion in a radial direction and open toward an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mizushima, Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Yasuhito Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Kato, Toshihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 9834363
    Abstract: A container (100) for isolating first and second fluids, such as beverage concentrate components, until dispensing is provided, as well as methods of assembly and dispensing. The container can have first (111) and second (113) enclosed bodies for containing the first and second fluids to be dispensed and an insert (130) directing fluid from the enclosed bodies towards one or more valves or separate discharge paths (148a, 148b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventor: Piaras Valdis De Cleir
  • 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: 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: 9796500
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying product is disclosed. A product identifier having product identifying information for one of a plurality of consumable products is provided. The product identifier is selected for a consumable product. The product identifier is displayed at or near a location on a dispensing system, or where access to the consumable product is provided. The system uses a product identifier having product and/or brand information for one or more consumable products. A window is provided in a body of a dispenser or other member of a dispensing system for viewing the product identifier associated with the consumable product therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Brian Philip Carlson, Ryan A. Chernik, John Thomas Pelkey, Matthew Darold Lausted, Anthony Lee Kramer
  • Patent number: 9790018
    Abstract: A non-electrically powered automatic dosing and spraying valve assembly for a container of pressurized fluid with an outlet valve is described, wherein the valve assembly comprises a housing containing at least two chambers wherein one of those chambers is a main chamber open at one end to the contents of the container and closed at one end by a movable plunger, and another of those chambers is a dose chamber closed at one end by the movable plunger and closed at the other end by a prodder seal formed between a movable prodder and a fluid outlet opening; wherein the movable plunger is biased against movement toward the dose chamber by a main spring means and a prodder spring means, the main spring means being mounted in or adjacent to the dose chamber and the prodder spring means being connected to both the movable plunger and movable prodder, the assembly further comprises a fluid leak path between the main chamber and the dose chamber; and wherein the assembly is arranged such that, in use, one movable comp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: LEAFGREEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Keith Laidler
  • Patent number: 9763546
    Abstract: A soap dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. Certain embodiments of the dispenser include a housing, reservoir, pump, motor, sensor, electronic processor, and nozzle. In certain embodiments, the sensor can be configured to generate a signal based on a distance between an object and the sensor. In certain embodiments, the electronic processor can be configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to determine a dispensation volume of the liquid. The dispensation volume can vary as a function of the distance between the object and the sensor. The processor can be configured to control the motor to dispense approximately the dispensation volume of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: simplehuman, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Yang, David Wolbert, Joseph Sandor, Orlando Cardenas