Patents Examined by Robert Nichols, II
  • Patent number: 9459128
    Abstract: A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume includes a liquid reservoir having an outlet, a pressure generator which provides a compressible enclosed gas volume of a constant amount of substance with a pressure, wherein the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir, a dosing device coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and operable in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet, a pressure sensor arranged to measure a current pressure in the gas volume and to output an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume and a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the dosing device and the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft fuer angewandte Forschung e.V., Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Peter Koltay, Andreas Ernst, Chris Steinert, Laurent Tanguy
  • Patent number: 9457927
    Abstract: A novel container is described having an outer chamber adapted to hold an amount of a first liquid; an inner chamber displaced within the outer chamber, the inner chamber adapted to hold an amount of a second liquid; and a cap having a mouthpiece adapted to allow the first liquid and second liquid to flow therethrough. The cap may be adapted to allow passage of the first liquid, but not the second liquid, when the mouthpiece is in a first position. The cap may also be adapted to allow passage of the second liquid, but not the first liquid, when the mouthpiece is in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ShotWater, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kenworthy, Nick Trahan
  • Patent number: 9453613
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for displacing fluid from a fluid container comprises first and second actuators configured to be movable together until the first actuator compresses a first part of the fluid container and then moveable independently until the second actuator compresses a second part of the fluid container. Fluid containers comprise a first vessel, a second vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel and further include piercing means for piercing the sealing partition to permit fluid flow from the second vessel. A fluid container comprises a vessel configured to be collapsed to displace fluid from the vessel, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, and a floating compression plate movably disposed within the housing and configured to permit an external actuator to press the compression plate into the vessel to collapse the vessel and displace the fluid contents therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: David Walter Wright, Dominic Aiello
  • Patent number: 9440840
    Abstract: A water dispenser includes a raw water container having an inner tube a water outlet port of the raw water container. The inner tube is provided with a stepped portion having a smaller diameter at its portion closer to the interior of the raw water container, and a fastening belt portion formed contiguous to the stepped portion on the smaller diameter side thereof. The water server also includes a joint portion in the form of a cylindrical member including a straight portion (73) configured to be fitted tightly to the fastening belt portion, and provided with a water flow hole formed in a size so as not to cover the entire axial width of the fastening belt portion while the straight portion is being inserted into the fastening belt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Cosmo Life
    Inventor: Yoshinori Orita
  • Patent number: 9440781
    Abstract: An example of droplet discharge device includes a discharge path (12) having an end that constitutes a discharge opening (11), a plunger (30), a liquid chamber (50) into which the plunger (30) is inserted, a plunger driving mechanism that moves the plunger (30) forward and backward, and a plunger position determining mechanism that specifies a position of a tip portion of the plunger (30). The liquid material is discharged in a droplet state by applying inertial force to the liquid material with forward movement of the plunger (30) in a state where the tip portion of the plunger (30) and an inner wall of the liquid chamber (50) are not contacted with each other. A minute droplet is formed by moving the plunger (30) forward to push the liquid material out of the discharge opening (11) in an amount necessary to form a droplet of a desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 9422102
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle, the refill cartridge including compressed gas and material separated by a bi-conical thruster, the refill cartridge further comprising a first end having a material inlet and outlet manifold, and a second end having a compressed gas inlet. The system's performance can be improved by applying a surface treatment to the wetted surfaces of the system to change the physical properties at the fluid/vessel interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: C.H.&I. TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Levenstein, Robert D. Thibodeau, Eric A. Williams
  • Patent number: 9410663
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a fluid module, including a collapsible vessel supported on a planar substrate, comprises a first actuator component configured to be movable in a first direction is generally parallel to the plane of the substrate, a second actuator component configured to be movable in a second direction having a component that is normal to the plane of the substrate, and a motion conversion mechanism coupling the first actuator component with the second actuator component and configured to convert movement of the first actuator component in the first direction into movement of the second actuator component in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: David Walter Wright, Dominic Aiello, Robert Clark
  • Patent number: 9403290
    Abstract: A valve for forming a foam from a fluid, the valve includes an outer valve wall including a first end and a second end in fluid communication with each other and defining a chamber within the valve; an air intake bore intermediate outer valve wall first end and outer valve wall second end that provides fluid communication between a space outside of valve and the chamber; and at least two barriers within the chamber, wherein each of the at least two barriers defines an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Frailey
  • Patent number: 9404579
    Abstract: A sealing device is suitable, for example, for conducting verification and testing of fluid-tightness, and includes a body supporting an end piece equipped with a gasket. The gasket presents an outer surface in which at least one area is in the form of a truncated cone. A sealing method concerns the sealing of an aircraft pipe presenting an opening arranged behind a wall, with the aid of a sealing device as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventor: Stéphane Mateo
  • Patent number: 9382059
    Abstract: A spray head for dispensing product from a container, has an attachment element on which a closure element for closing off the exit orifice of a spray channel is disposed and an actuating element on activation of which the exit orifice is connectable with a valve opening of the container. In order to create a spray head which is easier and safer to handle, it is proposed that the closure element and the actuating element form a unit pivotable about an axis from a closed position to an actuating position, the exit orifice of the spray channel being closable by the unit's being in the closed position, and that the unit has locking means via which the unit can be locked in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LINDAL Dispenser GmbH
    Inventors: Andrea Selinger, Norman Goldberg
  • Patent number: 9382060
    Abstract: A system for dispensing texture material in an orange peel pattern has an aerosol dispenser and a contained material. The aerosol dispenser is a container assembly, a valve assembly, and an outlet assembly. The contained material is texture material and propellant material. The texture material is approximately 24-34% water, 4.1-6.1% latex binder, 48-58% fillers, and 4.8-8.8% drier accelerant by weight. The contained material comprises approximately 10-15% by weight of the propellant material. The outlet assembly alters the cross-sectional of the outlet opening to correspond to a desired orange peel texture pattern. The valve assembly allows the propellant material to force at least a portion of the texture material out of the outlet opening in a spray pattern corresponding to the desired orange peel texture pattern. The drier accelerant promotes drying of the dispensed texture material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Homax Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kordosh
  • Patent number: 9371162
    Abstract: A one-piece dispensing closure is disclosed. The one-piece dispensing closure includes a base, a lid having a first flap and means to irreversibly attach to the base, a first living hinge connecting the base to the lid, and a second living hinge connecting the first flap to the lid. The simplistic design of the dispensing closure allows for easy production of dispensing closures of different shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: WEATHERCHEM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Walunis, Barry Michael Daggett
  • Patent number: 9365328
    Abstract: A toothpaste tube rolling device including a single-piece clamp having a top and a bottom lever portion. A tongue extends from the front side of the bottom lever, and a tapered extension is disposed on each of the right and left sides of the top lever portion. A circular opening is disposed on each tapered extension proximal the front edge. A substantially cylindrical tube having a top and bottom wall is configured to fit within the circular opening of the tapered extension. A clamping ring having a C-shaped forward and rearward portion is disposed around the tube. A spring clamping tab with a top extension, a bottom extension, and a V-shaped central portion is centrally disposed between the forward and rearward portions. The spring clamping tab has an open position and an alternate closed position and is disposed within the space between the top and bottom wall of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Maurice Johnson
  • Patent number: 9359182
    Abstract: A portable, insulated, opaque, hot beverage dispenser (40) with a sensor (50), such as a level sensor, and an electronic display (48) is provided with a portable thermoelectric recharging power source (50), a portable photovoltaic recharging source (54), or both, to provide recharging power to a rechargeable power supply (42) which, in turn, provides electrical power to the display (48), a display controller (44) and the sensor power to the level sensor. A thermoelectric generator is mounted within a funnel 51 with a cold side (158) in thermal communication with ambient air outside of the interior (64) of the container body (52) of the dispenser (40) and a hot side (160) in thermal communication with the interior air within the interior (64) is mounted within a funnel (51) fitted into the open top (66) of the container body (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FOOD EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Marek K. Kwiatkowski
  • Patent number: 9352948
    Abstract: A water dispenser is provided which is capable of smoothly drawing up drinking water in a raw water container with a pump until drinking water in the raw water container is used up. The water dispenser includes a cold water tank (2) and a hot water tank (3), a container holder (5) in which a replaceable raw water container (4) can be placed, and an insertion pipe (6) adapted to be inserted through a water outlet (10) of the raw water container (4). A water receiving container (7) is mounted to a lower portion (13) of the container holder (5) and is adapted to receive drinking water. The water receiving container (7) is in communication with the cold water tank (2) through a raw water supply line (8) to which a pump (9) is mounted. The insertion pipe (6) has its bottom end disposed in the water receiving container (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA COSMO LIFE
    Inventor: Yoshinori Orita
  • Patent number: 9352883
    Abstract: A liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly includes a container, a float and a top. The container includes a sidewall having an inner surface, a lower part, and an upper part. At least a portion of the inner surface of the lower part has a constant cross-sectional shape and size. The upper part includes an inwardly extending ledge with a cutout formed therethrough. The float has a sealing edge generally conforming to the size and shape of the inner surface portion. The sealing edge and the cutout are configured to permit the float to be passed into the lower part of the container with a portion of the sealing edge passing through the cutout. The top is mountable to the upper part and has a lug configured to pass through the cutout in the ledge for mounting the top on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: WineStor, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Tavenner, Michael Jonathan Liebowitz
  • Patent number: 9346660
    Abstract: A water dispenser includes a slide table arranged in a lower portion thereof. The slide table includes a cup portion in which a piercing rod of a water supply line is provided, a container supporting portion configured to support from below a shoulder portion of a raw water container which is a transparent and deformable container, and a holder portion configured to guide downwardly s side peripheral portion of the raw water container. Since the surface color of the piercing rod is different from the surface color of the cup portion and the container supporting portion, it is possible to visually confirm how much the raw water container is pierced by the piercing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA COSMO LIFE
    Inventor: Yoshinori Orita
  • Patent number: 9346200
    Abstract: A first component which assembles onto an outlet opening of a container and provides a seal; the first component containing a snap component to engage to a second component to form a closure; a second component combined with first component forms a dispensing orifice wherein the dispensing orifice is positioned directly adjacent to the open portion of container outlet; a motion of second component pivots about an axis to open a dispensing orifice; wherein second component engages with first component when second component is moved relative to first component to enable operation of orifice; first component comprising one or more elements being in a specific juxtaposition enabling a small height and a low profile for one or more elements of first component; the element(s) being in the plane or below the plane of the outlet of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Widalys Luz Desoto-Burt, Todd Mitchell Day, Ralph Edwin Neufarth, Richard Darren Satterfield, Chow-chi Huang, Miguel Alberto Herrera, Alfredo Pagan
  • Patent number: 9340404
    Abstract: A water dispenser includes a pump which can lift water in an exchangeable raw water container into a water storage tank in a casing. The water dispenser further includes a water level sensor in the form of a float sensor for detecting the upper limit and the lower limit of the water level in the water storage tank. The water dispenser further includes a controller adapted to activate the pump upon receiving a sensor input indicative of detection of the lower limit, and deactivate the pump upon receiving sensor input indicative of detection of the upper limit. The controller is further adapted to measure the time elapsed since the pump was activated, and deactivate the pump when the time elapsed reaches a predetermined time at which the water level exceeds the upper limit and at which water in the water storage tank has not yet overflown the water storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Cosmo Life
    Inventor: Yoshinori Orita
  • Patent number: 9340375
    Abstract: A device (20) suitable for transforming a continuous and controlled flow (320) of absorbent material in granules (310) into an intermittent flow (250) for providing to receiving means (50, 60) movable along a direction X, comprising a feed manifold (210), an outlet nozzle (500) and a main body (200), placed between said feed manifold (210) and said outlet nozzle (500), configured to cause said absorbent material in granules (310) to flow along a direction (Y?-Y?) coinciding with the respective axes of symmetry of said feed manifold (210), said outlet nozzle (500) and said main body (200); wherein within said main body (200) a movable element (240) is housed, capable of moving alternately between a first and a second working position, in such a way that when said movable element (240) is located in the first working position, it forms a first accumulation chamber (230) of the absorbent material in granules (310) fed in a continuous manner (320), and a first discharge duct (233) of said material (310), and when
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FAMECCANICA.DATA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Diego Gualtieri, Albert Prous