Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube, such as a toothpaste tube. The apparatus includes a housing having side walls, an end wall with an opening therein, and a cover pivotally attached to the housing to provided access to a cavity within the housing. A squeezing device is slidably received in the cavity and includes a threaded surface the cover and a pair of opposing surface that define a though-slot that increases in width toward the housing end wall. A threaded rod is rotatably mounted to the cover and engages the threaded surface of the squeezing device when the cover is closed and disengages the threaded surface when the cover is opened. By rotating the rod, the squeezing device can be caused to move along the rod toward and away from the end wall of the housing.

Abstract: A sump for a dispensing unit is disposed beneath the footprint of the dispensing unit and includes an auxiliary communication line receiving structure proximal to a drip area of the dispensing unit. The auxiliary communication line receiving structure delivers electrical and/or other communication line(s) to the dispensing unit from beneath the dispensing unit footprint without creating a potential leak path into or out of the sump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spacer at connecting devices which are adapted to connect discharge devices (2) to packages (3) with liquid products (4), preferably foodstuff products, for discharging the products (4) from the packages (3). The spacer (19) is provided on a connecting means (26) and is adapted to be located in the package (3) in order to, during emptying of the package, keep wall portions thereof at a distance from a connecting device (1) such that the wall portions do not prevent or substantially obstruct emptying of the package (3). The spacer (19) has resilient properties and can be pressed into a space (28) in a tube member (23) and spring back to a normal shape (NF).

Abstract: The invention includes a method of using a cap containing an internal thread form matching an external thread form on a flexible throat for a collapsible tube enclosing at least one contained product. Twisting the cap engages the internal thread form and the external thread form. These collectively urge the cap and the flexible throat to seal the contained product into the collapsible tube. Deforming the flexible throat through squeezing the collapsible tube dispenses essentially all the product. The collapsible tube may preferably include an external thread form on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder. The external thread form mates to a cap with an internal thread form urging the flexible throat to seal against the cap when the cap is twisted onto the flexible throat. The flexible throat and flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of the product.

Abstract: A portable grease gun with a dual pressure output capability which can be selectively changed by the user with little effort. The larger diameter plunger is slidable within a plunger retainer. The larger diameter plunger has a bore through them in which a smaller diameter plunger is slidable. The smaller diameter plunger moves when an actuating lever is operated to compress grease in the grease gun. The larger diameter plunger may be adjusted to remain static during operation of the actuating lever or it may be adjusted to move during all or part of the compression stroke of the actuating lever. A high pressure can be generated by movement of the smaller diameter plunger alone, or a high flow volume can be generated by movement of the smaller and larger diameter plungers in unison.

Abstract: A modular dispensing device for mixing and dispensing reactive components includes a body, a triggering device, a dispensing cartridge, a control device, and a modular mixing assembly. The modular mixing assembly includes a primary central body shaped to accept the dispensing cartridge, the primary central body having a pair of opposed primary central body passages, two modular valve blocks to channel flow of a fluid from external sources to one of the primary central body passages, a secondary central body assembly attached to a downstream end of the primary central body, and a modular tip adapter mounted to the secondary central body and surrounding a tip of the dispensing cartridge and having an adapter passage for the flow of fluid to mix with fluid exiting the dispensing cartridge tip.

Abstract: Liquid soap dispensers including a vacuum relief valve which comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The vacuum relief valve permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or valves.

Abstract: A glue gun includes a shell, a burner, a mixture chamber, a barrel and a dispenser. The burner is disposed in the shell and formed with a combustion chamber and a thermal chamber. The mixture chamber is connected to the combustion chamber. The barrel is inserted through the thermal chamber. The dispenser is connected to the barrel. Gas is mixed with air in the mixture chamber. The mixture is sent into the combustion chamber from the mixture chamber. Heat is generated as the mixture is ignited and combusted in the combustion chamber. The thermal chamber transfers the heat to the barrel from the combustion chamber. The barrel heats and melts a glue stick inserted therein. The dispenser dispenses the molten glue from the barrel.

Abstract: A dispenser with an activation lever which extends laterally to one side of the dispenser and is particularly adapted for engagement by an elbow of one arm of a user and particularly adapted for dispensing fluid as onto the hand of a second arm of the user thereby avoiding the need for the activation lever to be engaged by a hand of a user.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for a container for sealing an interface between two or more of the structural members includes a container body and a pouring spout. The pouring spout includes a ridge for securing the spout to the container body and a retention ridge that is positioned near the rim of the container body, once assembled. An angled retention surface on the spout is used to properly position a seal between the pouring spout and the container.

Abstract: A portable grease gun with a dual pressure output capability which can be selectively changed by the user with little effort. A larger diameter plunger is longitudinally coupled to an extension. The larger diameter plunger and its extension are variable in length by manual rotation of the extension relative to the larger diameter plunger. The larger diameter plunger is slidable within a plunger retainer over a limited range and is not free to rotate within the plunger retainer. The larger diameter plunger and the plunger extension have aligned bores through them in which a smaller diameter plunger is slidable. The smaller diameter plunger moves when an actuating lever is operated to compress grease in the grease gun. The larger diameter plunger may be adjusted to remain static during operation of the actuating lever or it may be adjusted to move during all or part of the compression stroke of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A device for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, which includes a container holding the product. The container is surmounted by a neck, such that a free edge of the neck delineates a first dispensing aperture for the product. A detachable lid is capable of engaging with the neck to selectively close off the first dispensing aperture. In an illustrated example, the free edge of the neck at least partially delineates a second dispensing aperture, with the second dispensing aperture capable of passing from a closed off position to an open position in response to a movement of the lid relative to the neck, so that (i) in a first dispensing mode, the lid is in an intermediate position relative to the neck between a closed-off position of the first aperture and a detached position from the neck, and the product is dispensed via the second aperture, and (ii) in a second dispensing mode, the lid is detached from the neck, and the product is dispensed via the first aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact and short profile portable bottled beverage dispenser for gravitationally dispensing a liquid from an inverted standard sized bottle such as the 3- or 5-gallon bottles commonly used in the drinking water industry.

Abstract: The perfume dispenser (1) includes a container (3) containing a perfume, a device (2) for pumping and atomizing the perfume, a pump and a tube (16) for drawing off the perfume. The first end (18) of the tube is connected to the pump, the second end (20) thereof being arranged in the bottom of the container (3) which includes a region perforable by the tube (16) embodied in the form of a perforation unit.

Abstract: A battery operated, handheld fluid dispenser comprises a supply container having a body portion and a narrow neck extending upwardly therefrom. A pump and discharge unit is mounted on the upper end of the neck and comprises a pump diaphragm and pump chamber for pumping liquid from the container to a discharge nozzle. A battery powered pump drive unit is mounted on the container and comprises an electric motor having an output shaft coupled with the pump diaphragm through a cam and cam follower arrangement to displace the diaphragm through a pump stroke when the motor is energized. The cam is rotatably driven by the motor, and the cam follower is attached to the diaphragm, whereby rotation of said cam axially displaces the diaphragm, and the cam and cam follower have interengaging dual cam faces for balancing lateral forces therebetween during rotation of said cam relative to said cam follower.

Abstract: A mixing capsule for a two-component mixture comprises a preferably cylindrical container part. An axially displaceable piston is guided within the container part. An opening is provided on the front face of the piston and leads into a liquid receptacle with a burstable wall or membrane. The membrane closes the opening in the non-activated condition of the capsule. The hollow between the front faces of the container part and the piston constitutes a mixing chamber. The activation part can be displaced by means of activation pin that closes the discharge nozzle in the non-activated condition. In the activated condition of the capsule the activation part is to all intents and purposes completely accommodated within the liquid receptacle.

Abstract: A piston configured to be engaged inside a cylindrical container includes: a sliding member having an upper fluidtight portion and a lower fluidtight portion; and a support member connected to the sliding member and having concentric flexions for urging the sliding member against the inner wall of the cylindrical container. The upper and lower fluidtight portions are each constituted by at least one annular convex bump portion having a thickness which is the greatest at a point where the annular convex bump portion is in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder.

Abstract: A piston adapted to be engaged inside a cylindrical container is constituted by an elastic member and includes: a sliding member having an upper fluidtight portion and a lower fluidtight portion, both of which fluidtightly and slidably contact an inner wall of the cylindrical container; and a support member having an upper concentric flexion and a lower concentric flexion to urge the sliding member against the inner wall of the cylindrical container.

Abstract: A kettle for heating water or other liquid has a lid and lid actuator to move the lid between open and closed positions. The lid actuator may be connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a pivot that is below a pivot about which the lid may move between the closed and open positions. The lid actuator may also lock the lid in position, such as in the open or closed position. The lid and lid actuator may also be arranged for movement independent of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing controlled precise amounts of a hot-melt adhesive. A positive displacement dispenser which is mounted on a programmable motion system is connected to a hot-melt cartridge feed assembly by an inlet block. The dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block contain electric heaters and thermocouples for maintaining the adhesive at a desired elevated temperature. A computer control system regulates the temperature in the dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block and controls a dispensing motor in the dispenser. A preheater heats an adhesive cartridge prior to placement in the feed assembly.