Patents Examined by Stephanie E Williams
  • Patent number: 8944291
    Abstract: A dosing unit includes a piston movable along a first axis in a cavity of a casing, provided with an inlet and with an outlet for a product to be dosed, and in a further cavity of the casing, connected to and substantially coaxial with the cavity and provided with a further outlet for cleaning and/or sterilizing fluids. The casing includes an internal tubular element in which the cavity is made and a covering element that externally envelops the internal tubular element and extends from an end of the internal tubular element in such a way as to form the further cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: IMA Life, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Sassatelli, Claudio Trebbi
  • Patent number: 8944284
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a material that has a limited period of utility, a novel device comprises a first part containing the material and a second part, wherein the first and second parts have mutual engagement means and can be disengaged to allow the material to be dispensed, wherein the device includes, located within the device, control mechanisms that can be activated to initiate a time-controlled period of use and that, at the end of that period, causes the first and second parts to be permanently engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Milan Innovation Ltd.
    Inventor: Guy Dimitri Milan
  • Patent number: 8936179
    Abstract: An anti-leakage liquid soap valve structure includes a liquid soap conduit, an air conduit and a foam discharging tube. The liquid soap conduit includes a soap entering tube for receiving liquid soap, a soap discharging tube communicating with the soap entering tube and having a liquid soap chamber, a liquid soap exit, and a soap discharging valve. The soap discharging valve includes an elastic washer disposed at the liquid soap exit, and a pressing member to press against the elastic washer. The air conduit includes an outer housing forming an air chamber with the liquid soap conduit, an air exit located at one side of the air chamber, and an air supply valve linking with the soap discharging tube. The foam discharging tube includes a gas-liquid mixing chamber located at the liquid soap exit and the air exit, and a foam exit communicating with the gas-liquid mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hokwang Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Chin Hsu, Kuo-Chou Lee, Tsan-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 8931665
    Abstract: A multi-compartment syringe apparatus (500) for in-situ mixing of a plurality of products before use, the apparatus comprising: a tube; a hollowed flexible plunger (530); a one way filter piston (514), connected to the plunger (530), the piston confining a first compartment (502) at a side of a needle (540) of the apparatus, and a second compartment (510) at a side of the plunger, wherein the filter allowing passage of content only form the first compartment to the second compartment (510); a first product (506), stored in the first compartment (502); a second product (508), stored in a first breakable container (504) disposed in the plunger (530); thereby the second product (508) mixes with the first product (506); and the mixed products are then pushed out of the apparatus, through the needle (540).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Amit Gold
  • Patent number: 8925766
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes a decomposition chamber having a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide and a foaming soap are provided in separate first and second chambers of a product reservoir portion of a refill unit. Decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide produces oxygen gas and water, that may be used as a propellant for the creation of the foamed product, or may be used to power a pump. Additionally, the oxygen gas may be used to power a scavenger for the creation of electricity for charging a battery within the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Gojo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Gray, Nick E. Ciavarella
  • Patent number: 8915405
    Abstract: A dosing apparatus includes a dosing unit provided with a casing for supporting or containing a dosing device and a support device that are associated in particular with a filling machine, for supporting and locking the dosing unit in a mounting configuration. The apparatus further includes a coupling device associated with a casing and slidingly insertable into or disconnectable from a guide of the support device along a first direction. The support device further includes a fixing device for reversibly locking the coupling device to the guide in the mounting configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: IMA Life S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Sassatelli, Claudio Trebbi
  • Patent number: 8915484
    Abstract: A fluid delivery valve and system including a neck portion adapted to connect to a fluid delivery tube; a head portion comprising a dispensing face with a perimeter and a slit; and a compression member disposed in the head portion which is adapted to apply a force to the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Kelly A. Harward, Toby Hazelbaker, Kirk D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 8915404
    Abstract: A dosing apparatus includes a dosing unit having a piston movable along a first axis in a cavity of a casing and a joint for removably connecting a first end portion of the piston t to a movement mechanism arranged for moving the piston. The first end portion includes a seat that is suitable for receiving a clutch portion of the joint, that is connectable in and detachable from the seat along a coupling direction that is almost parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: IMA Life S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Farneā€², Mauro Maccagnani, Luca Sassatelli
  • Patent number: 8887954
    Abstract: An automatic discharge device includes a housing retaining two containers therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The movement of the actuator arm actuates a valve stem of one of the two containers in one of the first and second positions. The actuator arm is adapted to spray fluid disposed in an interior of the two containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Scott Carpenter, Paul E. Furner, Thomas P. Gasper, Chris A. Kubicek, Leon M. Lemon, Brent D. Madsen, Kenneth W. Michaels, Cory J. Nelson, Michael E. Short, Gene Sipinski, Nathan R. Westphal
  • Patent number: 8887968
    Abstract: An apparatus for capping a jar includes a plastic flat plate having a top and a bottom and a depending skirt with internal threadings and a hole in the flat plate. A measured liquor pouring spout inserted through the hole in the plate has a channel for flow of liquid and a cap sized and shaped to cover a liquor bottle with a lower skirt that abuts the top of the flat plate. The spout has a lower stem with a first radial flange under the cap abutting the top of the flat plate and a second radial flange under the cap spaced below the first radial flange. A gasket on the lower stem below the flat plate closes portions of the hole that surround the lower stem and secures the stem in position by fitting between the second radial flange and the bottom of the flat plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Call
  • Patent number: 8887960
    Abstract: A dispensing cabinet for dispensing bulk materials such as laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach is disclosed. The cabinet has an upstanding housing having a base and defining an enclosure for receiving a plurality of liquid containers. The cabinet also includes a face panel pivotably mounted to the housing adjacent the base and including a shelf extending into the hollow enclosure. The face panel defines apertures through which lateral dispensing nozzles unitary with each container, are inserted. The containers are mounted for pivotal movement together with the face panel for ready servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Eric Hardman
  • Patent number: 8881948
    Abstract: An automated mixing drink dispenser (10) establishes a preselected feed rate of concentrate from a concentrate hopper (42) and ratio of concentrate to mixing water fed into a mixing chamber (42) through the Venturi effect created by swirling water fed into a mixing chamber (42) at a preselected water pressure (66) and preselected regulated flow rate (68) associated with the preselected feed rate of the concentrate. Concentrate is fed to a mixing chamber (42) from a concentrate hopper (42) having an open drain hole (50) openly connected to the mixing chamber (42). A stirring mechanism (106, 100, 101, 102, 104) mechanically mixes the concentrate within the concentrate hopper (42) to maintain a uniform density and viscosity and a gas pressure mechanism (92, 94, 96, 86) maintains a uniform head pressure of concentrate to facilitate maintenance of the preselected concentrate flow rate over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Food Equipment Technologies Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Zbigniew G. Lassota
  • Patent number: 8863986
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing predetermined volumes of fluid into receptacles receives the fluid to be dispensed from a fluid supply into a reservoir. A fill tube is connected to the fluid reservoir such that it forms a closed loop with the reservoir. The fill tube minimizes the fluid turbulence that occurs inside the reservoir while the reservoir is being re-supplied with fluid from the fluid source. Additionally, the fill tube holds the predetermined volume of fluid to be dispensed into the receptacle. A fluid level sensor is disposed along the fill tube to control the volume of fluid flowing into or out of the fill tube, while a timer controls a dispense valve to meter the flow of fluid into or out of a dispense tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Acertacorp LLC
    Inventors: John R. Randall, Jr., Denis E. Keyes
  • Patent number: 8863985
    Abstract: An ice supply system includes an ice transport system, a volumetric feeder coupled with the ice transport system and adapted to deliver a preset volume of ice to an ice output system, and an ice delivery controller coupled with the ice transport system, the volumetric feeder, and the ice output system. The ice delivery controller receives ice requests from the ice output system, controls the delivery of ice from the ice transport system to the volumetric feeder in response to ice requests, controls the volumetric feeder to receive the preset volume of ice therein, and controls the delivery of the preset volume of ice from the volumetric feeder to the ice output system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ice Link, LLC
    Inventors: J. Eric Berge, Brandon D. Berge, Mark A. McClure, Glenn S. Seamark
  • Patent number: 8833604
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Dennis Vaders, John Richard Sink, Jody DuMond, Daniel Gardiner, Jennifer Ann Mauger
  • Patent number: 8816305
    Abstract: An apparatus supplies a target material to a target location. The apparatus includes a reservoir that holds a target mixture that includes the target material and non-target particles; a supply system that receives the target mixture from the reservoir and that supplies the target mixture to the target location, the supply system including a tube and a nozzle that defines an orifice through which the target mixture is passed; and a filter inside the tube through which the target mixture is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Sergei Kalynych, Peter Baumgart
  • Patent number: 8783518
    Abstract: A method for dispensing a plurality of metered doses of a fluid, comprising: providing a fluid in a container comprising a plurality of metering chambers and a plurality of tubes connectable to and movable relative to the chambers, wherein the tubes are externally open or open to the fluid; connecting to the chambers tubes open to the fluid, thereby loading the chambers with fluid; and selectively connecting one or more externally open tubes to one or more chambers, thereby dispensing the fluid contents of the one or more chambers via an external opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Otic Pharma Ltd.
    Inventors: Oz Cabiri, Rodrigo Yelin, Ella Zlatkis, Eran Eilat
  • Patent number: 8783516
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively dispensing liquids, such as paint colorants. The apparatus comprises container assemblies with a container and a pump. A pump conduit connects the pump to a valve assembly. A recirculation conduit connects the container to the valve assembly bypassing the pump. The valve assembly is configured to be switched between a dispensing position and a recirculation position closing off the dispense conduit. Method of preventing segregation of a multiphase liquid in a pump conduit between a container and a dispense conduit. A valve assembly between the pump conduit and the dispense conduit closes off the dispense conduit while it opens a recirculation conduit between the container and the valve assembly. The liquid is circulated via a circuit formed by the container, the pump conduit, the valve assembly and the recirculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark Baak, Bas Peeters, Marcus Johannes Voskuil, Marcel Engels
  • Patent number: 8770445
    Abstract: Fluid discharge head having a discharge nozzle which can be placed on a discharge device and which holds a medium guide and a medium outlet at the end of a medium guide, in the region of the medium outlet a movable closure element that can be moved into an open position is provided and, for the purpose of actuating discharge, the discharge nozzle and the discharge device can be moved axially towards each other, for which purpose the discharge nozzle has a skirt to form a sliding guide with a section on the discharge device, the skirt (9) of the discharge nozzle (5) being assigned a second, additional skirt (12) in order to form an annular bush (13) which can be mounted such that it can be displaced longitudinally on a section (11) of the discharge device (2) that is formed as an annular shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar GmbH
    Inventor: Gisbert Welp
  • Patent number: 8746512
    Abstract: A sealing structure which seals a container body and an aerosol valve without providing a seal member between them. An aerosol container employing the seal structure comprises a bottomed cylinder like container body and an aerosol valve firmly fixed to the opening of the container body. The seal structure between the container body of the aerosol container and the aerosol valve is formed of a valve support portion of the container body and a step portion of the aerosol valve. The aerosol container is manufactured by deforming a corner of the step portion into a curved surface shape from a square shape by applying an annular force to the step portion from a convex surface by plastically deforming a lower part of a cover cap and a part of the container body while pushing the cover cap downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Daizo Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Miyamoto, Keiichiro Teramoto, Tatsuya Nakamuro, Masaomi Takahashi