Abstract: Dispensing systems facilitates formation and dispensation of a use solution from a solid concentrate. The dispensing system may include a cartridge attached to a spray bottle or other dispensing apparatus. The cartridge defines a reservoir configured to store a solid product concentrate. A diluent, such as water, is placed in a fluid reservoir of the dispensing apparatus. Activation of a dispensing mechanism, such as a trigger, creates a vacuum in the cartridge reservoir, opening a valve and drawing diluent from the fluid reservoir into the cartridge reservoir and onto the solid product. The flow of diluent onto the solid product causes a portion of the solid product to be dissolved, eroded, and/or otherwise mixed with the diluent to form a use solution. Actuation of the dispense mechanism may further draw the use solution from the cartridge reservoir and dispense the use solution through the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing caulk from a user's finger(s) and tool(s) (i.e., a caulk finger wiping apparatus) is disclosed. The apparatus is used in combination with a disposable tube-style caulk cartridge and in conjunction with any one of multiple styles of caulking guns. The apparatus includes an upper edge that may have finger receiving notches for removing caulk from a user's finger(s) and tool(s), and an apparatus component for collecting the removed caulk. Methods of making and using the apparatus for removing caulk from a user's finger(s) and tool(s) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fountain beverage dispenser for constituting a beverage by mixture of a beverage syrup and a diluent for the syrup is characterized by use of a highly concentrated beverage syrup supply and at least one diluent and syrup blending station for diluting the highly concentrated syrup with diluent before the diluted syrup is mixed with diluent in the final mixture of syrup and diluent delivered to a dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: A package, a fitment and method for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The package includes a hollow body formed of a flexible material and a fitment secured thereto. The fitment includes an outer gland and a plunger and overlies a frangible penetration zone in the hollow body of the package. The outer gland includes a passageway extending through it. The plunger has a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior and a free end disposed within the passageway of the gland. The plunger is arranged to be moved along the passageway, so that its free end penetrates through the penetration zone into the interior of the package to provide an exit port for the material. The free end of the plunger also serves to hold portions of the walls of the package away from the exit port to prevent blockage thereof.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice water dispenser either with an overlap frame or flush frame. The ice water dispenser has a dispenser inner sheet and dispenser outer body onto which a dispenser face cover sheet is attached by way of lateral rips. The dispenser face cover sheet is fixed to cover the periphery of the outer body with respective openings for buttons.

Abstract: A tip arrangement for a bottle used for dispensing viscous liquid, such as drops of medicine, is provided. Embodiments include a tip insert having an insert body and a piercing point at a lower end of the insert body, for piercing a top surface of the bottle and for retaining the tip insert on the top surface of the bottle after piercing. A passage extends from a distal end of the piercing point, through the insert body, to an opposing upper surface of the insert body. A dispensing tip at the insert body upper surface communicates with the passage for precisely forming drops of the liquid from the bottle.

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.

Abstract: A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having at least two aerosol containers disposed therein and an actuator arm. The dispensing unit activates in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor. The method also includes the step of selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations.

Abstract: A manually operated product dispenser includes a user interface which operates via a linkage mechanism on a dispensing mechanism. The linkage mechanism transfers displacement from the user interface to the dispensing mechanism but incorporates resilient means permitting the user interface to be operated to the full extent permitted by the interface, but transmitting to the dispensing mechanism only as much of the operation of the interface required to permit the dispenser mechanism to dispense a predetermined amount of product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge spout for flexible bags, of the type comprising a rigid plastic body forming a discharge passage and having a tube (3) intended to be inserted between two walls of a flexible bag and joined to such walls by means of sealing. The tube (3) has a smooth outer surface and two opposite flat flaps (4) extending externally in a mid-plane of said tube (3). The outer surface of the tube (3) forms, together with the surface (6) of the flat flaps (4), a sealing surface. The outer surface of the tube (3) has a middle area (5a), that is in the axial direction of the tube, in which the distance to the axis (7) of the tube is maximum, separating two side sections (5b, 5c) in which the distance to the axis (7) is decreasing toward the ends of the tube.

Abstract: A replenishable liquid soap dispensing apparatus includes a liquid soap container, a soap dispensing device and a support rack. The liquid soap container includes a holding portion, a bottle opening on the holding portion and at least one lean portion on the holding portion. The soap dispensing device has a soap intake tube connecting to the liquid soap container to draw liquid soap, a soap discharge tube connecting to the soap intake tube to discharge the liquid soap and a pressurizing mechanism to increase the pressure in the soap intake tube and soap discharge tube to send the liquid soap from the soap intake tube towards the soap discharge tube. The support rack includes a first support portion to hold the soap dispensing device and a second support portion corresponding to and coupling with the lean portion to hold the liquid soap container.

Abstract: A system and related method is disclosed for resetting a stalled pump in a fluid dispensing system. In one embodiment, the presence of a user's hand is detected to start a pump actuator associated with a refill container. A controller associated with a motor actuates the pump actuator by rotating a motor shaft in a first direction. The current sensor is monitored and when the current sensor detects a predetermined level of current the motor shaft is reversed to a starting position.

Abstract: A tamper evident nozzle shield (100) may be configured to fit a pump or pump dispenser to protect a fluid path (12) in the dispenser from contamination or to prevent or visually indicate if a dispenser or pump dispenser has been tampered with.

Abstract: A divot repair cart for filling divot holes with a repair mixture. The cart has a self-supporting wheeled frame, a push handle for use at a standing height, a repair mix reservoir at a first height above the ground, and a rear-facing dispensing spout having a divot alignment position adjacent the ground in which the spout is visible from the push handle for aligning it with a divot hole. Repair mix is dispensed by tilting the cart. The spout may be movable relative to the cart, and further operable with a remote control such as a cable, to move the spout from the divot alignment position to a raised transport position.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for storing a fluid for a handheld device includes a housing and a flexible membrane. The flexible membrane delimits a variable storage volume in the housing. The storage volume may be varied by a defamation of the membrane. The variable storage volume has an output port. The fluid reservoir further includes a forcing member to exert a force on the membrane to pressurize a fluid in the storage volume. The forcing member has a recess for receiving a part of the storage volume. The membrane may be received into the recess of the forcing member during a compression stroke. By virtue thereof, a volume defined by the recess may be effectively used to become part of the storage volume for the fluid.

Abstract: Various methods are disclosed for resetting a stalled pump in a fluid dispensing system. In one embodiment, it is determined whether a refill container is received in the dispensing system and then a pump actuator is moved to a loading position when the refill container is removed. Another method sets a run timer, starts a pump actuator, determines whether the pump actuator is still dispensing fluid from the fluid dispensing system upon lapsing of the run timer and then moves the pump actuator if the pump actuator is still dispensing upon the expiration of the run timer. And another method detects opening of a cover, energizes a motor to move an actuator to a loading position, determines when the actuator is at the loading position and then turns the motor off.

Abstract: A material transfer system for storing, transferring and dispensing viscous material, such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. A diconical or other shaped force transfer device is located in the material containment area. The force transfer device is an energy transducer when the material containment is filled with highly viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, mastics or lubricating greases. The force transfer device serves as an integral part of a level indicator for both viscous fluids and lower viscosity liquids. The viscous material itself forms a seal between the interface region of the force transfer device and the inside wall of the fluid vessel. Vertical stabilizing elements may extend outward from the force transfer device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle, including a latch mechanism lever adapted for coupling to a door latch mechanism and a trigger lever coupled to the latch mechanism lever. The latch mechanism lever can be selectively actuated independent of the trigger lever to actuate the door latch mechanism without dispensing sanitizer fluid. The apparatus may further include a sanitizer fluid reservoir and a pump coupled to the trigger lever to control sanitizer fluid flow from the sanitizer fluid reservoir to a nozzle when the trigger lever is actuated, where the nozzle is positioned proximate the latch mechanism lever. Embodiments of the invention may further include a method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A bag in box packaging comprising an outer box, an inner bag and a tray member. The outer box includes an opening at the lower end of the front wall and onto the bottom wall. A pair of opposing slits extend along the lower edge on opposing sides of the opening thereat. The spout and/or the tap extend through an opening in the base so that the tap and the inner bag are on opposite sides of the base. A pair of opposing channels are defined between the respective flange and the dispensing wall interfacing surface of the tray. The tray member can be slid into position by extending the front wall between the respective flange and the dispensing wall interfacing surface and into the respective opposing channels defined thereby, to, in turn, secure the tray to the outer box.

Abstract: Proposed are an outlet valve and a dispensing device with an outlet valve for a cosmetic liquid. The outlet valve has a flatly resting valve element with an outlet formed therein. The outlet valve is able to open through the elastic deformation of the valve element.