Patents Examined by Thomas Berez
  • Patent number: 8998105
    Abstract: A spray generator (10) including: a membrane (40) having a perforate portion through which, in use, a fluid is caused to flow when the membrane (40) is vibrated; an electronically-driven or a piezoelectrically driven actuator for vibrating the membrane (40); a chamber (18) for storing fluid for supply to a surface of the membrane (40); and a sealing element (13) located in and movable within the chamber (18) between a first position in which fluid flow from the chamber (18) through the membrane (40) is prevented and a second position in which fluid flow from the chamber (18) through the membrane (40) is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Technology Partnership Plc
    Inventors: Robert Gordon Maurice Selby, Martin Scott Goodchild
  • Patent number: 8991727
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a mist is provided. The apparatus has at least one working fluid supply conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with a supply of working fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with a first mixing chamber. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transport fluid passages, each of which has an inlet adapted to receive a supply of transport fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. Downstream of the mixing chamber is a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, an outlet, and a throat portion intermediate the nozzle inlet and outlet. The throat portion of the nozzle has a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet or the nozzle outlet. The apparatus enhances the atomization of the working fluid to generate the mist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Jude Alexander Glynn Worthy, James Oliver French
  • Patent number: 8978364
    Abstract: An injector for injecting a reagent into an exhaust stream includes an outer tube extending through an electromagnet and surrounding an inner tube. A first end of the inner tube is sealingly fixed to an inner surface of the outer tube. A guide member and an orifice plate are each sealingly fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube. A second end of the inner tube is aligned by the guide member. A moveable valve member includes a pintle head guided by the inner surface of the outer tube to align the valve member with an orifice extending through the orifice plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Olivier, Thomas P. Mallin, Matthew L. Roessle, Rick Simpson
  • Patent number: 8973672
    Abstract: A device is provided for triggering a fire extinguishing system by a sprinkler, the device being arranged between the pipe for the extinguishing agent and the sprinkler and including a multiple-armed toggle-lever joint acting between a load axis of the triggering element and a sealing element that is arranged at an angle of 80 to 120° thereto. The device has the advantage that dry pipe sprinklers whose glass bulbs can only absorb low mechanical forces can also be arranged for use with pipes that exhibit large entry cross-sections, large volume flows and high pressures as the forces from the pipe that arise have to be absorbed only in part by the sprinkler glass bulb. It is further advantageous that the sealing force of the sealing element can be adjusted by means of an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Minimax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Henning Fraederich
  • Patent number: 8960574
    Abstract: The hitch bar with swivel has a proximal portion that attaches removably to the conventional receiver hitch receptacle of a supporting vehicle and a distal portion for supporting an apparatus, e.g., spreader for distributing animal feed, etc., thereon. The distal bar portion is positioned to overlay the proximal portion and to place the supported apparatus close to the rear of the supporting vehicle during operations in order to reduce the lever arm and corresponding bending loads on the hitch receptacle. The distal portion of the bar may be swiveled clear of the rear of the vehicle to allow the rear door (tailgate, rear hatch, etc.) of the vehicle to be opened when the vehicle is stopped. The distal bar portion and apparatus supported thereon have a combined length preferably less than half the width of the vehicle, permitting the bar to be swiveled freely without extending laterally beyond the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Harvey Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8939385
    Abstract: A mounting system for a spray manifold having a plurality of spray modules arranged in a lateral array with support assemblies between adjacent modules. The mounting arrangement includes one or more mounting assemblies which each have a hub that is securable about one of the manifold support assemblies and a clamp comprising a pair of clamping arms that is securable about the hub by means of an appropriate fastener. The hub and clamping arms define complementary circular surfaces which permit the selected pivotal positioning of the hub and the spray manifold to which it is secured relative to the clamp and a machine mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventors: David Clark Huffman, Rick H. Knapp, Maurice Ovide Brisson
  • Patent number: 8919672
    Abstract: A washing apparatus with an adjustable water spraying head includes a water inlet tube, a water guiding tube and a water spraying head. A second connecting base of the water guiding tube engages with a first connecting base of the water inlet tube. A plurality of first positioning holes that are against a first positioning unit of the water inlet tube are circularly formed at the engaging side. The water spraying head is plugged into a water outlet end of the water guiding tube, and a second positioning unit is located at an outer periphery of a connecting tube. The second positioning unit is against a second spring and wedged in a second positioning hole of the water guiding tube. According to the structure stated above, the adjustment of the water spraying head is more convenient without frequently moving the water inlet tube, which causes water to spray randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Shin Tai Spurt Water of the Garden Tools Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8899342
    Abstract: A safety apparatus is disclosed for inhibiting an outbreak of an electrical fire within an electrical box. The apparatus includes a heat sensitive device which is disposed within the electrical box for sensing a potentially hazardous temperature rise within the electrical box caused by an electrical fault in the electrical box. A control device is associated with the heat sensitive device such that the control device is activated by the heat sensitive device when the heat sensitive device senses the potentially hazardous temperature rise within the electrical box. The electrical fire inhibiting device has a dormant mode and a fire extinguishing mode. The arrangement is such that when the control device is activated by the heat sensitive device, the control device switches the fire inhibiting device from the dormant mode to the fire extinguishing mode so that the outbreak of the electrical fire within the electrical box is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Lyle H Chesley
  • Patent number: 8899497
    Abstract: A sprinkler including a first portion, a second portion arranged to rotate in reciprocating motion in a plane about a generally vertical axis relative to the first portion, responsive to impingement of a water stream on the second portion, at least a first magnet associated with the first portion and at least a second magnet associated with the second portion, the first and second magnets being magnetized to repel each other when in at least predetermined propinquity during relative rotation thereof in the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Naandan Jain Irrigation C.S. Ltd.
    Inventor: Moshe Gorny
  • Patent number: 8876016
    Abstract: A water dispenser of a drinking fountain includes a water dispenser, an inner block and a control valve. The water dispenser has a receiving space to receive the plastic inner block made. A water channel and water inlet are recessedly formed on both ends of the inner block, wherein the water channel is corresponding to the water outlet of the water dispenser, and two engaging holes are spacedly formed on one side of the water channel and water inlet. The engaging holes are corresponding to connecting holes of the water dispenser. The major tubing inside the water dispenser is composed of a plastic inner block, the contact area between the water flow and the metal surface of the water dispenser is reduced so as to avoid accumulation of harmful heavy metal in the water when the water is flowing or stored, to achieve the goal of providing safe drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yea Leng Drinking Foutain Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Cheng Lai
  • Patent number: 8869907
    Abstract: There is provided a hand-held aerosol fire suppression apparatus, having button, thermal insulating layer, jet nozzle, enclosure of apparatus, combustion chamber, rear fender and rear cap, wherein the enclosure of apparatus has an enclosure of cartridge that accommodate a chemical agent and an enclosure of cooling layer that is filled with a cooling material, the combustion chamber is installed between the enclosure of cartridge and the enclosure of cooling layer, the thermal insulating layer is arranged between the enclosure of apparatus and the enclosure of cartridge, between the enclosure of apparatus and the enclosure of cooling layer, and between the rear fender and the chemical agent. Compared to the prior art, the apparatus has the following advantages: compact in size, suitable for hand-held use, lower temperature at the jet orifice, safe and reliable ignition and operation and long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Shaanxi J & R Fire Fighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongbao Guo, Zhenping Deng, Gaofeng Zheng, Sanxue Zhang, Xianfei Zhu, Honghong Liu, Weipeng Zhang, Zanfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8857741
    Abstract: A topical spray composition and a system for containing and applying the composition is described. The composition has liquid emulsifiers that unexpectedly result in a superior product suitable to be applied homogeneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Nikolaos Morikis, Kathleen Lynn Malacarne, Gee-Young Ng
  • Patent number: 8844845
    Abstract: A blow gun includes a body with a top path and a bottom path, and a volume adjustment device is installed between the top and bottom paths. The volume adjustment device is in contact with a press rod which has one end pivotably connected to the body. The opening of the press rod is controlled by operation of the volume adjustment device so as to change the volume of the pressurized air. The press rod can also be locked at a position so that it is not activated unintentionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Wan-Pao Chen
  • Patent number: 8807459
    Abstract: An indexing mechanism is provided for use with a prior art airless paint spray gun. The indexing means of this invention enables the tip guard of the spray gun to be rotated in 90° increments with respect to the frame of the spray gun without loosening the retaining nut of the tip guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Andersen
  • Patent number: 8794547
    Abstract: A device for calibrating a spray gun and an associated method are provided. The spray gun has a nozzle that is opened and closed by moving an internal needle out of and into sealing engagement therewith. A virtual position of the needle is tracked and recorded. The control system is recalibrated when the virtual position and the actual position of the needle do not correspond. The device includes a sensor structured to detect characteristics of the current used to power the solenoid, and to identify an anomaly in solenoid current characteristics associated with an actuator member seating against the solenoid. The solenoid is placed in a calibration configuration and the identifiable anomaly is detected. When the identifiable anomaly is detected, the spray gun is returned to an initial configuration and the virtual needle position is reset. The virtual needle position and the actual needle position are then calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Neil A. Zumberger, Steven W. Holt