Patents by Inventor Fred M. Ekstrom

Fred M. Ekstrom has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11890627
    Abstract: A coupling device is disclosed for coupling a container to a closure. The container has a container sidewall extending between a first container end and a second container end. A container undercut is defined in an outer surface of the container sidewall. The closure has a closure sidewall extending between a first closure end and a second closure end. A closure outer sidewall is located radially outward from the closure sidewall and defines a slot between the closure sidewall and the closure outer sidewall. The second container end is received within the slot of the closure. A major projection and a major depression are located between the second container end and the slot of the closure cooperating for securing the closure to the container. A minor projection and a minor depression located between the container sidewall and the closure sidewall for cooperating for additionally securing the closure to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, Fred M. Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 11135607
    Abstract: An improved pump is disclosed comprising a pump body having a piston supported by a base from a fluid reservoir. A trigger extends a between a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate trigger pivot mounted relative to the base. A cam and a cam follower couples the first portion of the trigger with the piston for enabling a depression of the second portion trigger to move the piston to spray fluid from the pump body orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Patent number: 11065635
    Abstract: A container appendage is disclosed comprising a mounting ring having an upper surface, a lower surface, an exterior edge and an interior edge for defining a mounting aperture. A platform member is coupled to the mounting ring. The mounting ring is coupled between the bottle and the spray body for defining a mounting ring couple. The platform member cantilevers above the handling neck and adjacent to the rear surface for defining a rear ergonomical handling member for conforming to the hand and improving ergonomical grasping of the handling neck, actuating the trigger and lifting the spray bottle by the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Publication number: 20210101164
    Abstract: A coupling device is disclosed for coupling a container to a closure. The container has a container sidewall extending between a first container end and a second container end. A container undercut is defined in an outer surface of the container sidewall. The closure has a closure sidewall extending between a first closure end and a second closure end. A closure outer sidewall is located radially outward from the closure sidewall and defines a slot between the closure sidewall and the closure outer sidewall. The second container end is received within the slot of the closure. A major projection and a major depression are located between the second container end and the slot of the closure cooperating for securing the closure to the container. A minor projection and a minor depression located between the container sidewall and the closure sidewall for cooperating for additionally securing the closure to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, Fred M. Ekstrom
  • Publication number: 20200261937
    Abstract: An improved pump is disclosed comprising a pump body having a piston supported by a base from a fluid reservoir. A trigger extends a between a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate trigger pivot mounted relative to the base. A cam and a cam follower couples the first portion of the trigger with the piston for enabling a depression of the second portion trigger to move the piston to spray fluid from the pump body orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Publication number: 20200108407
    Abstract: A container appendage is disclosed comprising a mounting ring having an upper surface, a lower surface, an exterior edge and an interior edge for defining a mounting aperture. A platform member is coupled to the mounting ring. The mounting ring is coupled between the bottle and the spray body for defining a mounting ring couple. The platform member cantilevers above the handling neck and adjacent to the rear surface for defining a rear ergonomical handling member for conforming to the hand and improving ergonomical grasping of the handling neck, actuating the trigger and lifting the spray bottle by the hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: FLOCON, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschier, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Patent number: 10576776
    Abstract: A retractable liquid dispenser device comprising an outer body having a retractable mechanism slidably supporting a liquid dispenser. The liquid dispenser has a supply reservoir and a discharge reservoir with a reservoir valve disposed therebetween. A retractable valve is located in proximity to an open first end of the outer body. A first depression of the retractable actuator opens the retractable valve and moves the liquid dispenser into the extended position for enabling a depression of a distal end of the liquid applicator to open the dispensing valve to permit liquid to flow from the supply reservoir into the dispensing reservoir to dispense the applicator liquid from the distal end of the liquid applicator. A second depression of the retractable actuator moves the liquid dispenser into the retracted position and closes the retractable valve to enclose the distal end of the liquid applicator within the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Flocon, Inc
    Inventors: Stephan M Ballot, Robert D Forschler, Fred M Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 10549297
    Abstract: An improved pump is disclosed comprising a pump body having a piston supported by a base from a fluid reservoir. A trigger extends a between a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate trigger pivot mounted relative to the base. A cam and a cam follower couples the first portion of the trigger with the piston for enabling a depression of the second portion trigger to move the piston to spray fluid from the pump body orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Publication number: 20180111144
    Abstract: An improved pump is disclosed comprising a pump body having a piston supported by a base from a fluid reservoir. A trigger extends a between a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate trigger pivot mounted relative to the base. A cam and a cam follower couples the first portion of the trigger with the piston for enabling a depression of the second portion trigger to move the piston to spray fluid from the pump body orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Publication number: 20180056706
    Abstract: An improved retractable liquid dispenser device comprises an outer body having an internal channel communicating with an open first end. A liquid dispenser includes a supply reservoir and a discharge reservoir with a valve disposed therebetween. A retractable mechanism slidably supports the liquid dispenser within the outer body. A retractable valve is located in proximity to the open first end of the outer body. A first depression of the retractable actuator opens the retractable valve and moves the liquid dispenser into the extended position for enabling a depression of the distal end of the liquid applicator to open the dispensing valve to permit liquid to flow from the supply reservoir into the dispensing reservoir to dispense the applicator liquid from the distal end of the liquid applicator. A second depression of the retractable actuator moves the liquid dispenser into the retracted position and closes the retractable valve to enclose the distal end of the liquid applicator within the outer body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stephan M Ballot, Robert D. Forschler, Fred M. Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 5918783
    Abstract: A thermoplastic squeeze tube has a self-sealing orifice where a one-way valve member is secured in the tube neck and an exposed portion thereof enclosed and protected by a frangible closure member integral with the neck portion. A pocket in the bottom wall of the frangible closure member closely encloses the one-way valve member to seal the same. A replacement cup-shaped closure member may be provided to reseal the tube after removal of the frangible closure member, which may have downwardly depending sealing protrusions which contain the upper portion of the exposed section of the one-way valve member to reseal the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Courtaulds Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Kieras, Fred M. Ekstrom
  • Patent number: D858637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Flocon, Inc
    Inventors: Stephan M Ballot, David Snyder, Fred M Ekstrom, Robert D Forschler, Thomas A Nelsen
  • Patent number: D954555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Snyder, Stephan M. Ballot, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen
  • Patent number: D962072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: FLOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Ballot, David A. Snyder, Fred M. Ekstrom, Robert D. Forschler, Thomas A. Nelsen