Patents by Inventor Heiner Ophardt

Heiner Ophardt 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).

  • Pump assembly carrying rasp
    Patent number: 9826862
    Abstract: A pump assembly for generating and dispensing of particles of a solid material with or without dispensing of a fluid. The pump assembly preferably includes a fluid pump which in a cycle of operation draws the fluid through a fluid inlet and dispenses the fluid out a fluid outlet. The pump assembly carries a block of the solid material coalesced together and a rasp member, which during the cycle of operation, moves relative the rasp in engagement with the block whereby the rasp member disengages particles of the solid material from the block which particles drop under gravity downwardly adjacent the fluid outlet, for example, onto a user's hand as in the case that the fluid is a hand cleaning fluid and the solid is a solid soap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones, Zhenchun Shi
  • Superimposed QR Code for Dispenser and Replaceable Reservoir
    Publication number: 20170337458
    Abstract: A dispenser with a replaceable cartridge containing a product to be dispensed, and a housing configured to removably receive the cartridge. The cartridge has a surface that is marked with a first marking, and the housing has a surface that is marked with a second marking. The housing is configured so that, when the cartridge is received by the housing, the first marking and the second marking together form a machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, David Duncan, Hendrik Ophardt
  • Automated biological growth and dispensing apparatus
    Patent number: 9816067
    Abstract: An automated biological growth and dispensing apparatus utilizing a modular growing tank which is removable for replacement by another growing tank. Mechanisms for the delivery of air, water and/or nutrients are adapted to permit the growing tank to be readily coupled and uncoupled for easy and inexpensive replacement. Mechanisms for agitation may be integral and removable with the growing tank or may be adapted for a quick connection and disconnection with the growing tank. The growing tank may be disposable and each new growing tank may be provided as a sealed container including a starting amount of a biomass and/or nutrient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventor: Heiner Ophardt
  • Fluid Dispenser with Time of Flight Proximity Sensor
    Publication number: 20170319014
    Abstract: A hand cleaning fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid onto a user's hand includes a time of flight sensor to determine a distance of a hand of a user below an outlet of the dispenser from which the dispenser when activated dispenses the fluid and a controller to activate the dispenser to dispense the fluid from the outlet when the hand is sensed to be within a predetermined range of distances below the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Albrecht Lang
  • Valvular Conduit
    Publication number: 20170265691
    Abstract: A valvular conduit, preferably a Tesla valvular conduit, in which a plug member is coaxially received within a bore in a sleeve member and in which passageways are defined between the plug member and the sleeve member within interior walls configured to permit mixing of fluid flowing through the passageways in at least one direction, preferably, the relatively free passage of fluid through the passageways upstream but increased the resistance to downstream flow of the fluid through each passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: HEINER OPHARDT, ANDREW JONES, ZHENCHUN SHI
  • Three Piece Pump
    Publication number: 20170266680
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved pump assembly incorporating a liquid pump and an air pump and which pump includes a flexible annular diaphragm member coaxially about a piston-forming element forming a component with the liquid pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones, Zhenchun Shi
  • Solar powered dispenser system
    Patent number: 9756989
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing hand cleaning fluid material including a dispenser with a rechargeable battery powered by a solar generator, a remote electrically powered light source spaced from the dispenser directing light onto the solar panel of the dispenser and a control mechanism controlling the operation of the light source in relation to the status and operation of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones
  • Pump maintaining container internal pressure
    Patent number: 9731890
    Abstract: A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a closed container in which during the cycle of operation to dispense fluid, atmospheric air is discharged into the reservoir towards reducing a vacuum that might otherwise be created within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones
  • Interactive Display Device
    Publication number: 20170215655
    Abstract: The invention provides a bathroom fixture in the form of an electronic mirror with a touchlessly operated fluid dispenser. The device provides visual cues to assist in the touchless operation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, David Duncan, Hendrik Ophardt
  • Dispenser cover retention arrangement
    Patent number: 9682390
    Abstract: A dispenser for a consumable product having a backplate for mounting to a wall and a cover member pivotably mounted to the backplate for relative pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position. The cover member carrying a journal rod disposed about an axis. A movable member coupled to the backplate for relative vertical sliding movement between a lower first position and a higher second position. The backplate carrying at a lower end of the backplate a complementary second journal bearing portion open downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones
  • Levitation Fluid Dispenser
    Publication number: 20170143171
    Abstract: A hand cleaner fluid dispenser, including a reservoir for containing hand cleaner fluid to be dispensed; a dispenser outlet for discharge of the hand cleaner fluid from the reservoir; and a discharge mechanism operable to discharge a drop of the hand cleaner fluid from the dispenser outlet when activated. A levitator device is incorporated into the hand cleaner fluid dispenser, and is operable to levitate the drop of hand cleaner fluid at a position where the drop is accessible to be taken by a user's hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Albrecht Lang, Siegfried Steltenkamp, David Duncan, Valery Ten
  • Lever Operated Fluid Dispenser with Rotary Potentiometer
    Publication number: 20170136479
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus in which product is dispensed by moving, preferably by manually applied forces from a user, an actuation mechanism, preferably a lever, from a first position to a second position and in which a potentiometer sensor, preferably a rotary potentiometer sensor, senses the relative movement of the actuation mechanism with time and permits the amount of fluid dispensed to be accurately calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Harald Poepke, Rainer Duske, Sascha Korthauer
  • Direct Isopropanol Fuel Cell
    Publication number: 20170110750
    Abstract: A direct isopropanol fuel cell adapted for use in ambient conditions and utilizing as fuel isopropanol and water preferably with isopropanol at relatively high concentrations representing 30% to 90% isopropanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Volker Loos, Gregor Hoogers, Albrecht Lang
  • Cover Arrangement for Fluid Dispenser
    Publication number: 20170105584
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser having a housing and a cover removably coupled to the housing with the cover having a right cover side wall and a left cover side wall secured together spaced laterally from each other and in which the cover side walls are resilient and deflectable laterally away from each other for disengagement of the cover from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, John Gerard Garry, Padraic Grady
  • Telescopic bell piston for pump
    Patent number: 9587655
    Abstract: A piston pump dispenser in which a volume in a compartment defined inside a piston chamber-forming member and between axially spaced discs on a piston varies with movement of the piston in a cycle of operation due to the piston having a tubular portion between the discs which varies in axial length. The tubular portion has a circumferentially extending wall in the shape of a solid of revolution about an axis of the piston with opening through the wall for fluid flow. The tubular portion acts as a spring to axially bias the axially spaced disc apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GOTOHTI.COM INC.
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Ali Mirbach
  • Liquid Hand Cleaner Foam Dispensing As Spray and Liquid Stream
    Publication number: 20170055782
    Abstract: Operating a hand cleaner dispenser for dispensing a cleaning liquid from a reservoir onto a person's hands in a cycle of operation wherein, during a first time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a spray, and during a second time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a liquid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones, Zhenchun Shi
  • Air Assisted Severance of Fluid Stream
    Publication number: 20170056907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing flowable fluids by dispensing the flowable fluid through a passageway leading to a discharge outlet in one stroke of a piston pump and, in a second opposite stroke of the piston pump, discharging air into the passageway to displace the fluid from the passageway through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones, Zhenchun Shi
  • Multiple air chamber foam pump
    Patent number: 9573152
    Abstract: An improved foam piston pump in which a multiple of air pumps are disposed coaxially about a piston member and spaced axially along the piston member, preferably coaxially with a liquid pump for discharging air and liquid as foam. Each air pump is preferably provided by a modular piston within a modular casing assembly such that arrangements with one, two or more identical air pumps can be assembled from a plurality of the same modular components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: OP-Hygiene IP GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Andrew Jones
  • Two-Piece Foam Piston Pump
    Publication number: 20170027391
    Abstract: A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a reservoir, an improved vacuum relief arrangement in which a passageway for flow of air from the atmosphere into the reservoir is provided at least in part through a piston-forming element of the piston pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Jones, Heiner Ophardt, Zhenchun Shi
  • Dispenser With Contaminant Sensor
    Publication number: 20160316975
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser including a contaminant sensor and methods of use of such a fluid dispenser to monitor contaminants either alone or in an array of similar dispensers within a facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventor: Heiner Ophardt