Patents by Inventor Loren L. Brelje

Loren L. Brelje 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).

  • Publication number: 20130270305
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dispenser for attachment to a liquid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a tubular valve body of a generally hollow form having a liquid outlet port on one end of the valve body capable of coupling to the liquid container, the valve body further including an air vent opening and a liquid vent opening located on an opposite side of the valve body, (b) an integral lid with the valve body slidingly disposed on the opposite side of the valve body and coupled to be moved between a liquid blocking and a liquid dispensing position, and (c) a liquid seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within a liquid vent opening and an air seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within an air vent opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Patent number: 8459510
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dispenser for attachment to a liquid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a tubular valve body of a generally hollow form having a liquid outlet port on one end of the valve body capable of coupling to the liquid container, the valve body further including an air vent opening and a liquid vent opening located on an opposite side of the valve body, (b) an integral lid with the valve body slidingly disposed on the opposite side of the valve body and coupled to be moved between a liquid blocking and a liquid dispensing position, and (c) a liquid seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within a liquid vent opening and an air seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within an air vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: David S. Smith America, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Publication number: 20130098947
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing valve assembly comprises a housing, a lever, a resilient member, and a seal. The housing defines a fluid dispensing port and a vent opening. The fluid dispensing valve can be operated with a single hand to dispense liquid from a container. Further, upon release of the lever, the fluid dispensing valve automatically returns to a sealed configuration, thereby preventing fluid from leaking out of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: David S. Smith America, Inc., DBA, Worldwide Dispensers
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje, Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 8113239
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a vented valve assembly for attachment to a rigid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a unitary tubular valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form and having a liquid inlet end, and (b) a second end and a liquid outlet port, said liquid inlet end adapted for connection to a male spout on a wall of the rigid container, said liquid outlet port being exterior to the wall of the rigid container when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout, the valve body further including an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body, the channel having one open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: David S. Smith America, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Publication number: 20120018459
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dispenser for attachment to a liquid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a tubular valve body of a generally hollow form having a liquid outlet port on one end of the valve body capable of coupling to the liquid container, the valve body further including an air vent opening and a liquid vent opening located on an opposite side of the valve body, (b) an integral lid with the valve body slidingly disposed on the opposite side of the valve body and coupled to be moved between a liquid blocking and a liquid dispensing position, and (c) a liquid seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within a liquid vent opening and an air seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within an air vent opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Patent number: 8006874
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tap assembly including: (1) a first wall defining a valve chamber having a top surface and a pair of opposed tracks extending axially along an inner surface of the wall, and a fluid outlet; (2) a tap handle mounted to the top surface for rotational movement of the tap handle with respect to the wall, the tap handle having a second wall defining an annular chamber supporting a set of threads; and (3) a generally tubular valve member having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end having a pair of lugs circumferentially spaced from one another, the lugs being positioned within the threads, the second end of the valve member extending into the valve chamber, the valve member is responsive to movement of the tap handle to move from a first position where the fluid outlet is sealed by the second end of the valve member to a second position where the fluid outlet is not sealed by the second end of the valve member and fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: DS Smith Plastics Limited
    Inventors: Mark Smith, Loren L. Brelje, James L. Richards
  • Publication number: 20100296858
    Abstract: A dome spring element including a body having a first and second end and an axis, a bell-shaped wall at the first end defining a chamber with an opening into the chamber, a cylindrical wall attached to the bell-shaped wall at the second end; a rod attached to the body and extending through the chamber and extending axially outwardly from the opening; and the body being moveable from an extended position to a compressed position by application of a force along the axis, and capable of automatically returning to the extended position upon release of the force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: David S. Smith America, Inc. (d.b.a. Worldwide Dispensers)
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Publication number: 20100282345
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a vented valve assembly for attachment to a rigid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a unitary tubular valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form and having a liquid inlet end, and (b) a second end and a liquid outlet port, said liquid inlet end adapted for connection to a male spout on a wall of the rigid container, said liquid outlet port being exterior to the wall of the rigid container when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout, the valve body further including an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body, the channel having one open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Publication number: 20090014479
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tap assembly including: (1) a first wall defining a valve chamber having a top surface and a pair of opposed tracks extending axially along an inner surface of the wall, and a fluid outlet; (2) a tap handle mounted to the top surface for rotational movement of the tap handle with respect to the wall, the tap handle having a second wall defining an annular chamber supporting a set of threads; and (3) a generally tubular valve member having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end having a pair of lugs circumferentially spaced from one another, the lugs being positioned within the threads, the second end of the valve member extending into the valve chamber, the valve member is responsive to movement of the tap handle to move from a first position where the fluid outlet is sealed by the second end of the valve member to a second position where the fluid outlet is not sealed by the second end of the valve member and fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Smith, Loren L. Brelje, James L. Richards
  • Patent number: D676320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: David S. Smith America, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje, Michael Maher