Patents by Inventor Michael G. Knickerbocker

Michael G. Knickerbocker 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: 5540389
    Abstract: An improved terminal orifice system is disclosed for a hand operated dispensing device for dispensing a product from a terminal orifice. The improved terminal orifice system comprises a spin chamber communicating with the terminal orifice with a plurality of feed channels providing communicating between the hand operated dispensing device and the spin chamber for spinning the product about an axis within the spin chamber prior to discharge from the terminal orifice. Each of the plurality of feed channels is tapered to control the flow rate of the product into the spin chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Aptar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5518151
    Abstract: An improved dip tube for a hand operated dispensing device is disclosed comprising a longitudinally extending dip tube having an outer surface and an inner surface for defining a wall thickness therebetween. A plurality of surface projections protrude from the inner surface of the dip tube and extend longitudinally along an internal channel of the dip tube. The plurality of surface projections are uniformly disposed about the dip tube for defining a plurality of recessed portions therebetween. The plurality of surface projections define major wall thickness portions for providing structural strength for the dip tube. The improved dip tube provides a conventional cross-section area of the internal channel with a reduced volume of material used in the construction of the improved dip tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Aptar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5505343
    Abstract: An improved manually actuated pump is disclosed for dispensing a volume of liquid from a container comprising a body having a cylindrical body surface. A piston is disposed within the body for slidably sealing with the cylindrical body surface to define a pump chamber with at least a portion of the piston being disposed external to the body defining a piston stem having a stem passage extending therethrough. A spring biases the piston into an extended position. An induction tube is received within a duct conduit for providing fluid communication between the liquid within the container and the pump chamber. A first one-way valve enables the flow of the liquid only from the container into the pump chamber whereas a second one-way valve enables the flow of the liquid only from the pump chamber into the stem passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5503306
    Abstract: An improved manually actuated pump is disclosed for dispensing a volume of liquid from a container, comprising a body having a duct with a duct conduit communicating with the body. A piston is disposed within the body for slidably sealing with the duct to define a pump chamber with at least a portion of the piston being disposed external to the body defining a piston stem having a stem passage extending therethrough. A spring biases the piston into an extended position. An induction tube is received within the duct conduit for providing fluid communication between the liquid within the container and the pump chamber. A first one-way valve enables the flow of the liquid only from the container into the pump chamber whereas a second one-way valve enables the flow of the liquid only from the pump chamber into the stem passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Aptar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5495965
    Abstract: An improved dip tube for a hand operated dispensing device is disclosed comprising a longitudinally extending dip tube having an outer surface and an inner surface for defining a wall thickness therebetween. A plurality of surface projections protrude from the outer surface of the dip tube and extend longitudinally along the dip tube. The plurality of surface projections are uniformly disposed about the dip tube for defining a plurality of recessed portions therebetween. The plurality of surface projections define major wall thickness portions for providing structural strength for the dip tube. The improved dip tube provides a conventional cross-section area of the internal channel with a reduced volume of material used in the construction of the improved dip tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Aptar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5411181
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a variable restrictor for a manually actuated pump for dispensing a liquid within a container comprising a body having an internal cylinder secured to the container. A piston is slidably disposed within the internal cylinder of the body having a stem end extending external to the body. The stem end supports an actuator having a terminal orifice communicating with an internal stem passage of the pump stem for discharging the liquid from the container through the terminal orifice upon movement of the actuator from an extended position to a retracted position. The variable restrictor is provided for varying said retracted position to reduce the longitudinal movement of the actuator from the extended position to the retracted position for reducing the volume of liquid discharged from the terminal orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5242089
    Abstract: A miniature pump sprayer has its pump cylinder mounted within a rigid vial and throttles product during pumping through a resilient disc valve or spring valve. A coaxial rod within a hollow piston plugs into a hollow tube extending toward the rod within the cylinder for valving the inlet closed during each pressure stroke of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Knickerbocker, Edward J. Rodden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5207785
    Abstract: A finger actuated plunger of a dispenser has a protector cap telescoped over the plunger head for reciprocation independently thereof along the axis of plunger reciprocation. A portion of the cap side wall covers the discharge orifice in the head in a condition of non-use, and the cap side wall has an aperture adjacent such wall portion for alignment with the orifice for uncovering the orifice in a condition of use. A spring extends solely between the head top wall and the cap top wall for resiliently urging the cap into its condition of non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5161716
    Abstract: A child-resistant nozzle assembly for a fluid dispenser has an external anti-rotative stop, and the dispenser body has a spring-biased tab abutting the stop in an off position of the nozzle at which the discharge passage is closed for locking the cap against rotation from such off position. The tab is flexed outwardly away from the stop to permit cap rotation for opening the spray discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5114049
    Abstract: A child-resistant trigger operated pump dispenser has a latch pivotally mounted on the trigger for preventing trigger actuation. The latch has an arm projecting forwardly of the trigger to facilitate pivotal movement of the latch against the bias of the spring for unlocking the trigger to permit pumping. The latch is automatically returned to its locking position at the end of each pumping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5105988
    Abstract: The finger actuated plunger of a dispenser has a protector cap pivotally mounted thereon and normally disposed for covering the discharge orifice. The cap is pivotally movable relative to the head upon application of finger force to the cap in the direction of plunger head reciprocation for uncovering the orifice. The cap is resiliently urged into its normal orifice-covering position upon removal of the applied finger force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5094364
    Abstract: A removable overcap for a finger actuated pump dispenser surround the plunger head and is frictionally mounted in place on the pump body. An upper portion of the overcap side wall bears against an orifice cup located in the head, the cup containing a discharge orifice through which product is dispensed with the overcap removed. In conditions of non-use, the overcap covers the orifice to prevent drying of product. And, the overcap wipes the orifice clean of any accumulated product each time the overcap is removed and reapplied over the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5088628
    Abstract: A child-resistant element in the form of an overcap surrounds a rectangular-shaped nozzle at the nozzle end of a manually actuated liquid dispenser, the nozzle being mounted for rotation between discharge open and closed positions. The overcap has an opening in its end wall and is mounted on the nozzle for manual axial movement between extended and retracted positions and is rotatable together with the nozzle. A flat surface of the overcap overlies the flat surface of the dispenser body in the retracted position for resisting rotation of the nozzle from its closed position. The overcap in its extended position permits rotation of the nozzle from its closed position to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5083683
    Abstract: A manually operated pump dispenser assembly includes a container having an angled neck at its top opening and a pump dispenser mounted on the neck. The container neck and sprayer have a central axis lying at an acute angle to the central axis of the container. The neck axis intersects the container wall, and a dip tube suspended from the sprayer lies along such axis and extends into an interior corner of the container. Such interior corner forms a well from which substantially the entirety of contents of the container is capable of dispensed upon actuation of the dispenser while holding the container with the neck axis substantially upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5050779
    Abstract: A child-resistant nozzle assembly for a fluid dispenser has an external anti-rotative stop, and the dispenser body has a spring-biased tab abutting the stop in an off position of the nozzle at which the discharge passage is closed for locking the cap against rotation from such off position. The tab is flexed outwardly away from the stop to permit cap rotation for opening the spray discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 5040701
    Abstract: In a manually actuated sprayer having a nozzle rotatable from OFF to ON positions, a removable tear strip or a removable cap is provided for preventing rotation from the OFF position. Upon removal of the tear strip or cap, the nozzle is free to be rotated to its ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Knickerbocker, R. Kevin O'Neill, Douglas B. Dobbs
  • Patent number: 5040702
    Abstract: In a manually actuated sprayer having a nozzle rotatable from OFF to ON positions, a removable tear strip or a removable cap is provided for preventing rotation from the OFF position. Upon removal of the tear strip or cap, the nozzle is free to be rotated to its ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Knickerbocker, R. Kevin O'Neill, Douglas B. Dobbs
  • Patent number: 4984700
    Abstract: A tamper indicating closure assembly for a removable closure cap includes a removable overcap which completely surrounds the closure cap, the overcap having a transparent window, and a rupturable membrane intermediate the closure cap and the overcap being exposed through the window. One portion of the membrane is secured to the closure cap and another portion thereof is secured to the overcap so that relative movement between the overcap and the closure cap causes an unsecured portion of the membrane to tear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Calmar, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker
  • Patent number: 4971227
    Abstract: In a manually actuated sprayer having a nozzle rotatable from OFF to ON positions, a removable tear strip or a removable cap is provided for preventing rotation from the OFF position. Upon removal of the tear strip or cap, the nozzle is free to be rotated to its ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Calmar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Knickerbocker, R. Kevin O'Neill, Douglas B. Dobbs
  • Patent number: D366616
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Aptar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Knickerbocker