Patents by Inventor Michael W. Didas

Michael W. Didas 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: 5356049
    Abstract: A hand-held spray pump includes a pump mechanism which may be pre-assembled and a pump housing which receives and encloses the pump mechanism. The pump mechanism includes a minimal number of inexpensive parts which are slidably assembled and snapped together. The housing includes a body portion and a cover portion with the body portion slidably receiving a trigger for operating the pump mechanism and for slidably receiving the pump mechanism. After the pump mechanism has been inserted into the body portion, the cover is snap-fitted over the pump mechanism. By utilizing the aforedescribed configuration, the pump housing may be readily changed without requiring changes in the configuration of the pump mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Bradley S. Bush, Michael W. Didas, Anthony J. Imperato
  • Patent number: 5313993
    Abstract: A toner container receiving apparatus has a sump and a sump opening with box-like upwardly extending vertical walls around the sump opening. A toner container includes box-shaped downwardly extending walls which fit around the sump walls when the container is positioned over the sump. A flexible cover is movable from a covering position above the box-shaped walls through a curved path to a position alongside an exterior vertical wall of the container. A lever on the receiving apparatus is movable to a vertical position and is coupled to structure which locks the container to the sump during that movement. A handle connected to the cover is positioned to fit into a slot into the lever and prevent moving of the lever away from its vertical locking position until the cover has been moved to its covering position. The cover is flexible enough to move through the curved path but stiff enough to be pushed back to its covering position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Corby, Michael W. Didas, Satyan R. Kalyandurg, Purnendu S. Ojha, Michael E. Baister, Suzanne M. Lenhard, David M. Gaudino
  • Patent number: 5205442
    Abstract: A dispensing pump having a minimal number of molded plastic components is configured to have a relatively low. profile when mounted on a spray container. The pump includes a base having a chamber depending downwardly therefrom within which is received a piston biased by a spring. The piston has a piston rod which extends upwardly through the base for coupling with one leg of a L-shaped handle pivoted on the base. Upon squeezing the handle, the handle rotates to lift the piston to pressurize liquid in the container. The liquid is dispensed laterally of the base through a valve body which includes a rotatable valve element seated therein. The rotatable valve element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the valve body and includes both an opening for releasing a stream of liquid from the pump and an opening for releasing a spray of liquid from the pump. In order to refill the chamber with liquid from the container, a dip tube extends from the base and is in communication with the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Michael W. Didas, Anthony J. Imperto