Patents by Inventor William E. Fillmore

William E. Fillmore 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: 7041246
    Abstract: A dispensing closure including a compression molded plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt having threads for engaging a container. An opening is formed in the base wall and a compression molded liner is molded in situ in the closure and includes a radial liner forming portion on the inner surface of the base wall of the closure. An integral nozzle is compression molded with the liner and extends axially through the opening in the base wall. One or more slits in the nozzle define a dispensing opening through which the contents of the container can be dispensed by squeezing the container. In another form, the dispensing closure is provided with a liner such that a syringe needle is used to penetrate an elastomeric wall for removal of the liquid contents of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Publication number: 20040036195
    Abstract: A dispensing closure including a compression molded plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt having threads for engaging a container. An opening is formed in the base wall and a compression molded liner is molded in situ in the closure and includes a radial liner forming portion on the inner surface of the base wall of the closure. An integral nozzle is compression molded with the liner and extends axially through the opening in the base wall. One or more slits in the nozzle define a dispensing opening through which the contents of the container can be dispensed by squeezing the container. In another form, the dispensing closure is provided with a liner such that a syringe needle is used to penetrate an elastomeric wall for removal of the liquid contents of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6673295
    Abstract: A dispensing closure including a compression molded plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt having threads for engaging a container. An opening is formed in the base wall and a compression molded liner is molded in situ in the closure and includes a radial liner forming portion on the inner surface of the base wall of the closure. An integral nozzle is compression molded with the liner and extends axially through the opening in the base wall. One or more slits in the nozzle define a dispensing opening through which the contents of the container can be dispensed by squeezing the container. In another form, the dispensing closure is provided with a liner such that a syringe needle is used to penetrate an elastomeric wall for removal of the liquid contents of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6612690
    Abstract: An ink containment and dispensing device for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir in the form of a flexible pouch, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet, which is normally closed to prevent the flow of outward ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer. The pump has a linearly acting pumping member and a flexible diaphragm that overlies the pumping member, the diaphragm being impervious to the transmission of oxygen and moisture therethrough to prevent degradation of the ink within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: James Kenneth Wallace, David C. Kamp, William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6585359
    Abstract: An ink container for an off-carriage printing system including an ink supply station. The ink container contains a collapsible reservoir filled with ink that is in fluidically connectable to a conduit that leads to a pressure regulator. The outlet of the regulator delivers ink to a printhead. A pressure vessel surrounds the reservoir. The system pressurizes the pressure vessel, which results in pressurized ink being delivered to the regulator. The ink container has a sensor that infers the actual volume of ink in the reservoir by sensing the relative position of the reservoir walls. This sensor is mounted between the pressure vessel and the collapsible reservoir. The sensor is electrically connected to pads that are accessible from the outside of the ink container. Leads route from the pads, through a seal zone, and to the sensor. The seal is provided by a compressed o-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric L. Gasvoda, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Rhonda L. Wilson, Dennis W. Houpt, David C. Kamp, Thomas J. Krall, William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6386675
    Abstract: An ink container for holding a supply of liquid ink for use in an inkjet printing system. The container includes a collapsible ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and a multiple functioned chassis. The chassis rigidly supports an air inlet for receiving pressurized air from the printing system and an ink outlet for delivering pressurized ink to the system. The chassis supports a collapsible ink container by providing an attach surface over which the collapsible container is attached. The attach surface allows a relatively simple pleated bag construction to be used by providing a surface whose normal is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The chassis is adapted to engage with a pressure vessel opening, providing a seal that separates the pressure vessel from an outside atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Wilson, Eric L. Gasvoda, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Dennis W. Houpt, David C. Kamp, Thomas J. Krall, Jared E. Neff, William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6308862
    Abstract: A dispenser package for dispensing dual viscous products which are separately retained within the package and merged at a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing package comprises a container having a compressible portion and a hanger and pouch assembly of plastic material suspended in the container. The hanger has an upper portion with a pair of openings. A flexible film pouch having an opening is bonded in each opening in the hanger and has portions bonded to the hanger. The hanger has lower portions comprising of spaced flexible walls associated with each pouch. The head assembly includes a one-way valve associated with each opening in the hanger and a portion which maintains the viscous products from each of the pouches separate until they pass from a nozzle on the head assembly to the exterior when the compressible portion of the container is squeezed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Raj Krishna
  • Patent number: 6305577
    Abstract: A squeeze dispenser package comprising a container having a compressible portion and a hanger and pouch assembly of plastic material, suspended in the container. The hanger has an upper portion having an opening and a flexible film pouch having an opening is bonded to the opening in the hanger and has portions thereof bonded to the hanger. The hanger has a lower flexible portion comprising spaced flexible walls. In one form, a removable head is mounted on the container and overlies the hanger and pouch assembly. The head includes a nozzle having an opening overlying the opening in the pouch and an atmospheric valve is provided for equalizing the pressure after the compressible portion of the container has been released and the hanger and pouch assembly returns to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Raj Krishna, Jeffrey L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6017118
    Abstract: An ink container for an inkjet printing system is described, including an assembly of a simple housing with caps bearing indicia and protective surfaces to enable effective handling, aligning, keying and latching of the ink container. The ink container includes an ink container housing, the housing including an ink reservoir and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said reservoir. The fluid outlet is for providing ink to the inkjet printhead. The container further includes a separately fabricated first cap attached to an end of the housing, the first cap having a plurality of mechanical features that provide mechanical functions for the ink container. The end of the housing is a leading end relative to a direction of insertion of the ink container into the printing system. The mechanical functions can include positioning the ink container relative to the supply station, a keying function for preventing installation of an ink container in the supply station without a cap providing the keying function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Gasvoda, Susan M. Hmelar, Richard H. Lewis, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Mark R. Hock, Dennis W. Houpt, David C. Kamp, Thomas J. Krall, Jared E. Neff, William E. Fillmore, James Kenneth Wallace
  • Patent number: 5927567
    Abstract: A dispensing closure including a compression molded plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt having threads for engaging a container. An opening is formed in the base wall and a compression molded liner is molded in situ in the closure and includes a radial liner forming portion on the inner surface of the base wall of the closure. An integral nozzle is compression molded with the liner and extends axially through the opening in the base wall. One or more slits in the nozzle define a dispensing opening through which the contents of the container can be dispensed by squeezing the container. In another form, the dispensing closure is provided with a liner such that a syringe needle is used to penetrate an elastomeric wall for removal of the liquid contents of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 5784087
    Abstract: An ink containment and dispensing device for an inkjet printer is provided with a main reservoir in the form of a flexible pouch panel, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet, which is normally closed to prevent the flow of outward ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer. The pump has a linearly acting pumping member and a flexible diaphragm that overlies the pumping member, the diaphragm being impervious to the transmission of oxygen and moisture therethrough to prevent degradation of the ink within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: James Kenneth Wallace, David C. Kamp, William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 5363990
    Abstract: A dual chambered pump for viscous products having a plastic body having a top wall and a side wall. The top wall has spaced discharge openings. The body has spaced parallel cylinders. A piston is associated with each cylinder and a piston rod is associated with each piston. A one way spring is provided between each rod and its respective piston. Each rod extends through the top wall of the body. A plastic lever has a top portion and a side portion which includes integral means interengaging integral portions on the top wall for pivotally mounting the top portion of the lever on the top wall of the body such that the side portion of the lever extends along the side wall of the body. The top portion of the lever has integral portions engaging the integral portions on the rod. A spring on the side portion of the lever is engageable with the side wall of the body for urging the lever away from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 5271534
    Abstract: A dispenser package for viscous products comprising a container, a hanger and pouch assembly of plastic material suspended in the container and a head including a pumping mechanism mounted on the container. The head includes a chamber with a first one way valve adjacent an opening in the hanger and pouch assembly and a second one way valve adjacent an outlet of the pumping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Raj Krishna
  • Patent number: 5234118
    Abstract: A child resistant closure which can be readily opened by an adult comprising an outer closure member having a base wall, a peripheral skirt and a bead on the outer closure member for retaining an inner closure member for limited axially outward movement relative to the outer closure member. A push tab is hinged to the base wall of the outer closure member and projects through an opening in the base wall of the outer closure member. The push tab can be depressed into a plurality of spaces provided between circumferentially spaced ramp-type projections or castellations on the inner closure member. One of the castellations is provided with a stop surface such that when the push tab is depressed in that location, as indicated by indicia on the outer closure member and inner closure member, the closure can be unthreaded from a container to remove the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 4940167
    Abstract: A child resistant dispensing closure comprising a first part having a base wall and a peripheral skirt adapted to be threaded onto a container. The peripheral skirt includes interengaging portions that engage portions of the container to prevent removal from the container. The closure also includes a second part or lid connected to the first part by an integral hinge and having a base wall, peripheral skirt and a closing portion adapted to extend into a nozzle on the base wall of the first part when the second part is moved into overlying relationship to the first part. Snap lugs on the second part engage bead segments on the firt part to hold the second part in closed position. The diameter of the skirt of the first part includes a radial flange that extends circumferentially about most of the periphery of the skirt. The flange is connected integrally to an outer radially deflectable wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Timothy J. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 4917269
    Abstract: A liquid containing and dispensing package comprising a hollow plastic container having a neck comprising an upwardly extending integral dispensing spout, an integral web extending radially outwardly from the lower end of the dispensing spout and a cylindrical wall spaced radially outwardly of the spout and encircling the spout. The cylindrical wall has an internal thread, a closure having a base wall and peripheral wall with an external thread applied to the container. The closure includes an annular flexible sealing ring that engages the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and flexes upwardly to provide a seal. A sealing ring extends radially outwardly intermediate the peripheral wall and engages the top of the cylindrical wall when the closure is threaded onto container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fuchs, William E. Fillmore, Eugene F. Haffner
  • Patent number: 4830228
    Abstract: A dispenser package for viscous fluids comprising a container having one end open and provided with a piston and the other end closed by a compressible chamber defined by a plastic bellows that is deflected by movement of a plunger to dispense a portion of the viscous fluid from the container. The plastic bellows comprises a central tubular portion, a hub extending radially outwardly from the tubular portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced panels extending transversely and radially from the tubular portion to a peripheral skirt extending axially away from the tubular portion. Integral circumferentially spaced ribs interconnect the panels. Alternate panels extend axially and radially upwardly away from the tubular portion while the remaining panels extend transversely and radially downwardly away from the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 4778071
    Abstract: A closure with a snap type hinge cap comprising a first part adapted to interengage with the open neck of a container and a second part forming a cap. Each of the first and second parts comprises a base wall and a peripheral skirt. A pair of hinges extends between the skirt of the first part and the skirt of the second part to hinge the parts about a hinge line. A short strap connects the skirt of the first part and the skirt of the second part circumferentially between the hinges. The short strap is axially rigid and has its ends hinged to the skirt of the first part and the skirt of the second part, respectively. The radial length of the strap is less than the length of the arc through which the second cap part is guided for movement by the hinges to and from open and closed positions relative to the first part. The portion of the skirt of the second part to which the strap is connected is capable of flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 4723685
    Abstract: A two-piece child-resistant closure having a molded plastic inner component and a molded plastic outer component, the inner component having a double ended liner retention bead that projects radially inwardly from the inside of an annular skirt portion to retain a sealing liner in a position that is adjacent to the underside of a top panel portion thereof without the need for an adhesive, the inner portion further having a helically extending thread that projects radially inwardly from the annular skirt portion, the thread having an uppermost portion with a 0.degree. helical angle that is positioned between the spaced apart ends of the double ended liner retention bead to reduce the required vertical spacing between the liner retention bead and the start of the helical thread to permit the closure to be applied to a container with a standard finish portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Fillmore, Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 4721219
    Abstract: A vacuum indicating closure for a container for the packaging of a vacuum-packed product, the closure being of two-piece construction and having a metal lid portion which is retained in sealing engagement with the rim of a container by a plastic ring portion. The metal lid portion has a vacuum indicating button centered therein, which vacuum indicating button can flex downwardly from its normal position into the headspace of a container under the influence a sub-atmospheric or negative pressure in the headspace. The ring portion of the closure has a radially inwardly projecting annular flange at the top thereof to urge a peripheral portion of the lid portion of the closure against the rim of the container, the ring portion of the container further having a radially inwardly projecting annular bead to lock the lid portion of the closure against the underside of the annular flange of the ring portion so that the lid portion and the ring portion can be conveniently handled in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dullabaun, William E. Fillmore