Plural Spring Biased Or Resilient Fingers Patents (Class 221/310)
  • Patent number: 10619985
    Abstract: A system and devices for storing and dispensing magazines that are pre-loaded with ammunition for firearms, the device including a body having a space therein, a dispensing opening, a supporting platform on which the magazines are supported, and a spring that biases the platform toward the dispensing opening to present the magazine, and the next magazine to the dispensing opening for discharge from the device. The spring is collapsible and has substantially rectangular segments. The top of the spring is captured within a space formed at the top of the platform, and the bottom of the spring is guided with a spring guide. The device may be carried on a person, and may releasably attach to a user's clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Talmage P. Stewart, III
  • Patent number: 10392174
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to liquid, beverage, and/or dietary supplement dispensers. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are configured to provide a liquid or beverage dispenser that allows for convenient shipping and storage of a liquid, beverage, dietary supplement, dietary supplement mixture or beverage mixture while also providing for safe storage and shipping of one or more dispenser bottles, serving vessels, or similar liquid holding vessels to be used in conjunction with the liquid, beverage, or dietary supplement contained in the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Justin Shane Troxell
  • Patent number: 10207835
    Abstract: A capping machine in a beverage bottling plant configured to cap beverage bottles with beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps and a capping machine configured to cap containers with container caps. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Wilhelm, Heinz Hillmann
  • Patent number: 9914165
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering collars to swage guns for swaging. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a frame, arms movably attached to the frame, a tensioner mechanism that applies force to drive the arms towards each other, and fingers that each extend from an arm. The fingers each include a lengthwise structure. The lengthwise structure includes an arcuate portion dimensioned to mate with an arcuate portion of another finger to form a hollow cylindrical receptacle. The lengthwise structure also includes a channel extending to the arcuate portion, dimensioned to mate with a channel of another finger to form a hollow tunnel for delivering a collar to the receptacle when the fingers are partially apart from each other. The arms of the apparatus each include a contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Chris J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9856076
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to liquid, beverage, and/or dietary supplement dispensers. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are configured to provide a liquid or beverage dispenser that allows for convenient shipping and storage of a liquid, beverage, dietary supplement, dietary supplement mixture or beverage mixture while also providing for safe storage and shipping of one or more dispenser bottles, serving vessels, or similar liquid holding vessels to be used in conjunction with the liquid, beverage, or dietary supplement contained in the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Justin Shane Troxell
  • Patent number: 9021735
    Abstract: A black powder pellet loader for a revolver. Tip ends of a number of fingers are movable from a closed position to an open position by sliding a thumb bracket toward a main bottom right end tube. One end of a penetrating tube may penetrate through the second end of a sliding raised rib tube, through a reducer adapter and a finger retaining nut until the end of the penetrating tube strikes a downward bend of each of the fingers. The downward bend of the fingers may continue to slide over the penetrating tube, which may force the tip ends of the fingers diverge from the closed position to the open position. Black powder pellets may be inserted between the fingers when in the open position, and upon release of the thumb bracket may be retained in the fingers when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Todd Ervin
  • Patent number: 8857660
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved system and method for dispensing solid food product containers. It comprises a shaped dispensing tube (62) of a predetermined length, having a plurality of support clips (76) arranged inside the dispensing tube (62) for holding a stack of solid food product containers (70) in place within the tube (62). The dispensing tube (62) preferably includes a bracket (68) for mounting the entire device on a wall or the like. A nested stack of containers (70) is fed into the preferably open top (78) of the dispensing tube (62) until the bottommost container engages (or is engaged by) the support clips (76). This results in the bottommost container extending a predetermined distance below the bottom of the dispensing tube (62). By minimizing the amount the bottommost container extends below the dispensing tube (62), a user's ability to take more than one solid food container at a time is greatly minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: San Jamar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Omdoll, Michael Young
  • Patent number: 8763854
    Abstract: A cup dispenser includes a body defining a storage region adapted for receiving for an associated stack of cup-shaped articles. The body includes an open end that provides access to the storage region. Multiple fingers are connected to the body for restricting the open end of the body. An adjustment ring is connected to the body and is movable relative to the body. Movement of the adjustment ring relative to the body alters a position of each of the fingers relative to the body. The adjustment ring includes a plurality of adjustment slots and the fingers each include an adjustment stud located in one of the adjustment slots. When the adjustment ring is rotated, the adjustment slots act as cams and the adjustment studs act as cam followers such that the fingers are simultaneously and uniformly adjusted in terms of their radial position relative to the body wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Meyer Company
    Inventors: Michael H. Meyer, Michael A. Kolar
  • Patent number: 8322567
    Abstract: A container useful for singly dispensing a tablet includes a leaf integrally formed with the sidewall and projecting generally radially inward to a distal portion. One or more such leaves define a dispensing opening having a smaller diameter than the mouth of the container. The leaves or other undercut structure can be formed using a mold element having a leading portion for forming a portion of the part beyond the resilient projection and a following portion for forming a portion of the sidewall short of the resilient projection. The following portion is withdrawn at least partially away from the outside surface of the resilient projection, leaving a space between the leading and following portions. The leading portion is withdrawn from the mold cavity against an undercut portion of the resilient projection, folding the resilient projection into the space left by retracting the following portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Capitol Plastic Products LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Giraud
  • Patent number: 8302293
    Abstract: In order to ensure reliable feeding in particular of a clinch nut (M) from a ready position (16) into a processing position, the processing tool designed as a press-in tool (2) has a guide element (14), through which the clinch nut (M) is pressed into the processing position by means of a punch (8) against an elastic holding force exerted by the guide element (14). The guide element (14) is designed in particular as a slotted bush and is arranged as an insert in a hold-down (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Richard Bergner Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Dehlke
  • Patent number: 8087579
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying branding of pharmaceutical/medical containers are provided. In some embodiments, systems for verifying branding of at least one medication container associated with at least one of a prescription and medication order are provided. The systems including: a scanning system including at least one scanner for determining the branding of at least one of a first medication container and a cap used to cover the first medication container; a transport system that transports the first medication container; and a control system that: controls the transport system to transport the first medication container to the scanning system; and controls the scanning system to determine whether the branding of at least one of the first medication container and the cap correctly matches a predetermined branding among a plurality of brandings based on predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Leu, James G. McErlean, Dennis Wayne Rice
  • Patent number: 8061556
    Abstract: An automated freezer stores food items stacked in a removable cartridge. The food items are dispensed from the automated freezer in response to a request for the food items. The food items are loaded into the cartridge outside of the automated freezer. When the cartridge is inserted into the automated freezer, the upper end of the cartridge is inserted into a buffer, pushing a plurality of arms in the buffer upwardly to allow food items to pass through the buffer. When the cartridge is removed from the freezer for reloading of food items, a resilient member biases the arms downwardly to retain any food items in the buffer and to prevent any food items in the buffer from falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sands, Ronald J. Glavan, Andrew Paul Franklin, Randy L. Ginner, Henry Thomas Ewald
  • Patent number: 7837093
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying branding of pharmaceutical/medical containers are provided. In some embodiments, systems for verifying branding of at least one medication container associated with at least one of a prescription and medication order are provided. The systems including: a scanning system including at least one scanner for determining the branding of at least one of a first medication container and a cap used to cover the first medication container; a transport system that transports the first medication container; and a control system that: controls the transport system to transport the first medication container to the scanning system; and controls the scanning system to determine whether the branding of at least one of the first medication container and the cap correctly matches a predetermined branding among a plurality of brandings based on predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Leu, James G. McErlean, Dennis Wayne Rice
  • Publication number: 20100187252
    Abstract: An after-market container that attaches with mating opposing members to a golf cart for holding golf balls for sequential dispensing from an interior cavity through an opening between a pair of opposing legs that each includes a projecting stop on an interior surface, with the legs flexible for moving from a first position for holding one of the golf balls retained by the projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: NEW POSSIBILITIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jason Smith
  • Patent number: 7731057
    Abstract: The new invention allows for easy retrieval of fall backs and eases the initial threading process upon initial opening/use of the package. Threading is done without removing the cap. Several of the embodiments allow refills to be inserted into the canister without removing the lid/cap. The layout of the dispensing system and the geometry and shape of the dispensing orifice/aperture minimize and mitigate product fall backs. The new invention improves performance of the orifices/apertures through unique geometry and shape as well as using different materials from existing products or the combination of multiple materials. Varying orifice diameter, co-molded density and stiffness or geometry of the actual lobes defining the dispensing aperture allows the precise amount of friction to be created in the dispensing opening for selectively grabbing or releasing the towelette, thereby tearing the towelette connecting perforations at just the right time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Union Street Brand Packaging
    Inventors: Christopher T. Evans, Christopher Gieda, David Schultz, Paul Bertram
  • Patent number: 7703638
    Abstract: A fastener dispenser including a housing having a plurality of rails formed thereon. The rails have terminal ends that are open to facilitate the passage of fasteners into or out of the housing. Fasteners are removably secured between adjacent rails and maintained in a predefined orientation by the adjacent rails. The fastener dispenser also includes fastener release means on the terminal ends of the rails for maintaining fasteners between adjacent rails. The fastener release means also allow a user to selectively dispense a desired number of fasteners from between the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Mario Enrico Magnani
  • Patent number: 7686186
    Abstract: A container that holds the golf balls for sequential dispensing of golf balls from an interior cavity through an opening between a pair of opposing legs and a projecting stop movable from a first position for holding one of the golf balls between the legs and retained by the projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops. A method of holding and sequentially dispensing golf balls for play is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: New Possibilities, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Smith
  • Patent number: 7628292
    Abstract: A device for dispensing oblong objects comprising: (i) a main dispensing opening for allowing the objects to be dispensed to pass therethrough one by one; (ii) at least one other opening of elongate shape, one of whose sides opens into the main dispensing opening, the elongate opening having an opening width equal to or greater than a minimum thickness of the object to be dispensed; and (iii) guide surfaces for guiding the objects to be dispensed. The guide surfaces lie along front sides of the elongate opening and face the objects to be dispensed, so as to collect and guide the objects toward at least one of the elongate openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Airsec S.A.
    Inventors: Didier Lancesseur, Roger Nobilet
  • Patent number: 7325701
    Abstract: A dispenser for cup-shaped articles comprises a body defining a storage region for receiving an associated stack of cups or other cup-shaped articles. The body comprises an open end that communicates with the storage region. A resilient diaphragm restricts the open end of the body. A clamp member is releasably secured adjacent the open end of the body and retains the diaphragm relative to the open end of the body. A mounting flange projects outwardly away from the body. The clamp member and mounting flange comprise mating structures that releasably secure said clamp member to the mounting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: The Meyer Company
    Inventors: Michael H. Meyer, Henry G. Roethel, Raymond P. Kawolics, Daniel A. Sokolowski
  • Patent number: 7264140
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing pharmaceutical samples is provided. The system comprises a dispenser base, a lid, and a dispensing portion. The dispensing portion further comprises a window, finger cutouts, and a front section of a spring plate. The front section may further comprise curved portions that assist in maintaining a pharmaceutical sample within the pharmaceutical dispenser until a user intentionally removes the pharmaceutical sample. A ramp located substantially adjacent to the spring plate guides the pharmaceutical samples down a loading chamber to the dispensing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas Direct Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: John Philip Stoddard, Michael John Nuttall
  • Patent number: 7134571
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser has a container body for holding a stack of napkins, and a pair of interchangeable face plates each connectable to the container body. One of the face plates has a first elongated dispensing opening exposing a bottom region of the napkin stack, for one-by-one dispensing, and the other face plate has a second elongated dispensing opening exposing an edge region of the napkin stack, for dispensing a plurality of napkins simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SCA Tissue North America LLC.
    Inventors: Robert C Hochtritt, Andrew M Conger
  • Patent number: 7055718
    Abstract: A drawer for the storage, display, and dispensing apparatus for dispensing tickets of various sizes without the use of moving parts. The dispensing apparatus includes a bin for storing tickets and a dispensing slot utilizing tension arms to guide and control the dispensing of tickets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Schafer Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Jensen
  • Patent number: 7014065
    Abstract: An improved dispenser for displaying and dispensing lottery tickets utilizes a dispensing slot with tension arms to provide tension to tickets of varying thicknesses. The dispensing slot is cut into a door at an end of a box-like structure, which holds the tickets. Tension arms extend from the bottom of the slot into notches at the top of the slot such that the slot is narrower than the thickness of the tickets. Because the tension arms are also flexible, tickets of varying thickness can pass through the slot without becoming stuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Schafer Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Jensen
  • Patent number: 7011231
    Abstract: A cup-dispensing apparatus and system is disclosed that utilizes a front piece that comprises a side-access port into which is reversibly inserted a cup-dispensing insert. This front piece/cup-dispensing insert assembly may be manufactured separately from or integral with other components of a cup-dispensing unit. The cup-dispensing unit comprises a flexible gasket or other cup retaining means that retains the last of a stack of cups in place, against an opposing cup-advancing force developed within the cup-dispensing unit. The use of the side-access port provides for improved performance, maintenance, repair, and aesthetic qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventors: James Oliver Boykin, Lynne Kay Boykin
  • Patent number: 6817135
    Abstract: The improved shotgun shell carrier is a rectangular plastic housing one end closed by a sliding door. A zigzag-type compression spring is positioned within the housing between the sliding door and a magazine follower. The open end of the housing is provided with opposing feeding lips formed from spring steel and shaped to funnel the shells one at a time to a release point adjacent the tip of the feeding lips. The feeding lips are formed with a centrally located finger slot having a length greater than the width of a shotgun shell. Blocking elements are pivotally positioned at the open end of the housing to prevent extra shells from falling out when the feeding lips are open. The housing is adapted for receiving attaching elements to enable attaching the carrier to high-speed modular gear in a desired position for quick and efficient reloading of a shotgun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Jonathan D. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6752392
    Abstract: A device for picking up a sheet trailing edge from an upstream cylinder and transferring the sheet trailing edge to a gripper system of a downstream drum, as viewed in sheet travel direction, includes a sucker guide mechanism having a movably mounted sucker carrier whereon sucker heads subjectible to an application of vacuum or suction air are disposed. The sucker carrier is constructed as a tubular part having a longitudinal axis and being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof. The tubular part is formed with a vacuum or suction air duct extending in the interior thereof and is formed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic-material laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fricke, Michael Puckl, Ludwig Reinhard, Matthias Schuster, Gunter Siebdrath
  • Publication number: 20040031811
    Abstract: An adjustable cup dispenser includes a tubular body having overlapping portions extending between a discharge opening at one end and an opposing end. A fastening mechanism selectively fixes the overlapping portions relative to each other to define a desired tubular body diameter. A plurality of radially inwardly extending dual-length fingers extend from the discharge opening for engaging a cup disposed in the tubular body. The dispenser body and fingers can be formed from a single sheet of flexible material, and then folded and rolled into the shape of the cup dispenser. The overlapping sides can be repositioned to define a different tubular body diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Carl R. Neess
  • Patent number: 6669065
    Abstract: A holder for golf tees that has a housing with an open interior. The interior has two curved ends and a thin middle section that forms a “dumb bell” shape. A plate that has a matching dumb bell is fitted into the open interior. Two springs are mounted inside of the housing and are attached to the bottom of the housing and to the bottom of the plate. A retainer pin is placed orthogonally across the top opening of the housing. The pin retains the plate in the housing and secures any tees that are installed as well. Tees are placed into the housing by sliding the pointed end under the retainer pin and pushing down on the plate. To dispense a tee, a user pushes down slightly on the pointed end of the top tee, which raises the other end of that it can be pulled from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher Bradley, Timothy Bradley, Thomas Knightlinger
  • Patent number: 6638003
    Abstract: A tablet sheet removing apparatus in which tablet sheets (S) are contained in a stacked state within a tablet sheet containing portion (1). Among the tablet sheets (S), at least two tablet sheets (S1, S2), forming the discharge side, are supported separately. A discharge portion (3) sucks and holds only the first tablet sheet (S1) from the discharge side among the tablet sheets (S) supported by an elastic support portion (2) to move and discharge it. Thus, in spite of the stacked direction of the tablet sheets, only one tablet sheet (S1) can be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Yuyama
  • Patent number: 6499155
    Abstract: A disposable, toilet flush handle protection device, and mountable dispensing mechanism for minimizing the spread of germs in public facilities, from one user to another. The device comprises an elongated disposable tubular member of a diametric size to be removably placed on and off a conventional, perpendicularly mounted flush handle member of a toilet. A first end of the device is closed, while the second end includes an outwardly flared portion, where the flared portion is preferably formed by plural longitudinal slots to segment the second end. The dispensing mechanism comprises a semi-rigid tube, such as may be formed of a thin walled plastic, open at the top end for receiving a plurality of nestable devices, and open at the bottom end. The bottom end includes an inwardly directed flange to selectively contact and temporarily retain the flared portions of the devices so as to limit the dispensing of a single device at desired intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Gary Barrios
  • Patent number: 6427868
    Abstract: The invention provides a cup dispenser for sequentially dispensing individual, disposable, rimmed cups having diameters varying from each other by several centimeters, from a stacked column thereof, comprising a cup-retaining and dispensing body provided with a tubular opening having a lower edge and with retaining means consisting essentially of at least two opposed flexible tongue-like members descending from the inner wall thereof, each of the members being subdivided into two portions, a first portion of the first member, in conjunction with the opposed first portion of the second member underriding and supporting the rim of a lowermost cup of the stacked column placed therein, and a second portion of the first member, in conjunction with the opposed second portion of the second member, simultaneously overriding the rim of the lowermost cup, and underriding and supporting the rim of the next to lowermost cup in the stack, whereby the pair of first portions retain the lowermost cup until the removal thereo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Menacham Vine
  • Patent number: 6352172
    Abstract: A folded web product dispensing system includes an outer housing that defines an interior space. A dispensing face is defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of a stacking means. The dispensing face has a central portion and a dispensing throat located in the central portion. The stacking means are mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of folded web product within the interior space and have a staging area proximate to the dispensing throat including at least two curved bumpers. These curved bumpers are oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. A number of ribs may be defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. The folded web product may be a stack of paper napkins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Yuwah Chan, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Publication number: 20010054620
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tissue dispenser being a box which is cylindrically shaped whereby the box can be stored in commercially available receptacles designed for holding cylindrical containers, such as found in a motor vehicle. The box is designed to have a central slot in its top through which the tissues are dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Wonda Blissett, Rafael G. Andrade
  • Patent number: 6325243
    Abstract: A device for dispensing cups includes a sleeve for receiving a plurality of cups. The sleeve has a first end, a second end and a generally hollow interior. A dispensing member is coupled to the sleeve, adjacent to the first end of the sleeve. The dispensing member includes a first set of cup engaging teeth and a second set of cup engaging teeth. A portal is defined in the sleeve, through which cups can be received into the hollow interior of the sleeve. The portal is closeable to form a generally axially extending, planar closed portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: George Bennett
  • Patent number: 6264062
    Abstract: A solder preform with predisposed flux to be located adjacent to a gap formed between multiple solderable surfaces such that upon heating, the flux wicks into and prepares the solderable surfaces prior to the solder melting and wicking into the freshly prepared gap. In plumbing applications, this invention can be located inside a pipe fitting adjacent to the end of an inserted pipe. Upon heating, this invention will make a sound solder joint by wicking into the annular region formed between the fitting and the pipe. This invention includes a dispenser for solder preforms that has features to align a solder preform with the centerline of the receiving pipe fitting into which it is to be inserted. In addition, the dispenser has features to insure the solder preforms are released one-at-a-time into the receiving fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Craig D. Lack, Peter R. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6220479
    Abstract: A confectionery dispensing device that dispenses gum balls or other confectioneries at a point remote from the user's hand with a popping sound and action. Confectioneries are stored in a container with a spring, gravity, or other biasing means which delivers a plurality of confectioneries to a conduit serially. A plunger ejects the confectioneries one at a time through the conduit so that the confectionery gently pops out of the device. A face or other figure can be placed around the ejecting end of the flexible finger tube, which face can remain permanently open, or open in a door or jaw-like manner upon ejection of the confectionery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Toycept, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Fishman
  • Patent number: 6199926
    Abstract: A dispenser and retriever for golf balls. The dispenser includes a leg, a foot, ball-dispensing apparatus, and ball-retrieving apparatus. The leg is hollow and holds the golf balls and is generally inclined relative to the ground so as to allow the golf balls to be biased downwardly therein. The foot is hollow and communicates with the leg and dispenses the golf balls held in the leg and is inclined relative to the leg to lie substantially flat on the ground so as to allow the golf balls to exit therefrom, onto the ground. The ball-dispensing apparatus is operatively connected to the foot and selectively dispenses the golf balls, one at a time, from the foot, by use of a golf club, and without use of a foot of a user and without the user having to bend down. The ball-retrieving apparatus is operatively connected to the leg and selectively picks up the golf balls already on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Louis Joesph Lemoine
  • Patent number: 6102263
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a device for holding golf balls 30 having a vertically oriented magazine-like container 12 having a spring-loaded clip 14 on its side for being attached to the belt 16 of the user 18 or other golf paraphernalia such as a bag. The container 12 is equipped with an inner spring 40 on its inside upper surface for putting downward pressure on the balls 30. The balls 30 are also held inside the container 12 by vertical members 34 located in a spaced apart relationship on the interior of the container 36 and held in place by springs 44. The vertical members 34 are further equipped with a roller bearing 38 on their lower end which grips the balls 30 and prevents the balls from being discharged from the container 12 until the user 18 so desires. The container 12 is also equipped on its outer lateral surface with an aperture or notch 32 which allows the user 18 to insert his finger and remove the balls 30 from the container 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventors: Daniel P Rosato, James F Luginsland
  • Patent number: 6003726
    Abstract: A hand-held feeder for fasteners having a head and a shank comprises a handle configured to contain fasteners and a channel extending from the handle, the channel having a free end and a support slit extending from the free end toward the handle. The support slit is wider than the fastener shanks but narrower than the heads, so that when fasteners emerging from the handle encounter the slit, the shanks will drop down through the, slit while the heads remain accessible within the channel. The channel is designed to provide unobstructed access to the heads of fasteners having shanks extending through the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bike Track, Inc.
    Inventor: E. Gerry Hawkes
  • Patent number: 6003724
    Abstract: A cup dispenser includes a housing for storing a plurality of cups nested in a stack. The cup dispenser has an annular collar surrounding the exterior of the housing. An annular retaining ring carries a cup holding member that is removably mounted on the collar such that the cup holding member is disposed over the discharge end of the housing to control removal of cups from the stack. The collar and housing have a locking arrangement which cooperates to permit relative movement of the collar and housing between a locked position and an unlocked position where the collar and housing can be separated. Portions of the collar and locking arrangement exposed to the interior of the housing preferably are substantially free of crevices or cavities which can trap bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: The Colman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Collins, James R. Walsh
  • Patent number: 5941415
    Abstract: The article dispensing apparatus includes an elongated barrel and a dispenser body received on the lower end of the elongated barrel for retaining and dispensing stacked articles. The dispenser body may be used to accommodate cups of a range of different sizes, shapes, and lip configurations due to a plurality of flexible fingers of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers are formed by pairs of spaced slots provided about a circumference of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers have radially inwardly sloping stop members which retain the cups and flex outward to dispense the cups. The elongated barrel is affixed to the dispenser body by one or more projections on the barrel which snap into corresponding recesses in the dispenser body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: The Meyer Company
    Inventor: Henry G. Roethel
  • Patent number: 5733089
    Abstract: In a nosepiece/receiver assembly having a housing for receiving a part, a removable jaw mechanism that is mounted for pivotable movement against a biasing spring. The jaw member has a contoured surface for holding a part received by the nosepiece/receiver assembly when the jaw member is in a part holding position. The jaw member includes channel at one end for enabling the jaw member to pivot about a securing member of the assembly to a part releasing position. The jaw member may consist of either two cooperating movable jaws or one separate jaw. The jaw mechanism also includes a resilient biasing device for urging the jaw member into a part holding position. The biasing device is in contact with both the housing of the nosepiece/receiver assembly and the jaw member, with at least a portion of the resilient biasing device being external to the jaw member to allow easy replacement of the biasing device. The biasing device is positioned to minimize the chance of breakage of the jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Air Way Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Clare E. Albright
  • Patent number: 5697521
    Abstract: An improved hand-held collar dispenser for securing collars to a lockbolt or other fastening piece is disclosed. The dispenser has a feeding end and a dispensing end connected by a channel. A pair of retention clips selectively retains the collars within the body until the user chooses to dispense a collar. The retention clips are pivotally mounted to a guide block which moves between an extended position and a retracted position. When the guide block is in the retracted position, the tail of each retention clip abuts a respective angled surface preventing the retention clips from rotating. As the guide block moves between the retracted and extended positions, each retention clip slides along its corresponding angled surface permitting the retention clips to rotate to an open position in which a collar is permitted to pass between the claw ends of the retention clips and exit the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Huck International
    Inventor: Richard D. Dixon
  • Patent number: 5586687
    Abstract: A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track which defines a longitudinally extending pathway, a support assembly for the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support assembly supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end. The gate mechanism blocks the pathway at a position between the front and rear ends of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Spamer, J. Marshall Suttles, Dennis E. Parham, James D. Whiten
  • Patent number: 5582326
    Abstract: A drinking-water service system for supplying individual cylindrical containers of drinking water to athletes. A storage and dispensing unit for storing the containers for semi-automatically sequentially dispensing individually the drinking water containers to athletes. A multi-stage storage and delivery control passageway has a rolling section generally inclined downwardly for receiving and storing the containers disposed side by side and gravity biased. An uprighting section receives the containers from the rolling section successively and its surfaces cause the containers to assume an upright position for travel downwardly to a dispensing section which has a dispensing outlet opening through which the containers are dispensed to a horizontal stand surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Takashi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5564597
    Abstract: A portable container beverage dispensing system. The beverage dispenser uses the original beverage container which is inverted and loaded into a sleeve inside the beverage dispensing system. A conduit is attached to the beverage container which is in turn attached to a spigot which is accessible from the outside of the portable container. The beverage is gravity fed to the spigot. The beverage container is insulated from external temperature problems, and is held in close proximity to thermal control devices to provide more efficient beverage temperature control. The sleeve may alternatively be used as a reservoir, for an optional cup dispenser is provided, or for an optional storage container. An optional pump is provided to maintain pressure inside the reservoir for adequate beverage flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventors: Lee R. Koorse, Mark M. McCool
  • Patent number: 5553536
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus transfers an image onto a substrate. A feed mechanism is provided for moving the substrate along a fixed linear path. Vacuum is provided through the feed mechanism for holding the substrate in at least one position along the fixed linear path. A printing head transfers the image onto the substrate while the substrate is held in a first position by the vacuum. A curing station is provided for fixing the image transferred to the substrate while it is passing through the curing station, or while it is being held in a second position by the vacuum applied through the feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Van Os Enterprises
    Inventor: Arlen Van Os
  • Patent number: 5511333
    Abstract: A removable projectile magazine for paintball guns has a cylindrical, spring loaded housing with an opening at one end for receiving and ejecting paintballs. The end also has a one-way valve consisting of a plurality of flexible fingers subtending a hemispherical shape. The fingers permit insertion of paintballs into the housing but prohibit removal of the paintballs therefrom when the housing is not received on a gun. When received on paintball gun, a de-activating member forces the resilient fingers apart allowing the paintballs to exit from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5358140
    Abstract: An adhesive bandage dispensing system includes an elongated strand of individually sterile-wrapped adhesive bandages and a reusable dispenser for storing and dispensing the bandages. Each bandage is contained in a separate sterile compartment of an otherwise continuous wrapping material. Perforations formed in the wrapping material around each compartment allow the compartments to be individually opened. The strand is loaded into the dispenser, which is secured to a stable surface, so that the leading edge of the strand is frictionally held in biased guide flanges and protrudes from a dispensing opening defined by the flanges. The leading edge of the strand is pulled from the dispensing opening until an entire bandage is exposed, then the strand is pulled sharply to completely break the perforation, and the bandage can then be removed from the excess wrapping and prepared to be applied to a wound using both hands, if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Mark J. Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 5327878
    Abstract: A device for holding spherical projectiles in position is described. The two-pronged or fingered device is made up of resilient, elastic, tough and durable material such as elastomers of the class of rubber and which are dimensionally recuperative after being deformed. The two fingered device holds spherical projectiles in place and is sufficiently deformable to allow the projectile to be discharged from the area in which it is held by the retention system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Benjamin Sheridan Corp.
    Inventor: Henry W. P. Wittbrot