Aligned Discharge Assistant, Actuator, Container And Nozzle Patents (Class 222/321.6)
  • Publication number: 20040026458
    Abstract: An all plastic metering pump having a bellows-type spring with a tubular valve which is integrally formed on it in a single piece in a discharge region toward a metering head, the tubular valve being designed as a discharge valve of the metering pump. In the method, the pump components, which have been manufactured in each case in a plurality of injection cycles, are assembled from the injection mold in a defined assembly sequence in time with the injection cycles, the number of assembly steps corresponding to the number of injection cycles for producing the various pump components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20040026457
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser device comprising a pump (50) and a dispensing head that comprises a body (1) defining a fluid discharge channel (2) ending in a dispensing orifice (3), a rigid insert (4) being disposed in said discharge channel (2), said rigid insert forming or being secured to the outlet valve of said pump, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said dispensing head further comprises a closure element (10) disposed in said discharge channel (2), said closure element (10) being mounted to move and/or to deform between a closure position in which it closes off the discharge channel (2) and a non-closure position in which it does not close off the discharge channel (2), said rigid insert (4) being mounted to move inside said discharge channel (2) between a rest position and an actuating position, said closure element (10) cooperating at one end with said rigid insert (4) and at the other end with said body (1) so that, when the insert (4) is in the rest position, the closure element (10) is
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ludovic Petit
  • Patent number: 6669056
    Abstract: A foaming device, capable of generating foam by mixing a volume of air with a quantity of liquid, optionally connected to a tank of the liquid and provided with valves for controlling the flow of air and liquid, comprises an air chamber enclosed in a resiliently deformable diaphragm, and a liquid chamber. The diaphragm is shaped in such a way as to produce an increasing rate of flow of expelled air during deformation by an air piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Guala Dispensing, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Bistolfi
  • Patent number: 6651844
    Abstract: A counter for counting delivered doses from a spray dispenser of a type having a main body holding a fluid substance to be dispensed and a cap with a pump and nozzle mounted on the main body, the counter including: a counter body having an upper recess for receiving the main body; a button in an arcuate lower depression on the counter body for actuation by a person's thumb when a dose is dispensed; a display on the counter body for displaying a number of doses dispensed from the main body; a circuit which changes the number of doses display each time that the button is depressed; a set button for setting a starting number which is displayed on the display, corresponding to a predetermined number of doses remaining in the spray dispenser; and a sound generator which generates an audible sound upon each depression of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schering Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tomaka, Jason S. Spitz
  • Publication number: 20030183655
    Abstract: A device for dispensing fluids from a sealed off-storage container includes a housing placed on the container that receives a pressure cylinder for insertion in the container. The cylinder has a pressure chamber defined at the upper end by a piston guided in the cylinder and at the lower end by a valve. The valve acts upon the container and is closed when there is an excess pressure and opens when there is a negative pressure in the chamber. The piston has a pump channel linked with the chamber, and the cylinder has openings upstream of the chamber for drawing off residual air present in the container. A passage between an outer wall of the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder upstream of the openings is closed by a sealing washer. Residual air is drawn off via the openings and the passage, whereby the sealing washer loses its sealing effect on the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Padar
  • Publication number: 20030121940
    Abstract: A delivery container has a casing filled with a chemical liquid and a cap mounted on an upper end of the casing. A hollow cylinder having slots is disposed in and integrally formed with a lower portion of the casing. A tubular piston with a check valve is slidably disposed in the cylinder. The piston is connected to the cap, which has a discharge port, by a hollow shaft which extends vertically through an upper portion of the casing, so that vertical movement of the cap can be transmitted via the shaft to the piston. Inasmuch as the cylinder is disposed in the bottom of the casing, the cylinder is filled at all times with the chemical liquid which is supplied via the slots by gravity. The chemical liquid does not need to be drawn upwardly, and can be discharged in a constant quantity from the discharge port in one cycle of operation of the delivery container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6540115
    Abstract: A seasoning container comprising a container main body having an upper opening portion and a lower opening portion, an upper lid having a recessed portion and detachably fitted to the upper opening portion, a bottom lid detachably fitted to the lower opening portion of the container main body and having a nozzle disposed at a central area thereof, a control member whose upper end is connected to an inner central area of a handle which can be lowered into the recess of the upper lid, a pump member placed within a lower space portion disposed on an extension of the control member and communicated with an interior of the container main body, and a narrow tubular member, which is passed through a central through hole portion of the pump material, being in communication with the nozzle of the bottom lid, thereby jetting the liquid seasoning through a container main body bottom surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Sigeharu Sago
  • Patent number: 6478196
    Abstract: Radial actuation of a handle (15) axially retracts the dispensers shaft (6) inclusive an exit head (9) relative to a base body (5) and a reservoir (7). The shaft (6) is prevented from rotating. The medium thus flows from a pressure chamber (26) via an outlet valve (32) through the entire shaft (6) to a medium exit (20) while being swirled. For facilitated handling the base body (5) and the reservoir (7) form a rod-shaped grip with the handle (15) on one side and a finger scallop (72) on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6443370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spray head (100) for a fluid dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the spray head being provided with an expulsion channel (1) opening out in a spray orifice (9), and with a moving closure member (10) mounted to move between a closed position, in which it closes said orifice (9), and a spray position, said closure member (10) being urged resiliently towards its closed position, and being displaced towards its spray position by the pressure of the fluid, the spray head being provided with a swirl chamber (20) of variable volume, the volume of said swirl chamber (20) being at its maximum when the closure member (10) is in the spray position, and being substantially zero when said closure member is in the closed position, said spray head being characterized in that said closure member (10) is provided with the spray orifice (9) and with swirl channels (30) which, when the closure member is in the spray position, connect said expulsion channel (1) to said swirl chamber (20), the volume and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Valois S.A.
    Inventors: François Brulle, Ludovic Petit
  • Publication number: 20020117513
    Abstract: Such dispensers must be easy to grasp or operate by a user, e.g. a user suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and whose capacity to manipulate objects is under certain circumstances limited. In addition, the dispenser must have a simple, inexpensive construction from a minimum number of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Helmlinger
  • Patent number: 6439440
    Abstract: A dispensing head for dispensing a product from a receptacle associated with an actuatable dispensing element. The dispensing head comprises a mounting element configured to be fixed to the receptacle, and at least one dispensing orifice. The dispensing head further may comprise a dispensing nozzle forming a channel configured to pass product to the at least one dispensing orifice. The nozzle may be configured to be rotatably fixed relative to the mounting element and also be configured to be displaced so as to cause actuation of the dispensing element. The dispensing head may also comprise a cap configured to be screwed onto the dispensing nozzle. The cap may be configured to prevent the actuation of the dispensing element when the cap is in a screwed-on position on the dispensing nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Pierre-André Lasserre
  • Patent number: 6427684
    Abstract: The problem of the invention is to so further develop a discharge apparatus according to the preamble that it is possible during each individual actuating stroke to reliably discharge a predetermined volume of medium. A discharge apparatus for media according to the invention has a casing, on which is located an actuator. During each actuator actuation an actuating stroke takes place and consequently a given volume of the medium stored in the casing is discharged. According to the invention the gravity dependently operating blocking means are constructed in such a way that they can block the performance of an actuating stroke as a function of the spatial position of the discharge apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ritsche, Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6419124
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser of the type comprising a tank (R) fitted with liquid extractor means (P) suitable for being actuated by axial displacement of the tank relative to a delivery tube (T) having a portion that projects outwards, the dispenser being characterized in that it comprises firstly a discharge duct (1) connected in leakproof manner to the outer portion of the delivery tube (T) and passing through an endpiece (2) connected rigidly to a housing (B) containing the tank (R), and secondly at least one side knob (11, 12) engaging the tank or the delivery tube and carrying a cam (110, 120) designed to co-operate in sliding contact with at least one sloping wall (21, 22) secured to said endpiece (2) in such a manner that substantially radial thrust on said knob (11, 12) is transformed into axial displacement of the tube (T) relative to the tank (R), thereby causing the liquid to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Rexam Sofab
    Inventors: Pascal Hennemann, Jean-Pierre Alleard, David Leuliet
  • Patent number: 6405904
    Abstract: A dispensing head for dispensing a product, for example, a cosmetic product, includes a body configured to mount the head on a container containing the product, an actuator that allows a dispensing element on the container to be actuated and an outlet configured to be placed in flow communication with the dispensing element to deliver a dose of product from the outlet. The dispensing head further includes a cover element configured to cover the outlet when the dispensing head is in a storage position. A removable cap is configured to be placed on the body, the cap including a portion that engages with the cover element to retain the cap on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: L'Oreal, S.A.
    Inventor: Vincent De Laforcade
  • Publication number: 20020066752
    Abstract: In a dispenser, particularly an atomizer, which is used for flowable substances, particularly pharmaceuticals, use is made of a pump, which must be actuated one or more times for priming purposes. Its discharge nozzle (14) is covered by a protective cap (38), which is suitable to collect and store the medium, which is discharged during the priming strokes and before the start of the useful strokes. During the priming strokes the protective cap (38) is secured on the dispenser (11). This is brought about in that a locking (40) for the protective cap is only released when the priming strokes have been performed. This can take place by electrical actuation or by material change under the influence of the medium to be discharged. According to a variant the protective cap is not itself locked, but an actuation locking takes place if the protective cap has not been fitted for the priming strokes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Ritsche, Juergen Greiner-Perth
  • Publication number: 20020066753
    Abstract: A first reservoir body (13) includes two necks (19, 20). One neck (19) carries a thrust piston pump (11) including a medium outlet (37). The other neck (20) carries a closed second reservoir body (14) including a second medium. When the closure (9) is opened, the second medium is transferred into the first reservoir body (13) where it is mixed with or dissolved in the first medium. Thereafter, the mixed media can be discharged by the dosing pump (11) from the first reservoir body (13) in discrete doses in sequence. Thus, the media are stored separately and are not merged until being discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Juergen Greiner-Perth, Hans Merk, Thomas Eberhard
  • Patent number: 6394317
    Abstract: The present invention provides a container which provides a measured dosage of the contents of the container when pressure is applied to the top of the container. When not in use, the container additionally contains a locking means such that the contents of the container cannot be dispensed without repositioning the locking means to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Faughey, John Lonczak
  • Patent number: 6386397
    Abstract: An ergonomically improved spray bottle grip includes a top wall surrounded by a perimeter wall that defines a first recess on the underside of the top wall. One or more shoulders projecting inwardly from the perimeter wall allow the first recess to receive a finger flange on the spray bottle in a snap fit manner. A pair of arms extend downwardly from the perimeter wall and terminate in a pair of finger grips. The finger grips may include upward portions and ribs to help prevent the user's fingers from slipping off of the finger grip. The top wall includes a closed central aperture which is dimensioned to telescopingly receive a nozzle on the spray bottle. In use, the grip is placed over the spray bottle such that the nozzle projects through the aperture. The top wall is then pressed downwardly along the spray bottle until it contacts the finger flange on the spray bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Herbert V. Brotspies, John B. Cullen, Warren J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6308867
    Abstract: The dispenser outlet (13) is microbiologically sealingly closeable by a valve stopple (25) which closes counter flow direction (11). Outlet 13 is manually reversely opened prior to the pump stroke against a spring (34). The medium reaches outlet (13) via throttles (22, 21, 49). Thus the medium creeps practically non-pressurized to an adhering face (51) of a droplet former (50). There the medium accumulates to a droplet suspending in the upside-down position. The medium contained in the dispenser (1) is effectively protected from germ contamination and the droplet may be simply administered to an eye or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Wolter
  • Patent number: 6276568
    Abstract: An ergonomically improved spray bottle grip includes a top wall surrounded by a perimeter wall that defines a first recess on the underside of the top wall. One or more shoulders projecting inwardly from the perimeter wall allow the first recess to receive a finger flange on the spray bottle in a snap fit manner. A pair of arms extend downwardly from the perimeter wall and terminate in a pair of finger grips. The finger grips may include upward portions and ribs to help prevent the user's fingers from slipping off of the finger grip. The top wall includes a closed central aperture which is dimensioned to telescopingly receive a nozzle on the spray bottle. In use, the grip is placed over the spray bottle such that the nozzle projects through the aperture. The top wall is then pressed downwardly along the spray bottle until it contacts the finger flange on the spray bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Herbert V. Brotspies, John B. Cullen, Warren J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010007327
    Abstract: A dispenser (1) comprises a reservoir (7) and a plunger pump (8), the medium inlet (3) of which pierces a closure (45) of the reservoir (7), after which the medium can be discharged metered from the reservoir (7) by repeated strokes with the pump (8). Until used the medium thus remains hermetically sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Inventors: Stefan Ritsche, Juergen Greiner-Perth
  • Patent number: 6257454
    Abstract: The outlet (12) of a dispenser reservoir (8) is sealingly closed by a transverse catch member (21) which also positively prevents the dispenser (1) from being actuated. Pulling out the catch member (21) opens the reservoir (8) and releases the discharge actuator (37). Thus the piston (14) opposing the reservoir outlet (12) can enter. The materials of the reservoir (8) and reservoir seal (30) are paired in glass, tetrafluoroethylene or the like. Thus even sensitive media may be stored in the dispenser (1) over lengthy periods without risking any change in the substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Ritsche
  • Patent number: 6250509
    Abstract: The dispenser orifice (13) may be closed off microbiologically tight by a valve plug (25) closing contrary to the direction of flow (11) and is opened against a spring (34) in the direction of flow (11). The medium gains access to the orifice (13) via throttling elements (22, 21, 49) so that it creeps practically non-pressurized to the attaching surface area (51) of a droplet former (50) where it accumulates into a droplet suspending in the upside-down position, as a result of which the medium contained in the dispenser (1) may be protected from germ contamination and the droplet may be simply administered to an eye or the like. Instead of being formed by a plunger pump (9) the delivery and compression chamber (15) may also be formed by a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20010004083
    Abstract: An ergonomically improved spray bottle grip includes a top wall surrounded by a perimeter wall that defines a first recess on the underside of the top wall. One or more shoulders projecting inwardly from the perimeter wall allow the first recess to receive a finger flange on the spray bottle in a snap fit manner. A pair of arms extend downwardly from the perimeter wall and terminate in a pair of finger grips. The finger grips may include upward portions and ribs to help prevent the user's fingers from slipping off of the finger grip. The top wall includes a closed central aperture which is dimensioned to telescopingly receive a nozzle on the spray bottle. In use, the grip is placed over the spray bottle such that the nozzle projects through the aperture. The top wall is then pressed downwardly along the spray bottle until it contacts the finger flange on the spray bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Applicant: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware
    Inventors: Herbert V. Brotspies, John B. Cullen, Warren J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6234365
    Abstract: The invention relates to an endpiece for dispensing and/or measuring out liquid pharmaceutical substances, the endpiece comprising a cylindro-conical body (1) fitted with a bottom base (13) for receiving thrust and for coupling to a tank capable of being put under pressure, and an axial ejection duct (10) containing a central core (2) and communicating firstly at its top end with a spray nozzle, and secondly at its bottom end with the tank, it is characterized in that the top end of the ejection duct (10) is closed in temporary and leakproof manner by a wall (111) which is secured to the top portion (1a) of the body (1) and which extends perpendicularly to the duct, the wall being movable in reversible manner under drive from the substance, said wall being provided with a central orifice (110) capable of being closed in the closed position by a stud (20) secured to the core (2) being forced thereagainst, the periphery of the wall being attached to said body (1) via an elastically deformable link element (112)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Rexam Sofab
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bougamont, Pascal Hennemann, David Leuliet
  • Patent number: 6227414
    Abstract: A dispensing device for liquid, fluid or pasty products. A support in an opening of a receptacle encloses the product. The support has a central tubular conduit, a pushbutton axially slidably mounted on the support between a rest position and an active position and a product outlet conduit. An intermediate piece of a resiliently deformable material is between the support and the pushbutton. The intermediate piece and the pushbutton define a measured quantity chamber for the product. The intermediate piece has an opening for communication between the tubular conduit of the support and the measured quantity chamber, and sealingly bears against at least one opening for passage between the measured quantity chamber and the outlet conduit of the pushbutton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: LIR France
    Inventors: Stanislas Peronnet, Alain Behar
  • Patent number: 6209760
    Abstract: A dispenser (1) includes a traveling member (50) extending integrally from the pump piston (17) up to the nozzle body (49) of the medium outlet (20). The traveling member (50) is enveloped by a separate runner body (60) which has handles (62). A core body (30) is located within runner body (60) and extends over the entire length of the dispenser (1). The base body (4) to be secured to the reservoir (29) is composed from two interconnected components (8,9) which commonly bound a free space (80) for stress reliefing the piston lip (17) in the operational end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6189739
    Abstract: A device (G) for dispensing liquids (1), especially medicinal liquids, from a mouthpiece aperture (2), the latter being connected to a supply of liquid, by manual actuation of a piston-cylinder device (4) which allows the manual actuation only after an overload threshold (Ü) has been exceeded. The device achieves a design which is advantageous for use, and provides a powerful jet of liquid, by a smaller restoring spring force, assigned to the overload threshold (Ü), of the piston-cylinder device (4) designed as a pump (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventor: Alfred von Schuckmann
  • Patent number: 6173868
    Abstract: A nasal pump sprayer having a folding actuator that can be used as a dust cover, finger grip and shipping clip. The folding actuator has a pair of wings that are hingedly connected to the pump body of the nasal pump sprayer and which can be locked in a closed position and used as a cover and shipping stop. The wings may also be opened to a lateral position and used as finger grips for actuating the nasal pump sprayer. Each wing has a locking means at one end for snap-locking the wings together and a hollow interior that is complementary in shape to the nozzle of the sprayer. An immobilizing means extends from the connected end of each wing and engages a confronting edge of the pump body thus locking the plunger head of the nasal pump sprayer against reciprocation for storage and shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart DeJonge
  • Patent number: RE37903
    Abstract: A medication dispensing applicator which utilizes indicia inscribed on different parts of the applicator to inform a user which nostril or other body location was last utilized in dispensing of the medication and when the medication was dispensed. This information is to inform the user when and where the medication was last dispensed so the user can readily determine what is the correct time for a further dispensing of medication and as to which location the medication is to be dispensed as locations are to be alternated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jane G. Riskin