Abstract: A product dispensing system includes an overcap that has a locking element extending therefrom. A container has a product disposed therein. A bracket is attached to the container. The bracket includes at least one flange and at least one slot. The at least one flange extends toward the at least one slot. A resilient member is disposed within the locking element.

Abstract: A dispensing closure is provided that includes a body portion and a flap portion. The body portion can include an end wall, a skirt that depends from end wall, and an opening about the same size as the end wall. The flap portion can include a lid having at least one dispensing opening and a disk that has one or more dispensing orifices. The disk is in rotatable contact with the lid. A lock portion can include a surface area formed on the flap portion. The lock portion can also include a first substantially vertical piece formed on a first side of surface area, a second substantially vertical piece formed on a second side of surface area, and a substantially horizontal piece formed at a bottom of the first substantially vertical piece and the second substantially vertical piece.

Abstract: When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.

Abstract: A cylindrical-shaped particle dispenser cartridge includes a dispenser nozzle. The dispenser nozzle outer surface includes sealing ribs that surround an included nozzle opening. The dispenser nozzle is arranged to engage a shutter that slides over the sealing ribs, thus sealing the nozzle opening. When the cartridge rotates about the cartridge axial in a shutter-opening or leading direction (X) with respect to the shutter, the sealing ribs move in a like direction with respect to the shutter, thus unsealing the particle dispenser cartridge nozzle opening. The dispenser cartridge is arranged to dispense particles such as, for example, toner particles. The dispenser nozzle outer surface includes outer shutter rails disposed on inboard and outboard sides of the sealing ribs.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a downwardly directed funnel, a substantially cylindrical body position within a cylindrical base and a cylindrical valve within the cylindrical body atop of the funnel includes a baffle, a latch and a planar semi-circular surface about which the cylindrical valve adapted to rotate to open and close the valve.

Abstract: A dispensing machine for dispensing items from a storage container and into an object container is disclosed. The dispensing machine dispenses items such as frozen chicken nuggets or other food items which are normally cooked and sold by volume. Accordingly, the machine may be set to dispense a pre-selected portion of chicken nuggets from the input hopper. The object container is typically a deep-frying basket. Upon activating the machine, the user will not have to count the items nor will the user have to touch the items at any time, thereby reducing or eliminating opportunities for contamination of the items and consequent spread of disease or unpalatable impurities such as dirt. The machine may be fully automatic or may be hand operated. Where the items are edible items that must be refrigerated, the machine components may be contained in refrigeration unit. Access to the interior of the machine is provided through one or more doors which are designed to remain shut during operation of the machine.

Abstract: A cork device comprises a cork member and a control member. The cork member comprises a lower end to be inserted into a mouth of a bottle and an upper end. The lower end of the cork member including a liquid passage having a lower end communicated with an interior of the bottle and an upper end. The control member is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the cork member and movable between a sealing position and an open position. The control member includes a liquid outlet passage. The upper end of the liquid passage of the cork member is blocked by the control member when the control member is in the sealing position. The upper end of the liquid passage of the cork member is communicated with atmosphere via the liquid outlet passage when the control member is in the open position.

Abstract: An insulating, serving urn assembly(10) with an extra closure assembly(40) releasably mounted within the neck(28) of an urn body(22) for reducing the loss of heat from within the urn during brewing of beverage into the urn assembly(10) by passing the beverage into the urn body through a relatively small drain opening(73) of a brew guide(46) mounted to an extra closure member(42) that closes off the inner opening(26) of the urn. After,brewing is complete but before serving from the urn assembly(10), the beverage is additionally insulated by a lid(36) that fits over the outer opening(24) of the urn assembly(10) and a brew guide closure(76) that is mounted to the underside(36B) of the lid(36). During service a relatively small, extra closure service opening (50) located adjacent to a spout (34) in the extra closure member(42) is opened with movement of a rotatably mounted door(44) to an open position to enable pouring out of the beverage while still covering most of the inner opening(26).

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a particulate material from a fill tube of a container filling system is herein disclosed. The rotary flow control device of the present invention includes a stationary plate having flow openings formed therethrough and a rotating plate having similar flow openings. The stationary plate is secured to a distal end of the fill tube such that particulate materials flow from the fill tube will pass through the flow openings of the stationary plate and become somewhat compacted. The rotating plate is adjacent the stationary plate and rotates with respect to the stationary plate so as to shear off masses of particulate materials extruded through the stationary plate in a controlled manner. Preferably the rotating plate will be coupled to the shaft of an auger where the shaft of the auger extends through the stationary plate.

Abstract: A beverage server comprises a container having a top, a bottom, and side walls joined so as to form a water-tight vessel. The container has a fill opening in the top thereof that provides access to the interior of the container. The container also has a spout formed through a side wall of the container and opening onto the fill opening formed into the top and a handle connected to a side wall of the container opposite the spout. A lid having a top with a skirt wall depending downwardly therefrom is constructed and arranged to be received within the fill opening of the container. The skirt wall has a pour opening formed therethrough that may be aligned with the spout formed through the sidewall of the container to allow liquids to be poured from the beverage server. The lid is rotatable between three positions: a first, open/close position; a second, closed position; and a third, pouring position.

Abstract: A tap and valve assembly for selectively storing or dispensing fluid from a fluid container, comprising a tap body which attaches to the fluid container, a tap handle that inserts within the tap body and provides a structure for opening and closing the fluid passageway from the fluid container through the tap assembly, a valve housing having a tapered nose section, and a valve mechanism housed within the valve housing. As the tap body is inserted within the valve housing, the valve mechanism is opened creating a fluid passageway through the valve housing. A locking tab for securing the tap assembly in the closed position must be broken off before the tap may be rotated to the on position. A key mechanism ensures the assembly of matched tap and valve assemblies.

Abstract: A quick-disconnect fluid coupling is provided that includes a spout assembly comprising a spout fitment having a first fluid opening and a spout valve member having a second fluid opening and capable of rotating from a first position to a second position to form a spout fluid path between the first and second fluid openings. The fluid coupling also includes a service-line connector comprising a line fitment member including a third fluid opening, and a connector valve member having a fourth fluid opening and capable of rotating from a third position to a fourth position to form a connector fluid path between the third and fourth fluid openings, whereby a spout-connector fluid path is formed between the second and fourth fluid openings upon attachment of the service-line connector to the spout assembly.

Abstract: A portable applicator for dispensing flowable material from a container, the applicator comprising a carrying frame for wearing by a user and for supporting a container such that a valve of the container faces substantially downwardly; an inlet mounted to said carrying frame for sealable engagement with a valve of a container for receiving material from the container when the valve thereof is in an open condition thereof; and a dispenser outlet communicating with said inlet for dispensing material received via said inlet.

Abstract: A closure for sealing the open end of a specimen collection container from the environment is provided. The closure includes a generally spherical-shaped ball having a passageway extending therethrough. The ball is capable of rotative movement between an open position and a closed position, with the passageway being aligned with the open end of the collection container when the ball is in an open position and being out of alignment with the open end of the collection container when the ball is in a closed position. The closure further includes a socket mountable on the open end of the collection container for accommodating rotative movement of the ball between an open position and a closed position. The socket includes an integral flexible seal which provides a perimetrical seat for the ball.

Abstract: A dispensing capsule for a container, a container incorporating the capsule, and a method of manufacture. The capsule includes a product passage reducer, integral with or mounted fixedly on the container and a cap forming a cover, rotatably mounted with respect to the reducer, the reducer and the cap each being provided with an off-center aperture so as to ensure the opening and closing of the capsule by superposing or offsetting the apertures with respect to each other during cap rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing particulate material, such as bird seed, employs a dispensing valve having a first disk fixedly mounted in a housing and a second disk rotatably mounted in the housing. The first disk has circumferentially spaced first apertures and the second disk has circumferentially spaced second apertures. The boundaries of the first apertures intersect the periphery of the first disk, and the boundaries of the second apertures intersect the periphery of the second disk. The second disk can be rotated to select a desired position, such as a closed position in which the first and second apertures are completely unaligned, a fully open position in which the first and second apertures are completely aligned, or a partially open position in which the first and second apertures are partially aligned.

Abstract: The multiple compartment plastic container comprises an injection molded finish having a circumferential wall and at least one diametrical wall dividing the finish into at least two passages and an extruded and blow molded body integrally attached to said finish and providing at least two compartments communicating with said passages. The container is made by injection molding a plastic finish having a circumferential wall and at least one diametrical wall dividing the finish in two or more passages, extruding a plastic tube with wall of the tube integral with circumferential wall of the finish and the diametrical wall, closing a blow mold about the tube, and blowing air into the tube through the finish to the confines of the blow mold.

Abstract: A container and a valve located thereon from which liquid substances can be dispensed wherein the container has inner and outer wall portions, one within the other, and a liquid substance positioned within one of the wall portions but not within the other wall portion. The valve has a first port communicating with the space within the one wall portion and a second port communicating with the space within the other wall portion, and a valve operator member movable between a first position simultaneously closing the first and second ports and a second position simultaneously opening the first and second ports. The valve directs incoming replacement air into one portion of the container as liquid is dispensed out from the other portion.

Abstract: A tamper-evident end closure for dispensers, including a hermetically sea base, a rotor having a normally occurring unrestrained non-flat shape, and a rotatable connection between the rotor and the base to hold the rotor on the base in a substantially flat condition so it can rotate. The rotatable connection is achieved by employing an annular attachment ring, formed on the rotor snap-fit into an annular groove molded into the base. The annular attachment ring is connected to the rotor by a frangible web, which will break or tear when an attempt is made to separate the rotor from the base. Because the rotor is formed with a normally occurring non-flat shape, tearing or breaking of the frangible web will allow a portion of the rotor, normally held by the attachment ring, to spring or bend toward its natural shape. This unrestrained portion provides striking evidence of the tampering attempt.

Abstract: A powder developer container in which an opening through which a powder developer can be discharged is formed by a relative movement between a pair of shutter members in which a sealing member is interposed thereinbetween. The sealing member is fixed to one of the pair of shutter members and slidable relative to the other one of the pair of shutter members. The sealing member has a hardness of 20 to 70, a compressive set lower than 4%. A coefficient of friction .mu. between itself and the mating member on which the sealing member is slidable is not greater than 0.8. The sealing member is compressed between the pair of shutter members at a compression rate higher than 20%.

Abstract: A container including a housing and a cover assembly including first and second lids pivotally interconnected by a rivet assembly. A gasket being disposed between the first and second lids. The first and second lids and the gasket having openings alignable with one another so as to enable movement of the second lid relative to the first lid, thereby providing an opening from an interior of the container to an exterior of the container.

Abstract: Squeeze bottle pumpless nozzle dispenser has a first lid, a second lid, a dispensing nozzle, a shut off valve and a dip tube. The first lid, located on the top, has a dispensing orifice upper portion and a venting orifice upper portion. Each of these is located in either a track or a track follower formed in the bottom of the first lid and in alignment therewith. It has means for rotatable attachment to the second lid. The second lid has means for attaching to the squeeze bottle and includes the lower portions of a dispensing orifice and a venting orifice. Each of these is located in either a track or track follower and is located on the top of the second lid in alignment with the counterparts located on the bottom of the first lid. A shut off valve is located within the lower or upper portion of the venting orifice, responsive to pressure. When the bottle is squeezed, the shut off valve will close the vent so that fluid material will only exit through the dispensing orifice and thus through the nozzle.

Abstract: A post mix dispenser having a refrigerated cabinet at the top which houses separate containers for different juice concentrates. The machine mixes potable water with the concentrate on demand. The potable water is cooled in an ice bath at the rear of the cabinet, in the same refrigeration system which cools the ice bath provides a source for cooling air circulated in the cabinet about the concentrate containers. The concentrate containers each are of rigid box member construction having supported therein a liquid-type bag member with an outlet member. The containers are coupled to a beverage discharge assembly by a concentrate pump and a concentrate control valve that provides for quick-disconnect operation.

Abstract: A cut-off nozzle for use in dispensing increments of flowable products comprised of a liquid medium in which solids are dispersed, particularly burrito fillings. The cut-off nozzle structure incorporates a light-weight slide member which is shuttled with fast movement between "open" and "close" positions within a chamber having outlet openings in the bottom with which discharge openings in the slide member register or coincide when the slide member is shuttled to its "open" position. The geometry of the chamber-outlet and slide-discharge openings combines with the fast closing action of the slide to provide a sharp positive cut-off of increments of product dispensed from the nozzle with elimination of leakage or drip, plugging and separation of product constituents. The nozzle may be fed with a single stream of product or with two different streams.

Abstract: A discharge control device is presented which includes a variable opening formed between two cylinders with parallel axes. The cylinders are mounted between two symmetrical support blocks having bores and are spaced at a distance equal to the sum of their radii. At least one of the cylinders has an external cut-out which, upon rotation of the two cylinders, defines the variable opening. The cylinders are in the form of discs with an axial thickness wherein the cut-out extends over the whole thickness. The discharge control device controls the flow of molten materials.

Abstract: A one piece, resilient, integrally molded container cap consisting of a rotor member, fixed member and a frangible connecting tab. The rotor member has a closed portion and an opening portion, and the fixed member has a closed portion and a sifting and pouring opening. As manufactured, the rotor member is attached to the fixed member by a frangible connecting tab. When desired to attach the container cap to a container, the rotor member is pivoted along the frangible connecting tab to be axially displaced from the fixed member. The rotor member is then pushed down on the fixed member, the members engaging each other by complementary locking surfaces. This action insures that the closed portions of the rotor and fixed members are aligned to prevent the contents of the container from undesired escape and also effects a tight, secure fit of the rotor member to the fixed member.

Abstract: A vacuum manifold for solid phase extraction of a plurality of liquid samples from reagent tubes removably connected by valves to a vacuum chamber through a removable vacuum tight cover closing. A plurality of parallel flow paths are provided through the cover for the flow of liquid samples into the vacuum chamber, through a plurality of valves rotatable about an axis parallel to the general direction of flow through the cover to provide flow adjustment and closing of the valves. A valve is also provided for attaching the vacuum chamber to a vacuum source to create a vacuum therein. An optional attachment is provided permitting treatment of materials with nitrogen or other gases using a manifold plate attached to a source of gas and providing a plurality of valve control means axially aligned to couple with the rotatable valves for passage of liquid into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A two piece safety or child resistant closure for a container in which one piece is a cylindrical cap which is attached to the container by threads or by a flange to snap onto the container. The cap has a dispensing orifice which may be located on the end of a spout through which the contents of the container are dispensed. The second piece of the closure is a cover which is rotatably connected to the cap. When the cover is rotated to its closed position, the dispensing orifice is covered and sealed and the cover is locked against rotation. A rocker arm occupying a portion of the cover is connected to the cover by a torsion hinge and contains the locking mechanism. In order to put the closure into its dispensing position, the rocker arm must be depressed at the same time that the cover is rotated. Rotation of the cover to the dispensing position uncovers the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for liquid which is able to retain the liquid therein for drinking purposes at a temperature close to its original temperature for a period of time, will assure that the liquid will not spill out if the container is tipped, and facilitates easy drinking of the liquid from the container. The container further includes an interiorly recessed shelf possessing at least one gap within the shelf wall and which accommodates a sealing member or top which contains a protruding tongue which can be inserted through the gap and rotated below the shelf to fasten the sealing member in place. Then the top can function as a sealing member to retain the liquid in place and assure that the liquid will not spill if the container is accidentally tipped. The top will further serve to entirely seal the container to thereby retain the liquid therein at close to its original temperature for a period of time.

Abstract: A rotary sliding closure unit for use in a liquid melt container extends inwardly through the jacket of the container and into the lining thereof to selectively block and unblock a pouring opening of the container. The unit includes a stationary refractory plate positioned within the lining and having therethrough a flow passage in communication with the pouring opening, and a rotary refractory plate positioned in sliding abutting contact with the stationary refractory plate and having therethrough at least one flow passage to be selectively moved into and out of alignment with the flow passage of the stationary refractory plate. The two refractory plates have complementary abutting relative sliding surfaces located within the interior of the jacket of the container. A stationary tube member extends through the jacket and into the lining and has an inner end grasping the stationary refractory plate.

Abstract: In the silo unloader art, wherein a bottom unloader is used, and specifically an unloader of the generally central discharge type, wherein an auger delivers silage to the central zone of a silo, as the auger rotates on its own axis, and sweeps across the bottom of a silo, to a passageway through the floor of the silo, generally at the center of the silo, an openable closure is provided for the silo, for controlling the flow of silage through the passageways. Particularly, when the silo is closed down for the night, and when the silage is of the dry, granular, readily flowable type, the openable closure allows the passageways to be closed so as not to allow silage to build up and become compacted in the passageway area beneath the silo floor and around the silo exit auger.

Abstract: This invention provides a rotary slide gate mechanism for use on a pour vessel to control flow of molten metal through at least one outlet in the vessel shell, whereby refractory insert plates which are conveyed by said mechanism, may be moved in very close cooperating contact with a perforated refractory outlet plate for the pour vessel, so as to control the flow of molten metal therethrough.

Abstract: A hand held seed dispenser has a generally cylindrical shaped receptacle portion having a bottom wall in which is formed an outlet opening. An agitator blade is mounted within the receptacle and connected to a closure plate which is pivotably mounted below the bottom wall and has a dispenser opening in it. Pivoting oscillation of the closure plate simultaneously moves the agitator blade and the dispenser hole past the outlet opening to discharge seeds or the like from the dispenser. A selector plate having differently sized holes in it is independently pivotably mounted between the bottom wall and closure plate to align a selected control opening with the outlet opening to accommodate different sizes of seeds or the like.

Abstract: A vertical hollow container has a top opening. First and second vertically spaced horizontal plates are disposed in sealing engagement in the container opening. The plates have aligned central holes. A vertical hollow pouring shaft is secured at its bottom open end to the aligned holes and extends upwards from the upper plate. First and second overlapping horizontal rotatable discs are disposed between the plates. Each disc is separately and individually rotatable about a corresponding axis. The discs each have off center holes which can be individually aligned with each other and with the aligned holes in the plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for spreading distributable material, more particularly, fertilizer in granular or powdery form, said device comprising a hopper having at least one outlet port and a spreading member connected herewith and a dosing member to be adjusted for defining the passage of each outlet port, a control-mechanism moving the dosing member into a position in which the outlet port is closed or into the adjusted position; the invention has for its object to spread said material accurately and provides screw means operative between the dosing member and the control-mechanism for very sensitive adjustment said dosing member.

Abstract: A caster for pulverulent, granular or lumpy substances such as spices. The caster comprises a hollow body defining a storage chamber and at an outlet thereof is provided with a generally cylindrical wall portion defining a cavity of circular cross-section. Recess means are provided in the generally cylindrical wall portion to at least partially encompass the cavity. The caster includes a cap insert of synthetic material having a resilient portion latachably engaging the recess means to retain the cap insert on the body. A hollow cylindrical portion of the cap insert has an external diameter substantially equal to that of the cavity and is received in the cavity. A perforate plate portion of the cap insert extends across the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion and is perforate in at least one of a plurality of spatially differentiated regions of the plate portion. A cover slide is carried by the cap insert and is rotatably mounted in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion thereof.

Abstract: A simple and efficient flow regulator for controlling the discharge from adjoining collecting chambers separated by a partition and including a common wall which includes a disc mounted in the side wall. The axis of rotation of the disc is in general aligned with the partition and the disc includes an opening asymmetrically disposed relative to the axis of rotation. Thus upon rotation of the disc the area of the opening communicating with each chamber is varied to vary the ratio of discharge flow from each chamber. Details of the structure and mounting are described.