And Valve Or Base-opened Closure Patents (Class 222/587)
  • Patent number: 8292126
    Abstract: A replaceable flow assembly for use in a water cooler or similar bottled liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir 7 and a manifold 48 incorporating a bottle connector 5, 49 for releasable sealing engagement with a neck formed on an inverted bottle. The manifold is mounted on the reservoir and incorporates a first pathway for conducting liquid from a feed tube 5 to the reservoir 7, and a second pathway for conducting liquid from the reservoir to a discharge outlet 53. A third pathway within the manifold conducts atmospheric air through an air filter 28 and into the interior of the bottle through the feed tube 5 without passing through the reservoir 7. The manifold preferably also incorporates a dispense valve between the reservoir 7 and the discharge outlet 53 (e.g. in arm 52), which co-operates with a fixed valve-operating member within the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: EBAC Limited
    Inventors: Clyde Pittaway, Philip Andrew Walton, Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 7377405
    Abstract: Liquid soap dispensers including a vacuum relief valve which comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The vacuum relief valve permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Gotohti.com Inc.
    Inventor: Heiner Ophardt
  • Patent number: 7198175
    Abstract: Liquid soap dispensers including a vacuum relief valve which comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The vacuum relief valve permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or valves. A chamber about an opening of an inverted container with an impeller within the chamber which, on rotation, dispenses fluid from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Heiner Ophardt
  • Patent number: 6957751
    Abstract: Liquid soap dispensers including a vacuum relief valve which comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The vacuum relief value permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hygiene-Technik Inc.
    Inventor: Heiner Ophardt
  • Patent number: 4113437
    Abstract: The liquid storage device comprises a rotary heat-insulated jacket mounted on a stationary base to rotate about a vertical axis. The jacket is formed to carry a plurality of inverted liquid containing vials, situated at least partially within the jacket, the vials being in communication with respective take-off cups which are arranged near the base of the jacket and around the periphery thereof and from which liquid specimens can be drawn off. A constant level device ensures that the level of liquid in the cups is kept at a substantially constant level. The jacket is provided with a stepping drive so that it can be stepped about its rotary axis to bring any selected cup into a liquid take-off position.The interior of the jacket is cooled with circulating, cold air and the temperature of the vials is kept at a predetermined value, below ambient, by an air heater.The storage device is intended for storing reagents to be used in an automatic blood analyzing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Social Services
    Inventors: Ian David Duff, John Hamilton Kennedy, Roger Abraham Bunce