IP Library Granted Patent US 9,700,181
Granted Patent B1
US 9,700,181 · App. 15/253,022 · Granted Jul 11, 2017

Dispenser assembly including enclosure with handle

Inventors: Donna M. Santoro (St. Charles, MO); Andy Lee Kirkpatrick (Green Bay, WI); Kacey James Kreuter (Green Bay, WI); Stephen John Kocis (Suwanee, GA); William J. Peek (Lawrenceville, GA); Britt Babiarz (Alpharetta, GA); Anthony Toribio (Suwanee, GA)
Assignee: Vi-Jon, Inc.
A47K5/1211A47K5/14B05B11/0097B05B11/3002B05B11/3047B05B11/3057B05B11/3073B05B15/061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,700,181
App. No.
15/253,022
Granted
Jul 11, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A dispenser assembly capable of dispensing gel, liquid, and foam products includes a container to be filled with the product, a pump connected to the container and configured to control dispensing of the product from the container, and a pump actuator assembly configured to actuate the pump and retain the container and the pump. The pump actuator assembly includes a first actuator including a lower ramp, and a second actuator comprising an upper ramp engaged with the lower ramp. The lower ramp of the first actuator and the upper ramp of the second actuator cooperate to actuate at least a portion of the pump along a first axis in response to a force applied along a second axis.

Claims (28)

1. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a container configured to be filled with a product;

a pump connected to the container and configured to control dispensing of the product from the container;

a pump actuator assembly configured to actuate the pump and retain the container and the pump, the pump actuator assembly comprising:

a first actuator including a lower ramp; and

a second actuator including an upper ramp engaged with the lower ramp, the lower ramp of the first actuator and the upper ramp of the second actuator cooperating to actuate at least a portion of the pump along a first axis in response to a force applied along a second axis;

a mounting component; and

an enclosure connected to the mounting component and engaging the container, wherein the enclosure comprises a top portion, a pair of ribs extending from the top portion, and a handle portion extending between the pair of ribs, wherein the first actuator is coupled to the handle portion such that depressing the handle portion applies the force along the second axis to the first actuator.

2. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the lower ramp exerts a force along the first axis on the upper ramp in response to the force applied along the second axis.

3. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a radially extending flange.

4. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the second actuator retains the flange therein to couple the pump to the second actuator.

5. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pump actuator assembly further comprises a casing surrounding at least a portion of the first and second actuators.

6. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the handle portion comprises a pair of symmetrical brackets that directly engage corresponding flanges on the first actuator.

7. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pump actuator assembly further comprises at least one spring that exerts a bias force against the second actuator.

8. A dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly comprising:

a container;

a pump coupled to the container, the pump comprising a chamber portion and a nozzle, the pump actuatable in response to a force exerted along a first axis on the nozzle;

a pump actuator assembly operatively coupled to the nozzle of the pump, the pump actuator assembly configured to exert the force along the first axis on the nozzle in response to a force applied along a second axis to the pump actuator assembly;

a mounting component; and

an enclosure connected to the mounting component and engaging the container, wherein the enclosure comprises a top portion, a pair of ribs extending from the top portion, and a handle portion extending between the pair of ribs, wherein the pump actuator assembly is coupled to the handle portion such that depressing the handle portion applies the force along the second axis to the pump actuator assembly.

9. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the nozzle of the pump comprises a radially extending annular flange, and wherein the pump actuator assembly is operatively coupled to the annular flange.

10. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the pump actuator assembly comprises at least one radially extending tab and at least one radially extending ledge axially spaced from the at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab and ledge cooperate to retain the annular flange therebetween.

11. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the pump actuator assembly comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, wherein the first actuator exerts the force along the first axis on the second actuator in response to the force applied along the second axis to the first actuator.

12. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the first actuator comprises at least one lower ramp, wherein the second actuator comprises at least one upper ramp engaged with the lower ramp, and wherein the lower ramp exerts the force along the first axis on the upper ramp in response to the force applied along the second axis.

13. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the handle portion comprises a pair of symmetrical brackets that directly engage corresponding flanges on the first actuator.

14. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the pump actuator assembly further comprises at least one spring that exerts a bias force against the second actuator.

15. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the bias force of the at least one spring acts against the force applied along the second axis to return the pump actuator assembly to a ready configuration.

16. A dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the pump actuator assembly comprises a casing that retains the pump therein.

Assignments (22)
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2026
From: CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC; SUREFIL, LLC
To: NICE-PAK PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 075637/0473 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2025
From: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
To: UPLIFT BRANDS, LLC; CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072014/0386 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2025
From: VIVOS HOLDINGS, LLC; UPLIFT BRANDS, LLC; CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC; NICE-PAK PRODUCTS, INC.
To: LOAN ADMIN CO LLC
Reel/Frame 072014/0116 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2025
From: UPLIFT BRANDS, LLC; CONSUMER PRODUCTS PARTNERS, LLC; NICE-PAK PRODUCTS, INC.
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072014/0736 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: VI-JON, LLC
Reel/Frame 066050/0610 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2024
From: UPLIFT BRANDS, LLC; CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066052/0523 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066050/0605 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2023
From: CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065969/0963 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 065748 FRAME: 0439. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 13, 2023
From: VIVOS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065988/0701 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2023
From: VIVOS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: CONSUMER PRODUCT PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065748/0439 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2023
From: VI-JON, LLC
To: VIVOS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065748/0241 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: VI-JON, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055514/0532 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 053574/0016 Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: VI-JON, INC.
Reel/Frame 055503/0270 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 8, 2020
From: VI-JON, INC.
To: VI-JON, LLC
Reel/Frame 054027/0115 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VI-JON, INC.
Reel/Frame 053571/0954 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2020
From: VI-JON, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053574/0016 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2017
From: VI-JON, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 043336/0718 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: KOCIS, STEPHEN JOHN; PEEK, WILLIAM J.; BABIARZ, BRITT; TORIBIO, ANTHONY
To: SILGAN PLASTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041385/0831 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: SANTORO, DONNA M.
To: VI-JON, INC.
Reel/Frame 041385/0330 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: SILGAN PLASTICS, LLC
To: VI-JON, INC.
Reel/Frame 041385/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: KIRKPATRICK, ANDY LEE; KREUTER, KACEY JAMES
To: WISCONSIN PLASTICS
Reel/Frame 041385/0437 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: WISCONSIN PLASTICS
To: VI-JON, INC.
Reel/Frame 041385/0642 →