Other

Kohler Company

Sp Global, Inc.

Cohen, Ben Z.

Ben Z Cohen

Nigel B Kelly

Thomas E Lilly

Luke B Zimbric

Erin E Lilly

Jeff Tempas

Alan T McDonald

Greta Knowles

Mille Stand

Luke Zimbric

Alan Mcdonald

Vadym Barda

Maxim Sokolov

Kyle Sargent

Hamima Halim

Predrag Gruevski

Eugene Yurtsev

Josh Shapiro

Laurabeth Fitzsimmons

Anurag Rai

Qibo Chen

Eli Rosen

Bojan Serafimov

Jeremy Lopez

Nigel Kelly

The subject invention provides a surgical instrument support assembly which includes an enclosure defining an opening; a light transmissive pane located at least partially across the opening and defining a support surface; and, a light source located inside the enclosure for generating light to be transmitted through the light transmissive pane. A sterilizable light transmissive surgical instrument support may be also provided to be disposed over at least a portion of the light transmissive pane. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which includes a sterilized surface for supporting surgical instruments which is backlit. With this arrangement, surgical instruments may be supported and illuminated from beneath to aid a medical practitioner in identifying the surgical instruments.

Backlit surgical instrument support assembly

A method of information retrieval is provided. The method comprises receiving a query from a user and parsing the query in real-time as the user enters the query. The parsed query is interpreted dynamically based on a defined schema of a knowledge base, and a number of query interpretations is displayed in real-time as the user enters the query. When a selection of one of the query interpretations is received from the user information is retrieved from the knowledge base according to the selected query interpretation.

Automated information retrieval system and semantic parsing

A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Shower seat assembly

Bathing area accessories

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect of the subject invention, an evaporation-reduction feature is provided, wherein a pump having an actuator with a nozzle is provided with a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a check valve element return feature is provided wherein a valve seat is located along the pump's internal fluid passage with a plurality of delectable spring arms extending therefrom being deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element away from the valve seat. In a third aspect, a complaint shut-off valve feature is provided. In a fourth aspect, a fluid trapping well is provided, wherein fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump to communicate directly with the pump inlet.

Microdispensing pump

An inlet for a pump is provided herein including a first elongated component and a tubular second elongated component disposed coaxially about the first elongated component so as to define a space therebetween. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an inlet for a pump can be provided which can be modularly formed from components. In this manner, the components can be manufactured, e.g., by molding, and assembled with a pump, thereby avoiding the difficulties associated with the manufacture and assembly of dip tubes.

Inlet for pump

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect, a pump is provided having an actuator with a nozzle and a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a valve seat is located along a pump's internal fluid passage with deflectable spring arms extending therefrom that are-deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element. In a third aspect, a compliant shut-off valve feature is provided, wherein, a first end of a tubular piston is deflectable in response to interferingly engaging the head of the poppet. In a fourth aspect, a pump includes a pump inlet, and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion in open fluid communication. Fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump.

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect, a pump is provided having an actuator with a nozzle and a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a valve seat is located along a pump's internal fluid passage with deflectable spring arms extending therefrom that are deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element. In a third aspect, a compliant shut-off valve feature is provided, wherein, a first end of a tubular piston is deflectable in response to interferingly engaging the head of the poppet. In a fourth aspect, a pump includes a pump inlet, and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion in open fluid communication. Fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump.

To overcome shortcomings of the prior art, the subject invention is provided which includes various dropper bottle designs and dropper bottle assemblies including accessories for dropper bottles. With certain aspects of the subject invention, improvements in the administration of eye drops is provided by adding accessories or modifications to conventional dropper bottles, so that doses and/or single drops may be administered in a repeatable and reliable manner. More specifically, certain embodiments use devices () to restrict the amount the dropper bottle () is deformed in administering a dose; other embodiments rely on mechanical reduction of interior volume (without deformation of the dropper bottle ()) to administer a dose, such as with a displaceable piston (); and, yet, a further embodiment provides a valving arrangement () to limit a dose. Features () are also included which aid in the alignment of the dropper bottle's nozzle to the eye, and a feature () is provided for protecting the user's eye from potential damage which can occur if a pointed nozzle () is brought into contact with the eye during alignment. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein may be used singularly or in various combinations.

Dropper bottle and accessories therefor

With the subject invention, a pump may be formed that generally includes a reservoir formed to accommodate at least one fluid dose, and a fluid-collecting chamber in communication with the reservoir. The fluid-collecting chamber is located such that fluid from the reservoir is fed thereinto, preferably gravitationally. A piston is disposed to reversibly slide within at least a dose-control portion of the fluid-collecting chamber, and the piston is configured such that upon sliding within the dose-control portion, the piston seals or substantially seals the dose-control portion from other portions of the fluid collecting chamber. The piston is configured to displace a volume of fluid from the sealed or substantially sealed dose-control portion which is approximately equal to or greater than the volume of one of the doses of the pump. A nozzle is also provided which is located such that the fluid displaced by the piston from the dose-control portion is generally urged towards the nozzle.

Accurate dosing pump and accessories therefor

A pre-compression pump () dispenses microdoses of fluid (F). The pump minimizes pulsing due to pressure fluctuations. The pump is provided with the following to limit pulsing: a low force slow return velocity return spring (); enlarged fluid passage (); elastic bumper (); and, a rachet tooth () bearing against the stem (). Further, a deflectable diaphragm (), a splined () stem (), no dip tube, and an off-center, gravitational low-point pump inlet () assist in printing the pump. The pump includes a stem () with deflectable fingers () to ensure sufficient momentum in pump operation. Detents () and grooves () selectively lock a nozzle cap () in an inoperative position. To ensure cleanliness, nozzle () cleaning is provided, wiping of the nozzle to remove meniscus (M) therefrom, cuts () formed in a shroud () assist in drawing excess fluid from the nozzle, and an empty volume () for collecting fluid run-off from the nozzle. A handle (H) is mounted to the pump providing a grip.

Several different features are provided for use with a pump, particularly a microdispensing pump. In a first aspect of the subject invention, latch fingers are provided which coact with a stop member to yieldingly inhibit movement of an actuator of the pump to ensure sufficient momentum is provided to the pump for actuation. In a second aspect of the invention, an overcap is provided which defines an at least liquid-tight seal with the pump body at locations spaced from a nozzle of the pump to limit ingress of contaminants into the nozzle. In a third aspect, at least one protruding bead is provided in proximity to at least one edge of a label mounted to the pump body to restrict removal thereof. In a fourth aspect, at least one rib is provided in proximity to a dispensing cap to provide lateral stability thereto.

Growing community of inventors

New York, NY, United States of America

Ben Z Cohen