The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1997
David Andrew Dalton, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Eric Francis Henry, Rutherford, NJ (US);
The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A flow regulator for controlling the flow of material from a container is disclosed, wherein the container includes a container outlet through which the material freely flows when the container outlet is not closed. The flow regulator includes a material passageway having an inlet. The inlet of the material passageway is moved relative to the container between a first position where the inlet of the material passageway is not aligned with the container outlet to prevent the free flow of material between the container and the material passageway and a second position where the inlet of the material passageway is aligned with the container outlet to permit the flow of material between the container and the material passageway. The regulator also includes a regulating flap, configured to substantially cover the container outlet, coupled between the container outlet and the inlet of the material passageway. The regulating flap is moved between a closed position where the flow of material from the container outlet is prevented when the container outlet and the inlet of the material passageway are out of alignment and an open position where the flow of material from the container outlet is permitted when the container outlet and the inlet of the material passageway are substantially aligned. In use, movement of the material passageway relative to the regulating flap controls actuation of the regulating flap between an open and a closed position.