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:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1996
Jeffrey William Spencer, Kirby Muxlof, GB;
Rieke Packaging Systems Limited, Leicester, GB;
Abstract
A dispensing system has a dispenser pump mounted on top of a container. Product in the container reaches the intake of the dispenser pump through a vertical feed tube which extends down to the container's base. A follower plate fits around the feed tube and lies on top of the product and is slidable along the feed tube while sealing against the container's side wall. The foot of the feed tube interlocks mechanically with the container base, e.g. by an upward projection on the container base which fits into the feed-tube at its foot. A preferred form of the upward projection has a series of radial fins to permit the flow of product and an upwardly tapered region to facilitate installation of the feed tube. By preventing sideways movement of the feed tube the interlock arrangement improves the performance of the follower plate.