Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Patrick Thibiant · Daniel Long · Steven R. Le Cavalier ·
Assignee(s)	Patrick Thibiant ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Pillsbury Winthrop LLP ·
Primary Examiner	Timothy L. Maust ·
Application Number	US9728818
Filing date	12/01/2000
Issue date	04/09/2002
Predicted expiration date	01/12/2020
U.S. Classifications	141/268  · 141/284  · 141/234  · 141/279  · 141/105  · 141/374  · 532/37  · 534/73  · 141/100  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B2
International Classifications	141100 · 141105 · 141234 · 141267 · 141268 · 141279 · 141284 · 141374 · 53237 · 53473 ·
Related U.S. Application Data	This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/481,968 filed on Jan. 12, 2000.

Patent Family

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided that allows two or more compositions to be filled with a spiral configuration into a single container. Each product may have completely different chemical and physical properties, and each product may have a different function and purpose. The method includes providing at least two compounds, arranged in separate storage bins each having a pump and a hose attached thereto; rotating a container, for receiving a resulting product formed by the at least two compounds, into position relative to a support and alignment funnel; pumping the at least two compounds through the respective hoses into a nozzle assembly having at least two nozzles for filling the container; and combining predetermined amounts of each of the at least two compounds for creating the resulting product housed in a single container, wherein the resulting product has the at least two compounds formed in a spiral configuration.

Independent Claims | See all claims (15)

1. 1. An apparatus for filling a container with a resulting product having at least two compositions formed in a spiral configuration, comprising: a nozzle assembly having at least two nozzles coupled together in a close configuration; at least two pumps for pumping each of the compositions stored in separate composition storage bins, each bin being connected to one of the pumps by a suction hose; hoses connecting the nozzles to the pumps; a support and alignment funnel coupled to the apparatus for supporting the container to be filled in an upright position; a drive motor coupled to the nozzle assembly adapted to move the nozzle assembly in a vertical direction during filling of the container; and a spinning motor coupled to a spinning puck that supports the container and rotates the container during filling of the container.
2. 11. An apparatus for filling a container with at least two compounds, said apparatus comprising: storage bins for storing the compounds; means in flow communication with the bins for pumping each of the compounds from said bins; a nozzle assembly having a plurality of nozzles, the nozzles being in flow communication with the pumping means; first support means coupled to the apparatus for supporting the container in an upright position; and second support means disposed adjacent the container for supporting a turning motion thereof, wherein the apparatus is configured to produce a resulting product that is at least a dual-phase composition having a generally swirled, spiral configuration.