Patents Examined by Abigail E Morrell
  • Patent number: 8635746
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to closure mechanisms, such as a closure latch device for clamping a band. The closure latch comprises a first and second latch member engaged to pivot relative to each other. Certain embodiments relate to methods of clamping a band. Certain embodiments relate to methods of manufacturing a clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cenorin, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Harrison Bellamy, Richard Radford, Mark Charbonneau, Drew Radford, Judith Marquardt
  • Patent number: 8631545
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary buckle assembly for harness. The assembly is adapted to selectively secure or eject the tongue plates for the straps of the harness. The buckle assembly includes a mechanism for automatically releasing the harness in the presence of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Ford, Kevin Holler
  • Patent number: 8621725
    Abstract: A large wire anti-theft device having a first body and a second body, the anti-theft device accepts passage of a large wire for inhibiting movement of a large wire by friction and compression for inhibiting movement of the large wire through the first body and the second body. A tension force applied to the large wire shall cause tightening of the first body and the second body against the large wire for preventing theft of the large wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Horsepower Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Hector P. Ortiz, Ramon Reyes
  • Patent number: 8621886
    Abstract: The jewelry safety chain device is a flexible cable which has a first end spaced apart from a second end, a loop disposed on the flexible cable first end, a clasp disposed on the flexible cable second end, a plurality of eye screws, each eye screw having an eyelet, a shaft extended from the eyelet, a point disposed distally on the shaft, a thread disposed on the shaft medially from the point, each eye screw configured to selectively attach to a link of an existing multi-link band of an existing jewelry item, the flexible cable and cable loop configured to attach to one of the eyelets, the flexible cable configured to pass through a remainder of the eyelets and the clasp configured to attach to one of the eyelets, thereby removably securing a chosen pair of links together in preventing inadvertent jewelry item loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Terence Wallace
  • Patent number: 8607418
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for use in securing a boat that is afloat, includes a main body having a channel for accepting a line that will hold the boat. A latching member is pivotally secured within the main body and is movable between a position that closes off the channel and movable to a position which opens the channel, the latching member being pivotable about a pivot point on the main body. A spring force holds the latching member in a closed position and a cable attached to the latching member at a location on an opposite side of the pivot point pivots the latching member to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Ebbenga
  • Patent number: 8596090
    Abstract: An interchangeable jewelry insert for detachable attachment to a receptacle is described. The jewelry insert has a body with two ends, the first end has at least one dimension sized to fit within a receiving aperture of the receptacle of the item, the second end has at least one dimension larger than the receiving aperture. The first end of the body has a first magnetic element. The receiving aperture has a second magnetic element. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element provide a repelling force to secure the interchangeable jewelry insert to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Robert D Smith
  • Patent number: 8590341
    Abstract: Described are multifunctional jewelry rings and methods comprising a ring band section, a base, a restraining device, and a ring top. The restraining device has a central portion extending through the base and the ring band section and has first and second end portions extending from a bottom surface of the base. In a first state, the restraining device holds a finger in place against the ring band section. In a second state, the restraining device holds a bundle of hair together against the ring band section. The ornamental ring top is removably attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Anna MacMaster
  • Patent number: 8584326
    Abstract: A slider has an upper blade of a slider body having an insert groove of a locking pawl, a temporary engagement portion which temporary engages and fixes the locking pawl, and a claw hole. The temporary engagement portion is adapted so that, with the locking pawl fixed in position, the position in height of the upper end of the temporary engagement portion is the same as or lower than that of the upper surface of the upper blade. This prevents the temporary engagement portion from being pressed and crushed when the temporary engagement portion is in contact with the tab and so on. As a result, an automatic stop mechanism of the slider can stably function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Keyaki, Koji Yamagishi, Takanori Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8578573
    Abstract: A pin fastener includes a cylindrical body into which a pin is inserted, a coil spring wound on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, and an outer cylindrical body surrounding the outer periphery of the cylindrical body and coil spring. A cut is provided in the cylindrical body, and a linear fastening portion of the coil spring is fitted into the cut, thereby forming a pin fastening narrowed portion between the fastening portion and a wall portion of the cylindrical body opposed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Yugen Kaisha Houseki-No-Angel
    Inventor: Hisajiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8572816
    Abstract: A slide fastener in which a fastener element has first and second leg portions continuously disposed at both ends of the coupling head is folded in half at its center, and the first leg portion is attached to a coupling element attaching portion of a fastener tape by a sewing thread. A vulnerable portion which is cut out into a V is formed on the bent end face of the coupling head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Dono, Shunji Akashi, Hiroshi Ishisaka, Naoyuki Himi
  • Patent number: 8573004
    Abstract: A ring (1) defines a seat (3) for being worn on a finger and has an adapter device (10) capable of automatically adjusting the diameter of the seat (3); the adapter device (10) is provided with at least one arm (11) coupled to a structure (2) of the ring (1) so as to move between a retracted position and a forward position with respect to the center of the seat (3); the arm (11) is pushed to the forward position by at least one elongated spring (22), which substantially extends in a circumferential direction and has a first end portion (23) fixed to either the structure (2) or the arm (11), and a second end portion (28), opposite to the first (23) and arranged resting against the other (2) of either the structure or the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: 1922 Manifatture Preziose Torino S.P.A
    Inventor: Roberto Demeglio
  • Patent number: 8572815
    Abstract: A universal tie down assembly includes first and second longitudinal belts comprising reinforced webbing made from a flexible fabric material. Each belt includes a buckle end and an anchor end. The anchor end is a loop of the reinforced webbing. At least one longitudinal slot is woven into an edge of at least one of the belts. The length of the slot is at least as great as the width of the belts. The assembly includes a novel open under load buckle having a receiving part (female part) and an insertion part (male part). The buckle end of one of the belts is adjustably disposed in a belt opening of one of the insertion part and the receiving part and the buckle end of the other of the belts forms a sewn loop that loops through a belt opening of the other of the insertion part and the receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Eugene Michael Ivankoe, Robert Golz, Margaret Wilson, Edward Recke, Aaron Hemphill
  • Patent number: 8567065
    Abstract: A method of augmenting a ring including the steps of: receiving the ring having markings on the inner surface thereof, creating a setting having a size and position defined by at least one of the markings, and placing a gemstone in the setting. The locations of the markings are determined by considering various factors, including the inner shank circumference, the number of gemstone sizes, and the number of non-marking areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Mardkha
  • Patent number: 8544155
    Abstract: A safety hook includes a main body defining an inner space and an opening, a latch unit pivoted to the main body, an operable unit pivoted to the main body, and a safety lock unit. The latch unit is normally at a closed position for blocking the opening. When the operable unit is pressed, the safety lock unit is co-rotatable with the operable unit with respect to the main body from a locked position, where the safety lock unit abuts against the latch unit to retain the latch unit at the closed position, to an unlocked position, where the safety lock unit is removed from the latch unit to allow the latch unit to rotate from the closed position to an opened position allowing access into the inner space through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Usang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Wen Lin
  • Patent number: 8528173
    Abstract: A quick-action closure for the end fitting of a safety belt, whereby the quick-action closure includes an insertion tongue which can be inserted into a closure housing and which can be locked therein by means of a locking element disposed in a mobile manner between a locking position and a release position, and whereby the locking element can be transferred from its locking position into its release position by means of an actuating element which can be inserted into the closure housing. A safety element (21) is disposed in the closure housing (11) mounted at its center of gravity (35) rotatable between a safety position and a rest position, the safety element in its safety position fixing the locking element (20) in its locking position and, in its rest position, releasing the locking element (20), whereby the safety element (21) is held in its safety position by the action of a spring (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Jonas Sterner, GĂ´ran Carlsson, Robert Svensson
  • Patent number: 8522410
    Abstract: A releasable buckle including a latch having locking arms adapted to lockingly engage a female component. A folding bridge structure extends between the locking arms. The bridge structure includes a pivot connection zone adapted to engage an elongate release member. Upon tensioning the elongate release member the locking arms are pulled inwardly to disengage from the female component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventors: Brian M Parisi, Scott D Kolasa, Craig E Ernst, Jr., Jeffrey D Anderson
  • Patent number: 8511114
    Abstract: A jewelry item includes a chain, which has decorative items attached to it and which has a first fastening device to hang the item from an object such as a belt loop. A second fastening device is used to adjust the length of the object. Decorative items may be attached to the chain for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance and for gathering together into a conglomeration to conceal the chain and providing a singular compact appearance for the jewelry item. A swivel coupled to the first fastening device permits the jewelry item to be rotated to an alternate viewing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: David C. Urban, Michael Gianni Tristani
  • Patent number: 8510916
    Abstract: A device to connect a fabric headgear to a mini stick flag or to a mini stick banner. Functioning as a clip and a retainer as well, it applies a strong enough hold on any spot at the bottom circular thin edge of a fabric headgear and provides a cavity for a common mini stick flag or for a mini stick banner to stand straight in a nearly vertical position to let the flag or banner float above the head of the bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Mensan Teko Kinvi
  • Patent number: 8505334
    Abstract: In the context of a personal ornament, e.g., a finger ring, in which decorative member(s) is/are attached to cord loop(s), making size(s) of loop(s) variable creates the impression of a lighter grip and improves fit. A finger ring has cord made of transparent silicone rubber, support member, and decorative member. Cord is coiled in spiral fashion for two revolutions, forming two loops. One end of cord is secured to through-hole of support member. A portion near the middle of cord is inserted through through-hole of support member, and is capable of moving within through-hole. The other end of cord is secured within through-hole of support member. The two loops of the cord are inserted through decorative member, and cord is capable of moving within decorative member. Absolute and relative sizes of the two loops of cord change automatically in correspondence to changes in finger thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Masami Niikura
  • Patent number: 8499423
    Abstract: A precision safety ring-shaped hook provides a timing gauge structure which is composed of a sliding groove, a pair of rail members, and a block pin. Each of the rail members has an arc surface. When a first locking axle is moved to an open slot, a first end of a hook body is moved away from the first guiding member and, at the same time, a block pin moves to the arc surface area, so that when the first locking axle is swung in a hook cavity of the hook body, a driving pin is able to position at the arc surface and thus a locking member can be guided by the arc surface to open the opening of the hook body. Accordingly, the opening or shutting of the opening of the hook body by the locking member can thus be precisely operated at one time to provide an advance precision value for the hook and eliminate the interference and impacting drawbacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Aerohook Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Chieh Yang