Patents Examined by Andrew W Collins
  • Patent number: 9220308
    Abstract: A head band comprises a band portion and a tightening portion. The band portion has a first band and a second band, wherein an outer surface of the first band opposes an inner surface of the second band. The head band further comprises at least one spacer between the first and the second band forming a gap between the first band and the second band. The tightening portion has a strap and a tightener configured to tighten the strap, wherein the strap is hingedly connected at approximately each end of the band portion. Other embodiments of the head band, and visors, caps, and hats incorporating the head band, are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alf Wear
    Inventor: Kevin Boyle
  • Patent number: 9210962
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure of safety helmet and a manufacturing method thereof. The reinforcement structure includes a helmet body formed of a cushion foam material; and a structure body integrated with the helmet body. The structure body is a texture at least composed of multiple strip members arranged in an array. The structure body is formed with a substantially cellular structure. The helmet body is defined with a top section and a peripheral section and the structure body is defined with a first section and a second section connected to the first section corresponding to the top section and peripheral section of the helmet body. The cushion foam material is injected into a molding module to enclose the first and second sections to form an integrated complex reinforcement structure, which is easier to manufacture and has higher structural strength, lighter weight and higher security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Chang-Hsien Ho
  • Patent number: 9205320
    Abstract: A head and neck protection system is provided that includes a dome including a rear frame and a cage attached to a front of the rear frame and an upper torso padded portion removably attached to a bottom of the dome portion. The dome is configured such that a when a wearer's head moves in its full range of motion, the wearer's head does not touch the inside of the dome portion in any direction such that a force from a collision is transmitted to the wearer's upper torso, thereby bypassing the wearer's head and neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MASON ENTERPRISES ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Roger J. Mason
  • Patent number: 9180342
    Abstract: Swimming goggles include left and right frame bodies installed with lenses, a connecting element, and protective pads and head strap bases. The left and right frame bodies each has inner and outer peripheral faces. The protective pads each has a connecting portion having a connecting face and an abutting face. Lip portions are respectively formed along the inner peripheral faces of the left and right frame bodies. The connecting faces integrally encompass the lip portions. The abutting faces are inclined with respect to face portions corresponding to an area above the eye socket and adjacent to an eyebrow, a side portion of a nose bridge adjacent to lacrimal gland at an inner side portion of the eye socket, an area adjacent to an under-eye bag below the eye socket, and an outer eye corner with respect to an outer side portion of the eye socket adjacent to a temple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBAL ESPRIT INC.
    Inventor: Herman Chiang
  • Patent number: 9179720
    Abstract: Brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors. Novel digitally printed on indicia designs, words and/or colors can be placed on fabric brim covers. The brim covers can have an upper cover with overhanging edges that wrap about perimeter edges of existing hat brim, and a lower cover for covering a lower surface of the existing hat brim. The covers can be attached with by peeling off backing layers that reveal sticky surfaces that allow the covers to be easily attached to existing brims and easily removable from the existing brims without damaging the brims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: JBon Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Bonadio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9173441
    Abstract: A protective pocket is provided for a substantially two-dimensional object, such as a race bib. The protective pocket includes cooperating first and second lightweight fabrics, and an opening for receiving the object. The first fabric may be an item of a race participant's apparel or a backing that itself is attached to such an apparel item. The second fabric may be a mesh member having spaced apertures through which the object is visible and exposed to elements. The protective pocket is configured to maintain the object in a substantially vertical planar orientation, and thereby in an “upright” position, such that it that is (a) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent surface of the race participant's apparel item, and (b) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent body part of the race participant (e.g., a torso or leg). This positioning also improves the visibility of the indicia printed on the object through the mesh member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Chumbler
  • Patent number: 9167854
    Abstract: A garment for improving the wearer's posture provides cords that, when secured in place, exert a slight pressure against the wearer's shoulders each time he/she starts to slouch, serving as a reminder to be more erect. The garment had a horizontal channel that is located around the body of the user, preferably just below the breast area, that accommodates a first cord. The garment further includes vertically-extending channels that extend upward from the horizontal channel and over the shoulders of the user. A cord extending along each vertical channel engages the cord in the horizontal channel such that the horizontal cord anchors the vertical cord(s) when the cords are pulled sufficiently, lightly engage the front of the wearer's shoulders. Once the cords are secured in place, the wearer will feel a slight pressure against his/her shoulders each time he/she starts to slouch, serving as a reminder to be more erect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Levian
  • Patent number: 9155349
    Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Incorporated
    Inventors: Carl L. Madore, Marci S. DuChene, Darien Curl
  • Patent number: 9144253
    Abstract: Various embodiments of garments for use in conjunction with knee pads are disclosed. In one embodiment, the knee pads can be integrated into the garment. The garment can include leg gathering devices for positioning the knee pads over the knees of the wearer when the knee pads are needed. Releasing the leg gathering devices, on the other hand, allows the pants to drape normally. In an alternative embodiment, a knee pad can be provided that can be releasably attached to a garment. In this embodiment, the garment can include a plurality of engaging devices for attachment to the knee pad. The engaging devices can be positioned at different heights for allowing vertical adjustability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Samtech, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Munter, Lindsay M. Evans, Martin L. Flora, Carl R. Taylor, Jr., Brett D. Ritter
  • Patent number: 9132037
    Abstract: A diving mask including at least one lens, a facepiece made of a soft and elastically yielding material, provided with at least a front positioning opening that positions the at least one lens, and a rear profiled element that rests on a user's face. Also included is a rigid frame that includes a first frame element and a second frame element anterior to the first frame element, fixed to one another such as to guarantee a seal between the facepiece and the lens. The front positioning opening of the facepiece can exhibit, along a perimeter edge thereof, a hollow positioning flange for the first frame element, the hollow positioning flange extending from an internal side of, and at least partially posteriorly to, the front positioning opening of the facepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cressi-Sub S.P.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Alberto Godoy
  • Patent number: 9066552
    Abstract: A head suspension includes a headband portion having a length and two transition arms. Each transition arm is coupled to the headband portion and extends away from the headband portion length at an angle greater than zero degrees. Each transition arm has a distal end and a pivot at the distal end. The pivot characterized by a pivot point and a rear support portion is pivotally connected to each pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lars-Olov Ahlgren, Niklas M. S. Lilenthal, Arne O. Linderstrand
  • Patent number: 9049891
    Abstract: An article of apparel, which may be a pair of water shorts, includes a first textile and a second textile. The first textile forms a majority of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the apparel, and the first textile exhibits at least thirty percent stretch prior to tensile failure. The second textile is located around a waistband portion of the apparel, and the second textile exhibits less than ten percent stretch prior to tensile failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hurley International LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Yin Moore, Ryan Michael Hurley
  • Patent number: 9038199
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling ventilation in a welding helmet is provided. The invention may be adapted to a wide variety of system types, and may reduce or eliminate the need for a shroud or barrier around the head and neck of the welder, of the type used in PAPR systems. The airflow system includes forward and rearward air streams, directed onto the face of the welder, onto the top of the head of the welder, and toward the back of the head of the welder. The air streams help to cool the welder, provide a fresh source of air for breathing, and create a positive pressure system that reduces or excludes entrainment of contaminated external air into the forwardly directed air flow. Certain embodiments may include streams that are filtered, split or redirected via deflectors and conduits to achieve the aforementioned goals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Kenneth S. Dobson, Kui-Chiu Kwok
  • Patent number: 9027167
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to an elasticized structure and a method for making such an elasticized structure. The elasticized structure, includes a first piece and at least one second piece. The first piece is superimposed and fixed onto the second piece in at least a first fixing zone and at least a second fixing zone. The second piece is at least partially made of an elastic material and has an internal zone comprised between the first fixing zone and the second fixing zone. The elasticized structure is able to assume a tensioned position and a rest position. In the rest position, the first piece has a hump comprised between the first fixing zone and the second fixing zone and flat parts alongside said first fixing zone and said second fixing zone, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Dainese S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Ronco
  • Patent number: 9021614
    Abstract: An embodiment of a leg protector of the present disclosure includes an upper thigh pad that is structurally attached to an upper bracing shell including lateral and medial uprights. The upper shell and thigh pad can be held to the player via a strap and/or garment. The uprights extend to uni- or polycentric hinges arranged on, and in one embodiment biased against, either side of the player's knee. A connecting member extends in a frontward direction from each hinge and attaches to a patella pad held in place over the player's knee. The patella pad may additionally be connected to the thigh pad via one or more connecting strip. Each hinge is also connected to a lower bracing shell, which includes lateral and medial uprights that extend down and around the player's lower leg, anteriorly or posteriorly. The lower shell can also be fitted via a strap or garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Medical Techology, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Tepper, Amy B. Weiner, Gary Bledsoe, Lawrence J. Lemak, Kelly J. Nolan, Michael A. Lorenz, Jr., Chad M. Leeder, Craig A. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9003569
    Abstract: According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves and the use of said gloves, intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Because of its unique finger configurations, grip enhancers, and/or its hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove now operable on for football quarterback's throwing hand and golfers, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: John Cuevas Ramirez
  • Patent number: 8990966
    Abstract: A medical garment formed of a central body region and two side regions with a pair of belts and a pair of fasteners for securing the garment around a patient's body is provided. The central body region may be worn on the back or front and may have a v-neck form. A waistband extends across the central body region and across one side region with a first belt secured at the junction of the central region and the second side region and extending to the outer edge of the first side region. The second belt extends from the secured end of the first belt through the waistband across the central body region, the second belt exiting the waistband at the junction of the second side region and central body region. A first fixed tie is positioned at the outer edge of the second side region along the position of the waistband. A second fixed tie is secured to the inside of the waistband between the central body region and first side region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Diane Von Furstenberg Studio, L.P., The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Diane Von Furstenberg, Erin Przekop, Jeanne M. Ryan
  • Patent number: 8984668
    Abstract: A body shaping fit system for pants is based on the concept of actively shaping the body's silhouette. This fit system includes: a stretch coating formulation for fabric that provides stretch in all directions (e.g., four way stretch) in an engineered way to target specific parts of the body, shape contouring panels, cosmetic finishing techniques, and seaming and construction techniques for pants. In a specific implementation, a pair of jeans includes a shape contouring panel incorporated onto an inside of the jeans, the panel including a polyurethane based coating with holding power to enhance the body's natural curves while de-emphasizing the body's flaws. The fit system is also applicable to pants, shorts, capris, and other clothing where shaping and support is desirable in the waist, seat, hip, and thigh areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Levi Strauss & Co.
    Inventors: Kris Tulin, Debra Laney, Issa Bielefeldt
  • Patent number: 8978165
    Abstract: A replaceable helmet protective skin, which is adapted for covering an outer surface of a helmet, includes a skin body configured to attach and detach while in use fittingly cover the outer surface of the helmet as if part of the outer surface thereof in an edge-to-edge manner, wherein the skin body is formed a receiving cavity therewithin for fittingly receiving the helmet to cover the outer surface thereof. At least one adjustable fastener is preferably provided along an elongated opening of the skin body, so that the size of the receiving cavity of the skin body is able to be increased via opening the adjustable fastener for conveniently attaching and detaching when covering or removing the replaceable helmet protective skin. The adjustable fastener is able to be adjustably closed for securely fitting the skin body on the outer surface of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jorge L. Franco, Averill Henry
  • Patent number: RE45459
    Abstract: A protective helmet includes: a rigid shell including a generally domed-shaped section, a three attenuating liner within the dome-shaped section shell and operatively connected to the rigid shell; and a visor mount in operative connection with the force attenuating liner, the visor mount be adapted to have a visor mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: F. Joseph Hersick, Kevin R. Ketterer, Robert E. Klotz