Patents Examined by David Upchurch
  • Seatbelt anchor systems for aircraft and other vehicles, and associated methods of manufacture and use
    Patent number: 9358914
    Abstract: Apparatuses, devices and systems for attaching seatbelts to anchoring structures in aircraft and other vehicles, are described herein. In some embodiments, such apparatuses include a modular connector having a base configured to be attached to an anchoring structure, a body configured to be attached to a seatbelt, and an annular lock configured to releasably couple the body to the base. In these embodiments, the body carries the lock adjacent to an aperture configured removably receive the base. When the body is pressed over the base, the base passes into the aperture and contacts the annular lock, expanding the lock outwardly around the base. The base continues moving though the aperture in the body until the lock retracts into a groove in base, thereby releasaby locking the body to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Humbert
  • Tool attachment system
    Patent number: 9351558
    Abstract: An attachment device (10) adapted for use with at least two retainers (14), the device (10) including at least two mountings (44), each for engagement with a retainer (14), wherein when a first one (14a) of the retainers is engaged with the device (10) it cannot be detached from the device until another retainer (14b) has been engaged with the device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKA DEVICES PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Craig Andrew Burke
  • Wire coil retainer
    Patent number: 9357284
    Abstract: A wire coil retainer having a band with at least one fastening feature configured to detachably attach one side of the band to the other side of the band that allows for quick and easy retention of a wire coil, such as a headphone wire. When the fastening feature is attached, two opposing loops are formed on either side of the fastener. A wire coil can be retained by placing the wire coil inside the interior of the band and detachably attaching the fastening feature through the center coil opening. A first portion of the wire coil is retained in a first loop and a second portion of the wire coil is retained in a second loop of the fastened wire coil retainer. A wire coil retainer may be configured with one or more retainer protrusions that aid in the retention of a wire coil within a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: EzLutions LLC
    Inventor: John E Bacino
  • Garment weight clip
    Patent number: 9351528
    Abstract: A garment weight clip that suppresses unwanted movement of a garment, such as movement by a surge of air, and configured for discrete use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Steven L. Grimes, Soheila Mozzafar
  • Accessory coupling structure
    Patent number: 9351544
    Abstract: A coupling structure includes: a rod-shaped rod attached to a first end of an accessory; and a receiving portion attached to a second end of the accessory and an insertion hole portion, which receives the rod, and an accommodating portion. The receiving portion includes: a cylindrical slider into which at least a tip end portion of the rod is inserted and which is slidable and rotatable in the insertion hole and the accommodating portion; a guide groove configured to restrict the movement of the slider to switch the position of the slider to a first position or a second position; and a locking pin that inhibits the movement of the rod in the receiving portion in a pull-out direction when the slider is located at the first position and that allows the rod to move when the slider is located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: JEWEL KOBE Company Limited
    Inventor: Masafumi Matsumori
  • Closure assembly incorporating an easy access tab integrated into hook and loop fastener elements and method for forming the same
    Patent number: 9351543
    Abstract: A releasable fastener assembly which includes a first panel carrying an area of a first engagement material; and a second panel carrying an area of a second engagement material. The first and second engagement materials are releasably securable to one another. A portion of a perimeter of the area of the second engagement material defines a recess which extends in a direction nonparallel to an edge of the second panel and into the area of the second engagement material. The recess is accessible from the edge of the second panel. Further included is a method for using the releasable fastener assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Central Lake Armor Express, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Raymond
  • Buckle apparatus for seat belt
    Patent number: 9346433
    Abstract: Disclosed is a buckle apparatus for a seat belt. The buckle apparatus Includes an upper cover including a front plate formed with an opening part; a lower cover engaged with a lower portion of the upper cover and provided therein with a base frame; a latch member including one end rotatably supported on the base frame and locked with a tongue plate inserted through the opening part; an ejector assembly provided on the base frame for locking and releasing between the tongue plate and the latch member; and a release button slidably provided on both sides of the base frame and disposed in an upper portion of the opening part so that one side of the release button is exposed. At least one elastic member is integrally provided on an upper end of the front plate to elastically press a bottom surface of the tongue plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Byoung Gae You
  • User configurable belt buckle
    Patent number: 9345288
    Abstract: Various user configurable belt buckles are provided. A user configurable belt buckle includes a user configurable frame that, in turn, includes four side members. The user configurable belt buckle further includes a prong, secured to the user configurable frame, for protruding through a hole in a belt. The user configurable belt buckle also includes one or more user-controllable attachment devices for providing side member substitution. At least one side member of the four side members is user replaceable by a substitute side member having at least one different physical characteristic than the at least one side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventors: Hank Greenberg, Gaspare J. Randazzo
  • Mobile device transportation apparatus
    Patent number: 9345312
    Abstract: A connector apparatus having a base and a clip is used to attach a mobile device to an article of clothing. The base may include a front surface, a rear surface, and an outer edge. The rear surface is attachable to an object, such as a mobile device. The clip is pivotally attached to the outer edge of the base and includes an inner edge forming an inner opening in between. The clip includes a gate having an open position where the inner opening in exposed, and a closed position where the inner opening is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Gregory Washio
  • Lanyard attachment assembly
    Patent number: 9339100
    Abstract: A lanyard attachment assembly has a sleeve with an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface defines a passageway through the sleeve. A strap passes through the passageway and forms a closed loop to link the closed loop to the sleeve. The assembly optionally includes a connector with a connector opening therethrough. When the assembly includes a connector, the strap passes through the connector opening where the closed loop links the connector to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Ty-Flot, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell A. Moreau, Andre W. Moreau
  • Squeegee retainer clip
    Patent number: 9341209
    Abstract: A retainer clip for a squeegee assembly comprises top and bottom clip members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the top clip member includes a first channel portion adjacent to a first end and a first interlocking feature adjacent to a second end. The interior surface of the bottom clip member includes a second channel portion adjacent to a first end and a second interlocking feature adjacent to a second end. Mating the first interlocking feature with the second interlocking feature positions the first channel portion adjacent to the second channel portion to form a pin receiving channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron T. Hall, Kale R. Johnson
  • Incorporated slide fastener
    Patent number: 9339087
    Abstract: An incorporated slide fastener that is incorporated simultaneously with the weaving of the fastener tape for a zigzag-type continuous element. The weft yarn of the fastener tape is woven with one thread traversing and doubling back in the tape width direction, forming a set of two threads. Fastener elements have: engaging heads; first and second leg portions that each extend in the width direction of the tape; first connecting portions that connect first legs that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the tape; and second connecting parts that connect second legs that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the tape. Of the two yarns configuring the weft yarn, one yarn is woven diagonally straddling the first surface of a first leg and the second surface of a second leg of adjacent fastener elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Nishida
  • Magnetic badge attachment device
    Patent number: 9339090
    Abstract: A magnetic badge attachment device removably attaches badges to clothing. The device includes a cover having a back face, a front face, and an open end. The front face of the cover is transparent. A cover magnet is coupled to the back face of the cover. A backing magnet is engageable to the cover magnet wherein the backing magnet is configured for securing a garment between the cover magnet and the backing magnet such that the front face of the cover is attached to and visible on the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Ernest Renegar
  • Connectors for tie down devices and methods of use
    Patent number: 9333895
    Abstract: Connectors for tie down devices and methods of use are provided herein. According to some embodiments, a connector device may include two hooks that each comprise a ring section and a hooked section, the two hooks being coupled together such that when the ring sections of two hooks are aligned the hooked sections of the two hooks are moved away from one another and disposed into a locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: James Pingelton
  • Snap hook
    Patent number: 9328765
    Abstract: A snap hook is provided. A body of the snap hook includes a hook shaped mid portion positioned between a nose portion and a connection portion. The body further has an opening to an inner edge that is positioned between the nose end and the connection portion. A gate is pivotally coupled proximate the connection portion of the body. The gate selectively pivots in relation to the body between a closed configuration and an open configuration. A gate holding portion is configured and arranged to be selectively received between at least one wall stop and at least one catch formed by at least one slot in the nose portion of the body to selectively lock the gate in the closed configuration. Moreover, a trigger is further operationally coupled to move the gate holding portion to clear the at least one catch of the nose portion when activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Judd J. Perner
  • Fastening clip
    Patent number: 9328759
    Abstract: In a fastening clip (10), in particular for a lining part (12) of a vehicle, including a base body (16) which has a retaining portion (20) for the lining part (12) and a fastening portion (22) provided thereon, which can be inserted into an opening (24) of a vehicle-fixed component (14), in particular of a vehicle body part, and which can latch therein, the fastening portion (22) includes at least two flexible latching wings (48) each held on a flexible web (40), the webs (40) being spaced apart from each other, and the latching wings (48) extending from the webs (40) away from each other, and a flexible connecting element (42) connecting the webs (40) on the entire length to each other being provided between the webs (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Michel Kuhm, Jean Luc Klein
  • Attachment strap
    Patent number: 9320346
    Abstract: An attachment strap incorporating an elongated strap segment extending away from an attachment head. The attachment head includes a crossbar extending between raised lateral sidewalls. The strap may be passed under the crossbar between the lateral sidewalls. The strap segment includes an array of raised or lowered profile elements disposed at positions along the length. The crossbar includes a complementary raised or lowered profile element adapted to matedly engage the strap profile elements in reversible inserted relation and to hold the strap in place within the attachment head following insertion of the strap behind the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. J. Iannello, Martin J. Nilsen, Michael B. Grimm
  • Highly flexible cable clamp
    Patent number: 9321571
    Abstract: A highly flexible cable tie includes comprising a head portion and a tail portion, the tail portion having one end joined to the head portion, the head portion being provided with an opening for the passage of the tail portion and with an elastic locking tooth, the tail portion being linear in shape, with a generically rectangular cross section, and having on a wider side saw -tooth projections configured to engage the flexible locking tooth of the head portion and to prevent the tail portion from sliding out of the opening of the head portion, the clamp having at least one projection on the wall to which the flexible locking tooth is joined, the projection being configured to limit the bending of the flexible locking tooth toward the wall to which the elastic tooth is joined. The tail portion has no ribs, projections, or raised lateral edges beside the saw-tooth projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAPISELCO SRL
    Inventor: Federico Griggio
  • Fastener
    Patent number: 9320326
    Abstract: A fastener assembly attaches items to fabrics and textiles. The fastener has particular application for easily attaching racing bibs (i.e., athlete numbers) to athletic garments, and obviating the need for safety pins. In one embodiment, a female portion that passes through the fabric or textile releasably connects with the male portion that fastens the item to the fabric or textile. In another embodiment, the female portion has a cover to facilitate passage through the fabric or textile. In a third embodiment, the male portion passes through the fabric or textile, and includes a barb or a hook to do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Robert P. Greenspoon
  • Magnetic coupler
    Patent number: 9314001
    Abstract: A connector system includes an insert configured to be attached to a first object and a magnetic coupler configured to be attached to a second object. The magnetic coupler has a quick connect receiver receiving the insert. The magnetic coupler has a magnet magnetically attracting the insert into the quick connect receiver. The magnetic coupler has insert latches engaging and locking the insert in the quick connect receiver. The insert latches are releasable to allow the insert to be removed from the quick connect receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventor: Greg Siwak