Patents Examined by Gary L. Welch
  • Patent number: 8387168
    Abstract: A protective glove comprising a glove body having a padded cuff, an exterior covered with padding, finger pockets and a thumb pad, a palm flap integrally connected to the glove body adjacent the opening of the finger pockets such that the interior surface of the palm flap can be positioned to face the interior surface of the glove body, the palm flap further including a thumb pad pocket adapted to receive the thumb pad of the glove body, and an adjacent thumb pocket for receiving the wearer's thumb, flexible releasable fasteners situated along the periphery of the palm flap and at corresponding locations on the glove body for releasably connecting the palm flap to the glove body such that the palm flap and the glove body define a hand cavity when they are connected that communicates with the finger pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Errol Bautista
  • Patent number: 8359673
    Abstract: A swimming goggle having connector members which are formed by a material which is flexible, elastically deformable and has rigidity as well as hardness higher than those of the head strap where each of the eye cups is formed on its laterally outer portion with a sloped guide depression and a stopper extending in the vertical direction so as to straddle the guide depression, and the connector member has a front end segment adapted to be connected the eye cup and a rear end segment adapted to be connected with the head strap wherein the front end segment is formed with a latching detent adapted to be engaged with the stopper while the rear end segment is formed with an insertion hole through which the head strap is inserted so that the connector member is inserted with its rear end segment ahead into a gap between the guide depression and the stopper until the latching detent is engaged with the stopper to connect the connector member to the eye cup in a detachable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tabata Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8201275
    Abstract: A protective goggle assembly includes a protective goggle having two side straps, each side strap comprises a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of each side strap; and a strap assembly that encircles the user's head, on each side of the strap assembly a second surface attachment region is provided that is configured to engage the first surface attachment region of the side straps. Free ends of the base band of the strap assembly are connected to an elastic ring to form a complete encircling band. The base band has a tail for securing the base band in position on a helmet. The complete encircling band is configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and the elastic ring being configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Revision Military Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Packard, Kimberly Borsa, Adam North Lazar, James Patrick Radigan
  • Patent number: 8201276
    Abstract: A protection device, system and/or method including a protection body portion adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on the lower edge of a wearer's headgear. In some implementations, the protection body portion may be triangular and the connecting of the device to headgear may include a removable connective component is located at the apex of a second edge and a third edge of the protection body portion at the farthest point from the headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Astar Listings, LLC
    Inventor: John Asta
  • Patent number: 8196221
    Abstract: A wearable garment with a stitched or otherwise secured accessory, which is preferably a one piece PVC or injection molded plastic accessory. The accessory includes a base for attachment to the garment and a disk in the general shape of a bottle cap and bottle flange. The disk is attached together with the base by a flexible tether. The base unit is glued, stitched or otherwise attached to the wearable garment and the, bottle cap shape, is snapped onto the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventors: Michelle J. Fuwausa, Michael F. Houtkin
  • Patent number: 8191178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mouth guard or mouth piece holder having a pair of mounts each mount having a generally concave back surface and a flat front surface and configured to be fixed to an exterior surface of a helmet with the back surface conforming to and abutting the exterior surface of the helmet. A face plate is attached to the mounts to define a pocket. A support base is medially located within the pocket formed integral to the bottom edge of the face plate to partially fill the pocket. Thus, the pocket with the base is adapted to accommodate the mouth guard such that the mouth guard can be maintained proximate to the exterior surface of the helmet above the facemask during temporary periods of non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Hal Mangel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8185971
    Abstract: An athletic garment including a panel designed to reduce frictional and pressure drag around an appendage of an athlete competing in a high-speed event, such as running and cycling. The panel is positioned to encircle the appendage, and is provided with regions having different surface texture roughnesses. The leading edge of the panel includes texture designed to enhance the laminar boundary layer, while the adjacent portion of the panel includes texture intended to trip the boundary layer to turbulent flow. The drag-reducing panel may be the cuff of a sock, a sleeve, wristband, a headband, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Wright, Kenneth T. Craig, Richard C. MacDonald, Leonard W. Brownlie
  • Patent number: 8181280
    Abstract: The present invention is an enhanced undergarment that enables easier dressing and undressing by disabled individuals by allowing the user to don the garment from the buttock area. The garment is configured with a unique back panel at the buttock area that it is divided into two separate panels, a right panel and a left panel. The left and right panels of the undergarment are not seamed but remain open; this opening is from the top of the elastic band to the crotch. Seams are placed to attach the sides of the two separates panels to the front panel, joining the right and left sides. The undergarments are configured with standard leg openings. A seam is also at the crotch. Before the seam is placed at the crotch area, the bottoms of the back panels are designed to overlap. The overlap facilitates better closure and provides space for extra fasteners if needed. The left and right panels include male and female fasteners which allow the user to manually open and close the back panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Joanell Jenkins Caliste
  • Patent number: 8176570
    Abstract: A garment having a substantially tubular body configured to cover at least one of an upper and a lower torso of a wearer, and at least one pair of tubular portions extending from the body and configured for surrounding corresponding limbs of the wearer, each tubular portion including a tubular insert having a length increasing around a perimeter thereof from a minimum length to a maximum length, the tubular insert providing excess material in the tubular portion along the maximum length to locally increase a width of the tubular portion. The garment can be for example pants or a jersey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sport Maska Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvie Bedard, Ross McCracken
  • Patent number: 8166575
    Abstract: A protective headgear combination has a helmet and at least one ear defender secured on the helmet rotational position of the at least one ear defender relative to the helmet is adjustable about a first axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation is positioned relative to the vertical at an angle of less than 45° for an upright head position of a user of the protective headgear combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Haselmayer
  • Patent number: 8161576
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to protective headgear worn by a user to protect his eyes, head, and face. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a protective headgear assembly used by welders and the like wherein a headgear strap can be tightened or loosened upon the ratcheting of a knob connected to the headgear strap. The headgear strap can also be automatically disengaged for removal of the headgear by pulling the knob away from the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sellstrom Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Lemke, James A. Piper, Mark Edward Miller, Daniel Ryan Somen
  • Patent number: 8161578
    Abstract: A padding device includes a connecting portion for engaging with a body of a pair of swimming/diving goggles. The connecting portion includes a lateral wall extending between front and rear walls. An annular, outer wall extension extends rearward from the lateral wall. A front connecting wall extends from the outer wall extension. An annular, inner wall extension extends perpendicularly to and rearward from an inner edge of the rear wall. A bend extends outward from an inner end of the inner wall extension and has a rear connecting wall located behind the front connecting wall. A spacing portion is defined between the inner and outer wall extensions. The front and rear connecting walls are engaged with each other and seal the spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Terry Chou
  • Patent number: 8161573
    Abstract: This multiple component invention comprises a shirt, pants and bodysuit, which are readily donned without the necessity of executing normal dressing movements. Although conventional looking, this adjustable clothing combination does not don in the conventional manner, this clothing combination opens fully, allowing the physically challenged individual to readily self-don without assistance. The need for bending one's knees, bending forward or downward, removing and replacing one's shoes, is eliminated. The donning of the shirt does not require the individual to fold their arms or raise them to the shoulders. The very nature of this invention and improvements over prior art, allows the individual who has become dependent on others, to return to a life of self-reliance, independently living on one's own. The attributes of this multiple component invention for the wheelchair bound or bed-ridden individual needing assistance, will aid the caregiver, lessening stress on the patient and the caregiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Edna Darleen Burns-Cox
  • Patent number: 8156569
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter Alec Cripton, Timothy Scott Nelson
  • Patent number: 8146175
    Abstract: A scarf harness according to the present teachings facilitates the wearing of a scarf as a clothing accessory. The harness can allow the scarf to drape across the front of a user. The draping of a scarf can allow the visual pattern of the scarf to be easily seen and can enhance the impact of the scarf as a clothing accessory. The scarf harness can retain the scarf in a draped function over the front of the user along with providing a distinctive butterfly-type shape to the scarf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Audrey Lee Otenbaker
  • Patent number: 8141176
    Abstract: Provided is pants having a body-shaping function including; an elastic fabric included in the pants, and having a boundary that is partially fixed on the pants to elastically support hips of a wearer; and a hip-up band fixed on the elastic fabric to push the hips up so as to make contours of the hips more voluminous or compression bands on lower side portions of the elastic fabric in order to compress thighs of the wearer so as to make the thighs look thin, or a pair of pads having predetermined thicknesses and disposed on the elastic fabric to make the hips of the wearer look more attractive. Therefore, since the elastic fabric is integrally fixed in the pants for shaping the hips, the conventional girdle is not required. In addition, since the girdle in the pants only compresses the hips, it does not affect blood circulation around the belly, and is easily wearable. Also, the contours of the hips look more attractive due to the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Sung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8141173
    Abstract: A garment for use in a shower is disclosed. The shower garment includes a first panel, a second panel, and a strap. The strap has a first end releasably coupled to a second end thereof and is adapted to extend around a waist of a user. The first panel and the second panel depend from the strap and substantially cover the pelvic region and the buttocks, respectively, of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Stephen M. Sterling
  • Patent number: 8108947
    Abstract: The invention is for a bodysuit for clothing of a human to assist in comfortable wearing of an orthotic brace. Trouserette sections, an elliptical sanitary voiding aperture, and a loincloth with a pelvic girdle flap elongated end releasably joined to a body sleeve provide the wearer with comfort, modesty, and convenience in sanitary voiding. Stretch cotton/spandex knit cloth, externally overlocked seaming, coverstitched stitches, flat zigzag stitchery, and hook and loop tape fasteners enhance quality and comfort in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Christina Kay Beauvais
  • Patent number: 8108951
    Abstract: A wearable protective body appliance for reducing the likelihood of injury to a wearer. One embodiment provides a wearable protective body appliance having an articulating protective shell assembly that includes one or more first shell members formed from a first material having a first hardness, and a second shell member directly connected to the first shell member and formed from a second material having a second hardness less than the first hardness. The second shell member is flexible and enables the one or more first shell members to articulate relative to one another, yet still provide impact protection. Another embodiment provides a body appliance including a padding assembly that defines a ventilation hole and includes an inner engagement member. The inner engagement member can surround the ventilation hole and can be adapted to frictionally engage the skin of a wearer to substantially prevent the appliance from moving relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Warrior Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Gabry, Matthew M. Winningham
  • Patent number: 8104094
    Abstract: This invention defines a welding helmet that encloses a welders head on five sides and with an optional skirt covers their neck. The helmet contains a fan, filter and cooling module to provide clean cool air that reduces welding fume levels in the breathing zone below suggested maximums. By providing cool air to the welders head and neck area their whole body will feel cooler. It suggests the use of an external power source to provide the energy required to have a fan of sufficient capacity to draw air thorough a quality filter so potentially hazardous constituents of welding fumes are captured. This externally supplied power allows the required cooling capacity thermal electric cooling modules to be used to significantly lower the ambient air temperature. This helmet allows the welding operator to have sufficient cooling to improve their overall work environment for one of the most objectionable welding issues, excess heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Daniel Uttrachi