Patents Examined by Matthew Theis
  • Patent number: 8418897
    Abstract: Disclosed is a child-carrying device designed to help a wearer carry a child, baby, infant, or toddler in their arms and accommodate a variety of holding positions. The child-carrying device can include a dual-shoulder harness, a rigid bar secured transversely between frontal strap portions of the harness, and a movable hand/wrist support assembly attached to the bar in a manner that it can freely move along the bar toward either side of the front of the wearer's rib cage, and optionally rotate about the bar. In one embodiment, to use the device, the wearer picks up a child, puts an arm under the child to support the child's weight, and then slips his hand through the hand/wrist support assembly in the form of a hand/wrist sling assembly; once in this position, only minimal exertion is required to carry the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Anthony Young
  • Patent number: 8397963
    Abstract: The auto caddy of the present invention may include a main housing having one or more receptacles for holding drinks or other items, and may include one or more attachment members having one or more sets of openings through which a vehicle headrest seat post may extend on installation with two points of contact, which may increase the stability of the auto caddy, especially during sudden movement of a vehicle. The auto caddy may include optional components for subdividing receptacles, one or more hooks from which a tray may be suspended, a strap for securing the tray, and slots for suspending a trash receptacle such as a plastic grocery bag. The auto caddy may also include offset sides for manufacturing cost efficiency, in which case offset washers (which may be hook-shaped) may be used at installation to maximize vertical and horizontal alignment and stability of the auto caddy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Neeraj Singh
  • Patent number: 8397966
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for storing cordage on a flexible carrier containing a plurality of holes, the cordage being quickly and easily removable from the flexible carrier when a temporary securement securing an end of the cordage is disengaged and an end is pulled. The flexible carrier can be a cordage storage article, a strap, a panel, a belt, a piece of clothing, a piece of a backpack, carry bag, tent, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 8376199
    Abstract: A multi-function tool assembly for coupling with a users belt including a belt attachment apparatus detachably engaged with a multi-function tool. The belt attachment apparatus includes coupling structure for coupling with a user's belt and engagement structure for detachably engaging the multi-function tool. The multi-function tool is provided with belt attachment engagement structure on its rear surface for detachably engaging the engagement structure of the belt attachment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Jameson Ellis
  • Patent number: 8322924
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a trash collection and removal system that includes a flexible, foldable heavy-duty dumpster bag configured to engage with specially designed clamps that are secured onto the tines of a front loader truck and that engage with the dumpster bag by means of connecting and receiving pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Noble, John Calo
  • Patent number: 8317067
    Abstract: The device holder with magnetic retainer is a holder that removably attaches to a garment by magnetic attraction. The holder typically holds a portable electronic device and includes a frame having a recess that receives the portable electronic device therein. The back portion of the frame retains a first magnetic member. A second magnetic member is designed to be positioned underneath a garment, such as a back of a shirt sleeve, so that a portion of the garment is positioned between the first and second magnetic members to attach the device to the garment. Front and rear peripheral edges of the device holder form a cord receiving channel that excess cord of the electronic device can be wrapped around, thereby facilitating neat storage of the excess cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Charles A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8267289
    Abstract: A wearable wallet has an elastic multi-part strap strung through two holes in the wallet, one hole in a cover flap over the wallet compartment opening and one hole in the bottom of the wallet back. The strap is composed of two conjoined loops forming an elongated “figure 8” where one loop is small and one loop is large. The small loop is just big enough to allow the large loop to be inserted through, causing the large loop to be divided into two parts. These two parts function as securing loops which can be variably proportioned and wrapped in a variety of useful ways, allowing the wallet to be easily reconfigured for wearing as a small purse dangling from a strap, as a wallet attached by elastic straps directly to an arm or hand or leg, or attached to a belt or some strap on clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: JillAnn Tremblay Irvin
  • Patent number: 8231272
    Abstract: A package made of a flexible material for containing liquid, viscous, pasty, granular or powdered products has a supporting base from which rise two opposite side walls joined to the perimeter of the base and joined to each other along the side edges. Each side wall includes an upper flap joined thereto by a fold line. The package also includes a top wall joined peripherally to the upper flaps of the sidewalls and a peelable closure in at least one portion of the perimeter of the top wall joined to the upper flaps of the sidewalls. The peelable closure is destined to be opened so as to form an opening for discharging the product. On the top wall there are provided gripping elements adapted to be gripped and raised by the user so as to cause the separation of the peelable closure to create the opening for discharging the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Goglio S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franco Goglio, Giorgio Bottini
  • Patent number: 8220676
    Abstract: A retractable tethering apparatus preferably includes a portable housing, a spring-actuated spool positioned within the housing, a flexible cord retractably wound about the spring-actuated spool, and a coupling section secured to a distal end of the cord. Such a coupling section is removably connected to the cellular telephone. Also provided is a mechanism for automatically notifying the user when the coupling section is disengaged from the housing by emitting an alert signal when the cord is unwound from the spring-actuated spool. In this manner, the coupling section may be completely disengaged from the housing when the cord is extracted from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Lenora Hicks
  • Patent number: 8197138
    Abstract: An evacuable container includes a first side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The first side wall includes an aperture between the interior surface and the exterior surface. A second side wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The second side wall is connected to the first sidewall such that the interior surfaces of the first and second side walls form an interior of the container. A sheet has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces the exterior surface of the first side wall. The sheet is sealingly attached to the exterior surface of the first side wall so as to form a flow chamber between the first side wall and the sheet. The sheet includes (i) a plurality of flow channels disposed on the first surface, and (ii) an aperture between the first surface and the second surface. A check valve is disposed in fluid communication with the aperture in the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Turvey
  • Patent number: 8052020
    Abstract: The pliable fisherman's caddy apparatus provides hands free carry of fishing equipment. Additionally, hands free carry of two fishing poles is provided. The apparatus is worn by the provided waist belt by a user, much like a fanny pack. Absolutely no impingement on a wearer's torso, arm movements, or leg movements are in any way experienced. Quick movement of the case from back to front, on a wearer, is as easy as spinning the belt. As the fisherman's caddy apparatus is lightweight, and waist worn, a user does not experience any balance issues when negotiating varied terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Derek W. Wurtz