Patents Examined by Ruth C. Rodriguez
-
Patent number: 7614124Abstract: A buckle assembly for a vehicle restraint system where the buckle assembly is adapted to receive a plurality of belt connectors, with the belt connectors being simultaneously released upon moving at least one handle to a release position.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.Inventors: Allen R. Keene, David Thayer Merrill
-
Patent number: 7603753Abstract: A zipper pull for an invisible zipper includes a housing having a recess on an inner surface thereof. The recess is configured to receive at least a portion of a slider of a zipper. The pull remains stationary with respect to the slider when not in use. Leading and trailing ends of the housing have sloped surfaces that are configured to be grasped by fingers of a user.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Neil D. Baker
-
Patent number: 7600302Abstract: A buckle for use with infant seats and the like having a release button slideably mounted within a hollow buckle housing for simultaneously releasing a pair of male buckle members latched in the housing. A bottom bar is slideably mounted into the housing and provided with locking hooks received within openings provided in the housing for permanently locking the bottom bar to the housing. The bottom bar and male projection members are provided with openings for webbing belts. The housing has integral guide ribs for guiding the male members and bottom bar when inserted into the housing to ensure proper insertion and alignment in the housing. All of the members of the buckle assembly are preferably molded of a suitable plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Inventor: James Michael Dillner
-
Patent number: 7596966Abstract: A jewelry device for displaying decorative ornamentation comprising a single spring tension member made of any lightweight metal or plastic frame and folded to form a spring tension clip. The clip is capable of securing an ornament. One end of the clip may be an enlarged first end with an aperture capable of showing an ornament by allowing it to protrude through the aperture from the back and through the front of the enlarged first end, where the ornament has a backing portion preventing it from falling through the aperture. The ornament and backing portion are secured between the first and second ends through the spring tension of the clip formed from the folding of the frame. Further, the clip may incorporate earring posts, holes, pin, or cuff links, or other attachment mechanisms for creating various types of jewelry using the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Inventor: Timothy Vincent Garvin
-
Patent number: 7591045Abstract: A buffer apparatus for a ceiling screen includes a case and a lid pivotally coupled with one lateral end of the case for holding a screen. The lateral end has two sides forming a first action side and a second action side that correspond to each other. The first action side has a speed reducing mechanism to reduce the flipping speed of the lid and provide a buffer effect when the lid is driven by a first elastic element and unfolds. The second action side has a second elastic element compressed by the flipping lid at the initial unfolding stage during the buffering process, and expanded at a later unfolding stage of the lid to provide a returning elastic force to move and anchor the lid on a desired position. Thus the impact and vibration resulting from fast flipping of the lid may be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: E-Lead Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jeng-Ji Yang
-
Patent number: 7574779Abstract: A substantially cylindrical socket (10) and a plug (20) to be inserted into the socket (10) are provided. The socket includes a string opening (11), a plug opening (12), an accommodation section (13) in communication with the string opening and the plug opening, a plurality of holding sections (14) for holding string ends (1A) accommodated in the accommodation section, and a widening section (17). The plug (20) is provided with a plurality of pressing legs (24) capable of being widened toward the respective holding sections. The widening section abuts to the pressing legs when the plug is almost fully inserted into the socket (i.e. when at least substantially more than half of the plug is inserted) to press the string ends to the holding sections.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: YKK CorporationInventor: Yoshinobu Takahashi
-
Patent number: 7571522Abstract: A universal cradle apparatus having a pair of substantially rigid jaw structures each configured with a flange structure having a substantially planar mounting surface adapted for being secured to respective cooperating male and female portions of a spring-return clamping mechanism formed of telescoping male linear drive shaft and mating female linear drive channel. The two jaw structures are each configured with a shallow cup-shaped clamping surface that is projected above the respective flange structure. The jaw structures are mounted on the respective drive shaft and drive channel each having its respective cup-shaped interior clamping surface facing toward the clamping surface of the other jaw. A spring is coupled for biasing the male drive shaft into the mating female drive channel of the clamping mechanism, thereby driving the two jaw structures together along a linear drive axis of the clamping mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
-
Patent number: 7568265Abstract: A buckle apparatus and a seat belt apparatus are provided capable of suppressing an occurrence of an unevenness of brightness at a time of leading illuminating light flux in an inner part of the reflector. In one form, a reflector having a curved face portion that leads illuminating light flux, which is eradiated from a light source to a light receiving face facing a light source, to an entire face of a light emitting face is provided. Further, a light intensity control device is configured to be connected in series to the light sources, and an optimum light intensity control device is selected while exchanging various light intensity control devices corresponding to the required capability and the specifications.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Shigeru Kohama
-
Patent number: 7565720Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, hinge mechanisms for use in a portable computing device having a base and a lid are presented, the hinge mechanism including: a base link pivotally connected with a base such that the base link rotates about a first axis of rotation, the base link being in sliding communication with a lid; a lid link pivotally connected with the lid such that the lid link rotates about a second axis of rotation, the lid link being in sliding communication with the base; and a center pin pivotally connecting the base link with the lid link such that the base link and the lid link rotate about a third axis of rotation wherein the base link, the lid link, and the center pin cooperatively function to translate the lid over at least two planes of motion with respect to the base.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Chris Ligtenberg, Joshua Banko
-
Patent number: 7562420Abstract: A clip (1) comprises a base (6), a shank (7) extending from the base (6), a pair of legs (9A, 9B) extending from an end of the shank towards the base and away from a side of the shank, and a pair of elastic fingers (11A, 11B) extending from the end of the shank towards the base and away from a side of the shank, juxtaposed with the legs. A curved end (12)is formed at the end of each finger to engage the edge of a mounting hole (5) in a workpiece. Complementary parts of a molded plastic clip, connected by a hinge, are fastened to one another before mounting of the clip.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Newfrey LLCInventor: Hiroyuki Kato
-
Patent number: 7562421Abstract: There is provided a connecting clasp for joining adjacing modular units of a solar collector mounted on roofs or other surfaces, including two substantially upright walls defining between them a space of a width capable of accommodating the end portions of spacer bars of the solar collector and a plurality of catches with inwards and downwards inclined top faces projecting from inside faces of the two upright walls. By application of force to a spacer bar seatable on the upper edges of the top faces of the catches, the upright walls are spread apart, letting the spacer bars enter the space until the catches snap into recesses provided in the spacer bars, thereby locking the clasp into position.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Magen Eco Energy A.C.S. Ltd.Inventor: Micha Plaschkes
-
Patent number: 7559126Abstract: A double action reversible safety buckle is disengaged by pinching side arms together to be free of the socket, while depressing a button or other device to free an internal latch from a catch on the socket. The plug or the socket is symmetrical with respect to the latch on the catch, so that the buckle may be clasped and secured without regard for the orientation of the socket and the plug. The internal latch may be made to be operated concurrently with the side arms, or sequentially to provide additional safety.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Inventor: Paul Giampavolo
-
Patent number: 7556449Abstract: A clip attaches a strip member to at least a part of an opening of a groove formed on a panel. The clip for attaching a strip member includes a first portion or car body side joining portion to be attached to a bottom surface of the groove, and a second portion or strip side joining portion to be attached to the strip member. The second portion is connected to the first portion rotatably around an axis line along a groove extending direction. Further, an upright-state holding device is provided between the first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignees: Nifco Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyoshi Sasaki, Seiichi Yuda, Norimichi Tamura
-
Patent number: 7552518Abstract: A seat belt buckle, comprising: a frame portion; a release button slidably mounted to the frame portion for movement between a first position and a second position; an inertia locking device rotatably mounted to the frame portion for movement between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the inertia locking device being configured to make contact with a cam surface of the release button when the inertia locking device is in the blocking position and slidable movement of the release button with respect to the frame portion is prevented when the inertia locking device is in the blocking position and the inertia locking device contacts the cam surface of the release button; and a biasing member for providing a biasing force for biasing the inertia locking device into the unblocking position, the inertia locking device being rotated into the blocking position when the biasing force of the biasing member is overcome.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James L. Webber, David G. Hlavaty
-
Patent number: 7549198Abstract: A new and improved sealed joint or system is disclosed for securing together the opposite ends of plastic strapping, which is encircled around the package or bale, in order to ensure that the opposite ends of the plastic strapping do not exhibit any slipping or relative movement with respect to each other whereby the predeterminedly formed size or shape of the package or bale is able to be preserved or maintained. In accordance with various different embodiments of the present invention, different arrangements of the sealed joint, with respect to the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, are structured whereby enhanced frictional contact is effectively developed between the sealed joint and the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, or between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping per se, so as to in fact reduce the amount of slipperiness effectively defined between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Anatoly Gosis, Donald L. Van Erden, Deepak Mehta, Manuel Enriquez, Abram Cervantes, Penmetesa N. Varma
-
Patent number: 7546665Abstract: A cinch for a tether used to elevate equipment in the field. An element having a tapered section connects with either a rope or strap. The element is removably received in a receptacle through which the tether has been passed. The receptacle has a side notch to facilitate looping the tether around the equipment. The cinch can be manipulated in the dark.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Doyle's Deer GearInventors: Doyle R. Myers, Trevor S. Brown, Eric Christopher Kerkhof
-
Patent number: 7543363Abstract: A seat belt buckle for use with a tongue of a seat belt, the seat belt buckle comprising: a frame portion; a latch being movably mounted to the frame portion for movement between a first position and a second position, the latch being configured to engage a portion of the tongue as the latch moves from the first position to the second position; an ejector being slidably mounted to the frame portion for movement between a locking position and a release position, wherein movement toward the release position causes an opening force to be applied to the latch in order to move the latch from the second position towards the first position, wherein movement of the ejector towards the release position is caused by movement of a release button movably mounted to the seat belt buckle; an inertia locking device rotatably mounted to the release button for movement between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the inertia locking device being configured for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to a plane oType: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James L. Webber, David G. Hlavaty
-
Patent number: 7543358Abstract: A multi-stage hinge assembly connected between first and second shell portions includes a first component, a second component and a connecting portion. At least one part of the first component is fixed to the first shell portion. A pivot extends from one side of the first component along a rotating axis. A protrusion is disposed on the pivot. At least one part of the second component is fixed to the second shell portion. The connecting portion is disposed beside the second component and pivots on the pivot. When the first component rotates relative to the second component, the pivot or connecting portion rotates about the rotating axis. First and second trenches are disposed in the connecting portion and separate it into first and second connecting portions. The first and second trenches are connected together and have different widths. The protrusion slides in the first or second trench.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.Inventors: San-Feng Lin, Yi-Chuan Li
-
Patent number: 7543357Abstract: A folding device is constructed with a holding member mounted rotatably on an end portion of a movable case, which is formed on its periphery with a convex wall portion or a concave groove portion, and which houses a fixed member and a movable member. A holding member provided in the folding device is rotated to fix the movable case in a movable housing of, for example, an electronic apparatus after the movable case is inserted in the movable housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takayuki Ishikawa, Koji Sakai, Masaki Nakase
-
Patent number: 7540071Abstract: An interlocked clamp for an elongated member such as a pipe, tube cable, or the like is provided. The two-part clamp is interlocked on one end and is secured by a fastener to a supporting surface on an opposite end. The two parts are interlocked by a T-shaped distal end of one of the clamp members that is received in an elongated slot formed in the other clamp member. A finger is provided that extends across the slot and secures the T-shaped distal end within the slot.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Franklin Fastener CompanyInventor: James M. Sampson