Patents Examined by Ruth C. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7441313
    Abstract: A spring clamp has a clamping mouth (1) with two clamping jaws (2) which can be spring-loaded toward one another by the force of a spring. The clamping jaws (2) are formed by arms (3) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner at one end. The other ends of the arms (3) which form actuating sections (4) can be moved toward one another in order to open the clamping mouth (1). The two abutting clamping jaws (2) together with the articulation pin (5) of the arms (3) define a reference plane (E). An angle bisector (G) between the two actuating sections (4) is inclined at approximately 90° to the reference plane (E). A hook may be provided at the actuating section (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Wolfcraft GmbH
    Inventor: Klemens Degen
  • Patent number: 7441308
    Abstract: Watertight closure of an opening within a wall, under manually controlled displacement of a door panel, is enhanced by pivotal mounting of the door panel on the wall by vertically spaced hinge assemblies each of which is more readily assembled from a minimal number of components including upper and lower hinge pads fixed to the wall, a single hinge pin supported on the upper hinge pad and extending downwardly therefrom through the lower hinge pad and an end portion of a hinge blade fixed to the door panel. Flanged bushings are inserted into the upper and lower hinge pads through which the hinge pin extends. Also positioned within the end portion of the hinge blade through which the hinge pin extends is a flanged bushing having a horizontally elongated hole formed, therein through which the hinge pin extends so as to allow limited horizontal displacement thereof relative to the wall. The bottom flange of the hinge blade bushing is spaced by a pair of washers from the flange of the lower hinge pad bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Constantine V. Pappas
  • Patent number: 7428769
    Abstract: A simple and inexpensive device for a reliable tie down tensioning which device enables the tie-down to be quickly and easily applied and the flexible element tensioned and just as quickly and easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Tie Boss LLC
    Inventors: Norston Fontaine, Paul Maire
  • Patent number: 7428770
    Abstract: A spring fastener, which comprises two engagement springs in opposite sides of the fastener. Each engagement spring has an engagement portion comprising a hindrance portion, which increases considerably the removal to insertion force ratio as compared to such ratio when the engagement portion does not have the hindrance portion, thus permitting very easy insertion into, with considerably more difficult removal of the fastener from the slot of a panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Termax Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel James Dickenson, Michael Walter Smith, Lawrence John Conway, Paul Lester Clements
  • Patent number: 7409749
    Abstract: A metal cable tie is provided with a locking head attached to a strap. The strap comprises a coated portion and an uncoated tip for insertion into the locking head. According to one embodiment, the locking head is coated. A strap may be comprised of stainless steel, with coated portions of the strap being coated with nylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Jack E. Caveney
  • Patent number: 7406752
    Abstract: A stretching device for filiform elements comprises a main body member (1) having ends, with one of the ends having a connection opening (2) and the opposite end of the plate member having a rotating mounting opening (3) in the rotating mounting opening there is a rotating part (6) having a command head (11) which forms a winding reel (7) for the wire to be stretched; mounted on the main body (1) is a slide mobile cramp (12). The winding to stretch the element is done by turning the command head (11). Once the suitable stretching has been achieved, the slide mobile cramp (12) is slided until said command head (11) is introduced into the cramp recess (15) formed by the cramp fork (14). Under these conditions, the rotating part (6) is fixed, keeping the tension on the filiform element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Eduardo Roberto Fernández, Cesar Hugo Olivera
  • Patent number: 7404236
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hinge assembly capable of adjusting a tilting angle of a display in a display appliance. The hinge assembly includes a movable plate fixed to a rear side of the display and having a through-hole, a stationary plate coupled to a stand for the display appliance and having a through-hole, a hinge shaft passing through the through-holes of the movable and stationary plates and having a head portion, a coupling member fixed to one end of the hinge shaft, a first washer disposed between the head portion of the hinge shaft and the movable plate, first and secondary washers disposed at both sides of the through-hole of the movable plate, and third and fourth stationary washers disposed at both sides of the through-hole of the stationary plate. At least one of the first, second, third and fourth stationary washes is an elastic washer for applying compressive elasticity to the hinge shaft in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gyu Yeol Cho, Hong Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 7395580
    Abstract: A hinge with a hinge cup can be inserted into a boring in a furniture part. A damper housing is fixed onto the hinge cup, and the damper housing can be fastened onto or removably secured to the hinge cup. The damper housing is disposed at least partially outside the boring when the hinge cup is inserted into the boring in the furniture part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Klaus Brüstle, Fredi Dubach
  • Patent number: 7389567
    Abstract: A removable hat accessory, having a display object and an attaching device. The display object has an opening extending axially and upwardly from a bottom thereof. The attaching device has a fastener for holding the attaching device to the display object, and a spring member for removably attaching the hat accessory to a button of a hat or a cap. To attach the hat accessory to the hat, the lower portion of the spring is slid under the hat button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Namkung Promotions Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Rogers, Sinclair Bishop, Jason Wood
  • Patent number: 7389975
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for fencing and other outdoor structures that allow the structure to be changed or adjusted to modify the function, use or appearance of the structure. The structure can be adjusted into a selected position and releasably secured, or portions can be changed to modify the appearance of the structure. One aspect of the invention provides an accessible compartment in the structure to retain objects such as wires or other conduits, and allows for attaching selected objects to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: On the Fence Technologies, LLC Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Rowley, David Kurth
  • Patent number: 7389568
    Abstract: A hose clamp 100 including a band 120 with an integrated wave-form 110 formed in the band 120 for spring compensation during thermal cycling and material aging, and notches 122 formed in the band 120; a housing 150; a worm gear screw 140 for tensioning the hose clamp; a compression liner 130 inserted in the inside circumference of the band 120 to increase clamp unit loading by concentrating the load radially inward around and through the circumference of the band 120; and an attachment means to secure the compression liner 130 in place with the band 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Epicor Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Watkins Crockett, IV, Jonathan L. Chilson, Duane M. Farmer, Rex Fayter, David A. Ramsey, Gene C. Holz, Brian J. Adamo
  • Patent number: 7387288
    Abstract: A fitting for attaching ENT tubing to a concrete form has an inverted cup-like configuration with a bottom opening and an internal cavity within a fitting wall. A flange extends outwardly from the fitting wall around the bottom opening and has fastener-receiving holes for attaching the fitting to a plane surface of a concrete form. A socket extends through the fitting wall into the cavity for receiving an end portion of an ENT tube. The socket has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced resilient fingers that are inclined inwardly toward the socket axis for gripping an ENT tube. A pair of opposite fingers have teeth that are receivable in an annular groove in an end portion of a corrugated ENT tube. The teeth have rounded ends to facilitate ratcheting movement of the ENT tube end portion both into and out of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: The Lamson & Sessions Co.
    Inventors: Eric G. Hull, Charles H. Riedy, Gregory D. Turcovsky, Robert M. Gudin
  • Patent number: 7383618
    Abstract: A hinge for a portable device has a body, a spring, a slide and a shaft. The body has a cavity and multiple retaining tabs. The spring is mounted in the cavity in the body. The slide is mounted slidably in the cavity in the body, abuts the spring and has a positioning element. The shaft is mounted to the body, rotatably engages the slide and has a positioning element and an annular groove. The positioning element on the shaft rotatably engages the positioning element on the slide. The annular groove rotatably engages the retaining tabs on the body. The shaft is mounted to the body without additional fasteners such as C-shaped clasps so the hinge has a simple structure and a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Nan Lu, Hsiang-Chi Chien
  • Patent number: 7383617
    Abstract: An exemplary hinge assembly includes a hollow housing (100), a shaft (300), an urging mechanism (400), a cam (500), and a follower (700). The housing includes an open end, and a hole (104) in an opposite second end. A peripheral wall of the housing at the open end defines two pinholes (112). The shaft 300 includes a fixing portion and a stopper portion (204). The urging mechanism is received in the housing and located around the shaft. The cam defines a cam hole (506) therethrough, and includes a cam portion (502) received in the housing. One end of the cam portion has a cam surface (508). The cam hole engagingly receives the shaft, so that the cam rotates with the shaft. The urging mechanism biases the cam. The follower is fixed in the pinholes. The follower rotates relative to the shaft, and is movably engaged with the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pu Luo
  • Patent number: 7377014
    Abstract: A device for hanging one or more cords, such as cables or ropes used to hang banners or electrical wires used to hang strings of decorative lights, includes (a) an elongate housing, (b) an interior member which is slidably disposed within the housing, and (c) biasing means, such as a coil spring. The interior member defines a notch proximate to its forward end. The notch is sized to accept and retain at least one cord. The interior member is slidable within the housing between a closed position and an open position. The biasing means is adapted to bias the interior member towards the closed position. When a cord is disposed within the notch, the biasing of the interior member towards the closed position firmly attaches the cord to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Jeanine Rustad
  • Patent number: 7373699
    Abstract: A strip-form touch fastener component includes a resin base having a front surface from which an array of molded plastic fastener elements project, and a reinforcing knit fabric directly laminated to a side of the resin base opposite the fastener elements, the fabric having float filament sections extending generally along an outer surface of a back side of the fastener component. The float sections are connected to the back side of the fastener component only at their ends, and otherwise lie against the back side of the fastener component to reinforce the resin base against tearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Paul R. Erickson, Dale E. Turcotte, William B. S. Mc Dougall
  • Patent number: 7373692
    Abstract: Parallel plane rotation hinge for a portable device. The hinge includes a pin defining a rotational axis and a cam having an inner cam track and an outer cam track. A bushing is rotationally fixed and axially slidable with respect to the pin, and includes inner and outer followers for respectively rotationally engaging the inner and outer cam tracks. A biasing member is disposed about the pin to bias the bushing against the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Amphenol-T&M Antennas
    Inventor: Tony Kfoury
  • Patent number: 7373696
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for holding garments, such as neckties, is disclosed. The device comprises a magnet, preferably made of a rare Earth material and magnetized to about Grade N35 or better, and a faceplate. In one embodiment, the magnet is positioned under at least a portion of the wearer's shirt while the faceplate is positioned on a portion of the wearer's necktie. The shirt and/or necktie may additionally include pockets for housing the magnet and/or faceplate. The faceplate may be decorative, and interchangeable, for prominent display in front of the necktie. Alternatively, the device may be configured to be completely hidden from view. Several means for retaining the magnet to the shirt upon separation of the garments are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Schoening, Stephen E. Dorgan, Michael R. Capesius, Szymon Latawiec
  • Patent number: 7370393
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle for use with a tongue of a seat belt includes a latch that engages the tongue, and a release bar that releases the latch. An inertia locking device mounted to a frame portion is normally biased in an unlocking position and rotates to a locking position to prevent movement of the release bar into the release position when the seat belt buckle is subjected to a force greater than the biasing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Hlavaty, James L. Webber, Michael Todd Moury
  • Patent number: 7367086
    Abstract: A string type air damper includes a cylinder formed in a tubular shape, defining a guide hole at one end portion thereof, a piston, which moves in the cylinder, a helical spring for biasing the piston toward the other end portion of the cylinder, and a string member guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole. The piston and the string member are integrally formed. Since the string member is formed integrally with the piston, unlike a method according to a related art, it becomes unnecessary to form a loop at the base end portion of the string member with a complicated work and form a hook portion at the piston and hook the base end portion of the string member at the hook portion of the piston. Therefore, the string type air damper can be very easily assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Kiichiro Ito