Patents by Inventor Fred Buckingham

Fred Buckingham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8944503
    Abstract: A harness retractor (62) for a harness system (60) of a child safety harness, which has a tensioning web (80) and buckle connectors (70) coupled to straps of the safety harness. The tensioning device has a rotatable retractor mechanism (90) connected to the tensioning web (80) and biased to wind up the tensioning web in a wind up rotation direction. The tensioning device has a locking device (110) biased to a first position preventing rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction. The tensioning device has a buckle housing (64) coupled to the retractor mechanism. The buckle connectors (70) are releasably connectable to the buckle housing (64). A release mechanism is connected between the locking device (110) and the buckle housing (64) and can switch the locking device from the first position to a second position permitting rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Luther Gates, Fred Buckingham, Mark Main
  • Patent number: 8720019
    Abstract: Personal restraint systems with buckle assemblies for use in vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a personal restraint system includes a connector configured to be coupled to a web. The restraint system also includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector. In this embodiment, the buckle assembly includes a frame having a locking feature configured to engage a tongue of the connector. The buckle assembly also includes a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame that retains the tongue in a locked position. The buckle assembly further includes an actuator that can be actuated by a user to move the tongue out of the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 8713765
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member urges the ejector toward a position that holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, another biasing member urges the latch to pivot from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 8646158
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member urges the ejector toward a position that holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, the biasing member causes the ejector to rotate latch from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 8444222
    Abstract: Retractor systems for securing child safety seats in vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a child safety seat includes a web operably coupled to a spool of a web retractor movably positioned under the safety seat. The web can include a first end portion that carries a first anchor connector and a second end portion that carries a second anchor connector. Rotation of the spool in a first direction retracts the first and second end portions of the web toward the retractor. Rotation of the spool in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, allows the first and second end portions to be drawn away from the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 8291555
    Abstract: Multi-pivot latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchors and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and a release actuator movably coupled to a frame. In operation, movement of the release actuator causes the latch to rotate from a first position to a second position about a first pivot point, and from the second position to a third position about a second pivot point to open the latch. In some embodiments, a blocker holds the latch in the open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. In other embodiments, a biasing member holds the latch in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 8220118
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A multi-pivot latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, the latch pivots from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Publication number: 20120074758
    Abstract: A harness retractor (62) for a harness system (60) of a child safety harness, which has a tensioning web (80) and buckle connectors (70) coupled to straps of the safety harness. The tensioning device has a rotatable retractor mechanism (90) connected to the tensioning web (80) and biased to wind up the tensioning web in a wind up rotation direction. The tensioning device has a locking device (110) biased to a first position preventing rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction. The tensioning device has a buckle housing (64) coupled to the retractor mechanism. The buckle connectors (70) are releasably connectable to the buckle housing (64). A release mechanism is connected between the locking device (110) and the buckle housing (64) and can switch the locking device from the first position to a second position permitting rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc
    Inventors: Luther Gates, Fred Buckingham, Mark Main
  • Publication number: 20110243653
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member urges the ejector toward a position that holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, another biasing member urges the latch to pivot from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Publication number: 20110107560
    Abstract: Personal restraint systems with buckle assemblies for use in vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a personal restraint system includes a connector configured to be coupled to a web. The restraint system also includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector. In this embodiment, the buckle assembly includes a frame having a locking feature configured to engage a tongue of the connector. The buckle assembly also includes a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame that retains the tongue in a locked position. The buckle assembly further includes an actuator that can be actuated by a user to move the tongue out of the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: 7918001
    Abstract: Multi pivot latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchors and other attach points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an actuator, each of which is movably coupled to a frame. In operation, movement of the actuator from a locked position toward an unlocked position causes the latch to rotate from a first position to a second position about a first pivot point, and from the second position toward the third position about a second pivot point to open the latch assembly and release the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20100253121
    Abstract: Retractor systems for securing child safety seats in vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a child safety seat includes a web operably coupled to a spool of a web retractor movably positioned under the safety seat. The web can include a first end portion that carries a first anchor connector and a second end portion that carries a second anchor connector. Rotation of the spool in a first direction retracts the first and second end portions of the web toward the retractor. Rotation of the spool in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, allows the first and second end portions to be drawn away from the retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Publication number: 20100247230
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member urges the ejector toward a position that holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, the biasing member causes the ejector to rotate latch from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Publication number: 20090250946
    Abstract: Latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchor members and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A multi-pivot latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an ejector movably coupled to a frame. In some embodiments, a biasing member holds the latch in a first or open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. When the anchor member presses against the ejector, the latch pivots from the first or open position to a second position about a first pivot point, and then from the second position to a third or fully closed position about a second pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Publication number: 20090241305
    Abstract: Multi pivot latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchors and other attach points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an actuator, each of which is movably coupled to a frame. In operation, movement of the actuator from a locked position toward an unlocked position causes the latch to rotate from a first position to a second position about a first pivot point, and from the second position toward the third position about a second pivot point to open the latch assembly and release the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20090243310
    Abstract: Multi-pivot latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchors and other attachment points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and a release actuator movably coupled to a frame. In operation, movement of the release actuator causes the latch to rotate from a first position to a second position about a first pivot point, and from the second position to a third position about a second pivot point to open the latch. In some embodiments, a blocker holds the latch in the open position prior to attachment to an anchor member. In other embodiments, a biasing member holds the latch in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Amsafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
  • Patent number: D649432
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Main, Fred Buckingham, Derrick J. Barker, Ian J. Hadlow
  • Patent number: D649433
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Buckingham, Mark E. Main, Derrick J. Barker, Ian J. Hadlow