Patents Assigned to West Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4328714
    Abstract: An actuation assembly for use in conjunction with an instrument, such as a parachute oxygen system, etc., is disclosed having a handle adapted to be manually gripped by the user of the actuation assembly and mounted relative to housing means that is fixedly secured to a strap or the like, with positionment of the handle in releasably confined position relative to the housing means until use of the actuation assembly is desired. Releasing means operatively associated with the housing means and the handle is provided to maintain the handle in the confined position relative to the housing means such that only upon the application of a predetermined force to the handle is it removable from the confined position. Coupling means for connecting the handle to the instrument to be actuated is provided such that upon removal of the handle from the confined position a force is applied through the coupling means to the instrument for actuation of the system associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
  • Patent number: 4305438
    Abstract: The kit of the present invention is for use in the refilling within a survival unit of a gaseous supply tank through a filler valve having a threaded stem adjacent the free end thereof and a gripping surface on the filler valve. The gas is generally oxygen although other gas may be supplied. The kit includes an adapter to provide coupling relationship with the threaded stem of the filler valve so as to permit a flow of oxygen into the supply tank such that refilling thereof may take place without removal of the supply tank from the survival kit. The adapter includes an elongated member with an aperture extending therethrough and is adapted to mate with the filler valve in sealing engagement therewith so as to permit gas flowing through the aperture to enter the filler valve. The adapter further includes a holder with a bore extending axially therethrough and the elongated member extends axially through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
  • Patent number: 4289286
    Abstract: A disconnect device for an aircraft survival kit including a container and a lid secured thereto with a torso harness and anti-rotation strap associated therewith. The disconnect device includes a body adapted to be mounted relative to the kit, with the body including a recess, in accordance with one embodiment, adapted to enclose a portion of the kit therein, and a support assembly extending outwardly from the body and including a cavity adapted to receive an end of the harness therein. A locking device is provided and adapted to extend through the support assembly and the end of the harness to provide securement of the harness to the kit so as to obtain removal of the harness from the disconnect device for replacement thereof when the locking devise is disengaged such that the lid may remain secured to the container when the harness is replaced. The support assembly includes a pair of spaced apart arms integrally joined with the body and defining the cavity for receiving the end of the harness therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
  • Patent number: 4158907
    Abstract: A snap assembly adapted to receive a cooperating buckle element is disclosed in which a base is provided having oppositely disposed front and rear ends with upper and lower surfaces intermediate the ends, and a hook is integrally formed with the front end of the base and extending inwardly in the direction of the rear end and terminating in a distal end. The base includes a front section and a rear section angularly disposed with respect thereto with a harness or the like extending from the rear section. The hook having an inner surface bounding one side of the hook facing the upper surface of the base for forming an enclosure for receiving a buckle element therein with a harness extending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
  • Patent number: 4074401
    Abstract: A snap assembly adapted to receive a cooperating buckle element is disclosed in which a base is provided having oppositely disposed front and rear ends with upper and lower surfaces intermediate the ends, and a hook is integrally formed with the front end of the base and extending inwardly in the direction of the rear end and terminating in a distal end. The hook having an inner surface bounding one side of the hook facing the upper surface of the base for forming an enclosure for receiving the buckle element therein. A flexible locking member is adapted to be moved relative to the inner surface of the hook, with the locking member having an outer end and an oppositely disposed free end. The outer end formed by a wall having one surface thereof extending in overlapping relationship with and secured to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
  • Patent number: 4027386
    Abstract: This invention provides a cutting implement having supporting means with a blade having a sharp cutting edge extending from one side thereof, with handle means pivotally connected to the supporting means and extending around the cutting edge in the closed position of the implement. The cutting surface of the blade is exposed by the user gripping the supporting means or the handle means and by pivoting the handle means away from the supporting member, or visa versa, about 180.degree. to open the implement. By providing the cutting surface in a completely enclosed position when not in use, no injury could occur to the user.When the cutting implement is not in use, the handle means extends in overlapping relation to the supporting means and the exposed portion of the blade extends within chamber means extending within the handle means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, Edward R. Camillucci
  • Patent number: 4024828
    Abstract: This invention is for a portable signaling device which provides the user with the ability to accurately position the device in a manner to be assured that the reflections from the mirror-like surface forming a part of the signaling device are directed at the target. The signaling device includes signaling means having a plate with a surface to reflect the rays of the sun and sighting means maintained in spaced relation to the signaling means. An aperture is provided on the signaling means and the sighting means through which the user can view the target to obtain proper alignment and in turn maximum reflection from the mirror-like surface to the target. In addition, the reflective surface of the signaling means includes a set of cross hairs which are adapted to be reflected onto the sighting means such that the reflective set of cross hairs can be maintained in alignment with the aperture on the sighting means to maintain a proper alignment therebetween for maximum transmission of the signal to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Knoll, John Robert Ryan
  • Patent number: 3994666
    Abstract: A fire start unit having all the necessary elements for creating a flame to ignite a material such as wood. The unit includes hollow housing means with removable closure means at each end of the housing means with igniter means manually operated by the user at one end of the housing means to create a spark after the safety means has been removed. Contained within the hollow casing at the opposite end is removable tinder means consisting of a first flame means and a second flame means. The unit in operational use ignites the first flame means by a spark generated by the igniter means which in turn ignites the second flame means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic Joseph Spinosa, George Skridul
  • Patent number: 3950826
    Abstract: A seat belt system is disclosed for mounting relative to the seat assembly of a vehicle which includes one or more harness restraint adjuster devices having retaining means including a pair of cooperating clamping members for engagement with opposite sides of the webbing belt. The clamping members are normally closed on the belt to anchor it in a fixed position, but manual release means allows for disengagement of the clamping members to vary the length of the seat belt system. The belt is free to move within the restraint adjuster in one direction without any need to utilize the release means, and the retaining means automatically reclamps itself against the belt when the adjustment is completed.Guide means including spaced apart fixed bearing surfaces are assembled to side members of the support means and are so located as to limit the forward translation of the clamping members while there is tension in the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Knoll, George Skridul
  • Patent number: D243072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: East/West Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Spinosa, John Robert Ryan