Patents Examined by Danny Worrell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9745681
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a dual hoop assembly onto a selected area of an article includes: a frame; a platen assembly mounted upon the frame, the platen assembly including a face panel movable relative to the frame in at least two dimensions, the face panel configured to carry an article to which a dual hoop assembly is to be mounted; a pressing arm mounted upon the frame and carrying a press configured to support a first portion of a dual hoop assembly, the pressing arm movable relative to the frame to move the press in a travel path toward the platen assembly; and a positioning plate mounted upon the frame and extending between the platen assembly and pressing arm, the positioning plate configured to support a second portion of the dual hoop assembly in the travel path of the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Artist's Needle, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Yates Warwick
  • Patent number: 9708739
    Abstract: A system and method for forming synthetic/artificial grass or turf products in which a series of tufts of artificial/synthetic grass filaments or yarns are formed in a backing material with various graphic pattern effects being formed therewith. The system generally will include a pair of needle bars each having at least one row of needles mounted along a tufting zone and reciprocated through the backing to a desired penetration depth, and will present a desired set or group of yarns to a series of gauge parts mounted at differing elevations. A first or upstream one of the needle bars will be shifted to an off-gauge position to move the needles thereof into positions so as to not be engaged by their associated gauge parts. The yarns fed to these needles further can be controlled to substantially pull back or otherwise prevent tufts of such yarns from being formed in the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Card-Monroe Corp.
    Inventor: Wilton Hall
  • Patent number: 9661892
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having courses aligned along different knitting directions, including a first knitting direction and a second knitting direction. The knitting direction of the courses transitions gradually from the first direction to the second direction. The knitting direction of the courses of the knitted component is configured to be aligned so as to distribute forces acting on the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 9062401
    Abstract: A method of sewing a fastener stringer includes the steps of conveying a fastener stringer and an attached body to a sewing section of a sewing machine in a state with the fastener stringer superposed on the attached body, and arranging an element guide section in the sewing section of the sewing machine, bending a fastener tape in a direction in which a tape bent section opens, guiding the element rows to the element guide section, and sewing the fastener tape to the attached body. Accordingly, the method enables a sewing line formed by a sewing thread to be disposed at a predetermined position and the fastener tape and the attached body to be easily and efficiently sewn together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Matsushima, Koji Ito, Tetsuya Yoshino, Seiji Koga
  • Patent number: 8857354
    Abstract: A threading to a looper is performed with one-touch operation. A looper threading/sewing changeover mechanism 30 including a push button 33 for a pressing operation of a push button shaft 32 that a control pin 31 is protruded and provided, a control groove cam 38 which includes a first control groove cam portion 34—a fourth control groove cam portion 37 which receive the control pin, a connecting movement plate 40 which supports a thread guide portion and which is elastically repelled toward a threading state that a thread guide outlet of the thread guide portion contacts to a looper thread inlet of the looper by a first spring 39, and a connecting positioning plate 82 which rotates together with a main shaft 2 integrally and has a peripheral surface 80 that a tip portion 41 of the push button shaft contacts and has a notch portion 81 that the tip portion of the push button shaft is fitted is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Sakuma, Masato Ishikawa, Mitsuru Satou
  • Patent number: 8656849
    Abstract: An embroidery frame comprises an inner frame, wherein the inner frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises a middle frame which is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the inner frame. The middle frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises an outer frame which is configured to rotatably hold the middle frame, wherein the outer frame is a circular form, and the outer frame is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the middle frame. The embroidery frame comprises a grip portion which is provided to the middle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Midori Magara, Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Harumi Kato
  • Patent number: 8453271
    Abstract: An impact transfer device comprising a device body, an impact zone associated with a first body region, and at least one body contact associated with a second body region, each body contact comprising at least one contact surface, and at least one attaching means for attaching the impact transfer device to a person. At least a portion of a force applied to the impact surface is transferred to the second body region of said person through said contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ultimate Action Entertainment, Inc
    Inventor: Ronald Duhame
  • Patent number: 8297081
    Abstract: A staple fiber yarn having at least one twisted thread. The twisted thread includes a mixture of first staple fibers and second staple fibers. The first staple fibers are produced from high-strength filaments and the second staple fibers have a shrinkage in the range from 5% to 50%. The weight ratio of the first to second staple fibers lies in the range of 5:95 to 45:55. A method for producing a textile article wherein shrinkage is implemented either on the staple fiber yarn, after which the article is produced from the shrunken staple fiber yarn, or on the article containing the non-shrunken staple fiber yarn. The textile article has a wear resistance that is similarly high or indeed even higher than that of a correspondingly produced textile article, the staple fiber yarn of which consists exclusively of first staple fibers that are produced from high-strength filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Teijin Aramid GmbH
    Inventors: Regine Maria Zumloh-Nebe, Christoph Jorg Hahn
  • Patent number: 8261680
    Abstract: A decoration-making assist tool includes a first and a second plates. Each plate includes a straight base edge and a peripheral edge connected to the ends of the base edge. A connecting portion pivotally connects the two plates to each other so that they can be folded to overlap each other. The first plate includes recesses formed at the peripheral edge and N elongated holes. The second plate includes (N+1) elongated holes. The ends of these elongated holes are adjacent to the peripheral edges of the plates. When the two plates overlap each other, the recesses and the ends of the elongated holes of the first plate communicate with corresponding ends of the elongated holes of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Clover Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanako Oe
  • Patent number: 8230524
    Abstract: A glove has a glove body and a closure mechanism. The glove body has a palm portion and a back portion that together define an interior. A cuff perimeter defines an opening to the interior, and an access slit extends from the cuff perimeter to enable the opening to expand. The closure mechanism includes an inner layer adjacent the glove body that forms a band compartment having an exit slot. An elastic band is positioned within the band compartment, with a first end attached to the band compartment and a second end that extends out through the exit slot. A first fastener element is positioned on the second end of the elastic band, and a second fastener element adapted to removably engage the first fastener element is attached to the glove body on the opposite side of the access slit from the exit slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mechanix Wear, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenny Safford
  • Patent number: 8214926
    Abstract: A garment adapted to be worn by a wearer. The garment includes a main body portion that is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer's lumbo-pelvic region, hips and at least a portion of the legs, wherein the main body portion includes first and second leg portions that each define an axis. The garment also includes a strap system that includes a plurality of leg straps releasably affixed to the main body portion. Each of the leg straps includes at least one connector for affixing the leg strap to the main body portion. Each of the leg straps overlies a grip layer that is adapted to contact the wearer's skin when the garment is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intelliskin USA, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8181281
    Abstract: A protective helmet, which includes a motion restrictor device, is disclosed which has at least one strut member associated with the helmet and a harness assembly, and the at least one strut member includes a locking assembly associated with the strut member, which upon a predetermined force being sensed by a force sensor or a predetermined amount of or rate of acceleration being sensed by an acceleration sensor, stops substantially all relative motion between the ends of the strut member and the predetermined force is substantially transferred from the helmet to the harness assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Scott W. Nagely, Ian D. Kovacevich, Christopher R. Hoy
  • Patent number: 8166576
    Abstract: An opening/closing device for openably/closably supports an opening/closing part with regard to an opened/closed part, and the opening/closing device is characterized in that it comprises an attaching part attached to the opened/closed part so as to rotate around a rotation axis together with the opening/closing part, a rotation part rotatably attached to an attaching portion extending from a rotation center of the attaching part and engaged with the opened/closed part, and a friction torque generation means provided between the attaching portion of the attaching part and the rotation part, as well as in that the opening/closing device is so configured that it can bring the opening/closing part to stop using free-stop function, when the opening/closing part is opened and closed with regard to the opened/closed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kato
  • Patent number: 8166572
    Abstract: A sleeping bag system relating to assisting a user to choose to walk, stand upright, sit, use one's arms and hands, or be otherwise mobile while inside the comfort and warmth of a sleeping bag. The system also provides for full enclosure within the sleeping bag as well as hygienic access without exiting the sleeping bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Debra J. Campbell, James A. Klomp
  • Patent number: 8166897
    Abstract: An adjustment device for use with a quilting frame having end portions and roller supports height adjustably connected thereto via nut and bolt securing mechanism includes a pair of base members connectable to predetermined sides of such roller supports and having threaded apertures disposed therethrough running from top to bottom. A securing mechanism secures such base members to such roller supports. Elongated threaded rod members are rotatably disposed within such threaded apertures. A mechanism for rotating such rod members is operably connected to each top end thereof for gripping by a user and rotating when such nut and bolt are loosened such that such bases and such roller supports are raised and lowered. Protective members are connected to at least one of bottom ends of such rod members, predetermined locations on end portions of such quilting frame, and a combination thereof for protecting such quilting frame from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Bowers, James E. Bowers
  • Patent number: 8096149
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shaping camisole and the article produced therefrom having an outer decorative portion and an inner knit tube made with elastomeric yarn to provide midsection support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Holt Hosiery Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Bonnie Kronback
  • Patent number: 8082762
    Abstract: A circular knit tubing adapted for making a wearable article has a first knitted single layer tubular portion and a second knitted single layer tubular portion separated by a junction portion. The second tubular portion is folded over the first tubular portion at a fold line in the junction portion. The first and second tubular portions are then joined together, whereby the junction portion forms a band or welt. After the band is formed, the second tubular portion is folded back to cover the band. The wearable article may be a shirt having single layer top and bottom portions with a central double welt portion for physical contact around the wearer's chest or torso. The junction portion forming the band or welt preferably is integrally knitted with the first and second tubular portions. The band or welt defines a central opening to receive an electronic or electrical device or other component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Stacey B. Burr
  • Patent number: 8060948
    Abstract: A hand-mounted carrier is provided comprising a panel member overlaying at least a portion of the back of the hand. The carrier includes an upper surface facing away from the hand and a lower surface facing toward the hand. The upper surface defines a mounting area thereon for securing at least one accessory. At least one loop member is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around at least one finger of the hand to partially anchor a portion of the panel member to the hand. At least one strap is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around the wrist of the hand to anchor at least a portion of the panel member to the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Zivojin Z. Pesic