Patents Examined by David Voorhees
  • Patent number: 4717056
    Abstract: An infant carrier having a cloth shell with a front, rear, bottom and side portions, the bottom portion being curved downwardly. Foam rubber is disposed within the shell in a semi-oval shape for substantially supporting the inside of the shell along the entire bottom and side portions thereof. An adjustable hood is attached to a top front portion thereof and is movable between a position to shield the infant's head from the elements or is movable to another position to provide ready access to the infant's face. Carrier straps extend from the top front of each of the side portions to the top rear of each of the side portions of the shell and forms an opening between a top intermediate part of the side portions of the shell and an intermediate portion of each carrier strap, whereby a person carrying the infant carrier can extend one arm through the opening so that intermediate portions of the carrier straps can rest on such person's shoulder to support the weight of an infant in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Inventor: Sandra Carmichael
  • Patent number: 4711383
    Abstract: A unitary structure open at its upper end to receive a quantity of stacked clothes hangers with the hanger necks protruding through a slotted portion of the carrier front wall. Side walls of the carrier employ stiffening ribs or stiffening channels that impart rigidity; and provide strap receiving channels which confine the carrying strap therein against lateral displacement. The strap is provided with fittings to permit application and removal of the strap from an elevated support. The rear wall, the front wall, with the exception of the hanger opening area, and the adjoining corners of the side walls have outwardly turned flanges or lips that assist in reinforcing the walls, and the transferance of stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Inventor: James E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4711381
    Abstract: An illuminated bicycle rack is provided which includes an article support platform having as its side edges a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced apart hollow tubular stringers each with a light casing at its rearward end and serving as a shroud for the conductors which extend forwardly from the bulbs mounted within the bulb casings to a battery box connected between the forward ends of the stringers. Brackets extend between the stringers and include legs that project downwardly for mounting the rack upon the bicycle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Inventor: Willie L. Felder
  • Patent number: 4709840
    Abstract: A universal folding carrier for carrying objects on tailgates of pickup trucks and trunk lids of automobiles or the like has a frame to which a carrying member and a supporting member are pivotally mounted for movement between collapsed and extended positions. The carrying member is held by a pair of braces in its extended position for carrying objects and the supporting member is held in its extended position by bearing against the frame. The carrying member is a substantially U-shaped member having a bent forward end defining a clamping member and a pair of rearwardly extending carrying arms. The supporting member is a substantially U-shaped member having a forward foot bar and a pair of forwardly extending legs. When the carrier is in its operative extended position, the clamping member is clamped to the tailgate of a pickup truck or it rests against the trunk lid of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Inventor: Richard A. Allen
  • Patent number: 4706857
    Abstract: The bracelet of the invention comprises a plurality of elements articulated one after another. One of these elements supports a timepiece and the others form the links of the bracelet.The elements are fitted into one another end-to-end and held together by means of two non-extensible flexible ties passing via channels formed in each of the elements and situated on either side of the longitudinal axis of the bracelet. The bracelet further includes at each extremity thereof a terminal piece provided with means for fixing the flexible ties.The elements may be formed from a synthetic material reinforced with carbon fibres and the ties from a synthetic material impregnated with graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Pierre-Andre Aellen, Gaston Gagnebin
  • Patent number: 4705198
    Abstract: A reinforcing device for a roof carrier, which includes a reinforcing member having a crossbar for placing and fixing an object to be carried thereon, a pair of stands for supporting the crossbar, the stands having holes extending therethrough, a pair of mounting members separate from the pair of stands and interconnecting the roof and the pair of stands on the roof, a wire made of a flexible material, mounting metal members respectively coupled to opposite ends of the wire, a screw rod projecting outward from each of the mounting metal members, wherein the screw rods extend through the holes formed in the stands in the vicinity of end portions thereof, and first and second clamp nuts engaged with threaded portions of the screw rods and contacting an outer side portion of the mounting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Piaa Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Kamaya
  • Patent number: 4690314
    Abstract: A buoyancy compensator insertable backpack is disclosed herein in the form of a configured insert having an inverted T conformation. The inverted T conformation has an upright portion with ribs thereon which provide rigidity to the upright and includes at least one set of slits therethrough in order to secure a breathing gas tank by a metal band passing therethrough and around the tank. The lower or transverse portion of the inverted T shaped backpack is curved to follow the contour of a person's torso so that support can be provided to the upright portion by having a load distributed across a person's torso in the pelvis, small area of the back, or hip area. The entire insertable backpack is implaced with a buoyancy compensator so as to provide for support of a breathing gas tank on the backpack within the buoyancy compensator, all of which are secured on a user's body for providing buoyancy compensation and attendant support of a breathing gas tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventors: Mark Faulconer, Scott E. Greatrake
  • Patent number: 4687124
    Abstract: A cover for a motor vehicle spare wheel comprises a cover plate having disposed on it a fastening device by which it can be secured to the center hub of the rim of the spare wheel. Fastening device comprises a holding part which is inserted into the cover plate and which comprises an upper bearing flange and multiple spreading arms extending into the center hub bore. The holding part further comprises a locking part which is inserted through the upper bearing flange and which comprises an upper disc flange with a manually grippable handle and a spreading cam connected with the upper disc flange by a web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Josef Mahr
  • Patent number: 4684048
    Abstract: An article carrying system for operative association with an automotive vehicle having an exterior generally horizontal surface, such as a trunk lid or roof, the system comprising a pair of elongated support members or slats which have a configuration which flows conformably and aerodynamically into the surface of the vehicle and which are permanently secured to the vehicle. The support members have longitudinally extending channels for supporting adjustable and/or removable components of the system, including tie downs and cross members which components are also provided with aerodynamic designs compatible with the remainder of the system. Provision is also made for association of components of the system, such as cross members, to be fixedly located on the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: John A. Bott
  • Patent number: 4684049
    Abstract: A versatile carrying bar for cars with or without gutters, including an invisible flexible connecting member (4) along the carrying tube and allowing, on one hand, the contour of the roof edge to be clamped by vertical tightening between a movable part (12-17) and a support pad (18) forming the bar feet, and, on the other hand, the bar to be firmly maintained on the roof by horizontally tightening said feet by bringing them near, the whole by means of a lockable tensioning device (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventors: Jacques Maby, Jean L. Maby
  • Patent number: 4676417
    Abstract: A carrier for skis which converts to a belt when not in use. An adjustable length carrying strap includes a pocket at each end which house retractable holding straps for fastening around skis. The holding straps are faced with Velcro material so that the skis can be conveniently held. When not being used to hold skis, the holding straps are retracted into the pockets of the carrying strap so that the carrying strap can be used as an attractive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Inventor: Richard Hirschkoff
  • Patent number: 4676414
    Abstract: An article carrier adapted to be detachably interconnected with a standard, square tube trailer hitch affixed to the frame of a vehicle. The article carrier includes a connector member adapted to be telescopically received within the trailer hitch; a carrier assembly carried by the connector member, including a generally vertically extending column and one or more outwardly extending article supporting elements; and a securement mechanism carried by the carrier assembly for cooperation with the article supporting elements to secure the carried article within the carrier assemblage. First and second locking mechanisms are provided for locking the article carrier to the trailer hitch and for maintaining the securement mechanism in position relative to the article supporting element to prevent unauthorized removal of the article being carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Inventor: Orlando Deguevara
  • Patent number: 4676420
    Abstract: An attachment device for enabling an article to releasably be secured on a person has a stud, a plate member and co-operating portions on the stud and the plate member. The stud includes a part circular flange with a flat portion along its periphery. The plate member includes a lead-in channel extending from an edge of the plate member towards an opposite edge of the plate member, a part-circular reception portion extending from the channel, and a tongued portion extending from the reception portion in the direction of the reception portion but spaced apart from the reception portion. The stud and the plate member are engageable and dis-engageable by a sliding action. The co-operating portions allow the stud and plate member to rotate and to be held together until they are subjected to a dis-engaging sliding action exceeding a predetermine value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Inventor: Graham D. F. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4674664
    Abstract: A backsack including a flexible pouch with an open upper end, and an opposed pair of shoulder straps. The shoulder straps comprise elongate cords looped about the open end of the pouch in opposite directions for a contraction of the open end and a closing of the pouch upon an outward pull on the straps. The looped cords are engaged through apertures at the closed bottom of the pouch, each cord extending beyond the corresponding aperture and forming a waist strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: Jonathan D. Simon
  • Patent number: 4673117
    Abstract: A backpack cooler utilizes an insulated foam core that is covered on the outside with a cloth sheath and has a rigid reinforcing liner which defines a well to hold two stacked six packs of 12 ounce containers. The cloth jacket is retained to the rest of the cooler body by means of a retainer cord that fits into a peripheral retainer groove defined in the foam core, and a pair of shoulder straps fasten to the cloth jacket by means of a lateral pin that engages in a looped channel defined in the upper edge of the cloth jacket. The pin lies in a cavity defined in the foam core of the cooler body adjacent the retainer groove to prevent axial migration of the pin.The entire structure is strong enough to support the weight of a person, so that it doubles as a seat. Also, whereas the primary thrust of the invention is the accommodation of six packs of beer or sodas in twelve ounce cans, there is also an uninsulated accessory pouch defined by the jacket of the preferred embodiment to carry miscellaneous items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Inventor: James D. Calton
  • Patent number: 4671438
    Abstract: An attachment system for mounting a pannier on a bicycle carrier rack, the pannier being of a type having a substantially rigid back frame component providing two attachment points in the upper portion thereof and the rack being of a type having two longitudinally spaced-apart upper mounting points, comprises first and second hooks fastened to the respective attachment points of the pannier back frame component and adapted to be hooked over the respective two upper mounting points on the rack. An over-center lever is attached to the pannier back frame to pivot about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the back frame and includes a first surface thereon engageable with the underside of a rack member in a locked position of the lever, said surface being spaced apart from the pivot axis a distance slightly greater than a line of shortest distance between said rack member and the pivot axis, whereby the locked position of the lever is over center with respect to said shortest distance line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Cannondale Corporation
    Inventor: Mark T. La Plante
  • Patent number: 4669643
    Abstract: A carrier for supporting an electronic larynx adjacent portions of the throat of a user so that muscles of the user can be employed to switch on and off the larynx without manual action. The carrier employs a base plate to which are mounted an interfacing plate member on the inside face and a formed sheet member on the outside face. An extension on the interfacing plate member engages the plunger switch of the electronic larynx which switch extends through a cutout formed in the base plate. The formed sheet member provides a pocket for receiving and holding the electronic larynx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Linda E. Hymes
    Inventor: Carl Ley
  • Patent number: 4662549
    Abstract: A child's backpack is disclosed which is adapted to function both as an article for carrying items such as books and as an article for amusement. The invention backpack is constructed such that an extension from the rear face above the body of the backpack is provided which acts as a cover flap for the opening of the backpack. This flap is constructed in such a manner that it forms a pocket with an opening along the end edge of the flap. An article of amusement is stored within the pocket, and, upon opening the pocket and ejecting the article, the backpack is converted to an object of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Pat M. Dean
  • Patent number: 4662550
    Abstract: A character pack including a stuffed character having a hollow body portion and an integrally formed character's back pack on an exposed surface thereof is provided. The character's back pack is formed with a closable opening for providing access to the storage space within the character's back pack extending into the body volume for providing increased storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Dover Handbag Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Roseann O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 4660751
    Abstract: In a device to secure the shoulder straps of a backpack or rucksack, fittings are fitted to the upper ends of the shoulder straps and are pivotally mounted together on a retaining piece. In the preferred embodiment the fittings are situated in the middle of the rucksack and the pivotal mounting of one or both shoulder straps is constructed so as to be continuously adjustable in various angles at the retaining piece. The arrangement permits adjustment of the lateral distance between the shoulder straps in the shoulder region both simply and rapidly to suit the build of the wearer, so that the shoulder straps are always supported in the optimum position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Inventor: Albrecht von Dewitz