Patents Examined by Gary L. Welch
  • Patent number: 8099798
    Abstract: A pivotal suspension system to support lower-body protective gear which is constructed from pivotally attached plates increasing the wearer's range of motion in hazardous situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: James Gaffney
  • Patent number: 8099799
    Abstract: Securing devices secure the position of protective pads on the arms of a user of the protective pads. A first strap and a second strap are placed over the head with the head of the user passing in between the first and second strap. The first and second straps connect to a third strap at a first connection point. At a second connection point opposite from the first connection point a fourth strap connects to the first and second straps. The third and fourth straps each connect to an attachment device. The attachment devices connect to the protective pads of the wearer. Each one of the straps can each be adjustable to accommodate wearers of varying dimensions. The attachment devices can be detachable from the protective pads so that the wearer can utilize the securing device in conjunction with protective pads that the wearer already has.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Matthew Hunt
  • Patent number: 8091748
    Abstract: A device to assist physically challenged individuals to don outer, lower-body clothing or simultaneously don undergarments and pants or a skirt. The device comprises a cord to which at least one pair of grips is attached at either end. The grips are attached to a garment and the cord pulled to move the garments over the legs, hips, and ultimately to the waist. In one configuration, the cord is passed through a hand piece which allows locking the cord, freeing free one or both hands to fasten buttons of zippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Grady L Whitlaw
  • Patent number: 8091148
    Abstract: A fixing structure for safety helmet fastening strap, including a frame body mounted under a bottom of a helmet shell. The frame body has multiple fixing seats each of which is formed with a passage and an opening through which a fastening strap can pass. The fixing seat has arms extending from the fixing seat. The fixing seats are securely connected with the frame body with better load capability. Accordingly, the fixing seats can bear the extrusion force of the injection molded foam material without deflection or displacement. The helmet shell, the frame body and the fixing seats are bonded with a foam material filler to together form an integrated body. The arms of the fixing seats help the fixing seats and the frame body to hold the foam material filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Chang-Hsien Ho
  • Patent number: 8091151
    Abstract: A safety vest for use with a safety harness, which includes first and second shoulder straps connected with a connector in an overlapping, crisscrossing relationship proximate a juncture. The first and second shoulder straps form an opening therebetween and below the connector. The vest includes an outer lining and an inner lining, and the first and second shoulder straps are at least partially positioned between the outer and inner linings. The inner lining extends from proximate an upper portion of the outer lining to proximate an intermediate portion of the outer lining. The inner lining includes a releasable connector configured and arranged to extend through the opening and releasably connect to the outer lining, wherein the releasable connector is disconnected and the inner lining is moved away from portions of the first and second shoulder straps to allow for inspection of the first and second shoulder straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: D B Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Johnson, Nathan Michael Bohmbach
  • Patent number: 8091149
    Abstract: A helmet is provided including an attachable and detachable shield plate by a simple structure. The helmet includes a helmet main body; a first plate positioned onto an outer surface of the helmet main body; a second plate structurally combined with the first plate and capable of sliding between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to the first plate; a spring for pressurizing the second plate toward the locking position; and a shield plate capable of rotating with respect to the helmet main body and attachably and detachably installed on the first plate by the slide movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: HJC Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwangmoon Choi
  • Patent number: 8087102
    Abstract: This invention concerns improved protective shoulder pads for protecting an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm. The improvement comprises protective shoulder pads with release mechanisms that allow the protective shoulder pads to be safely and easily removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E Kordecki
  • Patent number: 8087094
    Abstract: The shirt for supporting and shaping the mid-section of a wearer provides a shirt having a top-section and a mid-section. The mid-section of the shirt includes an upper and lower region each constructed having a plurality of fabric densities or integrated elasticity portions. These elasticity portions provide support for the abdominal region, back, and back-side regions of the wearer where “love handles” sometime develop. The top-section of the shirt has a substantially loose fitting construction to yield a simple, clean and comfortable fit that facilitates breath-ability and comfort to the wearer. The shirt may be worn as an undershirt or as outerwear to minimize the wearer's torso. In another embodiment, the shirt further comprises an outer portion that extends over and covers the mid-section so that the mid-section acts as an internal support structure when the shirt is worn as a T-shirt or outerwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Svetlana Karasina
  • Patent number: 8069499
    Abstract: A helmet shield attaching mechanism with which when raising a shield, the shield and/or an anti-fogging auxiliary shield will not catch on a window opening rim member for a head protecting body, in spite that the operation of raising the shield in a fully-closed state is comparatively simple and that the mechanism has a comparatively simple structure. The helmet shield attaching mechanism includes a stationary base member fixing to the head protecting body, a movable base member attaching to the stationary base member so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the stationary base member, and the shield which is pivotally supported by the movable base member. When a substantially upward force acts on the shield which is in a fully-closed state, at least one cam follower provided to the shield or stationary base member relatively follows at least one cam surface formed on the stationary base member or shield, to move the shield forward substantially to the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Shoei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Isobe
  • Patent number: 8056152
    Abstract: A pivot assembly for use with headgear that includes a headtop and a shield, and a method for coupling the headtop to the shield using the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly can include a housing, a socket dimensioned to be received in the housing and having a plurality of first engagement features, and a post having a plurality of second engagement features adapted to engage the first engagement features. The pivot assembly can further include a spring dimensioned to be received in the housing to bias the first engagement features and the second engagement features into engagement, while allowing relative rotation between the post and the socket. A method can include moving the socket in a first direction into the housing, moving the post in a second direction that is different from the first direction toward engagement with the socket, and moving the spring in the first direction into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Brace
  • Patent number: 8056151
    Abstract: A chin strap assembly for a protective sports helmet features a buckle that comprises a body portion, an attachment portion, a first side rail, and a second side rail. The body portion has a first strap opening and a second strap opening formed therethrough. The body portion has a first end segment and a second end segment. The attachment portion is adapted to interact with a fastener on the helmet. The first and second side rails are opposed and extend between the first and second end segments, and have a generally arcuate shape. First and second lateral holes are positioned internal to the first and second side rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Bologna, Thad M. Ide, Nelson Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8056777
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for hanging articles and the method of manufacturing the apparatus includes a hanger body having first and second paperboard panels separated from one another by a fold line. The first paperboard panel includes a central tab extending from a periphery thereof opposite the fold line. A polymeric hook portion engages with the hanger body and includes a support portion and a hook base, the hook base having an alignment aperture formed therein through which the central tab of the first paperboard panel is inserted so as to provide means for securing the polymeric hook to the hanger body. In a preferred embodiment, apparatus for hanging articles and the hook portion are made from recycled or recyclable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hanger Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Jared D. Schulman
  • Patent number: 8051500
    Abstract: A safety helmet visor setting mechanism includes a shell having a shaft base inside at each side, with one side provided with a shell base provided with an internal lodging space and with an external wall. A control mechanism, located at the right side of the shell, has a knob for turning and driving an actuating element that again links a handle to rotate a displacement. The knob and the actuating element are provided with a fixed dish in between and provided with corresponding oblique chunks and sliders in between. The fixed dish and the handle are provided with corresponding clasp segments and lumps. A joint mechanism, set up on the shaft base of both sides of the shell, includes a first visor joint and a second visor joint each provided with hollows. The first visor joint and the handle of the control mechanism are linked by a rod. A visor has a clasp slice at each of both sides for insertion into the hollow of the visor joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Long Huei Helmet Co.
    Inventor: Te Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 8051499
    Abstract: A safety helmet visor setting mechanism includes a shell having an indent at each side and a long opening behind the indent at one side. An anchored unit fits in the long opening and has two grooves. A hold plate has two push chunks placed in the two grooves respectively. A link bar, fixed in the anchored unit and jostled with the hold plate, can be moved by the drive of the push chunk. A cover, capping the anchored unit, jostles with the link bar and the hold plate for a lockup. A first visor joint, positioned inside the shell in one side, has a bottom end pinned joined with the top end of the link bar, and has a top end provided with a cave. A second visor joint, positioned inside the shell in the other side has a springy slice forming an accommodation space with the shell. A visor has a clasp slice at each side penetrating the caves and the accommodation spaces of both the first visor joint and the second visor joint for assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Long Huei Helmet Co.
    Inventor: Te Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 8046846
    Abstract: A helmet restraint system for restraining the forward and downward movement of a helmet having an unfavorable center of gravity. A buckle strap having a first end and a second end is configured to be movably disposed in a wearer's garment. The buckle strap is preloaded between its first end, which is attached to the adjustment mechanism, and its second end, which is attached to an emergency release, and is extended in a loop coming out from first and second openings respectively in the collar of the garment for connection with a snap hook on the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Jimmie Karlsson, Maria Martikkala
  • Patent number: 8042198
    Abstract: A protective headguard comprising a front pad, rear pad and left and right, upper and lower bands. The front pad protectively covers at least a portion of a human forehead. The left and right, upper and lower bands extend in opposite lateral directions from opposite sides of the front pad. The upper and lower bands form first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention. The upper bands do not cooperatively interact with the lower pair of bands such that the upper and lower pairs of bands are independently adjustable so as to permit the first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention to be separately and independently fitted to a human head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Full90 Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: William K. Cleveland
  • Patent number: 8037545
    Abstract: Articles and methods include temporary decorations. Embodiments include temporary decorations applied to promotional articles. Embodiments include a method comprising creating a promotional article including applying a dissolvable decoration to a base item to create the promotional article, the dissolvable decoration being applied in such a manner so as to be removable from the base item by dissolving the dissolvable decoration using a solvent without substantially altering the original physical condition of the base item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Branders.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8033434
    Abstract: A hanger includes a standard hook having a contoured shoulder section extending downward therefrom. A first, continuous and fixed shoulder terminates proximate to a flexible lower bar. The second shoulder terminates at a fixed, upper portion, but it remains connected to its lower portion by means of a tension arm therebetween. The lower portion of the second shoulder is continuous with and formed with the flexible lower bar such that a conventional hanger shape is formed. The tension arm, however, provides a means for the lower portion of the second shoulder to push upwards and away from the static portion so that an article of clothing can be secured between the lower bar and a horizontal, static arm that extends below it. A spring formed between the first shoulder and an egress in the lower bar closes the lower bar on the extension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: James D. Bonner
  • Patent number: 8032947
    Abstract: Protective flexible eyewear for, inter alia, providing for increased comfort and fit among a variety of users having different facial shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Gait
  • Patent number: 8028349
    Abstract: A protective helmet is composed of an external crown made from plastic material, and a semi-rigid neckband adjustable by adjustment means. To ensure that the helmet is efficiently secured on the user's head regardless of his or her hair-style, the neckband is in the shape of an Omega composed of lateral securing zones and a curved central part for free passage of the user's hair worn in a pony tail. The ends of the lateral securing zones of the neckband are joined to the adjustment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Zedel
    Inventors: Paul Petzl, Raphaël Lanez, Emmanuel D'Adhemar