Patents Examined by Gary L. Welch
  • Patent number: 7975885
    Abstract: A garment hanger includes a body having a hook member that extends outwardly from a cross bar that has a first end and an opposite second end. The cross bar has a first end portion that terminates at the first end, a second end portion that terminates at the second end, and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The hook member is coupled to the central portion, wherein a cross-section of each of the first and second end portions has a first shape and a cross-section of the central portion has a second shape that is different than the first shape. In one embodiment, the first shape is an I-shape and the second shape is a Z-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Uniplast Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: King Keung Kennedy Chan
  • Patent number: 7954169
    Abstract: An athletic glove having an enhanced flexibility features for assisting in the opening and closing of the glove. A glove can include a front ply forming a palm and front portion and a back ply forming a back portion. The peripheries of the front and back plies attached together to form the glove. The glove includes a thumb stall, at least on finger stall, a hand receiving opening, a heel portion of the front ply, and a web portion positioned between the thumb stall and the finger stall. The glove further includes at least one predefined fold in the palm, such that the fold increases the flexibility of the glove and thereby facilitates the opening and closing of the glove. The glove can also comprise a notch formed in the back ply between the finger stall and the hand receiving opening to further increase the flexibility of the glove. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mizuno USA
    Inventors: Tim Rumer, Kenji Maeda, Tuan Le
  • Patent number: 7954173
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a vented apparel, comprising: an outer shell; an inner liner disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; a vent through the outer shell, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on the inner liner; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vent system, comprising: a vent through an outer shell of an item incorporating the vent system, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on an inner liner of the item, wherein the inner liner is disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: PRL USA Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Collier
  • Patent number: 7954176
    Abstract: An instep enhancing prosthesis (19) to be worn by a dancer to enhance the appearance of the dancer's foot (10). The prosthesis (19) includes a flexible sock portion (20) formed of elastic material to which there is attached an instep enhancing prosthetic portion (27) that has an upper surface (28) that is to provide a smooth line extending from adjacent the ankle joint (11) of the dancer to adjacent the dancer's metatarsals to give the appearance of an increased height of the instep of the dancer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Melania Mennes
  • Patent number: 7950073
    Abstract: Headgear of the type having an outer layer and a relatively flexible inner layer includes a belt which extends around the inner layer within the outer layer, and a tensioning device which can tension the belt causing the belt to urge the inner layer inward away from the outer layer and against the helmet wearer's head. Preferably, the tensioning device includes a chinstrap assembly releasably fastened to the front of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Xenith, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent R. Ferrara
  • Patent number: 7950069
    Abstract: Provided is pants having a body-shaping function including; an elastic fabric included in the pants, and having a boundary that is partially fixed on the pants to elastically support hips of a wearer; and a hip-up band fixed on the elastic fabric to push the hips up so as to make contours of the hips more voluminous or compression bands on lower side portions of the elastic fabric in order to compress thighs of the wearer so as to make the thighs look thin, or a pair of pads having predetermined thicknesses and disposed on the elastic fabric to make the hips of the wearer look more attractive. Therefore, since the elastic fabric is integrally fixed in the pants for shaping the hips, the conventional girdle is not required. In addition, since the girdle in the pants only compresses the hips, it does not affect blood circulation around the belly, and is easily wearable. Also, the contours of the hips look more attractive due to the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Sung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 7946437
    Abstract: A closure system for a pharmaceutical vial, comprising an elastomer closure part, a clamp part which holds the closure part in engagement with the mouth of the vial, and a cover part which engages with the clamp part. The interior of the closure part is profiled to minimize retention of residual liquid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Aseptic Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Thilly, Christian Vandecasserie
  • Patent number: 7941869
    Abstract: An athletic garment including a panel designed to reduce frictional and pressure drag around an appendage of an athlete competing in a high-speed event, such as running and cycling. The panel is positioned to encircle the appendage, and is provided with regions having different surface texture roughnesses. The leading edge of the panel includes texture designed to enhance the laminar boundary layer, while the adjacent portion of the panel includes texture intended to trip the boundary layer to turbulent flow. The drag-reducing panel may be the cuff of a sock, a sleeve, wristband, a headband, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Wright, Kenneth T. Craig, Richard C. MacDonald, Leonard W. Brownlie
  • Patent number: 7938300
    Abstract: A hanger is disclosed having a hanger supporting means in the form of a cascade hook for supporting additional hangers therefrom, wherein the cascade hook may be inserted through a rear aperture of a like hanger to facilitate the nesting of one hanger with the other like hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Worldwide Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Diamond, Robert Doherty
  • Patent number: 7937767
    Abstract: A garment including a pant having at least one attachment member integral with each leg portion proximal the open end thereof and forming one half of a detachable attachment system. A kit further includes a pair of socks each having at least one attachment member extending therefrom, the attachment members of the socks and pants being complementary for forming a detachable connection. Also, a garment including an inner pant having an inner torso portion, two inner leg portions, and at least one protective pad, and an outer pant retainable around the inner pant and having an outer torso portion covering the inner torso portion, two tubular outer leg portions enclosing the inner leg portions, the outer pant being independent from the inner pant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sport Maska Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Leach, Sylvie Bedard
  • Patent number: 7937770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a swimsuit comprising swimming trunks, a compressed gas cylinder with a user-operated valve, and one or more inflatable bladders attached to the swimming trunks. The swimsuit, apart from its basic function as clothing, performs simultaneously as a protecting and rescuing device in a life-threatening situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Marcos Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7937777
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article has a front waist covering panel, a rear waist covering panel and a crotch covering panel, a body facing sheet and an undergarment facing sheet in the front and rear waist covering panels are elastically stretchable in a waist-surrounding direction. These sheets are made of nonwoven fabrics and have regions in which these sheets are placed upon each other and the undergarment facing sheet repetitively undulates in the waist-surrounding direction to form a plurality of gathers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Hiroki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7937768
    Abstract: A shin guard includes a plate made of a rigid material sandwiched between two layers of flexible material, such as foam. The two flexible layers are attached to each other around a periphery of at least one of the flexible layers. The plate includes a center panel attached to only one of the flexible material layers. The plate also includes two side panels hingedly attached to the center panel so that the panels can move with respect to the center panel. The panels are not attached to either layer of flexible material so the panels can move with respect to both flexible material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Behrend, Thomas DeBlasis, Oliver McLachlan
  • Patent number: 7926122
    Abstract: An article of clothing comprising a waistband adapted to extend around the user's waist. The waistband has a front area adapted to be worn on the front of the user and a rear area adapted to be worn on the rear of the user. A pair of leg members extend from the waistband, each of which is adapted to surround at least a portion of one of the user's legs and each of which has a distal end spaced apart from the waistband and an inseam extending between each distal end of the pair of leg members. The article also includes a short zipper extending between the front area of the waistband and a location near the inseam and an extended zipper extending between the pair of leg members from a location below the front area of the waistband to a location below the rear area of the waistband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Virginia Countryman
  • Patent number: 7921473
    Abstract: The head cooling apparatus is housed in a case removably fitted within an existing hat crown of a hat, without structural modification to the hat. The case has a plurality of air vents including an intake and a trio of vents which direct air across a hat wearer's head. The fan within the case is adjacent to the intake. The non-evaporative refreezable cooling cartridge is removably fitted within the case. The switched power source within the case is in communication with the fan and a power source. The fan forces air into the intake, across the cooling cartridge and out the vents toward a wearer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Tyler D. Winters
  • Patent number: 7922047
    Abstract: In a combination of an intimate apparel hanger and an indicator for displaying garment-related information, the indicator is mounted to a lower neck region of the hanger where the hanger hook intersects the hanger body. The hanger has a flange, having a sloped surface and an undersurface. The indicator has a resilient tab disposed in a wall of the indicator body. The resilient tab is outwardly displaced by the sloped surface to expand the top opening of the indicator to allow the indicator to pass over the flange. The undersurface of the flange retains the indicator at the lower neck region after the indicator passes over the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd
    Inventor: Stanley F. Gouldson
  • Patent number: 7913324
    Abstract: A headpiece having a first section and a second section separated along a fold-line. The sections have a decorative design printed thereon and are cut from a piece of material such that a top edge and bottom edge have the shape of the decorative design. The first section has a tab extending from the top edge that is received within a slit on the second section. A strap extends outwardly from the side edge of the second section and has at least one slit that receives a tab that extends outwardly from the side edge of the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph Eric Groves, Ryan Eric Parlee
  • Patent number: 7913321
    Abstract: A garment for covering a user and a child supported in a child carrier that has a layer of material with a first opening in the layer constructed and arranged to accommodate the head of the user. The garment also has a second opening in the layer constructed and arranged to accommodate the head of the child. The garment is constructed and arranged to be worn by the user to protect the user and the child from the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: David Hamilton Radcliffe, Melissa Roth Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 7908675
    Abstract: A multi-pocket assembly attachable to a garment and more particularly to a multipocket system for pants that allows easy access even when a user is in a seated position. One embodiment provides has a first pocket structure having an interior access opening with means for closing the top and at least one vertical side. Additional pockets can be added on top of the first pocket. Additional features that can be added to the invention include reflective tape, securable flaps, zippers, pleats, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Steven J Robinson
  • Patent number: 7908671
    Abstract: A one-piece garment with elastic bands threaded through the binding at the leg openings that allows for custom fitting of the garment. The contraction of the elastic bands through the cord-lock fastener creates a drawstring effect and provides a gathering force upon the garment, which is held securely in place with the cord-lock fastener so that the lower portion of the one-piece bodysuit thereby shortens in length and tightens around the legs to form a snug fit. Once the desired length is attained, the elastic bands and the cord-lock fastener are stored in the back flap of the crotch in a separate compartment, or pocket, held securely closed during wear with a strip of hook and loop fastener. The one-piece bodysuit can be expanded as needed by releasing the cord-lock fastener and pulling the elastic bands back through the cord-lock fastener to loosen the gathered fabric, thereby extending the crotch length of the garment and the diameter of the leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Growables LLC
    Inventors: Teresa K. Gaugler, Hélène J. Courard