Patents Examined by James Brittain
  • Patent number: 8539650
    Abstract: A slide fastener where each fastener element includes an upper half element portion disposed at a first surface side of a fastener tape and a lower half element portion disposed at a second surface side of the fastener tape. The upper half element portion includes a first tape-sandwiching portion and a first head portion of a tapered form that extends from the first tape-sandwiching portion. The upper half element portion has a tapered portion that gradually decreases in a dimension between front and rear side surfaces, in the tape length direction, of at least the first tape-sandwiching portion as it goes upward. Each fastener element can be lightweight, and the fastener element can look like a metal fastener element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kojima, Kenji Yuki
  • Patent number: 8516662
    Abstract: A reel based lacing system is disclosed. The reel can be configured to allow the incremental tightening of a lace about a spool by rotation of a knob in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the system can include a substantially inflexible pawl beam configured to resist rotation of the knob in the loosening direction and a pawl spring configured to bias the pawl against the housing and to allow the pawl to be displaced away from the housing when the knob is rotated in the tightening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Paul Goodman, Eric Craig Irwin, Mark S. Soderberg, Sean Cavanagh
  • Patent number: 8516666
    Abstract: A fixing buckle comprising a base provided with a latching hook for attaching a retaining ring, and a locking mechanism able to occupy a locking position and a releasing position to respectively secure and release the retaining ring on and from the latching hook. The locking mechanism comprises two locking elements independent from one another and each having a stop and a control button. The locking elements are formed by two levers pivotally mounted inside the cover, the stop being arranged at one of the ends of each lever and the control button at the other end thereof. Detachment of the ring is enabled on no load and when the buttons of the two levers are actuated simultaneously to the releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Zedel
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Hede
  • Patent number: 8516660
    Abstract: A cable tie is revealed. The cable tie includes a slot base with an insertion hole, a belt and at least one fastener. At least one surface of the insertion hole is a slanted surface. Locking teeth is arranged at a surface of the belt. The fastener is mounted into the insertion hole of the slot base correspondingly. The fastener includes a slanted surface corresponding to the slanted surface of the slot base, and projecting teeth corresponding to the locking teeth of the belt. When the belt is inserted through the insertion hole of the slot base to bind objects tightly, the fastener is mounted into the insertion hole so that the projecting teeth of the fastener are engaged with the locking teeth of the belt so as to lock and fix the belt. The cable tie can be used again once the belt is released from the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Fei-Long Ku
  • Patent number: 8510917
    Abstract: A tying article which is formed into one piece used for tying objects, where the tying article has at least two sets of all-in-one ratchet sets at its surface, which are distributed along two sides separated by boundary pieces and each side has at least one bar-like bodies, where the ratchet set of each bar-like bodies is made up of at least two ratchets. When binding an article, the tying article can be divided into two parts. The first part is the enclosing part that loops the tied article, and the second part is the extending part that protrudes from the enclosing part. The extending part is again divided into two branches, where the seizing face of a corresponding ratchet of each branch is clenched by the enclosing part served as a detent. Once the binding works, the extending part tends to shrink back, but the seizing face of the ratchet is clenched by the enclosing part served as the detent, which enables a tight binding between the two and an adjustable binding as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 8505171
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rescue worker's waist belt for connecting to and rapidly disconnecting from a self-contained breathing apparatus waist belt. The rescue worker's waist belt includes buckles disposed on its side that complement the buckles disposed on the SCBA waist belt. An SCBA wearer connects the SCBA waist belt directly to the rescue worker's waist belt rather than buckling the waist belt around the wearer's waist. Rapid disconnection is effected with the push of two buttons, thereby allowing the wearer to entirely remove the SCBA from his or her body while leaving the rescue worker's waist belt and any accoutrements attached thereto in place and on his or her person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Fire Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Juancarlos Colorado
  • Patent number: 8490254
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a pair of trousers about a torso includes a curved planar rear member and a curved planar front member that are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other. A compartment is disposed between the rear member and the front member that is open at one end of the apparatus and covered at the top, bottom, sides, and at an opposite end. The compartment is able to retain one or more credit card sized objects therein. A fastener assembly is attached to an underside of the rear member. The fastener assembly is able to secure both ends of a belt thereto. An inner curved flat spring extends upward from the rear member toward the front member and supplies tension to the object or objects in the compartment, thereby helping to secure the objects therein. The front member includes an exterior perimeter that extends down toward the rear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Trevor Jamison Johnston
  • Patent number: 8484812
    Abstract: A dental cast stabilizer secures a dental cast to a dental cast articulator, and includes a fastening hole strap and a fastening post strap with a band body disposed therebetween. The fastening post strap includes a fastening post disposed thereon, and the fastening hole strap includes a fastening hole disposed thereon that is capable of receiving the fastening post or mounting plate thumb screw on an articulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Robert Meharry, Branden DaVault
  • Patent number: 8484811
    Abstract: A zipper arrangement comprises a plurality of zipper elements with a slider moveably positioned on the plurality of zipper elements. At least one wheel is rotatably positioned on the slider and configured to engage the plurality of zipper elements. The at least one wheel may include a first wheel configured to engage a first plurality of zipper elements and a second wheel configured to engage a second plurality of zipper elements within a slider. The slider may be generally triangular or trapezoidal in shape. Accordingly, the slider and includes a first end configured to pass disengaged zipper elements and a second end configured pass engaged zipper elements, wherein the second end is wider than the first end. The slider also includes a window configured to display at least a portion of the first wheel and the second wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonas K. Damon, Peter Michaelian, Gregory Daniel Louis Germe, Jinseok Hwang, Allison S. Conner
  • Patent number: 8474104
    Abstract: A binding head and binding arrangement that cooperates with an elongate member that has a fastening end and a locking end. The fastening end is spaced apart from the locking end along the length of the elongate member and each elongate member has at least one lengthwise side that includes at least two teeth. The binding head includes a fastening opening for receiving a fastening end of an elongate member. The fastening opening includes a first fastening arrangement configured to cooperate with at least one of the teeth of the elongate member to lock a portion of the elongate member within the fastening opening; and a locking opening for receiving a locking end of an elongate member. The locking opening includes a second fastening arrangement configured to cooperate with at least one of the teeth of the elongate member to lock a portion of the elongate member within the locking opening. A cable tie is also claimed which includes the binding head and binding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Baird Watson
  • Patent number: 8468659
    Abstract: A device for fixing a first and second object with respect to one another includes a base which has a first channel or sleeve and a second channel or sleeve each suitable for receiving the first and second objects, respectively. A first member is and a second member are movably connected to the base. The first and second members can be moved into a locking position whereby the first member projects into the first channel, and the second member extends into the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Philip Litanzios
  • Patent number: 8464403
    Abstract: A shielded magnetic plug-in lock, for which a connector is plugged into a connector receiving element and held therein by magnetic holding forces or additionally by means of mechanical engagement, is provided. The connector and the connector receiving element are designed in such a way that the connector magnet and the magnet for the connector receiving element are magnetized transversely to the closing direction X, and at least one shielding plate consisting of a ferro-magnetic material is provided on the plug or the plug receiving element. The shielding plate covers the connector magnet and the connector receiving element magnets, and the ferro-magnetic material and the thickness of the shielding plate are selected in such a way as to obtain a magnetic shielding sufficient for a pre-determined use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Fiedler
  • Patent number: 8464407
    Abstract: A buckle includes two pawls engageable by a tongue. A single spring controls the position of the pawls. The buckle has a manual primary release mode of operation. The buckle also has a secondary release mode of operation, in which the spring acts as a secondary release member for the pawls. This is actuated by pulling force exerted by a single point release lanyard of a quick release vest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Aerospace & Defense Group Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Von Der Ahe, Kenneth W. Sego, Jr., Michael James McElroy
  • Patent number: 8458868
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing seat belt buckle (1) including is provided a housing, a push-button (2) displaceably mounted in the housing, a linearly guided inertia mass (3), and a transmission lever (4) pivot-mounted to the housing, which transmission lever is coupled to the inertia mass (3) by an arm (4a) and supports the push-button (2) against the opening direction with another arm (4b), wherein a sound-absorbing elastic layer (11) is provided between the transmission lever (4) and the inertia mass (3), at least in the region of contact between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Anatoli Neumann, Matthieu Louvet
  • Patent number: 8458869
    Abstract: An adjustable connector is formed by, an comprises an outer housing, and an inner housing, with the inner housing being positioned inside of the outer housing. This inner housing forms a first connector wherein the inner housing is movable inside of the outer housing. There is also a complementary connector configured to connect to the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: John Giannasca
  • Patent number: 8448304
    Abstract: A zipper (60) which can prevent the teeth disengagement from overbending or twisting force includes pluralities of teeth (1), wherein each tooth (1) comprises of a clamp portion (7) having a slit (2) for receiving a fabric tape, and one side thereof forms a left wall (12) of said tooth (1); a hook portion (3) is extended from another side the clamp portion (7) forming a dimple (8) and a right wall (11) of said tooth (1); a slot (4) parallel to said slit (2) is provided on an outer wall of said hook portion (3); a blocking member (5) parallel to said slot (4) is provided at said dimple (8); and a projected joint member (6) is provided onto said right wall (11) where is close to the slot (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Chang-Wen Tsao
  • Patent number: 8448306
    Abstract: A tool accessory (10) for clamping a pair of multimeter probes allowing the probes to pivot relative to each other or separate from each other to be used separately for testing electrical components. The tool accessory (10) behaves as a pair tweezers. The tool accessory (10) utilizes a lock (16) that adjusts the angle of the probes. The lock (16) also biases the probes via pushing a pair of legs (12, 14) of the tool accessory (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Ernesto Garcia
  • Patent number: 8438707
    Abstract: A fastener is provided with a snap-fitting leg to be pushed through an opening of a panel, the snap-fitting leg including a flat rigid core which extends in an axial direction and at least one curved flexible flange having an inner longitudinal edge running alongside the core which is separated from a free outer longitudinal edge of the flange by a web with a concave inner surface. A stiffening rib is provided on the concave surface of the web of the flange. The rib connects to the free outer longitudinal edge of the flange at two remote points substantially aligned in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Vincent DeGelis, Mathieu Cochard
  • Patent number: 8434203
    Abstract: A web buckle 30 with a pivot pawl 40 to receive non-interlocking tongues insertable into the buckle. Push button 41 is biased upwardly by spring 39 within housing 44. Button 41 may be moved downward forcing pawl 40 to disengage the tongues. Pawl 40 is rockable to disengage the tongues one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Morgan, Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
  • Patent number: 8424172
    Abstract: A touch fastener has a base and an array of discrete fastener elements each extending from the base and together forming with the base a contiguous mass of resin. Each discrete fastener element includes a stem rising from the base, and a head overhanging the base from a front side of the stem to a distal edge, the front side of the stem, an underside of the head, and an upper surface of the base together forming, in side profile, a generally curved retention space boundary surface such that the boundary surface forms, at its innermost extent, a retention cavity defined between curvature discontinuities spaced from both the base and the distal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Almin Idrizovic, Christopher M. Gallant, William D. Grenier