Patents Examined by James R. Brittain
  • Patent number: 8091182
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Hammerslag, Mike Mayberry, Mark Soderberg
  • Patent number: 7992267
    Abstract: A locking mechanism is contained within a carabiner's straight or bent gate. The locking mechanism incorporates a pivoting link that can be moved to abut against a transverse pin, thereby immobilizing the gate return spring, which prevents opening movement of the gate. The transverse pin is a material able to resist and distribute forces attempting to open the locked gate. The spring pin is notched to engage the transverse pin thereby simplifying assembly of the carabiner. A low profile protrusion is pushed in the direction of opening the gate to switch the mechanism to the unlocked position. Similarly, another low profile protrusion is pushed in the direction of closing the gate to switch the mechanism to the locked position. The locking and unlocking protrusions are located adjacent the gate hinge so that the gate can be conveniently unlocked, opened, closed and relocked with the fingers of one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Tony Christianson
  • Patent number: 7992262
    Abstract: A rope cleat secures a rope to a structure. The cleat has a body with opposite first and second portions joined along a longitudinal central plane. The body has a U-shaped cavity inside it tapering between a large entrance leg and a smaller exit leg, which communicate at a confluent portion. A flange is integrally attached to the body first portion. The flange is mounted against the structure through a mounting hole. The flange has an entrance hole and an exit hole spaced apart and extending through the flange. The rope is easily inserted into the large entrance hole, through the U-shaped cavity, and out the smaller exit hole. A knot is then tied to secure the rope in the cleat. The cleat has registration pins on one body portion, and corresponding registration holes on the opposite portion. The pins align the body first and second portions for assembly with a screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: David M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7992269
    Abstract: A child restraint assembly for a child vehicle seat includes a buckle assembly including a buckle and a pair of latches, a harness coupled to the buckle assembly, and a harness adjuster to adjust the harness. The buckle includes a buckle actuator slidable between a first position and a second position relative to a front surface of the buckle to unlock the buckle assembly. The harness adjuster includes a housing and a harness adjuster actuator movable between a first position and a second position relative to a front surface of the housing to unlock the harness adjuster. Movement of the buckle actuator from the first position to the second position is in the same direction as movement of the harness adjuster actuator from the first position to the second position. The buckle can include a grip surface of sufficient thickness to enable a user to brace a finger against the buckle grip surface when actuating the buckle actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Patrizi, Patrick B. Nolan
  • Patent number: 7992261
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Hammerslag, Mike Mayberry, Mark Soderberg
  • Patent number: 7992265
    Abstract: A fastening apparatus using magnetism enables to fasten an object with a magnetic material to a target surface. The apparatus has a substrate which is flexible and provided at its reverse side with a sticking coat for removably attaching to the target surface, and a magnet receiving hole surrounded by the sticking coat penetrating through the substrate; a flat magnet housed into the magnet receiving hole; an outer film which is fixed on the substrate for separating the flat magnet and the object. The flat magnet is able to be removed out from the magnet receiving hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Takashi Suenaga
  • Patent number: 7987562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a buckle for fastening a sports boot and to a sports boot including such buckle. The buckle includes a baseplate, a lever connected to the baseplate by a first transverse articulation about an articulation axis, the lever having a gripping portion, a connecting rod articulated to the lever by a second transverse articulation about a second articulation axis, a loop mounted at the other end of the connection rod. The lever has a lever body that has a guiding tube for each of the articulation axes. The body is formed by a sheet of material, and the sheet is folded along folding lines that are parallel to each of the articulation axes to form the tubes for guiding the articulation axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jérôme Chaigne, Christophe Borlet
  • Patent number: 7984535
    Abstract: A mounting strip for mounting a formed part on a body of a motor vehicle includes a strip-shaped basic body, a plurality of pins formed directly at the rear side of the basic body as locking elements for holding the mounting strip in corresponding openings in the motor vehicle body; and attachment elements formed at the front side of the basic body for receiving and holding in place the formed part, wherein the mounting strip comprises weakened areas located in direct proximity to the formed on pins and including ribs extending vertical relative to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Peguform GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Happle
  • Patent number: 7971325
    Abstract: A touch fastener including an elongated base having multiple segments connected by articulable joints. Each segment has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of touch fastener elements extending from the lower surface of the base. A flexible barrier extends across at least one articulable joint between adjacent base segments. The fastener may include a magnetically attractable material disposed along a center region of the upper surface of the base. The fastener base may define a pair of first and second notches in opposite longitudinal edges of the base at the articulable joint to allow bending of the base. The base may also define a slit extending through the base from a longitudinal edge thereof at the articulable joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Keith Line, Stephane Xavier Girard, David Pubrat, Daniel Lee Janzen, Michael Cina, Kristel L. Ferry, Mark A. Clarner, David P. Kraus, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7963007
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Anzini, Rusty Koenigkramer, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7963011
    Abstract: A fitting system for securing a panel to a wall frame having a first member removably secured to a second member. The first receiving member includes an outer flange with a center aperture and a ring-like member extending backwards from a bottom surface of the flange to define a receiving passageway. The flange has a plurality of apertures for securing the first member to the wall frame with the ring-like member disposed within a recess in the wall frame. The second insertion member includes an outer flange and a male insertion portion. The outer flange is used to secure the second member to the panel. The male member is adjustable making its insertion within the receiving passageway easier. Attachment clips of the second member mate with an inner ledge of the receiving passageway to lock the two members together and thus secure the panel to the wall frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Roberto Lottini, Florenzo Bandecchi, Enrico Ciacchini
  • Patent number: 7958604
    Abstract: Packaging tie-downs configured to retain objects secured with a retention strap in association with packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiu Wah Wong, Lu Jiao Xu, Charles H. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 7954204
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Hammerslag, Mike Mayberry, Mark Soderberg
  • Patent number: 7954212
    Abstract: The sheet attaching instrument includes an instrument body 12 and a fixing member 14 fixing the instrument body 12 to a sheet 1. The instrument body 12 has a first projection 20 and a second projection 30. The first projection 20 has a first shaft 21 and a first holding flange 22 extending from a tip end of the first shaft 21, while the second projection 30 has a second shaft 31 and a second holding flange 32 provided on a tip end of the second shaft 31. The fixing member 14 includes a first engaging portion 40 adapted to be engaged with the first projection 20 and a second engaging portion 50 adapted to be engaged with the second projection 30. After the first engaging portion 40 is slid relative to the first projection 20 for the engagement, the fixing member 14 is rotated with the first projection 20 as support point in a direction of approaching the instrument body 12. Then the second engaging portion 50 is engaged with the second projection 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Funo, Natsuko Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7954208
    Abstract: A fastening member that is capable of attachment to a molded article is disclosed. The fastening member may include at least one fastener element extending from a base and an anchor layer attached to the base. The anchor layer may be coated with a magnetically attractable coating. The magnetically attractable coating may be substantially continuous on select portions of the anchor layer and discontinuous on other select portions of the anchor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Clifford Russell Brockman
  • Patent number: 7950112
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Hammerslag, Mike Mayberry, Mark Soderberg
  • Patent number: 7946002
    Abstract: A connecting device which has an excellent appearance, produces no frictional sound between a connecting device main body such as a swivel hook main body and a belt attaching member and can be assembled easily and securely. The connecting device includes a neck portion standing from a proximal portion of a main body of the connecting device and an engagement head which is expanded in an outward direction form a center of an axis line such that a diameter thereof can be reduced, the engagement head being provided at a front end of the neck portion. A belt attaching member is connected to the main body rotatably around the neck portion. A through hole which the engagement head can be engaged with by insertion is formed in part of the belt attaching member. In the through hole, a small-diameter hole portion having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the engagement head and a large-diameter hole portion having a large diameter than the diameter of the engagement head are connected via a stepped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 7941902
    Abstract: The safety belt release mechanism includes a sensor component and a belt release component. The sensor component is installed at a low point within the vehicle. The sensor component contains a water-soluble material that retains a spring in its compressed state so long as the water-soluble material is dry. If the vehicle is immersed in water, the water-soluble material dissolves, releasing the spring. The spring drives a pin into the end of a pressurized gas (e.g., CO2) cartridge, releasing the gas therein. The gas passes through a tube to the belt release component installed upon a belt latch mechanism to drive a pin from an engaged position in the latch to release the latch. While one such assembly is disclosed herein, it is most preferred that one such assembly be installed along each safety belt assembly of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventors: Julien Edwin Roy, Douglas Clifton Cruthirds
  • Patent number: 7930807
    Abstract: The present invention is a holding device for a rope, cable, wire and the like hereafter referred to as rope and more particularly a sliding cam rope cleat comprised of a holding device, a slideable cam member controlled by a sliding handle and two passageways therethrough for the rope member. While the sliding handle is engaged in the open position, the cam member will not be resident in the first passageway and a rope member may be freely inserted and drawn. However once the sliding handle is engaged in the clamping position, the cam member will partially obstruct the first passageway and the tapered serrated bottom of the cam member will engagingly grip and secure the inserted rope member. Subsequently, the holding device provides for a quick release of the secured rope member by returning the sliding member to its first open position thereby disengaging the tapered serrated cam member for the inserted rope member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Lovro Gotovac
  • Patent number: 7926150
    Abstract: Wristlet clasp allowing the wristlet length to be finely adjusted. A wheel accessible through an opening in the cover can be made to rotate to screw or unscrew a threaded rod so as to move an end of the wristlet relative to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
    Inventors: Christophe Robert, Murat Gorgulu