Patents Examined by Joanne Silbermann
  • Retaining device and method of using the same
    Patent number: 9746052
    Abstract: A retaining device configured for retaining at least one medical device adjacent to a supporting surface. The retaining device includes a plate shaped holding portion defining a peripheral edge, a slot extending from the peripheral edge defining a loading channel, and communicating with an internal holding area. The internal holding area is dimensioned to accept the largest medical device the retaining device is configured to be used with. An attachment mechanism is connected to the holding portion to secure the retaining device to a supporting surface. A section of medical device may be inserted into and along the loading channel to enter the holding area and be retained within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin D. Taylor
  • Gripping element for data carrier for vegetables, fruits, and indoor plants
    Patent number: 9741267
    Abstract: A gripping element for a data carrier, e.g. a label, for vegetables, fruits, and indoor plants can be used to attach information to vegetables (e.g. vine tomatoes), fruits and indoor plants, among others. The data carrier may be a three-dimensional gripping element obtained from folding and gluing a piece of punched or cut paper, cardboard, or other thin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Joost Arie de Jong
  • Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays
    Patent number: 9734734
    Abstract: Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays are disclosed. An example self-erectable display includes a shroud including a first shroud panel opposite a second shroud panel and a support coupled within the shroud. In the example display, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges. The first and second edges extend through an aperture defined by the support. The example display also includes an elastic band coupled to the support to outwardly bias first shroud panel from the second shroud panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: Jon Lyon
  • Stackable fishing jug assemblies and methods of use
    Patent number: 9717224
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology relate to stackable fishing assemblies. In on embodiment, a fishing assembly includes a first buoyant section, a second buoyant section that is spaced apart from the first buoyant section to form a groove that is configured to spool fishing line, and a tubular handle extending from the first and second buoyant sections, the tubular handle having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is sized to mate with a second tubular handle of a second fishing assembly that is constructed substantial similar to the fishing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Tiger Carman
  • Self-erectable display and automatic locking mechanism for a self-erectable display
    Patent number: 9715840
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a shroud having first and second sheet portions disposed in opposition to one another, the first and second sheet portions being connected to one another at a first side by a first joint and at a second side by a second joint. A support member is disposed between the first and second sheet portions and between the first and second joints, the support member being affixed to the first and second sheet portions and movably disposed relative to the first and second joints, the support member being positionable between a closed position and an open position, the open position outwardly biasing the support member against the first and second sheet portions to cause the shroud to assume a curvilinear cross-sectional shape along a length of the shroud. Notches are formed in the first and second joints at a first position along the length of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: James Warmus
  • Printed sheet with foldable frame, blank and method for producing the same
    Patent number: 9706861
    Abstract: A blank for forming a printed sheet with foldable frame includes a blank body having front and rear surfaces, a central rectangular portion formed thereon with a print on the front surface. The blank further includes four wing portions extending from the four margins of the central rectangular portion and the four wing portions are foldable into four rectangular tubular frame sections. Twelve locking mechanisms are used to lock the four frame sections in a folded position. A method of forming the printed sheet with foldable frame is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kwok Hee Wong
  • Warning sign
    Patent number: 9711068
    Abstract: A warning sign for attachment to a load bearing wall in a building, the wall having an inner supporting structure covered with an outer layer. The sign is mountable on the supporting structure of the wall before the structure is covered with the outer layer of material so that the sign is not normally visible. The sign becomes visible only on removal of the outer layer such as during renovation. The sign has a message on its side facing outwardly from the structure, when the sign is attached to the structure, to warn a person viewing the sign when the sign is visible. The message warns the viewer that the wall is a load bearing wall and that the removal of the wall could have dangerous consequences. The invention is also directed toward a load bearing wall incorporating the sign and the use of the sign in a load bearing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis St. Denis
  • Modular and freely combinable tension fabric popup display
    Patent number: 9697755
    Abstract: The invention discloses a freely combinable tension fabric popup display, the tension fabric popup display includes an exhibit grid frame, and aluminum grooved straight rods. The eight sides on the two planes of the exhibit grid frame are connected to the aluminum grooved straight rods. A popup display with a preset size and shape is provided by combining a plurality of tension fabric popup displays as needed. The aluminum grooved straight rods for the adjacent tension fabric popup displays are locked by a plurality of fasteners. The display before or after the combination is formed by inserting the silicon strips at the edges of the display into the grooves of grooved straight rods. The tension fabric popup displays of the invention can be combined freely to form various shapes, which are seamlessly attached by the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hangzhou Bannermate Exhibition System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hankai Zhang
  • Shelf label holder
    Patent number: 9697753
    Abstract: A main body of a label holder is made of an opaque material and includes a main panel having a top end, a bottom end and a plurality of bends that define the main panel into a plurality of sections. The sections include a first substantially vertical section having a front facing surface that is spaced behind a front facing surface of a second substantially vertical section by a depth of a substantially horizontal section. A sign sleeve is at least partially made of a transparent material and is coupled to the front facing surface of the first substantially vertical section. The sign sleeve is located between the front facing surface of the first substantially vertical section and a plane that is in alignment with the front facing surface of the second substantially vertical section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Johnson, Erin L. Zobel, Nicholas C. Juric
  • Method and system for fastening a communication message to an article
    Patent number: 9694925
    Abstract: A method and system for attaching a communication to a package including a simple, inexpensive solution enabling a person giving a gift to easily and aesthetically display a greeting card on a gift bag without it getting lost in the contents of the gift bag and also including, in another embodiment, attaching a communication to a gift, such as, but not limited to, a bottle of wine or a teddy bear; this solution provides sufficient surface area for a user to write a private message, and including the ability to secure other items, such as, but not limited to, gift cards or money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Jennifer Marie Florio
  • Display mounting system and method
    Patent number: 9697754
    Abstract: A system and method for mounting a display or sign to a ceiling, wall or window frame includes an elongated channel having magnets that are affixed to a ceiling grid and mounting hooks or the like to suspend the sign or display from the channel. The channel includes high friction strips on a neck for engagement by a pole end gripper on a pole for mounting the channel on the ceiling while the user stands on the floor. End caps may be mounted on the channel. Mounting plates may be affixed to the ceiling or wall for magnetically engaging the channel. A wall mount channel includes an offset neck for gripping by the pole end gripper. A magnetic clip including a string for suspending a display may be mounted with the pole end gripper. An embodiment of the channel includes hooks for engaging an open girder ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: K-International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. White
  • Decoy with anchor device
    Patent number: 9681657
    Abstract: A decoy comprising: (a) an anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spool connected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate to the spool, wherein a gap separates the spool and the locking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small so that the spool is prevented from rotating and the gap in a deployment position is sufficiently large so that the spool free rotates; (b) an anchor; and (c) an anchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in the locked position assists in retracting the anchor and in the deployment position allows the anchor to deploy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Shane Kubinec
  • Locking bar mechanism license plates
    Patent number: 9663044
    Abstract: A license plate locking system is provided that will prevent theft of a license plate. The license plate locking system of the present invention comprises a locking bar, wherein said locking bar comprises a two hollow bodies. Each hollow body provide access to a plate holder device, such as a screw, wherein said plate holder device is positioned inside said hollow body and covered by non-removable cover with resilient properties rendering the screws inaccessible. This prevents the removal of the registration tags or license plate by unauthorized persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ricardo Hernandez de Luna, Ricardo Hernández Soto
  • Pipe insulation fitting cover
    Patent number: 9644772
    Abstract: A shell type fitting cover provided and is formed from a polymer material or a flexible thermoplastic sheet. A continuous gasket is affixed to the peripheral edges of the shell fitting prior to its installation. Preferably the gasket is a flexible, compressible material. The fitting includes a shell having two ends that overlap onto the linear portions of a pipe insulation system and a longitudinal seam that allows the shell to be installed over an existing piping system. A strip of foam gasket material is provided along each of the peripheral edges in order to create a seal where the installed fitting overlaps the linear sections of insulation as well as where the fitting shell overlaps itself at the longitudinal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CHILLED WATER FITTINGS INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Purdon
  • Suspension clamp for cables having preferential bend
    Patent number: 9645343
    Abstract: Suspension clamps for fiber optic cables having a preferential bend are disclosed. The suspension clamp includes a body having a clamping region with a first radius R1 adjacent to the clamping region and a second radius R2 adjacent to the first radius R1 where the first radius is greater than the second radius R2. In one embodiment, the suspension clamp is formed from an first (upper) portion having an attachment structure and a second (lower) portion where the body is generally symmetric about the clamping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Allen Michael Miller, David Alan Seddon
  • Apparatus for displaying graphic contents
    Patent number: 9635960
    Abstract: A system for displaying graphic contents that comprises a permanent base that includes a first inner sliding member, which can move in and out. The system also includes a second inner sliding member that is inserted into the first inner sliding member, which can move in and out. The system also includes a third inner sliding member that is inserted into the second inner sliding member, which can move in and out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Mordeckai Mouyal
  • Gift box with special effects
    Patent number: 9624014
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a gift box for presenting a gift or other item to a recipient. The gift box contains various electronic components contained in some portion of the box which are used to effect, movement, sound, light or other special effects. The box may have one or more special effects which can be triggered automatically or by interaction with a user or gift box recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventor: Allison Marsh
  • Purse hooks, and methods of making and using purse hooks
    Patent number: 9591938
    Abstract: Purse hooks are disclosed. Methods of making and using purse hooks are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence Andrews, Anthony R. Bradley
  • Animal trap
    Patent number: 9545093
    Abstract: An animal trap for capturing a small-weight animal. The animal trap includes a capturing enclosure 12 provided with a first entrance 11, a swing plate 13, provided in an approach 15 of an animal entered from the first entrance 11, for plugging up the first entrance 11 by swinging forward, and a locking mechanism 14 for temporarily locking the swing plate 13 so that the swing plate 13 swung to plug up the first entrance 11 does not swing back. The temporary locking mechanism 14 includes a first lock part 21A and a second lock part 21B that are disposed in a front end part of the swing plate 13. The lock parts are constructed to have mutually different heights at which the swing plate 13 is temporarily locked. When an animal enters, the swing plate 13 swings to plug up the first entrance 11, and it is temporarily locked. The swing plate 13 can be swung by a small weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Shuichi Yamasaki
  • System for mounting a sink
    Patent number: 9538863
    Abstract: A system for mounting a sink under a countertop comprising at least one anchor including at least one mounting hole for mounting to a structure and at least one attachment point and at least one flexible support attachable to the at least one attachment point of the at least one anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Peay