Patents Examined by John Cogill
  • Patent number: 8020738
    Abstract: A harness (10) for use with breathing apparatus comprises: a back plate (11); two support straps (13, 14), each of which extends between an upper part of the back plate and a lower part of the back plate, the two support straps being disposed on opposite sides of a central axis of the back plate (11); and a tension equalizing mechanism (15, 16; 30, 32) connected to the support straps and being arranged such that, when tension is applied to a first strap (13, 14) of the support straps, it acts to transfer the tension to the other, second strap (13, 14), thereby increasing the tension in the second strap, the tension equalizing mechanism being resiliently biased towards a neutral configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Draeger Safety UK Limited
    Inventor: David Graham Storey
  • Patent number: 8006876
    Abstract: A connection device for connecting a bicycle rack to a connection member on a vehicle includes a clamping unit composed of four quarters and a mounting member is mounted onto the four quarters withinhich the connection member is enclosed. A bolt's head is clamped by four respective protrusions on the four quarters and the shank extends through the top of the clamping unit and the mounting member so as to be connected with a knob. A lock is received in the knob and cooperated with the bolt. The mounting member has a T-shaped slot and two lugs extend from the mounting member. The vertical slot is located between the two lugs and a quick release unit is cooperated with the two lugs so as to control the distance between the two lugs. By using the quick release unit, the four quarters can quickly release the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Chiu-Kuei Wang
  • Patent number: 7997465
    Abstract: A baby holder including a cushioned support having pairs of curved channel or indent undersides at substantially right angles to one another to allow resting of the support on the upper legs of a seated parent with the baby facing the parent's chest or sideways, and with its head supported by the cushion and its legs extended along the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Anthony Garofalo, Keefe Pirog
  • Patent number: 7959048
    Abstract: An improved equipment backpack which incorporates two novel and unique features. The first feature is a unique system for holding a tripod in place so that it can be carried on the backpack. The second feature is the incorporation of wing accessory pockets on the exterior of the backpack which retain objects in a visible, organized and readily accessible manner so that easy access to the objects can be achieved without the necessity of opening the entire backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tamrac, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Cyr
  • Patent number: 7931178
    Abstract: A suspended-load backpack designed to permit the load to move relative to the wearer during walking and running so that the large movements between the load and the wearer of the backpack reduce the fluctuations of vertical motion of the load with respect to ground. Because the hip (and thus the pack body) goes up a down a good deal during walking, a large relative movement between the wearer and the load reduces the absolute excursion of the load. This movement may be, in turn, transferred to a motor through, for example, a rack and pinion gear, to convert the mechanical movement to electrical or mechanical energy. Such movement of the suspended-load relative to the wearer also reduces the forces on the wearer's body while walking or running, thus reducing the likelihood of orthopedic injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Lighting Packs, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence C Rome, Andy L Ruina
  • Patent number: 7857179
    Abstract: A universal folding carrier for carrying objects on tailgates of pickup trucks and trunk lids of automobiles or the like has a substantially U-shaped frame, a substantially U-shaped carrying member and a substantially U-shaped supporting member. The folding carrier is movable between a folded or storage position and a locked extended or operational position. The carrying arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and the supporting member is pivotally mounted to the frame. A latching assembly includes a pair of first brackets. The first brackets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame. A pair of second brackets is mounted to opposite sides of the carrying member, each second bracket having a ramp portion and a latch. A latching assembly with first and second latching members is mounted to the first brackets. Each latching member has an engaging pin, the engaging pins extending from opposite ends of the latching members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: R. A. Allen Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Allen, Alexander R. Allen
  • Patent number: 7832607
    Abstract: A bicycle support rack adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle including a hollow upstanding tube having a parallel rod running therethrough, both extending from a lower hitch bar upwardly to a top plate. The top plate supporting a pair of rearwardly extending arms upon which one or more bicycles may be mounted for carrying by the vehicle. The tube and internal parallel rod both being adapted to pivot rearwardly while maintaining the bicycle supporting arms in a substantially parallel orientation with the vehicle hitch receiver. The tilting movement of the rack providing improved access to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Softride, Inc.
    Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop
  • Patent number: 7793809
    Abstract: A backpack frame has a front side and a back side and comprises generally parallel base and top sections that extend transversely across and are spaces one from the other along a center line of the frame. Side rails connect the base section to the top section. The side rails are arranged on opposite sides of the frame center line, and a stabilizing rib interconnects the side rails and extends transversely across the center line at an intermediate location between the base and top sections. The side rails converge inwardly from the base section towards the frame center line to the stabilizing rib, and diverge outwardly from the stabilizing rib and away from the center line to the top section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 7780047
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a carrying structure and defines a mounting hole and an opposite strap hole. The carrying structure includes a snap module received in the mounting hole, having a pressing element, a snap element, a knuckle element and an elastic element, and a strap. The strap has two strap connecting ends connecting to the knuckle element and the strap hole. The pressing element has two extending portions, each of which has a wedge-shaped surface. The snap element has three wedge-shaped engaging portions. One engaging portion engages the knuckle element, latching the snap element with the knuckle element. The knuckle element and the snap element are unlockable by pressing the pressing element, where the one engaging portion disengages from the knuckle element, and anther two engaging portions slide aslant along the wedge-shaped surfaces. The elastic element has two ends resisting the snap element and the pressing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Rui-Hao Chen, Ye Liu, Shui-Yuan Qin, Chia-Hua Chen, Hsiao-Hua Tu
  • Patent number: 7770766
    Abstract: A rucksack comprising a bag having a back panel and, among other things, a belt assembly and a rigid frame secured to the back panel and the belt assembly. According to the invention, the bottom portion of the rigid frame has a V-shaped configuration with an angle ? at the apex, and in its middle and rear portion, the belt assembly includes an upwardly open pocket having a V-shaped configuration with an angle ? at the apex, where ? is greater than ?, such that said pocket is suitable for serving as a housing for receiving the V-shaped bottom portion of the frame while allowing the belt assembly to pivot angularly to some extent relative to the remainder of the rucksack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Decathlon
    Inventors: Matthieu Foissac, Antoine Lafoux
  • Patent number: 7721926
    Abstract: A vehicle trim component that has a concealed storage compartment includes a mounting portion and a pair of generally parallel tracks that at least partially define an access opening of the trim component. A flexible lid slidably is disposed between the tracks for movement between a closed position and an open position relative to the access opening. The lid includes a flexible portion and a reinforcement portion coupled to the flexible portion. The flexible portion is configured and arranged to span the access opening when the lid is in the closed position. The reinforcement portion has an array of sliding members and an array of hard, rigid reinforcement inserts. Free ends of each of the reinforcement inserts are located in the tracks. The sliding members are disposed on each of the reinforcement inserts to isolate the reinforcement inserts from contacting the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center Northe America, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7699196
    Abstract: A property and evidence bag comprising a deployable inner bag inside a pouch attached typically to the belt of an officer. The inner bag can be deployed and expands from its folded compact state inside the pouch. It is partially attached to the pouch and deploys by pulling a tab. Property and evidence can be placed in the inner bag and its opening can be secured using one hand by pulling on a draw string at its opening. This allows the officer to safely secure property and evidence found during an arrest while at the same time holding the arrestee at bay. After the arrestee is seated in the patrol car, the property and evidence found during the search of the arrestee's pockets can be itemized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Laci Szabo
  • Patent number: 7661566
    Abstract: An infant carrier with hood comprises a belt portion to be mounted on a user, and a support portion connected to the belt portion for supporting an infant. A bag-like accommodating portion is provided on an outside face of the support portion and a hood capable of being developed so as to cover the infant supported by the support portion is accommodated in the accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Yoshie, Yutaka Ukitsu
  • Patent number: 7644847
    Abstract: A backpack frame comprises side rails defining a first profile. The first profile has a flat first base segment lying on a first reference plane, and a first concave segment leading from the first base segment to an upper end of the frame, with the first concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the first reference plane at a first location between the first base segment and the upper end of the frame. An intermediate structure interconnects the side rails. The intermediate structure defines a second profile having a second flat base segment lying on a second reference plane parallel to the first reference plane, and a second concave segment leading from the second base segment to the upper end of the frame, with the second concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the second reference plane at a second location between the second base segment and the upper end of the frame. The first and second locations are offset from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 7597224
    Abstract: A riding golf cart club holder for use on a golf cart. The golf clubs are placed in aligned gaskets and tubular structures which prevent the golf clubs from touching each other or rattling. When locked, the golf clubs cannot be unauthorizedly removed from the golf club holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Paul A. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7568599
    Abstract: A ski tote may include at least one backpack strap and/or a basic strap for holding the skis together for aid in carrying a pair of skis. The tote may also include one or more shoulder straps. The basic strap may extend longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The basic strap may have a bifurcated straps integral with or connected to first and second ends of the basic strap. Each of first and second bifurcated straps may have first and second straddling ends and a ski surrounding loop mechanism on each of the first and second straddling ends. The backpack strap may include a ski supporting substrate with one or more ski supporting straps attached to a ski supporting substrate. A pair of shoulder straps may also be attached to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Julie Hall