Patents Examined by Katherine Moran
  • Patent number: 8656513
    Abstract: A force attenuation system for a sports glove is disclosed. The force attenuation system includes a pair of foam layers surrounding a fluid-filled chamber. This configuration allows the force attenuation system to reduce forces that a hand experiences when catching a ball with the sports glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Plocher
  • Patent number: 8646112
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcement element for a glove, especially for a goal keeper's glove, which is designed to allow a bending in a first bending direction and to prevent a bending in a second bending direction which is contrariwise to the first bending direction. To prevent reliably that the joints of the fingers are subjected to high forces during fisting of a ball, the invention is characterized in that the reinforcement element comprises two bending elements which extend in a longitudinal direction of a finger, which bending elements comprise a number of blocking elements for the prevention of a bending in the second bending direction, wherein the two bending elements run during regular use laterally beside the finger which is to be protected, wherein the two bending elements are connected to another by at least two connecting bridges. Furthermore, the invention relates to a glove, especially to a goal keeper's glove with such a reinforcing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: PUMA SE
    Inventors: Christof Nix, Thomas Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8640263
    Abstract: A glove having a hand portion, including dorsal and palmer regions, with a finger portion and thumb portion extending outwardly from the hand portion. A thumb crotch is disposed intermediate the thumb and finger portions. The thumb crotch includes a protective pad shaped to form a top wall and a side wall. A first section of the top wall is curved. An exterior surface of the dorsal region is made from a first material and at least the curved section of the thumb crotch's top wall is made from a second material which is different to the first material. Specifically, the second material has a higher coefficient of friction than the first material. The shape of the top wall and use of the second material improves the cradling and gripping characteristics of the glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Steve A. Copeland, Alexander P. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8590064
    Abstract: Provided is a helmet suspension system which is configured to mitigate rapid movements, i.e., acceleration and deceleration, of a user's head. The helmet suspension system connects to a base and a helmet worn by a wearer and allows for slow, safe movements of the helmet relative to the base, but restricts rapid and generally unsafe movements of the helmet relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: James D. Castillo
  • Patent number: 8572765
    Abstract: A single use disposable glove utilizing the cutting and sealing process. The various layers of the glove are produced from an extrusion process made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyurethane, polybutene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, their mixtures and blends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Foodhandler, Inc.
    Inventor: Jian Tao
  • Patent number: 8561215
    Abstract: The girdle comprises two parts or halves (1-2), connected to each other by means of elastic elements (3) covered by adornments in the form of shells (6) coaxially interconnected, or any other type of unitary or fragmented adornment, wherein the plastic elements (3) are fastened to the parts (1) and (2) by means of pivots (7) selectively usable in order to vary the effective length of the girdle, length which also varies depending on the elasticity of the elements (3). Each said part or half (1) and (2) incorporates at the free end and back face thereof hooks (5) for fastening to the clasps (4) of the garment, in such a way that said elastic elements (3) cause traction between the clasps producing the girdling of the garment. The middle area of the elastic elements (3) or more specifically of the adornments encapsulating same, is visible when the parts (1) and (2) are substantially spaced, directly affecting the appearance of the girdle and constituting a changeable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Juan Antonio Escudero Muñoz
  • Patent number: 8555413
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a flexible nose guard is provided for protecting the nose from sunlight, the cold, and other outdoor elements. The nose guard is configured to cover the bridge and sides of a user's nose. In a preferred embodiment, the nose guard has a pentagonal body, resembling an upside-down pentagon with rounded corners. The top portion of the nose guard is substantially flat and sized to conform around the bridge of the nose. The bottom portion of the nose guard is a rounded corner or hyperbolic-shape configured to rest on top of the bridge of the nose. In a preferred embodiment, the nose guard is composed of an outer first layer of spandex having a sun protective factor, an intermediate second layer of open-cell foam, and a third, skin-facing layer of micro-suede material that contacts the skin. The nose guard offers different means of attachment to a user's face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Gregory Beliveau
  • Patent number: 8555415
    Abstract: An article of apparel may include a waistband for extending around a waist of the wearer. The waistband may have a first layer and a second layer that lay adjacent to each other, and the waistband may have a plurality of strand segments located between the first layer and the second layer. The strand segments extend at least partially around the waistband. Additionally, the strand segments may lay substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters. In some configurations, the strand segments may be bonded to the first layer and the second layer along the distances of at least five centimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Ellen Bradstreet, Sebastian Huff, James C. Meschter, Bruce Yin Moore, Ryan Michael Hurley
  • Patent number: 8555425
    Abstract: Aquatic goggles may incorporate a pair of eyepieces, a nosebridge extending between the eyepieces, and a headstrap. In some configurations, at least one of the eyepieces includes a lens, a gasket extending around the lens, and an extension member extending outward from the lens. The extension member defines a strap connection point, with a distance along the extension member and between the lens and the strap connection point being at least three centimeters, and the headstrap is secured to the strap connection point. In other configurations, a fairing extends outward from the lens, and a majority of the fairing may be located within an outer area of the lens. In further configurations, the gasket defines an indentation with varying depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Louis Keegan
  • Patent number: 8549663
    Abstract: A glove having one or more reinforcements affixed thereon that reduce restriction of movement of fingers of a user. The reinforcements cross to form at least one X-shaped pattern when projected on a plane of motion of an interphalangeal joint of the fingers. The one or more reinforcements are located substantially on one or both sides of the interphalangeal joint of the fingers. The X-shaped pattern is substantially centered over an axis of rotation of the interphalangeal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Flagsuit, LLC
    Inventor: Peter K. Homer
  • Patent number: 8549662
    Abstract: A protective head gear for a user having an outer panel, an inner panel, a retention pleat on the inner panel, a respirator, and an indexed fastener. The outer panel is disposed relative to the inner panel to provide efficacious spatial separation therebetween. The fastener is formed to adjustably and releasably secure at least a portion of the inner panel to the user. An indexing element is attached to the fastener, and is formed of material substantially tactilely different from the fastener, the outer panel, or the inner panel, to permit the user to unambiguously locate the point of fastening. The outer panel, inner panel, and respirator, can be composed of fabrics having one or more layer, and one layer can have a repellent characteristic different from another (e.g., hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wrong Gear, Inc.
    Inventor: Rong Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 8549668
    Abstract: A glove is disclosed that includes abrasion-resistant finger elements on the inner surface of the glove, including in the finger stalls. The finger elements include abrasion-resistant elements that define extended channels between them. The finger elements are composed of an abrasion-resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: John H. Anderes, Jr., Jamie Wornson
  • Patent number: 8528116
    Abstract: The invention relates to an athletic glove for supporting a hand of a wearer. The soccer glove improves performance through the use a three dimensional finger cap which forms at least a portion of at least one digit of the wearer's hand. The athletic glove also comprises an open wrist feature which allows for a greater degree of support, adjustability, comfort, and ease of access and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Avis, Clancy Boyer, Sam Fisher
  • Patent number: 8522362
    Abstract: A clothing system may include a first two-piece swimsuit. The first two-piece swimsuit may include a swimsuit top and a swimsuit bottom. The clothing system may include further include a midsection cover sized and configured to be selectively connected to the swimsuit top to form a second two-piece swimsuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rachel Dawn Stones
    Inventors: Rachel Dawn Stones, Delorse Kay Raymond
  • Patent number: 8522363
    Abstract: Latex articles with geometrically defined surface structure providing enhanced grip characteristics in dry, wet or oily environment; and a method of making same comprising applying a polymeric coagulant coating to a smooth former surface, wherein the coating becomes tacky during drying, applying discrete coagulant particles of selected size, shape and distribution to the tacky coating to attach and protrude from the former surface with the polymeric coagulant coating, dipping the former into an aqueous latex emulsion, wherein the polymeric coagulant coating and the discrete coagulating particles destabilize the latex, thereby developing a latex layer, vulcanizing and stripping the latex article inside out, and dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or suitable solvents to reveal the geometrically designed texture with pre-selected size, shape and distribution of impressions providing improved dry, wet and oily surface grip by removal of a fluid boundary layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ansell Healthcare Products LLC
    Inventors: Noorman Abu Hassan, David M. Lucas, Fazli Shani, Dave Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 8505115
    Abstract: A sewn glove is provided which can be put on a hand and used without providing an uncomfortable feeling and in which fingers can be greatly (deeply) bent. The sewn glove includes a finger pocket formed by sewing a finger-back member for covering a back surface of a finger and a finger-palm member having a width wide enough to cover a palm surface and right and left sides of the finger. The finger pocket is bent toward a palm side. A finger-palm member (12) is divided into divided finger-palm members (12X, 12Y, 12Z) at positions corresponding to interphalangeal joints of the finger. Each divided portion edge of each of the divided finger-palm members (12X, 12Y, 12Z) is a cut edge (15a, 15b) extending to cover from the left side of the finger through the palm surface of the finger to the right side of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Matsuoka Glove Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8495763
    Abstract: Safety helmet of the type comprising a chin guard rotatably pivoted to the shell between a pulled down position, at the lower end of the front opening of the shell, and at least one raised position over said front opening, and at least one reversible locking device of the chin guard in such at least one raised position, the reversible locking device comprising at least one follower, integrally rotatable with the chin guard, and at least one corresponding countering element, constrained with at least one degree of freedom to the shell, or vice versa, such countering element being intended for its engagement with the aforesaid at least one follower at least in proximity of said raised position of the chin guard, as well as means for manually regulating the position and/or the motion of said at least one countering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nolangroup S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Gafforio, Gabriele Tomasoni, Alberto Salvetti
  • Patent number: 8490212
    Abstract: A quick release garment such as a tactical vest wherein the garment includes a waist belt that is provided with two connector systems, one for manual release of the belt and one for remote release of the belt. The vest may include armor that is generally conformable to the waist shape of a wearer, which armor is insertable within the waist belt of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Eagle Industries Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Asher, Carl James Quinlan
  • Patent number: 8474062
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for securing to the calf, shin and foot of a motorcycle user, to afford protection against heated exhaust parts and emissions therefrom. The device comprises a bi-layered material, with an aesthetically pleasing outer layer and thermally resistant inner layer. The device secures to the shin using adjustable elastic straps and securing snaps. The device features an optional ankle protector of the same bi-layered material attached to the bottom of the main bi-layered pad. Further, the optional ankle protector rolls up and secures into a stowed position to maintain maximum flexibility when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Linda Marie Taylor, Beverly Louise Barnes
  • Patent number: 8474067
    Abstract: A spinal protective device includes a plurality of support members abutted in series with one another along a spine of a user. Each adjacent pair of support members has a respective pair of forward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperflexion direction and a respective pair of rearward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperextension direction. A rear tension member connected between the support members limits relative movement in the hyperflexion direction and a front tension member connected between the support members limits relative movement between the support members in the hyperextension direction. Straps about the torso secure the support members along the spine of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Milton D. Reimer