Patents Examined by Katherine Moran
  • Configurable body armor
    Patent number: 8353065
    Abstract: A body armor system has a left vest section connected to a right vest section and has a front plate carrier which is alternatively mounted with a buckle at either the right shoulder or the left shoulder. The front plate carrier has identical straps terminated by patches of hook and loop fastener material. One strap is passed through a loop on the rear of the front plate carrier and mounts one part of a buckle, the other part of the buckle is mounted on a hook and loop fastener strap which is affixed to a shoulder element, thus permitting the system to be reconfigured for left- or right-handed users. U-shaped ballistic inserts are received in mating pockets in each vest section. A laced cord which joins the rear segments of the vest sections is held in place by a cord restraint member which defines a loop for each cord crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: LineWeight LLC
    Inventor: Caleb Clark Crye
  • Protective glove having contoured wrist guard
    Patent number: 8341767
    Abstract: A protective sports glove including a contoured wrist cuff that substantially shields a gap defined between adjacent portions of the protective sports glove, such as hand and cuff portions. The contoured wrist cuff can include a leading edge that contours forwardly adjacent a thumb portion of the contoured wrist cuff and rearwardly across a portion of the radial side of a wearer's hand when the glove is on the wearer's hand. This can allow protection of the wearer's wrist in flexion without also impairing movement of the wearer's wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Warrior Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew M. Winningham
  • Element protection system
    Patent number: 8332964
    Abstract: An element protection system for protecting wearers from cold and/or wet weather includes a garment portion having a torso section surrounding a torso-receiving cavity and a pair of sleeves, and a storage case portion including a bottom wall and a surrounding sidewall providing a main compartment sized and configured for receiving the garment portion therein. Thus, the garment portion can be stowed in the main compartment. The garment portion extends from the upper margin of the storage case portion, and a reinforcing panel extends from the upper margin over a part of a back panel of the garment portion in covering relationship to the wearers buttocks. The back panel of the garment portion includes a port sized and configured to permit passage therethrough of a strap attachable to a safety harness which can be used to restrain the torso of someone wearing the element protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: David Helwig
  • Protective eyewear
    Patent number: 8327466
    Abstract: A protective eyewear apparatus including a base substantially oval in shape, an upper bar connected to the base, a lower bar connected to the base, and a main support bar connected to the upper bar and the lower bar. Another embodiment includes two eyepieces attached by a flexible bridge member, in which an eyepiece comprises a base generally oval in shape and defining an opening, and an upper and lower bar spanning the opening and connected to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: WM. T. Burnett IP, LLC
    Inventors: Helen M. Hahn, Dale W. Kohler
  • Vest insert for tactical training
    Patent number: 8327468
    Abstract: The vest insert for tactical training is an insert kit for retrofitting an outer tactical vest or the like for tactical training purposes. The vest insert includes front and rear training plates adapted to be removably received within front and rear pockets of front and rear carriers of an outer tactical vest. Each of the front and rear training plates has an opening formed therethrough to indicate that the plate is for training purposes. Each of the front and rear training plates is formed from polyvinyl chloride. Additionally, a pair of front and rear fabric panels are provided to replace the inner panels of the outer tactical vest, each of the front and rear fabric panels being formed from woven polyvinyl chloride. The training plates and the front and rear fabric panels are sized and shaped to match the inserts and inner panels of a typical outer tactical vest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Lawrence Greg Bronstein, Louis Greg Bronstein
  • Eyewear lens attachment system and method
    Patent number: 8316470
    Abstract: A goggle is disclosed having a frame with upper and lower frame portions with the upper frame portion being substantially more rigid than the lower frame portion. A fastener secures the upper perimeter of a lens to the upper frame portion. The lower portion includes slots receiving tabs extending from opposing sides of a notch in the lens for receiving the wearer's nose. The fastener includes an elongate member insertable within a slot formed in the lens and rotatable to a crosswise position hindering removal of the elongate member from the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Smith Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. McNeal, George T. Giroux
  • Impact and/or vibration absorbent material and protective articles making use thereof
    Patent number: 8312562
    Abstract: An impact and/or vibration absorbent material and protective articles making use of said material. An impact and/or vibration absorbent material of the present invention has at least two material layers. The individual layers of the impact and/or vibration absorbent material may be of different materials, or of the same material with the composition of the material of one layer adjusted to be of dissimilar hardness to an adjacent layer. Each material layer preferably contains a number of holes. The holes in one layer are located and arranged to be offset from the holes in an adjacent layer. The combination of material properties and the inclusion and arrangement of holes renders such a material highly impact and/or vibration absorbent. Through use of a protective article of the present invention, the effects of impact and/or vibration forces on a user of the protective article can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Hammons, Roger W. Kramer, Charles Marks, Kevin Porter, Robert Bogard, Traci Skahill, Mark Smith
  • Hands-free pumping and nursing bra or tank
    Patent number: 8307463
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a bra or tank that has three layers on the chest that allow the wearer to comfortably breast feed or pump milk hands-free. Specifically, the tank or bra has three detachable layers over the breast where the outer layer is a solid layer, the inner layer has two openings over the nipple that are equipped to receive the funnels of a breast pumping apparatus and hold them to the breast without the wearer holding them, and an inner layer that has a large opening for the breast so that the wearer may breast feed an infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Jennifer Ritchie
  • Swimming goggles
    Patent number: 8286271
    Abstract: Swimming goggles include a frame body, lenses received in the frame body, and buckles assembled on left and right sides of the frame body. Each buckle has a first cover and a second cover assembled together, and a manipulation element assembled between the first cover and the second cover. The manipulation element has a base bar, a pressing plate formed on an end of the base bar, and two control arms integrally formed on an opposite end of the base bar. Flexible branches respectively extend from the two control arms, and further connect with the base bar. When the free ends of the two control arms are pressed, the branches are pressed and deformed, the base bar being forced to move the pressing plate to a side with an end of the pressing plate as a fulcrum, whereby the pressing plate disengages from the groove of the head strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Herman Chiang
  • Slip lock grommet
    Patent number: 8281413
    Abstract: A grommet locking device, which combines the advantages of both a grommet and a cord lock in a single unitary device. The grommet locking device allows a user to tighten a cord with one hand. The grommet locking device includes a front piece having a locking mechanism and a back piece that are attached together with a piece of fabric therebetween. A cord is moveable within the locking mechanism between a first locked position and second unlocked position in order to tighten or loosen a portion of the garment, such as a hood of a jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The North Face Apparel Corp.
    Inventor: John Thiet Ly
  • Sport glove closure system
    Patent number: 8281415
    Abstract: A glove closure system having an opening dividing the glove into a lateral portion (thumb side) and a medial portion (pinky side). The opening allows for easy access of the user's hand. The system consists of a rectangular or oval flap attached to the lateral portion and pulled over the access opening. A push button is mounted on the flap and movably connected to a slide bar attached to the medial portion. The slide bar includes a notched surface for engaging and stationing the button at any point along the bar. The button includes a release tab which when depressed allows the button to move along the slide bar therein allowing for the closure to either be tightened or loosened. The further the button moves toward the lateral portion the tighter the closure. When the button is engaged and locked, a simple press on the release tab disengages to allow the glove to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: M. L. Poramats Voravan
  • Frameless diving mask
    Patent number: 8272075
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a frameless diving includes the following steps. First, providing a lens; next, coating an adhesive on an edge of the lens; then, forming a first flexible layer made of a silica gel on the edge of the lens; thereafter, forming a second flexible layer made of another silica gel on the first flexible layer. The first flexible layer has a plurality of protrusions and may enables the lens covered with the first flexible layer to be spaced apart from a high-temperature mold for a proper distance, so as to prevent the first flexible layer from falling off from the lens due to the high temperature when molding the silica gel. The protrusions are exposed out of the second flexible layer, so as to vary the design and shape of the frameless diving mask abundantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: E. Home Outdoors Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-Fu Lee
  • Strape glove
    Patent number: 8266719
    Abstract: A glove made from narrow strap material. Glove advantages when used with a striking tool: improved control, improved striking force, improved tool head acceleration, improved energy transfer, reduced hand fatigue, improved grip, and reduced vibration shock. It can be configured for 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers plus the thumb. The glove forms a web between the thumb and fingers. The width of the web and the tightness of fit on the thumb and fingers is controlled by a single pull-tab type of adjustment. The adjustment is secured by a contact friction loop which increases in friction during impact force use. The glove can be worn on a bare hand or over the top of a more conventional type of glove while still providing the same advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Dante Duby
  • Sport glove closure flap
    Patent number: 8266720
    Abstract: A glove closure system having an opening dividing the glove into a lateral side (thumb) and a medial side (pinky). The opening allows for easy access of the user's hand. The system consists of a rectangular or oval flap attached to the lateral portion and pulled over the access opening. A primary fit is caused by the user pulling the flap over to the back of the lateral side of the glove and fastening with a hook and loop attachment method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: M Poramats Voravan, Kenneth S. Litke
  • Matched pair of protective baseball batting gloves for right handed and left handed batters to protect the side of the hand and the wrist facing a pitcher with protective shock absorbing members on the exterior of the glove
    Patent number: 8256028
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel protective batting glove which is used specifically for protecting the most vulnerable parts of a batter's hands and wrists when the batter is standing at home plate and is gripping the end of a baseball bat and awaiting the arrival of a baseball which is thrown by the pitcher. The invention comprises a unique protective system of a design of a matched pair of batting gloves with one matched pair designed for a right handed batter and one matched pair designed for a left handed batter. For each matched pair of batting gloves, impact and shock absorbing material is incorporated onto selected portions of the exterior of the glove where the grip on the bat causes the hand to be most exposed to a pitch thrown at the batter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: XProTex Sports Group Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ibon, Steven J. Behrens, Jack A. Kasarjian, Scott Boyer
  • Windproof waterproof breathable seamed articles
    Patent number: 8256030
    Abstract: The present invention provides waterproof, breathable non-textile seamed articles which exhibit high levels of durability and allow wearers a high level of flexibility and article strength. This invention is of particular interest for use in dexterous hand coverings and conformable foot coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Williams, Jeffrey A. Klein
  • Flannel lined uniform pants
    Patent number: 8245325
    Abstract: Flannel lined uniform pants including a heavy fabric pants body having a flannel first layer along the entire inner side of the pants body and a thicker flannel second layer attached to a first layer inner edge. A zipper having a flap is disposed along an upper front seam between the leg portions. A securement member, which may be a button, releasably attaches waistband portion first and second ends. A first front pocket is accessible through the pants body front side, while a smaller second front pocket is disposed within one of the first front pockets. A first back pocket and a second back pocket are each centrally disposed on a rear side of the pants body. A sash portion alternately removably engages loops on the waistband portion and a wearer's hair. The sash portion bears medical indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Lorraine Johnson
  • Glove incorporating a silicone material
    Patent number: 8239969
    Abstract: A glove for receiving a hand has a dorsal side corresponding with a back area of the hand and an opposite palmar side corresponding with a palm area of the hand. An exterior surface of the palmar side may include a polymer foam material with a silicone coating. Although the chemical composition of the silicone coating may vary significantly, the silicone coating may be a cured silicone film layer with a Shore A durometer of less than or equal to 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Fisher
  • Gloves with attached illumination means
    Patent number: 8230522
    Abstract: A pair of work gloves with an attached directional illumination device is disclosed. A miniature illumination device is affixed thereto the back of the hand area of the work glove via hook-and-loop fasteners. The lighting device takes the form of a small enclosure that houses batteries and a lens with a reflected array of forward facing high-intensity light emitting diodes (LED's). A pushbutton switch is located on top of the case for on/off operation. In use, the apparatus provides a high level of illumination directly in front of the person's hands allowing use while working at night, when light levels are low, as well as in cramped areas where nearby objects restrict the effectiveness of remote lighting devices. The invention is especially valuable in situations where it is impossible to hold a flashlight such as when one needs both hands to perform work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Lucas G. Bell
  • Noisemaker apparatus
    Patent number: 8225425
    Abstract: A noisemaking device comprising a first and second holders in the form of, for example, a pair of gloves, the palm region of each glove is provided with a domed shaped hollow member formed of a rigid, sound transmitting material and which extends upwardly from the surface of the holder so that when the hollow members are caused to be impacted against each other during hand clapping, a distinct sound is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: FANtrepreneur LLC
    Inventors: James Polucha, Marc Kohn