Patents Examined by Khoa D. Huynh
  • Water injection apparatus for water jet loom
    Patent number: 11242627
    Abstract: A water injection apparatus for a water jet loom, includes a weft insertion nozzle for weft insertion of a weft yarn by injection water, a weft insertion pump pumping water into the weft insertion nozzle, a water storage tank storing water introduced into the weft insertion pump, and a suction pipe passing water from the water storage tank into the weft insertion pump. The water injection apparatus includes an auxiliary water supply unit that is provided separately from the weft insertion pump and can supply water to the suction pipe. At least when the weft insertion pump sucks water, the auxiliary water supply unit supplies water to the suction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamauchi, Koichi Tsujimoto, Kouichi Hattori, Kenji Sumiya, Taijirou Okuda
  • Leg pad
    Patent number: 11241609
    Abstract: A leg pad (e.g., a hockey leg pad) for protecting a leg of a user, in which the leg pad is designed to enhance protection and freedom of movement (e.g., during skating strides), such as by providing flexibility of the leg pad proximate to a knee and optionally an ankle of the user (e.g., for extension and optional retraction of one or more parts of the leg pad) to better follow natural movements of the user's leg (e.g., bending of the knee and optional flexion of the ankle of the user).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Gauvin, Thomas Lemelin, Marco Beauregard, Jean-François Laperrière
  • Textile machine and method for controlling a textile machine
    Patent number: 11236445
    Abstract: A textile machine and related method of operation include a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations divided into a plurality of sections, each workstation having a plurality of communication-capable units, and each section comprising at least two section busses and a section control system. The communication-capable units of the workstations in the section are in communication with the section control system via one of the section busses. A first portion of the communication-capable units of the workstations in each section are configured in communication with a first one of the section busses and a second portion of the communication-capable units of the workstations in the same section are configured in communication with a second one of the section busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rietet AG
    Inventors: Mario Maleck, Robin Wein
  • Footwear article with lockable ankle protection
    Patent number: 11234483
    Abstract: An item of footwear such as a boot (10) includes a stiff lower part (12) that extends around part of a wearer's foot, a stiff upper part (16) that extends around the wearer's lower leg, and one or more limit elements (66,72,80,88) that extend between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16). The lower part (12) and upper part (16) are movable relative to each other when the ankle moves and the relative movement is inhibited selectively by the limit elements (66,72,80,88). The limit elements (66,72,80,88) are displaceable between a free condition in which the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) are movable relative to each other, and lock condition in which the relative movement between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LEATT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher James Leatt, Carel Sias Meyer, Cornelis Uys De Jongh, Jörn Peter Steffens
  • Glove with optimized safety markings
    Patent number: 11229249
    Abstract: A glove with optimized safety markings designed to improve worker safety in hazardous environments by increasing the visibility of the glove in the work environment and more easily distinguishing between the front and back of the glove. A preferred embodiment has fluorescent yellow hazard stripes, fluorescent yellow triangular safety icon and black negative space within the safety icon, all on protective members. The protective members, black in color except for the fluorescent yellow portions, are attached to the glove back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BRIGHTON-BEST INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Markham Nacion, Eric Matthew Jaeger, Philip Shawn Norfolk
  • Half mitten apparatus to safely demonstrate motorist hands during a traffic stop
    Patent number: 11219256
    Abstract: A half mitten apparatus to safely demonstrate motorist hands during a traffic stop includes a first half-mitten, a second half-mitten, and a flexible connector. The first half-mitten and the second half-mitten each comprises a visually accentuating outer layer, an inner layer, a finger receiving receptacle, and an eyelet. The visually accentuating outer layer is externally connected about the inner layer that delineates the finger receiving receptacle. The eyelet traverses through the visually accentuating outer layer and the inner layer, adjacent to an opened end of the finger receiving receptacle. The eyelet of the first half-mitten and the eyelet of the second half-mitten are tethered into each other by the flexible connector as the flexible connector fastens both the first half-mitten and the second half-mitten within the close proximity of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: James Bethel
  • Connection structure connecting knitting needle body and cable and circular knitting needle having the same
    Patent number: 11220767
    Abstract: A connection structure includes a proximal end of a needle body, a metallic connector fixed to the proximal end, and an end of a flexible cable attached to the connector. The connector includes a shaft and a head diametrically greater than the shaft. The proximal end of the needle body has a hole into which the shaft of the connector is fitted. The head of the connector has a cable recess accommodating the end of the cable. The cable recess includes a first recess adjacent to an opening of the cable recess and a second recess adjacent to and diametrically greater than the first recess. The end of the cable includes a first portion accommodated in the first recess and a second portion connected to the first portion and accommodated in the second recess. The second portion is diametrically greater than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: CLOVER MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Jitsuda, Mayumi Matsumoto, Shinichi Kitao
  • Protective helmet with face protection shield and linkage mechanism
    Patent number: 11213089
    Abstract: A protective helmet has an outer shell, a protection shield movable relative to the outer shell between a deployed position and a stowed position, and a linkage mechanism for connecting the protection shield to the outer shell and permitting movement of the protection shield between the deployed and stowed positions. The linkage mechanism has a first link with a first end connected to the outer shell and a second end connected to the protection shield, a second link having a first end connected to the outer shell and a second end connected to the protection shield, and a biasing member having a first end connected to the first link and a second end connected to the second link. The second end of the biasing member moves between the first and second ends of the second link during movement of the protection shield between the deployed and stowed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Alexa Danielle Bohn, Daniel Martin Hehman
  • Machine knitting tool, in particular machine knitting needle
    Patent number: 11203824
    Abstract: A machine knitting tool and in particular a machine knitting needle has a shank extending in the longitudinal direction. The machine knitting tool has a stitch-forming portion directly adjacently to a front end and a drive portion directly adjacently to a rear end. At least in the drive portion, an underside of the shank does not have any indentations or recesses and extends along a plane. The shank in the drive portion forms at least one rib portion with a rib height, which is at most 1.1 mm. In addition, the shank in the drive portion forms at least one support elevation, which extends in the height direction beyond the rib height of the at least one rib portion and has an elevation height at its point of maximum height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventor: Uwe Stingel
  • Method for producing a multilayer fiber composite preform for a fiber composite component
    Patent number: 11203825
    Abstract: A method produces a fiber composite preform for a fiber composite component. The fiber composite preform has a plurality of layers of a fiber roving. The method includes: providing a support core for arranging the fiber roving s on a braiding device, the support core having a support core longitudinal axis, producing a first braided fabric layer from fiber rovings on the support core in a first braiding direction parallel to the support core longitudinal axis of the support core by the braiding device, and producing a second braided fabric layer from fiber rovings on the first braided fabric layer by the braiding device. The second braided fabric layer is produced in a second braiding direction parallel to the support core longitudinal axis, the second braiding direction being opposite the first braiding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maike Dieckmann, Florian Rapp
  • Shoes capable of adjusting heel height
    Patent number: 11197516
    Abstract: A shoe capable of adjusting heel height includes a front bracket, a rear bracket, a telescopic linkage rack, a telescopic support member, a linking member and a locking mechanism. The rear bracket is rotatably connected to the front bracket. The telescopic linkage rack is pivotally connected to the rear bracket, and can be telescoped with the movement of the rear bracket. The telescopic support member is fixedly connected to the telescopic linkage rack, and can be simultaneously telescoped in the same direction and in the same proportion with the telescoping degree of the telescopic linkage rack. The linked member is pivotally connected to the front bracket and the telescopic support member, and arranged spaced to the rear bracket, and the linked member is spaced to the rear bracket. The locking mechanism can removably fix the telescopic support member for limiting the telescopic support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Tsung-Ju Chiang
  • Warp knitted fabric and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 11198960
    Abstract: A warp knitted fabric formed of yarns fed from at least three guide bars including front, middle, and back guide bars, in which a back yarn fed from the back guide bar forms a cord knit texture, a front yarn fed from the front guide bar and a middle yarn fed from the middle guide bar are arranged alternately in a weft direction, each of the front yarn and the middle yarn forms a stitch formation texture (a denbigh knit texture or a cord knit texture) and an insertion texture alternately in a warp direction, and the insertion texture formed by the front yarn and the insertion texture formed by the middle yarn are arranged alternately at least in the warp direction so that the front yarn and the middle yarn are exposed alternately at least in the warp direction on sinker loops of the back yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEIREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Taniguchi, Isao Honda
  • Knitted component
    Patent number: 11193221
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a knitted component, especially for an article of apparel or footwear, including: a first knitted layer, including a knitted first portion with a first linear loop density along a first direction, a knitted second portion with a second linear loop density along the first direction, wherein the second linear loop density is greater than the first linear loop density; a second knitted layer, including a knitted third portion with a third linear loop density along a second direction, a knitted fourth portion with a fourth linear loop density along the second direction; wherein the first knitted layer is connected to the second knitted layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Jessica Dorothy Janine Hymas, Michael Braun, Yu Ju Peng
  • Two toned gowns for operating room personnel
    Patent number: 11178924
    Abstract: The present invention is an improvement to surgical gown with two distinctive features. 1) the back of the gown and the back of the gown sleeves are a contrasting or bright color and 2) these same two-toned gown areas, back of sleeves and gown back top to bottom could also have a resin painted on that would transfer to any object it comes into contact with. Resin transfer will result in a visible change in the gown, a color change and/or bare spot in the resin loss region of the gown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Schlatterer
  • Sport face mask made of bended metal wires including at least one wire
    Patent number: 11172722
    Abstract: A sports face guard for a sports headgear includes a plurality of interconnected wires, wherein a wire of the plurality of interconnected wires has a cross section has a wedge surface with a first longest dimension, the first longest dimension of the wedge surface being in a direction of a major axis of the wire; a base surface with a second longest dimension, the second longest dimension of base surface being in a direction that is perpendicular to the major axis of the wire, the second longest dimension being less than the first longest dimension; wherein the first longest dimension of the wedge surface is longer than the second longest dimension of the second base surface; and wherein the second base surface of the wire comprises a substantially flat or concave surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: JAMIDON LTD.
    Inventor: Jan Sumelius
  • Rear access article of footwear with movable heel portion
    Patent number: 11172727
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
  • Three-dimensional (3D) shoe blank made by flat knitting machine and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 11154109
    Abstract: A 3D shoe blank is an integral knit fabric without any sewn portion made by a flat knitting machine and includes an upper portion knitted from at least a yarn, a front sole portion knitted from the upper portion with a folding line therebetween and two connection lines at two sides of the front sole portion and the upper portion, so the front sole portion is folded and connected to the upper portion to form a pocket structure, a rear portion knitted from the front sole portion, and a heel portion extending from a center rear end of the rear portion, two opposite sides of the heel portion respectively connected to a left rear end and a right rear end of the rear portion to form a 3D rear shoe portion with two joining lines between the heel portion and the rear portion on the two opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: WHOLEKNIT INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lin Li, Yi-Hsing Dou
  • Lightweight thermoplastic soles
    Patent number: 11154114
    Abstract: An EVA sole having an upper face and a bottom, comprising an inscribed channel and a plurality of recesses positioned on the upper face, a TPU material disposed of within the inscribed channel, and a nylon stabilizer, which is bonded to the upper face inside of the inscribed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Dansko, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore P. Agati
  • Protective mask with no-touch access flap
    Patent number: 11154101
    Abstract: A protective face mask for maintaining a protective covering over a wearer's nose and mouth that allows for safe intake of food and/or drink includes a mask body, and upper and lower straps connected to the mask body that allow the protective face mask to be secured to the wearer's head. The mask body includes a flap portion that is connected to the mask body by left and right bellows portions. A tether is connected to the flap portion that may be grasped and force applied to draw the flap portion away from the face of the wearer, expanding the left and right bellows portions and creating an opening under a bottom edge of the flap portion at the bottom of the mask body to allow access to the wearer's mouth until the force applied is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Andrew Karakostas
  • Wire stranding apparatus and method for manufacturing stranded wire
    Patent number: 11155938
    Abstract: A wire stranding apparatus, comprising: a core wire moving mechanism configured to move a core wire in an axial direction; a spool configured to feed a wound wire by rotation; a revolving mechanism configured to revolve the spool about the core wire; a rotation driving mechanism configured to feed the wire by rotating the spool, the wire fed from the spool being spirally wound on an outer periphery of the core wire moving in the axial direction by revolution of the spool; and a control device including a wire speed obtaining unit configured to obtain a speed of the wire to be wound on the core wire and a rotation driving mechanism control unit configured to control the rotation driving mechanism such that the speed of the wire obtained by the wire speed obtaining unit has a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NITTOKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nao Shibuya