Patents Examined by Lester L. Vanterpool
  • Patent number: 10293756
    Abstract: An article organizer includes three interconnected panels which are foldable relative to each other from a flat position to an assembled position. One panel is a base panel that attaches to the window frame of an airline cabin window. A second panel is a support panel that extends outwardly from the base panel, transversely thereto and has opening into which articles may be placed. The third panel is a brace panel that extends at an angle to the base and support panels and which gives the organizer an overall triangular shape. Openings in the brace panel create support edges that engage the bottoms of articles placed in the support panel openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Michael C Kollias
  • Patent number: 10295305
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a molded backer and/or a molded cover for a holster. The backer may be combined with one or more shell components (i.e., covers) to form a case for a weapon, tool, or other implement. The backer and/or the cover may be formed to include one or more features on a surface of the backer and/or cover, for tuning a relative friction of the surface of the backer and/or cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TEDDER INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Tedder, Tim Treto
  • Patent number: 10279748
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low profile, highly aerodynamic swing-in-place style vehicle article carrier system for use on a wide variety of passenger cars and trucks. The system makes use of a pair of side rails that are used to support a pair of cross bars in stowed positions thereon where the cross bars are secured parallel to the side rails, or in operative positions where the cross bars are secured perpendicularly between the side rails. The side rails each incorporate a rotating end support subsystem which automatically elevates one end of its associated cross bar when the cross bar is moved pivotally into its operative position. This enables the cross bars to form a very low profile when in their stowed positions, but to be automatically raised a predetermined distance when moved into their operative positions, to thus provide additional clearance between the cross bars and an outer body surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JAC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Aftanas, Michael J. Presley
  • Patent number: 10271918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medical device management units and methods of their use. The medical device management units comprise two main pieces, a base piece, and a slide piece, as well as at least one medical device pathway defined by a surface means and a plurality of trenches. The invention may be used to keep two or more medical devices organized or it may be used to maintain control over the capture and release of a single medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Ken Wah Chow
  • Patent number: 10274295
    Abstract: Artillery grenade holsters are configured to releasably retain one or more artillery grenades. One or more retaining tabs are configured to define a receptacle space for receiving an artillery grenade. The retaining tab(s) flex outwardly during grenade extraction to allow release of the artillery grenade, after which the retaining tab(s) flex back to their original positions. A secondary retaining element links two or more retaining tabs to prevent inadvertent outward flexing. An artillery grenade holster includes a securing cap fixedly attached, by a retention cable, to a back support and releasably attached, by the retention cable, to a securing element of a front support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: RE FACTOR TACTICAL LLC
    Inventors: Luke Quinn Peelgrane, Adam C. Main
  • Patent number: 10264874
    Abstract: A loadout exchange system includes a back panel and a front panel. The back panel has a front side with a hook and loop surface, a back side with a MOLLE-compatible surface, one or more tab locks, and one or more straps. The front panel has a front side with a MOLLE-compatible surface, a back side with a hook and loop surface, one or more pull tabs, and one or more tuck tabs with a hook and loop surface. The front surface of the back panel and the back surface of the front panel are complimentary and thus configured to mate with each other to be removably secured to each other. The tab locks and pull tabs also have complimentary hook and loop surfaces and are thus configured to mate with each other to be removably secured to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AARDVARK
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Becker
  • Patent number: 10251466
    Abstract: A backpack is disclosed which includes a pack for accommodating a load, a pair of shoulder straps extending from the pack from which to haul the load, and an anti-fatigue arrangement including a respective auxiliary handhold at opposing ends thereof to provide the user with access to each auxiliary handhold at a respective location in front of each shoulder of the user. The auxiliary handholds enable a user to maintain his or her arms in an elevated position when using the backpack and to selectively manipulate the backpack on the upper back of the user. Methods of modifying a backpack having shoulder straps for carrying a load to include a pair of auxiliary handholds are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Nancy Soltez
  • Patent number: 10246025
    Abstract: A system and method for loading items onto a vehicle. The system allows a support to be easily lowered from, for example, the roof of a vehicle towards the ground. The items to be loaded are secured in the supports at a much lower height than the roof of the vehicle to reduce the possibility of injury and eliminate the need of an additional person for loading and unloading objects onto the roof of a vehicle. Once the item is loaded onto the supports, the system can raise the item onto the roof and secure it in a safe position for transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Brenden Arthur Knigge, Ricardo Francisco Socci, Matthew Paul Baldwin, Ivan Wain Williams
  • Patent number: 10239460
    Abstract: An automobile storage container assembly. The automobile storage container assembly includes a first compartment and second compartment each having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending therefrom, and an open upper end defining an interior volume. The first container includes a first strap and a second strap connected to first and second sidewalls, and each of the first and second straps are securable to the innermost post of an automobile seat headrest. The second compartment includes third and fourth straps that are securable to the outermost posts of an automobile headrest. The first and second compartments are positioned in a stacked configuration between the seats of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Angeline Hotio
  • Patent number: 10238201
    Abstract: Systems for holding tactical gear, such as firearm magazines, weapons, etc., and for connecting such holders to a harness are described and may include a carrier, and an accessory holder that is configured to attach to the carrier. The carrier and/or the accessory holder may be formed from substantially rigid materials, such as plastic or the like, and may be configured to be easily attached and detached from one another, using preconfigured, integral connectors. The connectors may be configured to resist rotation of the carrier and accessory holder with respect to each other, and/or to secure the accessory holder at a fixed angle with respect to the carrier. The accessory holder may also include flanges, surface treatments, or other features, that assist in holding the accessory in the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: S&S Precision, LLC
    Inventors: Johnny E. Swan, Andrew C. Borland, William-Joseph Basan Elizalde
  • Patent number: 10231534
    Abstract: A back support frame attachment system for a container, such as a backpack. A back support frame has a slot at its bottom end. A back portion of a container has a sleeve at its top end and a strap at its bottom end. The top end of the back support frame is insertable into the sleeve at the top end of the back portion and the strap is positionable through the slot in the bottom end of the back support frame. A first portion of the strap has hook material and a second portion of the strap has loop material, or vice versa. A folded middle portion of the strap is insertable through the slot at the bottom end of the back support frame such that the hook material can be attached to the loop material. The strap is operable to disconnect the bottom end of the back support frame from the bottom end of the back portion when a free end of the strap is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MMI Outdoor, Inc.
    Inventors: William V. Meador, III, Ryan T. Torpey, Jacob S. Pugh
  • Patent number: 10234242
    Abstract: A wearable supporting structure for supporting ballistic protections and/or military equipment has a band suitable to be wrapped around the waist or hips of a user; a dorsal upright having a lower end coupled to the band and extending, in use, upwards from the band; a vest for supporting ballistic protections and/or other military equipment, coupled to the dorsal upright and comprising two shoulder straps; and a unit connecting the shoulder straps to the band; the connecting unit being motorised to be able to continuously adjust the position in height of the shoulder straps with respect to the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MECH LAB S.R.L.
    Inventor: Maurizio Castrati
  • Patent number: 10227029
    Abstract: A container holder attached to a utility vehicle and including a support member; an upper holding member attached to the support member and holding a side surface of a container; and a lower holding member attached to the support member and supporting a lower surface of a container; wherein the upper holding member is rotatable with respect to the support member between a first holding position of holding a container and a first accommodated position of holding no container, the lower holding member is rotatable with respect to the support member between a second holding position of holding a container and a second accommodated position of holding no container, the upper holding member located at the first accommodated position holds the lower holding member located at the second accommodated position, and the support member includes a fixing portion configured to fix the upper holding member at the first accommodated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Maeda, Itsuo Takegami
  • Patent number: 10220798
    Abstract: A combination of a vehicle including a steering wheel assembly and an electronic cell phone device having a side positioned camera and a mounting system that enables said cell phone device to be mounted on said steering wheel assembly. The camera faces at least one front seat side window of the vehicle allowing handsfree recording and uploading to cloud storage of events inside and outside the vehicle without the necessity of the driver positioning the camera at the area being recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas A. Lowell
  • Patent number: 10219615
    Abstract: A hands free reading assembly includes a box that may be positioned on a chest of a user while the user is seated. The box may have an object positioned thereon thereby facilitating the object to be visible to the user. A stand is removably coupled to the box and the stand may retain the object in an upright position. A hoop is hingedly coupled to the box and the hoop may be positioned around a neck of the user. Thus, the box is retained on the user's chest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: John Iacoviello
  • Patent number: 10194732
    Abstract: Present aspects hereof are directed to a compressible backpack having a plurality of compressible flanges that shift along a vertical axis of the compressible bag upon tensioning of at least one bag tether. In some aspects, a locking mechanism restricts travel of the bag tethers in a first direction, while permitting travel in a second direction upon triggering a locking release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: David Sagan
  • Patent number: 10194731
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus comprising a body, a pair of shoulder straps attached to the body, a pair of pockets, each of the pair of pockets being formed respectively in each of the pair of shoulder straps, and a sternum strap including two parts connectable with a connector, wherein each of the two parts is attached and can be stowed respectively inside of each of the pair of pockets. Each of the two parts has a first end attached to a first corner of the corresponding pocket and a second end attached to a second corner of the corresponding pocket, such that the connector can slide up or down along the two parts and, when the two parts are connected with the connector, each of the two parts forms a ā€œVā€ shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE NORTH FACE APPAREL CORP.
    Inventors: Ben Guthrie, Greg Dailey
  • Patent number: 10189420
    Abstract: A vehicular roof rack mounting bracket configured to be secured onto load carrier bars of different dimensions is presented. The bracket can include a pair of elongate clamps configured to be coupled to a bicycle fork anchor of a bicycle carrier. Each clamp can have a bar engagement portion configured to abut an exterior of an elongate support bar of a vehicular roof rack in a secured configuration in which each clamp is fastened to the support bar, and each of the pair of clamps can have a lengthwise oriented longitudinal axis such that each longitudinal axis is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the other longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventor: Joseph Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 10189525
    Abstract: A cam lever operated accessory gripping mechanism the gripping mechanism includes a cam lever, a threaded stud, a dowel fixed to a first end of the threaded stud, first and second relatively movable main body sections, the first of the main body sections including a handlebar bracket extension, a first clamping jaw for engaging a first side of the accessory, and an opening shaped to slidably receive the second main body section, and the second main body section including a bore and a slot for receiving a fastening member into which the threaded stud is threaded, and a second clamping jaw for engaging a second side of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Allen
  • Patent number: 10189417
    Abstract: A sliding roof rack includes a base frame which is capable of being removably secured to the roof of an automobile and a movable frame which is configured to either lock in position upon the base frame or be slidingly disengaged and be partially tilted over a side of the vehicle. The sliding mechanism permits an upper portion of the movable frame to remain secured to the base frame while the lower portion of the frame is free to pivot downward along the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: David R. Morken