Patents Examined by Louis A Mercado
  • Corner paperclip
    Patent number: 10471763
    Abstract: A reusable paperclip can accommodate a large range of paper stack sizes. It is configured to bind a stack from one corner without becoming distorted in shape when used on a large stack. The clip has vertical members to prevent horizontal and vertical movement of the stacked papers and connected horizontal members to apply pressure to the surfaces of the stack to frictionally bind the stacked papers. The clip is easily placed and removed by the user, and allows a person to view all information on a standard formatted page with little to no obstruction of the printed information. The clip also allows a user to flip though a stack of papers and easily remove individual papers from the stack or insert additional pages without disturbing the sheets and without the need to remove or adjust the position of the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Shahrouz Ghodsian
  • Rope tail positioning fastener
    Patent number: 10470527
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a rope tail positioning fastener including a fastener body. The fastener body includes a base and an elastic arm, and the base has an insertion channel inside, and the insertion channel is provided with two through holes at a side thereof and a hole at other side thereof, and a stop part is formed between the two through holes, and a side of the base adjacent to the hole is bent to form the elastic arm suspended relative to the base, so that two tail parts of the rope can be inserted into, through and out of the insertion channel via the through holes; next, the two tail parts of the rope can be sewn to form a seam part; and, after the seam part is completed, the user can pull the rope back to receive the two tail parts inside the insertion channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO TAIWAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chun-Wei Hung
  • Apparatus and method for tightening and loosening lace
    Patent number: 10470525
    Abstract: An apparatus for tightening and loosening a lace includes a base, a lace tightening and loosening member, a releasing unit and an interlocking member. A temporary sliding portion is disposed between a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion. A stopping member is passed through the temporary sliding portion by a preliminary force. When the stopping member is positioned by the first positioning portion, a second combining portion is correspondingly connected to a first combining portion. When the stopping member is positioned by the second positioning portion, the second combining portion is separated from the first combining portion. When the releasing unit is located at a first position, the elastic abutting arm substantially stops the releasing unit from rotating in a loosening direction and does not substantially stop the releasing unit from rotating in a tightening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Chin-Chu Chen
  • Accessory assembly for coupling a unit to an animal band
    Patent number: 10463021
    Abstract: An accessory assembly for coupling a unit to an animal band, having a support frame that includes a locking gap positioned on one end of the support frame, a latch protrusion positioned on the other end of the support frame, a proximally positioned receiving aperture, and a plurality of strap retention structures configured for coupling to at least one strap, the straps configured for coupling to an animal band. The accessory assembly further has a coupling latch having an actuator positioned on one end of the coupling latch and a locking mechanism positioned on the other end of the coupling latch opposite the actuator where the coupling latch is configured to be coupled to the support frame by placing the locking mechanism within the locking gap and positioning the actuator around the latch protrusion, and where the coupling latch is further configured to laterally move the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kyu Sang Lee, Robert Mott, Kevin R Lloyd
  • Sheet member fastener
    Patent number: 10465735
    Abstract: A sheet member fastener includes: a positioning unit, having a main body formed with a recess, wherein a first guiding inclined surface is formed at a top end of each shaft hole, and a surface of the main body is disposed with a first fastening structure and/or a second fastening structure allowing a first sheet member to be fastened; and a buckling unit, having a rotating part received in the recess and having two sides disposed with a pair of pivotal shafts, and one free end of each pivotal shaft is formed with a second guiding inclined surface, thereby allowing the pivotal shafts to be pivoted in the shaft holes; wherein one side of the rotating part is formed with at least one buckling slot capable of being buckled with a second sheet member, another side thereof is obliquely extended with a pushing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KANG YANG HARDWARE ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shu-Li Hsieh
  • Child's safety belt connection buckle
    Patent number: 10455902
    Abstract: A child's safety belt connection buckle with a belt buckle inserted into an inserting space in an inserting base in the horizontal direction, and locked by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a sliding member capable of moving reciprocally along the horizontal direction, and a locking member capable of moving reciprocally in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The locking mechanism has a locking position and an unlocking position. When the locking mechanism is at the locking position, the belt buckle is pressed against the sliding member, and the locking member is buckled with the belt buckle. When the locking mechanism is at the unlocking position, the locking member is separated from the belt buckle and pressed against the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GOODBABY CHILD PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Kuang, Xiaogang Huan
  • Interchangeable button system technology
    Patent number: 10455901
    Abstract: A interchangeable button system that has an interchangeable cap, a base button and a pronged fastener allowing the user to change the appearance and functionality of buttons, quickly and conveniently without sewing. The pronged fastener penetrates fabric exposing the prong tips for alignment with the base buttonholes located on the base button. Compression on the base button couples the pronged fastener with the base buttonholes creating a secure permanent attachment. The base button has an external base thread that aligns with internal cap thread for coupling. Thus the interchangeable cap can be torqued on or off. Different functional decorative and technological types of interchangeable caps may be selectively torqued onto base button for end use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Anibal Marin
  • Quick-release buckle with fire starter and methods of use
    Patent number: 10441034
    Abstract: A quick-release buckle has a male member and a female member configured to interlock, the female member having a body with a recessed receiving portion and one or more lips overhanging a portion of the recessed receiving portion; the male member having a keyed portion shaped complementary to the recessed receiving portion of the female member; wherein the keyed portion of the male member is receivable within the recessed receiving portion to interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Casey T. Anderson
  • Tool coupler for a clamping system, in particular for clamping a welding saddle to a plastic pipe, and a clamping system and a method for clamping
    Patent number: 10443634
    Abstract: A tool coupler for a clamping system, in particular for clamping a welding saddle to a plastic pipe, including a body having a drive end and an opposite output end, a first positive engagement feature being formed at the drive end and a second positive engagement feature being formed at the output end, the first positive engagement feature being adapted to engage a torque wrench to drive the body, and the second positive engagement feature being adapted to engage a slotted strap shaft of a tensioning ratchet of a clamping system to transfer torques by positive engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PF-Schweisstechnologie
    Inventor: Achim Spychalski-Merle
  • Clip apparatuses and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 10426207
    Abstract: Clip apparatuses for use in breast feeding allow a user to secure the same on an article of clothing or fabric so that the user can track breastfeeding of an infant. Methods of making and using the same are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventor: Elizabeth Dorros
  • Loosening prevention lace
    Patent number: 10420395
    Abstract: A loosening prevention lace which overcomes the problems where the lace is slackened or undone upon the lace being tied up through the eyelets for fastening the shoes, garment and as such and which brings unforeseen effect on design or appearance as well. The loosening prevention lace is provided by weaving one picot forming linear body or a plurality of picot forming linear bodies into a tubular woven fabric in a warp yarn direction thereof and protruding one picot forming linear body or a plurality of picot forming linear bodies from a surface of the tubular woven fabric with a certain interval over a longitudinal direction of the tubular fabric in a loop form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SHINDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Ooki
  • Continuous weave quick adjust harness backplate system
    Patent number: 10407142
    Abstract: A system to permit a diver to quickly adjust a one-piece continuous piece of webbing by simply pushing or pulling the webbing in the desired direction. The system includes accessory plate which is fixed to an existing diving backplate, which allows the webbing to slide on through the attached accessories without affecting the location of the accessories with respect to the diver's body. An improved adjustable crotch strap is also secured to the backplate. An ergonomic backplate frame is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HALCYON MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Jarrod Jablonkski
  • Device and method for securing a cover to a structure
    Patent number: 10407132
    Abstract: A device and a method for attaching a cover to a structure includes a female snap having a central open surface to receive by friction fit a complementary male snap, a lever connected to the female snap, wherein the lever extends sufficiently out from the female snap to enable one to gain grasp of the lever, and a pin having a piercing portion which serves to retain a fabric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: John Hershberger
  • Cord lock
    Patent number: 10398197
    Abstract: A cord lock includes a main body having front and rear walls and two side walls, an elongated hole, and an inclined portion formed in an inner surface of the side walls; and an operating button having front and rear wall side operating portions arranged on the front wall and the rear wall, respectively, a connecting portion integrally connected to the front and rear wall side operating portions through the elongated hole, a biasing device biasing the front and rear side operating portions to the one side opening to cooperate with the inclined portion, and a gear-shaped engagement portion adapted to pinch the band inserted into the tubular shape. The operating button has a pivot portion, wherein a distance between an axial end of the pivot portion and a shaft end supporting the gear-shaped engagement portion is narrower than a thickness of the gear-shaped engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yohei Shimizu
  • Load sharing snap-linkable safety rigging plate
    Patent number: 10398939
    Abstract: A load sharing snap-linkable safety rigging plate preferably includes a rigging body, a first gate, a second gate, two first pivoting locks and two second pivoting locks. The rigging body includes a base portion, a first open gate loop and a second open gate loop. A plurality of openings are formed through the base portion. The first and second gates are pivotally engaged with first and second ends of the base portion. The second gate is pivotally engaged with a second end of the base portion and an opposing end is retained by an end of the second open gate loop. The first two pivoting locks are pivotally retained on a first end of the base portion to prevent the first gate from opening. The second two pivoting locks are pivotally retained on a second end of the base portion to prevent the second gate from opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MALLORY SAFETY & SUPPLY, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Siegel
  • Automobile seat belt holder
    Patent number: 10351096
    Abstract: A seat belt holder is provided for securing a latch plate of an associated unused seat belt to the molding around the base of the automobile seat, thereby preventing the latch plate from annoyingly rattling around when the vehicle is in motion. The seat belt holder includes a body providing a snap fit tab and an opposing latch plate receptacle. The latch plate receptacle is adapted to removably engage the latch plate, while the snap fit tab is adapted to removably snap connect to various molding elements of automobile seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Cecil D. Trahan
  • Accessory attachment system
    Patent number: 10327490
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system that embodies devices and a method for converting clasp-style fasteners to push-pull detachable fasteners, thereby facilitating attachment of accessories having clasp-style fasteners or any accessory having opposing ends so that they are “ready-to-wear”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Arika Miller Pevenstein
  • Web-adjustment housing for a buckle assembly
    Patent number: 10327516
    Abstract: A web-adjustment housing of a buckle member may include a receiving crossbar, a securing crossbar, and a strut. The receiving crossbar may include a ledge that extends in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a plane that contains or is parallel to a longitudinal axis, and first retaining members configured to securely engage webbing. The securing crossbar may include a surface that extends in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the plane, and second retaining members extending from the surface configured to securely engage the webbing. A receiving channel may be defined between the receiving crossbar and the securing crossbar. A release channel may be defined between the securing crossbar and the strut. The receiving channel and the release channel may define at least a portion of a web channel configured to adjustably retain the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael B. Grimm
  • Multi-direction zip-tie
    Patent number: 10329062
    Abstract: A multi-direction zip-tie includes a first zip-tie having a first fastener and a first strap integral therewith, and a second zip-tie having a second fastener and a second strap. The second strap can be integral with a head that engaged with a groove in the second fastener, making the second strap interchangeable. The first fastener and the second fastener are configured to be rotatably engaged with each other by a first ratchet structure. The first zip-tie can have a third strap integrally connected to the first fastener. An extension strap can be engaged with one of the first, second, and third straps to add length. The ability of the first fastener and second fastener to rotate relative to each other allows the straps to be placed in the most advantageous position for connecting and securing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Seo Joon Lee
  • Metal straps
    Patent number: 10315817
    Abstract: Metal straps used to tie or bundle one or more items are provided. The metal strap includes a length of cable and a ferrule. The ferrule is pre-attached adjacent one end of the cable, and the ferrule can receive a free end of the cable, and can secure the cable to the ferrule after the cable is wrapped around one or more items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Evan Ronald Martin