Patents Examined by Louis Mercado
  • Patent number: 9919101
    Abstract: Clips or straps may be used to position a patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) pump control in a position where a patient can easily operate a PCA pump. A strap that allows a PCA pump control to always be in hand or very close at hand is preferable to a strap or clip that merely keeps a PCA pump control nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: atHand Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Stephanie Barnard
  • Patent number: 9826801
    Abstract: A male touch fastener strip includes an elongated base and a field of male fastener elements each having a stem extending from a broad face of the base and a head for engaging fibers. The fastener element stems and broad face of the base together form a unitary mass of resin, such as a resin containing a magnetically attractable substance. Wings extend from respective longitudinal edges of the base and define discrete corrugations extending in a series along the fastener strip and forming corresponding undulations in the rear face of the strip along its longitudinal edges. The corrugated wings can also support a foam gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Karl S. Mascarenhas, Michael Cina, Paul Joseph Voigt
  • Patent number: 9820520
    Abstract: A fastening system that either attaches to existing buttons or attaches directly to an article of clothing are presented. The fastening system has a first portion that attaches to a button hole or a first part of the article and a second portion that attaches to a button or second part of the article. The first portion and second portion detachably attach to each other by a twist-lock, magnetic mechanism, or some other attachment mechanism. Alternatively, the fastening system can be built directly into an article without augmenting an existing button and button-hole fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Edward Bolen
  • Patent number: 9821747
    Abstract: A plastic body includes first and second connector ends coupled together via an elongate tether. A frangible strap can extend from a first to a second point along the longitudinal length of the tether. The length of the frangible strap can be less than the tether length between the first and second points. A metal clip can be non-releasably coupled to the second connector end by being retained within a cage housing. The connector ends can be releasably coupled to each other by cooperating elongate rails, and with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration with the first and second connector ends non-releasably coupled associated automobile components. The frangible strap can deform or separate as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the tether extends when an airbag deploys separating the automobile components and the connector ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Steven Michael Benedetti
  • Patent number: 9801432
    Abstract: A buckle with an enhanced efficiency in removing a foreign substance is provided. The buckle includes: a plug; and a socket provided with an insertion opening into which the plug is to be inserted. The socket includes: a pair of front pieces disposed side by side in a width direction intersecting with an insertion direction of the plug; a back piece disposed to face each of the front pieces; and a bottom piece that connects each of the front pieces and the back piece. A slit defined between the pair of front pieces extends in the insertion direction from the insertion opening across the bottom piece and the front pieces of the socket. Due to the presence of the slit, a cross section of the socket intersecting with the insertion direction is in a C-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoko Kataguchi, Hitoshi Kaneko, Tomoko Yagami
  • Patent number: 9797420
    Abstract: An elongate article holder with a flexible non-magnetic band, along with two terminal ends that may be removably secured to each other, is used to wrap around an elongate article or coils of the elongate article. In various exemplary embodiments, removable coupling of the two terminal ends may be provided by magnet(s), which may be substantially protected from environmental harm while simultaneously helping to achieve optimum magnetic closure strength by using tubular apertures/dimples which may run from a cavity housing the magnet to or near a mating surface of a respective terminal end. Further, the flexible non-magnetic band may have an integral closed loop for removably attaching to the elongate article, operating by passing a portion of the elongate article through a formed orifice that is formed from the integral closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cloop, LLC
    Inventor: Raul Ricardo Vecchione
  • Patent number: 9788095
    Abstract: A stateless cord management device for storage and deployment of a cord, cable, or wire including a body having a sidewall with oppositely disposed open ends. A channel is at least partially defined by the sidewall and disposed therethrough between the oppositely disposed open ends. An access opening extends longitudinally along and through the sidewall between the oppositely disposed open ends of the sidewall. The access opening is at least partially defined by cooperatively disposed and abutting free ends of the sidewall, the free ends being at least partially separable from one another permitting access into the channel. A retention member extends into the channel along its width thereby at least partially defining a retention member recess for receipt and retention of at least a portion of a cord, cable, or wire therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Cal T. Demier
  • Patent number: 9781981
    Abstract: There is provided a stop for a slide fastener. A top plate and a bottom plate are linked with one another at a transversely intermediate position by an integral connecting post. The lower side of the top plate is substantially flat. The bottom plate slopes away from the connecting post to form two leg members provided with a respective end flange pointing towards the top plate, the leg members being adapted to cooperate in use with the top plate to retain fastener tapes therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Fukuyama, Yusuke Meiwa, Hayato Ishii, Futoshi Kozato, Takuro Hayashi, Massimiliano Di Girolami, Masamichi Yamagata
  • Patent number: 9783095
    Abstract: A tie-down strap retention device may have a strap board and a plurality of retention flaps. The retention flaps may form a self-locking structure to retain extra portions of the tie-down strap. A first edge portion may project upwardly from the upper surface of the strap board. A first strap retention section may extend inwardly from the first edge portion toward a center portion of the strap board to form a first space between the strap board and the first flap retention section. A second edge portion may project upwardly from the upper surface of the strap board. A second strap retention section may extend inwardly from the second edge portion toward a center portion of the strap board to form a second space between the strap board and the second flap retention section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Marc Hale
  • Patent number: 9777763
    Abstract: A hook formed into a body formed into a hook shape and having a neck and fabricated from nonferromagnetic material with the body having a first end and a second end. The neck is proximate the first end. One side of the neck includes a center ridge with a flat top surface with either a magnet or ferromagnetic material embedded in the center ridge. The hook also includes a closure having a first closure end and a second closure end and a channel with a floor flanked by two lateral sides. A second magnet or a ferromagnetic material is embedded into the floor opposed to the first magnet or ferromagnetic material. The closure being pivotally and/or pivotally and slidably attached to the hook body by at least one pin. The magnet(s) and/or ferromagnetic material hold the closure in a closed position enclosing a defined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Lucy A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9737131
    Abstract: The eye glasses holding clip is a device for the storage of eye glasses. The device is adapted to be attached to, and worn with, eye glasses. When the eye glasses are removed, the eye glasses holding clip allows the user to attach, carry, and store the eye glasses on an article of clothing or other object. The eye glasses holding clip comprises a rectangular tube, a hinge, and a clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Dale Oaks
  • Patent number: 9739327
    Abstract: A cushion clip may include an engagement leg that is capable of being attached to either one of a fixed member or a movable member moving toward and away from the fixed member; and a cushion that is capable of being elastically deformed by a load applied from the movable member moving toward the fixed member, thereby absorbing impact caused by movement of the movable member. The cushion has a hollow barrel shape such that an intermediate portion positioned between a bottom portion connected to the engagement leg and a top portion positioned opposite to the bottom portion is circumferentially expanded to a maximum circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DAIWA KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruhisa Kamiya, Toshio Iwahara, Keiji Okaichi, Takeo Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9737102
    Abstract: Magnetic textile fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, the textile fastener may include a spherical member and two receiving members. Each of the receiving members may include a surface portion and an opening within the flat surface portion, wherein the opening is configured to receive the spherical member. In an embodiment, textiles are placed between each receiving portion and the spherical member while the spherical member is inserted at least partially into the openings. The spherical member thereby applies a force between each textile and its respective receiving member. Magnetic interaction between the spherical member and the receiving members may maintain the force between the textile and the receiving members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Margaret A. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 9725221
    Abstract: A flush cut tie device facilitates flush trimming of excess after securing a tie device. The device includes a tie and a channel coupled to a first end of the tie. A projection is positioned in an interior of the channel. A plurality of ridges is positioned in spaced relationship along a length of the tie wherein one of the ridges is engaged by the projection when a second end of the tie is extended through the channel. A pair of grooves extends into opposite exterior faces of the channel wherein the grooves are positioned for facilitating engagement of clippers to the channel and cutting an end portion of the channel and the tie from a main portion of the channel. Thus, a cut end of the tie is flush with the main portion of the channel when the end portion of the channel is clipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Stephen J. Housser
  • Patent number: 9717323
    Abstract: A split type hanging buckle includes a base and a connecting element, the base includes a top cover and a bottom cover, the top cover has a receiving groove, one end of the bottom cover has an accommodating groove, the accommodating groove corresponds to the receiving groove, the connecting element includes a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, a connecting part and a fitting part, the first magnetic element is received in the accommodating groove, one end of the connecting part has an inserting part and a clamping part, one end of the inserting part has an receiving cavity, the second magnetic element is received in the receiving cavity, and after the second magnetic element is received in the receiving cavity, portions of the second magnetic element away from the inserting part attract the first magnet element, such that the connecting element is connected with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Hai Pin Tsai
  • Patent number: 9717309
    Abstract: A hook fastener including a base strip and a field of hooks, each hook having a stem and a cap, the cap including at least one lateral overhang, and each hook being further delimited by two opposing substantially planar surfaces, wherein the overhang includes a swelling located at a distance from the stem so that the thickness of the overhang increases in the swelling, the bottom surface of the overhang forming a cavity for receiving filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: APLIX, S.A.
    Inventors: Thierry Marche, Olivier Blanc, Nayda Liz Ramos Medina, Michael Timothy Looney, Thomas Alexander Horn
  • Patent number: 9713354
    Abstract: A twist-lock button configured to securely fasten two articles together. Such a twist-lock button may have four pieces: a handle, a locking portion, a negative, and a button adapter. The negative attaches to an article by way of the button adapter. The locking portion attaches to the handle and passes through a button hole in the article to join with the negative by twisting 180 degrees, thereby fastening the two portions of the article together between the handle and the negative. This mechanism is more durable than hook and loop fasteners, more reliable than buttons and snaps, and less prone to jamming than zippers. In addition, the twist-lock button is easier to use for people with muscular or motor disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, ALS, stroke recoverees, and amputees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Capitol Industrial Design LLC
    Inventor: Robert Bolen
  • Patent number: 9700102
    Abstract: A clasp is disclosed wherein two housings with fingers are interlocked in a transition fit and then secured by a central lock bar. The clasp is beneficially applied to open space between garment edges whereby the garment is fastened and sized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tech Spark Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy McCleary, William Hessler
  • Patent number: 9700097
    Abstract: A clasp is disclosed wherein two housings with fingers are interlocked in a transition fit and then secured by a central lock bar. The clasp is beneficially applied to open space between garment edges whereby the garment is fastened and sized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tech Spark Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy McCleary, William Hessler
  • Patent number: 9700106
    Abstract: There is provided a slide fastener. A pair of fastener tapes is formed with a pattern on a front surface thereof. A pair of fastener element rows is respectively provided along opposing side edge portions of the pair of fastener tapes. A slider is configured to engage and disengage the pair of fastener element rows. A film member is fixed to the front surface of the pair of fastener tapes such that the pattern is visible. The film member is provided with a concave-convex shape on a surface thereof. The pattern of the fastener tapes and the concave-convex shape of the film member are respectively related to a pattern and a concave-convex shape of one of (a) animal skin, (b) a woven or knitting which is formed by performing weaving or knitting of fibers or bamboo strips, (c) woodgrain, and (d) stone pitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Kojima