Patents Examined by Louis Mercado
  • Side-release buckle
    Patent number: 11375777
    Abstract: A side-release buckle includes a plug and a socket for inserting and engaging the plug, and when a cross section of the engaging surface is observed from an in-plane direction of the first mold mating surface defined by a first parting line of the plug, and from an direction perpendicular to an insertion direction, a surface to be engaged is located on the opposite side to a first belt winding portion with respect to the first mold mating surface, and has a first engaging surface forming an angle A1 with the first mold mating surface of 87° or more and 90° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshie
  • Enclosures with flexible magnetic closures and clasps
    Patent number: 11381892
    Abstract: An enclosure may be provided with a housing. The housing may have an opening that separates and joins along a seam. A magnetic closure may have a pair of mating flexible magnetic members such as flexible rings or strips that run along the seam. Magnetic-field shunts may be provided in the flexible magnetic members. Multiple magnetic elements may be formed along the length of each magnetic member to form a multipole permanent magnet. Magnetic attraction may be varied along the lengths of the magnetic members and may be varied as a function of the separation between opposing magnet members. A magnetic clasp may be provided on the housing. The magnetic clasp may have attracting magnets to help close the opening in the housing. Protruding clasp portions may be formed from flexible material and may have embedded magnets configured to repel each other to facilitate use of the clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Scales, Kodiak D. Burke, Linda D. Benavente-Notaro, Nicholas R. Trincia, Benjamin A. Stevenson, Clayton McCoy, Donald L. Olmstead, Hao Zhu, William H. Chui, Jack Pickup
  • Binder
    Patent number: 11376884
    Abstract: A binder forming a booklet by bundling end portions of a plurality of sheets of paper such that paper addition or removal is possible includes a spread-shaped front cover member configured for sandwiching a bundle of the plurality of sheets of paper, a long cover member having an opening portion along a back portion of the front cover member, and a plurality of clips arranged so as to be configured for moving forward and backward in the opening portion of the cover member and having a pair of holding pieces and claw portions respectively extending inward from tips of the holding pieces. Through holes through which the claw portions of the plurality of clips are respectively inserted are formed in each of front and back covers of the front cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Yuhei Imai, Yuzo Hayashi, Hirozumi Fujiwara
  • Wicking termination system
    Patent number: 11378159
    Abstract: A termination system which improves the consistency and repeatability of the wicking of the liquid potting compound in the transition area between the potted and the imported filaments. The termination system controllably compresses the filaments within the transition area to produce repeatable wicking. The potting compound selected and the degree of compression employed combine to produce a desired wicking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bright Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard V. Campbell
  • Ultralight belt, pocketbook, and footwear
    Patent number: 11369158
    Abstract: An ultralight belt, ultralight crossbody strap, ultralight pocketbook, ultralight tote, ultralight backpack, and ultralight footwear, each having an endoskeletal structure having improved properties such stability, lightness, breathability, expandability, comfort, and/or superior biomechanical alignment and load/weight management distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Veronica Holland Graves
  • Clips
    Patent number: 11359655
    Abstract: A clip may include an attachment base, and an anchor including a pillar formed on the attachment base and a pair of engagement legs formed on the pillar. When the anchor is inserted into an attaching hole formed on an object member, the anchor is held in the attaching hole, so that the clip is attached to the panel. The clip further includes a rotation preventive mechanism that is configured to prevent the pillar from rotating relative to the attaching hole in a condition in which the anchor is held in the attaching hole. The rotation preventive mechanism includes a pair of projections formed on one end portion of the pillar, and at least one projection formed on another end portion of the pillar. The pair of projections formed on one end portion of the pillar respectively have through bores formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: DAIWA KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sugiyama, Katsuya Hirakawa
  • Repulpable paper strap with enhanced moisture resistance and methods to make the same
    Patent number: 11352155
    Abstract: A repulpable paper strap includes a plurality of paper strings, and a binder that binds the paper strings together, the binder including a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol and a fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol. Related methods of forming the repulpable paper strap is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ENTERPRISES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Halim Chtourou, Michael Lee Reynolds
  • Magnetic lock and release clasp system
    Patent number: 11344087
    Abstract: A clasp and connection to an opposing ring. Although applicable to any clasp system, it is especially relevant to jewelry connections in necklaces or bracelets whereby the connecting rings are quite small requiring visual acuity and manual dexterity to operate. The user pulls back the plunger within the clasp ring and sets it in a locked and open position allowing the user to gain manual dexterity for guiding the clasp towards the opposing ring. A feature in which a magnetic portion of the clasp and opposing ring allows the two rings to be guided towards each other and position them for connection and further ensure tight closure. Since visual acuity is not always possible, this magnetic guide is critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Angela Yvonne Baca
  • Apparatus for securing medical drain tube
    Patent number: 11344706
    Abstract: A device for releasably and adjustably securing a medical tube includes a receiver and a tail, which may be used for thoracostomy. The receiver has a receiver aperture and receiver teeth. The tail has center holes along a central axis of the device. Raised tail teeth are formed on the tail between the central axis and the tail sides. The tail teeth are arranged to engage the receiver teeth when an end of the tail is fed through the receiver aperture to form a tail loop. The receiver teeth define receiver teeth apertures that are smaller than the receiver aperture. The tail loop is adjustable to tighten around the medical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Neil Roy LLC
    Inventors: Neil Roy, Sam Suchin
  • Closing device having a winding element
    Patent number: 11344086
    Abstract: A fastener device includes a first fastener part and a second fastener part which can be mounted on one another along a closing direction and are held against one another in a closed position, and are releasable from one another in order to open the fastener device. The second fastener part has a winding element on which a tension element can be arranged and which is rotatable relative to the first fastener part in order to wind up the tension element on the winding element in a winding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Fiedler, Breido Botkus, Heiko Buettner
  • Personal effects holder with receiving face
    Patent number: 11337510
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a personal effects holder device. The holder device includes a first portion having a lip defining an aperture forming a holder portion adapted to receive one or more personal effects; and a depending second portion joined to the first portion via a connector portion, the second portion including a first catch and a second catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Darryl Stevens
  • Drawstring lock
    Patent number: 11339851
    Abstract: A drawstring lock includes a housing that allows the two ends of a drawstring to pass through, a stop mechanism disposed on the housing, and a lock mechanism connected to the stop mechanism. The housing is able to shift freely along the drawstring and once reaching its desired position, it is able to operate the stop mechanism so that the housing is stopped and cannot be shifted. Subsequently, the lock mechanism is used to lock the stop mechanism, keeping it secured until the lock mechanism is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Chun Te Yu
  • Interchangeable attachment device
    Patent number: 11333219
    Abstract: An interchangeable attachment device includes a first attachment interface supporting a first component, and a second attachment interface supporting at least one second component. The first and second attachment interfaces define cooperating attachment portions arranged for securing an end portion of the first attachment interface to an end portion of the second attachment interface to form an attachment junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: OSSUR ICELAND EHF
    Inventors: Valgeir Petursson, Halldor Albertsson
  • Child care equipment with seat
    Patent number: 11317736
    Abstract: Child care equipment with a seat can include a seat part forming an accommodating space for accommodating an infant. It can further include a crotch strap extending between thighs of the infant seated in the seat part and a pair of waist straps that restrains a waist of the infant. The child care equipment can also include a buckle connecting the crotch strap and the pair of waist straps. The buckle can include a pair of engaging members that are connected to the pair of waist straps. The buckle can also include an engaged member connected to the crotch strap. The engaging member can include a first magnet. The engaged member can include a second magnet that magnetically attracts the first magnet of the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yabuuchi
  • Materials with testable, healable fibers
    Patent number: 11319126
    Abstract: Specialized flexible connectors are provided with testable integrity. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of tension load bearing fibers within such a flexible connector are individually testable by specialized computer hardware and software. In some embodiments, healing of such specialized flexible connectors is carried out (e.g., autonomously, by hardware connected with or integral with the flexible connector). In some embodiments, healing fluid passages or voids are included within such flexible connectors, which accept and drain healing fluid. In some embodiments, such healing fluids may include healing particles and a carrier fluid. In some such embodiments, such healing particles are charged. And, in some embodiments, materials comprised in such fibers, or which define at least part of such passages or voids, are provided with a charge opposite from a charge of such particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher V. Beckman
  • Toolless slot fastener
    Patent number: 11313399
    Abstract: An improved slot fastener is provided, which may be toollessly installed, adjusted or repositioned, and uninstalled. The slot fastener includes a body having a surface, a head extending from the surface of the body, and a pair of clips, each clip being disposed at opposing lateral sides of the head. Each clip includes a flange that project laterally outward from the opposing lateral sides of the head, and a handle that projects outwardly from opposing lateral sides of the body. The clips are adapted to pivot laterally relative to the head in response to movement of the handle to alternate the slot fastener between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. Methods of installing the slot into a channel of a component and adjusting the slot fastener along the channel, and an assembly including the slot fastener installed within the channel of the component, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: A. RAYMOND ET CIE
    Inventor: Lara Rubio Pérez
  • Tensioning tool
    Patent number: 11313407
    Abstract: The tensioning tool provides a monolithic tool particularly well suited to use with securing tarp systems used in outdoor recreation, and also useful in other applications and in other fields to anchor or secure weights or loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Dutch Clips LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Ressler
  • Ratchet tie down
    Patent number: 11305685
    Abstract: Provided is a ratchet tie down including a main body portion, a reel assembly rotatable relative to the main body portion, a first sprocket surrounding the reel assembly, a second sprocket surrounding the reel assembly, at least one first noise reduction disk, at least one second noise reduction disk, and a release pawl biased in a locked position to land on the noise reduction disks to dampen the sound as the release pawl engages teeth of the sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: WINSTON PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Troy Hatcher
  • Earring backing without hole
    Patent number: 11297911
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of anmornamental elastomeric earring back fastener comprised of silicone, silicone rubber or rubber wherein the earring back fastener is without any hole which can receive an earring post in order to support an earring to an earlobe. The earring backing can may include sphere, square, rectangle rhombus, or other ornamental shapes. The hardness of the earring backing may vary between 10 shore A to 90 shore A, but 20 shore A to 40 shore A is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Linda Tremblay, Chantale Dufour
  • Modular clipping system
    Patent number: 11293479
    Abstract: A clipping apparatus is disclosed. The clipping apparatus connects on the Z-axis but can be activated for release on either the X or Y-axis. The system also has a self-locking mechanism on the handle to create a secure connection along the Z-axis. It is includes a first member that includes a first cavity and a first handle and a second member that includes a second cavity and a second handle. The first member and second member are mated to a spring connection mechanism and a base plate, thereby forming an opening. When the first handle and the second handle are pushed inwards, a male fitting is accepted into the opening and locked into the opening when the first handle and the second handle are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bowerbags LLC
    Inventor: James Patrick Bowerman