Patents Examined by Maerena N. Brevard
  • Patent number: 6296162
    Abstract: A cycle carrier that includes a gripping device (6) which engages with and fixedly retains a portion of a cycle. Further, the cycle carrier includes an operating device (7) with which the gripping device (6) is maneuvered between its closed and its open position. The gripping device (6) is openable against a spring pretensioning which, when it is released, transfers the gripping device (6) to an abutment position against the cycle. The abutment position is determined by the thickness of the fixedly held portion of the cycle. The operating device (7) includes means (15) for transferring the gripping device (6) to a clamping position. In the clamping position, the gripped portion of the cycle is fixedly clamped in the gripping device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Industi AB Thule
    Inventors: Curt Englander, Andreas Arvidsson, Björn Eriksson
  • Patent number: 6109491
    Abstract: A socket retainer and utility belt for using same to allow maintenance or construction personnel to quickly identify and gain access to a particularly sized socket. The present invention provides a socket retainer, preferably adapted to be worn on a utility belt, wherein a plurality of socket retainers are strung from the utility belt, with each socket retainer being adapted to hold a particular socket. Each socket retainer includes a mechanism for retaining a socket thereon, and a mechanism for releasing a socket therefrom when it is so desired by the worker. As opposed to prior art systems, the present system increases the efficiency of the worker in that less time is required for searching for the socket of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Gina E. Aronson
  • Patent number: 6105840
    Abstract: A side-loading and discharging rack for use with vehicles includes a base that is permanently secured to a conventional luggage rack. A pivot interface member is pivotally secured to an outboard end of the base, a transversely disposed elongate slide member is slideably engaged by the pivot interface member, and a handle is attached to the outboard end of the elongate slide member. The elongate slide member has a storage position where its inboard end is retained by a bracket mounted on an inboard end of the base. When in the storage position, a first bias member urges the elongate slide member to slide in an inboard-to-outboard direction, but that sliding motion is prevented by a lock member having an outboard end that abuts against an inboard end of a stop member. A second bias member urges the stop member into blocking relation to the lock member when the elongate slide member is in its storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventors: Mikyo Trevino, Ernesto Trevino
  • Patent number: 6105841
    Abstract: A vehicle article carrier incorporating at least one cross bar having a pair of bracket assemblies at each end. Each bracket assembly includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw. The fixed jaw includes a keyed recess having an internal shoulder portion and a secondary recess. The movable jaw includes a projecting key having a rib and an arm portion having an enlarged outer end. The projecting key engages within the keyed recess and the secondary recess is used to receive the enlarged outer end of the movable jaw to help locate the jaw in precisely the proper position such that the movable jaw is aligned with the fixed jaw during clamping of the bracket assembly to a side rail. Advantageously, the movable jaw can be rotated into a position to be clamped simply by turning a fastening element which secures the fixed and movable jaws together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: JAC Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Aftanas
  • Patent number: 6085951
    Abstract: A handgun holster with an auxiliary or supplementary latching device is disclosed. The holster includes a body which defines a pouch for holding a handgun and includes a strap which extends over or around a portion of the handgun to hold it in place in the holster when the free end of the retention strap is secured to the holster as by a snap fastener. In the preferred embodiment the holster includes a thumbreak which is used to allow the wearer to separate the snap fastener by downward movement of the wearer's thumb to separate the snap fastener parts and allow the handgun to be withdrawn. A supplementary latching device is present which is movable from a latching to an unlatching position. Several different embodiments of the invention are illustrated including a molded plastic latch which encircles a holster thumbreak and is slidable longitudinally along the thumbreak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: Robert J. Beletsky, Anthony G. Lefeber, Carl R. Eerdmans