Patents Examined by Margaret Olson
  • Patent number: 7431184
    Abstract: A backpack is provided, having a pack body and a shoulder strap system configured to hold the pack body securely against the user even during periods of high activity. The strap system includes two shoulder straps each having a lower portion attached to a coupler having an extended interface with the pack body, to inhibit sagging and secure the pack body to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Wayne B. Gregory
  • Patent number: 7404504
    Abstract: Cargo carriers are disclosed, and more particularly adjustable cargo carriers that may be mounted on a rear of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 7401716
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf system includes a shelf capable of being moved from a first position slidably mounted within a first pair of track members to a second position slidably mounted within a second pair of track members without being completely removed from said first and second pair of track members. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Svenson, Tom Delano
  • Patent number: 7389899
    Abstract: A holster is tailored to receive articles of cylindrical configuration, such as flashlights, pepper spray cans, collapsible batons, etc., provided the articles have similar diameters for a given holster. The holster provides for adjustable tension to be placed on the article in the holster and forms a generally cylindrical cavity drawn to a smaller diameter collar spaced upward from its lower end upon which the tail or the bezel of a flashlight may rest to provide additional protection to the bezel. The holster may form a generally cylindrical cavity extending the full length of the holster. The holster is configured to hold the flashlight at a forward or backward angle for smooth, ergonomic draw of the light by the user. A one-way snap strap is provided for attachment over waist belts of a variety of widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7367481
    Abstract: A vehicle roof rack assembly (50) including a pair of clamp assemblies (11) that secure a roof rack bar (10) to the rails (12) of a vehicle having a roof over which the bar (10) is extend. Each clamp assembly (11) includes a pivotally mounted jaw member (26) that co-operates with a jaw (16) to engage the vehicle rail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Roof Rack Industries Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony Barbara
  • Patent number: 7357283
    Abstract: System providing a securing arrangement for securing a load to a vehicle-mounted rack. The system includes clamp members adapted to secure the load-carrying member to a crossbar of the vehicle-mounted rack. The system includes an opposable clamp member and may include dimensionally different first and second opposing clamp members. The opposable clamp member may be configured to alternatively attach to the first and second opposing clamp members. The system may include an adjustable mounting mechanism configured to adjust an angle of the load-carrying member relative to the opposable clamp member. The opposable clamp member may include a plurality of alternative coupling sections configured to attach to the first and second opposing clamp members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 7344055
    Abstract: A pivoting wheelchair backpack holder is provided. The pivoting wheelchair backpack includes a lever rod and a swing-out handle to move the lever rod, a frame moved by the lever rod, and a backpack attached to the frame. In its closed position, the backpack rests behind the user sitting in the wheelchair with the handle positioned flush to the side of the wheelchair. The user grabs the handle from its resting position, locks the handle into place against the lever rod, and pulls the handle to move the lever rod. The lever rod opens the frame, which then moves from the back of the wheelchair to the side of the wheelchair. A second hinged joint between the lever rod and frame allows the user to pull the backpack down toward the user. The user can access the backpack now at his or her side. The user can close the frame by pushing the frame back up, moving the handle in the opposite direction and replacing the handle to its resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Chandler Matthew Macocha
  • Patent number: 7328824
    Abstract: A tower device for supporting a crossbar over the roof of a vehicle includes a tower body, a clip retention mechanism and a clip selected to adapt to a particular vehicle profile. Various mechanisms may be used to secure the clip to the clip receiving mechanism. For example, a lock body may insert through coinciding apertures in a clip and clip receiver. A spring retainer may slide into slots or grooves in the lock body to prevent the lock body from disengaging. Other mechanism employ lock mounts that pivot to swing lock bodies through apertures in the clip and clip receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Smith, Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 7316340
    Abstract: The present disclosure is an altered backpack, which allows the wearer to reconfigure the shoulder straps while wearing, swing the backpack around to the wearer's front, and access the contents of the backpack while still wearing the backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Libor Marik
  • Patent number: 7303102
    Abstract: A carrying apparatus for carrying objects, such as books. The carrying apparatus includes an elongate strap for being wrapped around an object and at least one direction-changing device positioned on a side of the object. The elongate strap is threaded through the at least one direction-changing device to form a pocket for receiving and securing the object in a carrying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Minetta L. Werts
  • Patent number: 7293680
    Abstract: A lifting device has a base rack section, a middle section and a vehicle mounting section, each of three sections having hand grips and being movably secured together in order to promote the lifting or moving of a heavy item from one section to another. As that heavy item reaches the first section, the item may be transferred section to section sequentially, and finally to a desired location in or on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventor: George L. Wawerski
  • Patent number: 7293681
    Abstract: A rack designed to provide convenient storage of doors optionally removable from “JEEP” style Sport Utility Vehicles. This allows a driver to operate the vehicle with the doors removed and thus free up interior space. The rack is mounted on the rear of the vehicle exteriorly of the rear-mounted spare tire. Mounted securely in the rack, the doors are spaced from the spare tire and are prevented from rubbing each other and the spare tire. The doors are therefore protected from scratches and abrasions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 7275669
    Abstract: A ball carrier device (10) adapted to be suspended from the handle bars (101) of a bicycle (100) wherein, the carrier device (10) includes a main closed loop strap member (20) having an enlarged central loop (21) flanked by a pair of discrete auxiliary loops (22) (23) and a plurality of sling strap members (30) (31) (32) having opposite ends connected to the enlarged central loop portion of the main strap member (20) to form an open cradle dimensioned to receive a sports ball (200) wherein, the auxiliary loops (22) (23) are dimensioned to be slipped over the opposite ends of the bicycle handle bars (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Isaac Aikens
  • Patent number: 7275670
    Abstract: A door carrier for transporting the removable side doors of a Jeep-type vehicle includes a base frame coupled to a rear hitch on the vehicle having side frame assemblies provided with hinge and latch members for carrying and latching the side doors at mountings replicating the vehicle door mounting. The base frame and side frame assemblies include pivotal connections for permitting vertically folded storage adjacent the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Lee Shumack, Irving Lee King
  • Patent number: 7261229
    Abstract: A swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier that is movable between collapsed and extended positions has a rectangular insert that is sized and shaped to be received in a trailer hitch receiver affixed to a vehicle. A fixed arm is attached to the insert. A first swing arm is pivotally connected to the fixed arm and a second swing arm is pivotally connected to the first swing arm. A vertical member having an equipment carrier affixed on an upper end is pivotally connected at a lower end to the second swing arm. The vertical member is constrained for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, the equipment carrier rotating with the vertical member. A first control member is provided for controlling the pivoting movement of the first and second swing arms as the swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier is moved between the collapsed and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: R.A. Allen Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Allen, Richard A. Allen
  • Patent number: 7252214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wearer-adapted and a child/infant supporting harness (1) that includes a first strap portion (2), which is intended to extend obliquely over the wearer's chest (A1) and over a shoulder (A2) of said wearer and obliquely over part (A3) of the wearer's back. A second strap portion (3) is intended to extend around the wearer. The harness also includes a child-holding folded part (4) that has a first region (4a), which can be placed proximate to the wearer (A), and a second region (4b) that can be placed distal from the wearer, and a third region (4c), which connects said first and second regions and which is narrower than said regions. Two elongate sections (4a3, 4a4) extend from mutually opposite edge portions (4a1, 4a2) of first region (4a) of said folded part (4). The end portions (4a3?, 4a4?) of the elongate sections are provided with and/or co-act with means (5) for ready connection with or ready disconnection from the wearer-distal outer surface (4b?) of said second region (4b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Margit Krogh
  • Patent number: 7225958
    Abstract: A storage container system for mounting a storage box on the exterior of a vehicle has trapezoidal members attached to the vehicle that mate with and hold U-shaped members mounted on the container to be carried. The system has a handle mounted on the box which holds the U-shaped member in contact with the trapezoidal member when the box is in a locked position for vehicle movement and a tab that will partially separate the U-shaped member from the trapezoidal member when the handle is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: David N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7204398
    Abstract: A multi-purpose wallet/cellular telephone case includes a multi-sectional wallet unit having a central section and first, second, and third foldout sections that are integral with the central section. At least two of these sections are compartment sections. The first, second, and third foldout sections are hingedly connected to the central section whereby the foldout sections can be pivoted from first positions overlaying the central section to second extended positions for gaining access to an interior of the case. The central, second and third sections have a common flexible back panel secured thereto that forms a pocket with the sections for holding paper currency. An external pocket is located on the flexible back panel of the case for holding a cellular telephone. A releasable fastener releasably holds the first, second, and third sections in their first positions and the case may include a strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Albert L. Smith, Sr.