Patents Examined by Marie Denise Patterson
  • Patent number: 5430959
    Abstract: A tightening member for a shoe having two straps disposed on the inner and the outer sides of the shoe and an adjuster disposed on the heel reinforcement portion. One end of the strap has lace holes. The strap is divided into two branches at the other end; one of the branches passes through a hole in the adjuster, and is connected to one end of a lateral strip member of a skeleton-shaped reinforcement portion. The other branch is attached to a stretchable member located on the heel reinforcement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Asics Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 5426870
    Abstract: A shoe sole construction comprises a polyurethane outer sole having an electrical resistance of approximately 40 MOhms in a standard wet/dry test and an electrical resistance of approximately 20 MOhms in a standard wet/wet test in a test conducted according to British Standard 2050, and a rubber sole insert having an electrical resistance of approximately 1 MOhm positioned adjacent the outer sole. With this construction, static electricity in the sole insert is capable of discharging from the sole insert along a path of least resistance through the outer sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Phurness Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Purnell, Robert D. Purnell
  • Patent number: 5425185
    Abstract: A shoe has an upper made of resiliently flexible materials, a central rotary closure arranged on a lateral side of the upper in an area in which the lateral malleolus of a wearer's foot is received, at least one tightening element connected to the central rotary closure, the at least one tightening element having a front tightening section which extends forwardly from the central rotary closure and a rear tightening section which extends rearwardly from the central rotary closure, and front and rear pull straps. The front pull strap is coupled to the front tightening section and runs obliquely forward therefrom over an instep area of the upper to an end thereof which is fastened to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Tretorn AB
    Inventor: Martin Gansler
  • Patent number: 5425444
    Abstract: A necklace holder includes a supporting base and opposed tees mounted on the base and urged apart by a compression spring. The opposed tees each include a crossbar with a lengthwise channel. The tees are urged apart against a necklace looped around the crossbars and within the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: Frances V. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5425186
    Abstract: An overshoe includes an upper section having an entryway into which a shoe is inserted, a heel (14), and a sole (12) spaced from the heel (14), with the heel (14) and sole (12) having a common longitudinal axis and common interior and exterior surfaces. The upper section, heel (14) and sole (12) are unitary structure formed from an elastic polymeric material to provide an overshoe which stretches lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the heel (14) and sole (12) to fit a plurality of different size shoes. The heel (14) and sole (12) each have an accordian-like configuration with a plurality of spaced apart bars in a row separated from each other by channels on the exterior surfaces of said sole (12) and heel (14) , and a plurality of parallel ridges (22) in a row separated by recesses (26) on the interior surfaces of the sole (12) and heel (14) . Each ridge is directly opposite a bar (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: David Hoyt
  • Patent number: 5423136
    Abstract: An attachment for the soles of shoes to provide a cushioned bouncing effect. The attachment has wall rising on each side of base which the user's shoe rests and securing straps attached to the sides to secure the device to user's foot. The top surface of the base is slightly ribbed to provide both a gripping and cushioning for the user's foot. The lower section of the body of the device has inflatable chambers along the sides and across the front and rear ends. Egg carton shaped recesses of generally cubic shape and with solid vertical walls are provided to provide strength and rigidity to prevent a distortion of the lower surface when the chambers are inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Frank Gulli
  • Patent number: 5415287
    Abstract: A holding apparatus for holding at least an operational part of an endoscope is provided as a removable unit of an endoscope system storage rack. An endoscope storage case in which an insertion tube of an endoscope hung on the holding apparatus is removably provided in the storage rack below the holding apparatus. The endoscope storage case stores at least a used endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hamano, Toshiaki Nishikori, Tsuguhisa Sasai, Mutsumi Oshima, Hiroyuki Ushifusa, Hideyuki Shouji, Atsushi Amano, Kouji Okada, Kenya Inomata, Kazufumi Takamizawa
  • Patent number: 5409115
    Abstract: The invention concerns a tubular bag packing, for bandage-like materials in particular, consisting of a web of foil whose opposite borders are glued or welded together along a longitudinal seam to form a tube enveloping the material to be packed and which is hermetically sealed at its ends by means of two parallel transverse seams and which exhibits at least one aid to opening, enabling it to be torn open quickly and completely in order to remove the contents, that is characterized in that one longitudinal strip (10) of the web of foil (11) projects loosely beyond the longitudinal seam (5) and that this is formed into comparatively short, continuously recurring longitudinal spaces (A1, A2, A3, etc.) with tear-off tongues (12a, 12b, 12c etc.) between notches for tearing (13a, 13b, 13c etc.) which limit one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerald Barkhorn
  • Patent number: 5408761
    Abstract: A sport shoe is disclosed which provides a highly flexible, yet supportive shoe which enhances both wearer comfort and shoe performance, and virtually eliminates shoe break-in time. The shoe includes a two piece sole system, each sole having a plurality of flex areas which provide optimum flexibility in the metatarsal and phalanges regions of the wearer's foot during walking or running activities. The shoe further includes a three-point support system about (i) an adjustable heel counter, (ii) the arch region of the wearer's foot, and (iii) the lace region of the shoe, providing balanced support about the wearer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: A. D. One Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Gazzano
  • Patent number: 5407070
    Abstract: A one-time resealable package for needled medical devices, composed generally of a stiff plastic body which has a predetermined shape for receiving the needled medical device and is provided with a perimeter lip, and further composed of a flexible backing layer which is sealably secured to the perimeter lip, wherein a first portion of the backing layer is releasably secured to the perimeter lip while a second portion of the baking layer is permanently secured to the perimeter lip. The first portion of the backing layer is connected to an arrow-shaped end portion having a pair of opposed barbs. The perimeter lip is provided with an aperture adjacent the arrow-shaped end portion, wherein the arrow-shaped end portion is insertable thereinto. Preferably, the body is at least in part form fitting with respect to the needled medical device so as to abuttably interact with the needled medical device so that the needle thereof cannot contact the body when the needled medical device is received within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Inventors: Christine M. Bascos, Santiago A. Bascos
  • Patent number: 5407073
    Abstract: A floppy disk container comprises a container body and and a plate member for preventing upward release of a floppy disk. The container body has its back side provided with a member for securing it to a file or the like, and it also has a floppy disk accommodation surface provided with ribs for supporting the floppy disk in a raised state. The floppy disk container itself thus can be attached to a file or the like to facilitate floppy disk arrangement. Further, the floppy disk, which has its take-out portion supported in a state raised from the floppy disk accommodation surface, can be taken out readily and smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Uchida
  • Patent number: 5402589
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a shoelace coupleable to the tongue of a shoe having a first upper portion and a second upper portion includes a spacer mounted on the upper surface of the shoe tongue. A first fixed jaw is mounted on the spacer and the spacer provides a space between the first fixed jaw and the tongue adapted to receive the first upper portion and the second upper portion adjacent thereto. A second movable jaw member cooperates with the first jaw member to form a jaw opening within which an intermediate portion of the shoelace is retained. The apparatus is preferably in the shape of a theme. The shoe is provided with panels which also exhibit a theme in common with the shape of the shoelace securing apparatus. The shoelace securing apparatus is preferable fixed to the shoe tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Brookside Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Lubrani, Bruce D'Andrade
  • Patent number: 5396717
    Abstract: An convertible overshoe for disposition on one primary shoe and being convertible for disposition on a larger primary shoe. Each of said primary shoes has an outer surface. The overshoe is formed as an integral unit of an elastic material, e.g., rubber, and comprises a sole and an upper. The sole includes anti-slip grit on its outer surface. The upper is in the form of a peripheral sidewall having an opening at the top edge thereof. The opening is of a sufficient size to enable a primary shoe to be extended therethrough so that it is received closely within the overshoe to prevent the overshoe from falling off. The sidewall of the upper includes a reinforcing strip in the form of a continuous thickened bead extending along a portion of the peripheral edge of the opening and spaced below that edge and an associated contiguous portion defining a trim line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventor: Michael Bell
  • Patent number: 5388351
    Abstract: An arch support is provided for treatment of problems arising from the displacement of the cuboid-navicular arch, the support comprising a base portion having a rear edge and a front edge, a top portion raised above the base, a first surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the base rear edge to the top portion, and a second surface sloping downwardly and forwardly from the top portion to the base front edge, wherein the maximum depth of the arch support is in the region of the top portion adjacent the first surface for engaging the cuboid-navicular arch of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventors: Jane Mitchell, Thomas Pekar
  • Patent number: 5388686
    Abstract: A contact lens case includes a cup adapted to receive a quantity of disinfecting or cleaning solution and a cap removably closing the opening mouth of the cup. A lens support structure is associated with the cap and holds a pair of lenses within the cup. The lens support structure includes a base plate which supports one of a pair of the lenses on each side thereof and basket means pivotally connected to the base plate for enclosing the lenses in overlying position and maintaining the lenses on the base plate. A latch structure releasably maintains the basket means in the overlying position, and includes a flexible, integral extension peripherally formed on each basket means and is releasably retained in the overlying position by snap-fit against a hook member. Preferably, a pair of the flexible extensions are formed as vertically aligned and thinned tabs on opposing edges of each basket, which are snap-fit against a corresponding pair of hooks formed on each side of the lens support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ryder International Corporation
    Inventors: Rowland W. Kanner, Stephen P. Lisak
  • Patent number: 5381612
    Abstract: An alpine ski boot having a shell base on which is journalled at least partially an upper constituted of at least one rear spoiler and a front cuff, the rear spoiler being journalled with respect to the shell base about a transverse axis and including a tensioning lever acting in traction on at least one flexible and inextensible link inserted between a front mobile portion of the boot to be controlled during tightening on a portion of the lower part of the leg or foot and the lever, such lever acting also on an element for reclaiming rear support of the upper on shell base wherein the element for reclaiming rear support is constituted by at least one second flexible and inextensible link, distinct from the first, inserted between the same tensioning lever and a fixed portion of the shell base, such that the latching action of the tensioning lever causes, by a simultaneous traction on the two links, both tightening control of the front mobile portion of the boot so as to fulfill a first function, and the recl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Jean Paris
  • Patent number: 5381613
    Abstract: A ski boot having a rear quarter which is constituted by a first half-quarter and by a second half-quarter which are mutually articulated and oscillate with respect to the shell. The second half-quarter is also articulated to the shell. The half-quarters interact with adjusting members for adjusting their mutual position, so as to achieve a better adaptation and embracing of the rear region of the lower part of the leg while skiing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Nordica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Pozzobon, Giancarlo Foscaro, Gianpaola Marongiu, Maurizio Tacchetto, Luca Bugliesi
  • Patent number: 5381610
    Abstract: Footwear having a pair of slipper or footwear/shoe members joined together. Each member is formed of a flexible upper body and a sole secured thereto about the perimeter. The two slipper or footwear/shoe members are further joined with their soles abutting each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Violet M. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5381614
    Abstract: A pair of golf shoes for aiding a golfer in establishing an optimal stance and improving the golfer's aim during driving and iron shots is disclosed. The golf shoes comprise an upper portion and a sole portion. The upper portion includes visual alignment guide lines thereon for aiding a golfer in establishing relative positioning of the golfer's feet with respect to each other, the golf ball and the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Marc Goldstein
  • Patent number: 5377431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a directionally yieldable cleat assembly attached to an athletic shoe having an upper and a sole with a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spaced cleats are mounted to the sole so that the cleats protrude outwardly from the bottom of the sole. In one embodiment, a bumper is provided between the cleat and the sole for enabling a greater magnitude of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a predetermined lateral force imposed upon the cleat in a first laterally inward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe than the deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to the same predetermined force imposed on the cleat in directions other than the first lateral direction. Deflection of the cleat is also minimized or eliminated in response to forces imposed on the cleats in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the sole to ensure that traction for the shoe is uncompromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventors: Andrew S. Walker, Elwyn Gooding