Patents Examined by Michael S. Lee
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Patent number: 10925353Abstract: A bungee bead apparatus includes a bead and elastic cord with first and second ends fixedly secured in proximity to, or in contact with, each other at one end of the bead to form a loop. A circumferential recess formed between first and second sides of the bead extends from the bead's first end to its second end, having a cross-sectional height and width to receive the loop of the elastic cord therethrough. The orifice extends at an acute angle, positioned midway between the bead's first and second sides, and begins at the bead's first end in proximity to the first side, and transects the circumferential recess at its second end. The circumferential recess is annular with a depth of about one-half the diameter of the cylindrical elastic cord to receive only a portion therein. The recess and orifice permit two (or more) such apparatus to be linked together.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Inventor: David Fayena
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Patent number: 10912352Abstract: A sleeve for use in an assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap. The sleeve has a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug of a wristworn device, an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of a conventional spring bar, and a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar. The second end of the spring bar is coupled to the second lug, the spring bar is coupled to the strap, the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and the first end of the sleeve is coupled to the first lug. A removable retractor for use with a spring bar, which allows for the use of a plurality of spring bars and therefore, lends itself to widespread use and retrofitting of an assembly that couples a strap to a wristworn device, is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Dornhege
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Patent number: 10905203Abstract: A reusable closure system for providing easy closure and opening of an object such as a sheet forming a barrier. The reusable closure system generally includes a backing member adapted to be secured to an object, such as by an adhesive. A closure member may be connected to the backing member, with the closure member including a first portion which is removably connected to a second portion by one or more magnets. An optional outer closure member may be connected to the closure member, with the outer closure member including a zipper. Thus, the reusable closure system may be secured to various objects to allow for selective opening or closing of the objects in a versatile, user-selected manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Re-U-Zip, LLCInventors: Eric Edgar Burkhart-Day, Navaratan Kanna Sunkara, Sivaketan Ramu Sunkara
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Patent number: 10897942Abstract: A belt clip is adapted for storing a belt. The belt clip includes a first clip member and a second clip member that mechanically and removably attaches to the first clip member. The first clip member and the second clip member collectively form an elongated tunnel through which a belt can be looped.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Inventors: Thomas W. Hunsucker, Edward R. Rowland
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Patent number: 10900513Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener includes a grommet that defines a central aperture and includes at least two adjacent longitudinally extending leg members that each include a frame, a knuckle and a tether. The knuckle is connected to the frame at a hinge region that is designed to permit the knuckle to move relative to the frame. The tether connects the knuckle to a base surface of grommet in order to limit movement of the knuckle relative to the frame. The fastener includes a pin that has a first locking member to retain the pin in a first position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally unexpanded state. The pin also has a second locking member to retain the pin in a second position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally expanded state.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Newfrey LLCInventors: Tien The Diep, Oday Amer Safry, Aaron J. Smith, Najwan Rassam
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Patent number: 10897964Abstract: Adjustable connectors disclosed herein are adapted to connect webbing, e.g., urethane coated webbing, to a buckle. The adjustable connector includes a baseplate, a tongue at a front end of the baseplate, a webbing aperture within the baseplate, and first and second walls extending perpendicularly from the baseplate. In certain embodiments, the adjustable connector includes a rotatable lock bar including a central portion having an outer surface and first and second tabs. In certain embodiments, a front edge of the webbing aperture comprises an arced front edge extending between side edges of the webbing aperture such that a distance between a center of the arced front edge of the webbing aperture and a back edge of the webbing aperture is greater than a respective distance between each of the ends of the arced front edge and the back edge of the webbing aperture.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Intertek Industrial CorporationInventors: Scott Bradley, Leonard Shllaku
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Patent number: 10893714Abstract: A closure device for connecting two parts includes a first closure part which includes a first surface with an arrangement of first structure elements arranged thereon and a second closure part which includes a second surface with an arrangement of second structure elements arranged thereon. The first closure part and the second closure part are to be positioned together in such a manner that the first surface of the first closure part faces the second surface of the second closure part such that the first structure elements and the second structure elements engage in one another in such a manner that movement of the closure parts relative to one another along a load direction is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Fidlock GmbHInventors: Lasse Zimmermann, Breido Botkus, Joachim Fiedler
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Patent number: 10883570Abstract: A locking buckle system having a locking work piece formed as a plate. The plate has at least a first pair of opposing channels. An elastomeric cord with a first portion of the elastomeric cord coupled to the plate. A second portion of the cord extends from the first portion and is stretched and held in tension and wrapped around one or more objects to form a bundle. A second portion of the cord is held in tension and compressed as it passes through a first channel in the plate. The elastomeric cord is stretched and forced to pass through a second of the first pair of opposing channels or through a first channel of the second opposing pair of channel. the remaining fourth portion of the elastomeric cord being forced to pass through a remaining unoccupied opposing channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Inventor: Marco Antonio Lozornio
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Patent number: 10874178Abstract: A magnetic buckling assembly includes a male buckling component, a female buckling component, a first locking portion, a second locking portion, an operating component, a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component. The first magnetic component magnetically attracts or magnetically repulses the second magnetic component during a connecting process of the male buckling component and the female buckling component along a connecting direction. The first magnetic component magnetically attracts the second magnetic component for preventing separation of the male buckling component and the female buckling component or magnetically repulses the second magnetic component for promoting the separation of the male buckling component and the female buckling component when the operating component is operated to disengage the first locking portion from the second locking portion for allowing the separation of the male buckling component and the female buckling component.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AGInventor: Manqun Cheng
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Patent number: 10869527Abstract: Watch band comprising lower and upper half band portions connected at a fold portion to surround a watch lug at the fold portion, each comprising a drilled hole for the passage of a double rivet comprising lower and upper bodies, either inserted one inside the other or each inserted into a common tube, the band including, at each double rivet, a snap means for ensuring a reversible axial stop for the lower body with respect to the upper body, comprising either a holding plate aligning lower and upper grooves of the lower and upper bodies, or two lower and upper clip lips of the common tube each clip fitted onto a complementary lower or upper lip of the lower or upper body.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Cedric Nicolas, Yvan Ferri
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Patent number: 10863799Abstract: A method of forming a seatbelt buckle assembly comprises forming a housing by injection molding with a first mold cavity, allowing the injection molded housing to cool and cure, placing the housing into a second mold cavity, forming a debris shield by over-molding the debris shield directly onto portions of an outer surface of the housing within the second mold cavity, allowing the over-molded debris shield to cool and cure, and removing the housing with the over-molded debris shield from the second mold cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Carter Chen
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Patent number: 10856594Abstract: A magnetic zipper includes two elongate units, each attached to edges of material. One elongate unit includes a series of magnets positioned within a tube. The other elongate unit includes a ferromagnetic material that is attracted by the magnetic field of the series of magnets in the other elongate unit. The ferromagnetic material may also be positioned with a tube. The magnetic attraction between the two elongate units allows them to join to bring the edges of material together and be held together by the strength of the magnetic force.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: BILIO LLCInventors: H. William Smith, IV, Timothy J. Karjalainen, Patrick C. Hill, Philip Isaac Oaks, Elizabeth Susan Baetz
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Patent number: 10856627Abstract: The invention discloses a labor-saving connection structure and a luggage binding strap with the same. The labor-saving connection structure comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion, and the first connection portion is capable of coupled with the second connection portion. An auxiliary closing mechanism is further arranged on the first connection portion to snap in the second connection portion during coupling connection between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and drive the first connection portion and the second connection portion to move towards each other to realize the coupling connection therebetween. The labor-saving connection structure is simple in structure, and the first connection portion and the second connection portion are capable of being easily coupled through the auxiliary closing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Shanghai Well-Signed International Trade Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chen Ying
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Patent number: 10842232Abstract: A ratcheting buckle can be used on watches, belts, other types of apparel or any item having a band. The ratcheting buckle allows a band to be adjusted in much smaller increments than traditional bands. A unique buckle configuration enables this ratcheting to be achieved without sacrificing aesthetic appeal or usability.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: CHMLN, LLCInventor: Dylan Kelly
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Patent number: 10843847Abstract: The disclosure pertains to powder-resistant profiles for zippers or reclosures, such as may be used for reclosable packages. A first profile includes a first upper interlocking profile and a first lower interlocking profile, The second profile includes a second upper interlocking profile and a second lower interlocking profile. The first upper and lower interlocking profiles may include male elements while the second upper and lower interlocking profiles may include complementary female elements. A first central area is termed between the first upper and lower interlocking profiles and a second central area is formed between the second upper and lower interlocking profiles. The first and second central areas include respective first and second series of apertures through the male elements to allow powder otherwise trapped between the first and second profiles to escape or exit therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventor: Jose Manuel Septien-Rojas
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Patent number: 10813418Abstract: The lanyard described herein includes a double fastener for securely supporting an accessory, such as a watch face, phone or other item on a lanyard. The lanyard is preferably made from a traditional length of material that is intended to be worn around the neck of a wearer to provide access to an item held on an end of the lanyard near the chest of the wearer. The double fastener includes a latch strip connected to a base portion of the lanyard at one end with the other end looped back over and connected to the base portion by a hook-and-loop connection. The latch is subsequently secured by a locking mechanism which overlaps the latch and locks it in the fastened orientation. Accordingly, the double fastener not only supports the accessory with a latch but also ensures the latch does not inadvertently come undone by way of the lock.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Inventor: Francis Edward Tully
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Patent number: 10814173Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for protecting a climbing rope comprising a flexible sheath comprising a first edge, a second edge generally opposing the first edge, a first end, and a second end generally opposing the first end, a sheath connector assembly attached at the second end of the flexible sheath, and a primary rope connector assembly attached to the sheath connector assembly. Methods of making and using the device also are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: PEAK PERFOMANCE LEADERSHIP, LLCInventor: Jonathan T. Norton
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Patent number: 10806224Abstract: A method of producing a safety clutch for releasable securing of a post for a body piercing is disclosed. The post is guided through a hole in a plate to be secured (but removable) between a pair of cantilever spring elements bent from the edges of the plate into position on the back side of the plate. A dome shield is also secured to the edge of plate to cover the cantilever spring elements on back side of the clutch, the dome shield including one or more ventilation holes for reducing moisture accumulation within the dome shield. The dome shield blocks an end of the post extending between the cantilever spring elements from contacting the user and possibly puncturing skin. The plate, dome shield and cantilever spring elements can be efficiently manufactured by forming and stamping from a single piece of material.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Inventor: Goran Reil
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Patent number: 10808743Abstract: A clip main body of a clip may include a head portion, a pair of inner legs continuous with the head portion, and a pair of elastically deformable outer legs respectively continuous with distal end portions of the inner legs. The outer legs are configured such that when an extraction force is applied to the clip main body in an attached condition in which the clip main body connected to a coupling rib of an attachment base is inserted into and held in an attaching hole of an object member while pressing portions formed in distal end portions of the outer legs are respectively pressed to bearing surfaces formed in a bearing member, the pressing portions of the outer legs are respectively disengaged from the bearing surfaces of the bearing member before most-bulged portions formed in the outer legs pass through a rear surface-side periphery of the attaching hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: DAIWA JASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshio Iwahara, Takahiro Sugiyama
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Patent number: 10798919Abstract: A slidably moveable connector device is disclosed. The slidably moveable connector device includes an elongate member and at least a first snap. The elongate member has a first end and a second end disposed distal thereto both first end and a second end being fixably attached to a surface. The at least a first snap has a first end connectively and slidably disposed about the elongate member.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Inventor: Pamela Sue Heintz