Patents Examined by Michael S. Lee
  • Patent number: 11974639
    Abstract: A connection arrangement for use with a wearable body harness has a first connector with a first fixed buckle configured to connect to a first portion of a first shoulder strap of the harness, and a first adjustable buckle configured to connect to a second portion of the first shoulder strap. The connection arrangement further has a second connector removably connectable to the first connector. The second connector has a second fixed buckle configured to connect to a first portion of a second shoulder strap of the harness, and a second adjustable buckle configured to connect to a second portion of the second shoulder strap. Each of the first adjustable buckle and the second adjustable buckle has an adjustment mechanism configured for adjusting a length of the second portion of the first and second shoulder straps by selective frictional engagement with the second portion of the first and second shoulder straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Sepe, Matthew Frederick Jacob, Matthew Quigley
  • Patent number: 11971123
    Abstract: A spring clamp marker assembly is composed of interconnecting spring clamp hose markers that provide a positive and easily changeable means for marking hoses used to maintain HVAC equipment and for any other suitable application. The interconnecting spring clamp hose markers may also be used with power cables or other linear items with a generally circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Fieldpiece Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole Antoinette Schneegas, Jason Corbett Gilley, Henry J. Kuo
  • Patent number: 11970881
    Abstract: A closing device has a first closing part which has a housing and a blocking piece disposed on the housing; a second closing part which has a sprung locking element which at least in portions is configured so as to be spring-elastic; and a magnetic element which acts between the blocking piece of the first closing part and the second closing part and causes a magnetic attraction force between the blocking piece of the first closing part and the second closing part. The first closing part for closing the closing device is capable of being placed on the second closing part in a closing direction. The blocking piece and the sprung locking element in a closing position are mutually engaged such that the first closing part in the direction counter to the closing direction is locked in relation to the second closing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Fiedler, Breido Botkus
  • Patent number: 11969059
    Abstract: An electrically releasable buckle assembly (12) for a motor vehicle restraint (10) may include latch components (18) configured to releasably engage a tongue member (14B) of the motor vehicle restraint (10), a release button (16) operatively coupled to the latch components (18), the release button (16) having a latched position in which the latching components engage the tongue member (14B) and a release position in which the latch components (18) release the tongue member (14B), an electrical energy source (32), at least one shape memory alloy component (26) operatively coupled to the release button (16), the at least one shape memory alloy component (26) responsive to heating thereof by electrical energy supplied by the source (32) to a temperature at or above a transition temperature thereof to move the release button (16) from the latched position to the release position, and means (34) for selectively supplying electrical energy from the electrical energy source (32) to the at least one shape memory allo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: INDIANA MILLS & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Nathan Beadle, Brian N. Coffman, Wei X. Zhang
  • Patent number: 11969060
    Abstract: A snap button can include a snap button body and a fastener connected to the snap button body with a cloth interposed between them, wherein the snap button body includes a button member including a base; and a metal eyelet attached to an inner surface of the base, the inner surface being placed to face the cloth, wherein the button member includes an engaging portion provided on an outer surface opposite to the inner surface of the base, wherein the fastener includes a fastener base and a pin to be swaged, which protrudes from an inner surface of the fastener base, the inner surface being placed to face the cloth, and wherein the eyelet includes a cylindrical portion receiving the pin, the cloth being pierced by the pin, and the pin being swaged on the inner surface of the base of the button member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11963627
    Abstract: A zipper operating device for operating a zipper attached to a garment and traversing part of a back of a user includes an elongated rod being rigid and having a first end and a second end. A hook is pivotably coupled to the first end of the elongated rod and is configured for insertion into an eyelet of a slider of a zipper. A method for using the device includes providing a garment with a zipper that traverses a portion of a back of a user. The hook is inserted into the eyelet and the elongated rod is moved such that the hook engages the slider to open or close the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Herman Hinton
  • Patent number: 11963587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt buckle (10) for a length-adjustable aircraft safety belt, wherein the belt buckle (10) comprises: a main body (12) which defines a receiving space (20); a holder (14) for attaching a belt strap (16) of an aircraft safety belt; and a locking device (18) for latching a buckle tongue on the main body (12) for closing the aircraft safety belt, wherein the main body (12) comprises a base plate (40) and side cheeks (42) projecting therefrom at two opposite sides, wherein the base plate (40) forms a substantially plane base surface (44), and wherein the holder (14) is mounted on the side cheeks (42) in a movable manner and a clamping edge (38) of the base plate (40) facing the holder (14) projects from the base surface (44) in the direction of the holder (14), so that the holder (14) is drawn to the clamping edge (38) when a tensile load is applied to the belt strap (16) and the belt strap (16) is clamped between the clamping edge (38) and the holder (14), so that a lengt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: AIRCRAFT CABIN MODIFICATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Beermann
  • Patent number: 11960852
    Abstract: A direct speech-to-speech translation (S2ST) model includes an encoder configured to receive an input speech representation that to an utterance spoken by a source speaker in a first language and encode the input speech representation into a hidden feature representation. The S2ST model also includes an attention module configured to generate a context vector that attends to the hidden representation encoded by the encoder. The S2ST model also includes a decoder configured to receive the context vector generated by the attention module and predict a phoneme representation that corresponds to a translation of the utterance in a second different language. The S2ST model also includes a synthesizer configured to receive the context vector and the phoneme representation and generate a translated synthesized speech representation that corresponds to a translation of the utterance spoken in the different second language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Ye Jia, Michelle Tadmor Ramanovich, Tal Remez, Roi Pomerantz
  • Patent number: 11957219
    Abstract: A fastener element used to couple one or more items together, including layers of fabrics or other materials. The fastener element includes a top element having a central opening with a closed bottom surface adjoining a ring. On an underside of the ring is a protruding, piercing element that. The fastener element allows for more than two layers to be fastened together in a snap system and for a plurality of layers to be joined together. The fastener element can allow multiple layers to be joined together by coupling a first socket of a snap system to the top element and another socket to an underside of the ring and to the protruding piercing element. The fastener element can be used for multiple applications to secure more than one layer of fabric or another material together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Lauren Sahagun, Nicholas Sahagun
  • Patent number: 11954440
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium has instructions executed by a processor to invoke an image processing module to ingest a digital invoice. An evaluation module derives metrics from the digital invoice. A semantic document processing module forms entity extracts from the digital invoice, where each entity extract from the digital invoice has a potential mapping to a trained machine learning model element. An entity extraction correction module overrides the potential mapping to the trained machine learning model element when user feedback from a similar entity extract from a previously processed digital invoice exists to produce a processed digital invoice with a user feedback element inconsistent with the potential mapping to the trained machine learning model element. The processed digital invoice is delivered to an accounting module for final disposition of the digital invoice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AppZen, Inc.
    Inventors: Edris Naderan, Parivesh Priye, Amrit Singhal, Arghyadeep Giri, Debashish Panigrahi, Hyram Du, Kunal Verma
  • Patent number: 11953037
    Abstract: A part fastening structure fastens a part, using a bolt and a nut. The bolt includes a first spiral groove, a second spiral groove provided on a tip end side of the bolt with respect to the first spiral groove, a slit extending from a tip end of the bolt to the first spiral groove through the second spiral groove, and a loosening suppression groove extending from another end of the second spiral groove to the tip end side. The nut includes: a first nut member including a first pin protruding toward a central axis side and inserted into the first spiral groove; a second nut member including a second pin protruding toward the central axis side and inserted into the second spiral groove; and an urging member disposed between the first and second nut members and that urges the first nut member toward a head portion of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Fujikake
  • Patent number: 11950661
    Abstract: A securement and release device for webbing (SRDFW) comprised of two design configurations. Both configurations of the SRDFW allow a length of webbing to be quickly and securely attached to or removed from a structure. Both designs essentially function as a quick secure/release device into which webbing is inserted. Both configurations of the SRDFW are comprised of a securing and release assembly having a first side member, a second side member, an upper jaw, a center wedge and a lower jaw. Pivot rods extend outward from the jaws and the wedge. The pivot rods allow the jaws and the wedge to pivot into an open configuration to allow webbing to be inserted into/through the first assembly, and then to pivot into a closed position that locks the webbing within the assembly. The jaws and wedge can then pivot to remove the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Jayson Dumenigo
  • Patent number: 11954438
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide techniques to identify the in-context meanings of natural language in order to decipher the evolution or creation of new vocabulary words and create a more holistic user experience. Thus, disclosed embodiments improve the technical field of digital content comprehension. In embodiments, machine learning is used to identify sentiment of text, perform entity detection to determine topics of text, and/or perform image analysis on images used in digital content. Words, symbols, and images that are determined to be potentially unfamiliar to a user are augmented with a supplemental definition indication. Invoking the supplemental definition indication enables rendering of additional definition information for the user. This serves to accelerate understanding of digital content such as webpages and social media posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Jefferson Sandridge, Dasson Tan, Emma Alexandra Vert, Matthew Digman, Jessica L. Zhao
  • Patent number: 11944162
    Abstract: A shoelace is provided, including: a core material and a woven layer. The core material defines an axial direction, and the woven layer is sleeved on the core material. The woven layer includes a plurality of strands, a plurality of ridge portions and a plurality of connecting portions. The plurality of ridge portions and the plurality of connecting portions are woven by the plurality of strands and arranged alternatively in a circumferential direction of the core material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JHIH HUEI TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yung-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 11944165
    Abstract: The molded surface fastener includes: a fastener member that has a plurality of engagement elements disposed upright on the first surface of a base portion, and a back member that is secured to the second surface of the fastener member and that is provided with a structure enabling passage of a synthetic resin. The base portion has a first base region of a predetermined thickness and a second base region formed to be thicker than the first base region, and the back member is secured to at least the second base region of the base portion. The adhesion strength of the back member to the fastener member is thus increased, enabling the back member to be held more firmly by the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsui, Xu Zhang, Zhiyu Ren, Shinichi Imai
  • Patent number: 11941366
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a context-based multi-turn dialogue method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Chi Shao, Dongyan Huang, Wan Ding, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 11935543
    Abstract: Methods and systems for multimodal conversational dialogue. The multimodal conversational dialogue system includes multiple sensors to detect multimodal inputs from a user. The multimodal conversational dialogue system includes a multimodal sematic parser that performs semantic parsing and multimodal fusion of the multimodal inputs to determine a goal of the user. The multimodal conversational dialogue system includes a dialogue manager that generates a dialogue with the user in real-time. The dialogue includes system-generated utterances that are used to conduct a conversation between the user and the multimodal conversational dialogue system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Openstream Inc.
    Inventors: Philp R. Cohen, Rajasekhar Tumuluri
  • Patent number: 11930895
    Abstract: A garment system includes a garment, a first male connector, and a female connector. The first male connector is coupled with the garment and includes a base and a first ridge coupled with and protruding from the base. The first ridge defines an aperture and has a first ridge outer wall, a first ridge inner wall, and a first ridge central portion extending therebetween. The first ridge further includes a ramp extending from the aperture toward the base at a non-zero angle, and a shelf coupled with the ramp and defining a securing cavity. The female connector is configured to be coupled with the first male connector and includes a cap and a rim. The rim is coupled with and protrudes from the cap, and extends substantially around the cap. A tab is coupled with the rim inner wall and is sized to fit within the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: The Beer Vest Guys LLC
    Inventor: Paul Flowers
  • Patent number: 11935520
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying the beginning and ending of songs via a machine learning analysis. A machine learning model analyzes streaming audio (such as a radio broadcast) in overlapping, 3-second samples. Each sample is labeled into groups such as “song,” “talk,” “commercial” and “transition.” Based on the location of the transition samples, an exact second a given song begins and ends in the audio stream is derivable. The model further identifies when two songs shift between one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Auddia Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Shoebridge, Jeffrey Thramann, Pablo Calderon Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11910884
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lace, string, strap or zip cord lock or securement device that can be applied to an apparel item or accessory. The device has a threaded cap and threaded housing which attaches to a base. The housing includes a continuous opening through which the laces, strings, straps, or cords can be inserted such that they enter the opening on one side of the housing and exit the opening on the other side of the housing. Then, the cap can be turned to tighten the cap and cause it to move downwards on the housing until the laces, strings, cords or straps are pinned between the cap and the base. In addition, a lace, strap, string or cord insertion tool is provided to aid a user in inserting laces, strings, cord or straps through the continuous opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Roby Edwards