Patents Examined by Michael S. Lee
  • Closure buckle for closing a ski boot
    Patent number: 10595592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closure buckle for closing a ski boot, which buckle comprises a main lever (2) hinged to a base (1) and having a longitudinal notch (20) in which a tie rod (3) is mounted that is connected to a fastener hook and that has an end carrying an auxiliary lever (4), said buckle being characterized in that the main lever (2) is provided with a protective plate (21) laterally defining a housing (24) for receiving the auxiliary lever (4), and the invention also relates to a downhill ski boot equipped with such buckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rossignol Lange S.r.l.
    Inventor: Tiziano M Posato
  • Systems and methods for a 360 degree rotating and detachable double carabiner
    Patent number: 10584736
    Abstract: A carabiner apparatus includes a first carabiner portion and a second carabiner portion. The carabiner apparatus further includes a first piece of magnetic material attached to the first carabiner portion. The carabiner apparatus further includes a second piece of magnetic material attached to the second carabiner portion, the first piece and second piece of magnetic material attracted to each other and releasably holding the first carabiner portion and the second carabiner portion together at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nite Ize, Inc.
    Inventors: Bowden Ormsbee, Rex W. Stevens
  • Riveted watch band
    Patent number: 10575603
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Cedric Nicolas, Yvan Ferri
  • Stretchable zip tie
    Patent number: 10569946
    Abstract: An improved zip tie includes a strap with a plurality of spaced holes formed therein. A head is supported at one end of the strap. The head has an entry opening for insertably accomodating the other end of the strap. A guide channel is formed within the head and extends between the entry opening and an opposite exit opening. A tongue is arranged within the guide channel and pivotally supported on a base at the entry opening. The tongue is pivotable between a locked position and an open position. A securing groove receives the tongue in the locked position. The securing groove is formed in the guide channel opposite the base proximal to the exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Vaverka
  • Magnetic closure system
    Patent number: 10568374
    Abstract: A magnetic closure system includes first and second opposing bodies with permanent magnets disposed on or in sloping surfaces of the bodies to keep the bodies in contact until being pulled apart. The bodies may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible strips or elongated structures comprised of separate blocks, each block having two divergent sloping surfaces. Whether in strip or block form, each body may be adapted for attachment to a flexible material or fabric, such that the opposing bodies form a magnetic zipper. The magnetic closure system many be used in conjunction with many products, including clothing, curtains, bags, backpacks, purses, mats, tiles, or any other situation wherein materials or fabrics are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Cooper F. Klein-Kassab
  • Apparatus for securely and gently holding a flexible elongated medical device
    Patent number: 10556058
    Abstract: A clip for holding a flexible elongated medical device. In embodiments, the clip has a hinge; first and second jaws movable with respect to each other about the hinge from a closed position to an open position, each of the jaws having a contact surface, the contact surface of the first jaw being disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position and away from the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the open position; and flexible material disposed on at least one of the jaws, the flexible material comprising the contact surface. The invention also includes methods of holding a flexible elongated medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Cath Lab Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Anobel Tamrazi, Patricia Judge Tamrazi
  • Multi-position strap anchor
    Patent number: 10560775
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a multi-position strap anchor that is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the strap anchor may be less accessible to attach to a strap, and in the second position, the strap anchor may be more accessible to attach to a strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Edwin Brad Pham
  • Systems and methods for a side-loading strap buckle
    Patent number: 10548373
    Abstract: A tensioning device includes a first slot located on a first end of the tensioning device, the first slot being closed on all four sides. The tensioning device further includes a second slot and a third slot, the third slot located on a second end of the tensioning device, the second end opposite the first end, the second slot located between the first and third slot, the second and the third slot being having an open side on one of four sides and closed on three of four sides. The tensioning device further includes a lever arm, the lever arm located on the second end of the tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nite Ize, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe Sorensen
  • Fastening tape with flexibility in the longitudinal direction and associated methods
    Patent number: 10548374
    Abstract: A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Locking clamp
    Patent number: 10550869
    Abstract: A locking clamp for use in a cable system for stretching a sheet across a surface and maintaining it under tension, the locking clamp having a base member defining a first grasping surface; an elongate tongue member rotatively coupled to a first portion of the base member and defining a second grasping surface, and a locking member that is rotatively coupled to a second portion of the base member and that is configured to selectively rotate the tongue member to urge at least a portion of the second grasping surface of the tongue member into engageable contact with the first grasping surface of the base member. The base member of the locking clamp also has a hook configured to removably engage a cable of a tensioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Formetco, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Gibb, Jonathon Christopher Adams, Brian David Jeffries, Robert Lee Franklin
  • Shoe lace holder
    Patent number: 10548372
    Abstract: A shoe lace holder (LH) to assist in the tying of shoe laces (L) and to prevent shoe laces inadvertently coming undone during use is disclosed. The shoelace holder includes a unitary body having top and bottom surfaces defined by a front edge, a back edge and side edges. The body includes at least one first hole (7) and at least one second hole (8), two slots (3, 4), which extend in opposite directions relative to each other, and at least two further holes (11, 12) spaced apart from each other. The holes allow a shoe lace to pass through, and the slots are adapted to engage a portion of the shoe lace there in. When attached to a shoe a shoe's laces are interwoven through the respective holes and slots to prevent the lace inadvertently untying in use. A method of securing a shoe lace to the shoe lace holder is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: LASEJAM Limited
    Inventor: Peter Brett Chamberlain
  • Clip
    Patent number: 10543763
    Abstract: A clip for attaching a seat cover to a seat cushion includes a locking part configured to be secured to the seat cover and a hook connected to the locking part and configured to be secured to a wire of the seat cushion. The hook defines a wire holding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshino, Shinsuke Saiga
  • Locking ratchet effect clamp
    Patent number: 10539259
    Abstract: A clamp includes a housing, a band, and an actuating member. The housing defines and first slot and has a surface from which a first locking feature extends outwardly. The band has a first portion secured to the housing and a second portion extending within the first slot of the housing. The actuating member is seated at the housing and has a surface interfacing with the first locking feature. A plurality of mating features each extend outwardly from the surface of the actuating member and the plurality of mating features are spaced about a circumference of the surface of the actuating member. The actuating member is configured, when actuated, to move the second portion of the band relative to the housing. The first locking feature is configured to consecutively engage one of the plurality of mating features when the actuating member is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KSI Group, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Ellinger
  • Twist-tie product
    Patent number: 10538372
    Abstract: A twist-tie includes a fastener having a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Twist-Ease, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Helseth
  • Retainer
    Patent number: 10517380
    Abstract: A retainer operable to hold a race number bib includes a front panel and a rear panel joined by an elbow and with a latch. One or more lateral projections is provided on the retainer to allow a user to open or close the retainer. Internal projections may provide gripping surfaces, and in some cases they extend through holes formed in one of the panels. A belt hook may be provided to secure a retainer to a belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Amphipod, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith S. Willows, June A. Angus, Antonio Del Rosario
  • Cushioned carabiner clip
    Patent number: 10514057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved carabiner system, including an impact-dampening cushion around the external surface of the frame for cushioning damage during a fall or collision and to reduce sound from loose or swinging carabiner collisions. Additional surface routing and through holes provide improved register between the carabiner frame and the over-molded cushion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Tammie Cardella
  • Hybrid fastener strap having positioning detents
    Patent number: 10513380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to one-piece fasteners having a strap and a locking head utilized to secure elongate objects such as cables in a bundle, and in particular, to hybrid fasteners having both raised detents and locking teeth as part of the fastener strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: James Watson
  • Accessory fastener device and method
    Patent number: 10512292
    Abstract: An accessory fastener device including front and back magnets for securing an accessory to a fabric item or other surface. The front and back magnets may include fabric shields covering a portion of the magnets and are configured to interface with the front and back sides of a fabric item. The accessory fastener may also include an accessory coupling configured to removably couple with the accessory. The device is used to add a plurality of accessories to fashion items, and also as a decorative means for holding and securing items in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Tina Curtis
  • Slider for slide fastener
    Patent number: 10512312
    Abstract: A slider may include a slider body, a pull-tab attachment portion provided at the slider body, and a resin-made pull tab attached to the pull-tab attachment portion. The pull tab may include an axial portion and a pair of bars extending from respective ends of the axial portion. The pull-tab attachment portion may include a pair of claws that axially support the axial portion of the pull tab. Each claw may be held by and between the respective paired bars while the pull tab pivots. A width of a terminal end of each claw in an axial direction of the axial portion may be less than a width of a base end of each claw in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hsien Hsiang Hsu, Yuichi Iwase
  • Noise dampening tongues for use in a seat belt restraining system and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 10512310
    Abstract: A noise dampening tongue assembly for use as part of a seat belt restraining system includes a base plate, a cover material, and a soft touch material. The base plate has a surface with a lower portion for engagement with a clamping member and an upper portion with a slot through which a belt webbing extends. The lower portion defines a bottom perimeter for the tongue assembly. The cover material contacts the base plate, such that it defines at least a portion of a top perimeter, a front-side, and a back-side of the tongue assembly. The soft touch material contacts the surface of the cover material, such that the soft touch material defines at least a portion of a right perimeter and left perimeter of the tongue assembly and extends horizontally across the surface of the cover material to connect the soft touch material located at right and left perimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Ver Hoven, David B. Figlioli, David Funnell