Patents Examined by Michael S. Lee
  • Patent number: 11470920
    Abstract: The present invention is a buckle comprising: a lever having a first set of apertures and a second set of openings; a rod, wherein the rod is inserted through the first set of apertures; a pin, wherein the pin is inserted through the second set of openings; a base plate rotatably attached to the pin and positioned within the lever; a set of locking tabs in communication with the rod a bar rotatably attached to the pin; and a strap attached to the bar at a first end and releasably engaged with the base plate and the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Tim Tucker
  • Patent number: 11470922
    Abstract: Provided is a molded surface fastener having an improved balance between durability against repeated attachment and detachment operations and peeling strength. A molded surface fastener made of a thermoplastic resin, includes: a flat plate-shaped base portion; and a plurality of engaging elements protruding from one main surface of the base portion. Each engaging element includes: a stem upstanding from the main surface; and an engaging head portion formed at an upper end portion of the stem, the head portion including a projection portion extending mainly in a direction perpendicular to a molding direction as viewed in a planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Michihata, Yui Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11466753
    Abstract: A ratcheting strap adjuster comprising a bracket, a webbing plate, and one or more captive members. The webbing plate is rotatably coupled to the bracket. Each of the one or more captive members is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the one or more captive members restrict rotation of the webbing plate in one direction when the one or more captive members are in the engaged position and allow rotation of the webbing plate in the one direction and in an opposite second direction when the one or more captive members are in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Pure Safety Group, Inc.
    Inventor: William Leo Farrell
  • Patent number: 11464292
    Abstract: A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, such as a shoe, without having to form an exposed knot. A thin, rigid body includes a series of openings arranged in a row, including a first, middle opening through which the lace is routed from the eyelet, a second opening proximate one end through which the lace is routed from the middle opening, and a third opening proximate an opposite through which the lace is routed from the second opening via the first end of the body, the third opening having a slot-shaped configuration. When tension is applied to the lace, as by a foot being inserted into a shoe, a locking engagement is formed between the lace and stopper and the stopper reacts against the eyelet. The stopper may be hidden from view behind the eyelet stay of a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Xpand Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Edward Harris, Charles David Harris
  • Patent number: 11464295
    Abstract: A decorative button cover system is disclosed herein. The decorative button cover system can include a button slide portion configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a button of a garment, and the decorative button cover system can include a decorative portion attached to the button slide portion. The decorative button cover system can also include a button of a garment configured to at least partially insert into button slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Swittun LLC
    Inventor: Madison Clark
  • Patent number: 11452343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoulder strap positioner for releasably connecting a first and a second strap of a child restraining seat harness, where the shoulder strap positioner comprises a male member configured to be connected to a first strap of the child restraining seat harness and a female member configured to be connected to a second strap of the child restraining seat harness, and where the male member can be removably connected to the female member (1b), where the female member comprises a receptacle provided with an opening for insertion of the male member, the opening being provided over a part of a circumference of the female member, where at least one rib is provided over a part of the opening, and where the male member comprises an tongue provided with a groove, the male and female members being locked to each other through a movement of the male member towards the at least one rib, the at least one rib being brought into contact and accommodated in the groove through this movement, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HTS Hans Torgersen & Sønn AS
    Inventors: Hugo Westra, Marloes Koenraads
  • Patent number: 11441712
    Abstract: A hose clamp includes a clamp main body including a ring portion and a pair of knob portions; and a holder. The holder includes a main body portion, a pair of holding walls, and an operation portion. An inner surface on a distal end side of one holding wall includes a protrusion that protrudes more largely inward than an inner surface on a distal end side of other holding wall. And in a state where the pair of knob portions are close to each other, a distal end of one knob portion in a peripheral direction is engaged with the inner surface of the one holding wall, and the other knob portion is engaged with the inner surface of the other holding wall, so that the ring portion is kept in a diameter-increased state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Shun Muramatsu, Ken Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 11440487
    Abstract: A system and method including a fastener clip, the fastener clip including a first piece made of an elastic first material. The first piece includes a pair of legs joined at a head portion, and one or more pairs of barbs coupled to the pair of legs. The barbs are configured to dig into the blade and to secure the fastener clip to the blade at least based upon the fastener clip being placed over the blade. The fastener clip includes a second piece made of a softer second material. The second piece includes inside and outside portions to the outside and to the inside of the first piece. The outside portions are configured to engage a slot in a chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TERMAX LLC
    Inventors: Daniel James Dickinson, David Friesorger
  • Patent number: 11425968
    Abstract: A closure device includes a first closure part which includes a base body and at least one closure element rotatably arranged on the base body about an axis of rotation. The at least one closure element includes a base body and at least one first locking portion arranged on the base body, and at least one second closure part which includes a base element and at least one second locking portion arranged on the base element. The first closure part and the at least one second closure part can be placed against each other along a placement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Fiedler, Lasse Hiller
  • Patent number: 11421755
    Abstract: A cord lock for adjusting the length of a cord includes a main body with a through hole, in which a cord can be inserted. A friction member is blocked in the main body in such a manner that a portion of a tooth thereof narrows the gap of the through-hole in order to limit the sliding of the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: RIRI S.A.
    Inventors: Simone Brezzi, Davide Dal Toso
  • Patent number: 11412818
    Abstract: A retainer assembly for securing a knot defined by a pair of shoelaces of a shoe includes a base member, a clamping member, and a clip member. The clamping member is engaged with the base member and telescopically moves relative to the base member between an extended position and a retracted position. The clamping member includes a clasp. Moreover, the clip member is pivotally coupled to the base member and is adapted to engage with the clasp when the clamping member is arranged in the retracted position to secure the knot between the clip member and the clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Lawrence Skolnik
  • Patent number: 11408545
    Abstract: A clamping clip, including a clamping band the two end portions of which overlap one another in a closed condition of the clamping clip forming an inner band portion and an outer band portion, the clamping band including a first tensioning hook arranged on the outer band portion, and a second tensioning hook arranged on the inner band portion, the second tensioning hook including an inclined surface facing the outer band portion as a ramp, wherein at least one of the first tensioning hook and the second tensioning hook includes a plurality of projections facing away from the other of the first tensioning hook and the second tensioning hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Oeitker Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Willi Haensli, Rolf Deller, Steffen Richter
  • Patent number: 11406162
    Abstract: A ratchet device includes a ratchet wheel. The ratchet device further includes a first lever, the first lever rotatably interconnected with the ratchet wheel. The ratchet device further includes a second lever, the second lever rotatably interconnected with the ratchet wheel. The ratchet device further includes a first pivoting bracket, the first pivoting bracket pivotally interconnected with the first lever. The ratchet device further includes a second pivoting bracket, the second pivoting bracket pivotally interconnected with the second lever. The first pivoting bracket has a first position where the first pivoting bracket is rotated to engage the ratchet wheel and a second position where the first pivoting bracket is rotated to disengage from the ratchet wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Rex Seader
  • Patent number: 11406161
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable flexible coupling system comprising a base, a coupling member, and a sewn member. The coupling member is fixably coupled to the base across the widthwise dimension on opposite sides of the lengthwise dimension forming a recess between the base and the coupling member. The sewn member comprises a strap, a folded region, and a primary stitch. The strap includes a body and a lengthwise end. The folded region is disposed on the lengthwise end of the strap and includes a portion that overlaps the body. The primary stitch extends through both the folded region and the body of the strap. An optional stiffener may be disposed between the lengthwise end of the strap and the folded region. The primary stitch will also extend through the stiffener if present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Falvai
  • Patent number: 11406163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Re-U-Zip, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Edgar Burkhart-Day, Navaratan Kanna Sunkara, Sivaketan Ramu Sunkara
  • Patent number: 11401960
    Abstract: A clamping device for securing an accessory to a pole is disclosed herein. The clamping device includes a first clamp component formed from bent wire, the first clamp component configured to partially circumscribe a pole, and including at least one offset portion for defining an accessory receiving space between the first clamp component and a sidewall of the pole; a second clamp component rotatably coupled to the first clamp component, formed from bent wire, and configured to partially circumscribe the pole; and a handle component configured to couple the second clamp component to the first clamp component. When the handle component is rotated in a first tightening direction, the first clamp component and the second clamp component are brought into secure engagement about the circumference of the pole. When the handle component is rotated in a second loosening direction, the clamping device is capable of being disengaged from the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Frank Richard Markusic
  • Patent number: 11399600
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Dornhege
  • Patent number: 11383632
    Abstract: A tensioning apparatus tensions straps, and in particular is configured to tension belts. In order to achieve good tensioning characteristics, the tensioning apparatus has a dynamically acting element, and by use of the dynamically acting element a transmission of force takes place indirectly in the case of the tensioning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Fiona Gabriella Saygivar, Sharon Naomi Saygivar, Lisa Marie Saygivar
  • Patent number: 11369169
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ratchet strap and buckle assembly comprising an adjustment ratchet strap comprising a ratchet strap end, and a plurality of ratchet teeth arranged thereon and a single-piece buckle having a locking tooth and a flexible top element, wherein the single-piece buckle comprises a passageway for the ratchet strap end to be inserted therein, and wherein the flexible top element is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of ratchet teeth using the locking tooth upon insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Redman, George Fox, Andrew Creak, Anthony Walker
  • Patent number: 11358768
    Abstract: A securing device (10) for securing a first object (320) relative to a second object (322) includes a device body (12) having a cross-sectional area, and which is formed from a material so that the device body (12) exhibits elongation of between six hundred percent and eight hundred percent. A ratio of the elongation (in percent) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 5:1 and 10:1. The device body (12) is also formed from the material so that the device body (12) exhibits a tensile strength of between four thousand five hundred kPa and nine thousand three hundred kPa. A ratio of the tensile strength (in kPa) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 50:1 and 85:1. The material that forms the device body (12) has an average kinetic coefficient of friction of between approximately 1.35 and 1.60 relative to itself. The material that forms the device body (12) can include thermoplastic elastomers, and can further include styrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SIMPLE STRAP LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Everest, Cameron Smith, Benjamin Komer