Patents Examined by Robert J. Sandy
  • Patent number: 10036454
    Abstract: An electric meter housing and a cover have adjacent circular flanges reaching circumferentially about a cover axis. A clamping ring has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a cross-section configured for the ring to take an installed position fitted radially over the adjacent circular flanges. A gear moves the first end portion of the clamping ring circumferentially relative to the second end portion upon rotation of the gear. A manual actuator rotates the gear upon rotation of the actuator about an axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the cover axis when the clamping ring is in the installed position. The gear is movable axially into and out of a blocked position in which a stop member blocks rotation of the gear. The actuator is interconnected with the gear to move the gear rotationally and axially relative to the stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Milorad Andic
  • Patent number: 10012346
    Abstract: A clip for selectively gripping objects includes a first body member having a forward portion, a rearward portion and a middle portion disposed between the forward and rearward portions. The first body member includes an exteriorly facing surface and an interiorly facing surface, with the forward portion including an interiorly facing gripping jaw, and the middle portion including a strengthening member. A second body member includes a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a middle portion disposed between the forward and rearward portion. Second body member also includes an exteriorly facing surface and an interiorly facing surface, a forward portion that includes an interiorly facing gripping jaw, and a middle portion that includes a strengthening member. A biasing member urges the gripping jaws of the first and second body members into engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Killion
  • Patent number: 9941634
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a safety hook attachment for preventing the premature disconnect of a device from a cord. The safety hook attachment may include a fastening body configured to attach to the cord; a tail extending from the fastening body; and a connector attached to an end of the tail distal from the fastening body, wherein the connector may be configured to attach to the device to be connected to the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Robert Dominic Werhan
  • Patent number: 9919101
    Abstract: Clips or straps may be used to position a patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) pump control in a position where a patient can easily operate a PCA pump. A strap that allows a PCA pump control to always be in hand or very close at hand is preferable to a strap or clip that merely keeps a PCA pump control nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: atHand Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Stephanie Barnard
  • Patent number: 9915278
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device can include a clip member including a first end and a second end. The first end can be configured to attach to cooking device and the second end can be configured to engage a handle member of the cooking device. The clip member can be configured to be positioned in a handle position where the clip member can be configured to hold the handle member in a substantially fixed position relative to the cooking device when in the handle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Firebox Outdoors LLP
    Inventor: Steven S. Despain
  • Patent number: 9907368
    Abstract: Provided is a buckle including a plug member and a socket member, wherein the plug member includes lock arms and a guide rod located at a middle position between the lock arms, and the socket member includes a holder formed in a chamber so as to catch the lock arm. The guide rod is provided on the front end thereof with a holding member, and the socket member is centrally provided with a guide groove for the coupling of the guide rod and is also provided with a holding protrusion for the coupling of the holding member. As such, in addition to the coupling between the lock arm and the holder, another coupling structure is provided so as to prevent the buckle from being easily unfastened by unintentional external contact or pressure while ensuring convenient separation of the buckle with one hand as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: WOOJIN PLASTIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jisook Paik, Nan Hee Paik, Ji Hye Paik, Ji Won Son
  • Patent number: 9907371
    Abstract: A money clip device, including: a central body portion; and three or more elongate arm portions extending radially from the central body portion and configured to retain an item to be held. The central body portion and the three or more elongate arm portions collectively define a space in which the item to be held is retained. Optionally, the money clip device also includes a wallet insert disposed within the central body portion and the three or more elongate arm portions. Optionally, at least one of the three or more elongate arm portions is manufactured from a substantially flexible material and comprises a pull tab by which the elongate arm portion may be grasped by a user. The money clip device further includes a decorative insignia disposed on one or more of the central body portion and the three or more elongate arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Truth By Design, LLC
    Inventor: Travis L. Ross
  • Patent number: 9901143
    Abstract: A magnetic necktie retainer device is provided that retains a necktie to the shirt of a wearer without piercing or otherwise damaging the shirt. The device comprises a front backing plate and a rear backing plate. The backing plates are magnetically attracted to each other such that the rear backing plate is positioned under the wearer's shirt, while the front backing plate is positioned between the necktie and the outside of the wearer's shirt. The two backing plates magnetically secure together, while a necktie retainer article extends from the front backing plate to engage the necktie. The retainer article may comprise a clasp, a chain, a necktie bar, or similar structure that secures the necktie to the front backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Robert Krasney
  • Patent number: 9896252
    Abstract: A cable tie having a desired length of flexible belt and a buckle connected to one longitudinal end of the belt may include rack teeth that are formed in one surface of the belt and are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the belt, an engagement strip that is positioned in a through hole of the buckle and is configured to be deformed about its proximal end connected to an inner wall of the buckle, and an engagement claw that is formed in the engagement strip. The engagement strip is configured to be deformed due to contact with the belt inserted into the through hole of the buckle, so that a crossing angle is formed between the engagement surface of the engagement claw and the tooth surface of one of the rack teeth in a fastened condition in which the belt is inserted into the through hole of the buckle and is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: DAIWA KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Kato, Katsuya Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 9884708
    Abstract: A tie includes a band that extends lengthwise from a first end to a second end. The tie also includes a housing, affixed near the second end, with a first opening to receive the first end of the band when the first end of the band is brought toward the housing in a loop. The housing includes: walls that enclose a space and have a stop toward the second end of the band; a first mass in the space; and a second mass placed in the space and between the first mass and the stop. When the first end is inserted into the housing, the first end passes under the first mass and the second mass and exerts a pull on the first mass toward the second mass. When the first mass is pulled toward the second mass, the second mass acts as a spring between the first mass and the stop and prevents the first mass from hitting the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Cole, Ryan M. Rufty
  • Patent number: 9883733
    Abstract: A pacifier strap for connecting a pacifier to a fastening clip. The pacifier strap forms a loop at at least one end and includes a loop adjuster configured to adjust the length of the loop so that the length of the pacifier strap itself can be adjusted between a first length, in which the loop has a maximum length, and a second length, in which the loop has a minimum length. In addition, the pacifier strap has a container configured to receive at least one nipple of the pacifier, which container can be connected, at least temporarily, to the loop adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAM BABYARTIKEL GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventor: Peter Roehrig
  • Patent number: 9878835
    Abstract: A loop forming fastener including a ratchet and locking features that can be utilized to provide for a desired loop size. The loop forming fastener may include an elongate body portion having a first end and an opposite tail portion, with a head connected to the elongate body, the head defining an opening configured to receive the elongate body to form a loop. A ratchet may allow movement of the body through the opening in a first direction, but prevents movement in a second direction. The elongate body may include a stopper to maintain at least a minimum loop size. The head may include a locking mechanism to lock the elongate body, and thereby establish a desired size of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Loop Ties LLC
    Inventor: Philip Winter
  • Patent number: 9867432
    Abstract: A safety belt buckle includes a base unit, a driving unit mounted on the base unit, and a torque device mounted on the driving unit. The base unit is provided with a plurality of insertion slots, a rotation shaft, and a positioning portion. The driving unit includes a circular cap and a driving handle. The torque device includes a ring, two balls, two compression springs and a fixed plate. In practice, when the driving handle is driven by a user, the circular cap is rotated to operate the two compression springs which press the two balls to increase a resistance to the circular cap, and to obstruct rotation of the driving unit, thereby preventing the driving unit from being driven freely by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Racing Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 9867454
    Abstract: A wearable wafer turn clip may selectably connect a device and/or device mount to an article, such as an operator's clothing. The wearable wafer turn clip may include a body ring forming a partial annulus, a grip ring forming a flange extending outwardly of the body ring, and an inner section extending inwardly from the body ring into a center area of the annulus of the body ring. The wearable wafer turn clip may have a mounting portion that is a channel between the body ring and at least a portion of the inner section. The mounting portion may accept the article and guide it along an arcuate path inwardly and into a deflection channel. The deflection channel may be disposed at an inward terminus of the mount acceptance channel and extend radially outward from the mount acceptance channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: JESSIR, LLC.
    Inventor: Christopher Mickal Castro
  • Patent number: 9861164
    Abstract: A tensioning system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis. The reel member includes a shaft and at least one flange disposed along the shaft. The flange includes an aperture extending through the flange. The aperture is configured to receive a lace. The reel member can tighten the tensioning system by winding the lace around portions of the shaft disposed on both sides of the at least one flange. In some cases, the aperture can be chamfered to assist with sliding the lace through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Patent number: 9862223
    Abstract: A binder clip includes a generally triangular clamp, a catch arm, and a hook arm. The catch arm includes a linear segment having a catch width, and the hook arm includes a hook configured for secure but releasable connection around the linear segment of a matching binder clip. The hook has a hook width less than the catch width of the linear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Jeff Klein
  • Patent number: 9862300
    Abstract: A ratcheting strap device has an elongate body with a reel axis towards a first end and a ratcheting mechanism towards a second end opposite there-from. The ratcheting mechanism is affixed to the body, and has a spool axis and a ratchet spool rotatable relative to the body there-about. A first strap/hook member has a first length of strap affixed to a first one of the ratcheting mechanism and the body at a first proximal end, and has a first hook affixed to a first distal end there-of. A take-up reel is affixed to the body and rotational relative thereto about the reel axis. A second strap hook member has a second length of strap having a second proximal end connectable to the take-up reel, has a take-up strap portion adjacent to the second proximal end and windable around the take up reel, and has a second hook affixed to a second distal end there-of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Erik Edward Anderson
  • Patent number: 9854873
    Abstract: Lacing systems are disclosed for use with footwear or other articles. The lacing system can include flexible webbing lace guides. A lace guide can include a first lace guide element and a second lace guide element. The lace can pass through the first and second lace guides consecutively on the first side of the article before crossing to the opposing side of the article. The first and second lace guide elements can be angled towards each other to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide elements. The lace guide can have a central portion that is less flexible than the end portions so as to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide when tension is applied to the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kerns, Mark Soderberg, Adam Auell, Gary Hammerslag
  • Patent number: 9856905
    Abstract: A shackle with a low-load release mechanism adaptable for remote actuation to releasably connect two entities typically one of which being a rope or a line and the other being an entity controlled or positioned by the rope or line. The shackle consists of a body, a bail, a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm configured to hold the first pivot arm in a closed position, a release cam, and an activation lanyard. The lanyard connects to the release cam such that the release cam moves the second pivot arm when tension is applied to the lanyard thereby releasing the first pivot arm into an open position. The shackle may be configured to allow a tool to open the shackle, a finger release lever, and a release lever shield. The lanyard may pass through the second pivot arm, the release cam, and a pivot boss for attaching the bail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: David Soderberg Servais
  • Patent number: 9850038
    Abstract: A child resistant zipper closure for a plastic bag includes a double slider, including a first slider and second slider. The first and second sliders are oriented on the zipper closure such that when at least one of the first slider and second slider is moving in a direction toward the other of the first slider and second slider, the zipper is interlocking; and when at least one of the first slider and second slider is moving in a direction away from the other of the first slider and second slider, the zipper is unlocking. The first and second sliders can be releasably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Reynolds Presto Products Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Petkovsek, Roger E. Dowler, Gregg Thompson, Samuel D. Aversa