Patents Examined by Robert Sandy
  • Patent number: 11659898
    Abstract: A securing device has a main body having a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least one first slot for receiving a strap, and a top bar connected to the main buckle body at the first side wall and forming a second slot with the main buckle body for receiving a second strap. The second slot is open at a distal end thereof. The top bar has a guide track extending longitudinally therethrough, with the guide track opening into the second slot. A catch is formed on the second side wall and facing inward. A spring gate is disposed in the guide track. The spring gate is placed around the catch to close the distal end of the second slot. The spring gate is releasable from the catch by pressing on the top bar until the spring gate clears the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Duraflex Hong Kong Limited
    Inventor: Yick Fai Chan
  • Patent number: 11661964
    Abstract: A fastener for coupling a first component to a mounting hole of a second component. The fastener includes a central body portion, a head portion, provided at the proximal end of the central body portion. The fastener has at least two resilient ribs, protruding radially outward from an outer surface of the central body portion. The fastener includes at least a first pair of diametrically opposed recessed surfaces, provided at the proximal end of the central body and extending axially between the head portion and a respective shoulder portion formed by each one of the first pair of recessed surfaces. The at least two resilient ribs extend along the outer surface of the central body portion in a direction along the central axis between the distal end and the proximal end, and axially past the respective shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Javier Arteta, Ivan Cipres, Francisco Cuervas, Josep Ventallo Sabater
  • Patent number: 11660476
    Abstract: A connection arrangement for use with a wearable body harness includes a first connector having a first body component, a second body component, and an attachment element connected to each other by a rod having a longitudinal axis. The connection arrangement further includes a second connector removably connectable to the first connector. Each of the first body component, the second body component, and the attachment element are independently movable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the rod. The first connector and the second connector are removably connectable to each other via a locking and release mechanism between a first, locked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and a second, unlocked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are disconnected from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Monahan, Mark Hall, Eduardo José Ferreira Dodge
  • Patent number: 11659899
    Abstract: A touch fastener part has a first substrate tape (10) with hooking elements (12) arranged on one side and has a second substrate tape (16) connected to the first substrate tape (10). The second substrate tape (10) has a connectors (20) on its side facing away from the hooking elements (12) and is wider than the first substrate tape (10). At least one free lateral edge area (22) of the second substrate tape (16) projects beyond the adjacent longitudinal edge of the first substrate tape (10). The two substrate tapes (10, 16) can be bent along and transversely to their longitudinal orientation by at least one free side edge area (22) of the second substrate tape (16) being provided with a weakening of resistance (27) in such a way that bending the two substrate tapes (10, 16) transversely to their longitudinal orientation is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GOTTLIEB BINDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Konstantinos Poulakis
  • Patent number: 11653723
    Abstract: A safety belt latch assembly includes an adjusting section, a snap-fit piece, and a strap winding bar. The adjusting section is provided with an opening and two side plates. Each of the side plates of the adjusting section is provided with an elongate slot. The snap-fit piece has a first end provided with a torsion portion twisted from the adjusting section, with a torsion angle of ninety degrees (90°) being defined between the snap-fit piece and the adjusting section. The snap-fit piece has a second end provided with a fastening portion having a fastening hole. The strap winding bar is provided with two contact portions. Each of the contact portions of the strap winding bar is inserted into the elongate slot of one of the side plates of the adjusting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Racing Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11653721
    Abstract: A buckle has a buckle mechanism with a lock pawl and a latch pin. The latch pin is designed to travel only in a longitudinal or horizontal direction relative to the buckle mechanism. When a latch plate assembly is secured, the latch pin holds the lock pawl in a latched position and prevents accidental release of the latch plate assembly. A release button is coupled to the latch plate retention bar so that all of the effective actuation and other motions are in the longitudinal direction of the buckle mechanism. The buckle mechanism has an ejector mechanism with an ejection spring for ejecting the latch plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Indiana Mills Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Allan Lortz, Guy R. Dingman, Brian Nelson Coffman, Yang Tao
  • Patent number: 11653718
    Abstract: An apparatus for convenient tightening and loosening of strings such as those found in shoelaces of footwear is provided. The apparatus includes a rotating portion within a base portion. A cover portion, when operated in a first position, provides a ratchet movement that allows rotation in a tightening direction while preventing movement in a loosening direction. When the cover is moved to a second position, the ratchet mechanism disengages, and the strings can then be easily loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Sug Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 11653722
    Abstract: A safety belt buckle includes a buckle body, a plurality of latch plates, and a dustproof cover. The buckle body includes a base having a plurality of insertion slots. The dustproof cover is mounted on the base and has a plurality of passages. Each of the latch plates has a locking portion inserted through one of the passages of the dustproof cover into one of the insertion slots of the base. The locking portion has a clamping section arranged between each of the latch plates and the base. The clamping section of each of the latch plates seals one of the passages of the dustproof cover and stops one of the insertion slots of the base. The locking portion of each of the latch plates is clamped by one of the passages of the dustproof cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN RACING PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11654312
    Abstract: A harness includes a shoulder support having a back member, a shoulder strip, an underarm strip, and a chest strip. The underarm strip and the chest strip connect to an underarm connection. A tether connects to the underarm connection at a tether first end. At a tether second end, a tool connection is configured to connect to a tool and a support connection is configured to connect to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Weston Kay
  • Patent number: 11647813
    Abstract: A quick lacing machine is disclosed, including a base, a screw cap, a pulley, a rotating wheel, a rotary driving member, an elastic member, and a pressing member. The base is provided with a rotating cavity, a lace hole and a ratchet; the pulley is rotatably arranged in the rotating cavity, and the pulley is provided with a plurality of a first spiral teeth; the rotating wheel is provided with a pawl, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet, and the rotating wheel is provided with a sliding hole, the rotary driving member is slidably arranged in the sliding hole. The present disclosure can loosen a shoelace by pressing the pressing member, and tighten the shoelace by rotating the screw cap, which is simple and convenient to operate, saves time and effort, and thereby improving efficiency of a user taking off and putting on shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Chunming Rao
  • Patent number: 11648426
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed, the assembly for providing release structure to a lanyard or strap adapted to be worn on the body, such as a neck strap. The release structure consists of a snap button assembly configured such that the release pull generated by tension in the strap is directed along an axis perpendicular to the closure and rotation plane of the male and female portion of the snap button assemblies. With structure to configure a release pull in such an axis, a safety feature is provided to the wearer such that tension in the strap, when it reaches a sufficient force to overcome the closure forces of the snap button assembly, will release the closed snap button and allow the strap to fall away from the body. Also, as in the case of a firefighter wearing an SCBA fire mask, it prevents the firefighter from being entangled or tethered if the strap were to get accidentally hooked or caught on something.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Henry E. Leslie
  • Patent number: 11649878
    Abstract: A clamping device (10) for clamping an elongate article (100) is disclosed. The clamping device (10) includes a body (12) and a clamping arrangement (26) in the body (12). The clamping arrangement (26) includes a clamping member (28) and an urging member (30) for urging the clamping member (2B) into clamping engagement with the elongate article (100). The body (12) has a reaction formation (56) along which the elongate article (100) can extend. The reaction formation (56) applies a reaction force to the elongate article (100) when so engaged by the clamping member (28). The clamping device (10) further includes a carriage (32) on which the clamping member (28) is provided, and a release member (42) on the carriage (32) for releasing the clamping member (28) from engagement with the elongate article (100). The release member (42) extends outwardly from the body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Fisher, Lee Giemza
  • Patent number: 11647815
    Abstract: A magnetic buckle device has a buckle main body and an inserting head. When the inserting head is close to an insertion hole of the buckle main body, the magnetic attraction force between a first component on the inserting head and a second component on the buckle main body can assist with inserting the inserting head into the insertion hole. After the inserting head is inserted to a predetermined position, the magnetic attraction force will keep the buckle main body in an engaged state even without any additional fixing means. When the buckle main body is switched to a disengaged state and the inserting head is moved out of the buckle main body, the magnetic attraction force attracts the inserting head to attach to the buckle main body, and thereby, after moved out, the inserting head cannot move arbitrarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Sinox Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Renny Tse-Haw Ling
  • Patent number: 11644083
    Abstract: A fastener that holds two portions of a cord-like material, which has ends, in a temporarily locked position until a prescribed force is applied to these ends to cause the material to slide though the fastener, includes (a) a rear enclosure having a cavity with two holes and two openings that each have a centerline, (b) a front enclosure having two apertures, each with a centerline, (c) a pair of movable posts, each having a centerline, and wherein the enclosures and posts are configured so that their respective centerlines can temporarily be brought into alignment so as to allow an end of the material to pass through the fastener, and (d) a pair of springs, each in contact with the bottom of a post. Wherein, the spring has a spring constant (k) and the post has a coefficient of friction (cf) with respect to the material, and k and cf are chosen to yield a prescribed force in the range of 2 to 25 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Charissa Jarrett
  • Patent number: 11641912
    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: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Fiedler, Lasse Hiller
  • Patent number: 11638466
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an improved rotary closure to prevent jamming when rotated in a particular direction and allow de-tensioning of the spool are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Burt, Lee Paul Shuttleworth
  • Patent number: 11638467
    Abstract: A timepiece component, having a first part and a removable cap, which is able to adopt a fastening configuration in which the removable cap is fastened to the first part, and a free configuration in which the cap is separated from the first part. The first part comprises at least two latching members intended to cooperate with at least two corresponding assembly members of the cap in the fastening configuration. The cap or the first part is elastically deformable from a rest position to a deformed position which allows for positioning and removing for passing from the fastening configuration to the free configuration of the timepiece component and vice versa. The rest position allows stably maintain the fastening configuration of the timepiece component in which the at least two assembly members of the cap are in engagement with the at least two latching members of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Benjamin Celant, Benoit Junod, Jean-Baptiste Robin
  • Patent number: 11638474
    Abstract: An auxiliary strap assembly provides a simple, adjustable strap device for mounting objects to an underlying load bearing platform. In some implementations, the strap assembly includes an elongate anchor body that provides support to the object(s) being secured and/or to the underlying load bearing platform. The strap assembly can be adapted for connection to ladder webbing, such as Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) or HEXGRID® mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: 5.11, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Noble
  • Patent number: 11639731
    Abstract: An improved fastener clip for a side curtain airbag is provided. The fastener clip includes a head portion and a body portion having first and second expansion legs. During installation, the fastener clip is manually inserted through aligned openings in an airbag attachment member and a body panel. When a bolt is threaded into the fastener clip, the head portion engages an upper surface of the airbag attachment member and the expansion legs flex laterally outward and engage an underside of the body panel. Spring tabs extend from the head portion and absorb vibrations to provide a secure attachment over the life of the fastener clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: A. RAYMOND ET CIE
    Inventors: Christopher Murphy, Mark Beyer, James Mell
  • Patent number: 11634063
    Abstract: There is provided a tensioning device for tensioning chains to secure loads on a transport vehicle. The tensioning device comprises first and second U-shaped yokes with parallel arms and an open end for coupling to fitments. The first yoke bottom has a threaded hole, while the second yoke bottom has an unthreaded hole. A threaded bolt rotatably extends through the unthreaded hole and engageably extends through the threaded hole, coupling the first and second yokes together. A limiter with a limiter leg is secured to the first yoke at the open end. The leg limits rotation of a fitment relative to the first yoke. The tensioning device includes a drive assembly having a universal type joint releasably coupleable with the threaded bolt, and an extension bar extending therefrom. Actuating the extension bar of the drive assembly rotates the threaded bolt, moving the first yoke relative to the second yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Reginald Robert Loraine