Patents Examined by Rodney M. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 6883519
    Abstract: A strap for respirator masks comprises a head strap piece, made from elastically flexible synthetic material, with a strap fixing piece and a head plate with a greater wall thickness than the attached head straps. A neck strap, connected to the mask at two fixing points and an extending temple strap, which may be introduced in a detachable and length adjustable manner into fixing clips attached to the head straps, are fixing to the strap fixing piece. The head strap piece thus consists of a straight and a curved piece. The crown-shaped embodiment with the elastic temple band is associated with good fitting and wearing properties and low maintenance requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: MSA AUER GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schmidtke, John F. Kuhn, Wilfried Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6883180
    Abstract: An accent device for use with a headpiece includes a headpiece with at least one opening in the headpiece through which one end of the accent is inserted. An opposite end of the accent device is brought into contact with the one end and attached thereto. The accent device includes a structure that is disposed on a plane and can include any circular, oval, or polygonal shape. Any other item, including jewelry can also be attached to the accent device. A method for permanently attaching an accent piece to a headpiece is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Joyann Elaine Willis
  • Patent number: 6883181
    Abstract: There is provided an adjustable pad set for a protective helmet. The adjustable pad set includes a plurality of internal pads of various thicknesses. A plurality of pad retaining/locating devices each have a pocket for receiving at least one of the plurality of internal pads so as to form an individual pad of the adjustable pad set. At least one fastener for each of the plurality of pad retaining/locating devices respectively secures each of the plurality of pad retaining/locating devices to a selected location within the protective helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Long
  • Patent number: 6880176
    Abstract: An improved headgear includes an outer shell and an inner liner providing a head receiving cavity. A headband has a forward portion and lateral portions secured to the inner liner and a rearward portion extending rearwardly of said lateral portions. A first vent aperture is centrally formed in the outer shell. A second vent aperture is centrally formed in the inner liner. Third vent apertures are formed in the inner liner in spaced relationship with the second vent aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Troxel Cycling & Fitness LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Timms, Michael J. Yokota, John W. Montello
  • Patent number: 6880174
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first curved band portion and a second curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. The first curved band portion defines a passageway between the first end and the second end of the first curved band portion. The passageway has a first opening. The second curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. A motion-restraint portion is proximate to the first end of the second curved band portion. The first end of the second curved band portion is insertable into the first opening of the passageway of the first curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a range of motion within the passageway of the second curved band portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: 180s, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary F. Prokop
  • Patent number: 6874169
    Abstract: A portion of a mask or helmet covering a user's ear has an aperture covered by a sound-collecting and sound-transmissive protector swivelingly mounted thereon. The protector has a substantially parabolic reflector surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the protector's axis of rotation which magnifies sounds arriving from a particular angular direction and directs the sound through a plurality of holes axially penetrating through the protector from an outer to an inner surface. A user manipulable actuator nib extends axially outwardly from a peripheral portion of the outer surface of the protector allowing user control of swiveling movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: JT USA, LLC
    Inventor: Lester Broersma
  • Patent number: 6874163
    Abstract: A load-carrying assembly (10) [FIG. 2] is disclosed comprising a panel (14) having a grid of holes (54) formed therein and at least one load-carrying pouch (26) attached to the panel by means of stud-like fasteners (40, 41) that pass through the holes (54) and through perforations (56, 72) formed in the pouch (26). The panel (14) is preferably formed from a woven textile mesh in which the total area of the holes is less than 75% of the area of the panel, in which the mesh is less extensible in the vertical (load-carrying) direction than in the lateral or horizontal direction, and in which the studs are preferably a close fit in the holes of the mesh and the perforations of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Peter Alan Marshall
  • Patent number: 6874170
    Abstract: A head and neck protection system includes a head protector, a shoulder protector, and a neck guard for protecting an athlete from injury. The neck guard detachably connects between the head protector and the shoulder protector and includes a collar. The collar has a first edge and a second edge spaced apart from the first edge and longer than the first edge. The first and second edges include fasteners for detachably coupling the collar between the head protector and the shoulder protector. The collar has a perimeter that flares radially outwardly as the collar extends from the head protector to the shoulder protector. The collar interconnects the head protector with the shoulder protector to form a restraint that limits displacement of the head protector relative to the shoulder protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Todd D. Aaron
  • Patent number: 6871360
    Abstract: A head and neck restraint device for being worn by a driver while operating a high performance vehicle in which the device controls the driver's head from snapping forward and downwards during a frontal vehicular crash. The device includes a pair of anchor straps that are worn along the back of the driver. The straps are adapted for being connected to the driver's helmet and for being anchored to either the vehicle's seat belt assembly and/or to the driver's legs. The restraint device itself does not inhibit the driver from exiting the vehicle as exiting may occur after simply unlatching the vehicle's seat belt assembly. Moreover, since the restraint device is neither rigid nor bulky the driver may quickly exit the vehicle without being restricted by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Safety Solution, Inc.
    Inventor: Trevor P. Ashline
  • Patent number: 6868553
    Abstract: A conventional baseball (softball) glove includes at least one layer of protective padding in the areas above and below the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joint of the index finger. Preferably, two layers of padding are used. One layer of padding is a slow release foam material and the other layer of padding is a foam rubber, neoprene, or other foamed elastomeric material. Additional protective padding may extend to the areas above and below the center axis of rotation of other joints of the index finger as well as joints of other fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
    Inventor: James M. Kleinert
  • Patent number: 6868560
    Abstract: The present specification protective headgear including a unitary shell (1) having a bell shape with a non-uniform thickness, the shell being of sufficient size to enclose at least an upper part of the wearer's skull, the shell having an upper crown portion (6) with a central crown area (2) and a surrounding outer crown area (3), the shell further including a depending circumferential wall which has an upper wall area (4) adjacent to the outer crown area (2) and a lower wall area (5), the lower wall area (5) having a wall thickness generally greater than the wall thickness of said upper wall area (4), and the central crown area (2) having a wall thickness generally greater than the wall thickness of said outer crown area (3), the headgear further including a support system (9) attached to the lower wall area(s) of the shell (1) in a manner whereby no less than 5 mm space is maintained between the wearer's skull and an inside surface of the shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Bostock Developments Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Hayden Bostock
  • Patent number: 6865752
    Abstract: An adjustable sports helmet configured for protecting a user's head. The helmet includes a shell, a padding assembly and an adjustment assembly. The shell has an inner surface and an outer surface. The padding assembly is coupled to the inner surface of the shell. The padding assembly has at least two spaced apart adjustment points. The adjustment assembly includes a guide, a strap and at least one adjusting member. The guide is operably coupled to the inner surface of the shell. The strap has a first portion connected to the guide and a second portion releasably connected to the outer surface of the helmet. The adjusting member is operably engaged to the guide and is connected to the adjustment points of the padding assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Patrick Udelhofen, Douglas G. Guenther, Cory R. Boudreau
  • Patent number: 6862750
    Abstract: The invention is a chin stabilizer system for a full-face helmet, such as a motorcycle helmet or the like. It includes a flexible material having a generally triangular configuration with snap fittings at each point of the triangle. The snap fittings connect the flexible material to the helmet, underneath the chin. One snap fitting connects the material near the chin, while the other two connect the material to the helmet on opposite sides, near the wearer's jaw. The flexible material restrains the helmet from riding up over the face of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Don Rasberry
  • Patent number: 6862749
    Abstract: A helmet neck skirt system for covering an entirety of a user's neck to inhibit debris and adverse weather from providing discomfort to the user includes a collar member couplable to a full circumferential length around a base portion of a protective helmet such that the collar member extends down from the helmet generally parallel to the user's neck. Thus, the collar remains in generally spaced relationship to the user's neck and permits the insertion of an upper portion of a jacket or shirt worn by the user between the neck of the user and the lower portion of the collar. The collar extends down a distance sufficient to cover an entirety of the user's neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Richard Krause
  • Patent number: 6862748
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a magnet module adapted for use in an automatic shutdown assembly of a flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device, the magnet module comprising a vertically angled cavity with a substantially L-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end and a stowed end substantially opposite the use end and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity and movable between the use end and the stowed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Norotos Inc
    Inventor: Jonathon R. Prendergast
  • Patent number: 6862744
    Abstract: An athletic glove comprises a back portion and a palm portion. A tape is stitched to the back portion. The tape extends from a little finger portion, a ring finger portion and a middle finger portion toward the base of a thumb portion, and can supply proper fastening force to the little finger, the ring finger and the middle finger of the user's hand when the user grasps an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Kuroda, Kazuhiro Kume, Satoshi Yoshida, Konosuke Nishijima, Soichi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6862745
    Abstract: For a firefighter, rescue worker, or chemical worker or another wearer needing head protection, a protective hood, a fitment, a face mask, and a head harness are combined. The head harness is attached to the face mask, at an upper portion of the face mask, so as to secure the face mask to the wearer's head, when the face mask and the head harness are worn. The protective hood is attached detachably to the face mask, at a lower portion of the face mask, but is not attached elsewhere. The protective hood is adapted to cover the wearer's head and to cover the head harness, except for a frontal region of the wearer's head, when the protective hood, the face mask, and the head harness are worn. The fitment is attachable to the face mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William L. Grilliot, Mary I. Grilliot
  • Patent number: 6862747
    Abstract: A protective helmet includes a substantially rigid outer shell defining a bottom opening and an internal cavity for receiving a wearer's head; an inner ring positioned substantially within and secured to the outer shell; a suspension secured to the inner ring and including at least two suspension straps; and a headband positioned substantially within the outer shell and adjacent the bottom opening of the outer shell, wherein the position of the headband relative to the inner ring can be manipulated, effectively adjusting the vertical position of the headband within and relative to the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: E.D. Bullard Company
    Inventor: Richard Alan Oleson
  • Patent number: 6859948
    Abstract: Hip protector (10) worn primarily by the elderly, preventing/reducing hip fractures, resulting from a fall. The protector is made of all-soft materials using a matching pair of hip protective holsters (14/24) interconnected by a waist encircling belt (16) from which a pair of protective pad pouches (20) are suspended in the holsters over the user's hips and secured in place by leg encircling bands (18/26). The protective pouches include foam bodies (54) with underlying, intermediate, spacer elements (42) and a bottom cover (50), all in combination creating an enclosed, moisture-holding, air chamber (80). The protector is worn under clothing (under pants, bed clothes or swimming trunks, etc.), light weight, easily put on & removed, does not interfere in daily living (sleeping, usual body movements, restroom or bathing activities, etc.), and, when the user sweats, the surface of the user's skin under the hip protector is maintained dry using “one-way-moisture flow” material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Melts
  • Patent number: 6859946
    Abstract: A helmet is particularly well suited for cold-weather use. The helmet includes a jaw shield that is detachable from a head portion. A breathing mask connects to the jaw shield via a mask adjustment mechanism that selectively axially moves the breathing mask toward and away from an inner surface of the jaw shield to precisely and accurately position the breathing mask against the nose and mouth of the helmet's wearer. A spring-loaded quick-release tinted shield is controlled by a lever that selectively raises and lowers the tinted shield. An eye shield pivotally connects to the helmet and is disposed in front of the tinted shield. An eye shield heating system on the eye shield electrically connects to the head portion of the helmet to provide electric power to the heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Éric Fournier, Gilles Basson, Louis Guay