Patents Examined by Victor N. Sakran
  • Patent number: 6343407
    Abstract: A hose clip for clamping a hose includes a clamping body formed by bending a band-shaped spring plate into a circular form. A frame-shaped first grip is formed at one end of the body so as to protrude radially outward, and a second grip is formed at the other end of the body so as to protrude radially outward and so as to oppose the first grip when moved through an inside of the first grip. A locking protrusion protrudes from the first grip toward the second grip, and a locking opening is formed in the second grip so as to be engaged with the protrusion. When the protrusion engages the locking opening, the first and second grips are held close to each other such that the body is held in a spread state. The protrusion disengages from the locking opening when the first and second grips are displaced radially relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Togo Seisakusyo Corporation
    Inventors: Mineo Muto, Yuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6339867
    Abstract: A device for fastening a flexible tie has a hollow body provided with a guiding channel that forms a funnel for a translationally movable blocking element, this blocking element being subject to the constant action of an elastic element. The hollow body is housed in a case where it can move translationally parallel to the blocking element, and the blocking element is maintained in the case, on one side by virtue of the elastic element that acts directly between the blocking element and the case, and on other side by virtue of an abutment. A retractable abutment makes it possible to retain the hollow body against the blocking element to block the tie, or to release this hollow body so as to enable the sliding of the tie. The fastening device is particularly adapted to ensure the adjustment of a garment or a shoe by means of a tie, such as a lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Azam
  • Patent number: 6338186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for retaining and/or blocking shoelaces, for sport shoes in particular. The device is in the shape of a tube portion (10), with two parts (11, 12) articulated about a hinge (13), that can be locked in the closed position and unlocked to allow for the insertion or removal of the shoelace in the shape of a bundle. The device is fastened by at least one fastening means to a part integral with the shoe, for instance to a shoelace passing through at least two holes (15, 16, 17, 18) formed in at least one (12) of the two parts of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: Philippe Kleinmann
  • Patent number: 6338184
    Abstract: A manually-operable crimping tool for lockingly securing a seal member upon overlapped end portions of plastic strapping is provided with particular structure such that the resulting crimped seal member and overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping have an undulated configuration whereby the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping cannot readily become loosened or disengaged with respect to each other under the influence of axially applied tensile forces. The present invention is also directed toward the particularly structured or configured seal member as well as toward the resulting sealed joint formed or defined between the seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Barry R. Angarola, Janusz Figiel, Mathew Breckheimer
  • Patent number: 6336261
    Abstract: A seatbelt system includes a buckle stay. The buckle stay is provided with an anchor for being fixedly fastened on a vehicle body and also with a buckle stay member fixed at an end thereof on the anchor and connected at an opposite end thereof with a buckle base of the seatbelt system. The buckle stay member is branched into a plurality of end portions on a side of its one end where the buckle stay member is fixed on the anchor. The branched end portions are fixedly secured in the anchor portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6332252
    Abstract: A release resistant buckle cover is shown having a primarily rectangular shape for engagement with a top release female buckle portion of a seat belt. A plurality of gaps are provided to provide passage of the male belt to the female buckle for engagement of the seat belt. The gaps are also used to provide passage of a thin object such as a key to be inserted through one of the gaps to compress the top release button of the female buckle to release the male belt thus disengaging the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Diana L. Powers
  • Patent number: 6330736
    Abstract: A buckle joint includes a clasp member, a catch member, a latch member, and an urging member. The clasp member has a stud with an outer periphery formed with an annular groove. The catch member has a first through-hole, a first tongue portion projecting into the first through-hole, and a recess. The stud projects into the first through-hole. The first tongue portion engages releasably the annular groove. The latch member is mounted slidably in the recess, and has a second tongue portion projecting into the first through-hole for engaging releasably the annular groove. The latch member is slidable into and out of the first through-hole from the recess between a locking position, in which the second tongue portion engages the annular groove, and an unlocking position, in which the second tongue portion disengages the annular groove. The urging member is mounted in the recess for urging the latch member to move to the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Ruey Yuan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koon-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 6327750
    Abstract: A lace-tensioning device which is a rigid cylindrical body (64) with two passages (58, 60) aligned parallel to the cylindrical axis and a handle element (62) projecting from the body (64) perpendicular to the cylindrical axis and functioning as a lever. The device is used in a laced closure by modifying the lacing pattern from the standard alternating pattern at one of the pairs of guide elements (68, 70) of the closure and threading the lace (75) through both passages (58, 60) of the tensioning device. A segment of lace (76) from one side (82) of the closure goes through one passage (60) in the device and then back to the same side (82) of the closure from which it came. A segment of lace (78) from the opposing side (84) of the closure goes through the other passage (58) in the tensioning device and back to the same opposing side (84) from which it came. The lace (75) is otherwise laced conventionally and its ends are tied together in a secure knot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Don Scott Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren S. Muldowney, Donald W. Scott
  • Patent number: 6327758
    Abstract: The subject matter is a resilient unitary lighting clip which connects a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly. The clip includes a face plate which has a lock formed integral with the face plate to secure the clip to the bar hanger. A U-shaped connector is formed integral with the face plate for receiving a bar hanger. A support is formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar. A catch is formed integral with the support and is resiliently connectable to the T-bar. A tab is formed integral with the support and is engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Juno Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Petrakis, George L. Janos
  • Patent number: 6327756
    Abstract: A fixing clamp has two pivoting jaws which are mobile relative to each other against the action of a return spring between an open position and a closed position. An operating lever accessible to a user is attached to one of the jaws. The two jaws are connected to each other by a spacer to which each jaw is articulated about a respective separate rotation axis. Applications include fixing clamps for inspection lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Legrand, Legrand SNC
    Inventor: Laurent Maziere
  • Patent number: 6327754
    Abstract: A plurality of fastener arrangements for use in manufacturing recloseable bags comprising a first fastener and a second fastener connected to the first fastener. Each of said fasteners comprising a male track with a male profile, a female track with a female profile and a slider. The male and female profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The slider is slidably mounted to the fastener for movement between a closed position and an open position. The male and female profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position. The male and female profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk E. Belmont, Ian J. Barclay
  • Patent number: 6327751
    Abstract: A cord holding buckle is formed of a cord holding device, and an end stopper to be attached to an end of a cord. The cord holding device includes a body portion, a through-hole formed in the body portion for allowing the cord to pass therethrough, a fixing member for fixing the cord relative to the body portion, and a first coupler attached to the body portion. The end stopper includes a second coupler detachably attached to the first coupler, so that the end stopper can be detachably fixed to the cord holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6324732
    Abstract: A fastener for fixing an article on a board via a through-hole formed thereon has a base that has a top face, side faces opposed to each other, and a rear end. An opening having at least two opposing edges is formed in the base. A pair of first elastic stoppers stands upright from the top face of the base and positioned along the edges of the opening. Each of the first elastic stoppers has an inclined projection extending outward. A pair of second elastic stoppers stands upright from the top face of the base next to the first elastic stoppers. Each of the second elastic stoppers has a leg and a wing extending from the leg, the wings spreading outward so as not to be parallel to each other. A cover plate is attached to the rear end of the base in a pivotable manner, so that the cover plate swings between an open position and a closed position. An insertion is attached to and extends from the inner surface of the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc
    Inventors: Oomi Arisaka, Shigeo Okada
  • Patent number: 6324731
    Abstract: An isolator fan fastener for securing a cooling fan housing to the interior chassis of a computer is described. The fastener is comprised of a pin made of a hard impact resistant plastic and an isolator grommet made of a soft resiliently flexible plastic. The pin is frictionally engageable with the isolator grommet. In operation the isolator grommet is preinstalled in the fan housing. Insertion of the pin through the chassis and into the isolator grommet completes the mounting. An isolator fan fastener in accordance with the invention yields enhanced acoustical properties when compared to prior art fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Frank V. Pliml, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6321418
    Abstract: There is disclosed a belt clip capable of being clipped onto a user's belt or garment edge for carrying small items like a pager or a cellular telephone. The belt clip comprises a belt clip body with a bottom flange that has two different flange surfaces. The first flange surface is flat and abuts the back of the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is attached to the belt clip. The second flange surface is also flat but lies in a plane that is disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the first flange surface. The second flange surface does not abut the back of the cellular telephone. A space is formed between the second flange surface and the back of the cellular telephone to facilitate the placement of the combination of the belt clip and cellular telephone on the user's belt or garment edge. The space also facilitates the removal of the combination of the belt clip and cellular telephone from the user's belt or garment edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: iLife Ssytems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 6321420
    Abstract: A tobacco belt buckle pipe serves as a closure for the opposite ends of a belt and also serves as a smoking pipe. The buckle pipe includes a geometrically shaped tubing which includes an endless internal passageway having an opening defined as a receptacle for insertably receiving a quantity of tobacco and further having a slit opening in the tubing for holding the tobacco. A rotatable closure device is provided around the tubing having an opening having a first position remote from the receptacle so as to close the receptacle and a second or operative position in registry with the receptacle during a smoking procedure. A pipe stem is secured to a rotatable bearing or coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Stanley Spancer
  • Patent number: 6321421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clip used in connecting between a wiper blade and a wiper arm of a vehicle that can eliminate the generation of a gap which used to be present when assembling a wiper arm and conventional type of clips. The clip of the present invention, when installed into the main shaft of a wiper blade so that it can wrap around a wiper arm, can not only prevent the generation of a gap between a wiper arm and the clip, but also eliminate the trembling phenomenon of a wiper arm and the resulting noise that used to occur in the conventional type of clips during the normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Keun Sik Lim
  • Patent number: 6317937
    Abstract: A fastener used for mounting a mounting object having an insertion rib onto a support body having a mounting aperture. The fastener is previously fitted to the insertion rib of the mounting object and then inserted into the mounting aperture of the support body by pressing the insertion rib thereinto, thereby removably mounting the mounting object on the support body. The fastener includes a fastener body having a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is adapted to elastically engage an inner edge of the mounting aperture of the support body when the fastener is inserted into the mounting aperture with the insertion rib. The fastener further includes a gripper portion provided on the fastener body and having at least one gripper surface and at least one engagement projection formed thereon. The gripper surface Is adapted to contact the insertion rib of the mounting object when the fastener is fitted to the insertion rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignees: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kojima Press Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuichirou Ishihara, Takeshi Mizuno, Masaaki Yamakami
  • Patent number: 6314622
    Abstract: This invention provides an engaging member of a fastening device integrally molded of synthetic resin which enables sewing thereof to clothes easily and accurately, ensures ease and smoothness in an operation for opening the engaging member of the fastening device even if it is molded relatively thick, and prevents too much force being applied to a sewing yarn by an external force upon the opening operation thereby ensuring durability and contributes to reduction of production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Yoshinobu Takahashi, Angelo Piacenza
  • Patent number: 6311373
    Abstract: A buckle is formed by an upper plate (33) pivotally connected to an end of a first band, and a lower plate (35) and pivotally connected to the upper plate, and a slidable frame (40) pivotally connected to an end of the lower plate. A push plate (43) is attached to the slidable frame so that a second band (36) can be inserted in the space between the push plate and a bottom plate (38), and a pushing projection (48) is formed at an end of the lower plate for pressing the push plate to the second band. A stopper rod (50) is provided in the slidable frame so as to abut against the pushing projection at a position where the pushing projection strongly presses the push plate, thereby preventing the lower plate from rotating downwardly over the slidable frame fixing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Hashimoto