Patents Examined by Victor Sakran
  • Patent number: 6665911
    Abstract: A concealable buckle apparatus includes a supporting element, a buckle, a locking device and a panel. The buckle is pivotally mounted on the supporting element between an extended position and a concealed position. The locking device is movably mounted on the supporting element between a locking position for locking the buckle in the concealed position and a releasing position. The panel is mounted on the supporting element and defining an opening through which the buckle extends in the extended position and a slot through which the locking device is accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Han-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 6662415
    Abstract: A fastener for lace includes an upper plate, a lower plate and first, second, third and fourth rods extending between the upper and lower plates. The upper and lower plates both include a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The first and second rods extend between the first lateral edge of the upper plate and the first lateral edge of the lower plate. The third and fourth rods extend between the second lateral edge of the upper plate and the second lateral edge of the lower plate. A first length of lace is wound about the first rod and directed past the second rod. A second length of lace is wound about the third rod and directed past the fourth rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Wen-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 6662410
    Abstract: A fastener arrangement includes a fastener, a slider, and an injection-molded end stop. The fastener includes first and second tracks. The first track includes a first profile, and the second track includes a second profile for interlocking with the first profile. The fastener extends between first and second ends. The slider is slidably mounted to the fastener for movement between the first and second ends. The injection-molded end stop is located at at least one of the first and second ends. The end stop terminates the movement of the slider at the one of the first and second ends. The end stop includes interior plastic material disposed in an interior of the fastener between the first and second profiles. The one of the first and second ends includes a cut edge at an angle relative to an axis of the fastener extending between the first and second ends. The end stop may include exterior plastic material along an exterior of the fastener outside the first and second profiles and covering the cut edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan A. Kolovich, Russell J. Talbo, Joseph W. Eye, William F. Klepser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6658705
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, in which a strap is properly extended due to a slight abdominal motion, and a wearer can easily exchange the buckle to follow the fashion. The device includes a cover 10 being movable left and right, a slidable body 20 inserted into a bottom of the cover 10, and a bottom plate 30 hinged to one portion of a bottom of the body 20 by means of a hinge 32. The cover 10 includes a cover hook 12 formed at a front thereof and inserted into a buckle hook 51 provided at a rear of a buckle 50, and a leaf-spring hooking boss 11 with a hooked groove 11a formed at its center. The body 20 includes detachable bosses 21 protruded from both sides thereof, a roller fixing shaft 23 formed at a center of a bottom thereof for rotatably fixing a roller 70, and a hinge protruded from both sides of the rear thereof towards the bottom and having a hinge hole 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Jong Sig Yoon
  • Patent number: 6658704
    Abstract: A cord lock has a body and plunger in which a cord is secured, and an extension sleeve designed for insertion through an opening in an article or fabric to which the cord lock is attached. A back plate is engaged along the length of the extension sleeve, to pinch the fabric or article between the body and back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Jordi Badrenas Buscart
  • Patent number: 6654989
    Abstract: Antistatic agent for external use is attached to a synthetic resin material by coating or spraying, which is used in an attachment for clothes and belongings, such as a slide fastener, a button, a snap button, a hook, a strap fastener, a buckle, a swivel hook, a belt adjuster, a strap for portable goods and the like, or a component of the attachment. Alternatively, antistatic agent for internal use may be mixed in the synthetic resin material. Consequently, the attachment is provided with antistatic function, so that static electricity is discharged easily even if such an attachment is worn by a human body, thereby protecting a human body from electric shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Noritsugu Hamai
  • Patent number: 6654988
    Abstract: A stoppable zipper slider is mainly a set of sustaining leaf springs, consisting of a single or a pair of pieces, on the inner surface of the covering portion of the zipper slider. The set of sustaining leaf springs, of single piece or two pieces, with one end sustaining downward against the top surface of a stopping hook piece and the other end propping up in between the tail of the hook piece and the slider body, enable a pull tab's sliding along a reserved gap within the covering portion and propping the bottom of one leaf spring open and then entering a braking notch of the stopping hook piece so as to accomplish the action of re-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Roger C. Y. Chung
  • Patent number: 6651296
    Abstract: There is provided a knit-in slide fastener in which a continuous fastener element row is knitted simultaneously with the knitting of a warp knitted fastener tape at a fastener element mounting portion on a longitudinal side edge portion of the fastener tape. Since a yarn composed of ordinary long fibers, or a textured yarn is employed as a fixing knitting yarn for the fastener element mounting portion, even if a sewing needle is pierced into the textured yarn, the fixing knitting yarn is never cut off because the sewing needle passes through a number of fibers which compose the textured yarn. Further, even when part of the fibers are cut off, no fraying occurs in the yarns, so that the fastener element row at the cut off portions does not separate from the fastener tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6647600
    Abstract: A hook and loop fastener for flat structures, particularly for textile products, having a hook part and an interlocking part, the interlocking part being made of a nonwoven composite having worked-in, textured, polymeric threads, the nonwoven composite being used as support for the textured threads, and the textured threads forming the loops for the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Manfred Jöst, Dieter Groitzsch, Gerhard Schaut
  • Patent number: 6643900
    Abstract: A quick-fixing element for fastening guide rails on lattice-like lateral parts includes an upper holding section which reaches at least partially around a first rod of a lateral part, and a lower holding section which reaches at least partially around a second rod of the lateral part which extends essentially parallel to the first rod. A nose is provided between the upper and the lower holding section, which nose rests on the second lower rod or rods of the lateral part. The quick-fixing element is held securely on the lateral part and can also be used for different lattice types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Peter Jährling
  • Patent number: 6640398
    Abstract: Magnetic clasps for securing the opposed ends of chains and other jewelry. Each clasp includes an arrangement for securing separable bodies by means of magnets that have been poled to present opposed surfaces of opposite magnetic polarities. In a first embodiment, disk-like magnets are received in channels of mating elongated body members of like configuration. End flanges of the elongated body members, in addition to the disk-like magnets, provide axial resistance to separation while the resultant magnetic force prevents separation in the transverse direction. In a second embodiment, disk-like magnets of divided polarities are seated at ends of mating bodies. A pin-and-slot locking mechanism is formed in the two bodies and the magnets are oriented relative thereto so that resultant repulsive magnetic forces force the two magnets into mating alignment when in the longitudinal slot for maximum magnetic holding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Leslie C. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6640393
    Abstract: A releasable tie is described in which an elongated strand of flexible material is provided with a first set of three dimensional beads spaced apart along a first length of the strand. A second set of three dimensional beads, formed on the strand are spaced apart along a second length of the strand. A tab formed along the strand includes a first locking slot for releasably receiving the first strand length; and a second locking slot for releasably receiving the second length of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Todd B. Wendle
  • Patent number: 6640400
    Abstract: A strap buckling assembly is used for holding an attachment to the exterior of luggage and is formed of an outer housing, an inner housing, an urging block, a locating plate, an elastic body, and a male retainer. The outer housing is fastened to the external side of a shell of the luggage, while the inner housing is fastened to the internal side of the shell of the luggage. The urging block is movably located in the outer housing and is urged by the elastic body. The urging block serves to retain an engagement portion of the male retainer inside the outer housing in conjunction with the elastic body. The urging block also serves to release the engagement portion of the male retainer from the outer housing in conjunction with the elastic body. The male retainer is fastened at one end to the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Shou Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 6640396
    Abstract: A buckle device for a skate comprises an adjustable receptor fixed to a side of an upper of a boot of a skate, a strap, and a tensioning/releasing mechanism. The tensioning/releasing mechanism comprises a base and a release arm. The base is fixed to another side of the upper of the boot and includes a pivotal seat on an end thereof. The release arm has a first end and a second end pivotally engaged with the pivotal seat. The strap has an end pivoted to the release arm. The release arm is movable between a tensioning position in which the release arm is retained in place relative to the base and the strap is tensioned and a detaching position in which the strap is not tensioned. The second end of the release arm is detachable from the pivotal seat when the release arm is in the detaching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Chao-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 6640394
    Abstract: A tamper-proof tie includes a head and an attached strap. The head includes a strap accepting channel and a blind cavity. The strap accepting channel includes a strap entry end and a strap exit end. The blind cavity includes an open end. The head includes a flexible locking member comprising first and second ends which are fixed in place within the head. The strap includes an anti-tampering device which comprises a finger and a projection. In use, the strap is inserted into the strap accepting channel so the tie forms a closed loop. As the strap is inserted into the head, the locking member engages the anti-tampering device to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the head. With the tie formed into a closed loop, the anti-tampering device substantially encloses the entry end and the exit end of the strap accepting channel and the open end of the blind cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Berrocal, James C. Benoit
  • Patent number: 6637080
    Abstract: The present invention is a reversible single-piece flex holder for retaining a flexible sign face to a sign frame. The flex holder has a latch block and a latch blade movable toward the latch block about a hinge, for clamping the margin of a sign face. A pair of pivot lips are provided on the outside of the flex holder for engagement into a slot in a sign frame. These pivot lips are symmetrical to each other relative to a clamping axis of the flex holder, such that the flex holder is interchangeably mountable to the margin of a flexible sign face. The flex holder also has a stopper lip extending from the latch block and a stopper bulge on the latch blade. The lip and the bulge interfere with each other when the latch blade is reopened to a certain extent to prevent over-stressing the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Normand Verret
  • Patent number: 6637082
    Abstract: A quick holder includes a bottom housing, a cover, two clamping members, and a tensile spring. The tensile spring is urged between the retaining posts of the two clamping members conveniently, so that the two opposite clamping members may be used to clamp the paper by a single tensile spring, thereby simplifying the whole structure, and thereby decreasing the difficulty of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Chun-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 6637083
    Abstract: A lanyard, two-piece, high load buckle assembly including a keeper and a cover. The cover is hinged to the keeper and the lanyard is secured thereto. The cover defines an elongated slot. The cover has a cam surface formed on the under surface thereof and terminates in a locking surface. An opening is formed in the cover. The assembly also contains a secure part which includes a base and a tongue section extending from the base. The tongue section has parallel guide arms extending from a rear wall and terminating in leading ends. A member secured to the guide arms is configured with reference to the slot to remove debris from the slot through the opening in the cover. A cam surface formed in the tongue section terminates in a catch surface, such that when the secure part is received in the keeper, the cam surfaces engage and the cover deflects upwardly. The catch surface extends beyond the locking surface and the cover closes fastening the secure part to the keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 6637078
    Abstract: It relates to a slider for slider fastener with locking device where a sheet-like spring having a locking pawl at one end is fixed at the other end on a body. A bent portion of a spring portion of the fixed spring is exposed at a guide post, and a pull is mounted between the body and the spring so as to be raised or laid. A cam is provided on a lower face of an axle of the pull, and the axle slides on an inclined guide portion on the body. When the pull is laid forward of the body, a gap is formed between an edge of a through hole of a grip portion of the pull and the bent portion of the spring. Even if a load is applied to the pull in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, this gap prevents the spring from plastic deformation, so that the spring is never plastically deformed under any use condition, thereby ensuring an excellent locking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Nagata, Koji Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 6637079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a female component for engaging a complementary hook component in a refastenable fastening device. The female component of the present invention is capable of engaging a hook component that has flexible, resilient individual hook elements. The female component comprises at least two, and preferably three zones or layers. Each zone has certain of the desired individual characteristics for entangling and holding the hooks of the mating hook component. These include a first zone for admitting and engaging at least some of the hooks of the complementary hook component (the “entanglement” zone), a second zone for providing space for the hooks to occupy after they have been admitted by the entanglement zone (referred to as the “spacing” zone), and a backing adjacent to the spacing zone for providing a foundation for the entanglement and spacing zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, Dennis A. Thomas