Patents by Inventor Christopher C. Libby

Christopher C. Libby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10436236
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud, a threaded sleeve, and a compression spring. The stud includes a shaft with a first head at one end and a second head at an opposite end of the shaft, both heads with opposing bearing surfaces. The threaded sleeve is disposed about the shaft. The threaded sleeve includes external threads and a tubular interior with an inwardly projected shoulder. The compression spring is disposed about the shaft inside the threaded sleeve, with a first end bearing against a shoulder of the threaded sleeve and a second end bearing against a bearing surface of the second head. The spring urges the sleeve against the bearing surface of the first head. The assembly can maintain a preload between two components while allowing the components to be separated, and can also be used as a pressure limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Jerry G. Hodsdon, Christopher C. Libby, James R. Barker
  • Publication number: 20190107139
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud, a threaded sleeve, and a compression spring. The stud includes a shaft with a first head at one end and a second head at an opposite end of the shaft, both heads with opposing bearing surfaces. The threaded sleeve is disposed about the shaft. The threaded sleeve includes external threads and a tubular interior with an inwardly projected shoulder. The compression spring is disposed about the shaft inside the threaded sleeve, with a first end bearing against a shoulder of the threaded sleeve and a second end bearing against a bearing surface of the second head. The spring urges the sleeve against the bearing surface of the first head. The assembly can maintain a preload between two components while allowing the components to be separated, and can also be used as a pressure limiter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jerry G. Hodsdon, Christopher C. Libby, James R. Barker
  • Patent number: 9781980
    Abstract: A releasable fastening features a first fastening strip including an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, and a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip. The first fastening strip also includes a longitudinally continuous rib supported by the upper surface of the base of the first fastening strip, the rib extending sufficiently far from the base of the first fastening strip to engage a sealing portion of the second fastening strip, and of a bending strength sufficiently low that the rib is placed in an elastically bent state, when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, thereby forming with the sealing portion of the second fastening strip a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Christopher M. Gallant, Christopher C. Libby
  • Publication number: 20170055644
    Abstract: A releasable fastening features a first fastening strip including an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, and a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip. The first fastening strip also includes a longitudinally continuous rib supported by the upper surface of the base of the first fastening strip, the rib extending sufficiently far from the base of the first fastening strip to engage a sealing portion of the second fastening strip, and of a bending strength sufficiently low that the rib is placed in an elastically bent state, when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, thereby forming with the sealing portion of the second fastening strip a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Christopher M. Gallant, Christopher C. Libby
  • Patent number: 9504295
    Abstract: A releasable fastening features a first fastening strip including an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, and a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip. The first fastening strip also includes a longitudinally continuous rib supported by the upper surface of the base of the first fastening strip, the rib extending sufficiently far from the base of the first fastening strip to engage a sealing portion of the second fastening strip, and of a bending strength sufficiently low that the rib is placed in an elastically bent state, when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, thereby forming with the sealing portion of the second fastening strip a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Christopher M. Gallant, Christopher C. Libby
  • Publication number: 20150208770
    Abstract: A releasable fastening features a first fastening strip including an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, and a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip. The first fastening strip also includes a longitudinally continuous rib supported by the upper surface of the base of the first fastening strip, the rib extending sufficiently far from the base of the first fastening strip to engage a sealing portion of the second fastening strip, and of a bending strength sufficiently low that the rib is placed in an elastically bent state, when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, thereby forming with the sealing portion of the second fastening strip a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Christopher M. Gallant, Christopher C. Libby
  • Patent number: 9090005
    Abstract: A method for forming a film of plastic material includes urging molten resin through a die head opening to form a stalk having an extrusion profiled rail of resin material extending radially outward from a tubular wall, the die head opening including an annular orifice that defines a thickness of the tubular wall and a cross-sectional shape of the rail; cutting the rail to form discrete elements while leaving the tubular wall un-punctured; and inflating the stalk with a gas bubble maintained within an interior space of the tubular wall to form a thin film tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Libby, Christopher M. Gallant, William P. Clune
  • Publication number: 20130318752
    Abstract: A releasable fastening features a first fastening strip including an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, and a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip. The first fastening strip also includes a longitudinally continuous rib supported by the upper surface of the base of the first fastening strip, the rib extending sufficiently far from the base of the first fastening strip to engage a sealing portion of the second fastening strip, and of a bending strength sufficiently low that the rib is placed in an elastically bent state, when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, thereby forming with the sealing portion of the second fastening strip a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Christopher M. Gallant, Christopher C. Libby
  • Publication number: 20130256954
    Abstract: A method for forming a film of plastic material includes urging molten resin through a die head opening to form a stalk having an extrusion profiled rail of resin material extending radially outward from a tubular wall, the die head opening including an annular orifice that defines a thickness of the tubular wall and a cross-sectional shape of the rail; cutting the rail to form discrete elements while leaving the tubular wall un-punctured; and inflating the stalk with a gas bubble maintained within an interior space of the tubular wall to form a thin film tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Libby, Christopher M. Gallant, William P. Clune