Patents by Inventor Guy R. Dingman

Guy R. Dingman 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).

  • Publication number: 20080168603
    Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Ayette, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7144085
    Abstract: A harness for restraining a passenger in the seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, a car, a van, or a bus, is provided. The harness may be configured to releasably couple with at least one rigid member mounted in the bight of the vehicle's seat between the seat's seat and back portions. The restraining harness may be a harness, a belt system, a child seat, or a booster seat, any of which may be configured to utilize any suitable coupling and to cooperate with the vehicle's own restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, John David Scelsi, Donald C. Boyle, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 6962394
    Abstract: A coupling to attach a device such as an infant seat to an anchor member. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a mouth with a seat configured to receive the anchor member and a lever movably mounted on the frame to hold the anchor member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch in the closed position and allows access to the notch when moved to the open position. The coupling may include a stop member to resist movement from the closed to the open position. The coupling also may include a web adjuster or other connecting device operatively disposed between the coupling and the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Anthony, Michael A. Wiseman, Guy R. Dingman, Steven T. Berenyi
  • Patent number: 6868585
    Abstract: A web adjuster device includes a frame defining a first web engaging surface. A web clamping member is movably mounted to the frame and defines second and third web engaging surfaces. A web is received between the first and second web engaging surfaces, and in one direction of web travel the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween. In an opposite direction, the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface away from the first web engaging surface to allow web travel in this direction. The third web engaging surface may be omitted in favor of a web engaging protrusion extending from the web engaging surface of the frame, wherein the second web engaging surface facilitates trapping of the web against the web engaging protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Guy R. Dingman, Nick A. Campbell, Michael A. Wiseman, Gregory L. Woodard, Steven T. Berenyl
  • Patent number: 6868591
    Abstract: A buckle for use with a safety belt includes a buckle housing formed to define a cavity, an actuator aperture in communication with the cavity, and an insertion opening in communication with the cavity. An actuator of the buckle is coupled to the buckle housing and formed to include a button accessible through the actuator aperture of the buckle housing as well as a belt-anchor catch coupled to the button to move with the button. The buckle further includes an ejector spring positioned within the cavity of the buckle housing along a substantially central longitudinal axis defined to extend from a back end of the buckle housing to a front end of the buckle housing. First and second belt anchors are formed to be inserted, at least in part, into the insertion opening to engage the ejector spring and move the ejector spring to a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. Dingman, Gregory L. Woodard, Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 6820310
    Abstract: A web adjuster for varying a length of a web. The web adjuster has a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a frame including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The adjuster may include a coupling device, such as another web or a snap hook, to operatively anchor the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Woodard, Guy R Dingman, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20040208692
    Abstract: A coupling device for engagement with an anchor member is provided. The coupling device includes a lever that moves between a closed position that substantially covers the mouth of the device and an open position in which the mouth is substantially uncovered by the lever. The lever may be moved to the open position by camming forces or by direct manipulation of a portion of the lever by a user. The coupling device may include a cover with a recognizable shape such as a pet or fictional character. The protruding ears and/or head of the recognizable shape aid in the gripping and operation of the device and the mouth receives the anchor member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Guy R. Dingman
  • Publication number: 20040036305
    Abstract: A stabilizing device comprises a flexible member coupled at one end to a handgrip and at the other end to a retraction mechanism, which tends to urge the flexible member in a retraction direction. The retraction mechanism may operate linearly or rotationally. A user is stabilized by grasping and pulling the handgrip in an extension direction opposite the retraction direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory D. Smith, Guy R. Dingman, David D. Merrick, William D. Dodson
  • Publication number: 20040003486
    Abstract: A buckle for use with a safety belt includes a buckle housing formed to define a cavity, an actuator aperture in communication with the cavity, and an insertion opening in communication with the cavity. An actuator of the buckle is coupled to the buckle housing and formed to include a button accessible through the actuator aperture of the buckle housing as well as a belt-anchor catch coupled to the button to move with the button. The buckle further includes an ejector spring positioned within the cavity of the buckle housing along a substantially central longitudinal axis defined to extend from a back end of the buckle housing to a front end of the buckle housing. First and second belt anchors are formed to be inserted, at least in part, into the insertion opening to engage the ejector spring and move the ejector spring to a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Guy R. Dingman, Gregory L. Woodard, Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20030197415
    Abstract: A web adjuster device for securing and varying a length of a web. The web adjuster device comprising a connector portion and an adjuster portion. The adjuster portion comprising a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a housing including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The connector portion comprises a hook portion integrally attached to the web adjuster portion, the hook portion rising generally upwardly and away from the bottom surface of the web adjuster portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 6631926
    Abstract: A clamp for relieving the tension in a seatbelt. An air operated actuator is activated by the passenger at a location remote from the clamp to lock the clamp to the seatbelt. The clamp is slidable on a track with a first endstop and an opposite second endstop. The clamp can be initially secured to the seatbelt at the first endstop. Subsequent movement by the passenger results in the clamp moving along the track. Upon reseating by the passenger, the clamp will be supported at a support position intermediate of the first and second endstops, resulting in increased slack in the shoulder portion of the seatbelt, reduced tension in the shoulder portion, and increased comfort for the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Merrick, Guy R. Dingman, Aaron Acton
  • Publication number: 20030173817
    Abstract: A harness for restraining a passenger in the seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, a car, a van, or a bus, is provided. The harness may be configured to releasably couple with at least one rigid member mounted in the bight of the vehicle's seat between the seat's seat and back portions. The restraining harness may be a harness, a belt system, a child seat, or a booster seat, any of which may be configured to utilize any suitable coupling and to cooperate with the vehicle's own restraint system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, John David Scelsi, Donald C. Boyle, Guy R. Dingman
  • Publication number: 20030030310
    Abstract: A coupling to attach a device such as an infant seat to an anchor member. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a mouth with a seat configured to receive the anchor member and a lever movably mounted on the frame to hold the anchor member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch in the closed position and allows access to the notch when moved to the open position. The coupling may include a stop member to resist movement from the closed to the open position. The coupling also may include a web adjuster or other connecting device operatively disposed between the coupling and the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: James T. Anthony, Michael A. Wiseman, Guy R. Dingman, Steven T. Berenyi
  • Publication number: 20030030311
    Abstract: A web adjuster for varying a length of a web. The web adjuster has a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a frame including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The adjuster may include a coupling device, such as another web or a snap hook, to operatively anchor the coupling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory L. Woodard, Guy R. Dingman, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20030019080
    Abstract: A web adjuster device includes a frame defining a first web engaging surface. A web clamping member is movably mounted to the frame and defines second and third web engaging surfaces. A web is received between the first and second web engaging surfaces, and in one direction of web travel the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween. In an opposite direction, the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface away from the first web engaging surface to allow web travel in this direction. The third web engaging surface may be omitted in favor of a web engaging protrusion extending from the web engaging surface of the frame, wherein the second web engaging surface facilitates trapping of the web against the web engaging protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Guy R. Dingman, Nick A. Campbell, Michael A. Wiseman, Gergory L. Woodard, Steven T. Berenyl
  • Patent number: 6425632
    Abstract: A coupling and web adjuster to attach an infant seat to the passenger seat of a vehicle having a fixedly mounted rigid member to which the seat may be attached. The web adjuster has a cylindrical bar with a generally oval cross-section and a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends; a web that extends at least partially around the bar, a frame with a pair of channels in which the ears of the bar may slide, and one or more mechanical springs to normally push the bar toward the web stop and against the web. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a notch on its distal end with a mouth/seat that is adapted to receive the fixedly mounted rigid member and a lever that is pivotally mounted inside the frame to hold the rigid member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch when moved in one direction and allows access to the notch when moved in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Anthony, Harold L. Forth, Guy R. Dingman, Steven T. Berenyi
  • Publication number: 20020003347
    Abstract: A clamp for relieving the tension in a seatbelt. An air operated actuator is activated by the passenger at a location remote from the clamp to lock the clamp to the seatbelt. The clamp is slidable on a track with a first endstop and an opposite second endstop. The clamp can be initially secured to the seatbelt at the first endstop. Subsequent movement by the passenger results in the clamp moving along the track. Upon reseating by the passenger, the clamp will be supported at a support position intermediate of the first and second endstops, resulting in increased slack in the shoulder portion of the seatbelt, reduced tension in the shoulder portion, and increased comfort for the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: David D. Merrick, Guy R. Dingman, Aaron Acton
  • Patent number: 6312015
    Abstract: A clamp for relieving the tension in a seatbelt. The clamp is moveable along a track between first and second endstops. The clamp includes a movable button which can be pushed by the passenger to lock the clamp to the seatbelt. The clamp can be secured to the seatbelt at the first endstop. Subsequent movement by the passenger results in the clamp moving along the track. Upon reseating by the passenger, the clamp will be supported at a support position intermediate of the first and second endstops, resulting in increased slack in the shoulder portion of the seatbelt, reduced tension in the shoulder portion, and increased comfort for the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Merrick, Guy R. Dingman, Aaron J. Acton
  • Patent number: 5516199
    Abstract: An anti-cinch automatic locking retractor. A web spool is rotatably mounted between a pair of upstanding walls. The spool includes a pair of flanges each having a plurality of locking teeth with the teeth spaced apart by an included angle. A pawl is pivotally mounted to the walls and is lockingly engagable with the teeth. A cam plate mounted adjacent the spool and rotatable therewith includes a cam surface extending through an angle greater than the teeth included angle to limit cinching of the web spool as the spool rotates to and from the locking position and through the included angle. An additional slack reducing mechanism is mounted to the seat frame opposite from the side of the retractor and includes a pivot member for automatically aligning the attached locking device when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Crook, Guy R. Dingman, Ronald F. Homeier, Chris P. Jessup
  • Patent number: D389426
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Merrick, Lisa A. Rose, Guy R. Dingman