Patents by Inventor Michael D. Rowe

Michael D. Rowe 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: 11433698
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11358408
    Abstract: A filer is disclosed which has front panel and rear panel defining a storage compartment therebetween, the storage compartment having a width. The filer includes a cover coupled to the rear panel and releasably attachable to the front panel to generally cover or seal the storage compartment. A distal portion of the cover has a width that is about equal to or smaller than the width of the storage compartment to allow the distal portion of the front cover to be received in the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Elizabeth M. Lacher
  • Publication number: 20210260910
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, JR., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11034183
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20200361231
    Abstract: A filer is disclosed which has front panel and rear panel defining a storage compartment therebetween, the storage compartment having a width. The filer includes a cover coupled to the rear panel and releasably attachable to the front panel to generally cover or seal the storage compartment. A distal portion of the cover has a width that is about equal to or smaller than the width of the storage compartment to allow the distal portion of the front cover to be received in the storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Elizabeth M. Lacher
  • Publication number: 20200180348
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, JR., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 10602831
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to at least partially define an inner cavity therebetween. The backpack has a storage component positioned within the inner cavity and at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer. The backpack further has a releasable fastener that is movable to an open position to provide access to the inner cavity and movable to a closed position to block access to the inner cavity. The back surface includes a hinge about which the back surface is predisposed to bend, and the backpack is configured such that when the releasable fastener is in the open position at least part of the back surface is pivotable about the hinge to provide access to the inner cavity. The hinge is positioned below the storage component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 10542815
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to define an inner cavity therebetween. The body has a pair of opposed side surfaces, each side surface extending between the back surface and the front surface. The backpack includes at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer and a releasable fastener that is openable to provide access to the inner cavity or closable to block access to the inner cavity. The fastener extends at least partially across the front surface and both side surfaces. At least part of the releasable fastener on the side surfaces, at a position away from an outer perimeter of each side surface, extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Michael A. Lorenz, Thomas J. Africa
  • Patent number: 10500890
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 10486456
    Abstract: A component including a body having an outer edge, a first slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein and a second slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein. The component further includes a tab coupled to the body such that the tab is movable between a retracted position wherein the tab does not protrude beyond the outer edge, and an extended position wherein the tab extends through the first slit/opening, extends through the second slit/opening and protrudes beyond the outer edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Michael D. Rowe, Ellisa A. Stone
  • Publication number: 20180126773
    Abstract: A component including a body having an outer edge, a first slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein and a second slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein. The component further includes a tab coupled to the body such that the tab is movable between a retracted position wherein the tab does not protrude beyond the outer edge, and an extended position wherein the tab extends through the first slit/opening, extends through the second slit/opening and protrudes beyond the outer edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, JR., Michael D. Rowe, Ellisa A. Stone
  • Patent number: 9873284
    Abstract: A device with a retractable stand including a device body and a stand panel slidably coupled to the device body. The stand panel is slidably movable between a retracted configuration, wherein the stand panel is generally flat and planar, and an extended configuration wherein the stand panel is not generally flat and planar. When said stand panel is in the extended configuration the stand panel forms a stand to support the device body in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 9796206
    Abstract: A bound system including a plurality of pages and a cover/divider bound to the plurality of pages and having at least one free edge. The cover/divider includes a tab secured to a body of the cover/divider such that the tab is movable between an extended position wherein at least part of the tab protrudes beyond the free edge and a refracted position wherein the at least part of the tab does not protrude beyond the free edge. The cover/divider has a slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein and positioned adjacent to the tab and spaced away from the free edge. The slit/opening is positioned such that at least part of the tab is receivable through the slit/opening when the tab is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Michael D. Rowe, Ellisa A. Stone
  • Publication number: 20170013947
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to at least partially define an inner cavity therebetween. The backpack has a storage component positioned within the inner cavity and at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer. The backpack further has a releasable fastener that is movable to an open position to provide access to the inner cavity and movable to a closed position to block access to the inner cavity. The back surface includes a hinge about which the back surface is predisposed to bend, and the backpack is configured such that when the releasable fastener is in the open position at least part of the back surface is pivotable about the hinge to provide access to the inner cavity. The hinge is positioned below the storage component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventor: Michael D. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20170001462
    Abstract: A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, JR., Paul E. Olvera, Michael D. Rowe
  • Patent number: 9346312
    Abstract: A bound component including a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge. Each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge. The substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together. The bound component further includes a reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Michael D. Rowe, James C. Matchett, Keith D. McGoldrick, Jason M. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20150374105
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to define an inner cavity therebetween. The body has a pair of opposed side surfaces, each side surface extending between the back surface and the front surface. The backpack includes at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer and a releasable fastener that is openable to provide access to the inner cavity or closable to block access to the inner cavity. The fastener extends at least partially across the front surface and both side surfaces. At least part of the releasable fastener on the side surfaces, at a position away from an outer perimeter of each side surface, extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Michael A. Lorenz, Thomas J. Africa
  • Patent number: D752144
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Scot B. Herbst, Peter M. Bartlett, Megan C. Lapointe
  • Patent number: D752683
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Scot B. Herbst, Peter M. Bartlett, Megan C. Lapointe
  • Patent number: D757174
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Scot B. Herbst, Peter M. Bartlett, Megan C. Lapointe