Patents by Inventor Ralph M. Nowak

Ralph M. Nowak 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: 5230541
    Abstract: A fastener for cabinets is provided, which can be easily adjusted to securely fasten together the paired handles of a cabinet, regardless of their spacing. The cabinet fastener includes a housing having, on one side, a latch opening of predetermined width, a finger opening disposed adjacent the latch opening and a stop disposed between the latch opening and the finger opening. One end of a flexible, elongated band having two ends passes through an opening in the housing on the side opposite the side having the latch opening, and is adjustably retained in said housing. A resilient primary latch is disposed at the opposite end of the band, which has a normal width greater than the width of the latch opening and is adapted to resiliently deflect to a smaller width to fit through the latch opening and spring back so that a portion of the primary latch protrudes into the finger opening and engages the stop, preventing the primary latch from being pulled from the latch opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: 5147099
    Abstract: A child-proof latch which prevents a child from directly accessing the latch member (arm) itself, thus rendering it extremely difficult for a child to open a cabinet secured by the latch. The latch of the invention comprises a latch member, a support for the latch member, and an actuator member for selectively moving the latch member between its extended position (in which the cabinet is prevented from opening) and retracted position (in which the cabinet is allowed to open). Mutually engageable locking surfaces are provided on the actuator and the support, such that the actuation is normally locked with the latch member in its normally extended position. In order to open the cabinet, it is necessary to first disengage the locking surfaces and then depress the actuator sufficiently to move the latch, which is biased toward its extended position, to its retracted position. As it is unlikely that a child could accomplish both tasks, the latch is extremely secure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Kidie Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas McLinden, Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: 4822051
    Abstract: A child's puzzle toy has several discrete puzzle panels of progressively increasing difficulty. Each panel bears, on a first surface, a segment of a picture. The panels are assembled for joining the segments into continuous pictures. Each panel has at least one cavity and the puzzle further includes a corresponding puzzle piece of size and shape to be received snugly into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph M. Nowak, Harold Ashton, Earlene Hornbostel
  • Patent number: 4591208
    Abstract: The safety shield is designed to be energy absorbing and is constructed of a non-rigid self-supporting energy-absorbing material and is adapted to engage across the side walls of a children's car seat. The lateral sides of the shield are provided with depending flanges which envelop the upstanding side walls of the car seat as well as with snap-lock protuberances for engaging the side walls at top and bottom. Also, the shield is provided with a face guard which extends from the shield and with padding which envelops the face guard and the inside of the shield. A gripping means is provided on the front of the shield to securely receive and grip a retaining belt, such as an automobile seat belt, to hold the seat and shield in place against lateral movement and pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Bobby-Mac Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin H. McDonald, Richard L. Panicci, Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D255132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: CPG Products Corp.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D334807
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D338150
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas McLinden, Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D346559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D362031
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Cup
    Patent number: D366988
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: D371779
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph M. Nowak, Bruce P. Popek
  • Patent number: D371781
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Kiddie Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph M. Nowak, Bruce P. Popek