Staple, Clip, Belt, Or Lacing Hook Patents (Class 206/340)
  • Publication number: 20080067089
    Abstract: A nail magazine includes an elongated magazine unit which defines two elongated parallel channels, a first transverse channel intercommunicating the parallel channels so as to cooperatively form a U-shaped nail loading slot, and a second transverse channel extending from one of the parallel channels so as to cooperatively form an L-shaped nail loading slot therewith. A guide member is disposed on a front discharging end of the magazine unit, and cooperates with the front discharging end to define a stroke path of a driving member of a nail-driving tool. The guide member defines a guiding slot to guide a U-shaped nail to move along the stroke path. A guide bar is mounted in the guiding slot, and has a guiding portion configured to be raised to guide movement of an L-shaped nail, and can be depressed by the driving member to retreat into a retreat bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Yimin ZHU
  • Patent number: 7341145
    Abstract: A surgical clip dispenser arranged to hold a plurality of surgical clips for retrieval by a clip applier is provided. The dispenser in one aspect includes a clip housing with a plurality of slots each adapted to hold a plurality of surgical clips and is biased for rotational movement. A regulator substantially encompassed by the clip housing in one position prevents rotational movement of the clip housing and in another position permits rotation of the clip housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Frans Vandenbroek, Arnold Tuason
  • Publication number: 20070272571
    Abstract: A commodities package is provided for containing commodities, such as staples. The package includes a base container and a cover, the base container and cover having interengaging structure in order to hold them together. The base container and cover are wrapped with shrink wrap to provide a sealed package. An outer package contains a plurality of commodity packages and facilitates loading of the commodity packages onto a display structure. The outer package is manually alterable so that it supports each of the plurality of commodity packages while the display structure is received by hanger members provided on the commodity packages. Once the commodity packages are loaded onto the display structure, the outer package is pulled away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: Edmund Czopor, Richard Hart, Timothy Lebeau, Susan Lapadula, Thomas Pelletier
  • Patent number: 7299921
    Abstract: A box-type staple pack (1) formed in accordance with planer dimensions of a staple sheet is provided with an upper face window (3), a bottom face window (4), and a rear face window (5) and is provided with a staple outlet (6) in a slit-like shape at a front face thereof. When the staple pack is charged to a staple cartridge, a pressing plate in the staple cartridge is brought into elastic contact with a lower face of the staple sheet via the bottom face window (4) and a whole staple pack (1) is pressed to a ceiling face at inside of the staple cartridge. A feed claw disposed at an upper portion at inside of the staple cartridge is brought into contact with an upper face of a topmost staple sheet exposed to the upper face window (3) and feeds the staple sheet to a front side via the staple outlet (6). Charging is facilitated by dispensing with time and labor of unpacking a package or removing a bundling strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yoshie
  • Patent number: 7234622
    Abstract: It is a task of the present invention to provide a stapler of a small size, the structure of which is simple, into which a large number of staples can be charged. It is also a task to provide a cartridge, the structure of which is simple, containing the staples and attached to the stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Masuda, Jun Maemori, Akira Aoki
  • Patent number: 6880699
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided for retaining surgical clips, and particularly clips used in surgical ligating procedures that have an asymmetrical profile. The cartridge comprises a base having a base longitudinal axis. A plurality of axially spaced walls extend from the base and are transversely disposed in relation to the base axis. The walls define a plurality of axially spaced compartments therebetween. Each wall has a central wall axis that is generally perpendicular to the base axis. The cartridge further comprises a plurality of clip support members. Each clip support member is disposed within a respective compartment and comprises an asymmetrically shaped cross-section in relation to the central wall axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Pilling Weck Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard J. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20040262181
    Abstract: A decorative outdoor containment system is provided in the form a vessel disguised to look like a rock, plant or other landscape feature. The preferred embodiments include a base portion and a lid, enabling the user to store items during periods of non-use. The system may further include a garden hose contained in the vessel, and insulated walls may be provided to function as a cooler to hold ice, drinks, or food. Alternatively, chemicals or other accessories may be stored for swimming pool use. One particular embodiment comprises a pet waste clean up system including a vessel disguised to look like a natural or artificial product having a base portion and a lid, enabling the user to accumulate pet waste until ultimate disposal. In all embodiments the vessel may be constructed to resemble a rock or boulder; a tree stump; a fire hydrant, a cactus or plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Loren Venegas
  • Patent number: 6783033
    Abstract: A dispenser for magnetic objects includes a base having a curved rack. A barrel is attached to the base and has an opening with a magnet adjacent to it for retaining paperclips or other magnetic objects in an easy-access position. The barrel is mounted on a pivot arm and has a pinion attached to its side that co-operates with the rack upon pivotal movement of the pivot arm relative to the base so that the barrel rotates to an inverted orientation. The invention is particularly useful when the barrel becomes almost empty of paperclips. Pivotal inversion of the barrel allows remaining clips to fall toward the opening to be retained by the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: C. C. & L Company Limited
    Inventor: Sik-Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 6755301
    Abstract: A thin cassette provided with a plurality of passages separated by partitions and open outwards at the front orifices, and at a rear side. On the rear side, each passage is equipped with a driver resting against the staples contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Societe Cassese
    Inventors: Pierre Cassese, Alain Cassese, Jean Cassese, Philippe Cassese
  • Publication number: 20040099552
    Abstract: A spacer clip is attached to a sheet member via a through-hole from one side of the sheet member. The clip has a shank with a flange at one end and arms hinged to the opposite end for insertion in the through-hole in advance of the shank. The arms have levers that engage the flange side of the sheet member, and the arms rotate with the levers as the shank is inserted in the through-hole to a position at which portions of a through-hole section of the sheet member enter spaces between the arms and their levers, and the arms and the flange contact opposite sides of the sheet member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Hideki Kanie
  • Patent number: 6626294
    Abstract: A roll staple (1) comprising a roll staple body (11) which is made of a sheet staple formed by a large number of straight staples (10a) jointed parallely, and wound in a roll state so as to make a through hole (1a) at the portion of central axis of the roll staple body, and a core material (13) which is fitted into the through hole (1a) formed in the roll staple body (11) by insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuyoshi Fujishima, Masayoshi Shigemitsu, Yoshihiro Kaneko, Masaru Ando, Susumu Shinmei
  • Patent number: 6578711
    Abstract: A packing box for a lashing rope winch includes a holding plate, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The holding plate has several containing recesses arranged side by side. The holding plate has several pairs of opposite securing protrusions for allowing tight insertion of a main body of a winch into between when the winch is held in one containing recess. The upper cover is pivoted to the lateral edges of the holding plate to cover an upper section of the containing recesses, while the lower cover is detachably joined to the lower portion of the holding plate. Thus, the winch can be easily taken out from the packing box to be tried and inspected by consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: An-Chuan Chou
  • Patent number: 6533516
    Abstract: An interlocking shim system having interlocking grooves and teeth. The interlocking shim does not require extraneous tools for the process of installation. The system also includes magnets for placing a shim pack in an uneven environment. Since the interlocking shims can be attached to each other through the interlocking groove members the user can manipulate a connected shim pack, by removing the first interlocking shim. There is also a magnet system in the present invention for aligning the bottom shim in mechanical applications without having to scribe the position for correct placement. The shims interlock for easy removal of shim packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Normand Lemelin
  • Patent number: 6499597
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel package, particularly for use as a skin package which may be readily recycled, and to a process for preparing such a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Aquasol Limited
    Inventors: David Brian Edwards, William John McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6460700
    Abstract: In order to reliably configure the positioning of the clip in the cartridge in any phase, even during removal, in the case of a cartridge for receiving U-shaped clips having a web and two arms projecting therefrom, with a support abutting the underside of the web and with clamping members, which abut the web laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from this web transversely to the plane of the clip, it is proposed that additional clamping members are provided, which abut the arms laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from these arms transversely to the plane of the clip, and which are pressed elastically against the arms independently of the clamping members abutting the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Aesculap AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Patent number: 6408489
    Abstract: A fastener for use with a crimping tool comprising a length of fastener metal wire bent into a generally C-shaped configuration to form an open ring fastener. The open ring fastener includes spaced opposed curved free end portions integrally interconnected by a central connecting portion. The open ring fastener is to be (1) positioned in an installation position with respect to elongated elements to be connected together disposed between the spaced opposed free ends thereof, and (2) crimped by a pair of closing jaws of the crimping tool into a close ring formation in surrounding relation to the elongated elements wherein the free ends are lapped with respect to sections of the connecting portion. The open ring fastener has a dry lubricant film on exterior surfaces of the curved free ends which slide with respect to the closing jaws when the open ring fastener is crimped so as to reduce the force required to effect the crimping movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Raymond F. Cluggish
  • Patent number: 6357588
    Abstract: A clip and collected assembly thereof are provided and including a method of forming the clip and clip assembly. The clip is formed with at least one slot that has at least one projection for keeping a resilient cord press fit in the slot therein against forces tending to shift it out therefrom. Preferably, two parallel slots are provided for receiving two cords therein with there being two opposing projections extending into the slot opening from either side of the slot. The slot projections provide an attendant manufacturing benefit as the punches of the die press apparatus that punch slugs from the blank fed thereto will not suffer from slug pulling problems because of the presence of corresponding projections extending into the die cavity openings from either side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Stanley Fastening Systems, LP
    Inventors: David Room, Matthew Graszer, Paul Lackler
  • Publication number: 20020014423
    Abstract: A roll staple 1 comprising a roll staple body 11 which is made of a sheet staple formed by a large number of straight staples 10a jointed parallely, and wound so as to make a through hole 1a at the portion of central axis, and a core material 13 which is inserted into the through hole 1a of the roll staple body 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Atsuyoshi Fujishima, Masayoshi Shigemitsu, Yoshihiro Kaneko, Masaru Ando, Susumu Shinmei
  • Publication number: 20010015330
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel package, particularly for use as a skin package which may be readily recycled, and to a process for preparing such a package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: DAVID B. EDWARDS, WILLIAM J. MCCARTHY
  • Patent number: 6277132
    Abstract: In a needle inserter with a needle protector for surgical suturing instruments, including a needle insertion structure having a handle part at one end and a needle mounting part at the other end, a slot is disposed in a needle mounting part for engaging therein a suturing needle. Means are provided for placing the needle inserter onto a jaw of a suturing instrument such that the needle can be locked with the jaws of the suturing instrument, which then, upon compression of the handle part, can be removed. The protector, which is installed on the needle inserter by a manufacturer, holds the needle in its proper position in the needle inserter and covers the needle tip to prevent displacement of the needle and injuries to persons installing the needle in the suturing instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Brhel
  • Patent number: 6273253
    Abstract: A cartridge for holding clips includes a base and a plurality of walls extending from the base and having wall faces, opposed wall faces of adjacent walls defining a space for receiving a clip, wherein at least one wall of the wall faces has a roughened surface positioned to contact a clip in the space whereby the clip is frictionally held in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Vitalitec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Forster, Lawrence Crainich, Wolfgang Eisold, Wayne Knupp, Beate Schoppler, Jacques LeBozec
  • Patent number: 6227365
    Abstract: A molded product display system having an array-of interconnected, tearably releasable, molded plastic parts, and a display card that is preferably supported by the array of plastic parts for display of the parts at the point of sale. The array of molded parts preferably includes a molded section defining an aperture usable for hanging the molded product display system from a support rod or other hanger at the point of sale. The display card preferably includes a plurality of apertures or slits useful for releasably attaching the display card to the array of molded parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Gary Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Lonnie F. Gary
  • Patent number: 6158583
    Abstract: The support (1) which is in the form of an elongate strip, possesses clip supporting and retaining means which co-operate solely with web portions (51-52) of a clip (5) leaving the lateral limbs (50) thereof free; the support means comprise at least one bearing face (200) against which the web portion (51-52) of a clip rests, while the retaining means comprise a thin flexible tongue forming a blocking tab of a length that is not less than the height of the clip, and normally bearing against the web portion (52), but capable of moving away therefrom along a path that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the clip in order to release it when an upwardly-directed traction force is exerted on the clip. The support is applicable to surgical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Vitalitec International
    Inventor: Michel Forster
  • Patent number: 6126666
    Abstract: In a device for inserting a surgical suture needle into an endoscopic suture apparatus wherein the device includes two legs which are movable relative to each other, one of the legs has a front end with means for receiving a jaw of an endoscopic suturing apparatus and the other leg has needle engagement means for holding a surgical needle in a predetermined position such that one needle tip enters a needle support of the surgical suturing apparatus jaw when the other leg holding the needle is moved toward the one leg while the one leg is disposed on the surgical suturing apparatus jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Forschungszcutrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Trapp, Helmut Wurster
  • Patent number: 6086304
    Abstract: A sheet of staples (11) are formed by arranging a plurality of straight staples (1) in a row like a sheet of paper, and a staple set (10) is formed as a result of connecting them to each other by gluing a at least uniaxially oriented film (12) on at least one surface of the sheet of staples (11) so that the longitudinal direction of the straight staple (1) coincides with the orientation of the film (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atuyoshi Hujishima, Ichinari Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6064577
    Abstract: A belt clip (100) attaches to a battery housing of a communication device to be worn by a user. The belt clip (100) includes a base (104) and a flexible spring loaded latch (106) having an opening. The base (104) is comprised of a pair of rails (108). The pair of rails (108) attach to a battery housing (116) via a pair of undercuts (120). The belt clip (100) is prevented from moving due to the opening of the latch slipped and hooked over a ramped post (124) as the belt clip is slid, from the bottom to the top of the battery, through the pair of undercuts (120) formed by a pair of protrusions that are integrally raised from the top surface of the slim body on opposed sides of the ramping post (124) for providing a belt clip guiding slot. The sliding action is continued, within the slot, until the latch is pressed against and mounted on the ramping post (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Wayne Moskowitz, Faris Habbaba
  • Patent number: 6044971
    Abstract: A clip cartridge for supporting a plurality of clips is provided. The clip cartridge includes a body defining a plurality of clip chambers each configured and dimensioned to receive a clip therein. Interlocking structure is provided on each end of the cartridge to facilitate attachment of a multiplicity of clip cartridges together. Clip cartridges housing different size clips have substantially identical external dimensions and internal dimensions which accommodate for the different size clips. The uniformity of the external dimensions of the cartridges housing different size clips facilitates attachment of the cartridges housing different size clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Felix F. Esposito, Lawrence M. Rank, Lawrence Crainich, Paul A. LaRue
  • Patent number: 6024748
    Abstract: There is disclosed a surgical instrument and loading unit for performing an anastomosis of first and second blood vessels. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly and a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly. The detachable loading unit includes an anvil releasably engagable with a distal end of the body portion and having a plurality of fasteners disposed in channels about the circumference of a distal end of the anvil. A pusher is slidably mounted over the anvil such that distal movement of the pusher in response to actuation of the handle assembly cams the fasteners between the anvil and a distal end of the pusher to simultaneously crimp the fasteners about tissue. A method of performing an anastomosis is also disclosed and includes positioning a first vessel in the loading unit and partially inserting the first vessel through an opening in a second vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Scott E. Manzo, Richard D. Gresham, Kevin Sniffin, Peter W.J. Hinchliffe
  • Patent number: 5927491
    Abstract: A resilient clip assembly for securing paired wires is formed by a plurality of similarly oriented U-shaped clips that are held together by a pair of parallel, spaced filaments which are secured to a top crown surface of each clip through a tongue member. The filament is elastically deformable such that each filament is compressed and retained within an opening after the tongue is depressed downwardly onto the filament, thus preventing the filament from extracting itself from the clip. No part of the filament or tongue extends into the wire-receiving cavity of the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Stanley/Hartco Company
    Inventors: David Jarrett Room, Paul Wolfgang Lackler, Matthew Graszer
  • Patent number: 5908430
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge that retains clips in their slots and also facilitates removal of the clips by a clip applier. The slots are provided with at least one and preferably two retaining members that protrude from and preferably run substantially parallel to the slot-defining walls. The retaining members interfere with the clip to an extent sufficient to retain the clip in the slot while permitting relative movement between the clip and the saddle. In a preferred embodiment, the legs of the clip are flared to further facilitate engagement between the clip legs and the grooves of the applier jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Timothy Appleby
  • Patent number: 5878880
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two spaced apertures through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each aperture into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the aperture. Alternative embodiments of sheet metal clips and methods of collating an array of such clips are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5852850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chain of interconnected closure clips, designed for the necks of bags or film tubes, having a uniform cross-sectional profile and two free ends lockable together to close the closure clip, which chain is characterized in that the closure clips comprise projections located in mutual alignment between the ends on the outer contour and are connected only in the region of these projections, such that the projections form a through-web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System Corp.
    Inventors: Jurgen Hanten, Eggo Haschke, Walter Grzondziel, Gunter Vermehren
  • Patent number: 5833064
    Abstract: An elongate string of sheet metal anchor clips includes a series of identical anchor clips disposed in a line, each clip including a flat base portion between a forward, hook shaped end portion and a downturned leg which extends from a corner with the base portion, and a strip of flexible material fixed to each one of the clips to form the string of clips. The strip can have an adhesive on one side thereof for fixing the strip to each clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Vertex Fasteners
    Inventors: Donald B. Ayres, Glenn Gustafson
  • Patent number: 5718624
    Abstract: A support structure for storing a plurality of retainers each used with a body of eviscerated fowl having first and second legs with respective severed extremities. Each retainer is a substantially planar thin member mountable about the severed extremities. The thin member has an outer portion which defines an opening sized to receive the legs and a plurality of protuberances which extend inwardly from the outer portion into the opening for engaging the legs. The support structure comprises an elongate member having at least one longitudinally-extending bend connecting first and second longitudinally-extending sections with first and second edges so as to be substantially V-shaped in cross-section. The cross-section of the elongate member is sized to extend through the opening in the thin member. The bend in the elongate member is adapted to engage the outer portion of the thin member between adjacent protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Volk Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Volk
  • Patent number: 5682994
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two spaced apertures through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each aperture into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5591181
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided for manipulating a surgical needle and an associated loading mechanism is provided for replacing the surgical needle. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing means for securing the surgical needle, releasing means cooperating with the securing means for releasing the surgical needle and locking means cooperating with the securing means for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving. A loading mechanism is also provided and includes structure for supporting a surgical needle and a storage member for retaining at least a portion of a length of suture material attached to the surgical needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Corbett W. Stone, Stephen W. Zlock, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 5564564
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two parallel slots through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each slot into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5513751
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for housing a stacked supply of hooks which permits the individual withdrawal of a lowermost hook from the stack. A dispensing apparatus provides a chamber having an open top, a rear wall, two side walls, a front wall, a spaced floor providing a gap between the floor and the front wall, the front wall providing a longitudinal opening transversing the wall, the opening permitting the passage of a loop portion of each hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Roberts Systems Inc.
    Inventors: William Z. Vanhook, John A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5511661
    Abstract: For mounting in a notebook having outer covers and a spine, a sheet of clips comprises: a frame having inner and outer side rims, top and bottom cross rims, and optionally at least a rib connected between a pair of the rims; a set of paper clips integrally connected to the frame via the rims and the rib; each of the clips including an outer retainer, an inner retainer and a yoke connecting the outer retainer and the inner retainer; a rupturable junction extending between the frame and the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Clix Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Karlis, Gordon A. Vinther
  • Patent number: 5501387
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a staple cartridge usable for a motor driven stapler wherein the staple cartridge can repeatedly be used to substantially reduce the quantity of disposable waste material, thereby saving a useful resource. The bottom surface of a staple cartridge 11 is open so as to allow the staple cartridge 11 to be detachably charged in a staple sheet holder 13. A predetermined number of staple sheets 2 are received in the staple sheet holder 13 in the laminated state and in the form of a staple sheet pack 12 bounded by a band 14. Engagement holes 23 are formed on the staple sheet holder 13. As the staple sheet pack 12 is inserted into the staple cartridge 11 through an open portion on the bottom surface of the staple cartridge 11, the engagement pawls 24a of a lock lever 24 are brought in engagement with the engagement holes 23 so as to lock the staple sheet pack 12 to be firmly held in the staple cartridge 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yoshie
  • Patent number: 5478344
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided for manipulating a surgical needle and an associated loading mechanism is provided for replacing the surgical needle. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing means for securing the surgical needle, releasing means cooperating with the securing means for releasing the surgical needle and locking means cooperating with the securing means for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving. A loading mechanism is also provided and includes structure for supporting a surgical needle and a storage member for retaining at least a portion of a length of suture material attached to the surgical needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Corbett W. Stone, Stephen W. Zlock, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 5478345
    Abstract: A loading unit is disclosed for supplying multiple surgical needles or surgical incision members and associated lengths of suture material for positioning the needle or surgical incision member within the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus. The loading unit generally includes a body portion having apparatus receiving structure for receipt of the surgical suturing apparatus and a carousel rotatably affixed to the body portion and containing a plurality of supply stations thereon. The supply stations generally include a support member for supporting a central portion of a surgical needle and a storage member for temporarily securing a length of suture material associated with the surgical needle. The apparatus receiving structure includes structure for aligning and maintaining the surgical suturing apparatus in position on the loading unit until such time as a surgical incision member has been inserted into jaws associated with the surgical suturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Corbett W. Stone, Stephen W. Zlock, David Farascioni
  • Patent number: 5388693
    Abstract: A box for individually dispensing staple strips. The strips are first loaded into a central magazine. A spring activated pusher on one side of the box urges the strips toward the other side. On the other side is positioned a spring loaded ejector device sized and shaped to receive one strip of staples. The ejector device moves in the plane normal to the pusher's motion. The ejector device raises the staple stack toward a window in the box thereby enabling the user to remove the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Les Applications Rationnelles S.A.
    Inventor: Rosario Ceraudo
  • Patent number: 5339953
    Abstract: A staple box protector is provided which consists of a receptacle having a cushion foam insert with an open top to receive the staple box with a plurality of staple strips therein. A lid having a flange thereabout fits over and covers the open top of the receptacle. A fastener strap is for removably attaching the lid to the receptacle, so that the receptacle with the lid will protect the staple strips from breakage, thereby allowing the intact staple strips to be readily available for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventors: James W. Alex, Jeffrey S. Alex, Rick R. Gates
  • Patent number: 5314065
    Abstract: An improved sheet metal clip is interconnected in a collated stack of clips with a plastic rope inserted within side slots on each side edge of each clip. Each clip is generally U-shaped having a crown portion with a pair of parallel spaced leg portions depending from the crown portion. The rope is inserted within the side slots formed in the side edges of each clip. The preferred embodiment of the improved clip includes crown slots which are inwardly extending from each side edge of the crown portion. The rope can be retained within the slots by deflecting tabs on each lateral side edge of the crown portion to enclose the rope within the side slots. The collated stack of clips interconnected with the plastic rope of the present invention provides the needed flexibility and tensile strength for use in manufacturing applications and does not detrimentally affect the operation of the clip in clamping wires and springs together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Donald B. Ayres, Thomas J. Wells
  • Patent number: 5314064
    Abstract: An improved sheet metal clip is interconnected in a collated stack of clips with a plastic rope inserted within slots on each side edge of each clip. Each clip is generally U-shaped having a crown portion with a pair of parallel spaced leg portions depending from the crown portion. The rope is inserted within slots formed in the side edges of each clip. The preferred embodiments of the improved clip include slots which are obliquely angled relative to the side edge of the clip, slots which are in a keyhole configuration having a narrowed throat portion and an enlarged opening, and slots which are both obliquely angled and in the keyhole configuration. The rope can be retained within the slots by deflecting a tab section of the crown portion to enclose the rope within the slot or by sizing the rope to be larger in diameter than the width of the narrowed throat portion of the keyhole slot and to be retained within the enlarged circular opening portion of the keyhole slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wells, John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5305628
    Abstract: A package of ring fasteners comprising a multiplicity of similar ring fasteners each being made of a short length of metal wire of no smaller than 0.101 inch diameter material bent to provide a central bight portion and leading and trailing legs extending from opposite ends of said central bight portion terminating in spaced free ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Stanley-Bostitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond F. Cluggish
  • Patent number: 5282812
    Abstract: A surgical clamp for the temporary occlusion of a blood vessel during a surgical procedure and forceps-like instruments co-operative with the clamp for application and removal of the clamp in a coherent and rational surgical system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Luis Suarez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5244139
    Abstract: A magazine for V-nails for use in underpinning of picture frames receives a strip of V-nails secured together by heat-bonded non-adhesive synthetic plastic material through an opening of greater width than the V-nails. A pusher has a downwardly projecting tongue which is driven in the machine and has depending side walls at its forward end affording a contact point for pushing the V-nails at their center of gravity towards a pair of locating formations and the extreme forward end. A single V-nail which may be presented either point foremost or point rearmost is removed from the end of the strip in the underpinning operation, the magazine being cut away and the pusher being cut away to permit this operation. On return of the drive member, a cam firstly returns the pusher to a stop in the magazine and then lifts the magazine from its operative position to enable it to be removed or refilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignees: Magnolia Group PLC, W. & M. Joyce Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter A. J. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5201416
    Abstract: A holder for storing and retaining a plurality of hemostatic clips. The holder is produced as an integrally molded unitary piece having a plurality of longitudinally spaced chambers, each having a central post to support a clip and integrally formed guiding means for guiding the jaws of an associated forceps-type clip applier by which a clip within a selected chamber may be removed from the cartridge. A pair of opposing projections are formed in the walls of each clip chamber at a point spaced above the central post, the projections serving to loosely retain a clip in the chamber between the projections and the central post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Edward Weck Incorporated
    Inventor: Warren Taylor