Leaf Spring Patents (Class 220/829)
  • Patent number: 11786390
    Abstract: A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: OSSUR ICELAND EHF
    Inventors: Larus Gunnsteinsson, Bjorn Omarsson, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Henry Hsu
  • Patent number: 11706894
    Abstract: A cable manager connected to a network rack that routes cables in and around the network rack. The cable manager includes a body with plurality of fingers extending from the body. The distal end of at least one finger includes a hinge pin holder. The cable manager also includes a door hingedly attached to the fingers extending from the body. The door has a front, a back, edges, and at least one hinge pin receptacle positioned along the edges of the door. The hinge pin receptacle houses a magnet to enable the door to attach to the hinge pin holder of the at least one finger to hold the door in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jason O'Young, Kevin M. Zumbek
  • Patent number: 11484427
    Abstract: A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: OSSUR ICELAND EHF
    Inventors: Larus Gunnsteinsson, Bjorn Omarsson, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Henry Hsu
  • Patent number: 11438679
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a storage box. The storage box includes a body, a cover, and a first magnetic unit. The body is provided with a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body and is configured to rotate relative to the body to drive the storage box between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the cover covers the receiving space. In the closed state, the receiving space is exposed. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member attached to the body and a first attracting member attached to the cover. Opening the storage box from the closed state causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member. Magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate away from the closed state and into the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 11116300
    Abstract: A protective and/or ornamental case for a foldable handheld electronic device. The case includes a front shell and a back shell pivotally connected to one another by one or more springs or other tension mechanisms. A first portion of an electronic device is inserted into the front shell and a second portion of the electronic device is inserted into the back shell. The tension mechanisms retain the front and back shells operatively engaged with one another as the electronic device housed in the case is pivotally or hingedly opened and closed, help prevent unintended opening or closing of the device, and keep the device open or closed when so positioned by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CASE-MATE, INC.
    Inventor: Saumil Chetan Mody
  • Patent number: 11040820
    Abstract: A thermal bag includes a thermal bag main body and an upper cover. A side shaping board is interlaid between the fabrics around the thermal bag main body. The upper cover includes a pair of half covers. An opening assembly is connected between the two half covers. Atop shaping board is interlaid between the fabrics of each of the half covers. A hinge assembly is connected between the side shaping board and the top shaping board located at the same side of the opening assembly. The hinge assembly drives the half covers to open/close the opening of the thermal bag quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN KINGQUEEN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinfei Dong
  • Patent number: 10350449
    Abstract: A yoga block having two halves is adapted for storage whereby at least one of the two halves includes a cavity capable of receiving a flexible pouch and holding the flexible pouch securely. In some examples, the yoga block includes a cavity in each of the two halves for storing a flexible pouch within each of the two halves. In some further examples, the yoga block includes fasteners for securing each flexible pouch within each of the two halves, and hinges configured to be hidden when the two halves of the yoga block are in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew Abrahams
  • Patent number: 10314185
    Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a first case portion that may be adapted to surround at least a portion of a top device portion and a second case portion that may be adapted to surround at least a portion of a bottom device portion. The protective enclosure may also include a first hinge member coupled to a portion of the first case portion and a portion of the second case portion, and the first hinge member may pivot about a first hinge axis that is coaxially aligned with or parallel to a device hinge axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. Cavenagh, Jeremy L. Dennis, Cameron D. Magness, Lucas B. Weller, Hsiao Lu Sun
  • Patent number: 8910783
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette case includes a box body, a box cover hinged to the box body and an opening and closing mechanism. The opening and closing mechanism includes a spring piece built in the box body and an arc-shaped bulge formed on the box cover. The arc-shaped bulge clamped between the spring piece and inner wall of the box body and slidingly contact with the spring piece. When the box cover rotates a first predetermined angle relative to the box body, the spring piece drives the bulge to slide relative to the spring piece until the box cover is fully open. When the box cover rotates a second predetermined angle relative to the box body, the spring piece drives the arc-shaped bulge to slide relative to the spring piece until the box cover is fully closed. Thus, it is convenient to open or close the electronic cigarette case which has a simplified structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kimree Hi-Tech Inc
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Publication number: 20140339247
    Abstract: A hinged closure lid made of plastic for placing onto a container, has a main part which has a dispenser opening, a lid which is mounted pivotably on the main part and, in a closure position resting on the main part, closes the dispenser opening, and an actuating part which is connected integrally to the main part and is mounted thereon so as to be adjustable between an inoperative position and an actuating position. The lid can be adjusted from the closure position in the direction of an open position when the actuating part is in the actuating position. The actuating part here is connected to the main part via at least one flexible web serving as a predetermined breaking point, the web is destroyed when the actuating part is first adjusted into the actuating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Gonnert, Kerstin Krallmann, Rainer Krallmann
  • Patent number: 8863979
    Abstract: A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has one or more drink seals that engage a corresponding one or more drink apertures to close the drink apertures. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but not in the cleaning position. The trigger member is connected to the seal assembly such that the vent aperture is opened during a first portion of the operation of the trigger, and the drink apertures are opened during a second portion of the operation of the trigger so that the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ignite USA, LLC
    Inventors: Sami M. El-Saden, Daniel M. Wodka, Joe Y. Chiou
  • Patent number: 8763431
    Abstract: A washing machine comprising a cabinet open at an upper portion, a top cover coupled to the upper portion of the cabinet and including an opening for loading and unloading laundry therethrough, a lid assembly rotatably coupled to the top cover to open and close the opening, and a first hinge unit connecting the lid assembly with the top cover and reducing a speed of closing the lid assembly is provided. In the washing machine, the closing speed of the lid assembly is reduced to mitigate shock between the lid assembly and the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongyoon Kim, Youngbae Park, Seongno Yoon, Kichul Cho, Younggon Kim
  • Patent number: 8757425
    Abstract: An illustrative beverage container having a handle defining multiple gripping portions is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Williams Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Copeland
  • Patent number: 8376174
    Abstract: The invention is a spill proof snack bowl or container with a box section which may have a beveled bottom. The box section may be square, rectangular, round, oval or spherical. The bowl has a continuous wall to create a depth and an open top and a removable lid. The removable lid has a secondary opening which opening is closed by a secondary opening piece. The secondary opening piece is attached to the removable lid with a regular or living hinge. The secondary opening piece closes the secondary opening with a flat spring. The distance between the front wall and the secondary opening piece edge, and the distance between side perpendicular width of the secondary opening piece and side walls are between about ? and ½ inch. Optionally the secondary opening has an elastomeric seal. The secondary opening piece has rounded edges, and the secondary opening has rounded ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas A. Nerswick, David Hamann
  • Publication number: 20110309098
    Abstract: An openable and closeable container that includes a container body having a take-out opening; an opening-closing lid provided on the container body swingably about a swing axis X-X on a base end side, the opening-closing lid opening/closing the take-out opening; and plate rubber (an elastic member) provided between the container body and the opening-closing lid. A spring body is provided on the base end side of the opening-closing lid and a sloping portion (a braking portion) with which the spring body comes into contact is provided on the container body side. The spring body is gradually compressed from the state where the opening-closing lid is closed toward the state where the opening-closing lid is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroo Hayashi, Takeshi Bandoh, Takahiro Ueda, Masaho Hayashi, Hiroshi Uematsu, Toshihiko Uenishi, Norio Ochi
  • Patent number: 7870972
    Abstract: The Sliding Safety Hinge Assembly (SSHA) minimizes the degree of personal injury or discomfort that could result from accidental closure of the lid of a box, i.e. “toy box”, by pinching a finger between the lid and box, particularly as the obstruction approaches the side or rear of the box near the hinge. A traditional hinge attached to the lid and rear of box carcass provides a fixed pivot point such that a severe pinch point exists due to the leverage of the lid. The SSHA reduces this potential by a sliding design such that the hinge element normally fastened to the rear of the box is rather installed on a slide assembly allowing free sliding motion in the vertical plane at the rear of the box. The SSHA assembly would include a slide, pivot and counter weight device to reduce the weight of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Dennis James Elefante
  • Patent number: 7604142
    Abstract: A container for storing one or more articles (e.g., cosmetic substances, accessories, applicators, etc.) is provided. The container includes a base, a cover pivotally coupled to the base about a hinge, a resilient bar supported at one of the base and the cover, and a first cam surface supported at the other of the base and the cover. The first cam surface is configured to engage the resilient bar when the cover has moved a predetermined angle relative to the base. The resilient bar acting on the first cam surface moves the cover to a closed position. According to an exemplary embodiment, the resilient bar and/or the first cam surface is substantially concealed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Rexam Beauty and Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Joachim Banik
  • Patent number: 7350664
    Abstract: A hinge device for a storage containerand includes a housing mounted on any one of the door and a container body, a pair of hinge shafts rotatably fit in respective ends of the housing, each of the pair of hinge shaft including a cam shaft part with a first cam provided on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and an extension shaft part outwardly extending from the cam shaft part to couple to a remaining one of the door and the container body, a pair of movable members, which are received in respective ends of the housing and fit on the cam shaft parts of the respective hinge shafts, each of the pair of movable members having a second cam to engage with the respective first cam, and a pair of compression springs disposed in ends of the housing to bias the pair of movable members toward the pair of first cams, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Man Nam, Yong Myoung Kim
  • Patent number: 7243816
    Abstract: A container including a container body with a pivotally mounted top lid utilizing a single generally planar elastomeric member forming a seal section releasably mounted to the undersurface of the lid and engageable with the rim of the container body peripherally thereabout, and a spring section integral with the seal section and extending from the lid into a receiving chamber on the container body adjacent the pivotal mounting of the lid, the spring section being resiliently compressed during the positioning thereof to provide a constant opening biasing force on the lid relative to the container body. An alternately positionable handle is removably mounted, at the option of the user, to either the front wall or the rear wall of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Yasumitsu Aochi
  • Patent number: 7188746
    Abstract: This invention relates to a closure arrangement for closing an opening in a base component. In particular—but not exclusively—this invention relates to a closure arrangement for a container, to serve as an openable lid for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Martin Zethoff, Thomas Radtke, Kenneth Young, Bernard Sams, Stephen Sams
  • Patent number: 7093733
    Abstract: An activating device activates a cover for the opening face of a container. Pivot arms are fixed to a pivot unit equipped with an electric motor through a reduction gear at one ends, and fixed to plate springs at the other ends. One end portions of the plate springs are fixed to the respective front and rear portions of the cover, the other end portions thereof are fixed to the other ends of the pivot arms. The resiliency of the plate spring is set lower in the vertical direction of the container. The plate spring is bent from its other end portion toward its one end portion at substantially 90° or larger of bending angle. The plate spring is formed so that it bends toward the inside of the center of the cover between the pivot arm and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: TS Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nishimura, Toshihiro Yudate
  • Patent number: 6951292
    Abstract: A container (10) with a hinged lid comprises a container body (11), a hinged lid (23) hinged on the container body (11), and a bottom wall (12) tightly covering the open lower end of the container body (11). A rubber plate 50) is provided between the hinged lid (23) and the container body (11). The container body (11) has an upper wall (27) provided with an opening (24), and a side wall (13). The hinged lid (23) is supported on the side wall (13) of the container body (11). Since the hinged lid (23) is supported on the side wall (13), the hinged lid (23) can be formed in a large shape. The container body (11) is provided with a catching projection (33) for catching a locking projection (32) formed on the hinged lid (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignees: Uni-Charm Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Bando, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Katsumi Kameda, Masaho Hayashi, Norikazu Shinogi
  • Patent number: 6942118
    Abstract: This invention relates to a closure arrangement for closing an opening in a base component. In particular—but not exclusively—this invention relates to a closure arrangement for a container, to serve as an openable lid for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Martin Zethoff, Thomas Radtke, Kenneth Young, Bernard Sams, Stephen Sams
  • Patent number: 6942117
    Abstract: A filler neck closure assembly (30) includes a closure apparatus (32) formed to include a pump nozzle-receiving opening (36) and adapted to be mounted on an open mouth of a filler neck 24. A cover 40, pivotally mounted to the closure apparatus (32), is movable between a first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to seal the filler neck (24) and a second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to allow access thereto. An overcenter leaf spring (42) normally biases the cover (40) toward its first closed position. A tether (94) coupled to the cover (40) has its other end (96) coupled to a filler neck access door (90) so that as the access door (90) is moved from a closed position blocking access to the filler neck (24) to an open position unblocking access to the filler neck (24), the cover (40) is moved from the first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to the second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Dean C. Foltz
  • Patent number: 6860387
    Abstract: An improved self-lifting apparatus for a box cover including a bent bar locator on the box cover with both ends bended to accommodate an elastic component. The elastic component is provided with extended arms on both ends, one end pressing the bent bar and the other end being inserted into a hole of the box, thereby simplifying the production procedure and allowing box cover to be lifted automatically. With the elastic component, the bent bar is usable as a file holder in the box and the box can be used for a longer period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Shyh Ru Mettalic Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Wei Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20040188441
    Abstract: An activating device activates a cover for the opening face of a container. Pivot arms are fixed to a pivot unit equipped with an electric motor through a reduction gear at one ends, and fixed to plate springs at the other ends. One end portions of the plate springs are fixed to the respective front and rear portions of the cover, the other end portions thereof are fixed to the other ends of the pivot arms. The resiliency of the plate spring is set lower in the vertical direction of the container. The plate spring is bent from its other end portion toward its one end portion at substantially 90° or larger of bending angle. The plate spring is formed so that it bends toward the inside of the center of the cover between the pivot arm and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: TS Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nishimura, Toshihiro Yudate
  • Patent number: 6796422
    Abstract: An eyeglass case comprises a cover including a lengthwise first groove along one side, a lengthwise second groove adjacent and parallel to the first groove, and a lengthwise third groove along the other side; a body including a lengthwise ridge along one side pivotably fitted in the first groove, a lengthwise fourth groove below the ridge, a lengthwise member having a section of V between the ridge and the third groove, and a lengthwise fifth groove along the other side; two side members releasably coupled to the cover and the body, each side member having an interior recess for facilitating of closing the cover onto the body; and two snapping members each having a section of C, a top end clung in the second groove, and a bottom end clung in the third groove for pivotably securing the cover to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Bae Her Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Wei-Xiong Lu
  • Publication number: 20040159661
    Abstract: A container including a container body with a pivotally mounted top lid utilizing a single generally planar elastomeric member forming a seal section releasably mounted to the undersurface of the lid and engageable with the rim of the container body peripherally thereabout, and a spring section integral with the seal section and extending from the lid into a receiving chamber on the container body adjacent the pivotal mounting of the lid, the spring section being resiliently compressed during the positioning thereof to provide a constant opening biasing force on the lid relative to the container body. An alternately positionable handle is removably mounted, at the option of the user, to either the front wall or the rear wall of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Yasumitsu Aochi
  • Patent number: 6574834
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a new manufacturing solution for a plastic hinge which is particularly advantageous for manufacturing rigid cases, especially glasses cases, by giving it an absolutely original appearance and by using an absolutely new technique through which a snap opening and closing of the case is obtained, even with the type of plastic hinge which is applied to any type of rigid half-shells. The main characterizing feature of the present invention is to provide for the manufacturing of a single plastic element 10 to join the two half-shells (A, B) of a case, said element 10 consisting of two surfaces to be fixed to the edges of the half-shells (A, B) and joined each other longitudinally by an intermediate U-shaped surface 13 having a minimum thickness suitable for giving it the necessary flexibility, said surfaces being further hooked together by one or more springs aiming to flex said surfaces to make the half-shells (A, B) snapping in the opening or in the closing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Giorgio Fedon & Figli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Callisto Fedon
  • Patent number: 6554150
    Abstract: A filler neck closure assembly (30) includes a closure apparatus (32) formed to include a pump nozzle-receiving opening (36) and adapted to be mounted on an open mouth of a filler neck 24. A cover 40, pivotally mounted to the closure apparatus (32), is movable between a first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to seal the filler neck (24) and a second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to allow access thereto. An overcenter leaf spring (42) normally biases the cover (40) toward its first closed position. A tether (94) coupled to the cover (40) has its other end (96) coupled to a filler neck access door (90) so that as the access door (90) is moved from a closed position blocking access to the filler neck (24) to an open position unblocking access to the filler neck (24), the cover (40) is moved from the first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to the second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Dean C. Foltz
  • Patent number: 6530498
    Abstract: A jewelry case includes a base having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall; a top cover having a top wall and a peripheral side wall; a first retainer in a slot of a rear wall of the top cover so as not to be visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed; a second retainer in a slot of a rear wall of the base so as not be visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed; and a C-clip which is not visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed and which connects together the first and second retainers to provide a combined pivoting and sliding movement of a rear edge of the top cover on the base during opening and closing of the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph Ovadia
  • Patent number: 6513672
    Abstract: A case includes a base having a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall connected to the bottom wall, and a first inwardly extending retaining ledge connected to the upper end of the peripheral wall; a top cover having a top wall, a peripheral side wall connected to the top wall such that a cavity is defined in the case when the jewelry case is in a closed condition, and a second inwardly extending retaining ledge connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall of the top cover; a hinge which pivotally connects together the base and the top cover; and a fabric covering which covers inner surfaces of the top cover and the base, the fabric covering having edges retained under the first and second inwardly extending retaining ledges to retain the fabric covering in position without adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph Ovadia
  • Publication number: 20030010742
    Abstract: A closure device and method includes a mounting member, a cap member and an actuator. The mounting member may be removably secured proximately to a container opening. The actuator is manually operable to move the cap member to open and close an opening in the container and is biased by a spring so that the cap member closes the opening but is movable to an open position. The closure device is especially adapted as part of a writing instrument that has a body to receive contents for dispensing, such as a marker. The mounting member may be annular piece that engages a neck of the container with the actuator being a pair of angled, parallel levers that pivot on the mounting member. In one embodiment, the cap member may be latched in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Errol D. Kobilan
  • Patent number: 6390321
    Abstract: A garbage cam with a push-open cap connected to a pedal interactive device includes a can body, a push-open cap pivotally connected to an inner side of an opening of a can cap, a torque spring to automatically push the push-open cap to move back to close the opening, and a pedal interactive device to pull open the push-open cap. The pedal interactive device consists of a pedal provided at a lower end of the can body, a rope having a first end fixed with the push-open cap and a second end wound around a rope wheel connected to a gear engaging a vertical rack positioned between an upper and a lower rib plates units. The rack is pushed up to rotate the gear and the rope wheel to wind the rope when a user steps down the pedal so that the push-open cap is pulled to open, and the push-open cap automatically moves to close up the opening when the user releases the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Hwan Yih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tin-Chou Wang
  • Publication number: 20020021017
    Abstract: A filler neck closure assembly (30) includes a closure apparatus (32) formed to include a pump nozzle-receiving opening (36) and adapted to be mounted on an open mouth of a filler neck 24. A cover 40, pivotally mounted to the closure apparatus (32), is movable between a first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to seal the filler neck (24) and a second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to allow access thereto. An overcenter leaf spring (42) normally biases the cover (40) toward its first closed position. A tether (94) coupled to the cover (40) has its other end (96) coupled to a filler neck access door (90) so that as the access door (90) is moved from a closed position blocking access to the filler neck (24) to an open position unblocking access to the filler neck (24), the cover (40) is moved from the first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to the second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Dean C. Foltz
  • Patent number: 6315144
    Abstract: A filler neck closure assembly (30) includes a closure apparatus (32) formed to include a pump nozzle-receiving opening (36) and adapted to be mounted on an open mouth of a filler neck (24). A cover (40), pivotally mounted to the closure apparatus (32), is movable between a first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to seal the filler neck (24) and a second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to allow access thereto. An overcenter leaf spring (42) normally biases the cover (40) toward its first closed position. A tether (94) coupled to the cover (40) has its other end (96) coupled to a filler neck access door (90) so that as the access door (90) is moved from a closed position blocking access to the filler neck (24) to an open position unblocking access to the filler neck (24), the cover (40) is moved from the first position covering the nozzle-receiving opening (36) to the second position uncovering the nozzle-receiving opening (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Dean C. Foltz
  • Patent number: 6206221
    Abstract: A lid assembly (20) comprises a lid body (21) having an dispensing opening and fitted on a container body (11), and a hinged lid (23) pivotally joined to the lid body (21). A rubber plate (50) is extended across a hinged joint between the lid body (21) and the hinged lid (23). The lid body (21) is provided with a recess (60), and a vertical plate (92) and a horizontal plate (90) are formed in the recess (60). The vertical plate (92) is provided with a catching projection (79) that catches a stopping projection (23) formed on the hinged lid (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignees: Uni-Charm Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Bando, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Norikazu Shinogi
  • Patent number: 6155443
    Abstract: A container for medical equipment, said container comprising a base and a lid pivotally connected together. A catch is provided on the lid and the base to hold them together according to a closed position. Upon release of the catch the lid is urged from a closed position to an opened position by at least one spring. Contacting surfaces providing pre-determined frictional resistance are also provided onto the container to control the movement of the lid between the closed and the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Wallace Cameron & Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Giovanni Benedetti
  • Patent number: 6065626
    Abstract: It is related to an improved box opening/closing structure for storing wet towels for baby. It mainly comprises a box for storing wet towels, a box cover fitted on the box and a lifting cover disposed on the middle of the box cover. When a user wants to open it, just press on the lifting cover, this lifting cover can be opened. When this user wants to close it, just make the lifting cover rotate down and then the lifting cover will be locked with box cover. Therefore, not only an excellent sealing effect can be obtained but also the moisture of the wet towels stored in the box can be kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventors: Chien Jung Huang, Keh Chang Han