Having Either Discrete Flaccid Or Thin, Nonbiasing, Integral, Connecting Hinge Patents (Class 24/487)
  • Patent number: 5212854
    Abstract: A clip for a garment hanger H having a fixed jaw (1) and a movable jaw (2) connected by a membrane hinge (3), the movable jaw having an actuator arm (5) extending therefrom, and moulded plastics spring member (13) attached to the fixed jaw by attaching lugs (10,11) engaging openings (8,9) in the fixed jaw (1), said spring member (13) having a spring portion (14) extending angularly from an attaching portion (12) towards the actuating portion (5) of the movable jaw (2) to bias the movable jaw towards the closed position, said hanger H having a hood member (20) which surrounds the actuating portion (5) of the clip to deter inadvertent actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Hollis
  • Patent number: 5178306
    Abstract: A plastic hanger having clips located at opposite ends of the hanger is described. Each clip comprises grip plates hingedly joined to each other, which grip plates can be forced together to clamp a garment therebetween. To generate the clamping action of the grip plates, the hanger provides cuneiform members formed on the grip plate that can be wedged into an angular recess to close the grip plates together. Teeth are provided on the cuneiform members and along an interior surface of the angular recess to lock the two together and hold the cuneiform member deeply wedged inside the angular recess. Pushing down on the grip plate takes the teeth out of engagement, and accordingly, the cuneiform member can be unwedged and retracted from the angular recess to release the garment. As an option, thumb rests can be added to the grip plates for better leverage. Stubbles can be incorporated into contact surfaces of the grip plates for more contact with the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: Nicoleon Petrou
  • Patent number: 5152034
    Abstract: A bag closure device made of an extruded synthetic resin material comprising relatively stiff wing portions connected by a living hinge wherein each wing portion has a foot portion with a hook portion at the end thereof for mutual interlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventors: Frederikus J. J. Konings, Frans J. Roling
  • Patent number: 5123146
    Abstract: A one-piece molded resilient closure includes opposed legs joined by a hinge so that the legs may be folded over on themselves. One leg carries a male locking member and the other a socket for releasable engagement therewith. One or both legs terminate in outer finger-engaging ends and the leg having the socket also has a pressure pad for engagement with a thumb or finger to facilitate flexing of its outer end to engage or disengage the socket with the male locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Olson Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Earle L. Olson
  • Patent number: 5115542
    Abstract: A reusable hose separating clip comprises an elongate one piece plastic unit including a living hinge centrally located along the length thereof. The hinge forms two clip halves thereabout which are substantially mirror images of one another except for the latching structure at the free end of each half. Each hinge half includes arcuate areas separated by flats, with corresponding arcuate areas on the clip halves defining circular channels therebetween for engaging hoses therein when the clip halves are pivoted together about the hinge and the latch structures are engaged. When the clip halves are engaged, the corresponding flats are spaced from one another to allow for use with oversized or swelled hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp.
    Inventor: Michelle R. Gehres
  • Patent number: 5038811
    Abstract: A self-opening cuff comprising a fixed member, to which a cylindrically curved cuff is pivoted for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The fixed member is rigidly attached to the crutch tubing, and has two laterally projecting, angularly spaced side arms with an included angle of approximately 90.degree. between them. The two side arms have a cylindrically curved inner surface with the same radius of curvature as the cuff, and this curved surface is interrupted at its midpoint by a vertical slot. Disposed within the slot and swingably connected to the fixed member by a pivot bolt is a lug which is provided on the outside of the cuff. The top portion of the cylindrically curved surface is smoothly rounded with a curvature having its center at the pivot bolt axis, forming a ramp that the outer surface of the cuff rides on as it swings upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Yvonne Johnson
    Inventor: Oscar P. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5027480
    Abstract: A garment clip is disclosed comprised of first and second jaws pivotably joined together about a hinge line. A securement device is provided to releasably lock the relative angular position of the two jaws, the jaws being provided with a first garment gripping means on the first jaw and a second garment gripping means on the second jaw so that during use of a garment portion to be gripped is sandwiched between the two jaws and the garment gripping means, whereby the first and second garment gripping means distort the garment therebetween into a three dimensionally curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Rainsford Pty Limited
    Inventor: Donald J. Hogarth
  • Patent number: 4982920
    Abstract: A unitary device for supporting a pipe or other conduit operable to make a secure connection to a wooden joist or other frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Charles S. Hungerford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4947523
    Abstract: A bag closure device includes a handle member, a clasp member connected at one of its ends to the handle member and having an opposite free end capable of being removably coupled to the handle member. Structure is provided which beneficially compresses, and hence closes, a portion of flexible bag therebetween. According to one embodiment, such structure may be in the form of a truncated V-shaped member associated with the handle member which compresses a region of the bag against a V-shaped trough associated with the clasp member. In another embodiment, such structure includes a circumferential boss segment which compresses the bag portion against an interior surface of an axially flexible strap member. In either embodiment, the captured bag is effectively prevented from slipping under its own weight during transport of the bag via the bag closure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Edward S. Robbins, III
    Inventors: Edward S. Robbins, III, Theodore J. Onocki
  • Patent number: 4890549
    Abstract: There is disclosed a food handling device especially adapted for handling sliced food products, such as pizza pies or the like, which consists of a base support means forming a food support surface, food gripping means positioned above and substantially parallel to the base support means, and flexible means interconnecting the food gripping means with the base support means. The flexible means is formed of a relatively resilient material in order to permit the food gripping means to be reciprocable toward the base support means. In the preferred embodiment, the base support means, food gripping means and flexible means are integrally formed thereby to provide a food handling device which is unitary in construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventors: Gregory Steiner, Hari Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4887324
    Abstract: A one-piece molding grips a shower curtain by locking a marginal portion of the curtain between a rib on one arm and a groove on a second arm. The arms are swingable about a third arm through living hinges, and the first arm is adapted to be affixed against a wall of a shower enclosure. The shower curtain is pressed against the wall by one of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: H. Ross Cairns
  • Patent number: 4840345
    Abstract: A clip 10 for an electrical wiring harness of a vehicle comprises a gapped annular body 12, the end portions of which are adapted to interengage in overlapped relationship to close the body. The end portions are provided with abutment means 48,50; 52,56 and 58,60 which prevent transverse relative movement of the end portions when they are so interengaged. In this way the risk of disengagement of the end portions is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary A. Neil, Edward H. F. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 4826056
    Abstract: An article hanger particularly useful for clothing has an elongated, non-circular, beam-like body along which article gripping clamps are slidably mounted for adjustment in spacing. The beam-like body passes through the article receiving chamber formed between the jaws of the clamps. The clamps have spaced strap-like members which extend around and embrace the beam-like body. The face of the body directed into the chamber is exposed between the straps and has an irregular or unsmooth surface against which the article is pressed by the clamps to create a frictional grip resisting creep of the clamp lengthwise of the body. Also the spring clip holding the clamp closed engages the back face of the body to further resist creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Batts, Inc.
    Inventors: Everett Duester, Russell O. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 4811465
    Abstract: A closure (10) for a bag (not shown), such as a plastic bag for freezing shaped lumps of ice for cooling drinks, consists of a channel member (14) adapted to receive an insertion member (16). Before the insertion member (16) is pressed into the channel member (14), the end of the bag (not shown) is inserted between the two, being closed in a fluid-tight manner when the two members, in the example shown interconnected by a hinge (27), are pressed together.The closure makes it possible to close bags for freezing ice lumps in a fluid-tight manner, allowing the bags to lie down in a deep-freeze cabinet without leaking and also making it easier to open the bags than when these are closed by means of knots of the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Ice-Pack Service AG
    Inventor: Jan Folkmar
  • Patent number: 4807334
    Abstract: A molded plastic article clamp designed to be supported from a rod has a pair of jaws pivotally joined at the top. One jaw has a pair of integral latch members extending toward the other jaw. The latch members are spaced apart lengthwise of the jaws and are designed to engage spaced keepers on the other jaw. The length and spacing of the latch members is such that when the latch member and keeper furthest from the top are engaged the jaws are held in article clamping position. When the other latch and keeper combination are engaged, the jaws are held in an open position sufficient to release an article but the clamp is still retained on the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Batts, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell O. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 4783886
    Abstract: A thin, flat closure for plastic bags and of the type having at one edge a V-shaped notch (12) which communicates at its base with a gripping aperture (14). The base (10) of the closure is made of a flexible material so that it can be repeatedly bent, without fracturing, along an axis aligned with said notch and aperture. In addition, upon one or both sides of the closure is laminated a layer of paper (20). The axis may contain one or two grooves (18) or a through-hole (26), either of which acts as a hinge to facilitate bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Lou W. Koppe
  • Patent number: 4763390
    Abstract: A one piece plastic clamp has a generally U-shaped outer structure including two outside legs and a thinned and downwardly curved upper bridging region from which the legs integrally depend. The clamp further includes a live hinge toggle joint for spanning the upper outside ends of the legs. The toggle joint has a release position peaking freely above the upper bridging region as the legs move relatively together and apart in the release position, and has a stable snap lock position directly adjacent to the upper bridging region thereby forcing the outer legs together in a clamped position. Two oppositely facing inner clamping jaws are relatively moveable freely with respect to each other and with respect to the outer structure in the release position. The jaws are for clamping an article between opposite faces when the clamp is in its snap lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: William B. Rooz
  • Patent number: 4762296
    Abstract: A mounting device for supporting tubing, flexible piping, ductwork, cables or the like includes a mounting element which carries an upwardly open, U-shaped support member having with a slide-in zone for receiving a tube needing support. Carried by the legs of the U-shaped support member are two dish-like elements. The two dish-like elements are formed independently of each other and are each hingedly connected to the interior side of a separate one of the legs of the U-shaped support member in face-to-face relationship. Each dish-like element carries a resilient arm which extends generally toward the other dish-like element in vertically spaced but overlapping relationship with the other arm. The uppermost resilient arm carries two, spaced resilient fingers which extend upwardly and angularly outward in the slide-in zone. The outer end of the upper resilient arm is arranged to impinge on the top surface of the lower arm when a tube is received on and supported by the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr GmbH
    Inventors: Willibald Kraus, Jean-Luc R. G. Klein
  • Patent number: 4754530
    Abstract: A strap tensioning device includes a spring-loaded clamping element which presses a strap extending through the tensioning device against a holding bar using lever action. The device is composed of a minimum number of parts and is made from a monolithic plate of sprung material with cut-outs positioned so that both the holding bar and the clamping element and their mutual connecting parts are formed in one continuous piece from the plate which also forms the framework of the tensioning device. When the clamping element is pressed out of the plane of the frame, the clamping element rotates about a fulcrum and the pinching effect of the device is released so the strap can be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Inventor: Lennart Lindblad
  • Patent number: 4731912
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle release guard apparatus has a box like device including first and second portions having recessed opposing ends and sides that are shelf hinged on one side, and bear a latch on a side opposing the hinged side. When the first and second portions are closed, opposing end apertures are formed for receiving a seat belt buckle segment and a tongue segment with the buckle sandwiched between the first and second portions. In one embodiment the latch bearing first portion side is recessed and a latching lug is formed within the recess; the latch bearing second portion side includes a latch for engaging the lug to close the box like device. When closed the recess forms a guide to the latch. The bottom of the recess is thickened to stiffen the latch bearing side and to position the seat belt buckle in the box like device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Ashlar Products, Incorporated
    Inventors: Helen A. Boriskie, Louis Emmer
  • Patent number: 4694542
    Abstract: A flat bag closure (17) of the type having at its edge a V-notch (12) which communicates at its base with a bag neck gripping aperture (14). The closure is made of a non-frangible material so that it can fold along an axis (20) aligned with said notch and said aperture without breaking. The closure thus can be repeatedly bent along such axis to facilitate repeated insertion and removal of a twisted poly bag's neck (36) into and from the aperture. The axis may contain a hinge formed by perforations (19, 24, 26, 28, 30), a concavity (22), or slits (32, 34) to facilitate bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Inventor: Lou W. Koppe
  • Patent number: 4650925
    Abstract: A one-piece clamp (11) for clamping a flat cable (33) in folded condition is of clamshell construction, one of the half shells (13) comprising a hemicylindrical cable fold locating portion (26) joined to a radially extending cable gripping part (27) so that, when latched together, the half shells (12, 13) define an eccentric cable receiving opening. A portion of flat cable (33) folded across itself along an oblique fold line is retained in folded condition predominantly by clamping pressure applied by the cable gripping part (27) to a longitudinal edge portion of the cable (33) remote from the fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 4637097
    Abstract: The cable bundler clip includes a pair of clip halves hingedly connected together to permit opening of the clip for insertion of cables and closing of the clip for bundling of cables. Latching means are provided to maintain the clip in the closed position. An internal rib structure is provided with recesses for bundling three or less cables in a secure, parallel relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Nelson W. Secord
  • Patent number: 4598605
    Abstract: A torque-limiting device for a mechanism controlling a vehicle rearview mirror in which the mirror is fixed on a supporting member mounted for pivoting about two perpendicular axes, on a yoke integral with a baseplate mounted in the casing. The tubular extension with the threaded portion of the control members is produced from a deformable material and is provided with at least one axial slot issuing into one of the ends of the tubular extension in such a way that any force applied axially on the control member enables the threaded end portion to disengage from the threaded hole, and the pinions are mounted on the bottom of a casing by way of a ball joint which is resiliently held in position so that the control members are always in alignment with the axis of the driving pinions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Manzoni Bouchot
    Inventor: Stephane Manzoni
  • Patent number: 4581481
    Abstract: A guard ring for long distance transmission cables for preventing wet snow from accumulating on the cables. The guard ring consists of two half collars of a hard elastic plastic material integrally joined by a hinge strap at one end and having interlocking hooks at their free ends to form a closed ring that tightly encloses the cable. Beaks or the like are integral with the inner ends of the half collars and face each other in the area of the hinge. The beaks cover a part of the hinge strap from both sides, so that when the half collars are open, they form, together with the hinge strap, a T-shaped groove for conveniently holding the rings in a row, prior to assembly, on a corresponding T-shaped rail. When the half-collars are closed and the ring secured to the cable, the beaks are bent apart a sufficient distance so that the rings can easily be removed from the rail. An assembly tool is also provided for clamping the rings about the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: A. Raymond
    Inventor: Erminio Moretti
  • Patent number: 4536924
    Abstract: A one piece clamping device which includes a proximal flexible hinge portion, distal portions having non-penetrating substantially flat gripping surfaces, and male and female medial portions. The male medial portion has a male locking member, one surface of which is toothed and the other surface of which is non-toothed. The female medial portion has a female locking cavity and a locking ledge extending therein. The toothed surface of the male locking member thereby meshes with the locking ledges of the female cavity. The male medial portion also includes a male guide, and the female medial portion also include a female guide channel for receiving the guide and a spur to guide the non-toothed surface of the male locking member into position in the female cavity and to retain it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Patrick Willoughby
  • Patent number: 4524992
    Abstract: A device for binding the marginal edge of materials is provided which takes the form of a continuous section of resilient material. The section of the device includes a pair of legs on which the closing force can be released to allow the acceptance of the materials, a spline around which one of the legs pivots to close over the edge of the materials to hold them securely by the material engaging ends of the legs when the closing force is engaged and a latch to lock the legs closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Inventor: Maynard W. Linn
  • Patent number: 4478381
    Abstract: An elastic pipe clamp having a lower yoke, a fastener foot or the like for anchoring the lower yoke to a fixed surface and a cooperating upper yoke, the pipe being securely held between the yokes when they are locked together in a positive manner. A hinge-band pivotally connects one end of the upper yoke to one end of the lower yoke and mutually engaging locking hooks are provided on the opposite ends of the yoke from the hinge band for locking the yokes together. At least two (2) beaks on the hinged end of one of the yokes curve inwardly with respect to and over the hinge-band, the beaks being adjacent to the outer edges of the yoke with their outer arcs being tangent to the inside wall of the yoke. Cooperating recesses are provided in the other yoke that are open on their outer sides and have upper and lower walls with a radius curvature similar to the curvature of the beaks, whereby the beaks substantially fill the recesses when the clamp is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: A. Raymond
    Inventors: Philippe Pittion, Guy Andre, Gerald Souillard, Jean-Louis J'espere, Bernard Houte
  • Patent number: 4453295
    Abstract: A hose clamp, which may be completely made of plastic, comprises two clamping stirrups which can be anchored in clamping position by interaction of a tongue on one stirrup and a toothed section of the other stirrup. The hose to be clamped can either extend through coaxial openings of the clamping stirrups or be introduced between the stirrups from the side. In the first case, the clamp can only be removed over a free end of the hose while, in the second case, the clamp can be positioned at any point along the hose as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Solco Basel AG
    Inventor: Max Laszczower
  • Patent number: 4428098
    Abstract: A closure device adapted for clamping a flexible bag has a pair of hinged jaws including slideably mounted extension pieces adjustably retained in pre-selected positions of extension. The jaws are movable between a closed position to grip a bag and an open position to release the bag. A clasp mechanism releasably retains the jaws in the closed position. Mating sets of longitudinal teeth may be provided to grip the bag more positively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventors: Terry Coker, Stanley W. Coker
  • Patent number: 4416038
    Abstract: A closure device for the tubular stem of an inflated balloon, including a pair of legs which are hingedly interconnected for movement from an open to a closed position wherein they are in substantially parallel spaced relation. Closure members on the legs extend towards the opposite respective legs and include shoulder portions which interlock when the device is in said closed position to define a tortuous path through which a balloon stem extends and is clamped to effect the sealing thereof. Retaining members which are preferably similar in configuration to the closure members are provided to retain the device in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Adecon, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Morrone, III