Integral Locking-means Patents (Class 24/528)
  • Patent number: 11524737
    Abstract: An actuation device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member, a movable member, and an actuator. The movable member is movably provided on the base member. The actuator is configured to be actuated by stimulation including at least one of electric stimulation and heat stimulation so as to move the movable member relative to the base member in a first direction by pulling the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Patent number: 10916162
    Abstract: License plate frame clip apparatuses provide a display surface to display indicia, such as an image, words, symbols, or other like indicia. The clip apparatuses comprise at least one slot comprising a recessed surface, a first end, a second end, a first side wall extending from the recessed surface, and a second side wall extending from the recessed surface, each of the side walls comprising a flange configured to hook onto a back side of a license plate frame when the frame is disposed within the slot. Methods of using the same are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: John Adam Chenault, Dawn Michele Patterson
  • Publication number: 20140144377
    Abstract: A substrate and mask attachment clamp device comprising a push assembly, an upper clamp mechanism and a lower clamp mechanism is disclosed. The upper clamp mechanism comprises a first inclined surface, a swing element, a second inclined surface and a sliding surface. The lower clamp mechanism comprises a lower clamp retainer and a clamp movably. During the push assembly moving along a first direction, the push assembly moves with respect to the first inclined surface to drive the upper clamp mechanism to move along a second direction. The push assembly further drives the second inclined surface to move with respect to the swing element, so that the swing element drives the clamp to move along a third direction opposite to the first direction, and drives the sliding surface to move with respect to the lower clamp mechanism to drive the clamp to move along a fourth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chen-Chung Du, Muh-Wang Liang, Yuan-Yuan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8403277
    Abstract: A bracket is disclosed for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar. The bracket comprises a front jaw and a rear jaw. The jaws are movable toward an open position for allowing movement of the bracket relative to the mounting bar and toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar at a selected position along the mounting bar. The jaws are biased toward the closed position. An electrical box is attached to the front jaw. In one embodiment, the front jaw, rear jaw and a spring for urging the jaws closed are integrally formed from a single piece of sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Eric Roland Nuernberger, Brandon Michael Tally
  • Patent number: 8348984
    Abstract: The invention concerns a clamp, especially a surgical clamp, with a left clamp half to receive a left half of a breastbone during a surgical procedure, a right clamp half to receive a right half of the breastbone, as well as a first toothed rod and a detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod to secure the left clamp half at a distance from the right clamp half, wherein the detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod has a detent region extending at least from the left clamp half to the right clamp half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Max Hauster Süeddeutsche Chirurgiemechanik GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Rehm
  • Patent number: 7836565
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing, a panel and at least one panel-fixing device. The panel-fixing device, which includes a receiving portion and a clipping portion, fixes the panel at the casing. The receiving portion disposed on the casing includes a plurality of positioning components. The clipping portion, which includes a hooking component, an adjusting component and a fixing plane, is movably engaged with the receiving portion. When the clipping portion is engaged with the receiving portion, the hooking component catches one of the positioning components for fixing the clipping portion. The adjusting component and the hooking portion are substantially parallel to each other. The fixing plane is substantially vertically connected to the adjusting component. When the clipping portion is engaged with the receiving portion, the fixing plane presses against the panel for fixing the panel to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Han-Kuang Ho
  • Publication number: 20090311065
    Abstract: A clip for securing a part, having a body portion having a first wall surface and a supporting surface adjacent the first wall surface, a retaining arm connected to the body, the retaining arm comprising a second wall surface opposite the first wall surface, an engaging portion at the distal end of the retaining arm, and an engaging surface on the engaging portion generally opposite the supporting surface. The first and second wall surfaces cooperate to define a groove that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the part therein. The retaining arm is moveable between an open position wherein the portion of the part may be received in the groove, and a locked position wherein the engaging surface at least partially overhangs the groove and the engaging surface and the supporting surface cooperate so as to retain the portion of the part when received within the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Gaudette
  • Publication number: 20080229559
    Abstract: A positioning and clamping apparatus, capable of positioning and clamping a panel material and removing the panel material from a locating pin under a state of releasing the clamping, is provided. A base having a contact surface contacting with the panel material is provided with the locating pin that penetrates through a through-hole of the panel material. A clamp arm moving between an escaping position and a clamping position is provided in a slit, and the clamp arm is moved between these positions by a reciprocating cam. When the clamp arm reaches the clamping position, the panel material is clamped by a clamp portion which is a tip of the clamp arm. A pusher driven by a pushing piston is provided inside the base, and the panel material is removed from the locating pin by the pusher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Koganei Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Miyashita, Satoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7380692
    Abstract: A belt attachment with fastening clips (12, 32) adjustable to an opened and closed position comprises an upper clip (12) connected with a bush (1) and a lower clip connected with slides (23) through which the lower clip is mounted for longitudinal motion in the bush (1) along its longitudinal axis, whereby the position of the lower clip (32) with respect to the upper clip (12) in the closed position and at least in one opened position is fixed by a securing member (4). The bush (1) includes a bottom (11) and side walls (10) with grooves (13) for receiving slides (23) and an upper cross wall (19) forming a bending (121) of the upper clip (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: Bretislav Kostal, Vladimir Kupa
  • Patent number: 7174608
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a base having at least one surface lying substantially in a base plane; a first member extending substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the base and defining an aperture therein; and a second member having a proximal end coupled to the surface of the base and a distal end, the second member defining a second plane extending transversely from the base plane of the base at least toward the aperture, wherein the orientation of the second member biases the second member toward the first member such that an article may be gripped therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Henry Kong Sun Ching
  • Patent number: 7155784
    Abstract: A uniquely designed device for retaining a trouser on a wearer includes a base plate having inner and outer pairs of geared channels extending from one side to the other. A belt loop clasp extends from each side of the base plate. Each clasp includes a hook portion with a pair of arms extending therefrom each of which is slidably received within a designated channel. Each arm includes teeth thereon for interlocking with the geared surface within its corresponding channel. Each of the hooks are secured about a trouser belt loop and the arms are pressed into the base plate until the trouser waist band is sufficiently tight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: James DeGroot
  • Patent number: 6969398
    Abstract: A sternal closure device including impermanently joined sliding and receiving attachment structures which are adapted for intercostal positioning between at least two corresponding rib pairs and substantially surrounding a patient's sternum with each structure having a cross member, a plurality of integrated legs and foot members, a plurality of sternum engagement surfaces, and an end portion. The receiving structure further incorporates a resiliently tensioned catch member with angularly disposed teeth like structures positioned to receive and position a plurality of receiving structure projection members when inserted therein. The catch member further serves as a stabilizing structure with stabilization facilitated via an easily removed single screw like structure markedly facilitates quick release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventors: Leonard Stevens, Archibald S. Miller, III
  • Patent number: 5730348
    Abstract: A fastening for securing an apparatus, such as a pager or a mobile telephone, to a belt is disclosed. The fastening includes a body, a board and a flexure strip attached to the apparatus. The body defines a recess in a front portion thereof for receiving the flexure strip and has a plurality of ratchet teeth uniformly distributed at two opposed sides of a rear portion thereof. The board is movably received in the rear portion of the body and has pawls integrally formed thereon for engaging with respective pair of the ratchet teeth. The pawls has a press bar integrally formed therebetween and a hook is integrally formed at a rear end of the board for abutting the belt. By this arrangement, a space is defined between the board and the back of the apparatus, which can be adjusted and adapted for receiving different belts with various widths. Also, the direction of each ratchet tooth is configured to enable the board to move only toward the front portion of the body so that the belt can be securely gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Tse-Hsiung Tien
  • Patent number: 5397144
    Abstract: An air pump for use with a chain-driven bicycle having a free wheel. The pump assembly comprises a pair of opposed cylinders and a double-ended piston rod mounted in a housing. The piston rod has a bearing slot, which engages a crank pin on a crankshaft driven by a sprocket. Rotation of the sprocket reciprocates the double-ended piston rod in the cylinders. The cylinders are each integrally formed with a manifold that uses an elastomeric band covering a passage from the cylinder interior to inside the manifold as a one-way valve. An enlarged diameter skirt on each cylinder allows air to enter the cylinder on each intake stroke. A cap defining the piston head is locked onto each piston and holds a seal in place on the piston. An integral clamp assembly allows the pump to be removably mounted on a bicycle chain stay. The lower run of the bicycle drive chain engages the drive sprocket of the pump assembly, and a chain retainer is used to maintain the engagement of the drive chain with the drive sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Velo Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Mauricio Mirand, Robert Brown, Jeffrey C. Brown, Buford H. Hopper, Harry G. Worth
  • Patent number: 5335398
    Abstract: A device for sealing the end of a heat-shrunk sleeve surrounding a branching connection of electrical or optical cables grips the outer surface of the sleeve between the branching cables and keeps the opposing surfaces of the sleeve in contact with each other between the cables, during cooling after the heat-shrinking of the sleeve. The device has two parallel arms which are interlocked with each other at one end. The distance between the arms can be changed in such a way, that the arms remain essentially parallel at any distance from each other. The device is preferably installed after heat-shrinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Kabelmetal electro GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Schottker, Franz Grajewski
  • Patent number: 5319837
    Abstract: Clips for retaining tubes in a spaced apart relationship. Each clip has a body with generally U-shaped recesses in which the tubes are received and a retainer cover slidably received on the body and movable from an open position to a closed position overlying the recesses and retaining the tubes therein. The cover is releasably secured in the closed position by a latch and preferably releasably retained on the body by a detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Bundy Corporation
    Inventor: Rick A. Kujawski
  • Patent number: 5318317
    Abstract: An air pump for use with a chain-driven bicycle having a freewheel. The pump assembly comprises a pair of opposed cylinders and a double-ended piston rod mounted in a housing. The piston rod has a bearing slot which engages a crank pin on a crankshaft which is driven by a sprocket. Rotation of the sprocket reciprocates the double-ended piston rod in the cylinders. A hook-shaped extension of the housing fits over the top of the chain stay of the bicycle, and a vertically movable clamping member provided with a ratchet mechanism abuts the underside of the chain stay; a lever operated cam clamps the chain stay intermediate the hook portion and the clamping member. The lower run of the bicycle drive chain engages the drive sprocket of the pump assembly. Reverse rotation of the bicycle's crank assembly causes the conventional freewheel to also rotate in a reverse direction without rotating the wheel of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Velo Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Buford H. Hopper
  • 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: 5097568
    Abstract: A divider clamp assembly for use in compressing the opposed sidewalls of a tubular, flexible-walled container against one another, the assembly comprising a first member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section and a second member of substantially round cross-section, the interior surface of the first member conforming in shape with the exterior shape of said second member, the U-shaped member preferably having integral, sharp edged ribs extending lengthwise on its inner surface and having oval-shaped rings on each of its ends positioned such that the rings hold the second member within each interior thereof, the second member being enlarged on both ends such that it may not be separated from the first member but may be compressed into the interior of the first member to form a tight fit therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Giglia
  • Patent number: 4976721
    Abstract: An intestinal occluding clamp including first and second clamping members with jaws, a biasing spring, a clamp housing, a clamp base and a clamp cap. The clamp housing has a housing cavity formed at one end thereof and a first clamping member is connected to and projects away from the housing cavity. The biasing spring is disposed within the cavity and circumferentially about the base post. The clamp cap and biasing spring are retractably mounted within the housing cavity and provide a spring-loaded, push-button housing for simple and reliable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: William Blasnik, Stanley B. Pollak
  • Patent number: 4614322
    Abstract: A device for adjustable and releasable strapping or binding of objects, particularly plates held for display. The binding feature of the present invention involves a toothed strap held in place by a releasable clasp. The plate holding feature of the present invention provides hooks for grasping the periphery of a plate and provides an adjustable strap for holding those hooks snugly in place. The resulting device firmly holds the plate without obstructing a clear view of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Inventor: George E. Goetz
  • Patent number: 4424811
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pinching device for surgical purposes comprising two parallel jaw elements having each a supporting part, one of which is provided with a pin at right angles thereto and the other having a sleeve mounted at right angles thereto and fitting around said pin.The pinching device according to the invention is characterized in that one supporting part is provided with a guide pin and the other has a bore receiving said pin located in the same plane as the first-mentioned pin and the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Inventor: Gerrit S. Groot