Self-actuating Patents (Class 248/316.3)
  • Patent number: 10959805
    Abstract: A transfer system can include a receiver; and a transfer device including: a housing comprising a first docking cup and a second docking cup, each of the first docking cup and the second docking cup configured to receive and lockably engage the receiver; a security mechanism positioned inside the housing and configured to engage with the receiver through either of the first docking cup and the second docking cup; and a pair of indicators coupled to the security mechanism and at least partially visible from outside the housing, each of the pair of indicators configured to indicate to a user of the transfer system that the receiver has been lockably engaged with one of the first docking cup and the second docking cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nexxspan Healthcare, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Bally, Eric Richard Colburn
  • Patent number: 10786080
    Abstract: Furniture anti-tipping mechanism integrated into furniture includes a bracket attachable to a vertical support, a substantially planar wall section situated in the furniture and having front and rear surface defining a thickness therebetween constituting a rear wall of the furniture, and attachment structure to connect the bracket to the wall section. The attachment structure may include at least one bolt projecting from the bracket and having a height greater than the thickness of the wall section, at least one aperture in the wall section, and at least one wing nut threadable onto a respective bolt after the bolt projects through a respective aperture to enable the wall section to be tightened against the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Dooli Products, LLC
    Inventors: David M Stravitz, Steven G Marton
  • Patent number: 10653259
    Abstract: An apparatus for hanging at least one article of clothing; the multiple pair pant hanger is mountable horizontally, having slots and rollers enabling the pant legs to slip into to hold the pants to dry. The pant hanger is either mounted to a wall or hung from a back of a door, which allows an individual to take multiple pairs of wet pants out of a washing machine, or damp from a dryer, and hang from the bottom of the legs of the pants to dry completely without shrinking the pants and without leaving hanger marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventor: Gregory Scott Wilson
  • Patent number: 9630780
    Abstract: A clamp for feeding items of laundry to a laundry treatment machine that can be easily actuated and that can enhance performance and reliability when items of laundry are fed, for example, to a mangle or the like, by configuring at least one clamping element of the clamp as a clamping lever having an insertion aid with a guideway for the sliding insertion of a section of the item of laundry into a clamp mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Sielermann, Lars Herzog, Engelbert Heinz
  • Patent number: 9050938
    Abstract: A license plate holder system 100 may comprise a license plate frame system 300, swivel attachment rod 300, expansion fastener 200, end screw 365 and other components. A pair of swivel clamps 350 provide pivotal attachment along a Y axis upon a horizontal adjustment bar 435 and pivotal attachment along a X axis upon a swivel attachment rod 300. The horizontal adjustment bar 435 may be moved along the Y axis by adjustment of a fastener 436 located with a vertical channel 430 of the license plate frame system. A proximal end of the swivel attachment rod may comprise an outside flange collar 380 and center void 390, the center void defined by inside female threads 385. A specialized expansion fastener 200 and end screw 365 may be inserted into an aperture and then hand tightened by rotation in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Inventor: Kien Chi Tran
  • Patent number: 9046123
    Abstract: A securing lug having a bolt and a securing ring which is connected pivotably to the bolt, as a result of which the pivoting-angle range of the securing ring is limited to less than 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Skylotec GmbH
    Inventor: Kai Rinklake
  • Patent number: 8814118
    Abstract: A microphone holder is provided that allows a microphone to be attached and detached by a one-touch operation and to be securely held. A first and a second magnet 77a and 72b are provided at positions where a holding frame 5 and a clamp arm 6 overlap with each other such that different poles are opposed to each other. The magnets are magnetically attached to each other to lock the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventors: Shioto Okita, Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8807505
    Abstract: An accessory holder system and related method are disclosed. The invention features an accessory holder system for holding accessory items comprising at least one base plate comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion, a rubber band secured to the at least one base plate adapted to removably hold at least one accessory item inserted between the base plate and the rubber band, and attaching means for attaching the base plate to an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Martin W. Lotz, III
  • Patent number: 8783636
    Abstract: In a microphone holder, a microphone can be attached and detached by a one-touch operation and to be securely held. A microphone grip is pressed into between clamp arms in a state where front ends are opened. This causes the microphone grip to press rear ends of the clamp arms to swing the front ends in closing directions. Thus, the microphone can be attached and detached by a one-touch operation without causing collision noise and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Shioto Okita
  • Patent number: 8627952
    Abstract: A packaging is provided for the transport, storage and display of rounded articles. The packaging may include an elongated arm, a gripping portion and a mounting portion. The packaging may be configured to be stacked onto other packagings of like structure. The packaging may also be configured for mounting to a vertical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Multi Packaging Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Glinert, Mark Campbell
  • Patent number: 8622469
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have an elongated frame, a clamp member mounted to the frame at or near one end thereof, and an elongated base member movably mounted to the frame between the clamp member and an opposite end of the frame. The base member may include a curved portion having a support surface defining a curvature and a linear portion between the curved portion and the clamp member. The base member may be movable relative to the frame to an object transition position in which a free end of the linear portion extends outwardly away from the frame and the curved portion retracts upwardly toward the clamp member along a path defined by the curvature to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the support surface of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Alexander Hogg, Chris P. Jessup, Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Patent number: 8474772
    Abstract: A cup holder is deployed from a recess in a substantially vertical panel behind a substantially planar fold-down door which is pivotable adjacent to a bottom edge. A substantially planar tray member is slidably mounted to a guide frame to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position at respective distances from the inside surface of the fold-down door. A telescoping holder unit with substantially cylindrical sleeve elements slides from a collapsed state to an expanded state in response to movement of the tray member. A top rim of the holder unit is fixed with respect to a cylindrical sleeve element having a largest diameter and is coupled to the tray member. A bottom plate of the holder unit is coupled to the fold-down door. The holder unit accommodates various beverage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John L. Miklas
  • Patent number: 8282063
    Abstract: A holder includes a base, a first carriage, a first elastic module, a second carriage, a second elastic module, and two clamping mechanisms. When a handheld electronic device is installed in the holder, the second carriage is driven towards the first carriage, and the second elastic module between the second carriage and the first carriage and the first elastic module between the first carriage and the base are both compressed. At this time, the first carriage drives the two clamping mechanisms to clamp the handheld electronic device so that the handheld electronic device is reliably fixed onto the second carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Yuan Ou, Chih-Wei Tai
  • Patent number: 8172190
    Abstract: A mounting bracket may include a base plate, at least one stationary clip disposed on the base plate, a push releasing plate disposed in spaced apart relation to the at least one stationary clip, and at least one movable clip operatively coupled to and movable with the push releasing plate. The stationary clip or clips and movable clip or clips are disposed and configured to mate with cavities in respective ends of a pump when the push releasing plate is in a non-pivoted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC.
    Inventors: Thang Q. Dang, Jim L. Jackson, Jr., Vijay Mallik, John J. Fong
  • Patent number: 8113477
    Abstract: A holder for a beverage container has a container receptacle for insertion of the beverage container, a holding jaw which is mounted so as to be movable a short distance into the container receptacle, and a spring element which urges the holding jaw into the container receptacle. The holder has a simple construction and is economical to produce, since the spring element, together with the holding jaw, is in the form of a mountable unit and the spring element consists of a synthetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fischer Automotive Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hartwig Kaemmer
  • Patent number: 7798459
    Abstract: A quick insert and release laser beam guard panel clamping apparatus having a base plate mountable on an optical table, a first jaw affixed to the base plate, and a spring-loaded second jaw slidably carried by the base plate to exert a clamping force. The first and second jaws each having a face acutely angled relative to the other face to form a V-shaped, open channel mouth, which enables wedge-action jaw separation by and subsequent clamping of a laser beam guard panel inserted through the open channel mouth. Preferably, the clamping apparatus also includes a support structure having an open slot aperture which is positioned over and parallel with the open channel mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Richard K. Dickson
  • Patent number: 7597300
    Abstract: A container holding unit includes an abutting portion and an urging device for urging the abutting portion to a circumference of a container to constrain the container. The container holding unit further includes a case having a first guide grove and a second guide grove extending downwardly. The abutting portion includes a first shaft inserted in the first guide grove and a second shaft inserted in the second guide grove, so that the abutting portion slides relative to the case. The abutting portion is rotatable in a direction that a projecting amount of the abutting portion from the case decreases when an upward force is applied from below. The urging device urges the abutting portion in a direction that the abutting portion projects from the case, and in a direction that the abutting portion returns to an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Akinori Harada
  • Publication number: 20090057515
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hook for suspending an object. The hook is fixed on a bracket with at least one pillar and comprises at least one hook groove, a shaft, and a locking member. The hook groove receives the pillar. Each hook groove has a first opening defined between two projecting portions extending from the hook. The locking member is adjacent to one hook groove and comprises a locking part pivotally engaging the shaft and defining a locking groove with a second opening between two end portions thereof One of the two end portions and one projecting portions opposite to the one end portions cooperatively defines a locking opening. The locking opening has an opening dimension smaller than dimension of the pillar. When the hook engages the bracket, the opposing end portion and projecting portion press against the pillar to hold the pillar in the locking groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Homesite Corporation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minlon Chuang
  • Publication number: 20090020487
    Abstract: A board holder comprising a wall mounting bracket 1 supporting a curved steel bar 2. The bar 2 is able to pivot or swing up and down with respect to the bracket and will tend to swing downwards under gravity unless such swing is arrested. The bar 2 is curved so that it doubles back on itself in front of the bracket 1. This creates a space 3 between opposite portions of the bar with an entrance 4 opening into the space for receiving a snow board or surfboard, etc. The board, etc, is held between a first contact part 6 and a second contact part 7 of the bar. Gravity, coupled with the weight of the bar 2 and the board 5 serve to hold the board in position with a lower part 11 of the board 5 butting against the wall 12. The board 5 thus angles outwardly from the wall up towards the board holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy Peter Wood
  • Publication number: 20080245943
    Abstract: An apparatus for retaining at least one sheet against a back surface is disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a wedge member, a roller member, a biasing member, and a release mechanism. The roller member is moveable between a first position where the roller surface contacts the wedge member and a second position where the roller surface is separated from the wedge member. The biasing member biases the roller member toward the first position. The release mechanism is connected to the roller member and moveable between a clamp position and a release position. The release mechanism moves the roller member from the first position to the second position when the release mechanism is moved from the clamp position to the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: David C. Smith
  • Patent number: 7373748
    Abstract: An elongated poster support arrangement comprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a first tapered sidewall and a second tapered sidewall. The first and second sidewalls angularly extend from the uppermost wall. A central support wall is arranged between the first and the second tapered sidewalls to define a first longitudinal chamber between the first tapered sidewall and the central support wall and also to define a second longitudinal chamber between the second tapered sidewall and the central support wall. An arrangement of gripping members is loosely disposed within the second longitudinal chamber. The second chamber is arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between the gripping members and the central support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Rose Displays Ltd.
    Inventors: David E. Pitcher, Thomas D. Borroos
  • Patent number: 7165752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a holding device (1), preferably for storing drinks containers (12), particularly for use in motor vehicles, with a receptacle (4) having a supporting surface (11) for the drinks container (12) and at least one holding mechanism arranged on the outer circumference of the receptacle (4) whereby the holding mechanism has at least one movable element (3) essentially pressed by the spring element (2) towards the inside of the receptacle (4) characterized in that the movable element (3) rotates on bearings around an axis (10) on the receptacle (4), the receptacle (4) has a contact surface (9) for the movable element (3), and the movable element (3) has a preferably domed flexible surface (6) that extends at least partially into the receptacle (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Lisa Draxlmaier GmbH
    Inventor: Leonhard Dobos
  • Patent number: 6749167
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a shaped bottle has an insertion opening for insertion of a bottle, a spring element that pivots the diameter-compensating element into the insertion opening, wherein the diameter-compensating element being pivotable downwardly and upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Kaupp, Falk Schaal
  • Patent number: 6669031
    Abstract: A holder for an article, especially a tooth brush, includes a holder body having on an inside wall thereof at least one oblong shaped resilient portion radially inwardly extending to the center portion of the holder body which upon insertion of the article into the holder exerts pressure on the article to hold the article or having at least one oblong shaped non-resilient portion embedded in an elastic portion ensuring the bending of the non-resilient portion. At a lower portion of the holder body a funnel shaped inlet hole is positioned for inserting of the article and at an upper portion of the holder body a surface having an attaching hole is positioned for fixing of the holder spatially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Miroslav Badonic
  • Patent number: 6637082
    Abstract: A quick holder includes a bottom housing, a cover, two clamping members, and a tensile spring. The tensile spring is urged between the retaining posts of the two clamping members conveniently, so that the two opposite clamping members may be used to clamp the paper by a single tensile spring, thereby simplifying the whole structure, and thereby decreasing the difficulty of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Chun-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 6595376
    Abstract: A clamp device which includes a base has a recess defined between two protrusions, and a chamber is defined in an inside of one of the two protrusions. A friction pad is attached to an inside of the other of the two protrusions. A frame with an inclined plate is received in the chamber and two parallel rails extend from a top surface of the inclined plate. A roller is received in the chamber and two grooves are defined in an outer surface of the roller. A friction member is mounted to the roller and located between the two grooves so that the rails are movably engaged with the grooves. A shank of a tool can be held by the friction member and the friction pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph Jui-Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 6533234
    Abstract: A self-centering system is described for holding an object (e.g. a vial, tube or cell) to maintain the longitudinal axis of the object in the desired orientation. The system includes two cam members which are pivotably mounted on parallel axes. The cam members include sloped surfaces which are able to accommodate objects of various diameters or shapes (e.g. circular or non-circular cross-section). The cam members are biased (e.g. with weights or springs) such that the sloped surfaces are automatically brought into contact with the object to be oriented and supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Nelson E. Dervaes
  • Patent number: 6302362
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a piece of paper, poster board or the like on a relatively flat vertical surface. The apparatus can be used on existing map rails or on an easel-like structure. The apparatus has a housing with a longitudinal axis, a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a top portion and a bottom portion. The front wall has an upper end connected to the top wall and a lower end that is generally C-shaped and is angled toward the back wall to form a chamber to loosely hold a rod. The housing further defines an opening between the lower end and the back wall. The also defines an attachment means that extends from the back wall so that the apparatus can be attached to a surface. A method for positioning a piece of paper on a substantially vertical surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Best-Rite Manufacturing
    Inventor: Gregory C. Moore
  • Publication number: 20010023912
    Abstract: A display device including a base, first and second arms extending from the base, first and second retainers attached respectively to the first and the second arms, and wherein one of the arms and the retainers are flexible such that the retainers can be spread apart to receive a ball and then released to hold the ball therebetween. The display device also includes sports memorabilia held between the first and the second retainers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventor: Nicholas Donofrio
  • Patent number: 6199804
    Abstract: A display device including a base, first and second arms extending from the base, first and second retainers attached respectively to the first and the second arms, and wherein one of the arms and the retainers are flexible such that the retainers can be spread apart to receive a ball and then released to hold the ball therebetween. The display device also includes sports memorabilia held between the first and the second retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Nicholas Donofrio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6182936
    Abstract: A copy holder including a flat holder base having at least one arched flange raised from a front side thereof near a top side thereof and defining a document insertion mouth, a first pair of vertically spaced lugs and a second pair of vertically spaced lugs bilaterally raised from a back side thereof; document clamping means mounted on the flat holder base and adapted to hold down inserted sheets of document in the document insertion mouth; an angle-adjustable mounting device pivoted to the first pair of vertical lugs of the holder base and adapted for securing to a monitor of a computer system for supporting the flat holder base; and a curved holding-down block pivoted to the second pair of vertically spaced lugs of the holder base and adapted to hold down turned-up sheets of document on the back side of the holder base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Li Fen Yang
  • Patent number: 6177631
    Abstract: The figures show module carriers with one straight and one angled sheet metal cover (1, 2) which form an angle connection for a housing. Hooks (3) are bent out from the straight sheet metal lamina (1) on the inner side in order therein to receive a limb (4) of the angled sheet metal lamina (2). Elastic contact springs are formed on the hooks in order to produce a predetermined contact force on the inserted limb. The thickness of the sheet metal lamina and the dimensions of the contact springs and the hooks are matched to one another in such a manner that the hooks can be accommodated within a distance 1<16 mm from an edge (5) of the straight sheet metal lamina (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: ELMA Electronics AG
    Inventor: Walter A. Schindler