Methods Patents (Class 289/1.5)
  • Patent number: 11911024
    Abstract: A slip knot suture construct system and method for securing multiple limbs of suture. The system includes a suture construct having a length of suture including a standing limb with a standing terminal end and a closing limb with a closing terminal end. The suture construct has three loops: a primary loop formed in the closing limb, the primary loop and closing limb extending to the standing limb, a secondary loop formed in the standing limb, and a locking loop formed in the length of suture between the primary loop and the secondary loop. A limb of suture extends through the primary loop. The limb of suture is secured in the suture construct by pulling the closing terminal end proximally, which pulls the primary loop holding the limb of suture through the locking loop and at least partially into the secondary loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Isshiki
  • Patent number: 10383323
    Abstract: In various implementations, a knotting aid may facilitate hand tying of line(s). A knotting aid may include two or more arms extending from a base. A first arm of the knotting aid may include a stationary coupling member and a second arm of the knotting aid may include a sliding coupling member. The coupling members may be able to retain line(s) without substantially damaging the line(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Jon Hamell, Eric David Coffey, Robert Shawn Hamell
  • Patent number: 10264774
    Abstract: A line knot tying apparatus and method of use is disclosed that assists in joining first and second line free end portions. The knot tying apparatus includes a housing with an aperture therethrough that is slidably engaged to an extension element wherein an element biases the extension to a closed state that can be manually pushed into an open state. Also a helical coil with continuously increasing pitch line distance is attached to the housing. Operationally the first and second line free end portions each have a manual removable slidable engagement to the helical coil with opposing free ends that are wound in a plurality of loops about the opposing line then being secured by the extension element in the closed state. Then manually pulling the non free end line portions apart from one another to form the knot, further releasing the opposing line free ends from the extension element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Jim Walters
  • Patent number: 10106365
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for forming a knot to elongated material. The device includes a body, a central cavity inside the body, a material track along which the elongated material is guided in the device, the material track including an opening extending along the material track and open to the central cavity. The device further includes one or more barrier elements for blocking at least part of the opening for preventing the elongated material from escaping from the material track also prevents collapsing/folding of the material to the central cavity via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GLADSTONE PROPERTY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Jarkko Nikkanen
  • Patent number: 9969595
    Abstract: This invention relates to a kit and method for the joining of two separate lives and families into one. The kit and method may be used in conjunction with a marriage, civil union, vow renewal, or other such ceremony between two individuals, and involves the weaving of two individual materials together in a particular manner so as to achieve a knot, symbolizing the union of the two individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Priscilla Rose Wood, Aaron Vachss Buren
  • Patent number: 9808854
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus, a method and a use of the apparatus for automatically twisting metal wires. The invention concerns in particular such an apparatus for connecting adjacent, preferably mutually crossing structural elements, comprising a wire feed means for feeding wire, preferably endless wire, into the apparatus, an arcuate wire guide which has a selectively openable and closable opening and which is adapted to guide the fed wire in the closed position along the arcuate wire guide from a first side of the arcuate wire guide to a second side of the arcuate wire guide, that is in opposite relationship with respect to the opening, a pulling slider adapted to engage the fed wire on the first side of the arcuate wire guide and to pull it towards the second side of the arcuate wire guide, and a twisting unit adapted to engage the fed wire on both sides of the arcuate wire guide and to twist it by means of a rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventor: Gunther Horn
  • Patent number: 9475671
    Abstract: A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert. The removal element can be attached to the cover during the method of manufacture of the vaginal insert utilizing a string and knot module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Adler, Scott A. Ainsworth, Tod W. Heleniak, Brian Wayne Tomac
  • Publication number: 20150102601
    Abstract: A kit for creating Brunnian link items such as bracelets, necklaces and other wearable or decorative items is disclosed and includes a loom, a hook, and a plurality of clips and a plurality of elastic bands. The loom includes a base supporting a plurality of upward extending pins. Each of the pins includes a flange for holding an elastic band in a desired orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Publication number: 20150097370
    Abstract: A twine knotter has a knotter frame (2). An intermediate shaft (3) is rotatably supported on the knotter frame (2) around a longitudinal axis L. A shaft input (4) connects the intermediate shaft (3) to an output element (61) of a knotter drive shaft (54). At least one knotter hook shaft (9, 10) is rotatably supported around a knotter hook axis (K1, K2) on the knotter frame (2). The at least one knotter hook shaft (9, 10) is drive-wise connected to the intermediate shaft (3). The at least one knotter hook shaft carries a knotter hook (11, 12) to form a knot. The twine knotter (1) is formed as an independent assembly. The twine knotter (1) is drive-wise detachably connectable, via the shaft input (4) of the intermediate shaft (3), to the knotter drive shaft (54).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Friedrich-Wilhelm SCHUMACHER, Heinrich Gunter SCHUMACHER, Michael FLANHARDT, Andreas ACIMAS
  • Patent number: 8985642
    Abstract: A method for applying a component of a package for a substance for infusion having a filter bag for containing a substance and a pickup tag for manually picking up the filter bag includes a method for knotting a string to at least one of the components, which has the steps of interposing, between a string which is held taut along a first axis and a needle having an open lateral eye and angled transversally to the axis of the string, at least one of the components of the package, the component being angled so that the plane in which it lies is substantially parallel with the axis of the string; hooking the string with a single needle and using a sequence of passes through the plane in which the component lies forming stitching, which knots at least two loops of the string that are linked together one after another; and tightening the stitching to stably knot the string to the one or each component of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Tecnomeccanica S.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Publication number: 20150048616
    Abstract: Tools and methods are disclosed for tying a knot. A knot tying tool can include an elongated housing and an insert member. The housing can have first and second body portions having different outer cross-sections. A first chamber can extend within the housing with a slit that opens into the chamber. The insert member can also have a slit opening into a second chamber. The insert member can have an inner cylinder rotatable and movable within the first chamber. Rotation of the inner cylinder within the first chamber can move the knot tying tool between a locked and an unlocked position, the first and second slits being aligned in the unlocked position to allow a line to pass through the first and second slits into the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Amal Mashhour
  • Publication number: 20150042091
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The base and pin bars may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations. Additional bases and pin bars can be to further expand possible completed article creation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Five Below, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Myles Tommer, Carl E. Voigt, IV
  • Patent number: 8944475
    Abstract: A knotting mechanism includes a rod having a tapered end. The retaining mechanism includes a first leg and a second leg. A nook is defined between the first and second legs. The retaining mechanism is actuatable between an open configuration to selectively provide access to at least a portion of the nook and a closed configuration to selectively restrict access to at least the portion of the nook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Knot-A-Bead LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ruderer, Corey Feit, Dale Picolet, Chad Stuemke
  • Publication number: 20140319834
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Publication number: 20140310920
    Abstract: Implementations of a quick connect and disconnect (QCD) system for connecting and disconnecting a load via a rope to a pulling force include a primary load bar connected to a first rail and a second rail and a compression pin assembly to be inserted between the first rail and the second rail. The rails may be in a variety of configurations to accommodate different hitching systems for a pulling force. The rope, the primary load bar, and the compression pin are used to form a knot that may be tied and untied relatively quickly. One end of a QCD system can be attached to a pulling force and one leg of the knot formed on the QCD may be connected to a load. In this way, a load can be connected to and disconnected from a pulling force relatively quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Charles Dwight Jarvis
  • Patent number: 8821544
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably, to the filament engagement feature. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs that are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after anchor fixation. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard Tang, David B. Spenciner
  • Patent number: 8821545
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably, to the filament engagement feature. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs that are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after anchor fixation. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, LLC
    Inventor: Mehmet Ziya Sengun
  • Patent number: 8814905
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard Tang, David B. Spenciner, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gerome Miller
  • Publication number: 20140230146
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide a hammock system, which comprises two spreader bars defining a length of a base area of the hammock system, two border rope defining a width of the base area of the hammock system, a plurality of longitudinally extending structural lines connecting the first spreader bar to the second spreader bar, and a weaving rope defining a repeating array of quadrilateral formations within the base area, each quadrilateral formation bisected by one of the structural lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Matthews Pride, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis R. Matthews, II
  • Publication number: 20140167413
    Abstract: There is herein described a fishing aid. More particularly, there is described a fishing aid capable of tying knots in fishing lines to connect the fishing line to hooks, flies and/or lures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: M2H INDUSTRIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Oliver Ross
  • Publication number: 20140103647
    Abstract: A tying mechanism comprising a bill hook, twine holding device for holding strands of twines, a cutting arm adapted for cutting twines between the bill hook and the twine holding device whilst moving between a rest position and an extended position, a drive adapted to make the bill hook perform at least a first full rotation and a second full rotation and to move the cutting arm from the rest position to the extended position and back during a full operation cycle to form respectively a first and a second consecutive knot wherein the tying mechanism further comprises a tension regulating mechanism able to provide and regulate the tension exerted to the twine holding device during the operation of the tying mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Marnix J. Schoonheere, Sam Magnus
  • Publication number: 20140070532
    Abstract: A knotting mechanism includes a rod having a tapered end. The retaining mechanism includes a first leg and a second leg. A nook is defined between the first and second legs. The retaining mechanism is actuatable between an open configuration to selectively provide access to at least a portion of the nook and a closed configuration to selectively restrict access to at least the portion of the nook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Ruderer
  • Patent number: 8622440
    Abstract: A system includes a knot tying device for tying a filament in a knot around an article and a filament delivery device from which is drawn the filament. The filament delivery device may be in the form of a cartridge having a housing sized and arranged to be releasably attached to the knot tying device where the housing has an opening through which pre-cut or loosely coupled lengths of the filament can be drawn. The knot tying device includes a shuttle attachable to the filament where the shuttle is caused to be moved during a knot tying process around an article to be tied and a device for at least pulling the filament away from the article at appropriate times during the knot tying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ideal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Crichton, Monte Douglas Tweten, Thomas Peterson, James Davidson, Alan Zantout, Ganapathi Balasubrahmanyam, John Desouza, Paritosh Singh, Alok Kulkarni, Puneetkumar Birla, Manish B. Patil, Raveesha Shettigara, Sachin Seth, Vinodkumar Shrawan Shirsath, Sampat Namdeo Dighe, Vikas Mali
  • Publication number: 20130345745
    Abstract: A suture thread is used to perform suturing without tying part of or the whole of knots that are supposed to be tied during suturing. A suture thread support body prevents an end of the suture thread from being pulled into a suturing site. A needle accommodation body has a shape of a tube having a through-hole through both ends. The suture thread has the suture thread support body and the needle accommodation body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: JOHN JACOBS MEDICAL INC.
    Inventor: Young Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 8608211
    Abstract: Implementations of a quick connect and disconnect (QCD) system for connecting and disconnecting a load via a rope to a pulling force include a primary load bar connected to a first rail and a second rail and a compression pin assembly to be inserted between the first rail and the second rail. The rails may be in a variety of configurations to accommodate different hitching systems for a pulling force. The rope, the primary load bar, and the compression pin are used to form a knot that may be tied and untied relatively quickly. One end of a QCD system can be attached to a pulling force and one leg of the knot formed on the QCD may be connected to a load. In this way, a load can be connected to and disconnected from a pulling force relatively quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Charles Dwight Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20130307267
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Publication number: 20130298361
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for making knots in flexible element attached to a medical device and methods using said apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ODYSSEA PHARMA S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Pasteels
  • Publication number: 20130300114
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 8533917
    Abstract: A rope crossing secures rope lines on each other as well as rope play equipment which has at least one rope crossing. The rope crossing includes at least two crossing rope lines and a ring, wherein the ring has an inner opening with twice the number of essentially radially extending receiving regions in relation to the number of rope lines to be secured. A corresponding line segment of a rope line forming a bulge is received in two corresponding receiving regions that face one another, so that the bulges of crossing rope lines are arranged on respective opposite sides of the ring. The ratio of the unobstructed width LW of a receiving region to the diameter of the rope line D, which forms the bulge in this receiving region, is LW/D=0.8 to 0.98.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Berlinder Seifabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Karl Heinz Köhler
  • Publication number: 20130211429
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a knot, the apparatus comprising: a first pathway for receiving a first element, and a second pathway for receiving a second element, wherein the first pathway and the second pathway have configurations which correspond to the paths to be followed by the first element and the second element, respectively, in order to form a knot; a shuttle for moving the second element; and a mechanism for moving the shuttle through the second pathway, whereby, when the first element is received in the first pathway and the second element is connected to the shuttle, movement of the shuttle through the second pathway causes the second element to be moved through the second pathway so as to form a knot around the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: REDYNS MEDICAL LLC
    Inventor: REDYNS MEDICAL LLC
  • Publication number: 20130181447
    Abstract: A method for applying a component of a package for a substance for infusion having a filter bag for containing a substance and a pickup tag for manually picking up the filter bag includes a method for knotting a string to at least one of the components, which has the steps of interposing, between a string which is held taut along a first axis and a needle having an open lateral eye and angled transversally to the axis of the string, at least one of the components of the package, the component being angled so that the plane in which it lies is substantially parallel with the axis of the string; hooking the string with a single needle and using a sequence of passes through the plane in which the component lies forming stitching, which knots at least two loops of the string that are linked together one after another; and tightening the stitching to stably knot the string to the one or each component of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: TECNOMECCANICA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 8419078
    Abstract: An installer, securing radiant heat tubing to wire mesh while standing, uses an apparatus with an adjustable telescoping housing. The installer, by actuating a power drill, or other electrically driven device, rotates a shaft that is attached to a drive roller in close proximity to an idler roller. These rollers frictionally engage an end of a preformed plastic binding coil. The preformed plastic binding coil end is advanced through a feeding tube that allows the end of the preformed plastic binding coil to wrap around the intersection where the radiant heat tubing and wire mesh meet. As the preformed plastic binding coil resumes its coiled configuration, the tying operation is complete. A cutter blade actuated by the user frees the apparatus from the tied radiant heat tubing and wire mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew Nord
  • Patent number: 8375553
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, a device for sealing an opening in a vessel wall and/or tissue tract may include an anchor, a filament, a plug, and a knot. The anchor may be configured to be disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the vessel wall adjacent the opening in the vessel wall. The filament may have a distal end coupled to the anchor and may be configured to extend proximally through the vessel opening and/or tissue tract. The plug may be disposed about at least a portion of the filament member. The knot may be disposed about the filament proximal of the plug and may be configured to move over the filament and secure the plug relative to the anchor. The knot may be independent of the filament member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pikus, Leonard B. Richardson, Joe Groff, James G. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130020802
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. A disclosed kit includes a template for mounting an initial band and a hook utilized for attaching additional bands to the initial bands placed on the template. The template includes pins that hold the initial band in place while additional bands are linked onto each other. The kit further includes a clip utilized to attach ends once the desired length is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Publication number: 20120326441
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the preparation of a knot in at least one length of material, wherein the apparatus includes a base portion, the base portion including; a) a loop former configured in use to form an open loop in the length of material; and; b) at least one restraining device configured to restrain the length of material on the loop former, and wherein the apparatus includes a twister configured to intercept and twist at least two portions of the length of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: David Bruce Frew
  • Publication number: 20120319402
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tying radiant heat tubing to wire mesh accomplished by an adjustable telescoping housing which allows an installer to remain in a standing position while performing the tying operation. The installer, by actuating a power drill, or other electrically driven device, rotates a shaft that is attached to a drive roller in close proximity to an idler roller. These rollers frictionally engage an end of a preformed plastic binding coil. The preformed plastic binding coil end is advanced in the direction of a funnel shaped enclosure that forces that end through a feeding tube that allows the end of the preformed plastic binding coil to wrap around the intersection where the radiant heat tubing and wire mesh meet. As the preformed plastic binding coil resumes its coiled configuration, the tying operation is complete. A cutter blade actuated by the user frees the apparatus from the tied radiant heat tubing and wire mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Nord
  • Patent number: 8267439
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tying a Windsor knot. In particular, an apparatus and method for tying a Windsor knot for a necktie, with the knot being symmetric, and the tie hanging straight and of proper length for the wearer or the necktie. The apparatus and method are universal for neckties, not requiring a special necktie to be used in conjunction with the apparatus and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Philip Fay
  • Publication number: 20120145089
    Abstract: A pet toy includes a flexible body with rope support configurations. In one embodiment, the rope configurations include one or more loops that are exposed and one or more knots that are covered by an exterior plush component of the pet toy. In another embodiment, two or more strands of rope material are tied in a series of knots, and an additional strand of rope material may be tied to the other strands in a transverse fashion. Preferably, the exterior plush component includes fabric. One or more of the free ends of the strands of rope material may also protrude beyond the plush component. The fabric material is sewn over the exposed portions of the rope material. Enough fabric material is used such that twisting, extending and retracting the rope material does not transfer force directly to the exterior fabric, thereby preserving the exterior plush component. The knots provide internal bulk to the body of the toy eliminating the need for stuffing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. MARKHAM, Chuck COSTELLO, Sabina CRANE
  • Publication number: 20120112457
    Abstract: A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The base and pin bars may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations. Additional bases and pin bars can be to further expand possible completed article creation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 8172860
    Abstract: A method for closing an opening in tissue using a suturing device includes inserting at least a portion of a suture through a tissue tract and through a tissue wall. Following inserting at least a portion of the suture, the method includes advancing a first end of the suture through a bight of the suture, the bight pre-formed about a periphery of a knot tube of the suturing device. Once the first end is advanced, the method includes tensioning the first end of the suture and a second end of the suture adjacent the bight to form a knot affixing a loop of suture across the puncture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Michael Zung, Jasper Jackson
  • Publication number: 20120085430
    Abstract: A device and method for sealing an inflated balloon includes providing a balloon-tying pump nozzle that has an air nozzle defining an air passageway adapted for communicating air between an air-collection chamber of an air pump and the environment and a balloon-neck-engaging extension adjacent to and extending substantially parallel to the air nozzle, the balloon-neck-engaging extension defining a channel between the balloon-neck-engaging extension and the air nozzle, wherein the channel is sized to accept a neck of a standard party balloon therein while inhibiting a lip of the standard party balloon from passing therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Paul J. Johansson, Paul David Johansson
  • Patent number: 8104486
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hair increasing device that improves the freedom of hair styles and, is constituted in such a manner that each hair is knotted to a rib constituting a hair-secured frame with one end portion being twice wound, and the other end portion being once wound and pulled out thereafter. The one end portion of the tied hair is supported so as to stand upright with regard to a rib, and the other end portion is knotted so as to extend longitudinally on and along a rib, and thereby hair flow is formed in the longitudinal direction on a plurality of ribs so that the plurality of ribs is covered and hidden, and becomes hardly visible. Hence the rib or wig base linear member is hardly visible, the knot does not loosen, and the hair increasing device provides a rich voluminous appearance and allows versatility of hair styles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Unihair Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakiko Imai, Katsuo Sugai
  • Patent number: 8082665
    Abstract: An apparatus for securely connecting mating ends of two power cords to prevent the mating ends of the two power cords from inadvertently or accidentally detaching from each other. The apparatus includes a flexible connector having a center segment, a first end and a second end. A preferred form of the flexible connector can readily accommodate varying configurations of mating ends of power cords. Preferably, the flexible connector is substantially symmetrical to facilitate installation. The first end has a first opening and the second end has a second opening. The center segment, the first end and the second end are manipulable to form a first retaining member and a second retaining member for securing a first end of a first power cord to a first end of a second power cord. Preferably, the flexible connector is configured such that it may not be inadvertently or accidentally dislodged from the first power cord or the second power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Zimmerman, Thomas Carleton Shoemaker
  • Publication number: 20110309617
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for tying a friction hitch knot. The apparatus includes at least one support member having at least one substantially rigid support surface opposing an interior space. The support member and a bight in the chord define an opening when the chord is positioned adjacent the support member. The support member supports at least one loop formed by a first length of chord and a second length of the chord. The interior space receives a first and a second tail portion of the chord after the at least one loop is formed around the support member. Engagement between the at least one loop and the first and second tail portions of chord is facilitated by slideably releasing the support member from the at least one loop after the first and second tail portions are received in the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Kenneth Stuart Eley
  • Publication number: 20110251641
    Abstract: A crimpable magnesium sleeve for securing a suture within the body and for dissolving over time while introducing only compatible amounts of magnesium into the body. An instrument for placing such a sleeve on a suture crimping the sleeve and cutting the suture after placement. An alloy of magnesium, zinc, and aluminum may be used to form the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: LSI SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jude S. Sauer, Heather R. Leigh
  • Publication number: 20110208239
    Abstract: A self-locking adjustable loop construction and a method of forming the construction are disclosed. The construction can include a flexible member having a first end, a second end and a first portion therebetween. The first end can be passed back through the first portion at a first point such that the first end passes through the first portion from a first side of the flexible member to a second opposite side of the flexible member. The first end can be passed through the first portion at a second point spaced apart from the first point such that the first end passes through the first portion from the second side to the first side so as to place the second end outside of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 8002316
    Abstract: A method for precisely spacing knots in a string utilizing a generally flat, rectangular board; a centered post projecting outwardly of and generally perpendicular to the board for enabling tying the free end of the string about the post to enable forming of knots in the string upon tightening of same; and, a plurality of selectable measurement points on the board, aligned longitudinally, transversely of the board and extending outwardly from the post in equidistantly spaced relation and for enabling positioning a predetermined point along the string at one of the selectable measurement points, the spacing between the predetermined point along the string and a knot formed at the post being determined by the spacing between the post and the selected measurement point. The method is used in forming jewelry by interspersing beads between knots whose positions have been pre-selected, using the technique set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Maureen Oliveto
  • Publication number: 20110187100
    Abstract: A knot tying system is presented containing a feeding mechanism, a knot tying device, and a clamp. The feeding mechanism has a drive roller and an idle roller capable of guiding a wire. A truck is connected to the end of the wire, and fed into a guide track, fixed relative to the feeding mechanism. The guide track provides a curved track in the shape of a knot desired. The track has a tube having a wire extraction slot running along the length of the tube, an intersection region where an outer portion of the guide track intersects an inner portion of the guide track, and a slit through the inner portion of the guide track substantially at the intersection region. A sensing and control system may also be present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Dartmouth College
    Inventor: Matthew Bell
  • Publication number: 20110115221
    Abstract: A method is provided for tying a continuous sequence of substantially identical overhand knots from a single piece of material. The sequence of knots is useful in the art of clothing design, accessory ornamentation, and decorative design, but may also be used for other aesthetic purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: CHARLOTTE KAPLAN
  • Publication number: 20110106151
    Abstract: A method for forming a suture knot, the method comprising: folding a strand of suture in half; forming two dog-ear loops at the bend of the suture strand; folding down the two dog-ear loops so as to form two stacked loops; connecting the loops through a suture bridge that crosses the two limbs of the strand of suture; placing the ends of the two limbs through the stacked dog-ear loops; and flipping the suture bridge to the opposite side of the knot body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Dennis McDevitt, Vincent Novak