Resilient Engaging Means Patents (Class 292/318)
  • Patent number: 11842657
    Abstract: A kit includes one or more pairs of matching color-coded attachment members and tags. The attachment member is configured to be selectively retained to an electrical wire entering an electrical service panel. The corresponding color-coded tag is configured to be attached, such as through magnetic means, to a door of the electrical service panel. The tag includes pre-printed text thereon, which provides descriptive information regarding the electrical circuit formed by the wire to which the attachment member is associated. As such, the color-coding allows a homeowner or technician to easily identify which electrical circuit is controlled by a particular electrical circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Travis Dacey
  • Patent number: 11684459
    Abstract: A feature for retaining a denture on dental implants is shown and described. An anchor for receiving prongs is threaded to each of one or more implants in the mouth. A denture having prong passages is placed onto jaw bone or overlying tissue, above the implant. The anchor occupies an opening in the denture. With the denture in place and with the prong passages aligned with prong reception sites of the anchor, a pronged denture connector is installed such that the prongs pass through the prong passages of the denture and penetrate the prong reception sites of the anchor. The prongs are frictionally secured in place by an elastic member lining the prong passages of the denture and constricting over inserted prongs. The denture may comprise synthetic resin reinforced by a metallic reinforcing bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Enzo Gambacorta
  • Patent number: 11344086
    Abstract: A fastener device includes a first fastener part and a second fastener part which can be mounted on one another along a closing direction and are held against one another in a closed position, and are releasable from one another in order to open the fastener device. The second fastener part has a winding element on which a tension element can be arranged and which is rotatable relative to the first fastener part in order to wind up the tension element on the winding element in a winding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Fidlock GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Fiedler, Breido Botkus, Heiko Buettner
  • Patent number: 10294979
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle seat including a seat main body in which an electric component is installed, a harness which is disposed along a surface of the seat main body and which is connected to the electric component and a holding member which holds the harness, and a part of the holding member is fixed to the surface of the seat main body and the holding member forms a loop by being extended around along the outer circumference of the harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Inoue, Souheil Hage-Hassan
  • Patent number: 9855028
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Patent number: 9702170
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for marking a commercial article, comprising two separable parts: a first part (12) including an axial spike (14), a second part comprising an orifice for axial insertion of the spike and means for locking the spike inserted in said orifice. One of the parts, referred to as the attachment part, comprises an attachment: member (32) that is able to pivot between a first position in which a free end of the member is far away from the attachment part and a second position in which the free end is disposed in a housing (50) of the attachment part. The attachment part is configured so that the free end (32a) of the attachment member is blocked in the housing (50; 108) by the presence of the other part of the device that is locked to the attachment part by way of the spike (14) and its locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: EXAQTWORLD
    Inventor: Alain Favier
  • Patent number: 9636101
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a knotless suture anchoring system for anchoring a suture with respect to a body cavity, including a bone anchor body with at least one rigid anchoring structure to secure the anchor body within the body cavity. The anchor body has a longitudinal bore and cross-pin extending across the bore. A retention member is coupled to the anchor body with a break notch therebetween, which may selectively fracture to separate the body from the retention member. Additionally there is a suture cutout on the retention member and a relief feature positioned along the break notch and approximately diametrically opposed from the suture cutout, the relief feature acting to alter the force dissipation along the break notch during the separation of the retention member from the anchor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Wolf, Vincent Tangherlini, Norman S. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9390635
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for securing a pallet, crate, or similar shipping containers against pilferage utilizing a seal which is from now on referred to as a Pallet Seal. A pallet seals includes of one or more parts, having one or more locking devices. The seal can be secured against the clip on the pallet banding, completely covering and protecting the clip from tampering. The seal can have specific seal number and marking, color, or other features that makes it almost impossible to duplicate. Further the seal can have the capability to include RFID tags, Bar Code, and or custom marking and can be applied to the banding clips without a use of any tool or secondary seal or number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Koorosh Vafadari
  • Patent number: 9364210
    Abstract: A suture anchor device and method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor body and a suture locking wedge movably disposed within the anchor body. Tension applied to one side of a suture causes the suture locking wedge to translate and rotate into a position which compresses the suture, thereby locking the suture in the anchor. A resilient or spring biasing member within the anchor device urges the suture locking wedge to compress the suture, facilitating suture locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: David Gregoire, George W. White, Steven Wolf
  • Patent number: 9226742
    Abstract: A suture anchor device and method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor body and a suture locking wedge movably disposed within the anchor body. Tension applied to one side of a suture causes the suture locking wedge to move in a translational and angular dimension to a position which compresses the suture, thereby locking the suture in the anchor. The anchor body includes tracks or slots which guide the suture locking wedge from the unlocked open configuration to the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Wolf, Emil Karapetian, George W. White, David Gregoire
  • Patent number: 9198649
    Abstract: A suture anchor apparatus and method for anchoring a length of suture with respect to a target tissue has an anchor body with an anchoring structure for fixing the anchor body within the target tissue and a suture locking member. The moveable suture locking member is disposed at least partially within an anchor body lumen while a portion of the length of suture is looped around the suture locking member such that a first and second limb of suture exits the lumen. A suture locking member includes at least two elongate arms, and each arm has an extension dimension respectively, such that the first arm extension dimension is substantially greater than the second arm extension dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Karapetian, Steven Wolf
  • Patent number: 9186133
    Abstract: A bone anchor insertion device is disclosed for attaching a suture that is fixed to portion of soft tissue to a portion of bone. The device has a handle, a nosepiece connected to a distal end of the handle, a bone anchor connected to the nosepiece, and an actuator disposed on the handle for deploying the bone anchor. A suture ratchet or tensioning mechanism is disposed in the handle for tensioning suture which is associated with the bone anchor. This mechanism permits precise tensioning, while also permitting one-handed operation, thereby allowing the practitioner to use his or her other hand for other activities, such as camera operation or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: David Gregoire, George White, Minh Tran, Seth Foerster
  • Patent number: 8736450
    Abstract: An apparatus to deter theft of a movable product is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a housing, a plug connected to the housing to insert into an electrical socket to receive power, a bracket connected to the housing and having an opening to receive a locking cable while the opening of the bracket protrudes from the housing. A switch, within the housing, responsive to protrusion of the opening of the bracket from the housing to receive the locking cable. An electrical circuitry, within the housing, responsive to the switch being in a first state, and absence of power at the plug to sound an alarm, and responsive to the switch being in a second state or the presence of power at the plug to prevent sounding of the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brown, John F. Kelley, Todd Seager
  • Patent number: 8398129
    Abstract: A seal for tote boxes includes a post member of extended length which has an enlarged end portion and a housing which has locking fingers which flex to accept the enlarged end of the post member and then lock to prevent removal of the post member. The housing includes a pair of upwardly projecting flanges, and a downwardly projecting flange. When installed on tote box the upwardly projecting flanges maintain the position of the downwardly projecting flange so that it is visible past the handle of the tote box allowing visual access to indicia on the downwardly projecting flange and allowing an authorized user to cut the post portion to remove the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Ryan Hale, Brian Lyle
  • Patent number: 8353544
    Abstract: A locking magnet closure consists of a first closure module and a second closure module and comprises a magnet-keeper construction with at least one magnet in the first closure module and a keeper or second magnet in the second closure module, wherein on closing the magnet-keeper construction pulls the first closure module and the second closure module together in a closing direction. The closure further comprises a locking device for positively locking the closure modules between the first closure module and the second closure module. The locking device comprises at least one spring locking element, consisting of an engaging protrusion and a spring, wherein the spring locking element is arranged in the first closure module, and a locking piece which is arranged in the second closure module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: FIDLOCK GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Fiedler
  • Patent number: 8220847
    Abstract: A closing seal and associated method include a closing body having a closing mechanism disposed therein, and receptacle retaining the closing body, and a first connecting member connected with one of the closing body and the receptacle. An insertion member is connected with the first connecting member and shaped for insertion into the closing member to retain the same in place. A second connecting member is connected with one of the closing body, the receptacle and the insertion member, and includes a through aperture through which the insertion member passes when the closing seal is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Bednorz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz-Peter Welsch
  • Patent number: 7612671
    Abstract: An attachment device, attachment receiving device and system for identifying a secured container are disclosed. The system may include an attachment device, a first identification device embedded into the attachment device, the first identification device containing identification data relating to the attachment device, an attachment receiving device coupled to a container, a second identification device embedded into the attachment receiving device, the second identification device containing identification data relating to the container, wherein when the attachment device is attached to the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data and the container identification data are associated, and the associated identification data is capable of being read by an identification data reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Rachwalski, Nicholas C. Hopman
  • Patent number: 7578532
    Abstract: A linkage device that can be connected with other linkage devices and to itself, the linkage device comprising a strip having a first end and a second end, a closure hub attached to the first end of the strip and having an opening to receive a second end and a locking mechanism within the closure hub, a connecting surface protruding from the strip operable to secure the second end within a closure device, and a tampering detection device connected to the linkage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Schiebler
  • Patent number: 7468039
    Abstract: A cuff assembly for placement around a body vessel comprises a cuff member sized to substantially surround the body vessel, and a tether assembly engaged with the cuff member. The tether assembly is sized to at least substantially encircle the cuff member, and includes a locking mechanism for releasably maintaining a selected tension when the tether assembly encircles the cuff member. The tether assembly may comprise a tether and a tab, wherein the tab is engaged with the cuff member and has an aperture therethrough. The distal end of the tether is engaged with the tab. The locking mechanism may comprise a plurality of stop members disposed along a surface of the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Cook Vascular Incorporated
    Inventor: Chun Kee Lui
  • Patent number: 7464569
    Abstract: A housing for supporting an electronic tag on a zipper for a zippered container including a housing and an electronic tag supported by the housing. The housing has a configuration which is attached to at least one zipper of a zippered container. The housing is attached to the exterior of the container to limit movement of the zipper about the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: B&G Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chester Kolton, Michael Norman
  • Patent number: 7360806
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a wire having a proximal end and a distal end; and a body being fixedly coupled to the proximal of the wire and having at least two apertures, each aperture for receiving and locking the distal end of the wire at different times such that when the wire is locked in one of the apertures it cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein the distal end of the wire is operable to pass through one or more apertures of an object and lock in each of the apertures at different times such that the body retains the wire in engagement with the one or more apertures of the object and maintains the apparatus locked to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Henry Kong Sun Ching
  • Patent number: 7264287
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a head; a metal wire having a first end coupled to the head and a second end coupled to a stop member; and a body having a cavity for receiving and locking the head such that when the head is locked in the cavity it cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein the head and the metal wire are operable to pass through one or more apertures of an object and the head is operable to lock in the cavity such that the body and the stop member retain the wire in engagement with the aperture and maintain the apparatus locked to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Henry Kong Sun Ching
  • Patent number: 7063362
    Abstract: A cargo seal assembly structured to maintain one or more doors on a cargo container in a closed and latched position comprising an elongated flexible material segment having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The flexible material segment is disposed and structured to extend in surrounding relation to the lock rods an concurrently into sealing engagement with the latch assembly. A lock body is attached to the flexible material segment at a location which prevents removal of the material segment from its operative position. As such unauthorized access to the interior of the cargo container can only be accomplished by destructive separation of the flexible material segment at two separate, spaced apart locations along its length. A single identifying indicia is disposed on the flexible material segment or an operative component associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Jeffrey Howard Liroff
  • Patent number: 6981725
    Abstract: A bi-directional locking socket for use with a seal device which includes a shackle having a plurality of locking elements on a surface thereof. The socket comprises a locking insert forming a locking arrangement including a body defining a chamber therein. The locking insert further includes opposing top and bottom ends where the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber. A plurality of mirror image spaced fingers define a passageway extending through the chamber. The plurality of fingers allow passage of the locking elements as a free end of the shackle is pulled through the passageway via either the top or the bottom openings in opposite insertion directions, and lock with a locking element of the shackle when the shackle movement is in an opposite direction to the insertion direction. In the alternative, the socket has a chamber with the locking arrangement formed one piece therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Debrody, George Lundberg, Richard Dreisbach, Louis J. Mattos, John DeMarco
  • Patent number: 6966584
    Abstract: A molded thermoplastic body is formed with a rectangular cavity. A molded thermoplastic insert is welded to the body in the cavity and has a top cross member, a stem member and a bottom member. The stem member has a plurality of molded fingers cantilevered on opposing sides inclined relative to the stem member longitudinal axis in one embodiment. The stem member forms the cavity into two channels. A wire shackle which may be round or square in section, a wire or molded plastic, is U-shaped with two legs. One leg is formed with notches to receive the tips of the fingers in one channel and the other leg is formed with a reversibly bent barb which engages the fingers in the other channel on the opposite side of the cavity. The bottom member limits the insertion depth of the legs. The notches and barb engage the fingers and lock the shackle to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Debrody, George Albert Lundberg, Jr., Peter Farbaniec, Richard Dreisbach, Louis J. Mattos
  • Patent number: 6908125
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive locking device comprises a housing (2,20) having an opening therein, and an insertable member (1,21) adapted to be inserted into the opening whereupon it can enter into locking engagement with a locking member (4,36) in the housing. The locking member (4,36) is cooperable with pressure-sensitive means (7,28) in the housing to effect disengagement between the locking member (4,36) and the insertable member (1,21) upon a reduction of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: ITW Limited
    Inventor: David John Crisp
  • Patent number: 6640394
    Abstract: A tamper-proof tie includes a head and an attached strap. The head includes a strap accepting channel and a blind cavity. The strap accepting channel includes a strap entry end and a strap exit end. The blind cavity includes an open end. The head includes a flexible locking member comprising first and second ends which are fixed in place within the head. The strap includes an anti-tampering device which comprises a finger and a projection. In use, the strap is inserted into the strap accepting channel so the tie forms a closed loop. As the strap is inserted into the head, the locking member engages the anti-tampering device to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the head. With the tie formed into a closed loop, the anti-tampering device substantially encloses the entry end and the exit end of the strap accepting channel and the open end of the blind cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Berrocal, James C. Benoit
  • Patent number: 6624753
    Abstract: A hang tag having a bifolding body, one part of which has a long tail, and one of the parts having a recess adapted to receive an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device. The EAS device is placed or secured in the recess, the tail is wrapped around a piece of merchandise, and the other end of the tail is affixed to one of the bifolding bodies, and then the bifold is snapped shut permanently. The tag is made out of a tough, minimal stretch plastic such as nylon or another polyamide, enabling the tag to be assembled onto the merchandise simply by looping and snapping, without any riveting or other joining required. Using a tough polymer, the snap fit can be designed to create a permanent attachment so that the tag would have to be cut off or destroyed to remove it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: World Color, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Elston
  • Publication number: 20030137154
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a fastening element which can be easily mounted on an attaching gun as well as provide a fastening element with less generation of jamming at the time of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Kotec's Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ueno, Akihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 6550830
    Abstract: A bolt seal provides a slidable sleeve surrounding a solid bolt body having a bolt head affixed at one end. The sleeve is held in abutting contact with the bolt head at one end of the sleeve and a shoulder comprising an enlarged diameter portion of the solid bolt body at the other end of the sleeve. The bolt head can therefore be pressed snug against a seal housing, thereby eliminating a mode of jimmying the seal, while simultaneously providing a means for opening the seal with bolt cutters when the seal must be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Rainer Kueznel
  • Patent number: 6540273
    Abstract: One end of a stranded steel cable is attached to a cast zinc seal housing having a chamber in which a steel sleeve with a tapered bore is positioned. The sleeve in one embodiment is fixed to the housing in the chamber or may be displaceable and captured in the chamber in a further embodiment. A serpentine clip locking member captured in the housing chamber resiliently radially grips the a second end of the shackle inserted into the sleeve bore and wedges and locks to the cable and sleeve when the shackle is withdrawn. The sleeve precludes damage to the softer zinc housing by the locking member when the locking member is displaced in the housing chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the one end of the cable exits the housing in a plane different than where the second end enters the chamber to enhance ease of insertion of the second end into engagement with the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Transguard Industries
    Inventors: Terrence N. Brammall, Jeffrey A. Brimmer, Carlos Pinho, Richard Gnoinski, Craig B. Hamilton, Richard Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 6536082
    Abstract: A tamper-proof tie includes a head and an attached strap. The head is shaped to define an elongated interior channel having a strap entry end and a strap exit end. The head includes an articulating locking tang disposed to project into the interior channel. The strap includes a first end formed onto the head, a second end and an anti-tampering device integrally formed onto the second end, the anti-tampering device including a plug and a finger. In use, the strap is inserted into the interior channel so the tie forms a closed loop. As the strap is inserted into the head, the locking tang engages the anti-tampering device to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the head. With the tie formed into a closed loop, the plug is sized and shaped to substantially enclose the entry end and the finger is sized and shaped to substantially enclose the exit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Berrocal, James C. Benoit
  • Patent number: 6533335
    Abstract: A security device for a slide fastener, including a housing adapted to be fitted to an object to which the slide fastener is attached, the housing substantially surrounding the slider of the slide fastener in its fully closed position, a closure member adapted to cooperate with the housing which, in use, covers the slider to prevent access thereto and a frangible locking element adapted to link the housing to the closure member, the locking element being resiliently yieldable and slidably insertable into the closure member but not retractable therefrom without fracturing the frangible locking element. The closure member is attached at one end to a puller and the puller is attached to the slider. In a preferred embodiment the closure member can pivot about the housing and block withdrawal of the slider from the housing in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Tebco Party Limited
    Inventor: Barry Hudson
  • Patent number: 6511108
    Abstract: A tote bin seal for securing sheet material lids via aligned lid apertures includes a flange forming an ID flag attached to a locking device having a hollow core body at one body end and two semi-circular arrays of tangs at the other body end, the tangs formed of stems and reverse hooks or barbs. The body is somewhat oval with a rectangular central portion, the tangs depending from each arcuate end of the oval. Each of the tangs and the body have an interior axially extending triangular stiffening rib. An insert with a head and a bifurcated shank is attached to the flange opposite the body and may be sheared from the flange for insertion into the body core. The shank forms a locking opening which captures a web in the body core for securing the insert locked to the body. The insert prevents the tangs from compressing inwardly to open the seal. The flange has a living hinge so it can be folded over to permit reading ID data from the flange in stacked bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: John K. Roessner, III, Richard Dreisbach, George Albert Lundberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6464269
    Abstract: A tamper resistant security device, a removal tool, and methods of engaging and disengaging the tamper resistant security device are provided. The tamper resistant security device includes a locking pin including a head, a shaft, and a groove, a locking cap comprising a blind hole, a groove formed inside and substantially coaxial with the blind hole, and a snap ring fitting within the groove and further capable of snapping into the groove of the locking pin. A protective cover includes a closure device cavity, a locking pin hole extending through the protective cover, a locking cap cavity, and an alignment hole. During assembly, the protective cover is placed over the closure device, the locking pin passes through the locking pin hole, and the locking cap is placed in the locking cap cavity and the snap ring of the locking cap is retained in the locking groove of the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventors: Richard E. Wilhelm, Kevin Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 6371293
    Abstract: A fastener assembly having a plurality of fasteners, each including a retaining projection, a fitting portion for engaging with the retaining projection, and a filament portion arranged between the retaining projection and the fitting portion. A first joint member connects with the retaining projections of the fasteners through first cutting portions. A second joint member connects with the fitting portions through second cutting portions, to array the fasteners in a sheet shape. The axes of the retaining projections and the axes of the fitting holes of the fitting portions are formed perpendicular to the sheet-shaped array plane of the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Toska Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Kubota, Tadashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6328356
    Abstract: A pull-through lead security seal has a base body and a tongue protruding out of the base body. The tongue can be inserted through a pull-through opening located in a housing part which is connected to the base body. A retaining insert is also located in the housing part. A predetermined breaking point, in the form of a preferably continuous groove, is situated between the retaining insert and the base body or the housing part. In the event of an attempt to tamper with the lead seal, that is, if somebody attempts to open the closed lead seal by pulling on the tongue, this predetermined breaking point breaks, detaching the retaining insert in the housing part so that it moves freely within the walls. A tampering attempt of this type can therefore be detected by a simple, superficial check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Stoba AG
    Inventor: Ortwin Aichmann
  • Publication number: 20010023836
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a fastening element with less generation of jamming at the time of operation. Because a fastening element comprises a plurality of a unit fastening element arranged adjacently, the unit fastening element comprising a filament section, an inserting head section equipped with a suitable engagement section located at one end of the filament section, and a socket section equipped with a hole for irreversibly passing the inserting head section located at the other end of the filament section, the fastening element characterized in that a plurality of the socket sections or their vicinities arranged adjacent to each other are temporarily fixed to the connection bar section individually installed, respectively, and a plurality of optional filament sections adjacent to each other are separably fixed temporarily, jamming is less generated when the operator couples the fastening element by the coupler gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Kotec's Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ueno, Akihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 6220434
    Abstract: A fastener assembly which includes a plurality of fasteners each having a retaining projection which has a longitudinal axis, a fitting portion formed with an engaging hole which also has an axis in which the retaining projection can engage, and a filament portion arranged between the retaining projection and the fitting portion. A first joint member is connected with the retaining projections of the fasteners through first cutting portions each having a reduce sectional area. A second joint member is connected with the fitting portions through second cutting portions. In this manner, the fasteners are fixed to and securely supported by the first and second joint members to be arrayed in a plane. The axes of the retaining projections and the axes of the fitting holes of the fitting portions are formed perpendicular to the plane of the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Toska Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Kubota, Tadashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6174006
    Abstract: A tamper resistant seal comprises a series of ratchet teeth (12) arranged along a strap (14), with one end of the strap (14) being secured to a body (16) and the other end of the strap (14) being insertable into the body (16) so as to move the ratchet teeth (12) sequentially past a resiliently deformable catch (18), wherein the resiliently deformable catch (18) includes a pair of opposed jaws (44) which are movable laterally primarily with a vise-like or spelling action rather than a collet-like or flexing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: David Austin Burt
  • Patent number: 6155617
    Abstract: Several embodiments of a wire cable seal are shown. They use a cylindrical body having a passage intersected by two or three slots. Each slot receives a disk rolling in the slot. The slot tapers to pinch the cable in the passage with the disk. Each disk is separately spring loaded to protrude and pinch the cable. The multiple disks are located at different heights and different angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Rainer Kuenzel
  • Patent number: 6116666
    Abstract: The lockable tamper-evident device is suitable for securing a closure member in its closed position to an article. The device comprises a pair of arms (1,1') which are movable between an open position in which the arms (1,1') are engagable with an article and/or a closure member, and a locked-closed position in which disengagement of the arms from the article and/or the closure member is prevented by engagement of a cooperable locking means.Preferably, the arms (1,1') are engagable with a projection 7,7' extending either from the article and through an opening in the closure member or from the closure member and through an opening in the article.Preferably, the cooperable locking means (8,10,11,12) is carried by the arms (1,1'), activation of the locking means (8,10,11,12) being brought about by movement of the arms (1,1') to the locked-closed position. In the locked-closed position removal of the closure member is prevented by engagement of the arms (1,1') with the article and/or the closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Envopak Group Limited
    Inventors: Donald Adamson, Arthur Benjamins
  • Patent number: 6098253
    Abstract: A one-piece, tamper-resistant fastener for attaching one item to another is described. The fastener is particularly suited for attaching an item such as a ski coupon to a skier's garment. The attachment mechanism of the fastener is designed to allow a user to attach both items to the fastener, and thus the items to each other, in one action. The fastener is made of a single piece of plastic material, preferably polypropylene, which is easily recycled, even with a typical ski coupon attached. The one-piece fastener may alternatively be made using a biodegradable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation of America
    Inventors: Yasutaka Nishida, Ryoichiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 6047447
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a new sealing device which has not a capability of the push-through head portion being re-inserted into the socket portion 2 again after when the sealing condition has once been broken and further, a new sealing device can be provided in which an evidence showing the fact that the sealed condition of the sealing device had been broken, intentionally, is remained on this sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignees: Kotec's Co., Ltd, Snayo Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6039365
    Abstract: A seal-locking mechanism is intended for seal-locking of railway wagons and containers and other objects such as, for example, warehouses, depots, shops, tanks, hatches and automobiles.The seal-locking mechanism comprises a body 1, a locking element 3 having unilaterally beveled serrations 6 contacting, when locking, with respective serrations made on separate fixing elements 7 located in the body 1 over conical surfaces and spring-loaded with respect to said body. The seal-locking mechanism may be provided with a cap 13 which, when locating on the body 1, results in the formation of a single cylindrical surface of the seal-locking mechanism. The locking element 3 is made i nthe form of a cylindrical rod having a head 4 in close proximity to which, on a its lateral surface, there is provided a ring-shaped boring 11. A required information is applied to the face of the head 4 of the locking element 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Nikolai Timofeevich Rogatnev
  • Patent number: 6000891
    Abstract: A new Locking Nut System for locking a nut onto a conventional fastener without the nut becoming loosened thereby providing a safe, reliable and quick securing means to the conventional fastener. The inventive device includes a hexagonal nut having a plurality of radial apertures and a perimeter channel, a length of wire having a loop at one end, a protective coating covers the wire, and a plurality of traverse ribs extend from the coating opposite of the loop. The end of the wire opposite of the loop projects through a pair of aligned apertures with a passage within a fastener and then removably engages the loop with a substantial portion of the wire within the perimeter channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Franklin D. Cowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5908110
    Abstract: A flexible pin assembly for hooking tags includes a plurality of flexible pins arranged in parallel relation, and a connecting assembly for connecting together the plurality of flexible pins. Each of the flexible pins includes an intermediate portion made of a tough plastic fiber, an earlobe portion secured to one end of the intermediate portion, the earlobe portion including a through-hole and an engagement portion formed on an inner surface of a wall defining the through-hole, and a head portion secured to an opposite end of the intermediate portion and adapted to be inserted for engagement into the through-hole so that a loop is formed at the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: J.E. Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Hirai
  • Patent number: 5884949
    Abstract: A rigid base interconnects a pair of spaced legs, one of the legs being resiliently hinged to the base. A locking socket with a cavity is secured to an end of one of the legs distal the base and a locking stud is secured to the end of the other leg distal the base, the stud for manual resilient insertion into the socket cavity. The stud is rectangular having a wide transverse dimension and includes a locking tip with at least one barb which extends along the width. A U-shaped spring steel female locking member is secured in the socket cavity and has at least one locking tang to engage the at least one barb. The U-shaped member comprises any one of a plurality of different tang arrangements each for engagement with the same given barb configuration and are randomly assembled to the sockets of different seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Phelps Leon, Donald Arthur Ruth
  • Patent number: 5836054
    Abstract: The invention entails a cable tie having an elongated body and a hollow receiving head. The receiving head is attached to the body at one end. At the other end, the receiving head contains a mouth opening. The mouth opening is sufficiently large to receive the opposite end of the body. Teeth are arranged on the exterior of the body. At least one locking arm with a lip is positioned at the mouth opening. Preferably, the arm should have two ends with a pivot point in between. The lip should be positioned on one side of the pivot point. The teeth and the lip are positioned to cooperate with one another so that the locking arm holds the body in position when the body is inserted into the receiving head. By applying pressure to the end of the arm opposite the lip, the arm may be pivoted so that the lip will disengage the teeth, allowing the body to be freely withdrawn from the receiving head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Medisys Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary E. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5794461
    Abstract: A key operated restraining device is provided to create a securing loop of adjustable dimension. The device comprises a locking head portion, an elongated strap insertable into the locking head portion to form a securing loop of adjustable dimension, a support block disposed in the interior of the head portion, and a pawl member. Both the support block and the pawl member terminate in a spaced relation to an interior wall surface of the head portion and form a slideway for the strap portion. The pawl member is connected to the locking head by a resilient hinge structure biasing the pawl member into a locking position wherein the locking structure is operative to lockably engage a plurality of tooth structures on the strap portion and a release position wherein the locking structure is disengaged from the tooth structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: The McKinley Group
    Inventor: Jerry R. Smith