Other

Ykk Corporation of America

John Alexander Galbreath

Tsuyoshi Minato

Craig Jay Graham

Nobuo Fujisawa

A device is utilized which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector. To release the connector from the anchor bar, the user depresses a release button located on the outer surface of the connector.

Child seat anchor connector

The invention is a hook fastener strip ( ), having magnetically attractable wires ( & ) which are located between, and retained by, hook members ( ) on the front face of the fastener strip ( ). Each hook member ( ) is comprised of a shaft ( ) and a split-mushroom-shaped head ( ). The outer edges of head ( ) protrude beyond the sides of shaft ( ), and the undersides of the outer edges form ledges ( & ) which serve to retain the magnetically attractable wires ( & ) within the hook layer of the fastener strip ( ). The magnetically attractable wires ( & ) within the fastener strip allow it to be secured to a correspondingly magnetically attractive object.

Fastener strip with magnetic attractant

The invention is a telephone answering device that permits the number of rings before the call is answered, and the speaker volume, to be programmed to vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, or to be set at desired levels for specific lengths of time. The device contains a timer and a microcomputer , said microcomputer having a programmable ring register and a programmable speaker register . A program ring button , a program speaker button , a time ring button , a time speaker button , a plus button , and a minus button located on a control module enable the user to access programmable ring register and programmable speaker register , to set the number of rings before answering and the speaker volume. Incoming telephone calls are handled by a ring detector circuit and microcomputer . When the number of cumulative ring signals matches the appropriate programmed setting, the incoming call is sent to an answering apparatus . Microcomputer then sets the volume of a speaker to the appropriate programmed setting, via a volume control circuit

Telephone answering device with timer control

The device is a cord lock having an outer arm (,) and an inner arm (,) integrally connected by a hinging member (,). The device is constructed of resilient material, such that outer arm (,) and inner arm (,) will flex into slidable contact with each other when pressure is applied to their sides, and will flex back, away from each other, when the pressure is released. An outer arm opening (,) and inner arm opening (,) are located through the free ends of outer arm (,) and inner arm (,) respectively. To engage the device, outer arm (,) and inner arm (,) are urged together until outer arm opening (,) and inner arm opening (,) are in line with each other, and a cord is then threaded through the openings. The urging-together pressure is then released, causing outer arm (,) and inner arm (,) to slide back to a position wherein the cord is pinched between outer arm opening (,) and inner arm opening (,), and is prevented from moving.

Cord lock

The invention includes a method of cleaning a paint roller. The cleaning tool used in this method includes a flat, disc-shaped main body (,) having cleaning apertures (,&,) located thereon. Cleaning apertures (,&,) have diameters suitably smaller than the outside diameter, including the nap covering, of various popular roller sizes and nap thicknesses, such that a friction fit between the nap covering of such a roller and a cleaning aperture (,or,) is provided. Four access notches (,&,) extend from the circumference of cleaning apertures (,&,) respectively, to the circumference of main body (,). In this method, a cleaning tool is placed over the handle end of a roller, with the wire portion of the handle passing through one of the access notches (,or,) and into the center of one of the cleaning apertures (,or,). The cleaning tool is then drawn down over the nap surface of the roller, and the friction fit between the cleaning aperture (,or,) and the nap surface of the roller acts to wipe paint or solvent from the roller.

Method for cleaning a paint roller

The invention is a food processor with a blade that moves up and down while rotating, for improved comminuting action. An additional, more general field of this invention is in the area of transmission mechanisms, specifically a mechanism that adds up-and-down motion to rotational motion. The mechanism includes a lifting element which is coupled to the drive shaft and which is also free to move up and down along the shaft. The blade is attached to the lifting element. A cylinder is fixed to the main body of the processor. A thread forms a continuous loop inside the cylinder, beginning at the bottom of the cylinder, extending in a spiral fashion to the top of the cylinder, and returning in a reverse spiral fashion to the bottom of the cylinder. The lifting element fits inside the cylinder, and has a post and a member located thereon. The post and member on the lifting element fit into the thread on the cylinder. The rotating action of the lifting element influences the post and member, and thus the lifting element and blade, to move upward along the cylinder thread. As the lifting element rotates past its highest position, the post and member move downward along the cylinder thread, causing the lifting element and blade to move downward as well. This up-and-down action repeats itself with subsequent rotations of the drive shaft. Thus, the blade moves repeatedly up and down while rotating, improving the comminuting action of the processor.

Food processor

The device is a snap buckle with a safety feature--a blocking element 16 which blocks the action of the side catch arms 11a&b and prevents the buckle from being inadvertently disengaged. A male plug 10, having side catch arms 11a&b and a central member 12, forms one part of the device. A female socket 13, having openings 14a&b, a depressible member 15, and a blocking element 16 forms the other part of the device. To engage, plug 10 and socket 13 are urged together. Side catch arms 11a&b ride over blocking element 16 to engage openings 14a&b, and are then blocked from disengagement by blocking element 16. To disengage, depressible member 15 is depressed to disable the blocking action of blocking element 16, and side catch arms 11a&b are then pressed inward to disengage said side catch arms 11a&b from socket 13.

Safety snap buckle having blocking action

The device comprises a flat, disc-shaped main body 10 having cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d located thereon. Cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d have diameters suitably smaller than the outside diameter, including the nap covering, of various popular roller sizes and nap thicknesses, such that a friction fit between the nap covering of such a roller and a cleaning aperture 11a,b,c, or d is provided. Four access notches 12a,b,c, and d extend from the circumference of cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, and d respectively, to the circumference of main body 10. To operate the device is placed over the handle end of a roller, with the wire portion of the handle passing through one of the access notches 12a,b,c, or d and into the center of one of the cleaning apertures 11a,b,c, or d. The device is then drawn down over the nap surface of the roller, and the friction fit between the cleaning aperture 11a,b,c, or d and the nap surface of the roller acts to wipe paint or solvent from the roller.

Paint roller cleaning tool

The device is a strap retainer having a generally arcuate retainer body 10 and a generally straight, cylindrical post 11. One end of retainer body 10 is integrally connected to one end of post 11. Two catch arms 12a&b are located on the free end of retainer body 10, and a post catch element 13 is located on the free end of post 11. Catch arms 12a&b and post catch element 13 correspond with one another, and adapt the free ends of retainer body 10 and post 11 for closure. To install the retainer, a strap loop is first placed over post 11. The object that will serve to anchor the strap, such as a post or a portion of a shopping cart frame, is passed between the open ends of retainer body 10 and post 11. The open end of post 11 is then urged toward the open end of retainer body 10 until post catch element 13 contacts catch arms 12a&b. Post catch element 13 urges catch arms 12a&b outward, and then post catch element 13 passes between and is retained by catch arms 12a&b.

Strap retainer

The device is a snap buckle with a safety feature--an additional catch which prevents the buckle from being inadvertently disengaged. A male plug, having side catch arms and a central member with an additional catch, forms one part of the device. A female socket having a depressible member forms the other part of the device. To engage, plug and socket are urged together until the side catch arms, and the additional catch on the central member, both engage the socket. To disengage, the depressible member is depressed to disengage the additional catch on the central member, while simultaneously the side catch arms are depressed to disengage them from the socket.

Safety snap buckle

The invention is a car seat with a feature to hold an abdominal shield and/or shoulder straps out of the way while a child enters or exits the seat. A shield, integrally formed with the shoulder straps, has a male element located thereon. A female element, located on the seatback surface of the car seat, forms the other part of the holding feature. To place a child into the seat, the shield and straps are pulled up and out of the body of the car seat. The shield is placed against the seatback surface of the car seat, such that the male element engages the female element. The shield and straps are thus held out of the way of an entering child. Once the child is suitably positioned in the car seat, the shield is pulled apart from the seatback surface of the car seat, disengaging the male element from the female element. The shield and straps may then be placed over the child's head and shoulders, and buckled in the normal manner. To remove a child from the seat, The shield and straps are unbuckled and pulled from the child's head and shoulders in the normal manner. The shield is placed against the seatback surface of the car seat, such that the male element engages the female element. The shield and straps are thus held out of the way of an exiting child.

Car seat with holder for shield and straps

My invention is a device for preventing children from untying their shoelaces. It can be quickly and easily installed and removed by adults of any age. A snap-fit cap, attached to a well, forms the main body of the device. To install, the device (in an open position) is slipped between the knot and the shoe, using a slot incorporated into the well. The knot and lace ends are placed into the well, and the cap is then fitted over the well, to securely contain the knot and lace ends and prevent removal. The cap may only (and then may easily) be removed when a indicator tab on the cap is aligned with the slot in the well. Removal is basically the reverse of installation, except that the cap is rotated to line up its indicator tab with the slot in the main body of the device. The cap may then simply pulled off in one quick, easy motion. The device is then slipped off the shoe and laces. There are several advantages of this invention over the prior art. First, its simple design makes it quick and easy for an adult of any age to install and remove. Second, the invention is also more difficult for a child to remove than prior art--an adult can quickly snap the cap on or off, minimizing the time children have to observe and learn the cap's principles of operation. Third, the invention may be manufactured in one piece if desired, thus minimizing manufacturing steps and cost.

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Reisterstown, MD, United States of America

John Alexander Galbreath