IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,375,054
Granted Patent B2
US 9,375,054 · App. 14/144,030 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Fixturing apparatus

Inventor: Michael P. Fennell (Alameda, CA)
A44B11/02A44B18/0061A44B18/0069B65B13/027F16B5/0692F16B5/07F16B2001/0028Y10T24/10Y10T24/14Y10T24/1498Y10T24/27Y10T24/2733Y10T24/2767Y10T24/2792Y10T24/34Y10T24/40Y10T156/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,375,054
App. No.
14/144,030
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fixturing apparatus that includes a housing formed to include an aperture extending therethrough said aperture formed to include a medial surface and an opposing lateral surface, a plurality of locking teeth disposed on either or both of the medial surface and/or lateral surface, and a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to said housing.

Claims (45)

1. A fixturing apparatus comprising:

a housing formed to include an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture formed to include a medial surface and an opposing lateral surface;

a plurality of locking teeth disposed on said medial surface; and

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is attached to said housing;

wherein:

said second end of said flexible strap can be inserted into a first end of said aperture, and moved in a first direction through said aperture and outwardly therefrom through a second end of the aperture;

after insertion in and through said aperture in said first direction, said flexible strap cannot be moved backwardly through said aperture in a second and 180 degree opposite direction;

each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a rectangular base, a first rectangular surface attached to a first end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second rectangular surface attached to an opposing end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a first rectangular surface distal end is attached to a second rectangular surface distal end to form a gripping edge;

said rectangular base comprises two parallel opposing short sides in combination with two parallel and opposing long sides;

each locking tooth comprises a long axis parallel to said long sides and which bisects each short side and a short axis parallel to said short sides and which bisects each long side;

said plurality of locking teeth are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

2. The fixturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a five-sided structure.

3. The fixturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a six-sided structure.

4. The fixturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

said housing comprises a trapezoidal cross-section, a first end, and an opposing second end;

said housing is formed to include said aperture extending therethrough from the first end to said second end.

5. The fixturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the long axes of each locking teeth disposed in a column are aligned with one another.

6. The fixturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the short axis of each locking tooth disposed in a row are aligned with one another.

7. A fixturing apparatus comprising:

a housing formed to include an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture formed to include a medial surface and an opposing lateral surface;

a plurality of locking teeth disposed on said lateral surface, and a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is attached to said housing;

wherein:

said second end of said flexible strap can be inserted into a first end of said aperture, and moved in a first direction through said aperture and outwardly therefrom through a second end of the aperture;

after insertion in and through said aperture in said first direction, said flexible strap cannot be moved backwardly through said aperture in a second and 180 degree opposite direction;

each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a rectangular base, a first rectangular surface attached to a first end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second rectangular surface attached to an opposing end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a first rectangular surface distal end is attached to a second rectangular surface distal end to form a gripping edge;

said rectangular base comprises two parallel opposing short sides in combination with two parallel and opposing long sides;

each locking tooth comprises a long axis parallel to said long sides and which bisects each short side and a short axis parallel to said short sides and which bisects each long side;

said plurality of locking teeth are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

8. The fixturing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a five-sided structure.

9. The fixturing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a six-sided structure.

10. The fixturing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the long axes of each locking teeth disposed in a column are aligned with one another.

11. The fixturing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the short axis of each locking tooth disposed in a row are aligned with one another.

12. A fixturing apparatus comprising:

a housing formed to include an aperture extending therethrough said aperture formed to include a medial surface and an opposing lateral surface;

a plurality of locking teeth disposed on both said medial surface and said lateral surface; and

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is attached to said housing;

wherein:

said second end of said flexible strap can be inserted into a first end of said aperture, and moved in a first direction through said aperture and outwardly therefrom through a second end of the aperture;

after insertion in and through said aperture in said first direction, said flexible strap cannot be moved backwardly through said aperture in a second and 180 degree opposite direction;

each of said plurality of locking teeth comprises a rectangular base, a first rectangular surface attached to a first end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second rectangular surface attached to an opposing end of said rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a first rectangular surface distal end is attached to a second rectangular surface distal end to form a gripping edge;

said rectangular base comprises two parallel opposing short sides in combination with two parallel and opposing long sides;

each locking tooth comprises a long axis parallel to said long sides and which bisects each short side and a short axis parallel to said short sides and which bisects each long side;

said plurality of locking teeth are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

13. The fixturing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the long axes of each locking teeth disposed in a column are aligned with one another.

14. The fixturing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the short axis of each locking tooth disposed in a row are aligned with one another.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2025
From: FENNELL, MICHAEL P.
To: RIP-TIE, INC.
Reel/Frame 070652/0129 →
Continuity (3)
Division 12741821
Provisional Application 60985881 · Nov 6, 2007
Related Publication 20140109354A1 · Apr 24, 2014