Patents Examined by Carlos Lugo
  • Patent number: 11597529
    Abstract: A latch for releasably connecting two elements is operable between engaged and released positions. An elongate handle opens and closes a latch mechanism about a first axis of rotation at the rear end of the handle. The latch handle is held closed only when the latch mechanism is in the engaged position and is lockable in the closed position by a manually operable handle catch. The front end of a handle cover is rotatably connected to the front end of the handle. The cover has a cover catch on the rear end, which is engagable with the latch mechanism to hold the cover closed. The cover is substantially coextensive with and in abutment with the handle. When the latch is mounted overhead and is open, the handle extends downward by the force of gravity and the cover extends downward away from the handle. In this configuration, the open latch is highly visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Parsell, Jr., Andres Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11585116
    Abstract: An anti-ligature lock having a locking mechanism for retracting a latch between a locked and an unlocked position. The anti-ligature lock includes a lock handle rotatable about the axis and operatively connected to a lock mechanism hub to rotate the hub and retract the latch between the locked and the unlocked positions. The anti-ligature lock includes a connector between the hub and the lock handle and rotatable about the axis, the connector having a female portion having an opening with walls elongated in a direction normal to the axis and a male portion having projections extending in opposite directions normal to the axis, the male portion extending within the female portion opening and having a neutral position wherein one of the male or female portion may be partially rotated in either direction about the axis with respect to the other of the male or female portion without the male portion projections contacting the female portion opening walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SARGENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel W. Riley, Richard D. Sangster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11585132
    Abstract: A magnetic safety gate latch assembly and method of operation. The assembly includes: a pool latch tube, a user-actuated lid coupled to the top end of the pool latch tube; a rotatable shaft within the pool latch tube, an upper end of the shaft rigidly coupled to the lid, and a lower end of the shaft including a shaped base. The assembly further includes a magnet housing that at least partially encloses the shaped base and includes an aperture to cooperatively engage with the shaped base. The assembly further includes a bottom cover coupled to the lower end of the pool latch tube and enclosing the magnet housing, the bottom cover including an aperture facing a latch pin housing, the aperture positioned to expose a magnet. The assembly further includes a ferromagnetic latch pin and housing, and a magnetic latch pin guide slidably enclosing the latch pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Schneider, Craig Kime, Antonello Nizzia, Christopher John Heritage
  • Patent number: 11578512
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a handle, and a compression mechanism. The handle is rotatably attached to the housing and rotatable between a resting position and a depressed position. The compression mechanism is configured to allow rotation of the handle between the resting position and the depressed position. The compression mechanism includes a plunger and a biasing member. The plunger is coupled to one of the housing or the handle and translatable between a first position when the handle is in the resting position and a second position when the handle is in the depressed position. The biasing member is coupled to one of the housing or the handle and configured to bias the plunger between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peng Ge, Yong-Sang Cho, Suat Kaya, Alessandro Miri
  • Patent number: 11578513
    Abstract: A handle device for a motor vehicle door includes a door handle, which is hinged at both ends to an electrically driven movement kinematic system. A first end of the door handle is rotatable outwards via a motor-operated pivot lever. A push rod is hinged to the pivot lever, the other end of which is hinged to a locking lever, which acts on a toggle lever pair. One end of a first toggle lever is mounted on the housing side and one end of a second toggle lever is hinged to a second end of the door handle. The locking lever is designed, in a standby position, to block a movement of the door handle back into a rest position and to permit a movement into an opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Jan Heyduck, Juergen Jooss, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11572721
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a forkbolt biased to rotate in a first direction about a first pivot point, and a detent biased to rotate in a second direction about a second pivot point, the detent configured to engage with the forkbolt in at least two different positions. The latch assembly further includes a tertiary catch biased to rotate in the first direction. The detent is configured to engage a portion of the tertiary catch and rotate the tertiary catch when the detent is rotated in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11560739
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a vehicle, includes a housing and a handle lever which is mounted on the housing such that it can be moved between a rest position and an actuating position for unlocking and/or opening a vehicle door, it being possible for the housing to be oriented on a vehicle body outer part which forms a part of the outer surface of a vehicle body and has a handle cut-out for the handle lever, first positioning projections being provided on the housing, which first positioning projections are configured to bear against an angled-over edge of the vehicle body outer part, which angled-over edge delimits the handle cut-out of the vehicle body outer part at least in regions, and, as a result, to position the handle lever with the housing in at least one spatial direction in relation to the handle cut-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf
  • Patent number: 11555336
    Abstract: A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, John Thomas Ricks, Jim Michael Weinfurther, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, Lisa Therese Boran, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden
  • Patent number: 11555335
    Abstract: A double pull mechanism of a vehicle latch including: a release link; a cable lever pivotally mounted to a portion of the vehicle latch; a manual release pawl pivotally mounted to the cable lever; a lock spring mounted to the release link; a cable secured to the cable lever, wherein pivotal movement of the cable lever via actuation of the cable a first time causes movement of the lock spring such that a protrusion of the manual release pawl is received in an opening of the release link and wherein actuation of the cable a second time causes movement of the release link via engagement of the protrusion in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Michael Perkins
  • Patent number: 11549282
    Abstract: A rim strike assembly includes a strike body, strike jaw, retaining clutch, locking cam, locking clutch, and a solenoid. The strike jaw, retaining clutch, locking cam, and locking clutch are pivotably coupled to the strike body. The strike body and strike jaw define a latch cavity to receive a latch of a door. The strike jaw includes a jaw follower. The strike jaw is pivotable between a release position and a closed position. The retaining clutch engages the jaw follower and includes a retaining follower. The locking cam includes a retaining notch and a locking notch. The retaining follower engages the retaining notch. The locking clutch includes a locking follower that engages the locking notch of the locking cam. The solenoid includes a plunger coupled to the locking clutch such that movement of the plunger rotates the locking clutch from a locked position to an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Gary A. Martin, Jack Lewis
  • Patent number: 11542728
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle door lock device capable of preventing a vehicle door from being opened accidentally even when the vehicle door is deformed. A vehicle door lock device includes: a housing including: a case having an opening portion; and a cover, which is mounted to the case so as to be openable and closable, and is configured to cover the opening portion; a cam mechanism, which is accommodated in the housing, and is supported on the case; and a bracket configured to restrain a cable which is locked to a locking portion formed on the housing, and is configured to connect the cam mechanism and an operation element provided to a door of a vehicle from being released from the locking portion when the cable connected to the cam mechanism in the opening portion is pressed toward the cover side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tanaka, Yasuhiko Sono, Junichiro Takagi, Satoshi Endo
  • Patent number: 11530552
    Abstract: A privacy lock assembly and method of operation are provided. The lock assembly has a push button offset from the central axis of the lock assembly for locking and unlocking the assembly. The lock assembly includes compression springs to maintain integrated handles in predetermined orientations when the handles are not subject to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Morse, Eric Xin, James Lin
  • Patent number: 11530571
    Abstract: A pet travel door system may include a door having an integrated pet travel door. The door may include a main body member having a door panel. A passageway may be formed in the door panel. A recess may be formed within the top and/or the bottom of the passageway. The system may include a structural member matingly engaged with the recess and a U-shaped structural member that overlies the recess having the structural member matingly engaged thereto. The structural member and the U-shaped structural member may have a through channel formed through a portion thereof. The main body member may have a respective receiving channel formed therein. The through channels formed in the structural member and the U-shaped structural member may be positioned to align with one another and with the respective receiving channel formed in the main body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: In & Out Products LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Godwin, Ernest Donald Bame, Kelvin Brad Caulder
  • Patent number: 11505976
    Abstract: A door locking device having a locking bar with a first section and a second section pivotally connected to the first section and, the second section being provided with a protrusion. There is also provided a housing having a first end comprising a face and a recess therein. The first section of the locking bar is received and retained, within the recess of the housing, and the pivotal connection is orientated with an axis of rotation that is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: P. J. Doherty
  • Patent number: 11505974
    Abstract: An equipment carrier holding device has a housing with a door. A screwing block is arranged in the housing. A clamping block and a fastening screw fix a fastening link of an item of equipment between the clamping block and the screwing block. The clamping block is positioned in relation to the door such that, in the event of incomplete arresting of the fastening screw, the fastening screw forms a mechanical barrier to complete closing of the door. A rail vehicle is also described which is equipped with such an equipment carrier holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Nitzsche
  • Patent number: 11499348
    Abstract: A power child lock device includes a rotation driving mechanism, a switch link connected to the rotation driving mechanism so as to be moved vertically by a rotational force of the rotation driving means, an inside handle lever cooperatively connected to an inside handle installed in a door of a vehicle, a release lever connected to a door catch and configured to lock or release the door catch, and a power child lever configured to selectively connect or separate the inside handle lever and the release lever by being moved by the switch link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yongdae Seo
  • Patent number: 11492829
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein enable an authorized user of a door security device to secure a door against entry, but also enable that authorized user to provide access to others, without having to provide a physical key. Embodiments discussed herein further allow an authorized user to operate the door security device remotely, such as through a wired or wireless network, or through any other network as described herein, as known at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Ellington Edwards
  • Patent number: 11486163
    Abstract: A status indicator for a locking mechanism may include a status indicator face, a status indicator plate, a cam coupling, and a locking mechanism coupler. The status indicator face and status indicator plate may be at least partially moveable relative to one another. The locking mechanism coupler may have a greater rotational range of motion than the cam coupling. The status indicator face may indicate the state of a locking mechanism and may have a viewing angle greater than or equal to 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ian Sweeney, Lee Griswold, Ryan Piantek
  • Patent number: 11479995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a first component to a second component, where the fastening device includes a spacer element which is configured for positioning the first component so as to be spaced apart from the second component in a first axis (Y) and for fixing the first component so as to be spaced apart from the second component, where the spacer element includes a stop surface which is used for supporting the fastening device on the second component, where the spacer element is integrally-formed, and a tolerance element which is configured for movably receiving the spacer element in the first direction (Y) and for compensating tolerances between the first component and the second component in a second axis (X) and in a third axis (Z), where the tolerance element is integrally-formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Löw, Willi Put
  • Patent number: 11473340
    Abstract: A door stopping mechanism for a sliding glazing patio door or like, independent in construction from the sliding glazing for which it is stopping, includes a vertical and horizontal component. The horizontal component is within the track of the door, while the vertical component is selectively attached to the sliding member. The mechanism is changeable from a locked to unlocked position by manipulation by a user at mid-height of the door, and at least one of the locked or unlocked positions is maintained by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FRANKLIN & JACKSON GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Charles J. Digmann