Patents Examined by Damell M. Boucher
  • Patent number: 6055832
    Abstract: A locking device includes a shackle member and a key operable locking head that may be fastened onto a latch portion of the shackle member. The locking head has a housing and a rotatable retainer and a lock core in the interior of the housing. The lock core is mechanically coupled to the retainer, and both the retainer and the lock core are axially oriented with respect to an axial opening in the housing. The latch portion is axially insertable through the axial opening when the lock core is in an unlocked state and has a latch head which becomes fastened by the locking head when the retainer is rotated by the lock core into a locked state. A seal is supported by the housing proximately to the axial opening and acts to seal against a seal surface on the latch portion. The shackle member can be a linear portion with a stop portion, such as a knob, or alternatively, a cable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Patent number: 5931513
    Abstract: A housing assembly includes a housing (100) and a door (102). The housing has a first opening (115) and includes a selective call receiver (200). The door is coupled to the housing for gaining access to the selective call receiver by way of the first opening. The door is slidable between first and second positions with the housing, wherein the first position the door is latched, and wherein the second position the door is unlatched and pivots to gain access to the first opening. The door includes a plurality of springless latches (107), wherein each springless latch comprises at least two arms (106), each arm having an external detent (108), and an internal detent (110). Additionally, the housing includes a corresponding snap post (112) for latching to a corresponding springless latch in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventor: Brian V. Conti
  • Patent number: 5901590
    Abstract: An interior door lock assembly includes a casing secured to an inner side of a door plate and including a central hole and two diametrically disposed holes. A switch button has a stub extended through the central hole to engage with a tail piece of a lock core to rotate therewith. A press button assembly is mounted to the switch button and includes a seat securely mounted in a compartment defined in the switch button. A spring-biased press button is partially, slidably mounted in the seat. When the switch button is in a latched position, the press button is pressable to engage with one of the holes of the casing to prevent from unlatching of the interior door lock assembly from outside of the door plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Chin-I Lai
  • Patent number: 5887918
    Abstract: There is provided an automobile door handle comprising: a handle grip including a rotating shaft portion formed at one end of the handle grip, and a handle sliding portion formed at another end of the handle grip and having an engaged portion; a handle case including a rotating shaft mounting portion in which the rotating shaft portion is rotatably mounted, and a slide hole in which the handle sliding portion is inserted; and a lever including a wire connecting portion to which a wire connected to a door lock releasing mechanism is connected, and an engaging portion engaged with the engaged portion, the lever being rotatably supported by the handle case, in which a reinforcing portion is provided within the slide hole and a recessed portion is provided in the handle sliding portion to prevent the handle sliding portion and the reinforcing portion from interfering with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Okada, Kenji Kobashi, Yoshinori Hitomi
  • Patent number: 5873271
    Abstract: A locking device for a trailer and hitch of the ball and socket type, comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw interconnected together by a shaft for reciprocal movement relative to each other. A locking mechanism keeps the two jaws apart at fixed distances over a ribbed portion of the shaft. In use, the two jaws are locked about the socket portion of the hitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the trailer. When the trailer is attached to a tow vehicle, the tow ball nut is received in an opening in the lower jaw. When the trailer is unattached, a dummy ball extends into the socket of the hitch. In both position, the socket portion of the hitch is received in an aperture in the upper jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Richard Smith