Patents Examined by Donald J. Lecher
  • Patent number: 5765885
    Abstract: A tie-type security seal having a seal body (1) with internal locking teeth (5) in a tunnel (2) and an elongate element (11) having a series of sealing formations (14) therealong. The free end (13) of the elongate element (11) may be passed through the tunnel (2) so that the sealing formations (14) successively cooperate with the teeth (5) on tightening the loop so formed. According to the invention, a locking accessory (9) integral with the seal body (1) is formed with a through opening (15) having a shape substantially identical to the cross section of the elongate element (11) and at least one flexible edge part (16) to adjust itself to the differences in the said cross section in the regions of the regions of the sealing formations. The accessory (9) is foldable with respect to the seal body (1) so that the through opening (15) is superimposed on the open outlet (4) of the tunnel (2) in the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: ELC Produtos de Seguranca E Comercio LTDA.
    Inventor: Eduardo De Lima Castro Netto
  • Patent number: 5762385
    Abstract: A push pad releasable exit device with continuous deadlocking for mounting near a door edge for engaging a lock strike includes a housing having first and second sidewalls upon which are mounted two end walls and an internal wall parallel to the end walls, each of the end walls and the internal wall having a hole, the holes being aligned on a common axis, the first sidewall having a wedge stop projecting inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the holes in the end walls and the internal wall; a tapered latch bolt mounted on a cylindrical shaft, the shaft extending through the holes and having a provision for urging the latch bolt toward the lock strike; a wedge plate having a hole providing clearance around the shaft and aligned with the holes in the end walls, having a tab pivotally resting in a slot of the second wall, and having a corner distal from the tab resting against the wedge stop when the door is in an open position; a provision for sensing when the door is in a closed position and for flipping the w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Mader, William P. Dye, Matthew S. Prucinsky
  • Patent number: 5737950
    Abstract: An ambidextrous vertical inverted handed cam lock for cabinet doors and drawers has a conventional pin tumbler cylinder and plug assembly. An arcuately movable bolt is journaled for rotation about a rearwardly extending portion of the plug. A conventional lazy cam drives the bolt. An arcuately repositionable bolt rotation limiter provides either left hand or right hand throws for the bolt while simultaneously allowing for inverted vertical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Lock, Inc.
    Inventor: Hsu Yun-Bin
  • Patent number: 5722274
    Abstract: A lock cylinder set to a lock has an outer cylinder serving as a housing. In the outer cylinder, a first inner cylinder into which an electronic key is inserted and a second inner cylinder connected to a locking/unlocking mechanism of the lock are rotatably set. A connecting pin is movably held by the first inner cylinder to connect the first inner cylinder with the second inner cylinder when the pin advances. A connecting pin control mechanism advances the connecting pin to mechanically hold the advance state of the pin when a proper key is inserted and retreats the connecting pin when the key is extracted. The connecting pin control mechanism has a cam plate contacting the protrusion of the connecting pin. The connecting pin retreats when the cam plate tilts and advances when the cam member rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kokusai Gijutsu Kaihatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsaku Nakauchi, Syuji Maeda
  • Patent number: 5709111
    Abstract: An improved lock system structured to secure a structure closure in a closed position, the lock system including a main housing with a surrounding wall structure, an open interior and opposing outlet ends, and a pair of opposing track members disposed within the open interior of the main housing, and each having a first end and a plurality of teeth along an interior surface thereof. The track members are disposed in spaced, confronting relation from one another such that the teeth on the interior surfaces thereof confront one another. Additionally, disposed between the teeth of the track members is a drive member, including a drive segment having a plurality of drive teeth around a perimeter thereof to engage the teeth on the track members, and at least one actuator segment to facilitate exterior rotation of the drive segment resulting in corresponding lateral movement of the track members towards and away from the opposing outlet ends of the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Jose Gabriel Henao
  • Patent number: 5689979
    Abstract: A zipper lock for luggage case comprises a housing including a pair of concaves capable of receiving a pair of pull tabs of a double zipper so as to lock up the tabs therein by a pair of the first latching means and a pair of second latching means worked in cencert with the first latching means provided to lock up a binding strap which has a coupler and a locking plate at two ends made in conforming with the shape of the housing. The housing contains also a combination lock. When the combination lock is set on-combination, to unlock the pull tabs and the binding strap only press a mannual push button inwardly to the housing. The binding strap can bind additional luggage cases or handbags and lock them together with parent luggage case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Chen-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 5683216
    Abstract: Spring latching mechanisms for preventing relative rotation or relative displacement of assembled components during operation of a nuclear reactor. The first type of mechanism prevents rotation of a threaded fastener which fastens a first component to a second component. The fastener has a multiplicity of longitudinal recesses formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. The spring latching mechanism has a cantilever beam supported at one end by the first component. The other end of the cantilever beam is displaceable between first and second positions as the cantilever beam flexes. An interlocking member connected to the second end of the cantilever beam fits engages one of the longitudinal recesses in the fastener, whereby rotation of the fastener can be blocked. The second type of mechanism positively locates and prevents vibration-induced wear of first and second components assembled with play therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Geddes Erbes
  • Patent number: 5678436
    Abstract: A remote control door lock system connectable to a door about a deadbolt lock for remotely unlocking or locking the deadbolt is provided. The remote control door lock system comprises: a housing mountable to a door about a deadbolt lock; an electric motor having a motor shaft mounted within the housing, the motor shaft being directed toward the deadbolt lock; a key frame rigidly connected to the motor shaft, the key frame is adapted for holding a deadbolt key, the key is operationally insertable into the deadbolt lock; a receiver switch mechanism in connection with the electric motor for selectively operating the electric motor; a power source in connection with the switching mechanism and the electric motor; and a remote transmitter adapted to send a signal to the receiver switch for selectively operating the motor in a direction turning the key frame and the key in a direction to operate the deadbolt lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Curtis Earl Alexander
  • Patent number: 5676001
    Abstract: An anti-theft device includes a casing engaged onto a steering wheel of a vehicle for preventing the steering wheel from being rotated and for protecting the air bag from being stolen. The casing includes a groove and one or more apertures distal to the flange. A stick includes a head formed in one end. A core is engaged in the head and has a latch for engaging with the aperture so as to lock the stick to the casing. An elbow is secured to the head and may engage with the steering wheel when the latch of the core is engaged with the aperture so as to lock the casing and the stick to the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Tien-Chin Ho
  • Patent number: 5676002
    Abstract: Unlocking of a vehicle door by insertion of implements other than the door key into the door is prevented by a guard housing within the door into which the key turnable inner end of the lock cylinder extends and which also encloses an otherwise vulnerable portion of the linkage which interconnects the lock cylinder and the door latching means. In a preferred form of the invention, the housing has an extension which extends below the lock cylinder and which is angled to extend to the outer shell of the door and then downward along the inner surface of the shell and which extends between the shell and the side impact beam of the door. The guard may secured in place by the same bolt that secures the handle assembly to the door and is wholly within and concealed by the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: James S. Chong
    Inventor: Herbert William Hoeptner, III
  • Patent number: 5676409
    Abstract: A door locking system for child-safety door locking systems on an automobile includes, in combination, an automobile door including a latch and a door lock mechanism, a manual door lock actuator and a power door locking mechanism. The door handle is of the type which is incapable unlatching the door when the locking mechanism locks the latch. The door panel has an opening for receiving the manual lock actuator when moved to its locked position so that the manual lock actuator is substantially recessed within the door panel. The manual lock actuator and the door panel are constructed such that the manual lock actuator cannot be accessed through the opening for manual movement back to its unlocked position. The power lock mechanism can be actuated to unlock the door, but only from a location which is remote from the door itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Earl M. Trammell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5673952
    Abstract: A door stop includes a mounting bracket for mounting to a swingable door, a base which is connectible to the mounting bracket, and a leg pivotally connected to the base and having an end for engaging a floor in an operative condition of the door stop. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket is detachably mountable to doors of different thicknesses and the base is detachable from the mounting bracket so that the door stop can be disassembled when not in use, and the base can be used with alternative mounting brackets. The base is preferably vertically adjustable relative to the mounting bracket and the leg can be releasably locked in a range of different angular positions. The door stop may optionally not include a mounting bracket with the base being attached directly to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Jim A. Chezem
    Inventors: Jim A. Chezem, Charles E. Benedict, Arthur Williams
  • Patent number: 5673949
    Abstract: A push pad releasable exit device with continuous deadlocking for mounting near a door edge for engaging a lock strike includes a housing having first and second sidewalls upon which are mounted two end walls and an internal wall parallel to the end walls, each of the end walls and the internal wall having a hole, the holes being aligned on a common axis, the first sidewall having a wedge stop projecting inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the holes in the end walls and the internal wall; a tapered latch bolt mounted on a cylindrical shaft, the shaft extending through the holes and having a provision for urging the latch bolt toward the lock strike; a wedge plate having a hole providing clearance around the shaft and aligned with the holes in the end walls, having a tab pivotally resting in a slot of the second wall, and having a corner distal from the tab resting against the wedge stop when the door is in an open position; a provision for sensing when the door is in a closed position and for flipping the w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Mader, William P. Dye, Matthew S. Prucinsky
  • Patent number: 5667258
    Abstract: A latch assembly is provided. In the assembly: base-end portions of an operating lever 3 are connected to bearing-plate portions 2 of a base plate 1 through a first pivot 4; base-end portions of a latch arm 5 are connected to intermediate portions of the operating lever 3 through a second pivot 6; and extension-plate portions 12 of a lock plate 11, which are mounted in slots 13 of guide-plate portions 10 of the base plate 1 in insertion manner, are engaged with locking notches 21 of locking-plate portions 20 of a socket plate 19 fixed to the operating lever 3 and slidably urged by a compression coil spring 18 so as to be held in such engagement, whereby the operating lever 3 is locked to the base plate 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Takimoto
  • Patent number: 5667260
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock with locking elements such as rotary catches and detent pawls, with a lock mechanism (1) and with a central interlock drive (2), in which the central interlock drive (2) has a drive motor (3), a rotor (5) that is driven in a rotating manner by the drive motor (3), preferably with the aid of worm-gear transmission, and an actuating part which is arranged on the rotor (5) and which can be brought into a disengaged position (D), a locking position (L) and, preferably, an anti-theft locking position (A), optionally also into a neutral position (N), and in which locking mechanism (1) has an inside opening lever (7), an outside opening lever (9) and other levers as well as a central interlock lever (11) that can be displaced by the actuating part (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Weyerstall
  • Patent number: 5666829
    Abstract: A plug lock for locking electric plugs is disclosed. The device comprises a case having a shaft. The shaft has a pair of inverted U-shaped cut portions that pivot outwardly. A lock gear is rotatably disposed within the shaft and engages the cut portions pushing them outwardly. A block cap is slidably disposed on the shaft. In its extended position, the block cap blocks the electric prongs' access to an electric socket. In this position, the lock gear is rotated so that the cut portions extend outwardly, preventing the lowering of the block cap. Lock drive means control rotation of the lock gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Isaac Aikens
  • Patent number: 5662364
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a latch releasing mechanism for a container having a hinged or removable lid. A latching arm is disposed adjacent the container lid to prevent an opening of the lid, and a cable connects the latching arm to the locking mechanism. The elements of the latching mechanism comprise a slide plate to which the cable is fixed; a spring for urging the slide plate to a latched position, a guide member for guiding the slide plate, and a trigger ball which blocks movement of the slide am in the latched position. When the container is tilted forward by a predetermined angle, the trigger ball becomes dislodged from the latching position to enable movement of the slide plate, and subsequent movement of the latching arm. When the latching arm is moved out of the path of travel for the container lid, the contents of the container may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventors: David L. Reeb, Walter Paul Robinette, II
  • Patent number: 5658026
    Abstract: A modular door handle assembly has a door handle on a rotatable handle shaft mounted on a housing having a face with a bore for receiving the handle shaft. Dual-function studs retain a cover on the housing and have provision for mounting the door handle assembly to a door. Other provisions, within the housing, provide for operating a door latch in response to rotation of the door handle together with a mechanism for returning the handle to a parked position upon release of the handle from rotating force and a locking feature for releasably locking the door handle assembly to prevent operation of the door latch. The handle return and locking features are both driven by a pair of dual acting springs. The modular design simplifies repair and replacement of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel N. Nigro, Jr., Theodore J. Fritsch
  • Patent number: 5655801
    Abstract: A gate latch has a handle with a cojoined adjustably sized elongated rigid metal rod, which rod is rotatably disposed in sleeves frictionally retained within a drilled hole in a fixed post of a fence. The rod is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel threaded through holes. The handle has a transverse hole and is mounted to the rod by a bolt passing through the handle hole and one of the rod holes disposed at the end of the rod on the outside of the post. The rod is operably connected to a spring return locking plate for locking a gate rod which gate rod is fixedly mounted to an openable gate. The user first drills the post hole to receive the elongated rod slidably disposed in the sleeves, and then cuts the elongated rod to a length to accommodate the thickness of the post, and then attaches the handle at the hole adjacent the cut end of the elongated rod. The user in operating the gate latch rotates the handle downwardly which in turn rotates the elongated rod in the post hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Michael Casey
  • Patent number: 5655799
    Abstract: A latch assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Takimoto