Patents Examined by Suzanne Barrett
  • Patent number: 9512641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a key (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: —a housing (3), —an insert (5, 7) mounted pivotally about a pivoting axis (A) and comprising a key-bit support (5) and a key bit (7), —a mechanism for deploying the insert (5, 7) mounted in said housing (3) and comprising: • a push button (19) axially received in a housing (21), and • an elastic return element (23) for the insert (5, 7), wherein a first end (23a) is connected to the insert (5, 7) at the support (5), said support (5) or said button (19) comprising two retaining lugs (39) ascending parallel to the pivoting axis (A) and positioned facing each other and symmetric relative to said pivoting axis (A), said retaining lugs (39) defining, on each side of the pivoting axis (A), a space (50) for the angular displacement of the first end (23a) or of the second end (23b) according to an angle of between 10° and 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
    Inventors: Benoît Delande, Karim Namar
  • Patent number: 9512663
    Abstract: The present invention is a security display case comprising an enclosure defining a safe portion, a display housing with a lift platform and a closing member, the display housing moveable into and out of the safe portion, a lift mechanism disposed in the safe portion drivingly connected to the lift platform, the lift mechanism controlled by a first drive motor, a locking mechanism mounted atop the closure member comprising at least one latch finger adapted to extend into and retract out of the enclosure, the locking mechanism controlled by a second drive motor, and a control system controlling the first and second drive motors, the control system further comprising a lower limit switch, an upper limit switch, and a trip switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Samuel C. Medawar
  • Patent number: 9512638
    Abstract: A lock cylinder generally including a shell, a plug positioned within the shell, a locking member, and a leaf spring. The plug includes an opening which is aligned with a recess formed in the shell. The locking member is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the plug with respect to the shell. The leaf spring is positioned in the opening and includes a first portion extending radially inward toward the keyway, and a second portion extending radially outward toward the recess. When a key is inserted, a tip of the second portion extends into the recess. When the plug is subsequently rotated, a tapered surface of the recess urges the tip radially inward and into contact with an inner surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Brian Andrew Rappl
  • Patent number: 9512636
    Abstract: A paddle handle assembly includes a tray, a handle pivotally mounted to the tray, a spring for urging the handle toward an unactuated position with respect to the tray, and an arm integrally formed with the handle. The arm extends through the tray. A distal end of the arm includes a cable eye connector integrally formed with the arm for actuating a securing mechanism on a rear side of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hansen International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Czeresko, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9506272
    Abstract: A key assembly is disclosed. The key assembly may have a blade with a head portion, a shank, and a transition region connecting the head portion to the shank. The key assembly may also have a head configured to receive the blade. The head may have a shoulder located at the transition region to limit engagement of the head with the blade, and at least one tang located at an end of the head opposite the shoulder. The at least one tang may be configured to engage a recess located within a side of the head portion and inhibit removal of the head from the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Gerlings, Michael James Schmidt, Gary Edward Will, Bryan K. Solace
  • Patent number: 9505392
    Abstract: An air brake lock assembly helps to prevent air brake actuation knobs from being actuated. The air brake lock in accordance with the present invention is a theft-prevention device that mounts over the air brake knobs on the dash of a semi-truck cab. It is installed between the dash and the knobs and, when locked, the assembly prevents the knobs from being pushed in. If the air brake knobs cannot be pushed back in, the air brake will remain locked and the truck and trailer will remain immobile. In one embodiment of the present invention, the assembly includes a base and an enclosure for each brake knob. An air brake lock is disposed between the knobs such that the knobs can be selectively locked and unlocked. In one embodiment, the assembly is spring-loaded. In another embodiment, the assembly is not spring-loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: VSI, LLC
    Inventors: Lucas Boesel, Joshua J. Miller, Daniel Bonness
  • Patent number: 9500008
    Abstract: A combination lock and pump for use with a bicycle. The combination lock and pump has a flexible cable including an inflation tube running parallel with a metal rope or chain. The flexible cable has a male end preferably including a lock bolt or shackle and a piston-cylinder pump. The flexible cable also has a female end preferably including a lock cylinder with a key hole and one or more apertures to receive either a bicycle tire's valve stem or the male end's lock bolt or shackle. When used as a lock, the combination secures the bicycle from theft by looping the flexible cable around the bicycle and locking together its male and female ends. When used as a pump, the combination's female end attaches to the bicycle tire's valve stem and inflates the tire by actuating the pump of the male end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Edell
  • Patent number: 9482033
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electromechanical lock (1), comprising: a solenoid (2) a movable locking element (3) displaceable by said solenoid (2) into an unlocking position of the lock (1) a spring (4) acting on said movable element (3) to hold it in a locking position of the lock (1) with the solenoid (2) in a de-energized condition wherein said movable element (3) comprises an anti-shock shaped portion (31,31?,31?,31??) and said lock (1) comprises an engagement means (8,8?,8?,8??) for said anti-shock shaped portion, said engagement means (8,8?,8?,8??) is displaceable into an engagement position in which it interferes with the anti-shock shaped portion (31,31?,31?,31??) in order to prevent said movable element (3) from displacing into the unlocking position of the lock wherein said lock it further comprises a substantially cylindrical and hollow rotor (6), intended to house said solenoid (2) and said movable element (3) such that one end of the latter provided with said anti-shock shaped portion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: RIELDA SERRATURE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 9482037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module for locking a motor vehicle lock. The aim of the invention is to design an easy-to-make and compact locking module for a lock. Said aim is achieved by a locking module comprising a housing, a switching nut that can be connected to a locking cylinder so as to rotate the switching nut by means of a key, and mechanism for converting a rotary movement of the switching nut into a linear movement to lock and unlock a lock. The mechanism comprises a dog which is linearly moved by a rotary movement of the switching nut. In the mounted state of the locking module, the linear movement of the dog actuates a mechanism that causes the lock to unlock or lock. In order to minimize the number of parts, the switching nut is rotatably mounted by the module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Heiko Hemmer
  • Patent number: 9482030
    Abstract: A locking system that has an opening in a door adapted and arranged for receiving a lock bolt and a lock fixed in a wall for actuating a lock bolt adapting and arranged for being received by the opening in the door when the door is closed. The locking system further comprises a blocking strip protruding from a door jamb, the strip coupled to the door jamb, the strip coupled to the door jamb and positioned adjacent the lock bolt for blocking access to the lock bolt between the door and the door jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Willo Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt P. Heinrich, Brian S. Foss
  • Patent number: 9482029
    Abstract: A paddle latch having a pan with a well, a paddle handle, a handle pivot, a rotary latch portion, and a trigger arm arrangement. The paddle handle pivot has a pin that non-rotatably engages with the paddle handle to pivotally attach the paddle handle in the well of the pan and has a pin trigger. The rotary latch portion has a housing containing a rotary hook with a mouth, a rotary trigger, and pin trigger cam. The rotary trigger retains the rotary hook in either an open position where the mouth of the rotary hook is accessible from outside of the housing, or semi-closed or completely closed positions, where the mouth is blocked by the housing. The trigger arm arrangement is adapted to transfer of pivotal movement of the paddle handle to the rotary trigger to release the rotary hook from the semi-closed position or the completely closed position to its open position. Only when the rotary hook is in the semi-closed position will the paddle handle be automatically partially tilted out from the well of the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: S.P.E.P. ACQUISITION CORP.
    Inventor: Tam Le
  • Patent number: 9480352
    Abstract: A device attachable to a utensil that allows an individual with limited dexterity to handle the utensil and use it according to its ordinary function. The device provides a Y-shaped handle, such as that structured by a section of antler, that attaches to a utensil and provides the geometric and structural requirements necessary for the user to pick up the utensil from a flat surface, direct the utensil near the material to be manipulated, and manipulate the utensil once positioned. The Y-shaped component is curved across its height and provides a wedge engagement structure to permit holding the device with utensil to exert a force directing the utensil into the material to be manipulated, and by a combination of forces exerted by the palm and the thumb, to grasp and manipulate the device combination in order to make appropriate use of the utensil for its intended purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventors: Patricia A. Burton, Donald W. Burton
  • Patent number: 9476225
    Abstract: A combination lock is provided, the combination lock having a rotary latch configured for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotary latch rotating in a first plane; and a bolt configured for movement between a first position and a second position along a second plane the second plane being oriented at a different location than the first plane, the bolt engaging the rotary latch in the first position such that rotation of the rotary latch from the locked position to the unlocked position is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ZEPHYR LOCK, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. Wind, Kevin Houlihan, Douglas Greene
  • Patent number: 9476224
    Abstract: A combination lock is provided, the combination lock having a rotary latch configured for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotary latch rotating in a first plane; and a bolt configured for movement between a first position and a second position along a second plane the second plane being oriented at a different location than the first plane, the bolt engaging the rotary latch in the first position such that rotation of the rotary latch from the locked position to the unlocked position is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ZEPHYR LOCK, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Houlihan, Patrick E. Wind
  • Patent number: 9470021
    Abstract: A twistable security cable including a cable and a coupling device. The cable includes a central core, two or more wire groups positioned about the central core, and an outer coating. The central core is structured to retain a shape to which it is deformed, and each of the wire groups includes two or more braided or twisted wires. The coupling mechanism is structured to selectively retain first and second ends of the cable in close proximity to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Hugh Kindstrand, Donald H. Warren
  • Patent number: 9464460
    Abstract: A dual locking padlock having a code locking mechanism and an overriding mechanism is disclosed. The housing has a spacer as its top portion, a stack of clutches forming a middle portion and a bottom portion having holes to receive screws from the spacer for securing the housing. Dials are rotatably mounted on the clutches for changing the combination code. The housing has a spindle having a channel to store the heel of a shackle. The spindle's upward movement allows the shackle to be pulled upward to unlock the padlock. The spindle is allowed to move upward either when a correct combination code is used or when a key activates the overriding mechanism. With the overriding mechanism, the user can open the padlock with a backup key if the user forgets the combination code, and then reset the dials to a new combination code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Lai
  • Patent number: 9464459
    Abstract: A progressive key notching system that includes a plurality of key notches positioned along at least one surface, such as, for example, a top surface, of a key blade. Each of the plurality of key notches includes a central axis. The central axes of at least one pair of adjacent key notches are separated by a distance that is different than a distance separating another, adjacent pair of key notches. Further, when the key blade is operably positioned within a key slot, at least one of the central axes may be offset from a chamber central axis of an adjacent retention pin chamber. Moreover, one or more of the chamber central axes may be aligned with a portion of a trailing surface and/or leading surface of an adjacent key notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Brian Edward Walls
  • Patent number: 9464463
    Abstract: A combination includes a lock body, a shackle having a second leg and a first leg, a lock member provided rotatably within the lock body and a locking element disposed movably within the lock body and provided with the lock member, wherein the first locking element is adapted to be driven by the lock member to do a reciprocating motion between a shackle locking state and a shackle releasing state, wherein when the shackle is at the shackle locking state, the first locking element is driven to engage with the first leg of the shack so as to hold the first leg within the lock body; when the shackle is at the shackle unlocking state, the first locking element is driven to leave from the first leg of the shack so as to enable the first leg to separate from the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Shanghai Saintsung Polytron Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Chengfan Bao, Xiuzhi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9463773
    Abstract: A protruding wall section 17 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a steering column 2b around a lock hole 11a, a concave groove 20 that engages with the protruding wall section 17 is provided in a portion that surrounds a guide section 13a of a butting surface 19 of a lock unit 12a, and by engaging the protruding wall section 17 with the concave groove 20, and preferably, by engaging concave sections 18 that are provided in the steering column 2b with convex sections 21 that are provided on the lock unit 12a so that the lock unit 12a is supported by and fastened to the steering column 2b, the occurrence of damage such as cracking of the steering column 2b is prevented even when there is an attempt to rotate a steering wheel by large force when an ignition key is turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsushima, Kiyoshi Sadakata
  • Patent number: 9464462
    Abstract: A padlock includes a body having a first recess in the top thereof. A slide slot is defined in one side of the body and communicates with the first recess. A slide is located in the slide slot and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The slide protrudes beyond the body when the slide is located at the locked position, and is retracted into the body when the slide is located at the unlocked position. A housing is mounted to the body and has a first hole defined in the inside thereof. Two second holes are defined in the top of the housing. The slide is located in the first hole when the slide is located at the locked position. The slide can be moved and separated from the housing to replace the shackle and the cylinder when the padlock is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Federal Lock Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tien-Kao Liu