Patents by Inventor Andrew S. Matejka

Andrew S. Matejka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240044187
    Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
  • Patent number: 11814881
    Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
  • Patent number: 11585130
    Abstract: A latch or connector system having a latch housing, a first latching component, a second latching component, and a handle. The first and second latching components are movably mounted to the latch housing, and movable respective latched and unlatched positions. The handle is movably mounted to the latch housing and operatively associated with the first latching component and the second latching component. The handle is movable from a closed handle position to an open handle position to cause the first latching component and the second latching component to move from their respective latched positions to their respective unlatched positions, and the handle is movable from the open handle position to the closed handle position only when the first latching component and the second latching component are in their respective latched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka
  • Publication number: 20210140204
    Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
  • Patent number: 10960801
    Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHCO INC.
    Inventors: Eugene Novin, Andrew S. Matejka
  • Publication number: 20200122618
    Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Novin, Andrew S. Matejka
  • Patent number: 10538185
    Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene Novin, Andrew S. Matejka
  • Publication number: 20190292819
    Abstract: A latch or connector system having a latch housing, a first latching component, a second latching component, and a handle. The first and second latching components are movably mounted to the latch housing, and movable respective latched and unlatched positions. The handle is movably mounted to the latch housing and operatively associated with the first latching component and the second latching component. The handle is movable from a closed handle position to an open handle position to cause the first latching component and the second latching component to move from their respective latched positions to their respective unlatched positions, and the handle is movable from the open handle position to the closed handle position only when the first latching component and the second latching component are in their respective latched positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka
  • Publication number: 20180319302
    Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Novin, Andrew S. Matejka