Patents by Inventor Gene C. Light

Gene C. Light 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).

  • Patent number: 10697207
    Abstract: A rotary latch assembly is provided wherein the front plate has a C-shaped configuration with opposite top and bottom flanges, and an interconnecting front face. A back plate is connected to the front plate for use in right-handed and left-handed applications. One or more trip levers are mounted on the plates to release the catch and rotor from a latched position. An embossment is provided on the front plate to strengthen the assembly and to support the rotor and the catch. Indicia is provided on the latch assembly to provide for ease of alignment with the striker for proper latching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TriMark Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis J. Zweibohmer, Shayne E. Dodge, Tobias J. Schwickerath, Gene C. Light, Jason E. Stibs, Matthew L. Hidding
  • Patent number: 10676967
    Abstract: A rotary latch assembly is provided which can be configured as right-handed and left-handed using the same rotor and catch components, without reconfiguring the front and back plates. The axles for the rotor and catch are identical so that the rotor and catch can be interchanged on the axles. The latch biasing springs are mirror images so as to be used on either the rotor or the catch. The latch includes multiple connection points for single or dual actuators, and a lifting block to align the assembly with a striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias J. Schwickerath, Dennis J. Zweibohmer, Shayne E. Dodge, Gene C. Light, Matthew L. Hidding
  • Publication number: 20170260774
    Abstract: A rotary latch assembly is provided which can be configured as right-handed and left-handed using the same rotor and catch components, without reconfiguring the front and back plates. The axles for the rotor and catch are identical so that the rotor and catch can be interchanged on the axles. The latch biasing springs are mirror images so as to be used on either the rotor or the catch. The latch includes multiple connection points for single or dual actuators, and a lifting block to align the assembly with a striker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tobias J. Schwickerath, Dennis J. Zweibohmer, Shayne E. Dodge, Gene C. Light, Matthew H. Hidding
  • Publication number: 20170260777
    Abstract: A rotary latch assembly is provided wherein the front plate has a C-shaped configuration with opposite top and bottom flanges, and an interconnecting front face. A back plate is connected to the front plate for use in right-handed and left-handed applications. One or more trip levers are mounted on the plates to release the catch and rotor from a latched position. An embossment is provided on the front plate to strengthen the assembly and to support the rotor and the catch. Indicia is provided on the latch assembly to provide for ease of alignment with the striker for proper latching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Dennis J. Zweibohmer, Shayne E. Dodge, Tobias J. Schwickerath, Gene C. Light, Jason E. Stibs, Matthew H. Hidding
  • Patent number: 7320488
    Abstract: A latch assembly having a housing and a catch assembly on the housing and having first and second states. The catch assembly has a rotor that is movable selectively relative to the housing between first and second positions. The rotor has a mounting portion and a receiving portion. The receiving portion has a U-shaped opening between spaced first and second legs. The U-shaped opening is configured to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further has a strike plate with a strike surface that projects across the U-shaped opening to block a strike element in the U-shaped opening with the rotor in the first position and the catch assembly in the first state. The U-shaped opening is bounded by an edge with a portion of the edge defined by the first leg against which a strike element within the U-shaped opening bears under a force tending to separate the latch assembly from the strike element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew L. Hidding, Gene C. Light, Tyler G. Larsen, Kelly F. Mishak
  • Patent number: 7156430
    Abstract: A latch assembly having a housing and a catch assembly on the housing. The catch assembly has at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states. The catch assembly in the first state is capable of preventing a strike element engaged by the latch assembly from separating from the latch assembly. The catch assembly in the second state permits a strike element, engaged by the latch assembly with the catch assembly in the first state, to be separated from the latch assembly. The housing has a base wall defining a support for at least a part of the catch assembly, a first side wall extending angularly away from the base wall, and a return wall projecting angularly away from the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew L. Hidding, Gene C. Light, Tyler G. Larsen, Kelly F. Mishak