Patents by Inventor Kevin Flaute

Kevin Flaute 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: 11686332
    Abstract: A fastener for securing a panel to a substructure includes a flange having a bore, a base disposed under the flange and having a post extending upwardly from the base, the post having a retaining member at an upper portion thereof, and at least one flexible hinge resiliently connecting the base and the flange such that when the base is pushed toward the flange, the post with the retaining member passes through the bore adapted to engage with other member. The flange further includes flexible walls formed around the bore and extending outward with retaining clips formed at respective leading ends thereof. The flexible walls bend towards the bore when pressed into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIFCO AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: William R Rhoades, Kevin Flaute, Reis Lehman
  • Patent number: 11492824
    Abstract: A latch assembly for closing a door of a glovebox compartment includes a key cylinder having an eccentric shaft; a striker connected to the key cylinder to form a scotch-yoke connection to the eccentric shaft so that a rotation of the key cylinder is transformed to a linear movement of the striker; and a pair of latching members to lock the door. The pair of latching members includes a first latching member having an operation portion to engage or disengage from the striker, and a second latching member connected to the first latching member to simultaneously move with the first latching member. The key cylinder rotates to switch between an unlocked state in which the striker engages the operation portion and a locked state in which the striker is disengaged from the operation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIFCO AMERICA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Flaute, Derek Recker, Joe Wu
  • Publication number: 20190234120
    Abstract: A latch assembly for closing a door of a glovebox compartment includes a key cylinder having an eccentric shaft; a striker connected to the key cylinder to form a scotch-yoke connection to the eccentric shaft so that a rotation of the key cylinder is transformed to a linear movement of the striker; and a pair of latching members to lock the door. The pair of latching members includes a first latching member having an operation portion to engage or disengage from the striker, and a second latching member connected to the first latching member to simultaneously move with the first latching member. The key cylinder rotates to switch between an unlocked state in which the striker engages the operation portion and a locked state in which the striker is disengaged from the operation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin FLAUTE, Derek RECKER, Joe WU
  • Patent number: 9939003
    Abstract: A clip adapted to be connected to a connected member with a hole includes a base, an engaging section extending from the base, and an insertion section fixed to the engaging section at a side opposite to the base and adapted to be inserted into the hole of the connected member. The engaging section includes an engaging leg extending from the base, and having a first enlarged portion adapted to engage the hole of the connected member, and a beam formed near the insertion section to extend inwardly toward the center axis and connected to the insertion section, and a pair of engaging members extending from the base along the engaging leg and disposed perpendicular to the engaging leg so that the engaging leg is disposed between the pair of engaging members along a circumferential direction of the engaging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NIFCO AMERICA CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel Ormsby, Kevin Flaute