Spring Projected Patents (Class 292/121)
  • Patent number: 11930983
    Abstract: A household appliance, in particular a water-using household appliance such as, for example, a dishwasher, includes: an appliance housing providing an appliance chamber, which appliance housing has a loading opening for access to the appliance chamber; and an appliance door which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening, the appliance door having a door handle and a user control unit having a bezel and a control panel. The control panel is disposed on the bezel so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation extending along a lower longitudinal edge of the control panel, in a vertical direction, being pivotable from a first position, in which the control panel is flush with an outer surface of the appliance door, to a second position, in which the control panel is moved into a cavity provided by the bezel, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Martin Schlief, Matthias Kupfer
  • Patent number: 11832724
    Abstract: A rotating bar may be used to unlatch a drawer of a cabinet. In some embodiments a drawer slide used to extendably mount the drawer within the cabinet includes a latch comprised of a tab coupled to an inner member and a catch to receive the tab on an outer member. The tab may be part of a release lever, which may be actuated by an arm coupled to the rotating bar, to release the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Accuride International Inc.
    Inventors: Chuck Milligan, Talia Minear
  • Patent number: 11666147
    Abstract: A release mechanism for a drawer slide latch may include linearly translatable elements. The linearly translatable elements may cause rotation of a lever arm used in latching one drawer slide member to another. The linearly translatable elements may be coupled to a drawer, or be a component mounted to the drawer slide, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ACCURIDE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Chuck Milligan, Talia Minear
  • Patent number: 11486178
    Abstract: A frame includes sliding panels to cover an opening of a cabinet. The panels are mounted to interlocking stiffeners. Each of the interlocking stiffeners includes a base portion that forms a channel to receive a forward leading edge or a rear leading edge of the panels. The interlocking stiffeners share forces between the panels. A latch assembly may also be engaged to the interlocking stiffener attached to the forward leading edge of the panel. The latch assembly includes a protruding or projecting portion, such as a bullnose, that positions the latch assembly with respect to a side frame member. During a closing operation, the protruding portion enters a channel of the side frame member. The protruding portion engages with the channel of the side frame member, which results in proper alignment for the latch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Austin Hardware & Supply Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Jeffries, Jason Ross Jeffries
  • Patent number: 11478051
    Abstract: A self-locking latch assembly for a two-piece container is provided. The latch assembly has a latch hook pivotably biased in a parallel orientation to the first piece of the two-piece container, while a keeper is connected though spaced apart from the surface of the second piece of the two-piece container. The two-piece container is adapted to move between an open and closed position by sliding an open end of the larger piece over an open end of a smaller piece. During this sliding action, toward the closed position, a tapered edge of the latch hook strikes the keeper and is urged upward until the tapered edge ends, whereby the biasing of the latch hook urges it to engage the keeper in a locked condition. To unlock the latch hook, one can pivot it to a nonparallel orientation and slide the two pieces apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Gary Lee Robinson
  • Patent number: 11459797
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a gate has a main support, first and second retention members, and a rotatable latch. The retention members each have a respective key aperture and the respective first and second apertures are spaced along the main support and separated by a gap. The rotatable latch includes a latch portion, one or more key portions which extend through either or both of the first key aperture and second key aperture, and is rotatable about an axis of rotation between a receiving position in which the gate is moveable between an open position and a closed position, or vice versa, and a latched position in which the gate is restrained in the closed position by the latch portion and where the one or more key portions engage with either or both of the first and second retention members to prevent withdrawal of the rotatable latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HILL & SMITH LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeremy Rene Delot
  • Patent number: 11237591
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first unit, a second unit, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes: an engagement projection provided on a third side surface of the first unit; a latch provided on a fourth side surface of the second unit, the latch being rotatable around a rotation axis provided perpendicular to the fourth side surface between a first rotational position where the latch does not engage with the engagement projection and a second rotational position where the latch is engageable with the engagement projection, and an urging member that urges the latch to be positioned at the second rotational position. The latch has an inclined part. When the latch is located at the second rotational position and the first unit is changed to a closed state from a state where the first unit is not closed, the inclined part abuts on the engagement projection during the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Urimoto
  • Patent number: 11089709
    Abstract: A first projection and a second projection are disposed around an opening in a housing. A first fitting hole into which the first projection is to be fitted and a second fitting hole into which the second projection is to be fitted are formed around a central hole in a packing. The first projection and the second projection are respectively fitted into the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole, whereby the packing is attached to the housing. A cover to cover the opening and on an area around the opening is attached to the housing by means of a fastening member mated with the second projection with the packing placed between the cover and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyo Takada, Taketo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10927575
    Abstract: A fireplace latch system has a pivotable latch retained within a latch retainer. One or more springs between the pivotable latch and latch retainer bias the latch towards two stable positions, an opened position and a closed position. In the closed position, one or more surface contacting elements extend through the latch retainer and exert a force on a frame for a glass panel to secure the glass panel and frame to the fireplace. The latch system allows the glass panel and frame to move outwards to release pressure in the event of an explosion within the combustion chamber of the fireplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CANADIAN HEATING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Lothar Dan Binzer
  • Patent number: 10485399
    Abstract: A dish washer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet which forms a dish washing space; a door which opens and closes an opened front surface of the cabinet; wherein door includes an out plate which is made of metal plate material and forms the front surface of the door and at least a portion of appearance of a peripheral surface of the door by being bent the front surface, an operating unit which is formed on the peripheral surface of the door so that a user operates by touch, a PCB assembly which is in close contact with a rear surface of the operating unit and on which a plurality of touch sensors detecting displacement of the operating unit are mounted, a mounting bracket which is mounted to be fixed to an inside surface of the out plate, and an elastic member which is mounted on the mounting bracket and presses and supports the PCB assembly to the a rear surface of the operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyeseong Min, Taewon Son
  • Patent number: 10240372
    Abstract: A door latch for an electrical household appliance includes a latch housing in which a gripping unit is received. The door latch further includes a first arresting element which is received in the latch housing such that it is movable between a release position and an arresting position. In the arresting position, the first arresting element blocks the gripping unit to prevent rotation into the open rotational position and, in the release position, permits a rotation of the gripping unit into the open rotational position. A second arresting element is received in the latch housing such that it is movable between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the second arresting element effects a blocking of the first arresting element to prevent rotation into the release position, in the unlocking position, the second arresting element permits such a movement of the first arresting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Dominik Walz
  • Patent number: 9575514
    Abstract: An enclosure for a portable computing device is disclosed. The enclosure includes a top case and a bottom case. The bottom case includes a retention feature that receives a snap member. The top case includes a tapered protrusion that is received by the snap member in order to secure the top case to the bottom case. Other features may be included. For example, the retention feature may also receive a tab member that secures the snap member to the retention feature. The retention feature and the tapered protrusion allow for alternate securing means between the top case and the bottom case. As a result, fewer fasteners are required to secure the top case with the bottom case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Patent number: 9201463
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a host module, a display module pivoted to the host module, a pivoting component and a lifting mechanism. The pivoting component is driven by the display module to rotate simultaneously. The lifting mechanism includes a base, a linking component connected to the base, a sliding component and a pushing component. A guiding slot is formed on the sliding component, and the guiding slot sheathes the linking component. The pushing component is installed on the pivoting component for pushing the sliding component to move in a first direction after the display module pivots relative to the host module to a predetermined angle, so that the guiding slot guides the linking component to move in a second direction different from the first direction, so as to drive the base to protrude outside a bottom side of the host module to lift the host module up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Tsung Chang, Ai-Chun Sun
  • Patent number: 8979141
    Abstract: A washing machine door, in which assembly efficiency of the door is improved, and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof are disclosed. The door includes a front panel forming the front surface of the door, a rear panel forming the rear surface of the door, a door handle mounted on the rear panel, fixing parts provided on the rear panel, a hook member operated in connection with the operation of the door handle, and an elastic member provided with one side fixed to the fixing parts and the other side fixed to the door handle to provide elastic force to the hook member and the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Bin Lee
  • Publication number: 20140312628
    Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a hooking component, an engagement structure, and an actuation component. The hooking component is disposed in a casing of a portable electronic apparatus. The engagement structure and the actuation component are disposed in another casing of the portable electronic apparatus. The actuation component is slidable relatively to the casing and includes a magnetic portion. When the magnetic portion approaches a hooking part of the hooking component, the hooking part is rotated out of the casing by a magnetic effect to hook the engagement structure; when the actuation component slides such that the magnetic portion is moved away from the hooking part, because a force generated by the magnetic effect to the hooking part decreases, a resilient part of the hooking component can drive the hooking part to disengaged from the engagement structure to rotate into the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Yuan
  • Publication number: 20140284939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for a door, comprising a catch and a pawl. The catch can be in an open or closed position. The catch may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. The pawl may be brought into an engagement position. The pawl may be deflected into a release position, to release the catch. A pawl actuation lever can deflect the pawl into the release position. A switchable coupling arrangement is provided between the pawl actuation lever and the pawl. The switchable coupling arrangement may be brought into a closing and an opening state. When the actuation movement of the pawl actuation lever surpasses a threshold, an inertial characteristic of the lock causes the switchable coupling arrangement to switch into the opening state such that the pawl actuation lever runs without deflecting the pawl into its release state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Wittelsbuerger, David Rosales
  • Patent number: 8789856
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit; the unit containing equipment in an equipment volume; the equipment volume being partially bounded by the chassis face; includes: a positioning structure coupling the cover with the unit for selectively situating the cover in the closed orientation or in an other orientation; and a latching structure configured for latchingly engaging the chassis face and the cover for holding the cover in the closed orientation when the latching structure is in a first orientation. The latching structure does not engage the chassis face and the cover when the latching structure is in a second orientation. The latching structure is situated substantially entirely outside the equipment volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Min C C. Kim, Khanh Nguyen, Mark A. Haisler
  • Patent number: 8733802
    Abstract: A door-locking device for locking a door of a household appliance, the door providing a closure hook, and at least a gasket provided on the door and/or on the household appliance. The device providing a locking hook, coupling with the household appliance closure hook, a slider, movable along a direction substantially parallel to a household appliance wall on which the door is provided, a recovery lever compensating for clearance of the gasket sealing closure, and a mechanical coupling for the locking hook and the recovery lever, the locking hook being rotably coupled with the mechanical coupling and being movable according to a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the movement direction of the slider, an elastic arm being further provided in a second embodiment, aiming to maintain the mechanical coupling in a door closure position, and interaction elements arranged between the slider and the mechanical coupling for locking each other in the door closure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Bitron S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Promutico, Gianpaolo Barone, Andrea Saccocci
  • Publication number: 20140103666
    Abstract: [PROBLEM] An object is to provide a lock device having high locking strength. [SOLUTION] An outer peripheral portion of a hook 57 in a lock device is formed with a recess 57d, which is formed to extend inwardly from a peripheral surface, and a first face 57g, which is formed at a side of a rotation direction toward the unlock position of the hook 57 than the recess 57d and intersects the rotation direction of the hook 57, and a pawl 61 is formed with a protrusion 61a, which is detachably engaged with the recess 57d of the hook 57, and a second face 61c, against which the first face 57g of the hook 57 is capable of abutting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORTION
    Inventor: Takuji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8678451
    Abstract: A gate latch for use with a gate may include a first handle to operate the gate latch from a first side of the gate and a second handle to operate the gate latch from a second side of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Jim Martin
  • Patent number: 8556303
    Abstract: An apparatus secures a cover onto a housing of a portable electronic device. The apparatus has a first latch that is pivotally connected to the cover by a first hinge, so that in a first rotational position, the first latch contacts a first catch on the housing and in a second rotational position, the first latch is remote from the first catch. A second latch assembly has a second latch that is pivotally connected to the cover by a second hinge, so that in one rotational position, the second latch contacts a second catch on the housing and in another rotational position, the second latch is remote from the second catch. By squeezing the first and second latches between two fingers, a user is able to disengage those latches from the catches and remove the cover from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Vijai Rajagopal, James Carl Infanti, Timothy Herbert Kyowski
  • Patent number: 8474882
    Abstract: A sliding mechanism for portable electronic device includes a sliding housing, a main housing and a stopping module. The sliding housing includes two ledges. At least one of the ledges defines a first notch and a second notch. The main housing includes two rails and at least one elastic member. The sliding housing is slidingly attached to the main housing by engagement of the ledges and the rails. The at least one elastic member includes a positioning portion. The positioning portion flexibly resists the at least one of the ledges and is selectively engaged in the first notch and the second notch. The stopping module prevents the sliding housing from separating from the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Chang, Long Chin
  • Patent number: 8424930
    Abstract: In an incubator according to the present invention, physical condition of a newborn is less likely to get out of order though a hand insertion window can easily be opened by operation with, for example, an elbow instead of a hand. A latch in a latch mechanism has a spiral face that extends to at least part of the periphery of a rotation shaft that extends along a side of a newborn chamber. A releasing member in the latch mechanism presses the spiral face of the latch by movement along the side of the newborn chamber and rotates the latch from a holding position to a releasing position for a hand insertion door. In addition, even if the latch in the latch mechanism rotates about the rotation shaft between the holding and releasing positions for the hand insertion door, the releasing member does not rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Atom Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Terumi Matsubara, Eiji Koike, Naoki Honma, Yoko Nagai, Kazuo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8408607
    Abstract: An animal-resistant container includes a body and a lid. The body has an interior volume in which refuse may be placed. At least one latch mechanism is secured in the body and at least one latch receptacle is secured in the lid. The latch mechanism is engaged with the latch receptacle to secure the lid to the body and prevent access to the interior volume. The latch mechanism can be actuated by a gripping arm of a refuse pickup vehicle to release the latch mechanism from the latch receptacle so that contents of the container can be emptied during automated collection. A tilt sensor detects tilting movement of the container, and the latch mechanism is prevented from actuation following detection of the tilting movement so that an animal intruder cannot tip over the container and gain entry into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8407840
    Abstract: An embodiment of a self-releasing cable lift system may include a latch coupled to a winch and operable to lift an object, such as a gangway, into a secured position before self-releasing after the object is locked into place. Such a latch may be biased to an open position when setting free, but biased to a closed position when acted upon by an outside surface. Thus, the latch includes a first biasing surface that is operable to bias the latch to the closed position when the latch is moved into contact with a latch receptacle in a first direction. Further, the latch includes a second biasing surface that is operable to bias the latch to a closed position when it is moved into contact with a sleeve, in a second direction. In this manner, the latch may engage a gangway, when lowered, but then self-release when the gangway has been raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Corey Fleischer, Bob B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8403392
    Abstract: A glove box for a vehicle includes a lid, which opens and closes an opening portion of a storage box provided in an instrument panel in a closed position of the lid, and a locking claw which is provided at the lid engages with a locking hole provided in the storage box. Accordingly, even if a passenger secondarily collides with the instrument panel and the storage box is deformed at the time of collision of a vehicle, the storage box deforms with the lid, since the rib of the lid is inserted in the locking hole of the storage box, whereby the positional relation of the locking claw of the lid and the locking hole of the storage box is inhibited from changing, and the locking claw can be prevented from being disengaged from the locking hole and opening the lid. The structure is a simple one in which only a pair of ribs are added to the storage box of the existing glove box, and therefore, the structure can be realized at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Okimoto
  • Patent number: 8387970
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet storage portion mounted on a device main body so as to be drawn from the device main body and the sheet storage portion stores sheets, a sheet feeding portion that feed a sheet from the sheet storage portion, a pushing portion that applies a force to the sheet storage portion in a drawing direction where the sheet storage portion is drawn from the device main body, a locking mechanism configured to lock the sheet storage portion in the device main body, and a pressing operation member that is pressed in a direction opposite to the drawing direction. A lock of the locking portion is released while interlocking the release of the press of the pressing operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinsuke Ubayashi
  • Publication number: 20120306219
    Abstract: A cover locking mechanism is provided to a cover hinged to an opening portion of a casing to be openable/closable and has a latch formed hookable on to a circumference of the opening portion of the casing. It includes a plate spring, one end of which (one end of the plate spring) is attached to the cover, and which provides a biasing force in a direction from an inner side of the cover toward the circumference to the latch thereby to bias the latch attached to the other end (other end of the spring) toward the circumference and to bring the latch into contact with the circumference. The latch has a configuration (first notch) for holding the cover at a first angle and a configuration (second notch) for preventing the cover from being opened beyond a second angle greater than the first angle, during cover opening operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyo Takada, Yasuaki Mamoto
  • Patent number: 8317236
    Abstract: An appliance drawer construction allows, upon the press of a button, the extension of the drawer from a housing. At the same time, inadvertent unintended opening caused, e.g., by a person's body brushing past or up against the appliance, may be avoided. In another aspect, the invention provides a simple and effective latch release linkage which is particularly well suited to a drawer, like a laundry washer additives dispenser drawer, that requires an offset of the latch from the operation push-button, due to the placement of an additive storage compartment portion of the drawer directly behind the front console of the drawer, and the space constraints within the housing that receives the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris H. Hill, Jason D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8297665
    Abstract: A snap closure suitable for a thin-walled cabinet such as a sheet-metal cabinet, particularly for drawers, plug-ins, doors, or the like which can be pushed into or swiveled into a sheet-metal cabinet, comprises a housing which can be mounted in an opening of the cabinet sheet metal. One side (the outer side) of the housing has a handle and a closure actuating element, while a closure hook proceeds from its other side (inner side) so as to be swivelable against spring force. The closure hook is connected to the actuating element by a freewheeling coupling. According to the invention, the actuating element is formed by the handle which is mounted in the housing so as to be swivelable around an axis, and this axis is parallel to or coaxial to the axis of the closure hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Dieter Ramsauer
  • Patent number: 8274788
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a base, a display panel rotatably connected to the base, a locking mechanism mounted to the display panel, and a security lock. The base includes a receiving chamber and a hole communicating with the receiving chamber. The locking mechanism includes a main body, a rotation member rotatably connected to the display panel, and a sliding member. The rotation member includes an extending end defining a receiving hole. The extending end is operable to be received in the receiving chamber. The sliding member includes a hook portion being received in the receiving hole. The hook portion is capable of disengaged from the receiving hole, causing the extending end to rotate by the thereof. The security lock includes a latch for engaging the extending end to prevent the extending end of the rotation member from disengaging from the base, to lock the display panel to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Li-Jun Yang
  • Publication number: 20120224959
    Abstract: A latching device for a pump housing for production of a releasable latched connection between two housing parts has, on a first housing part, an elongate latching hook comprising a latching protrusion on the upper side and introduction chamfers on the upper side and on the underside. A latching opening is provided in the second housing part and comprises a latching tongue defining the latching opening outwardly, the latching protrusion abutting this latching tongue. An introduction web is arranged on the underside of the latching opening and comprises an introduction chamfer for the latching hook. Two securing tongues engage laterally in the latching opening and protrude via a free tongue end into the path of the latching hook when said latching hook is inserted into the latching opening. They prevent an undesired automatic release of the latched connection caused by movement of the latching hook in a downwards direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: E.G.O. Elektro-Geratebau GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Parker, Uwe Koegel, Wolfgang Weber, Tobias Albert
  • Patent number: 8256804
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first body, a second body pivotally attached on the first body for covering on the first body, and a latching device for locking the second body on the first body when the second body covers the first body. The latching device includes a locking member rotatably attached on the first body, a hook disposed on the second body and capable of hooking on the locking member for locking the second body on the first body, and a driving subassembly rotatably connecting with locking member and slidably disposed on the first body. The driving subassembly drives the locking member to rotate to engage and disengage with the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Yang, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8191936
    Abstract: A gaming machine door latch comprises a slide having one or more associated catches, and lock or latch strikes. The slide may be mounted to the gaming machine housing for vertical movement. The catches are mounted to the slide and may be configured to pivot. The strikes are mounted to the door. When the gaming machine door is closed, the catches automatically engage the strikes, thus latching the door. The door may be opened by raising the slide, causing the catches to move out of engagement with the strikes. The latch may include a lock which locks and unlocks the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Cole Kepro International, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cole, Edward H. Comfort
  • Patent number: 8141398
    Abstract: A side lock apparatus includes: a housing which is fixed to a lid; a disc-shaped rotor which is supported on the housing; and rods which are linked with the rotor, wherein: the housing includes: a bearing portion for the rotor which is provided in such a manner as to extend vertically along the short upper portion of the lid; a first wall; a second wall; and a cylindrical portion which is brought into sliding contact with a disc-shaped outer circumferential surface of the rotor to support the rotor; the rotor is supported on the bearing portion in such a manner that the disc shape thereof becomes horizontal relative to a wall thickness direction of the short upper portion of the lid; and the rods are supported between the first wall and the second wall in such a manner as to slide in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ookawara, Toshihiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8136849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a furniture closure for doors, shutters and drawers, in particular for cabinets and the like in the vehicle sector. In order to provide a furniture closure which, while being particularly straightforward to design and produce, ensures sealed and secured closure of doors, shutters (3) and drawers, a profile rail (5) having a seal (6), a grip strip and a locking element (7) is arranged along the peripheral region thereof and can be pivoted about a horizontal axis (23). The seal (6) has a spring force which retains the locking element (7) in the closure position and can be compressed for the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Fritz Hakemann
  • Patent number: 8123312
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a hook hole, a door having a hook shaft to be placed in the hook hole, and a holder between the hook hole and the hook shaft for maintaining the door to be in a state the door is opened by a predetermined gap, wherein the holder includes a first holder to be engaged with the door and a second holder to be engaged with hook hole, wherein the second holder includes a hook member for placing in, and holding the hook hole. The assembly, for example, prevents a tub of a washing machine from being enclosed when the washing machine is not in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Min Jeon, Han Ki Cho, Chang Woo Son
  • Patent number: 8109541
    Abstract: A latching structure of a mobile electronic device includes a button module, at least one lock pin, at least one linking rod, and at least one hook module respectively disposed in a base and a display of the mobile electronic device. One end of the linking rod is coupled to the button module and another end of the linking rod is coupled to the hook module. When the button module is pressed, the button module drives the linking rod to force the hook module to release the lock pin so as to allow the user opening the display from the base of the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiming Chang, Yung Chih Kuo, Li Che Lu, Min-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8016328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device for the door of an apparatus comprising a rotary drum, and to a latch for one such device. The inventive device comprises a latch articulated to a moving leaf of the door, and a control box attached to a fixed frame of the door and configured to receive and immobilize the tip of the latch into a passage provided therein. The aforementioned tip acts primarily as a control tip. The latch comprises at least one second tip acting as a coupling tip which is spaced apart from the control tip and which is configured such that it can be coupled in a retaining stop that is attached to the fixed frame of the door in a position spaced apart from the passage in the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Girbau S.A.
    Inventors: Ramon Sans Rovira, Jordi Mas Gili, Ignasi Riera Curcoll, Jaume Villar Febre
  • Patent number: 7959194
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a plate and an arm pivotable between a closed and an open position relative to the plate about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is substantially aligned with a line of entry of a connecting bar to a latched position in which, when the arm is in the closed position, the connecting bar is entirely surrounded by both the plate and the arm together and partially surrounded by the arm and the plate individually. The plate is fixed relative to the line of entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 7938704
    Abstract: A hook assembly is arranged to engage with an engaged member to fix a first housing to a second housing of an outboard motor. The hook assembly includes a rotation shaft, a hook member, a lever, and a weight. The rotation shaft is rotatably mounted on the first housing. A recessed portion is provided in the hook member. The recessed portion is arranged to open in first rotation direction. The recessed portion engages with the engaged member. The lever extends from the rotation shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction of the recessed portion. The weight regulates the rotation of the hook member in the second rotation direction when the hook member and the engaged member are engaged together. The arrangement provides a highly-operable hook assembly for the outboard motor that prevents disengagement even when an obstacle collides with the outboard motor during traveling of a boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Nomura, Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7866712
    Abstract: A fast operating, free egress latch system is provided with a cam having three distinct surfaces. One of these surfaces has a concave inner cam region for receiving a window latch pin. Another of these surfaces serves to prevent inadvertent relocking of a window, skylight, door, etc. once it has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tumble Weed Products, LLC
    Inventor: James D. Kintz
  • Patent number: 7841632
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a latch mechanism configured to securely fasten a first member to a second member and a dampening system configured to reduce acoustical noise generated in response to actuation of the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Steven S. Homer, Dan V. Forlenza, Earl W. Moore
  • Patent number: 7832240
    Abstract: A lid lock device includes: a housing fixed to either of a lid and a box; a hook member engaged with and disengaged from a lock portion; an elastic biasing unit for biasing the hook member; a control member for controlling the movement of the hook member; and a translating unit for translating the control member, wherein: the hook member includes: a hook portion which is brought into direct engagement with and disengagement from the lock portion; and an operating portion for translating the hook portion from a closing corresponding state to an opening corresponding state; a first wall and a second wall are provided on either of the hook member and the control member; a recessed portion is formed on either of the walls; and a raised portion is formed on the other of the hook member and the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Najima
  • Publication number: 20100270813
    Abstract: In a locking device for the bonnet of a motor vehicle, a guide device is arranged on the bonnet, whereby an element of the lock that consists of the locking hook and clip is in engagement with the guide device, and whereby when the bonnet is closed and locked, the latter can be displaced relative to the locking hook and the clip via the guide device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Dipl.-Ing. Franz Roth, Karsten Baumhof, Oliver Burgstahler, Norman Dix
  • Publication number: 20100265666
    Abstract: An opening mechanism includes a base whereon an opening is disposed, and a covering including a main body for covering the opening. The covering further includes a hook connected to the main body for hooking the base. The covering further includes a buckling part connected to a side of the main body. The opening mechanism further includes a sliding component passing through the buckling part. An end of the sliding component is disposed on a breach of the main body. An engaging part is formed on a side of the sliding component for engaging with a fixing end. The opening mechanism further includes an elastic component installed on the side of the main body and disposed on a side of the sliding component for providing elastic force to the sliding component so as to drive the engaging part of the sliding component to engage with the fixing end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Liang Yu
  • Patent number: 7815228
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for damping vibration of an elastic member within a latch for securing a top panel to a base of an information handling system (IHS) includes an elastic member with a first end and a second end, the first end attached to a fixed portion of the top panel. The latch may further include a body attachable to the top panel, the body defining a cavity for receiving the elastic member, wherein the body further comprises a movable anchor for attaching the second end of the elastic member and a raised portion, wherein the raised portion is in contact with the elastic member within the cavity to damp vibration of the elastic member. The latch further includes an actuation tab coupled to the body to engage the body in a movable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: David William Grunow, Richard C. Sohaney, Faiza Hassan, Anil Damani
  • Publication number: 20100236589
    Abstract: A closure system for a dishwasher and associated apparatus is provided. A door is pivotably engaged with a tub, and defines a latch pocket, configured as a grasping member, having a latch aperture in communication therewith and extending therethrough to the tub. A latch actuation member is received by the latch pocket, and a latch device engaged therewith extends through the latch aperture to releasably secure the door to the tub, the securement being releasable by actuation of the latch actuation member. A pull-latch is receivable by the latch aperture, in place of and interchangeably with the latch device and latch actuation member, and releasably secures the door to the tub, the securement being releasable by exertion of an outward force on the grasping member. A latch pocket insert member operably engages the latch pocket to separate the latch aperture therefrom, when the pull-latch is received by the latch aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. House, Daniel M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7780208
    Abstract: A hood lock assembly affording effective support in the closing direction of a vehicle hood is provided with flexibility, such that under a predefined overload, the hood is capable of additional movement in the closing direction beyond the normal closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Juergen Koppenhoehl, Kai Visel, Eberhard Weik
  • Publication number: 20100109347
    Abstract: In an incubator according to the present invention, physical condition of a newborn is less likely to get out of order though a hand insertion window can easily be opened by operation with, for example, an elbow instead of a hand. A latch in a latch mechanism has a spiral face that extends to at least part of the periphery of a rotation shaft that extends along a side of a newborn chamber. A releasing member in the latch mechanism presses the spiral face of the latch by movement along the side of the newborn chamber and rotates the latch from a holding position to a releasing position for a hand insertion door. In addition, even if the latch in the latch mechanism rotates about the rotation shaft between the holding and releasing positions for the hand insertion door, the releasing member does not rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Terumi MATSUBARA, Eiji Koike, Naoki Honma, Yoko Nagai, Kazuo Matsubara