Automatic Release Latches Patents (Class 292/DIG4)
  • Patent number: 6056333
    Abstract: The push--push latch mechanism includes a latching body which includes a mouth, first camming walls, second camming walls, third camming walls, an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a detent island. During the latching cycle, the user pushes the door or other structure attached to the pin and the pin enters the mouth of the latching body and is guided by first camming walls to the inlet channel and second camming walls. The user then releases the door or other structure attached to the pin and the pin travels to detent engagement with the island. During the unlatching cycle, the user again pushes the door or other structure attached to the pin and the pin travels from detent engagement with the island to third camming walls which guide the pin to the outlet channel. The pin traverses the outlet channel and exits the mouth of the latching body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Wach
  • Patent number: 5997056
    Abstract: A locking device for opening or closing a door comprising a lock housing having a pair of holes formed in the front surface thereof; a slider which can slide within the lock housing; a pair of clamps, the base end of each of which is pivotally mounted on the front end of the slider, and the other end of each of which has a spring force acting outward, and the both ends of which are pushed from outward to inward in the direction where the both ends are compressed when the clamps go backward within the lock housing; a spring member for the clamps attached to the front end of the slider such that said pair of clamps are opened in an approximately V-shape; a spring member for the slider which is intervened between said lock housing and said slider and which applies a spring force to said slider in the direction forward to the hole of the lock housing; a heart-shaped groove which is carved in one side of said slider, has a plurality of differences in depth, and a recess provided on the bottom portion of the heart
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Magnet Ohyo Seihin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5997052
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a lock releasing mechanism for a container having a hinged or removable lid. A locking arm is disposed adjacent the container lid to prevent an opening of the lid, and a cable, or rigid bar, connects the locking arm to the locking mechanism. The elements of the locking mechanism comprise a slide plate to which the cable is fixed; a spring for urging the slide plate to a locked position, a guide member for guiding the slide plate, and a trigger ball which blocks movement of the slide arm in the locked position. When the container is tilted forward by a predetermined angle, the trigger ball becomes dislodged from the locking position to enable movement of the slide plate, and subsequent movement of the locking arm. When the locking arm is moved out of the path of travel for the container lid, the contents of the container may be removed. In one embodiment, a stop is provided to limit rotation of the locking bar to prevent contact with the container lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventors: David Lee Reeb, Walter Paul Robinette, II
  • Patent number: 5984381
    Abstract: A locking device for opening or closing a door comprising a lock housing having a pair of holes; a slider slidable within the lock housing; a pair of clamps, the base end being pivotally mounted on the front end of the slider, and the other end having a spring force acting outward; a spring member for the clamp attached to the front end of the slider; rails each provided on the outside of the pair of clamps in the lengthwise direction; a pair of rollers each having a circular shape, which can be fitted with each of the rails, and are supported to be revolved in adjacent to the holes of the lock housing; a spring member for the slider which is intervened between the lock housing and the slider and which applies a spring force to the slider in the direction forward to the hole of the lock housing; a heart-shaped groove carved in one side of the slider, having a plurality of differences in depth, and a recess provided on the bottom portion thereof; a projecting member, one end being slidable in the groove only i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Magnet Ohyo Seihin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5901590
    Abstract: An interior door lock assembly includes a casing secured to an inner side of a door plate and including a central hole and two diametrically disposed holes. A switch button has a stub extended through the central hole to engage with a tail piece of a lock core to rotate therewith. A press button assembly is mounted to the switch button and includes a seat securely mounted in a compartment defined in the switch button. A spring-biased press button is partially, slidably mounted in the seat. When the switch button is in a latched position, the press button is pressable to engage with one of the holes of the casing to prevent from unlatching of the interior door lock assembly from outside of the door plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Chin-I Lai
  • Patent number: 5845954
    Abstract: A glove box assembly is designed to allow the glove box to be moved from a fully closed position to a partially open position and from the partially open position to either a fully open position or the fully closed position. The glove box assembly includes a pair of guide pin elements each positioned on one of the sides of the glove box for engaging guide track elements. The guide track elements are specifically configured to guide the guide pin elements during the opening movement of the glove box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Technical Center, U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Todd L. DePue
  • Patent number: 5836638
    Abstract: A fuel door assembly comprises a housing having an open main compartment, a door covering the main compartment when in a closed position with respect thereto, and a push-push lock engagable with the door by means of a latch on its inner surface. The push-push lock is reciprocatingly operable between a first fixed position and a second fixed position. When in the first fixed position, the push-push lock holds the door in a completely closed condition. When in the second fixed position, the push-push lock holds the door in a partially opened condition, so that it may be grasped manually and moved to a fully opened condition. The fuel door assembly satisfies the styling desire for a flat hidden door lacking a finger opening, but at lower cost than that associated with a cable or electrical solenoid opening mechanism. The fuel door assembly further will not fly open if accidentally activated, such as by equipment in a car wash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Slocum
  • Patent number: 5810405
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a swinging door pivotally mounted on for movement about a first axis between fully open and closed positions includes a support column pivotally mounted for rotation about a second axis parallel to the first axis. One end of the support column is provided with a support block for supporting the door in the open position, and the other end of the support column is provided with a latching bar for securing the support column in a first position where the support block underlies an edge of the door in the open position. A cam surface is provided on the support column, engagable by the door as the door moves from the closed to the open position to rotate the support column and the support block to a position which permits the door to move to a fully open position without interference from the support column or the support block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: David Robert Kettlewood
  • Patent number: 5775748
    Abstract: A latch device in which joggling of a latch main body is prevented and smooth movement of the latch main body is realized. When the latch main body is pushed-in from a first position of an insertion direction of the latch main body, holding of the first position is cancelled. Due to a spring, a stopper moves in a guide hole and abuts an end of the guide hole and the latch main body reaches a second position at a side opposite an insertion side. If the latch main body is pushed-in from the second position, the latch main body returns to the first position. When the latch main body is pushed-in to the first position and moves, an abutting portion extending from the stopper to a latch main body insertion side slides along an inner surface of a case wall, in a direction in which the stopper fits into the guide hole, along a side edge of the guide hole at a region at which the abutting portion misses the guide hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuhito Kurachi
  • Patent number: 5718265
    Abstract: A cap and shield assembly for a fluid conduit coupler has a shield and a cap hingedly connected to the shield with a shaft having a cross-pin extending therethrough. A cam bushing in the bore of the shield has a cam surface which coacts with the cross-pin to provide a positive closed position for the cap relative to the shield. Preferably, the cam bushing also provides a positive open position. The cap and shield assembly is particularly advantageous for couplers having a dry-break interface because the cap is readily moved between open and closed positions and operators will be more inclined to use the cap after fluid transfer. Shrouds on the cap and the shield coact to protect the coupler interface when the cap is in the closed position thereby protecting the dry-break interface from contamination by road and environmental debris. This is particularly advantageous compared to the dust cap of the prior art which tends not to be used for its intended purpose of protecting the fluid conduit coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton Fleet Fueling, Corp.
    Inventors: Stanley Robert Elsdon, Arthur S. Cornford
  • Patent number: 5662364
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a latch releasing mechanism for a container having a hinged or removable lid. A latching arm is disposed adjacent the container lid to prevent an opening of the lid, and a cable connects the latching arm to the locking mechanism. The elements of the latching mechanism comprise a slide plate to which the cable is fixed; a spring for urging the slide plate to a latched position, a guide member for guiding the slide plate, and a trigger ball which blocks movement of the slide am in the latched position. When the container is tilted forward by a predetermined angle, the trigger ball becomes dislodged from the latching position to enable movement of the slide plate, and subsequent movement of the latching arm. When the latching arm is moved out of the path of travel for the container lid, the contents of the container may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventors: David L. Reeb, Walter Paul Robinette, II
  • Patent number: 5577820
    Abstract: A door for an electronic device, wherein enclosure includes an internal cavity and an aperture for providing access to the internal cavity. The door includes a planar element for opening and closing an aperture of the enclosure. The door is rotatably attached to the enclosure to enable outward rotation of the planar element away from the internal cavity to a first position wherein the aperture is closed by the planar element and to enable inward rotation of the planar element toward the internal cavity to a second position wherein the aperture is opened. The planar element further includes an edge which contacts an edge of the aperture to stop the outward rotation when the planar element is at the first position. In addition, the door includes a V-shaped spring element for biasing the planar element to urge the planar element to provide the outward rotation. Furthermore, the door includes a push catcher for releasably holding the planar element in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Kim, Satoshi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 5516160
    Abstract: An automatic door latch has a case with a bolt movable within the case between a fully extended position in which the bolt extends forwardly of the case, a fully retracted position in which the bolt is within the case, and a partially extended position in which the bolt is positioned to contact a door strike. There is a spring which urges the bolt toward the fully extended position. There is a bolt operator for moving the bolt, against the spring, from the fully extended position toward a retracted position. There is a release mechanism which holds the bolt in the partially extended position and which is effective to release the bolt for movement, under urging by the spring, to a fully extended position, from the partially extended position, upon inward movement of the bolt when it is in the partially extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Master Lock Company
    Inventor: Pete Kajuch
  • Patent number: 5498039
    Abstract: A spring loaded latch assembly including a first stationary member for securement to a desired stationary surface, and a second movable member wherein the assembly provides for controlled reciprocating movement between the two members from a first closed position to a second open position upon pushing engagement by a user. The first stationary member includes a housing, a spring member secured within a portion of the housing by a retaining member and a latch arm connected thereto. The second movable member includes an engagement member in operable communication with the spring member to provide a spring force between the two members and a latch track member for cooperative engagement with the latch arm of the first member. The assembly also includes a release member that enables disengagement of the latch arm from the latch track without causing damage to the first or second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven L. Bivens
  • Patent number: 5474341
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a container having a hinged lid comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to a container and journaled for rotation about its axis. A locking bar is removably secured to the shaft and rotatable about the axis with the shaft between a locked position and an unlocked position. A lock lever is secured to the shaft between the locked position and the unlocked position and a roller is mounted on a track over the lock lever for motion into and out of an engagement with a lock lever. The shaft is held from rotation when the roller and the locking bar is in the locking position. The locking bar is free to move into and out of its locked and unlocked position and the roller is moved from its locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Fikes, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter B. Putman, Jerry A. Hampel
  • Patent number: 5447347
    Abstract: A door stop wedge is mounted into a receptacle recessed in the floor inside an inwardly-opening door. A detent keeps the wedge normally in an inoperative position within the receptacle and releasable by downward foot pressure on a tab connected to the locking arm for such detent. The wedge is spring-loaded to pop up into operating position when the detent is released. Foot pressure on the back of the wedge will cause it to retract into the receptacle and the detent to spring back into locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Marcia Siddons
  • Patent number: 5401067
    Abstract: A latch device includes a latch body provided in a housing so as to be movable in an inserted direction in which the latch body is inserted into the housing, and in a withdrawn direction in which the latch body is withdrawn from the housing, and being continuously urged in the withdrawn direction. Further, circulatory cam grooves are also provided in the housing, and a supporting member is inserted into the circulatory cam grooves and circulates and moves in the circulatory cam grooves so as to hold the latch body at an inserted state position and a withdrawn state position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Nifco, Inc.
    Inventors: Mutsuo Kurosaki, Katsuhito Kurachi
  • Patent number: 5346266
    Abstract: A rack and pinion pull-up latch comprises a housing containing a reciprocating push-button which alternates between two positions. Means are provided to secure the push-button in these two positions. Supported by the push-button is a stepped pinion which engages two stationary racks within the housing and which drives a third rack between two positions of translation. At one of these positions, the third rack is rotated so as to move an attached latching finger inwardly of the housing. At the other position, the latching finger is in latching engagement with a frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Robert H. Bisbing
  • Patent number: 5292158
    Abstract: A lock mechanism for causing an openable member such as a cover or a door of a box or the like to engage with or disengage from a main body as the openable member is pressed, and a latch device for retaining a latch body in the housing in a pushed-in state or in a withdrawn state. The center of rotation of each of a pair of arms of the latch device is formed on substantially the same line as a line of action of a force acting on a retaining surface of each of the arms for retaining a striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Nifco, Inc.
    Inventor: Mutsuo Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 5280755
    Abstract: A security cabinet for storing of articles of value which is designed to prevent unauthorized access into the security cabinet by individuals not possessing sufficient physical strength such as young children. The latching arrangement of the security cabinet can be located in a position requiring an inward force of a sufficient magnitude to be applied to the door in order to permit the door to be opened and thereby gain access into the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis A. Batur
  • Patent number: 5273328
    Abstract: A lock mechanism for causing an openable member such as a cover or a door of a box or the like to engage with or disengage from a main body as the openable member is pressed, and a latch device for retaining a latch body in the housing in a state in a pushed-in state and in a withdrawn state. The center of rotation of each of a pair of arms of the latch device is formed on substantially the same line as a line of action of a force acting on a retaining surface of each of the arms for retaining a striker. A fitting hole, a guide hole, a slanted guide surface, and a fitting hole are provided to allow a tracing member of the latch device to be fitted from outside the housing at the time of assembling the tracing member to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: NIFCO Inc.
    Inventor: Mutsuo Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 5267761
    Abstract: The console for a motor vehicle has a wall structure defining a compartment and a door for closing said compartment wherein the console has a latch mechanism engageable by the door for selectively maintaining the door in a closed position and the latch mechanism is releasable by movement of the door from a normal closed position to an over-closed position. The latch mechanism is provided with a spring which biases the door towards an open position only when the door is moved into an over-closed position, thereby preventing unintentional opening of the door by forces exerted upon the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Curtindale, Mark J. Brow
  • Patent number: 5217267
    Abstract: A telescopic support arm includes an outside arm and an inside arm which are designed to slide freely each other, the outside arm having a slot and an abutting piece inside thereof, and the inside arm having a slot and rotatable stopping piece inside thereof. The stopping piece is rotated by the engagement with the end portions of the slots and the abutting piece so as to be projected out of or sink into the slots, and by its rotation the outside arm and the inside arm are free to slide each other in both the extending and contracting directions. The stopping piece is provided with a buffer mechanism which comprises a holding piece of the stopping piece, a spring for pulling the holding piece in the contracting direction of the telescopic support arm, and a slot for slidably supporting a support shaft of the stopping piece. A rack with a tooth part is disposed in the outside arm along its longitudinal direction, while a locking piece with a pawl part is provided in the inside arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushikigaisha Yagi
    Inventor: Katumi Yagi
  • Patent number: 5217262
    Abstract: A latch device including a pair of circuital cam grooves having different planar shapes formed in opposite surfaces of a latch body. A guide lever is inserted into the circuital cam grooves so that tips of tracing portions of the guide lever do not contact bottom surfaces of the circuital cam grooves. The circuital cam grooves have a heart-shaped projection and a triangular projection, such that torsion is generated in the tracing portions because of differences in configurations of the circuital cam grooves. A restoring force of the guide lever acting opposite the torsional force causes the tracing portions to circulate in a given direction. As a result, compared with conventional latch devices, fewer components may be used. Wear on the circuital grooves of the latch body can be prevented. When the torsional force is eliminated, the tracing portions move in a direction where the groove wall surfaces are not provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Mutsuo Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 5211430
    Abstract: A hidden lock for a jewelry or treasure box which is equipped with a flexible metal wire having one end thereof projected from an opening disposed at the bottom of the front side of a lower case; and a lock plate having an M shaped recess disposed thereon being disposed on the inner surface of the lower case of the box for engagement with the projected end of the wire which can be slidably guided through the recess. The cover case is associated with the lower case by means of a pair of spring biased hinges so that the cover case can be automatically opened as the cover case is pushed downward, permitting the flexible metal wire to be disengaged with the M shaped recess of the lock plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Song Ye Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jauh-Hsiung Chern
  • Patent number: 5211431
    Abstract: A reciprocating device for a movable member includes: a stationary member; a movable member held by the stationary member in such a manner as to be able to reciprocate; a biasing device provided between the movable member and the stationary member and adapted to bias the movable member in at least one of the reciprocating directions of the movable member; and a lock device for stopping the movable member in the course of its reciprocation, the lock device including: a cam groove formed on either the stationary member or the movable member and extending around a heart-shaped island; a lock pin having a base end section rotatably supported by either the stationary member or the movable member on which the cam groove is not formed and a tip end section bent toward the bottom of the cam groove; and a pressing device for pressing the tip end section of the lock pin toward the bottom of the cam groove, the pit section of the heart-shaped island of the lock device being equipped with a tapered surface inclined towar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Koizumi, Masayuki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 5165124
    Abstract: A lifting gate controlling device for controlling the front lifting gate of a baby's crib, comprising one pair of upper mounting bars respectively secured to the front two opposite corner posts of a baby's crib at an upper level, one pair of lower mounting bars respectively secured to said two opposite corner posts at a lower level, one pair of upper sliding blocks respectively movably mounted on said upper mounting bars to hold a transverse top rail of said lifting gate, and one pair of lower sliding blocks respectively movably mounted on said lower mounting bars to hold a transverse bottom rail of said lifting gate, wherein said upper mounting bars each has a V-shaped track incorporated in a P-shaped sliding track on a front face thereof for sliding either one of said upper sliding blocks by a sliding rod; said lower mounting bars each has a stop bolt at an upper end thereof to confine the upward movement of said lower sliding blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventor: Hsing Li
  • Patent number: 5090751
    Abstract: A latching device for a vehicle comprises a hollow casing having open front and rear ends, a latching member supported for sliding motion within the casing so as to protrude through the open front end of the casing, biasing means for biasing the latching member toward the open front end so that the latching member protrudes outside through the open front end of the casing, a locking mechanism capable of locking the latching member at a locking position within the casing against the biasing force of the biasing means and of unlocking the latching member when the latching member is pushed from the locking position against the biasing force of the biasing means to an unlocking position within the casing, and a safety mechanism capable of preventing the disengagement of the locking mechanism by inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yasutomo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5072974
    Abstract: An oven door latching system has a latch bolt with a latch arm at one end and its other end pivotably connected to a lever through a resilient connection. The lever in turn is pivotably coupled to a positioning device which has a positioning element which is reciprocatable between spaced positions. When the positioning element is moved, pivotal motion is imparted to the other end of the lever, and the connection enables pivotal motion of the latch bolt. A solenoid acts on the positioning device to move the positioning element between its stable positions and produces concurrent motion of the lever to enable movement of the bolt between an oven door latching position and an oven door unlatching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: John R. Henne
  • Patent number: 5071180
    Abstract: An arresting device for a hinged component such as a window or roof hatch of a motor vehicle has a peg mounted to a first member, which in turn is pivotally mounted to the hinged component or to the frame for the hinged component. A guide rail is pivotally mounted to the other one of the frame or the hinged component and has a slot in which the peg slides. A gate is slidably mounted to the guide rail and also has a slot in which the peg slides. The slots in the guide rail and the gate each have at least one recess formed in their sides which are selectively alignable such that the peg can move into the aligned recesses. At least the recess on the guide rail has a notch formed at one end to positively hold the peg. Preferably, the gate and/or guide rail are spring biased so that the peg will move into the recesses when they are aligned. When the recesses are not aligned, the side of the slot on the gate covers the recess on the guide rail, and vice-versa, preventing the peg from moving into the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Horst Wiedehage, Peter Christ
  • Patent number: 5052728
    Abstract: A lock device for keeping a movable body closed includes a cam lever and an inertia stopper. The cam lever serves to lock the movable body at a closed position by pushing the movable body inward to the closed position against a biasing force and to release the locked state of the movable body by further pushing the movable body inward, thereby permitting the movable body to move to an open position. The inertia stopper serves to prevent the cam lever from releasing the locked state of the movable body when the force of inertia is generated to push the movable body inward from the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Masumi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 5040833
    Abstract: A closing device for a drawer includes a holding part in the form of a hook, a latch part and a spring tensioning such two parts to an engaged position. The holding part is, for example, fastened to a furniture body and the latch part to the drawer. The latch part has at least two different guide tracks for guiding the holding part, the holding part being guided along different guide tracks during opening and closing of the drawer. The holding part is bendable laterally as well as in the plane of the hook. When a tensioning force acts on a closed drawer, the holding part evades the latch part by bending in the plane of the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Eberhard Brunnert
  • Patent number: 5020845
    Abstract: An overhead console 5 which accommodates an electric garage door opener transmitter or similar signalling device, includes a drop-down compartment (50) stored in a housing (20). Guide means such as tracks (85) and detent (90) as well as damping means such as cams 110 and spring 115 assure smooth operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive
    Inventors: Monte L. Falcoff, Edward G. Curtindale
  • Patent number: 5004276
    Abstract: An oven door latching system has a latch bolt with a latch arm at one end and its other end pivotably connected to a lever through a resilient connection. The lever in turn is pivotably connected to a positioning device which has a positioning slide reciprocatable in a housing and biased towards the lever. A recessed camming surface in the slide seats a follower arm which is adapted to follow a camming surface therein which define two stable positions for the follower arm which are spaced apart in the direction of motion of the slide and at which the follower arm will seat and releasably lock the slide. When the positioning slide is moved, pivotal motion is imparted to the other end of the lever, and the connecting structure enbables pivotal motion of the latch bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Roger T. Hanley
  • Patent number: 4974884
    Abstract: A selectively self-locking deadbolt latch for incorporation into doors or the like. The latch can be preliminarily "armed" such that as the door closes the bolt will extend into the opening of the door strike. The latch mechanism includes a cam lever having a shoulder which loads against the bolt extension. A compression spring within the bolt urges the bolt towards the locked position once the cam lever is released from the bolt extension by closing the door. The temporary retraction of the bolt as it engages the door strike releases the bolt and cam lever. A beam spring acting on the cam lever urges the cam lever forward towards the locked position. The bolt is initially armed by turning the inner turn lever slightly or by depressing the end of the bolt which includes chamfered edges to allow the bolt to move past the door strike for release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Masco Building Products Corp.
    Inventor: Hagen Dietrich
  • Patent number: 4938520
    Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Alan J. Shelton
  • Patent number: 4932695
    Abstract: A support arm for a pivoted window to hold the window open until such time as the locking mechanism for the window is manually released. The support arm has a sequencing latch mounted on one of a pair of sliders that are telescopically mounted relative to each other and a pivoted lock lever is pivoted on the other slider. In moving the sequencing latch to an active latch or lock position, the lock lever is pivoted from an active to an inactive position and is not effective to remove the sequencing latch in response to any movement of the sliders relative to each other until such time as the lock lever is manually moved from the inactive position to an active position wherein, upon relative movement between the sliders, the lock lever can engage and move the sequencing latch from the latch position to an unlatch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Truth Incorporated
    Inventors: Dean A. Pettit, Mary B. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4925230
    Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Alan J. Shelton
  • Patent number: 4925072
    Abstract: A locking system defined between a stationary support housing defining an interior space to be closed by a closure, and a closure movably mounted upon the stationary support housing between an open, unlocked position and a closed, locked position, includes first and second cams fixedly mounted upon the closure, and a rotatable control element rotatably mounted upon the stationary support housing. When the closure (10) is disposed in its closed, locked position within the stationary support housing (11), the first cam (32) is engaged with a first end (27) of the rotatable control element (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: ITW-Ateco GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Masler, Uwe Harder
  • Patent number: 4917416
    Abstract: A device to allow the secured, partial opening of double-hung windows is disclosed. The latch has an insert shell that is fixed into a vertical frame and a spring-loaded plug that is set to an open or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Westphal, Jonathan Piles
  • Patent number: 4820094
    Abstract: A rope hook arrangement for a vehicle has a case fixed to the vehicle body and a movable member slidable rectilinearly in the case. A rope hook fixed to one end of the movable member can be projected from the vehicle body and retracted. A spring is disposed between the case and movable member so that the movable member is always urged outwardly. A latch lever is swingably mounted on the movable member, and first and second pins are fixed to the case. The first pin engages with the latch lever and holds the movable member in a middle position in which the rope hook is snugly retracted. If the movable member is pushed down to a depressed position by hand, and unhanded at that position, the first pin pushes the latch lever to a release position, so that the movable member is lifted up by the spring to a projected position in which the rope hook is projected from the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemasa Hirakui, Masayoshi Kishima
  • Patent number: 4792165
    Abstract: A push latch device composed of a case and a slider which slides into the case and out therefrom. The movement of the slider is controlled by a guide mechanism disposed between the slider and the case. The guide mechanism consists of an annular guide passageway formed in a one side inner surface of the case and a guide lever having a guide member which moves along the guide passageway while being pressed against the side wall thereof. The guide passageway is formed with a substantially V-shaped stoppage portion for stopping the slider within the case. The guide lever has a support spindle formed with a flat surface having an angle to the longitudinal direction of the guide lever to impart forces for pressing the side wall of the guide passageway, the guide lever rotating about the support spindle. The rotary moment is imparted to the guide lever by pushing the support spindle by a coil spring for moving the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Futaba Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tamotsu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4790580
    Abstract: A latching mechanism provides a locking support for an article which periodically requires to be moved from a rest position to a stable elevated position. The latching mechanism comprises an assembly attached to the article and movable therewith, the assembly containing a guide mechanism which cooperates with a cam pawl device mounted on a fixed assembly. The cam/guide mechanism interaction provides for a 180.degree. cam rotation driving a sequence of article movements from a rest to elevated/locked to rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Leonello Casilio
  • Patent number: 4779906
    Abstract: A latch device has a rotary cam axially supported by one of a stationary cylinder and a sliding rod which effect relative reciprocal movement. The cam has reverse rotation preventing means and is engaged in the course of its rotation by associated portions provided on the other of the stationary cylinder and the sliding rod to temporarily restrict the movement of the sliding rod in one direction during the relative reciprocal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Mutsuo Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 4709949
    Abstract: A latch device is provided with a stationary cylinder to be fixed on a structure on which a door is hinged and a rod adapted to be driven into the cylinder against the resilience of a spring by a strike on the rear side of the door during the closing of the door, and the rod has the front half thereof formed in the shape of a pair of retention pieces connected separately through hinges of a small wall thickness into the rear half of the rod, so that while the rod is pushed into the stationary cylinder, the inner wall surface of the stationary cylinder will enable the retention pieces to grasp the strike and, while the door is opened, the rod will protrude from the stationary cylinder and slightly push the door open and, at the same time, the retention pieces will release the strike from retention therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Nifco, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Umezawa, Koji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4702506
    Abstract: A magnet catcher is used in closing and opening of a door of an audio rack and other cabinets and includes a magnetic stop member mounted on a door. A frame-mounted casing supports a movable member which magnetically retains the stop member when in contact with it. The casing includes a guide recess for guiding a yolk portion of the movable member to permit tilting of the yolk portion. A spring biases the movable member to a position outward of the casing. A rod fixed to the casing has an end guided by the movable member, so as to cause the yolk portion of the movable member to tilt when the door is being opened due to movement of the rod relative to the movable member. As the yolk portion tilts, the magnetic contact area is greatly reduced, and separation of the yolk portion from the stop member is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Kyosuke Iimura
  • Patent number: 4688834
    Abstract: A locking device has a slide accommodated in a stationary casing and spring biased in the direction causing it to project out of said stationary casing. When the slide is retracted into said stationary casing, a locking arm which is pivotally coupled to the slide is turned to a position facing the exposed end of the slide where it catches an engagement member between itself and the end of the slide. The slide can be locked in a retracted state by a cam member. When the slide is released from the locked state by the cam member, the locking arm can be brought away from the end of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 4688695
    Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing a lid is disclosed, which includes a rotary damper and an auxiliary rotary damper. An input gear of the rotary damper is in mesh with an output gear of a lid. An input gear of the auxiliary rotary damper is in mesh with the output gear of the lid or the input gear of the rotary damper. Thus, the lid can be sufficiently braked during the opening and closing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Hirohata
  • Patent number: 4686740
    Abstract: A stopper which has a rod projected from the lower end opening in a hollow body to be slidable in upward and downward directions and mounted to be urged by the lifting force of a spring, a pedal attached to the rod, and an actuator formed symmetrically with recesses and rotatably supported to one side of the rod. The body is formed with a guide slot 8 adapted so that the actuator is disposed in a predetermined direction slidably in upward and downward directions therein, a rotary controller for rotating the actuator in a predetermined angle, and a connector for engaging the actuator at a predetermined angle, the rod formed to be able to be axially contracted and elongated and returned. Thus, the stopper can lock and release the lock merely by depressing the pedal, thereby improving the operability and permitting locking in a predetermined stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Sugatsune Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 4669764
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a pivotally mounted door of an interior compartment, such as a compartment of a vehicle, is provided. The latching mechanism includes a latch mountable within the compartment and a striker plate mountable on the door. The latch includes a latching element. The striker plate has catch means to engage the latching element upon pushing of the door to a closed position to thereby latch the door closed. The latch includes spring means which are effective to disengage the latching element upon pushing on the door after the door has first been closed and latched. The latch also includes spring stop means mounted on the door and positioned to block disengagement of the latching element until manually deflected out of the way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gary A. Bruck