Emergency Or Safety Patents (Class 292/DIG65)
  • Patent number: 6155618
    Abstract: A striker for a vehicle door latch device comprises a metal base plate fastened to a vehicle body, a U-shaped metal rod fastened to the base plate and projected toward a vehicle door, and a block member formed on the base plate. The block member comprises a block stay projected from the base plate toward the door and a block portion formed at a tip of the block stay. The block portion is opposed to an inside metal panel of the door when the door is closed. The block portion is brought into contact with the inside metal panel, when the inside metal panel is deformed by an external force to approach the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mikio Ichinose
  • Patent number: 6145897
    Abstract: A push-bar for doors in general, which comprises a bar element provided, at its ends, with couplings for connection to a door; the particularity of said push-bar is the fact that it is provided with a threaded bar which is arranged inside the bar element, each end of said bar element being connected to lever means which are in turn pivoted at one end to the bar element and, at the other end, to a pusher whose rotation as a consequence of a pressure applied to the bar element causes the rotation of a pawl which is adapted to engage the pivot of the lock of the door in order to turn it for opening, an empty space being provided between the bar element and the surface of the door to which the bar element is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Gebhard Heinrad Locher
  • Patent number: 6139073
    Abstract: A door lock for locking a sliding door on a transit vehicle. The lock has a base for attachment to the transit vehicle and a lock cam having a slot for engaging a door lock element attached to the door. A pivot is connected to the base and to the lock cam to provide a rotary connection of the lock cam to the base. A lock actuator is attached to the base. The lock actuator includes a moveable actuator portion for engaging the lock cam to prevent rotation of the lock cam to lock the door. The actuator also has an energized actuator portion for withdrawing the moveable actuator portion from engagement with the lock cam to release the lock cam and unlock the door. The energized actuator portion is connectable with a control system for the transit vehicle door. The lock also has a manual release mounted to engage the moveable actuator portion to move it from engagement with the lock cam to release the lock cam and hence unlock the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Heffner, Fotios Golemis
  • Patent number: 6139075
    Abstract: A tool-operated sliding security system for a lockable enclosure comprising a bracket mounted to an outer door of an enclosure, the bracket being movable between an open position and a closed position, the bracket having at least one cutout therein; the outer door having a tool-operated security member mounted thereto, the security member extending through the cutout and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; the outer door also comprising a tool-operated releasable retention member mounted thereto, the retention member releasably maintaining the outer door in a closed position; the bracket being immovable when the security member is in the engaged position and the bracket being movable when the security member is in the disengaged position; wherein the releasable retention member is accessible when the bracket is in the open position thereby rendering the outer door openable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bassel Hage Daoud
  • Patent number: 6126210
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a latch is disclosed that impedes opening the latch by those, regardless of age, who lack the necessary mental acuity. The latch includes a release mechanism that requires two vertical slide members to be displaced in a first direction and held in that displaced position before a horizontal slide member can be displaced in a second direction that is not parallel with the first direction. The horizontal slide member is connected by a cord with a latch portion of the mechanism. When the horizontal slide member is displaced in the second direction, the latch portion is released from engagement and the latch is itself opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Anita Lee Tom
  • Patent number: 6073978
    Abstract: A dishwasher lock includes a first component adapted to be secured to the underside of a counter top directly above the forward upper edge of a dishwasher and a second component slidably and detachably secured to the first component. The second component includes an L-shaped plate adapted to be disposed in overlying engagement with the front of a dishwasher to prevent opening of the dishwasher door when the second component is secured to the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald Sherman
  • Patent number: 6070923
    Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for an automobile includes a handle lever that follows the motion of an outside handle. When a transverse load in excess of a predetermined value acts upon the vehicle as the result of an impact at the side thereof, the handle lever is caused to swing in the transverse direction outwardly of the vehicle against the biasing force of a spring. As a result, an opening lever in a door lock device is placed in an inoperative state so that the door will not open accidentally during a side collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsurou Tanimoto, Morihito Nomura, Kouji Ooe, Kouichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 6065797
    Abstract: A vehicle door having an outer panel, an inner panel, a reinforcement provided between the outer and inner panels for absorbing a side impact and a door locking apparatus including a lock lever for changeover the vehicle door from a locking condition to an unlocking condition and vise versa, comprises a bracket for securing the reinforcement to the outer panel, a cam-shaped projection provided on the bracket and an end portion of the lock lever opposedly close to the cam-shaped projection for rotating the lock lever so as to changeover from the locking condition to the unlocking condition, in the event of a sideways collision, when the reinforcement is deformed inwardly and as a result the cam-shaped projection strikes the end portion of the lock lever. Thus constituted door locking apparatus enables to rescue a passenger caught in a car through a door unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuichi Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 6048000
    Abstract: An improved door access bar for installation onto a door through which access is controlled by an electrically operated door access system is disclosed in which the door access bar has an electromechanically operable door locking mechanism which is used to selectively lock and unlock the door to thereby control access or egress through the door. The door access locking bar of the present invention incorporates an interlock mechanism to prevent the bolt from being forced into a retracted position by jimmying the locking mechanism to unlock the door. The locking mechanism of the present invention prevents the door from being opened until the electromechanical locking mechanism is operated to do so. The door access locking bar of the present invention operates in a fail-safe manner so that in the event of a power failure it will automatically be in an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventors: Arthur Geringer, Richard Geringer, David Geringer
  • Patent number: 6042158
    Abstract: A drop-catch mechanism for a vertically movable door is provided for preventing the free-fall of the door in doorway guides when a counterbalancing mechanism for the door malfunctions and a tensioning member for the counterbalancing mechanism becomes slack or loses tension. The drop-catch mechanism includes a plunger element, disposed within the door adjacent one of the lateral edges thereof. The plunger element is movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the outboard end extends from within the door and engages a guide. The drop-catch mechanism also includes an actuator crank having a portion rotatably mounted within the door, and operably coupled through a camming element to the plunger element, and having a portion extending through an aperture in the door face with a rotatable external leg coupled to the tensioning member for maintaining the plunger element in the retracted position. When the tensioning member is taut, it biases the plunger element to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Horn
  • Patent number: 6042159
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. The assembly includes a side impact detector member operative in response to a side impact against the door with the handle in its closed position to move inertially from a neutral position, allowing movement of the handle to its open position, to a side impact position, blocking movement of the handle to its open position. The door handle assembly includes an actuator lever operated by the door handle and mounted for pivotal movement in response to movement of the handle, and the side impact detector member comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the actuator lever. The side impact lever normally forms a linear extension of the actuator lever but pivots inertially relative to the actuator lever in response to side impact to a position blocking opening movement of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: ADAC Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Spitzley, James P. Larabel
  • Patent number: 6039106
    Abstract: The device is an articulated cam with an at least partially rotatable cam arm for mounting a vertical traveling industrial door, constructed from a series of hinged solid panels, to a guide track. The cam arm has a threshold force required for rotation as the cam arm includes a dimple which is engaged by a spring-biased nipple. When this threshold force occurs due to impact on the door, the cam arm rotates and the articulated cam and the door break away from the guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Gontarski, Steven D. Ogden, John J. Gannon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6024388
    Abstract: A steel wire (1) when pushed or pulled will release an emergency bar (2) with a saw blade (3) to untie whatever is bound. A steel bar (4) with a handle (5) that is attached to the detent lever (6), which will release the latch (7) to open the catch (8) in a straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: Sabah H. Tomah, Edwina J. Svita
  • Patent number: 6009732
    Abstract: The panic exit device includes several features which improve its ease of use and operability over earlier devices including: (1) an improved latch deadlocking mechanism; (2) an improved latch to pad mechanism; (3) a pad lock down feature; (4) an improved universal mounting plate and easily mounted strike; and (5) a vertical rod-bottom bolt deadlockig mechanism in its center case. The latch deadlocking mechanism includes a deadlock link, which in the event of a fire, will block the movement of the latch bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Detex Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Haeck, Greg Drake, Albert E. Ranzau, III.
  • Patent number: 6010165
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism includes a latch assembly, an inside latch handle assembly, an outside latch handle assembly, a lock assembly and a child security assembly. An unlocking assembly is disposed between the lock assembly and the inside latch handle assembly. The unlocking assembly interrelates the inside latch handle assembly and the lock assembly so that operating the inside latch handle unlocks the door. This allows a person to unlatch the door from outside the door even when the door is latched and locked, and even when the child security lock is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Pat Santarelli, Reginald Leo McDonald, Eric Oswin Gottschling
  • Patent number: 5975596
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a locking mechanism and a latching mechanism and inside and outside handle levers for unlatching the vehicle door latch. Each handle lever cooperates with the locking mechanism and the latching mechanism independently of the other so that the vehicle door latch can be unlocked and unlatched by one handle lever when the other handle lever is stuck in an unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Reginald Leo McDonald
  • Patent number: 5934718
    Abstract: An entertainment cabinet door locking apparatus is provided including a front extent having a planar configuration with a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween. Also included is a rear extent including at least one plate coupled at a top edge thereof to a top edge of the front extent in parallel relationship therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Timothy J. La Valle
  • Patent number: 5921594
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has an input lever pivotal by an inside door handle about an axis and an output lever connected to the latch mechanism and pivotal about the axis between an actuated position corresponding to a door-unlatched position and an unactuated position corresponding to a latched position. The input lever is formed with a straight slot extending radially of the axis and the output lever is formed with an L-shaped slot having one leg extending generally radially of the axis and alignable with the slot of the input lever and another leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Thorsten Bendel
  • Patent number: 5901992
    Abstract: An electromechanical locking mechanism for door leaves whose holding force can be adjusted continuously and which at the same time offers the possibility, when the locking mechanism is energized, of also releasing the closed door from and returning it to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: DORMA GmbH+ Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Winkler
  • Patent number: 5897148
    Abstract: A door latch for latching the vehicle door in the closed position includes a fork bolt pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between the latching position engaging a striker in an unlatching position to unlatch from the striker and permit opening of the door. A detent lever is pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between an engaging position engaging the fork bolt in its latching position and a disengaging position disengaged from the fork bolt to permit pivoting of the fork bolt to its unlatching position. A spring acts between the detent lever and the latch housing to urge the detent lever to the engaged position. A catch member is provided to retain the detent lever in the disengaged position and block pivoting movement of the detent member to the engaging position in response to absence of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Donald Michael Perkins
  • Patent number: 5895080
    Abstract: Improvements in child-resistant latches which require adult length fingers to operated include a spring loaded movable shield covering the finger hole and separating the inside from the outside of the cabinet so items in the cabinet are not accessible through the finger entry hole, a variable length finger passageway which can be changed without jeopardizing the basic security of the cabinet, and means of clarifying operating instructions by identifying the inside location of the latch operating lever on the outside of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Kirk Drumheller
  • Patent number: 5890752
    Abstract: A push-type lock for fire-blocking door which includes a base body, a frame mounted on the base body, a latching member pivotally mounted on the frame, an actuating piece mounted also on the frame, and a safety release unit penetratingly secured for the frame. The safety release unit includes a rod member, an inner end and an outer end formed on both ends of the rod member respectively, a spiral spring coupled axially to the rod member and positioned between the inner end and an inner surface of the frame, and a hot-melt member sleeving the rod member between the outer end and an outer surface of the frame and subject to being melted away when heated. As a consequence of the hot-melt member being melted away, the rod member will be moved to the inside of the frame due to the compressed spiral spring, thus allowing the rod member to be moved to a position blocking up the way the latching member can be withdrawn to the inside of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Chin-Tien Lin
  • Patent number: 5873198
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing unwanted entry through the windows of a structure includes an outer frame which is fastened to the structure and an inner frame which is connected to the outer frame by a pair of hinges and by a lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a locking rail which is slideably mounted in a vertical member of the inner frame and which slides downward under the influence of gravity to a normally locked position in which portions of the locking rail engage a pair of T bolts which are mounted on the outer frame and which project into the vertical member of the inner frame. The locking rail includes a pivotally mounted pin which must be moved to a vertical position to unlock the inner frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Jeffrey DeMario
  • Patent number: 5865481
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latch housing formed with a recess open in an acceleration direction the latch is displaced in during a collision and, immediately adjacent the recess, with a blocking formation directed in the direction. A latching element is displaceable on the housing between a position retaining a door bolt and a position releasing the door bolt and a retaining pawl displaceable engageable with the latching element is pivotal on the housing between a retaining position holding the latching element in its retaining position and a freeing position releasing the latching element. An actuating lever pivotal on the housing is engageable with the pawl to move same into the freeing position. The actuating lever extends transversely of the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Alexander Buschmann
  • Patent number: 5865480
    Abstract: A latch for maintaining a sliding door in one of several modes such as a child-safety mode. When in the child-safety mode, the range of motion of the sliding door is restricted, however, the latch may be disengaged by an adult from either side of the sliding door. The latch may also be employed in a security mode to prevent any opening of the sliding door from the exterior side. The latch may additionally be employed in a ventilation mode wherein the sliding door is slightly opened with overriding of the latch available only from the interior of the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: Lincoln Grady Bain, Jr., Lincoln Grady Bain, III
  • Patent number: 5860683
    Abstract: A door lock device for use with a striker, comprises a cover plate having an elongate cut into which the striker is insertable. A latch plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a latching position wherein the latch plate is engaged with the striker. A locking plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a locking position wherein the locking plate is engaged with the latch plate to restrain the same at the latching position. A reinforcing shaft is secured to the cover plate and has an enlarged flange formed on a leading end thereof. The above-mentioned parts are so arranged that at least a part of the locking plate is placed between the cover plate and the enlarged flange when the locking plate is in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignees: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sekino, Shingo Gotoh
  • Patent number: 5859479
    Abstract: The present invention is a device which installed in a vehicle that enables a vehicle trunk to be opened from the interior of the trunk and enables at least one of the tail lights to blink. The present invention can be retrofit to existing vehicles by connecting a prepared box and wiring harness to the vehicle power supply, trunk release solenoid, and taillights. The present invention has a ON/OFF switch which enables the circuit controlling the blinking of at least one tail light. A second switch activates the trunk release opening solenoid causing the trunk lock retract opening the trunk. The present invention is mounted in such a way as to be operable by an individual confined to the trunk and be concealed from the casual observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ellis M. David
    Inventor: Ellis Morton David
  • Patent number: 5803516
    Abstract: A latch assembly for the rear auxiliary door (18) of a pickup truck (10) includes a latch mechanism (34) having a lost motion mechanism (48, 76, 44, 60, 62, 58) which permits or prevents transmission of unlatching movement between a release handle (40) and a release lever (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Frederick Hempel
  • Patent number: 5799521
    Abstract: A security indicator has a two part telescopic locking bar attached to the handle of a door at one end and to the door or door jamb at the other end through an end piece. The device includes a cup or tube which encases the door handle, preventing use of the handle. The length of the bar is fixed by aligning apertures in each part of the telescopic locking bar to form a continuous aperture, inserting a frangible pin through the continuous aperture and locking the frangible pin in place with a padlock received by a hole in the frangible pin. The pin has a narrow portion which can be broken by relatively little human force. The device requires someone who does not have the key to the padlock on the frangible pin to break the frangible pin to enter a door fixed with the device. A broken pin alerts the occupant that an entry has occurred during his/her absence. A sleeve normally protects the narrow portion but slides easily away to expose the narrow portion when entry is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignees: Gerardus J. Brouwer, Samuel Kennedy
    Inventor: Samuel Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5799516
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the unlocking of doors of a motor vehicle in the event of an accident, at least one device for tensioning a safety belt is, in the case of an accident, operatively connected with at least one door-unlocking device. Operation of the belt tensioning device during an accident initiates operation of the door unlocking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Albert Zintler
  • Patent number: 5785363
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closure device for cabinet doors and drawers, which serves in particular as securement against unauthorized actuation by children. On the outside of a cabinet door or drawer, two push-buttons are herein provided the spacing of which from each other is greater than the distance which can be bridged by the hand of a child. Only if both push-buttons are actuated can the cabinet door or drawer be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventors: Joachim Stopfer, Hermann Kraner
  • Patent number: 5775142
    Abstract: A door lock includes an electronic keypad and magnetic card reader arranged to send coded signals to a central processing unit that controls a solenoid latch located proximate to the locking bolt. When the solenoid is energized by a signal from the central processing unit (or an auxiliary switch) the locking bolt can be operated from the locked position to the unlocked position; otherwise the solenoid latch prevents the bolt from being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Jitae Kim
  • Patent number: 5718465
    Abstract: A latch device for a sliding door comprises front and rear latch units attached to front and rear edge portions of the sliding door, respectively, a relay provided within the sliding door for coupling between the latch units and outer and inner open handles of the door, a child-proof mechanism provided on the relay and displaceable between a child-proof condition and a non-child-proof condition, a child-proof lever for displacing the conditions of the child-proof mechanism. The child-proof lever has an operation knob exposed to the outside of the sliding door through an opening formed in a front peripheral plate of the door. The child-proof lever is rotatably mounted to the front latch unit and is connected with the child-proof mechanism through a first rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Patrick Dowling, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5711559
    Abstract: A safety release mechanism for releasing a trunk lid of an automobile from within the trunk, the trunk lid including a latch for engaging a staple adapted for mounting on a standard inside the trunk of the automobile, comprises a single threaded attachment element for coupling the staple to the standard. The attachment element has an enlarged handle positioned for grasping by a person's hand from within the trunk for rotating the attachment element to release the staple from the standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Roland L. Davis
  • Patent number: 5702136
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing adapted to be mounted in a motor-vehicle door having an inner wall, an opening lever displaceable into an actuated position for unlatching the door, an inside door handle, and a child-safety button on the inner door wall displaceable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. A child-safety lever on the housing is displaceable between a child-safety on position and a child-safety off position and a child-safety actuating element connected to the button and to the lever is displaced by the button on displacement of the button between its actuated and unactuated positions between a pair of end positions corresponding to the on and off positions of the child-safety lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Funk, Gerhard Menz
  • Patent number: 5685579
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latching fork on the housing pivotable into and out of a locked position, a latching pawl engageable with the fork and pivotable into and out of a retaining position holding the lock in the locked position, and a release lever connected to the latching pawl. A main inside actuating lever pivotal on the housing carries a secondary inside actuating lever provided with an actuating pin and pivotal on the main inside actuating lever between a coupling position with the pin engageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever and a decoupling position unengageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever. An inside door handle connected to the main inside actuating lever can pivot same and, only in the coupling position of the secondary lever, engage the pin against the release lever and displace the pawl out of the retaining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Funk, Gerhard Menz
  • Patent number: 5680783
    Abstract: A door lock device having an anti-theft mechanism comprises a motor adapted to change a locking lever into a locking position by a normal rotation thereof in a predetermined amount, to change an anti-theft member into an anti-theft position by a continuous normal rotation thereof over the predetermined amount, and to return the anti-theft member to an anti-theft canceling position by a reverse rotation thereof. A controller has a locking operation of changing the locking lever into the locking position by using the motor, an anti-theft operation of changing the anti-theft member into the anti-theft position by using the motor, and an anti-theft canceling operation of changing the anti-theft member into the anti-theft canceling position by using the motor. If the anti-theft position of the anti-theft member is detected after performing the locking operation, the controller performs the anti-theft canceling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Kuroda
  • Patent number: 5676409
    Abstract: A door locking system for child-safety door locking systems on an automobile includes, in combination, an automobile door including a latch and a door lock mechanism, a manual door lock actuator and a power door locking mechanism. The door handle is of the type which is incapable unlatching the door when the locking mechanism locks the latch. The door panel has an opening for receiving the manual lock actuator when moved to its locked position so that the manual lock actuator is substantially recessed within the door panel. The manual lock actuator and the door panel are constructed such that the manual lock actuator cannot be accessed through the opening for manual movement back to its unlocked position. The power lock mechanism can be actuated to unlock the door, but only from a location which is remote from the door itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Earl M. Trammell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5669642
    Abstract: The present invention provides an outside door handle automatic locking device for automobiles which includes supports that are placed on both sides of the upper portion of a housing, levers, placed on both sides of a handle and inwards from the supports, which, because of being fixed to a hinge shaft, are able to rotate. Also, an elastic member is formed on the hinge shaft that keeps the outside handle in its original position through its elasticity. Additionally, placed on a fixed location on one of the levers is a rotating member that rotates when the vehicle receives a side impact from a collision. A hook portion is also offered which is fixed toward the outside of the rotating member and catches the rotating member when it rotates past its fixed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sun Won Kang
  • Patent number: 5626372
    Abstract: A mechanically operated latch includes a stop member and a restraining member which are disposable between an engageable position and a disengageable position. In which a restraining member (14) is displaceable between a first position in which an abutment surface is engageable with the stop member (18) which is attached to the cabinet frame to permit only limited opening movement of the panel and a second position in which the abutment surface is not engageable with the stop member to permit unlimited opening movement of the panel. The force required to activate the latch is such that it can be overcome by an adult but not by a small child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Peter A. Vogt
  • Patent number: 5611579
    Abstract: A cabinet mounted latch is activated by the movements of an earthquake from a ready position. The latch then engages a door mounted hook to prevent door opening, preventing loss of contents and personal injury. The device may be manually activated or inactivated to provide on demand childproofing or unobstructed door use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Arthur Kreitenberg
  • Patent number: 5605362
    Abstract: This exit device has a press bar and an elongated deadbolt adapted to be mounted horizontally adjacent the free end of the door and a pivoted retractor blade inward of the door. The blade is pivoted by the press bar and engages with its nose a projecting surface on the deadbolt and retracts the deadbolt. The blade also has a keeper contact surface which, as the door closes, is contacted by the keeper and the blade is pivoted inward to retract the deadbolt. The retractor blade also serves as an anti-friction bearing having a peripheral portion which rolls against the deadbolt and counters against the inward force on the deadbolt opposing to the opening force on the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Walter E. Surko, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5605363
    Abstract: A latch control assembly for a vehicle sliding side door, mounted on the passenger side of the inside door panel. The assembly includes an outside handle latch release lever, an inside latch release lever, and a hold-open latch release lever, all pivotally mounted on one mounting pin and operatively interconnected. A locking lever, responsive to a key cylinder lock and an inside door lock, is mounted on a second mounting pin and is operatively connected to the other three levers. A child guard lever is pivotally mounted adjacent the three stacked levers, and is operatively connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Richard C. Kapes
  • Patent number: 5597188
    Abstract: A latching device which detects the initial shocks of major earthquakes and activates safety devices before the onset of destructive ground motions. A unidirectional vertical threshold seismoscope is integrated with mechanical and electromechanical safety devices to latch cabinets closed, secure movable objects, shut off gas, water, and electric utilities, activate alarms, early warning networks, and related automated response systems. The device is fully self contained, requires no external power, and is virtually impervious to nonearthquake noise in that it is designed to respond specifically to the vertical acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shock waves of a major earthquake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: John A. Miche
  • Patent number: 5588686
    Abstract: A door locking and unlocking safety mechanism comprising a push mechanism actuator structure to be carried by the door; a single rod operatively connected with the push mechanism to be displaced by operation of the push mechanism; door latch mechanism operable to latch and unlatch the door in response to movement of the single rod; and temperature response blocking structure associated with the latch mechanism to block operation of the latch to unlatch the door, in response to a predetermined increase in ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Rory M. Riley, Alan K. Uyeda, Michael Winardi
  • Patent number: 5584517
    Abstract: An improved secure latch for a fixture having a door with a double-wall structure, including an endwall with an exit port and an inner sidewall with a slot near the endwall and parallel thereto. An entry port of a facing member and an orifice of a tongue, slidably receivable through the slot, of a latch attached to the facing member are aligned with the exit port as the door is in a closed configuration such that a bolt of a lock installed in the door is slidable therethrough as the bolt is displaced between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The secure latch is adapted to retain the door in a closed configuration as the bolt is in a locked configuration even though the facing member may be forced clear of the bolt. Further, the secure latch prevents the lock from being sprung open without inflicting severe and visible damage to the door and/or the facing member. A modified embodiment provides the endwall without the exit port and the facing member without the entry port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Lefebure Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Simnacher, Daniel J. Banyas
  • Patent number: 5584516
    Abstract: A vehicle door is provided including a latching mechanism carried by the door constructed and arranged to move between an unlatched relation with a door opening catch and a latched relation with the door opening catch. The latching mechanism includes a movable releasing component constructed and arranged to be in a latching position within the door structure when the latching mechanism is in latched relation with the door opening catch and to be moved from the latching position in a generally downward direction into a releasing position to move the latching mechanism into unlatched relation with the door opening catch. A motion-transmitting assembly is disposed within a space defined by the door to transmit a manual motion of an external door handle to downward motion of the movable releasing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Atoma International Inc.
    Inventor: Roman Cetnar
  • Patent number: 5581844
    Abstract: An improved doorstop comprising a block member. A structure is for securing in a removable manner the block member against a leaf of a hinge on a doorjamb, so as to stop a door from closing completely into the doorjamb and preventing fingers of a hand of a person getting caught and damaged between an edge of the door and the doorjamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Robert Raheb, Walter Raheb
  • Patent number: 5577781
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking an aircraft door provided in the outer wall of an aircraft includes at least one locking shaft pin that locks the aircraft door in a fixed, closed position relative to the outer wall of the aircraft when the locking shaft pin is positioned or rotated into a locking position. The locking shaft pin is connected to a mechanical linkage forming a positioning arrangement. The positioning arrangement is coupled to a control element, which essentially includes a membrane connected to a control rod. The membrane is arranged within a housing so as to form an interior air chamber on one side of the membrane and an exterior air chamber on the other side of the membrane. The air pressure of the cabin interior is applied to the interior air chamber through an interior air pressure port, and the exterior ambient air pressure is applied to the exterior air chamber through an exterior air pressure port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Kallies, Wolfgang Lessat-Kaupat, Thomas Luebbe
  • Patent number: 5570914
    Abstract: The Earthquake Actuated Door Latch mounts outside a cabinet or beside the cabinet door. The device contains a pivoted catch assembly with a weight on one end and a door catch, or hook, on the other. The catch assembly is stable in two positions, one on each side of the cabinet door. An earth tremor causes the weight to shift out of the cocked position to the operated position (the second stable position) putting the hook where it interferes with opening of the cabinet door. Weight and hook move as a unit, minimizing delay, and an internal lock prevents rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Harry H. Hughes