Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michael H. Minns
  • Patent number: 5864920
    Abstract: A door control device for use on a non-fire side of a fire-door mounted in a door frame in a fire-door safety installation has a door closer assembly filled with a hydraulic damping fluid and attached to a non-fire side of the fire-door by at least one fastener; a door control arm pivotally connected to the door frame at a first end and to the door closer assembly at a second end; and the hydraulic damping fluid is one of a group of fire resistant hydraulic fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Rex H. Lasson, William L. Downey, Roderick A. L. Ross
  • Patent number: 5866999
    Abstract: A set/operate mode switch is interposed between the door sensing or element door position activated switch and a remote monitoring station, to enable the remote station to monitor the door condition, or to enable a local signal assembly to monitor the door condition. The local signal assembly is made operative by the set/operate switch, so that the sensing element can be accurately set before turning door monitoring over to the remote station. While the local signal assembly is verifying the door condition, a shunt or shorting element keeps the remote monitoring station displaying a door open condition, all the while that the local signal assembly is operatively engaged, for security reasons. Only when the local signal assembly is isolated from the arrangement, can the remote monitoring station give a true signal of the door condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Lynn A. Schmelzer, Dan E. Bollengier, Mark A. Des Rocher
  • Patent number: 5864986
    Abstract: A check mechanism is provided to regulate door speed of a roller supported sliding door as the door is manually opened or closed. The mechanism is attached to a door hanger and uses a rocker arm, which slides along a control track. The control track has elevated or offset control regions which cause the rocker arm to apply force to a brake arm through an adjustable spring. The brake arm pivots to apply braking force through a brake pad to a door roller. The control track may contain regions of no control or of lesser control to allow the door to slide freely between opening or closing regions of control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Raymond H. Schnarr
  • Patent number: 5857290
    Abstract: A check mechanism is provided to regulate door speed of a roller supported sliding door as the door is manually opened or closed. The check mechanism includes an idler arm assembly attached to a door hanger with an idler roller attached to the idler arm assembly. The check mechanism further includes a pivotable spring biased lever arm having two inclined ramp sections. As the door slides, the idler roller contacts the lever arm. The inclination of the ramp causes an increasing retardation force to be applied to the idler roller, thereby retarding the speed of the door. After the idler roller passes a point of maximum retarding force, the door becomes free wheeling until a second idler roller contacts the lever arm of a second checking mechanism which in turn slows the speed of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Raymond H. Schnarr
  • Patent number: 5820290
    Abstract: A door handle/knob assembly a door handle/knob assembly includes a housing having an opening formed within the housing, and a shaft received within the opening of the housing. The shaft has an outer surface, a rib for axially retaining the shaft to a lip of the housing in one direction, and a pair of generally oppositely positioned recess formations formed in the outer surface of the shaft. The recess formations are generally adjacent the intersection of the housing and the shaft. A door handle is secured to the shaft, the door handle having a handle member that tapers to a reduced neck portion. The reduced neck portion is fixedly secured to the shaft and has an end which is positioned adjacent the recess formations on a side opposite the housing so as to define a space between the end of the reduced neck portion and the housing. The recessed formations of the shaft are exposed within the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Jaime Galindo
  • Patent number: 5816086
    Abstract: A door lock device has an inside handle assembly and an outside handle assembly. A latch is positioned between the two handle assemblies and there is a spindle which is in rotatable engagement with both handle assemblies and in operable engagement with the latch such that rotation of either handle assembly moves the latch between extended and retracted positions. The inside handle assembly includes an axially movable locking element. A turn bar extends within the spindle and is connected to the locking element. Axial movement of the locking element causes rotation of the turn bar with rotation of the turn bar releasing the spindle from engagement with the outside handle assembly whereby rotation of the outside handle assembly will not rotate the spindle nor move the latch between extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Charles G. Russell, IV
  • Patent number: 5797696
    Abstract: In a snap connection system in which a shaft is inserted into a tube to a predetermined position, where co-operating surfaces on tube and shaft engage as in a laterally acting wedge. Two axially spaced spring loaded balls on one side of the tube urge the shaft into wedging engagement with the tube when in the pre-determined position. During insertion, a further spring loaded ball on the opposite side of the tube adjacent the wedge apex urges the shaft out of wedging engagement with the tube. A detent in the shaft accommodates this further ball at the predetermined position, locating the shaft axially and permitting wedging. The balls are biased by a spring sleeve and a tang thereon locates the sleeve on the tube. The tang may extend to the tube interior to coact with a detent in the shaft so that unclipping is necessary for disassembly. Alternatively, a spring loaded pin extending through sleeve and tube wall may accomplish the same end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Nastech Europe Limited
    Inventors: Ian David Baynes, Michael Thomas Hancock
  • Patent number: 5794991
    Abstract: A lock assembly of a door preparation includes at least one spring latch member which is spring biased within a door jamb bore between an extended position and a retracted position in which the spring latch member, when the door is being opened, engages a strike plate of the door jamb and is moved inwardly within the door preparation for allowing the door to be opened. A dead bolt, which operates independently from the spring latch member, is movable between a retracted position in which it is within the door preparation and an extended position in which it is extended within the door jamb bore for locking the door. A projecting pin is movable between a first position in which the projecting pin is disposed generally between the spring latch member and dead bolt and a second position in which the pin projects laterally outwardly from a peripheral edge of the spring latch member when the dead bolt is moved to its extended position to engage the strike plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Jon M. Smallegan, L. C. Derek Chamberlain, Dario L. Pompeii
  • Patent number: 5794382
    Abstract: A fire-rated removable mullion, includes a top fitting mounted to a door frame lintel, a bottom fitting assembly, a mullion head capable of detachably engaging the top fitting, a mullion tube having provisions for mounting between the mullion head and the bottom fitting assembly, and another provision for accommodating thermal expansion of the mullion assembly to resist warping of the assembly. Where desired, a mortise cylinder lock can be included to limit removal by unauthorized persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Prucinsky
  • Patent number: 5791178
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an electrical transmission path in a door lock to an electrical lock operating system from an electrical contact pin protruding axially from a pin tower of an insulated key cylinder having an electronic touch button for a front face, the door lock having an outside spindle operably engaged with a door handle containing the insulated key cylinder, includes an insulated contact ring surrounding the spindle and having an electrically conductive pad on a portion of its outwardly facing surface, which contacts the electrical contact pin when the door handle is in its parked position, and a cable connected to the conductive pad and extending through the non-moving part of the door lock to the controlling electronics of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: L. C. Derek Chamberlain, Richard M. Davidian
  • Patent number: 5782118
    Abstract: A door lock, preferably operable both by a mechanical key with a key cylinder and by an electronic signal and having inside and outside handles mounted on inside and outside hollow spindles, for mounting on a door having an inside face and an outside face, has a cylindrical lock chassis with a provision for retracting a latch bolt in response to rotation of either of the hollow spindles; a member for selectively locking the outside spindle against rotation; a reversible electric motor mounted coaxially within the inside spindle, the motor being secured against rotation but free to slide axially against resistance provided by a biasing member, and having a motor shaft extending through the cylindrical lock chassis to operably engage the member for locking the outside spindle; a power supply for the motor; and a mechanism for selectively moving the member between locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: L. C. Derek Chamberlain, Frederick M. Hensley
  • Patent number: 5769472
    Abstract: A drive-in housing for mounting a latch assembly in a bore formed in a door comprises two identical housing parts each having a slot therein. When the housing parts are brought together they form an opening for receiving a bolt casing of the latch assembly. Tabs on the casing are captured in the slots as the housing parts are moved normal to the axis of the casing. Movement of the casing relative to the housing parts is then limited by direct engagement of the housing parts with the tabs. The housing parts each have two abutment surfaces facing in a circumferential direction, the abutment surfaces of one housing part having a projection and a recess, respectively, for mating with a corresponding recess and projection on the abutment surfaces of the other housing part. The housing parts, when brought together, form a faceplate having an opening therein for accommodating a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Steven D. Small
  • Patent number: 5765412
    Abstract: A multiple backset door lock assembly with a door lock assembly in which a bolt is coupled to a bolt extension saddle. The bolt extension saddle is provided with two contoured slots, each slot being engagable by a crank and pin assembly actuated either by a key or a thumbturn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Cheryl K. Koskela, Jaime Galindo
  • Patent number: 5762385
    Abstract: A push pad releasable exit device with continuous deadlocking for mounting near a door edge for engaging a lock strike includes a housing having first and second sidewalls upon which are mounted two end walls and an internal wall parallel to the end walls, each of the end walls and the internal wall having a hole, the holes being aligned on a common axis, the first sidewall having a wedge stop projecting inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the holes in the end walls and the internal wall; a tapered latch bolt mounted on a cylindrical shaft, the shaft extending through the holes and having a provision for urging the latch bolt toward the lock strike; a wedge plate having a hole providing clearance around the shaft and aligned with the holes in the end walls, having a tab pivotally resting in a slot of the second wall, and having a corner distal from the tab resting against the wedge stop when the door is in an open position; a provision for sensing when the door is in a closed position and for flipping the w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Mader, William P. Dye, Matthew S. Prucinsky
  • Patent number: 5730465
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle steering column clamping mechanism for a rake and reach adjustable steering column includes a steering column support bracket which has two flanks extending on either side of a steering column outer tube, each flank incorporating a slot to permit rake adjustment. A reach adjustment bracket has two flanks which extend on either side of the tube and lie adjacent the flanks of the bracket, the flanks also having slots extending parallel to the tube axis for reach adjustment. The flanks are spaced from the tube so as to accept heads of clamping bolts operated by a handle acting on associated clamping parts mounted on the bolts. The arrangement enables the bolts to be located on a substantially on-center line passing at right angles through the axis of the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Nastech Europe Limited
    Inventors: Laurence George Barton, Michael Thomas Hancock
  • Patent number: 5727824
    Abstract: A door lockset, mounted on a door having an inside and outside face, has a latch bolt operated by a lever handle from the inside and by a grip handle thumb lever from the outside, the latch bolt being biased to an extended position except when retracted by operation of the handles, the inside lever handle being mounted in a parked position on a spindle connected to a lever return mechanism and having a latch operator attached thereto. An improvement in combination with the lockset, provides a mechanism for operating the latch bolt by the thumb lever without moving the inside lever from the parked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: William D. Smith, Bella Rubin, Beat Heri
  • Patent number: 5722276
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching separable mounting tabs to a mortise lock housing, including the steps of providing a hollow mortise lock housing in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a first side adapted to lie in a door edge and to provide at least one opening for a bolt, providing one slot at each of top and bottom edges, as installed, of the first side of the lock housing, the slots providing narrow openings for capturing mounting tabs at top and bottom corners of the lock housing, providing two mounting tabs, each having a first end portion for mounting an end of the faceplate and a second end for capturable insertion in the slots in the lock housing, the tabs further having a substantially right angle bend between the first end and the second end, orienting the mounting tabs such that the first ends are substantially parallel to the first side of the lock housing and project above and below the top and bottom corners of the first side of the lock housing, respectively, and the second ends
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Helmut R. Aigner, Steven D. Small
  • Patent number: 5718468
    Abstract: A modular return spring cage assembly for door lock handles, consists of a door lock mounting chassis member having two opposed faces, at least one face having two opposed arcuate channels forming a circular groove in the face. The groove has two split diametrically opposed spring bases each formed by two substantially equal spring stops projecting from radially outer and radially inner walls of the groove. Two compression springs are slidably disposed within the channels and have length such that a slight compression is required to fit the springs between the split spring bases. An arrangement for transmitting torsional motion between a door handle and the springs, and for limiting rotary motion of the handle is included. A provision for positively retaining the springs and the torsional motion transmission arrangement on the mounting chassis member completes the modular assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Khurshid A. Qureshi, Bruce P. Eagan, Rocco A. Carestia, William S. Massey, Joseph G. Matulich
  • Patent number: D399736
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Vince Flores, Glen Miciano, Ryan Parsons
  • Patent number: D400348
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Eduardo Jimeinez