Patents Assigned to The Eastern Company
  • Patent number: 4703961
    Abstract: A rotary latch has a U-shaped housing that is formed as a metal stamping having a base wall that connects spaced, parallel-extending side walls. A pair of opposed jaw members are housed between the side walls, are mounted for rotation betwen latched and unlatched positions, and are arranged to embrace and latchingly retain a striker as the striker is moved into a pair of aligned notches that are defined by the side walls. A "primary" one of the jaws is biased toward its unlatched position by a housing-carried spring. A "secondary" one of the jaws is arranged to engage a resilient bumper that cushions the action of the latch as the jaws rotate to their latched positions. When the jaws are latched, the primary jaw can be rotated in opposition to the action of the spring to a release position to initiate unlatching of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4689977
    Abstract: An actuating structure is provided for a lock having a barrel with a plug which is key-actuated for rotation therein, and a switch having a shaft and rotor rotatable with the plug. A first lug is fixed relative to the barrel and a second lug rotates with the plug. A first stop washer is provided having two slots therein, one slot receiving the first lug to allow limited rotation of the first washer relative to the barrel and the other slot receiving the second lug to allow limited rotation of the first washer relative to the plug. A second stop washer is also provided having two slots therein, one of the slots receiving the first lug to allow limited rotation of the second washer relative to the barrel and the other slot receiving the second lug to allow limited rotation of the second washer relative to the plug. A spring is provided to rotationally bias the stop washers in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Stanley C. Wolniak, Timothy P. Laabs
  • Patent number: 4683736
    Abstract: A cabinet lock has an elongate body. An operating handle is connected to the body for pivotal movement about an axis that extends transverse to the length of the body. The body slidably mounts (1) a spring-projected latch bolt for linear movement along a path of travel that substantially parallels the axis of pivotal movement of the handle, and (2) an operating member for linear movement along a path of travel that substantially parallels the length of the body. The handle has a formation that drivingly engages the operating member for moving the operating member from a latched position to an unlatched position in response to pivotal movement of the handle from a nested position to an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Michael J. Rachocki, John E. Giarrizzo
  • Patent number: 4679835
    Abstract: A cabinet latch has a generally cylindrical body that is mountable on a closure panel or the like. A passage is formed through the body along a center axis, and opens through forward and rearward end regions of the body. Operating components are protectively nested within the body passage, including a primary operating element that is formed as a three-piece assembly including a generally cylindrical tool-receiving core and a pair of semi-circular sleeve halves that are journaled for rotation within the forward end region of the body passage. An elongate shank has a portion that projects from the rearward end of the body passage and carries a pawl. The shank and the pawl are rotatable about and movable axially along the center axis to position the pawl among unlatched, latched and latched-clamped positions for selectively releasing, retaining, and securely clamping the closure in a closed position relative to an associated cabinet or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4674780
    Abstract: A control button assembly for positioning an operating rod to "lock" and "unlock" a vehicle door lock includes a sleeve member and a button member. The button member has a hollow stem portion for threading onto an upper end region of the operating rod. The sleeve member is a tubular part that surrounds the stem of the button member. The sleeve member is mountable on a window sill of a vehicle door structure, with portions of the sleeve member extending through a sill opening to surround the threaded upper end region of the operating rod. The sleeve member has a plurality of integrally formed, resilient fingers that depend from the sill as they extend alongside the stem of the button. The fingers have inwardly turned tip portions that frictionally grip outer surface portions of the stem. The frictional grip of the fingers on the stem acts as a detent to assist in holding the button in its lowermost or "locked" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4671547
    Abstract: A cabinet latch has a generally cylindrical body that is mountable on a closure panel or the like. A passage is formed through the body along a center axis, and opens through forward and rearward end regions of the body. An assembly of operating components is protectively nested within the body passage, including an operating element that is journaled for rotation within the forward end region of the body passage, and an elongate shank that has a portion which projects from the rearward end of the body passage and carries a pawl. The shank and the pawl are rotatable about and movable axially along the center axis to position the pawl among unlatched, latched and latched-clamped positions for selectively releasing, retaining, and securely clamping the closure in a closed position relative to an associated cabinet or the like. Movement of the pawl is effected in response to rotation of the operating element, and is controlled by the assembly of operating components that is carried within the body passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4641865
    Abstract: A multi-point closure control mechanism or lock especially designed for use with rear and/or side doors of a closed body highway truck, particularly a so-called panel truck, and for use with doors of military vehicles. The closure control mechanism comprises two dead bolts, slidably supported in suitable brackets adjacent to the upper and lower edges of a door near its free vertical edge, that engage keepers or catches in the form of plates on the vehicle body. Each bolt has a free running roller therein to facilitate entrance and retraction of the bolt into and out of engagement with its respective keeper or catch. The dead bolts are connected by rod members to pivots eccentrically located on a lock operating member rotatable in a frame member fixed to the door intermediate the bolts. The operating member also includes a cylindrical rod-like projection extending normal to the free edge of the door when the bolts are engaged with their keepers or catches at the top and bottom of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: John V. Pastva
  • Patent number: 4633689
    Abstract: An actuating structure is provided for a switch lock having a barrel with a plug which is key actuated for rotation therein. An actuator interconnects the rotatable plug with a rotatable shaft of the switch and cooperates with a rotatable stop plate connected to a return spring. Specifically, an actuator lug and a stop plate surface which engage upon rotation of the plug in one direction to turn the switch momentarily from the first position to a second position against the action of the spring. The actuator also rotates in the opposite direction independently of the stop plate to turn the switch from the first to a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Stanley C. Wolniak, Timothy P. Laabs, Richard H. Schulz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4630457
    Abstract: A lock is disclosed having a lock barrel with an opening and a key plug rotatable within the opening. The plug is rotatable between first and second operative positions and a third position in which the plug can be withdrawn from the barrel. A tab on the plug abuts a barrel shoulder to hold the plug in the barrel except when the plug is in the third position, where the tab is aligned with an axial slot to permit axial withdrawal of the plug from the barrel. At least one tumbler is adapted to lock the plug against turning, and another tumbler is adapted to prevent the plug from turning to the third position and to allow rotation between the first and second positions. One key operates the one tumbler to permit rotation between operative positions and a second key operates the other tumbler to permit axial withdrawal of the plug from the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Eastern Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kincaid, Alan D. Favia
  • Patent number: 4618291
    Abstract: A nut member of special design is disclosed in conjunction with other elements to provide a post-tensionable mine roof support assembly. The nut member includes an upper, stem portion extending through the opening in a support plate and a lower, base portion of larger diameter than the plate opening. A through opening in the nut includes an internally threaded portion at the upper end of the stem and an internal socket for wrench engagement at the lower end of the base. Between the threaded portion and socket is an internal bore having a diameter greater than the threaded portion. Breakable means, preferably annular in form and cast integrally with the rest of the nut member, extends into the bore to a position with the cylindrical plane extending downwardly from the threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Wright
  • Patent number: 4601501
    Abstract: A door control mechanism for use with a pivoted door and associated frame, and a combination door, door frame and door control mechanism especially as embodied in a truck, trailer, or cargo container. The control mechanism is comprised of cam-type latches on opposite ends of a shaft rotatably connected to a pivoted door by bearing members, and keepers secured to the door frame adjacent edges of the door that are transverse to the door pivot axis. The shaft can be turned about its longitudinal axis to engage and disengage the latches and keepers. The latch on at least one end of the shaft and its keeper are of small vertical height to fit on a narrow horizontal frame member of a truck, trailer or cargo container. The latch has two oppositely extending elongated portions with sides that converge and each portion has an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: John V. Pastva
  • Patent number: 4566167
    Abstract: An anti-static switch lock wherein a terminal assembly having the desired configuration of rotor and contacts is secured to one end of a hub. The other end of the hub has an inboard lipped boss forming, in cooperation with the hub end, a circumscribed radial groove. A keylock assembly includes a barrel, one end of which has a chamber to receive the boss of the hub, and a key operated, rotatable plug. The hub, having the terminal assembly attached to one end, is positioned such that the groove is disposed within the chamber of the barrel. A number of stakes are formed in the barrel, the stakes engaging the groove to firmly secure the hub to the barrel. The plug is inserted into the barrel, the end of the plug interlocking with the shaft of the terminal assembly rotor to effectuate switching of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Stanley C. Wolniak, Herbert Kincaid, Elbert M. Spencer, Ronald L. Brown
  • Patent number: 4565080
    Abstract: An improved door latch of the type having a handle movable to latch and unlatch the door. A lock is disposed in the handle and is movable to a locked position wherein the lock extends from the handle to engage the door preventing movement of the handle. A bolt extends from the side of the lock to maintain the lock in the locked position, the bolt being retracted by insertion and rotation of a key in the lock. The lock is also movable to an unlocked position wherein the lock is withdrawn from the door to permit movement of the handle. The improvement concerns a chamber having a partition which defines a first pocket to receive the extended bolt and maintain the lock in the locked position. The partition also defines a second pocket to receive the extended bolt when the lock is in the unlocked position. To move the lock between the unlocked and locked position the key must be inserted to retract the bolt clear of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kincaid, Michael L. Wray
  • Patent number: 4516281
    Abstract: A sewage treatment device [10] is disclosed for use with a toilet [12] having a water flush input [16] and a sewage output [22]. The invention incorporates a treatment tank [56] connected for receiving the sewage from the sewage output [22] of the toilet. A disinfectant holding tank [58] is included for holding a disinfectant such as conventional household bleach. A mascerator blade [74] is disposed within the treatment tank [56] for mascerating the sewage to reduce the size of the particulate matter within the treatment tank [56]. An electric motor rotates the mascerator blade [74] and simultaneously pumps a disinfectant from the disinfectant holding tank [58] to the treatment tank [56]. A discharge pump [86] discharges the treated sewage from the treatment tank [56]. A control senses the level of the sewage in the sewage treatment tank and controls the sequence of operation of the mascerator blade [74] and the discharge pump [86].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: David B. MacPherson, Jay E. Paris, Robert W. Foley, Martin W. Greinier, David N. Pulsifer
  • Patent number: 4516886
    Abstract: A mine roof mechanical anchor having the usual expansion shell and tapered nut is fitted with a bail having legs secured to the shell and a medial portion extending over and contacting the nut, maintaining the latter in assembled relation with the shell, and having an opening aligned with and slightly smaller than the threaded opening in the nut. Bail extension structure, having a pair of legs attached to the legs of the first bail and a medial portion aligned with and spaced from that of the first bail, provides a means of breaking the casing and mixing the contents of a standard resin cartridge inserted in a bore hole in a mine roof ahead of the anchor and threaded bolt or rebar on which it is supported. The anchor and associated structure are rotated together with the roof bolt or rebar due to interference thereof with the smaller opening in the medial portion of the bail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Wright
  • Patent number: 4511166
    Abstract: A handle-operated lock for use on a sliding door has hook-shaped, rotary latch bolts which project from opposite sides of a housing for selectively engaging spaced strikes to selectively retain the sliding door in open or closed positions. A compression coil spring is carried within the housing for biasing the latch bolts toward their latched positions. Inside and outside rotary handles are provided for selectively rotating the latch bolts to unlatch them in opposition to the action of the spring. Inner and outer rotary tumblers provided within the housing to drivingly connect the rotary handles with the rotary latch bolts. A slidable latch-operator is provided near the inside handle for movement between a locked position wherein it prevents rotation of the outer tumbler to disable the outside handle from operating either of the bolts, and an unlocked position wherein it permits the outside handle to operate the latch bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Lee S. Weinerman
  • Patent number: 4498815
    Abstract: A load-bearing support plate for use in coal mines or other such excavations to be held in supporting engagement with the roof or walls of the excavation by an elongated bolt or rod anchored in a blind drill hole. The plate is preferably rectangular in outer periphery with a central opening for passage of the bolt or rod. It is formed from an initially flat piece of sheet steel, embossed in certain areas by a die to push portions of the metal away from the side of the plate which contacts the load-bearing qualities of the plate. The pattern includes a plurality of elongated, parallel identations in the rock-engaging surface of the plate, with the portion surrounding the central opening remaining in the plane of the original metal. Preferably, at least one on each side of the central opening; various modifications of the embossed pattern are disclosed within the general scope of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Lester L. Dye
  • Patent number: D279761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Fredrick L. Putzier
  • Patent number: D281665
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Michael J. Rachocki, Donald J. Dignan
  • Patent number: D292482
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Michael J. Rachocki