Patents Examined by Alyson Merlino
  • Patent number: 7387004
    Abstract: The invention relates to a latch which must enable the locked mobile part (10) of a motor vehicle body to be released if necessary by means of a key-actuated closing cylinder (40), in order to manually open the mobile part (10). A handle (21) is provided on the mobile part (10) for the opening of the same (10), said handle being able to pivot in a vertical plane in relation to the vehicle body. When the handle is in its closed position (20.1), it is essentially flush with the vehicle body. In the outwardly pivoted open position, the handle can be gripped by a hand, also enabling the closing cylinder (40) to be accessed by the key. In order to provide the latch with a compact design, the handle (21) is embodied as a carrier for the closing cylinder (40) and forms a pivotable arrangement (20) therewith. A rotary coupling member (45) which can be actuated by the closing cylinder (40) is located on said arrangement (20) and participates in the pivoting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Schütz, Gerd Buschmann
  • Patent number: 7377141
    Abstract: A device for locking and unlocking a cover or lid on a frame by means of a key. The device includes an element forming the locking bolt formed of an elastically deformable rod protruding from the cover and terminating in a hook-shaped free end suitable for engaging under a rigid rib of the receiver of the frame. The key has a spur making it possible to elastically move the rod to disengage its hook-shaped end from the rigid rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Norinco
    Inventors: Philippe Javaux, Jean-Jacques Monneret
  • Patent number: 7367598
    Abstract: A power striker assembly effects final positioning of a vehicle closure member and includes a fixed frame and a striker member carried on a striker plate for selective engagement of a latch carried on the closure member, to displace the closure member from a presented position to a cinched position. Guide means interconnects the frame and striker plate to effect simultaneous translational and rotational displacement of the striker plate between end limits of travel to produce linear displacement of the striker member. An actuator selectively displaces the striker plate between its end limits of travel in response to a control signal. Finally, an interlock fixes the striker plate in the cinched position in the absence of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Hans J Buscher, Jeffrey S Hamminga, Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7363784
    Abstract: An independently interactive interconnected lock includes an interconnecting mechanism that retracts a latchbolt and a deadbolt when an inner handle is moved between an up position, an intermediate position and a down position. The deadbolt is retracted by a deadbolt lock mechanism as the inner handle moves from the up position to the intermediate position. The latchbolt is retracted by a latchbolt lock mechanism as the inner handle continues to move from the intermediate position to the down position. When the inner handle is moved to the up position, both the latchbolt and deadbolt are extended and the deadbolt lock mechanism is disconnected from the latchbolt lock mechanism such that manipulation of the latchbolt lock mechanism to retract the latchbolt does not retract the deadbolt. The inner handle operates with low handle torque because the deadbolt and the latchbolt are not retracted simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Assa Abloy, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Shvarts
  • Patent number: 7353674
    Abstract: A door lock with controllable handle operation including a bolt (3), a follower (5) for moving the bolt and an operation axis (4), on both ends of which an actuator can be installed for operating the follower (5), whereby force transmission from either side of the lock to the follower (5) is established by means of movable coupling members (10a, 10b), which are controlled by a solenoid arrangement (8, 9) or the like, and in which the follower (5) is provided with two separate torsion units (6a, 6b) installed on the operation axis (4) on different sides of the follower (5) and turnably secured thereto, which units can be connected to force transmission with the follower (5) by utilising said coupling members (10a, 10b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Abloy Oy
    Inventors: Juha Raatikainen, Petri Tirkkonen
  • Patent number: 7343763
    Abstract: A cylinder lock having a body and a modified cam, the cylinder lock being adapted for moving an external element arranged to engage the modified cam, so that the external element slides axially on the cylinder lock body. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive cylinder lock is designed to utilize a helical cam which engages a movable sleeve, and this design is referred to as the HC cylinder lock. When operated by rotating the appropriate key within it, the movable sleeve can be moved in a linear fashion along the length of the HC cylinder lock thus converting rotational motion of the key to axial motion of the external element. This axial motion is used to position at least one locking bolt, of which the sleeve itself may be one, for the function of locking or unlocking a device. The streamlined design of the inventive HC cylinder lock enables efficient placement of a door lock within the hollow volume of a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Moshe Dolev
  • Patent number: 7341289
    Abstract: This invention relates to an emergency unlocking system for a motor vehicle trunk (2), with a trunk lock (6) which comprises at least one lock latch (7) and an interacting locking part (8), with a catch means (14) which limits the trunk opening motion and which comprises a catch hook (15) which can be actuated from outside the trunk (2) and an interacting catch hook engagement element (16) for canceling the motion limitation, and with an emergency unlocking means (20) which is located in the trunk (2) and which acts to open the trunk lock (6) and to release the catch means (14) when actuated. In order to offer an increased safety standard with a simple structure and to meet safety stipulations with respect to the speed-dependent allowability of emergency unlocking, the actions applied by the emergency unlocking means (20) to the trunk lock (6) and the catch means (14) are decoupled from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Audi AG, Federal Republic of Germany
    Inventors: Werner Schretzlmeier, Marco Ikker, Sven Seidler, Ralf Monnig
  • Patent number: 7308809
    Abstract: A computer lock includes a housing having a groove opening at an outer surface thereof to receive an end of a fastening cable and/or a part of a computer. An actuator is disposed in the housing and actuated by a lock assembly disposed inside the housing so as to move toward the locking groove when the lock assembly is in a locking position. The actuator has a moving seat, a penetrating pin, and a push pin. The penetrating pin extends into the locking groove and engages the end of the fastening cable and/or the part of the computer received in the locking groove when the lock assembly is in the locking position. An anchor unit is disposed in the housing and controlled by the push pin to interlock with a hole of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Miz Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Francisco Lu
  • Patent number: 7299668
    Abstract: A combined clamp and lock includes: a lower clamp member having a lower abutment plate, a wall projecting upwardly from the lower abutment plate, and a lock-mounting hole extending through the wall; an upper clamp member having an upper abutment plate, and at least one leg extending downwardly from the upper abutment plate and overlapping the wall; a fastening unit fastening the leg to the wall so that the lower and upper abutment plates define a clamping space therebetween; and a lock extending through the lock-mounting hole. A notebook computer may be prevented from being opened when clamped within the clamping space and locked by the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Miz Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Francisco Lu
  • Patent number: 7275771
    Abstract: A lock for a door of a motor vehicle is provided having: a closing mechanism designed for coupling with a lock striker for bringing about closing of the door; mechanical opening means for controlling release of the closing mechanism from the lock striker; mechanical means for inhibiting opening which can be selectively activated for rendering the opening means ineffective; and electrical actuator means housed in a fluid-tight way in a single casing having at least one output member which traverses, in a fluid-tight way, a through hole of the casing to interact with the means for inhibiting opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giacomo Crotti, Franco Giovanni Ottino
  • Patent number: 7273242
    Abstract: A knob assembly (22) for a door (20) includes a spindle (30) and a latch (108) in communication with the spindle (30) and extendable from an edge (132) of the door (20). An inner knob portion (36) is secured to the spindle (30), and an outer knob portion (38) faces the inner knob portion and freely rotates on the spindle (30). A lug (102, 104) projects from a second surface (106) of the outer knob portion (38) for engagement with a notch (58) formed in a first surface 54 of the inner knob portion (36). The outer knob portion (38) is selectively operable to positively engage the lug (102, 104) with the notch (58) for enabling rotation of the spindle (30) in response to rotation of the outer knob portion (38) to move the latch (108) from a normally latched position (110) to an unlatched position (146).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventors: Devany Dawn Godin Flott, Michael Raymond Godin
  • Patent number: 7269983
    Abstract: A lock assembly including a lock, a key and a rail assembly. The lock includes a lock housing and an actuating housing. The lock housing includes a rear notch, an internal notch that houses a spring and a locking tab, and an aperture that houses a second spring. A vertical track member is mounted to the rear notch and it has a vertical cutout. The actuating housing includes rear, lateral and top walls and a protrusion with a notch. The actuating housing is slidably mounted to the lock housing with a pin. The rail assembly is mounted to racks in stores wherein products for display are mounted thereto. The lock mounts onto the rail assembly by inserting the transversal member of the rail behind the protrusion and pressing the actuating housing against the lock housing until the locking tab engage into the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Cellular Masters, Inc.
    Inventor: Hamid Mchatet
  • Patent number: 7258374
    Abstract: A push/pull door latch assembly for use in a door includes a handle assembly and a latch cylinder. The handle assembly has a stop configured for limiting the movement of the handle during the push or pull operation, and absorbing shock transmitted from a user's hand through the handle and a cam assembly that operates in response to the push or pull operation of the handle. The cam assembly operates the latch so as to unlock the door when the handle is pushed or pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Architectural Builders Hardware Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Arturo D. Rusiana
  • Patent number: 7252606
    Abstract: A clamping device for stringing machine includes a slide member, a positioning device, a control device and a rail. The positioning device and a tube are located on two ends of the slide member. An extension of a clamping device is inserted into the tube. The control device includes a pin, a ring-shaped member and a knob. The pin is pivotably connected with the knob. A torsion spring is received in an annular space of the knob so as to rotate the knob to its original position. The tube includes an engaging section and a receiving section. The receiving section has a positioning pin and a spring which biases the positioning pin so as to move the positioning pin axially. The knob having a pin hole defined in an underside thereof and can be securely positioned by inserting the insertion member into the pin hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Min-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 7249477
    Abstract: A control assembly configured for a narrow stile door and for interaction with an exit device. The control assembly provides a means to translate user input, such as rotating a lever to operate a centercase. The control includes a slider for sliding movement within a housing between a first position extending a latchbolt of the exit device and a second position withdrawing the latchbolt. The control assembly configuration incorporates a swivel locking latch rotatable into the path of the slider to prevent the slider from moving out of the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: David V. Toloday, Marlin Austin, Loren D. Mueller, Paul D. Bilyeu
  • Patent number: 7240931
    Abstract: An positionable door strike is attached to a door jamb and receives a corresponding door latch located on a swinging door. The positionable door strike has a base plate and a strike plate that is capable of horizontally sliding within a pair of channels located on the base plate. The base plate is secured to the jamb by passing screws through appropriate openings located on the base plate while the strike plate is held secure when it is slid to its desired position by passing one or more set screws through screw openings located on the strike plate, the set screws engaging the door jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J. Casey
  • Patent number: 7234735
    Abstract: A locking device includes an operating button and a lock member disposed in a case. When the operating button is pressed against an urging force of a spring member, the lock member switches from a locked position for restricting a movable member to move relative to a body to an unlocked position for allowing the movable member to move in an opening direction. A rotation guide device is disposed between the case and the operating button, so that the lock member switches from the locked position to the unlocked position when the movable member rotates in a direction opposite to the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Akinori Harada
  • Patent number: 7195294
    Abstract: An anchor bracket is positional on a ground surface interior of the door opposite the base. An anchor bracket and the base lie along a horizontal plane. A bar extending across the door is pivotal about an axis extending parallel to a ground surface. Such a bar includes upper and lower portions, each having an aperture therein. The upper portion extends away from the outer edge of the door such that the upper portion is aligned to the top of the shaft and is positional in the slot. The upper portion is connected to the top of the shaft. The lower portion is connected to the anchor bracket. The bar includes a hook located on top of the shaft and positional about the door knob. The shaft and the bar are positioned interior of a door. The bar extends from the anchor bracket to the shaft and terminates midway of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventor: Vernard White