Patents Examined by Carl F. Pietruszka
  • Patent number: 4336698
    Abstract: A tamper proof lug nut or bolt lock assembly includes a substantially cylindrical portion on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve having a hex portion for receiving a wrench and a selective coupling assembly disposed within the sleeve for selectively coupling and uncoupling the sleeve to the nut or bolt assembly by means of a key of a predetermined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventor: Gary L. Hurd
  • Patent number: 4333326
    Abstract: An improved vehicle lock immobilizes the shaft of a single foot pedal assembly of the vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle lock comprises a base which contacts the floor of the vehicle and fits between the floor and the shaft of the pedal. Two wall members extend upwardly from one end of the base and together with the base form a cradle for the shaft. A lock mechanism, e.g., a pad-lock, passes through one or more holes in each of the walls to thereby lock the shaft in the cradled position and render the pedal assembly and vehicle inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventor: Robert E. Winters
  • Patent number: 4333325
    Abstract: A steering shaft locking device has a locking rotor rotatably mounted in a housing which is key actuated. A movable piece is moved radially outwardly of the rotor when a key is inserted therein, but is free to move inwardly when no key is present. A cam on the end of the rotor moves a lock bar transversely of the rotor against the action of a first spring. A projection on the edge of the lock bar engages one end of a lock shaft for moving it in one rotational direction from a neutral position, at which it is held by a second spring which is weaker than the first spring, and the other end of the lock shaft has a shape such that when it is moved in the one rotational direction, it moves away from the movable piece, and when it is moved in the other direction by the movement of the lock shaft by the first spring, it moves the movable piece, and thus permits the lock bar to move past the one end of the lock shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Minoru Morikawa, Sadao Kokubu, Tadashi Hirai
  • Patent number: 4331012
    Abstract: Lockable meter retention rings for securing electric meters in meter boxes comprise an inner ring of multiple arcuate parts wherein the inner ring has spaced-apart inwardly extending flanges for holding the electric meter in the meter box and a steel outer ring which fits over and engages with the inner ring wherein the outer ring keeps the inner ring assembled. The outer ring has a lock enclosure which, together with a portion of the inner ring, defines an opening for receiving and retaining a barrel lock, the barrel lock securing the rings together. Bayonet and screw type engagements between the inner and outer rings are disclosed, with the barrel lock preventing relative rotation of the rings necessary to disengage them. Another form of engagement has a flange of the outer ring received by the inner ring, with the barrel lock securing the outer ring to the inner ring diametrically opposite the flanged engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Inventor: James A. Swisher
  • Patent number: 4329860
    Abstract: A locking cover assembly for the ends of an electric meter retaining ring. The assembly comprises a U-shaped bracket for positioning between the downwardly turned ends of the retaining ring and over the bolt that retains the ends of the ring together. A housing is provided for assembly over the ends of the ring and the depending ends of the U-shaped member, and an opening is provided in the housing and the depending ends of the U-shaped bracket for receiving a bolt type locking member, so that the locking member extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the ring so that the lock may be assembled and dis-assembled from the front of the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventor: Sigurd M. Moberg
  • Patent number: 4328688
    Abstract: An antitheft device is provided for use with a reversible type key. The device includes a plate movable in a slot extending transverse to the direction of a key-receiving slot. The key entering the slot moves the plate which, in turn, pivots a lever to latch with the lock to prevent the antitheft device from becoming operative as long as the key is in the key-receiving slot. The plate has a guiding surface which rides in a plane surface on the key as the key is inserted. The plane surface on the key moves the plate and lever to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Arman S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guiseppe Maiocco
  • Patent number: 4326395
    Abstract: A locking assembly for electrical enclosures to prevent unauthorized tampering with internal power connections. The locking assembly comprises an adjustable bracket which is secured to the walls of the enclosure by bolts; a cover which covers the open front and a substantial part of the sides of the enclosure and which is secured by a bolt to the adjustable bracket, a locking shield which overlies and prevents removal of the bolt which attaches the cover to the adjustable bracket, and a removable lock bolt which secures the shield to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventor: Pasquale A. DeRosa
  • Patent number: 4325237
    Abstract: A lock plug for use with a glad hand coupler of the air brake line of a tractor - trailer. The lock plug is insertable into and held in place locked within the air passage of the glad hand coupler to prevent unauthorized hookup of the plugged glad hand coupler with a mating glad hand coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: James G. O'Neill
    Inventor: Larry L. Menzie
  • Patent number: 4324119
    Abstract: A locking device with a main body member having a threaded bore therein adapted for screwing onto the axle bolt of a bicycle, a securing member for shackling the main body member to an adjacent frame member of the bicycle, and a lock device for locking the securing member to the main body member. The main body member also includes an annular collar protruding axially therefrom in radially spaced concentric relation to the axis of the threaded bore for extending concentrically over the axle nut of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Inventor: David Mitton
  • Patent number: 4322959
    Abstract: A locking means for a trunk in an automobile is disclosed which can be unlocked by the rotation of a key inserted in a key cylinder of the trunk and which comprises a first switch provided at a proper location in the room of the automobile to open and close a D.C. circuit including an actuator means for unlocking the locking means. A second switch which is usually closed is provided in said D.C. circuit in such a way as to be opened by the rotation of said key inserted in the key cylinder of the trunk in a direction contrary to that for unlocking the locking means, thereby it becomes possible for a proprietor of the automobile who stands outside the automobile near the trunk to actuate the second switch so as to prevent the opening of the trunk by any other person against the will of the proprietor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Haruo Mochida
  • Patent number: 4319470
    Abstract: A lever type door handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a conventional lock spindle which may or may not include a lock tumbler cylinder. The assembly comprises a handle and three inexpensively made parts which may be assembled on a lock spindle to form a rigid unit without the use of pins or screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Inventor: William P. White
  • Patent number: 4318288
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant steering column lock incorporating an improved combination lock is disclosed. The improved combination lock includes an array of discs, each having an electrically conductive member extending therethrough. The disc at one end of the array is connected to the active terminal of the vehicle's electrical system and the disc at the other end of the array is grounded. When the discs are rotated to align the electrically conductive members, a circuit is completed to a solenoid or the like which regulates movement of a locking bolt between its locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Inventor: Sultan A. Rifat
  • Patent number: 4317346
    Abstract: A vehicle ignition-transmission protection enclosure is provided, whereby the ignition switch and transmission gear lever are protected from tampering and vandalism. The protection enclosure secures the transmission gear lever in combination with the ignition switch, such that movement of the former and access to the latter is prevented during installation. The protection enclosure includes an adjustable transmission lever yoke which surrounds a segment of the transmission gear lever shaft. That yoke may reside within a hinged, flanged, and contoured apparatus, comprising the remainder of the protection enclosure, that may be repeatedly and effortlessly installed and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Inventor: Edward J. Gutman
  • Patent number: 4314157
    Abstract: A safety lock for securing a radiation source in a radiography exposure device is disclosed. The safety lock prevents the inadvertent extension of the radiation source from the exposure device. The exposure devices are used extensively in industry for nondestructive testing of metal materials for defect. Unnecessary exposure of the radiographer or operator occurs not infrequently due to operator's error in believing that the radiation source is secured in the exposure device when, in fact, it is not. The present invention solves this problem of unnecessary exposure by releasingly trapping the radiation source in the shield of the radiography exposure device each time the source is retracted therein so that it is not inadvertently extended therefrom without the operator resetting the safety lock, thereby releasing the radiation source. Further, the safety lock includes an indicator which indicates when the source is trapped in the exposure device and also when it is untrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Industrial Nuclear Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Gaines
  • Patent number: 4312452
    Abstract: A frame into which a forward end of an automotive vehicle is driven, and secured, so as to prevent vehicle theft, the frame including adjustable bars, so as to clamp snugly against the vehicle, and, in one design, also including rollers against the vehicle wheels, that prevent the vehicle from riding off the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Inventor: Vincent J. Waier
  • Patent number: 4312198
    Abstract: A mechanical magnetic key operated door lock structure particularly adapted for use in hotel locksets. An occupancy indicator is incorporated in the lock structure to indicate that the lockset is locked from the inside, thus insuring privacy for the hotel guest. In addition, means operable from outside the lock structure is provided for changing the combination of the lock so that a newly arriving guest may be provided with a key having a different combination from that used by the previous guest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Inventor: Bruce S. Sedley
  • Patent number: 4309882
    Abstract: An antitheft device for a steering shaft of a motor vehicle has a latch which is movable between a latching and an unlatching position with respect to said steering shaft. A stop element in the form of a ball is provided in a radially extending opening in a stationary cylinder. The ball overhangs a projecting portion of the latch to prevent the projecting portion of the latch from moving past the ball. A rotating cylinder into which a key is inserted is rotatably mounted on the inside of the stationary cylinder and has a pair of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced detents into which the ball moves as the rotating cylinder moves past the radially extending opening. When the ball drops in the remote one of the detents, the projecting portion of the latch moves past the ball whereupon movement of the rotating cylinder moves the ball out of the detent to prevent the projecting portion of the latch from accidentally moving past the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Arman S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guiseppe Maiocco
  • Patent number: 4308733
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in tire locks and more specifically to devices which make spare tires in the trunk compartment of an automobile almost tamperproof from the standpoint of their removal by unauthorized persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Inventor: George R. Tampa
  • Patent number: 4307589
    Abstract: A lock comprises a cylindrical case with a turnable member rotatably mounted therein. A latch member is also rotatably mounted in the case. The latch member is rotatable in a first direction to lock the lock and in an opposite second direction to unlock the lock. A drive member is co-rotatably mounted in the case between and with the turnable member and the latch member. At least one magnetically attractable tumbler is movably mounted on the interior of the turnable member and has a portion which projects into engagement with a receiving cavity of the drive member when the lock is in an unlocked position. This permits the drive member to move axially away from the latch so that rotation of the drive member to rotate the latch to an unlocked position will release the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Inventor: Tomomasa Kajita
  • Patent number: 4304111
    Abstract: A cup with a saddle-shaped open end fits on a steering column over the ignition switch and forms a support bracket for the ends of a cross-chain of T-configuration, whereby one chain portion goes from one side of the cup around the column and the second chain portion goes from the crossing first portion over a steering wheel spoke, both chain portions ending at and lockably securable to the other side of the cup, to provide a removable device for securement of both the ignition switch and the steering wheel of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Inventor: James F. Nolin