Patents Examined by Christopher Boswell
  • Patent number: 9618135
    Abstract: A valve lockout device includes an elongated main body defining an interior cavity for receiving a valve to be secured. A cap with a notch for receiving a cable is affixed to one end of the main body, with a wing pivotably attached to the cap so that the wing movable between an open position and a closed position. The wing in the closed position is operable to secure a cable with the notch in the cap. With the lockout device in place over a valve and a cable secured around the valve and to the lockout device, the valve is secured against operation and users and operators are notified of the lockout condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: JB KARELOCK LLC
    Inventor: Joseph D. Kjar
  • Patent number: 9605454
    Abstract: A rotary latch closure comprising a housing with an actuating shaft which is mounted so as to be rotatable, but axially fixed therein. The rotary latch closure has, at its free end, a circumferential thread, at least one axially oriented flattened portion, and a rotary latch configured to be fitted to the free end of the shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it in at least one rotational position and which is axially supported on a nut which can be screwed onto the circumferential thread. The nut is enclosed by a cage forming a laterally accessible space that is bounded by two walls, each of the two walls having a prismatic opening, wherein the opening allows the shaft to be slid through in a torsionally rigid manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DIRAK Dieter Ramsauer Konstruktionselemente GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Ramsauer, Matthias Velten
  • Patent number: 9598878
    Abstract: The combination key and locking cover provides a decorative key and a decorative cover for the blade of the key in order to aid in loss prevention of the key, as well as providing protection for the user from the cuts in the blade of the key. The key includes a head, a locking hub mounted on a lower portion of the head, and a blade secured to the locking hub and projecting downwardly therefrom. The cover has opposed upper and lower ends, with a rim being formed at the upper end of the cover, and a recess formed inside the cover. The locking hub of the key is releasably lockable to the rim of the cover, such that when the locking hub of the key is attached to the rim, the blade of the key is releasably contained within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Wykaine L. Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9587415
    Abstract: A retention mechanism for retaining a lock cylinder in a lock housing. The retention mechanism includes a control lug, a control pin, and a finger pin. A portion of the control lug is configured to be positioned in a retention recess of the lock housing when the control lug is in an engagement position to prevent the removal of the lock cylinder from the lock housing. With the control lug in the engaged position, at least a portion of the control pin may be biased into a chamber of the control lug to retain the control lug at the engaged position. When the control lug is to be displaced from the engaged position, the finger pin may be lifted to an activation position, such as by a sidebit of a key, wherein the finger pin may removably displace the control pin from at least a portion of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Ajeya Suratkal Rao, Evan Earl Evans
  • Patent number: 9580931
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a locking system for a door with a mortise pocket. The locking system has a mortise case within the mortise pocket. The mortise case defines an alignment hole. The locking system also has a gear box with a worm gear that defines a notched passage that receives a lock knob shaft. A worm within the gear box is coupled to a motor that rotates the worm. The worm engages the worm gear such that the worm gear rotates when the worm rotates. A control board in the gear box is adapted to receive electronic signals and transmit them to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the worm. The gear box also has a worm gear hub that defines a keyed passage and a hub tab. The worm gear hub fits within the notched passage and the keyed passage receives the lock knob shaft. The worm gear also has two notches that the hub tab contacts individually when the gear hub rotates within the notched passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Belwith Products, LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Ashok Hirpara, Michael Aaron Cohen, John D. Veleris, Alyssa M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9574382
    Abstract: A pull handle (1) for a lock of a vehicle door or lift gate featuring a pull handle housing (1a) having a bearing part (2) and a handle part (3) connected so as to swivel around a swivel axis between non-actuated and actuated positions. An actuation mechanism (4) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) and can be actuated by the handle part (3). A coupling element (56) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) couples with external lock elements. A locking mechanism (5) locks and unlocks the actuation mechanism (4). The coupling element is displaceable in the bearing part along an actuation axis (209), perpendicular to the swivel axis, and connected to the handle part (3) for linear movement in the actuation direction (204) parallel to the actuation axis (209).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: D. La Porte Söhne GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Behnke, Viktor Komkin
  • Patent number: 9574373
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a padlock, comprising a lock cylinder and a lock housing. The lock cylinder is rotatable between a lock position and an unlock position with rotation of a key. The a lock housing comprises a sleeve shaped to fit with and for receiving the lock cylinder, a first prong extending outward from the sleeve and having a first recessed portion and a second prong extending outward from the sleeve and having a second recessed portion; wherein when the lock cylinder is rotated into the lock position/the unlock position, the through holes are aligned with the first recessed portion/the second recessed portion, the first pins/second pins are movable in the through holes and the first recessed portion/the second recessed portion, allowing the removal of the key from the keyhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Vastmax Corporation Limited
    Inventor: William Ng
  • Patent number: 9574378
    Abstract: A lock for an electronic device having a lock hole includes a lock core, a fastener, and an adapter, wherein the lock core is operable and rotatable about a first axis; the fastener is connected to the lock core and is shifted away from the first axis. The adapter is connected to the lock core and the fastener. The rotation of the lock core about the first axis drives the adapter to drive the fastener to rotate about a second axis, When the lock core is locked, the locked lock core restricts the fastener from rotating, when the lock core is unlocked, the fastener is operable to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SINOX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia Ming Wu, Chun-Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 9567780
    Abstract: A pull handle (1) to unlock a lock of a vehicle door or lift-gate having a pull handle housing (1a) with a bearing part (2) for securing on a vehicle door or lift-gate and a handle part (3) connected to the bearing part (2) rotatable around a rotation axis (170). The handle part (3) is rotatable by pulling from a non-activated to an activated position. An activation mechanism (4) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) unlocks the lock, and can be activated by pulling on the handle part (3) and having a coupling element (56, 146) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) to couple with external elements to unlock the lock. A locking mechanism (5) is located completely in the pull handle housing (1a) and the activation mechanism (4) can be disabled so that a pulling on the handle part (3) does not unlock the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: D. La Porte Söhne GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Behnke, Viktor Komkin
  • Patent number: 9567770
    Abstract: Pin tumbler locks are provided that include features for detecting tampering. Tampering may be detected in a number of different ways. As an example, abnormal movement of one or more of the driver pins in a pin tumbler lock can be an indication of tampering. In addition, one or more sensors can be included at the end of a keyway that detect picking or bumping beyond the length of normal key insertion. An electrical sensor can be used for detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Zissis Ginos, Gregory Branchek Roth
  • Patent number: 9556653
    Abstract: The invention is a saddle lock that is inexpensive to manufacture and can be used with different style and/or size saddles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Alfred F. Contarino, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9555770
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a steering lock device that can prevent improper access to a cylinder lock due to the deformation of a mounting hole formed in a cut-out shape. The steering lock device comprises: a frame (4) that is provided with a cylindrical section (1) open at one end, and that houses a lock body (3) which moves in and out of a steering column as a result of the manipulation of a cylinder lock (2) secured in the cylindrical section (1); and a mounted member (6) that is mounted in a mounting hole (5), one end of which opens to the open end of the cylindrical section (1) and is formed in a cut-out shape. At both side ends of the mounting hole (5), to-be-locked sections (9) are provided that regulate the widthwise deformation of the mounting hole (5) by locking circumferentially with locking sections (8) of an inserted member (7) which is inserted into the cylindrical section (1) within the frame (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Alpha Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kiso, Takashi Yoshizawa, Yoshio Watanuki
  • Patent number: 9556644
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for opening and closing an entrance. The apparatus includes: first and second door handles which are configured to be pushed or pulled; a moving unit which is coupled to the first and second door handles; a rotating unit which is rotatably coupled on a rotating shaft and locked to the moving unit so that when the moving unit horizontally moves, the rotating unit rotates around the rotating shaft; an actuating member which is locked to the rotating unit and moved in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the moving unit moves; a latch unit which is fixed to the actuating member so that the latch unit is ejected from or retracted into the door by the movement of the actuating member; and a restoring spring which is wrapped around the rotating shaft and fixed to the door lock housing and the rotating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Byungman Yoon, Eunsook Lee, Chaeho Yoon
  • Patent number: 9556645
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for opening and closing a front entrance. The apparatus includes: a door lock housing which has an opening in which a latch bolt is disposed; first and second door handles which are provided on the door and configured to be pushed or pulled; a movable member which is disposed in the door lock housing and horizontally moved by pushing or pulling either the first door handle or the second door handle, with a lift guide block provided on the movable member; a rotating unit which includes a roller and a bent part; a latch bolt coupling unit which is locked to the bent part of the rotating unit and coupled to the latch bolt; and a restoring spring which is configured such that the rotating unit is returned to its original state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Byungman Yoon, Eunsook Lee, Chaehi Yoon, Chaeho Yoon
  • Patent number: 9551170
    Abstract: A set of handcuffs utilizing a conventional single strand and double strand system with ratchet teeth to prevent opening by virtue of one or more pawls is provided. The handcuffs may be connected via chain or similar device. Standard handcuffs may be unlocked by use of a universal key thereby creating safety and security issues. This design incorporates secondary security features which require that a handcuff be manipulated in some additional manner simultaneously while a handcuff key is utilized. This system requires two sets of hands to be used simultaneously to disengage the locking system. One hand of a person wearing the handcuffs is unable to manipulate the handcuff on which it is worn. As a result, it is virtually impossible for the wearer of the handcuffs to unlock the handcuffs/restraining device even if the person is in possession of the required key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Creative Law Enforcement Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Kresimir Kovac
  • Patent number: 9540846
    Abstract: A motor vehicle key of flat structure includes a circuit board with an opening, a mounting for a battery, wherein the mounting extends at least partially over the opening, and contact elements, which are electrically coupled to the circuit board. One contact element includes a resilient contact section, by means of which the battery may be fixed in the position in the mounting. The contact element is fastened to the circuit board such that a region of the resilient contact section extends over the opening above a plane defined by the surface of the circuit board and at least this region is received in the opening when the battery is disposed in the mounting and is fixed in position in it by the resilient contact section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Sersch
  • Patent number: 9540843
    Abstract: A rotatable lock pin that inhibits forced entry into a container through a closure by securing the lock pin to the container. A lock pin has a pin cylinder with a curvature of rotation that engages with a rotation facilitator. The path of the curvature of rotation and the engagement of the rotation facilitator therewith causes the lock pin to rotate in a pre-determined fashion, so that structures on the lock pin can engage or attach to some part of the container to secure the position of the lock pin and hold the closure door in place. Lock pins of the subject invention utilized with safes can inhibit forced entry through the door by side punching or prying of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SHADE RIVER OUTFITTERS, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas John Garrett
  • Patent number: 9528302
    Abstract: A device adapted to connect a first securing member to a second securing member, the device comprising a link with a base having an interrupted raised lip forming an internal cavity, the base having a hasp extending into the internal cavity, the hasp having a through hole, and the raised lip having interrupted areas, a first securing element associated with the base at a first interrupted area, the first securing element securing a first securing member, a second securing element associated with the base at a second interrupted area, the second securing element securing a second securing member, a lock having a shackle and a body, the lock fitting within the internal cavity such that the shackle may be inserted through the through hole of the hasp with the body inhibiting the first and second securing members from being disassociated with the first and second securing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Stanton Concepts, LLC.
    Inventors: Robert Loughlin, John Loughlin
  • Patent number: 9528299
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital opening and closing device for an entrance. The device includes: a housing which includes an outer casing and an inner casing with a door interposed between the inner and outer casings; a password input unit which is provided on the outer casing; a door opening and closing unit which is installed in the housing and conducts the operation of opening or closing the door; a control unit which compares a password input to the password input unit with a preset reference password and controls the door opening and closing unit; an opening button which is provided on the inner casing and is used in automatically opening the door; a manual opening button which prevents the door from being automatically locked when the door is closed; and a power supply supplying drive power to the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventors: Byungman Yoon, Eunsook Lee, Chaehi Yoon, Chaeho Yoon
  • Patent number: 9528297
    Abstract: A magnetic lock and key system including a magnetic lock that includes: a body, a lock element arranged at least partially within the body and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cap coupled to the body and defining a dome, and an arc magnet arranged within the body between the cap and the lock element, the arc magnet defining a chamfered edge and moveable between a first position corresponding with the locked position of the lock element and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position of the lock element; and a magnetic key arranged to engage the cap of the magnetic lock and including a key magnet moveable between a first position spaced apart from the dome of the cap, and a second position adjacent the dome of the cap, the key magnet defining a countersink corresponding to chamfered edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rexnord Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Frank L. Gentile