Patents Examined by Christopher J. Boswell
  • Patent number: 11965359
    Abstract: Energy harvesting arrangement (12) for an electronic locking system (116), the energy harvesting arrangement (12) comprising a driven member (32) for driving an electric generator (34), the driven member (32) being arranged to rotate about a driven member rotational axis (74); a drive member (30) movable between a starting position (70), in which the drive member (30) does not engage the driven member (32), and a releasing position (112), in which the drive member (30) can drivingly engage the driven member (32); a harvesting elastic element (40) arranged to force the drive member (30) towards the starting position (70) and arranged to store mechanical energy from displacement of the drive member (30) from the starting position (70); and a release mechanism (42) arranged to release mechanical energy stored in the harvesting elastic element (40) to a returning movable of the drive member (30) from the releasing position (112) to the starting position (70). An electronic locking system (116) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventor: Johan Von Matern
  • Patent number: 11965357
    Abstract: A locking system has a lock cylinder rotatable within a lock housing and a side bar movable relative to channels within the lock cylinder and lock housing between locked and released conditions of the lock cylinder. An idler block within the lock cylinder has a key channel receiving a key therein so that the key and idler block rotate together relative to the lock cylinder. Annular detainer discs are received between the idler block and the lock cylinder, each having an outer gate channel and an inner key bit such that keyed surfaces of the key engage the key bits when rotated to align the gate channels with the side bar and enable the release of the side bar to unlock the cylinder relative to the housing. A stationary shield may be fixed relative to the housing, about which the idler block rotates to restrict access to the detainer discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Ryan Thomas Bowley
  • Patent number: 11959306
    Abstract: The lock with key having expanding arm elements is a lock. The lock with key having expanding arm elements comprises a body structure and a key structure. The key structure inserts into the body structure. The key structure rotates within the body structure to release the locking elements of the lock with key having expanding arm elements. The key structure comprises a plurality of rotating blade structures. Each of the plurality of rotating blade structures interact with an independent lock mechanism selected from a plurality of lock mechanisms contained in the body structure. The rotation of each rotating blade structure within its associated independent lock mechanism releases the locking elements of the lock with key having expanding arm elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Espinosa-Ulloa
  • Patent number: 11959316
    Abstract: A cam lock for cabinets adaptable to cabinet drawers and doors of various thicknesses is disclosed. The cam lock includes a cam, a plug, an adapter, and a cylinder housing. The plug has a keyway and tumblers in communication with the keyway. The adapter is configured to couple to the cam and the plug. The cylinder housing is configured to receive the plug and the adapter. The retainer clip is configured to extend through the cylinder housing into registry with the plug after the plug and adapter are inserted into the cylinder to thereby retain both the plug and the adapter in the cylinder housing, whereby installation of the cam lock in the cabinet is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS LOCK INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Martin, John Weaver
  • Patent number: 11959309
    Abstract: A portable electronic lock comprises a lock body and at least one securing part, in particular a U hoop or a bolt, that can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body. The lock body further comprises a first introduction opening and a second introduction opening for introducing a respective section of the at least one securing part into the lock body; an electromechanical locking device that has a first latch and a second latch, a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation and an electric motor for driving the cam; and a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG
    Inventor: Manuel Banse
  • Patent number: 11952803
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise against unauthorized removal from a display counter. The anti-theft device includes a plurality of arms slidingly disposed within the housing. Grips are disposed on proximal ends of the arms and are configured to receive and secure edges of an article of merchandise. A locking mechanism is disposed within the housing of the anti-theft device. The locking mechanism involves an actuator that presses a locking component to engage at least one of the arms. The arms have a first set of teeth disposed thereon, such that, when the locking component engages at least one of the arms, the first set of teeth interlocks with a second set of teeth. The arms cannot slide relative to the housing while the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth remain interlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Vanguard Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kelsch, John N. Figh, Jr., Matthew Kuntz, Lucas P. Swartwood, Wade Zhu, Volodymyr Andreev, Peter D. Iezzi, Andriy Los, Jasen Paul Biggins
  • Patent number: 11946291
    Abstract: A carrying case for a pair of two handcuffs is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARMAMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Parsons, Siu Ngai Wang
  • Patent number: 11946283
    Abstract: An electronic lock includes exterior and interior assemblies. The electronic lock includes a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The exterior and interior assemblies are connected to, and capable of actuating, the bolt. The exterior assembly includes an escutcheon and a sensor to selectively actuate movement of the bolt. The sensor has a first side and an opposite second side and the first side is accessible from the escutcheon and the sensor is in communication with, and connected to, the processor of the interior assembly. The exterior assembly includes a first seal positioned around the sensor at the first side between the sensor and the escutcheon. The exterior assembly includes a retainer that is positioned at the second side of the sensor to position the sensor immediately adjacent the escutcheon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Uyeda
  • Patent number: 11933071
    Abstract: A key device includes a generally elongate shaft portion that has first and second oppositely directed side surfaces, at least one of which is cuttable to form key cuts that define a key combination surface. First and second key combination elements, disposed in the elongate shaft portion, are side-by-side one another at different lateral positions along the width of the elongate shaft portion and located at overlapping longitudinal positions along the length of the elongate shaft portion. The first and second key combination elements are each pivotable about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Effi Ben-Aharon, Izhak Kaiser, Eyal Morsky
  • Patent number: 11933080
    Abstract: A closing system for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle includes: a bearing piece and a cylinder lock situated on the bearing piece, the cylinder lock having a cylinder bushing and a cylinder core; and a locking clamp which is held on the bearing piece, engages the cylinder bushing from behind and has a holding lug which is oriented parallel to the cylinder bushing, a fastening screw passing through the holding lug, and the tip of the screw lying in a receiving depression in the cylinder bushing in order to preload the locking clamp against the cylinder bushing. A protective element rests on an outer side of the bearing piece and has at least one retaining lug which is oriented parallel to the cylinder bushing, and the fastening screw also passes through the retaining lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Larissa Ludmann, Arne Behrens, Joerg Lederer, Swantje Schick, Oliver Mix
  • Patent number: 11927047
    Abstract: A doorway transaction barrier including a cabin assembly, a chamber assembly and a mounting assembly is disclosed herein. The cabin assembly includes cabin including a front barrier having a front opening. The front barrier further including a two-way microphone to provide communication between a first user and a second user. The chamber assembly including a front wall, a left wall, a right wall and a top wall. The top wall having the cabin assembly mounted thereon. The front wall including a front door to provide access to a front chamber. The top wall including a second door to provide access to the front chamber from an interior side of the cabin. The top wall further including rails receiving a slidable drawer. The front opening providing access to the drawer. The mounting assembly includes a latch to mount the chamber assembly to a frame door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Floyd Thomas
  • Patent number: 11920374
    Abstract: A locking system uses a lock housing, a lock cylinder for rotation in the lock housing, pins to control the lock cylinder being in unlocked or locked states relative to the lock housing, and a key to control the position of the pins. The system further includes a slider or lock bar within the lock housing. The slider moves relative to the lock cylinder and the lock housing between (i) a cylinder locking position blocking rotation of the lock cylinder relative to the lock housing so as to isolate the pins from the torque applied to the lock cylinder while allowing the pins to be displaced between the locked and unlocked positions thereof and (ii) a pin locking position of the slider in which the pins are resisted from movement relative to the lock housing and the lock cylinder while rotation of the lock cylinder is uninhibited by the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Ryan Thomas Bowley
  • Patent number: 11913249
    Abstract: An exemplary lock apparatus includes a housing and a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The plug assembly includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing and a retention mechanism operable to selectively prevent removal of the plug assembly from the housing. A system including the lock apparatus may include a change key configured to actuate the tumbler assembly without actuating the retention mechanism and/or a control key configured to actuate both the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: James Nye, Brian E. Walls
  • Patent number: 11913258
    Abstract: An apparatus can include: a housing configured to form a receiving chamber that is operable to receive an object; first and second paddles disposed at a distal end of the receiving chamber; a constraining bar movably disposed within the housing and configured to translate linearly along a length of the receiving chamber; and a trigger mechanism configured to releasably couple the constraining bar to the housing. When the constraining bar is in a loaded position, the trigger mechanism can be configured to release the constraining bar in response to a proximally-directed force exerted on the constraining bar, causing the constraining bar to translate distally along the length of the receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Benjamin Robert Zoba
  • Patent number: 11913250
    Abstract: A tubular lock for push locking has a lock housing, a switching handle mounted in a front end portion of the lock housing, an upper pin seat and a lower pin seat mounted in the lock housing and the switching handle, and multiple pin assemblies and a core shaft mounted in the upper pin seat and the lower pin seat. A key is only needed when unlocking the tubular lock, and then the tubular lock can be locked by pushing the core shaft. The tubular lock can be used to latch a pivotal mechanism. When the tubular lock is in an unlocking state, the user can switch the latch to the locking angular position or an unlocking angular position by turning the switching handle without using the key. Therefore, flexibility and convenience in using the tubular lock can be efficiently improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ABA Locks International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Miko Lee
  • Patent number: 11905736
    Abstract: The lock with key having expanding arm elements is an electromechanical lock mechanism. The lock with key having expanding arm elements comprises a key structure, a lock structure, and a lock control circuit. The lock structure is a fastening device. The lock structure secures the position of a first object relative to a second object. The lock structure is a releasable structure such that the position of the first object relative to the second object can be adjusted after the lock structure is released. The lock control circuit is an electric circuit. The lock control circuit forms an electronic locking mechanism that fastens and releases the locking structure. The key structure is a multi-blade structure that controls the operation of the lock control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Espinosa-Ulloa
  • Patent number: 11905740
    Abstract: A deadbolt assembly for securing co-mounted doors together and activating at least one deadbolt may include at least a first retention component and a first actuator interface mounted to or defined by a first coupling assembly of a key-side assembly operatively mounted to one of the co-mounted doors, and at least a second retention component and a second actuator interface mounted to or defined by a second coupling assembly of a lever-side assembly operatively mounted to the other of the co-mounted doors, at least one of the key-side assembly and the lever-side assembly including a deadbolt assembly having a deadbolt configured to be responsive to actuation thereof to extend a deadbolt therefrom, wherein actuation of the deadbolt assembly also causes the first and second retention components to secure the first and second coupling assemblies to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Kondratuk, Alan M. Dixon, Kole Kramer, Sara Wermers, Todd N. Stratmoen, Luke A. Thompson, Bryan P. Zacher, Jammey A. Rawden
  • Patent number: 11898377
    Abstract: A gang lock for an article of furniture capable of simultaneously locking and unlocking a plurality of drawers and doors. The gang lock has a single locking mechanism operable to move a drawer lock bar to lock/unlock one or more drawers and a door lock bar to lock/unlock one or more doors. The lock mechanism is coupled to the drawer lock bar so that operation of the lock mechanism causes movement of the drawer lock bar. The drawer lock bar and the door lock bar are coupled together by a linkage so that movement of the drawer lock bar causes movement of the door lock bar. The drawer lock bar may be oriented vertically and the door lock bar may be oriented horizontally. The linkage may include a cam and cam follower to translate vertical movement of the drawer lock bar into horizontal movement of the door lock bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Industrial Woodworking Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11898379
    Abstract: A first portion of a security device, the first portion configured to have a separate state with respect to a second portion and a combined state with respect to the second portion, such that when in the combined state, the first portion is mated, interlocked, and/or locked with the second portion to collectively form the security device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Hangzhou Timing Security Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Hexiao Wang, Peter Morello, Sr., Peter A. Morello, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11898376
    Abstract: A locking apparatus and method for securing a door or window comprising a substantial controllable mechanical locking mechanism that secures the sliding door or window into the receiving channel such that the locking mechanism cannot be disengaged from the receiving structure by a manual force; prevents the door or window from being lifted out of a bottom track by mere manual force; is able to report the door or window status as closed or open and as locked or unlocked to a remote user; is able to be remotely locked and unlocked using an application running on a mobile device or computer, or, alternatively by accessing a web accessible portal from a mobile device, electronic device or computer; and is manually operable by a user in the event of a power outage. A manually operated embodiment is useful for use cases in which no electric power is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: George Condorodis