Patents Examined by Darnell Boucher
  • Patent number: 5211042
    Abstract: A vehicle steering locking system with a tiltable steering mechanism includes a column disposing a tiltable steering shaft therein, an ignition key cylinder in which an ignition switch is arranged having a key hole exposed to a passenger compartment at a preselected position, an operating rod arranged in the ignition key cylinder for activating the ignition switch in response to ignition key operation, a locking rod responsive to operation of the operating rod to selectively engage with and disengage from the steering shaft for locking and unlocking steering shaft operation, a locking rod housing, disposing the locking rod therein for connecting between the column and the ignition key cylinder. When the column is tilted together with the steering shaft, the locking rod housing rotates relative to the column to allow the ignition key cylinder to pivot with respect to the end portion of the ignition key cylinder having the key hole to maintain the key hole at the preselected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Watanuki
  • Patent number: 5207082
    Abstract: A key holder in which a key may be fastened, includes an elongated handle for providing the user with a mechanical advantage in operating key locks. The key is retained in the holder by means of a pin inserted in the key ring hole in the bow of the key. The key is clamped in the body of the holder by a set screw operating on a clamping plate located in the key receiving opening of the body of the holder. The handle may be fixed in the body or made slidable for the convenience of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas H. LeMaitre
  • Patent number: 5205142
    Abstract: Disclosed is a handcuff device for restraining the wrists of a detainee. The device comprises a pair of handcuff members and a link member of unitary construction. Each of the handcuff members have one or more integrally formed mounting posts. The link member is configured to hingedly interconnect the handcuff members about the posts. The unitary construction of the link member, combined with the integrally formed posts of the handcuff members, provide a handcuff device which is strong and durable and which does not require the use of multiple components, such as a pivot pin, and substantially limits the movement of the detainees hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: James B. Kruger, John T. Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 5134806
    Abstract: Disclosed are a bumper retaining device (20) and a latch holding device (40) which facilitate the safe use of pressure mounted security gates (10) commonly used for children or pets. The bumper retaining device (20) consists of a plate (22) with a hollow (24) on the upper side, configured to receive and retain frictional bumpers (14) of the security gate (10). Two bumper retaining devices (20), one on each side of a passageway, are to be positioned to receive two upper bumpers (14). The bumper retaining device (20) keeps the security gate (10) from being dislodged. A latch holding device (40) keeps the latch (30), which controls width and pressure of the security gate (10), from falling out of adjustment. A kit is assembled of the inventive devices for easy installation by a home owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: James A. Burkart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5133201
    Abstract: A locking assembly is provided for vehicle wheels, such as those found on an automobile. A control cable is hand manipulated from the interior of the vehicle to permit a bias element on a locking stud to extend through one of a series of circumferentially defined locking holes through a holding plate adjacent the wheel to selectively lock the wheel in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventors: Darryl L. LaMott, David R. Lee
  • Patent number: 5104164
    Abstract: The invention provides a lock with a forward and reverse action bolt element and a lock cylinder which precedes the operating region of the bolt element into which the force for shifting the bolt element is to be introduced. The lock comprises an arresting element which can be fused at least locally by the effect of heat on the lock cylinder and which, after fusion, arrests the bolt element against reverse lock actuation.In an alternative embodiment, the lock may comprise a coupling between the operating region and a lock-actuating element spatially separated from it and protected by the lock cylinder, which coupling can be broken by fusion due to the effect of heat on the lock cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: DOM-Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Giselher Sieg
  • Patent number: 5099663
    Abstract: An apparatus for fixedly mounting to a filing cabinet a locking plunger to prevent inadvertent depressing of the locking plunger relative to the filing cabinet to prevent inadvertent locking of the filing cabinet. The organization includes a lock member defined by an elongate central cavity, with the central cavity of a predetermined length greater than a predetermined height of an associated lock plunger. The lock member includes a rear wall formed with threaded bore, and a set screw directed to the rear bore, whereupon mounting of the lock member receives the cabinet plunger lock within the elongate cavity permitting projection of an associated set screw to engage and secure the associated plunger. A modification of the invention includes a guide bore positioned above the threaded bore to receive a drill bit therethrough to direct a drill bit member to form a blind bore within the plunger lock to subsequently receive the set screw therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Walter R. Dearstine
  • Patent number: 5092642
    Abstract: Motor vehicle door handle of the type having a spring biased actuating lever for activating the closing mechanism. To reduce impact noise, the actuating lever is assigned, during its return movement until its end position is reached, a damping element which exerts on the actuating lever a braking force reduced with decreasing speed of the actuating lever, thus allowing a uniform return of the actuating lever into its end position and consequently an effective minimization of the impact noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Martin Lindmayer, Klaus Claar
  • Patent number: 5088779
    Abstract: A door latch release mechanism has a housing adapted for mounting in a door jamb, a striker mounted on a shaft in the housing for pivotal movement between a door lock tongue engagement position and a door lock tongue release position, and a stop mounted in the housing. The stop has a portion capable of contacting the striker so as to latch the striker and prevent pivoting thereof from the door lock tongue engagement position. This portion of the stop is generally semi-circular in cross section. The stop is rotatable on its axis so that rotation of the stop to an effective extent releases the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Harcor Security Seals Pty Limited
    Inventor: Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 5076621
    Abstract: A gravity latch for a swinging gates such as a corral gate or a gate on a box stall. The latch has a barrel and keeper mounted on the gate and a gate post. They are both rectangular metal tubes and inclined downwardly from the barrel to the gate at an angle of 45.degree.. The barrel and keeper have parallel rows of fastener openings through them to enable the fastening of the barrel and keeper to gates and posts of various types, including wooden and steel corral gates. A bolt for the latch is in the form of a source metal tube that slides along the barrel and the keeper. In the latched condition, it is completely enclosed within the barrel and keeper to prevent opening of the gate by an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventors: Colin Taylor, Dennis Thompson
  • Patent number: 5074604
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a latch retaining device to maintain the latch of a door in an inoperable position, which includes at least one body member adapted to engage and grip the door knob of the door so as to retain the door knob in its latch releasing rotated position indefinitely. The body member of the device may have first and second ends with the first end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the door adjacent the position of the door knob, whereby frictional engagement between the device and the door as well as the door knob enable the door knob to be maintained in a position to render the door latch inoperative. Alternatively, the body member may frictionally engage a door knob and exert an appropriate force thereon to maintain it in a latch releasing position. The at least one body member is secured in its frictionally engaging position by means of a cincturing strap associated with the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Albrecht, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Merendino, Fred I. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 5071178
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch for mounting on a door closable inward against a body part has a latch element fixed on the part and displaceable into and out of a latch housing and a latch fork pivotal on the housing. This fork is pivoted into a closed position on inward displacement of the latch element into the housing and the latch fork has an inwardly directed face bearing inward against the latch element in the closed position with the latch element in the housing. A latch pawl is pivotally engageable with the fork in a holding position to retain same in the closed position. The latch pawl can be pivoted out of contact with the fork to release same and allow the door to open. A blocking member in the housing has an outwardly directed face and is displaceable in the housing between a blocking position with the blocking face confronting and relatively closely juxtaposed with the fork face and an unblocking position with the blocking face spaced more remotely from the fork face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Kiekert GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Brackman, Lothar Brandes
  • Patent number: 5067335
    Abstract: A rotary type cylinder lock, a lock and key blade combination system and a locking tumbler are disclosed. The lock includes a row of locking tumblers (15a, 15b, 15c) being non-rotatably guided for elevational movement so as to cooperate with a side bar (19) for releasing the lock. The locking tumblers are provided with fingers (18a, 18b, 18c) located in specific positions, so that the free end portions (24a, 24b, 24c) of the fingers, which make contact with a wave-like code pattern of a key blade, form a specific, irregular longitudinal distribution pattern being different from the longitudinal distribution of the tumbler body parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Bo Widen
  • Patent number: 5064231
    Abstract: A uni-directional lock having a body portion having two passageways extending therethrough and each having an internal indentation, an entrance portion and an exit portion and a link portion having an enlarged head portion and two integral leg portions each having a flexible portion having a hook projecting outwardly therefrom wherein the hook and the exit portion are dimensioned to prevent entry of the hook through the exit portion into the body portion or the flexible portion comprises two separate sections or the flexible portion is provided with structure so that it is frangible to form two separate sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Peter G. Mangone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5063762
    Abstract: A locking assembly to secure portable or riding equipment such as skiing equipment or bicycles, scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the like. The assembly is mounted on the hand grips of the ski poles, or the handle bars of riding equipment with no modification of the equipment required. A retractable cable and lock is used to secure the equipment to a fixed object. The assembly, when attached to the equipment, does not disturb the weight balance of the equipment. The assembly may be installed on the hand grips or handle bars at the time of the initial assembly of the equipment or thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Catherine M. Vandeweghe
  • Patent number: 5062670
    Abstract: A lock monitor for fitting to lockable objects that have locks that incorporate a bolt mechanism incuding a slidable bolt and mortise. The opening of the mortise is larger in at least one dimension than the engaging face of the slidable bolt. The lock monitor comprises a status indicator, a contact member mountable to the bolt mechanism adjacent to the slidable bolt and it communication with the status indicator, and an actuating arm mountable on the slidable bolt such that the actuating arm engages the contact member when the slidable bolt is disengaged from the mortise. When the actuating arm engages the contact member it causes the status indicator to register a change in status in the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Emanuel Grossman
  • Patent number: 5060494
    Abstract: A flat key pick resistant cylindrical lock structure which comprises a plug, a sleeve and a housing. The housing is bored off center to receive the sleeve and thus make room for biased split pin tumblers embodying false segments and further, limited misleading internal rotational movement occurs when an attempt is made to pick the lock. Also two shear lines between the plug and sleeve and between the sleeve and housing must be cleared before an unlocking of the lock can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Inventor: John H. Moorhouse
  • Patent number: 5052201
    Abstract: An automobile steering wheel lock comprising a recheted stick with a hooked end and a lock block with a stick hole to receive the stick therein and have itself slidable along the stick. The lock block comprises a pawl which is biased by a spring to engage the ratchet of the stick so that when the hook of stick is hooked on a spoke of a steering wheel, the lock block is movable toward the hooked end of stick to secure it on the steering wheel and not able to withdraw, owing to the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet. A de-engaging device is provided to release the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet so as to remove the lock off the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: Jaieter Liou
  • Patent number: 5048880
    Abstract: It is required for a door to attach a door key assembly for the sake of caution and locking. The door key assembly to be attached to a door opposed to a door frame comprises a key body secured to an end face of the door and provided with a dead bolt and a fixing plate secured inside the door frame so as to oppose to the end face of the door. The fixing plate is provided with a vertically elongated recess having an opening facing the end face of the door and having a narrow portion and a groove formed on one side of the narrow portion. The recess and the groove are arranged vertically side by side so as to communicate with each other through a vertically elongated window portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventor: Toshiharu Narazaki
  • Patent number: 5046769
    Abstract: A door latch coupling arrangement includes a detent release member connected to an inside operator by a freewheeling connection. An intermittent member is movable between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent release member and pivotally connected to the inside operator to establish an operative connection between the detent release member and inside operator when in coupled position. A manual control member shifts the intermittent member between its coupled and uncoupled positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rimbey, Rita M. Paulik