Patents Examined by Darnell M. Boucher
  • Patent number: 5732578
    Abstract: A lever assembly for a door lock which permits simplified assembly is provided. The lever assembly comprises a lock body cylinder, a lock shank with an inside portion and an outside portion extending from either side of the body cylinder and a series of components assembled to the outside portion of the lock shank with aligned central apertures to receive the lock shank. A retainer is operatively coupled to the body cylinder, and an annular outer plate is rigidly attached to the outside portion of the lock shank by mating internal and external threads. The retainer and annular outer plate are provided with mating elements disposed at different distances from a center point to allow for blink assembly of the two by rotation relative to one another. A leaf spring and actuator plate are coupled to the said outer plate with two outside cover pieces attached to the lever assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Euoe Sik Kang
  • Patent number: 5730009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carrying case with a theft prevention clamp. It is especially designed for laptop computers left in public places, but may also be used to prevent other items from being stolen. The clamp is designed to removably fasten the carrying case to a table, but may also be used on shelves or other objects with similarly shaped surfaces. The clamp has a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The carrying case has an upper portion and a lower portion, which are pivotally connected. There is a lock for securing the upper portion to the lower portion when they are in a closed position. A keyhole switch activates a battery-powered electric motor to extend the clamp when a key is inserted, if the key is turned clockwise, or to retract the clamp, if the key is turned counterclockwise. Once the clamp is extended, it and the lower portion of the carrying case can be inserted around a table or other object with similar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Jason Westfield
  • Patent number: 5730014
    Abstract: A vandal-resistant torque sensitive release mechanism for coupling an actuating handle to a lock mechanism. The torque sensitive release mechanism: is in the form of a slip-clutch, which utilizes spherical ball connectors in cooperating detents; is connected at one end to the operating handle via threaded engagement; and permits an adjustment of the disengagement force. A conventional type connection is provided at the other end of the slip clutch to allow a mutiplicty of different lock connections for coupling the handle operating to the operating lock mechanisms via the slip clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Securitech Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Berger, Peter Zoltan
  • Patent number: 5730015
    Abstract: An explosive device for making noise combined with a keychain comprises a barrel having a bore formed therein accommodating a blank. The device also has a pin disposed in the bore of the barrel and a spring surrounding the periphery of the pin. A ring member connects with the pin. The device makes noise by manually moving the ring member between a first and a second position. The ring member rests against a stop in the barrel remote from the blank in the first position. The ring member releases from the stop, permitting the pin to strike the blank in the barrel under force of the spring, in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Dove Leumi
  • Patent number: 5730008
    Abstract: A snowmobile track lock having a generally U-shaped track member interconnected with a lock body. The track member is fitted over the snowmobile track and secured in place by the interconnected lock body. A handle extends from the track member to facilitate installation of the track lock. Additionally, a flag is mounted to the track lock to remind the operator to remove the track lock before operating the snowmobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventors: Willard L. Case, Willard J. Case
  • Patent number: 5730012
    Abstract: A Bicycle Sprocket Lock (1) with indents (2) fits holes (3) to impede or free the sprocket (5) and is secured by a shackle (4) through holes (3) intersecting said lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Donald M. Link
  • Patent number: 5727266
    Abstract: A disposable pillow or cushion cover is formed by an envelope of air and moisture impermeable material. The envelope encases the pillow or cushion and provides an impermeable resting surface upon which a user may rest the head or other body part on a clean, comfortable, fresh, hygienic, fragrant resting surface without having to change pillows, cushion covers or envelopes. The envelope contains a vent to permit ingress and egress of air from the pillow or cushion. The envelope also includes a sealable opening to permit insertion and removal of the pillow or cushion. A facing layer of air permeable material extends over the resting surface and is secured to the envelope at spaced apart locations to allow air flow and a degree of relative movement between the facing layer and envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Hian Seng Pang
  • Patent number: 5725263
    Abstract: A door securing device including an upper housing member being mounted about a door knob rose. The upper housing member encasing a locking mechanism with a trigger. A lower housing member is mounted to a lower door portion and has a bottom opening. The lower housing member has a rear wall with a pair of sprocket frames projection therefrom. A cable guard with a cable is coupled with the trigger. The cable guard is coupled with the upper housing member and the lower housing member. A door stop mechanism is housed within the lower housing member. The door stop mechanism has a stop wedge with a top side having a track, and a bottom side with a stopper. The door stop mechanism has a first sprocket member and a second sprocket member that rotatably coupled between the pair of sprocket frames. The first member capable of engaging the track. Included is a chain for engaging the first and second sprocket members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Ernest L. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5720193
    Abstract: A detachable push button firearm lock is provided. The lock comprises; a housing, and a plurality of pin sets. The housing halves are interlocking and separation capable thereby locking or making available a desired firearm. Access blocking means for the ammunition, magazine, bolt, breech, hammer, slide, actions, and firing capability is also provided. The lock is user recodable by providing a plurality of identical corresponding locking and unlocking pins, when rotated end over end, cause a combination change. Tamper resistance as well as accompanying tamper resistant unlocking means is also disclosed. Optional ease of use features including open latch, closed latch, open stop, and digit grips are also depicted. Further, optional portability and or stationary mounting means are also provided as well as display only means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel J. Dick
  • Patent number: 5715715
    Abstract: A lock assembly comprising a casing, a lever rotatably attached to the casing, the lever having a spindle attached thereto, a motor secured to the casing, the motor having a shaft, a substantially cylindrical member attached to the motor shaft and having a helically extending groove, and an interfering member threadedly and non-rotatably engaged with the helically extending groove of the cylindrical member. The interfering member moves between a locked position and an unlocked position. The interfering member moves into the locked position to prevent rotation of the lever when the motor shaft rotates in one direction. The interfering member moves into the unlocked position to allow rotation of the lever when the motor shaft rotates in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Paul Nunez
  • Patent number: 5715709
    Abstract: By forming a plurality of false void zones in a lock housing in association with the tumbler release channel, a combination lock construction is attained which virtually eliminates the ability of trained individuals to gain unwanted access to the lock. Preferably, the combination lock housing also incorporates a plurality of non-releasing open or void zones or slots formed in association with the lock release groove for each rotatable tumbler sleeve. In this way, the desired false click is provided for each rotatable dial in order to thwart unwanted opening of the combination lock of this invention. Furthermore, the lock construction of the present invention is constructed with the interior chambers thereof virtually sealed from ambient surroundings, thereby preventing unwanted contamination from entering the interior of the lock and the rotating components thereof. In this way, degradation by contamination is virtually eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sunrich Company
    Inventor: Eric Lai
  • Patent number: 5715710
    Abstract: A brake pedal immobilizing device has first and second shafts with crossheads mounted thereon for relative longitudinal sliding movement to clamp a brake pedal shaft between them. The second shaft carries a stand-off formed by a floor engaging foot extending longitudinally aligned below the crossheads, supporting the device on the vehicle floor during clamping adjustment. The second crosshead is formed with a hook and is rotatively mounted on one end of the first shaft while the other crosshead is mounted on the first shaft in a screw fit. An upper end of the first shaft is received in a sleeve with a shaft locking mechanism and terminates in a handle. A third crosshead carries a third shaft slidingly received in the first crosshead and having a lower end forming a locking/wedging pin for receipt in a bore in the second crosshead in the clamping position to complete enclosure of the brake pedal shaft. A barrier frame is attached to the first crosshead above a brake pedal to block forcing tool access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventors: Achille A. De Lucia, Roger De Lucia
  • Patent number: 5713613
    Abstract: An automotive electric door lock system comprises a door lock which includes a latch plate latchedly engageable with a striker secured to the vehicle and a locking plate which is pivotable between an engaging position wherein the locking plate engages the latch plate and a releasing position wherein the locking plate releases the latch plate. An electric actuator is employed for moving the locking plate from the engaging position to the releasing position when energized. A power supply device energizes the electric actuator when a door handle is manipulated. A control device is used for instantly stopping the electric power supply to the electric actuator when the locking plate arrives at the releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Honma, Kouichi Shigematsu, Junichi Shimada, Fumio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5713232
    Abstract: A combined key fob scraper device including a reversible scraper blade member having a first beveled scraping edge formed along a first entire width side edge thereof, a second beveled scraping edge formed along a central section of a second width side edge having a length of less than one half the width, and at least one retraction button engagement aperture formed therein; a blade member housing having a blade member receiving cavity formed therein of a size sufficient to receive therein the entire scraper blade member, a key ring receiving aperture formed through an end section thereof, and a retraction channel, having a first and second channel end, formed through an outer surface of the blade member housing and into connection with the blade member receiving cavity, having a first plurality of ratchet teeth running along a first retraction channel sidewall; and a retraction button having a ridged bottom surface adapted to engage the ratchet teeth and a blade member engagement protrusion adapted to engage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Bessie G. Hodge
  • Patent number: 5709110
    Abstract: A security system (28) for a lap-top computer (30) with a monitor housing (32) hinged thereto. The system (28) comprises a low profile mounting plate (34). A component (36) is for affixing the low profile mounting plate (34) to the monitor housing (32). An elongated flexible retainment cable (38) is provided. A first assembly (40) is for locking in a swiveled manner, a first end of the cable (38) to a table/counter top (41). A second assembly (42) is for locking in a universal articulated manner a second end of the cable (38) to the low profile mounting plate (34). The monitor housing (32) of the lap-top computer (30) can be moved from a closed position to a vertical opened position, without interference from the cable (38) for full freedom of movement and positioning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventors: Jack Greenfield, David Monoson
  • Patent number: 5706681
    Abstract: An antitheft locking device has a steering wheel engaging member (30) with an end wall (32) covering the steering wheel (12) over its part that includes at least two ribs (16, 18), a peripheral wall (33) extending over at least a part of the outer periphery of a rim (14) of the steering wheel, and two spaced stops (34) protruding from end wall (32) and engageable with the ribs. A stop member (24) attached to steering wheel engaging member (30) extends at an angle with respect to its end wall (32) and is engageable with a fixed part (26) of a vehicle. A locking mechanism has a lock (60) made fast to steering wheel engaging member (30) and a locking member (72) connected to the steering wheel engaging member for movement to a locked position in which locking member (72) and steering wheel engaging member (30) fully enclose rim (14) of steering wheel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Gorokhovsky
  • Patent number: 5704234
    Abstract: A cylinder lock is provided having a sleeve rotatably receivable within the inner core of a sleeve. A cylinder retainer is slidably mounted within a cylinder retainer slot in the cylinder for radial movement therein. The cylinder retainer is movable between a first cylinder retaining position wherein the outer end of the cylinder retainer projects from the cylinder, a second retracted position wherein the outer end of the cylinder retainer is retracted within the cylinder. A slam resistance pad is mounted within the cylinder lock between the cylinder retainer and a stop surface in the sleeve such that if a thief attempts to remove the cylinder from the sleeve, the slam resistance pad is compressed between the cylinder retainer and the stop surface in the sleeve and dissipates the impact force on the cylinder retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis E. Resch
  • Patent number: 5704235
    Abstract: A key case for holding a key, the key having a head portion via which the key may be gripped by a user and a blade portion which is insertable into a lock, the key case comprising: a body portion having a wall which surrounds an interior space, a longitudinal axis and an open end traversed by the longitudinal axis; a holder plate having a recess for retaining the key in a manner to prevent relative rotation between the key and the holder plate; and a pivot assembly supporting the holder plate on the body for movement between a first position in which the holder plate covers the open end and the key blade extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second position in which the open end is uncovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Kurt Stahle
  • Patent number: 5701773
    Abstract: Apparatus for opening, or removing without damage, automotive side-bar type ignition locks, comprises a combination tool with a plurality of projections extending horizontally and forwardly from the combination tool to engage the lock's keyway, at least one balanced pair of recesses in the lock's face, or, optionally, when the tool is used as a lock-remover, the inner walls of the lock's hollow wing-nut cylinder cap. When used as a lock-forcing opener, the combination tool is placed in position on the lock cylinder's face and a conventional wrench gripping the tool's hexagonally-shaped portion is turned to create torque applied by the tool's projections against the walls of the lock's recesses, forcing the lock cylinder to turn to its ON position and start the vehicle's engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Markisello
  • Patent number: 5699687
    Abstract: A firearm-securing device providing tamper resistance features which device includes a keyway that operates a threaded rod which, in turn, controls spring-loaded cams that obstruct a tubular area including a chamber, a barrel, and a muzzle of a firearm. The cams have either fixed or articulated contact pads. Operating the keyway in clockwise rotation causes the cams to wedge against the inner chamber and barrel surfaces, locking the device in place. Counterclockwise keyway rotation unseats the cams, allowing the device to be remove from the chamber and barrel and thus allow operation of the firearm. The device includes several components designed to minimize tampering of the device itself as well as tampering of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: John M. Pittman