Patents Examined by Darnell M. Boucher
  • Patent number: 6062050
    Abstract: A golf club bag having a golf club locking assembly integral therewith is provided, comprising a golf club bag with an integral golf club locking assembly, the assembly including an upper housing element with a latch coupled to the upper housing element, and a single locking plate coupled to said slide latch constrained within guide tracks moveable between the upper and lower housing element. A key cylinder is communicatively linked to the locking plate and an elastic bumper for holding golf clubs within the assembly is secured to the locking plate. A cable locking plate for locking the assembly to any object is secured to the device, and a lower housing element is configured to be secured to the upper housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald K. Lion
  • Patent number: 6062053
    Abstract: A quick-release locking device for locking an article basket on a bicycle handle bar, including a fastener body and a main body. The fastener body is a double-layer plate body formed with insertion slots and a fixing slot for engaging with the main body. One end of the main body is disposed with latch arms for engaging with the fastener body and a resilient engaging section for engaging with a slope engaging block of a push button. Lower edges of two sides of the other end of the main body are respectively disposed with clamping passages in which the bicycle handle bar is clamped and fixed. The locking device serves to lock the article basket on the bicycle with a quick-release function, whereby the basket or bag can be directly taken out from the bicycle for shopping or preventing the article placed in the article basket from being stolen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Kuo-Ping Ho
  • Patent number: 6058747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to latches, and in particular gravity latches. The latch comprises a housing which integrally mounts together with the latch a lock mechanism The latch can therefore be locked. The lock mechanism is such that the latch can also be locked in the open position.A further mechanism is also provided which enables operation of the latch from the opposite side of the fence, gate or door to where the latch is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: D & D Group PTY Limited
    Inventors: David Thomas Doyle, Anthony John Clark, Iulian Danut Turlea
  • Patent number: 6053542
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a rotatable forkbolt that is latched by a detent in a primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outside door handles via suitable mechanical linkage. The door latch includes a locking lever that disables the door handles from operating the intermittent lever when it is in the locked position. The door latch also includes a cinching mechanism that automatically engages the forkbolt in the primary latch position when the intermediate secondary latch position is reached. The cinching mechanism includes a link that has one end connected to a cinch pawl and another end connected to the latch assembly. The link pulls on the pawl to disengage it from a cinching gear to allow the cinching gear to return to the standby or home position during an unlatching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Artur Jerzy Ostrowski, Joseph Leon Bastien
  • Patent number: 6053018
    Abstract: Described is a security device for the lock on a switchgear-cabinet door, a machine housing or similar equipment, the device consisting of a first element (54) attached e.g. to the door (12) and a second element (44) attached e.g. to the door frame or machine-housing frame (24), the two elements (54, 44) being designed so that one can be inserted in the other and be held in this position under the control of an electrical signal, corresponding, for example, to the presence or absence of an operating signal. The invention calls, in the case of a door or machine-housing panel (12), for e.g. one element (54) to be attached to the handle (26) of a turning-handle lock (14) mounted on the door or housing panel and for the other element (44) to be attached in such a way to the door frame or housing frame (24) that this other element (44) projects out into the vicinity of the lock handle when the door is closed or the housing in place and the lock handle turned into the "locked" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Dieter Ramsauer
  • Patent number: 6053016
    Abstract: An anti-theft device is provided including an electrical appliance having a power cord. A stationary hinge portion is fixedly coupled to a recipient surface. Associated therewith is a movable hinge portion hingably coupled to the stationary hinge portion and further lockable with respect thereto. A cord may then be situated between the hinge portions and locked therebetween for preventing the theft of the electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Robert C. Young
  • Patent number: 6050622
    Abstract: A safety sealing device includes a support. An electronic safety circuit is glued to one face of the support. The electronic safety circuit includes a winding of fine wire connected to an electronic component. The electronic component is activated and interrogated by outside checking means via the winding, which acts as an antenna. The electronic component may be coded so that it responds to the interrogation with its code. The safety sealing device may further comprise differentiated gluing means. When attempting to tamper with the support to which the safety circuit has been glued in order to unseal a receiving article, the attempt at ungluing or a tearing causes a break in the continuity of the electronic circuit. As a result, the electronic component no longer responds to an interrogation with its code, thus assuredly indicating that the safety sealing device has been tampered with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Ake Gustafson
  • Patent number: 6050118
    Abstract: A key body (14) is inserted into a recess (16) to be held on a card key support (12). When a spare key (10) is used, the key body (14) is removed from the recess (16) and inserted into the recess (26). Accordingly, a lock insertion portion (14B) protrudes from the card key support (12) for manipulation of the key. A transmitter element (18) is mounted to the card key support (12) near a base portion (14A) of the key body (14) which is mounted to the recess (26) so that an ID signal is transmitted from the transmitter element (18) in the direction of the key cylinder in the same manner as in an original key. An operating condition of an engine is thereby maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shozo Kito
  • Patent number: 6050119
    Abstract: A universal key ring assembly having an attachment band of thin flat material with a self-adhesive on its inner engagement surface. An engagement loop is secured to the adhesive surface on the attachment band and extends therefrom defining a central engagement point for key ring elements. The attachment band is secured about any shaped element that then becomes the key ring base of support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Fran Potts
  • Patent number: 6047575
    Abstract: The latching components of the padlock are driven by a motor between positions for latching and releasing the padlock shackle. Power for the motor is provided by a source carried in an electronic key. An encoder element with associated optical elements provides position information to the control circuit carried inside of the padlock. The control circuit correlates the position information with the signal directing power to the motor so that the motor is precisely controlled for moving the latching elements between release and latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: SLC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne F. Larson, Christopher Raymond Kickner
  • Patent number: 6047577
    Abstract: A door lock particularly suited for an apartment or condominium where the resident has an entry key and management personnel also have a key that will allow access to the apartment, the door lock having a spring loaded axial pin which is retained in an externally visible position when the lock is actuated by the resident's key and which is released to an externally non-visible position when the lock is actuated by the management key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Frank Klimas
  • Patent number: 6044673
    Abstract: A locomotive locket device for disabling the forward/reverse control system of a locomotive or other powered railway vehicle has an axially-expandable plug portion which may be inserted into a keyhole chamber in a locomotive controller. The plug portion comprises upper and lower tubular truncated cylinders having complementary angled faces. When drawn together, the cylinders offset axially from one another, expanding their combined axial diameter. The device may be locked in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Inter-Pacific Services (1996) Ltd.
    Inventor: Dean R. Jefferson
  • Patent number: 6042156
    Abstract: A double jaw latch mechanism for releasably securing a moveable structure to a keeper. The moveable structure may be an aircraft cowling and the keeper may be mounted to an aircraft structure. The double jaw latch includes a handle rotatably mounted to a housing. The handle has an open position, a closed position, and a pre-catch position. The handle is connected to a double jaw assembly which likewise has an open position, a closed position, and a pre-catch position. The double jaw assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw mounted in pivoted relation for movement to and from each other to engage the keeper. When the double jaw latch is in the open position, the jaws are spaced apart to permit disengagement with the keeper. In the closed position, the jaws are trapped within the housing and rigidly retain the keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Jackson
  • Patent number: 6039365
    Abstract: A seal-locking mechanism is intended for seal-locking of railway wagons and containers and other objects such as, for example, warehouses, depots, shops, tanks, hatches and automobiles.The seal-locking mechanism comprises a body 1, a locking element 3 having unilaterally beveled serrations 6 contacting, when locking, with respective serrations made on separate fixing elements 7 located in the body 1 over conical surfaces and spring-loaded with respect to said body. The seal-locking mechanism may be provided with a cap 13 which, when locating on the body 1, results in the formation of a single cylindrical surface of the seal-locking mechanism. The locking element 3 is made i nthe form of a cylindrical rod having a head 4 in close proximity to which, on a its lateral surface, there is provided a ring-shaped boring 11. A required information is applied to the face of the head 4 of the locking element 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Nikolai Timofeevich Rogatnev
  • Patent number: 6038894
    Abstract: A door lock has a first handle, a second handle, and a lock device disposed between the first handle and the second handle. The lock device has a disk disposed on the second handle, an annular cover disposed on the first handle, a sleeve disposed on the disk, an annular dish, an annular spring, a cage ring, and an annular cage seat disposed in the annular cover in order, a case disposed between the sleeve and the annular cage seat, a draft block inserted in the case, a core inserted in the first handle, a tube inserted in the second handle, a button inserted in a rear end of the tube, an extended rod extending from the button and inserted in the tube, a pipe inserted in the first handle, a collar inserted in the disk, a positioning plate inserted in the sleeve, a hollow cylinder device inserted in the pipe, a compression spring inserterd in the hollow cylinder device, and a block seat disposed in the draft block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Shyang Feng Electric & Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Francisco Hu
  • Patent number: 6035680
    Abstract: A combination key lock for a vehicle lock cylinder having a keyhole including two flanges, each having a throughbore, integrally disposed on either side of the keyhole. The throughbores receive the shackle of a conventional padlock. The invention also provides for aftermarket reconfiguration of manufacturer-installed lock cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Betty A. Harris
  • Patent number: 6036241
    Abstract: A mechanism for locking an access door of an appliance includes a spring biased catch member preferably attached to the door and a latching housing insert fixed to a cabinet shell of the appliance. Upon closing the door, the catch member is caused to ride up a ramped retaining element mounted in a latching cavity, while simultaneously pivoting a first locking element between release and set positions. When the door is fully closed, the catch member drops behind the retaining element to releasably hold the door closed. When it is desired to maintain the door in a securely locked position, a linear actuator is activated to shift a second locking element into engagement with the first locking element. Preferably, the first and second locking elements are engaged through a ratchet connection which enables continued rotation of the first locking element to only further lock the catch member in the latching cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Ostdiek, Evan R. Vande Haar, Michael W. Winders
  • Patent number: 6035673
    Abstract: A sliding door lock assembly having a lock housing and a removable core is disclosed. The removable core includes a key slot configured to receive an operating key and a control key. The control key is positionable within the key slot and actuable to facilitate removal of the removable core from the lock housing. The operating key positionable within the key slot and actuable to retain the removable core at a position fully inserted within the lock housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Kenstan Lock Company
    Inventor: Robert B. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6036239
    Abstract: A door security arrangement with the frame member which is mountable in a wall alongside the opening edge of a door and has an elongate member slideably mounted therein, the member being substantially the same length of the door edge and being movable from a retracted position in which it lies within the frame member and permits the door to swing past it to an extended position in which it lies alongside and substantially against the inner face of the door and the arrangement including releasable means, located within the frame member which hold the elongate member in its retracted and extended positions and are operable by the normal door locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: David George Hammersley
  • Patent number: RE36652
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a permanent magnet which is fixedly connected with a housing. A pair of pole pieces are connected with opposite poles of the permanent magnet. A coil extends around a portion one of the pole pieces. A keeper is mounted for pivotal movement between an initial position in which the keeper engages both of the pole pieces and a release position in which the keeper is spaced from the pole pieces. The coil is energizable to oppose the permanent magnet and release the keeper for pivotal movement from the initial position to the release position. A retainer surface is connected with the keeper and retains a striker and door against movement relative to the housing when the latch assembly is in an engaged condition. The retainer surface and striker cooperate to transmit force along a path which extends through an axis about which the keeper pivots. The retainer surface has an arcuate surface area with a center of curvature disposed on the axis about which the keeper pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William S. Wang