Patents Examined by Lloyd A. Gail
  • Patent number: 7685851
    Abstract: By providing a padlock having a primary shackle and a secondary shackle which is easily employed whenever the primary shackle has been cut, an effective, easily produced, key operated or combination controlled padlock is achieved which enables the padlock to be quickly and easily opened for inspection by security personnel, while also enabling the padlock to be quickly relocked after inspection using a secondary locking shackle. In addition, the secondary locking shackle provides the user with notice that the padlock and suitcase had been opened by security personnel. In accordance with the present invention, the padlock incorporates a housing and a primary shackle which is constructed for being lockingly engaged with the housing, as well as dis-engaged from the housing whenever the padlock is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Lai
  • Patent number: 6848286
    Abstract: A latch assembly, comprising a control element having a pivot point and an actuator. The actuator has a first position in which the control element is engaged by the actuator for pivotal movement about the pivot point and a second position in which the control element is disengaged by the actuator from pivotal movement about the pivot point. The latch assembly further includes a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation with the control element when the control element is engaged by the actuator and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged by the actuator. A highly preferred embodiment of the invention includes an automatic unlocking circuit powered by a backup power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Dimig
  • Patent number: 6834520
    Abstract: A dead bolt lock apparatus specifically adapted for use with a flight deck door of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a dead bolt member which can be moved between locked and unlocked positions via a key. A lockout handle is included on the side of the apparatus which faces the flight deck area of the aircraft. The lockout handle is movable rotationally from a first position, wherein it has no affect on the use of the key to unlock the dead bolt, to a second position wherein it prevents the dead bolt from being moved out of a locked position by use of the key. The apparatus thus provides an additional degree of security to occupants of the flight deck by allowing them to prevent unlocking of the apparatus even with the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. LaConte, Scott P. Kube, Shannon J. Kupfer, James J. Johnson, Tony D. Autrey, David S. Melberg, Larry C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6823701
    Abstract: A door latching device is disclosed that is mountable to conventional doors, including cargo container doors and garage doors, for preventing opening thereof. A conventional keyed lock, such as a padlock or puck-shaped protected shackle lock, couples with the latching device to lock the latching device in a latched position with a door. The latching device includes a rigid housing having an attachment bolt affixed thereto for securing the latching device to the door, a slidable locking pin having an opening for receiving a locking pin ingress/egress. In a locked position, the locking pin protrudes from the housing, and the lock is coupled with the locking pin to prevent movement of the same. In an unlocked position, the lock is uncoupled from the locking pin to permit sliding of the locking pin. The housing provides limited access to the lock once the lock is coupled with the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Roy E. Gogel
  • Patent number: 6672597
    Abstract: Sealing strip (1) for sealing a joint (23) between a frame profile (12), for example a window-frame profile, and a wall (15), having an elastically resilient foam strip (2) which is accommodated in a compressed state in a tear-open wrapper (3), which allows recovery of the foam strip (2). The tear-open wrapper (3) comprises a plastic sheet (F) which encloses the foam strip (2) and, at the same time, forms a tear-off flap (4) extending in longitudinal direction of the sealing strip (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Illbruck GmbH
    Inventors: Fritz Irrgeher, Rüdiger Daniel, Hubert Hilger
  • Patent number: 6584815
    Abstract: The invention elates to a hoop lock comprising a lock body and a hoop. The hoop can be coupled a its hoop ends to the lock body and latched thereto in the coupled state wherein two force cells spatially separated from one another are arranged in the lock body for the reception of the hoop ends. Each force cell is associated with a latching arrangement for a hoop end which is adjustable between a latched state and a released state and which can be actuated via a locking unit. At least one latching arrangement has a bolt element whose side remote from the inserted hoop end is supported at the force cell in the latched state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Abus August Bremicker Söhne KG
    Inventor: Michael Bremicker
  • Patent number: 6523377
    Abstract: The blocking device is intended for a cylinder lock (1) with mechanically coded tumblers and an electric coding. An installation unit (22) comprises an electrically driven control (14) with a helical drive unit (16). The helical drive unit (16) is connected with an additional blocking element (13), which can engage and disengage the rotor (10) of the cylinder lock (1). The helical drive unit (16) comprises a threaded track (39, 61, 65) closed at both ends. A control device (17) generates the control signals for the driving or the energy supply to the control (14). The method of construction according to the invention makes possible a compact type of construction and has improved security against unauthorized interference from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Berchtold AG
    Inventor: Benno Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 6490896
    Abstract: In a door lock handle assembly of pull-out and side-swinging lever-action type, an operating handle is released from its retracted position without fail upon receipt of an unlocking signal issued from a site remote from the handle assembly, and is automatically locked again to the retracted position when pushed back into the retracted position. A solenoid (12) is fixedly mounted on a rear surface of a housing (2). A latch portion (7) is formed in a receiving lever plate (13) pivoted to the housing (2). The solenoid (12) has its plunger (14) pivoted to the lever plate (13) which is rotatably biased by a spring (15) in the direction in which the lever plate (13) is engaged with a stopper plate (8). When the solenoid (12) is energized, the lever plate (13) is pulled back to have the latch portion (7) disengaged from the stopper plate (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shirou Segawa
  • Patent number: 6490894
    Abstract: The device is intended for a door having an exterior door panel having a door aperture and an edge face extending perpendicular to the exterior door panel. According to the invention, the device comprises an intermediate mounting plate borne by a support plate between it and the exterior door panel, the support plate carrying connecting elements. The device further includes an outside opening control module for opening the door from outside the vehicle. The intermediate mounting plate and the outside opening control module have cooperating attachment components for securing the control module to the intermediate support plate and for securing and pre-positioning the connecting elements in order to provide a connection between the control module and a lock. The device is intended to optimize the process of assembling automobile doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventor: Arquevaux Laurent
  • Patent number: 6484544
    Abstract: A lock secured to a surface for releasably retaining a motorcycle thereon. The lock includes a pair of outer tubular members secured to the surface. The outer members each enclose a height adjustment bar secured to the lower end of the outer member. The height adjustment bars each include a number of laterally extending pins spaced along the length of the bar. A pair of inner tubular members including a keyway secured to a lower end of the inner member are slidably insertable into the outer members. The keyways pass around the pins on the height adjustment bar until the inner members are rotated to engage the keyways with a selected pin on the respective bars. Each inner member also includes a pair of opposed openings adjacent the upper end of the inner member that are aligned when the inner members are placed in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Leroy Albert Wing
  • Patent number: 6412317
    Abstract: An integrated cabinet door and drawer handle and lock provides a front piece having apertures for receipt of a cabinet door or drawer lock and a human hand. Optionally, a wire pull handle can be provided. A backing plate having a transverse lip thereon is adapted for telescoping interaction with the front piece. A cabinet door or drawer having a portion cut out therefrom for receipt of the integrated handle and lock is clamped between the front piece and backing plate such as by screws. Multiple locks can be incorporated into the integrated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Lock, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Martin
  • Patent number: 6382000
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system (10, 10′, 10″) is provided which includes a pair of housing members (12, 12′ and 14, 14′), each having a respective cavity (122, 142) into which an upper portion of a vehicle automatic transmission gearshift lever (2, 2′) is received. The securement of the housing members (12, 12′ and 14, 14′) prevents access to a release button (4, 4′) carried by the gearshift lever (2, 2′). A lock (16, 16′) is provided to releasably lockingly secure one housing member (12, 12′) to the other housing member (14, 14′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Sherie A. Horton
  • Patent number: 6363757
    Abstract: A combination lock including main body, a series of number wheels and set wheels, a locating piece, a stop piece, a movable lock rod, a push block disposed on the locating piece, a notch disposed on the stop piece, a slide slot located in the main body, an arresting member slidably disposed in the slide slot of the main body, and a push piece disposed on the movable lock rod for pushing the arresting member to return to its original position, thereby preventing the disturbance of a set series of numbers which are used in opening the combination lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 5845521
    Abstract: An antitheft article for a motor vehicle has two parts which are pivotable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. Each of the parts resembles a box having an open side, and the open sides of the box-like parts face each other. A padlock is fixed to one of the box-like parts, and a tubular element for receiving the shackle of the padlock is fixed to the other of the box-like parts. One of the box-like parts is further provided with a pedestal. In operation, the box-like parts are opened and placed around the tread of the brake pedal with the pedestal facing the floorboard of the vehicle. The box-like parts are closed and, in the process, the shackle of the padlock passes through the tubular element. The padlock is locked thereby fixing the box-like parts with respect to one another. Cutouts are formed in the box-like parts for the lever supporting the tread of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Benito A. Najera