Patents Examined by Michael J. Kyle
  • Patent number: 6546763
    Abstract: A lock assembly includes an elongated generally U-shaped resilient shackle, a base block, and may also include a keyed auxiliary locking bar. A first shackle arm is slidably and rotatably secured to the base block so that the shackle can be moved between extended and depressed positions and pivoted between locked and unlocked positions. The base block includes a catch for retaining a second shackle arm in the locked position. To pivot the shackle so that the second shackle arm can be moved into or out of the catch, the second shackle arm must be flexed toward the first shackle arm. When the shackle is in the locked position, a locking mechanism holds the shackle in the extended position and requires the shackle to be depressed, while the second shackle arm is flexed, to pivot the shackle and move the second shackle arm out of the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Pielach
  • Patent number: 6546767
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock assembly has a latch (12) for mounting on a vehicle door. The latch (12) has at least one release lever for effecting releasing of the latch and at least one locking lever (14) for locking the latch, disabling the release lever, and unlocking the latch, enabling the release lever. A compound linkage (20, 24; 20, 124) operatively engages the locking lever (14). A lock cylinder (30, 130) has a spindle (28) which engages the linkage. The spindle (28) rotates in response to keyed rotation of a matched key being received by the lock cylinder (30; 130) which drives the linkage (20, 24; 20, 124) to effect movement of the locking lever (14). The spindle (28) is axially slidable to disengage the spindle from the linkage. A hollow shield (34) shrouds the locking lever (14), the linkage (20, 24; 20, 124) and the engagement between the linkage and the spindle (28), preventing access thereto. If the spindle is removed, the linkage will pivot away preventing manipulation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
    Inventors: Juliusz Kirejczyk, Douglas G. Overbury, Krzysztof Groszkowski
  • Patent number: 6543262
    Abstract: A lock is fitted with a locking element and a control element which is rotated by a drive to-and-fro in order to axially reciprocate the locking element through a coaxial drive element between a locked and an unlocked position. The drive element and the control element are also configured coaxially and cooperative by means of a cross-pin which is axially displaceable in a transverse borehole of the inner drive element and by means of two helical inner channels as well as an adjoining plane terminal surface of the outer control element which runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the control element and is bounded by a side ramp running from the bottom of one channel past the other channel on the outside thereof toward the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Limburg, Ludwig Zauser, Horst Zillmann
  • Patent number: 6540233
    Abstract: An improved exhaust manifold gasket for sealing between cylinder head port and flanged exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The gasket includes an integral heat insulating sleeve for reducing thermal stresses on cylinder head port and gasket body, and is comprised of first and second metal layers fixedly secured together along a unitary plane. An aperture through the gasket provides for passage of high-temperature exhaust gases, wherein the first and second layers define at least one full sealing bead disposed about the circumference of the aperture. The second layer includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed leg portions symmetrically disposed about the exhaust aperture. The leg portions are adapted to receive the attached sleeve, which is positioned orthogonally to the unitary plane and adapted to extend into the exhaust port. The sleeve forms an insulating air gap between its exterior circumference and the interior circumference of the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Battistoni, James T. Mikos
  • Patent number: 6539761
    Abstract: A padlock includes: a lock body; a shackle operatively locked in or unlocked from the lock body; a key-operated locking device formed in the lock body for operatively unlocking the shackle for unlocking the padlock by using a key, and a combination locking device juxtapositionally formed in the lock body for operatively unlocking the shackle for unlocking the padlock merely by dialing the combination to an unlocking number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Kuo-Tsung Yang
  • Patent number: 6536246
    Abstract: The retaining device is designed to be fitted into the end of the handlebar of a personal vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorcycle, an all terrain vehicle, or a personal watercraft. The device has a shackle, a cable, or a spring loaded lever which extends out of the distal end of the handlebar whereby it can be used to retain such items as a motorcycle helmet or a flotation vest. The retaining device can optionally include a lock, which can be either a combination lock or a keyed lock. Advantageously, the retaining device is substantially fitted wholly within the handlebar of the vehicle when it is not being used. In various embodiments a cable can be used, and a cap, which is adapted to fit over said retaining device, can be attached to the distal end of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Larry Stephen Wilson, Edward John Hosch, III
  • Patent number: 6530716
    Abstract: A detachable connection of first and second hollow shafts having first and second end faces is provided by axially insetting the first and second end faces into one another, wherein the first end face has an inner annular flange and the second end face has an outer annular flange. The annular flanges overlap one another when inserted. The inner annular flange has several radially displaceable locking bolts. The locking bolts have first locking bolt ends facing the outer annular flange and second locking bolt ends threadedly guided in the inner annular flange. The outer annular flange has locking bushings for the locking bolts. The locking bolts have a central circumferential pinion having teeth. The inner annular flange has a rotary ring with lateral teeth meshing with the circumferential pinions. The first locking bolt ends have receptacles for a rotary tool for rotating the locking bolts about the bolt axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rüdiger Grimmel
  • Patent number: 6526787
    Abstract: A door lock device comprised a main body, a lock bolt, a lock tongue, a spindle, and two moving collars. The spindle is connected with the lock bolt by a lock bolt transmission mechanism. The spindle is connected at one end with a lock control mechanism located in the external side of the main body. The spindle is provided at both ends with a moving collar having a retaining portion which is connected with the lock tongue by a lock tongue transmission mechanism. A rotating mechanism is disposed in the external side of the main body such that the rotating mechanism is coaxial with the lock control mechanism. The lock bolt and the lock tongue are coaxially driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Summit Automation Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen Ming-Chih
  • Patent number: 6517079
    Abstract: An aerodynamic seal for a continuous heat treatment furnace which contains a protective atmosphere, and through which a metal strip moves in a given direction is disclosed. The seal is adjacent a passage through which the strip moves through a wall of the furnace, and comprises two slit nozzles above the strip and two slit nozzles below the strip, and inlets for causing a jet of gas to flow through each of the slit nozzles. The slit nozzles are so positioned that gas flowing normal to the strip through the two nozzles above the strip will strike the strip in two lines which are separated from one another in the given direction, and gas flowing normal to the strip through the two nozzles below the strip will strike the strip in two lines which are separated from one another in the given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Winfried Sommereisen
  • Patent number: 6513444
    Abstract: A media cassette (10) including a fluid spray system for spraying media located within the cassette (10) is described. The cassette (10) includes a lid (12) and a body (14). The body (14) includes an absorbent portion (40) in the form of a chemical absorbing sheet for absorbing any fluid not absorbed by the media (42). The sheet (40) is preferably folded and creased into a concertina arrangement so that the sheet (40) can expand and compress as media are removed from or added to the cassette (10). If the fluid spray system is activated when the cassette (10) is only partially full of media (42), then the sheet (40) absorbs the fluid that is not absorbed by the media (42), thereby preventing leakage of the fluid from the cassette (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Neil Walker
  • Patent number: 6513813
    Abstract: A gel slab sealing strip adapted for use in an electrophoresis tank is provided according to the invention. The sealing strip includes a body having a height, at least one flap extending outwardly from the body and having a height substantially equal to the body, and a core extending at least partially through the body, wherein the sealing strip is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle in a bottom of the electrophoresis tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Large Scale Proteomics Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Goodman, N. Leigh Anderson
  • Patent number: 6508088
    Abstract: The invention provides a system comprising an antitheft mechanism (20) comprising a housing (22) in which a member (24, 26, 38) for manually controlling the starting of the vehicle engine and the locking of the steering can move axially (26, 38) between a pulled position in which it locks the steering and a pushed position in which it unlocks the steering, is mounted so that it can rotate (24, 26, 38) between an angular position of rest and an angular position of use, and is connected in terms of rotation to a cam (132) for controlling the latch bolt (36, 122), wherein the antitheft system comprises an electromagnet (30) for immobilizing the control member (24, 26, 38) in terms of rotation with respect to the housing (22, 28), the release of which is controlled when an encoded antitheft signal is supplied by the identification unit to an electronic circuit that controls the immobilizing member and a switch (32, 70) which triggers an interrogation and identification step, which is carried by the housing (22, 2
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Stéphane Barbier, Fabrice Giacomin, Louis Canard
  • Patent number: 6497414
    Abstract: Articles and methods are provided for sealing a closure having an opening through which more than one elongate article may project. A body is provided having a plurality of axially extending radially projecting ribs defining, between circumferentially adjacent pairs thereof, locations for receiving one or more of the elongate articles. The body includes longitudinally adjacent parts of resilient material and sealant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk Roosen
  • Patent number: 6464228
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of sealing dynamic shaft applications. The method comprises providing a dynamic shaft assembly containing a bore for receiving a seal, providing a unitized seal, and placing the unitized seal on the shaft, thus sealing the assembly so that lubricants may not escape, and foreign material may not enter. The unitized seal can provide permanently lubricated sealed bearings in severe service conditions such as rollers and idlers of track-driven vehicles and agricultural equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Transcom, Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael R. Oldenburg
  • Patent number: 6427505
    Abstract: It is fitted in the inner escutcheon and is able to be adapted to any lock and in left- and right-handed doors. Once the lock has been opened, after a certain length of time it becomes locked again even though the handle has not been turned. It includes two inner (12) and outer (11) square bars in prolongation, connected to individual tumblers (21, 22) and bearing the operating handles. Both tumblers (21, 22) have a relative angular displacement, turning simultaneously, after the release of a displaceable piece (23) or latch, introduced into a groove (214) of the outer tumbler (21), the latch (23) being assisted by a spring (30). The latch (23) is displaceable from the inside by means of rocker arms (24, 25) operated by lugs (224, 225) of the inner tumbler (22), projecting from the groove (214). From the outside, a reducer motor (40) acts on an endless screw (401), which displaces the spring (30) connected to the latch (23) through a certain angle in order to release it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Escudos Kala Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Juan Antonio Imedio Ocaña