Patents Examined by Michael P. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 12372109
    Abstract: A button assembly is provided that includes a plug, a button, and a biasing member. The plug can be received in an inner pole section. The button is slidably received in the plug for movement between a locked position extended from the plug and an unlocked position retracted with respect to the plug. The biasing member biases the button to the locked position. The button has a land region, a cammed region, and a locking edge. The cammed region slopes from the land region in a direction towards the locking edge. The land region is remote from any pinch point formed between the plug and the locking edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Lawrence Gerard Bereswill, Ahmad Atallah, Adam Paul Brown, Gregory Kevin Tetro
  • Patent number: 12359687
    Abstract: Provided is a latch member. The latch member, in one aspect, includes an upper portion and a lower portion extending from one or more surfaces and defining a central axis, the lower portion including first and second lower portions circumferentially spaced from one another and axially spaced from the upper portion to form first and second channels, the first and second lower portions having respective first and second leading peaks opposite the first and second channels, the first leading peak axially offset from the second leading peak, wherein the first and second channels are configured to each receive one of two pins of a related hook member and cause the latch member to rotate relative to the hook member, wherein the latch and hook member are configured to alternate between latched and unlatched configurations as the latch member reciprocates substantially along the central axis relative to the hook member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Inventor: Javier E. Oliver
  • Patent number: 12352076
    Abstract: An improved method and system for providing a magnetic closure system for an electronic device (100) may include a first portion (130), a second portion (150), a connecting element (145) pivotally connecting the first portion to the second portion and configured to enable the electronic device to fold between a closed position and an open position, and a magnetic element (160, 165) for providing a closure force to bias the electronic device in the closed position. The magnetic element may include a first magnet pair and a second magnet pair, each of the first magnet pair and second magnet pair including a first magnet housed within the first portion and a second magnet housed within the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Aseem Singla, Joseph Benjamin Gault
  • Patent number: 12351262
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods associated with a cable lock assembly for a micromobility transit vehicle. A lock assembly may include a latch, an actuator, and an electric motor. The latch may be movable between a first, locking configuration securing a locking pin in place and a second, unlocking configuration disengaging the latch from the locking pin. The actuator may be coupled to the latch and movable between a plurality of positions, such as first, second, and third positions. The first position may secure the latch in the first configuration. The second position may move the latch to the second configuration. The third position may allow the latch to move between the first configuration and the second configuration. The electric motor may move the actuator between positions. A tolerance between the actuator and the latch may limit a load applied to the actuator by the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin Jye Chang, Merric-Andrew Jaranowski French, Kevin Shia, Xin Wu
  • Patent number: 12352065
    Abstract: Border walls and related systems and methods are disclosed. A border wall may include a plurality of bollard fence sections adapted for engagement with corresponding base members. Each fence section may include a plurality of bollards. Each base member may include a plurality of openings extending downwardly from a top surface of the base member partially into the base member. The openings in the top of a base member are adapted for engagement with individual corresponding bollards on a bollard fence section. At least one of the bollards is “matched” to a corresponding opening in the base member so that the “matched” bollard, when inserted into and engaged with its corresponding “matched” opening, may function to support and/or align the bollard fence section. The base members may also include connectors, and/or mating alignment notches and protrusions, to facilitate joining and/or leveling of the base members to form a stable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Tricon Precast, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gilbert M. Flores
  • Patent number: 12345286
    Abstract: In a magnet holder 4 including: a shaft attachment portion 41 to which a shaft 2 is press-fitted and fixed; and a magnet holding portion 42 that is provided on one side in an axial direction of the shaft attachment portion 41 and holds a periphery of a magnet 5, and provided with an undercut portion 50 that engages with the magnet 5 in the axial direction on an inner peripheral surface 43 of the magnet holding portion 42 facing the magnet 5, the magnet holding portion 42 and the shaft attachment portion 41 are integrally formed of sintered metal, an outer peripheral surface and an end surface of the magnet holding portion 42 and an inner peripheral surface of the shaft attachment portion 41 are sized, and the undercut portion 50 is formed by plastic deformation of the magnet holding portion 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shouhei Suzuki, Toshihiro Takakusu, Daisuke Takeda
  • Patent number: 12337917
    Abstract: A brake disk lock includes a claw comprising a first claw section and a second claw section movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position of the claw, wherein, in the closed position, the claw comprises a predetermined clearing width so as to engage around a section of a brake disk of a two-wheeled vehicle. Further, the brake disk lock comprises a locking mechanism which is configured to lock the claw in the closed position, and an adjustment device configured to adjust the predetermined clearing width of the claw to different brake disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG
    Inventor: Martin Hommel
  • Patent number: 12326007
    Abstract: A fence guard including: an elongated channel-shaped body member having a planar and horizontal bottom, at least two planer sidewalls extending upwardly from edges of the horizontal bottom and forming an open top, where an open longitudinal channel is defined by the horizontal bottom and the planar sidewalls; the planar sidewalls are outwardly angled in a direction extending from the horizontal bottom to the open top; and a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings along the planar sidewalls aligned respective of one another and formed to engage with each other via a connection member; where the connection member secures the planar sidewalls to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Inventor: Kevin Mullin
  • Patent number: 12297907
    Abstract: A water-proof sealing structure for vehicle roof racks includes a sealing member which includes a first end, a second end and a shank formed between the first and second ends. The first end of the sealing member includes a first sealing portion which seals the inner periphery of a male end of a first pipe of the vehicle roof rack. The second end of the sealing member includes a second sealing portion which seals the opening of the male end and also seals the inner periphery of a female end of a second pipe of the vehicle roof rack. The shank has a positioning hole defined radially therethrough. A bolt extends through the first and second pipes and the positioning hole to connect the male end to the female end. The positioning hole is a tapered hole to allow the bolt to be movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: KING RACK INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiu Kuei Wang
  • Patent number: 12281493
    Abstract: There is disclosed an exit trim that permits simplified changing of the handing of a lever handle between a left hand and a right hand orientation. The handing orientation of the lever handle can be repositioned without disassembling the exit trim or removing components positioned within the exit trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jack R. Lehner, Jr., Joseph Janik
  • Patent number: 12276142
    Abstract: The present application improves operability. In the door opening/closing detection apparatus, the handle is axially supported rotatably on the base with the axis direction in vertical direction. When the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the push operation position rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, the first switch is activated by the handle's switch operation portion. Meanwhile, when the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the pull operation position rotated toward the interior of the vehicle, the handle's cam surface activates the second switch. This allows detection of operations on the handle while keeping the direction of push and pull operations on the gripping portion of the handle in line with the opening/closing direction of the door D. This allows the passenger to intuitively recognize the operation to the handle when opening and closing the door D, leading to improved operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: U-Shin Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichi Miyata, Kazuhiro Fukui
  • Patent number: 12276301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a push/pull rod (10) comprising at least one first fastening device (12) with a coupling element (12a) and a shank (12b) which is arranged on it, at least one first connection piece (18), wherein the first fastening device (12) is connected to the first connection piece (18) such that it can be rotated via a threaded arrangement (30) in order to change the length of the push/pull rod (10), a holding device with first and second holding elements interact, and are pressed against one another by means of a spring element (28), wherein the first holding element of the holding device is connected fixedly to the first connection piece (18) for conjoint rotation, and the second holding element is arranged fixedly on the first fastening device (12) for conjoint rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: S-FASTENERS GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Homner
  • Patent number: 12276137
    Abstract: A stepless adjustable electronic device locking apparatus has a fixing member, a stage adjusting mechanism, a driving mechanism, an unlocking member, and a lock. The driving mechanism selectively opens the fixing member to engage in an anti-theft hole based on a current one of working stages to which the stage adjusting mechanism adjusts. The unlocking member is able to close the fixing member. By separating adjustment of the working stages and movement of the fixing member, the movements of the fixing member do not interfere in the working stages. Therefore, the unlocking member can be applied to the driving mechanism to unlock. The fixing member can be closed to disengage from the anti-theft hole through the unlocking member without being reversely rotated and adjusting the working stages, so as to unlocking quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Sinox Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Wang, Chia-Ming Wu, Kuo-Kuang Pan
  • Patent number: 12276132
    Abstract: A striker assembly for a vehicle closure panel includes a striker plate and a striker. The striker plate has opposite sides with at least one opening. A body of the striker extends through the at least one opening outwardly from the opposite sides to opposite first and second end regions, the second end region being configured for latched engagement with a ratchet of a latch assembly. The body is releasably fixed in a first position relative to the striker plate during normal use conditions resulting in normal use forces being applied to the striker. The body is intentionally deformable under an abnormal condition resulting in abnormal, excessively high force being applied to the striker to allow the striker to automatically move relative to the striker plate from the first position to a second position to allow a vehicle closure panel to move outwardly relative to an adjacent vehicle body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Magna BOCO GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Digel, Florian Scheffler
  • Patent number: 12269714
    Abstract: A connection device for coupling a load to a lifting lug with a support bolt which is rotatable in a through-opening of a ring holder. The support bolt has a threaded shaft and a bolt head which protrudes radially, and which can also be rotated therewith relative to the lifting lug. The ring holder is covered at the lower side thereof by an end flange at the lower end of a sleeve which is releasably secured to the support bolt by tension in an axial direction. The ring holder has at least one locking member for the bolt head which blocks the bolt head from rotation in a locking position and which is not in engagement with the bolt head in an initial position. The support bolt is supported in the through-opening of the ring holder with a ball bearing, and the lifting lug is an open ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: pewag austria GmbH
    Inventor: Ranko Ivanic
  • Patent number: 12264483
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements extending from a portion of the spacer block. The board engagement elements can clamp the board, between an upper and/or lower surface of the board and a groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Todd E. A. Schwartzkopf
  • Patent number: 12264498
    Abstract: A key device (10) includes a generally elongate shaft portion (12), and at least one magnetic key combination element (20) disposed in the shaft portion (12), which is rotatable about a rotation axis (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Effi Ben-Aharon, Asaf Bortman
  • Patent number: 12258796
    Abstract: A handle for a vehicle opening leaf includes an inner bracket mechanism and an outer bezel mechanism. The inner bracket mechanism is mounted from an inside of the opening leaf. The outer bezel mechanism is mounted from an outside of the opening leaf and is fixed to the inner bracket mechanism. The outer bezel mechanism includes a bezel and a grip mechanism. The bezel extends inward to an interior of the opening to allow access by a hand to the grip mechanism. The grip mechanism is configured to cooperate with a latch mechanism so as to unlatch the opening leaf. The grip mechanism is rotatably mounted on the outer bezel mechanism between a resting position in which the grip mechanism is flush with the opening leaf, and an opening position in which the grip mechanism drives the latch mechanism to unlatch the opening leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: U-Shin Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Anthony Guerin
  • Patent number: 12234654
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements. The board engagement elements can engage the groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Todd E. A. Schwartzkopf
  • Patent number: 12234647
    Abstract: The present invention relating to a rebar coupler that mutually connects and fixes a rebar in a longitudinal direction comprises: a pair of coupler bodies that are formed in a cylindrical shape through which the inside is penetrated, formed of an inlet in one side through which the rebar is inserted, and formed of a fixing piece contact surface inclined toward the inlet inside the penetrated passage; a connecting unit disposed between the pair of coupler bodies to mutually couple the opposite ends of the inlet of each coupler body; a plurality of fixing pieces arranged radially inside the coupler body, wherein an outer surface is installed to contact the fixing piece contact surface, and wherein a plurality of locking protrusions are formed in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, to fix the rebar inserted through the inlet; and an elastic member provided inside the coupler body to press the plurality of fixing pieces toward the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Young Jae Bae