Patents Examined by Monica E. Millner
  • Patent number: 5775746
    Abstract: A retractable flush-mounted apparatus which is mounted in a floor or other flat mounting surface. The apparatus includes a housing with a flange plate which is mounted in an opening in the mounting surface. A retractable member is provided within the housing which alternates between a raise position and a lower position. By pressing downwardly on the top of the retractable member, a latching mechanism is released, allowing the spring biased retractable member to move to the raised position. The retractable member is lowered by applying a force sufficient to counteract the action of the spring and move the member into the housing, whereupon the latch mechanism re-engages the retractable member to retain it in the lower position. The apparatus can be adapted for use as a security door stop or as a pop-up utility outlet. When used as a security door stop, the risk of accidental lock-out is reduced through the use of a ratchet plate and camming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: John Charlton
  • Patent number: 5749610
    Abstract: A steel bolt has weakening grooves at one end to which a head is swaged, the head having two frusto-conical portions at opposite ends. One end has a frusto-conical step for receiving a pair of jaws of a bolt breaking tool. A resilient spacer is attached to the bolt next to the head for limiting the depth of entry of the bolt head into a hasp hole, to provide access clearance for the tool and to permit the bolt to tilt to assist in breaking the bolt. The spacer is received in one hasp hole smaller in diameter than a second hasp hole to limit the depth of insertion of the spacer and the bolt head tapered end portion into the hasp. A seal with a conventional locking mechanism has a frusto-conical end region which partially engages the other hasp hole. The bolt and seal cooperate to lock the seal axially at different positions so the seal is engaged with one hasp hole and the bolt head engaged with the other hasp hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Transguard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence N. Brammall, Randel Mills, Rodney Ridenour, David Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5709115
    Abstract: A sidebar ignition lock is provided with improved anti-tampering features. The ignition lock includes a cylinder extending along a longitudinal axis and rotatably supported within a sleeve. The tumblers are maintained entirely within the diameter of the cylinder to prevent possible picking of the lock. A knob is provided to prevent access to the area between the outer surface of the cylinder and the inner surface of the sleeve. When the cylinder is received within the sleeve, the knob is maintained on the cylinder head by a retaining member extending from the sleeve. The sidebar ignition lock further includes a roller ball detent to prevent over rotation of the cylinder with respect to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corp.
    Inventor: Carl E. Richter
  • Patent number: 5704662
    Abstract: A security latch for doors and the like is disclosed including a link member one end of which is pivotably secured to the inside of the door and the other end is swingable to a position overlapping the door frame. One side of the swingable end is notched for engagement with a stop fixedly mounted to the door frame for lockable engagement with the notched portion of the link member. A locking knob is threadably mateable with the stop and after the link member is engaged with the stop, the locking knob is tightened to removably clamp the link member in locking engagement with the stop and the locking knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Frank P. Kwiatkowski
  • Patent number: 5694796
    Abstract: A lock apparatus including a shackle having first and second joined leg portions and a cross member pivotally connected to the first leg portion for pivotal rotation relative to the shackle, about a pivotal axis. The cross member has an opening for receiving a portion of the second leg portion therein when the lock is in a closed position and a bolt connected to the cross member is operable to selectively releasably engage the second leg portion when the lock is in the closed position. The apparatus further includes a lock position holder including a contact member on the cross member and a detent member on the shackle. The contact member and detent member are engageable with each other such that relative movement between the contact member and the detent member is resisted, to interfere with movement of the cross member relative to the shackle to keep the cross member and the shackle in a position of relative angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Richard Alexander Couillard, Joyce Lynne Hahn, George Henry Preis
  • Patent number: 5690373
    Abstract: There is a lock for a door or the like which comprises a tongue pivotable on an axis between a locking position where it engages a striker and an unlocked position where it is clear of the striker. A pawl is pivotable on a second axis between a first position where one end abuts said tongue to hold it in said locking position and a second position where said one end is clear of the tongue. There is a set of toggles hingedly connected end to end between another opposite end of the pawl and another axis. The interconnected ends of the toggles are connected to a solenoid plunger by a link. There is a stop pin which is movable between a fail safe position where when the solenoid is deactivated the toggles are biased by a coil spring against the stop pin in a substantially straight configuration and a fail safe position where during energization of the solenoid the toggles are held to a slightly offset position against the stop pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Trimec Securities Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Graham James Luker
  • Patent number: 5690372
    Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a housing containing a force transfer member. At one end of the force transfer member, a first cam mechanism is provided which is intended to be rotated by an actuator handle. At the other end of the force transfer member, a second cam mechanism is pivotably mounted to the housing and is pivoted through movements of the force transfer member responsive to rotations of the first Cam mechanism. The second cam mechanism is coupled to a latch bolt so that rotations of the first cam mechanism will result in movements of the latch bolt. The improved latch mechanism is designed to permit complete retraction of the latch bolt through rotation of the first cam mechanism by less than one-twelfth of a revolution, in either direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: JADO Bathroom and Hardware Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Franz Werner Jans
  • Patent number: 5688004
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock arrangement for a double rear hatch having a lower hatch door which can be swung down and which is attached to lower edge (2) and an upper hatch door which can be folded up and which is attached to upper edge (4) of the body opening. Door lock mechanisms for each hatch door are located on each side edge (6, 7) of the body opening and closure blocks therefor are located on side edges (8, 9) of the hatch doors (3, 5). Each lock mechanism has a rotary latch and detent pawl for securing and releasing a respective closure block. Essentially independent opening of each hatch door is possible. Preferably, the lock mechanisms of lower hatch (13) and upper hatch (5) are combined into a single lock unit on a lock carrier at each side of the body opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Siegfried Karge
  • Patent number: 5685582
    Abstract: A security lock for a sliding door or window assembly is provided. The lock comprises two pivotally connected overlapping bars having a releasable slider mechanism associated with the pivot point. The lock is adapted to sit in or above the track along which the sliding door or window moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Kevin Clair McCartney
  • Patent number: 5685579
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latching fork on the housing pivotable into and out of a locked position, a latching pawl engageable with the fork and pivotable into and out of a retaining position holding the lock in the locked position, and a release lever connected to the latching pawl. A main inside actuating lever pivotal on the housing carries a secondary inside actuating lever provided with an actuating pin and pivotal on the main inside actuating lever between a coupling position with the pin engageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever and a decoupling position unengageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever. An inside door handle connected to the main inside actuating lever can pivot same and, only in the coupling position of the secondary lever, engage the pin against the release lever and displace the pawl out of the retaining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Funk, Gerhard Menz
  • Patent number: 5681069
    Abstract: A prop device for assembly on a vehicle having a convertible top and a tonneau cover. The prop device is adapted to support a five bow of the convertible top in a suspended position. The prop device includes a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on the tonneau cover and a pivoting arm attached to the mounting bracket at a first end thereof. The pivoting arm has a curved bow engaging portion at a second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventors: Mark Timothy Gaylord, Michael Robert Uhlmeyer, Ryan Wayne Massey
  • Patent number: 5678868
    Abstract: The invention is a motorized linkage for engaging a thumb piece in a door mechanism. The device has an exterior lock assembly with a small battery cell and combination lock. Proper entry by a user of a security code allows the battery to operate a small motor within the exterior lock assembly. The small motor manipulates a cam-plunger which moves an actuator pin into a thumb piece. The user applies a force on to the thumb piece. This force is transmitted by the thumb piece to a latch engagement mechanism by the actuator pin. The latch engagement mechanism operates the door latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Gary Lin Williams, Patrick Gerald Kirby
  • Patent number: 5676410
    Abstract: A home security device comprising a first attachment device, mounted on a distal end of a first rigid arm, adapted to be removably secured to a door or window, a second attachment device, mounted on a distal end of a second rigid arm, adapted to be removably secured to a floor or wall adjacent to the door or window, proximal ends of the first and second rigid arms positioned end to end forming a substantially straight line, and a fastening device, releasably holding the proximal ends in position, adapted to remain secure against force exerted at the distal ends of the rigid arms and to release the proximal ends from position in response to force exerted near the proximal ends and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rigid arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: William Angerbrandt
  • Patent number: 5673948
    Abstract: A door lock is disclosed having a slidable lock bolt with a latching device for releasably retaining the lock bolt in a position intermediate of extended and retracted positions for the lock bolt. The door lock may be used in combination with a remote lock operator and includes a retainer, which is slidably mounted in the lock bolt and which projects beyond the lock housing when the lock bolt is in the intermediate position, so as to be engaged with the remote lock operator and for holding the remote lock in its release condition. When the lock bolt moves to an extended position, the retainer will release the remote lock operator. There is a handle operated actuator rotatably mounted in the housing of the door lock. The actuator has two arms, respectively, to move the lock bolt from its extended to its intermediate position and, at the same time, to engage the remote lock operator for moving it to the remote lock release condition, where it can be engaged by the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
  • Patent number: 5673950
    Abstract: There is provided a locking device for fastening a wing element where rotation of a rotor (13) effects smooth locking and unlocking of a wing element and also enables it to smoothly open and close free from interfering with a rocking arm (24); in operation rotation of the rotor (13) causes a slide cam (6) to move linearly rearward so that body (3) is rotated through a pivot (17) into an upright position, and a front-end pushing portion (18) of the arm (24) abuts on a support portion (20) of a stationary frame (19); rotor (13) is prevented from dropping out of the body (3) by ball bearings (15) rotatably mounted between annular grooves (14,9) of the body (3) and of the rotor (13); and a spring (25) rotatably biases the arm (24) to cause a base-end follower portion (23) of the arm (24) to abut on a rear-end surface of the slide cam (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Takimoto
  • Patent number: 5671957
    Abstract: A child safety latch which cannot be actuated by those having relatively short fingers. A spring-biased lock is slidably moved within the J-shaped tracks of a guard tube. The latch is in an unlocked position when the locking pin rests in the larger side of the J-shaped track. In this position, the spring biases the locking pin against the top of the larger side of the track. Actuation of the latch, i.e. pushing down on the button located on top of the lock, lowers the lock against the spring. The complete lowering of the lock and the full compression of the spring occurs when the locking pin is at the bottom of the J-shaped track. A slight counter-clockwise twist of the finger urges the locking pin into the smaller side of the J-shaped track, where the lock is spring biased against the top of the smaller side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Roger Raffini
  • Patent number: 5667262
    Abstract: A portable, adjustable door lock device and method of use therefore, which provides a device having a first and second blade member which are pivotably pinned together, thus, forming substantially a "V-shaped member" having two pointed ends, with the ends being insertable and adjustably positionable between the edge of a door and the striker plate affixed to a door frame, so as to frictionally capture the reciprocable bolt therein, thus, preventing opening of the door from the exterior side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Paul O. Planchon
  • Patent number: 5666835
    Abstract: A key and an installation double cylinder for a security lock is disclosed with two cylinder halves, a cylinder core and tumblers which are constructed as core pins and housing pins and can be brought into line by means of the key, which can be inserted into the keyway to release the cylinder core for rotation. The key has, at its bit, a lengthening element by which the tumblers in an oppositely located cylinder half can be brought into line for free turning. The cylinder half on the outside of the door can have a solid rotor of hardened steel which protects the cylinder half on the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Ernst Keller
  • Patent number: 5667263
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing and a locking mechanism in the housing having an inside locking lever displaceable between a locked position in which the latch is locked and unlocked position in which the latch is unlocked. An output element rotatable about an axis on the housing is formed with a spiral main groove having a pair of ends and with a transverse connecting groove extending between the ends. A pin mounted directly on the locking lever rides directly in the spiral groove. A reversible electric motor can rotate the output element so that the pin travels between the ends of the spiral groove for displacing the locking lever into the locked position when the pin engages one of the groove ends and for displacing the locking lever into the unlocked position when the pin engages the other of the groove ends. A locking element connected to the inside locking lever displaces same manually between its positions with movement of the pin along the connecting groove between the spiral groove ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Frank Kleefeldt, Peter Bartel, Horst Brackmann, Theodor Menke
  • Patent number: 5655802
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for securing a strapped carton against pilferage is disclosed. A security clip includes a common member having two or more foldable over and crimpable prongs extending therefrom at right angles to each other. The security clip is applied to cross straps around the carton. A hole may be provided through the clip and cross straps within which a once only lockable member is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventors: Mark Topp, David Topp