Patents Examined by Patricia Engle
  • Patent number: 7600796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a night latch in particular a night latch that includes a housing, tumbler, button, and a two resilient members. The housing of the present invention maintains the tumbler, button, and two resilient members. The housing also may have at least one protrusion located on its sidewall. The tumbler of the present invention has a pivoting member along with a means for housing a resilient member. In addition the tumbler of the present invention may have recess located on its front face. The tumbler also has at least one groove that co-acts with the protrusion on the sidewall. A first resilient member is used force the tumbler into an exposed position, and a second resilient member is used to keep the tumbler in a retracted position, via the co-action of the recess in the tumbler and a protrusion on the bottom portion of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Vision Industries Group
    Inventors: Luke Liang, Tong Liang, Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 7574776
    Abstract: A pry bar has generally octagonal cross-section handle with a grip portion having four rounded surfaces formed of a soft elastomeric material and four alternating surfaces formed of hard thermoplastic material. The elastomeric material rounded surfaces are formed with pluralities of small orifices. The handle is formed with an inner hard thermoplastic core and molded over outer elastomeric cover. A metal impact cap is fixed secured in the handle proximate end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Mayhew Steel Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Lawless
  • Patent number: 7568740
    Abstract: Motor vehicle lock with a ratchet, latch, actuation lever, internal actuation chain, external actuation chain and a control, the ratchet having an engagement position in which it holds the latch in the closed position, and a raised position in which the latch is released, the ratchet being movable from the engagement position into the raised position by the actuating lever, the control having different operating states and depending on the state, the ratchet is actuatable via the actuation lever by the internal actuation chain from an inside door handle and/or by the external actuation chain from an outside door handle or not at all. In the base state, the internal actuation chain and the external actuation chain are coupled to the actuation lever and the internal actuation chain and/or the external actuation chain can be decoupled from the actuation lever by the control depending on the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Simon Brose, Checrallah Kachouh
  • Patent number: 7568741
    Abstract: A door lock system includes a first link lever, a second link lever, and a spring. The first link lever moves to a transmitting position in response to an unlocking operation. The second link lever includes a ratchet driver that is formed integrally with a bushing. The ratchet driver is rotatable between a first rotational position and a second rotational position on the first link lever. In response to a door-opening operation, when the ratchet driver is in the first rotational position and the first link lever is in the transmitting position, the second link lever allows a ratchet lever to disengage a ratchet from a latch. The spring maintains the second link lever in the first rotational position when the first link lever moves to the transmitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Odahara
  • Patent number: 7549684
    Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided to lock a cover unit to a base unit, which includes a latching member for being slidably installed in the cover unit and a button for being rotatably fixed to the cover unit. The latching member includes a main body and a hook extending from the main body for engaging with the base unit. The button includes a driving surface operatively engagable with the main body of the latching member for cooperatively transforming rotating movement of the button into linear movement of the latching member thereby disengaging the hook from the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zheng Shi, Chien-Li Tsai
  • Patent number: 7543860
    Abstract: A slide bolt assembly is slideably engaged in an astragal disposed at a free end of a semi-active door in a double-door set. The slide bolt assembly includes an elongated base that slideably engages the astragal. The slide bolt assembly defines a threaded hole and a screw lock is rotatably disposed in the threaded hole between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the elongated base within the astragal. The screw lock defines a central portion and a rim portion peripherally surrounding the central portion. The rim portion presents a contact surface that is planar. A nipple protrudes from the central portion further than the rim portion. When the screw lock is rotated to the locked position, the nipple pierces a wall of the astragal and the contact surface of the rim portion frictionally engages the wall to lock the slide bolt assembly within the astragal at any point along the astragal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Meeks, Michael E. Pepper, Brian S. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 7530611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a night stop that includes a housing, tumbler, spring, and a right arcuate nest, located on the inside bottom surface of the housing, used for maintaining the bottom rounded portion of the spring. The tumbler of the present invention has a top rear surface that is used as a button for activating the tumbler. In addition, the tumbler of the present invention has a concave rear bottom portion that contacts a stopping member when the tumbler is in an activated position. The spring of the present invention is partially housed inside of a bored cavity located on the tumbler. The bottom rounded portion of the spring is maintained in an arcuate nesting area when the tumbler is deactivated. When the tumbler is activated the bottom rounded spring portion traverses over and across a divide point into a right recession area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Vision Industry Group
    Inventors: Luke Liang, Toni Liang, David Chen
  • Patent number: 7530608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a locking/releasing apparatus, which comprises: a positioning mechanism disposed at a bottom plate of a fastener, a locking element, a positioning spring, a releasing spring, and a protruding pillar disposed at the bottom of a movable member, such that if the movable member is pushed into the fastener, the protruding pillar will be pushed to press against a guiding rim to rotate the locking element and drive the positioning spring to store energy, and if the protruding pillar continues to be pushed and blocked by the locking element, the protruding pillar will enter into a slot channel from a guiding gap. Then, the positioning spring releases energy to rotate the locking element in an opposite direction, and thus the protruding pillar is moved to a guiding concave to be accommodated and fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
  • Patent number: 7520008
    Abstract: A surgical table extension features a patient support structure, a large area base, and a support leg. A first joint having at least two degrees of freedom is located between the patient support structure and the support leg. A second joint also having at least two degrees of freedom is located between the base and the support leg. There is a stop limiting the range of motion of the support leg such that a portion of the base area is constrained to be below the first joint irrespective of the position of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Allen Medical Systems
    Inventors: George T. Wong, Paul A. Licari, David Warburton, Edward J. Daley, II, Thomas K. Skripps
  • Patent number: 7520540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover latch for an electronic device and includes a body, a latch bar, an actuator and a driver. The driver is connected to the cover body, the actuator and the latch bar. Only one hand is required to unlatch the cover latch by rotating the actuator and the driver that moves the latch bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Lin, Shun-Yu Hung
  • Patent number: 7516992
    Abstract: A latch structure is provided herein. The latch structure comprises a base, a plate, a rotating element, hooks, a magnetic element, springs, locating posts, a latch element, a pushing element, and screws. One side of the magnetic element is rotatable by the pin, and the other side is mounted with the spring and the locating post. When door is closed inwardly, the pushing element pushes the rotating element forwardly to push the magnetic element contacting with the latch element which are attracting due to the magnetic field. The hooks then engage with the connecting portions. When power is off, spring abuts the magnetic element to release the hook from the connecting portion. The benefit is that as long as the attract force of the magnetic field larger than the pressure of the spring, the hooks and the latch element are decided to engage or separate, increasing the load ability of the latch structure. It is therefore large load ability is acquired only required few attract force, decreasing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Door & Window Hardware Co.
    Inventor: Jung-Chang Peng
  • Patent number: 7513002
    Abstract: The pillow stiffener has an elongated cushion with a large rounded shape; two elongated arms each having a small rounded shape and being connected to and extending away from a long side of the elongated cushion. A flexible dull-finished web extends between the arms for retaining the arms at a fixed relationship with each other and with the elongated cushion. A joiner having the mentioned small rounded shape extends between and joins the extremities of both arms. Both arms and the joiner define with the elongated cushion a stabilizing rim around the dull-finished web for better retaining the pillow stiffener to a pillow. In another aspect, the pillow stiffener is made of a pair of flexible air-impermeable sheets and the elongated cushion, the arms and joiner form a single inflatable chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Alphonsus Best
  • Patent number: 7497487
    Abstract: A latch housing assembly has a latch housing and a retainer, wherein the housing includes a wall, and wherein a receiving aperture opens through the wall. The retainer includes a wall from which an insert protrudes. The insert, when disposed within the receiving aperture interlocks therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Jedediah A. Burmahln
  • Patent number: RE45397
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle internal combustion engine of the open, or constant pressure type, in which rotary power is produced by the pressure of hot gasses against confined, rotor protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Terry Michael Van Blaricom
  • Patent number: RE45525
    Abstract: A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience includes equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus, having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user, and while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting. The virtual reality system inhibits visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment. The buoyancy condition enhances the experience of the virtual reality environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Soarealm, Inc.
    Inventor: Quan Xiao
  • Patent number: RE45586
    Abstract: A protective bird apron includes a main body area with a length and a width and a pair of opposing lateral sections attached to the main body area at corresponding opposing edges thereof, each lateral section having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend beneath respective wings of the bird. At least one securing strap is coupled to an upper portion of the main body area and to an upper portion of at least one of the lateral sections, the main body area, the at least one of the lateral sections, and the at least one securing strap defining at least one shoulder securing area. A shoulder protector is coupled to the main body area of the back covering, disposed to protect shoulders of the bird while leaving the wings of the bird substantially unrestricted in wing-flapping movement, and has a width substantially the same or greater than an overall width of the back covering. Visible warning indicia are provided on the back covering and/or the shoulder protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Tobi Kosanke
  • Patent number: RE45739
    Abstract: A device is configured to be secured within an equipment rack of the type having two spaced-apart mounting flanges, with each flange having a plurality of openings formed therein spaced-apart from one another a predetermined distance. The device includes an elongated body having two, opposite ends and two attachment configurations, one for each end of the elongated body. Each attachment configuration has at least one retention element to be inserted within the openings of the mounting flanges. At least one attachment configuration has a plunger pin configured to retain the device to the mounting rails. The attachment configuration is constructed and arranged to facilitate tool-less installation and removal of the device with the mounting rails. Other embodiments of the device and a method of securing the device to an equipment rack are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph H. Bergesch
  • Patent number: RE45742
    Abstract: A cover for a merchandising display unit (1) disclosed. The cover of the rectangular top opening of the storage compartment includes displaceable lids (9) arranged in two rows along opposing longer sides (2,4) of the storage unit so that access is provided to the storage compartment from both sides of the storage unit. The cover has a stationary cover plate (6) along a mid section of the storage unit and a rail system (5) with a number of parallel transverse rails between the two longer sides, and the lids (9) mounted between separate tracks in adjacent rails and are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the longer sides (2,4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: BEHR A/S
    Inventors: Kristian Behr, Peter Behr
  • Patent number: RE45809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dispenser for moisturized sheets in the core of a toilet paper roll. Not only are wet and dry wipes provided coincidentally, the location is particularly handy for toilet use. In a utilization of existing bathroom fixtures, the novel concept offsets the rotational axis of the toilet paper roll to make an aperture available to dispense the moisturized sheets from the volume of the core previously occupied by the conventional spool. The invention further provides a hermetically sealed refill unit and a method of dispensing and refilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventors: Donald Hatter, Lawrence Lambelet
  • Patent number: RE45811
    Abstract: A low-cost crimping tool is provided for crimping non-metallic tubing such as PEX tubing connections. The tool includes two primary pieces which fit together forming an integral pivot without being pinned together about which the tool may be closed with pliers to form a secure tubing connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Bruns Daniel Kidd