Patents Examined by Peter H Watson
  • Patent number: 11970880
    Abstract: An electric lock includes a housing, a manual control member rotatably affixed to the housing, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch base rotatably affixed to the housing; a retractable plug arranged on the clutch base, wherein the retractable plug is radially movable relative to the clutch base; a driving member abutting against a first end of the retractable plug; and a motor configured to drive the driving member to move relative to the clutch base toward the shaft of the manual control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Lin, Jiun-Nan Shiu
  • Patent number: 11933070
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a door or window comprises a handle and a second element, installable on opposite sides of the door or window, and a pin element rotatable around a pin rotation axis and insertable into the handle or in the second element at variable depths. The handle assembly further comprises a friction reducing group positioned coaxially to the pin element and positionable between the handle and the door or window in the axial direction of the pin rotation axis. Clamping devices constrain the handle and/or the second element on the pin element at adjustable distances along the axial direction according to the thickness of the door or window, so that when the handle assembly is installed on the door or window, an axial clamping pressure of the handle and of the second element is maintained on the respective side of the door or window. An installation method of the handle assembly on the door or window is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Marco Villa, Danilo Ferremi
  • Patent number: 11920375
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus includes a modular, self-contained spring cage and a spindle. The spring cage includes a housing and a clock spring mounted in the housing, and the clock spring includes a first leg and a second leg. The spindle extends through the spring cage, and is rotatable from a home position about a longitudinal axis in each of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. Rotation of the spindle from the home position in the first rotational direction causes pivoting of the first leg while the second leg remains stationary, thereby causing the clock spring to urge the spindle to return to the home position. Rotation of the spindle from the home position in the second rotational direction causes pivoting of the second leg while the first leg remains stationary, thereby causing the clock spring to urge the spindle to return to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Saagar Mohammed, Aaron P. McKibben, Nagesh Varadaraju
  • Patent number: 11905741
    Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism for a refrigerated unit. A latch plate is movable between a position that can be engaged by a deadbolt and a position clear of the deadbolt. The latch plate is moved by a door release accessible from an interior of the refrigerated unit. When the door release is activated, a pin blocks movement of the latch plate so that the refrigerated unit remains unlocked until the pin is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Elaine Marie Arens, Bart Andrew Nuss, Ryan Persaud, Ronald Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11898369
    Abstract: The present application provides a door lock, comprising a main sliding block, the main sliding block being able to move to and fro between a locked position and a released position along a first direction (length direction), and the main sliding block being able to lock the door lock when at the locked position, and the main sliding block being able to release the door lock when at the released position; and an indicating sliding block, the indicating sliding block being able to move to and fro between a closed position and an open position along the first direction (length direction) when the main sliding block moves to and fro between the locked position and the released position along the first direction (length direction), wherein the closed position and the open position of the indicating sliding block are used for indicating whether the door lock is in a locked state or in a released state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Yang Wang
  • Patent number: 11898378
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to handle mechanism and casing assembly. The handle mechanism is adapted to be installed on a slidable plate body. The handle mechanism includes handle component, latch component, and releasing component. The handle component has engaged position. The handle component includes first hook portion and first pushing portion. The first hook portion has first contact surface. The latch component is slidably disposed and has second hook portion and first contact portion. The second hook portion has second contact surface configured to contact the first contact surface. The releasing component is pivotably disposed and has pressed portion and second pushing portion. When the handle component is pivoted from the engaged position, the first pushing portion pushes the pressed portion so as to force the second pushing portion to push the first contact portion so that the second contact surface is forced to leave the first contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Jun-Hao Wang, Qi Liu, Li Ke, Siyun Tan
  • Patent number: 11891838
    Abstract: A door lock for a domestic electrical appliance such as, for example, a washing machine of the top loader type includes a lock module, a housing shell for the floating mounting of the lock module on a housing wall portion of a body of the domestic appliance, a locking member which is arranged to be movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, and an electrically controllable actuator for actuating the locking member. The lock module has an insertion opening for insertion of a closing element on closing of the door of the domestic appliance. The locking member in its unlocking position allows the closing element to move out of the insertion opening and in the locking position effects blocking of the closing element against moving out of the insertion opening. At least one centring slope for the closing element is formed at the insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 11879277
    Abstract: An inside handle device includes a handle base attached to a door panel of a vehicle; a lock lever rotatably supported on the handle base, a stopper portion provided on the handle base and limiting a rotation range of the lock lever, and an impact absorbing portion provided on the handle base and absorbing impact generated by a contact of the lock lever with the stopper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ALPHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saeko Tatemichi, Ryuji Minemura, Ryoichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11866959
    Abstract: A door strike assembly includes a strike housing and latch release assembly. The door strike assembly is used in conjunction with a lockset which includes a door latch moveable from a latched condition when a door is closed and an unlatched condition where the door may be opened. The lockset includes a deadlatch to prevent unauthorized movement of the door latch when the door is closed. The latch release assembly is received within the strike housing and includes a latch ejector which engages the deadlatch when the door is closed. A motor is coupled to the latch ejector where actuation of the motor rotates the latch ejector to disengage the latch ejector from the deadlatch. Further rotation of the latch ejector causes the latch ejector to engage the door latch to move the door latch to the unlatched condition such that the door may be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Sims, Joshua T. Peabody
  • Patent number: 11834870
    Abstract: A motor-driven door latch for a vehicle includes a catch part which is caught on a striker mounted on the vehicle to lock a door for a vehicle to a vehicle body or is released from the striker so that the door can be opened from the vehicle body; a door locking and releasing part which includes a main motor and applies torque to the catch part through the main motor to allow the catch part to be locked to or released from the striker; and a pop-up part including an auxiliary motor and applying torque to the catch part so that the door for the vehicle is popped up from a vehicle body, so that the door for the vehicle is popped up from a vehicle body after the door for the vehicle is released from vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jinwoo Nam, Kyoung Taek Kwak, Jungho Han
  • Patent number: 11819177
    Abstract: A door locking device (1) including a support body (6) which can be fixed to a door (5) of an electric household appliance, a bracket (7) which can be fixed to a structural element (3) of the electric household appliance and a latching device (8) including: a locking tooth (10) constrained to rotate and translate relatively to the support body and which can be coupled with a first end thereof (12) with a transversal element (11) of the bracket; a sliding stem (13) cooperating with a second end (14) of the locking tooth by means of conjugated cam profiles (15, 16) carried by the locking tooth and by a head (17) of the stem; a compression spring (18) associated with the stem for thrusting the cam profiles (15, 16) into contact; and a tilting element (19) hinged to the support body to cooperate with the transversal element (11) of the bracket independently of the locking tooth, to activate a microswitch (23) when the tooth is in a locking position, wherein it engages the transversal element (11) of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Dino Chirumbolo
  • Patent number: 11808059
    Abstract: A lock for door includes a locking latch assembly, a lock rotor, a lock bolt and a rotating member, wherein the latch includes an upper rotor member, a clutch transmission set, a deceleration gear set, and a motor. When the deceleration gear set is driven by the motor, the deceleration gear set immediately drives the clutch transmission set to move the lock bolt. When the lock rotor is manually driven to rotate and the upper rotor member is connected to rotate, the upper rotor member pushes the clutch transmission set for a clutch action, so that the clutch transmission set only drives the lock bolt to move so as to selectively lock and unlock the lock for door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Jeff Chen
  • Patent number: 11788322
    Abstract: An electric lock includes a housing, a clutch mechanism and a manual control member. The housing is formed with a driving structure having a first inclined surface, a second inclined surface and a bottom surface. The clutch mechanism includes a driving member having a pushing structure, an elastic member arranged on the driving member for abutting against the driving structure, a rotating member having a pushed structure, and a motor for driving the driving member to rotate. The manual control member is connected to the rotating member. When the motor drives the driving member to rotate relative to the driving structure, the elastic member abuts against the first or second inclined surface to push the driving member to move toward the rotating member, so as to allow the pushing structure to abut against the pushed structure, in order to further drive the rotating member to rotate the manual control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tien-Fu Chan
  • Patent number: 11781340
    Abstract: A locking device comprises a latch, a spindle and a rotary assembly. The latch is fixed to an object to be locked for engaging with a bore of a strike; the latch has a bolt which locks the object. One end of the spindle is detachably connected to the latch to drive the bolt to move towards or away from the bore. The rotary assembly is disposed at the other end of the spindle, which comprises a cylinder body and a rotary body, the cylinder body is rotated by the rotary body as it rotates, wherein one end of the rotary assembly is provided with a spindle driving means engaged with the other end of the spindle to drive the spindle to rotate. The rotary assembly drives the spindle to rotate via the spindle driving means, and the spindle drives the bolt to move approaching the bore to realize locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Dezhao Xiang
  • Patent number: 11761243
    Abstract: An electronic lock includes a latch member and a clutch mechanism mounted on the outside of the lock cylinder and including a clutch unit, a driving unit and a control module. The clutch unit includes a rotatable seat having a first engaging portion, an accessible knob, and a clutch seat having a second engaging portion. The clutch seat is movable relative to the rotatable seat between an unlock position and a lock position, where the second engaging portion engages and disengages the first engaging portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Waferlock Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Min Lien
  • Patent number: 11761241
    Abstract: The invention discloses an accidental unlocking prevention electronic lock, in particular an accidental unlocking prevention electronic lock in the field of electronic locks. The accidental unlocking prevention electronic lock of the invention comprises a lock cylinder, a control circuit and a clutch sleeve, wherein the control circuit and a key hole are installed in the lock cylinder, and further comprises a transmission system, a power shaft, a clutch cam, a key cam, a key pin and a suspension, wherein the lock cylinder is internally provided with a clamping jaw, a torsion spring and a clamping jaw motor; one end of the clamping jaw is connected with an output shaft of the clamping jaw motor, one end of the torsion spring is fixed in the suspension and the other end thereof is connected with the clamping jaw; the key cam is provided with a limiting groove and the lock cylinder is provided with a limiting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Hizima Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guoquan Zhou, Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 11746563
    Abstract: A smart door lock includes a main housing configured to be disposed interior of a standard bore hole of a door. An outer housing is disposed exterior of a secure environment and electrically and mechanically connected to the main housing via conductive prongs. An inner housing is disposed interior of the secure environment. A rotating member is magnetically attached to the inner housing. A deadbolt within a bolt housing transitions between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to the door lock detecting a user device within a wireless communication range, detecting a touch on a sensor of the outer housing, or rotation of the rotating member. The outer housing includes leakage regions to facilitate transmission of wireless signals to the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Level Home, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Martin, Kenneth D. Goto
  • Patent number: 11739571
    Abstract: A linear reciprocating-motion apparatus includes at least one movable member (10, 30) supported by a housing (90) and being capable of undergoing linear reciprocating motion in a range that includes a first position, a second position, and a third position; a stopper (50) supported by the housing to be displaceable between a blocking position that blocks the at least one movable member and a nonblocking position that does not block the at least one movable member, and is displaced to the nonblocking position in response to a specific operation; an intermittent mechanism (100, 200) that interacts with movement of the at least one movable member and assumes a specific state once every two times that the at least one movable member moves to the third position; and a switch (SW1) that, in response to the specific state, is switched from a disconnected state or a connected state to the other thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Noda
  • Patent number: 11739565
    Abstract: Latch assemblies to secure a door, drawer, or other enclosure are disclosed. An assembly may include a latch and a catch. A latch arm is bendable to transition between an engaging position and a disengaged position. The latch may include a curved flexible support to provide a desired resistance to bending of the latch arm, and the flexible support may be vertically separated from the latch arm. The latch may be made of a unitary piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Elbee Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Marsden
  • Patent number: 11725426
    Abstract: A vehicle door locking device includes a case fixed to a door, a latch that locks a striker, a ratchet that holds the latch in the latching orientation, and shifts the latch from the latching orientation to the unlatching orientation, an outer handle lever that is rotated in conjunction with an opening operation, and an inertia part that maintains the orientation of the inertial part while being urged by an urging member, and that, when an external force from the one end side toward the other end side of the vehicle body, restricts rotation of the outer handle lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichiro Nagata, Yasuhiro Kubota