Patents Examined by Richard E. Moore
  • Patent number: 5368346
    Abstract: A locking system for selectively locking two frame members of a window or door to prevent sliding movement of one frame relative to the other. The locking system includes a sleeve and first and second pivotably connected bolt members. A spring urges the bolt members to a position where relative sliding movement between the two frame members is prevented. One of the bolt members can be pivoted and then moved along a line which is perpendicular to the other bolt member in a manner such that the bolt is retained in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Michael J. Foster
  • Patent number: 5332273
    Abstract: An actuator for a door lock mechanism, that is capable of sufficiently securing a strong driving force as well as a necessary stroke quantum, that is small in size, and that makes manual operation possible under a light load, comprising: a columnar body that is rotated by a forward-reverse motor and provided with, on its outer circumferential surface, a first spiral stage, which forms an upward gradient in a first direction when the columnar body rotates in a forward direction, a second spiral stage which forms an upper-gradient in a second direction when the columnar body rotates in a reverse direction; and a displacement component having one end driven to move in the first direction by the first spiral stage at the time of the positive rotation of the columnar body and in the second direction by the second spiral stage when the columnar body rotates in the reverse direction, thus causing another end of the displacement component to actuate a latch mechanism for locking doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Komachi
  • Patent number: 5328218
    Abstract: An electric lock actuator device (201), in particular for motor vehicles, comprising an electric motor (204) driving a recirculating ball worm screw unit (251, 260) for rectilinear movement of a cap element (264) slidable on a portion (207) of the frame (202) housing the motor (204) and adapted to act on a member (267) for locking and releasing the operation of a lock, and including a specific electronic control unit (27) for this electric motor (204), in which this electronic unit (27) includes a first integrated circuit (23) for distribution of electrical power supply for operation of the electric motor (204), and a second integrated circuit (25) for dealing with information signals relating to the operation of the motor (204), these integrated circuits (23, 25) being connected to a printed circuit (271) which is already utilised by slidable contact blades (270) having an end-of-stroke commutation function, fixed to the movement of this slidable cap (264), and which is housed in a portion (220) of the frame
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Roltra-Morse, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Enzo Brusasco, Giuseppe Boero
  • Patent number: 5328217
    Abstract: A locking astragal for attaching to an inactive leaf of a double doorway. In the illustrated embodiment, an elongated astragal casing has a channel and bolt-slide assemblies mounted slidably within the channel. Each bolt-slide assembly includes a latching member and bolt. By depressing the latching member, the latching member can slide through the channel to extend and lock the bolts into indentations in the upper and lower surfaces of the door frame. The bolts may also be retracted back into the astragal to open the inactive leaf. In the illustrated embodiment, each latching member has an integral spring which simplifies fabrication and assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Pemko Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Vernard W. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5328249
    Abstract: A seat belt restraining apparatus (10) for restraining movement of a child in a child seat (12) includes a shoulder belt webbing (28) extensible across the shoulders of a child to restrain movement of the child in the child seat. An adjust belt (44) connected with the shoulder belt webbing is movable to adjust the shoulder belt webbing. An adjuster (50) associated with the adjust belt has a locked condition blocking movement of the adjust belt and a release condition enabling movement of the adjust belt. The adjuster includes a slide bar (120) around which the adjust belt extends and which is slidable on a base (54) between a clamping position blocking movement of the adjust belt and a release position enabling movement of the adjust belt. A pull tab (160) connected with the slide bar is manually movable to move the slide bar from the clamping position to the release position to enable movement of the adjust belt. A guide roller (80) is rotatably mounted on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5318333
    Abstract: A device which can lock a sash to and unlock a sash from a door or window frame has a composite housing which is partially recessed into the frame and receives a portion of a reciprocable plate member which is coupled to one or more motion receiving elements serving to actually lock or unlock the sash. The housing further carries a handle which is pivotable in the plane of the plate member about an axis extending at right angles to such plane, preferably through an angle of approximately 180.degree.. The plate member has one or more sliders which are reciprocable in one or more elongated grooves provided in one or more internal surfaces of the housing. The motion transmitting connection between the handle and the plate member can include a single part, such as a crank, which is non-rotatably connected to the handle and is pivoted to the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Wilhelm Weidtmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Dreifert
  • Patent number: 5316355
    Abstract: An integral door knob assembly for mounting on a face of a door has a spring return so that the door knob rotates to one position when released. A shank formed integral with or attached to the door knob is formed of plastic material eliminating the requirement of a separate plastic bushing in the rose member, and has flexible fingers to provide a snap lock between a spring assembly member and the end of the shank to hold the knob assembly to the rose member. The spring assembly member is also formed of plastic material and has sufficient flexibility to allow a torsion spring to be inserted and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Rae Hartwell, Ian Garben
  • Patent number: 5316354
    Abstract: A loop striker for use with a vehicle closure latch having a rotatable fork bolt that traps a leg of the loop striker when the fork bolt is in a latched position includes a base having a pair of laterally spaced legs that is adapted for securement to a support, a cross bar that is spaced from the base and attached to the pair of laterally spaced legs, and a tab at one end of the cross bar that overhangs the trapped leg to prevent the fork bolt from walking around the corner of the loop at the end of the trapped leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, Jr., Thomas A. Dzurko
  • Patent number: 5314219
    Abstract: A padlock type security seal and method of making same include a U-shaped shackle, a pair of reversely bent end portions, and a transparent body having a pair of chambers for receiving the bent end portions. The chambers each have a locking groove therein for receiving the bent end portions. The seal elements are formed from two molded thermoplastic pieces, an insert and a body. The relative dimensions of the chambers, the shackle, and the locking grooves are chosen to prevent picking.The insert has a channel in which a liquid filled vial is inserted. The vial contains a colored liquid. When the shackle is attempted to be removed from the body portion, the shackle end portions penetrate the insert and the vial causing the liquid to seep into the various chambers, the seepage being visible through the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: George Georgopoulos, Ritchie J. Fullerton, Louis J. Mattos
  • Patent number: 5314218
    Abstract: A hatch cover lock with an automatic first locking mechanism for securing a removable hatch cover of a railway hopper car to the railway hopper car and secondary manually operated locking mechanism to secure the hatch cover to the hopper car in addition to the automatic first locking mechanism which allows the hatch cover to be opened from either side of the hopper car, and which cooperates to prevent accidental removal of the hatch cover and/or batten bar from the hopper car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Ireco, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolph E. Nadherny
  • Patent number: 5310228
    Abstract: A latch bolt actuating mechanism for a door having a latch bolt mounted on its inner surface adjacent a top edge thereof in position to engage and cooperate with a fixed keeper above the door includes an elongated strap having its top end connected to the latch bolt for vertical movement therewith and its bottom end connected to an actuator pivotally mounted in a rigid housing on the door surface by a removable shaft extending through the housing. The actuator is biased to the closed or latched position and a lever or strike plate extends from the housing in position to be pivoted about the shaft toward and away from the door inner surface with the lever being operable upon movement toward the inner surface to move said strap and the latch bolt connected thereto downwardly to release the latch bolt from the keeper. The rigid housing provides a stop for engaging said lever to limit the pivotal movement of said actuator and the downward movement of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: John F. Ellenberg
  • Patent number: 5308128
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a selectively activated security lock that prevents a vehicle door from being unlatched by an inside door handle. The security lock is activated and deactivated when the vehicle door is open by inserting a key or other probe-like instrument into a slot in an inner panel of the vehicle door to manipulate a moveable arm of the security lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred L. Portelli, Rita M. Paulik
  • Patent number: 5308131
    Abstract: A door latch has a housing for installation in a prepared cavity at a door edge and has interchangeable faceplates for finishing the door edge. The interchangeable faceplates each have an opening for permitting extension and retraction of a latch bolt, have a peripheral shape required for compatibility with the prepared cavity, and have features providing for releasably securing the faceplates to the housing and to the door edge. This permits installation of door latches regardless of the door preparation by merely interchanging the faceplates to match the door preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Jaime Galindo, Ralph Neary
  • Patent number: 5308127
    Abstract: A method is for selectively locking two frame members of a window or door to prevent sliding movement of one frame relative to the other. The method involves providing an aperture in one frame, securing a sleeve to the other frame in alignment with the aperture, inserting a bolt through the sleeve and into the aperture. The bolt includes two lengths which are pivotably connected together. When the bolt is in retracted position, one portion of the bolt can be pivoted relative to the other portion of the bolt and then moved along a line perpendicular to the axis of the first portion of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Michael J. Foster
  • Patent number: 5306055
    Abstract: A plastic seal including: a body to which is connected at least one cord, provided with at least one end with a hook; an aperture provided in the body for insertion of the hook; a seat for housing the hook inserted into the aperture; a means for the irreversible retention of the hook to the body and a pair of closure plates applied to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Mainetti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Mainetti
  • Patent number: 5306057
    Abstract: A latch arrangement for an access opening cover on a bulk material storage structure. The access opening will include a frame defining an opening periphery, with the covers hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position. Each cover will include at least one slide bar extending between sides of the cover. Each slide bar has a length such that the ends of the slide bar are in proximity to the frame. Lock studs extend inwardly from the frame, with one stud associated with each end of each slide bar. Each slide bar is mounted for sliding movement perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in the plane of the cover between latched and unlatched positions, and includes a stud face and a lock face. The stud face includes slits through which the studs may pass at the closed position of the cover, allowing the bar to drop down over the stud. When dropped down over the stud into the latched position, the lock face abuts against the stud, arresting movement of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing
    Inventor: George E. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5306053
    Abstract: A hood prop rod assembly 16 which includes a secondary latching assembly 30 mounted upon the housing 32 of a primary hood latch assembly 24. The housing 32 of the hood latch assembly 24 is utilized to pivotally mount a jaw-type latch member 70 for engaging a catcher 28 mounted on a prop rod 26, which extends through the latch housing 32. The primary latch housing 32 is simply modified to provide for passage of the rod 26 through the housing for supporting the rod in the hood open position and for guiding its movement between that position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Senthil A. Gurusami, Ajit K. Desai
  • Patent number: 5306054
    Abstract: A brittle thermoplastic molded cylindrical hollow hole seal has a top wall and a depending side wall. An annular external rib snap fits to an annular groove in a hole side wall to secure the seal in place. Axially extending angularly shaped in cross section grooves are on the side wall interior and spaced axially extending slots pass through the side wall. The top wall internally has an eight point star shaped set of ridges and troughs whose points terminate at the side wall forming the interior grooves. Reflective aluminum flakes are in the material to provide a spotty finish. The slots, grooves, ridges and troughs form weakening regions causing the seal to shatter in response to an applied local pressure, for example, exerted by a screw driver for use with a screw plugged by the seal. The spotty appearance is difficult to hide when the seal is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventor: George Georgopoulos
  • Patent number: 5303979
    Abstract: In an infant-restraining protective seat, a cover seat (98) is tiltably supported on a turning shaft (20) which tiltably supports a seat back (3) on a seat portion (2). When the cover seat (98) is at a position at which it closes a second recess of a seat-portion body (7), the cover seat (98) forms a seat surface on the upper side of the seat-portion body (7). When the cover seat (98) is at a position at which it opens the second recess (14), the operation for fastening and unfastening a tongue (123) and buckle (124) of a seat belt device installed in a vehicle seat, which operation is performed in the second recess (14), can be performed with ease from above the front of the protective seat (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Koyanagi, Yayoi Hashimoto, Haruyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 5301988
    Abstract: A pawl latch that provides an integral gripping feature to facilitate opening panels and a visual indication of latch closure. The front portion of the latch has two pieces. In the open position, the two pieces are positioned with respect to each other so that the top piece reveals a colored face of the bottom piece. The colored face of the bottom piece can be observed at great distances from the latch. In the closed position, the top piece totally covers the bottom piece so that no color is visible on the latch. Further, in the open position, the front piece is at right angles to the bottom piece, and the front piece is positioned away from the panel so that it can be easily grasped with two fingers to allow the opening of an attached panel. Also, the latch is designed to be attached to a surface of the panel that is not horizontal to a frame to which the panel is to be secured to by the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Douglas M. Davenport, Charles J. Sherman