Patents Examined by Steven A Tullia
  • Patent number: 11788329
    Abstract: A latch structure comprising an elastic pull latch is disclosed. The top of the elastic pull latch includes a latch bar configured with a latch groove. The elastic pull latch also includes an elastic boss that moves in and out of the latch cover of the pull latch. On both sides of a box, an elastic pull latch is provided at the top and a catch groove having a catch affixed to the lower edge is provided at the bottom. When two boxes are stacked together, the catch in the catch groove of the upper box is snapped into the latch groove of the elastic pull latch of the lower box to securely connect the two boxes. When the latch is released, the catch of the upper box blocks the elastic boss of the latch of the lower box to prevent the latch from retracting inwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO E-POWER ENGINE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenquan Li, Yiqiao Fu
  • Patent number: 11781346
    Abstract: A latch structure according to an embodiment includes a body, a locking body, a latch head, a plunger, and a latch stopper. The body is disposed inside a door. The locking body moves in response to an external operation. The latch head protrudes from the body to maintain the door in a closed position, and rotates when the locking body is spaced apart at least a predetermined distance. The plunger retracts into the body to prevent the latch head from rotating while the door is being closed. The latch stopper prevents the protruding latch head from retracting into the body when the plunger is maintained within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ZIGBANG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chul Ho Maeng
  • Patent number: 11761246
    Abstract: A door exit device may include an actuator, an upper latch, and a lower latch. The actuator may be operatively coupled to the upper latch by a first drive and to the lower latch by a second drive. Each drive may include a housing which is mountable to the exterior of a door panel and a drive rod slidably supported within the housing. The housing may include a base which is mountable to the door panel and a cover attachable to the base with the drive rod located between the base and the cover. The housing may be configured to extend from the actuator to the latch to conceal the entire length of the rod between the actuator and the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lee Griswold, Ryan Piantek
  • Patent number: 11746577
    Abstract: The invention belongs to the technical field of daily necessities, and particularly relates to an unlocking and locking method of a cabinet lock and a cabinet safety lock. During unlocking, a lock rod is displaced relative to a locking assembly to release the locking of the lock rod, and a first lock rod is rotated to an unlocked position. During locking, the first lock rod is rotated to a locked position and the locking assembly is engaged with the lock rod to lock the second lock rod. The method and the cabinet safety lock have a novel operating mode, have a firm structure, are convenient to use, and can effectively avoid unauthorized operation by children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ningbo Eudemon Child Protective Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingfeng Chen, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11739575
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Door-locking device (1) for a household appliance (E), said household appliance (E) being of the type comprising a door provided with a lug (14), said door locking device (1) comprising a containment casing (10), fixable to said household appliance (E), a hook (11), arranged into said containment casing (10), capable of moving from a disengagement position, in which said lug (14) does not contact said hook (11), to an engagement position, in which said lug (14) is engaged with said hook (11) and said hook (11) is free to move along the movement direction of said lug (14), an abutment element (15) fixed on said containment casing (10), and elastic means (13), interposed between said hook (11) and said abutment element (15), wherein when said hook (11) is in said disengagement position, said elastic means (13) are compressed, and when said hook (11) is in said engagement position, said elastic means (13) expand, so that said hook (11) moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Bitron S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Promutico, Marcello Pollastri, Andrea Saccocci
  • Patent number: 11725433
    Abstract: A striker assembly comprising: (a) a latch that releasably engages a tonneau cover or a truck cap; and (b) an actuator in communication with the latch to actuate the latch between an open position and a closed position, wherein the actuation causes the tonneau cover or the truck cap to move between the open position and the closed position; wherein actuation is initiated wirelessly based on an input signal received by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Extang Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Carter, Jerome Facchinello
  • Patent number: 11725415
    Abstract: A door latch operator comprising: one of a knob and a lever on a door configured to articulate in response to a linear force, wherein the linear force is perpendicular to a central, longitudinal axis of a latch; a transmission configured to translate the linear force into a rotational motion; and a latch bolt configured to extend from the latch absent the rotational motion and retract into the latch upon reception of the rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Andy Chen, Elliott Schneider
  • Patent number: 11725421
    Abstract: An attack, ballistic and blast resistant door that includes integral concealed mortised four bolt-strike locking assemblies where the bolts are retracted with one hand operation for opening the door and are automatically extended for locking the door with closure of the door. The door has a door frame with four adjustable concealed striker receivers within the door frame. The door has four interconnected concealed mortised bolt lock assemblies, each with a biased bolt, wherein one of the bolt lock assemblies has an engageable brake to hold all four interconnected biased bolts in retraction when the door is opened after a handle interconnected with the four biased blots is moved to a door open position. A roller assembly is provided in the one bolt lock assembly biased to extend and move out from the door when the door is opened and releases the brake and allows the biased bolts to extend and move into the strike receivers when the extended roller assembly is moved inwardly toward the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Barry White
  • Patent number: 11719021
    Abstract: An exemplary method generally relates to operating an access control device including a motor, a locking member, and a target component operably connected with the locking member. The motor may be operated to drive the locking member in a first direction from an initial position toward a desired position. When the locking member is blocked from moving beyond a blockage position, a target location of the target component is detected. The motor may then be operated to drive the locking member in a second direction opposite the first direction. The motor may then be operated to drive the locking member in the first direction toward the blockage position while monitoring the location of the target component. As the target component reaches the target location, the motor is supplied with a boost current to drive the locking member beyond the blockage position and toward the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Vishal S. Kusanale, Avinash K. Vedamurthy, John C. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11708710
    Abstract: A glove compartment lock device includes: a base member attached to a glove compartment; a knob member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable around a shaft portion between a closed position and an opened position; an arm member supported at a center portion in a longitudinal direction thereof by the base member so as to be swingable between a locked position and an unlocked position of the glove compartment and configured to come into contact with the knob member at one end portion thereof; and a spring member locked at one end portion thereof to the knob member, locked at another end portion thereof to another end portion of the arm member, and configured to generate a biasing force that rotates the knob member to the closed position and swings the arm member to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Takai
  • Patent number: 11710592
    Abstract: Provided herein is an improved a bi-stable actuator including a first core component coupleable to a housing, the first core component including a central bore containing a shaft and a shaft spring. The actuator may further include a second core component extending around the first core component, wherein the second core component and the first core component are axially moveable relative to one another, and a third core component extending within the second core component, wherein the third core component and the second core component are axially moveable relative to one another. The actuator may further include a positioning sphere extending through an opening of the first core component, wherein the positioning sphere abuts the second core component when the bi-stable actuator is in a first position, and wherein the positioning sphere abuts a detent of the shaft when the bi-stable actuator is in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Davide Mantoan
  • Patent number: 11692380
    Abstract: A window lock system includes a sash lock and at least one tilt latch. The sash lock includes a first housing, a lever, a cam, a slide plate, and at least one actuator movable via the lever. The tilt latch includes a second housing configured to be slidably mounted on a window sash and an independent bolt slidingly coupled to the first end of the second housing. A drive bar couples the at least one actuator and the second housing together. The sash lock is movable between at least a locked position, an unlocked position, and a tilt position by rotating the lever. When the sash lock is in the tilt position, the at least one actuator retracts relative to the first housing and via the drive bar retracts the first end of the second housing of the tilt latch relative to a side surface of the window sash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Amesbury Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Rickenbaugh, Tyler Welbig, Chad Kramer, Gary E. Tagtow
  • Patent number: 11686135
    Abstract: A pre-hung door and casing retention device and a method of latching and unlatching a pre-hung door and casing. The door includes a tubular body configured to be receivable in a door lock cylinder opening and a door latch opening. A male portion has an extending post with a plurality of teeth extending from at least one side of said post, the male portion receivable in a latch bolt opening and the door latch opening. An elongated engagement portion has a first end fastened in the tubular body, an opposed second end extending from the tubular portion and a protrusion engaging teeth on the male portion when inserted into the tubular portion and wherein the protrusion is disengaged from the teeth when a withdrawal force is exerted on the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: B. Jack Smith
  • Patent number: 11674343
    Abstract: A multi-axial catch comprises a mount and a catch body coupled to the mount. The mount affixes the catch to a frame and the catch body has a recess to position a latch head of a latch within the recess to engage the latch with the catch. The catch can include a cam to form the recess. The catch rotates around a rotation axis in response to a longitudinal motion of the latch. The catch body is coupled to the mount to allow the catch body to rotate around a pivot axis in response to a transverse motion of the latch. The catch includes an elastic coupler to position the catch in a rotational at-rest position and an elastic coupler to position the catch-body in a transverse at-rest position. The recess allows the latch head to move laterally, in response to a lateral motion of the latch, within the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Budy Notohardjono, Richard M. Ecker, Suraush Khambati, Shawn Canfield
  • Patent number: 11661763
    Abstract: An anti-unlocked mechanism comprises a transmission gear, a sliding rod, a locking member and a first elastic member. The transmission gear includes an arc surface. An end of the sliding rod contacts the deadbolt of the lock body. The sliding rod is provided with a fixed stopper and a second elastic member. When the deadbolt is retracted, the sliding rod moves with the deadbolt against the elastic force of the second elastic member. When the deadbolt extends, the locking member moves with the sliding rod to block the rotation of the rotating part. The first elastic member comprises first and second protrusions. The second protrusion will not hinder the fixed stopper of the slide rod unless the first protrusion contacts with the circular arc surface, which will block the movement of the locking member to block rotation of the rotating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CMECH (GUANGZHOU) LTD.
    Inventor: Jia Sen Qiu
  • Patent number: 11661772
    Abstract: A window fastener including: a base configured for connection to a window sash; a handle carrying a latching tongue, pivotally connected to the base between a latched position and an unlatched position; and an interface between the base and the handle, wherein the interface causes the latching tongue to move axially closer to the base when the handle pivots from the unlatched position to the latched position; and wherein the interface causes the latching tongue to move axially away from the base when the handle pivots from the latched position to the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Bryce Alan Molloy, Lewis Joseph Isaacson
  • Patent number: 11661775
    Abstract: An exemplary damper module is configured for use with a latchbolt assembly, and generally includes a mounting bracket, a first slowing mechanism, and a second slowing mechanism. The latchbolt assembly generally includes a drive member, a latchbolt, and a retractor connected between the drive member and the latchbolt. Each of the slowing mechanisms is independently operable to slow the extension speed of the latchbolt. The first slowing mechanism includes a rack gear and a rotary damper including a pinion gear. The rack gear is configured to be mounted to the drive member, and the rotary damper is mounted to the mounting bracket. The second slowing mechanism includes a slowing arm and a biasing member engaged with the slowing arm. The slowing arm is movably mounted to the mounting bracket and is configured to engage the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Vijayakumar Mani, Paul R. Arlinghaus, Saagar Mohammed
  • Patent number: 11655655
    Abstract: A door lock device is provided and includes a lock assembly and an operation assembly interlocked with the lock assembly so as to bury the lock assembly in a door frame, thereby protecting the lock assembly from being damaged or stolen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: THASE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Ming Chen, Ching-Tien Lin
  • Patent number: 11624209
    Abstract: A door lock for a domestic electrical appliance includes a locking member which is electrically switchable between an unlocking position and a locking position, which locking member in the unlocking position allows a closed door of the domestic appliance to be opened and in the locking position is in blocking engagement with a blockable component at least when the door is closed, and an auxiliary member, separate from the blockable component, which is movable in dependence on the closing of the door from a release position into a blocking position. The blocking engagement effects blocking of the closed door against opening. In the release position, the auxiliary member allows the locking member to be transferred from the unlocking position into the locking position; in contrast, in its blocking position, the auxiliary member blocks the locking member against being transferred from the unlocking position into the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: EMZ HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Markus Lang, Robert Reitinger
  • Patent number: 11613914
    Abstract: A hatch lock cover includes inner and outer flanges, with a keeper and a handle positioned between the flanges. The handle is rotatable with respect to the flanges to move a batten bar contacting surface into and out of engagement with a batten bar or a hatch cover tab of a hatch cover. A downwardly extending portion of an arm of the keeper may define an aperture and/or include a projection for securing an adjustment plate or extension piece to the arm to provide an alternative batten bar contacting surface. Alternatively, a mounting bracket may be provided to secure the hatch cover lock to a railcar, with the mounting bracket accommodating the hatch cover lock in different positions having different elevations. Such configurations allow the hatch cover lock to be adjusted for use with a batten bar or hatch cover tab having a gasket that has become worn out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ireco, LLC
    Inventor: Brian G. Maki