Patents Examined by Suzanne D Barrett
  • Patent number: 7921684
    Abstract: A steering lock apparatus for locking a steering shaft of a vehicle. The steering lock apparatus includes a motor and a lock assembly that is moved by the motor. The lock assembly includes a lock bar that moves between a lock position at which the lock bar is engaged with the steering shaft and an unlock position at which the lock bar is disengaged from the steering shaft. A magnet receptacle portion is arranged on the lock assembly. A magnet is attached to the magnet receptacle portion and moved integrally with the lock assembly. A magnetic field detection element detects a present position of the lock assembly based on a magnetic field of the magnet. The magnet is magnetically held and positioned in the magnet receptacle portion by magnetic attraction force produced between the magnet and a part of the lock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 7918111
    Abstract: A lock device includes a universal spacer, for receiving a lock cylinder, and a plurality of spacer holes where one of the holes is positioned to receive a lock bolt of the lock cylinder. A padlock body houses the universal spacer. A plurality of padlock body holes extends from an interior of a universal spacer hole into the padlock body. The padlock body holes are positioned to match the spacer holes and one of the padlock body holes receives the lock bolt when the lock cylinder is in a locked position. A padlock bolt secures the universal spacer, lock cylinder and padlock body in place when the lock cylinder is in the locked position. When the lock cylinder is in the unlocked position, the universal spacer with the lock cylinder can be removed from the universal spacer hole and the lock cylinder can be replaced with another lock cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: George Uliano
  • Patent number: 7918115
    Abstract: A removable core lock and key device comprises a cylinder housing (10) and a cylinder core (20), which is accommodated in a circular opening in the cylinder housing. A plurality of pin tumblers (22) are movable under influence from code surfaces of a key, wherein at least part of the pin tumblers are provided in a recess (20b) in the mantle surface of the cylinder core. A cam adapter (40) is rotatably provided in the opening in the cylinder housing. The cam adapter comprises an engagement portion (40c) which engages the recess (20b) in the mantle surface of the cylinder core when the cylinder core is in an operative position, wherein at least one of the pin tumblers is movable between a blocking position, in which the engagement portion of the cam adapter cooperates with the at least one pin tumbler to prevent mutual axial movement of the cam adapter and the cylinder core, and a release position, in which mutual axial movement between the cam adapter and the cylinder core is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: ASSA AB
    Inventors: Robert Fredriksson, Johan Widen
  • Patent number: 7918114
    Abstract: An actuator assembly is for a lock including a handle, a latch, a retractor for retracting the latch when the handle rotates, and a lock member displaceable between locked and unlocked positions, which either releasably couples the handle with the retractor or releasably prevents handle rotation. The actuator includes a motor having a shaft rotatable about an axis and a coupler spring disposed about the axis and having a first end coupled with the lock member and a second end. A drive member is coupled or integrally formed with the motor shaft and has a helical drive surface threadably engaged with the coupler spring second end, such that rotation of the shaft displaces the coupler spring along the axis to move the lock member between the locked and unlocked positions. Preferably, the drive member includes a spring coupled with the motor shaft and threadably engaged with the coupler spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Harrow Products LLC
    Inventor: John E. Walsh, III
  • Patent number: 7918117
    Abstract: A lock assembly including a housing, a fastener that has a head, a lock member that is movable between a first position and a second position, and a barrier that is movably disposed within the housing. The barrier is displaceable between a first position at which the barrier at least partially covers the fastener head, and a second position at which the fastener head is generally accessible. The barrier is coupled with the lock member such that the barrier displaces from the barrier first and second positions when the lock member displaces between the lock member first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Harrow Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Frolov, Vu D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7918112
    Abstract: A security device a plurality of cables which are securable about an item of merchandise with a locking member and a cable-tightening mechanism each connected to the cables in a spaced apart manner. The locking member includes a key portion for unlocking the tightening mechanism when the cable is removed from the item. The tightening mechanism includes a spool and a ratchet mechanism. Alternate embodiments for locking and unlocking the ratchet mechanism are disclosed. The tightening mechanism carries sense loops which if compromised actuate an onboard audible alarm. The cables are part of one or more of the sense loops. The device is configured to sound a security gate alarm upon passing through the gate and upon simply reaching a certain distance from the gate. The tightening mechanism includes a housing having a flip-up handle for tightening the ratchet mechanism to tighten the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fawcett, Ronald M. Marsilio
  • Patent number: 7918116
    Abstract: A deadbolt knob restrictor used to prevent the rotation of the inside knob on the deadbolt lock. The restrictor includes a ring member designed to fit between the cover plate located on the inside surface of the door. Attached to the ring member are two perpendicularly aligned support arms with a pin-style hinge formed on their distal ends. Attached to the hinge is an L-shaped latch. Formed on the latch is a cam surface which presses against a spring loaded piston disposed between the cam surface and the support arm. The latch includes a long leg that may be disposed transversely over the ring member, and a short leg that may be placed adjacent to the wide surface of the deadbolt lock's turn knob to prevent its rotation. During assembly, the ring member is placed under the locks inside cover plate. During use the piston forcibly holds the latch in a locked or unlocked position against the turn knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Trung Quach
  • Patent number: 7913526
    Abstract: A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Stanton Concepts Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Loughlin, John Loughlin
  • Patent number: 7913525
    Abstract: A padlock includes a housing, a shackle having a pivoting portion pivotally passing through a first top hole of the housing into an accommodation chamber of the housing and a locking end passing through a second top hole of the housing, a retaining device disposed in the accommodation chamber and having at least two driving wheels for controlling an axial movement of the pivoting portion of the shackle, and at least two pointers located above a dial of the housing and respectively driven by the driving wheels to point to one of figures of the dial. When both of the pointers point to correct figures, the pivoting portion of the shackle is axially moveable relative to the housing under the control of the driving wheels, such that locking end of the shackle is moveable away from the second top hole of the housing to unlock the padlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Sam Ma
  • Patent number: 7913527
    Abstract: A locking device includes an enclosure having an insertion section formed with two holes for inserting into a connecting port on a computer, and a plurality of windows axially spaced on at least one side of the enclosure; a locking unit arranged in the enclosure and including a rod having axially spaced teeth, a push member connected to one end of the rod and having an engaging portion, a hooking member movably connected to the engaging portion with two hooking arms extended into the two holes on the insertion section; an elastic member located between the push member and the fixing seat; a plurality of rotating discs fitted on the rod corresponding to the windows and each having a plurality of numeral areas and a notch; and at least one push button movably arranged on at least one lateral side of the enclosure to interfere with the push member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Yen-Hsiang Chen
  • Patent number: 7908896
    Abstract: Implementations of biometric deadbolt lock assemblies having various aspects relating to lock housing; a fingerprint sensor in the housing; a controller in the housing and electrically coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the controller configured to store data and compare stored data to data from the fingerprint sensor; a deadbolt mechanism; a manual actuator couplable to the deadbolt mechanism; a controlled actuator electrically coupled to the controller that couples or uncouples the deadbolt mechanism from the manual actuator to enable or disable manual operation of the deadbolt lock through the manual actuator. A battery may also be included within the housing and in particular implementations a biometric deadbolt lock assembly may be configured to fit in the same size opening as a conventional deadbolt lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy L. Olson, Paul J. Byrne, Robert A. Johannsen, Kenneth C. Blaisdell, John Tysver
  • Patent number: 7905123
    Abstract: A bicycle lock includes a first part and a second part located close to bicycle wheels by two bolts and two respective protection members are connected to the first part and the second part respectively. The protection members cover the heads of the bolts so that the unauthorized person cannot access the bolts to detach the bicycle lock from the bicycle. A lock rod is connected to the first part which is pivotable about the bolt corresponding thereto so as to be inserted into the second part to lock the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Holageo Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sen-Yung Lee, Ting-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 7905124
    Abstract: A pin tumbler lock having a housing with a series of holes running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore in the housing. The holes are bored through the housing, and a first end of each hole opens to one of each of the chambers in the housing, between the first and second ends of the corresponding chamber, and a second end of each hole opens to the outside of said housing. A tool having a body comprising a tumbler-lock-housing receiving cavity, for receiving the housing therein, wherein the body comprises a first and second series of channels for creating the holes in a conventional pin tumbler lock housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Rahamim Komemi
  • Patent number: 7905125
    Abstract: A key-operated lock that can be programmed for use with one of a plurality of user keys without disassembling the lock or replacing the tumblers, that employs a programming key and an integral change tool to effect the lock programming. The lock can be configured to permit or to prevent use of the user key to program or reconfigure the lock. The lock is typically manually latched or bolted into a locked configuration. The integral change tooling simplifies the lock programming operation, and avoids the need for carrying a separate change tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: JaNaKa Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Rodrick A. Herdman
  • Patent number: 7895866
    Abstract: A cylinder lock assembly includes a cylinder body and a plug assembly which is manufactured in a multiple of pieces to facilitate casting of each plug piece in a single operation. The plug assembly includes a plug body with a plug insert opening to receive a plug insert. The plug insert opening is generally L-shaped in cross-section to receive the plug insert which is correspondingly shaped. The plug insert includes a plug outer portion which defines an arcuate outer surface which corresponds with the outer circumference of the plug body when the plug insert is mounted therein. A plug pin chamber portion extends generally transverse to the plug outer portion to define a multiple of tumbler pin chambers which extend through the plug outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Gerry Damikolas, Diane Sipes
  • Patent number: 7895867
    Abstract: A lock driving mechanism for use in a lock has an inner driving member having an inner panel, and an outer driving member attached to the inner panel and having an outer panel. The inner panel has an inner surface from which a lock core driver extends and connects to a lock core assembly of the lock and an outer surface on which an inner driver and an outer driver are formed. The outer panel has an inner surface on which an inner limiting protrusion and an outer limiting protrusion are formed, and an outer surface from which a latch driver extends to connect with a latch bolt of the lock. When a key inserted into the lock core assembly rotates, the inner and outer driver rotate, synchronously push the inner and outer bump, respectively, to make the key and latch driver rotate smoothly to drive the latch bolt to lock or unlock a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping-Hung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7891222
    Abstract: An electrically activated locking device is provided for use with an article of furniture of the type comprising a cabinet with an interior surface, at least one drawer in the cabinet moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a locking bar slideably mounted adjacent the interior surface for vertical movement and having at least one locking pin extending therefrom into locking engagement with the drawer and at least one lifting pin extending therefrom. The device includes an electrically powered actuator, an electronic module for controlling power to the actuator, a rotatable cam operatively connected to the actuator, and a lifting pin carrier in the path of and vertically moveable by rotation of the cam. The lifting pin carrier has an opening for receiving the lifting pin, whereby the locking bar is moveable into either an unlocked or locked position responsive to rotation of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hafele America Company
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Ratkus, Rudor M. Teich
  • Patent number: 7883127
    Abstract: The system described here is a shipping container security system including a bolt-type seal lock module located on an exterior surface of a door of a shipping container; and a sensor module mounted to an interior surface of the shipping container. The bolt-type seal lock module and the sensor module are configured to wirelessly communicate data therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Terahop Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Terry, Daniel Kenney
  • Patent number: 7883128
    Abstract: The system described here is a system for monitoring security of shipping containers, which includes: a plurality of shipping containers, each having a bolt-type seal lock module, and a sensor module mounted to an interior surface of the shipping container, configured to wirelessly communicate data over an external network; and a centralized computer database configured to receive data over the network that is external to the shipping containers from the plurality of shipping containers, by which data the security of the shipping containers is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Terahop Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Terry, Daniel Kenney
  • Patent number: 7878032
    Abstract: A lock guard is provided for padlocks securing different type J-hook latches of roll up doors in their locking position. The lock guard shrouds the shackle of the padlock thereby deterring vandals use of cutting tools to sever the shackle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Roy E. Gogel