Patents Examined by Suzanne Dino Barrett
  • Patent number: 7340928
    Abstract: A casement lock for mounting on a cabinet part, especially without the use of a tool. A housing is adapted to be fixedly mounted in an opening of the cabinet part, and an operating shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing. A locking ring is disposed on an inner part of the housing to fasten the housing to the cabinet. The locking ring is axially displaceable on the housing part against the force of a spring supported on the housing. Projections on the housing axially engage in radially extending extensions of the cabinet opening. The locking ring has locking dogs that are offset relative to the housing projections and have inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: EMKA Beschlagteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7340929
    Abstract: A lock apparatus able to be installed in a structure comprising an outer sleeve having a plurality of outer rows extending transversely therethrough and radially therearound and a first bore extending though substantially a center thereof. An inner sleeve having a second bore extending through substantially a center thereof and is releasably connected within the first bore. The inner sleeve includes a plurality of inner rows extending therethrough wherein each respective inner row is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of outer rows. A plurality of user selectable pin sets is positioned within the plurality of outer and inner rows. A lock core for receiving a key therein is releasably connected within the second bore and includes a core pin set wherein a respective one of the plurality of user selectable pin sets is aligned with the core pin set creating an active pin formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Efthemois Christopoulos
  • Patent number: 7337639
    Abstract: An exemplary method of making a key is provided. A bitted surface is formed in a key blade of a key blank. A groove is formed in a first side of the key blade. At least one receptacle is formed in the groove. A notch is formed in the groove adjacent to the at least one receptacle for mating with a rib in a lock cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Billy B. Edwards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7334442
    Abstract: A privacy keypad providing privacy for keypad character entry and concealment of a joint in an escutcheon. A privacy keypad may include a faceplate, a keypad disposed on the faceplate, and at least one protrusion integral with the faceplate. An escutcheon for a door lock may include a housing, a keypad disposed on the housing for unlocking the door lock, and at least one protrusion integral with the housing. The protrusion may obstruct at least partially a line of sight to the keypad. An escutcheon may include top and bottom covers with the top cover projecting outward from the surface of a door more than the lower cover, resulting in an at least partially hidden joint between covers. Top and bottom covers may be interchangeable with covers having similar edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Yale Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher N. Case, Robert C. Hunt
  • Patent number: 7334441
    Abstract: A starter assembly for a vehicle includes a housing adapted to be coupled to a vehicle ignition system. A carrier has a key opening and is movably mounted within the housing. A latch is movably mounted to the carrier and is movable between a first latch position and a second latch position. An electronic key is provided to be received in the key opening of the carrier. The key has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The first end includes a first end wall. The first end wall has an opening defining an axially extending cavity therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Amundson, Mark G. Feldman, Roberto Tomassi, John Stack
  • Patent number: 7334443
    Abstract: A radio frequency (“RF”) electronic lock and a method of its operation are described. Also described is a programming key which may be used in connection with such a lock. It has several embodiments, including without limitations a mortise cylinder lock, a padlock, and a lever lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Meekma, Jesse Marcelle, Gary Burmesch, Martyn S. Nunuparov
  • Patent number: 7320236
    Abstract: A device for locking and unlocking, with a key, a cover on a frame. The rotor of the lock for this device has a cylindrical barrel mounted for rotation in the cover and being interdependent in rotation with the slide bolt and a cylindrical axle with head mounted loosely in the barrel. The device is used in the area of road works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Norinco
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Monneret, Claudio Pierpaoli
  • Patent number: 7320235
    Abstract: A lockable media storage container includes a lock disposed within the lock reception cavity defined by the container. The lock may be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position while remaining disposed within the lock reception cavity. In one embodiment, the lock locks itself in the unlocked position so that it cannot accidently move back into the locked position. The lock includes a plurality of lock hooks extending from a common lock frame. A lock finger also extends from the common lock frame. The lock finger holds the lock in the locked position. A magnetic key is used to unlock the lock and move the lock slide to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis D. Belden, Jr., Ronald M. Marsilio, Aaron McMahan, Jesse D. Wells
  • Patent number: 7318332
    Abstract: A lock has a shell, an internal sleeve and a locking rod assembly. The shell has multiple protrusions formed inside the shell. The internal sleeve is mounted rotatably in the shell. The locking rod assembly is mounted in the internal sleeve and has multiple locking rods. Each locking rod has a cut selectively aligning with the protrusions in the shell. When the cuts of the locking rods align with the protrusions in the shell, the internal sleeve can be rotated relative to the shell to change the lock or unlock status of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Jin Tay Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tony Miao
  • Patent number: 7316139
    Abstract: There is provided a button-operated lock device capable of increasing a setting amount of information in response to operation of a control button, obtaining a large setting amount and a wide-range of selection thereof, enhancing safety performance, simplifying the structure and achieving a small size and a light-weight, thereby achieving a low manufacturing cost, executing such various operations as setting or inputting information and altering thereof correctly, safely, easily and rationally, and preventing decoding or perceiving of preset or inputted information so that any third party is prevented from making a falsification and/or conversion of this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nagasawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Nakazima, Koichi Takahashi, Kenji Naitou
  • Patent number: 7316137
    Abstract: The handcuff assembly includes a bow pivotally connected to a cheek plate frame assembly which includes a base frame. A removable lockset assembly for locking a pawl relative to ratchet teeth on the bow and including a slideable lock bar is received in the base frame. The lock bar has a lock setting slot therethrough for receiving an actuating pin to move the lock bar from a single lockposition to a double lock position. A key receiving structure on each side of the lockset assembly is provided for receiving a key and enabling the key to turned in one direction only for first unlocking a double-lock, which prevents movement of the bow in either direction and for secondly, completely unlocking the handcuff by moving the pawl away from the bow and against a spring mechanism. The lock bar has a color that contrasts with the color of the frame of the handcuff to indicate any one of several things, such as type of lock mechanism and a status of the lock bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Parsons
  • Patent number: 7316135
    Abstract: The handcuff assembly includes a bow pivotally connected to a cheek plate frame assembly which includes a unitized frame that is die stamped from a metal plate and which is overmolded with a polymer overmold. The bow and arcuate cheek arms engage a wrist of a person to be restrained with an envelope of the bow being defined by a conic path with an increasing arc. The bow and cheek arms have rounded inner edge surfaces. The cheek arms have reinforcing ribs. The molded polymer covering surrounding the cheek arms provide a round on the inner edge of the cheek arms which engage a wrist. The unitized frame has interlocking tabs on folded side plates of a base frame. A flat is provided on an outer surface of the bow for lining up a point of contact with a wrist. A removable lockset assembly for locking a pawl relative to ratchet teeth on the bow and including a slideable lock bar is received in the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Parsons
  • Patent number: 7316136
    Abstract: The handcuff assembly includes a bow pivotally connected to a cheek plate frame assembly which includes a unitized frame that is die stamped from a single metal plate and which is overmolded with a polymer overmold. The unitized frame has interlocking tabs on folded side plates of a base frame. A removable lockset assembly for locking a pawl relative to ratchet teeth on the bow and including a slideable lock bar is received in the base frame. A key receiving structure on each side of the lockset assembly is provided for receiving a key and enabling the key to turned in one direction only for first unlocking a double-lock, which prevents movement of the bow in either direction and for secondly, completely unlocking the handcuff by moving the pawl away from the bow and against a spring mechanism. Beveled lock slots and keyways are provided in opposite flat side walls of the base frame for facilitating insertion of a handcuff key into the lockset assembly in the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Parsons
  • Patent number: 7313938
    Abstract: A bicycle lock for blocking a rotation of the crankshaft (5) of a bicycle is provided at the bottom in a saddle tube (6) of the bicycle close to the crankshaft. The bicycle lock comprises a lock housing (1) accommodating a locking pin (2) and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is adapted to fix the locking pin in two positions, wherein it releases or blocks the crankshaft. The bicycle lock is provided with coupling means (12) which are adapted to interact with counter-coupling means being part of the saddle tube in order to have a detachable coupling between the lock housing and the saddle tube. The lock housing (1) is coupled to the saddle tube (6) by a rotating coupling (12). The locking pin in the lower position thereof blocks the rotation of the coupling between the block housing and the saddle tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Cornelis Bleijendaal
  • Patent number: 7310980
    Abstract: A portable remote control key case including a first case shell and a second case shell that are securely fastened to each other. The case includes a case body, which has a component chamber and a key socket, and a mechanical key, which is partially received in the key socket. First and second engagement projections are formed extending across a boundary between the first and second case shells. The mechanical key includes clamp portions for clamping the first and second engagement projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masashi Hashimoto, Tokio Shimura, Mitsuru Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7308810
    Abstract: Improvements for an engaging mechanism for locks, wherein a spindle (6b) of the radial actuator (6) has an articulated connection to the tip of a first elastic arm (13), which elastic arm is radially fixed at its other end in an axis (14) that is mounted with freedom to turn, and that one end of a second elastic arm (15) is radially fixed in this axis (14) with a 90° difference in rotation, the second elastic arm having its other end meshing with the spiral thread of an endless screw (16), which forms the output axis of an electric motor (17) that turns in both directions of rotation and is oriented transversely to said freely rotating axis (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Talleres de Escoriaza, S.A.
    Inventor: Fermin Menta San Miguel
  • Patent number: 7302816
    Abstract: A computer security lock includes a main housing, a key-operated lock having a lock housing disposed in the main housing and having a lock bar extending movably through the lock housing, and a pair of scissors-type levers. Each lever has opposite proximal and distal end portions, and a medial part between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion has a hook extending outwardly of the main housing to engage a slot in a computer housing. The medial parts of the levers are pivoted to the main housing at a common pivot point. The proximal end portions of the levers are biased to place the hooks in an unlatching position in which the hooks overlap. A cam is moved by the lock bar to extend toward and between the proximal end protions so that the hooks move away from each other. A cable holder extends around the main housing, and a security cable is connected pivotally to the cable holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Miz Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Francisco Lu
  • Patent number: 7302818
    Abstract: In an apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, an inner cable, with one end connected to a rotor to make a twisting operation in response to the rotation of the rotor of a cylinder lock and the other end connected to a key operation input shaft of a door lock mechanism, is inserted through an outer casing with opposite ends connected to the cylinder lock and the door lock mechanism. A locking part capable of elastically engaging with an engaging part provided at a casing included by the door lock mechanism is provided at an end portion of the outer casing at a side of the door lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Usuzaki, Nobuo Watarai, Kouichi Tabe, Hidetoshi Ijuin, Nobuyuki Kishikawa, Kozou Munezane, Naoki Katsumata, Kinji Hoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7299669
    Abstract: A steering column locking device has an electromagnetic key interlock function that operates a solenoid to prevents a key knob from being undesirably moved to a lock position, as well as a mechanical key interlock function to conduct the key interlock function even when the solenoid malfunctions. The device includes the key knob and a plunger coupled to the key knob, so that when a user manipulates the key knob to start the vehicle, the plunger both moves axially and rotates. A cam shaft is coupled to the plunger, and a return spring is provided between the plunger and the cam shaft to bias the plunger towards the key knob. A stroke restrictor restricts a stroke of the plunger in the axial direction, and a push release functioning mechanism mechanically prevents the plunger from rotating from an accessory position to a lock position when the key interlock function fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin-Sang Chung, Sung-Ook Choi
  • Patent number: 7293439
    Abstract: A combination padlock has a housing, a dial core, a connector, a key core and a shackle. The housing has a cavity. The dial core is mounted in the cavity and has multiple dials and a shaft extending through the dials and having a bottom end. The connector is mounted in the cavity and has a cylinder and a lateral arm. The cylinder has a through hole, an open slot and a slid pin extending through the open slot. The lateral arm abuts the bottom end of the shaft. The key core is mounted rotatably in the through hole and has a rail slot holding the slide pin. The combination padlock can be unlocked by either operating the dial core or inserting a corresponding key into the key core so using the combination padlock is convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Jin Tay Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tony Miao