Patents Examined by Suzanne Dino Barrett
  • Patent number: 7257972
    Abstract: A locking storage case for holding a toothbrush. As two parts of the case are slidably engaged with each other to form an enclosed cavity holding the toothbrush, a combination lock, integrally and rigidly mounted to the parts of the case, becomes engaged for locking the case. A suction cup is provided for hanging the locking case from a smooth surface. A resealable plastic bag is provided within the locking case for sealing the toothbrush from germs and moisture and contaminants, and the resealable bag may have an antibacterial coating on its interior surface. A toothpaste tube may be provided in the cavity, and the toothbrush may have a removable head attached to a body that is joined to one of the case parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Aaron L. Bright
  • Patent number: 7251966
    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 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fawcett, Ronald M. Marsilio
  • Patent number: 7251969
    Abstract: A control pedal disabling device includes a housing having a side opening or notch for receiving a pedal assembly component. The opening has a forward surface for bearing against the underside of a pedal assembly component. A rod is slidably mounted to the housing. The rod is movable across the opening to trap the pedal assembly component in the opening. The rod is also movable forwardly from the housing to bear against a vehicle floor, thereby preventing movement of the pedal assembly component toward the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: David Simon
  • Patent number: 7249476
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for locking a container. The present disclosure relates to a lock mechanism which comprises a latch assembly having a rod and an extension including a latch aperture, wherein the extension extends from the rod to position the latch aperture away from the rod. The lock mechanism further comprises a door assembly having a door aperture. Additionally, a support assembly is adjustably coupled to the latch assembly wherein the support assembly includes at least one arm which supports the latch aperture in alignment with the door aperture. The method for locking the container comprises adjustably coupling the support assembly to the latch assembly and attaching the support assembly to mount assemblies which are releasably attached to internal walls of the container. The door is moved to a closed position to position the door aperture adjacent to the latch assembly wherein the extension is in alignment with the door aperture to receive a lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: M-3 and Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Wilson, Kenneth Lemberger
  • Patent number: 7246562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery door having anti-theft security means, more particularly to a door structure consists of a pair of casings, area adjustable mounting plate, hinge means and actuation means, which are installed on an entrance door or a window for delivering articles or products thereof. A delivery door installed on an entrance door or a window comprise an outer casing (4) and an inner casing (5) pivotally mounted on hinge means (3, 8, 9, 10), actuation means (12, 13, 15, 16) associated with the outer casing (4) and the inner casing (5) for opening and closing operation of casings and the mounting plate (6) having area adjustable means between the outer casing (4) and the inner casing (5) is characterized in that the mounting plate (6) is rotatable while in the transporting operation which securely controlled by the actuation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventors: Jin-Kook Lee, Sung-Hae Lee
  • Patent number: 7243515
    Abstract: A locking mechanism which includes a locking member which is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a retaining device which is movable between a first position at which movement of the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position is prevented and a second position at which movement of the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position is allowed, and an actuator for moving the retaining device between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Carl Meyer
  • Patent number: 7240526
    Abstract: A lock includes a cylinder, a cylinder plug and a locking pin assembly. The cylinder plug is rotatably mounted in the cylinder and has a dummy keyhole and a cylinder plug keyhole defined completely through the cylinder plug. The locking pin assembly has multiple locking pins that are slidably partially held in the cylinder plug keyhole. A two step method to open the lock with a key with serrations initially inserts the key serrations into and presses the key serrations completely through the dummy keyhole. Then the serrations are rotated, aligned with and pulled back into the cylinder plug keyhole. Conventional displacement of the locking pins allows the cylinder plug to be rotated, which opens the lock. Pressing the key completely through the lock removes any foreign objects such as toothpicks, chewing gun or pieces of paper and allows the lock to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Miko Lee
  • Patent number: 7240523
    Abstract: A slide latch assembly having a keyless toggle lock capability and capable of being unlocked by either a low level security key or a master key. When a user lifts up on the front grip piece or the rear grip piece of the latch assembly, a dual pawl rotary latch is opened so that the latch assemble can then be latched to a keeper. The lock cylinder can be provided with either a master annular ring on the front of the lock plug which can only be opened by a master key or a low level security annular ring which permits the lock cylinder to be opened by either the master key or the low level security key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Henric Johansson, Torsten Johansson
  • Patent number: 7240527
    Abstract: A device to facilitate manipulating a key by persons having restricted finger and/or hand use that includes a key holding unit with a socket in one end thereof and means to removably secure a key to such unit. The device also includes a hand tool that has a hand grippable body portion with a rounded outer surface in which there is located finger engageable indentations. The indentations are spaced apart from one another around an outer peripheral portion of the body to facilitate gripping and turning the same. A shaft projects outwardly from the body a terminating in a rounded bullet like free outer end that facilitates inserting the same into the socket in the key holding unit. The shaft has a portion proximate the rounded end that is non circular in outline cross sectional shape that is matingly insertable into the socket in the key holding unit. For those having limited hand movement there is provided a reversible ratchet between the hey holding unit and the hand tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Terry M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 7237410
    Abstract: A surfboard lock is described being of unitary construction and including a lock body including two engagement members; the engagement members are movable from a retracted position to an extended position and may be locked in the extended position; in the retracted position the engagement members may be at least partially introduced into the finbox opening of a surfboard; in the extended position the engagement members may engage with the internal walls of the finbox opening to resist removal of the lock therefrom; and attachment means affixed to the lock body for attaching the lock to a sturdy object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Millist
  • Patent number: 7234326
    Abstract: A lock device includes a lock housing unit, a jaw actuating unit, and a jaw unit. The lock housing unit includes an upper lock housing formed with a rod hole, and a lower lock housing formed with a jaw hole. The jaw actuating unit includes a jaw actuator operable to move between locking and unlocking positions, and an urging member for urging the jaw actuator to the locking position. The jaw actuator has a ring portion disposed adjacent to a positioning ring of the upper lock housing, and an operating rod extending through the rod hole. The jaw unit includes an overlapping pair of locking jaws received in the lower lock housing and each having a hooking section that extends out of the jaw hole and an opposite force bearing section, and two biasing members for biasing the force bearing sections of the locking jaws toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Miz Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Francisco Lu
  • Patent number: 7234327
    Abstract: A lockable container comprising an open-faced receptacle with a locking mechanism aperture, at least one lid covering at least a portion of the open face of the receptacle, and a locking mechanism for engaging with a padlock and securing the lid in a partially opened position over the receptacle open face. The locking mechanism has a receptacle engagement portion that is moveable into a receptacle engagement position, and when in such position, a lid engagement portion attached to the receptacle engagement portion receives the partially opened lid, and a lock engagement portion attached to the lid engagement portion is moveable into the receptacle and through the locking mechanism aperture, and out of the receptacle, where it is engageable with a padlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Wasteline Rentals Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald E. Howes
  • Patent number: 7234330
    Abstract: A lock with an improved configuration comprises a housing and a cylindrical member mounted in the housing. A lock core is mounted in the cylindrical member. The lock is characterized in that the cylindrical member comprises either nine or eleven pin recesses at the front end, a disc and an engaging post having a dodecagonal section are mounted at the front end of the lock core, and the disc comprises nine through passages and three openings of different depths. Based on the configuration of the lock, the key to be inserted into the lock must have a dodecagonal inner passage to match the dodecagonal section of the engaging post of the lock. Because of the three openings of different depths, a thief cannot use specialized tools to explore the lock and unlock the lock. The number of codes of the lock is increased to keep the lock from being easily unlocked. The owner's property and privacy of are thus protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Camlock Systems, Ltd
    Inventor: Bao Hsin Tseng
  • Patent number: 7234329
    Abstract: A lock system for releasably maintaining a movable closure element in one of two different positions. The lock system has a latching assembly with a first state and a second, maintaining state. An actuating system has a first actuating assembly that is changeable from a first state into a second state by movement of a part of the first actuating assembly in an operating path. A blocking assembly in a first state allows the first actuating assembly to be changed from the first state into the second state. The blocking assembly in a second state blocks the operating path to prevent the part of the first actuating assembly from moving so as to allow the first actuating assembly from being changed from the first state into the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Ricci L. Mazolf, Martin John Playford
  • Patent number: 7231791
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electric cylinder for actuating a door lock which may be easily attached to the existing door lock to prevent picking completely, and an electric cylinder door lock not having a keyhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventor: Nobuyo Sakai
  • Patent number: 7231790
    Abstract: A padlock-type lock for suitcases and us of the type constituted by a first half-shell and a second half-shell which are mutually articulated, comprising at least one padlock in which the locking bar is engaged, in a closed configuration, in a first through hole and in a second through hole, which are coaxial and are provided respectively in the first edge and in the second edge of the first half-shell and the second half-shells the padlock forming surfaces for mating with the first first edge and with the second edge, so that in the closed configuration the padlock is retained in a preset safe and minimum-protrusion position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: GT Line S.R.L.
    Inventor: Massimo Tonelli
  • Patent number: 7225650
    Abstract: A lock assembly for attachment to an enclosure door. The enclosure door has a lock assembly receiving opening specifically created to receive the lock assembly. The preferred lock assembly includes a lock case assembly having a bolt that can be moved between at least two positions; a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly such that the lock actuating assembly can actuate a change in the position of the bolt from one position to another; and a mounting plate having an interior side and an exterior side. The lock actuating assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the exterior side and the lock case assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the interior side. In alternate embodiments, the present invention provides a mounting plate, an enclosure door including a lock assembly and a method of securing a lock assembly to an enclosure door. A method of securing a preassembled electronic lock assembly to an enclosure door is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Randy Squier
  • Patent number: 7222506
    Abstract: A security check hanging lock structure including a lock housing, a first (private) lock mechanism, a second (common) lock mechanism, a first locking member and a second locking member. Each of the first and second locking members has a base end pivotally disposed in the lock housing and a free end extending to outer side of the lock housing. The free ends of the first and second locking members are connectable to form a hanging hook. The first and second lock mechanisms are disposed in the lock housing for drivingly controlling the movement of the first and second locking members. By means of unlocking the first and second lock mechanisms, the free ends of the first and second locking members can be respectively driven to displace away from each other so as to unlock the hanging lock in two manners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Chun-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 7219519
    Abstract: A cylinder housing includes a longitudinal hole for receiving a cylinder of an auxiliary lock. An annular flange is formed on an end of an outer circumference of the cylinder housing, leaving an annular end portion on the end of the cylinder housing. The cylinder housing is mounted to an outer surface of a door having a bore-hole, with the end portion being in intimate contact with a circumferential surface delimiting the bore-hole of the door, and with the annular flange intimately abutting against the outer surface of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: I-Tek Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Shen
  • Patent number: 7216400
    Abstract: A door hold and release mechanism is provided including a housing mounted onto the pneumatic cylinder of a door check or closer having a piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder. The piston rod passes through an oversized hole in a drop stop which restricts movement of the piston rod when the drop stop is tilted. A cap button is mounted on top of the housing and is connected to one end of an elongated shaft disposed in the housing. A spring exerts a bias pressure on the shaft which opposes the external force applied to the shaft when the cap button is depressed. A draw bar extends outwardly through the housing and is connected at one end to the drop stop. A cam action linkage connects the other end of the draw bar to the opposite end of the shaft. The linkage includes an elongated cam slot formed within the end of the shaft and a pin which extends through the slot and the rearward end of the draw bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Ernest F. Hodson