Patents Examined by Suzanne L. Dino
  • Patent number: 6240753
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel lock for mounting diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel and having an extended portion adapted to block complete rotation of the steering wheel has locking means which simplify and reduce the number of manual manipulations required to mount and remove the steering wheel lock. A locking means is provided to permit only axial extension of the elongated steering wheel lock when in the locked condition, and to permit axial contraction of the elongated steering wheel lock only when in the unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
    Inventor: Jinn Fu Wu
  • Patent number: 5848501
    Abstract: A modular portable stage and floor system uses a small number of standardized modular components to construct a temporary or permanent platform that is easily adaptable to a wide variety of platform designs. The modular standardized components include a series of modular vertical and horizontal supports and a light-weight modular deck panel. The modular vertical and horizontal supports can be detachably coupled together in a slidably interlocked manner using a universal connector mechanism in to a support frame structure for supporting a plurality of modular deck panels. By using a small number of modular supports and a universal connector mechanism that is similar for all structural interconnections required to build the support frame structure, the modular portable stage and floor system is strong and stable, yet easily transported, assembled and disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Wenger Corporation
    Inventors: Dale L. Taipale, Michael D. Jines, Grant S. Quam
  • Patent number: 5823021
    Abstract: A structure of padlock is provided. The padlock comprises a hollow cylinder body, a U-shaped shackle arms and a locking mechanism which is composed of a pair of sliding members symmetrically arranged in the cylinder body and movably connected to a disk member via a pair of lever members and urged outwardly by a pair of compression springs. The sliding members normally position at a pair of locking holes for facilitating an automatic locking up the shackle arms into the cylinder body, and the shackle arms are unlocked by rotating the disk member clockwise with a key so as to actuate the sliding members moving centralizedly. The symmetrical arrangement of the components in the locking mechanism provides the stability as well as the durability of a padlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Charlie Chang
  • Patent number: 5639129
    Abstract: A door latch and sealing assembly associated with a waste container having an open end and at least one door positioned adjacent to and overlying the open end. The assembly includes a tapered seal actuator, and a seal actuator drive mechanism associated with the seal actuator and adapted to drive the seal actuator. A receiver is rigidly attached to the container and is adapted for operable engagement with the seal actuator. An elastomeric gasket is positioned between the open end and the door. In operation, extension of the seal actuator drive mechanism causes the seal actuator to engage the receiver; the receiver then reactively imparts to the seal actuator a compressive force on the door sufficient to establish a liquid-tight or hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: McClain Industries of Oklahoma
    Inventor: Roger R. Lindley
  • Patent number: 5636879
    Abstract: Coupling structure between a door lock and a door lock-actuator includes a pair of projecting arms disposed to an output shaft of the door lock-actuator and protruding radially, and two swing arms provided to a lock lever of the door lock and contacting with the respective projecting arms of the output shaft of the door lock-actuator. According to the coupling structure, the door lock-actuator can be coupled with the door lock without adjusting the positions of the output shaft and the lock lever with each other in advance and the work efficiency is improved for the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Tanaka, Masaru Inoue
  • Patent number: 5636535
    Abstract: A new small sized tag cover for a compact disk to prevent shoplifting is developed. The shoplifting prevention tag is not easily damaged or removed from the compact disk housing case. Therefore, the compact disk is prevented from being stolen. The shoplifting prevention tag is recycled for subsequent use. The tag cover is comprised of a first connecting portion having a first engagement piece to be inserted into a first groove of a lid portion of the compact disk housing case. A second connecting portion having a second engagement piece is provided to be inserted into a second groove of the lid portion. A connecting portion is provided to retain the housing case in closed condition by clamping the housing case together with the first and second engagement pieces. A locking mechanism is provided to retain the lid portion in a closed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Soft Service Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoharu Shimada
  • Patent number: 5632169
    Abstract: A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bank. The user then rotates an inner dial to cause a microcontroller to sequentially display a combination of numbers, and presses the inner dial to select a displayed number. The microcontroller determines direction and extent of motion of the inner dial by receiving signals derived from Wiegand sensors placed in proximity to a magnetized disc which rotates integrally with the inner dial, and controls the display of numerals on an LCD display accordingly. When the microcontroller determines that a correct combination has been entered, it activates a motor to move a motor cam to act directly on a locking lever so that the locking lever can engage a drive cam integrally linked with the inner dial, to allow the inner dial to withdraw the lock's bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Sargent & Greenleaf
    Inventors: Michael R. Clark, Christian F. Mascaro
  • Patent number: 5630331
    Abstract: A cylinder shaft projects from a key cylinder along the center line of a sleeve, and first and second case shafts project from a case. A spring is coiled on the first case shaft, and the cylinder shaft is placed between the first and second case shafts. The cylinder shaft and the second case shaft are placed between both legs of the spring. When the key cylinder is rotated with respect to the sleeve by the proper key being inserted in the key cylinder, the spring imparts returning force to the cylinder shaft that is making an arcuate movement in a circular-arc groove formed in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Alpha Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5630305
    Abstract: A roofing and/or siding unit and methods are disclosed, the units being formed of an appropriately formulated flexible foamed PVC material, and having a size, overall shape, and exposed surface configuration modeled after a traditional building material unit for which the units of this invention may be substituted (for example shake shingles, or various types of roofing tiles). The units are manufactured by an injection molding process wherein one part of the mold utilized is made by taking a metal casting of the normally exposed surface of one of the traditional building units so that substantial duplicates thereof are produced by the molding process. Since the units produced are similar in size, shape and the like to the traditional type units, workers need no special training regarding their application, which in most applications requires no techniques differing from techniques utilized to apply the traditional building units after which the units of this invention are modeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Richard S. Hlasnicek
  • Patent number: 5623843
    Abstract: A motorcycle anchoring device capable of being driven through asphalt, tarmac, or pavement, and to which a motorcycle can be tethered, thereby providing an anti-theft security when no other mechanism for securing is available. The device is in the form of a solid metal stake designed to be driven through the asphalt or tarmacadam commonly used in a paved parking lot or roadway. The stake includes collapsible barbs or flukes which retract while the stake is being driven into the ground, then deploy after the spike is in the ground, particularly as someone attempts to extract the stake from the ground. The barbs thus provide some in-ground stability, but mainly serve to prevent the spike from being raised. The exposed upper end of the spike is designed to permit secure tethering of the motorcycle to the stake, thereby securing against unintended removal and usage. Once the stake is no longer required, the stake is simply and easily driven completely into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph E. Sands
  • Patent number: 5622121
    Abstract: A protective cover for finery cases containing jewelry, precious metals and the like. The cover is made of nontransparent plastic sheets which are hinged together. A J-shaped channel is disposed on the free edge of one of the sheets for interlocking around a lower lip of a jewelry case. The plastic sheets correspond in size to the walls of the jewelry case to permit the sheets to hingedly extend around the edge corners of the case so that each plastic sheet is coextensive with and covers an outer glass-paneled wall of the case. The free edge of the cover opposite the J-shaped channel is locked to the case to prevent removal of the cover, which renders the case nontransparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: John L. Holler
  • Patent number: 5622067
    Abstract: A magnetically coded lock assembly has a lock having a housing formed with a key slot, a latch element movable in the housing between a locked and an unlocked position, and at least one magnet wheel in the housing rotatable adjacent the slot about a wheel axis. This magnet wheel is provided with a magnet, operatively engageable with the latch element, and displaceable between a blocking position preventing the latch element from moving from the locked to the unlocked position and a freeing position not blocking such movement of the latch element. A key has a body fittable in the slot and formed with at least one seat and a respective magnet-carrying disk rotatable in the seat about a disk axis through a plurality of angularly offset positions. Each disk is closely juxtaposed with a respective one of the wheels when the key body is fitted in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Sudhaus Schloss-und Beschlagtechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Waitz
  • Patent number: 5619932
    Abstract: A vault insertable into a coin and/or token collecting device and having a portion which is openable upon such insertion and closeable and lockable upon removal therefrom for storing coins and/or tokens received from the collecting device. The vault includes an electronic memory device for storing information relating to the vault, such as a vault serial number, and for supplying the vault information to the collecting device upon insertion of the vault into the collecting device. While the vault is contained within the collecting device, information from the collecting device may be supplied to the memory device for storage therein and information stored within the memory device may be supplied to the collecting device in response to a request signal from the collecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Cubic Toll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Efland, Lawrence Ames
  • Patent number: 5620214
    Abstract: A latch device for securely locking a keeper mounted on a window within a latch housing located on a window frame. The latch includes a locking bolt which is biased into an open position by a spring. The handle is coupled to the bolt through links. Rotation of the handle causes rotation of the bolt which captures and may lift the keeper to accommodate keeper misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Wright Products Corp.
    Inventor: Michael W. Kondratuk
  • Patent number: 5617750
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a key-actuated pin tumbler lock of the type having: a cylindrical core rotatable in a lock housing via a rotational path, a plurality of pin tumblers received in bores journalled in the core and lock housing, each bore containing a set of pin tumblers comprising one core pin and one housing pin, biassed towards the core, and having a pin junction therebetween, and a key slot in the core, whereby insertion in the key slot of a key having thereon suitable bits is adapted to align the pin junctions with the rotational path of the core in the lock housing, and to permit the core to rotate within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Master Locksmiths Assoc. of Australasia Limited
    Inventor: Brian Preddey
  • Patent number: 5615567
    Abstract: An exterior door lock cover (22) comprising a flexible sleeve (24) which fits over an exterior exposed lock member (10) having a keyhole (12) on an exterior door (16). The flexible sleeve (24) will stop any contaminants (20) from entering the keyhole (12) in the lock member (10) which can accumulate and clog the lock member (10) and prevent the proper insertion of a key (26) into the keyhole (12) for operating the lock member (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Alan D. Kemp
  • Patent number: 5615625
    Abstract: A system for the secure transportation of articles such as cheques and bank notes comprises first and second docking stations at different locations, and a secure container which mates with the docking stations. The container has a number of lockable doors into which bank notes are fed by a feeder mechanism at the first docking station. The container has its own microcontroller which monitors the status of the doors and the integrity of the container, and which can respond to external control signals while it is in transit. Once the container has been loaded at one docking station, it is transported to the second docking station at a different location, where it can be unloaded. A one-time code is generated each time the container is loaded, and must be communicated to the second docking station before the container can be unloaded. Any attempt to tamper with the container while it is in transit results in the activation of a dye dispenser, which marks the contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited
    Inventors: Gerald A. Cassidy, Khathutshelo S. Netshisaulu, Aharon Lubashevsky
  • Patent number: 5615624
    Abstract: A pass-through transaction drawer with a hinged, moveable security flap is disclosed to permit the conveyance of articles, in a relatively secure manner, between an attendant or clerk within a building and a customer outside the building irrespective of the drawer size or depth. The hinged, moveable security flap is only moveable by the attendant to maximize security. The security flap can be adapted with a small contents tray to facilitate transactions involving the exchange of money or credit cards. To facilitate transactions which may require deeper transaction drawers, the transaction drawer may be adapted with an interior partition to compartmentalize a relatively deep drawer, whereby relatively larger, bulky items are conveyed in the deeper compartment and smaller articles are conveyed in the shallow compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: MCE Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Dan L. Terry, Jackson G. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5615564
    Abstract: A door locking device with an antitheft mechanism comprises a main lock lever linked to a key cylinder and changed over from an unlock position to an antitheft position through a lock position, a sub lock lever linked to an inside lock button of the door and changed over to an unlock position and a lock position, and a linkage member having sufficient elasticity to connect the lock levers with each other between the lock position and unlock position. As the main lock lever is displaced from the lock position to the antitheft position the linkage member is elastically deformed and permits the sub lock lever to be left at the lock position, and as the main lock lever is displaced to the antitheft position the sub lock lever is composed so that it can not change over the main lock lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5613332
    Abstract: A floor mat has a slip resistant upper surface intended for foot traffic and a backing layer intended to lay across a surface on which the floor mat is supported. The core of the mat is a woven roving sheet of fiberglass. A layer of polyurethane is bonded to the fiberglass, and beads are projected to impact the polyurethane layer when it is soft and tacky. The beads are sintered ceramic beads having a high coefficient of friction. At first, the beads are partially embedded in the polyurethane layer, then the polyurethane is heated to further embed the beads to 60-90% into the polyurethane. This leaves the crowns of the beads exposed, and in combination with the intervening expanses of polyurethane provides a slip resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Edward T. Saylor, Jr.