Patents by Inventor David A. Minnich
David A. Minnich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20240044187Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
-
Patent number: 11814881Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
-
Publication number: 20230340804Abstract: A compression latch assembly (CLA) includes a latch subassembly that is movably mounted to a housing and includes a frame, a pawl pivotably connected to the frame and biased to move from a closed position to an open position, a trigger pivotably connected to the frame and movable between a home position and a release position, and a release arm pivotably connected to the frame. The release arm has a cam follower that is positioned to engage a cam on the housing. A motor unit is configured for moving the latch subassembly between extended and retracted positions. In the course of moving from the retracted position to the extended position, the cam is configured to urge the cam follower to rotate the trigger from the home position to the release position, which causes the trigger to release the pawl, which causes the pawl to move to the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventors: Eric Howard Hammond, David A. Minnich, Kevin A. McCloskey
-
Patent number: 11619080Abstract: A latching system for securing a door to a panel includes a pawl having a first end that is configured to releasably engage a striker on the panel, and a second end opposite the first end having a connector. A pawl connector is connected to the connector on the second end of the pawl. The pawl connector includes a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a revolved outer side wall extending about the longitudinal axis, an open end through which the connector of the pawl is positioned, an opening defined on the revolved side wall of the cylindrical body, and a deformable portion formed on the revolved outer side wall. The deformable portion extends between the open end and the opening. The deformable portion is configured to elastically deform upon inserting the connector through the open end until the connector is non-removably seated within the opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventor: David A. Minnich
-
Patent number: 11585130Abstract: A latch or connector system having a latch housing, a first latching component, a second latching component, and a handle. The first and second latching components are movably mounted to the latch housing, and movable respective latched and unlatched positions. The handle is movably mounted to the latch housing and operatively associated with the first latching component and the second latching component. The handle is movable from a closed handle position to an open handle position to cause the first latching component and the second latching component to move from their respective latched positions to their respective unlatched positions, and the handle is movable from the open handle position to the closed handle position only when the first latching component and the second latching component are in their respective latched positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka
-
Publication number: 20220341224Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch sub-assembly includes a rotor that is pivotably connected to a rotor mounting portion of a housing, and at least one pawl rotatably coupled to the rotor and having opposing ends. The rotor includes a body, a post disposed on the body, and rotation limiters extending from the post. One end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes an engagement portion that is configured to be engaged with an opening in the vehicle in which the glove box is mounted, and the other end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes a socket that is mounted to the post of the rotor for securing the pawl to the rotor. The socket includes a rotation limiter that is configured to bear on the rotation limiter of the post upon relative rotation between the post and the socket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew John Keeling
-
Patent number: 11391061Abstract: Latch assemblies and systems are disclosed. One latch includes a latch and a receiver. The latch has a housing and a pin extending from the housing. The pin is mounted for longitudinal movement along a pin axis. The latch further includes a motor coupled to move the pin longitudinally. The receiver defines an aperture extending along a receiver axis and positioned to receive the pin of the latch. The receiver has a retainer biased toward the receiver axis. The latch assembly has an open position in which the pin is extended distally along the pin axis and received in the aperture, and a latched position in which the pin is retracted proximally along the pin axis while the retainer is engaged with the pin. One latch system includes a plurality of latch assemblies configured to move to the latched position after all latch assemblies are in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David Minnich, Christopher Todd Gahring, Jr., Robert Speers
-
Publication number: 20210140204Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka, David Gray Judah, Jeffrey L. Antonucci
-
Publication number: 20200386021Abstract: A latching system for securing a door to a panel includes a pawl having a first end that is configured to releasably engage a striker on the panel, and a second end opposite the first end having a connector. A pawl connector is connected to the connector on the second end of the pawl. The pawl connector includes a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a revolved outer side wall extending about the longitudinal axis, an open end through which the connector of the pawl is positioned, an opening defined on the revolved side wall of the cylindrical body, and a deformable portion formed on the revolved outer side wall. The deformable portion extends between the open end and the opening. The deformable portion is configured to elastically deform upon inserting the connector through the open end until the connector is non-removably seated within the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventor: David A. Minnich
-
Publication number: 20190292819Abstract: A latch or connector system having a latch housing, a first latching component, a second latching component, and a handle. The first and second latching components are movably mounted to the latch housing, and movable respective latched and unlatched positions. The handle is movably mounted to the latch housing and operatively associated with the first latching component and the second latching component. The handle is movable from a closed handle position to an open handle position to cause the first latching component and the second latching component to move from their respective latched positions to their respective unlatched positions, and the handle is movable from the open handle position to the closed handle position only when the first latching component and the second latching component are in their respective latched positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: David A. Minnich, Andrew S. Matejka
-
Publication number: 20180298636Abstract: Latches assemblies and systems are disclosed. One latch includes a latch and a receiver. The latch has a housing and a pin extending from the housing. The pin is mounted for longitudinal movement along a pin axis. The latch further includes a motor coupled to move the pin longitudinally. The receiver defines an aperture extending along a receiver axis and positioned to receive the pin of the latch. The receiver has a retainer biased toward the receiver axis. The latch assembly has an open position in which the pin is extended distally along the pin axis and received in the aperture, and a latched position in which the pin is retracted proximally along the pin axis while the retainer is engaged with the pin. One latch system includes a plurality of latch assemblies configured to move to the latched position after all latch assemblies are in the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: Southco, Inc.Inventors: David Minnich, Christopher Todd Gahring, Robert Speers
-
Patent number: 8364920Abstract: Lun clones are transferred from a primary server to a secondary server. The lun clones on the secondary server maintain the same data storage space saving relationship with backing luns of the lun clones as exists on the primary server. Incremental backups and restores of the lun clones between the primary and secondary servers involves transferring less than the total number of data blocks associated with the lun clone.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.Inventors: Brian Parkison, Stephen Wu, Alan Driscoll, Vikas Yadav, David Minnich, Rithin Shetty
-
Patent number: 7712801Abstract: A rotary pawl latch has a lock bar that engages with the pawl when the pawl is latched and that moves toward the center of the pawl to release the pawl for unlatching. This lock bar never completely becomes disengaged from the envelope of the pawl. There are cutouts in the pawl which allow the pawl to rotate as the lock bar is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: Jianping Xu, David A. Minnich, Camillo R. Conte, Kevin A. McCloskey, Ryan M. Downey, Martin M. Morrison
-
Publication number: 20080042450Abstract: A rotary pawl latch is disclosed that has a lock bar that engages with the pawl when the pawl is latched and that moves toward the center of the pawl to release the pawl for unlatching. This lock bar never completely becomes disengaged from the envelope of the pawl. There are cutouts in the pawl which allow the pawl to rotate as the lock bar is actuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventors: Xu Jianping, David Minnich, Camillo Conte, Kevin McCloskey, Ryan Downey, Martin Morrison
-
Publication number: 20070124464Abstract: An automatically configurable network monitoring system includes a network monitoring communications protocol used for communications between a network monitoring client executing on a routing node (100) being monitored and a network monitoring server executing on a network monitoring processor (106). According to the network monitoring communications protocol, the network monitoring client broadcasts a network monitoring service request message to the network monitoring servers. The service request message identifies a signaling link for which network monitoring service is being requested. The network monitoring servers provisioned to the requested provide network monitoring service respond affirmatively and thereby automatically grant network monitoring service. The network monitoring system may be completely probeless or, alternatively, used in conjunction with probe-based network monitoring devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Yoogin Lean, David Minnich, Kevin Sapp, Richard Spangler, Merl Trimmer
-
Patent number: 7073231Abstract: Reliable and durable tether clips that continue to tether two panels together while allowing for a controlled displacement between the two panels in response to a predetermined force are disclosed. The tether clips according to the present invention include a first retaining means near a first end that is adapted to be securable to a first panel, a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the panels, and a releasable fastener means intermediate the first and second retaining means that normally maintains the two panels in a closed configuration relative to one another but that releases at least one of the panels relative to the other panel in response to a predetermined force tending to separate the panels.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: Kraig D. Draggoo, Eric D. Hyp, Loc B. Tieu, David A. Minnich, William E. Sokurenko
-
Patent number: 6952863Abstract: Reliable and durable tether clips that continue to tether two panels together while allowing for a controlled displacement between the two panels in response to a predetermined force are disclosed. The tether clips according to the present invention include a first retaining means near a first end that is adapted to be securable to a first panel, a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the panels, and a releasable fastener means intermediate the first and second retaining means that normally maintains the two panels in a closed configuration relative to one another but that releases at least one of the panels relative to the other panel in response to a predetermined force tending to separate the panels.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventors: Kraig D. Draggoo, Eric D. Hyp, Loc B. Tieu, David A. Minnich, William E. Sokurenko
-
Publication number: 20050198101Abstract: Methods and systems for link-level alignment between processing modules or cards and distributed processing system are disclosed. According to one method, cards that support link level communications parameter negotiation exchange link status signal units (LSSUs) to negotiate a common set of link level communications. For link level communications between a card that supports parameter negotiation and a card that does not support link level communications parameter negotiation, LSSUs are exchanged, and the cards establish link level communications using a default set of parameter values.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2004Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventor: David Minnich
-
Publication number: 20050071959Abstract: Panel fasteners or tether clips are disclosed that include a first retaining means near a first end that is adapted to be securable to a first panel, a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the panels, and a releasable fastener means intermediate the first and second retaining means that normally maintains the two panels in a closed configuration relative to one another but that releases at least one of the panels relative to the other panel in response to a predetermined force tending to separate the panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2004Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: David Minnich, Richard Plummer, Louis Carothers
-
Publication number: 20040052575Abstract: Reliable and durable tether clips that continue to tether two panels together while allowing for a controlled displacement between the two panels in response to a predetermined force are disclosed. The tether clips according to the present invention include a first retaining means near a first end that is adapted to be securable to a first panel, a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the panels, and a releasable fastener means intermediate the first and second retaining means that normally maintains the two panels in a closed configuration relative to one another but that releases at least one of the panels relative to the other panel in response to a predetermined force tending to separate the panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2002Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Kraig D. Draggoo, Eric D. Hyp, Loc B. Tieu, David A. Minnich, William E. Sokurenko