Patents by Inventor Eric Carabalona

Eric Carabalona 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).

  • Patent number: 11131115
    Abstract: Latches are disclosed. One latch includes a housing, a cap, a bushing, and a ball. The housing is configured for engagement to the panel. The housing has a longitudinal axis and defines an aperture along the longitudinal axis. The aperture includes a cutout area. The cap and the bushing are mounted within the aperture for rotation about the longitudinal axis. The cap comprises an outer surface including a drive projection and a cutout area. The bushing comprises an upper surface and a sidewall positioned between the cap and the housing. The sidewall defines a drive surface positioned to contact the drive projection of the cap and an opening. The ball is positioned within the opening of the bushing. The ball is configured to be positioned at least partially within the cutout area of the housing or the cutout area of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, David Winwood Preston
  • Patent number: 10947755
    Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided having a housing, a cap, and at least one indicator. The housing may include a first top surface. The cap may include a second top surface and may be mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position. The at least one indicator may be interposed between the cap and the housing and mounted for axial movement relative to the cap. As the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position, at least a portion of the indicator is axially displaced to an extended position above at least one of the first and second top surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20200392772
    Abstract: A latch assembly having a base and a paddle. The paddle is rotatably connected to the base to pivot about a paddle axis and has a drive surface offset from the paddle axis. A catch pinion is rotatably connected to the base to rotate about a pinion axis that is generally perpendicular to the paddle axis. The catch pinion has an activation surface positioned such that movement of the drive surface generates a force on the activation surface to rotate the catch pinion about the pinion axis. The catch pinion may have a concave surface to receive a portion of the drive surface as the paddle rotates. A lock may be movably mounted to the paddle, and movable to engage a lock surface on the catch pinion to prevent the paddle from rotating. A lock may be provided to selectively disable the drive surface from rotating with the paddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20200048929
    Abstract: Latches are disclosed. One latch includes a housing, a cap, a bushing, and a ball. The housing is configured for engagement to the panel. The housing has a longitudinal axis and defines an aperture along the longitudinal axis. The aperture includes a cutout area. The cap and the bushing are mounted within the aperture for rotation about the longitudinal axis. The cap comprises an outer surface including a drive projection and a cutout area. The bushing comprises an upper surface and a sidewall positioned between the cap and the housing. The sidewall defines a drive surface positioned to contact the drive projection of the cap and an opening. The ball is positioned within the opening of the bushing. The ball is configured to be positioned at least partially within the cutout area of the housing or the cutout area of the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, David Winwood Preston
  • Patent number: 10323680
    Abstract: Cable splitter devices, assemblies, and methods of use are disclosed. A cable splitter device is disclosed. A cable splitter assembly includes a housing, a slider, first cables, and second cables. The housing defines a first number of first slots and a second number of second slots different from the first number. The slider is slidably coupled to the housing. The slider defines the first number of first channels and the second number of second channels. The first cables extend through the first number of first slots and have an end positioned within a respective first channel of the slider. The second cables extend through the second number of second slots and have an end positioned within a respective second channel of the slider. A clipping element may be configured to fix a longitudinal position of a respective first cable at multiple different locations along the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20190063112
    Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided having a housing, a cap, and at least one indicator. The housing may include a first top surface. The cap may include a second top surface and may be mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position. The at least one indicator may be interposed between the cap and the housing and mounted for axial movement relative to the cap. As the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position, at least a portion of the indicator is axially displaced to an extended position above at least one of the first and second top surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20170254354
    Abstract: Cable splitter devices, assemblies, and methods of use are disclosed. A cable splitter device is disclosed. A cable splitter assembly includes a housing, a slider, first cables, and second cables. The housing defines a first number of first slots and a second number of second slots different from the first number. The slider is slidably coupled to the housing. The slider defines the first number of first channels and the second number of second channels. The first cables extend through the first number of first slots and have an end positioned within a respective first channel of the slider. The second cables extend through the second number of second slots and have an end positioned within a respective second channel of the slider. A clipping element may be configured to fix a longitudinal position of a respective first cable at multiple different locations along the first channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Patent number: 9004550
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment. Mechanical hook-like rotary pawls supplement the action of the magnets. In addition, the latch is provided with a safety feature that prevents the latch from opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, Robin Talukdar, Kevin A. McCloskey, Robert Benson Speers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8382168
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet helps secure in a closed position a respective door that is provided with a magnetic insert. Hook-like rotary pawls that rotate with the magnets provide for mechanical securing of the doors in the closed position. The latch is provided with a safety feature that makes the latch resistant to opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, Kevin A. McCloskey, Robert B. Speers, Jr., Robin Talukdar
  • Patent number: 7931313
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Patent number: 7766397
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in latch design. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a rotary pawl latch with the capability to provide a compressive force between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20090230699
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary pawls is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary pawl engages a striker attached to a respective one of the doors to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20080265588
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: SOUTHCO. INC.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20080252083
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in latch design. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a rotary pawl latch with the capability to provide a compressive force between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Carabalona
  • Publication number: 20080231060
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment. Mechanical hook-like rotary pawls supplement the action of the magnets. In addition, the latch is provided with a safety feature that prevents the latch from opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, Robin Talukdar, Kevin A. McCloskey, Robert Benson Speers Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080191494
    Abstract: A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet helps secure in a closed position a respective door that is provided with a magnetic insert. Hook-like rotary pawls that rotate with the magnets provide for mechanical securing of the doors in the closed position. The latch is provided with a safety feature that makes the latch resistant to opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Carabalona, Kevin A. McCloskey, Robert B. Speers, Robin Talukdar