Patents by Inventor Michael O. Misner

Michael O. Misner 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: 8201423
    Abstract: Locks for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be operated by setting a combination or by using a key include an indicator to provide a signal in response to use of the key. The locks retain relatively movable components in latched engagement when locked, and permit relative movement of the components when unlocked. In some embodiments, the indicator provides a visual signal if an associated travelcase has been opened for inspection by unlocking the associated lock using a key; and, in some embodiments, the indicator can be reset upon entry of a proper combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 8084701
    Abstract: A push button actuator unit has a housing that defines a passage extending along an axis. A push button assembly has components movable in the passage including a forwardly-biased push button at the front of the housing that is movable along and turnable about the axis. Two independently movable operating elements at the rear of the housing move differently in response to depression of the push button when the push button is turned to different orientations about the axis. The rear operating elements may extend concentrically along the axis, and the unit may be lockable to permit and prevent some operating element movement. The operating elements may be used to selectively disengage, or to engage and move a variety of auxiliary devices situated behind the unit. The unit may provide enhanced resistance to defeat by hammering than has been offered by a known form of push button unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Michael O. Misner
  • Patent number: 7832238
    Abstract: Locks for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be operated by setting a combination or by using a key include an indicator to provide a signal in response to use of the key. The locks retain relatively movable components in latched engagement when locked, and permit relative movement of the components when unlocked. In some embodiments, the indicator provides a visual signal if an associated travelcase has been opened for inspection by unlocking the associated lock using a key; and, in some embodiments, the indicator can be reset upon entry of a proper combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 7497103
    Abstract: A latch has a pair of oppositely acting latch bolts slidable on a housing that are engageable with latching formations on a strike. The housing has a pair of substantially parallel posts configured to shield portions of the latch bolts during insertion into and withdrawal from openings defined by the strike. A plug is turnable on the housing to slide the latch bolts toward and away from each other between latched and unlatched positions. In lockable embodiments of the latch, the plug may be provided with a keyway into which a key can be inserted and turned to move the latch bolts; and, in some embodiments, the latch bolts are retained in their latched positions when the key is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Michael O. Misner
  • Publication number: 20080295548
    Abstract: Locks for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be operated by setting a combination or by using a key include an indicator to provide a signal in response to use of the key. The locks retain relatively movable components in latched engagement when locked, and permit relative movement of the components when unlocked. In some embodiments, the indicator provides a visual signal if an associated travelcase has been opened for inspection by unlocking the associated lock using a key; and, in some embodiments, the indicator can be reset upon entry of a proper combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 7363782
    Abstract: A padlock for luggage that can be operated by setting a combination or by inserting and turning a key is provided with an indicator that normally displays a first state when the lock being used in a normal way as a combination operated padlock, but which displays a second state if the padlock has been opened by utilizing a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 7159422
    Abstract: A padlock for luggage that can be operated by setting a combination or by inserting and turning a key is provided with an indicator that normally displays a first state when the lock being used in a normal way as a combination operated padlock, but which displays a second state if the padlock has been opened by utilizing a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 7040675
    Abstract: A latching system includes a control unit that houses a remote signal responsive relay and a crank arm that is pivoted by the armature of the relay when the relay is energized to oppositely move a pair of elongate links each of which is connected to a separate latch assembly for moving operating arms of the latch assemblies to unlatched positions for causing the latch assemblies to release their latched engagement with strikers that hold a closure closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Brian M. Ott, Michael O. Misner, Thomas Heinrich, Timothy P. Laabs
  • Patent number: 7007521
    Abstract: A padlock for luggage that can be operated by setting a combination or by inserting and turning a key is provided with an indicator that normally displays a first state when the lock being used in a normal way as a combination operated padlock, but which displays a second state if the padlock has been opened by utilizing a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 6877345
    Abstract: A padlock for luggage that can be operated by setting a combination or by inserting and turning a key is provided with an indicator that normally displays a first state when the lock being used in a normal way as a combination operated luggage padlock, but which displays a second state if the padlock has been opened by government inspectors utilizing a key for purposes of inspecting contents of the luggage. The indicator can be reset from a display of the second state to a display of the first state only after the padlock has been opened utilizing a combination known to the owner. The indicator is movable between first and second positions, and has first and second surfaces of different appearance, one or the other of which is displayed through a window of the housing depending on whether the indicator is in the first position or the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Jian-Bing Lu
  • Patent number: D502380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Timothy P. Laabs
  • Patent number: D502642
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Timothy P. Laabs
  • Patent number: D504803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Timothy P. Laabs
  • Patent number: D469680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Laabs, Michael O. Misner, John J. Crocco
  • Patent number: D474102
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Laabs, Michael O. Misner, John J. Crocco
  • Patent number: D548037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Brian M. Ott, Michael O. Misner
  • Patent number: D553472
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Michael O. Misner
  • Patent number: D553945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Michael O. Misner
  • Patent number: D477984
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Laabs, Michael O. Misner, John J. Crocco
  • Patent number: D639139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Michael O. Misner, Chi-Wen Liu