Patents by Inventor Paul D. Caplinger

Paul D. Caplinger 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: 6116067
    Abstract: A lock system for a tool container provides the convenience of remote control without compromising the simplicity of the manual key operation. The lock system has an electronically controlled actuating mechanism coupled to the locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the tool container. The coupling between the electronically controlled actuating mechanism and the locking system allows a user to manually override the electronically controlled actuating mechanism with the conventional key-turning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Fort Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Paul D. Caplinger, William D. Denison, Calin V. Roatis
  • Patent number: 6068305
    Abstract: A lock assembly for a vending machine is provided for locking and unlocking a movable door of the vending machine with a remotely controlled electronic latching mechanism. The lock assembly includes at least one keeper assembly disposed on the door of the vending machine and at least one latching mechanism disposed within the interior of the vending machine and positioned for selective interaction and engagement with the keeper assembly when the door is moved between open, intermediate, and closed positions. When the door is moved from the open position toward the intermediate position, the latching mechanism captures the keeper assembly. Once captured, the latching mechanism is then withdrawn within the vending machine to pull the door into the closed position wherein a gasket disposed between the door and the vending machine is substantially uniformly compressed and sealed around its periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Fort Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, William D. Denison, Paul D. Caplinger, Calin V. Roatis
  • Patent number: 5862693
    Abstract: An electronically controlled security lock is provided for use with safes, vaults, hotel rooms, safe deposit boxes, and the like. The security lock includes a housing having an interior region, exterior surfaces, and an aperture therethrough with a pair of opposed channels. The security lock also includes a dead bolt which is slidably disposed within the aperture of the housing, an actuator with a movable plunger element such as an electromagnetic solenoid which is arranged within the interior region of the housing, and a linkage which connects the plunger element and the dead bolt. The linkage of the security lock includes a pin which is received by openings formed in the dead bolt and by the channels of the aperture. In operation, the plunger element of the actuator moves the linkage and the dead bolt when an electric current is passed through the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Fort Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Calin V. Roatis, Paul D. Caplinger