Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Mahler

Thomas G. Mahler 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: 5082169
    Abstract: A mail box according to the teachings of the present invention is shown as including a rectangular box with a receiver's door side-hinged and locked by a combination lock, to and within the frame of a bottom-hinged delivery door. The bottom-hinged delivery door is locked at the top and side and opened only by a delivery person with a special release tool which is thrust into a side chamber of the unit and forces a latch gate sideways which draws a latch from the side of the door and simultaneously transmits the force of the entrance, through tangential movement of a release rod, to an L-shaped connector to a release cable which extends through rollers to the top latch of the delivery door. Spring action automatically closes both latches. Supplemental brace hinges are included to enable the delivery door to be held ridgidly horizontal when open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Inventors: Harold O. Aurness, Thomas G. Mahler
  • Patent number: 4995661
    Abstract: A feces retriever is shown as including a set of several flexible stays arranged in a cone-shaped manner to trap a feces within a plastic bag held within the stays when pulled together by a ribbon connecting the stays at the bottom. The stays extend down from a collar slideably attached on a hollow shaft which is pulled up from a retracted position within the stays by pulling a handle on a second hollow shaft within the first shaft. The first shaft becomes locked in extended position by a holding mechanism on the top of the stay collar. The second shaft pulls the ribbon strands, which run up the inside of the shaft from a gathering ring attached to a spring lock at the bottom of the shaft, to a crossbar in the shaft and back down to fasten to the outside of the stay collar. The spring lock holds the second shaft in extended position above the first shaft which holds the bottom of the stays by means of the ribbon in a tight, closed position while the bag is tied before removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventors: Harold O. Aurness, Thomas G. Mahler
  • Patent number: 4944422
    Abstract: An expandable delivery box, according to the teachings of the present invention is shown as a free-standing metal box with a full top cover, a fully enclosed expandable front box member and two fully enclosed, extendable side members. Two unique locks which can only be opened by delivery persons using special keys are supplemented by other hand latches and holds accessible after opening the unit to extend the expansion members, if necessary. After a delivery has been made the unit can then only be opened by the receiver of the delivery using one of two combination locks on the main frame of the unit or an expansion member. When the unit is closed it cannot then be opened by the combination locks again until another delivery has been made. The unit also includes means for marking receipts proving delivery was made and received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Inventors: Harold O. Aurness, Thomas G. Mahler
  • Patent number: 4872326
    Abstract: A three stage lock unit according to the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as including a patented combination lock secured within an outer housing of the lock unit which is secured to a mail box door or any small door. Combined with the combination lock is a push button constrained by the combination lock until the correct lock combination is dialed releasing an arm of the push button placed to utilize a hole in the door previously used for another type of lock. The push button arm extends inward to an inner housing to contact the sliding spring mounted door latch within a slot of the latch and opens the unit door when pushed inwardly. A spring activated pin within the door latch extending into the slot to meet the push button arm helps to close the system smoothly by providing an auxiliary force through pressure on the push button arm to relatch with the combination lock latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventors: Harold O. Aurness, Thomas G. Mahler