Patents by Inventor Tom F. Sonnek
Tom F. Sonnek 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: 9739074Abstract: A twist handle latch assembly is provided for use on compartment doors of a utility vehicle. The assembly includes a plastic housing with a steel backer plate to which the latch pawl is mounted. A T-handle is rotatably mounted on the front of a housing with a post extending through the housing and the steel plate for connection to the latch pawl. Rotation of the handle rotates the latch pawl between locked and unlocked positions. A power actuator may be provided to remotely lock and unlock the latch pawl. A key cylinder actuator allows manual locking and unlocking of the latch pawl. A cam connected to the actuator has a window to receive a portion of the pawl in the locked condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: TriMark CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Lane, Julie M. Houdek, Tom F. Sonnek
-
Publication number: 20170218667Abstract: A twist handle latch assembly is provided for use on compartment doors of a utility vehicle. The assembly includes a plastic housing with a steel backer plate to which the latch pawl is mounted. A T-handle is rotatably mounted on the front of a housing with a post extending through the housing and the steel plate for connection to the latch pawl. Rotation of the handle rotates the latch pawl between locked and unlocked positions. A power actuator may be provided to remotely lock and unlock the latch pawl. A key cylinder actuator allows manual locking and unlocking of the latch pawl. A cam connected to the actuator has a window to receive a portion of the pawl in the locked condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Christopher M. Lane, Julie M. Houdek, Tom F. Sonnek
-
Patent number: 9004552Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Trimark CorporationInventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
-
Patent number: 8733022Abstract: An intuitive exterior door handle assembly is provided for a heavy duty power assisted vehicle door for opening and closing the door. The exterior handle assembly pivots about an axis for movement between pushed in and pushed out positions to actuate the power assist unit in opposite directions and thereby close and open the door, respectively. A switch or valve assembly controls actuation of the power assist unit in response to pulling or pushing the door handle so as to open and close the door. An override system is built into the handle assembly to actuate the power unit without pivoting the handle. The assembly and override system mount through a single common hole in the door. In the method of operating the vehicle door, the exterior handle is pushed inwardly to close the door and pulled outwardly to open the door through retraction and extension of the power assist assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Trimark CorporationInventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Lior Tikozenski
-
Patent number: 8506002Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Trimark CorporationInventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
-
Publication number: 20120175893Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATIONInventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
-
Publication number: 20120174489Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATIONInventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
-
Patent number: 8132844Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and push outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle. Perimeter bump strips offer safety functions to prevent injuries when remote function is active.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Trimark CorporationInventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
-
Publication number: 20110302842Abstract: An intuitive exterior door handle assembly is provided for a heavy duty power assisted vehicle door for opening and closing the door. The exterior handle assembly pivots about an axis for movement between pushed in and pushed out positions to actuate the power assist unit in opposite directions and thereby close and open the door, respectively. A switch or valve assembly controls actuation of the power assist unit in response to pulling or pushing the door handle so as to open and close the door. An override system is built into the handle assembly to actuate the power unit without pivoting the handle. The assembly and override system mount through a single common hole in the door. In the method of operating the vehicle door, the exterior handle is pushed inwardly to close the door and pulled outwardly to open the door through retraction and extension of the power assist assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATIONInventors: TOM F. SONNEK, LIOR TIKOZENSKI
-
Publication number: 20110204675Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and push outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle. Perimeter bump strips offer safety functions to prevent injuries when remote function is active.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATIONInventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
-
Patent number: 5219069Abstract: A coin holder made of plastic, or another suitably flexible material, having a flexible base, a flexible wall extending at a right angle from the base, a T-shaped tab extending outwardly from the base, and one or more tab-receiving slots in the base. The base and wall form a recess into which a coin may be fitted. The slots accept the T-shaped tab of another coin holder at an angle, and lock the coin holders together when the angle is reduced. In addition, the invention includes a flexible band into which coin holders may be attached for holding and display by being anchored parallel to the flexible band, or hanging freely from the flexible band.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1992Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Inventor: Tom F. Sonnek