Patents by Inventor William R. Foshee

William R. Foshee 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: 4998422
    Abstract: A padlock configured to accept a removable lock core is provided with a shackle and bolt mechanism for locking the shackle. The bolt mechanism is configured to be retainable in the padlock case during shipment of the padlock without its removable lock core. In addition, a tool is provided for releasing and removing the bolt mechanism easily from a secure position inside the padlock to disassemble the padlock for repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Borgmann, William R. Foshee, deceased
  • Patent number: 4995249
    Abstract: A door handle assembly includes a hollow knob shell, a lock core having a front end formed to include a keyway opening, and a unitary core retainer sleeve situated inside an interior cavity of the knob shell. The unitary core retainer sleeve is formed to include means for supporting the lock core inside the interior cavity so that the front end of the lock core is positioned to lie in a front opening of the knob shell to permit a user to insert a key into the keyway opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Preissler, William R. Foshee, deceased
  • Patent number: 4918950
    Abstract: A lock includes a padlock housing and an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A bridge member is provided on a flange of the key-way disc to cover a portion of the longitudinal opening of the key slot in the key-way disc. A cylinder cap is mounted on the lock core by a flange and slot connection for removal therewith by a control key which releases control lugs on the lock core from the lock housing cap is used with a lock cylinder, a cylinder ring having a groove in an interior wall that opens toward either the cylinder cap or the lock cylinder is also provided. The exterior surface and the circumferential groove of the cylinder ring are case hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4873853
    Abstract: An escutcheon is provided for shielding a portion of a door panel or the like. The escutcheon includes a cover plate having outer and inner faces. The cover plate is formed to include an axially extending lock cylinder-receiving cavity having an annular rear opening in the inner face and a figure-8-shaped front opening in the outer face. A lock cylinder can be mounted in the cavity to display a figure-8-shaped front face of an interchangeable lock core housed in the lock cylinder through the figure-8-shaped front opening in the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4843852
    Abstract: A core assembly is provided for use in a lock cylinder formed to include an axially extending core-receiving chamber of figure-8 cross-section providing upper and lower chamber portions. A throw member extending into the lower chamber portion is provided for actuating a lock assembly. The core assembly includes a plug member configured to fit in the upper chamber portion, and an actuator member configured to rotate freely in the lower chamber portion. The actuator member includes means for operably engaging the actuating means so that the lock assembly is actuable upon rotation of the actuator member in the lower chamber portion and an assembly for ejecting the plug member from the upper chamber portion in response to withdrawal of the actuator member from the lower chamber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Foshee, Duane B. Nixon, Ralph P. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4836001
    Abstract: A lock includes a lock housing and an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A bridge member is provided on a flange of the key-way disc to cover a portion of the longitudinal opening of the key slot in the key-way disc. In one embodiment, a cylinder cap is threadedly mounted on the lock cylinder housing to protect the core and a key-way disc is mounted in the cylinder cap to protect the key plug while still permitting insertion of an operating key into the key slot of the key plug. A spin-free pin is mounted for free rotation in the lock cylinder housing for blocking rotation of the protective cylinder cap in relation to the lock cylinder housing. A setscrew is provided in the lock cylinder housing to urge the spin-free blocking pin into rotation-blocking engagement with the threaded cylinder cap. In other embodiments, the cap is mounted on the lock core for removal therewith by a control key from a lock cylinder housing or a padlock case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4813254
    Abstract: A bar lock system includes first and second plates. Each plate includes lugs for mating with an adjacent plate. The first plate includes an inner wall defining an axial bore having opposite forward and rearward openings and the second plate includes an inner wall defining a bolt-receiving cup. The stop member extends a predetermined distance into the axial bore to provide a rearwardly presented blocking surface. A key-actuated bar lock mechanism is position within the axial bore of the first plate for sliding movement therein toward a second plate-locking position. The bar lock mechanism includes a bolt for entering the bolt-receiving cup upon movement of the bar lock mechanism to its second plate-locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Foshee, Duane B. Nixon
  • Patent number: 4779908
    Abstract: An improved latch bolt deadlocking mechanism includes a housing, a latch bolt, a deadlocking tumbler, and an auxiliary bolt. The latch bolt is movable along its longitudinal axis in the housing between projected and retracted positions. The deadlocking tumbler and the auxiliary bolt cooperate to selectively deadlock the latch bolt to retain the latch bolt in its projected position. The latch bolt is formed to include integral guides extending along the length of the latch bolt for guiding the auxiliary bolt along a straight path between a projected position holding the deadlocking tumbler in a release position to permit retraction of the latch bolt and a retracted position to permit movement of the deadlocking tumbler to its latch bolt-deadlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Foshee, Lyn Hamel
  • Patent number: 4773240
    Abstract: A torque-releasable door handle assembly is provided for normally rotating a bolt-retracting sleeve to operate a door latching system. The door handle assembly includes a body for coupling to the bolt-retracting sleeve and a handle shell mounted on the body for rotational movement thereabout. A drive assembly is provided for yieldably connecting the body and handle shell to establish a normal driving connection so that the body is rotated normally to rotate the bolt-retracting sleeve and operate the door latching system in response to rotation of the handle shell. The drive assembly is configured to release the normal driving connection between the body and the handle shell in response to application of a rotation-inducing torque to the handle shell in excess of a predetermined amount. In preferred embodiments, the drive assembly includes a matched pair of mateable female and male drive rings positioned in a space between an exterior surface of the body and an interior surface of the handle shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4768360
    Abstract: A lock is provided for use in preventing relative movement of first and second sliding panels arranged in side-by-side passing relation. The lock includes a lock cylinder that is mounted in the first sliding panel and has an inner wall defining a core-receiving chamber. The lock further includes a lock core that has a slot for receiving a key and is slidably mounted in the core-receiving chamber for movement between a projected and retracted position. In its projected position, the lock core substantially blocks movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In its retracted position, the lock core permits unhindered movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In a first embodiment, the lock core includes separate first and second control lugs positioned in spaced-apart relation. In a second embodiment, the lock core includes a single control lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4726613
    Abstract: A door latch bolt spring-biased to projected position and retracted by a lever or other unbalanced handle is provided with a blocker plate loosely mounted on the rear face of the bolt and held in nonblocking position by a fusible pin or other heat-sensitive element. In case of fire, when elevated temperature may weaken the biasing spring and allow the unbalanced handle to exert retracting force on the latch, the heat-sensitive element releases the blocker plate and allows it to drop to an operative position where it will move against a stop to block retraction of the bolt. The plate is movable in either direction on the bolt so as to be operative on either hand or door. The tailpiece of the latch bolt carries means for mounting a reaction plate for the biasing spring and the blocker plate is loosely received between such plate and the rear face of the latch bolt. The reaction plate can be omitted when the blocker is not used, but can be supplied at any stage of manufacture or in the field when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4722204
    Abstract: A lock is provided for use in preventing relative movement of first and second sliding panels arranged in side-by-side passing relation. The lock includes a lock cylinder that is mounted in the first sliding panel and has an inner wall defining a core-receiving chamber. The lock further includes a lock core that has a slot for receiving a key and is slidably mounted in the core-receiving chamber for movement between a projected and retracted position. In its projected position, the lock core substantially blocks movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In its retracted position, the lock core permits unhindered movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In a first embodiment, the lock core includes separate first and second control lugs positioned in spaced-apart relation. In a second embodiment, the lock core includes a single control lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4667994
    Abstract: A spindle assembly is provided for retracting a latch bolt of a lock set having separate independently rotatable inside and outside latch bolt-retracting hubs. The spindle assembly includes an inside spindle for operating the inside hub, an outside spindle for operating the outside hub, and a connection member for rotatably interconnecting the inside and outside spindles. The outside spindle includes an inner spindle portion for engaging the outside hub, an outer spindle portion for supporting a lever handle or the like, and a frangible portion interconnecting the inner and outer portions. The frangible portion is configured to transmit spindle-twisting torque from the outer spindle portion to the inner spindle portion in response to application of a torque in excess of a first predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4663839
    Abstract: A cabinet push lock has a key plug held by a retaining pin engaged in a circumferential groove in the key plug and mounted in a bore coplanar with the pin tumbler bores. The pin tumbler stacks are held in their bores by an elongated cap mounted in a groove closed at the front and extending across both the pin tumbler bores and the retaining pin bore. The cap is held against endwise movement, as by interlocking with the sides of the groove. The groove side walls are staked at spaced areas to releasably retain the cap, and other areas are reserved for subsequent restakings. The retaining pin bore, an aligned diametric bore in the key plug, and a bottom opening in the lock body provide a passage for transmission of thrust to drive a portion of the cap out of the groove to permit cap removal. The diametric bore in the key plug contains a drive pin to block the key slot, and a key stop ahead of the drive pin blocks an additional portion of the key slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4655063
    Abstract: A lock according to the present invention includes an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A sloping shoulder is provided on at least one of the tumbler pin passageways in the key plug to define an enlarged opening on the exterior surface of the key plug that is non-concentric with said passageway. A sloping shoulder can also be provided on at least one of the tumbler pin passageways in the core sleeve to define an enlarged opening on the exterior surface of the core sleeve that is non-concentric with said passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Foshee, John P. McCrory
  • Patent number: 4655059
    Abstract: A keyed lever handle for a cylindrical lock comprises a handle body which is rotatably mounted by its neck on the knob sleeve of the lock and is removably held by a retainer and is connected for rotation with the sleeve by a driver which releases under excess torque, either yieldingly or by break-away of a driver lug. An outward-extending body shell telescopically receives and supports an outer handle shell integral with a handle lever. The outer shell has an inward-extending end flange spaced from the end face of the body shell to define therebetween an inward-opening groove which receives a retainer for an end face closure mounted in the cylindrical open end of the assembled shells. The retainer may be a separate snap ring or an integral flange on the closure. The closure member receives a key-operated and removable core, and its rotative mounting permits different orientations to suit the hand of the door, and also permits the lever handle to rotate when drive is released under excess torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Walter E. Best, William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: 4633690
    Abstract: An improved lock cylinder assembly is mountable in a lock case and includes a lock body having an exterior side wall. The lock cylinder assembly is mountable in the lock case and fixable in a selected position therein by a rotation-blocking side setscrew, and a cylinder-anchoring hidden setscrew. The lock body is formed to include a cavity for the reception of an interchangeable lock core, at least one elongated channel having a longitudinal axis, the central including an opening in the exterior side wall for the reception of the side setscrew, and a bore having a longitudinal axis for the reception of a hidden setscrew. The bore extends between the lock body cavity and the exterior side wall to define an opening in the exterior side wall of the lock body. Each channel opening and the exterior bore opening are situated in circumferentially spaced-apart relation on the exterior side wall of the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: D289369
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: D290085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Foshee
  • Patent number: D301116
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Foshee, Duane B. Nixon