Patents by Inventor William S. Middelaer

William S. Middelaer 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: 11326371
    Abstract: A tool for adjusting the backset of a latch bolt. The latch bolt includes a latch bolt and a tailpiece. A housing receives the latch bolt and includes a transversely extending protrusion. A casing slidably receives the housing such that the protrusion on the housing is received in a slot on the casing and an inner end of the tailpiece extends from the housing and casing. The casing is rotated relative to the housing to allow relative axial movement between the casing and the housing when transitioning between the first backset position and the second backset position. The tool includes a member defining a first slot for receiving the inner end of the tailpiece and a pair of second slots for receiving the pair of ears such that rotation of the tool rotates the tailpiece and the casing simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Access and Egress Hardware Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Middelaer, Christopher Hill, Todd Zimmer, Brian R. Fournier, Christine E. Voelker
  • Publication number: 20180216368
    Abstract: A tool for adjusting the backset of a latch bolt. The latch bolt includes a latch bolt and a tailpiece. A housing receives the latch bolt and includes a transversely extending protrusion. A casing slidably receives the housing such that the protrusion on the housing is received in a slot on the casing and an inner end of the tailpiece extends from the housing and casing. The casing is rotated relative to the housing to allow relative axial movement between the casing and the housing when transitioning between the first backset position and the second backset position. The tool includes a member defining a first slot for receiving the inner end of the tailpiece and a pair of second slots for receiving the pair of ears such that rotation of the tool rotates the tailpiece and the casing simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: William S. Middelaer, Christopher Hill, Todd Zimmer, Brian R. Fournier, Christine E. Voelker
  • Patent number: 10006226
    Abstract: A latch assembly comprises a latch bolt and a tailpiece including a first tailpiece member mounted to the latch bolt and a second tailpiece member. The second tailpiece member is movably received in a bore of the first tailpiece member and operably connected to a latch operator. The second tailpiece member is received in one of two axially spaced recesses in the bore in a first backset position and a second backset position. Relative axial movement between the first tailpiece member and the second tailpiece member is prevented in a first relative rotational position in the first backset position and in a second relative rotational position in the second backset position, and relative axial movement is allowed in a third relative rotational position to allow the second tailpiece member to be moved between the first backset position and the second backset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: YALE SECURITY INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hill, Todd Zimmer, Brian R. Fournier, Christine E. Voelker, William S. Middelaer
  • Publication number: 20170009490
    Abstract: A latch assembly comprises a latch bolt and a tailpiece including a first tailpiece member mounted to the latch bolt and a second tailpiece member. The second tailpiece member is movably received in a bore of the first tailpiece member and operably connected to a latch operator. The second tailpiece member is received in one of two axially spaced recesses in the bore in a first backset position and a second backset position. Relative axial movement between the first tailpiece member and the second tailpiece member is prevented in a first relative rotational position in the first backset position and in a second relative rotational position in the second backset position, and relative axial movement is allowed in a third relative rotational position to allow the second tailpiece member to be moved between the first backset position and the second backset position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Hill, Todd Zimmer, Brian R. Fournier, Christine E. Voelker, William S. Middelaer