Gravity Actuated Patents (Class 292/130)
  • Patent number: 11963594
    Abstract: A cabinet includes a locking system having a cabinet body including a bottom wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second, opposing side wall, and a third side wall connected to the bottom wall, the top wall, and between the first side wall and the second side wall. At least one door is pivotally mounted to the cabinet body. The at least one door, bottom wall, top wall, first side wall, second side wall, and third side wall define a storage volume. A lock mechanism including a latch and release element is pivotally mounted inside the storage volume. The latch and release element is accessible only in the storage volume. A lock opening extends through the cabinet body at the lock mechanism. A lock element is insertable through the lock opening. The lock element includes a latch receiver that is selectively engageable by the latch and release element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: George Floarea, David Akl, Jonathan Wood
  • Patent number: 9327746
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a residential-sized waste disposal roll-out cart that includes a latch that automatically latches a lid in the fully opened position with the lid in close proximity to the side of the bin. When the bin is tilted on to the wheels to be rolled, the lid remains in close proximity to the side of the bin, rather than hanging down towards the ground. In this way, the lid remains out of the space where a user might step. A lid reinforcement structure may be used to increase the strength and wear of the lid where it engages the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Brokaw Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kim C. Brokaw
  • Patent number: 8979142
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel approach for restricting the movement of a moveable system. The disclosure describes a novel locking mechanism utilizing a gravity hinge assembly and pocket assembly. The disclosure further describes a novel method for locking a moveable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Curotto-Can, LLC
    Inventor: John Michael Curotto
  • Patent number: 8505988
    Abstract: There is an apparatus for securing the cover for cabinet, cupboard or drawer during movement from an earthquake with a housing with a pivoting latch arm, which freely rotates around an axle, from a first upright position to a second prone or locked position; the pivoting latch arm engages a receiving piece in the second prone position. This device also serves a child safety device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne Hartford
  • Publication number: 20130093196
    Abstract: A locking device for locking a first part of a container to a second part of the container when the container is in a first position and releasing the first part when the container is in a second position, the locking device comprising latch means attached to the first part of the container; a housing disposed on or in the second part of the container; and a moveable member arranged for movement in said housing; such that in said first position said latch means engages said housing to prevent the first part from separating from the second part of the container and in said second position the moveable member, under the action of gravity, engages the latch means to displace the latch means from the housing thereby releasing the first part from the second part of the container enabling ejection of any contents of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: EASYQUIP PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: EASYQUIP PTY. LTD.
  • Patent number: 8313126
    Abstract: A trash container locking apparatus includes a housing which is secured to a surface of a trash container. The housing includes a pivot member rotatably mounted in an outer wall of the housing for rotation about a pivot axis and having an inner portion inside the housing and an outer portion outside the housing. A latch member is secured to the pivot member inside the housing. A swing arm secured to the pivot member outside the housing and associated with a locking bar which extends over a lid of the trash container. A latch paddle is pivotally mounted in the housing to hang vertically in a latch engaging position when the housing is mounted on the trash container. The latch member and latch paddle have interengaging formations which engage in a locking position to prevent the latch member and associated swing arm from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hodge Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Ferkovich, Anthony A. Hodge
  • Patent number: 7959195
    Abstract: A lock arrangement comprises a first jaw component (28) pivotally moveable about a pivot axis (12), a second jaw component (30) releasably securable to the first jaw component (28) to form a pivotable jaw assembly (10), and an actuator arrangement operable to drive the jaw assembly from a locked position to a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: John Herbert Harvey, David John Holman
  • Patent number: 7520542
    Abstract: A childproof gate latch for an enclosure such as a fence is provided with a latching member attached to a gate. The latching member is received through a lock opening in a fence support as the gate is closed. A latching sleeve is moveable into engagement with the latching member as the latching member enters the lock opening. Thereafter, as the latching sleeve is raised and the latching member released from engagement, a pawl moves to a lowered position supporting the latching sleeve in a ready to engage arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: ECP Family Properties, LLC
    Inventor: Elvin C. Price
  • Publication number: 20090091141
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automatic gravity actuated container lid locking mechanisms for bulk trash containers, wherein the mechanism comprises a counterweighted actuator arm pivotally attached to a first housing affixed to a first sidewall of the container, a crossbar across the lid of the container, and a dummy arm pivotally attached to a second housing affixed to a second sidewall of the container. The crossbar may pivot forward to unlock the lid when the container is tilted up for dumping. Alternatively, the crossbar may be pivoted forward when the lock is manually unlocked by sliding a counterweighted pin assembly on the first housing from a position interfering with the motion of the actuator arm to a position allowing the motion of the actuator arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph D KREITZER
  • Patent number: 7506902
    Abstract: An auto-lock mechanism to be mounted on an image input/output device includes a first swingable element and a second swingable element. When the image input/output device is not slantwise and an upper cover of the device is opened, one of the first and second swingable elements swings but does not hook the other of the first and second elements. When the image input/output device is slantwise, both of the first and second swingable elements simultaneously swing, approach and hook each other such that the upper cover remains closed and is free from detachment to hurt a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Chun-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 7325844
    Abstract: Latch device composed of a container (51) in which there is a slider (52), inserted in a guide (60), controlled in translation by a spring (53) and comprising a hook (68) to catch a hooking element (59) placed on a door. A track (40), with the bottom defining the profile of a cam on one side of the guide (60), is travelled along by a ball (73) placed on the slider (52) and held pressed by a spring (72) against the bottom of the track (40) to determine the four open, closed, released and locked positions of the door according to the position of the ball in the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 7261332
    Abstract: A multi-position latch mechanism is provided for a subsurface aircraft ground servicing chamber formed by a pit having an upright interior wall and a pit lid seat disposed atop the pit. A pit lid is provided which, when closed, rests upon the pit lid seat. The latch mechanism includes a catch member depending from the pit lid adjacent the upright wall of the pit. The catch member is mounted to the pit lid for rotatable movement relative thereto. A latching member is mounted on the upright interior pit wall and has a plurality of vertically spaced teeth that face the catch member. The catch member has a hook facing the latching member. The hook is alternatively engageable with each of the teeth, depending upon the extent to which debris on the pit lid seat holds the pit lid off of its pit lid seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Dabico, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Petersen, Dennis Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7097218
    Abstract: A locking device applies to a casing having a cover and a seat for opening and closing of the casing. The locking device has a recess formed on an edge of the seat, a buckle downwards protruding from the cover and matching the recess, and a roller parallel-disposed in the recess and pivoted to the seat. The buckle has an arcuate face smoothly against an upper slot of the roller for closing and opening the casing. A direction of lifting of the cover corresponds to a rotation of the roller so that a direction of applied force can be continuously unchanged to achieve an ergonomic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: First International Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Ying-Ta Lu
  • Patent number: 6666485
    Abstract: A locking/unlocking device for a waste collection container for automatically locking/unlocking, by gravity, the lid (2) of the container (1) on the vessel (4) of the container. A pivoting piece (8) is fixed in an articulated fashion to the internal face of the lid, and has a lever (8d) having a hook (9) engaging in an orifice (13) in the vessel; and an arm 8b) coming into engagement with a hook (7c) on an articulated angled piece (7). Tilting of the container (1) causes, by gravity effect, the pivoting of the angled piece (7) and then the pivoting of the pivoting piece (8) thus released from the hook (7c), towards an unlocked position. The device also relates to a container equipped with such a locking/unlocking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Michel Moret
  • Patent number: 6619706
    Abstract: A cabinet earthquake latch assembly designed to be attached on a cabinet inner surface and a back surface of a cabinet door. The cabinet earthquake latch assembly includes a door arm, a cam and a strike. When in use, the door arm is attached to the cabinet door, the cam is rotatably attached to the door arm and the strike is attached to the cabinet inner surface. The cam and strike are configured and attached to the door arm and cabinet inner surface such that the cam collides with the strike when the cabinet door is being initially opened at at least a predetermined speed (e.g., a speed generated in an earthquake). This collision causes the cam to rotate from a rest position and then to become lodged against the strike in a rotated position, thus preventing further opening of the cabinet door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Gryphon Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart Mackie
  • Patent number: 6539672
    Abstract: A locking system for a telescopic seating system is disclosed. The system provides a means to releasably lock adjacent telescopic seating platforms together and a means to release the locking mechanism without the need for a trip bar or other like device. The locking system employs a low profile tier catch and tier catch ramp that promotes ease of use and a reduction in the possibility of damage due to individuals walking over the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Colin C. Frost
  • Patent number: 5772264
    Abstract: The invention is a gravity operated latch for a refuse container with a hinged lid. The invention comprises a latch hook built in such a way as to incorporate a counterweight design. The hook is attached to the underside of the container's lid by means of a hinge-plate and pin assembly. The latch hook engages a striker plate which is attached to the same side of the container. When the container is tipped the latch hook will disengage the striker, permitting the hinged lid to open for the emptying of refuse and will re-engage the striker when the container is set upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Shane Bettenhausen
  • Patent number: 5611579
    Abstract: A cabinet mounted latch is activated by the movements of an earthquake from a ready position. The latch then engages a door mounted hook to prevent door opening, preventing loss of contents and personal injury. The device may be manually activated or inactivated to provide on demand childproofing or unobstructed door use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Arthur Kreitenberg
  • Patent number: 5570914
    Abstract: The Earthquake Actuated Door Latch mounts outside a cabinet or beside the cabinet door. The device contains a pivoted catch assembly with a weight on one end and a door catch, or hook, on the other. The catch assembly is stable in two positions, one on each side of the cabinet door. An earth tremor causes the weight to shift out of the cocked position to the operated position (the second stable position) putting the hook where it interferes with opening of the cabinet door. Weight and hook move as a unit, minimizing delay, and an internal lock prevents rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Harry H. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4142749
    Abstract: A retaining mechanism locatable in a gate post and having a striker to be attached to a gate, and a latch to releasably retain the striker within the gate post, the latch being movable to a position to release the striker by the manipulation of a release button located beyond the reach of small children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Boral Cyclone Limited
    Inventors: Harold W. Heald, John W. Norcott
  • Patent number: 4022268
    Abstract: A continuous casting plant has a guiding means for the strand. This guiding means, at its upper end, is provided with bolts which can be suspended in hooks on the supporting steel structure. The bolts are secured against being lifted out of the hooks by means of one or more latches which in their closed position engage with the bolts and are pivotably arranged on the supporting steel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisen- und Stahlwerke-Alpine Montan Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Biricz