Spring Retracted Patents (Class 292/177)
  • Patent number: 11214982
    Abstract: The parts forming the force transmission connection from the spindle shaft of the handle of the lock body to the bolt include a spring, which is also arranged to transfer force. The spring is used to eliminate the protrusion of the bolt caused by tolerance variations, when the handle installed into the lock body is turned to its extreme position to open the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ABLOY OY
    Inventor: Juha Raatikainen
  • Patent number: 10342405
    Abstract: A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a controller, the cleaner body having a dust container accommodation part formed therein; a wheel unit mounted in the cleaner body, the wheel unit of which driving is controlled by the controller; a suction unit mounted in the cleaner body to suck air containing dust; a dust container detachably coupled to the dust container accommodation part, the dust container filtering and collecting dust from sucked air; and a dust container cover including a hinge part rotatably coupled to the cleaner body, the dust container cover detachably coupled to the dust container to cover a top surface of the dust container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Inbo Shim, Jihoon Sung, Sojin Park, Seunghyun Song, Sangkyu Lee, Woochan Jun
  • Patent number: 10316556
    Abstract: The present invention is a door barricade having a pivoting locking arm which drops into a floor hole to lock a barricade in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Campus Safety Products, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Todd Richmond
  • Patent number: 9551166
    Abstract: A powered door latch may be actuated by a capacitive sensor or by movement of a mechanical release device. A controller may be utilized to prevent unlatching of the powered latch unless the vehicle is in Park and/or certain operating conditions are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Patel, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Patent number: 8943865
    Abstract: A locking security system for motor vehicle wheel rims comprises a security housing, a locking assembly, and a plurality of grooved lug nuts. The security housing comprises a structure which covers wheel stud portions of an existing wheel rim. The locking assembly comprises a key lock mechanism located on an interior portion of the housing further comprising a plurality of locking plates which engage respective grooved lug nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Shawn E. Bullock, Stephanie M. Cevallos
  • Patent number: 8899632
    Abstract: A window latch for a sliding window having a sliding sash including a latch plate and a housing. The housing includes an engagement element movable relative to the housing from a locked position operatively engaged with the latch plate to an unlocked position disengaged from the latch plate. A handle is operatively coupled to the engagement element and movable from a first position to a second position in a first direction corresponding to the direction the sliding sash to which the handle is attached moves to an open position. The handle operatively moves the engagement element from the locked position to the unlocked position as the handle is moved in the first direction toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: John Tremble, Gordon Liebel, Kevin Vilhauer, Dan Blasé, R. Lee Rawls, James A. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20140319850
    Abstract: A latch lock system for a door that is mountable in a doorframe, the latch lock system including a main housing including a spindle and lever, a bolt having a nose part that is attractable to a magnet, the bolt being slidable in the main housing between extended and retracted positions, a spring biasing the bolt to its retracted position, a secondary housing including a strike plate in the doorframe, a magnet mounted in the secondary housing, the magnet having a magnetic force greater than the spring force which will pull the bolt to its extended position when the door is in its closed position and the bolt is aligned with the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Mark J. BERGER, Jeffrey REGEN, Peter ZOLTAN
  • Publication number: 20140265363
    Abstract: A door locking system is provided herein. The door locking system includes an elongated foot bolt. The foot bolt is dimensioned to be received in a recess or a strike in a floor. The door locking system also includes a housing. The housing has upper and lower ends, with the upper and lower ends having aligned through-openings for slidably receiving the foot bolt. The housing also has opposing faces having through-openings for receiving respective attachment screws. Additionally, the system includes a biasing spring. The biasing spring is placed around a portion of the foot bolt, with the biasing spring being held in compression within the housing. The system is configured so that the foot bolt may be depressed downward through the aligned through-openings in the upper and lower ends of the housing for locking a door, but then released by depressing a detent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Harvey Mock
  • Patent number: 8801054
    Abstract: A magnetic latch for a display of a laptop computer uses magnetic attraction to maintain the display closed and uses magnetic repelling forces to pop-up the display when opened. The latch includes one or more magnetic elements in the body of the laptop and at least one magnetic element in the display. When the display is closed, the magnet element in the display is positioned adjacent the magnet element in the body having an opposite polarity so that the magnet elements are attracted to one another. To pop-up the display, the user moves the magnetic element in the display so that it meets the magnetic pole in the body having the same polarity. When these meet, the repelling force between them causes the display to open slightly so that a user can then readily open the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Ligtenberg, Brett Degner
  • Patent number: 8727395
    Abstract: Latch mechanisms for a slidable window generally disposed about the center of mass of a window pane on an edge perpendicular to its travel path to provide a straight line-pull using minimal mechanical effort and to provide a plurality of latch points to selectively secure a window pane in place along its travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Webasto SE
    Inventor: Adrian Nania
  • Publication number: 20140117680
    Abstract: A closure securing mechanism implementing a latching without further operator interaction mechanism for sliding doors when completely slid closed. The closure securing mechanism implements the automatic latching function through industry standard compatible devices or modifications to existing sliding door latching hardware. When the closure securing mechanism is installed on a sliding door the latching mechanism will be positively secured anytime the door is fully slid closed. The mechanism can be opened from inside and outside with standard pull handles with sliding locks. The sliding lock portion has a spring of specific tension, specific body and total length in tension so whenever the door is slid closed and the keeper latch is angled to engage and hold a latching arm inhibiting opening of the door until the tension of the spring is overcome by an operator sliding the sliding lock against the spring in tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Herman Buzz, III
  • Patent number: 8684421
    Abstract: A locking system includes a carrier member at least one locking member extending from the rod. The carrier member is movable between a first locked position in which the locking member engages a locking receptacle to maintain a container cover in a closed position and a second unlocked position in which the locking member disengages from the locking receptacle and the cover is movable between the closed and open position. The locking system includes a blocking member at a second end of the carrier member. The blocking member is movable between a first engaged position in which the rod abuts a portion of the blocking member and maintains the elongate rod in the first locked position and a second disengaged position in which the rod disengages from the blocking member and a biasing unit urges the rod in the second unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Henry Cowie, Richard A. Samsel
  • Publication number: 20130257066
    Abstract: A system for opening a door, in particular for the door of a household appliance, including a prong, integral with the door, and a device for locking and unlocking the door, having a mechanical module to hold or release the prong, respectively when the door is opened or is closed, the system having an unlocking mechanism arranged on the prong, the unlocking mechanism interacting with the mechanical module after their activation, to release the prong and open the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BITRON S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Promutico, Felice Paglia
  • Patent number: 8505989
    Abstract: The invention resides in a latch comprising a lock including a locking pin mounted within a lock body, the locking pin movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the locking pin biased toward the retracted position; and a catch including a release mechanism, the release mechanism for holding the locking pin in the extended position; wherein a magnetic force between the locking pin and the release mechanism holds the locking pin in the extended position which causes the locking pin to engaged the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Wells Enterprise Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Adrian Wells
  • Publication number: 20130140832
    Abstract: A pin latch includes a guide block, a handle having a trigger, and a shear pin housed slidably within the guide block and connected to the handle. The shear pin includes a catch-pin engageable by the trigger, and is slidable between an engageable position and a disengageable position when the handle is moved from a closed position to an open position. Alternately, the pin latch includes a bracket connected to the shear pin and includes a catch-pin, and the handle is moveable to an intermediate position, such that a trigger is disengaged from the catch-pin and the shear pin engages a stop pin. A guide block spring acts on the stop pin to retain releasably the handle in its intermediate position. The guide block includes a finger and the shear pin includes a groove sized and shaped to receive the finger when the pin latch is in an unlatchable position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: ALCOA INC.
    Inventor: Alcoa Inc.
  • Patent number: 8393653
    Abstract: A magnetic latch for a gate has first and second units for mounting on a gate and a gate post respectively. The first unit has a displaceable latch element displaceably mounted in a support in a housing and biased to a retracted position, and a second unit with a complementary engagement structure with which a latching portion of the latch element is adapted to engage when the magnetic latch is in a latching position and the latch element is displaced to a projecting position. A magnetic attracting arrangement is provided to cause the latch element to move to the projecting position and engage in the engagement structure when the magnetic latch is in the latching position, and then the engagement structure prevents movement of the door or gate away from the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: D & D Group Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony John Clark
  • Patent number: 8342580
    Abstract: A locking system includes a carrier member at least one locking member extending from the rod. The carrier member is movable between a first locked position in which the locking member engages a locking receptacle to maintain a container cover in a closed position and a second unlocked position in which the locking member disengages from the locking receptacle and the cover is movable between the closed and open position. The locking system includes a blocking member at a second end of the carrier member. The blocking member is movable between a first engaged position in which the rod abuts a portion of the blocking member and maintains the elongate rod in the first locked position and a second disengaged position in which the rod disengages from the blocking member and a biasing unit urges the rod in the second unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Henry Cowie, Richard A. Samsel
  • Patent number: 8182001
    Abstract: A window latch for a sliding window having a sliding sash including a latch plate and a housing. The housing includes an engagement element movable relative to the housing from a locked position operatively engaged with the latch plate to an unlocked position disengaged from the latch plate. A handle is operatively coupled to the engagement element and movable from a first position to a second position in a first direction corresponding to the direction the sliding sash to which the handle is attached moves to an open position. The handle operatively moves the engagement element from the locked position to the unlocked position as the handle is moved in the first direction toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: John Tremble, Gordon Liebel, Kevin Vilhauer, Dan Blasé, R. Lee Rawls, James A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 8177265
    Abstract: A latch assembly for use with a window sash sliding mounted with a window frame. The latch includes at least one bolt (18) moveable in a body (10) between a retracted position and a projecting position. In the projecting position the bolt 18 is engageable in cavity in a strike (12). A connecting mechanism in the form of cranks (20) couple the bolt 18 to an operating member (14), which is part of latch furniture (11). A magnetic actuating element (29) and a biasing element (33) are coupled to the bolt (18) whereby when the latch body (10) is disposed relative to a strike (12) in a position where the bolt (18) can engage with the strike (12) a magnetic attraction between a magnetic part (26) of the strike and the magnetic actuating element (29) occurs to draw the bolt (18) into latching engagement with the strike (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Assa Abloy New Zealand Limited
    Inventor: Kevin John Stevens
  • Publication number: 20110169291
    Abstract: A closure for a storage compartment of a motor vehicle including an electromagnet having an armature wherein the armature can by moved by excitation of the electromagnet, and wherein a movement of the armature can be transmitted to a locking element which, due to a restoring force of a spring, is in a locked position for the storage compartment when the electromagnet is not energized, a means for generating an electric current for exciting the electromagnet, and means for measuring the electric current flow used for exciting the electromagnet, wherein the means for generating the current are designed to control the electric current such that, after turning on the current after measuring when a maximum current is reached and subsequent dropping below said maximum current, the current is reduced to a predetermined minimum value, wherein the minimum value is such that the armature is held in its position against the spring force acting on the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FAURECIA INNENRAUM SYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Siethorst, Vincent Chevroton, Christophe Pignon
  • Patent number: 7775072
    Abstract: There is disclosed a safety switch for generating an enable signal as a function of the position of a moveable guard door. The safety switch comprises a door part and a frame part. The door part has an activator, which can be displaced between a first and a second position. The frame part has a cutout, in which the activator can engage in the second position. A locking element is arranged on the door part in order to lock the activator in the second position. A sensor is designed to detect at least one of the positions of the activator in order to generate the enable signal as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Roland Rupp, Andreas Veit, Peter Eichinger
  • Patent number: 7627074
    Abstract: A vertical spring wedge restores a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, such as between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump. The vertical spring wedge includes a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes. A pair of wedge assemblies are coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod. The guide rods are displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position. The wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and a combination of the bracket and wedge assemblies have a first width when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erbes, Thanh C. Tu, Mark William Broaddus
  • Patent number: 7497103
    Abstract: A latch has a pair of oppositely acting latch bolts slidable on a housing that are engageable with latching formations on a strike. The housing has a pair of substantially parallel posts configured to shield portions of the latch bolts during insertion into and withdrawal from openings defined by the strike. A plug is turnable on the housing to slide the latch bolts toward and away from each other between latched and unlatched positions. In lockable embodiments of the latch, the plug may be provided with a keyway into which a key can be inserted and turned to move the latch bolts; and, in some embodiments, the latch bolts are retained in their latched positions when the key is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Michael O. Misner
  • Publication number: 20080129054
    Abstract: A window latch for a sliding window having a sliding sash including a latch plate and a housing. The housing includes an engagement element movable relative to the housing from a locked position operatively engaged with the latch plate to an unlocked position disengaged from the latch plate. A handle is operatively coupled to the engagement element and movable from a first position to a second position in a first direction corresponding to the direction the sliding sash to which the handle is attached moves to an open position. The handle operatively moves the engagement element from the locked position to the unlocked position as the handle is moved in the first direction toward the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: John Tremble, Gordon Liebel, Kevin Vilhauer, Dan Blase, R. Lee Rawls, James A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 7179012
    Abstract: A lock joins two bodies together. The first body has a first hole and the second body has a second hole, and the lock includes a rail on the first body adjacent to the first hole, two spaced-apart cradles movable on the rail, a spring between and attached to the two cradles that urges the two cradles toward each other, a plunger that moves perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the spring through the first hole, where the plunger has a locking end that moves into the second hole to join the bodies together. The lock has two levels that are each hinged to a different one of the cradles and to the plunger and that cause the locking end of the plunger to retreat from the second hole to unlock the bodies when the cradles move toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Navreet Kainth
    Inventor: Daljit S. Bedi
  • Patent number: 7165792
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the rigidity of a vehicle structure, and particularly a vehicle having a retractable roof. The apparatus includes an electromagnet carried by either an edge of a door of the vehicle that swings outwardly when the door is open, or by an opposing edge of bodywork of the vehicle which faces the edge of the door when the door is closed. The electromagnet serves as a first element which, when the door is closed, is positioned opposite a second element made of a magnetic material. One of the elements is able to move toward the other element when the electromagnet is provided with an electric current. One of the elements is provided with a protuberance formed in the shape of a truncated cone, and the other element is provided with an axially-aligned recess which has a size and shape to receive the protuberance therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: SEBA - Societe Europeenne de Brevets Automobiles
    Inventors: Gérard Queveau, Albéric Sorin
  • Patent number: 7066678
    Abstract: A locking method and device applicable to lock a linearly retractable device includes a locking plate in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other. In the first direction, the locking plate is movable in a release position and a safety position. In the second element, the locking plate is movable in a latched and an unlatched position. When the locking plate is in the safety position, it is unmovable from the latched position to the unlatched position so as to prevent any unintentional force to release the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Chia Huang
  • Patent number: 6863317
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a swinging panel hinged to a vehicle body includes a latch body that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle body, a striker adapted to be attached to the swinging panel and engage the latch body in a closed position of the swinging panel, and a lever having first and second ends. The lever is pivotably attached to the latch body at a pivot point intermediate the first and second ends. The first end of the lever is operable to engage the striker. The latch assembly also includes a spring having one end attached to the lever between the second end and the pivot point and an opposite end fixed relative to the latch body for rotating the lever about the pivot point. A solenoid is attached to the second end of the lever. The solenoid is operable to rotate the lever about the pivot point to move the first end of the lever from a panel unlatched position to a panel latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Darrel M. Alton, James M. Stanick, Todd H. Fast, James Herbert Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 6801435
    Abstract: An improved fixing structure for power supplies defines an accommodating area on a power supply for installing a fixing structure, and the power supply has a fixing hole on a casing of the power supply defining a limit fixing condition for the fixing structure when the power supply is pushed into the casing, and the power supply has a limit hole for installing a limit fixing member to restrict the displacement of the fixing structure, and constitutes a fixing structure that can be installed directly inside a power supply without occupying additional space, and attains the effects of fixing two fixing structures and limiting the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-Lung Su, Tzung-Han Lee, Hsien-Tang Weng
  • Publication number: 20040108734
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a hinged door comprises first and second actuators having first and second bolts associated therewith, each said bolt being movable between free and locked settings. The first actuator is adapted for mounting on a frame for the hinged door, and the second actuator is adapted for mounting on the door at a location spaced from the first actuator. A drive mechanism interconnects the second actuator with the first bolt when in its locked setting, such that operation of the first actuator to move the first bolt to its locked setting causes operation of the second actuator to move the second bolt to its locked setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Alan James Maple, Ian Martin Lennard
  • Publication number: 20030214137
    Abstract: A latch assembly is constructed from a plurality of modular sub-assemblies, such as a retention module sub-assembly, a release module sub-assembly, and an actuator module sub-assembly. Each of the sub-assemblies may incorporate various functional characteristics, such as motorized operation. Combining sub-assemblies having different functions allows construction of different latch assemblies while taking advantage of common sub-assembly parts, eliminating the need to construct completely new latch assembly designs to accommodate different functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Veronique Mejean, Eric Colin, Mathias Barth
  • Patent number: 6588971
    Abstract: A fastener clip assembly for forming a substantially concealed joint between panels of furniture, a shelf assembly or the like includes a pair of clips telescopingly assembled with one another to form a joint which prevents rotation between the clips and joint members. The clips are secured to respective joint members and assembled with a portion of the second clip received through the slot of the first clip such that offset engagement sections overlap one another while a resilient, flexible inclined section on at least one, but preferably both, of the engagement sections draws the clips and joint members together. An engaging member which resists disassembly of the clips may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Modular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Montgomery J. Welch, Kevin M. Wigger
  • Patent number: 6547347
    Abstract: A device unit housing apparatus provided with a simple structure to easily engage and disengage a device unit such as a magnetic disk drive unit with or from an apparatus main body. The device unit housing apparatus includes an apparatus main body provided with an engaging through-hole formed therein for accommodating a device unit or an engaged subject, and a unit engaging mechanism provided on the device unit. The unit engaging mechanism includes a unit engaging body movable and engageable with the engaging through-hole, and an elastic member which can always press the unit engaging body against the engaging through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Saito, Mikio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6481158
    Abstract: A security grill adapted to securely close off a window or door but which may be manually released from within the building and allowing egress through the window while maintaining security and preventing unauthorized access from the exterior of the building. The grill is attached along one side by hinges and is lockable in position by a locking device on an opposite side. The locking device being a keyed dead bolt, which protrudes into a rapid release mechanism secured and shielded in the surrounding frame, which is secured by bolts to the building. The grill being spring biased to the open position with the release mechanism operable from inside the building also biased for rapid release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Chester J. Marks
  • Patent number: 6357806
    Abstract: An in-flight meal server 1 comprises a door 20 supported by a hinge 22 at the opening of a box-shaped main body 10. A main latch device 100 for locking the door 20 to the main body 10 has a handle 110, and when the handle 110 is pulled up, a lever 120 rises and pulls out the bolt from a catch in the main body side. The plural bolts may be operated through a link mechanism connected to the lever 120, but the bolt of an auxiliary latch device 150 may also be locked by operating a knob 180 manually. When the link mechanism fails, the door is locked manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Jamco Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Saku
  • Patent number: 6139080
    Abstract: The present invention is a removable storage apparatus that is quickly and easily installed in and removed from the rear bed of trucks without the aid of tools or need to attach latching hardware to the truck. The removable storage apparatus includes a lid section connected to a container section for relative movement between an open and a closed position. The container section includes a latch portion integrally formed into the top wall of the container section and shaped to tightly fit into and mate with the inverse U-shaped inner surface of the top portion of the side walls of the truck when the latch portion is inserted therein. The removable storage apparatus further includes a latch member movably connected to the container section and manually movable between an engaged position wherein the latch member is engaged with a latch hole in the floor of the truck and an unengaged position wherein the latch member is unengaged with the latch hole in the floor of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: David Johnston Saffold
  • Patent number: 6108989
    Abstract: A movable wall comprises individual suspended door and/or wall elements. The individual elements are automatically locked both to one another and in the floor. For this purpose, in a base profile which is fastened to the underside of the elements, there is structure which effects an automatic locking of the elements to one another and in the floor, when two elements come together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Kordes, Lars Wehrspann
  • Patent number: 6095574
    Abstract: A computer enclosure locking mechanism. A bracket is disposed near the edge of a first enclosure panel. The bracket includes a latchpin retaining surface and a standoff member. The first panel includes a first latchpin clearance hole. The standoff member includes a lock bar clearance hole for receiving the lockbar of a padlock or other locking device. A retractable latchpin having a longitudinal member and a head is provided. A spring is disposed coaxially around the longitudinal member. A second enclosure panel includes a second latchpin clearance hole that aligns with the first latchpin clearance hole when the first and second panels are brought together at a seam. When the latchpin is retracted, the head rests against the latchpin retaining surface and the longitudinal member extends through the first clearance hole but not through the second clearance hole, thereby enabling the first and second panels to be separated or brought together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Ronald P Dean
  • Patent number: 5746455
    Abstract: In a bolt latch with a minimum number of parts, compact size, lightweight and operable by a snap action: socket 13 is fixable to stationary frame 1; latch body 3 has longitudinal groove 3a and circumferential groove 3b; latch body 3 is fixable to door 2, the groove 3b and is perpendicular to the groove 3a, communicates with and extends from a front end of the groove 3a; bolt 4 is in the latch body and is axially slidable and rotatable on its axis and engages with the socket 13 in locking operation; pin 5 is fixed to the bolt 4 and slidable slidably received in the grooves 3a, 3b; spring 6 linearly urges the bolt 4 to have its front end received in the latch body 3 and rotatably urges it to have the pin 5 received in the groove 3b; and seat 9 is fixed to the body 3 and butts against the pin 5 in an unlocking operation to prevent the bolt 4 from further moving rearward in the body 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Takimoto
  • Patent number: 5655800
    Abstract: A manually actuated pin-type door locking assembly is shown. The pin-type locking assembly includes a housing having a locking pin confined within a locking cavity and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. A rotary shaft actuator is rotatably mounted to the housing and is connected to the locking pin via a swing arm. The swing arm is spring biased. By rotating the rotary actuator shaft back and forth, the locking pin is moved between the unlocked position and a locked position where the locking pin effectively locks the door of a vehicle to an adjacent frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Stephen R. DeMarco
  • Patent number: 5527074
    Abstract: Disclosed is a door lock for locking a double-swinging type fire protection door. The door lock has a safety device controlled by a melting heat sensitive element to lock the spring bolt of the lock bolt in the locked position when the ambient temperature is sharply increased due to a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Wen Tien Yeh
  • Patent number: 5380053
    Abstract: A lock mechanism including a latch assembly for being attached to a movable door member and for movement between an extended position in which the movable door member is locked in a closed position and a retracted position in which the movable door member is allowed to move between opened and closed positions. A holding assembly is included for normally holding the latch assembly in the retracted position. Intumescent material is included for forcing the latch assembly to the extended position if subjected to heat above a certain temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: F. L. Saino Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Joseph N. Saino
  • Patent number: 5005881
    Abstract: A locking mechanism to be applied to an inactive door of a set of active and inactive double doors coordinated so that the inactive door closes first relative to a frame followed by the closing of the active door. Adjustable drive means is employed capable of either lengthwise contraction upon the application of a force between first and second separated locations on the adjustable drive means exceeding a threshold value, or linear movement without substantial contraction upon the application of a force less than the threshold value. A door-lock actuating element is coupled to the adjustable drive means at the first location. A door-locking element is coupled to the adjustable drive means at the second location. The adjustable drive means, the door-lock actuating element, and the door-locking element are supported at an upper or lower corner of the inactive door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Rixson-Firemark Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Bailey, Richard E. D'Hooge
  • Patent number: 4611840
    Abstract: A door control mechanism for use in conjunction with a pair of swinging doors to control latching. The mechanism comprises a first stamped metal part adapted to be fixedly mounted on the door. This part comprises a first track portion and a second track portion. A second stamped metal part comprises a slide portion which slidably engages one track portion of the first metal part. An actuating mechanism is arranged on the second track portion of the first stamped metal part and has an operative coupling with the second stamped metal part. The second stamped metal part is adapted to be connected to a latch bolt. When the actuating mechanism is operated, the second stamped metal part is selectively positioned along the first track portion of the first stamped metal part with the bolt being positioned accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Inventor: Frank J. Martin
  • Patent number: 4445717
    Abstract: A flush bolt mechanism adapted to be mounted at the vertical edge of the inactive door of a pair of hinged doors. Means are provided to prevent damage to the mechanism due to misalignment of the bolt and the strike plate. All translational motion of the mechanism substantially takes place along a single axis except for the motion of activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Leigh Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Imhoff
  • Patent number: 4428608
    Abstract: A toggle fastener comprises first and second parts in which the first is a keeper having a cavity. The second part has a bolt slidable therein having a nose adapted to be received in said cavity, and also having hinged thereto a lever on which is pivoted a hasp. The nose of the bolt is adapted to protrude through an opening in the keeper. A cam surface on the nose of the bolt is inclined to the axis of the bolt, and a cam surface on the keeper adjacent to said opening and is opposed to and is inclined oppositely to the cam surface on the nose of the bolt. Said hasp is engageable with both of said cam surfaces in order to cam the keeper and the bolt in opposite directions to prevent rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventors: Robert S. Cooke, Howard R. S. Cooke
  • Patent number: 4420905
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a window or door closure hingedly mounted on a fixed frame comprising a control cam and catch fixed to the hinged side of the frame, a driving rod slidably mounted on the closure, a dog mounted on one end of the driving rod for latchingly engaging the catch, and a cam follow mechanism connected to the opposite side of the driving rod for engaging the control cam so that the dog is moved by the driving rod in latching alignment with the catch when the closure is moved to the closed position relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Siegenia-Frank KG
    Inventor: Eckard Kucharczyk
  • Patent number: 4389135
    Abstract: A releasable locking device for pivotally locking two members to one another. The locking device includes a hollow support assembly extending through an opening in one of the members. A locking member extends through a bore in the hollow support assembly and is formed with an enlarged locking portion insertable through an interior portion of an opening formed in the remaining member. The locking member includes a conically-shaped guidance surface for automatically aligning the enlarged locking portion with the interior opening in response to a biasing spring acting on the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Inventor: Jack Peters
  • Patent number: 4164095
    Abstract: An emergency escape wall structure actuated either by pressure against the wall or automatically actuated by the presence of heat, smoke, gas, or oxygen deficiency detectors or push buttons, any one of which actuates the automatic means or by a hand lever which manually opens the structure. Upon actuation, an escape panel falls outwardly and downwardly creating a massive opening to permit the escape of a large number of persons in a brief time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Inventor: John Musacchia
  • Patent number: 4099753
    Abstract: A lock housing is adapted to be mounted at the free vertical edge of the inactive one of a pair of hinged doors that have adjacent vertical edges when both doors are closed. Slidably mounted in the housing is an axially movable shaft that extends vertically therefrom and has a normally retracted latch bolt mounted on its outer end. Operatively connected to the opposite end of the shaft is the inner end of a rocker arm, the central part of which is pivotally connected to the housing on a horizontal axis. A cam pivotally connected on a vertical axis to the housing normally projects from it for engagement by the free vertical edge of the active door for swinging the cam into the housing to swing the rocker arm vertically in order to project the latch bolt from a horizontal edge of the inactive door. The rocker arm is so mounted in the housing that it will be moved by the cam bodily away from the free edge of the door if the shaft cannot move, whereby the mechanism will not be damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: McKinney Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph W. Gwozdz, James E. Biesecker, Charles R. Snyder