Cam Patents (Class 292/197)
  • Patent number: 7490874
    Abstract: A lock device is used for a foldable electronic apparatus. The lock device is mounted on a display unit of the electronic apparatus. The lock device includes a rotatable bolt, an actuator, and an elastic bolt holder. The rotatable bolt is rotatably mounted on the display unit and includes two latch tenons. The elastic bolt holder connects the actuator and the rotatable bolt and keeps the rotatable bolt at a first direction. Movement of the actuator causes the rotatable bolt to rotate from the first direction to a second direction. The lock device can couples with a notch successfully even assemble error exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wu-Yung Chen
  • Patent number: 6913297
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure. The latch mechanism includes a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure and an actuator pivotally attached to the housing. Selective pivotal movement of the actuator pivots a bolt member between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch mechanism is sealed to prevent the flow of fluid through the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventors: Frank T. Jackson, Timothy S. Rozema
  • Patent number: 6641184
    Abstract: A motor vehicle electric door lock with an outside housing which is essentially closed on all sides, with an inlet channel for the key collar and with, located in the outside housing, a rotary latch, a detent pawl which holds the rotary latch, a separate detent pawl lever which is dynamically connected to the detent pawl or which is made on the detent pawl as an extension, and an electrical opening drive unit with a drive motor, step-down gearing, and a driven element, the driven element via the detent pawl lever driving the detent pawl in the lifting direction and engaging the actuating section of the detent pawl lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernardo Erices, Simon Brose
  • Publication number: 20030080568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a latch mechanism which is adapted to secure a computer component to a chassis; the mechanism includes a base that is attached to the computer component, a latch handle pivotably mounted on the base, the latch handle being capable of pivoting away from the base. An actuator arm is pivotably mounted to the latch handle so that when the latch is pivoted away from the base, the actuator arm will also move away from the base. A cam plate is also pivotably mounted on the base and is capable of rotating with respect to the base. The cam plate includes at least one notch adapted to cooperate with the chassis so that as the cam plate is rotated, the notch selectively engages and disengages with the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Egenera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Busby, Gerhard Pawelka, Robert J. McCaffrey, Jose Colucci
  • Publication number: 20030062727
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a lock fork pivotal on the housing between open and closed positions, a latch pawl pivotal on the housing and engageable with the fork in the closed position to retain it therein and disengageable from the fork to allow to move from the closed to the open position, and an opening lever coupled to the latch pawl and displaceable between an actuated position displacing the latch pawl out of engagement with the fork and an unactuated position with the latch pawl engageable with the fork. A rotary drive couplable to the opening lever can displace it between its actuated and unactuated positions. Structure engageable between the fork and the opening lever decouples the opening lever from the drive on displacement of the fork from the open to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Uwe Reddmann
  • Patent number: 6513841
    Abstract: Disclosed is a blowout latch for releasably securing an aircraft panel to an aircraft structure. The blowout latch includes a housing, a bolt, and a handle. The housing includes a bias section that has a plate, a block adjacent the plate, at least one coil spring having opposing ends, a roller mount, and a roller pin. The roller mount has a roller mount base. One end of the coil spring contacts the roller mount base. The opposing end of the coil spring contacts the block. The roller pin is rotatably mounted to the roller mount. The bolt is rotatably mounted to the housing and is used to engage the aircraft structure. The bolt has a secured position. The bolt is held in its secured position by the coil spring which biases the roller pin against the bolt. The handle is rotatably mounted to the bolt and is moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, without the use of a tool. The handle provides an indicator when the blowout latch is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventor: Frank T. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6412834
    Abstract: A window fastener having a mounting base (21), a latching flap (12) moveably coupled thereto, a handle (14) and a latching tongue (15). the handle (14) is movable between first and second positions and is coupled to the latching tongue (15) so that the latching tongue moves the latching flap (18) when the handle (14) moves to a latching position. A movement inducing mechanism (34, 41) operable by the handle (14) causes movement of the flap (12) to occur when the handle is moved from the latching position to a non-latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Interlock Group Limited
    Inventors: Rana James Waitai, Steven Frank Wilkes
  • Patent number: 6327879
    Abstract: A lock mechanisms for a fenestration assembly, such as a sliding door, includes a strike element preferably coupled with the door frame and a catch assembly preferably coupled with the fenestration member slidably supported within the frame. The catch assembly includes a catch having structure defining an element receiving slot. The catch is mounted for shifting among a plurality of positions including an engaged position in which the element is received within the slot and retained therein by the catch when the fenestration member is in a closed position, a disengaged position in which the element is disengaged by the catch when the fenestration member is shifted out of the closed position, and an intermediate position in which the element is received within the slot and the catch is positioned between the engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Pella Corporation
    Inventor: Harlan Malsom
  • Publication number: 20010024039
    Abstract: A locking device of a closure with a housing, particularly of a laboratory centrifuge, comprising at least one swiveling lever pivotally supported about an axis of rotation in the housing including a projecting guide element, at least one drive to pivot the swiveling lever about the axis of rotation, at least one catch hook supported on the swiveling lever at a spacing from the axis of rotation on a pivot axis which, at a radial spacing from the pivot axis, has a cam segment concentric thereto, into which the guide element of the swiveling lever engages, at least one spring means biasing the catch hook in the closing direction until the guide element bears against a first final stop of the cam segment, and at least one closing edge of the closure adapted to be gripped over on the closure so that if the catch hook is in an opening position and the swiveling lever is pivoted in the closing direction the spring means holds the catch hook with the first final stop on the guide element in order to pivot the catch
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Roland Lippoldt, Rudiger Uhlendorf, Hans-Dieter Baudisch
  • Patent number: 6203076
    Abstract: A fold-down handle device for attachment to a first member, such as a panel, to provide a controlled pushing and pulling action on actuation for facilitating insertion and retraction of the first member to a second member, such as a cabinet, the handle device including a handle with a gripping portion, a cam member, a pawl member and a drive pin connecting the pawl member to the handle and extending through a slot provided in the cam member to regulate the movement of the pawl when the handle is lifted from a folded horizontal position to an upright vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Wytcherley, Clive Morgan
  • Patent number: 6123370
    Abstract: Disclosed is an increased strength dogging mechanism operable by a handle for releasably securing a door on each side of the door to a structure. The dogging mechanism includes a plurality of dog keepers each having a ramp portion and a seating portion mounted to each side of the door. A dog having a roller is rotatably mounted to engage a cooperatively associated dog keeper. A mounting bolt extends through the structure and through the approximate center of each dog. A drive assembly which is movable by the handle between open and closed positions moves each dog, simultaneously, between unlocked and locked positions. As the dog is rotated to the locked position, the roller of each dog engages the ramp portion of its associated dog keeper and rolls upon the ramp and into the seating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy S. Rozema, William S. Meineke
  • Patent number: 6123373
    Abstract: A lock device includes a frame which has an opening and a fixed portion internally provided therein. A lid member is hinged to the frame, the lid member being rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the opening of the frame being opened by the lid member at the open position and closed by the lid member at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6039362
    Abstract: A hatch cover locking mechanism for securing a roof member onto a hatch opening of a railway hopper car is provided. The hatch cover lock utilizes camming engagement between an operation handle and a keeper member in order to rotate the keeper member and lock or unlock the keeper member to a strapping associated with the hatch roof member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Ireco, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolph E. Nadherny
  • Patent number: 5992908
    Abstract: A latch has a housing and an operating mechanism mounted on the housing. The operating mechanism has a latch arm pivotably mounted for movement relative to the housing between a latched position in which the latch arm is abuttable against a strike element and an unlatched position. The latch arm has a cam surface. The operating mechanism also has a lever pivotably mounted for movement relative to the housing between first and second operative positions. The lever has an edge which moves along the cam surface as the lever is moved from the second operative position to the first operative position to thereby move the latch arm from the unlatched position to the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Linda Sue Yared, Christopher Wildeboer, Gene Charles Light
  • Patent number: 5903114
    Abstract: A multi-functional apparatus employs a power transmission mechanism for generating intermittent motion having a specific range of motion and angular velocity profile for selectively actuating a mechanical device operably coupled to the power transmission mechanism. An electromagnetic device selectively causes movement of the power transmission mechanism. In another aspect of the present invention, a single electric motor selectively actuates a plurality of intermittent rotary motion mechanisms thereby causing separate mechanical devices coupled thereto to operate within an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Mihekun Miller, William C. Zimmer, James W. Gibson, Eric J. Krupp
  • Patent number: 5879035
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cabinet latch that may be used with a slave door. The latch includes a handle member and a bearing member at substantially right angles to one another. The bearing member includes an upper bearing surface and camming end portion which which engages a channel in the frame of the enclosure and aids in aligning and retaining the slave door in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Jancsek, Bruce W. Larson
  • Patent number: 5868017
    Abstract: A locking device for vehicles, particularly for vehicle doors has a mechanical revolving connection between a cylinder core of a lock cylinder and a safety lever of an assigned lock which comprises a driving coupling in the form of a lock nut. In order to achieve a simplification of the construction and mounting of the locking device while ensuring the operability of the locking device when it is operated mechanically as well as when the central locking system is operated, the lock nut is constructed in one piece. An end side of the lock nut facing an operating lever arm of the safety lever has two stops spaced angularly from one another and projecting from the end side. The operating lever arm engages between the stops, so that when the lock nut is rotated, a locking or unlocking position of the safety lever is achieved after an idling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Stefan Ebersohn, Claus Topfer
  • Patent number: 5785362
    Abstract: A hatch cover locking mechanism for securing a roof member onto a hatch opening of a railway hopper car is provided. The hatch cover lock utilizes camming engagement between an operation handle and a keeper member in order to lock or unlock the keeper member over a hinge pin associated with the hatch roof member. A hook rotates along an orientation generally the same as that of the keeper, and the hook retains the hinge pin as desired when the hinge pin is not locked down by the keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Ireco, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolph E. Nadherny
  • Patent number: 5676408
    Abstract: A pocket door latch assembly has a housing with a latch arm pivotally mounted therewithin. The latch arm has a latch nose at one end and an inverted generally V-shaped slot adjacent its other end, and the arm is pivotable between a first position wherein it is entirely within the housing and a second position wherein the latch nose extends outwardly of the housing. An actuator has a portion slidable within the slot between a first position adjacent the one end of the arm and a second position spaced from the one end to pivot the latch arm between its first and second positions. The actuating means is manipulable outwardly of the housing to slide the slidable portion of the actuating means within the slot between its first and second positions, thereby pivoting the latch arm between its positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Richard M. Davidian
  • Patent number: 5673950
    Abstract: There is provided a locking device for fastening a wing element where rotation of a rotor (13) effects smooth locking and unlocking of a wing element and also enables it to smoothly open and close free from interfering with a rocking arm (24); in operation rotation of the rotor (13) causes a slide cam (6) to move linearly rearward so that body (3) is rotated through a pivot (17) into an upright position, and a front-end pushing portion (18) of the arm (24) abuts on a support portion (20) of a stationary frame (19); rotor (13) is prevented from dropping out of the body (3) by ball bearings (15) rotatably mounted between annular grooves (14,9) of the body (3) and of the rotor (13); and a spring (25) rotatably biases the arm (24) to cause a base-end follower portion (23) of the arm (24) to abut on a rear-end surface of the slide cam (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Takimoto
  • Patent number: 5551793
    Abstract: A locking device for quickly attaching a wing to and removing the wing from a body of a missile, for example. The locking device is disposed in an opening in the wing and is adapted to secure the wing to the body of the missile using its attachment rail. The locking device comprises a rotatable cam, a rotatable cam follower for locking the wing to the attachment rail, and a cam latch for locking the cam follower in place. The cam has a opening disposed therein that is suitable for accepting a locking tool, such as an Allen wrench, for example, that is used to rotate the cam, and hence the cam follower, to attach the wing to and remove the wing from a m-fissile. A plurality of springs are respectively employed to retract the the cam follower when the locking device is disengaged, and to secure the cam latch in place when the cam follower is locked in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Loral Aerospace Corp.
    Inventor: Richard S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5326140
    Abstract: A submerged panel latch having an eccentric cam rotatable in the plane of the panel near the panel outer surface and accessible to the user, a latch rotor engaged by the cam and rotatable in a plane perpendicular to that of the cam, inward facing strikers on facing edges of a pair of facing panels, at least one of which is removable at the opposite edge thereof, and concentric openings in said pair of strikers which are concentric and through which said latch rotor is extendable in the closed or locked position of the panels and from which it is withdrawn in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: James F. Randall
  • Patent number: 5234236
    Abstract: A pawl assembly comprising a threaded shaft of noncircular cross section, a pawl of generally elongate shape having a circular through hole, and a clip that is nonrotatably mounted on the shaft and which contacts the pawl to prevent rotation thereof. The clip has a noncircular through hole that corresponds to the noncircular cross section of the shaft and a bent portion that contacts a side surface of the pawl to prevent rotation. By using such a clip, the pawl can be oriented in multiple angular directions while also providing for precise axial placement on the shaft. The pawl assemblies may be used in latches for cabinets and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Gromotka
  • Patent number: 5092640
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for latching and securing closure members within a frame are disclosed. A switching latch operatively secured to a first closure member engages a keeper secured to a second closure member and is rotationally operable to secure the closure members within the frame by simultaneously imparting translational forces to closure members through the keeper along two mutually orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventor: David D. Plummer
  • Patent number: 4930820
    Abstract: A cam handle lock having a cam handle rotatably associated with an mounting base. The base has a central opening to receive a stem of the cam handle. A thin metal washer is fixed to an end of the stem and structurally arranged to coact with the base whereby the washer is flexed to spring load the cam handle and base into firm engagement with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Truth Incorporated
    Inventors: Dean A. Pettit, Gregory J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 4895398
    Abstract: A latch especially adapted for sliding closures is provided comprising a rocker 36 having a hooked terminus 46, and means to deflect said rocker into engagement with a latch keeper 30, comprising a housing 12 having a slot 28 about which the rocker 36 rocks, and rocker rocking means comprising a biasing spring 34 and an oppositely acting pivot 38 having first and second shoulders 42, 43 in offset relation for rocking the rocker into keeper 30 engagement upon pivot rotation, the shoulders 42, 43 being locally relieved at 52 to permit return movement of the rocker 36 out of keeper engagement responsive to reverse pivot 38 rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventor: Peter Hauber
  • Patent number: 4826222
    Abstract: A latch having a base and a latch plate pivoted thereto, the base being adapted for installation on a closure frame and the latch plate being adapted to overlie the closure. The latch plate is pivotally mounted on the base to swing between an unlatched position in which the closure can be opened, and a latched position in which the closure cannot be opened because the latch plate overlies it. A handle pivotally mounted on the base swings the latch plate between the open and closed positions. At least one of the base and latch plate are made of an elastically deformable material. The latch plate is moved to the latching position by the camming action of the handle; and when the latch plate has moved only part way toward the fully latched position, abutment surfaces on the base and latch plate come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Interlock Industries Limited
    Inventor: Ronald P. Davis
  • Patent number: 4679835
    Abstract: A cabinet latch has a generally cylindrical body that is mountable on a closure panel or the like. A passage is formed through the body along a center axis, and opens through forward and rearward end regions of the body. Operating components are protectively nested within the body passage, including a primary operating element that is formed as a three-piece assembly including a generally cylindrical tool-receiving core and a pair of semi-circular sleeve halves that are journaled for rotation within the forward end region of the body passage. An elongate shank has a portion that projects from the rearward end of the body passage and carries a pawl. The shank and the pawl are rotatable about and movable axially along the center axis to position the pawl among unlatched, latched and latched-clamped positions for selectively releasing, retaining, and securely clamping the closure in a closed position relative to an associated cabinet or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4671547
    Abstract: A cabinet latch has a generally cylindrical body that is mountable on a closure panel or the like. A passage is formed through the body along a center axis, and opens through forward and rearward end regions of the body. An assembly of operating components is protectively nested within the body passage, including an operating element that is journaled for rotation within the forward end region of the body passage, and an elongate shank that has a portion which projects from the rearward end of the body passage and carries a pawl. The shank and the pawl are rotatable about and movable axially along the center axis to position the pawl among unlatched, latched and latched-clamped positions for selectively releasing, retaining, and securely clamping the closure in a closed position relative to an associated cabinet or the like. Movement of the pawl is effected in response to rotation of the operating element, and is controlled by the assembly of operating components that is carried within the body passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Joel T. Vargus
  • Patent number: 4573512
    Abstract: An automatic lock for a rolling grille or the like is enclosed in guide means on each side of the opening to be closed and is actuated by an effort to open the grille by applying external forces opposite the direction of closure but released by lift tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: Dale Lichy
  • Patent number: 4312527
    Abstract: Locking mechanism having a casing including a pair of spaced support plates of similar or identical size and shape. The support plates have identical, spaced, congruent, T-shaped tongues along their front edges. When the locking mechanism is installed in a door, the tongues extend beyond the front edge to engage a C-shaped strike in the door jamb. A pair of flat-bodied, blade-like bolt members, having shank and latch portions at opposite ends, and pivoted therebetween, are located side by side in coplanar relation in a space between the support plates. The latch portions project outwardly beyond the front edge of the door, between the T-shaped tongues. A flat, eccentric, plate-like cam member is rotatably supported between the shank portions of the bolt members. The cam and bolt members are constrained to a mutually coplanar relation by a sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the support plates on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Theodore Bargman Company
    Inventor: Edward F. Tannery
  • Patent number: 4249760
    Abstract: A latch assembly for picnic coolers and the like includes a base, a latch, and an operating knob which is movably mounted on the base. The latch is pivotally supported by a fulcrum on the base, and the operating knob includes a pair of cams which pivot the latch between latched and unlatched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Conley
  • Patent number: 4239268
    Abstract: A vertical edge of a sliding door has a cavity forming a housing for a bolt. One or two angle-shaped latch leaves are located at a side or opposite sides of the bolt, each leaf being pivotally mounted in the housing for swinging about an axis generally aligned with such door vertical edge. Outward sliding of the bolt swings the latch leaf or leaves outward to lock flanges on the leaf or leaves in a catch carried by a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Inventor: Harlan H. Rider
  • Patent number: 4081191
    Abstract: A lock assembly for locking or unlocking the door of a truck or trailer body from a handle located inside the cab of the tractor. The tractor cab is fitted with a pivotable handle lever mounted on about fixed rachet gear engaged by a pivotable tooth on the handle lever, with the handle lever linked by a lock rod that extends under the floor of an attached truck or trailer body to a latch fixed on the door of the truck or trailer body. The lock rod may be fitted with coupling means for separation into a tractor section and a trailer section for use when the trailer section is detached from the tractor. The door latch is in the form of a bolt slidable axially through an eye member fixed to the truck door or alternately the bolt is bent at an angle to rotate about a fixed bracket on the door, with the bolt coupled to the lock rod by helical-slotted collar that translates reciprocal axial motion of the lock rod into rotary motion of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Inventor: Matthew Capozello
  • Patent number: 3971238
    Abstract: A door lock for use with an elongated rod used as an auxiliary holding device in addition to the conventional door lock. The auxiliary door holding rod is actuatable from outside the door by means of a conventional key actuated lock so as to permit the auxiliary safety rod to be moved between locked and unlocked positions from outside the door as well as from inside the door. A lost motion device is incorporated in the connection between the door lock and the rod holder to prevent interference between the lock structure and the internal manual actuation of the rod holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Inventor: Brooks Walker