Rigid Patents (Class 292/228)
  • Patent number: 4395784
    Abstract: A rectangular shaped lock-block with its forked interface hinge which is joined by a common axle which also serves to hold the interface hinge firmly against the toilet seat and lid and hold the lock-block device firmly against the rear of the toilet basin behind the toilet seat. The lock-block device houses a spring-latch mechanism with a removable compression spring which is held in place by a set screw located at the rear of the lock-block device. The compression spring exerts a constant pressure against the latch which is forced under the interface hinge holding it and the toilet seat lid in the down locked position. The latch must be retracted before the lid and seat can be raised. Once the hinge and lid are raised out of the locked down position, the spring forces the latch to ride against the rotating hinge and automatically relocks when the lid is lowered to the down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Howard C. Camp
    Inventor: Tracey L. Foster
  • Patent number: 4373294
    Abstract: A door for closing a man-door opening in a mine stopping, the door having a pair of knife-edge hinges one at each of the two upper corners of the door for mounting the door to swing about a horizontal axis adjacent the top edge of the man-door opening between open and closed positions. Each hinge comprises a horizontally extending pivot pin and a vertically extending lug comprising a relatively thin metal plate member having a hole therein adapted to receive the pivot pin, whereby the area of engagement between the pivot pin and the lug is relatively small so that corrosion on the hinge at said area of engagement does not inhibit opening of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Inventors: John M. Kennedy, William R. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 4261605
    Abstract: An apparatus for releasably maintaining the door of a cabinet in the closed position. The apparatus is comprised of a strike and a latch member which are releasably engageable. The latch is rotatably mounted and spring biased towards the strike. The apparatus has substantially smooth surfaces and is made of non-porous metal so as to resist capturing deposits of dirt and food. The apparatus is configured to be easily opened and to be free of crevices or pockets to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris. In operation, the latch member is released from engagement with the strike upon being struck on its upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Inventor: Lester R. Hock
  • Patent number: 4202574
    Abstract: This invention relates to a catch or lock mechanism used between a refuse or garbage can and the lid therefor. A substantially U-shaped bracket has the inner curve between its legs slidingly engaged with the undersurface of the lid bead carried by the lower edge of the lid. This may be by a threaded screw engaging with one leg of the U-shaped bracket and extending between the legs thereof to thereby form a sleeve sliding engaging the lid bead. Also, the U-shaped bracket may be movably carried by the U-shaped bracket or the can lid by the use of magnetic means. The U-shaped bracket preferably has a longer inner leg which is urged by spring or magnetic means into engagement under the bead at the top of the refuse can. The other leg of the U-shaped bracket is shorter and preferably terminates in an outwardly and horizontally extending portion for finger engagement thereof for releasing the lid from the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: William L. Redmayne
  • Patent number: 4192536
    Abstract: A push-pull latch mechanism for screen doors, storm doors, and the like, in which a casing pivotally supporting a double-ended handle is mounted within an opening extending between the opposite surfaces of the door adjacent its swinging edge, the handle having a latch dog in offset relation to the pivot, inner and outer escutcheon plates having openings for receiving the handle ends therethrough, the escutcheon plates being securable to the opposite surfaces of the door independently of the casing, one of the escutcheon plates incorporating a manually operable member that is movable into dogging and non-dogging positions with respect to the handle, and in the dogging position being operative to oppose movement of the latch dog from its latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Bel Air Aluminum Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Angel F. Laureano
  • Patent number: 4182530
    Abstract: A commercial trash bin is provided with locking arrangements which restrict the use of the trash bin to the authorized user thereof, and still permit the dumping of the trash bins without wasting any extra time by the garbage truck operator. The lids are provided with a special latch which is disabled to permit dumping through gravity action when the trash bin is lifted and inverted and dumped. In one case the mechanism includes a heavy spring which is compressed by the weight of the trash bin, and in another case a gravity operated latch releasing mechanism is employed. In each case, to open the trash bin while it is in the upright orientation, a key-operated release, either in the form of a padlock or a built-in lock mechanism, is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Inventor: Allan M. Hodge
  • Patent number: 4134281
    Abstract: A door lock, particularly well suited for releasably retaining a pivotally mounted truck door in a closed position, includes a shaft and its operating means mounted on the door, and a pair of keeper members mounted on the door frame. A pair of cam members are secured to opposite end regions of the shaft. The shaft has a central portion which projects through openings formed in opposite sides of a pan-shaped housing. A handle is secured to the central portion for rotating the shaft to bring the cam members into and out of latching engagement with the keeper members. The handle is moveable between a nested position wherein the handle is nested within a recess defined by the pan-shaped housing, and a projecting position wherein the handle projects forwardly from the recess. A latch mechanism is carried by the housing and includes a latch member mounted for pivotal movement between latched and unlatched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Albert L. Pelcin
  • Patent number: 4110867
    Abstract: A housing with an open outer end engages the inner face of a faceplate around an opening through the plate, which is designed for attachment to a door jamb. A spring in the housing normally holds a plunger in a position in which it projects from the faceplate. The projecting portion of the plunger has a laterally facing abutment for engagement by a bidirectional swinging door when the door is closed in its normal closing direction. Pivotally connected to the plunger on a vertical axis adjacent the outer end of the housing at its door side is a lever that has a latch portion projecting from the opposite side of the plunger and engaging the inner face of the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: McKinney Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Joseph W. Gwozdz
  • Patent number: 4109947
    Abstract: A latch assembly for releasably securing a door in closing relation to an open end of a chamber. The latch assembly includes two latching members, one of which is mounted adjacent the open end of the chamber and the other is mounted on the door such that it moves in a plane as the door is moved between its open and closed positions. The one member has a surface which is inclined in two directions to the aforementioned plane such that should a predetermined force be exerted upon the door in an effort to move it from its closed position without actuating the latch assembly release, the latching member mounted on the door will cam the inclined surface so as to move it in a plane which defines an angle with the aforementioned plane thereby unlatching the assembly before any damage is caused to the assembly or door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Leduc
  • Patent number: 4082331
    Abstract: A door for a doorway in a mine stopping having latch means adapted to yield to maintain the door latched on heaving of the sill of the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Inventors: John M. Kennedy, William R. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 4072332
    Abstract: A latching mechanism is provided for a service panel for gaining access into a closed compartment. The latch is an all seasons latch such that it can be operated even with an arctic mitten on the hand of the operator. The latch handle is positioned in a recess to prevent accidental actuation. A spring is provided for holding the panel or door latched closed and upon movement of the latch handle past a center position will locate the spring for holding the latch inactive as the door or panel is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert L. Isaia
  • Patent number: 4068873
    Abstract: An automatically closing lock, for a container having a body and a closure mounted for movement to close the body, includes a catch assembly having a catch housing mountable with one of the container body and closure. The catch housing defines a striker surface and a catch surface adjacent the striker surface. A latch assembly, that cooperates with the catch assembly, includes a latch housing mountable on the other of the container body and closure and a latch member mounted for limited pivoted movement in the latch housing. The latch member is formed with at least one hook-like element that is guided to the catch surface and into engagement therewith by the striker surface. A spring compressed in the latch housing urges the latch member and hook-like element into firm contact with the striker surface and into engagement with the catch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Excelsior Hardware Co.
    Inventors: Carmen Testa, William J. Bouton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4067597
    Abstract: A latch assembly for selectively retaining a movable portion of a vehicle. The latch assembly includes components readily sub-assembled prior to installation of the latch assembly in the vehicle. A main plate member having a tee-shaped slot and having a tubular spring retainer is provided for receiving a latch member, a coil spring and a roller member. The latch member is equipped with a pivot pin. A pair of brackets, each having a sleeve portion, are provided for receiving the latch member pivot pin and for positioning the latch member with respect to the plate member. A retainer plate, having a plurality of apertures alignable with corresponding apertures in the brackets and plate member, is welded to the vehicle for clamping the latch assembly upon the vehicle proximate to the portion to be retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Dean M. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 4055360
    Abstract: A security lock comprising a tube having inner and outer ends and a passage extending between such ends, and a shaft including first and second shaft sections interconnected for pivotal movement relative to each other. The shaft has inner and outer end portions. The shaft has a first position in which it is received in the passage of the tube with the inner end portion of the shaft projecting beyond the inner end portion of the tube. A latch which includes the inner end portion of the shaft releasably locks the shaft in the first position so that upon release of the latch, the shaft can move toward the outer end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Inventor: Bartello C. Russi
  • Patent number: 4021073
    Abstract: A lid for a vehicle roof opening has linkage hinging it to the roof structure accommodating tilting the lid upwardly in either of two directions, or elevating it bodily, for use of the opening to ventilate the vehicle, including provision for separating parts of the hinging linkage to permit swinging the lid fully open for use of the roof opening as an escape hatch. In a modification, the lid is hinged for tilting in only one direction to a ventilating position or swinging to the full open position in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Inventor: Donald L. Manning
  • Patent number: 3976157
    Abstract: Self-locking latch device especially for hood and side panels of industrial trucks having a lock bolt and an adjustable spring loaded latch cooperable therewith to automatically engage and lock the latch to bolt in closing of the hood or side panel, while requiring manual actuation of latch to disengage and open the latter. The device is constructed to self-lock with an increasing force as any unintended force tending to open the latch increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventor: Edgar Wahnemuehl
  • Patent number: 3946460
    Abstract: The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a door stop assembly for a bidirectional swinging door to permit opening the door in a first direction during normal use and to permit selective opening of the door in a second direction during an emergency. The stop is employed in an assembly which includes a face or strike plate having an opening for receipt of a strike member, a housing formed on one side thereof, all adapted to be set in a mortise of a door frame. The door stop assembly has a floating body member which moves linearly inwardly into the housing and then engages the back wall thereof and rocks about a sloping inclined surface of the body portion so that the stop engaging surface of the stop assembly is displaced from engagement with the door, thereby permitting the door to be opened in the opposite direction of its normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Lawrence Brothers, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry K. Johnson