Friction Patents (Class 292/349)
  • Patent number: 10081228
    Abstract: A car visor having a light blocking visor sheet attached rotatably to a horizontal shaft which is secured rotatably at one end with a vertical leg above the windshield. An end shaft is fixed to the free end of the visor sheet in alignment with the horizontal shaft. A flexing receptacle attached above the windshield receives and holds the end shaft. The end shaft is partially cylindrical with larger thickness and partially flat with smaller thickness. When the visor sheet is rotated to near vertical orientation, the receptacle flexes against the thinner flat side of the end shaft, allowing the shaft to be pulled out of or pushed into the receptacle with less force compared to other visor sheet orientations where the receptacle flexes against the thicker cylindrical side of the end shaft. Therefore, the driver can maneuver the visor safely and comfortably between windshield and side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Mahmoud Razzaghi
  • Patent number: 8201859
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a door substrate having an aperture, said door handle assembly comprising: a bell crank capable of pivoting about an axis, the bell crank including a first arm, a second arm and a base therebetween; a door handle that operatively engages the second arm of the bell crank, wherein a free end of the second arm extends upward and outward away from the base such that the free end of the second arm sweeps around a generally conical shape as the bell crank pivots about the axis; means for securing the door handle to the bell crank including a pin and notch assembly, wherein the pin is inserted through an aperture in the door handle and engages a notch located on the second arm; and a plurality of ribs formed on one or more surfaces of the bell crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Steelman, Timothy F. O'Brien, Larry Vigneau, Jeromy D. Weible, Daniel V. Beckley
  • Patent number: 7581421
    Abstract: A door lock assembly includes a transverse retaining plate disposed inside a spindle tube and having a stabilizing part and a retaining tongue projecting into a retention slot in a handle. A support structure is disposed within the handle oppositely of the retention slot and has a support part extending radially into the spindle tube. When the door lock assembly is in a locking state and when the retaining tongue in the retention slot is pressed externally, one of two diametrically opposite edges of a tailpiece of a key plug abuts against the support part, and the other one of the edges abuts against the stabilizing part of the retaining plate to restrict the retaining tongue from moving away from the retention slot, thereby preventing undesirable removal of the handle from the door lock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tong Lung Metal Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Lan-Kun Don, Po-Yang Chen, Ching-Chuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 7377562
    Abstract: A door assembly comprising a door substrate having an aperture, a bell crank including a first arm having a pivot axis, a second arm, and a base therebetween, wherein the second arm extends through the aperture of the door substrate, a door handle that operatively engages the second arm of the bell crank past the aperture of the door substrate, and a back plate secured to the bell crank. A further invention is a bell crank for a door handle comprising a first arm being capable of pivoting about an axis, a second arm, and a base connecting the first arm to the second arm, wherein the first arm and the base rotate about the axis in a planar direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: James Lloyd Steelman
  • Patent number: 6966586
    Abstract: The invention relates to fittings (1, 21) for the fixing and/or locking arrangement of a glass element (45) on at least one adjacent glass element, whereby the fittings (1, 21) are composed of fitting halves (2, 3, 22, 23, 26, 27) each consisting of a substructure (42) fixed to the glass element (45) and of a covering (25) that crowns the substructure (42). The aim of the invention is to create a fitting (1, 21), which forms a compact and visually appealing unit having a smallest possible overall height, whereby retaining the existing diversity of use and the various functions. To this end, the covering (25) comprises a front surface (7, 30), which is fixed between lateral faces (5, 6, 28, 29) and which curves in a convex manner from one edge (8, 31) to the opposite edge (9, 32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: DORMA GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Herth, Oliver Link, Georg Kaluza
  • Patent number: 6805388
    Abstract: The door handle assembly includes a housing and a lever handle pivotally connected to the front side of the housing by a pin. A pivot plate is pivotally connected to the back side of the housing, which includes a curved channel in which is mounted a compression spring. The pivot plate covers the channel so as to retain or close the spring in the channel. The pivot plate includes an arm which is linked to the door latch. Upon actuation of the handle, the pivot plate is pivoted by a leg of the handle extending through the housing. The pivotal movement of the pivot plate compresses the spring between one end of the channel and an arm on the pivot plate. The linkage between the pivot plate and the door latch releases the latch when the pivot plate is rotated by actuation of the handle. Upon release of the handle, the compression spring biases the pivot plate to its normal at-rest position. A resilient, integrally formed pin retention member extends from the housing for retaining the door handle pin in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher M. Lane
  • Patent number: 6669249
    Abstract: A handle support mechanism is designed for attachment to a door lock, preferably the exterior of a mortise lock, that has two handles driven back to an initial position with a common return spring after either handle is used. The support mechanism prevents the unused handle from drooping or rotating when the common return spring is compressed as the opposite handle is turned. The support mechanism includes first and second friction discs trapped between the exterior of the mortise lock and the legs of a U-shaped spring bracket. The spring bracket applies an inward spring pressure to prevent a friction disc and its corresponding handle from turning when the other handle is in use. The handle support mechanism improves visual appearance and is particularly suitable for retrofit installations, lever handle designs and mortise locks with independent switch sensors on the two handles that notify a monitoring system as to which handle was turned to open a monitored door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard Hai Huang, Paul Nunez
  • Patent number: 6523375
    Abstract: The deadbolt thumbturn assembly of the present invention includes a thumbturn including a thumbturn extension, which is inserted through a bushing collar and rose bearing, then secured with a retaining ring such that the thumbturn extension is able to rotate within the bushing collar. The threaded bushing collar is then inserted through the aperture of the deadbolt rose and secured with a retaining ring forming a deadbolt thumbturn assembly such that the threaded bushing collar is able to rotate with respect to the deadbolt rose. The thumbturn assembly is then attached to the deadbolt lock by fastening the bushing collar to the threaded boss of the inside housing and inserting the extension of the deadbolt actuator into a receptacle of the thumbturn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Christopher N. Beatty
  • Patent number: 5688005
    Abstract: A lock assembly with a lock spindle extending perpendicular from the internal lock mechanism and the door. A knob or lever is operably connected to the spindle such that rotation thereof operates the lock mechanism. In order to eliminate any movement between the spindle and knob or lever and thereby eliminate rattle or inoperative rotation of the knob, a bow spring is longitudinally mounted to the spindle. The ends of the spring are retained on the spindle as the spring bows radially outwardly from the spindle to frictionally engage an inner wall of the knob or lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Baldwin Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Philip C. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5590921
    Abstract: A latch assembly is mounted in an aperture formed in a first member for releasably retaining the first member against a corresponding second member and in a latched position. The latch assembly includes a handle which is adapted for pivotal rotation. A shaft is included which is connected with the handle. The handle is adapted to facilitate axial movement of the shaft as the handle is pivotally rotated between open and closed positions. A latch is provided on the shaft which is adapted for axial movement corresponding with movement of the shaft. The latch is adapted to releasably retain the second member in engagement with the first member when the handle is in its closed position. A retaining member is also included in connection with the shaft which is adapted for securing the latch in its mounted position on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eli J. Holtman, Edward A. McCormack
  • Patent number: 5074604
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a latch retaining device to maintain the latch of a door in an inoperable position, which includes at least one body member adapted to engage and grip the door knob of the door so as to retain the door knob in its latch releasing rotated position indefinitely. The body member of the device may have first and second ends with the first end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the door adjacent the position of the door knob, whereby frictional engagement between the device and the door as well as the door knob enable the door knob to be maintained in a position to render the door latch inoperative. Alternatively, the body member may frictionally engage a door knob and exert an appropriate force thereon to maintain it in a latch releasing position. The at least one body member is secured in its frictionally engaging position by means of a cincturing strap associated with the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Albrecht, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Merendino, Fred I. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 4923325
    Abstract: A molded knob of the type which frictionally engages and slips over the end of a shaft. The knob has a hub with a shaft-receiving socket formed therein. Elongated fingers, which are formed as part of the hub, extend into the socket to engage the shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of elongated fingers extend generally radially into the socket, with each finger terminating in a tip located close to but out of contact with the top of the other finger. The tips of the fingers are contacted by the curved outer surface of the shaft when the shaft is inserted in the socket to compress the fingers. If desired, the fingers can be designed to bend them into contact with each other so that the loading from one finger to the other acts like a truss. In a second embodiment of the invention, the elongated fingers are curved non-radially relative to the shaft and extend toward each other, terminating short of contact with the tips of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
    Inventor: Robert K. Howie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4588221
    Abstract: The subject of this patent application is a door assembly (10) having a knob (38) which, during shipment, is segregated from the rest of the assembly (10) for ease in packaging and storage. The invention includes a unique locking element (62) for securing the knob (38) to the door closure panel (12) when the panel (12) is at a location at which it is to be installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Ideal Security Hardware Corporation
    Inventors: Cardell E. Miller, Gene A. Tracy, George L. Engstrom, John Thorson
  • Patent number: 4486116
    Abstract: Friction joint for fixing machine elements together. The friction joint is established with the aid of at least one sleeve-like member (15) so that the sleeve-like member (15) is disposed around the first machine element (11) and that the second machine element (12) is adapted to receive the sleeve-like member (15). In the friction joint of the invention (10) the sealing problems have been totally avoided by employing a tiltable sleeve-like member (15) which is tiltable with the aid of a tilting means (17) through an angle (.alpha.), whereby the inner surface of the sleeve-like member (15) creates an interlocking with the first machine element (11) and similarly the outer surface of the sleeve-like member (15) creates an interlocking with the second machine element (12). The tilting means (17) is a tightening screw, disposed in a threaded hole (16) made to pass through the end face of the sleeve-like member (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Konejukka Oy
    Inventor: Kari Sassi
  • Patent number: 4358874
    Abstract: A knob or similar object is rotatably retained on a piece of equipment by an arrangement including a four-section hinged member which may be concealed by the knob during normal usage. The hidden retaining member is captivated around the shaft at both ends by retaining devices and by the knob and enclosure wall until the knob is released. The arrangement is applicable regardless of whether the shaft remains on the equipment or forms a part of the retained object. The center sections of the hinged member fold up on one side of the shaft when hidden, but extend to allow release of the object from the normal, attached position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Kaiser
  • Patent number: 4295246
    Abstract: A molded plastic knob of the type which frictionally engages and slips over the end of a shaft of generally circular cross section and having at least one longitudinally extending flat surface. A hub is formed as part of the knob. A shaft receiving socket is formed in the hub. The socket has a flat wall adapted to engage a flat surface on the shaft. A resilient finger is formed as part of the hub and extends into the socket upwardly from the flat wall. The resilient finger is positioned to engage an arcuate side of the shaft when the shaft is inserted into the socket so as to slightly deform the resilient finger and thereby apply a force to the shaft. The wall of the socket located opposite the flat wall is semi-hexagonal and the resilient finger extends towards but terminates short of the semi-hexagonal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
    Inventor: Robert K. Howie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4270063
    Abstract: Any suitable strip material, including cold-rolled steel, is stamped to establish first and second laterally extending portions interconnected by a connecting segment, with a locating hole located midway between the free or distal ends of the laterally extending portions. The connecting segment is sized so that no dimension of the connecting segment as measured from the center of the locating hole exceeds a preselected dimension corresponding with the diameter of a shaft with which the adapter is to be used. The central connecting segment may or may not be symmetrically positioned relative to a center reference line extending longitudinally along the laterally extending segments. One or more laterally extending marginal edges of the laterally extending sections may be tapered in order to permit overbending or overforming of the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard W. Dochterman
  • Patent number: 4179771
    Abstract: A molded knob of the type which frictionally engages and slips over the end of a shaft. The knob has a hub with a shaft receiving socket formed therein. The socket has a flat wall adapted to engage a flat on the shaft. Elongated fingers which are formed as part of the hub extend into the socket on the opposite side of the socket from the flat wall. The fingers extend towards and are aligned with each other. They are laterally deflectable away from the flat wall of the socket upon insertion of the shaft into the socket. An abutment is located at the base of each finger. One of the abutments is engageable with the shaft when the shaft is rotated to limit further deflection of the fingers by the shaft due to twisting caused by the application of torque to the shaft. In a modified form, a stop is provided to engage the fingers to limit the amount of deflection of the fingers in place of the abutments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
    Inventors: Paul Rankins, Robert K. Howie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4147445
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement between a shaft and a knob adapted for rotating the shaft, the knob being provided with a recess having a cross-sectional area which is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the shaft, and having a sleeve arranged to encircle the shaft with its inner surface and with its outer surface intended to be encircled by the recess in the knob. The outer surface of the sleeve has a cross-sectional area which is somewhat larger than the cross-sectional area of the recess of the knob. The knob is pressed over the sleeve and as a result of its elasticity imparts to the sleeve a compressing force which acts on the shaft and thereby presses the sleeve and the knob into firm, co-action with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Inventor: Per-Goran Claesson
  • Patent number: 3994608
    Abstract: A control component with a "D" shaped shaft is to be fitted with a control knob that was designed to fit onto a "dog-bone" shaped shaft. A resilient adapter in the form of a tubular sleeve has a special bore to fit on the shaft and a special configuration to fit into the bore of the knob so as to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Felix J. Swiderski, James A. Buxton, Jr.