Emergency Or Safety Patents (Class 292/DIG65)
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Patent number: 6155618Abstract: A striker for a vehicle door latch device comprises a metal base plate fastened to a vehicle body, a U-shaped metal rod fastened to the base plate and projected toward a vehicle door, and a block member formed on the base plate. The block member comprises a block stay projected from the base plate toward the door and a block portion formed at a tip of the block stay. The block portion is opposed to an inside metal panel of the door when the door is closed. The block portion is brought into contact with the inside metal panel, when the inside metal panel is deformed by an external force to approach the base plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1999Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mikio Ichinose
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Patent number: 6145897Abstract: A push-bar for doors in general, which comprises a bar element provided, at its ends, with couplings for connection to a door; the particularity of said push-bar is the fact that it is provided with a threaded bar which is arranged inside the bar element, each end of said bar element being connected to lever means which are in turn pivoted at one end to the bar element and, at the other end, to a pusher whose rotation as a consequence of a pressure applied to the bar element causes the rotation of a pawl which is adapted to engage the pivot of the lock of the door in order to turn it for opening, an empty space being provided between the bar element and the surface of the door to which the bar element is connected.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Inventor: Gebhard Heinrad Locher
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Patent number: 6139075Abstract: A tool-operated sliding security system for a lockable enclosure comprising a bracket mounted to an outer door of an enclosure, the bracket being movable between an open position and a closed position, the bracket having at least one cutout therein; the outer door having a tool-operated security member mounted thereto, the security member extending through the cutout and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; the outer door also comprising a tool-operated releasable retention member mounted thereto, the retention member releasably maintaining the outer door in a closed position; the bracket being immovable when the security member is in the engaged position and the bracket being movable when the security member is in the disengaged position; wherein the releasable retention member is accessible when the bracket is in the open position thereby rendering the outer door openable.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventor: Bassel Hage Daoud
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Patent number: 6139073Abstract: A door lock for locking a sliding door on a transit vehicle. The lock has a base for attachment to the transit vehicle and a lock cam having a slot for engaging a door lock element attached to the door. A pivot is connected to the base and to the lock cam to provide a rotary connection of the lock cam to the base. A lock actuator is attached to the base. The lock actuator includes a moveable actuator portion for engaging the lock cam to prevent rotation of the lock cam to lock the door. The actuator also has an energized actuator portion for withdrawing the moveable actuator portion from engagement with the lock cam to release the lock cam and unlock the door. The energized actuator portion is connectable with a control system for the transit vehicle door. The lock also has a manual release mounted to engage the moveable actuator portion to move it from engagement with the lock cam to release the lock cam and hence unlock the door.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake CompanyInventors: Steven P. Heffner, Fotios Golemis
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Patent number: 6126210Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a latch is disclosed that impedes opening the latch by those, regardless of age, who lack the necessary mental acuity. The latch includes a release mechanism that requires two vertical slide members to be displaced in a first direction and held in that displaced position before a horizontal slide member can be displaced in a second direction that is not parallel with the first direction. The horizontal slide member is connected by a cord with a latch portion of the mechanism. When the horizontal slide member is displaced in the second direction, the latch portion is released from engagement and the latch is itself opened.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Inventor: Anita Lee Tom
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Patent number: 6073978Abstract: A dishwasher lock includes a first component adapted to be secured to the underside of a counter top directly above the forward upper edge of a dishwasher and a second component slidably and detachably secured to the first component. The second component includes an L-shaped plate adapted to be disposed in overlying engagement with the front of a dishwasher to prevent opening of the dishwasher door when the second component is secured to the first component.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1999Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Inventor: Ronald Sherman
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Patent number: 6070923Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for an automobile includes a handle lever that follows the motion of an outside handle. When a transverse load in excess of a predetermined value acts upon the vehicle as the result of an impact at the side thereof, the handle lever is caused to swing in the transverse direction outwardly of the vehicle against the biasing force of a spring. As a result, an opening lever in a door lock device is placed in an inoperative state so that the door will not open accidentally during a side collision.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsurou Tanimoto, Morihito Nomura, Kouji Ooe, Kouichi Nagata
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Patent number: 6065797Abstract: A vehicle door having an outer panel, an inner panel, a reinforcement provided between the outer and inner panels for absorbing a side impact and a door locking apparatus including a lock lever for changeover the vehicle door from a locking condition to an unlocking condition and vise versa, comprises a bracket for securing the reinforcement to the outer panel, a cam-shaped projection provided on the bracket and an end portion of the lock lever opposedly close to the cam-shaped projection for rotating the lock lever so as to changeover from the locking condition to the unlocking condition, in the event of a sideways collision, when the reinforcement is deformed inwardly and as a result the cam-shaped projection strikes the end portion of the lock lever. Thus constituted door locking apparatus enables to rescue a passenger caught in a car through a door unlocked.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuuichi Shirasaka
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Patent number: 6048000Abstract: An improved door access bar for installation onto a door through which access is controlled by an electrically operated door access system is disclosed in which the door access bar has an electromechanically operable door locking mechanism which is used to selectively lock and unlock the door to thereby control access or egress through the door. The door access locking bar of the present invention incorporates an interlock mechanism to prevent the bolt from being forced into a retracted position by jimmying the locking mechanism to unlock the door. The locking mechanism of the present invention prevents the door from being opened until the electromechanical locking mechanism is operated to do so. The door access locking bar of the present invention operates in a fail-safe manner so that in the event of a power failure it will automatically be in an unlocked position.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Inventors: Arthur Geringer, Richard Geringer, David Geringer
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Patent number: 6042158Abstract: A drop-catch mechanism for a vertically movable door is provided for preventing the free-fall of the door in doorway guides when a counterbalancing mechanism for the door malfunctions and a tensioning member for the counterbalancing mechanism becomes slack or loses tension. The drop-catch mechanism includes a plunger element, disposed within the door adjacent one of the lateral edges thereof. The plunger element is movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the outboard end extends from within the door and engages a guide. The drop-catch mechanism also includes an actuator crank having a portion rotatably mounted within the door, and operably coupled through a camming element to the plunger element, and having a portion extending through an aperture in the door face with a rotatable external leg coupled to the tensioning member for maintaining the plunger element in the retracted position. When the tensioning member is taut, it biases the plunger element to the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1997Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventor: John R. Horn
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Patent number: 6042159Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. The assembly includes a side impact detector member operative in response to a side impact against the door with the handle in its closed position to move inertially from a neutral position, allowing movement of the handle to its open position, to a side impact position, blocking movement of the handle to its open position. The door handle assembly includes an actuator lever operated by the door handle and mounted for pivotal movement in response to movement of the handle, and the side impact detector member comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the actuator lever. The side impact lever normally forms a linear extension of the actuator lever but pivots inertially relative to the actuator lever in response to side impact to a position blocking opening movement of the handle.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1997Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: ADAC Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Larry Spitzley, James P. Larabel
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Patent number: 6039106Abstract: The device is an articulated cam with an at least partially rotatable cam arm for mounting a vertical traveling industrial door, constructed from a series of hinged solid panels, to a guide track. The cam arm has a threshold force required for rotation as the cam arm includes a dimple which is engaged by a spring-biased nipple. When this threshold force occurs due to impact on the door, the cam arm rotates and the articulated cam and the door break away from the guide track.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Christopher J. Gontarski, Steven D. Ogden, John J. Gannon, Jr.
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Patent number: 6024388Abstract: A steel wire (1) when pushed or pulled will release an emergency bar (2) with a saw blade (3) to untie whatever is bound. A steel bar (4) with a handle (5) that is attached to the detent lever (6), which will release the latch (7) to open the catch (8) in a straight line.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1998Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Inventors: Sabah H. Tomah, Edwina J. Svita
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Patent number: 6009732Abstract: The panic exit device includes several features which improve its ease of use and operability over earlier devices including: (1) an improved latch deadlocking mechanism; (2) an improved latch to pad mechanism; (3) a pad lock down feature; (4) an improved universal mounting plate and easily mounted strike; and (5) a vertical rod-bottom bolt deadlockig mechanism in its center case. The latch deadlocking mechanism includes a deadlock link, which in the event of a fire, will block the movement of the latch bolt.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Detex CorporationInventors: Paul Haeck, Greg Drake, Albert E. Ranzau, III.
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Patent number: 6010165Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism includes a latch assembly, an inside latch handle assembly, an outside latch handle assembly, a lock assembly and a child security assembly. An unlocking assembly is disposed between the lock assembly and the inside latch handle assembly. The unlocking assembly interrelates the inside latch handle assembly and the lock assembly so that operating the inside latch handle unlocks the door. This allows a person to unlatch the door from outside the door even when the door is latched and locked, and even when the child security lock is activated.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Pat Santarelli, Reginald Leo McDonald, Eric Oswin Gottschling
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Patent number: 5975596Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a locking mechanism and a latching mechanism and inside and outside handle levers for unlatching the vehicle door latch. Each handle lever cooperates with the locking mechanism and the latching mechanism independently of the other so that the vehicle door latch can be unlocked and unlatched by one handle lever when the other handle lever is stuck in an unlatched position.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Reginald Leo McDonald
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Patent number: 5934718Abstract: An entertainment cabinet door locking apparatus is provided including a front extent having a planar configuration with a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween. Also included is a rear extent including at least one plate coupled at a top edge thereof to a top edge of the front extent in parallel relationship therewith.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Inventor: Timothy J. La Valle
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Patent number: 5921594Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has an input lever pivotal by an inside door handle about an axis and an output lever connected to the latch mechanism and pivotal about the axis between an actuated position corresponding to a door-unlatched position and an unactuated position corresponding to a latched position. The input lever is formed with a straight slot extending radially of the axis and the output lever is formed with an L-shaped slot having one leg extending generally radially of the axis and alignable with the slot of the input lever and another leg.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Kiekert AGInventor: Thorsten Bendel
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Patent number: 5901992Abstract: An electromechanical locking mechanism for door leaves whose holding force can be adjusted continuously and which at the same time offers the possibility, when the locking mechanism is energized, of also releasing the closed door from and returning it to the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: DORMA GmbH+ Co. KGInventor: Bernd Winkler
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Patent number: 5897148Abstract: A door latch for latching the vehicle door in the closed position includes a fork bolt pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between the latching position engaging a striker in an unlatching position to unlatch from the striker and permit opening of the door. A detent lever is pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between an engaging position engaging the fork bolt in its latching position and a disengaging position disengaged from the fork bolt to permit pivoting of the fork bolt to its unlatching position. A spring acts between the detent lever and the latch housing to urge the detent lever to the engaged position. A catch member is provided to retain the detent lever in the disengaged position and block pivoting movement of the detent member to the engaging position in response to absence of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1997Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Donald Michael Perkins
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Patent number: 5895080Abstract: Improvements in child-resistant latches which require adult length fingers to operated include a spring loaded movable shield covering the finger hole and separating the inside from the outside of the cabinet so items in the cabinet are not accessible through the finger entry hole, a variable length finger passageway which can be changed without jeopardizing the basic security of the cabinet, and means of clarifying operating instructions by identifying the inside location of the latch operating lever on the outside of the door.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1997Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Inventor: Kirk Drumheller
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Patent number: 5890752Abstract: A push-type lock for fire-blocking door which includes a base body, a frame mounted on the base body, a latching member pivotally mounted on the frame, an actuating piece mounted also on the frame, and a safety release unit penetratingly secured for the frame. The safety release unit includes a rod member, an inner end and an outer end formed on both ends of the rod member respectively, a spiral spring coupled axially to the rod member and positioned between the inner end and an inner surface of the frame, and a hot-melt member sleeving the rod member between the outer end and an outer surface of the frame and subject to being melted away when heated. As a consequence of the hot-melt member being melted away, the rod member will be moved to the inside of the frame due to the compressed spiral spring, thus allowing the rod member to be moved to a position blocking up the way the latching member can be withdrawn to the inside of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1996Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Inventor: Chin-Tien Lin
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Patent number: 5873198Abstract: An apparatus for preventing unwanted entry through the windows of a structure includes an outer frame which is fastened to the structure and an inner frame which is connected to the outer frame by a pair of hinges and by a lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a locking rail which is slideably mounted in a vertical member of the inner frame and which slides downward under the influence of gravity to a normally locked position in which portions of the locking rail engage a pair of T bolts which are mounted on the outer frame and which project into the vertical member of the inner frame. The locking rail includes a pivotally mounted pin which must be moved to a vertical position to unlock the inner frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Inventor: Jeffrey DeMario
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Patent number: 5865480Abstract: A latch for maintaining a sliding door in one of several modes such as a child-safety mode. When in the child-safety mode, the range of motion of the sliding door is restricted, however, the latch may be disengaged by an adult from either side of the sliding door. The latch may also be employed in a security mode to prevent any opening of the sliding door from the exterior side. The latch may additionally be employed in a ventilation mode wherein the sliding door is slightly opened with overriding of the latch available only from the interior of the sliding door.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Inventors: Lincoln Grady Bain, Jr., Lincoln Grady Bain, III
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Patent number: 5865481Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latch housing formed with a recess open in an acceleration direction the latch is displaced in during a collision and, immediately adjacent the recess, with a blocking formation directed in the direction. A latching element is displaceable on the housing between a position retaining a door bolt and a position releasing the door bolt and a retaining pawl displaceable engageable with the latching element is pivotal on the housing between a retaining position holding the latching element in its retaining position and a freeing position releasing the latching element. An actuating lever pivotal on the housing is engageable with the pawl to move same into the freeing position. The actuating lever extends transversely of the acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Kiekert AGInventor: Alexander Buschmann
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Patent number: 5860683Abstract: A door lock device for use with a striker, comprises a cover plate having an elongate cut into which the striker is insertable. A latch plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a latching position wherein the latch plate is engaged with the striker. A locking plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a locking position wherein the locking plate is engaged with the latch plate to restrain the same at the latching position. A reinforcing shaft is secured to the cover plate and has an enlarged flange formed on a leading end thereof. The above-mentioned parts are so arranged that at least a part of the locking plate is placed between the cover plate and the enlarged flange when the locking plate is in the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignees: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masami Sekino, Shingo Gotoh
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Patent number: 5859479Abstract: The present invention is a device which installed in a vehicle that enables a vehicle trunk to be opened from the interior of the trunk and enables at least one of the tail lights to blink. The present invention can be retrofit to existing vehicles by connecting a prepared box and wiring harness to the vehicle power supply, trunk release solenoid, and taillights. The present invention has a ON/OFF switch which enables the circuit controlling the blinking of at least one tail light. A second switch activates the trunk release opening solenoid causing the trunk lock retract opening the trunk. The present invention is mounted in such a way as to be operable by an individual confined to the trunk and be concealed from the casual observer.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Ellis M. DavidInventor: Ellis Morton David
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Patent number: 5803516Abstract: A latch assembly for the rear auxiliary door (18) of a pickup truck (10) includes a latch mechanism (34) having a lost motion mechanism (48, 76, 44, 60, 62, 58) which permits or prevents transmission of unlatching movement between a release handle (40) and a release lever (82).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Conrad Frederick Hempel
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Patent number: 5799521Abstract: A security indicator has a two part telescopic locking bar attached to the handle of a door at one end and to the door or door jamb at the other end through an end piece. The device includes a cup or tube which encases the door handle, preventing use of the handle. The length of the bar is fixed by aligning apertures in each part of the telescopic locking bar to form a continuous aperture, inserting a frangible pin through the continuous aperture and locking the frangible pin in place with a padlock received by a hole in the frangible pin. The pin has a narrow portion which can be broken by relatively little human force. The device requires someone who does not have the key to the padlock on the frangible pin to break the frangible pin to enter a door fixed with the device. A broken pin alerts the occupant that an entry has occurred during his/her absence. A sleeve normally protects the narrow portion but slides easily away to expose the narrow portion when entry is desired.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignees: Gerardus J. Brouwer, Samuel KennedyInventor: Samuel Kennedy
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Patent number: 5799516Abstract: In an apparatus for the unlocking of doors of a motor vehicle in the event of an accident, at least one device for tensioning a safety belt is, in the case of an accident, operatively connected with at least one door-unlocking device. Operation of the belt tensioning device during an accident initiates operation of the door unlocking mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AGInventor: Albert Zintler
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Patent number: 5785363Abstract: The invention relates to a closure device for cabinet doors and drawers, which serves in particular as securement against unauthorized actuation by children. On the outside of a cabinet door or drawer, two push-buttons are herein provided the spacing of which from each other is greater than the distance which can be bridged by the hand of a child. Only if both push-buttons are actuated can the cabinet door or drawer be opened.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1997Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Inventors: Joachim Stopfer, Hermann Kraner
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Patent number: 5775142Abstract: A door lock includes an electronic keypad and magnetic card reader arranged to send coded signals to a central processing unit that controls a solenoid latch located proximate to the locking bolt. When the solenoid is energized by a signal from the central processing unit (or an auxiliary switch) the locking bolt can be operated from the locked position to the unlocked position; otherwise the solenoid latch prevents the bolt from being operated.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Inventor: Jitae Kim
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Patent number: 5718465Abstract: A latch device for a sliding door comprises front and rear latch units attached to front and rear edge portions of the sliding door, respectively, a relay provided within the sliding door for coupling between the latch units and outer and inner open handles of the door, a child-proof mechanism provided on the relay and displaceable between a child-proof condition and a non-child-proof condition, a child-proof lever for displacing the conditions of the child-proof mechanism. The child-proof lever has an operation knob exposed to the outside of the sliding door through an opening formed in a front peripheral plate of the door. The child-proof lever is rotatably mounted to the front latch unit and is connected with the child-proof mechanism through a first rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1996Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Patrick Dowling, Hirofumi Watanabe
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Patent number: 5711559Abstract: A safety release mechanism for releasing a trunk lid of an automobile from within the trunk, the trunk lid including a latch for engaging a staple adapted for mounting on a standard inside the trunk of the automobile, comprises a single threaded attachment element for coupling the staple to the standard. The attachment element has an enlarged handle positioned for grasping by a person's hand from within the trunk for rotating the attachment element to release the staple from the standard.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Inventor: Roland L. Davis
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Patent number: 5702136Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing adapted to be mounted in a motor-vehicle door having an inner wall, an opening lever displaceable into an actuated position for unlatching the door, an inside door handle, and a child-safety button on the inner door wall displaceable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. A child-safety lever on the housing is displaceable between a child-safety on position and a child-safety off position and a child-safety actuating element connected to the button and to the lever is displaced by the button on displacement of the button between its actuated and unactuated positions between a pair of end positions corresponding to the on and off positions of the child-safety lever.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Bernhard Funk, Gerhard Menz
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Patent number: 5685579Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latching fork on the housing pivotable into and out of a locked position, a latching pawl engageable with the fork and pivotable into and out of a retaining position holding the lock in the locked position, and a release lever connected to the latching pawl. A main inside actuating lever pivotal on the housing carries a secondary inside actuating lever provided with an actuating pin and pivotal on the main inside actuating lever between a coupling position with the pin engageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever and a decoupling position unengageable with the release lever on pivoting of the main lever. An inside door handle connected to the main inside actuating lever can pivot same and, only in the coupling position of the secondary lever, engage the pin against the release lever and displace the pawl out of the retaining position.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Bernhard Funk, Gerhard Menz
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Patent number: 5680783Abstract: A door lock device having an anti-theft mechanism comprises a motor adapted to change a locking lever into a locking position by a normal rotation thereof in a predetermined amount, to change an anti-theft member into an anti-theft position by a continuous normal rotation thereof over the predetermined amount, and to return the anti-theft member to an anti-theft canceling position by a reverse rotation thereof. A controller has a locking operation of changing the locking lever into the locking position by using the motor, an anti-theft operation of changing the anti-theft member into the anti-theft position by using the motor, and an anti-theft canceling operation of changing the anti-theft member into the anti-theft canceling position by using the motor. If the anti-theft position of the anti-theft member is detected after performing the locking operation, the controller performs the anti-theft canceling operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuya Kuroda
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Patent number: 5676409Abstract: A door locking system for child-safety door locking systems on an automobile includes, in combination, an automobile door including a latch and a door lock mechanism, a manual door lock actuator and a power door locking mechanism. The door handle is of the type which is incapable unlatching the door when the locking mechanism locks the latch. The door panel has an opening for receiving the manual lock actuator when moved to its locked position so that the manual lock actuator is substantially recessed within the door panel. The manual lock actuator and the door panel are constructed such that the manual lock actuator cannot be accessed through the opening for manual movement back to its unlocked position. The power lock mechanism can be actuated to unlock the door, but only from a location which is remote from the door itself.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1995Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Inventor: Earl M. Trammell, Jr.
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Patent number: 5669642Abstract: The present invention provides an outside door handle automatic locking device for automobiles which includes supports that are placed on both sides of the upper portion of a housing, levers, placed on both sides of a handle and inwards from the supports, which, because of being fixed to a hinge shaft, are able to rotate. Also, an elastic member is formed on the hinge shaft that keeps the outside handle in its original position through its elasticity. Additionally, placed on a fixed location on one of the levers is a rotating member that rotates when the vehicle receives a side impact from a collision. A hook portion is also offered which is fixed toward the outside of the rotating member and catches the rotating member when it rotates past its fixed rotation.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1996Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Sun Won Kang
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Patent number: 5626372Abstract: A mechanically operated latch includes a stop member and a restraining member which are disposable between an engageable position and a disengageable position. In which a restraining member (14) is displaceable between a first position in which an abutment surface is engageable with the stop member (18) which is attached to the cabinet frame to permit only limited opening movement of the panel and a second position in which the abutment surface is not engageable with the stop member to permit unlimited opening movement of the panel. The force required to activate the latch is such that it can be overcome by an adult but not by a small child.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1995Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Inventor: Peter A. Vogt
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Patent number: 5611579Abstract: A cabinet mounted latch is activated by the movements of an earthquake from a ready position. The latch then engages a door mounted hook to prevent door opening, preventing loss of contents and personal injury. The device may be manually activated or inactivated to provide on demand childproofing or unobstructed door use.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1994Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Inventor: Arthur Kreitenberg
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Patent number: 5605363Abstract: A latch control assembly for a vehicle sliding side door, mounted on the passenger side of the inside door panel. The assembly includes an outside handle latch release lever, an inside latch release lever, and a hold-open latch release lever, all pivotally mounted on one mounting pin and operatively interconnected. A locking lever, responsive to a key cylinder lock and an inside door lock, is mounted on a second mounting pin and is operatively connected to the other three levers. A child guard lever is pivotally mounted adjacent the three stacked levers, and is operatively connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1995Date of Patent: February 25, 1997Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: Richard C. Kapes
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Patent number: 5605362Abstract: This exit device has a press bar and an elongated deadbolt adapted to be mounted horizontally adjacent the free end of the door and a pivoted retractor blade inward of the door. The blade is pivoted by the press bar and engages with its nose a projecting surface on the deadbolt and retracts the deadbolt. The blade also has a keeper contact surface which, as the door closes, is contacted by the keeper and the blade is pivoted inward to retract the deadbolt. The retractor blade also serves as an anti-friction bearing having a peripheral portion which rolls against the deadbolt and counters against the inward force on the deadbolt opposing to the opening force on the door.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1995Date of Patent: February 25, 1997Assignee: Yale Security Inc.Inventor: Walter E. Surko, Jr.
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Patent number: 5597188Abstract: A latching device which detects the initial shocks of major earthquakes and activates safety devices before the onset of destructive ground motions. A unidirectional vertical threshold seismoscope is integrated with mechanical and electromechanical safety devices to latch cabinets closed, secure movable objects, shut off gas, water, and electric utilities, activate alarms, early warning networks, and related automated response systems. The device is fully self contained, requires no external power, and is virtually impervious to nonearthquake noise in that it is designed to respond specifically to the vertical acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shock waves of a major earthquake.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1995Date of Patent: January 28, 1997Inventor: John A. Miche
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Patent number: 5588686Abstract: A door locking and unlocking safety mechanism comprising a push mechanism actuator structure to be carried by the door; a single rod operatively connected with the push mechanism to be displaced by operation of the push mechanism; door latch mechanism operable to latch and unlatch the door in response to movement of the single rod; and temperature response blocking structure associated with the latch mechanism to block operation of the latch to unlatch the door, in response to a predetermined increase in ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1994Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Rory M. Riley, Alan K. Uyeda, Michael Winardi
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Patent number: 5584517Abstract: An improved secure latch for a fixture having a door with a double-wall structure, including an endwall with an exit port and an inner sidewall with a slot near the endwall and parallel thereto. An entry port of a facing member and an orifice of a tongue, slidably receivable through the slot, of a latch attached to the facing member are aligned with the exit port as the door is in a closed configuration such that a bolt of a lock installed in the door is slidable therethrough as the bolt is displaced between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The secure latch is adapted to retain the door in a closed configuration as the bolt is in a locked configuration even though the facing member may be forced clear of the bolt. Further, the secure latch prevents the lock from being sprung open without inflicting severe and visible damage to the door and/or the facing member. A modified embodiment provides the endwall without the exit port and the facing member without the entry port.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1995Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Lefebure Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Robert A. Simnacher, Daniel J. Banyas
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Patent number: 5584516Abstract: A vehicle door is provided including a latching mechanism carried by the door constructed and arranged to move between an unlatched relation with a door opening catch and a latched relation with the door opening catch. The latching mechanism includes a movable releasing component constructed and arranged to be in a latching position within the door structure when the latching mechanism is in latched relation with the door opening catch and to be moved from the latching position in a generally downward direction into a releasing position to move the latching mechanism into unlatched relation with the door opening catch. A motion-transmitting assembly is disposed within a space defined by the door to transmit a manual motion of an external door handle to downward motion of the movable releasing component.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1995Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Atoma International Inc.Inventor: Roman Cetnar
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Patent number: 5581844Abstract: An improved doorstop comprising a block member. A structure is for securing in a removable manner the block member against a leaf of a hinge on a doorjamb, so as to stop a door from closing completely into the doorjamb and preventing fingers of a hand of a person getting caught and damaged between an edge of the door and the doorjamb.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Inventors: Robert Raheb, Walter Raheb
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Patent number: 5577781Abstract: An apparatus for locking an aircraft door provided in the outer wall of an aircraft includes at least one locking shaft pin that locks the aircraft door in a fixed, closed position relative to the outer wall of the aircraft when the locking shaft pin is positioned or rotated into a locking position. The locking shaft pin is connected to a mechanical linkage forming a positioning arrangement. The positioning arrangement is coupled to a control element, which essentially includes a membrane connected to a control rod. The membrane is arranged within a housing so as to form an interior air chamber on one side of the membrane and an exterior air chamber on the other side of the membrane. The air pressure of the cabin interior is applied to the interior air chamber through an interior air pressure port, and the exterior ambient air pressure is applied to the exterior air chamber through an exterior air pressure port.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbHInventors: Guenter Kallies, Wolfgang Lessat-Kaupat, Thomas Luebbe
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Patent number: 5570914Abstract: The Earthquake Actuated Door Latch mounts outside a cabinet or beside the cabinet door. The device contains a pivoted catch assembly with a weight on one end and a door catch, or hook, on the other. The catch assembly is stable in two positions, one on each side of the cabinet door. An earth tremor causes the weight to shift out of the cocked position to the operated position (the second stable position) putting the hook where it interferes with opening of the cabinet door. Weight and hook move as a unit, minimizing delay, and an internal lock prevents rebound.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Inventor: Harry H. Hughes