Freely Movable When Locked Patents (Class 70/218)
  • Patent number: 6848286
    Abstract: A latch assembly, comprising a control element having a pivot point and an actuator. The actuator has a first position in which the control element is engaged by the actuator for pivotal movement about the pivot point and a second position in which the control element is disengaged by the actuator from pivotal movement about the pivot point. The latch assembly further includes a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation with the control element when the control element is engaged by the actuator and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged by the actuator. A highly preferred embodiment of the invention includes an automatic unlocking circuit powered by a backup power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Dimig
  • Patent number: 6837081
    Abstract: Clutch mechanism for locks, which is composed of an interior axis (1), an exterior axis (2), a static body (3), a radial pin (4), a radial catch (5) and a radial actuator (6); said interior (1) and exterior (2) axes and body (3) compose a coaxial assembly where the exterior axis (2) penetrates the interior axis (1) and both are installed with a rotational adjustment in the static body (3), the set of radial pin (4) and radial catch (5) is installed between the actuator (6) and a radial spring (7) which acts between the catch (5) and the base of the housing (2a) of the exterior axis (2); whose pin (4) and catch (5) are dimensioned in such a way that each will be able to be moved between the circumferences of the exterior diameter of the axis (2) and the interior diameter of the axis (1); the radial actuator (6) is composed of a curved plate (6a) and by, at least, one rod (6b), whose plate (6a) is located in an annular depression (8) between the interior axis (1) and static body (3), extending in a circumferent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Talleres De Escoriaza, S.A.
    Inventors: Luis Angel Ruano Aramburu, Fermin Menta Sanmiguel
  • Patent number: 6834520
    Abstract: A dead bolt lock apparatus specifically adapted for use with a flight deck door of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a dead bolt member which can be moved between locked and unlocked positions via a key. A lockout handle is included on the side of the apparatus which faces the flight deck area of the aircraft. The lockout handle is movable rotationally from a first position, wherein it has no affect on the use of the key to unlock the dead bolt, to a second position wherein it prevents the dead bolt from being moved out of a locked position by use of the key. The apparatus thus provides an additional degree of security to occupants of the flight deck by allowing them to prevent unlocking of the apparatus even with the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. LaConte, Scott P. Kube, Shannon J. Kupfer, James J. Johnson, Tony D. Autrey, David S. Melberg, Larry C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6807834
    Abstract: An electric door lock includes a deadbolt, a deadbolt operating spindle, a door handle, and a coupling mechanism. The spindle is coupled to the deadbolt and is capable of driving movement of the deadbolt between locking and unlocking positions. The coupling mechanism includes an engaging member, a push unit, and an electric driving motor unit. The engaging member is coupled co-rotatably to the spindle and is axially movable relative to the spindle from a first axial position, where the engaging member can be disengaged from the door handle, to a second axial position, where the engaging member engages the door handle such that rotation of the door handle results in corresponding rotation of the spindle. The push unit is driven by the motor unit so as to move the engaging member from the first axial position to the second axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: EZ Trend Technology Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6802193
    Abstract: A removable steering wheel device for permitting removal of the steering wheel to make the vehicle undriveable and thus undesirable to a potential thief. The removable steering wheel device includes a steering wheel having a boss engageable with an upper end of a steering column of the vehicle. The boss includes a bore and a base wall at the bottom of the bore. A bayonet connection assembly for removably connecting the boss to the upper end of the steering column. A locking cap disposed within the bore for fixing the bayonet connection between the boss and the upper end. The locking cap including an assembly for preventing rotation of the boss relative to the upper end, and including an assembly for fixing the locking cap within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Isaac N. Long
  • Patent number: 6791455
    Abstract: The invention is for a vandal resistant latch/starter-interlock assembly for a bus door. In the assembly of the invention, the alarm and the starter-interlock are part of the same assembly. The assembly includes box through which a modified latch bolt extends laterally. The latch bolt is locked by a vandal lock. When unlocked, the latch bolt slides or moves to allow the door to be opened. The alarm and starter-interlock are activated after unlocking the vandal lock. Typically, the alarm is activated when the latch bolt is moved, usually by moving a door latch. While the starter-interlock can also be activated by moving the latch bolt, it is preferably activated by unlocking the vandal lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip W. Lowry, Johnnie L. Reed
  • Patent number: 6786070
    Abstract: A latch assembly having at least one control element having a first path of motion in which a ratchet is moved to an unlatched position and a second path of motion in which the ratchet is not so moved, the path of motion taken by the control element dependent upon whether an engagement element is engaged with the control element or disengaged therefrom. Preferably, the control element moves the ratchet by contact with a pawl which itself can be engaged with the ratchet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control element can be partially or fully actuated through its second path of motion while still being engagable with its engagement element. If already partially or fully actuated through its second path of motion, the engagement element is preferably movable into contact with the control element and can move the control element to its first path of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Sirattec Security Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dimig, James Edgar
  • Patent number: 6729169
    Abstract: A deadbolt manipulation adjunct and method that provides user selection between dual cylinder, single cylinder, and disabled modes, is capable of retrofitting on existing deadbolt structures, which maintains full deadbolt security while providing authorized user deadbolt operation between locked and unlocked positions via a thumb turn actuator to release the deadbolt in the case of an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Randall L. Moore
  • Patent number: 6705140
    Abstract: A latch assembly having at least one control element having one path of motion in which a ratchet is moved to an unlatched position and another path of motion in which the ratchet is not so moved, the path of motion taken by the control element dependent upon whether an engagement element is engaged with the control element or disengaged therefrom. Preferably, the control element moves the ratchet by contact with a pawl which itself can be engaged with the ratchet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two or more unlatching inputs are capable of unlatching the latch assembly. However, two or more of these inputs are in series rather than in parallel so that the number of paths ending at the element or device holding the latch in its latched state is preferably fewer than the number of unlatching inputs to the latch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Stratec Security Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dimig, Alan J. Ritz, Kevin G. Clabots, James M. Gruden, Larry R. Grimmer
  • Patent number: 6662604
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for vehicle steering mechanism, such as a steering shaft or a transmission rod, having a rotatable shaft. The anti-theft device has a fixing member fixed on the vehicle body, a connecting member joined with a steering handle, a locking member controlled by code device, a movable member provided on the rotatable shaft, for moving along the shaft but not rotatable around it. The movable member can move between a first position and a second position under the control of the locking member. When in the first position the movable member is engaged with the fixing member while disengaged with the connecting member so that the shaft can not rotate. When in the second position, the movable member is engaged with the connecting member while disengaged with the fixing member so that the shaft can rotate. The anti-theft device according to the invention has double functions of disconnecting transmission of steering force as well as locking the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Songyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 6622535
    Abstract: This invention is related to a lock construction comprising: an active driving mechanism, a clutch mechanism, a first latch, a first latch-driving member, a second latch, a second latch-driving member, a latch spring, a transmission mechanism, and a handle mechanism. In one embodiment, the lock construction comprises a clutch mechanism that can be activated electrically to allow latching or unlatching of the door. In an alternative embodiment, the lock construction comprises a transmission mechanism that can drive two latches of the lock simultaneously to latch or unlatch the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Tung Lung Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Lung Chiang, Tsung-Chung Hung, Po-Yang Chen, Chen-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 6581423
    Abstract: A door lock is proposed, in which an outside knob assembled at the outside of a door can be manually controlled to be operationally associated with or dissociated from the door lock. When the door lock is fastened, the outside knob can be selectively decoupled from the door lock and become idle; this is greatly beneficial as to prevent the door lock from being damaged even if the outside knob is exerted with external impact or forcibly turned by a strong force. The door lock is further provided with a fireproof mechanism, which prevents the door from being opened during a fire, thereby confining spreading of the fire to minimize fire-induced damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ching-Tien Lin
  • Publication number: 20030084690
    Abstract: Clutch mechanism for locks, which is composed of an interior axis (1), an exterior axis (2), a static body (3), a radial pin (4), a radial catch (5) and a radial actuator (6); said interior (1) and exterior (2) axes and body (3) compose a coaxial assembly where the exterior axis (2) penetrates the interior axis (1) and both are installed with a rotational adjustment in the static body (3), the set of radial pin (4) and radial catch (5) is installed between the actuator (6) and a radial spring (7) which acts between the catch (5) and the base of the housing (2a) of the exterior axis (2); whose pin (4) and catch (5) are dimensioned in such a way that each will be able to be moved between the circumferences of the exterior diameter of the axis (2) and the interior diameter of the axis (1); the radial actuator (6) is composed of a curved plate (6a) and by, at least, one rod (6b), whose plate (6a) is located in an annular depression (8) between the interior axis (1) and static body (3), extending in a circumferent
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Luis Angel Ruano Aramburu, Fermin Menta Sanmiguel
  • Patent number: 6543264
    Abstract: A lock mechanism has a housing and a latch extending from the housing. The latch has an extended position and a retracted position. The mechanism includes apparatus for biasing the latch to the extended position, apparatus for defining a locked mode and an unlocked mode, and apparatus including a clutch for transferring an operator input motion to move the latch to the retracted position in the unlocked mode. The clutch includes a cam surface and a cam follower. A spring biases the cam follower toward the cam surface and a second override spring which biases the cam follower to compensate for any off-center relationship due to wear, excessive force and/or assembly misalignment and to prevent jamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Harrow Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George Frolov
  • Patent number: 6526330
    Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus is composed of a cassette block and a vacuum processing block. The cassette block has a cassette table for mounting a plurality of cassettes containing a sample and an atmospheric transfer means. The vacuum processing block has a plurality of processing chambers for performing vacuum processing to the sample and a vacuum transfer means for transferring the sample. Both of the plan views of the cassette block and the vacuum processing block are nearly rectangular, and the width of the cassette block is designed larger than the width of the vacuum processing block, and the plan view of the vacuum processing apparatus is formed in an L-shape or a T-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Soraoka, Ken Yoshioka, Yoshinao Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6463773
    Abstract: A latch assembly, comprising a control element having a pivot point and an actuator. The actuator has a first position in which the control element is engaged by the actuator for pivotal movement about the pivot point and a second position in which the control element is disengaged by the actuator from pivotal movement about the pivot point. The latch assembly further includes a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation with the control element when the control element is engaged by the actuator and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged by the actuator. A highly preferred embodiment of the invention includes an automatic unlocking circuit powered by a backup power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Dimig
  • Publication number: 20020144526
    Abstract: An electronic lock comprises a magnetic induction mechanism, a clutch mechanism, a lock core mechanism linked with one end of the clutch mechanism, and a rotation mechanism linked with other end of the clutch mechanism. The magnetic induction mechanism is formed of a permeable outer iron piece, a permeable inner iron piece, a permanent magnet located between the outer iron piece and the inner iron piece for generating an auxiliary magnetic field, and an induction coil held by the inner iron piece for generating an induction magnetic field. The clutch mechanism is activated by a combined force of the auxiliary magnetic field and the induction magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Chen Ming-Chih
  • Publication number: 20020139156
    Abstract: Clutch device for locks which consists of an interior axis, an exterior axis, a frame or static body, an elastic element, a radial trigger, a radial trigger lock and a radial actuator; wherein: the interior axis, exterior axis and static body comprise a coaxial assembly in which the exterior axis penetrates an axial cavity of the interior axis while both axes are assembled within the static body, the elastic element is in a fixed relative position with respect to the static body and in an annular housing defined between this static body and the interior axis, the radial trigger is lodged in a movable position within the interior axis and has a length equal to the difference between the exterior diameter of the exterior axis and the interior diameter of the static body, the radial trigger lock is installed within the exterior axis with its tip in the exterior diameter of this exterior axis and with its tail end placed against one end of a radial compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Luis Angel Ruano Aramburu, Fermin Menta San Miguel
  • Patent number: 6286347
    Abstract: A door lock system includes a clutch mechanism for a lockset and has particular applicability in conjunction with lever handles. Two coupling assemblies are selectively rotatably coupled by a coupling pin. One coupling assembly is rotatably coupled to the lockset actuator. The other coupling assembly is rotatably coupled to the exterior door handle. A drive assembly includes a motor and employs an injector which has a movable arcuate shoulder and which selectively controls the position of the coupling pin to provide for the locking and unlocking functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Harrow Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George Frolov
  • Patent number: 6286345
    Abstract: A card key operated locking mechanism has a connecting mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a locking device with a manual operated handle, a controller for controlling the connecting mechanism in accordance with card key insertion or removal, a latch mechanism to allow the connecting mechanism to maintain connection of the locking device with the handle, and a releasing mechanism to release the latch mechanism upon operation of the handle. The card key operated locking mechanism allows a user to rotate the handle one time upon removal of the card key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: New Taecor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-Jin Kim, Dong-Jun Jang, Jeong-Wuk Kim
  • Patent number: 6205827
    Abstract: A torque isolation system includes a handle and a torque isolator that is moveable between a first position, wherein the torque isolator transmits either of two possible directions of torque from the handle to a rotatable regulator stem, and a second position, wherein the torque isolator transmits only one or neither of the two possible directions of torque from the handle to the regulator stem. The torque isolation system also includes a lock securing the torque isolator in a selected position. The second position may be either a decoupled position, wherein the torque isolator transmits neither of the two possible directions of torque from the handle to the regulator stem, or a ratchet position, wherein the torque isolator does not transmit a first direction of torque from the handle to the regulator stem, but the torque isolator does transmit a second direction of torque from the handle to the regulator stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Safety Valve Systems, LLC
    Inventor: James N. Lane
  • Patent number: 6178795
    Abstract: A lockable structure for a big-handle lock includes a base plate for connection with a bottom plate and a cover plate. A lock core assembly is mounted between the base plate and the cover plate. A transmission assembly is mounted between the base plate and a bottom plate. The lock core of the lock core assembly and a turn-button of an inner handle may drive a locking bar around which a follower disc is mounted. The follower disc includes a cam for driving a control plate. The control plate includes a projection for releasably engaging with a groove of a press-plate. Thus, when a press member is pressed, the press-plate, the control plate, and the actuating plate are moved accordingly. The actuating plate includes a rack portion for meshing with a transmission wheel for turning a spindle, thereby controlling retraction of a latch bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiang-Lin Hsueh
  • Patent number: 6138485
    Abstract: A safety lock, particularly a self-locking lock, including at least one l catch and a bolt operable by a lock cylinder and a split latch nut. For creating a particularly inexpensively manufacturable and relatively narrow safety lock, a coupling device of the lock is provided with two congruent racks which have a panic or freewheel function. The racks are superimposed and mesh with the teeth of the inner and outer nut. An electromagnetic coupling is achieved with the aid of a coupling lever, which is fixable to each rack directly or indirectly subjects to the function of the particular rack and engageable with a detent of the racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: eff-eff Fritz Fuss GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Fritz Helmut Fuss, Gerhard Gonser
  • Patent number: 6053067
    Abstract: An antitheft device is provided for locking a motor vehicle steering column against rotation. The steering column includes a gear wheel which is fixed coaxially to the steering column shaft, and a pinion with an axis parallel to the steering column axis. The pinion is mounted for rotation in a moveable pinion support which is displaceable between a disengaged position, in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel, and an engaged position in which the pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel. The steering lock also includes a clutch for preventing rotation of the pinion about its axis on the pinion support below a specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5992191
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering wheel and an inner cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering column. The outer boss is disposed about the inner boss and axially movable thereon with the steering wheel between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position the inner boss is coupled to the outer boss by a plurality of engaged locking teeth for operation of the vehicle. In the disengaged position locking teeth on the outer boss are axially separated from locking teeth on the inner boss and the outer boss and attached steering wheel are freely rotatable about the inner boss, operatively disengaging the steering wheel from the steering column and effectively disabling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Mark Nickeas, Martin Nickeas, Pasco C. Ponticelli, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5992195
    Abstract: A free-wheeling lever handle controller for operating a mortise lock provides free-wheeling functionality while maintaining the full operational characteristics of various mortise lock functions. A lock mode receiving mechanism connectable to the lock output is used to detect the unlocked and locked conditions of the mortise lock, and correspondingly engage and disengage the free-wheeling mechanism. The free-wheeling mechanism has a split shaft connected between a handle on the controller and a handle input on the mortise lock. The two halves of the shaft may be coupled and uncoupled via a shaft lock movable perpendicular between locked and unlocked positions. In the unlocked position the shaft lock connects the two halves of the shaft to rotate together when the handle is turned. In the locked position the shaft lock disengages the two halves of the shaft to rotate separately and allow the handle to free-wheel with operating the door latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Hai Huang, Darren C. Eller, Thomas A. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 5987945
    Abstract: A safety closure for controlled access, that includes an inner and outer unit mounted on a door to drive a main bolt and a privacy bolt. The outer unit has an armored chassis with a primary tube of the actuating handle and carrying a secondary tube having a square axis that drives the main latch. A retractable tenon provides the connection between the primary and secondary tubes and a retractor treadle is in permanent contact with the retractable tenon and a rocker having elastic arms that drives the retractor treadle. A motorize actuator is activated by an electronic card reader. The motorized actuator or an emergency handle may actuate the rocker in opposite directions. The inner tube has first and second pushing tabs symmetrically arranged in mutual opposition whereby the pushing tabs act independently of each other in response to the direct or opposite turning of the inner actuating handle to actuate the privacy bolt. An emergency lock cylinder drives the emergency handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Talleres De Escoriaza, S.A.
    Inventor: Luis Angel Ruano Aramburu
  • Patent number: 5946955
    Abstract: A control system is provided to lock, unlock and/or unlatch a door's lock and/or latch mechanism(s) having a bolt(s) coupled to a shaft(s). In one embodiment, a clutch is coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The clutch includes a movable lever attached thereto with a bias that causes the lever to protrude axially from the clutch. A plate is mounted coaxially with the shaft for free rotation relative thereto. The plate is adjacent the clutch on a side thereof from which the lever protrudes. The plate includes a notch formed therein facing the clutch. The plate and clutch are biased toward one another so that the plate and lever contact one another as the bias between the plate and the clutch overcomes the bias of the lever. A remotely-activated motorized drive is coupled to the plate for rotating the plate relative to the shaft in a direction of rotation that allows the lever to engage the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Stephen J. Suggs, Arnold Eugene Frost
    Inventors: Stephen J. Suggs, Arnold E. Frost, Tony Chung
  • Patent number: 5934117
    Abstract: A freewheeling clutching design for enabling a freewheeling movement of an outer door handle with respect to a latch assembly of a lock when the lock is in a locked state. A clutch column is axially movable to engage with or disengage from a latch assembly by way of turning a control member which simultaneously moves axially. The outer door-handle performs a normal operation of opening a door when the clutch column engages the latch assembly, while it performs the freewheel turning movement to prevent an undesirable transfer of force to internal components of the lock when the clutch column engages the latch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Shen
  • Patent number: 5896764
    Abstract: A lock which can be accommodated within the thickness of an opening panel includes two nuts rotatable about a common axis and attached to respective corresponding operating members. Each nut can turn freely about its axis relative to the other nut. The latch bolt is attached to a selector member mobile between two predetermined positions in the transverse direction corresponding to the thickness of the casing of the lock. Each nut is attached to a corresponding arrangement of the lock adapted to engage with the selection member when the latter is in its position near the nut, in order to actuate the latch bolt when the nut is turned in a first direction corresponding to retraction of the latch bolt and to remain disengaged from the selector member when the latter is in its other position near the other nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment
    Inventors: Pierre Monsch, Andre Lilas, Gerard Prevot
  • Patent number: 5890385
    Abstract: A safety door lock comprises follower member turned with an inside door knob or an outside door knob to move a latch bolt between the locking position and the unlocking position, and a clutch controlled by a push block between a first position where the outside door knob is coupled to the follower member and a second position where the outside door knob is disconnected from the follower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Ming-Kun Lee
  • Patent number: 5844470
    Abstract: Opening of a motor vehicle door, having a door lock, is controlled by a system which includes: a door handle pivoted on the door for displacement between a rest position and an open position and connected to the door lock through a linkage; an intermediate lever which is pivoted about a pivot axis on the door and which is connected to the linkage; and a motorized mechanism interposed between the door handle and the intermediate lever. The motorized mechanism is arranged to assume, selectively, an inhibiting state in which manipulation of the door handle has no effect on the intermediate lever, and an operational state in which manipulation of the handle causes simultaneous displacement of the intermediate lever. When this mechanism is actuated to shift it from its inhibiting state to its operational state, the intermediate lever is displaced until the door lock is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Haja Rabeony, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5832758
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for security door assemblies, in particular but not exclusively, to a security door assembly which is fitted temporarily on a building. The locking mechanism for such a security door comprises a locking member movable between a locking state and non-locking state. A lock releasably engagable with the locking member prevents the locking member moving to the non-locking state. The lock mechanism further includes an operating device that is coupled to the locking member by a connecting structure which includes a force limiter. The force limiter limits the force the operating device can apply to the locking member without damage to any of the parts of the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Vacant Property Security Limited
    Inventor: David A. White
  • Patent number: 5823024
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotatably mounting a steering wheel to a steering column is provided. A core having a central bore is attached to the steering column. A housing is rotatably mounted to the core. A steering wheel is fixed to the housing. A central shaft extends away from the housing through the bore. A locking assembly is mounted to the housing which can be selectively engaged to the core such that, in an unlocked position, the housing can rotate with respect to the core and, in the locked position, the housing is fixed with respect to the core.An apparatus is provided for mounting a steering wheel to a steering column such that the steering wheel can be selectively disabled. A core is attached to the steering column. A track is located at the periphery of the core. A slot in the core extends from the track. A housing is fixedly attached to the steering wheel and rotatably mounted to the core. A lock assembly is mounted to the core having an end located on the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignees: Doris Goodson, Elizabeth Stewart
    Inventors: Doris L. Goodson, Alexander Alon
  • Patent number: 5735151
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is fixed to the steering wheel and rotatably mounted on and about an inner cylindrical boss affixed to the steering column. A key actuated locking mechanism is carried by the outer boss which selectively engages the inner boss to operatively connect the steering wheel to the steering column. By unlocking the locking mechanism, this operative connection is interrupted and the vehicle cannot be controlled by the steering wheel and is thus disabled. As the disabling of the vehicle is obtained when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position as opposed to a locked position, damaging the mechanism by the application of excessive force will not overcome its disabling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Mark Nickeas, Martin Nickeas
  • Patent number: 5700056
    Abstract: A movable lock is provided with a spring return to normally maintain the lock in a lock position. A button acts on the lock by means of a push rod. A translation guide is provided for the rod. A locking securing means is connected to the guide means for completing transverse movement between a position where locking is possible wherein the end of the rod is located closely adjacent to the element of the lock; and a secured position wherein the rod end is spaced apart from the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements S.A.
    Inventor: Vincent Bernard
  • Patent number: 5685180
    Abstract: An anti-theft security arrangement for the steering column of a motor vehicle includes a clutch which is adapted to resist turning of the steering up to a certain torque but thereafter to slip to avoid damage to the parts while still making control of the vehicle impractical. The clutch is arranged on a parallel axis to the steering column and is connected to the column through a high-ratio gear train comprising a gear wheel fast with the steering column and a pinion fast with the clutch. It is engaged and disengaged by sliding the assembly of clutch and pinion into and out of mesh with the other gear wheel. The clutch includes a rotatable shaft with teeth engaging between spring steel rods so as to turn in a series of discrete jerks if the limiting torque is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: C. E. Marshall (Wolverhamption) (Limited)
    Inventors: Michael G. Qualters, Derek H. Poole
  • Patent number: 5676003
    Abstract: A central locking system for motor vehicles has all of the opening and closing functions occurring in normal operation also in the event of failure of individual components. If necessary, a vehicle outfitted with this system can also be opened and locked when the door lock motors (50) are out of operation. When the vehicle is locked, the outer door handles (13) can be pulled without meeting resistance and without effect. To this end, a control cam (47) lifts an actuating arm (32) so that a door handle lever (35) can be actuated without the actuating arm (32) being grasped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Ursel, Werner Dilger, Uwe Schaper
  • Patent number: 5611227
    Abstract: A handleset having a half round spindle for operating a latch assembly when rotated from a neutral orientation, a cylinder lock having a key operated cylinder assembly which rotates a round spindle, a driving pinion mounted for rotation on the round spindle, a rack having teeth engaged with the pinion, a connector displaceable between down and up positions, a pivotal thumb piece having a lever for displacing the connector from the down position to the up position, the connector having an arcuate slot, a locking arm having an arcuate flange for location in the arcuate slot, an axially extending pin, and a central opening, the round spindle including a cam secured thereto at a location selected so that the cam will be located within the opening, the cam and the opening being selectively configured so that turning the key from the neutral orientation to the lock open position will result in the cam rotating the locking arm from a first position whereat the arcuate flange is at one end of the arcuate slot to a se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Solovieff
  • Patent number: 5590554
    Abstract: An endlessly clockwise/counterclockwise idly rotatable burglarproof door lock in which a rotary switch of a rotary switch assembly is formed with a central projecting hub on a front surface thereof. The projecting hub has a recess frame, a notch and an engaging socket. A circular hole is formed on the rotary switch beside the projecting hub. A lock core body is disposed in the projecting hub. A rotary plate and a pushing plate are disposed on the lock core body. A first steel ball is disposed in the notch and a second steel ball and a spring are disposed in the circular hole. A copper ring is disposed on the front surface of the rotary switch. A circular orbit and a semicircular engaging hole are formed on the bottom of the copper ring. An engaging block of the door lock body is formed with a hook-like front end and restrained by a spring, whereby the engaging block can control a pushing block to move forward and rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: I-Hui Ho
  • Patent number: 5513510
    Abstract: A handleset having a half round spindle for operating a latch assembly when rotated from a neutral orientation, a cylinder lock having a key operated cylinder assembly which rotates a round spindle, a half round driving pinion mounted for rotation on the round spindle, a rack having teeth engaged with the pinion, a connector displaceable between down and up positions, a pivotal thumb piece having a lever for displacing the connector from the down position to the up position, the connector having an arcuate slot, a locking arm having an arcuate flange for location in the arcuate slot, an axially extending pin, and a central opening, the round spindle including a cam secured thereto at a location selected so that the cam will be located within the opening, the cam and the opening being selectively configured so that turning the key from the neutral orientation to the lock open position will result in the cam rotating the locking arm from a first position whereat the arcuate flange is at one end of the arcuate s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Solovieff, David Mirshafiee
  • Patent number: 5475996
    Abstract: An electromagnetic door lock comprises generally a rectangular housing, a locking mechanism, a pair of electromagnetic components enclosed therein by a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover has a keypad and a transverse slot on an upper portion connected with an identification circuit therein. The electromagnetic component include an actuation assembly and a shift assembly, each having a movable rod opposed to each other. When a code is inputted via the keypad or the transverse slot, the identification circuit therein will transmit an electric current to the actuation assembly for and creating a magnetic field therein to disengageably force the movable rod of the shift assembly to move backward to unlock a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: Tsun-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 5447047
    Abstract: A dead bolt includes an outer lever and an inner lever, a coil disposed in the outer lever, a rod slidably engaged in the coil and having two extensions, a shaft coupled between the two levers, a disc engaged on the shaft and having two grooves for engaging with the extensions of the rod, the extensions of the rod are biased away from the grooves of the disc such that the shaft can not be rotated by the outer lever, and the rod is caused to move toward the disc when the coil is energized such that the extensions of the rod are caused to engage with the grooves of the disc and such that the shaft can be rotated by the outer lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 5426961
    Abstract: Anti-theft security device for trailers of trucks is provided with a security lock integrated to a mechanism actuating the props of trailers. The anti-security device acts either mechanically on the lifting-lowering motion transmission mechanism while preventing the gears from meshing or by clocking the bevel gear by means of a metal part fitting between two teeth, or by impeding the rotation of the rotary drive bar connecting the two props. The device can also act electrically by cutting the supply of an electric motor supplied by the tractor battery and actuating the props. The mechanical and electrical locks can be combined. The device is particularly applicable to the field of road trucks of large loading capacity which are comprised of a tractor part and a trailer part articulated to each other and which may be detached, and is intended to prevent the theft of the trailer when it is not running and uncoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventors: Pierre Rimbaud, Paul Rimbaud, Joseph Agius, Leopold Sassi, Patrick Vignapiano
  • Patent number: 5383344
    Abstract: A mounting hub is arranged for securement orthogonally relative to a steering wheel shaft, such that the mounting hub includes a lock cylinder arranged for rotation of an actuator rod arranged to effect rotating a cam member to project a plurality of lock plates from within an extension tube of the mounting hub for reception of the lock plates within complementary cavities of a steering wheel tubular hub to lock the associated steering wheel relative to the steering wheel shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Robert G. Zambell
  • Patent number: 5345797
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprises a steering wheel 10 having a centre boss 12 mounting the steering wheel onto a steering column 11. The boss is slidable axially of the steering column between a first position in which complementary splines 14/15 on the steering column and boss engage each other to secure the steering wheel and steering column for co-rotation and a second position in which the splines are disengaged so that the steering wheel is freely rotatable on the steering column. A lock 21 can secure the steering wheel in a selected one of the first and second axial positions by engaging in a groove 17 or 18 in the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Robert J. McGrath
    Inventor: John Hayes
  • Patent number: 5279137
    Abstract: A device for discouraging theft of a bicycle includes a first tube member attached to the bicycle handlebar and a second tube member attached to the bicycle fork. One of the tube members has apertures carrying rolling bodies, and the other of the tube members has recesses for receiving the rolling bodies. The tube members are concentrically rotatable. A cam member is provided for urging the rolling bodies into the recesses to fix the tube members against relative rotation, thereby enabling steering of the bicycle. The cam member is operable to a position wherein the rolling bodies are free to become retracted into the apertures, thereby decoupling the tube members and disabling steering of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph R. Orbell
  • Patent number: 5263346
    Abstract: A locking device for a lid on a box includes a frame adapted to be fixed on the side of the lid and provided with a cylinder lock having an eccentric shaft and a cylindrical retaining part for retaining the cylinder lock therein. An opening-shutting knob is pivotally supported on the frame and has a depressing claw part, and a locking member is provided on the side of the frame for locking a striker disposed on the side of the box. An operating lever has one end portion thereof connected to the eccentric shaft of the cylinder lock and the other end portion thereof serving to release a locked state of the locking member by interfering with the depressed claw part of the opening-shutting knob during unlocking of the locking device. The operating lever is formed of a synthetic resin material and has an elastic engaging piece integrally formed to the one end portion. The elastic engaging piece has a projecting part formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Kato Hatsujo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Sato, Seiji Sawatani
  • Patent number: 5216908
    Abstract: The invention relates to a security device, in particular an anti-theft device, of the type suitable for constraining the steering wheel to rotate with the steering column of a vehicle, or for allowing it to rotate relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Michel Malvy
  • Patent number: 5152363
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a theftproofing system for motor vehicles with a locking member which can be engaged in a recess of a closing ring arranged concentrically to a steering shaft (9) and firmly connected to it and, when the locking member is engaged, blocks the steering shaft until a limiting torque is introduced into it.According to the invention, it is proposed that, in the frictional connection between the steering wheel (steering wheel spoke 5) and steering shaft, a slip clutch (3, 4, 8) be provided whose transmittable torque is lower than the limiting torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Theobald Mertens, Dieter Simon