Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7370891 | Latching mechanism with trigger actuator A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7360801 | Door latching system A latching system comprising a base having a first keeper secured thereto, a closable member adapted to engage the base, an elongated member rotatably secured to the closable member, said elongated member including a first connector adapted to engage the first keepe... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7243396 | Door hinge A door hinge includes a first element, a second element and a lever connecting the first and second elements to each other. The lever is pivoted on the second element and has a first portion attached to the first element to make the first and the second element reci... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7222907 | Floor release latch mechanism for a vehicle seat A release latch for use with a vehicle seat. A latch plate is rotatably secured to the seat and engages a floor mounted striker. A cam is rotatably secured to the seat and defines a shoulder biasingly seating against a support surface of the latch plate. A lever act... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7222891 | Flush mount sliding panel latch A flush mounted latch for a sliding panel or pocket door includes a snap-in, installation, from the edge of the panel or door. A slide handle operates a pair juxtaposed, pivoting, keeper-engaging, hooks to open them. The handle carries a lock rod which is engaged by... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7213854 | Removable T-top stowage on roof rack A vehicle panel stowage system advantageously provides for stowage of a removable vehicle panel on the exterior of the vehicle. The panel can be stowed substantially flush with a stowage rack on the exterior of the vehicle. The stowage system advantageously protects... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210711 | Door lock The solution according to the invention is based upon the knowledge that the undesirable hysteresis of the force-path function in door locks (1) can be avoided or at least minimised if the (frictional) forces acting during transitions from open positions to c... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7198316 | Floor release latch mechanism for a vehicle seat interconnected with a secondary release associated with a rotatable seat back A combined seat back release and floor release for use with a vehicle seat. The seat back includes a first mechanism for forwardly rotating a seat back relative to a seat bottom. The floor release is actuated by the seat back by virtue of a linearly translatable cab... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7175212 | Latch having releasable cinching mechanism A vehicle latch has a housing and a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing. The ratchet is operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and operati... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7152889 | Cable latching system A latching system includes a rotatable cam formed of substantially symmetric pieces with a cable, connected to oppositely disposed bolts, extending therethrough. The configuration of the cam is such that when rotated, the cable is pulled in both directions with resp... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7073838 | Separation/attachment of seat for vehicles A mechanism for attaching a seat to and disconnecting the seat from a vehicle. The mechanism for attaching and disconnecting the seat having latch recesses on a lower frame of the seat, front and rear wheels for respectively engaging with front and rear seating rece... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7065992 | Rotary pawl latch with lock down paddle A latch assembly for releasably securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member is disclosed. The latch assembly includes a housing, a handle, and a lock barrel. The housing is adapted for attachment to one of the first member and the second... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7052053 | Load floor latch A load floor latch for securing a first closure member to a second closure member. The latch is opened by actuating a handle and a pawl supported on the housing is pivoted away from a keeper on the second closure member by the actuation of the pawl by the handle whi... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7029040 | Locking device of a closure with a housing A device for locking a closure (2) with a housing includes at least one swiveling lever (8), a drive (19) for pivoting the at least one swiveling lever 98) about an axis of rotation and having teeth (20) which interact with teeth (... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7029041 | Over center door closing mechanism A door closing mechanism for pulling a door tight to a frame to which the door is mounted comprises a latch arm assembly having a latch arm pivotally secured to a panel of the door and pivotable between a first, open position and a second, latched position. An activ... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7008011 | Emergency roof detachment device for a vehicle An emergency roof detachment device for a vehicle providing a detachable roof portion that is coupled to a fixed top portion of a vehicle and has a handle capable of allowing the occupants of the vehicle to detach the detachable roof portion of a vehicle in order to... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6994395 | Motor vehicle equipment module A motor vehicle equipment module includes a lock formed of a bolt received in a housing designed to be mounted on a support part and a striker designed to be mounted on a mobile part along a globally axial direction relative to the support part between an open posit... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6952940 | Double lock T-handle assembly A double lock T-handle is disclosed having a tray which includes an inwardly dished handle receiving area, a second recessed handle receiving region, and a recessed padlock receiving depression. The tray further includes a lock cylinder casing having a locking cylin... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6820905 | Vertical panic exit device A vertical panic exit device is interchangeably mountable on either left-hand opening or right-hand opening doors and comprises a latch mechanism for engagement with a strike mounted to a doorjamb to alternately transition a door mounted to the jamb in a latched and... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6390518 | Latching mechanism for an appliance door A mechanism for use in latching a pivotable access door of a cabinet includes a latch housing within which is rotatably mounted a catch member between latching and unlatching positions upon a carrier which, in turn, is rotatably supported in the latch hou... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6338509 | Roof latch mechanism According to the present invention a latch assembly for use in an adjustable vehicle roof panel assembly including a roof panel which is driven by a motor drive unit and a cable is provided. The latch assembly utilizes a simple mechanical release mechanis... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6322113 | Latch apparatus A latch apparatus for a door having a first face and a second face includes a housing adapted for mounting on the first face of the door. The bolt member pivotally mounts to the housing and extends and retracts in and out from the housing and is urged tow... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6213525 | Lever action floor latch actuation mechanism with cinching mechanism A lever action floor latch actuation mechanism for removably securing a seat to a pair of front and rear strikers on the floor of a vehicle. A riser having a forward leg and a rearward leg supports the seat above the vehicle floor. Front and rear latches ... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6109672 | Combination window release and wiper system and method A window release and wiper system and method is shown using a window latch having a latch release arm. The latch release arm is coupled to an output shaft of a wiper motor which also drives a wiper arm and a wiper blade between an inwipe position and an o... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6032986 | Door system for a mine stopping A door system for closing a doorway in a mine stopping includes a door hinged adjacent the doorway for swinging relative to the stopping between a closed position and an open position. A keeper is mounted in fixed position relative to the doorway. A latch... | 03/07/2000 |
| 5957511 | Closure for a passenger car cover A closure for a passenger car cover which is stretched against a stationary frame of a vehicle body, comprises a housing which is arranged on the top side and has an operating element and comprises a swivellable locking hook which interacts with a connect... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5803516 | Latch assembly 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) an... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5762383 | Child proof apparatus for vehicle door latch device A child proof apparatus for a vehicle door latch device comprises a child lever adapted to be manually turned, an intermediate lever having an abutting end engageable with an open lever and an elongated slot, and a child link having a child pin slidably e... | 06/09/1998 |
| 5692674 | Self-locking security mailbox A self-locking receptacle, such as a rural mailbox, includes a housing having an open end and a closure movably mounted on the housing for closing and opening the end. A latching member is fixedly and immovably attached to and is located within the housin... | 12/02/1997 |
| 5653483 | Sliding door latch An improved sliding door latch comprising a recess formed in the leading edge of a sliding door, a latchplate covering said recess and formed with an opening to allow engagement by a latch member, a housing mountable in a recess formed in a door jamb, a l... | 08/05/1997 |
| 5620214 | Sash latch A latch device for securely locking a keeper mounted on a window within a latch housing located on a window frame. The latch includes a locking bolt which is biased into an open position by a spring. The handle is coupled to the bolt through links. Rotati... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5570915 | Flush-mounted door latch A flush-mounted latching device is provided for two-sided operation of a door. A spring-loaded cam engages a corresponding roller bearing mounted adjacent to the door to prevent opening when the latch is in a locked condition. Touch-operated push-buttons ... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5064230 | Locking mechanism A latching mechanism for roll-up type doors on a vehicle truck body in which a rotatable rod extends through the truck body adjacent a top edge of the doors and has flanges for engaging the doors. A first lever arm coupled to one end of the rod enables ro... | 11/12/1991 |
| 4989907 | Paddle handle latch A paddle handle latch includes a frame which defines a recess, and a peripheral handle which is mounted for pivotal movement in the recess. A retainer is mounted to the frame to define a channel having a latching axis and this retainer is shaped to receiv... | 02/05/1991 |
| 4982303 | Removable hard disk drive having a combination latch, lever and handle Disclosed is an assembly for a hard disk drive which is removable from a computer. A latch is provided suitable for forcing the the drive into or out of engagement with the computer against resistance from mounting guide rails and an electrical connector.... | 01/01/1991 |
| 4960297 | Double action latch The double action latch employs a strike with two latches and a stop on the opposite side of the latches. The handle actuates a pivotally mounted bracket unit to cause a roller to ride over the first latch while moving a plate into a plate into engagement... | 10/02/1990 |
| 4881766 | Lock mechanism A lock including a housing having an actuator slidably mounted within the housing. A latch bolt and a door-position sensor are mounted within the housing, each extensible and retractable relative to the housing. The actuator has an intermediate position w... | 11/21/1989 |
| 4796934 | Release linkage for door latch A release linkage for an automotive vehicle door latch provides a link which is vertically adjustably positioned with respect to a pivotal connection to the door's outside handle and is connected with lost motion to a latch actuating rod which is carried ... | 01/10/1989 |
| 4720004 | Coin-operated display rack having rotatable coin-receiving mechanism which activates a movable coin diverter A coin-operated latch mechanism for a newspaper rack includes a coin-receiving mechanism into which coins are deposited. A coin-return mechanism is provided which, when depressed, swings the coin-receiving mechanism to a position in which the outlets of t... | 01/19/1988 |
| 4709950 | Crash bar door locking device A crash bar door locking device is provided, suited for mounting on the inside of a swinging door. The crash bar is mounted horizontally across the door providing ready access by movement in the outside direction. The crash bar activates a pivotal lever w... | 12/01/1987 |
