Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7513541 | Rotary latch and lock mechanism A rotary latch mechanism that includes at least one support plate that pivotally supports both a latch fork and a lock cam is disclosed. The lock cam is movable from a first position where the lock cam prevents rotation of the latch fork to a second position where t... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7437899 | Suitcase lock assembly A suitcase lock assembly formed of a push-button lock and a pin tumbler lock for working with two locking units and two linking units in a suitcase, in which each push button of the push-button lock has two grooves for receiving a movable member to force a movable p... | 10/21/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7343762 | Garage door locking system A garage door locking system includes a central elongated spindle having an inside end and an outside end. An outside locking member is positioned on the outside end of the spindle, and an inside locking member is positioned on the inside end of the spindle. An actu... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7320495 | Motor vehicle The invention discloses a vehicle with a front door and a rear door without a B column between the two doors, with the front door latch being designed as a power latch with a door-closing assistance and the rear door latch containing a power latch holder with an adj... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7303224 | Apparatus for locking a trunk of a vehicle An apparatus for locking a trunk of a vehicle includes a trunk lid, a driving unit for locking disposed on the trunk lid, a driven unit for locking disposed on the trunk lid, a connecting rod connecting the driven unit to the driving unit, and a support unit support... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7267377 | Latch assembly for a movable closure element A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position, and a second rotor movable relative to the housing selectively ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7261339 | Device for actuating locks on doors or hatches of vehicles A device for actuating locks on a vehicle door has a rotary latch spring-loaded into an open position. When the door is closed, the rotary latch receives a lock member of the lock and is rotated into a defined locked position. The rotary latch has a detent into whic... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7232161 | Latch device for vehicle tailgate A latch device for a vehicle tailgate comprises a latch/ratchet mechanism, an open mechanism, a lock mechanism, and, an actuator for switching the lock mechanism to an unlocked state and a locked state. The lock mechanism includes a lock lever turning about a lock s... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7213530 | Hatch or door system for securing and sealing openings in marine vessels A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure has a panel assembly having a metal frame enclosing a composite material panel. An operating mechanism is operative in a first stage to hold the panel assembly in the closed position. In a seco... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7205492 | Push button actuator A push button actuator unit has a housing which defines a through passage that extends along an axis of the housing, and a slot that extends in a plane which transversely intersects the axis and communicates with the passage for supporting in the housing-defined slo... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7204527 | Lock comprising two locking rods, in particular for vehicles A lock having a locking rod that is displaced in a longitudinal direction. The rod is driven by an actuator via a rotor. The internal section of the locking rod is flexible so as to have the properties of a flexural section. The locking rod, together with the flexur... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7185927 | Glovebox latch A latch assembly is re-configurable for plural orientations. A slide lock plate engages a claw-typed pawl. A rotating activation mechanism links an operator handle to the slide plate. The handle causes the activation mechanism to rotate, thereby retracting the slidi... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7164578 | Common lock for dual-usage portable computer A common lock used in a dual-usage portable computer formed of a base member and a display is disclosed to include a left-side hook and a right-side hook respectively pivoted to the base member on the inside, and an elongated operating frame bar axially slidably mou... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7159908 | Window sash latch An improved window sash latch which has a locking mechanism and a keeper is provided with a handle that rotates from a “locked” to an “unlocked” position. An inner cavity of the handle has a spring assembly having a sliding part that can be forced into a det... | 01/09/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7144065 | Vehicle liftgate with accessory component module A unitary vehicle liftgate component module carries a plurality of pre-mounted vehicle liftgate components for one-step mounting on the liftgate when the module is attached to the liftgate. At least two of a liftgate wiper motor, a liftgate window latch, and liftgat... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7140649 | Rotary latch and lock mechanism A rotary latch mechanism that includes at least one support plate that pivotally supports both a latch fork and a lock cam is disclosed. The lock cam is movable from a first position where the lock cam prevents rotation of the latch fork to a second position where t... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7128349 | Motor-vehicle door latch A motor-vehicle door latch has two spaced rigid housing parts, at least one main pivot pin extending between the parts and having an inner end fixed in one of the parts against movement relative thereto and an outer end fixed in the other part against movement relat... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7126066 | Push button actuator A push button actuator unit has a housing which defines a through passage that extends along an axis of the housing, and a slot that extends in a plane which transversely intersects the axis and communicates with the passage for supporting in the housing-defined slo... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7097226 | Safety system for a compartment of a vehicle A safety sensing and/or release system for a closed compartment of a vehicle is operable to detect an occupant within the vehicle compartment. The system may be operable to sense ambient conditions in the vehicle compartment, and may generate a control signal in res... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7090263 | Door latching device and method An apparatus for latching a door against a frame has a door pin extending from the door and a handle lever rotatably mounted to the door and having an extending handle pin. A latch bar is mounted for reciprocating travel relative to the frame, the latch bar having a... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7070578 | Surgical cassette latching mechanism A surgical system having a cassette latching mechanism having two pivoting latching rails. The rails are connected to a rotating latching wheel by spring-loaded latching arms. The latching wheel is connected to a motor by a latching pushbar. The cassette is pressed ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7055874 | Door handle bracket and latch assembly The door handle bracket and latch assembly of the present invention includes a bracket subassembly and a latch. The latch has a spring mounted rotor and a spring mounted catch which function to maintain a door in a latched or unlatched condition. The bracket subasse... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7040671 | Lock assembly with two hook devices A lock assembly includes a casing, two pivotable members pivotally mounted in the casing and meshed with each other, two linking rods, and two hook device each including a hook member and a rocker arm that is pivotally mounted in the casing. Each hook member has a f... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7040675 | Linkage operated latching system A latching system includes a control unit that houses a remote signal responsive relay and a crank arm that is pivoted by the armature of the relay when the relay is energized to oppositely move a pair of elongate links each of which is connected to a separate latch... | 05/09/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7025395 | Latch assembly and striker A latch bolt engages a striker to releaseably secure a first door to either a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releaseably retain the striker. The assembly includes a fi... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7010945 | Double-lockable baggage case A double-lockable baggage case including two baggage shells which are pivotally connected with each other along one side and mated with each other to form the baggage case. A main lock device is mounted on one of the baggage shells and includes at least one displace... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7004515 | Fenestration locking system This fenestration locking system for a swinging sash or door is characterized by the use of a linear member running continuously from an actuating assembly to a locking pin assembly. The linear member can be a flexible linear member, allowing it to convey motion to ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7000292 | Chain keeper and method of retaining a chain A chain keeper for retaining a chain operatively connected to a driving mechanism of a chain hoist system. The chain keeper has a support bracket and a pair of plates. The support bracket is mountable onto a fixed structure, and has a substantially vertical longitud... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6976375 | Door latch with adjustable latch element A door latch includes pan or attachment to a flat surface of a door adjacent a door frame; an actuation subassembly which includes a handle on one side of the pan, a turn cam on an opposite side of the pan and a handle shaft which connects the handle with the turn c... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6973810 | Toolbox rotary latch A toolbox latch is disclosed having a pivoting handle mounted to a housing and mechanically linked to a pusher arm for setting in motion a series of linkages to trap and release a cooperating striker pin. The pusher arm rotates a swiveling trip lever when a turn-key... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6955378 | Latch assembly The latch assembly includes a housing, a crank member disposed within the housing for limited rotational movement therein, a pawl, a crank pin, and an attachment pin. The latch assembly may further comprise an actuating member or system, such as a rod. The pawl is s... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6953001 | Hatch or door system for securing and sealing openings in marine vessels A hatch or door system secures and seals an opening in a surrounding structure, such as a horizontal or vertical surface of a marine vessel. A panel having at least two straight edges is rotatably mountable to the surrounding surface. An operating mechanism is mount... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6942259 | Latch assembly A latch assembly is provided for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing and a first rotor that is movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor is biased towards the re... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6923478 | Lock with rotary latches, especially for motor vehicles A lock, especially for motor vehicles, for securing a movable part, such as a pivoting flap, in position with respect to a stationary part, such as a housing, includes two rotary latches at a certain distance apart, wherein two closing pieces engage in the rotary la... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6916052 | Cover locking/unlocking mechanism and a printer having the cover locking/unlocking mechanism A locking/unlocking mechanism for an operable cover of a body such as a printer to lock and unlock the body with a single operation and to a printer having an operable cover and a locking/unlocking mechanism for the operable cover. The operable cover is locked when ... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6902213 | Tail gate locking system The invention relates to a coupling structure between a lock and a latch in a vehicular tail gate locking system. The coupling structure of the invention comprises a key lever rotated depending on displacement of a first rod coupled to the lock and a remote lever ro... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6802543 | Door handle A door handle system for a door employing a plurality of door handles that operate in unison. Each door handle comprised of a lever with a perpendicular shaft, and the shaft extending through sequentially and securing together the following additional elements of th... | 10/12/2004 |
