Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7845690 | Folding electronic device and engaging structure A folding electronic device includes a cover and a main body. The cover includes a groove. The main body includes an engaging structure. The engaging structure includes a pushing element, an elastic element connected to the pushing element, an engaging element and a... | 12/07/2010 |
| 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 |
| 7364209 | Mechanical latch assembly A mechanical latch assembly includes a supporting frame, a locking latch, an actuation arrangement and a safety lock arrangement. The locking latch is slidably mounted on the supporting frame in longitudinally movable manner. The actuation arrangement includes an ac... | 04/29/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7261330 | Sliding door latch assembly A sliding door has a latch assembly and a vertically disposed pull handle that would normally interfere with convenient operation of the latch lever. A rotatable latch lever is located beyond the handle and a rotatable latch is located opposite the handle. A 4-bar c... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7261340 | Cam remote latch mechanism A cam remote latch mechanism comprises a housing; a support, placed inside the housing/ being able to perform a movement between an innermost position and an outermost position; a plurality of guiding openings in the housing for guiding the movement of the support; ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7261338 | Single actuator power close latch mechanism with failsafe A latch mechanism includes a claw rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuator motor. A toggle link that includes a first end, a second end, and a joint between the first end and the second end of the toggle link has one end attach... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7261332 | Multi-position aircraft servicing pit lid latch A multi-position latch mechanism is provided for a subsurface aircraft ground servicing chamber formed by a pit having an upright interior wall and a pit lid seat disposed atop the pit. A pit lid is provided which, when closed, rests upon the pit lid seat. The latch... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7210712 | Rotary motion mechanism A rotary motion mechanism including a rotatable element geometrically lockable at two points (e.g., limits) of travel, and a linear motion element linked to the rotatable element, the linear motion element being adapted to move in response to a linear motion imparte... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7201407 | Sliding panel latch A latch includes a cup adapted for mounting to a first member, snap legs for securing the cup to a first member, and a lever supported by the cup. The lever pivots about a pivot axis that is linearly movable relative to the cup. The lever includes a crossbar that is... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7178839 | Latch assembly for sliding doors A latch assembly connected to a lock face of a sliding door includes two hooks which are connected to two activation plates respectively. Two rotation gears each have teeth engaged with the activation plates which are moved to pivot the two hooks when the two gears ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7040673 | Motorized oven lock An oven lock mechanism has a latch that is moved between an unlatched and a latched position in response to movement of the door from an open to a closed position and a motor that turns a cam acting as a blocker to block the latch in the latched position when a clea... | 05/09/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7036853 | Motorized oven lock for sealing oven door An oven lock mechanism has a latch that is moved between an unlatched and a latched position in response to movement of the door from an open to a closed position and a motor that turns a cam acting as a blocker to block the latch in the latched position when a clea... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7032936 | Door lock device for a domestic electrical appliance The device comprises a hook (2) connected to the door (5) and a support structure (1) in which is defined an aperture (4) for the introduction of the hook (2) and in which are mounted: a rotatable member (6) biased by a spri... | 04/25/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7017954 | Door latch assembly A latch assembly for a trailer roll up door has a base plate, a handle and hook assembly with a locking flange rotatably mounted to the base plate, a closed keeper to selectively retain the handle in the closed position. The closed keeper is moveably mounted to the ... | 03/28/2006 |
| 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 |
| 6994015 | Apparatus for preparing coffee An apparatus for preparing coffee includes a holder provided with an access opening for placing a pouch filled with a product to be extracted into the holder; a cover for closing and releasing the access opening; a clamping arrangement for pressing the holder and co... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6966582 | Lock rod clutch for oven latch An oven door lock for self-cleaning ovens is described. The oven door lock includes a clutch mechanism which locks and unlocks the oven door at substantially different temperatures, in particular, the lock temperature is substantially higher than the unlock temperat... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6953232 | Latching mechanism for securing a computer component into a housing A latch mechanism secures a computer component to a chassis; the mechanism includes a base that is attached to the computer component, a latch handle pivotably mounted on the base, the latch handle being capable of pivoting away from the base. An actuator arm is piv... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6945572 | Sliding door latch assembly A sliding door has a latch assembly and a vertically disposed pull handle that would normally interfere with convenient operation of the latch lever. A rotatable latch lever is located beyond the handle and a rotatable latch is located opposite the handle. A 4-bar c... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6913297 | Rotary latch mechanism A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first structure to a second structure. The latch mechanism includes a housing adapted to be attached to the first structure and an actuator pivotally attached to the housing. Selective pivotal movement of the actuator pivo... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6886868 | Door-locking assembly A door latch is particularly suited for a washing machine door. The device has a pivotally mounted rotary catch for latching onto a locking element and a pivotally mounted blocking or arresting element. The latter is pivotally mounted between a latching position tha... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6543820 | Latching device and method The present invention provides a latch device and method for securing a panel such as a door panel to a frame. The latch device has a housing mounted to the door panel with a catch having a contact portion pivotally mounted in the housing for rotation abo... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6540268 | Closure device for a container and furthermore a container fitted with the closure device A closure device for a container, which possesses a locking element for mutually locking of two container parts when the container is closed. The locking element has first and second locking instrumentalities, which are arranged on the different container... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6540269 | Locking mechanism for a sliding door A locking mechanism (10) is produced for holding a sliding door in the open position and has a Bowden cable (22) which acts on its locking element (20), a moving-carriage support (14) and a moving carriage (18), which move relative to one another during t... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6474702 | Range door lock with nuisance latch An oven door lock for self-cleaning ovens is described. The oven door lock includes a manually operated latch mechanism moveable from an unlatched state. In the latched state, a thermally responsive element is provided with a pin adapted to be received in... | 11/05/2002 |
| 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 |
| 6364376 | Appliance door latch assembly A latch assembly for manually releasably latching an appliance door in a closed position capable of being manually moved between an open position and a closed position features a frame structure constructed and arranged to be fixed with respect to an appl... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6264252 | Multi-point sliding door latch A multi-point sliding door latch adapted to be fitted in a single opening in the lock face of the stile of the sliding door and arranged for coaction with a keeper structure on an associated jamb and for coaction with a handle assembly mounted on the stil... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6203075 | Front opening container latch A latch is disclosed incorporating features allowing complete actuation i.e., engagement and disengagement of a latching hook on the side of the container from a latch handle on the face of the container thus allowing actuation of the latch hook even when... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6155614 | Latching system for an automotive vehicle convertible roof A latching system for an automotive vehicle convertible roof employs a slide having a camming surface which is operably movable in a generally linear direction for moving a cam follower which, in turn, causes a linkage mechanism to pivot a latch. In a fur... | 12/05/2000 |
| 5931033 | Security system with improved lock assembly A security system for cargo loading doors, comprising: a substantially narrow profile housing adapted to being connected to an inside of a cargo loading door; an actuator having a key receptacle, for moving a latch structure between a locked position and ... | 08/03/1999 |
| 5820170 | Multi-point sliding door latch A multi-point sliding door latch adapted to be fitted in a single opening in the lock face of the stile of the sliding door and arranged for coaction with a keeper structure on an associated jamb and for coaction with a handle assembly mounted on the stil... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5630507 | Single-action latch A single-action latch for use on a medical case which includes a storage tray and a closing lid includes a latch base with a mounting surface and rivet holes for attaching the latch base to the storage tray. A hook portion is pivotally attached to the lat... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5624142 | Vehicle overcenter closure latch An overcenter latch for securing a closure to a body panel includes a panel bracket disposed opposite a closure striker block with a rubber link pivotally connecting the bracket and an operating handle. The block has spaced apart outwardly opening recesse... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5601206 | Truck box A container (20) suitable for use as a truck box for a pick-up truck, includes a base container portion (21) having an open top, and a cover (22) to close the open top. The cover (22) is pivotally attached to the base (21) by hinge mechanisms (23) which a... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5098139 | High security lock and latch for sliding doors Prior latches for sliding doors typically lock only from the inside of the door. The present invention provides a lock and latch system which allows the sliding door to be locked using a key from inside or outside the door, allowing the home owner to prev... | 03/24/1992 |
| 5024471 | Safety release latch A latch assembly (12) is adapted for use with a container having a base portion (11) and a cover (10) affixable thereto by the latch assembly (12). The base portion (11) has projections (17) extending from its sidewall and the cover (10) has lugs (14) ext... | 06/18/1991 |
