Southco, Inc.

Mars, Incorporated

Robert B Speers

Hitesh Cherry

Richard B Langkamp, Jr

D Dale Turner

Stefan Matthew Koveal

David A Minnich

Gregory Gilbert Garneau

Jeffrey L Antonucci

Eric Carabalona

Kevin A McCloskey

Robin Talukdar

John L Tansky, Sr

Richard Horton

Alan Simchayoff

Robert C Lamb, Jr

Christopher Todd Gahring, Jr

William C Wolffe

Phil Kempson

Paul Allen

Stefan M Koveal

Dale D Turner

Richard John Horton

Latch assemblies and systems are disclosed. One latch includes a latch and a receiver. The latch has a housing and a pin extending from the housing. The pin is mounted for longitudinal movement along a pin axis. The latch further includes a motor coupled to move the pin longitudinally. The receiver defines an aperture extending along a receiver axis and positioned to receive the pin of the latch. The receiver has a retainer biased toward the receiver axis. The latch assembly has an open position in which the pin is extended distally along the pin axis and received in the aperture, and a latched position in which the pin is retracted proximally along the pin axis while the retainer is engaged with the pin. One latch system includes a plurality of latch assemblies configured to move to the latched position after all latch assemblies are in the open position.

Electromechanical compression latch and latching system

A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet helps secure in a closed position a respective door that is provided with a magnetic insert. Hook-like rotary pawls that rotate with the magnets provide for mechanical securing of the doors in the closed position. The latch is provided with a safety feature that makes the latch resistant to opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.

Magnetic latch mechanism

An electromechanical push to close latch has a pawl positioned for linear movement in a housing, with the pawl being biased to the outward extended position. An electric motor operates a cam to change the position of the pawl thereby retracting it into the housing. An electronic circuit board controls the operation of the electric motor under the direction of an outside control signal. The circuit board also senses the position of the pawl to stop the operation of the motor when the pawl is fully retracted. The pawl mounting can be reconfigured for the pawl to extend and thereby operate in a plurality of selectable directions.

Electromechanical push to close latch

Latches including a housing, a rotary pawl, catch means for releasably holding the pawl in a closed configuration, and means for operating the catch means are disclosed. The pawl is pivotally attached to the housing and is rotationally movable between a closed or engaged configuration and an open or disengaged configuration. The pawl is provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open or disengaged configuration. In some embodiments the catch means includes a locking member. In other embodiments the catch means includes a pivotally movable trigger. The means for operating the catch means may be electrically powered.

Rotary pawl latch

An electronic coin validator for connection to a payphone chassis is described. The validator includes a coin passageway having at least one coin sensor, power circuitry for connection to payphone chassis power lines and connected to the coin sensor, a validator line balance circuit connected to the power circuitry, at least one coin signal line for connection to the payphone chassis, at least one coin value buffer, and a control means. The control means processes signals from the sensor to validate coins, adjusts the count in the coin value buffer when a coin is validated, and readjusts the count when corresponding coin credit signals are generated for transmission. The validator line balance circuit has an output for connection to the payphone chassis, and equalizes the loading on the telephone lines to minimize impedance fluctuations. Consequently, coins may be validated and accepted by the electronic coin validator as coin tones are being generated and transmitted by circuitry of the payphone chassis to a central office.

Payphone electronic coin validator

A coin mechanism includes a piezoelectric film sensor in contact with a coin debounce device. When a coin is inserted into the coin mechanism, the coin strikes the coin debounce device as it travels along a coin path. Micro-movement of the coin debounce device is sensed with the piezoelectric film sensor. The coin mechanism changes from a quiescent mode of operation to an active mode of operation in response to sensing the presence of the coin in the coin path. Coin recognition can then be performed. Overall power consumption of the coin mechanism can be reduced.

Coin mechanism with a piezoelectric film sensor

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

Robert B Speers