The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Douglas L Reiff, Warsaw, IN (US);
Ross A Weldy, Elkhart, IN (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E05C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
292-4 ; 292 87 ; 292107 ; 292 62 ; 292129 ; 292 31 ; 292D / ; 206-15 ;
Abstract
A lock mechanism for cases or containers which includes engagable lock elements, one of which can be rotatable into a lockable and a non-lockable alignment. The exposed surfaces of the lock elements are flush with surrounding wall surfaces of the case or container when the mechanism is locked. The mechanism can be concealed by matching the exposed surfaces of the lock elements with the surrounding surfaces of the case or container. The mechanism include springs which bias the lock elements. Appropriate spring strengths can be selected to prevent infants and young children from opening the mechanism.