Closure fasteners – Ball
Reexamination Certificate
2005-03-15
2005-03-15
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3676)
Closure fasteners
Ball
C292S251500, C292SDIG022, C292SDIG065
Reexamination Certificate
active
06866312
ABSTRACT:
A lock for earthquakes that securely holds a door closed when an earthquake strikes, but it otherwise out of the way during normal use. It consists of a steel ball that is positioned at the top of an angled ramp. A magnet is embedded on the inside surface of the door, where it is invisible under normal use. When an earthquake strikes, the steel ball drops and contacts the magnet. At this point, the door is effectively locked. The system is designed so that the magnet is strong enough to securely hold the door closed, but can be easily overcome to open the door after the event is over. Once the event is over, the system can be reset by pulling the door open with enough force to overcome the magnet and placing the ball back up into its ready position. When closed, the cabinets appear to be perfectly normal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2693615 (1954-11-01), Hatke
patent: 4714286 (1987-12-01), Yamamoto
patent: 5152562 (1992-10-01), Stevenson et al.
patent: 5518282 (1996-05-01), Sawada
patent: 5597188 (1997-01-01), Miche
patent: 5611579 (1997-03-01), Kreitenberg
patent: 5697655 (1997-12-01), Strong
patent: 6550827 (2003-04-01), Tsujino
patent: 6561555 (2003-05-01), Millard
patent: 6588811 (2003-07-01), Ferguson
Boswell Christopher
Stodola Daniel P.
Tavella Michael J.
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