ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,331,554, issued on June 17.
"Latching mechanism" was invented by Gary Michael Bostrom (Merced, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A latching mechanism system, method and apparatus is disclosed. The latching mechanism including a latch mechanism shaft and a rotatable outer actuator knob. The outer actuator knob including at least one outer actuator knob engagement surface. The at least one outer actuator knob engagement surface having a shape corresponding to a lock body engagement surface of a removable lock. The outer actuator knob can be mounted on the latch mechanism shaft, proximate to a first end of the latch mechanism shaft. The...