US Patent Issued to The Boeing on May 13 for "Reduced volume latch, lock, vent and handle mechanism for an apparatus door" (Washington Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,297,677, issued on May 13, was assigned to The Boeing Co. (Chicago).

"Reduced volume latch, lock, vent and handle mechanism for an apparatus door" was invented by Michael Anthony Fleming (Bellevue, Wash.) and David Hummer (Everett, Wash.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems, apparatuses, and methods provide for technology that moves a vent panel into a pressurization position to close a depressurization vent to allow an apparatus to be pressurized. In the pressurization position, a first protrusion abuts a door structure. The vent panel is coupled with the first protrusion. The technology moves the vent panel to a depressurization posi...