Company patents
Southco, Inc.
Southco, Inc. demonstrates a highly concentrated patent strategy, with Locks & Keys representing nearly 60% of its total portfolio. Despite this dominance, the company shows a surprising shift in focus, as patenting in Locks & Keys saw a significant 66.7% increase in 2025, followed by an 80.0% decline so far in 2026, while other minor categories like Fasteners, Bearings & Shafts, Buildings (Specially Adapted), and Vehicle Body Fittings have seen a complete cessation of patenting activity in 2026 after some intermittent filings in prior years.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
62 US filings (since 2023) · 5 categories · 7 themes
Locks integrating electronic components for remote control, wireless communication, internet connectivity, and digital credential management, often including features for user identification and access monitoring.
Locking mechanisms specifically designed for automotive applications, recreational vehicles, or unique door types like bi-fold, sliding, or container doors, often incorporating specific safety, noise reduction, or operational features.
Mechanical lock designs and components focused on resisting picking, unauthorized manipulation, forced entry, or other technical unlocking methods, often through complex internal mechanisms or robust materials.
Systems and components that detect the operational state (e.g., locked, unlocked, bolted, unbolted) of a lock and provide visual, auditory, or electronic feedback to users or connected systems.
Systems designed for rapid and secure attachment and detachment of devices or components to a main support structure, often employing snap-fit, clamping, or magnetic mechanisms for convenience and flexibility.
Fasteners designed to release or change state under specific triggers, such as a predefined force, pressure differential, or through active mechanical control.
Mechanical assemblies designed to enable controlled rotational movement between components, often incorporating locking features, speed reduction, or eccentric adjustments for precise positioning.
Patents
Showing 1-4 of 4
Controlled-Release & Active Fasteners