UnfoldIPThemes

Company patents

Southco, Inc.

Southco, Inc. surprisingly shows a highly concentrated patent strategy, with 60.0% of its portfolio dedicated to Locks & Keys, a category that saw a significant 66.7% growth in 2025, indicating a strong and recent focus despite a sharp decline so far in 2026. This contrasts with its minimal engagement in Fasteners and Vehicle Body Fittings, which collectively represent only 8.3% of its portfolio and have experienced substantial year-over-year declines, suggesting a shifting away from these areas.

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.

60 US filings (since 2023) · 3 categories · 6 themes

Smart Lock Systems & Connectivity

Locks integrating electronic components for remote control, wireless communication, internet connectivity, and digital credential management, often including features for user identification and access monitoring.

Locks & Keys
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27since 2023
+116.7%YoY
Vehicle & Specialized Door Locks

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.

Locks & Keys
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24since 2023
+225.0%YoY
Anti-Tamper Mechanical Locks

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.

Locks & Keys
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18since 2023
+266.7%YoY
Lock Status Monitoring & Indication

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.

Locks & Keys
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9since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Quick-Release & Detachable Mountingfiltered

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
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3since 2023
new
Controlled-Release & Active Fasteners

Fasteners designed to release or change state under specific triggers, such as a predefined force, pressure differential, or through active mechanical control.

Fasteners
Who else files here? →
2since 2023
new

Patents

Showing 1-4 of 4

Quick-Release & Detachable Mounting
Page 1 of 1
US 20250320892 A1APPLICATION
F16B41/00

CAPTIVE FASTENER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

Filed:2025-01-13Pub:2025-10-16
Applicant:Southco, Inc.

A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis. The proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis, and the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction. The engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener is configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.

US 12203500 B2GRANTED
F16B41/00

Captive fastener and method of assembling the same

Filed:2021-04-09Pub:2025-01-21
Applicant:Southco, Inc.

A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis. The proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis, and the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction. The engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener is configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.

US 20230138689 A1APPLICATION
F16B41/00

CAPTIVE FASTENER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

Filed:2021-04-09Pub:2023-05-04
Applicant:Southco, Inc.

A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis. The proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis, and the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction. The engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener is configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.

US 11371540 B2GRANTED
F16B5/06

Levered latch plunger

Filed:2019-07-09Pub:2022-06-28
Applicant:SOUTHCO, INC

A latch includes a ferrule defining a hollow interior region and a ferrule opening that opens into the hollow interior region. A washer is positioned adjacent an end of the ferrule. The washer defines a washer opening. A stud has an elongated body extending along a stud axis, and the stud is positioned to extend through the ferrule opening and keyed to the washer opening such that the stud rotates about the stud axis along with the washer. A lever is pivotably connected to the stud. Rotation of the lever about the pivot axis causes translation of the stud along the stud axis with respect to the ferrule between a latched position, in which an end of the stud protrudes beyond a connection end of the ferrule, and an unlatched position, in which the end of the stud is contained within the interior region defined by the ferrule.

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