Abstract: A rotary latch system where a rotary latch has a trip pawl and a latch jaw which engages a striker. When a T-handle is turned, rotation is translated via a rotating member to an actuating lever. Movement of the lever triggers the pawl which releases the latch jaw. Linkages to other latches can be easily made by connecting to pins upon the rotating member. The latch can then act as a master latch which operates a group of latches. T-handle is spring biased to return to its starting position on release. A locking embodiment provides a lock assembly which interferes with the rotation of the actuating lever when system is in a locked position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for use as a closure device in a door or compartment cover has a pan adapted to be flush mounted in an exterior panel, with a paddle-type handle hinge mounted within a recessed area of the pan. A mounting plate on an interior side of the pan includes a latch mechanism mounting flange which extends away from the pan, and to which a latch mechanism having a pawl and a trip latch jaw is mounted. A cam is rotationally mounted tightly parallel against the mounting plate, and has a paddle contact pin which extends through cooperating openings in the mounting plate and a floor of the pan. Lifting of the paddle causes the cam to rotate and engage the pawl of the latch mechanism, thereby releasing the trip latch jaw from a locked position. A lock cylinder may be mounted in the pan with a locking cam positioned proximate to a portion of the cam, to thereby interfere with rotation of the cam.

Abstract: A lockable, slammable rotationally actuated latch assembly for use as a latching and locking mechanism on a door or panel of an enclosure or compartment has a mounting pan with a recessed draw and peripheral mounting flange. A rotatable cam shank intersects the mounting pan and has a handle attached to an end of the cam shank on the exterior side of the pan. A latch is rotationally mounted on a latch shank located on the interior side of the mounting pan and is biased into the latched position by a torsion spring. A cam is attached to an end of the cam shank on the interior side of the pan and the cam has a contact edge positioned to contact and rotate the latch upon rotation of the cam shank. An optional latch guide can also be mounted on a latch shank for guiding a striker into a striker receiving cavity formed between the latch and latch guide. A lock assembly may be mounted on the flange of the mounting pan or inside the recessed draw of the pan.

Abstract: A lockable, slammable paddle operated latch assembly for use as a latching and locking mechanism on a door or panel of an enclosure or compartment has a paddle handle pivotally mounted on a pin transversely mounted through side walls of a recessed draw of a mounting pan and attached at one end to an orthogonal trip/lock member on the interior of the pan adjacent the draw. One extension of the trip/lock member is positioned underneath the locking arm of a key cylinder when the paddle is fully recessed and the key is in the locked position. Another extension of the trip/lock member contacts the latch which is pivotally mounted on the interior of the pan draw. A torsion spring about the latch mounting shank biases the latch into the latched position, but allows the latch to be deflected for engagement with a striker with the trip/lock member locked or unlocked, so that the latch can be slammed shut even when locked. A latch guide can also be mounted on the latch mounting shank.

Abstract: A latch and lock system employing a rotary trip pawl/latch assembly actuated by impingement of a disconnected pushbutton trip arm upon a cam attached to the trip pawl mounting pin. Cross rod connection of the cams of laterally opposed latch assemblies provides dual latch and lock points for a single compartment lid operable through either latch assembly. The lack of a permanent mechanical connection between the pushbutton trip arm and the cam of the latch assembly insulates the latch assembly from forceful attack upon the pushbutton.

Abstract: A locking rotary latch assembly has a shank bearing about the shank on the exterior side of a latch housing, and an interior load bearing bushing about the shank on the interior side of the latch housing which also intersects and guides a sliding locking arm. A latching arm is mounted on the end of the shank against the load bearing bushing which includes a portion that is in contact with the housing adjacent the exterior shank bearing so that forces applied to the shank are resisted by the combination of the load bearing bushing, and the exterior shank bearing against the portion of the load bearing bushing in contact with the housing. The exterior shank bearing prevents passage of the shank from the exterior to the interior side of the housing.

Abstract: A sliding door rotary latch system includes a handle assembly mounted on the sliding door adjacent its leading edge, a rotary latch assembly and locking mechanism mounted on the front post of the door frame cooperating with a strike bar on the handle assembly selectively to latch the sliding door in its fully closed position and a rear latch plate mounted on the back post of the door frame cooperating with the handle assembly selectively to latch the sliding door in its fully open position. The door mounted handle assembly includes an outer pivotal handle, an inner pivotal handle, and an inner actuation mechanism operative to allow either handle independently of the other to actuate either a pivotal front cam actuator arm or a rear pivotal latch independent of the other. Either handle may be held in its pivoted position toward the direction of sliding movement of the door during that sliding movement without adversely effecting the latching action when the door is either fully closed or opened.

Abstract: A nested paddle lock assembly comprises inside and outside pan assemblies mounted in alignment with one another on a door and respectively having inside and outside selectively pivotal paddle handles, slide means in said door selectively linearly actuated by either handle when pulled, pivotal lever means pivoted by said linearly moving slide means upon handle actuation to unlatch said door, spring means to return the pivotal lever means, slide means and handles to their respective normally closed positions and lock means selectively actuated from inside or outside the door either to lock the door by obstructing slide means movement or to unlock the door by allowing slide means movement.

Abstract: The rotary paddle latch of the present invention has a latched position, an intermediate safety position and an unlatched position and includes an assembly for locking the external rotary paddle while permitting an optional internal handle to override the lock to move the latch to its unlatched position. The rotary paddle latch assembly includes a pivotally mounted latch bar pivotally actuated by the external rotary paddle, a spring biased, pivotally mounted tripping pawl selectively pivotally actuated by the latch bar or by the optional internal handle, a pivotally mounted stepped cam having an abutment surface engaged by said tripping pawl, and a spring biased, pivotally mounted latch plate having a throat therein for receiving a striker bar. The latch plate includes a cam follower riding along the stepped cam when the tripping pawl is moved to allow pivotal movement of the latch plate between the three latch positions.

Abstract: Latching apparatus with anti-separation feature for use with closure covers, such as vehicle doors, including interlocking back plate of bolt and striker, the back plate being mounted on the door and having a flange at the outer end which engages behind the striker mounted on door frame, when in closed and latched position, and an aperture adjacent the outer end of the bolt to accommodate an outwardly extending tang on the edge of the striker which is lockingly engaged by the bolt, with a spacer between the striker and door frame to enable such engagement of striker by back plate flange, thereby assuring three-directional containment of the striker so as to prevent undesired separation of bolt from striker because of relative movements therebetween.

Abstract: Kinetic energy incident to the trip release and consequent rapid spinning and unwinding of rotating members in a chain operated railway car hand brake mechanism is substantially dissipated by energy absorbing means which frictionally engage the rapidly rotating members. The frictional engagement slows down the rotation of the members thus decreasing the shock to the members as they are rapidly stopped when the mechanism reaches full release. The rotation stoppage of the members is necessary to prevent the mechanism from winding in the wrong direction and thereby damaging the hand brake mechanism and brake components at opposite ends of the chain.

Abstract: The specification and drawings disclose a multiple latch assembly particularly suited for use in contoured vehicle doors. The disclosed assembly includes a plurality of latch members each having an outwardly biased latch pin. Operatively connected to all of the latch pins is a common operating assembly including a case defining a cavity and a handle pivotally mounted between the sides of the cavity. A slide member is carried on the case and interconnects with the handle so that oscillation of the handle produces reciprocation of the slide member. Lengths of flexible actuating cable are connected between the slide member and each of the latch pins. Each length of cable is arranged so that movement of the slide member in one direction will produce simultaneous inward movement of all latch pins.

Abstract: Kinetic energy shock incident to the trip release of the chain under tension of a railway car hand brake mechanism is absorbed by one or more blocks of compressible shock-absorbing solid material or by compressible shock-absorbing spring means located within the housing of the mechanism and in the path of the chain when the brake is tripped or released and the chain is prevented from winding in the wrong direction and consequently damaging the hand brake mechanism at one end of the chain and brake components at the other end of the chain.