Abstract: A latch assembly for mounting in an opening of a door and for releasably latching the door to a door frame. The latch assembly includes a housing that is mountable to the opening of the door. A lever is rotatably coupled to the housing between a deployed position and a retracted position. A lock plug is rotatably mounted within the housing, the lock plug having one end for receiving either a tool or key, and an opposite end having an engagement surface. A latching member is movably coupled to the housing, and is engaged with both the rotatable lock plug and the lever in the retracted position of the lever. A torsion spring biases the lock plug back to a starting position after the lock plug is rotated from the starting position using the tool or the key.

Abstract: A latch assembly having a base and a paddle. The paddle is rotatably connected to the base to pivot about a paddle axis and has a drive surface offset from the paddle axis. A catch pinion is rotatably connected to the base to rotate about a pinion axis that is generally perpendicular to the paddle axis. The catch pinion has an activation surface positioned such that movement of the drive surface generates a force on the activation surface to rotate the catch pinion about the pinion axis. The catch pinion may have a concave surface to receive a portion of the drive surface as the paddle rotates. A lock may be movably mounted to the paddle, and movable to engage a lock surface on the catch pinion to prevent the paddle from rotating. A lock may be provided to selectively disable the drive surface from rotating with the paddle.

Abstract: A latching system for securing a door to a panel includes a pawl having a first end that is configured to releasably engage a striker on the panel, and a second end opposite the first end having a connector. A pawl connector is connected to the connector on the second end of the pawl. The pawl connector includes a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a revolved outer side wall extending about the longitudinal axis, an open end through which the connector of the pawl is positioned, an opening defined on the revolved side wall of the cylindrical body, and a deformable portion formed on the revolved outer side wall. The deformable portion extends between the open end and the opening. The deformable portion is configured to elastically deform upon inserting the connector through the open end until the connector is non-removably seated within the opening.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling electro-mechanical (EM) latches. An EM latch may be controlled by receiving dynamic key information from a smart device and static access card information from an access card. A signal generator sends a signal to actuate the EM latch upon verification of the dynamic key information or static access card information. The smart device may be associated with a single user or with multiple users.

Abstract: An electronic latch assembly includes a latch bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and a motor having a rotatable output shaft arrangement that is either directly or indirectly connected to the latch bolt for moving the latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions and rotating the output shaft arrangement between a first angular position in which the latch bolt is capable of being translated to the retracted position and a second angular position in which the latch bolt is locked and not capable of being translated to the retracted position.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to adjustable tilt mechanisms (30), e.g., adjustable tilt mechanisms configured for enabling objects to tilt around a tilting axis (101). According to one aspect of the invention, an adjustable tilt mechanism includes a housing (100) that defines a tilt axis and an adjustment axis (103) oriented perpendicular and non-intersecting relative to the tilt axis and a torque adjustment assembly that is at least partially disposed within the housing. The torque adjustment assembly (118) includes an adjuster (130) positioned for rotation about the adjustment axis defined by the housing, a gear (120) positioned for rotation about the tilt axis defined by the housing, and a biasing spring (140) coupled to the gear. The gear being operatively coupled to the adjuster. The housing configured for coupling to an object.

Abstract: This invention provides a hinge assembly having variable friction resistance. The hinge assembly includes an elongated element having a generally cylindrical surface extending longitudinally. It also includes at least one torque element having a generally cylindrical surface compressively engaged with the cylindrical surface of the elongated element, the cylindrical surface of the at least one torque element having end portions. An actuator of the hinge assembly is configured for changing friction resistance generated by the at least one torque element by changing the relative position of the end portions of the at least one torque element, thus reducing compressive engagement between the cylindrical surface of the at least one torque element and the cylindrical surface of the elongated element.

Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.

Abstract: Latches are disclosed. One latch includes a housing, a cap, a bushing, and a ball. The housing is configured for engagement to the panel. The housing has a longitudinal axis and defines an aperture along the longitudinal axis. The aperture includes a cutout area. The cap and the bushing are mounted within the aperture for rotation about the longitudinal axis. The cap comprises an outer surface including a drive projection and a cutout area. The bushing comprises an upper surface and a sidewall positioned between the cap and the housing. The sidewall defines a drive surface positioned to contact the drive projection of the cap and an opening. The ball is positioned within the opening of the bushing. The ball is configured to be positioned at least partially within the cutout area of the housing or the cutout area of the cap.

Abstract: Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A rack attachment device configured for attaching an electronic device to a rack. The rack attachment device includes a housing for coupling to the electronic device, a pawl mounted for movement relative to the housing, a slide mounted for movement relative to the housing, where the slide is positionable to contact the pawl, and a handle extending from the housing and coupled to the slide. In an unlocked position, the handle is in a first handle position and the slide is in a first slide position, such that the slide prevents the pawl from moving toward a rack aperture defined in the rack. In a locked position, the handle is in a second handle position and the slide is in a second slide position, such that the slide permits the pawl to enter the rack aperture when the slide is in the second slide position.

Abstract: A latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis; a cap mounted within the aperture of the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the cap comprising a drive surface; and a cover coupled to the housing to pivot about a lateral axis, the cover pivotable to be in a closed position in which the cover covers the cap; wherein when the cap is in an unlatched position, the drive surface of the cap is aligned with an engagement surface of the cover and positioned to block the cover from pivoting to the closed position; and wherein when the cap is in a latched position, the drive surface is unaligned with the engagement surface and positioned to permit the cover to pivot to the closed position.

Abstract: Latches and latch systems configured for providing an access indication are disclosed. One latch comprises an actuator, an indicator, and a reset mechanism. The actuator has an unopened position and an opened position. The indicator has a first position in which the indicator provides a first indication and a second position in which the indicator provides a second indication. The indicator is configured to move from the first position to the second position when the actuator is moved from the unopened position toward the opened position. The reset mechanism is configured to move the indicator from the second position to the first position. Once the indicator is moved from the first position to the second position, it is configured to remain in the second position independent of movement of the actuator until the reset mechanism moves the indicator to the first position from the second position.