Abstract: A latch is usable for latching and automatically unlatching a lid operative to close a bin of a waste container. The latch includes a release weight that is moveable responsive to gravity from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a release mechanism when the latch is rotated to one or more angular positions in a dump angular orientation. The latch and release mechanism are held in latched engagement when release slide bolts and latch slide bolts are engaged in extended positions. Movement of the release weight causes the latch slide bolts to move to retracted positions to enable disengagement of the release slide bolts and latch slide bolts. A release knob is operative responsive to manual movement in two different directions to enable the latch and release slide bolts to disengage.

Abstract: A latch is usable to latch and automatically unlatch a lid of a waste container. The latch includes a release weight that moves responsive to gravity in a housing from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a release receptacle when the latch and the waste container are oriented in a dump angle orientation. The latch includes a rotary damper in the housing that controls movement of the release weight in the housing such that an amount of time for the release weight to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position is slower than the amount of time the release weight would move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position in the housing absent the effect of the rotary damper on the release weight.

Abstract: Spring-projected latch bolt assemblies each having a retractable latch bolt component are used to upgrade commercially available lock operating mechanisms so that closures carrying the upgraded lock operating mechanisms can lock automatically when the closures reach their fully closed positions. To permit unobstructed closing of each closure, a normally extended component of each associated spring-projected latch bolt assembly retracts during a final segment of the closing of an associated closure, and snaps back to its fully extended position as the associated closure comes to rest in its fully closed position.

Abstract: An actuator (24, 528, 606) is configured to cause a latch assembly (22, 322, 422, 522, 526, 604) to be changed from a closed condition in which an item is latched, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched. A catch jaw (30, 530) is operative in a first position to engage a member (106) connected to the item when the latch assembly is in the closed condition. The catch jaw in a second position enables the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch assembly is in the open condition. The actuator assembly includes a drive (152, 526, 608) and a gear system (157, 563, 610). The gear system is operative to move a release member (174, 538, 612). The release member is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that the movement of the release member causes the catch jaw to be enabled to move to the second position.

Abstract: A tubular lock and its operating key have safety features that render the lock and key well suited for use with food freezer appliances and the like where the keyway of the lock extends horizontally. The tubular portion of the operating key, and the keyway of the tubular lock are cooperatively configured so a key inserted into the keyway of the lock fits quite loosely and is minimally supported even when fully inserted. The graspable bow of the operating key is made unusually long causing the center of gravity of an inserted operating key to be spaced far from the front face of the lock—so the weight of the loosely fitting and minimally supported operating key levers the graspable bow downwardly, causing the key to drop from the keyway unless being held in the keyway. Gravity is optimally used to effect key ejection.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided that includes a housing, a release mechanism and a latch mechanism. The release mechanism includes a handle. Movement of the handle from a retracted position towards an extended position relative to the housing is operable to cause the latch mechanism to change from a latched condition to an unlatched condition. When the latch mechanism changes from an unlatched condition to the latched condition, the latch mechanism is operable to cause the release mechanism to cause the handle to move to the retracted position. When the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the latch mechanism maintains the release mechanism in a configuration that maintains the handle away from the retracted position and provides a visual indication that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition.

Abstract: A handle assemble is provided that includes a pivotable handle on a first side of a housing that when moved to an extended position is operative to cause a lever arm to move on a second side of the housing in order to operate a latch mechanism. To move the lever arm, the assembly includes a lock slide that in a first pivot position is operative to slide longitudinal and urge the lever arm to pivot responsive to either the handle causing a trigger to urge a first end of the lock slide to slide or an inside release member urging a second end of the lock slide to slide. However, when the lock slide is in a second pivot position, the trigger and the inside release member are not operative to engage the respective first and second ends of the lock slide.

Abstract: A vent apparatus (10, 600) includes a perforated screen (12), a door (18), and a handle. The screen includes hexagonally shaped perforations (15). The door is adjacent a first face (13) of the screen and includes at least one arm (20, 22) that extends through at least one slot in the screen. The handle is in operative connection with the at least one arm and is operative to cause the door to move between a closed position (62) adjacent the screen to one of a plurality of open positions (64) extending at an acute angle with respect to the screen.

Abstract: A combination operated lock for use with a security container that has a zippered closure operated by a pull tab movable between open and closed positions, with the lock being operable, when locked, to retain the pull tab in closed position until the lock is unlocked by setting a combination. The lock preferably has a housing connected to a flexible fabric wall of the security container, and dials that are turned to set a combination for unlocking the lock. In some embodiments, the lock cannot be unlocked unless and until a one-use seal is broken and removed from the housing to which the seal was attachable only after the lock was locked.

Abstract: A water seal system is provided for a latch assembly that comprises a housing having a receptacle in which a handle extends therein. A trigger extends from the handle through an aperture in the receptacle to a latching mechanism on a rear side of the housing. The trigger is operative to cause the latching mechanism to operate, responsive to movement of the handle. The water seal system includes a gasket mounted to a metal backing plate, with slots extending through the backing plate and gasket. The trigger extends through the slots such that the backing plate abuts a stop surface of the trigger. Movement of the handle from the extended position to the retracted position is operative to cause the stop surface to urge the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided that includes a housing. The latch assembly also includes a latch in rotatable connection with the housing at a first axis. The latch assembly also includes a drive lug in rotatable connection with the housing at a second axis, wherein the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis on the housing. Rotation of the drive lug in a first rotational direction responsive to a striker acting on a first portion of the drive lug is operative to cause the latch to rotate in the same first rotational direction as the drive lug, such that a first portion of the latch moves in transverse relation relative to the striker to a position in which the striker extends between the first portion of the drive lug and the first portion of the latch.

Abstract: A compression latch is provided having a lock bolt operated via a codable cylinder lock. The lock bolt includes a guide having first and second inner surfaces. The lock includes a rotatable portion having a cam with a projection that is movable between the first and second inner surfaces. When the rotatable portion of the cylinder lock rotates via the key to cause the projection to move from a first position to a second position, the projection contacts the second inner surface and urges the lock bolt to engage a control member which prevents a handle of the compression latch from rotating. When the rotatable portion rotates via the key to cause the projection to move from the second position to the first position, the projection contacts the first inner surface and urges the lock bolt to disengage from the control member, which enables the handle to rotate.

Abstract: A lock for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be unlocked by setting a combination using a combination mechanism of the lock, and, alternatively, by using a key in a key mechanism of the lock. An indicator of the lock moves to signal when the lock has been unlocked by use of the key mechanism. In some embodiments the indicator can only be reset after the lock has been unlocked using the combination mechanism. In some embodiments the indicator is automatically reset when the lock is unlocked using the combination mechanism. In some embodiments the lock is a padlock that has a shackle defined, at least in part, by a flexible cable.