Abstract: A fastener assembly which imparts, on a surface of a first structural element to be joined to a second structural element, joining forces at three or more radially equidistant regions isolated from the edge of an opening extending through the first structural element. An illustrative embodiment of the fastener assembly includes an apertured face plate, an anchoring assembly, and a positioner for causing relative axial movement between the face plate and the anchoring assembly. The anchoring assembly includes a base portion and a projecting portion that extends in an axial direction away from the base portion.

Abstract: An adaptable latch having a bolt case. A bolt case extension is connected to the rear of the bolt case. The bolt case extension can be locked in position with the bolt case to place the latch in a short-length position or a long-length position. A bolt head is disposed in the bolt case. A bolt tail is connected to the rear of the bolt case. The bolt tail can be locked in position with the bolt head to place the latch in the short-length position or the long-length position. A spring-loaded lug allows for simultaneous unlocking of the bolt tail from the bolt head and the case extension from the bolt case. The bolt tail and case extension, when unlocked from a previous locked position, can be placed in another locked position to lock the latch in either the desired long-length position or the short-length position. The bolt tail is locked into position with the bolt head by way of a bolt tail appendage extending into a bolt head hollow.

Abstract: The locking device of the present invention comprises a box and a lid which interlock with each other, wherein each of the box and lid has a recess therein for snugly accommodating a faucet assembly. To operate the locking device of the present invention, the box is placed upon and around a faucet assembly, the lid is aligned and interlocked with the box and then the interlocked box and lid are secured to each other by a securing device. The locking device of the present invention when mounted upon a faucet assembly and secured to itself prevents dispensing of fluids from the faucet assembly. The locking device of the present invention is preferably made of a molded, high density, glass-filled nylon plastic.

Abstract: A latch assembly (10) has a housing (12) having a mouth (14). A detent fork (16) is pivotally mounted within the housing (12) to cooperate with the mouth (14) to pivot between an open and closed condition for receiving, engaging and cinching a keeper (60) of a striker. The detent fork (16) is biased in the open condition. A pivotally mounted pawl (24) is biased for engagement with a pin (26). The pin (26) is slidably mounted within a guideway (38) and positioned between the detent fork (16) and the pawl (24). The pin (26) cooperates with the pawl (24) to retain the detent fork (16) in the closed condition. The pin (26) rolls between the pawl (24) and detent fork (16) as the pawl (24) is rotated in a releasing sense to disengage the detent fork (16).

Abstract: A door lock arrangement comprising a frame, a door handle, a slidable deadbolt arrangement, a depressable trigger member for releasing the slidable deadbolt, a deadbolt driver for sliding the deadbolt to its extended position when triggered, and a bidirectional retraction assembly, whereby rotation of the door handle in either direction moves the deadbolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: In the clamping type lock assembly, a base-end portion 2a of a latch ring 2 is pivoted to a fixed base plate 1. In a locked position in which a front-end portion 2b of the latch ring 2 engaged with an engaging concave portion 3a of an operating lever 3 passes through a straight line connecting a cross-sectional center of the base-end portion 2a of the latch ring 2 and a cross-sectional center of an axle pin 9 and approaches a fixed seating plate 4, a threaded shaft portion 5b of a fastening bolt 5 is threadably engaged with a threaded hole 21 of the fixed seating plate 4 so that a head portion 5a of the fastening bolt 5 is brought into press-contact with a front surface of a front-end portion of the operating lever 3.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a tray having a front side and a back side with a cavity defined in the front side of the tray. A handle member is pivotally mounted to the tray at the front side. An actuating member is pivotally mounted relative to the tray on the back side of the tray and is operably connected to pivot with the handle member. An operating member is mounted on the back side of the tray and is movable between a locked position and an operating position. In the operating position, the operating member is contactable by the actuating member upon movement of the handle member. A latching mechanism is configured on the back side of the tray. The latching mechanism latches and unlatches upon a striker element, and is actuated by the operating member in the operating position upon movement of the handle member. In its locked position, the operating member is moved to a position to be out of contact with the actuating member even the though the handle member and actuating member are still freely rotatable.

Abstract: A security door latching mechanism and complementary receiver are arranged to be installed within a door and a complementary doorjamb. In the preferred embodiment, the installation takes place in a vehicle and the latching mechanism can be installed either in the door or in the door frame or jamb. The latching mechanism includes a plunger shaft which is arranged to extend from the doorjamb into the receiver, and is forcibly maintained in the extended position until retracted by an electrical current provided to an actuator. This actuator is spring-driven to keep the plunger shaft in an extended position until provided with an electrical power to retract the plunger shaft. It is necessary to constantly maintain the electric power to the actuator in order to keep the plunger shaft retracted.

Abstract: A lock for a container lid which comprises a retractable U-shaped handle secured for movement within apertures in a side of a container and a U-shaped handle which is fixed to the container lid. In closing of the container lid, the lid is closed with the fixed U-shaped handle straddling the retractable U-shaped handle in a retracted position. When the lid is in place, the retractable U-shaped handle is pulled outwardly and the retractable U-shaped handle is secured by some lock means to the U-shaped fixed handle. Thus, the container lid cannot be opened until the lock is removed.

Abstract: An anti-theft device is provided which, when used on a trailer coupler, locks on to the trailer coupler and covers the receptacle of the coupler, thereby preventing the insertion of a hitch ball or other towing means into the receptacle. Locking engagement is achieved by a retaining member being moved and held in a position inside the receptacle of the coupler by the operation of a lock housed in the body of the anti-theft device. In another embodiment of the invention locking engagement is achieved by the retaining member being moved to a position inside the coupler receptacle through operation of a lever independent of the retaining member and being held in such position through operation of a lock housed in the body of the anti-theft device. No tools or auxiliary parts are required to attach or remove the device.

Abstract: A motor vehicle gate lock having a lock catch (2) which can be shifted from an open position into a catch position and vice versa, a detent pawl (5) which holds the lock catch (2) in the catch position by catching, and a spring (7) which pretensions the lock catch (2) and detent pawl (5) relative to one another. The detent pawl (5) has an actuating surface (11) for the lock catch (2) at a distance from a catch projection (9) of the detent pawl. There is an electric motor drive (13) with a drive element (14) and a driving lug (16) that located off-center relative to the axis of rotation of the drive element. The driving lug (16) touches the actuating surface (11) by rotation of the drive element (14) in one direction and then lifts the catch projection (9) of the detent pawl (5) out of a catch projection (10) of the lock catch (2) which, in the open position, keeps the detent pawl (5) in a raised position.

Abstract: A striker drive assembly for a motor vehicle door lock or the like, with a drive motor and downstream gearing, with a linearly movable striker carrier which is driven by a drive element, preferably by a cam (13), and with a striker which is attached to the striker carrier (3), the striker carrier (3) being positioned to move in a housing (7) to which the drive motor is joined. This striker drive assembly behaves as much as possible like a striker attached stationary due to the fact that the striker carrier (3) can be displaced from the open position (preclosing position) mechanically without hindrance by the drive element, into the closed position (main closing position), especially without hindrance by the cam (13).

Abstract: A low profile electric door strike latching mechanism for installing in a door jamb wherein the strike comprises a face plate, a latch bolt cavity, a keeper bar and a two part housing. The keeper bar in its closed or latched condition is held immobile to enclose one side of the cavity. When the latching mechanism is unlocked, the person opening the door applies pressure to the latch bolt causing the keeper bar to pivot thereby releasing the latch bolt and allowing the door to be opened.

Abstract: An external lock assembly for sliding doors and the like, cooperating with a tubular frame mounted element, which has a thickness and form such as to enable it to be mounted within the limited space available in between a pair of sliding door panels (glass panel and shutter panel). The external lock assembly comprises at least one and preferably a pair of sliding bolts and effects a locked condition of the sliding door when the sliding bolts enter within a central vertical hole of the tubular frame mounted element.

Abstract: A detachable connection between two housing sections (1, 2) has two cooperating latching elements formed by a resilient tongue (7) with a peripheral portion (9) on one housing section (1) and a projection (10) on the other housing section (2), the projection (10) engaging behind the peripheral portion (9) in an interconnected condition of the housing sections. In order to enable the housing sections to be separated easily from one another, the housing sections have two other cooperating latching element formed by a second projection (15) and a second peripheral portion (14), one of the latching elements being connected to the tongue (7). To unlatch the housing sections, the resilient tongue (7) is pressed back, thereby unlatching the first projection (10) and also locking the tongue against springing back in that the second projection (15) engages behind the second peripheral portion (14).

Abstract: A latch mechanism for a wafer container includes a box sealable to a base plate to form an air-tight space for holding at least one wafer therein. The latch mechanism is located on the base plate and includes a U-shaped latch plate and a cam mechanism. The latch plate has a hook member at a front end thereof. The hook member includes a 7-shape hook with a bottom end pivotly engaged with the base plate and a top end pivotly engaged with the front end of the latch plate. The cam mechanism includes a cam and a linkage bar with a roller disposed therein. One end of the linkage bar attached to the latch plate. Another end of the linkage bar has a pin engaging with a slot formed in the cam. The pin and the roller form a positive and movable engagement with the cam. By turning the cam, the linkage bar and latch plate will have linear motion and trigger the hook to engage the box securely to the base plate or allow the box disengaging with the base plate.

Abstract: A latch assembly is mounted in an aperture formed in a first member for releaseably retaining the first member against a corresponding second member and in a latched position. The latch assembly includes a handle which is adapted for pivotal rotation, a shaft connected with the handle for movement corresponding with the pivotal rotation of the handle and a latching member on the shaft which is adapted to engage the second member in the latched position when the handle is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: A pick-resistant lock system including an essentially cylindrical housing with an axial cylindrical bore and a plurality of radial bores spaced along the cylindrical bore and constituting a pin chamber, the radial bores having open ends in communication with the axial bore; a rotatable main cylinder rotatably located within the axial bore, the man cylinder having radial bores alignable with the radial bores of the housing and a planar key way alignable with the radial bores when in the locked orientations; a plurality of pins formed of plural segments positionable within the radial bores of the housing and main cylinder and with springs urging the pins toward the key way, the segments of the pins having interfaces which are alignable with the interface between the bores of the main cylinder and housing; a generally cylindrical facing cylinder axially alignable with the main cylinder and freely rotatable with respect thereto, the facing cylinder having an enlargement matable with a complementary recess in the

Abstract: An improved latch mechanism is provided for use in a motor control center having a door and a frame which the door cooperatively closes onto. The latch mechanism is capable of securing the door against the frame and is rotatable between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position. The latch mechanism includes a body portion, rotatably coupled to the door, capable of engaging a slot disposed in the frame for securing the door against the frame. A stop, disposed on the body portion, is provided for limiting the rotation of the body portion.

Abstract: The bed system has a rectangular frame, with a mattress assembly mounted on the frame. The mattress assembly has upper and lower wooden strip layers and intervening foam blocks. Each wooden strip layer has a plurality of laterally-oriented wooden strips arranged in proximity to each other from top to bottom of the frame, with each strip extending from one side panel to the other side panel. There are three foam blocks, namely two outer foam blocks and one central foam block, running from head to foot of the bed between the wooden strip layers. The side panels have inwardly-facing shoulder portions running the length thereof, and the wooden strips of the lower wooden strip layer rest on the shoulder portions, with the outer foam blocks extending outwardly beyond the wooden strips so as to be in general vertical alignment with the outer walls of the side panels. This permits conventional North American fitted sheets and/or bed skirts to be used if desired.