Abstract: A latch device comprises a casing secured to a body with a door hinged thereto and a slide to be pushed, when the door is closed, by a strike projecting from the back side of the door into the casing so that the door is held closed with the strike retained in the slide. The slide has a heart-shaped cam groove formed in the top surface. A latch pin is provided with its one end received in the cam groove and its other end rotatably fitted in the casing. The one end of the latch pin is adapted to trace the cam groove with the movement of the slide, and is urged against the bottom of the cam groove by a retainer spring.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a pivotally mounted door of an interior compartment, such as a compartment of a vehicle, is provided. The latching mechanism includes a latch mountable within the compartment and a striker plate mountable on the door. The latch includes a latching element and with the striker plate has catch means to engage the latching element upon pushing of the door to a closed position to thereby latch the door closed. The latch includes spring means which are effective to disengage the latching element upon pushing on the door after the door has first been closed and latched. The latch also includes retardation means connected to the latching element. The retardation means is effective to delay disengagement of the latching element and the catch for a short time after the door is pushed when the door is in the closed and latched condition.

Abstract: A locking device is disclosed, which is locked when a spike secured to the back surface of a door is pushed once and is released when the spike is pushed once again. The locking device comprises a case open at one end and having a wall provided with a spring portion having an end projection, a lock member slidably accommodated in the case for movement away from and toward the open end and having a pair of locking pawls, a spring for urging the lock member toward the open end of the case at all times, and a cam member provided between the lock member and an end wall of the case and having a lateral ridge formed on one surface and received in a lateral groove of the lock member, the cam member being provided on the other surface with a uni-directional looped path, the projection of the case being slidably engaged in the path. When the lock member is pushed, the projection of the base is caused to trace the looped path to bring about a locked state and an unlocked state.

Abstract: A two-piece fastening assembly, for cabinet doors and other relatively movable objects, is disclosed. One piece comprises a housing, having attachments on its outside to fix it to one of the movable objects, with a rotatable, reciprocating catch positioned inside having projections which alternately engage fixed sockets in the housing. The other piece is a keeper that is attached to the other movable object that contacts the reciprocating catch and allows closing and opening of the two parts.

Abstract: A sliding roof for a vehicle with a roof opening, comprising a transparent outer panel and an inner panel with a grip. The outer panel may be moved downwardly from its closed position in the roof opening and may be slid backwardly between the fixed roof and the inner roof lining of the vehicle to a wholly or partly opened position and back. Upon opening of the outer panel a carrier means on the outer panel slides the inner panel backwardly and in the wholly opened position of the outer panel the inner panel substantially entirely lies between the inner roof lining and the fixed roof and a hand grip of the inner panel is inaccessible. Upon the forward movement of the outer panel from its substantially rearward wholly opened position, a locking mechanism locks the inner panel in a position in which the handgrip remains inaccessible.

Abstract: A first push of an engaging piece moves a projecting portion provided on a case along a one-way passage loop provided on one face of a cam plate while simultaneously moving the cam plate transversely, guiding the projecting portion into an engaging portion provided in said passage, locking the device. Pushing the engaging piece a second time disengages the projecting portion from the engaging portion and moves the cam plate transversely back to its original position, unlocking the device.

Abstract: A handle assembly for attaching a decorative handle to a turning stem is disclosed. The handle can be placed on, as well as removed from the stem by a straight axial motion (without turning the handle). In one embodiment, the stem adapter is secured to a valve stem and has an angled shoulder surface and an undercut portion. An attachment screw is employed to secure the stem adapter to the valve stem. The handle adapter has a multiplicity of resilient finger members with terminal portions adapted to engage both the angled shoulder surface and the undercut portion of the stem adapter. A handle member of a generally U-shaped configuration has a retainer member secured therein with the retainer member having finger engaging portions.

Abstract: A device to lock a door body provided on a main body, wherein by a sliding body provided slidably on a framework attached to the inside of the door body and having such an operational mechanism as to be pushed within the framework by first pushing and to be protruded forwards by second pushing, a hook body provided turnably within the framework is protruded out of a window hole provided at one side of the framework so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the main body side. The sliding body has a knob at its outside.

Abstract: Locking devices for kitchen doors, drawers or like closure structures comprise a locking mechanism fixed to the cabinet supporting the door and a key unit mounted on the door. The locking mechanism includes a heart-shaped groove having a recess in which a projecting member in the device lodges under spring bias when the device is in the locked position. Operation of the devices to lock a door is achieved by pushing the door toward the cabinet so the key unit engages the locking mechanism and the projecting member moves in the heart-shaped groove until it lodges in the recess to firmly lock the door. Opening such a locked door is achieved by first pushing the door further closed so that the key unit enters deeper into the locking mechanism to cause the projecting member to disengage from the recess which then allows the door to move forward to an unlocked position. Several embodiments of the devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A foot operated door stop adapted to be positioned in a floor opening adjacent the door so as to effectively limit its degree of opening as a safety and anti-burglar means. This door stopper is in the form of inner and outer telescopically mounted cylindrical members. The inner cylinder is spring urged to an extended position wherein such member projects upwardly from the floor in a door blocking position. The inner member is guided by specific means at the upper and lower ends of the outer member and a particular detent assembly is mounted in such inner member so as to present the means by which the inner member may be held in its retracted or non-operative position. The inner cylinder is also adapted to freely rotate with respect to the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A closing device for doors and the like comprising a spring-projected slider automatically held in a retracted position in a housing by pushing the slider therein, and automatically released therefrom by a further pushing in of the slider. The slider supports a catch which may engage a counterpart catch member by pivoting thereagainst as the slider is retracted; and may be released as the slider is projected.

Abstract: A latch for a barbed wire gate. A swinging hooked latch arm is operated by a novel sliding cam arrangement to effect closure of the latch. A pawl holds the latch arm in the closed position around the gate post. Pulling the gate post further toward the latch releases the pawl permitting spring means to swing the latch arm to the open position.

Abstract: A push type temporary locking device with a catcher of a magnet used for locking a closed door of a cabinet for an electronic equipment or furniture or the like. This temporary locking device comprises a supporting box fixedly secured to a door mounting frame, a drive element attached with a catcher such as a magnet at its front end and slidably engaged within the supporting box, a driven element having at least two recesses symmetrically provided thereat and rotatably supported at the drive element, a rotating projection eccentrically contacting the driven element at the depressing end of the drive element into the supporting box, and a rotating and engaging extension eccentrically contacting the driven element to thereby retain the driven element when the drive element is slightly moved forwardly and to rotate itself into the guide groove.

Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus for doors and the like includes magnets and metal plates which are located superposed inside a casing. Either the magnets or the metal plates are adapted to be slidable inwardly and outwardly of the casing and the other of the magnets or metal plates is secured to the inside of the casing. The metal plates are shaped so that the slidable element overlaps a great amount with the secured element when the slidable element is located inside the casing, and has a reduced or substantially no overlap with the secured element when the slidable element is located on the outside of the casing. The slidable element is mounted on an engaging member which is urged outwardly from the casing by a spring which is located adjacent the opening of a box-like body, there being a locking assembly provided which includes a lock which is capable of locking the engaging member when it is manually pushed and releasing it when it is manually pushed a second time.

Abstract: A locking assembly for doors and the like having a ring in a predetermined position in a cylindrical body so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. Projections are provided on the inner peripheral face of the ring. A sliding rod is fitted into the body so as to be slidable in the axial direction and has a concave groove on the peripheral face thereof. Serriform guides are provided on the opposite walls of the groove, the positions of the apexes of the guides being off set from each other. Axial slide grooves on the surface of the rod communicate with the trough of one of the guides at one end and are closed at the other end. The projections on the ring are fitted into the grooves and a magnet is mounted on the opposite end of the sliding rod from the slide grooves. A spring urges the sliding rod toward the magnet.

Abstract: Steering mechanism for a hospital type carriage such as a mobile stretcher supported by two pairs of spaced fore and aft casters respectively on opposite sides of the same and swivelled about vertical axes, said mechanism comprising a sprocket chain or the like extending around sheaves or sprocket gears connected respectively to one pair of said fore and aft casters, one of said sprocket gears being releasably connectable to the caster upon which it is mounted selectively for rotation with said caster about the swivel axis thereof or permit free swivelling of said caster, the chain being operable to cause the pair of fore and aft casters connected thereby to either travel in a straight line or respectively swivel similar amounts in opposite directions to effect turning movements efficiently, accurately and quickly. Quick disconnect also can be made by cam means foot-actuated to permit free swivelling of all casters.

Abstract: A door operating mechanism holds a door in a closed position and automatically opens the door of a console which contains an electric audio apparatus such as a stereo. When the door is first pushed to a close, the door operating mechanism which is inside a plate of the console and which has a front end portion which extends out from the plate holds the door magnetically and when the door is pushed again an operative member slidably mounted in a cylindrical casing of the door operating mechanism pushes the door with a pop to open it automatically. The door is thus held in a closed position but pops open when the door is pushed again.

Abstract: In a touch latch mechanism of the type adapted for use in latching a pair of members upon relative convergent movement thereof from a remote position into an adjacent position and for releasing the members from their adjacent position for relative divergent movement towards their remote position upon further movement of the members in the direction of converging movement beyond the adjacent position, the improvement wherein the latch mechanism includes a catch plate cooperating with a novel keeper mechanism characterized as having a resiliently deformable and pivotally supported keeper element.

Abstract: A releasable latch, for attachment to a door check unit having a cylinder and a piston, and serving releasably to secure a door in an open position. A lever is freely slidable along the rod of the piston and is tiltable on the rod for releasable locking engagement. A cam and follower are actuable from a pre-set position to tilt the lever into locking engagement when the door is opened beyond a predetermined limit and then released. On release of the lever from locking engagement with the piston rod the cam and follower are returned to their pre-set position.

Abstract: A novel latch device for drawers which comprises a prolonged element formed on the support plate, fixed vertically at a rear portion of the drawer casing, at its upper front end relative to the forward direction of the drawer, a notch at the front upper edge of said support plate, a horizontal lever in close contact with the upper part of one side of said support plate, a beak-like hook, on the lower front end of said horizontal lever, positioned so as to engage in the lower end of said prolonged part, a notch for locking on the rear end edge of the horizontal lever, a loose hole near the center of the horizontal lever to axially hold the lever on contact with the support plate, a spring applying a downward and backward tension on the drawer hook, a lock-releasing lever which is placed on the upper part of the other side of the above-mentioned support plate, and which is provided with a projected portion immediately behind the drawer hook, a latch-catching element disposed at its near edge, a bend disposed on

Abstract: A battery enclosure for an electrically driven vehicle includes side panels, and a plastic top panel reinforced by elongated metal rods mounted relative to the top panel by means of plastic securing members bonded to the top panel. Locking means, including a pivotal member adapted for securing an edge portion of the top panel to a side panel, are included.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for hatch covers utilized on railway hopper cars comprises a hand or foot operated latch arm which is held in a closed position by a balanced retaining member pivotally mounted on a keeper element. The retaining member includes a nose engaging latch arm for retaining the same in a closed position. The retaining member also includes a foot element disposed below the arm. Sudden downward movement of the arm within the keeper element against the foot element causes the balanced retainer to be swung to an out-of-the-way position whereupon the arm can be unlatched from the keeper.

Abstract: An extensible safety latch means comprising two telescoping bar members attached at their extremities to a fixed window frame and an inwardly pivotable window frame, the bars having a first key operated latch means for limiting movement of the pivotable window frame to a safe distance from the fixed window frame insufficient for passage of a child, and a second latch means for securing the movable window frame in an extended inward position as needed to clean the window.

Abstract: An arresting arrangement is mountable on the lower edge of a door adjacent to the floor and is movable between an inoperative and an operative position. A biasing spring permanently biases the arrangement to the inoperative position, and a latching arrangement serves to releasably latch the arresting arrangement in the operative position. An electromagnet controls the operation of the latching arresting arrangement.

Abstract: A push releasable magnetic latch for cupboard doors or the like, comprising a first magnetic member secured to the cupboard door and a second magnetic member swing mounted to the cupboard structure about a pivot axis perpendicular to the path of travel of the door. The second member has a forward latching position and a rearward non-latching position, with a spring pushing the second member to its forward latching position. To open the door, the door is pushed inwardly to force the second magnetic member to its non-latching position where the two magnetic members are out of engagement, after which the door is abruptly released so that the spring causes the second member to push the door outwardly away from the cupboard structure.