Abstract: A lock piece is provided in the inner part of a tumbler. Size of a clearance formed between the side of a lock groove engaging portion of the lock piece and the side of a lock groove is determined to be smaller than size of a clearance formed between the side of a lock condition holding portion of the tumbler and the side of a lock groove. When the key is inserted being given a torque in the rotating direction, the lock groove engaging portion is engaged with the side of the lock groove, and the lock condition holding portion of the tumbler is maintained to be separate from the side of the lock groove. Due to the foregoing, the lock condition holding portion is prevented from being caught on the side of the lock groove.

Abstract: A lock assembly is formed from a two-piece plastic unit that is held together and to the compartment door by a planar lanced metal spring. The latch projection is ramped relative to the latch retainer slot within the compartment door to cause the latch piece to become jammed within the retainer slot in the event the door is subjected to severe internally-generated gas pressures.

Abstract: A cylinder lock chassis is composed of three self-contained subassembly units, namely, a central retractor assembly and two "face assemblies" such as inside and outside knob assemblies or others prepared to provide various different "functions" for the lock. The retractor assembly has a retractor held and guided in a frame by guide means, preferably a pair of guide lugs on low-friction shoes riding in guide slots in spaced walls of the frame. The unitary retractor assembly is clamped between end plates of selected face assembly units and interlocked therewith so as to hold the face assemblies in coaxial relation with each other and the retractor unit. This permits selective assembly of various lock chassis from stocks of different self-contained and unitary subassemblies to facilitate original manufacture of locks with different functions, and allows interchange of unitary subassemblies in field service.

Abstract: A key operated rotary core cylinder lock having rotary disc tumblers arranged in a pack with intervening spacer members within a rotary core sleeve normally held against rotation within the lock casing by a locking bar which spans the shear line between the disc tumbler peripheries and the confronting wall of the rotary core sleeve or shell. Gates are provided in the disc tumblers to be aligned by an appropriate key with the locking bar for releasing the plug for rotation, and the spacer members are of a truncated triangular cross-sectional configuration having rounded corners bearing against and positioned by the cylindrical bore in the core sleeve and have flat side portions between the rounded corners and larger radius center openings than the radii of the key openings in the disc tumblers to provide spaces for accommodating foreign matter contaminants. Exposed shackle padlocks incorporating such rotary core cylinder lock components are also disclosed.

Abstract: An installation for securing pivotal hoods or flaps, particularly engine hoods for motor vehicles, which are unlatched from the interior space of the vehicle and can be released externally from a locked or stop position by a lever secured at a safety hook which itself is pivotally mounted spring-loaded at the hood and cooperates with a fixed counter-member; after the release of the interior latching mechanism, the safety hook is pivoted into a locking or stop position by an upwardly directed movement of the hood, in the course of which the lever pivotally mounted at the safety hook is displaced out of a normal, covered-off position into an externally accessible position for the disengagement out of the stop position.