Abstract: A door latch blocker safety strike plate has a strike plate, a latch blocker, and a hinge pivotally coupling the latch blocker to the strike plate. The strike plate has a generally planar plate and a curved section. The generally planar plate has spaced apart mounting holes, and a keeper hole adapted to operatively align with a keeper opening in a door jamb. The keeper hole is interposed between mounting holes. The latch blocker also has a generally planar plate and a curved section. The latch blocker pivots about the hinge through approximately 270 degrees to selectively cover the keeper, and thereby block the door bolt, or pivot away from and expose the keeper, to allow the door bolt to engage first with the strike plate and subsequently with the keeper.

Abstract: A gate locking device is easy to operate, tamper proof and kid friendly. The gate locking device can be used on gates that are on both on a leveled area, or with gates that are on grade. The gate locking device includes locking flanges that and rotate and/or pivot to align to allow a lock to be secured thereto. The gate locking device further includes drop bolts that can lock in place into a ground slot. The gate locking device can be used in a single gate design or a dual gate design.

Abstract: A gate locking device is easy to operate, tamper proof and kid friendly. The gate locking device can be used on gates that are on both on a leveled area, or with gates that are on grade. The gate locking device includes locking flanges that and rotate and/or pivot to align to allow a lock to be secured thereto. The gate locking device further includes drop bolts that can lock in place into a ground slot. The gate locking device can be used in a single gate design or a dual gate design.

Abstract: A container comprising a body (1), a lid (5) for the body (1), and a locking arrangement for securing the lid (5) to the body (1): the locking arrangement comprising a handle (23) which fits around at least a part of the periphery of the lid (5), and at least one locking device which connects the handle (23) to the lid (5) such that the lid (5) is movable by the handle (23), which is such that the locking device locks when the handle (23) is lowered with respect to the lid (5), and which is such that the lifting of the handle (23) away from the lid (5) causes the locking device (4) to unlock.

Abstract: A childproof gate latch for an enclosure such as a fence is provided with a latching member attached to a gate. The latching member is received through a lock opening in a fence support as the gate is closed. A latching sleeve is moveable into engagement with the latching member as the latching member enters the lock opening. Thereafter, as the latching sleeve is raised and the latching member released from engagement, a pawl moves to a lowered position supporting the latching sleeve in a ready to engage arrangement.

Abstract: A blocking apparatus is cooperable with the latch lever of a vehicle door latching mechanism to prevent the latch lever from moving during a crash event, which prevents the latching mechanism from allowing the vehicle door to open. The blocking apparatus includes a housing supporting a linearly movable plunger engagable with a cam surface on the latch lever and a blocking member pivotally mounted for movement between a normal position and a blocking position. The blocking member moves into the blocking position due to the imposition of crash forces on the blocking member during a crash event. A centering spring mechanism biases the blocking member into the normal position and can return the blocking member into the normal position to permit movement of the latch lever after the crash event has occurred. The plunger is biased into engagement with the latch lever so as to move with the cam surface.

Abstract: A door mechanism for a transportation container having a material receiving opening extending through a surface of the transportation container is disclosed. The door mechanism includes at least one substantially rigid door element to removably cover at least a portion of the material receiving opening of the transportation container. Further, the door mechanism includes at least one latching mechanism in operable communication with the door element for securing the door element over the material receiving opening and against at least a portion of an adjacent surface surrounding the material receiving opening. A transportation container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A latch that secures a closure member includes a bolt and a support member, with the support member attaching the bolt to a part, which could be a door frame. The support member is configured with head and shank portions, so that when the support member is tightened to the part, the bolt is free to rotate and slide about the shank. The bolt is held captive on the support member by a shoulder of the head, and a longitudinal slot in the bolt allows the bolt to rotate and slide about the shank. The bolt has a second slot with parallel sides that engage parallel flat surfaces of the support member head, thereby suspending the bolt in a horizontal closure locking position to allow unobstructed opening or closing of the closure member.

Abstract: A food service cart for airplanes is provided with a vertically slidable latching mechanism for it doors. The latching mechanism may be secured by a padlock and the upper handle of the latch forms a protective hasp to prevent thievery of stored goods. The handle of the latch is located in an ergonomically advantageous position.

Abstract: A door for a computer case is provided which can be moved to a blocking position for blocking access to bays and/or drives of the case. The door can be attached to the case by a slide connection for sliding it along the front of the case between its blocking and accessing positions. In the preferred form, the case is a vertical tower type of case and the door is preloaded on track guides so that when it is raised such as to the blocking position it will not fall back to the accessing position under the influence of its own weight. A gear drive can be provided between the door and housing to provide for smooth manual sliding of the door to readily allow the door to be pushed to overcome the frictional resistance provided by the preload without hang ups in the track guides.

Abstract: A system to be utilized on a horizontal surface for providing visual privacy is disclosed. A plurality of base units each having a retractable panel are positioned at desired locations on the surface to define a plurality of intervals. Selected retractable panels can be drawn across selected intervals to form a desired grid system. The base units can be utilized in conjunction with an existing open plan furniture arrangement to provide additional visual privacy or workstations. In specific embodiments of the invention, the location at which the retractable panel is secured to a vertical panel is vertically adjustable, a uniform attachment between differing thicknesses of the flexible material of a retractable panel is maintained and the tension of spring loaded roller upon which the material is coiled is adjustable. The housing containing a retractable panel as well as the corresponding jamb member can be magnetically attached to vertical surfaces defined in an open plan furniture arrangement.

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: An adjustable toilet-lid closing and lock-down device, with optional use key lock-down, for use on many different types, and styles of toilets, that is sturdily attached, keeping toilet-lid lock-down in it's normal position, requiring adult supervision to use, thus providing safety and general hygiene for infants, young children and household pets.

Abstract: A door locking mechanism for locking a first slidable door to a second door. A base member is mounted to a side of the second door and is positioned parallel the first door. A hinge member is mounted to the base member so as to pivot about a vertical axis. A receiving member is mounted to a face of the first door so as to be engageable by the hinge member. The hinge member includes a slidable tab portion with a downwardly extending tab. The hinge member is rotated away from the base member and the tab portion is slid downward to engage the locking mechanism within the receiving member.

Abstract: A latch arrangement for an access opening cover on a bulk material storage structure. The access opening will include a frame defining an opening periphery, with the covers hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position. Each cover will include at least one slide bar extending between sides of the cover. Each slide bar has a length such that the ends of the slide bar are in proximity to the frame. Lock studs extend inwardly from the frame, with one stud associated with each end of each slide bar. Each slide bar is mounted for sliding movement perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in the plane of the cover between latched and unlatched positions, and includes a stud face and a lock face. The stud face includes slits through which the studs may pass at the closed position of the cover, allowing the bar to drop down over the stud. When dropped down over the stud into the latched position, the lock face abuts against the stud, arresting movement of the bar.

Abstract: A system for providing temporary visual privacy across an interval in a modular open plan furniture arrangement. A horizontally retractable panel is situated at one side of the interval. The retractable panel is provided with means for drawing the panel closed across the interval, and is also provided with means for securing the panel in the closed position. In the preferred form of the invention, the panel comprises a flexible material coiled about a vertically oriented, spring loaded roller lodged within a housing.

Abstract: A gravity latch for a swinging gates such as a corral gate or a gate on a box stall. The latch has a barrel and keeper mounted on the gate and a gate post. They are both rectangular metal tubes and inclined downwardly from the barrel to the gate at an angle of 45.degree.. The barrel and keeper have parallel rows of fastener openings through them to enable the fastening of the barrel and keeper to gates and posts of various types, including wooden and steel corral gates. A bolt for the latch is in the form of a source metal tube that slides along the barrel and the keeper. In the latched condition, it is completely enclosed within the barrel and keeper to prevent opening of the gate by an animal.

Abstract: An improved lockable windowgate having manually operated latching menas for retaining a locking member in retracted condition against the force of gravity during the time period in which the gate is opened, so as to facilitate one-handed operation by a user. Several embodiments are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the latching member is in the form of a detent disengaged by downward pressure on the locking member.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided for an automatic washer/dryer combination unit which positively latches the lid of the washer unit upon rotation of the washer lid to an open position. The latch mechanism operates automatically by gravitational action after rotation of the lid past the latch pin. No mechanical or magnetic forces are required for the latching action. Further, the latch mechanism is adaptable to latch differently sized lids in different mounting arrangements.

Abstract: A gate lock is disclosed for use with swinging gates of the chain link type which includes upper and lower hollow cylindrical housings respectively affixed to adjacent vertical elements of swinging gates. A sliding bolt is in vertical sliding and rotatable arrangement within the bore of the upper housing and is movable between an upper, unlocked position and a lower locked position wherein the bottom of the bolt enters the bore of the lower housing. The lower housing includes a plurality of vertically spaced, key positioning plates which are arranged to require insertion and removal of an operating key in angularly offset relationship from the housing axis. The key positioning plates are further designed to axially align the key after insertion whereby the key head can engage a shaped recess in a threaded locking bolt to threadedly engage and lock the sliding bolt of the upper housing within the lower housing.

Abstract: Security gate apparatus for securing building openings in the nature of window and door openings are disclosed; and comprise a security gate including gate-carried locking means which, while of particularly sturdy construction and effective to render it extremely difficult if not impossible as a practical matter to open the security gate from without the building opening, are nonetheless virtually foolproof in operation, and which are very readily and conveniently openable from within the building, even by those of somewhat limited mental and/or physical capacities, in readily apparent manner to thereby insure virtually immediate exit from the building through the building opening for the building occupants in emergency situations.

Abstract: A shutter-type window gate device has a hinged shutter panel defining a vertical guide at its unhinged side for guiding a vertical slidable bolt. The vertical slidable bolt is adapted to engage latch elements on the frame of the device in a locked upper position of the bolt. The vertical slidable bolt has a horizontal latching projection to adapted to engage the top of a horizontal resiliently biased bolt, in the locked upper position of the slidable bolt, thereby holding the vertical slidable bolt in its locked position. In the lower, unlocked, position of the vertical slidable bolt, its latching projection is aligned with the resiliently horizontally biased bolt, to enable free vertical movement of the slidable bolt by an operator.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for limiting the translation of a panel unit slidably secured in a track member includes a slide member secured in the track and adapted to translate therealong. The slide member includes an aperture in the bottom portion thereof which is registrable with any one of a plurality of depressions formed in the bottom of the track member. The slide member includes a pair of opposed, upwardly extending end tabs which retain a latch member therebetween. The latch member includes an aperture registrable with the aperture of the slide member, and is translatable transversely with respect to the track. A ball is disposed between the latch member and the slide member, and is adapted to fall gravitally into the aperture of the slide member and seat in a depression in the track. With the latch aperture aligned with the ball and slide aperture, the slide member may be translated along the track by unseating the ball from the track aperture.

Abstract: A multi-deck rail car having an interior cavity and an end opening for loading and unloading lading is provided with a pair of door assemblies, each of which includes a plurality of panels. Each door assembly is pivotally movable for closing at least a portion of the end opening. Double vertical pivots mount each of the door assemblies and are provided such that they move the door assemblies between their respective open position, storage position and closed position. The double vertical pivot means are cranks pivoted at either end to permit pivoting of the door assemblies for storage within the rail car, when their panels are folded back upon one another. A lock for the doors includes a rigid projection extending from the edge of a first one of the panels behind and past an adjacent edge of the second of the two panels and in register with a cutout in the adjacent edge of the second panel.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism locatable in a gate post and having a striker to be attached to a gate, and a latch to releasably retain the striker within the gate post, the latch being movable to a position to release the striker by the manipulation of a release button located beyond the reach of small children.

Abstract: A high strength, self loading, gravity biased security lock for positive securement of doors, windows and similar closures is disclosed. The security lock includes a pair of mounting elements, i.e., a bolt assembly and a latch assembly, formed for rapid and simple mounting of the assemblies to external surfaces of a door and door frame without the need for modifying or altering the construction of the door. The assemblies can be mounted to either right or left opening doors or floor mounted, and the fastening elements used to mount the security lock to the door are located in inaccessible positions when the lock is in the latched condition.