Abstract: A method and means for releasably connecting the body of an electrical component such as a switch assembly to a support housing that surrounds at least a portion of the body of the switch assembly, for example the tubular body of a key operated lock adapted to operate a switch when a key is turned in the lock. A specially configured spring clip has resilient legs that extend through slots formed in opposite sides of the support housing and into engagement with formations provided on opposite sides of the body of the electrical component not only to maintain a connection between the body and the support housing but also to bias the electrical component into engagement with at least one stop formation defined by the support housing to ensure that the electrical component is properly positioned relative to the support housing.

Abstract: A versatile slam capable latch mechanism that can be operated by one or more adjacent and/or remotely located operating devices to release a striker from latched engagement; that can be directly attached to an operating device such as a flush-mountable paddle handle assembly to provide a “stand alone” latch; that can be connected by one or more rod-like links to one or more remotely located operating devices such as push button assemblies; that can be connected by rod-like links to other similar latch mechanisms each arranged to be slammed into engagement with a different striker to provide a “plural point” latching system; and wherein one of the various types of operating devices that may be connected to a latch system that includes one or more of the latch mechanisms can be provided with a key operated lock to “lock” the system.

Abstract: Stackable display bins for supporting quantities of cylindrical articles such as tubes of caulk and the like have U-shaped interiors that are accessible through U-shaped front openings. The bins have generally rectangular front, rear and side walls that connect with a symmetrically curved bottom wall to define their U-shaped interiors. The front, rear and side walls extend substantially vertically so they can directly underlie and overlie the front, rear and side walls of other identically configured bins in a vertically stacked array of bins. Removable extenders connect with the bins near front ends of the right and left side walls for pivotally mounting doors at locations spaced forwardly from the U-shaped openings for supporting signs that identify the contents of the bins. Methods of utilizing single bins and pairs of bins with short and long doors and removable interior partitions to display quantities of relatively large and relatively smaller sized tubes of caulk also are disclosed.

Abstract: A flush mountable operating assembly has paddle-type handle nested in a housing-defined recess for pivoting between non-operated and operated positions. An operating linkage for drivingly connecting the paddle handle to one or a plurality of adjacent or remotely located latch assemblies includes overlying first and second arm that are connected to the housing for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis. A lock cylinder is carried by the housing and is coupled to a connecting element for positioning the connecting element at selected locations along the lengths of aligned slots that are formed through the first and second arms. The position of the connecting element in the slots, and the configuration and orientation of the slots determine whether the arms are drivingly connected or disconnected. When connected, the arms pivot in the unison when the handle is moved to its operated position to cause the latch operation.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical body of a device such as a cam lock is provided with a snap-in mount that enables the body to be mounted from one side of and through mounting holes formed in support panels of distinctly different thicknesses. The body has a shoulder that faces in one direction toward one side of a support panel, and carries sets of movable arms that define engagement surfaces located at different distances from the shoulder that snap outwardly after being inserted through a panel mounting hole to face toward the opposite side of the support panel. The body can be mounted on panels having three different thicknesses if three sets of arms are provided that each define engagement surfaces located at a different distance from the shoulder. More panel thicknesses can be accommodated if one or more of the sets of arms define two or more sets of engagement surfaces each located at a distinctly different distance from the shoulder.

Abstract: A handle operating mechanism that may be lockable includes a housing that defines a forwardly facing recess for receiving a handle that is movable from a nested non-operated position to an extended operated position. A connection plate located behind the housing is pivotally supported by the housing for limited angular movement from a non-operated orientation to an operated orientation in response to movement of the handle from the non-operated position to the operated position. The connection plate is provided with a plurality of connection formations arrayed in a novel way about the pivot axis of the connection plate to ensure that pairs of lengthy, oppositely directed links coupled to the connection formations move concurrently and substantially equidistantly to operate various arrangements of remotely located latches including pairs of latches situated on opposite sides of the handle operating mechanism.