Abstract: A rotary latch employs at least one rotary jaw that is releasably retained in its latched position by a rotary pawl. Housing side plates sandwich the rotary jaw, the rotary pawl and one or more torsion coil springs that bias the rotary jaw from an unlatched position toward a latched position, and the rotary pawl from a jaw-releasing position toward a jaw-retaining position. Improvements that enhance service longevity include the use of C-shaped hook formations defined by reaches of spring material that extend from torsion spring coils located alongside one or both of the rotary jaw and the rotary pawl to engage convexly shaped C-shaped formations of the rotary jaw and/or the rotary pawl that are located in the same plane as the torsion spring coils to provide long-lived connections between the torsion spring or springs and one or both of the rotary jaw and the rotary pawl.

Abstract: A folding foot step of the type used on vehicles has an improved anti-skid, friction grip, stand-on surface with a clover-leaflet-shaped perimeter. The stand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings that are spaced inwardly from the perimeter and arrayed to extend about an uninterrupted central region of the stand-on surface. An upwardly-opening recess is defined by a narrow upstanding rim that runs along and defines the perimeter of the stand-on surface, and by narrow upstanding rims that encircle the three openings.

Abstract: Weather resistant push button operator assemblies usable with a variety of latch and lock systems are disclosed that employ O-ring seals along inner and outer diameters of tubular push button operators that may be provided with key operated lock cylinders. A clamp-on bracket and linkage assembly is disclosed that may be used to enable the push button operator assemblies to pivot pairs of latch connected links in opposite directions to concurrently release pairs of remotely located latches.

Abstract: A latch, lock and hinge system having components that are well suited for use with closures such as tonneau covers that close the upwardly opening rear cargo compartments of pickup trucks and the like, includes rotary latch assemblies that are mounted on hinges for releasably engaging latch strikers to provide cover mounting connections that permit the cover both to pivot between open and closed positions, and to be removed when desired. The hinges have pivotally connected arms that are biased to hold the hinge-carried latches adjacent the cover when the cover is removed. Also included are other rotary latch assemblies that are connected by flexible cables to a latch operator assembly having an elongate housing that defines near its opposite ends a pair of recesses wherein latch operators are nested that can be concurrently moved toward each other by the fingers of one hand to unlatch and pivot open the cover. The latch operator assembly is lockable to prevent the cover from being opened and/or removed.

Abstract: Relatively thin collectibles such as movie posters and sports jerseys, as well as relatively thin works of art and the like are displayed through transparent bottom wall regions of relatively thin protective enclosures that are sized the same as and substituted for selected ceiling tile in a suspended ceiling. Each of the protective enclosures has a top wall that overlies at least a transparent region of the enclosure's bottom wall. Preferably the protective enclosures are generally square or rectangular to correspond with the size and shape of the ceiling tile they replace, and have top and bottom walls that extend substantially the full widths and lengths of the enclosures for being connected near their perimeters to cooperate directly or with short upstanding side walls to define thin display compartments that are closed to minimize the circulation of ambient air therethrough for protectively housing collectibles that are to be displayed through transparent central regions of the bottom walls.

Abstract: A tool head or “head assembly” having on-board logic (1) for being mounted on a rotatable spindle of a machining center, as a boring machine, (2) for being rotated about a primary axis of spindle rotation (PRA), and (3) supports a tool as a boring bar at a controllable radial offset distance (ROD) from the PRA. The PRA aligns with the axis of a workpiece bore being formed The head advances along the PRA and rotates in a boring operation. As the head advances, the ROD of the tool is controlled by a micro-controller and secondary logic on-board the head cooperating with primary logic in a remote controller to provide a complex multi-diameter workpiece bore configuration. Rotating head elements protectively surround the secondary logic and control elements that regulate the ROD and may compensate for vibration, wear, and backlash. The head is usable with spindles of diverse machine tools.