Abstract: A torque-releasable door handle assembly is provided for operating a door-latching system. The door handle assembly includes a handle shell formed to include a hollow interior cavity having front and rear openings in the handle shell, a lock cylinder mounted in the hollow interior cavity to position its keyway opening in the front opening of the handle shell, and a torque-release mechanism interconnecting the handle shell and the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder is formed to include an axially extending, radially outwardly opening groove located in the hollow interior cavity. The torque-releasable mechanism normally extends into the groove to establish a driving connection between the handle shell and the lock cylinder. The torque-release mechanism is configured to disengage the groove temporarily to break the driving connection in response to the application of at least a predetermined amount of torque to a lever handle appended to the handle shell.

Abstract: A padlock configured to accept a removable lock core is provided with a shackle and bolt mechanism for locking the shackle. The bolt mechanism is configured to be retainable in the padlock case during shipment of the padlock without its removable lock core. In addition, a tool is provided for releasing and removing the bolt mechanism easily from a secure position inside the padlock to disassemble the padlock for repair.

Abstract: A spring-loaded handle return assembly of compact size is installed in a trim ring or rose on an exterior portion of a door. The return assembly operates to return a door handle to a home position automatically upon release of the door handle by a user.

Abstract: A door handle assembly includes a hollow knob shell, a lock core having a front end formed to include a keyway opening, and a unitary core retainer sleeve situated inside an interior cavity of the knob shell. The unitary core retainer sleeve is formed to include means for supporting the lock core inside the interior cavity so that the front end of the lock core is positioned to lie in a front opening of the knob shell to permit a user to insert a key into the keyway opening.

Abstract: A lock includes a padlock housing and an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A bridge member is provided on a flange of the key-way disc to cover a portion of the longitudinal opening of the key slot in the key-way disc. A cylinder cap is mounted on the lock core by a flange and slot connection for removal therewith by a control key which releases control lugs on the lock core from the lock housing cap is used with a lock cylinder, a cylinder ring having a groove in an interior wall that opens toward either the cylinder cap or the lock cylinder is also provided. The exterior surface and the circumferential groove of the cylinder ring are case hardened.

Abstract: An escutcheon is provided for shielding a portion of a door panel or the like. The escutcheon includes a cover plate having outer and inner faces. The cover plate is formed to include an axially extending lock cylinder-receiving cavity having an annular rear opening in the inner face and a figure-8-shaped front opening in the outer face. A lock cylinder can be mounted in the cavity to display a figure-8-shaped front face of an interchangeable lock core housed in the lock cylinder through the figure-8-shaped front opening in the cover plate.

Abstract: A core assembly is provided for use in a lock cylinder formed to include an axially extending core-receiving chamber of figure-8 cross-section providing upper and lower chamber portions. A throw member extending into the lower chamber portion is provided for actuating a lock assembly. The core assembly includes a plug member configured to fit in the upper chamber portion, and an actuator member configured to rotate freely in the lower chamber portion. The actuator member includes means for operably engaging the actuating means so that the lock assembly is actuable upon rotation of the actuator member in the lower chamber portion and an assembly for ejecting the plug member from the upper chamber portion in response to withdrawal of the actuator member from the lower chamber portion.

Abstract: A lock includes a lock housing and an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A bridge member is provided on a flange of the key-way disc to cover a portion of the longitudinal opening of the key slot in the key-way disc. In one embodiment, a cylinder cap is threadedly mounted on the lock cylinder housing to protect the core and a key-way disc is mounted in the cylinder cap to protect the key plug while still permitting insertion of an operating key into the key slot of the key plug. A spin-free pin is mounted for free rotation in the lock cylinder housing for blocking rotation of the protective cylinder cap in relation to the lock cylinder housing. A setscrew is provided in the lock cylinder housing to urge the spin-free blocking pin into rotation-blocking engagement with the threaded cylinder cap. In other embodiments, the cap is mounted on the lock core for removal therewith by a control key from a lock cylinder housing or a padlock case.

Abstract: A bar lock system includes first and second plates. Each plate includes lugs for mating with an adjacent plate. The first plate includes an inner wall defining an axial bore having opposite forward and rearward openings and the second plate includes an inner wall defining a bolt-receiving cup. The stop member extends a predetermined distance into the axial bore to provide a rearwardly presented blocking surface. A key-actuated bar lock mechanism is position within the axial bore of the first plate for sliding movement therein toward a second plate-locking position. The bar lock mechanism includes a bolt for entering the bolt-receiving cup upon movement of the bar lock mechanism to its second plate-locking position.

Abstract: An improved latch bolt deadlocking mechanism includes a housing, a latch bolt, a deadlocking tumbler, and an auxiliary bolt. The latch bolt is movable along its longitudinal axis in the housing between projected and retracted positions. The deadlocking tumbler and the auxiliary bolt cooperate to selectively deadlock the latch bolt to retain the latch bolt in its projected position. The latch bolt is formed to include integral guides extending along the length of the latch bolt for guiding the auxiliary bolt along a straight path between a projected position holding the deadlocking tumbler in a release position to permit retraction of the latch bolt and a retracted position to permit movement of the deadlocking tumbler to its latch bolt-deadlocking position.

Abstract: A torque-releasable door handle assembly is provided for normally rotating a bolt-retracting sleeve to operate a door latching system. The door handle assembly includes a body for coupling to the bolt-retracting sleeve and a handle shell mounted on the body for rotational movement thereabout. A drive assembly is provided for yieldably connecting the body and handle shell to establish a normal driving connection so that the body is rotated normally to rotate the bolt-retracting sleeve and operate the door latching system in response to rotation of the handle shell. The drive assembly is configured to release the normal driving connection between the body and the handle shell in response to application of a rotation-inducing torque to the handle shell in excess of a predetermined amount. In preferred embodiments, the drive assembly includes a matched pair of mateable female and male drive rings positioned in a space between an exterior surface of the body and an interior surface of the handle shell.

Abstract: A lock is provided for use in preventing relative movement of first and second sliding panels arranged in side-by-side passing relation. The lock includes a lock cylinder that is mounted in the first sliding panel and has an inner wall defining a core-receiving chamber. The lock further includes a lock core that has a slot for receiving a key and is slidably mounted in the core-receiving chamber for movement between a projected and retracted position. In its projected position, the lock core substantially blocks movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In its retracted position, the lock core permits unhindered movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In a first embodiment, the lock core includes separate first and second control lugs positioned in spaced-apart relation. In a second embodiment, the lock core includes a single control lug.

Abstract: A door latch bolt spring-biased to projected position and retracted by a lever or other unbalanced handle is provided with a blocker plate loosely mounted on the rear face of the bolt and held in nonblocking position by a fusible pin or other heat-sensitive element. In case of fire, when elevated temperature may weaken the biasing spring and allow the unbalanced handle to exert retracting force on the latch, the heat-sensitive element releases the blocker plate and allows it to drop to an operative position where it will move against a stop to block retraction of the bolt. The plate is movable in either direction on the bolt so as to be operative on either hand or door. The tailpiece of the latch bolt carries means for mounting a reaction plate for the biasing spring and the blocker plate is loosely received between such plate and the rear face of the latch bolt. The reaction plate can be omitted when the blocker is not used, but can be supplied at any stage of manufacture or in the field when desired.

Abstract: A lock is provided for use in preventing relative movement of first and second sliding panels arranged in side-by-side passing relation. The lock includes a lock cylinder that is mounted in the first sliding panel and has an inner wall defining a core-receiving chamber. The lock further includes a lock core that has a slot for receiving a key and is slidably mounted in the core-receiving chamber for movement between a projected and retracted position. In its projected position, the lock core substantially blocks movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In its retracted position, the lock core permits unhindered movement of the second sliding panel in relation to the first sliding panel. In a first embodiment, the lock core includes separate first and second control lugs positioned in spaced-apart relation. In a second embodiment, the lock core includes a single control lug.