Abstract: A turnbutton latch has an improved male part comprising a hollow stud supting a turnbutton at one end of the stud. A bolt is fixed to the turnbutton within the stud, and a turnbutton spring biases the turnbutton to a closed position, at which the bolt depresses a trigger against the bias of a trigger spring. When the turnbutton is manually turned to open the latch, the trigger moves toward the turnbutton, blocking the bolt and preventing the turnbutton from closing the latch until the trigger is depressed. A female part placed over the turnbutton and the stud when the latch is open depresses the trigger to close the latch.

Abstract: A combination lock in which an actuator is movable in a predetermined dirion from a rest position to an unlocking position to unlock the lock and is further movable in the predetermined direction beyond the unlocking position to a combination-changing position to permit the combination to be changed. Movement of the actuator to the unlocking position can only occur when combination dials and sleeves coupled thereto are "on-combination". In the combination-changing position of the actuator, the sleeves are uncoupled from the dials. A stop mechanism is normally effective to prevent movement of the actuator to the combination-changing position and is rendered ineffective by depressing a plunger. The same stop mechanism holds the actuator at the combination-changing position during changing of the combination.

Abstract: A stay, which may be used to retain the open position of the cover of a scase, for example, comprises a pair of arms which turn relatively about a pivot pin extending through overlapped ends of the arms. The pivot pin holds a spring plate superposed with the overlapped ends of the arms, and the spring plate is connected to one of the arms for turning movement therewith relative to the other arm. A detent ball supported in a socket on one arm and retained therein by engagement with the spring plate enters a detent dimple when the arms reach a limit of their relative turning movement.

Abstract: A combination lock which employs a plurality of dials and respective sleeve eans for each dial has a pivotally mounted bolt member related to the sleeve means so that the bolt member may be pivoted to respective "on combination" and "off combination" positions. A latch member cooperable with the bolt member is mounted for sliding movement in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft upon which the dials and their respective sleeve means are mounted. Cooperable means are provided by the bolt member and the latch member to block movement of the latch member toward release position when the lock is "off combination". The latch member is provided with means to allow by-passing the bolt member and movement of the latch member to release position when the lock is "on combination". The combination lock is particularly suited for briefcases or the like.

Abstract: A combination padlock has a plurality of permutation tumblers mounted on a ember shiftable in a cavity in the body of the lock to effect a change in combination. Limit means cooperate with the tumblers for preventing the member from being shifted except when the tumblers are set in the correct combination. The member can be shifted in response to movement of the shackle of the padlock, but only when the lock is open. The bolt of the padlock and the shackle are designed to permit the tumblers to be scrambled when the lock is open, thus concealing the correct combination from unauthorized persons, and preventing the combination from being changed while the lock is open.

Abstract: A wheel assembly is detachably connected to a mounting plate assembly that s attached to a corner of a luggage case. One assembly has a latch member resiliently urged into overlying relationship with an aperture that receives a tab on the other assembly, such tab having a cam surface that engages and displaces the latch member as the assemblies are being brought together, and a notch within which the latch member snaps after the assemblies are brought together thereby detachably retaining the one assembly to the other. An extension on the latch member is manually accessible allowing it to be manually displaced out of the notch to detach the assemblies.

Abstract: A roller unit for use as a caster for luggage, for example, has a sturdy -piece roller housing formed of sheet metal, the housing comprising a rectangular base with raised pads at opposite ends thereof and a roller-receiving shell defined by a pair of opposed U-shaped walls bent from opposite longitudinal edge regions of the base between the pads. Roller units are manufactured seriatim by metal forming operations that do not require deep-drawing.

Abstract: A roller unit for use as a caster for luggage, for example, has a sturdy -piece roller housing formed of sheet metal, the housing comprising a rectangular base with raised pads at opposite ends thereof and a roller-receiving shell defined by a pair of opposed U-shaped walls bent from opposite longitudinal edge regions of the base between the pads. Roller units are manufactured seriatim by metal forming operations that do not require deep-drawing.

Abstract: An improved draw bolt of the type including a frame, link means having one nd pivotally connected to the frame, and a manually operable latch member pivotally connected to the other end of the link means for movement with the link means to latching and unlatching positions. A leaf spring secured to the frame is cooperable with the link means for moving the hasp-engaging end of the latch member completely clear of the hasp upon release of the manual force applied to lift the other end of the latch member away from the frame. In the preferred draw bolt, the link means comprises a spaced pair of link members and a key-actuatable bolt member is carried by the latch member between the two link members, the bolt member being engageable with a stud on the frame for releasably locking the latch member in the latching position.

Abstract: A drawbolt for the mating shells of a container has a latch whose spaced e walls are provided with open slots that receive a transverse cross-bar on one end of a loop whose other end is engageable behind a hasp on one of the shells. Outwardly directed lugs on the side walls are received in aligned apertures in spaced guide walls of a frame, such walls having edges defining aligned peripheral cam surfaces which, together with the closed end of the slots in the latch, capture the cross-bar of the loop and establish a pivotal connection between the latch and the loop. By attaching the frame to a plate adapted to be mounted on the other of the shells, the apertures in the guide walls are closed by the plate. The free ends of a pair of upstanding tabs on the plate cooperate with the closed ends of the apertures in capturing the lugs on the latch thus establishing a pivotal connection between the latch and the frame.

Abstract: A latching device for releasibly locking together the two zipper pulls on a ouble zipper type case includes a frame, a rotatable key barrel projecting from the frame for being received in respective openings in the zipper pulls, a latch member pivotally connected to the frame for movement between a lowered position overlying the frame and a raised position, the latch member having an opening therein for receiving the end of the key barrel when the latch member is in lowered position, and a key-actuatable bolt member supported below the key barrel for sliding movement between the locking and unlocking positions to releasibly lock the latch member in lowered position. The frame is mounted at one end of an elongated mounting plate having its other end constructed to engage a rigid reinforcing member of the case.

Abstract: In a latching device having a first push member to be depressed to releasy engage a hasp and a second push member cooperable with the first push member to be depressed to release the hasp, the cooperable parts of the push members comprise flat plate portions which are disposed in and movable in the same plane.

Abstract: In a latching device cooperable with a pair of spaced hasps, a pair of spaced latch mechanisms which are biased toward unlatching condition are held in latching condition by respective longitudinally movable control members. A manually rotatable control knob located intermediate the latch mechanisms and cooperable with the control members is movable to a release position which permits the latch mechanisms to be urged into unlatching condition, the latch mechanisms being returnable manually to latching condition. Combination locking means is provided for releasably locking the latch mechanisms in latching condition.

Abstract: A multiple dial type combination lock in a luggage case handle stud employs an elongated, longitudinally movable puller formed to engage a cooperable hasp and having longitudinally spaced slots receiving dials. The dials, which are keyed for rotation with associated sleeve means by interfitting teeth, are cooperable with respective lugs on the puller for blocking movement of the puller from latching position when the dials are off combination. Each sleeve means has a missing tooth portion for receiving the respective lug on the puller when the dials are on combination, thereby permitting movement of the puller between latching and unlatching positions, the dials being shifted longitudinally with the puller during this motion. In the preferred embodiment, the opening combination may be set to a combination of one's own choice.

Abstract: A combination lock, including a plurality of dials and associated sleeve ns for each dial, has a plug member which is longitudinally movable to first and second positions and which is cooperable with the sleeve means for being locked in the first position when the dials are off combination. A manually operable latch member formed to engage a hasp is longitudinally movable from a latching position to an unlatching position only when the plug member is not locked in the first position. Longitudinally movable pullers are provided for moving the latch member from latching to unlatching position and from unlatching to latching position, respectively.

Abstract: The cradle selector controls of a motorized rotary-type file comprise a row f simple, momentary-type pushbutton switches located in a small housing mounted so as to slide along the rear edge of the operator's shelf. The control housing is connected to the file where all other controls are located by an electrical cable, whereby the selector controls can be readily moved back and forth with the operator.

Abstract: A latching device for luggage or the like cooperable with a hasp is constted so that a manually operable latch member is pivotally connected to a projection on a mounting plate for allowing the latch member to be rotated with respect thereto. A leaf spring biases the latch member into contact with the top surface of the projection. The projection includes stop surfaces for limiting rotation of the latch member in a first direction to a closed position wherein the latch member substantially overlies the mounting plate and for limiting rotation of the latch member in the opposite direction to an open position wherein the latch member is substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate. The leaf spring also biases a detent ball into contact with a surface of the latch member for releasably maintaining the latch member in the open and closed positions.