Abstract: A lock for a sliding door includes front and rear housing members that clamp front and rear faces of a door panel adjacent an opening that is formed through the door panel. Aligned cavities in the front and rear housing members cooperate with the opening to provide a compartment that mounts a latch bolt member for forward and rearward movement. The latch bolt member has a rearwardly extending formation that projects through a hole formed in the rear housing member for selectively engaging structure located behind the door to releasably latch the door in its closed position. An operating mechanism connects with the latch bolt member and includes components that extend forwardly and rearwardly through aligned openings formed through the front and rear housing members to enable the latch bolt member to be moved forwardly and rearwardly between unlatched and latched positions, and to releasably retain the latch bolt member its unlatched and latched positions.

Abstract: A door construction system for fabricating doors that typically are of rectangular shape, hinged along left or right sides, and used to selectively close access openings of cargo containers, trailers, trucks and the like. Each control member has an associated structural member that comprises a part of the door's core and parallels the associated axis. Each structural member has opposed side portions that are sandwiched between portions of the inner and outer skins, and central portions that project through the associated outer skin opening to nestingly receive portions of the elongate control member to assist in mounting the control member on the door for pivotal movement, to add strength, and to enhance anti-rack capabilities of the door and its associated door control system.

Abstract: A one-piece, malleable iron, expansion shell, and a leaf of such shell, for use in an expansion to be installed in a relatively small (about 1") diameter bore hole with a conventional size (5/8") bolt. The expansion shell, and individual shell leaves have unique features contributing to the effectiveness of the anchor when used either with or without a resin grouting mixture. The slots or spaces between adjacent shell leaves include upper and lower portions, each of constant width, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion, whereby the leaves are narrower in the area where they are bent outwardly from the closed ring at the base than in the area where they are compressionally engaged between the plug and the hole wall. Upper portions of the inner leaf surfaces taper toward the shell axis and the side edges of such surfaces taper toward one another from the upper, free ends of the leaves toward the lower ends.

Abstract: Flush mountable latches and locks for industrial cabinets, tool carts, electrical equipment enclosures and the like utilize versatile housings of novel configuration together with push-to-operate handles that are pivotally movable relative to the housings to effect unlatching movements of spring-biased, pivotally mounted latch bolts. The lock-type embodiment has a locking mechanism that is mounted on the housing to selectively permit and prevent unlatching movements of its pivotal latch bolt. The resulting arrangement provides sturdy latch and lock assemblies that employ a small number of relatively movable parts that can be assembled, installed and serviced with ease. Improved features include the provision of a plural part handle assembly having portions that are configured to cooperate with a resilient, weather resistant boot that optionally may be interposed between housing and handle assembly components.

Abstract: A system for accessing interior portions of a curtainside truck trailer including a flexible curtain, upper and lower roller assemblies secured to the curtain for engagement with upper and lower rails mounted on the truck trailer for supporting the curtain during expanding and contracting movement along the rails. A support panel is mounted between upper and lower longitudinal edge portions of the truck trailer, and a latching mechanism is connected to the support panel which includes a shaft with a vertical axis of rotation, a latch attached to the shaft engagement with a keeper attached to the curtain. An operating member is attached to the shaft for rotating the shaft about its longitudinal axis and engaging the latch and keeper. A latch guide is captively engaged by the latch and attached to the support panel for guiding movement of the latch into engagement with the keeper. A spring biased locking mechanism for locking the latching mechanism and securing the curtain in the closed position.

Abstract: In a truck, trailer and/or cargo carrying container having a rectangular door frame and a door pivoted at one edge to an upright side of the frame which are subject to racking during use, a follower and cam member secured to the door and frame, respectively. The follower and cam are generally located midway between the pivoted edge of an opposite edge of the door, whereby the follower engages the cam member during and after closing of the door.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock system includes interior and exterior handle assemblies that are accessible, respectively, from interior and exterior sides of a vehicle door on which the door lock system is mounted. The system includes a plurality of rotary latches that are configured to releasably engage door-frame-mounted strikers to "latch" and "unlatch" the door, and a latch interconnection linkage for effecting concurrent unlatching of the rotary latches. The door is "locked" and "unlocked" by selectively enabling and disabling at least one driving connection between at least one of the handle assemblies and separate latch release arms that are arranged to operate a selected one of the rotary latches. In preferred practice, locking and unlocking of the door are effected either by operating an exterior key cylinder, or by operating an interior sill button.

Abstract: A lock or latch for a sliding or rolling type door includes front and rear housing members that clampingly engage opposite sides of a door panel adjacent an opening that is formed through the door panel. Aligned cavities are formed in the front and rear housing members that cooperate with the door panel opening to define a compartment within which a latch bolt member is housed for forward and rearward movement. The latch bolt member has a rearwardly extending formation that projects through a hole formed in the rear housing member for selectively engaging structure located behind the door to releasably latch the door in its closed position.

Abstract: A two-piece, malleable iron, expansion anchor for installation in a relatively small (about 1") diameter bore hole with a conventional size (5/8") bolt. The four-prong expansion shell, camming plug, and individual shell leaves each have unique features contributing to the effectiveness of the anchor when used either with or without a resin grouting mixture. The slots or spaces between adjacent shell leaves include upper and lower portions, each of constant width, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion, whereby the leaves are narrower in the area where they are bent outwardly from the closed ring at the base than in the area where they are compressionally engaged between the plug and the hole wall. Upper portions of the inner leaf surfaces taper toward the shell axis and the side edges of such surfaces taper toward one another from the upper, free ends of the leaves toward the lower ends. An axial rib extends outwardly from the surface of the camming plug over its entire length.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock system includes a rotary latch having an elongate housing with opposed ends that are tapered so as to be securely received, when "latched," within an elongate U-shaped striker assembly that has a pair of spaced, inwardly facing wedge blocks at opposed ends. As the rotary latch releasably engages the striker to effect "latching," the tapered end regions of the latch housing are wedgingly engaged by the wedge blocks of the striker to guide the latch into properly aligned engagement with the striker, and to maintain proper alignment of the rotary latch with the striker while "latched." By this arrangement, a strong, racking-resistant type of latched connection is provided that will assist in preventing undesired relative movements of a door and a door frame on which the latch and striker are mounted, respectively. Handle assemblies are connected to the rotary latch to operate the latch to effect "unlatching" of the latch and the striker.

Abstract: A door lock includes a plurality of latch bolt assemblies that are mountable on a door at spaced locations about the periphery of the door, an operating mechanism that is flush-mountable on the door at a central location, and elongate linkage elements for interconnecting the operating mechanism with the latch bolt assemblies to enable the operating mechanism to concurrently operate the latch bolt assemblies.

Abstract: A door control mechanism including a shaft with a vertical axis of rotation, bearing members adjacent to opposite ends of the shaft which rotatably connect the shaft to a swinging door and a means for rotating said shaft along its longitudinal axis. Latch members are secured to the shaft at opposite ends and keeper members are secured to structure adjacent to opposite edge portions of the door which extend transverse to the pivotal axis of the door. A discrete security locking means connected to the shaft intermediate the means for rotating said shaft about its longitudinal axis and an upper end of the shaft is also included.