Abstract: A lock assembly has an actuator that is moveable between first and second positions and a locking structure that is coupled to the actuator. The locking structure is positioned to engage a portion of a lock when the actuator is in the first position to prevent movement of the actuator to the second position. A latch assembly is preferably coupled to the actuator and includes a latch that is moveable between engaged and disengaged positions. Moving the actuator from the first position to the second position moves the latch to the engaged position, and moving the actuator from the first position to a third position moves the latch to a disengaged position.

Abstract: A self-centering handle assembly is provided for a vehicle door. The handle assembly includes a pivoting handle base coupled to the vehicle door at a pivot axis, and includes a front face having a first and second opposing ends. The first and seconds ends are configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about the pivot axis. First and second drive arms are provided extending a distance from a rear portion of the handle base and configured for coordinated movement with the respective first and second ends of the handle base. A bell crank is provided, coupled to the handle assembly, and configured to rotate about a second pivot axis. Rotation of the bell crank is driven by movement of the first and second drive arms. A biasing member is in contact with the bell crank and urges the bell crank to a return to a self-centering, rest position.

Abstract: A locking system provides multiple lockable latching mechanisms that are collectively operable and lockable from a central actuation mechanism. Each latching mechanism can be positioned and actuated independent of the positioning of others of the latching mechanisms. In particular, the latching mechanisms need not be aligned with one another. The system uses flexible connectors between the central actuation mechanism and the respective latching mechanisms. The flexible connectors can have different respective lengths.

Abstract: A gate latch assembly including an actuating member, a moveable rod, and a strike plate. The actuating member transfers movement of a first handle to a second handle. The actuating member includes a cam surface which interacts with the moveable rod to transition the gate latch assembly from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. A biasing element biases the actuating member.

Abstract: An animal-resistant latching system for inhibiting animals from accessing food and food containing refuse within containers is disclosed. The device is composed of an access panel containing an opening to which is secured at least one latching members, a cam assembly, a cover, and a bracket. The latching members are positioned so as to inhibit access to the container when the member is in the latched position and allow access to the container when the member is in the unlatched position. The cam assembly communicates with the latching members so as to move the members between the latched and unlatched positions. The cover and bracket are dimensioned and positioned on the access panel in a predetermined manner so as allow human hands access to the cam assembly and unlatch the container while simultaneously inhibiting such access by animals.

Abstract: A latch for a door of motor vehicle having a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker comprising: a ratchet which can assume an opening position, in which ratchet enables engagement and disengagement between latch striker and a seat of ratchet, and a closing position, in which ratchet holds latch striker within seat; a first pawl rotatable about a first axis (B) and in a first rotation direction from a coupled position, in which it keeps, at least indirectly, ratchet in closing position and prevents disengagement of striker from seat, and a decoupled position, in which it permits the movement of ratchet from closing position to opening position; and a second pawl which cooperates with first pawl, cooperates with ratchet at least in a contact point (P) at least when ratchet is in closing position, and which is rotatable about a second axis (D) distinct from first axis (B).

Abstract: An electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having: a) a housing with an electric motor in communication with a power source; b) a base plate sized to pass underneath a swinging door; c) the base plate extending away from the housing; d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in a rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate; e) a door supporting element extending perpendicular to the extended rod; and f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to secure an opened door.

Abstract: A locking device and method for locking the locking device includes a lock for a door or a hatch for a hood of a motor vehicle. The lock having includes a locking mechanism that has a rotary latch and at least one pawl for blocking the rotary latch. The locking device includes a drive which allows the locking mechanism to be moved in such a way that a door gap or hatch gap can be narrowed in the closed state of the door or hatch. The lock is an electric lock that includes an electric drive which allows the locking mechanism to be brought into the main blocking position of the locking mechanism and/or allows the lock to be opened.

Abstract: A low profile actuating window lock for casement windows having a longitudinal slot in a sidewall of the casing for the lock, wherein a fork component translates within the slot in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the handle and the handle rotates along a plane perpendicular to the fork component, the handle pivotable about a restrictor arm that pivots relative to the casing, allowing the handle to rotate fully from the locked position to the unlocked position with low clearance from the window frame. The pivot points of the handle and restrictor arm configuration allow for an over center linkage that prevents back driving the casement window lock.

Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt; a detent lever; and a bell crank lever, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from a latched position to a released position as the bell crank lever moves from a first position to a second position; and an over center spring secured to the bell crank lever at one end and a portion of a housing of the latch at another end, wherein the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a first direction towards first position when the bell crank lever is in the first position and the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a second direction towards the second position when the bell crank lever is in the second position.

Abstract: The invention is a locking device for securing roll-up doors on tractor trailers and other cargo vehicles. The working parts of the invention are enclosed inside a housing and the invention employs a dual catch-pin system which allows the door to be locked shut with minimal play between the bottom of the door and loading deck of the cargo vehicle. This, the invention is resistant to attempts to slide pry bars or jacks under the door in force breach attempts.

Abstract: A tamper-proof lock includes: a housing, shaft/handle, cam, lever, spring, and plate. The shaft is pivotally mounted in a housing orifice, with the cam pivotally mounted to the shaft. The cam has first and second shaped openings at first and second respective radial positions, and an arcuate recess. The lever is secured to the shaft, and has a protrusion that alternately engages each of first and second ends of the arcuate recess to respectively/selectively drive the cam to rotate/counter-rotate in first and second directions, into locked and unlocked cam positions. The spring biases the plate for a protrusion thereon to be respectively received within each of first and second shaped cam openings, when aligned therewith at those cam positions, and for a curved surface of the plate to be correspondingly received within first and second curved cam recesses, respectively, when aligned therewith, which facilitate withdrawal of the plate protrusion.

Abstract: A vehicle door operation device mounted to a sliding door of a vehicle, for appropriately returning a latch mechanism from a closure retention release state to a closure retention state of the sliding door when a motor power transmission lever stops at a rotary range between an initial position to a rotary end position by, for example, an electrical failure when a release motor is in operation includes a cancellation mechanism that moves a connection pin from a connection position where the connection pin connects an outside handle lever and the motor power transmission lever to a disconnection position by using a rotary movement of an inside handle lever in accordance with a closing operation of an inside handle when the motor power transmission lever stops at the rotary range between the initial position to the rotary end position when the release motor is in operation.

Abstract: A door latch assembly is provided with enhanced acoustic dampening characteristics, and includes a door bolt assembly having an inside barrel and an outside barrel configured for accommodating reciprocal sliding action of the inside barrel between a latch position and a release position. At least one barrel acoustic isolator is associated with at least one of the inside barrel and the outside barrel, and is configured for dampening sound generated by the reciprocal action.

Abstract: A vehicle stowage assembly having a housing, a door and a retaining device. The housing has an opening. The door is movable between a closed position and an open position. The retaining device includes a ferromagnetic element, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a control unit and a detection device. The electromagnet is magnetically coupled to the ferromagnetic element and/or to the permanent magnet. The control unit controls the electromagnet the electromagnet to reduce the magnetic attraction between the housing and the door to a stop value of less than the nominal value during a stopping period following the detection of the arrival of the door near the closed position. The detection device is able to supply a signal representing the arrival of the door in the closed position to the control unit.

Abstract: An inside door handle structure according to technology of the present disclosure includes: an opening recess formed in a recessed shape in an armrest of a door trim at a side door of a vehicle, the opening recess opening toward a vehicle upper side, and a part of the armrest acting as a door gripping section when fingers are inserted into the opening recess in a case in which the side door is opened or closed; and an inside door handle provided in the door trim at the vehicle upper side of the opening recess, an end section of the inside door handle at a vehicle front side being configured as a rotational fulcrum, and the inside door handle releasing a door lock of the side door.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a reversible activation unit for the alternate impingement of two separate motor vehicle functional elements (1, 2), in particular two motor vehicle door latches (1, 2). The activation unit possesses a single motor (3, 4) and two connecting elements (8, 10). The motor (3, 4) impinges either the distanced first functional element (1) via the connecting element (8) or the distanced second functional element (2) via the second connecting element (10) dependent on its working direction. According to the invention, the first connecting element (8) is connected to a first lever (7) and the second connecting element (10) to a second lever (9). The respective lever (7, 9) is impinged dependent on the working direction of the motor (3, 4) which preferably works in a linear manner. Furthermore, the two levers (7, 9) are connected via an interposed spring (15).

Abstract: A lock trim assembly incorporates an escapement assembly comprising a control member and an escapement spring. The escapement assembly is movable between a locking position that blocks rotation of the spindle and an unlocking position that does not block rotation of the spindle. A coupling assembly that couples the handle to the spindle rotates between a default orientation and a blocking orientation. The default orientation allows the escapement assembly to move into the locking position. The blocking orientation blocks the escapement assembly from moving into the locking position. When the coupling assembly is in the blocking orientation, operation of the motor to drive the blocked escapement assembly into the locking position causes the escapement assembly to store energy in the escapement spring for forcing the escapement assembly into the locking position once the coupling assembly is reoriented back to the default orientation.

Abstract: A latch including a housing having side members each having an elongated slot, a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing and positioned between the side members of the housing, a trigger mounted rotatably to the housing, and a pin and roller positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the side members of the housing. The bolt is moveable between a first, closed position and a second open position. The trigger is moveable between a first position, in which the pin and roller are engaged with the bolt when the bolt is in its first position, and a second position, in which the pin and roller are disengaged from the bolt. The latch can be opened automatically when a defined load is provided on the bolt, or manually by depressing the trigger to disengage the pin and roller from the bolt.

Abstract: A universal door lock-driving assembly is installed in an exterior space of a door panel. The door panel is furnished with at least one of an embedded lock cartridge, an embedded vertical-extending lock bar assembly and an exposed vertical-extending lock bar assembly. The universal door lock-driving assembly includes a base set, an action unit, a driving member and a slidable unit. The slidable unit can assemble a first assembling member and a second assembling member. The first assembling member can apply a penetration slot on the base set to generate interaction with the embedded lock cartridge or the embedded vertical-extending lock bar assembly. The second assembling member can interact with an exposed lock bar. Thus, the universal door lock-driving assembly can be used to unlock at least the lock cartridge and the lock bar assembly.