Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided in which one of two different backset distances is facilitated in a single latch assembly. A latch slide which is used to retract the latch bolt of the assembly is provided with a removable latch slide extension which determines the distance from the face plate of the assembly to the center of the actuating assembly. The latch slide and bolt are carried within a latch case or housing which includes slots formed therein. The actuating assembly includes jaws which fit into the slots in order to fix the position of the latch assembly with respect to the actuating assembly upon final installation of the mechanism into the door.

Abstract: A torsion spring longitudinally rotates a locking bolt when the bolt actung linkage is severed. A woodruff key or the like is upstanding from a surface of the bolt. When the linkage is undamaged, the key slides with the bolt through a slot on the lock frame. When the bolt is rotated by the spring, it is locked in the rotated position by a locking pawl. In the rotated position, the key is out of registry with the slot and the bolt cannot be withdrawn from its extended, locking position. A second embodiment replaces the key with a recess in the bolt into which a locking pawl engages to prevent movement of the locking bolt.

Abstract: A padlock shackle made of an inner core of ductile nickel-titanium alloy, outer casing of hardened stainless steel, and an intermediate layer of a composite of tungsten carbide particles in a nickel-titanium alloy matrix which is bonded to the nickel-titanium alloy core and mechanically bonded to the stainless outer casing.

Abstract: An improved protective device for an ignition lock cylinder of a motorized vehicle comprising an armored cap arranged axially with and covering the cylinder end, the cylinder and cap adapted for mutual rotation about the cylinder axis to activate the ignition when a mating key is inserted through the cap to unlock the cylinder, the cap adapted to be rotated by hand to rotate the cylinder. The improvement comprises a torque-sensitive coupling adapted to be disposed in coupling relationship between the lock cylinder and cap. The coupling is constructed and arranged to transmit torque applied to the cap cylinder of a value below a predetermined maximum value selected to exceed normal torque applied to an unlocked cylinder by hand action of a vehicle operator. The maximum torque value is less than that needed to force rotation of the cylinder when the cylinder is still locked. The coupling is also adapted to disengage between the cap and cylinder when torque above the predetermined maximum value is applied.

Abstract: A security device for a door utilizes a first bracket member attached proximate one jamb of a door with a chain attached to said bracket and adapted to be fastened to a second chain engaging bracket member fastened proximate the other jamb of the door. The chain engaging bracket generally defines a U-shaped member having a first leg, a second leg and a saddle. The first leg is adapted to be attached to the jamb or building frame adjacent the door. The second leg comprises slots adapted to receive the links of a chain proximate the end of the legs. The saddle also comprises a slot adapted to receive a link of the chain. The chain is wrapped around the chain engaging bracket whereby a link of the chain is first received and engaged in the slot in the saddle. Then another link of the chain is received and engaged in the slot in the leg distal the slot in the saddle. The path of the chain then passes up for a link to be received and engage a slot in the leg proximal the slot in the saddle.

Abstract: A security device characterized by a base which attaches to the top of an upper track of a sliding door or window, a wedging member having an end pivotally attached to the base, a spring biasing the wedging member towards the base, and a propping member having an end pivotally attached to the base and movable, under the influence of gravity, to an overcenter position to retain the wedging member in an open, wedging position. When closed, the device fits within the space between the top of the sliding door or window and the top of the upper track of the door or window, and when open the device prevents or limits the opening of the sliding door or window.

Abstract: A tamper indicator includes a collar which can be positioned to be circumambient a connection nut on a gas meter. The collar includes two portions which are interlocked by snap-catches which are located inside a locked collar. The collar portions are formed of frangible material and can include lines of weakening. Once in place, the collar cannot be removed without breaking it, and once broken cannot be repaired so that an indication is provided that the encircled connection nut may have been tampered with.

Abstract: A device for closing a piece of luggage comprising two parts connected by a hinge comprises an elongate case extending along a side of one part opposite the hinge and an elongate keeper extending along a side of the other part opposite the hinge. The case has spaced apertures to receive spaced hook-like hasps of the keeper and contains closing mechanism for releasably engaging the hasps to retain them in the apertures. In one form, the closing mechanism comprises an elongate member extending longitudinally in the case with detent portions to engage the hasps and a central push-button having a cam to engage the elongate member to move it longitudinally to release the hasps when the push-button is pushed in. In another form the closing mechanism comprises two elongate members extending in opposite directions from a central push-button having a cam for moving the elongate members in opposite directions to disengage the hasps.

Abstract: A portable, hand-holdable, retractable cable lock includes a cable-carrying spool rotatably mounted within a casing. The cable extends through the casing and its free end may be locked to the casing to provide a theft deterrent. A coil spring within the casing applies a retracting force on the spool so that when the cable is unlocked and in an extended position the spring automatically rotates the spool to rewind the cable thereon. A ratchet mechanism permits free rotation of the spool in one direction to extend the cable, but prevents rotation of the spool in its other direction to rewind the cable unless disengaged.

Abstract: A plunger operated lock in which the lock operating plunger is mounted in a plunger housing inside the lock housing and is axially movable therein. The plunger housing is spring biased to the locking position, and the plunger is spring biased to a medial position in relation to the plunger housing. To allow the plunger to move to the un-locking position, the plunger housing must be moved toward the unlocking position far enough to substantially fully compress its biasing spring, and the plunger must be moved axially in the plunger housing toward the unlocking position.

Abstract: A seal for a pipe coupling such as is used to connect a gas meter to a gas supply line. The seal is made in two portions having integral fastening means for locking the two portions around the nut of a coupling. The fastening means include a pair of flexible legs on one portion of the seal to be engaged with a tongue on the other portion of the seal. The tongue is provided with an aperture which provides a vertical latch surface and two horizontal latch surfaces extending outwardly from the ends of the vertical latch surface.

Abstract: An adjustable striker assembly includes a mounting member on a door frame and a track member mounted thereto for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the door hinge. Cooperating resilient toothed fingers and teeth on the mounting member and track member releasably maintain them in any adjusted position. A body member, slidable relative to the track member and mounting member, includes a striker element engageable by a door latch. During door closing, the latch-striker engagement ratchets the body member and track member relative to the mounting member to automatically correct any misalignment. An adjusting screw between the mounting member and body member is adjustable to adjust the body member and striker element relative to the track member.

Abstract: A plastic one-piece latch for locking a lid comprises a base provided on the underside thereof with a fastener leg, an engaging piece extending from one end of the base and bent abruptly in an oblique upward direction in a manner folded over itself and adapted to make fast engagement with a hook on the lid, and a compression piece extending from the base to a great enough length to collide into the inner surface of the lid at the time that the lid is on the verge of complete closure.

Abstract: A locking system for a door of an automobile is provided with an emergency unlocking means which detects critical deceleration or acceleration of the automobile by the aid of inertia and transmits inertial movement to the locking system to cause it to move from its locking position to its unlocking position. Preferably, the emergency unlocking means comprises an inertia lever having a weight pendulum capable of swinging and thereby pushing a member of the locking system, and holding means for normally holding the inertia lever in its normal position.

Abstract: A security lock for use on sliding doors or gates has a pair of hook bolts which are thrown apart or withdrawn together according to the position of a head on a reciprocable slide. Each bolt has a recess mated to the head with front and rear driving surfaces, this geometry being related to the pivot points of the bolts such that the head drives the bolts positively between their thrown and withdrawn positions with no lost motion and without the need for spring-biasing of the bolts. The slide is deadlocked by a pack of levers, to which a second lever pack is linked, two lever packs being provided so that non-palindromic key-stepping can be employed. If required, the slide can be double-thrown by successive use of two different correct keys, for which different key-hole positions and are provided to cooperate with the lever packs.

Abstract: A door is locked in the closed position by a system of five bolts which can be simultaneously operated from either side of the door by a handle or key operator. Both the handle and key operator are common to all of the bolts in the system and are connected through a rotary camming device with a linkage including parts drivingly connected with the bolts. A lost motion connection is provided between the key operator and rotary camming device to enable complete rotation and withdrawal of the key. The linkage and bolts are protectively enclosed inside of tough conduits and linkage access housings. A safety bolt immobilizing device is provided on the door adjacent to one bolt of the locking system to block the extension of the bolts while the door is open and this device moves automatically to a bolt release position when the door is closed. The locking system can be placed in a residential door or may be installed on a commercial door.

Abstract: An automatic locking device (402) is disclosed that can be utilized to secure a first member (40) to a second member (10). The device includes a latching member (12) with an integral spring member (18), the latching member being attached to a bolt member (11). The bolt member (11) is inserted into the first member (40) and then is inserted in an opening (15) in the latching member (12). Thereafter, an E-shaped retaining ring (13) is attached to a shank end of the bolt member (11) to secure the bolt member (11) to the latching member (12). The spring member (18) is continuously biased via a projecting portion (410) in the first member (40). When the first and second members are properly engaged with one another, the latch member (12) enters a detent (116) in the second member (10) and retains the first member (40) securely in place. Thereafter, the bolt member (11) can be rotated to release the latching member (12) from the detent (116) facilitating detachment of the first member (40) from the second (10).

Abstract: A latching system for releasably locking a door to a housing includes an actuating handle means rotatably connected to the door for controlling the operation of the latching system, and cooperable latching members connected to the housing and door, respectively. One of the cooperable latching members being rotatably connected to the handle means at a location spaced from the rotatable connection between the handle means and the door. Spring means engaging the latching member connected to the handle means for biasing it into a predetermined orientation relative to the handle means and for assisting in maintaining that predetermined orientation as the handle means is rotated in a first direction to move the latching member into engagement with the other cooperable latching member attached to the housing, and to thereafter permit relative rotational movement between the handle means and the latching member connected to it to thereby draw the door into sealing engagement with the housing.

Abstract: A novel combination lock, mainly comprising a bolt, a case, an actuating button, three steel balls, and a slotted rod, characterized in that the combination numbers can be randomly changed for security.

Abstract: An improved latch for securing together a pair of hinged cowlings surrounding an aircraft engine. The latch is characterized by having a safety lock for engaging a hook when the latch is in a locked or latched position and also for engaging the hook when the hook has been disengaged from a latch keeper thereby allowing the operator of the latch to engage and disengage the cowlings using only one hand.