Abstract: A compact assembly for retaining keys or other domestic articles permits retention, rapid identification, and selection of an appropriate object by single-hand operation without the necessity of visual observation. The assembly comprises a tubular housing which can be grasped by the hand of the user, and a key retaining mechanism, a key advancing mechanism and a driving mechanism mounted within the housing. The key retaining mechanism can carry a plurality of keys, disposed in a plurality of storing stations provided with key receiving grooves. A selected key can be driven along the groove by the key advancing mechanism after the storing station corresponding to the particular key is brought into alignment with a key exit opening of the housing. The assembly can be provided with a remote control mechanism and/or alarm mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for an electronic lock having a movable bolt including a spring biased pawl movable when it is released by a solenoid mechanism for relative movement by the bolt as the bolt is moved from a blocked entrance way position to an unblocked entranceway position.

Abstract: A slam-capable rotary latch employs a single rotary jaw that is releasably retained in its latched position by a rotary pawl, with the latch having a pair of spaced housing side plates that sandwich the rotary jaw and the rotary pawl, with the side plates defining aligned first and second U-shaped notches that cooperate with a third U-shaped notch formed in the rotary jaw for concurrently receiving and latchingly retaining within the confines of the first, second and third U-shaped notches a suitably configured strike formation, with housing side plate portions that define a selected one of the first and second U-shaped notches being rigidified and strengthened by the close proximity presence of a flange 1) that is formed integrally with side plate portions that define the selected notch and 2) that extends transversely to bridge between the housing side plates at a location near the first and second U-shaped notches.

Abstract: A mechanical card lock is disclosed which allows for simple, reliable operation. User cards 221 are engaged by a set of plates 360, which upon operating the lock assume a configuration for mating with a previously inserted combination card 244. The lock can be rekeyed by replacing the combination card 244.

Abstract: A vehicle door/tailgate handle assembly for unlatching either a combined door/tailgate and window as a unit or the window unit alone provides an improved centering/alignment feature which avoids reliance on prior known spirally wrapped, low tolerance, low cycle life springs. The handle assembly includes a handle grip, mounting base and a centering member which centers and aligns the handle grip on the mounting base. The handle grip is rotatably mounted in a shaft receiving passage on the mounting base and a centering member is slidably disposed on shaft for movement along and rotation with the shaft for slidable engagement with the rear side of the mounting base. When a rotational torque is applied to the handle grip, the centering member slides along the shaft away from the rear side of the mounting base to permit the handle grip to rotate between a first unlatching position and a second unlatching position.

Abstract: A flat metal key has a groove-shaped recess in the narrow side of the bow for receiving a transponder as a code transmitter, a ferrite coil and a line connecting the ferrite coil with the code transmitter.

Abstract: The doors of railroad passenger cars swing inward and toward the front of the car when opened for entry or exit by the passenger. An automatic locking device is described which may be mounted on the exterior surface of the door close to its trailing edge. When the railroad car is in motion, the pressure of the relative wind on an air foil acts to rotate the locking device to a position that prevents the door from opening. When the train slows and stops, the relative wind decreases and the locking mechanism returns to it's original position permitting the door to be opened.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cabinet latch that may be used with a slave door. The latch includes a handle member and a bearing member at substantially right angles to one another. The bearing member includes an upper bearing surface and camming end portion which which engages a channel in the frame of the enclosure and aids in aligning and retaining the slave door in a closed position.

Abstract: An electrically operable door lock apparatus is disclosed which may be installed on a door through which access is to be controlled by an electrically operable security system, whereby the door opening mechanism is selectively locked and unlocked by controlling the supply of electricity to the door locking mechanism to thereby control access or egress through the door. The electrically operable door lock apparatus uses an electromagnetic actuator to drive a locking member in reciprocating movement between a locked position in which it engages a latch actuating member to prevent it from being rotated to retract a latch bolt to open a door, and an unlocked position in which it is disengaged from the latch actuating member to allow it to be rotated to retract the latch bolt to open the door.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door and a motorized closure assembly attached to the latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a housing, a latch accommodated in the housing by a latch shaft, and a ratchet accomodated in the housing by a ratchet shaft. The motorized closure assembly has an electric motor and a rotating lever for displacing the latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. The latch has a latch arm which substantially extends toward an outer panel of the door and overlaps with a rotating locus of the rotating lever.

Abstract: A security device comprises a cable whose ends are engageable within a plunger. The cable is threaded around a door handle or other item to be secured and then, with the cable ends engaged therein, the plunger is slid within a housing for retention by a locking slide. Retraction of the plunger into the housing moves a slide upwardly. This movement causes a pivotally mounted striker to be flipped from one end position to another by an over-center spring arrangement. In moving, the striker strikes a number of wheels each carrying a sequence of numbers. The wheels are rotated and a random number is displayed. If, subsequently, the plunger is released to release the cable, the wheels are struck again by the striker whereby the displayed number is changed. The number is changed again if the plunger is repositioned. The chance of the same number being randomly generated is insignificant. Thus, any opening and closing of the security device is immediately apparent because of the change in the number displayed.

Abstract: A latch has a bolt mounted a trunk lid, a housing mounted on a motor-vehicle body and having a notch in which the bolt is receivable, and a fork pivotal on the housing about a main axis and displaceable between a closed and an open position. A plate pivoted on the housing at the main axis carries a pawl pivoted on the plate about a pawl axis offset from the main axis and displaceable between a holding position engaging the fork and, in the locked position of same, retaining the fork in the locked position and a releasing position clear of the fork and permitting same to pivot freely. An opening lever pivotal on the plate about a lever axis offset from the main axis is engageable with the pawl and formed with an actuating formation engageable with a formation of a link member displaceable relative to the housing.

Abstract: A magnetic slide lock assembly includes interconnecting male and female members and utilizes the attractive force of a magnet to interconnect the male and female members. The male member of the magnetic slide lock assembly can include a protruding member or housing with a magnet positioned therein. The protruding member includes an opening so as to expose a portion of the magnet. The female member can include a plate or plates which are slidable so as to come into engagement or out of engagement with the magnet. The magnetic slide lock assembly provides for a strong closure between the male and female members so as to resist a disengagement of the male and female members when a strong force is exerted on the lock assembly.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latch housing formed with a recess open in an acceleration direction the latch is displaced in during a collision and, immediately adjacent the recess, with a blocking formation directed in the direction. A latching element is displaceable on the housing between a position retaining a door bolt and a position releasing the door bolt and a retaining pawl displaceable engageable with the latching element is pivotal on the housing between a retaining position holding the latching element in its retaining position and a freeing position releasing the latching element. An actuating lever pivotal on the housing is engageable with the pawl to move same into the freeing position. The actuating lever extends transversely of the acceleration.

Abstract: A door locking device is provided for positionally constraining an outwardly opening door against a stop of a cooperating door frame. The door locking device includes a door engaging member attached to the free-end of the door (i.e., the unhinged-end of the door), a threaded shaft having a first end pivotably mounted to the door engaging member and a second end opposite the first end for manual pivotal movement between an unlocked position (i.e., a position wherein the threaded shaft forms an acute angle with respect to the door) and an locked position (i.e., a position wherein the threaded shaft forms an obtuse angle with respect to the door), a wedge member slidably mounted on the threaded shaft, and a retaining nut disposed on the threaded shaft for axial movement thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a vehicle door comprises an outer open handle assembly and a latch assembly. The handle assembly has an handle base which is brought into contact with an outer surface of an outer door panel and a handle lever which is rotatably mounted on the handle base. The latch assembly has a bracket which is brought into contact with an inner surface of the outer panel, a latch mechanism which is engaged with a striker and mounted on the bracket, and an opening mechanism which is operative to release the latch mechanism and mounted on the bracket. The handle base and the bracket are fixed to each other with screws or bolts across the outer door panel. The latch assembly is covered with a decorative case.

Abstract: A door lock device for use with a striker, comprises a cover plate having an elongate cut into which the striker is insertable. A latch plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a latching position wherein the latch plate is engaged with the striker. A locking plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a locking position wherein the locking plate is engaged with the latch plate to restrain the same at the latching position. A reinforcing shaft is secured to the cover plate and has an enlarged flange formed on a leading end thereof. The above-mentioned parts are so arranged that at least a part of the locking plate is placed between the cover plate and the enlarged flange when the locking plate is in the locking position.

Abstract: A friction thread locking device assembly consisting of several components, which are so constructed and assemble to resist the rotational effects of vibration forces. The resistance is achieved by the use and placement of opposing threads (right and left hand threads) with differing threads per inch and the containment of a compressed spring force and the use of the clearance between matching female and male threads. This bolt and nut assembly by unique construction, combines and improves the aspects of the standard bolt and nut with a spring lock washer. The outer nut and inner nut matching threads are axially aligned and the two are threaded together in opposite directions to compresses the captured spring(s) or lock washer(s). This preloaded, three part assembly with matching inner female threads on both the outer nut and inner nut are axially aligned with each other is then rotated onto the threaded rod with matching male threads.

Abstract: A device for joining and sealing together two isolated enclosures has two doors. Each enclosure has one door. The two doors are provided with cooperating joining means. One enclosure is of the single use type and includes final locking means for its own door.

Abstract: A rotatable cam of the present invention has an internal edge completely surrounding an elongated slot, a portion of which serves as a camming surface for interfacing with a cam follower. A further aspect of the present invention employs a door lock control member linearly slidable from a locked position to an unlocked position while also being pivotable between a nominal latching position and an unlatching position. In yet another aspect of the present invention, one end of the door lock control member is coupled to a liftgate door latch and the other end is coupled to a multi-functional electric motor by way of a drive transmission and a cable. In still a further aspect of the present invention, a window wiper assembly is drivably coupled to the drive transmission. A method of unlatching an automotive vehicle door is also provided.