Abstract: A security lock for a computer, such as a laptop. The security lock includes a blade member that can freely pass through the gap between the computer display and keyboard. Attached to one end of the blade member is a blocking member which is larger than the gap. The other end of the blade member is attached or otherwise fastened to a fixed object, via a padlock, to thereby secure the computer to the fixed object. Theft or unauthorized removal of the computer is thereby prevented.

Abstract: An anti-snagging loop striker for use with a door latch for securing a door in a closed position on a vehicle. The striker includes a ramp adjacent the rivet head connecting the crossbar to the leading leg of the striker to prevent sheet metal from the door from catching on such head and impeding opening of the door from outside the vehicle following an accident.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a door-mounted fork displaceable between an open and a fully latched position and through an intermediate semilatched position and a body-mounted door bolt engageable with the fork and retainable thereby only in the semilatched and fully latched positions. A door-mounted pawl can pivot about a pawl axis between a holding position engaging and retaining the fork in the fully latched and semilatched positions and a freeing position permitting the fork to move freely between its positions. A controller is connected to a servomotor in turn coupled to the door bolt for displacing same between an outer and an inner position so that, when the bolt is engaged with the fork in the fully latched position, movement of the bolt into the inner position pulls a door carrying the latch tightly closed. A switch lever can pivot about the pawl axis.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic sprung surface bearing having at least two bearing elements bearing against a tube-shaped container which is filled with a substantially incompressible medium, and against which side walls bear. Surfaces of the bearing elements bearing against the container are, in total, smaller by one order of magnitude than a surface of the container wall. Even for scarcely progressive, low pressure forces, the preferably T-shaped or anchor-shaped bearing elements cause overturning in a negative stroke direction, along with a pronounced change in shape of the container, and positive arching and consequently a very large coarse contour adaptation stroke. Therefore, a positively supporting adaptation stroke of the bearing elements is achieved. Overturning results in two separate chambers which bring about an inherent progressive damping by effectively reducing streaming through of the substantially incompressible medium.

Abstract: A spring-biased detent to provide selective securement of a door knob assembly to a spindle of a lock mechanism. The detent is inserted transversely in the spindle and biased by a spring clip. The detent may be depressed within the spindle allowing the door knob assembly to slide onto the spindle and subsequently is biased into an aperture of the knob to lockingly attach the knob assembly to the spindle. The detent includes a central aperture for receiving a tailpiece of the lock mechanism. The aperture is configured to allow depression of the detent only when the tailpiece is oriented in an unlocked position preventing removal of the door knob assembly when the latch is locked.

Abstract: A device for locking the gear shift of a motor vehicle is made up of a lock seat, a shackle and a lock body. The lock seat is provided with ratchet teeth engagable with the ratchet teeth of the lock seat. The lock body is mounted on a gear shift mount of the motor vehicle and is provided with a stopping block and a lock core. The stopping block has a tapered free end capable of being moved downwards by the lock core so as to be caught by the toothed portion of the lock seat, thereby enabling the gear-shifting lever to be locked securely at the park gear position.

Abstract: A fastening plug for mounting furniture hardware having an expandable sleeve into which an elongated shaft of an expander enters, the shaft having a head for rotating the expander relative to the sleeve. The elongated shaft of the expander has multiple expansion sections along the length of the shaft and which taper in the direction of the protruding end of the shaft. The central bore of the sleeve which receives the elongated shaft of the expander, is shaped so as to complement the shaft, and the position of the complementary, tapering expansion sections of the shaft is varied relative to the complementary tapered central bore sections in the sleeve when the expander is rotated relative to the expansion sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with electronic and/or mechanical access control devices includes a holder which receives a removable insert which may include an electronic module with a cover member securing the insert to the holder. The holder may take various forms and may be in the form of a key ring, photo I.D. card, etc. The holder may be a key blank for forming a key that operates mechanical locks, in which case the insert may be a dummy insert or it may include electronic components for operating various types of electronic access control devices. A method of upgrading a key for operating a mechanical lock to a key for also operating an electronic access device is provided and involves replacing the insert in the key with an insert containing electronic components. The electronic components may utilize various technologies such as proximity-based access control.

Abstract: A key lock tumbler cylinder is selectively removed with an extraction key that is longer than a normal operating key. The last tumbler plate in a tabular cylinder series along the cylinder key slot projects into an arcuate channel in the cylinder cavity wall of the lock body. This arcuate channel does not junction with the lock tumbler plate channel but does intersect with a second channel in the cavity wall that is angularly displaced about the cylinder axis from the tumbler plate channel. However, the second channel is more shallow than the arcuate channel to confine the tumbler cylinder within the body cavity when rotated by the operating key which does not engage the last tumbler plate key aperture. A second, tumbler cylinder extraction key that is longer than the operating key includes an edge bit at the end of the key for cooperating with the last tumbler plate key aperture.

Abstract: A lock for a cabinet cassette having a drawer comprises a frame structure which carries on one hand a locking bar (47) passing through an opening (50) in a frontal part (23) of drawer, said bar being turnable and projecting from the inside of said frontal part (23), and on the other hand a handle connected to the bar. At least one fixed projection (54) is connected to the frame structure, said projection projecting from the back side of the frontal part, the locking bar (47) being, by turning the handle (48), movable between on one hand a locking turned-up position in which the bar engages behind an upper vertical flange (16) of the frontal frame (6) of the cassette and on the other hand a liberating turned-down position in which the bar is located below the upper side (55) of the projection (54).

Abstract: A spindle nut and a locking device are disclosed for securing the nut on a spindle in a non-rotative position relative to the spindle. The assembly comprises the spindle nut, an antirotation spring and a spring backup plate mounted on the spindle. The antirotation spring and spring backup plate may be formed as a single unit.

Abstract: An attachment plate is used to attach insulation panels to building substrates using internal combustion cordless nail setting tools loaded with collating strips for feeding and holding nails in the tool magazine. The attachment plate has a washer and an annular chamber at a first end. A wall of the annular chamber is defined by a band of fingers. The interior of the attachment plate has a recess. The attachment plate second end has flexible tabs. The attachment plate is placed on a pilot and against a flange of a tool adapter. The attachment plate is pushed into the insulation panel such that the tool muzzle bends the fingers and passes through the same. When the tool is fired, a nail and nail collating ring are forced into and captured within the recess. The tabs bend against the substrate if the insulation panel is of less than nominal thickness.

Abstract: An electronic-component-integrated key has a head and a key plate. The head has an inside case portion, an outer sheath portion to be fixed to the inside case portion from outside, and a recessed portion that is formed in the inside case portion and arranged on the side of serrations of a key plate, not on the side of a head portion 1a of the key plate, so as to be substantially in parallel with the key plate. An electronic component is held within the recessed portion by a holder, and an abutment portion of the inside case portion is partially exposed to the outer surface of an opening formed in the outer sheath portion. During the process of manufacturing the electronic-component-integrated key, the following steps are taken when the key plate is arranged within a cavity of a mold.

Abstract: A security device includes a case having a bottom open end to receive merchandise, a top surface, two opposing ends and two opposing sidewall surfaces; at least one tab protruding from the case; and a locking mechanism for maintaining the received merchandise in the case. The locking mechanism includes a base housing including at least one slot to receive and retain the tab to help secure the case to the locking mechanism, at least one flange extending from the base housing to overlie at least one surface of the case, and a movable member. The moveable member (i) maintains the received merchandise in the case by blocking the front of the bottom open end and securing the tab in the slot when the locking mechanism is closed and (ii) disengages from the front of the bottom open end when the locking mechanism is open allowing the tab to become fully separated from the slot and the locking mechanism to become fully separated from the case. A decoupler is provided for opening the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An auxiliary lock comprises a latch assembly having an elongated casing to be received by a first horizontal bore extending into the end of the door. A cylinder mechanism is received by a second horizontal thru bore extending, from one face of the door to the other face of the door and intersecting the first bore. The cylinder mechanism includes a cylinder having a chimney, a cylindrical guard having an annular door engaging surface, an annular lip projecting inwardly from the annular door engaging surface to be received by the second thru bore, a cylindrical segment projecting inwardly from the annular lip, and a strut projecting radially upwardly from one circumferential end of the segment and defining therewith a shaped structure. The strut has a length selected so that the shaped structure lies proximate the bottom of the casing to thereby prevent the rotation of the said guard.

Abstract: A combination screw and clearance drill is provided that in one mode of operation is able to drill a pilot hole for the screw threads through a top piece of material and then screw into a lower piece of material, thus enabling the two pieces of material to be screwed tightly together in a single operation. The screw is designed in such a manner that the ability of the screw to drill a clearance hole for the threads does not substantially effect the gripping ability of the screw. In one direction of rotation the screw is able to drill the clearance hole for the threads of the screw and by reversing rotation the screw is able to stop drilling a clearance hole and function as a regular screw. Flutes in the screw head cut a counter bore for the head when the head contacts the surface of the top piece of material.

Abstract: A frame, sling and hammock is disclosed to be used with a lifting device to support an incapacitated person in an elevated horizontal position as discussed. The device comprises a hanger to connect to a crane, first and second frames cantilevered from the hanger in opposite directions and a net hammock that is looped over the ends of the frames.

Abstract: A bed accessory for the efficient and organized daily storage and retrieval of bedclothes defined by a symmetrically undulating bedclothes storage surface supported by an adjustable wedge assembly and stabilizing leg assembly. When the bedclothes storage surface is pulled from beneath a bed and rotated upward into an erected position, the adjustable wedge assembly, remaining beneath the bed, becomes compressed between the floor and the under surface of the bed, as adjustable stabilizing legs, located on the reverse side, rotate to a position of support. After use, a moderate down and in force applied to the upper edge of the bedclothes storage surface causes the adjustable wedge and stabilizing leg assemblies to rotate to a stowed position for reinsertion of the apparatus beneath the bed.

Abstract: A screw fixing plug which makes it possible for a screw to be fastened in position with its threads biting into the trunk of the plug over the entire length thereof, irrespective of the material of the member to which a screw is fastened is made. The plug has a trunk formed with a screw inserting bore and a composite hole comprising a sector portion and a groove-shaped portion. The trunk has two rib portions defined on both sides of the groove-shaped portion. When a screw is driven into the plug with the plug inserted in a starting hole formed through an article to be fastened and a building material, the portion of the trunk where the composite hole is formed is expanded uniformly. Thus, the threads on the screw will bite the trunk over the entire length thereof irrespective of the kind of building material, so that the screw can be fastened securely.

Abstract: A lock mechanism for push lawn mowers of the type having a secondary operations handle which must be moved into a position adjacent the lawn mower handle in order to engage the starting mechanism of the lawn mower, the apparatus comprising at least a first and second body members joined at a hinged portion, each body member formed into a substantial semi-circular pattern for defining a channel in each body member, so that as the body members are moved from the open to the closed position, the channels would define a circular bore through the body members that would encircle the primary handle of the lawn mower; a tab at the end of each of the body members, a tab having an opening there through, so that when the body members are closed, the openings in the tab align for accommodating a padlock therethrough, the body members once engaged around the handle of the lawn mower define a barrier which the second handle would engage when pulled towards the primary handle, so that the secondary handle is prevented from