Abstract: A vehicle door lock system includes a rotary latch having an elongate housing with an end formation that is "inclined" or "tapered" so as to be wedgingly engaged, when "latched," by a correspondingly inclined or tapered wedge block component of an L-shaped striker assembly. As the rotary latch releasably engages the striker to effect "latching," the inclined or tapered end region of the latch housing cooperatively engages the wedge block 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: Flush mountable latches and locks for industrial cabinets, tool carts, electrical equipment enclosures and the like utilize versatile housings together with a variety of types of handles that are movable relative to the housings to effect unlatching movements of spring-biased, pivotally mounted latch bolts, with pivotally mounted operating arms serving to drivingly interconnect the handles with the latch bolts. Lockable embodiments have locking mechanisms that prevent operating movements of the operating arms, but do not prevent pivotal movement of the latch bolts out of their latched positions, whereby even the lockable embodiments have latch bolts that can be "slammed" into latching engagement with suitably configured strike formations.

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: 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 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 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: Flush mountable pulls, latches and locks for industrial cabinets, tool carts, electrical equipment enclosures and the like utilize a versatile housing together with other components of novel form mounted on the housing to provide a variety of desired features. Pull handles as well as latch and lock operating handles of a wide variety of types can be connected to the housing, as can a wide variety of latch bolt mechanisms that are configured to engage various types of strikers or keeper formations. The resulting arrangement provides sturdy pull, latch and lock assemblies that employ a small number of parts that can be assembled, installed and serviced with ease.