Abstract: The present invention provides an improved panel fastener system for insulated slab panels of the type having one housing holding a hook assembly having a hook member and opposed hubs extending from a cam connected to the hook member; and a second housing having a pin adapted to receive the hook of the hook member. The invention provides an assembly method for mounting the hook member into the first housing including opposed resilient walls perpendicular to the front wall of the first housing forming a vertical slot adapted to receive the hook member. A pair of inclined planes lead from the rear portion of the housing to a pair of hub housing receptacles formed in the walls. The extended hubs are inserted into the slot from the rear of the housing along the inclined planes. The resilient walls are pressed back until the hubs reach the receptacles, at which time the biased walls snap back into their original configuration, capturing the hubs and the hook member in the first housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a latching mechanism comprising (a) a plunger adapted to be mounted on a truck body or similar structure, (b) first means for extending and retracting the plunger, (c) a latch hook pivotally mounted on the truck body or similar structure in position to contact the plunger when it is retracted but not when it is extended, (d) a catch adapted to be mounted on a truck cab or similar structure in position to be engaged by the latch hook when the latch hook is contacted by the plunger, but not when the latch hook is not contacted by the plunger, and (e) means biasing the latch hook towards contact with the plunger.

Abstract: The panel fastener includes an externally driven crank having a first pin slidably engaging a first cam surface formed on a hook member. A second pin fixed on said hook member slidably engages a second cam surface having a fixed position. Rotation of said crank on center axis induces cam action causing said hook member to first rotate and then retract. Thereby, the hook member when located on one panel can engage a pin fixed on an independent second panel and join and draw together said panels. Alignment of the pins and crank axis prevents loosening or disengagement of the joined panels without intentional reverse operation of the crank.

Abstract: A releasable, hook-type fastener of the kind intended to secure pieces of equipment or structural members together, the fastener including a casing, a drive shaft turnable in the casing, an eccentric bushing carried by the casing and turnable with the shaft, and a pair of separate and distinct, similarly-shaped spring hooks that are disposed side by side and substantially in broadside contact with each other. At one end, the hooks have looped bearing portions which are frictionally engaged with the eccentric bushing, and at the other end they have registered bill portions. A pin is provided, separate from the hooks and adjacent to the eccentric bushing, for engagement with the hooks so as to maintain them in registration with one another. The arrangement is such that an unusually strong and sturdy construction results, without the need for heavy gauge springs and without the use of odd-shaped springs which would require special metal stock and bending fixtures or jigs for their fabrication.

Abstract: A device is provided for releasably locking a parked vehicle to an adjacent loading dock. The device includes a vertically adjustable carriage mounted on the front wall of the dock, and a hook-like member supported by the carriage for independent rotary movement between an operative vehicle-interlocking position and an inoperative vehicle-release position. A carriage-supported first member is disposed coaxially with the axis of said hook-like member and moves therewith as a unit. A flexible second member engages the first member and upon a predetermined pulling force being applied to said second member, causes the hook-like member to move to the operative vehicle-interlocking position. A unit is operatively connected to the flexible second member whereby the predetermined pulling force applied thereto is enhanced so as to effect a substantially greater turning force being exerted on the first member.

Abstract: A latch assembly for aligning the holes in a panel and a frame such as those used in aircraft doors. The assembly includes a hook for engagement with a striker to retain the panel and a sliding hook mechanism to align the holes. The sliding hook mechanism is operated by a camming means to urge the hook toward or away from the striker to bring the holes into alignment thereby preventing damage to the fastener and freeing both hands of a workman to secure or release the fasteners.

Abstract: A mechanism for securing a door to a door frame includes a plurality of generally C-shaped clamps rotatably secured about the door's periphery, each of the clamps including a rear radial clamp leg engageable with the rear of the door frame, a forward radial clamp leg overlying the front surface of the door, and a connecting base extending between the radial legs, with inner cam surfaces on each radial leg and an outer cam surface on the forward radial leg. A plurality of wedges are slidably secured to the door front surface for radial movement between extended and retracted positions wherein the wedge respectively engages or does not engage the inner cam surface on an associated forward clamp leg to effect latching or unlatching of each clamp about the door and frame.

Abstract: One component, such as a rear cowling of a turbojet engine nacelle, is held o another component, such as a flange of the engine housing, by a plurality of lockbolts. The lockbolts are synchronously controlled to effect attachment or detachment of the cowling or other component. Each lockbolt includes a strap which may be fixed with respect to the stationary component such as the flange. Each lockbolt also includes a tie bar having a hook at one end for cooperation with the associated strap and a pivot shaft at the other end. The pivot shaft rides in a slide track which may be disposed in a second support attached to the removable component. There is a moving part which may be carried by the second, stationary support, the moving part including a cam which cooperates with the pivot shaft of the tie bar to impart translational movement to the tie bar. The cam has a dwell portion which enables the moving part to move beyond the position at which the hook of the tie bar is fully withdrawn.

Abstract: A mechanical latch of the type widely utilized to retain, in closed position, an automotive truck cab that is pivoted to be swung open and closed above the truck engine (especially such a cab of the tractor unit of a transport truck-trailer combination) is constructed to be unlatched in customary manner, e.g. as in Nordell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,519, so that the cab can be raised by the usual hydraulic lift cylinders, but to be mechanically held against retractive, latching travel until forcibly released at such time as the cab is returned to normal driving position. In a preferred arrangement, the usual pivoted and axially extendable and retractable, hooked, latch element and the latch housing are provided with respective coactive locking formations for locking interengagement at the end of the extended stroke of the latch element, whereby such latch element is held against the urge of the retractive spring until forcibly released for retraction into cab-latching position in the usual manner.

Abstract: Individual clamping structures are described which require only two main members, a pivoted handle member and a clamping member journaled on an integral boss on the handle member. Several types of cam structure are described for positively breaking the pressure seal of a closure during relieving movement of the clamp, thereby insuring the release of any residual pressure while the clamp is still limiting closure movement. A further aspect of the invention directs escape of pressurized gas away from the operator by arranging multiple clamping devices so that clamps near the operator remain closed until all other clamps have been relieved. An opening is thereby provided for blast release on the side of the closure opposite to the operator.

Abstract: The invention refers to an unlocking and expelling mechanism for a drawer in a cabinet or a frame, preferably in cash registers, wherein a lock stud is secured to the back end of the drawer and is engaged, when the drawer is pushed in against a spring force, by a locking hook mounted on a pivot shaft rotatably supported in a fixed bracket. The shaft has a lateral projection for blocking a slidable latch which can be retracted from the projection by manually operating an electromagnet, so that the shaft will be free to rotate the hook to release the stud and allow expelling of the drawer. The improvement consists in providing a movable and guided connection between the hook and the pivot shaft so as to, when the shaft begins to rotate, the hook is imparted a reciprocating movement in its longitudinal direction. The hook has an aperture having a guiding edge for cooperation with a lifting pin fixed in the cabinet, said edge being inclined for lifting the hook in its forwards stroke caused by said shaft.

Abstract: An automobile deck or trunk lid having a key operated lock for releasing a lid latch is provided with a lost motion drive connection in a shaft between the lock and latch and the inner end of the shaft has a knob accessible from within the trunk compartment for releasing the latch without turning the key operated lock. The shaft is readily detachable and attachable to the lock and latch so that it may be installed as a replacement for a conventional one-piece shaft in existing automobiles.

Abstract: A deadlock or latch comprising a body and a bolt member pivotally mounted on a first hub, pivotally mounted on the body remote from the pivoting axis of said first hub, said bolt member being resiliently biased so as to maintain its fully open and fully closing positions in abutment with stop means, and a second hub having a cam surface abutting one end of a slide member resiliently biased into abutment with said cam surface and arranged for sliding movement into and out of a locking position engaging a stop member on the first hub when the bolt member is in its fully closing position so as to prevent rotation of the first hub for movement of the bolt member out of its fully closing position.

Abstract: An improved locking device of the hook and transverse pin type is disclosed for locking together a pair of components, characterized by the provision of a cam member that is displaceable by linearly operable cam operating means to operate a hook member between locked, safety and fully released positions relative to a locking pin member. In one embodiment, the cam member is linearly displaceable throughout its entire length of travel between locking, safety and releasing positions by the cam operating means, and in a second embodiment, the cam member is pivotally displaceable between the locking and safety positions, and linearly displaceable between the safety and releasing positions. A pawl device may be provided for normally locking the cam member in its releasing position when the pin and hook housings are separated, said pawl device being operable to its unlocked condition when the pin and hook housings are returned to their adjacent contiguous position.

Abstract: A window lock and, more particularly, a check rail lock which can be mounted in association with a double hung window having a center vertical muntin. The window lock has a casing housing a linearly movable locking unit with locking members having a locking notch at one end for engagement with catch means carried by the adjacent window sash, an operating unit with operating members movably mounted in the casing and movable between window unlocked and locked positions and with pin and slot structure interconnecting the locking members and the operating members with the casing whereby the locking members are guided in the linear movement thereof to an advanced position as the operating unit moves toward the locked position and the locking members are then raised into engagement with the catch means and withdrawn to tightly draw and lock the window sash together as the operating unit moves to the final locked position.

Abstract: A jet drive boat propulsion unit cover for purposes of covering the fluid intake of a jet powered boat. The cover accommodates itself to the intake opening including the grillwork thereof, in a manner whereby it covers and seals the intake from foreign objects which might contaminate and adversely affect the wear and operation of the jet power unit, such as the impeller, bearing surface, and other wear areas. The cover is secured by means of an overcenter latching linkage having a member that moves eccentrically around an axis to cause a hook to engage the grating or grillwork of the opening so that it can be easily latched and unlatched. The foregoing provides a generally sealed relationship around the edges of the opening to prevent the migration of foreign matter into the jet drive unit.

Abstract: Sash lock comprising a rotatable latch cam engageable with a keeper, a locking member for unlockably locking the latch cam to control the rotation of the latch cam, and an actuating member for shifting the lock member to a locked position or an unlocked position, wherein said actuating member is rotated by means of a key.

Abstract: A hook member for securing and snugging a door of a structure such as a barn is provided with a cam lever which may be manually rotated after the hook member is engaged with a latch bar on the door to move the hook member longitudinally away from the door and thus pull the door snugly against the portion of the structure on which the hook member is mounted. The cam hooks of the invention may be mounted inside a building to snug the rear edge portions of single or double sliding doors against the building wall, or to snug the front edge portion of a single sliding door or of a hinged door against the jamb; and may also be used to snug the forward edges of a pair of double sliding doors together either from the inside or from the outside.