Abstract: A lock assembly for a container having an opening defined by a door jamb, a cargo door adapted to close the opening, a rod linearly moveable to engage the door jamb, and a latch mountable to the rod. The assembly includes a casing having an inclined opening and mounted to the cargo door parallel the rod. The casing includes a protrusion changeable between an extended and a retracted position. A latch receiving means has an inclined opening adapted to align with the inclined opening of the casing for accepting the latch therein. The latch receiving means is responsive to movement of the latch within the casing between a locked and an unlocked condition and engages the locking means when the latch receiving means is in the locked condition. The rod is moved by the latch to engage and disengage the door jamb.

Abstract: A fastener includes a housing, a piston movable within the housing, and a compression member positioned between the housing and the piston. The compression member is movable entirely into the housing to compress the compression member.

Abstract: A locking system for closing and locking a lid on an enclosure such as a grade level enclosure. The locking system includes a latch formed on an edge of a lid of the enclosure. The latch includes a bolt recess on an upper face of the lid which opens into a slotted wall structure that forms a passage below the lid. The bolt recess has a slotted opening which receives an L-bolt that extends down into a hollow interior of the slotted wall structure. A right angle leg on the L-bolt protrudes below the slotted wall structure when a fastener head atop the L-bolt rests in the bolt recess. The fastener head of the bolt in its at-rest position in the bolt recess provides access for rotating the L-bolt (and its right angle leg) with a tool that fits into the bolt recess to engage the fastener head. The bottom leg of the L-bolt, when rotated to its locked position, protrudes under a locking surface inside the enclosure. This releasably locks the lid to the enclosure.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a stair gate, comprising a displaceable latching member and an operating element which can engage on the latching member, wherein in a non-loaded state the operating element substantially releases the latching member and in a loaded state the operating element engages on the latching member, wherein for engagement on the latching member, the operating element is loaded in a direction varying from an operating direction of the latching member.

Abstract: A cam lock having an adjustable cam bolt. The cam lock has a tubular lock case, a tumbler, a shaft, a spring, and a cam bolt. The tubular lock case has an inner flange which divides the lock case into a first portion and a second portion which is formed with a restricting element. The tumbler is received in the first portion. The shaft is rotated by the tumbler and extends into the second portion. The spring is disposed around the shaft within the second portion. The cam bolt is mounted on the shaft by threaded engagement so as to compress the spring and has an arc-like cutoff beyond which the restricting element extends.

Abstract: A sealable, reusable shipping container having a highly reliable interior latching mechanism which is actuated on the exterior of the container without using special tools is provided. The unique latching mechanism can be adapted to securely closing and sealing any type of container. The latching mechanism converts the rotary force applied to an actuating device, such as a knob, into both vertical motion, for enabling a latch member to engage and disengage a catch, and horizontal motion to tighten the latch and catch against each other when the latching mechanism is engaged and to separate the latch and catch when the latching mechanism is disengaged to allow opening of the container.

Abstract: A sealable, reusable shipping container having a highly reliable interior latching mechanism which is actuated on the exterior of the container without using special tools is provided. The unique latching mechanism can be adapted to securely closing and sealing any type of container. The latching mechanism converts the rotary force applied to be actuating device, such as a knob, into both vertical motion, for enabling a latch member to engage and disengage a catch, and horizontal motion to tighten the latch and catch against each other when the latching mechanism is engaged and to separate the latch and catch when the latching mechanism is disengaged to allow opening of the container.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved handle lock assembly of the type generally including a handle lock barrel reciprocally carried relative to a lock stud, the lock stud having an interiorly threaded end for threadedly engaging a fixed stud aperture, the handle lock barrel and lock stud being carried within the confines of a fixed lock guide formed integrally with a handle flange including a handle recess into which the handle may be lockingly secured by a lock provided in the handle and having a bolt for securing the handle lock barrel to the lock guide against a bolt shoulder provided in the handle flange, the improvement consisting of bolt guide shield means carried on the lock guide and extending for a distance down the length of said lock guide, the bolt guide shield means encircling and completely enclosing the lock guide in a manner sufficient to prevent access to the bolt securing the handle lock relative to the handle flange when in the locked position, the bolt guide shield means formed integrally with t

Abstract: A vehicle roof with a roof opening which can be closed by a panel which is pivotable about its front edge. A strut, with a rack on one side, has one end pivotally attached to the rear edge of the panel. A geared shaft is mounted on the underside of the vehicle roof and engages with the rack to raise and lower the rear edge of the panel. The shaft is spring biased into geared engagement at separate locations along its length. Stop formations adjacent to the end of the strut opposite to that which is attached to the roof panel are engaged by a blocking lever to prevent movement of the strut beyond the range of positions in which the geared shaft can engage with the rack.

Abstract: A latch on a panel closing an opening in which the panel overlaps an edge portion forming the opening comprising a U-shaped channel with a short leg resting against the panel and the long leg extending behind the edge portion and including a bolt extending through the panel and short leg and threadedly attached to the long leg.

Abstract: A vehicle roof provided with an opening closable by a cover and a frame of substantially U-shaped cross section extending along the edge of the roof opening. One side of the substantially U-shaped frame is higher than the other side thereof, and the higher side extends outside of the vehicle in the form of a flange for covering the edge of the vehicle roof defining the opening. A clamping arrangement for pressing the flange against the outer surface of the roof is provided, near the higher side, inside of the vehicle. To facilitate the installation of such a vehicle cover, especially in the case of a used vehicle, the clamping arrangement comprises a plurality of retaining plates which are pressed against the vehicle roof by screws. When the screws have been loosened, the retaining plates can be pivoted so that the frame can be introduced from outside of the vehicle into the roof opening without removing the retaining plates and screws.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a screw-nut mechanism for clamping two work pis together. In one application the mechanism is used to clamp a cover plate over an access opening in a vehicle hull or similar member. The screw-nut mechanism is specially designed for use where one face of the hull or similar fixed work piece is inaccessible for welding or otherwise affixing the nut on the concealed face of the inaccessible work piece. I provide a screw-nut mechanism that avoids the necessity for affixing the nut to the work piece. In my invention the nut is a loose hardware item that can have a thread length proportional to the expected load, thereby avoiding strength problems associated with the formation of threads directly in relatively thin work pieces.

Abstract: A manhole cover lock is provided employing two units diametrically situated and extending through openings in the manhole cover. The units engage a projection of the manhole cover housing to prevent the removal of the manhole cover when the units are in position. The units comprise a cylindrical body having a yoke at one end, a locking plate pivotally mounted in the yoke, with a flanged face opposite the yoke, and having a central recess. Extending through the body is an eccentric bore, in which a rod is housed, cooperating with said locking plate to provide a dog lock. A threaded bolt having a keyed head is threaded into a threaded axial bore in said body to prevent axial movement of said rod. An alternate embodiment of the threaded bolt includes modification of the head of the threaded bolt to allow the head to receive a special wrench for firmly tightening the threaded bolt thereby additionally securing the manhole lock in position.