Abstract: An adjustable tailgate latching mechanism for a round bale utilizing a movable arcuate hook-like latch catching structure attached to the latching mechanism that enables proper alignment of the tailgate latch to be established and maintained.

Abstract: A striker assembly, and method of forming, for use with a closure for a vehicle compartment is disclosed. The striker may have a main shaft with a hoop extending from a first end, threads extending around the main shaft, and a rotational retention feature adjacent to the threads. A bracket may have a pair of mounting flanges, a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that engages the threads, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft, and a flexible arm having a catch engageable with the rotational retention feature.

Abstract: A rotary unit for use with a locking system includes: a base plate having a slot; a rotary member rotatably mounted with the base plate about a first axis of rotation, the rotary member including a plurality of fingers extending radially outwardly from a central portion thereof and an engagement portion fixed to the central portion; and a pawl member pivotally mounted with the base plate about a second axis of rotation and coupled with the connecting member. The pawl member includes an engagement projection that selectively engages the engagement portion of the rotary member to prevent rotation of the rotary member in a first rotative direction but permits rotation of the rotary member in a second rotative direction that is opposite the first rotative direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns an adjustable striker assembly for use with a closure for a vehicle compartment, and a method of forming such a striker assembly. A striker has a shaft with a hoop extending from one end, and engagement rings extending around the shaft, defining at least one gap between the engagement rings, and being canted relative to an axial direction of the shaft. The engagement rings may include a detent or a catch. The assembly also includes a bracket, which may be molded around the striker, that includes partial threads extending into at least one of the gaps, and flexing fingers that may operatively engage the detents or catches on the engagement rings.

Abstract: A lock that includes a frame which is arranged to be secured on the outside against a first side of a tubular member of a hinged gate and at least one bolt which is arranged to extend through the tubular member, out of a second side thereof, into the keeper device. The keeper device is mounted on a fixed member, which is usually a pole arranged in the ground. In order to make it more difficult to force the gate open by inserting, for example, a crowbar between the gate and the fixed member, the lock and keeper set comprises a security device arranged to prevent the gate and the fixed member from being forced apart sufficiently to disengage the bolt from the keeper device. This security device includes a first security piece arranged to be secured to the frame of the lock and to project from the second side of the tubular member to extend, in the closed state of the gate, behind a second security piece on the keeper device.

Abstract: An positionable door strike is attached to a door jamb and receives a corresponding door latch located on a swinging door. The positionable door strike has a base plate and a strike plate that is capable of horizontally sliding within a pair of channels located on the base plate. The base plate is secured to the jamb by passing screws through appropriate openings located on the base plate while the strike plate is held secure when it is slid to its desired position by passing one or more set screws through screw openings located on the strike plate, the set screws engaging the door jamb.

Abstract: A striker assembly (10) to be attached to a door jamb to engage the tongue of a lock mounted on an associated door, the assembly (10) includes a base (11) to be fixed to the door jamb and a striker member (15). The striker member (15) is adjustable relative to the base (13).

Abstract: A structure for attaching a striker, having an attachment bracket including a base fastened to a panel, and a protruding portion joined to the base. The protruding portion extends in a direction different from a direction in which the base is arranged. The striker may have a swelling portion which swells in a direction going away from the base, and is attached to the protruding portion. The structure may include a cover member for covering an outside of the attachment bracket, and a work hole for adjusting the position of the striker is formed in the cover member. Typically, the striker has a base plate and a striker main portion. The base plate is selectively approachable to and retreatable from the attachment bracket via screw members which are inserted through a through hole provided in the protruding portion of the attachment bracket and are adjustably screwed into the base plate.

Abstract: An adjustable striker plate assembly for a double door having a slidable member providing for adjustment of the striker plate in a horizontal direction and an adjustable member for adjusting the striker plate in a vertical direction. Two fasteners pass through the striker plate and through the slidable member and into two threaded holes in the adjustable member. A cam is rotatably coupled to the adjustable member for adjusting and holding the adjustable member in place until the fasteners are tightened.

Abstract: A reinforcing plate comprising an elongated portion adapted to be secured to a door jamb; a plurality of tabs perpendicular to the door jamb and adapted to be secured to one or more studs adjacent the door jamb; and an L-shaped connecting portion between each tab and the elongated portion. Each L-shaped portion comprises a first spacer in a plane parallel to the tabs and a second spacer having a depth essentially equivalent to a distance between the mounting surface of the wall studs and a finished wall surface in a fourth plane parallel to the jamb. The reinforcing plate further comprises at least one component for interfacing with a securing element attached to a door mounted in the door opening.

Abstract: An electric strike includes a housing and a two-position mode selector for selecting a mode of the electric strike. Specifically, the two-position mode selector is operable from outside the housing, and the two-position mode selector is configured to allow the electric strike to selectively operate in a first mode, such as a fail-secure mode, or a second mode, such as a fail-safe mode.

Abstract: A flush bolt mechanism to be mounted into a recess at the vertical edge of an inactive door of a pair of swinging doors. The flush bolt mechanism has a manually-activated trigger, a shaft connected to the trigger by a pin, a spring clip biasing the shaft, and a bolt to be projected into a strike plate which is mounted onto the door frame or the sill. The bolt mechanism is supported and elevated at the upper end by the front base which has a foot and by a cylindrical spacer placed at the round base. This flush bolt mechanism can simply be constructed with extruded aluminum or copper, and can be mounted into a recess at the vertical edge of an inactive door with ease, accuracy, and certainty.

Abstract: An adjustable strike plate assembly includes a door strike housing and an insert plate. The door strike housing includes a strike plate having an opening and walls depending from the strike plate to define a cavity. The insert plate is adapted to mount to at least one of the walls and be received in the cavity to change the effective dimensions of the cavity.

Abstract: An adjustable strike mounting system having a cover plate, which can be mounted to an astragal having a housing, which has a longitudinal channel having retention guides, vertically slidable blocks, which have transverse slots, having horizontally slidable threaded elements, and spring leaves, which are adapted to hold the vertically slidable blocks in selected positions, the cover plates adapted to provide mounting surfaces for the strike plates, the cover plates abutting the retention guides, the strike plates having apertures, which can be aligned with locations of the locks and deadbolts quickly, easily, and efficiently, the adjustable strike mounting system facilitating and allowing vertical and horizontal movement of the strike plates in the astragal, facilitating location and alignment of fasteners, and minimizing loss of the fasteners within the astragal and resultant jamming of the astragal and other operating parts of the astragal.

Abstract: A locking case is provided including a base portion and a lid portion rotatably engaged to the base portion. A locking mechanism is mounted on the lid portion and extends therethrough. The locking mechanism includes a cam member having first and second surfaces, and being rotatable to a locked position in response to operation of the locking mechanism. A catch is mounted to the base portion and is disposed proximate the cam first surface when the cam is in the locked position. A reinforcing bracket is mounted to the lid. The reinforcing bracket has a reinforcing flange disposed proximate the cam second surface when the cam is disposed in the locked position.

Abstract: An electric strike includes a housing, a keeper pivotally arranged in the housing, and a holder slidably arranged in the housing. The electric strike also includes a blocking element slidably arranged in the holder, and the blocking element is configured to selectively prevent a rotation of the keeper and allow the rotation of the keeper. Moreover, the electric strike includes a two-position mode selector operable from outside the housing, and the selector is configured to selectively move the holder from a first position to a second position and vice versa. The electric strike also includes an actuator configured to selectively move the blocking element.

Abstract: A reinforcing plate includes a central portion having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and a plurality of sidewalls. The central portion further includes a substantially rectangular slot for receiving a deadbolt therethrough. The sidewalls include a plurality of holes for receiving fastening members for attachment to a door frame. The plurality of sidewalls extend outwardly and away from the central portion and a door frame, forming a substantially U-shape. In an alternate embodiment, the central portion includes a female portion with an edge portion having a slot formed therein. The central portion further includes a male portion with an edge portion positionable within the slot of the female portion, so that the width of the central portion can be selectively adjusted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis and to fit a variety of framing studs.

Abstract: A lock assembly and locking systems adapted for use with hinged bidirectional hardened plastic doors is provided. The lock assembly comprises a moveable bolt arranged within a housing and a having a first perimeter; a strikeplate spaced apart from the housing and having a hole with a second perimeter; and an actuator adapted to move the bolt form an unlocked position where the bolt is within the housing to a locked position where a portion of the bolt extends into the hole, wherein the second perimeter is 2-10 times greater than the first perimeter such that the hinged double-acting impact-traffic door has an amount of play when the bolt is in the locked position.

Abstract: A door bolt adjustment system for an open-jamb safe having a door jamb and a door bolt configured to extend behind the door jamb with a gap therebetween. The door bolt adjustment system generally comprises a substantially rigid door bolt adjuster, configured to be attached to the inside of the door jamb, and a displacement mechanism, configured to allow adjustment of the position of the door bolt adjuster so as to occupy the gap. The door bolt adjuster includes a flange for contacting a side of the extended safe door bolt, and when the adjuster occupies the gap, the flange is placed in position for secure contact with the extended door bolt, so as to accommodate the alignment of the door bolt.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a retainer for mounting a vehicle door lock striker is provided. A panel constituting part of a vehicle body is formed on its first side with a retainer receiving recess for receiving a fitting protrusion of a first end portion of the retainer. The first end portion of the retainer is immovably supported by the receiving recess. A second end portion of the retainer is fixed to a fixing area of the panel by spot welding.

Abstract: A floating receiving mechanism is disclosed for use with a handle assembly including a base member defining a central opening therethrough, and a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening therethrough and two arms extending from the base portion. The keeper is attached to the base plate so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base plate central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base plate. The keeper is configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly. The extending portion may be a member such as a keeper stud. Other receiving mechanisms and related handle latch assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bracket is adapted for connection to a vehicle body part in order to mount a striker cooperating with a door lock mechanism of a motor vehicle. The striker is to be rigidly secured by bolts to the vehicle body part. The bracket includes a striker mount portion, with holes defined therein adapted to receive the bolts, and a weld portion, by which the bracket can be welded to the back surface of the vehicle body part. A pair of deformable limbs interconnects the striker mount portion and the weld portion. By way of these deformable limbs, a position of the striker mount portion relative to the weld portion is adjustable to change the positions of the holes and accommodate repositioning of the bolts. The limbs have offset portions which are laterally displaced with respect to the striker mount portion and the weld portion such that the offset portions include side surfaces parallel to but not co-planar with side surfaces of the striker mount and weld portions.

Abstract: An adjustable gate hinge and an adjustable latch unit each provide for adjustment of a fence gate. The hinge interconnects the gate to a first post of the fence. The hinge supports the gate and permits pivoting movement of the gate relative to the first fence post. The latch unit secures the gate, to a second post of the fence, in a closed position of the gate. The hinge and the latch unit are usable together in a system. As such, the system has the feature that at least one of the hinge and the gate unit has an arrangement to permit adjustment of the gate relative to the fence in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the fence. The arrangement includes two components that are relatively movable along the direction perpendicular to a plane of the fence and that are secured to each other subsequent to the movement along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the fence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary-latch lock comprising two additional parts, namely a closing stirrup (10) and at least one rotary latch. The lock is adjusted by means of the assembly of the closing stirrup. Said rotary latch is arranged on a flap element, for example, in a fixed manner, and remains in such a position. The closing stirrup (10) is then placed on a body part, for example, in such a way that the position thereof can be changed by means of, for example, spacer sleeves or spacer bars. The aim of the invention is to create a reliable lock which can be easily adjusted after being assembled. In order to achieve this, the closing stirrup (10) comprises two components, namely a fixing element (11) and a stirrup element (19).

Abstract: The invention concerns a closing device for a washing machine or clothes dryer with a machine door that locks a loading opening exhibiting a closing piston mounted onto the machine door hinged to the machine housing and a lock in the area of the loading opening, whereby the lock is provided with a latching element that brings the closing piston into a latching closed position when the machine door closes and releases it to an open position when the machine door is opened. An automatic adjustment of the closing piston to the latching element when the machine door closes is achieved in that the closing piston can be adjusted horizontally to a limited extent in the door rim, and that the closing piston with its nose is alignable with the latching element in a receiving element in the door frame around the loading opening.

Abstract: A power striker mechanism (10) has a housing (16) adapted for mounting on a vehicle. A striker assembly (12) is mounted to the housing and constrained to slide between an inboard and outboard position. An outer link (42) is pivotally attached to the striker assembly (12). An inner link (48) is pivotally attached to the housing (16) and pivotally attached to the outer link (42). A cinching mechanism (14) linkably connects the inner (48) and outer links (42). Driving movement of the cinching mechanism (14) effects the inboard and outboard movement of the striker assembly (12). The driving movement is generally perpendicular to the inboard outboard movement of the striker assembly (12) thereby isolating the cinching mechanism (14) from loads imparted to the striker assembly (12).

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door striker plate (10) includes first and second plate parts (22,24) coupled together by an edge flange (26). A continuous slot (28) separates the plate parts except for two bendable portions (30,32). In use, second plate part (24) is welded to a door closing surface in predetermined arrangement then the door has certain manufacturing operations. Next, the door is removed from the body for accessory mounting (e.g., windows). Finally, on reattachment of the door to the body, any reattachment positional adjustment is accomplished by bending the portions (39, 32) by force application.

Abstract: An adjustable door guide latch slot assembly for aligning a slidable door latch with a fixed door guide includes a striker plate having a latch opening and a door guide having an inner surface with a recessed area on such inner surface, said recess area being larger than said striker plate and having an opening therein, whereby said striker plate may be placed flat against said door guide inner surface in said recessed area and adjustably affixed to said door guide inner surface so that said striker plate latch opening may be made to align properly with said slidable door latch.

Abstract: An electric door strike having a keeper rotatably mounted in a fixed strike case for movement between open and closed positions. The keeper includes dual solenoids with a biasing link between the solenoid plungers to urge the plungers to a non-actuated position. Changing the biasing link in the keeper changes the mode of operation. The application of an actuating signal to a solenoid moving the plungers to an actuated position which can be either the fail-safe or fail-secure mode of operation depending on the biasing link employed.

Abstract: A door latch actuator and methodology actuates a mortise-type dead latch that has a spring latch to reciprocally engage and disengage the door latch actuator, and a dead latch pin to operate movement of the spring latch. The actuator's housing has a cavity to receive the spring latch and dead latch pin when the door is fastened, and a reciprocally movable spring latch plunger and dead latch plunger mounted therein. The spring latch plunger's head portion selectively engages the spring latch at different locations when the door is fastened. A striker assembly has arrangeable strike elements defining a strike surface for the dead latch pin and portals for the spring latch for different spring latch and dead latch pin arrangements. The actuator also includes a drive to reciprocally drive the dead latch plunger and advance the spring latch plunger.

Abstract: The present invention provides a latch device and method for securing a panel such as a door panel to a frame. The latch device has a housing mounted to the door panel with a catch having a contact portion pivotally mounted in the housing for rotation about a first axis while a handle assembly is mounted in the housing for rotation about a second axis. A strike is mounted on the frame such that the strike can receive the catch. The handle assembly is moveable between a first position where the contact portion of the catch is urged into contact against the strike and second position where the catch is retracted from the strike. A link is pivotally mounted to the catch at one point and to the handle assembly at a second point. An adjustment device is provided. The latch device also has a compliance element that absorbs forces resulting from the engagement of the latch assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable doorstop is disclosed that mounts on a hinge pin that is inserted into mating hinge leafs. The doorstop has two members that are manually positioned with respect to each other and lock to set how far the door to which they are mounted can open. The doorstop members each have a means that contact only a hinge leaf of a door hinge to prevent a door from opening beyond its manually predetermined point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a keeper mechanism utilized with a latch having a hook. The keeper mechanism includes a housing, housing extension, clevis, adjusting nut, biasing spring, retaining ring, detent spring, indicator, and indicator spring. The housing includes exterior and interior surfaces, a mounting wall, and an adjustment slot adjacent the mounting wall. The mounting wall connects to one end of the housing and includes an opening. One end of the housing extension protrudes from the exterior surface of the housing while the other end includes an indicator opening. The clevis includes a clevis opening and clevis shaft which passes through the opening and extends inside the housing. The adjusting nut is threadably mounted to the clevis shaft and includes a plurality of grooves. One end of the biasing spring is adjacent the mounting wall while the other end interfaces the adjusting nut. The retaining ring connects to the interior surface of the housing between the adjustment slot and the housing extension.

Abstract: A sliding catch with partition release assembly for a fire extinguisher cabinet having a locking mechanism that comprises of a L-shaped member that has a first portion and a second portion that is defined as a stopping mechanism and a slotting mechanism. The slotting mechanism may be moved from a first locked position to a second unlocked position thereby releasing the locking mechanism and allowing the fire extinguisher cabinet to open. A partition release assembly allows for the injury-free access to the fire extinguisher cabinet by a fire-person.

Abstract: A striker for a fixed frame includes an opening adapted to accommodate a latch member of an opening leaf fitting. The striker includes a base that can be fixed to the fixed frame and an insert including an opening which can accommodate the latch member. The base includes an opening forming a housing for the insert.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a key collar for a motor vehicle door lock or the like including a key collar support plate fixedly attached on a support sheet, and a collar element supported on the collar support plate which, in operation, engages a lock catch of the motor vehicle door lock or the like. Optionally, the key collar includes an elastomer arrangement which allows the collar element to move a limited distance relative to the collar support plate in the plane of the collar support plate thereby better meeting the different requirements of normal use conditions and during a vehicle crash. In operation, the collar element of a preferred embodiment is supported on the collar support plate on two spaced bearing points, one bearing point with a trailing bridge in a manner that collar element can be swivelled around an axis which is perpendicular to collar support plate, and another bearing point with a leading bridge which can be displaced in corresponding arc-shaped crank.

Abstract: Locking arrangement for a movable vehicle body part. For adjusting an engine hood relative to the stationary vehicle body parts, it is known from prior art to fasten a lock top part by means of washers to the engine hood in such a manner that, when the engine hood is closed and therefore in the case of a connection of the lock top part with the lock bottom part, a precise fit of the engine hood is achieved. According to the invention, the catch bow is held on the assigned vehicle body part by means of a continuous linear adjusting device.