Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. The door handle assembly includes a bezel housing and a handle member including a handle portion positioned in a bowl portion of the bezel housing and a crank arm portion extending outwardly and upwardly through a slot in the bowl portion for connection to a pivot shaft. A sliding, spring biased weight is mounted on the bowl portion of the bezel proximate the location where the crank arm of the handle passes through the slot in the bowl portion. The weight moves slideably into coaction with a detent structure on the crank arm of the handle member in response to a side impact to preclude pivotal movement of the handle member in an unlatching direction.

Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for an automobile includes a handle lever that follows the motion of an outside handle. When a transverse load in excess of a predetermined value acts upon the vehicle as the result of an impact at the side thereof, the handle lever is caused to swing in the transverse direction outwardly of the vehicle against the biasing force of a spring. As a result, an opening lever in a door lock device is placed in an inoperative state so that the door will not open accidentally during a side collision.

Abstract: The invention concerns an external door-handle for automotive vehicles with a supporting frame (supporting shackle) which can be fastened to the door sheet-metal, to which supporting frame (supporting shackle) a door pull is articulated; and with a swivel arm (rotary shackle) articulated in the supporting frame, which swivel arm (rotary shackle) can be operated by the handle; a transmission part, in particular a Bowden cable, is coupled to the swivel arm (rotary shackle), through which the door is opened via transmission parts; a massive block is supported so it can be swiveled against spring pressure; in case of a lateral impact, the massive block is located in a locking position because of its mass, in which locking position it prevents an opening of the door; wherein the massive block is articulated to the swivel arm and, in the locking position, prevents a swiveling of the swivel arm into the open position.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latch housing formed with a recess open in an acceleration direction the latch is displaced in during a collision and, immediately adjacent the recess, with a blocking formation directed in the direction. A latching element is displaceable on the housing between a position retaining a door bolt and a position releasing the door bolt and a retaining pawl displaceable engageable with the latching element is pivotal on the housing between a retaining position holding the latching element in its retaining position and a freeing position releasing the latching element. An actuating lever pivotal on the housing is engageable with the pawl to move same into the freeing position. The actuating lever extends transversely of the acceleration.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the unlocking of doors of a motor vehicle in the event of an accident, at least one device for tensioning a safety belt is, in the case of an accident, operatively connected with at least one door-unlocking device. Operation of the belt tensioning device during an accident initiates operation of the door unlocking mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for unlocking a door lock for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of door locks for being mounted on doors of the vehicle, a collision direction detecting device for detecting a direction of an impact applied to a vehicle; and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking a door lock located on a side opposite to a collision side based on the direction detected by the collision direction detecting device.

Abstract: A ball operated, automatic vibration safety latching device including a cantilevered arm which is gravity biased to a radial position to leave a catch normally disengaged, a ball positioned atop a ball support, and a retaining cup attached to the arm and arranged beneath the ball support. Any undue vibration such as that caused by an earthquake or nearby explosion will dislodge the ball causing the ball to drop into the retaining cup which will cause the cantilevered arm to rotate around its pivot so as to then engage the catch or otherwise block the door. A single latching device may be used with two catches to serve two doors or other items that need to be restrained. The door is normally completely unimpeded and only requires unlatching in the event that undue vibration has occurred since the door was last closed. Unlatching the arm allows the door to be opened and automatically resets the device to the normal unlatched mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an outside door handle automatic locking device for automobiles which includes supports that are placed on both sides of the upper portion of a housing, levers, placed on both sides of a handle and inwards from the supports, which, because of being fixed to a hinge shaft, are able to rotate. Also, an elastic member is formed on the hinge shaft that keeps the outside handle in its original position through its elasticity. Additionally, placed on a fixed location on one of the levers is a rotating member that rotates when the vehicle receives a side impact from a collision. A hook portion is also offered which is fixed toward the outside of the rotating member and catches the rotating member when it rotates past its fixed rotation.

Abstract: A swing lid locking mechanism prevents the lid of a container from accidentally opening when shocks act on the container. The swing lid locking mechanism comprises one of a pair of support legs formed integrally with the lid body of the lid and pivotally supported by support pins on the side wall of the container body, provided with a locking projection; and an impact locking device comprising a bottomed case provided with a longitudinal slot in one side wall thereof, a locking weight provided with a groove in an upper part of the outer side surface thereof across the width and a stopping projection in a middle part of the outer side surface, and axially slidably inserted in the case so that the stopping projection is received in the longitudinal slot of the bottomed case, and a spring compressed between the lower end of the locking weight and the bottom wall of the case.

Abstract: A latching device which detects the initial shocks of major earthquakes and activates safety devices before the onset of destructive ground motions. A unidirectional vertical threshold seismoscope is integrated with mechanical and electromechanical safety devices to latch cabinets closed, secure movable objects, shut off gas, water, and electric utilities, activate alarms, early warning networks, and related automated response systems. The device is fully self contained, requires no external power, and is virtually impervious to nonearthquake noise in that it is designed to respond specifically to the vertical acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shock waves of a major earthquake.

Abstract: A latch responsive to inertial movement of a structure for locking a closure during an earthquake. The inventive device includes a base plate mountable to the interior structure of a cabinet or the like. A latch is pivotally mounted at a lower end thereof to the base plate and projects upward to rest against a guide pin. A hook is mounted to the interior of the cabinet door such that movement of the cabinet during an earthquake will cause the latch to fall into engagement with the hook to lock the cabinet door shut.

Abstract: A device for releasing a mechanical energy storage device from an initial locked position in a release situation is comprised of a housing having a bearing connected thereto, a locking device for securing the energy storage device in the initial locked position and a supporting device deflectable in the release situation and connected to the bearing. The locking means is connected to the housing and rests on the supporting device in a prestressed manner in the initial locked position, whereby the supporting device is deflected in the release situation by forces created by its own inertia. The supporting device may be in the form of a spring, two springs with an inertia member therebetween, two bodies with an inertia member therebetween, or a ball in a ball socket. Another embodiment uses rollers and roller bearings.

Abstract: A circular rotating member, having an outer peripheral surface, is rotatably mounted in a ring member. The rotating member includes an elongated central slot and four peripheral slots extending inwardly from the peripheral surface of the rotating member and spaced at 90 degrees from each other. The key of the combination lock extends into the central elongated slot, and a ball bearing is carried in each of the peripheral slots of the rotating member. The inner surface of the ring member is substantially identical to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member but the inner surface of the ring member includes, additionally, two cut-outs. Thus, when the ring member is driven to rotate at a high speed by an automatic dialer, the ball bearing will be driven by centrifugal force into the cut-out whereby to prevent further rotation of the dial to thereby block the lock.

Abstract: A rotary inertial latch is disclosed for maintaining the actuator of a disk drive in its proper position when the drive is not in operation. The inertial latch includes at least one inertial body which contacts a pivotable latch member, at least when the disk drive is subject to a shock force, to move the pivotable latch member to a closed position.

Abstract: In a push-open type storing device for use in an automobile which enables a storing box to be locked in the shut position inside a housing in spite of the biasing spring pressure owing to the operation of a cam member on the housing side and a pin member on the storing box side and further enables the storing box to be automatically moved in the opening direction out of the housing through the opening thereof in response to a further push given to the storing box, the storing device with a safety function produced by forming a locking part and an outlet mouth as separated with a distance from each other on one edge side defining a cam groove of the cam member, integrally forming a projecting stopper guide wall between the locking part and the outlet mouth on the other edge side opposite the one edge side mentioned above, and allowing the locking part for securing the pinmember to be positioned outwardly from the stopper guide wall, enables the pin member to collide against the outer edge of the stopper guide

Abstract: A tremor actuated cabinet door latch has a spring loaded arm held back by a weighted trip pin. The pin releases the arm in response to shaking of the cabinet, allowing the arm to engage a catch mounted on the cabinet door, to keep the door from swinging open during an earth tremor.

Abstract: A sliding side door of a van type automotive vehicle has a door latch mounted in the back end of the sliding door. The door latch includes a pivoted operating lever that is rotated to unlatch the door. The operating lever is connected to a pivoted transfer lever by a vertical rod. The transfer lever in turn is connected to a long horizontal rod that is pulled forward by an outside handle near the front of the sliding door to rotate the operating lever and unlatch the door. The pivoted operating lever is also engaged by a pivoted release lever that is connected to another long horizontal rod that is pulled forward by an inside door handle that is also near the front of the sliding door to rotate the operating lever and unlatch the door. The door latch is equipped with a block out mechanism that prevents rotation of the pivoted operating lever when the vehicle decelerates rapidly.

Abstract: This vehicle door latch assembly incorporates a blocker bar which has a follower operatively mounted within a conical recess of an upstanding block so that when subjected to an unbalancing force of predetermined magnitude, the block will be tilted and the bar moved to a block position in which a transfer lever of the latch assembly is inhibited from turning. An associated intermittent lever is resultantly immobilized so that a connected detent lever cannot be moved from a holding position with respect to a spring biased locking bolt. With the locking bolt so held, it cannot be moved from a latching position with respect to a striker to thereby prevent door opening. When door opening is subsequently desired, an unblocking lever system can be actuated to cam the blocker bar to a release position allowing the transfer lever to be turned by a pull handle and a connected release rod to effect the spring biased movement of the locking bolt to an unlatching position with respect to the striker.

Abstract: A lock having a counterweight connected through a lever to a spring-actuated lock bolt on a safe to balance out any inertial forces tending to move the bolt out of its locking position when the safe is struck a heavy blow. A latch forming a part of the lock latches the bolt in its locking position when an attempt is made to dislodge or destroy the lock case or a part thereof. A selectively usable bolt part is effective to change the lock from a deadbolt type to a slam-bolt type.

Abstract: A lid lock apparatus is comprised of an opening formed in a vehicle-body, a lid pivotally mounted to the vehicle-body, a locking mechanism is connected to the plate and has a shaft which engages and disengages the lid when operated to its closed and opened condition, respectively. A driving mechanism which is arranged for releasing the engagement between the shaft and the lid when in the closed condition, is mounted on the locking mechanism and positioned in such a manner that the driving mechanism is set to be in close relationship to the plate while being perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A shock-activated lock for attachment to a cabinet that prevents the cabinet door from opening in the event of an earthquake. The lock includes a slotted engaging member attached to the cabinet door, and a lock housing attached to the cabinet frame that contains a ball that normally rests on a raised shelf. The engaging member extends into the housing when the door is closed. In the event of an earthquake, the ball falls into the slot in the engaging member, preventing the engaging member from withdrawing from the housing, thus preventing the cabinet door from opening.

Abstract: A latching device for a vehicle comprises a hollow casing having open front and rear ends, a latching member supported for sliding motion within the casing so as to protrude through the open front end of the casing, biasing means for biasing the latching member toward the open front end so that the latching member protrudes outside through the open front end of the casing, a locking mechanism capable of locking the latching member at a locking position within the casing against the biasing force of the biasing means and of unlocking the latching member when the latching member is pushed from the locking position against the biasing force of the biasing means to an unlocking position within the casing, and a safety mechanism capable of preventing the disengagement of the locking mechanism by inertia.

Abstract: A lock device for keeping a movable body closed includes a cam lever and an inertia stopper. The cam lever serves to lock the movable body at a closed position by pushing the movable body inward to the closed position against a biasing force and to release the locked state of the movable body by further pushing the movable body inward, thereby permitting the movable body to move to an open position. The inertia stopper serves to prevent the cam lever from releasing the locked state of the movable body when the force of inertia is generated to push the movable body inward from the locked state.

Abstract: A disturbance responsive magnetic latch comprises a latch arm having spring legs and mounted onto a first substantially planer mounting surface for engaging a door or door frame member. A screw or other fastening mechanism may be used to attach said first mounting surface and latch arm to the door. A second mounting surface is provided having a magnet coupled thereto and having a retainer for retaining and securing the latch arm thereto. The magnet is preferably of a substantially flat and elongated construction. The second mounting surface is secured to a predetermined area distant from the first base plate preferably by a screw or other mechanical fastening mechanism.

Abstract: An inertia sensitive latch mechanism for preventing a motor vehicle seat back from folding from a normal upright position to a folded forward position when the seat is exposed to deceleration loads above a predetermined level including a pendulum pivotally mounted to the movable seat back having a notch and tooth for engaging a striker bar. The center of gravity of the pendulum is located such that when the seat back is urged from the upright position to the folded position when the vehicle is exposed to a predetermined deceleration load, the pendulum engages the striker bar to prevent movement of the seat back. The striker bar is movably mounted to the seat support and the latch mechanism includes a guide member adjacent the pendulum for moving the striker bar to a predetermined location relative to the pivot point of the pendulum as the seat back is moved into its normal upright position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latching assembly for releasably securing a vehicle seat to a vehicle body and is adapted to co-operate with two generally parallel spaced mounting bars rigidly affixed to a vehicle frame forming part of the vehicle body. The latching assembly comprises a bridge plate adapted for rigid attachment to the vehicle seat and dimensioned to span the distance separating a first and second of said two mounting bars. The bridge plate has a first connecting slot for releasable, securing engagement with the first mounting bar and a second connecting mechanism for releasable securing engagement with the second mounting bar. The first connecting means comprises an open-ended slot formed in the bridge plate and adapted for surrounding engagement with the first mounting bar so as to permit pivotal movement of the bridge plate and the attached vehicle seat about the first mounting bar.

Abstract: A blast-resistant door latching system features independently attachable but interconnected inner panic bar and outer handle means for opening the door. The latches are biased to the closed position by a travel bar means. The latches are opened when the travel bar means is moved upward by intermediate linkages connecting it to the panic bar and the outer handle. Upward movement of the travel bar is blocked by an inertial stop means when a blast occurs.

Abstract: A lock for an infant restraint used in a vehicle with a normally reclining shell in which a child is received. In a frontal crash the lock releases in the shell so that the shell and child pivot downwardly to a generally vertical position thereby greatly reducing the risk of injury and usually preventing injury of the child. To minimize the force required to release the lock, a roller bearing catch is engaged by a hook latch. The lock is normally latched and is released in a frontal crash by the inertia of a flyweight. To prevent the latch from being released during normal operation of the vehicle by forces produced by vibration, bumps and the like, preferably the flyweight and hook are connected by a lost motion coupling, a movable stop releasably engages the hook and the flyweight is yieldably biased toward the locked position.

Abstract: A lock in which a closure structure carries a cammable latch bolt which is spring urged toward a latching position. Stops are provided on the latch bolt and on a member carrying the latch bolt to normally prevent retracting movement of the latch bolt under inertia forces. The latch bolt is mounted for movement in a direction to displace the stops out of a registering position to permit camming of the latch bolt toward a releasing position during closing movement of the closing structure.

Abstract: A glove box for the upper surface of an automobile dashboard whereby it may be positioned close to the driver. The glove box lid is pivotally supported by arms extending down either side to swing forwardly for opening. A hook is pivotally support adjacent an arm and weighted to swing into engagement with the arm to prevent opening of the lid during abrupt deceleration. A toggle spring assists in maintaining the lid in either the open or closed position.

Abstract: A locking system for a door of an automobile is provided with an emergency unlocking means which detects critical deceleration or acceleration of the automobile by the aid of inertia and transmits inertial movement to the locking system to cause it to move from its locking position to its unlocking position. Preferably, the emergency unlocking means comprises an inertia lever having a weight pendulum capable of swinging and thereby pushing a member of the locking system, and holding means for normally holding the inertia lever in its normal position.

Abstract: A reciprocatory device in the form of a roller door catch has a reciprocatory plunger slidable in a fixed tubular housing and retained therein by an adjustment member. The plunger is urged to a normal resting position by a compression return spring. At its outer end the plunger rotatably supports a catch roller engageable with a recessed keeper mounted on the door frame. The adjustment member has a stem portion which projects into a blind bore at the inner end of the plunger, and this stem has radial stub projections which engage with a helical rib providing a screw thread within said bore, with a clearance in the axial direction approximating to the normal range of plunger reciprocation on door opening and closure. The adjustment member has a head portion with a frusto-conical clutch face which frictionally engages a mating clutch face at the inner end of the housing.

Abstract: A foot operated door stop adapted to be positioned in a floor opening adjacent the door so as to effectively limit its degree of opening as a safety and anti-burglar means. This door stopper is in the form of inner and outer telescopically mounted cylindrical members. The inner cylinder is spring urged to an extended position wherein such member projects upwardly from the floor in a door blocking position. The inner member is guided by specific means at the upper and lower ends of the outer member and a particular detent assembly is mounted in such inner member so as to present the means by which the inner member may be held in its retracted or non-operative position. The inner cylinder is also adapted to freely rotate with respect to the outer cylinder.

Abstract: An inertial lock for the electric actuated release mechanism of a door latch, said release mechanism comprising a solenoid and plunger and said inertial lock comprising a spring biased inertial ring disposed on an extended portion of the solenoid and operably associated with spring biased locking tabs operable to lock the plunger in place during conditions which would provide forces that might undesireably actuate the release mechanism, such as certain vehicle accident conditions. This inertial lock is set within the confines of a conventional electric latch release mechanism, not requiring additional space, and features have been incorporated into the design to ease assembly of the electric actuated release mechanism and aid in the collection of flux from the solenoid.

Abstract: The door of a motor vehicle may be locked and unlocked by means of an electric motor mounted in the door and accelerating a flywheel. When enough energy is stored in the flywheel, the flywheel is coupled to the lock mechanism. When the lock operation is completed, the flywheel is uncoupled from the lock so that its residual energy need not be absorbed by the lock, and the lock may be operated manually without requiring the flywheel to be turned during manual operation.

Abstract: A film cassette including a base and a cover, two lock and release slides selectively movable for locking the cover to the base in a closed position and for releasing the cover from the base in an open position, and a linkage for linking the two slides together such that when forces arise on the two slides when a jolt is experienced, the forces on the two slides act against one another. In this way, the chance of such forces leading to movement of the two slides is reduced.

Abstract: In a railway hopper car a sliding gate is provided at the discharge opening of the hopper for discharging materials therefrom. The gate comprises a frame supporting a sliding gate member movable from a closed position to an open position by means of a rack and pinion arrangement. The arrangement is actuated by an operating shaft which projects out from opposite ends of the gate and includes operating heads which are adapted to be engaged by a tool for rotating the shaft. A lock arrangement is provided for maintaining the sliding gate in a closed position and includes blocking elements which in the locked position of the gate are disposed over the operating heads to prevent the insertion of a tool unitl the locking mechanism is placed in an unlocked position.

Abstract: A safety shield construction for use with wood turning lathes and similar machines which provide a "see through" shield mounted in a perimeter frame which is movable between closed and open positions. Inertia actuated locks prevent the shield from being knocked open by a sharp blow from a broken workpiece, but permit the shield to be moved to the open position manually. The inertia locks are fail safe and are moved to locked position whenever the shield is moved to closed position. Thus if the inertia locks become inoperative they will be in locked position for safety. The shield construction includes rigid supports attached to the lathe bed which utilize a rigid torque tube that attaches on brackets which permit adjustment of the shield along the length of the lathe to not only serve as a shield for long workpieces, but also as a shield during face plate operation.

Abstract: A weight member is supported from an associated vehicle side door for generally horizontal oscillation of at least a major portion of the weight member along a path extending in a front-to-rear direction relative to the direction of intended movement of the vehicle. The vehicle door includes a vertically shiftable door latch lock actuator shiftable between upper and lower active and inactive positions, respectively, and motion transmitting structure is provided and operatively connects the major portion of the weight member to the lock actuator for downward shifting of the latter from an inactive position to its active position in response to inertia shifting of the major portion of the weight member in a forward direction relative to the direction of intended movement of the vehicle.