Abstract: A latching mechanism is provided for latching a door to a fixed frame member. A keeper is secured to the frame member. A support structure is secured to the door for pivotally mounting a pawl and a pawl-actuating lever for pivotal movement about first and second fixed axes, respectively. The pawl and lever are interconnected by a link bar, secured by first and second pivot pins, respectively. When the lever is in a latched position, forces applied to the door in a door-opening direction impose a compressional load on the interconnecting link bar. When the lever is moved between latched and unlatched positions, an extension of the line drawn between the first and second pivot pins of the link bar will pass across the fixed axis about which the lever is pivotal. Thus, the link bar functions as a over-center toggle element which is placed under a compressional load when forces are applied to the door in a door-opening direction.

Abstract: A latch having a multiple function prevailing-torque mechanism which facilitates engagement and disengagement of the drawbolt and the strike of the latch and provides a simplified construction enabling ease of assembly and adjustment, with the prevailing-torque mechanism serving to retain the component parts in assembled arrangement and in appropriate adjustment. A further latch arrangement includes a positive lock which serves to retain the actuating lever of the latch in a stowed or latched location.

Abstract: A quickly releasable clamping lock of the knee lever type, usable to clamp a filter cover to the filter housing of an engine air intake filter, the lock assembly comprising a curved hook member whose one extremity engages the filter cover and whose other extremity is pivotably attached to a knee lever, the latter in turn, being pivotable about a pivot anchor which, like the hook member and the knee lever, is a U-shaped wire part with angled-off anchoring trunnions engaging transverse apertures in the wall of the filter housing. The pivot connection between the pivot anchor and the knee lever is formed by wire loops in the leg portions of the pivot anchor and by angled-off pivot trunnions on the wire extremities of the knee lever. Alternatively, the pivot anchor may be a U-shaped stamping with angled-off lugs in the place of the anchoring trunnions and bores in the place of the wire loops.

Abstract: A device for holding a door firmly closed includes a bracket for attachment to a door and a bistable assembly for attachment to the door jamb. A spring-biased piston within the bistable assembly presses one arm of a rotatable bell-crank against the tip of the bracket to hold the door firmly closed against the door jamb. Opening the door against the urging of the spring-biased piston rotates the bell crank to a standby position in which it is held stably by the spring-biased piston.In a preferred embodiment, a solenoid within the housing of the bistable assembly rotates the bell crank from engaged position to standby position in response to an external signal, thereby moving the door away from the door jamb automatically.

Abstract: A closure, particularly for industrial freezer doors is disclosed as comprising two elements, a box-like body having a top portion provided with a spring-loaded lever pivoted thereto, and a second element which is comprised of a suitably shaped latch pivoted to a mounting plate, said second element being snap insertable in the first element and retained by the latter by means of a "nose" element, thus providing a perfect closure.

Abstract: A cash register drawer releasing device wherein the drawer latch is pivotally supported for movement to unlatching position, but normally blocked from such movement by a toggle device which may be released by a relatively weak electromagnet.

Abstract: An adjustable, multipivot aircraft panel latch featuring a means for adjusting the latch tension after the panel is installed without the necessity of opening the latch. This is accomplished by an adjustment screw mounted on a yoke member in operative engagement with the latch arm. By the particular arrangement of components, the latch arm may be adjusted relative to a keeper on the aircraft structure by rotating the screw with a conventional drive tool inserted through a small opening in the top of the latch housing.

Abstract: A door and discharge hopper combination including a locking mechanism which includes a rotatable latch jaw adapted to engage a keeper on the hopper door. The jaw is maintained in a locked position by means of a link and bell crank lever arrangement which is adapted to be biased into an over-center position to assure positive locking of the latch jaw and keeper arrangement.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a swingably mounted flight control surface member of an airplane, such as a rudder, which is embodied in a unitized frame structure that can be applied to either new or existing airplanes, which includes a bracket mounted assembly arranged for mounting within an enclosed portion such as the tail cone, in a position wherein a reciprocable locking bolt may be manually selectively moved by an outside ground attendant to a projecting position in locking engagement with a keeper carried by an adjacent part of the flight control member, and to a released retracted position. The bolt is connected to one end of a rocker arm carried by a rotatable shaft having an end extending to the exterior of the enclosed portion, and being arranged for releasably receiving an actuating tool.

Abstract: A door catch including a housing mounted on a door, a lever arm pivotably mounted to the housing, a shank portion pivotably mounted to a midportion of the lever arm, the shank portion extending beyond the edge of the housing and adapted to fit within a keeper mounted adjacent a door. The lever arm and shank are movable between a closed and open position. The lever arm is spring biased to the open position. A rod extends through the shank portion and fits through slots in two flange portions of the housing. A latch is pivotably mounted on the rod and extends through aligned slots in both the shank portion and lever arm. The latch is spring biased to engage the lever arm adjacent the slot therethrough. The latch is movable to a releasing position whereby the lever arm and shank move to an open position and the shank disengages from the keeper.

Abstract: An improved latching arrangement is provided for a rigid container having a lid including latching arms pivotally disposed at opposite sides of the container for engaging loops which depend from the periphery of the lid. Each of the latching arms is pivotally mounted to the container sidewall and has a flexible end that interferes, by a bending action, with the container sidewall providing a snap action which retains the latch arm in either a locked or unlocked position. In an alternate embodiment the latch arms are pivotally supported from the loops of the lid, and each have a pivot bar that engages securing hooks extending from the sidewall of the container.

Abstract: A horizontal pivot window construction. The window includes a window frame having a sill, a head, and a pair of upright jambs which interconnect the ends of the sill with the ends of the head. The window sash is mounted within the frame and the sash includes upper and lower rails and upright stiles which interconnect the opposite ends of the upper and lower rails. Means are provided for supporting the window sash within the window frame for movement of the sash between a closed and locked position and an open and unlocked position. The supporting means includes means for pivotally mounting the sash within the frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis so as to make the normal exterior side of the window accessible from the interior of the room in which the window is located. The supporting means also includes a member for vertically moving the sash between an upper position and a lower position when the stiles and the jambs are substantially coextensive with each other.

Abstract: A frame extending around an opening in a vehicle roof is adapted to support the perimeter of a curved glass panel to close off the opening. A pair of bayonets projecting in spaced relation to the underside of the forward edge of the panel mates with an aperture in the frame when the panel is inclined with respect to the roof to act as a pivotable hinge allowing motion of the panel between a closed position and that inclined position. A two part fastener for the rear edge of the panel includes a handle pivotably connected to the underside of the panel and a tongue pivotably connected to the handle and adapted to be retained in a lock member in the frame. The handle acts as an over-center linkage to bend the panel against its curvature, forcing its perimeter into intimate engagement with the frame or may be extended to maintain the panel with its rear edge tilted upwardly away from the opening.

Abstract: In a pneumatic outlet a "U" shaped bail assembly is pivotally mounted on at least one end wall of the outlet. The bail assembly includes a pair of arms which extend outwardly from the end wall beyond the discharge tube of the outlet, and a body portion which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the discharge tube and joins the arms. A locking handle is mounted on the body portion which is movable to a locking position to maintain the end cap in engagement with the discharge tube. A locking assembly mounted on one of the arms of the bail is movable between a position blocking movement of the locking handle from the locking position and a position allowing movement of the locking handle to the unlocked position. A fastener member carried by the locking assembly is operable to fasten the locking assembly in the handle blocking position.

Abstract: An electric strike type door lock in which the strike tongue is releasably held in its latch bolt securing position by a ball seated in a bore in a wall of the housing in which the strike tongue is mounted. Toggle linkage holds the ball in an operative position projecting from the mouth of the bore and into a pocket in the adjacent surface of the strike tongue, when the toggle linkage is in an extended condition with its knee joint slightly across dead center. A low powered solenoid operatively connected with the knee joint of the toggle, initiates collapse of the toggle and thereby enables the ball to be expelled from the pocket in the strike tongue by door opening force transmitted through the latch bolt onto the strike tongue.

Abstract: A door lock device suitable for operation with electrically operated means, which in turn can be actuated by magnetic card, special turn key, or a key punch combination for security purposes. If desired the lock device may be operated with a suitable mechanical or key lock mechanism. The door lock comprises a pivoting latch dog or bolt which is triggered to a locked position upon closing of a door. The pivoting dog or bolt is controlled by a toggle linkage which can be positioned near, on, or over-center to hold the door positively locked against external pressure. Means are provided for releasing the toggle linkage, even under loads against the door, by force directly applied to the toggle linkage between the end pivots of the linkage, and in addition springs are provided for moving the latch dog to an open position positively once the toggle linkage has been released. As the linkage is released the latch bolt moves the door to an ajar position.

Abstract: An adjustable, flush mounted, over-center hook latch of the type employed to secure aircraft panels. The effective length of the latch arm is adjustable to correct misalignment of the components joined by the latch by moving the pivot axis of the latch arm relative to the fulcrum axis of the latch handle. This is accomplished by a pair of cooperating yoke members, one of which is mounted about the pivot axis and the other about the fulcrum axis and are slidable relative to each other by a driver. By the particular arrangement of the parts, the latch can be adjusted when installed and in its closed position by the driver being engaged with a conventional drive tool extending through a small opening in the latch handle.

Abstract: A toggle latch for joining together two members. The latch includes a fixed engageable keeper element adapted to be secured to one of the members and a lever assembly adapted to be secured to the other member. The lever assembly includes a bracket, an operating lever secured to the bracket by a fixed pivot and an intermediate portion of the lever, and a drawbar secured to one end of the lever beyond the fixed pivot by means of a movable pivot. The opposite end of the lever forms a handle. The movable pivot is positioned relative to the fixed pivot so that when the drawbar is engaged with the keeper and the handle is shifted to the latched position the movable pivot will be shifted around and into a latched position behind the fixed pivot. Finally, spring means is on the lever assembly to facilitate engagement of the drawbar and the keeper element, and shifting of the lever assembly to the latched position where the members are maintained in tight joined condition.

Abstract: A unitary firebox enclosed by a cabinet through which air is circulated for heating purposes. A blower forces air into the interior of the firebox through louvers located on the opposite side walls at a level adjacent the fire. Secondary air is drawn into a secondary combustion chamber to assist in complete combustion of the gases. A hinged door for the firedoor is held closed by a toggle latching arrangement, and the door is adjustable in order to assure a tight seal even if warpage should occur. A bypass damper may be opened to assure that smoke and ash are drawn into the flue instead of drifting out through the firebox door during the loading of fuel.

Abstract: An improved latching arrangement is provided for a container and lid of the type in which the container has a flexible, resilient sidewall. Latching arms are pivoted to opposite sides of the container sidewall and engage loops which depend from the periphery of the lid. Each of the latching arms is mounted to the container sidewall in a manner such that when the latching arm is pivoted between its locked and unlocked positions a portion of the latching arm interferes with the flexible sidewall of the container which causes the container to flex, resiliently and provide a snap action which retains the latch arm in either of the locked or unlocked positions.

Abstract: A door lock has both its dead bolt and spring latch released by the action of a single keeper. The keeper has two stable limit positions, i.e. it opens the strike case, or it closes the strike case. The keeper is held in its open position allowing the door to be opened and closed if the solenoid of the keeper was energized and if the dead bolt was in extended position at the time the door was opened. If the solenoid of the keeper is deenergized and if only the spring latch was extended, the keeper returns to locked condition once the latch bolt has cleared the strike, because the keeper is still biased to its second stable or closed position. In that position the keeper is then locked by the bias spring inside the keeper acting on the latch bolt.

Abstract: A latch assembly is disclosed which is operative to retain a movable closure member in position with respect to an adjacent fixed wall member, and includes a handle member pivotally mounted to the closure member with an arm extending generally along the handle member beyond the pivotal mounting thereof for engaging the fixed wall member at one end thereof. An adjustable member is mounted on the end of the arm for adjusting the engagement of the end of the arm with respect to the wall member. An overcenter tension member is pivotally connected at one end to the closure member and the other end to the arm for biasing the arm into tight engagement with the fixed wall member when the latch is in the latched position.

Abstract: An improved draw bolt of the type including a frame, link means having one nd pivotally connected to the frame, and a manually operable latch member pivotally connected to the other end of the link means for movement with the link means to latching and unlatching positions. A leaf spring secured to the frame is cooperable with the link means for moving the hasp-engaging end of the latch member completely clear of the hasp upon release of the manual force applied to lift the other end of the latch member away from the frame. In the preferred draw bolt, the link means comprises a spaced pair of link members and a key-actuatable bolt member is carried by the latch member between the two link members, the bolt member being engageable with a stud on the frame for releasably locking the latch member in the latching position.

Abstract: A draw and pull latch consisting of a base plate for attachment to a cabinet, a body pivoted at one end on the base plate and normally covering the base plate, and a draw and pull nose pivoted on the body parallel to and spaced from the body-base plate pivot. The body carries a pivotal latching plate aligned with at least one latching hook on the base plate and urged by a torsion spring to a latching position. In the fully latched position the draw and pull nose pivot axis is above a plane through the body-base plate pivot axis and the keeper engagement by the draw and pull nose so that the latch will urge itself to a fully open position when the latch plate is disengaged from the latching hook.

Abstract: A quick-acting locking device for the detachable connection between a removable housing element, particularly a maintenance cover, and a stationary housing element, comprising at least one cocking lever pivoted on the removable housing element and a flat spring acting as a bending spring and forming two legs, one of the legs engaging with its extremity in the border of the removable housing element.

Abstract: This device for releasing and actuating a sliding door is of the type comprising a handle-forming plate-flush mounted in the door volume by means of a double joint. This control plate is thus pivoted at two points located preferably in the end portions of the plate to permit the door opening and closing movements.

Abstract: A console type panel having instruments integral with the cover of the panel which is capable of being positioned in either a closed and locked attitude or an opened attitude by means of an external handle connected to an over-centering operating linkage.

Abstract: An overcenter type latch for relatively movable members includes a retainer of molded plastic secured to one member and having spaced recesses adjacent one end thereof and a striker adjacent the other end thereof. An operating handle has spaced abutments adjacent one end thereof received within the retainer recesses for pivotal movement of the handle between an overcenter latched position and an unlatched position. An elastomeric link is pivoted to the operating handle and to other member. The link is tensed when the handle is in latched position and extends between the spaced recesses and abutments. A manually operated latch integral with the handle cooperates with the striker to block movement of the handle to unlatched position unless the latch is manually released.

Abstract: A toggle type adjustable latch mechanism which distributes the load to two attachment points on the wall of one part of a two-part container. Both overcenter and fulcrum principles are used to apply closure pressure and the latch itself lies within the envelope of the container in the closed position thereby preventing damage to the latch during handling and empty shipment.

Abstract: A door latch having an over-center latching mechanism, which can be tripped by the dishwasher timer to allow the door to open slightly during the drying cycle of the dishwasher. The latch can also be opened by operating a handle on the exterior of the dishwasher.

Abstract: An improved latch for use on munition shipping containers or the like for operation with any commonly available tool which increases the mechanical advantage to provide high opening and closing forces while avoiding exposed easily damaged surfaces. The large exposed surfaces on presently available hand operated latches are eliminated thereby preventing damage resulting from accidental hooking on projecting surfaces and/or adjacent latches.

Abstract: A catch for releasably securing together two separable parts and comprising a base member mounted on one of the parts, an operating lever pivotally supported on the base member, an adjustable draw bar carried by the operating lever and movable into and out of connected relation with an associated strike mounted on the other of the parts, and a control lever assembly carried by the operating lever for cooperating with the base member to releasably latch the operating lever in a closed position to maintain the draw bar in connected relation with the strike. Compound movement of the control lever assembly is required to effect release of the operating lever from its closed position.