Abstract: A noise dampener for a motor vehicle door lock including a door arrester bar which pivots about an axis extending parallel to a motor vehicle door hinge axis, which is pivotally secured to one of door assembly parts, a door or a door pillar, with a bearing bolt extending through a bearing bore formed in an end region of the door arrester bar and supported in a bearing block, and which extends into a retaining housing secured to another of the door assembly parts and having locking element(s) cooperating with detent marks provided in the door arrester bar for retaining same, with the noise dampener being formed as a hollow part made of a non-metallic, noise dampening material, surrounding, at least partially, the end region of the door arrester bar, and having an interior space closed at least at two sides with the bore having a shape corresponding to a shape of the end region of the door arrester bar and with the hollow part further including a locking nose formed on a wall of the hollow part corresponding to

Abstract: A yieldable plastic collar is mounted on the latch housing to surround the entry recess of the housing and be engaged by the striker to thereby isolate the striker from noise producing contact with the housing. The plastic collar has a base portion attached to the housing and a striker contacting portion projecting from the base portion into the entry recess of the latch housing. The contacting portion is connected to the base portion by an integrally molded living hinge so that the contacting portion yields to remain in full time contacting engagement with the striker irrespective of shifting movement or misalignment between the housing and the striker.

Abstract: A fluid-damped automotive door latch actuator comprising a fluid cylinder mounted adjacent the inside surface of an escutcheon plate between the door handle crank arms. A shaft connected to and extending between the crank arms is rotated to actuate the door latch. Damping action is caused in one embodiment by rotation of a shaft-mounted vane relative to a cylinder housing fixed to the escutcheon plate. In a second embodiment, the damper is designed to provide a fluid shearing action.

Abstract: A latch is disclosed for securing a television monitor for an aircraft video system in a horizontal position, wherein the monitor is rotatable between the horizontal position and a downward position suitable for passenger viewing. The latch includes a solenoid having a hinged element. The hinged element may be rotated to a closed position wherein the hinged element is in a vertical orientation. The hinged element may also be rotated to an open position wherein the hinged element is rotated away from the vertical orientation. Further, the hinged element includes a cutout having a reverse L-shaped configuration and a first mating surface. In addition, a notch is formed in a bezel for the monitor. The notch includes a second mating surface wherein when the hinged element is in the open position and the monitor is in the horizontal position, the second mating surface rests upon the first mating surface thereby securing the monitor in the horizontal position.

Abstract: Latch assembly for securing vehicle doors and other closures such as boot lids or tail gates co-acts with a conventional striker releasably retained by a pivoted claw or other catch mechanism to hold the striker in a mouth of the assembly. A displaceable jaw or, preferably, pair of opposing jaws conveniently form part of a unitary sub-assembly including a yoke connecting inner ends of the jaws which is displaceable inwardly of the mouth. The jaws have wedging surfaces that co-act with corresponding wedging surfaces of a latch body to provide laterally inward wedging action as the jaws are carried inwardly by the striker for positive non-rattle location of the latter. A resilient buffer may be provided which is compressed by the striker at the closed position.

Abstract: A locking device for trunk lids comprises a latch for engaging with a striker, a ratchet for maintaining the engagement between the latch and the striker, an output member rotating by an electric motor against resilient force of a return spring, a moving bar provided between the ratchet and the output member so as to slide in a lateral direction, the moving bar having one end connected to the output member and the other end connected to a key cylinder, an engaging portion provided with the moving bar for engaging with the ratchet to release the ratchet from the latch when the moving bar laterally slides from an original position by the rotation of the output member or the key cylinder. The moving bar is restored to the original position by the resilient force of the return spring after the ratchet is disengaged from said latch.

Abstract: A ratchet for a vehicle closure latch that mounts on a vehicle closure so as to engage and retain a striker mounted on a vehicle body when the vehicle closure is closed. The ratchet comprises a metal substrate and a plastic covering, the metal substrate having a primary latching tooth for engaging a pawl to retain the ratchet in a latched position and a striker tooth for engaging a striker when the ratchet is in an unlatched position, and the plastic covering having a bumper with a series of spaced apart cantilevered fingers to reduce the noise generated by contact of the ratchet with another portion of the closure latch, the fingers being joined to an integral base and being inclined with respect thereto.

Abstract: The present invention generally includes a latch assembly including a completely symmetrical metal frame and a polymeric isolation plate mounted between the frame and levers. The polymeric isolation plate is not symmetrical but serves as a templet to assure that only the proper holes are being used on the metal frame for either right-hand or left-hand drive latch assemblies. The polymeric isolation plate also includes integral cylindrical bushings. Detent and fork-bolt levers are trapped onto the respective bushings by metal rivets so that the levers actually rotate on the low friction bushings and not on the metal rivets. The isolator plate includes an integral flange which is interposed between the striker of the vehicle and the throat of the frame to avoid rubbing metal-to-metal contact, to protect the throat, frame and striker and for quieter operation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a floating latching mechanism for a safe door. The safe door is secured to the safe box using several pins to latch the door to the safe box. The pins have a connecting end which is slightly smaller in diameter than the hole on the bar. This allows the pin to float on the bar to remedy any misalignment between the pin and the pin support member hole. A bushing is inserted into the pin support member hole to provide a noiseless and maintenance free movement of the pin every time the safe door is latched and unlatched. The floating latching mechanism allows for greatly simplified alignment of pins to the pin support member, and reduces maintenance and noise.

Abstract: An automotive door lock apparatus comprises a lock body having a latch for engaging with a striker and a ratchet for preventing the latch from pivoting in reverse direction, the lock body defining a cavity for receiving the latch and the ratchet, a spring arranged between the wall portion of the cavity and the tip end of the ratchet for resiliently contacting the ratchet to the latch, a cover plate mounted on the body for covering the cavity and preventing the spring from jumping out, and holding portions formed in the wall portion and the tip end. The holding portions having slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the spring for temporarily holding the end of the spring.

Abstract: A door opener with a pivotable latch for fitting in a door frame, where a door engages in its closed position with a bolt on a locking surface of the latch for fixing the door position in the door frame and which is characterized in that the latch has a latch base and at least one adapting element, the locking surface is formed on the adapting element, the adapting element is connectable to the latch base and the adapting element has a predeterminable thickness for the adjustment of the door in the closed position.

Abstract: The instant invention is used in combination with a door-post surface and a motor-vehicle door latch having a pivotable latch element. It is a bolt assembly having a metal plate unitarily formed with a pair of flat coplanar flanges each formed with a mounting hole and a holding portion projecting laterally from the flanges. A mass of a durable plastic material generally covers at least the flanges of the plate and forms an outside surface engaging the door-post surface and an inside surface turned away from the door-post surface. The bolt is formed at the holding portion with a transversely open recess adapted to receive the latch element. The flanges have raised portions extending to and exposed at the outside surface for direct contact with the door-post surface but otherwise are wholly imbedded beneath the inside and outside surfaces of the mass at the flanges.

Abstract: An engine hood latch mechanism for locking an engine hood in a closed position includes a striker fixed to the lower surface of the engine hood and a base member having a vertical slit into which the striker is dropped in response to closure of the engine hood. A locking mechanism engages with the striker in response to drop of the striker into the vertical slit and locks the striker in a closing position where it holds the engine hood in the closed position. A hook lever has a hook at one end thereof and is mounted for rotation on the base member at the other end. The hook lever is urged by a spring toward a closing position where the hook closes the entrance of the vertical slit.

Abstract: A ratchet type vehicle closure latch is secured to a vehicle door by a pair of bolts. One is located in proximity to engaged teeth of a rotatable ratchet and pawl and the other is located in proximity to engaged portions of the ratchet and a striker. The closure latch has a plastic housing that includes a thin integral plastic sleeve that breaks away in service to provide a sleeve bearing that eliminates metal-on-metal contact between the rotatable ratchet and a ratchet stud. The ratchet stud and a pawl stud hold several parts of the door latch together. The door latch has several non-metallic parts and an insert molded ratchet for minimizing the metal-on-metal engagement, operational noise and lubrication requirements. Some parts are non-handed and other parts are identical to reduce manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a selectively activated security lock that prevents a vehicle door from being unlatched by an inside door handle. The security lock is activated and deactivated when the vehicle door is open by inserting a key or other probe-like instrument into a slot in an inner panel of the vehicle door to manipulate a moveable arm of the security lock.

Abstract: A range with a lift-up cooktop is provided with an integrally formed non-metallic combination cooktop locator and support rod race member to position the cooktop relative to the rang body when the lift-up cooktop is in its lowered position and to provide a non-metallic bearing surface for the support rod to slide against when the lift-up cooktop is raised and lowered.

Abstract: A striker for a vehicle door locking mechanism, the striker comprising a head providing a base and sloping sides symmetrically tapered in at least two directions towards an apex directed to enter a latch housing; the striker having a shank for mounting the striker, the shank extending away from the striker head.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock device consists of a striker and a lock body. The striker has a pair of straight leg portions and arc shape portions, respectively formed at end portions of the leg portions. The lock body has a guide groove through which the striker proceeds or moves, a latch adapted to engage with the striker entering the guide groove, a ratchet keeping an engaged condition of the latch and striker, and a resilient stopper positioned at an end of the guide groove. The stopper has a first abutting portion against which the straight leg portion abuts and an arc shape second abutting portion against which the arc shape portions of the striker abuts. The leg portion abuts against the first abutting portion when the latch of the lock device situates at its mid position between the half latched position or condition and the full latched position or condition of the latch.

Abstract: A handhole latch is disclosed for use with an infant incubator and which is damped by one or more elastomeric O-rings to reduce noise and vibration that could startle the infant. The O-rings are positioned between a moving piston latch and a housing such that the O-rings are sandwiched between the moving piston latch and the housing as the piston latch snaps, by spring bias, into its position holding the handhole door closed.

Abstract: A striker for a vehicle door locking mechanism is described having a three dimensional head having two ends, length, width and height, and two pairs of opposing faces. Each face of one pair of opposing faces is oriented in the length and height of the three dimensional head and presents the two opposed sides tapering towards one another along a substantial length of the head from a first broad portion positioned at least proximate one end to an apex positioned proximate the other end for entering a latch housing. The other pair of opposing faces is oriented in the length and width of the three dimensional head and presents two opposed sides tapering towards one another along a substantial length of the head from a second broad portion at one end to an apex positioned at other end. The striker has a shank for mounting the striker extending away from the striker head in a direction in the plane of extension of the striker.

Abstract: A door assembly in which an elastomeric roller, carried by a door, rolls against a latch member to pivot the latch member in one direction until the roller reaches a detent and then pivots in an opposite direction to lock the roller in the detent and the door in a closed position. The door is opened by pivoting the latch member in the first direction to release the roller from the detent.

Abstract: An improved latch housing comprising a striker receiving slot or recess opening through the latch housing for receiving a striker, (the latch housing for mounting a ratchet pivotable from an open position for receiving the striker to a closed position and a pawl for locking the ratchet in the closed (locked) position, the slot or recess having a mouth and two ends and being tapered from a broader portion (near the mouth) to a narrower portion (remote the mouth) intermediate its ends, the end of the recess proximate the broader tapered portion comprising a pair of parallel spaced walls extending towards the mouth from proximate the broader portion and the end of the recess proximate the narrower portion (remote the mouth) comprising a pair of spaced walls which are parallel to one another when the striker is secured in the striker receiving recess of the latch housing. The latch housing is for use with a tapered striker.

Abstract: Motor vehicle door handle of the type having a spring biased actuating lever for activating the closing mechanism. To reduce impact noise, the actuating lever is assigned, during its return movement until its end position is reached, a damping element which exerts on the actuating lever a braking force reduced with decreasing speed of the actuating lever, thus allowing a uniform return of the actuating lever into its end position and consequently an effective minimization of the impact noise.

Abstract: The Device is of the push pad type having a translating action rod which is biased in the latch bolt-extended position. An abutment is fixed to the action rod to receive thereagainst the extending plunger of a shock absorber which is removably coupled to an open guide base. The base is mounted on a base plate to support action rod operating bellcranks, and to support the action rod therein also. A shock absorber holder is clasped to the guide base, and the cylinder of the shock absorber, in which a viscous fluid is confined, is engaged by the holder to direct the plunger toward the abutment. In the depicted embodiment, the plunger resists retraction, to decelerate and damp the return of the push pad and action rod to their at-rest positions and, consequently, to suppress the operating noise of the panic exit device.

Abstract: A shoe for slidably and rotatably mounting a door latch control rod on a vehicle door includes a molded plastic body rotatably mounted on the door and having a slot formed therein for receiving the rod. The slot is defined by first and second conical converging walls projecting into the plastic body and intersecting one another to define a C-shaped edge circumjacently engaging the rod in slip fitting rattle free relationship therewith so that the rod may slide through the shoe upon operation of the door control rod by the occupant.

Abstract: A lock device for a case having a body and a lid includes a latch member, a lock member, a lock-releasing mechanism and a damper. The latch member is pivotably mounted upon one of the body and lid components of the case and normally biased in the unlocking direction. The lock member is mounted upon the other one of the body and lid components of the case for releasably receiving and locking the latch member when the body is in the state of being closed by means of the lid and for retaining the locked state of the latch member. The lock-releasing mechanism is provided upon the lock member for unlocking the lock member. The damper is engaged with the latch member for damping the movement of the latch member under the influence of the biasing force in the unlocking direction of the latch member.

Abstract: A luggage-door lock device includes a latch having a pawl engaged with a striker secured to a body and a spring urging the pawl towards the striker. The engagement is assured by the engagement between the latch and a swing member, by removing the swing member from the latch as a result of a motor-operated mechanism, so that the pawl is removed from the striker. Due to the reaction of the spring after resulting removal, a lid to which the latch is secured is moved in an opening direction.

Abstract: An automotive door lock device having a pawl mounted on a pawl pin. The pawl pin is mounted at one end to a base of the lock device and is supported intermediate the ends to a sub-base spaced from the base. The pawl pin has an integral flange disposed between the sub-base and the base. A collar is disposed surrounding the pawl pin between the base and the sub-base. The pawl pin is fixed on the sub-base by lift lever 12, collar 19, outer lever 15, and washer 20.

Abstract: The striker for automotive door locking apparatuses has a metal base secured to the car body and a roughly U-shaped metal rod mounted on the metal base, with the surface of the metal base and the metal rod coated with a synthetic resin layer. An engagement surface is formed at the back periphery of the metal base along the entire circumference. The synthetic resin layer is formed integral with claw portions that engage with the engagement surface of the metal base. The underside of the claw portion of the synthetic resin is flush with the back of the metal base.

Abstract: A noise suppressing device in a lock device for a vehicle, including a body to be fixed to a door of the vehicle; a latch rotatably supported in the body and adapted to be rotated by engagement with a striker fixed to a vehicle body; a ratchet rotatably supported in the body and adapted to engage a full-latch stepped portion of the latch and thereby prevent reverse rotation of the latch; first and second spring members for biasing the ratchet to engage the same with the latch; and an open lever for releasing engagement of the ratchet with the full-latch stepped portion; wherein the first spring member normally biases the ratchet to engage the same with the latch, and the second spring member does not bias the ratchet under a full-latch condition where the ratchet is engaged with the full-latch stepped portion of the latch, while when the ratchet is rotated in a releasing direction, the second spring member biases the ratchet.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle latch assembly comprises a locking bolt secured to a doorpost, a mounting plate secured to a door and provided with a pivot and formed therearound with a bearing surface, a locking fork formed with a pivot hole fitted over the pivot, having a side directly confronting the bearing surface, and engageable with the bolt on closing of the door, and an elastomeric cladding covering the fork including the interior of the hole in contact with the bolt and the side of the bolt in contact with the bearing surface. The cladding engages the bearing surface and eliminates play and metal-to-metal contact at this region.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch for use in combination with a door bolt has a housing formed with a horizontally open recess in which the bolt is receivable, a latch fork formed with a fork seat, and a fork pivot to one vertical side of the recess on the housing supporting the fork for pivoting between a locked position with the seal directed vertically away from the fork pivot and the bolt engaged in the seat and an unlocked position permitting the bolt to enter and exit seat and recess. A latch pawl is pivotal on the housing into and out of a position retaining the fork in the locked position. A retaining dog formed with a dog seat is carried on a dog pivot to the vertical side of the recess on the housing opposite the fork pivot for pivoting between a retaining position with the dog seat directed vertically away from the dog pivot and the bolt engaged in the dog seat as well as in the fork seat, and a freeing position permitting the bolt to enter and exit the recess.

Abstract: A pawl structure in a door locking device for a vehicle in which a latch member is rotatably supported, comprising a claw member engaged with the latch member to prevent the latch member from being rotated, the claw member including a claw portion and a resin portion engaged with the latch member and made of resin and covering at least a portion of the claw portion; and a base shaft member connected to the claw member and pivotally connected to the door locking device and having a base shaft portion substantially perpendicular to the claw portion of the claw member, and a resin portion made of resin and covering at least a portion of the base shaft portion.

Abstract: A bolt assembly for a motor-vehicle latch wherein the assembly is secured to a doorpost and coacts with a latch fork according to the invention has a metallic U-shaped yoke having an inner flange adapted to be secured to the doorpost and an outer flange spaced therefrom, forming a fork-receiving space therewith, and having an outer surface turned away from the inner flange. A metallic bolt is fixed to the two flanges and extends generally perpendicularly therebetween. A nonmetallic resilient sleeve surrounds the bolt between the flanges and a nonmetallic cover overlies at least the outer surface of the outer flange.

Abstract: In a vehicle door assembly including a bolt projecting from a sidewall of a door opening of the vehicle, a latch having a pair of leg section defining a bolt receiving recess rotatably mounted on a sidewall of the door member, a spring operatively interconnecting the door sidewall and the latch for rotatably biasing the latch in an unlocked position with the recess registered with the bolt, a retaining pawl having a hook section engageable with contact portions of the latch leg sections when the leg sections are disposed in pre-locking and fully locking positions, rotatably mounted on the door side member and a spring operatively interconnecting the door sidewall and the retainer pawl for rotatably biasing the retaining pawl in a direction toward the latch, the improvement consisting of the latch being coated with a sound absorbing material except for spaced segments disposed along with periphery of the latch recess.

Abstract: A latching member is formed with a recess in which a striker is to be fitted. Each of opposite wall surfaces at the entrance of the recess comprises an elastic member to prevent the occurrence of a large noise upon hit of the striker against those wall surfaces. The recess has its deep part formed to have a width not larger than the diameter of the striker, thereby preventing swing movement of the latching member relative to the striker. Further, a fully locking tooth formed on the latching member has an engagement surface to be engaged with a pawl, the engagement surface being provided with a noiseles member to prevent the occurrence of a large noise upon abutment of the fully locking tooth with the pawl.

Abstract: A vehicle body closure latch which is formed of a single handed latch unit, a single handed actuating unit, and a single handed bumper unit which can be assembled in either a right hand or a left hand configuration.

Abstract: A door installation and a locking device used therein. The door installation consisting of a door provided with the body of a lock a of the locking device, and frame members fitted with a receiving plate thereof. The body of lock has a bolt built-in. This bolt is held optionally in the half-projecting position between the wholly projecting position and the door-opening position by handling operating units. The bolt in turn puts a controlling means in motion, whereby it is possible to make an electric circuit operate automatically ON or OFF, which electric circuit is arranged to interpose in itself electric appliances, for example, such as lighting apparatuses being disposed indoors or outdoors, therefore giving practical effect to the simplification of operating the lighting on-and-off and to the power saving, and further contributing to the safety problem through preventing overheating and leakage caused by the possible neglect of not turning lighting off.

Abstract: An isolated striker assembly for use with a closure means or hatchback, preferably a substantially glass hatchback, of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The striker assembly includes an elastomeric means having a plurality of compressible projections thereon which serve to dampen vibrations emanating from the vehicle during certain driving conditions so as to reduce vibrations being imparted to the hatchback, which in turn reduces the noise level due to vibrations caused by flexing movement of the hatchback to and from its normal plane during these driving conditions.

Abstract: Noise prevention devices in an automobile door locking apparatus, which include a resilient cover mounted to a latch, a spiral torsion spring mounted to a shaft of said latch, and other resilient means. Said cover lessens striking noise between said latch and an automobile door striker and also between said latch and a ratchet for locking the former, and also acts to lessen rubbing noise between said latch and a cover plate of the apparatus housing. Said torsion spring cushions also, in addition to biasing the latch, to prevent the rattling of said latch.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door lock has a lock bolt defining an axis and normally secured to the doorpost. A locking fork normally secured to the door edge can engage this lock bolt to retain the door against the doorpost. The bolt is formed of a rigid axially extending metal core and at least one axially deformable synthetic-resin body on the core. The core has a plurality of annular ridges having outer surfaces and defining a plurality of outwardly open annular grooves and the body fills these grooves and projects radially therefrom beyond the outer surface of the ridges. The ridges and grooves may be separate and annular, or may be the turns of a helical screwthread formation.

Abstract: The latch bolt assembly makes use of a metal latch bolt head in which is positioned an anti-friction insert extending entirely through a slot in the head from the angled face to the straight face. For holding the insert in place there is a slot in the inside end of the insert engaged by the head on a rod which projects into the inside end of the latch bolt head, in that way to secure the respective parts in interlocked relationship.

Abstract: In a door latch system having a metal latching member engageable with a metal striker, a noise suppressor of resilient material is dovetail jointed to the latching member, in such a position thereon that the striker makes noiseless contact therewith upon closure of the door. The latch further comprises a stop of resilient material arranged for contact with the striker in a fully latched position, and a guide of relatively rigid, wear-resistant material extending along a striker guideway in the main body of the latch.

Abstract: A fluid-damped automotive door latch actuator comprising a fluid cylinder mounted adjacent the inside surface of an escutcheon plate between the door handle crank arms. A shaft connected to and extending between the crank arms is rotated to actuate the door latch. Damping action is caused in one embodiment by rotation of a shaft-mounted vane relative to a cylinder housing fixed to the escutcheon plate. In a second embodiment, the damper is designed to provide a fluid shearing action.