A sash window restrictor (20) has a housing (22) which is to be let into a vertical frame member (10) of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. A tab (24) is mounted in the housing and can be retracted into the housing or extended from the housing. A mechanism acts between the tab and the housing and allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and held in the housing for a period of time before the tab is released to allow the tab to extend. With the tab extended, the lower sash (12) can be lifted until it reaches the tab (24) but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.

A gravity gate latch that is sized and configured to be positioned in the gap between the free end of a gate and a stationary object when the end of the gate is adjacent the stationary object to automatically engage a strike member on the gate. The gate latch has a pair of side plates that are spaced apart to define a space that encloses a lever actuating mechanism and a hook plate. The hook plate has a hook member that engages the strike member of the gate. The lever actuating mechanism has a pair of lever arms, which can be accessed from either side of the gate, that move the hook plate upward to disengage the strike member. A lock receiving member at the bottom of the gate latch receives a padlock to lock the gate latch. The padlock can also be accessed from either side of the gate.

A gravity gate latch that is positioned near the free end of a gate to automatically engage a strike member. The gate latch has a pair of side plates that are spaced apart to define to enclose a hook plate and a sliding mechanism. The hook plate has a hook member that engages the strike member of the gate and a slot that engages the sliding mechanism to allow the hook plate to move upward and downward between the two side plates. The side plates define an enlarged latch mouth that receives the strike member. The hook member has an elongated edge to be hit by the strike member to lift the hook plate to allow the strike member to pass through the latch mouth and an enlarged area that is hit by the strike member to close the hook member to trap the strike member in the gate latch.

This invention relates to a latch (preferably a slam latch) and to methods of operating a door/gate/panel using the latch. The latch comprises: (i) a mounting body; (ii) a latch bolt mounted relative to the mounting body for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, said latch bolt having a keeper-engaging region extending from the mounting body and terminating at a keeper-engaging end; and (iii) a keeper having at least a first wall and a second wall which are spaced to define an opening for receiving the keeper-engaging region, wherein the first and second walls are adapted to engage the keeper-engaging region of the latch bolt when the latch bolt is in the locking position.

This invention relates to a latch (preferably a slam latch) and to methods of operating a door/gate/panel using the latch. The latch comprises: (i) a mounting body; (ii) a latch bolt mounted relative to the mounting body for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, said latch bolt having a keeper-engaging region extending from the mounting body and terminating at a keeper-engaging end; and (iii) a keeper having at least a first wall and a second wall which are spaced to define an opening for receiving the keeper-engaging region, wherein the first and second walls are adapted to engage the keeper-engaging region of the latch bolt when the latch bolt is in the locking position.

A vertically sliding manual opening and closing door with good one-handed operability, including: a plate-like door member configured to open and close an opening section by being slid vertically; a support member configured to guide the vertical sliding of the door member by a support section configured to support left and right end sections of the door member; and a lock mechanism configured to position the door member that has been raised.

A vertically sliding manual opening and closing door with good one-handed operability, including: a plate-like door member configured to open and close an opening section by being slid vertically; a support member configured to guide the vertical sliding of the door member by a support section configured to support left and right end sections of the door member; and a lock mechanism configured to position the door member that has been raised.

A sash window restrictor (20) has a housing (22) which is to be let into a vertical frame member (10) of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. A tab (24) is mounted in the housing and can be retracted into the housing or extended from the housing. A mechanism acts between the tab and the housing and allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and held in the housing for a period of time before the tab is released to allow the tab to extend. With the tab extended, the lower sash (12) can be lifted until it reaches the tab (24) but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.

A sash window restrictor (20) has a housing (22) which is to be let into a vertical frame member (10) of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. A tab (24) is mounted in the housing and can be retracted into the housing or extended from the housing. A mechanism acts between the tab and the housing and allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and held in the housing for a period of time before the tab is released to allow the tab to extend. With the tab extended, the lower sash (12) can be lifted until it reaches the tab (24) but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.

A locking device for securing a first structure to a second structure. The locking device comprises a housing securable to the first structure, a lock base securable to the second structure, and a locking tab slidably received within said housing. The locking tab has an extended position where a second end is slidably received within the lock base. The lock base has a flexibly resilient locking arm. When in its locked configuration the locking arm releasably engaged with the second end of the locking tab to prevent retraction of the tab from the lock base. The lock base has a resilient member biasing the locking arm to its locked configuration. The lock base has a flexibly resilient removable key member. When engaged with the lock base, a compressive force applied to the key member causes movement of the locking arm from its locked to its unlocked configuration.