A latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis; a cap mounted within the aperture of the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the cap comprising a drive surface; and a cover coupled to the housing to pivot about a lateral axis, the cover pivotable to be in a closed position in which the cover covers the cap; wherein when the cap is in an unlatched position, the drive surface of the cap is aligned with an engagement surface of the cover and positioned to block the cover from pivoting to the closed position; and wherein when the cap is in a latched position, the drive surface is unaligned with the engagement surface and positioned to permit the cover to pivot to the closed position.

A locking system includes a tamper-resistant lock and key. The tamper-resistant lock includes a cylindrical lock body with external threading on at least a portion thereof and a bore extending into an end of the cylindrical lock body. The bore includes an engagement feature disposed on the wall that defines the bore, and the engagement feature is disposed a particular distance away from the bore opening. The key includes a collar that has a cylindrical key body that fits within the bore of the cylindrical lock body. The cylindrical key body also includes an opening defined by the collar sidewall, a retractable engagement member at least partially disposed within the opening, a spring disposed within the collar, and a plunger disposed within the collar that is operable to engage the spring and has a recess sized and shaped to accommodate the retractable engagement member.

A locking system includes a tamper-resistant lock and key. The tamper-resistant lock includes a cylindrical lock body with external threading on at least a portion thereof and a bore extending into an end of the cylindrical lock body. The bore includes an engagement feature disposed on the wall that defines the bore, and the engagement feature is disposed a particular distance away from the bore opening. The key includes a collar that has a cylindrical key body that fits within the bore of the cylindrical lock body. The cylindrical key body also includes an opening defined by the collar sidewall, a retractable engagement member at least partially disposed within the opening, a spring disposed within the collar, and a plunger disposed within the collar that is operable to engage the spring and has a recess sized and shaped to accommodate the retractable engagement member.

A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.

A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.

A locking system includes a tamper-resistant lock and key. The tamper-resistant lock includes a cylindrical lock body with external threading on at least a portion thereof and a bore extending into an end of the cylindrical lock body. The bore includes an engagement feature disposed on the wall that defines the bore, and the engagement feature is disposed a particular distance away from the bore opening. The key includes a collar that has a cylindrical key body that fits within the bore of the cylindrical lock body. The cylindrical key body also includes an opening defined by the collar sidewall, a retractable engagement member at least partially disposed within the opening, a spring disposed within the collar, and a plunger disposed within the collar that is operable to engage the spring and has a recess sized and shaped to accommodate the retractable engagement member.

A door lock system and method includes a first latch member defining a threaded aperture and configured for attachment to a first door member, a second latch member having a slot and configured for attachment to a second door member, and a clamp member having an elongate shaft, a flange attached to a first end of the shaft, and a threaded, second end configured to be screwed into the threaded aperture; one end of the shaft defines a tool aperture. An end region adjacent the first end of the shaft is configured to be disposed through the slot. When a tool is used to rotate the shaft relative to the threaded aperture to move the flange towards the second latch member, the flange comes into abutment with the second latch member to connect the shaft and latch members together for securing the door members.

A door lock system and method includes a first latch member defining a threaded aperture and configured for attachment to a first door member, a second latch member having a slot and configured for attachment to a second door member, and a clamp member having an elongate shaft, a flange attached to a first end of the shaft, and a threaded, second end configured to be screwed into the threaded aperture; one end of the shaft defines a tool aperture. An end region adjacent the first end of the shaft is configured to be disposed through the slot. When a tool is used to rotate the shaft relative to the threaded aperture to move the flange towards the second latch member, the flange comes into abutment with the second latch member to connect the shaft and latch members together for securing the door members.

A first lock assembly comprises a first alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the first rotatable component and a second lock assembly comprises a second alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the second rotatable component that will engage with one another upon moving the first door proximate to the second door, at least one of the first and second alignment components having a predetermined rotational orientation for engagement with the other of the first and second alignment components, the first and second alignment components each including interacting surfaces that during engagement with one another rotationally align the first and second alignment components with one another to create an effective rotational translational connection from the first lock assembly to the second lock assembly, whereby user initiated rotation of either the first or second rotatable component can cause locking or unlocking of the lockbolt or latch in one of or both the first and second doors. The first lock assembly can include a first mounting element to be fixed in place to the first door, and the first alignment component can comprise a movable component that is axially and rotationally movable relative to the first mounting element. A spring element can be operatively positioned between the first alignment component and the first rotatable component.

A first lock assembly comprises a first alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the first rotatable component and a second lock assembly comprises a second alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the second rotatable component that will engage with one another upon moving the first door proximate to the second door, at least one of the first and second alignment components having a predetermined rotational orientation for engagement with the other of the first and second alignment components, the first and second alignment components each including interacting surfaces that during engagement with one another rotationally align the first and second alignment components with one another to create an effective rotational translational connection from the first lock assembly to the second lock assembly, whereby user initiated rotation of either the first or second rotatable component can cause locking or unlocking of the lockbolt or latch in one of or both the first and second doors. The first lock assembly can include a first mounting element to be fixed in place to the first door, and the first alignment component can comprise a movable component that is axially and rotationally movable relative to the first mounting element. A spring element can be operatively positioned between the first alignment component and the first rotatable component.