A gate latch assembly includes strike mounting plate and a gate latch. The strike mounting plate has a base portion and a pin attachment portion. The gate latch has a second base portion and a pin engagement portion extending from a mid-portion of the second base portion. This pin engagement portion has a first prong and a second prong separated by a slot. A latch is pivotally mounted to the first prong and effective to releasably restrain a pin within the slot. The pin is affixed to the strike mounting plate and has a length effective to engage the slot. One feature of the assembly is that it is equally suitable for gates that swing to the left and for gates that swing to the right. Further, by changing the configuration of the pin, the gate latch assembly is suitable for sliding gates.

A portable door securement device is provided having a member extending from a first end engaged to a doorknob of a swinging door or endwall of a sliding door. A second end of the securement device is configured to be engaged with a support surface adjacent the door, to prevent opening of the door in a direction toward the engaged member.

An exemplary closure system includes, among other things, a striker assembly, a latch assembly, and a hooked structure. In response to the striker assembly and the latch assembly being laterally displaced from each other, the hooked structure engages one of the striker assembly or the latch assembly to block separation of the striker assembly from the latch assembly. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, engaging a hooked structure in response to a striker assembly being laterally displaced relative to a latch assembly. The engaging blocks the striker assembly from separating relative to the latch assembly.

Fenestration lock assemblies, fenestration units including the lock assemblies, and methods of assembling the lock assemblies. The lock assemblies use a cam and follower design that transfers rotary motion to a lock bolt that moves in translation between an extended/locked state and a retracted/unlocked state.

A preload mechanism for a memory alloy wire actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the memory alloy wire actuator such that contraction of the memory alloy wire actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot. The offset distance has a first value when the rotating element is in the first position and a second value when the rotating element is the second position, the second value being smaller than the first value.

Fenestration lock assemblies, fenestration units including the lock assemblies, and methods of assembling the lock assemblies. The lock assemblies use a cam and follower design that transfers rotary motion to a lock bolt that moves in translation between an extended/locked state and a retracted/unlocked state.

A striker assembly includes a housing, a striker, and a spring. The housing has opposed sidewalls, each of which defines an aperture. The striker extends between the sidewalls of the housing with end portions of the striker positioned within respective apertures defined in the sidewalls. Each of the pair of end portions defines a surface extending in a transverse direction. The spring has a pair of end portions. Each spring end portion contacts the surface of a respective striker end portion. The spring is engaged with the housing to bias the end portions of the striker toward a centered position of the respective apertures. At least one of the end portions of the striker is movable transversely within the respective aperture away from the centered position of the respective aperture and is biased toward the centered position of the respective aperture.

A striker mounting structure is configured to mount a striker on a vehicle body. A hook fixed to a door is hooked to the striker. A reinforcement formed with an insertion hole may be attached to the vehicle body. An outer panel covering a reinforcement may include a striker mounting surface spaced from the reinforcement. A reinforcement member may be fixed to the striker and the striker mounting surface. Two or more connecting rods may extend from the reinforcement member. Each of the connecting rods may include locking portions, which are inserted in the insertion hole formed in the reinforcement.

A preload mechanism for an actuator is disclosed that includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a pivot. The rotating element has a first contact point that is configured to couple to the actuator such that contraction of the actuator displaces the first contact point such that the rotating element rotates from a first position to a second position. The preload mechanism also includes a bias element with a first end that is coupled to a second contact point of the rotating element and a second end configured to be pinned relative to the pivot. The bias element has a line of action extending from the second end through the first end. The line of action has an offset distance that is the minimum distance between the line of action and the pivot. The offset distance has a first value when the rotating element is in the first position and a second value when the rotating element is the second position, the second value being smaller than the first value.

The invention involves a keeper (20) to interact with a bolt (16) of a lock (10); The keeper includes a bracket (22) for attachment to a structure, and a keeper rod (24) secured to the bracket, the keeper rod extending from one surface (27) of the bracket. In the keeper, a shaft (32) is attached to the bracket and can rotate freely relative to the bracket such that it extends in a longitudinal direction (X); a blade (40) is mounted on the shaft (32) on one side of the bracket near the keeper rod in such a way as to always rotate along with the shaft; an angular position indicator (46) is also mounted so as to always rotate along with the shaft; the blade being so positioned that it can be rotated by the latch when the latch hooks on to or releases from the keeper rod, and the angular position indicator (46) being capable of indicating the angular position of the blade. The invention is for example intended to be used on an aircraft door such as that of a helicopter.