Bar lock assembly

A closure mechanism for releasably closing and securing a door, swingably movable between open and closed positions, relative to an opening in a body of a vehicle, said closure mechanism comprising:

• an elongated member for selectively interconnecting a pair of axially displaced hinge members fixedly secured to the body of said vehicle with the swingably movable door whereby securing said door in said closed position, with said hinge members combining with each other to define a pivot axis to only one lateral side of which said elongated member is operably disposed, and with said elongated member having an integral hinge portion extending along one edge thereof for operable association with the hinge members on the body of said vehicle whereby allowing said elongated member to swingably move independently of and relative to said door between latched and unlatched conditions, with said elongated member having a locking handle mounting portion adjacent an opposed edge and whereat a manually operated handle is adapted to be pivotally connected for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the pivot axis defined by said hinge members, with said elongated member further including a web portion formed integral with and extending between said hinge portion and said locking handle mounting portion, with a surface on said web portion being movable toward and away from said door in response to swinging movements of said elongated member, and with said surface on said web portion engaging an outer surface of said door as said door is moved from said open to said closed position so as to urge said door into the closed position, and wherein at least one of said locking handle mounting portion, on said elongated member, and an end of said locking handle, adapted to be arranged closest to said elongated member, is formed with a clevis-like configuration, and wherein said elongated body results from a single manufacturing process.

A bar lock assembly for releasably securing a door in a closed position, wherein said door extends across and closes an opening defined by a walled enclosure, with said door being swingable about a generally vertical axis disposed adjacent a first vertical marginal edge of said opening, said bar lock assembly comprising:

• a one-piece elongated body mounted for swinging movements independent of and relative to said door, with said one-piece elongated body defining a hinge portion extending along one edge thereof, a locking handle mounting portion arranged at an opposite edge thereof in laterally spaced relation from said hinge portion, and a web portion extending between and rigidly joining said hinge portion and said locking handle mounting portion of said elongated body with said web portion extending a full length of said one piece elongated body;
• hinge structure for securing said bar lock assembly to said walled enclosure, with said hinge structure including a pair of hinge pieces adapted to be disposed at and abutting with opposed ends of said one-piece elongated body, and with each hinge piece being configured for operably association with the hinge portion of said one-piece body so as to define a fixed axis about which said one-piece body swingably moves relative to said door and said opening in the walled enclosure;
• and
• a locking handle having one end adapted for attachment to the locking handle mounting portion of said one-piece body in a manner allowing for securement of said door in said closed position across said opening defined by said walled enclosure.