GB2094386A - Locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock is operated by a card provided with a pattern of holes insertable into slot 20. In the casing (1, 4) to which is hinged a cover (5) is positioned a bolt (7, 7a). A block shaped body (12, 13) lies above the bolt. A number of bores (10) are provided in the bolt and springs (11) are positioned in these bores. The springs support each a tumbler unit which are positioned in bores in portion 13 of the block shaped body (12, 13). Each tumbler unit consists of a headed bolt (14) the downwardly facing head of which rest on a pair of superposed steel balls (15). The lower one of balls (15) rests on a stack of three cylinders (16). The middle one of the three cylinders is of smaller height than the top and bottom cylinder. The springs (11) urge the tumbler units (16, 15, 14) upwardly, and means are provided to urge some of the tumbler units (chosen haphazardly) downwardly, against the bias of the springs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Locking device The present invention relates to a locking device which may be employed as a lock proper, i.e. directly locking a door or a drawer in a piece of furniture, or even a strong box or may serve to additionally safeguard an existing, conventional lock against being tampered with. More particularly the device forming the subject of this patent application is of the type which is operated by the insertion of a card like small metal or plastics plate (to be referred to in this specification and the claims as "card").

Such locking devices are well known; the respective "card" is constituted by a plastic plate which is magnetised at certain portions and which when inserted into the locking device electronically acts on the components thereof.

Such arrangement have several drawbacks, one being that magnetic properties of the card can easily be "erased" by passing a permanent magnet across the card, in contact with it. Further the build up and the assembly of the known devices is highly complicated. The devices of this kind have to be connected to a source of electrical current and to a centre of data manipulation. In other words, skilled man-power is required at all stages of making, using and servicing such devices.

In contradistinction to these known devices, the locking device according to the present invention is fully mechanically operated, for which reason the above mentioned main disadvantage is absent.

According to the invention, the new device comprises a casing in which is slidably accommodated a bolt, and a block shaped body overlying the said bolt, the upper face of the bolt and the lower one of the said block shaped body being in close contact, a number of bores being provided in said upper face of the bolt and corresponding, codirectional bores in the lower face of the block shaped body, tumbler units being located in said bores, the said units being composed of a number of superposed cylindrical bodies and a pair of spheres resting on said cylindrical bodies, all the tumbler units being partly in the bores of the bolt and partly in the bores of the block shaped body, in part of the bores one of the cylindrical bodies traversing the contact plane between bolt and block shaped body, while in the remaining bores the contact faces between two cylindrical bodies coincide with the contact faces between bolt and block shaped body, an inlet port in the shape of an elongated slot being provided on top of the said block shaped body, one of the said pair of spheres of each tumbler unit lying partly within the range of the said slot.

These and further features of the invention will become clear from the following description.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational, sectional view of the new device (on line I-I of Fig. 3). Fig. 2 being a view on line Il-Il of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 3 is an elevational frontal view, while Fig. 4 illustrates by a perspective view the use of the new device in conjunction with a conventional mortise lock.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the new device, its casing being partly broken away.

The new device comprises a casing consisting of a bottom 1, two side walls (not seen in Fig. 1), 2 and 3, a rear wall 4 and a cover or lid 5, hinged on an axle 6, extending between the two walls 3 and 2.

Within the said casing slides on bottom 1 a locking bolt 7 having a forward tongue 7a. The device is shown in Fig. 1 in locking position, i.e.

the bolt 7 being in its extreme forward position. It can slide inwardly (i.e. into "open" or "unlock" position) against the urge of a spring 8 which abuts at one end against a stop 7b extending from the lower face of bolt 7, and its other end against a stop pin or bolt 9. In the bolt 7, from its top side downwardly, extend a number of bores 10 (see Fig. 2) in which are accommodated springs 11 supporting tumbler units which will be described later. These tumbler units are accommodated in a body assembly of two parts 12, 13. These two parts are joined together by screw bolts 21 but functionally may be considered as one part. In part 13 are provided bores 13' which are in register with bores 12' in part 12 and bores 10 in bolt 7.In each of the said bores 12'-13' are accommodated the said tumbler units, each of which consists of a headed bolt 14, the downwardly facing head of which rests on a pair of superposed steel balls 1 5, the lower of which rests on three superposed cylinders 16, the middle one of which is of smaller height than the two extreme ones. The stack formed of three cylinders rests on springs 11 which urge the whole tumbler unit consisting of cylinders 16, balls 15, bolts 14 upwardly.

The upper ends of bolts 14 extend into a space 17 which is covered by the lid 5.

Some of the tumbler units, which may be chosen arbitrarily can be subjected to a downwardly acting bias, counteracting the bias exerted by the respective spring 1 This is done by placing caps 18 on these bolts 14. By loosening a screw bolt 1 9 which secures lid 5, this latter may be swung upwardly, giving access to the space 17 so that the caps 18 may be positioned. When the lid 5 is swung down and secured again by screw 19, it holds down the caps 1 8 and presses downwardly the respective tumbler units.

Between parts 12 and 13 is created a slot 20 into which the "card" for operation of the locking device can be inserted.

This card is a stiff, square or oblong blank of a size permitting it to be fittingly inserted into slot 20 until its leading edge abuts against the wall 2.

At that instant the trailing edge of the card is outside the device so that it can be withdrawn at will.

Into the card are drilled or punched holes of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of bores 13'. The holes are located in accordance with the position of the tumbler units which had been chosen to be capped by caps 1 8. Generally the blank for the card would have to have as many locations for holes as there are bores 13' in the device, but only a few locations are actually perforated.

In the device illustrated by Fig. 1 it is assumed that in the row of four bores seen the first from the left and the third one have capped tumbler units.

Of course in rows behind the one seen, further capped units may be present but need not be so.

The card is perforated at corresponding positions.

The operation of the new locking device with the aid of a card having perforations at points which correspond with the locations of capped tumbler units, will be understood from the following.

In the positions shown in Fig. 1 , the device is in "locking" position, i.e. the tongue 7a of the bolt 7 is presumed to be engaged, say in a recess of a door post. The bolt cannot be retracted from its position shown in Fig. 1 (thus assuming "unlocked" position), since it is held by a number of tumbler units, i.e. all units minus the capped ones. A glance at Fig. 1 shows that the tumbler units in the second and in the fourth bore from the left prevent the sliding movement of the bolt: in each case the lowermost one of the cylindrical bodies 16 is partly in the bore 10 in the bolt and partly in bore 13' in body 13, thus immobilizing the bolt. The same is the case with further tumbler units which are presumed to be located behind those seen in Fig. 1.In contradiction to this situation, the capped units do not hold the bolt: the top face of the middle cylinder 1 6 (of a capped unit) is flush with the contacting faces of bolt 7 and body 13.

Assuming now that the prepared card is inserted into slot 20, it will exert pressure on the lower one of spheres 1 5 and cause all uncapped tumbler units successively to move downwardly against the bias of springs 1 When the leading edge of the card abuts against the far wall delimiting the slot, all tumbler units which are not capped are hoid down into the "open" position.

While the card moved inwardly its non perforated portions act on the capped tumblers and push them down from "open" to "locked" position -- temporarily until the perforations in the card come to be in register with these capped tumblers. Now these move back into their normal "open" positions under urge of springs 1 The result: all tumbler units are in open position and the bolt can be slid inward the casing by whatever conventional means.

Obviously the uncapped tumbler units can be made to move into "open" position simply by inserting a blank, i.e. non perforated plate, this however would move the capped tumbler units into locking positions.

It will be seen, therefore, that only a properly perforated card would cause the total of the tumblers to be moved into "open" position.

It will be understood that a once chosen pattern of capped units and corresponding card can be changed by lifting lid 5 and putting the caps 18 onto different units and preparing a new card by drilling the appropriate number of holes into a blank at the chosen locations.

The example of Fig. 4 illustrated one possibility of using the new device. Here is shown a conventional mortise lock M seated in the usual way in a door D with the bolt B being shown in locking position. The new device is set into the door frame F. Into the bolt B a slit has been cut into which the tongue T of the new device can enter. Thus the lock M is secured: it cannot be unlocked in the customary way, first the device N must be operated by means of a perforated card, tongue T freeing the bolt B for being slid into lock casing M in the conventional way by means of a key, or the door handle.

Fig. 5, being a phantom view of the mechanism of the new device will contribute to a better understanding of the construction. The reference numerals appearing in Fig. 5 are the same as used in connection with the figures already described.

Thus no further description of Fig. 5 is deemed necessary.

In order to bring the new device back from "open" into "locking" position, the bolt 7 is shot back into closing position, by the same means used for shifting it into "open" and then all that has to be done, is to withdraw the card. As a consequence the tumblers revert to the position of Fig. 1 under the urge of the springs 10 immobilizing the bolt.

Claims (9)

1. A locking device adapted to be operated by a punched card comprising a casing in which is slidably accommodated a bolt, and a block shaped body overlying the said bolt, the upper face of the bolt and the lower one of the said block shaped body being in close contact, a number of bores being provided in said upper face of the bolt and corresponding, codirectional bores in the lower face of the block shaped body, tumber units being located in said bores, the said units being composed of a number of superposed cylindrical bodies and a pair of spheres resting on said cylindrical bodies, all the tumbler units being partly in the bores of the bolt and partly in the bores of the block shaped body, in part of the bores one of the cylindrical bodies traversing the contact line between bolt and block shaped body, while in the remaining bores the contact faces between two cylindrical bodies coincide with the contact faces between bolt and block shaped body, an inlet port in the shape of an elongated slot being provided on top of the said block shaped body, one of the said pair of spheres of each tumbler unit lying partly within the range of the said slot.

2. The locking device claimed in Claim 1, characterized thereby that all tumbler units are of identical constitutive elements, individual units of a first part of the tumbler units being of the same position relative to the bores in which they are positioned, while the units of another, second part are in a different position as compared with the said first part relative to their respective bores.

3. The locking device claimed in Claim 2, characterized thereby that the different positions of the two parts of tumblers is due to the individual tumblers of one part being urged into their respective bores by auxiliary members set on top of the respective individual tumbler units.

4. The locking device claimed in Claim 3, characterized thereby that the said auxiliary bodies are cap shaped members placed on top of the uppermost part of a tumbler unit.

5. The locking device claimed in Claim 4, characterized thereby that the said uppermost part of a tumbler unit is a headed bolt resting with its downwardly directed head on one of the spheres.

6. The locking device claimed in Claim 1, characterized thereby that the cylindrical bodies comprised in the tumbler units are three in number, the middle one of which is of smaller axial extension than the two other ones.

7. The locking device claimed in any of Claims 1, 4, 5 or 6, characterized thereby that each tumbler unit is supported on a spring urging it upwardly within the respective bore.

8. The locking device claimed in any of Claims 1, 3 or 7, characterized thereby that the cap placed on the top part of a tumbler is pressed down by a hinged lid of the casing.

9. An assembly comprising a conventional lock of any kind combined with a locking device according to all or any of the foregoing claims.

9. A locking device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.

10. An assembly comprising a conventional lock of any kind combined with a locking device according to all or any of the foregoing claims.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 13/1/82.

Superseded claims 1-10.

New or amended claims:

1. A locking device adapted to be operated by a punched card comprising a casing in which is slidably accommodated a bolt, and a block shaped body overlying the said bolt, the upper face of the bolt and the lower one of the said block shaped body being in close contact, a number of bores being provided in said upper face of the bolt and corresponding, codirectional bores in the lower face of the block shaped body, tumbler units being located in said bores, each of the said units being composed of a number of superposed cylindrical bodies and a pair of superposed spheres resting on said cylindrical bodies, all the tumbler units being partly in the bores of the bolt and partly in the bores of the block shaped body, in part of the bores one of the cylindrical bodies traversing the contact line between bolt and block shaped body, while in the remaining bores the contact faces between two cylindrical bodies coincide with the contact faces between bolt and block shaped body, all tumbler units being of identical constitutive elements, individual units of a first group of the tumbler units being of the same position relative to the bores in which they are positioned, while the units of another, second group are in a different position as compared with the said first group relative to their respective bores, an inlet port in the shape of an elongated slot being provided on top of the said block shaped body, one of the said pair of spheres of each tumbler unit lying partly within the range of the said slot, characterised thereby that an auxiliary member is positioned on top of each tumbler unit.

2. The locking device claimed in Claim 1, characterised thereby that the different positions of the two groups of tumbler unit is caused thereby that the individual tumbler units of one group are urged into their respective bores by the said auxiliary members set on top of the respective individual tumbler units.

3. The locking device claimed in Claim 2, characterised thereby that the said auxiliary bodies are cap shaped members placed on top of the uppermost part of a tumbler unit,

4. The locking device claimed in Claim 3, characterised thereby that the said uppermost part of a tumbler unit is a headed bolt resting with its downwardly directed head on one of the spheres.

5. The locking device claimed in Claim 1, characterised thereby that the cylindrical bodies comprised in the tumbler units are three in number, the middle one of which is of smaller axial extention than the two other ones.

6. The locking device claimed in any of Claims 1, 3, 4 or 6, characterised thereby that each tumbler unit is supported on a spring urging it upwardly within the respective bore.

7. The locking device claimed in any of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 characterised thereby that a hinge lid is provided on the casing of the device which in ciosed position exerts downward pressure on the cap placed on the top part of a tumbler unit.

8. A locking device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.