US2183168A - Lock construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1939. K. H. POND LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR KEN/var H Po N0 4.. ATTOR EYS Patented Dec. 12, 1939- UNITED. STA S LOCK CONSTRUCTION Kenneth H. Pond, Lon gmeadow Mass., assignor to Bemis and Call Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts. I

Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,596

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in permutation locks and deals particularly with a locking mechanism which has incorporatedin it certainnovel features which render the locking operation simpler and which,in addition, serve to element is automatically freed so that it can move to its fully unlocked position. In, addition to freeing the securing element, this last setting of the combination prepares the lock to again be rendered effective by simply moving the securing element to its original locked position without further adjustment ofthe permutation wheels.

As can be'appreciated from the above, the user cannot'with such a general arrangement of. the invention inadvertently leave the lock unlocked and with the permutation wheels set at the first of the combinations included in the total opening operation. In addition to this advantage, the relocking operation compares in simplicity with that of an ordinary key lock.

In.the drawings the parts have been shown constructed to operate as a simple padlock but this embodiment is used by way of illustration I only, the arrangement being equally applicable to by those familiar with the art; and I, therefore,

do not intend to necessarily limit myself to the particular form shown.

A full disclosure of suitable means which I prefer to use in carrying out the main purpose of my invention; as well as the other purposes, can

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the lock' of vFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view taken on line 3--3ofFig.1; I I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the positionassumed by the elements after the other forms of looks as will be readily understood first step in the unlocking-operation. has been performed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Figs. 6 to 10 are fragmentary views showing important locking elements and their various po- "5' sitions during a complete unlocking cycle;

' Fig." 11 is a view of the parts in Fig. 10 but showing an alternateposition of the elements from which the lock can be locked;

Fig. 12 is a detail view taken on line I2-l2 of 10 Fig. 3, showing a feature of the permutation wheelconstruction; and

Fig. 13 is a View taken on line I3l 3 of Fig. 4 and showing how the detent spring is, mounted.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the locking mechanism 16 with the exception of the securing member or shackle'l is contained as a unit within the lock base 2. Base 2 has openings at'the top to accommodate the long and short legs 3 and 4 of the I shackle i and a large opening at the bottom '20 through which the locking mechanism is inserted during assembly. The locking mechanism is supported ion the wings 5 of a Ll-shaped frame 6 which has alip 1 secured to the underside of the upper surface of the base 2 as by screw 8; A 25 baseor cover plate 9 is crimped into notches formed in the bottom of the vertical edges of wings 5, see Figs. 3 and 4, and in the assembled position of the lock forms a closure for the bottom ofthe base 2 and also-serves to stiffen the 0 frame 6. I v The long leg 3 of shackle I terminates at'its lower end in a reduced cylindrical portion having a semi-circular foot I0 which underlies an inwardly directed shoulder l I formed in the base 2. 35

When the lock has been'unlock'ed by'suitable manipulation of the permutation mechanism, this foot I0 serves to limit the upward'motion of shackle Iztowards the unlocked position by con tacting thebottom of shoulder ll. Above shoul- 4 der II, long leg 3 has an integralrib' l2 forming an abutment for the upper end of the shackle springv l3 which at its opposite end presses against shoulder ll. -As-is plain from the draw ings,;shackle'spring l3 always tends to force the 45 shackle upwards to the open position,- being limited in its final outward position byfoot; l0 previously described. Immediately above rib l2,- the-long leg 3 has a chamfered portion I5 which,

as will be described, serves as a camming surface 56 during theresecuring of shackle I in its locked position. a v

A short distance above the chamfered portion I5 thereis a milled slot I tent in the surfaceofleg 3, this slot being pposite a similar slot I cut in" the short leg 4, see Fig. 5. As is indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the shackle in the locked position is secured against the upward pressure of shackle spring I3 by interengagement of slots I6 and H with toes or dogs I8 formed integrally with the upper end of a primary bolt I9.

This bolt I9 has a pair of ears 2| which, when the lock is locked, lie behind the lips 22 of slots 23 cut in look frame wing 5, see Fig. 3. In this position, bolt I9 is constantly urged upward to contact the top of slots 23 by pressure of the shackle spring [3 transmitted through the shackle and slots I5 and I1 to the dogs I8 previously described. I

At the lower end bolt I9 is provided with a pair of control fingers 25 which extend between the permutation wheels 26 and ride on the peripheries of inner wheels 21 of the permutation mechanism, see Fig. 1. As is well known in the art, and will be explained more in detail at another point, the inner wheels 21 are adjusted by means of the permutation wheels to position the bolt for freeing the shackle I.

Between the control fingers 25, the bolt has a depending tongue 29 provided with a hole 35 which is directly in line with and below a slot 3! cut in the bolt. A bolt spring 32 is threaded over one of two spring rods 33 and 34 which span the U frame and have their ends penetrating holes in the frame wings 5. One end of the bolt spring 32 rests onthe back inner surface of the base 2 and the opposite end passes through slot 3| and has its terminal slipped through hole 30, see Fig. 4. This spring 32 is wound so that it constantly forces the bolt downwardly and inwardly. Thus the control fingers 25 are constantly being urged against inner wheels 21 and in the position of Fig. 4 where the first of the unlocking steps has been performed, the ears 2| are forced downward to contact the lower surface of the slots 23. This particular bolt structure is similar in many respects to that shown in the patent to Denerich 1,964,936, dated July 3, 1934, and therefore will not be described further.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, a secondary bolt 35 is mounted on trunnions 36, through which rod 34 passes. This secondary bolt 35 has atits upper end a laterally extending toe 31 which is adapted, in the locked position of Fig. 2, to lie between the upper and lower edges of a notch 38 cut in the long leg 3 of the shackle on the opposite side from the cut I6 previously described, see also Fig. 5. Slot 38 is dimensioned so that when the first of the unlocking operations has been performed and the parts are positionedas in Fig. 4, the toe 3? contacts the bottom of notch-38, and holds the shackle from continuing its upward motion.

At its lower end bolt 35 has control fingers 48 which, as with the control fingers 25 of primary bolt I9, lie between the permutationwheels 2B and contact the peripheries of the inner wheels 21. However, control fingers 45 are wider than control fingers 25 and contact the peripheries of the inner wheels 2'! at a point about opposite to the contact point of control fingers 25, see Fig. 4.

Also, the control fingers 40 are in the shape of a dog in cross section, while fingers 25 are generally fiat. These differences, while evident from the drawings, are pointed out in detail so that the operation of the mechanism can be better understood when its detailed cycle is described.

As with bolt I9, secondary bolt 35 has a bolt spring 43 which in this case is threaded over rod 34 and has one end resting againstthe inner wall of the back of the base 2 with its opposite end lying in a V notch cut in the lower edge of a depending tongue 44 extending downwardly between the control fingers lfl, see Fig. 2. In this case, too, the bolt spring is Wound to force the control fingers 53 against the inner wheels 21.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, the permutation mechanism is preferably of the fixed combination type,that is, the combinations to which the permutation wheels must be set cannot be varied by the user. Thus each permutation wheel 25 is in the form of a collar and is suitably secured to the periphery of its inner wheel 27 by, for instance, a force fit. As can be seen from Fig. 2 in particular, the inner wheels 2? themselves are in the form of bushings and rotate freely on shaft 55, this last member being journaled in the frame wings 5. The permutation wheels 26 are considerably narrower than the inner wheels 21 and therefore, with the mechanism assembled as indicated, there is ample space to accommodate the control fingers 25 and 36 of the primary and secondary bolts, respectively. The lateral positions of the inner whels 2'5 on shaft 55 are maintained by that portion of the permutation wheels which extends through slots cut in the cover plate 9, see Fig, 2.

The permutation wheels, see Fig. 4, have a series of notches 55 cut in their periphery corresponding in number to the indicia provided to set the lock to various combinations. A detent spring 55 having a separate tongue 5'! for each permutation wheel is mounted on the U frame 6. As shown in Fig. 13, the spring 55 lies against the back of the frame with the tongues 5'1 extending through a slot 58 and with its opposite end secured by integral tabs 59 which pass through openings Gil in the frame 5. The ends of the tongues 57 engage the notches 55 and serve to aline the indicia at any setting of the permutation wheels, as is well known.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 12, each inner wheel has a fiat 35 and a notch 66 cut in its periphery. When the permutation wheels 25 have been set'to what I will term the primary combination, the flats 65 all be parallel to the control fingers 25 of the primary bolt I9 and that bolt may be moved to disengage itself from the shackle I by 'havingthe bolt assume the position of Fig. 4 where the toes l8 are free of the slots I I3 and I? in the short and long legs of the shackle. Similarly, if the notch 56 is positioned as in Fig. 8, or to what I will call the secondary combination of the permutation wheels, the control fingers ill of the secondary bolt 35 will lie in these notches fifi and the toe 37 will be free of the notch .38 in the long leg 3 of the shackle. However, in this position, the control fingers 25 of the primary bolt i 9 will be no longer contacting the flats 55 but will be riding on the peripheries of the inner wheels 2'? with one toe l3 riding against the long leg 3 of the shackle just below the chamferedportion I5, see Fig. 8. This arrangement is what provides for the two-step opening which has already been referred to and which will be described in more detail shortly.

As is indicated in Fig. 12, the flat 55. on each inner wheel 21 is much narower than notch 53, the dimensions being such that the combination of two flats 55 or two abutting inner wheels 2'! is equal to the width of the narrow control fingers 25 of the primary bolt I9. Therefore, rememberingthat control fingers Ml of secondary bolt 35 are wider than fingers 25, it is plain that these fingers 40 cannot be affected by the flats 65 because they span them laterally. On the :other hand; while the fingers 25 ofthe primary bolt .are narrow, they are flat and will therefore span the notches 66 longitudinally. This arrangement not only, prevents any accidental manipulationof either boltat an'improper point on the inner wheel 21, but it also prevents an unauthorized user from feeling the combination by carefullyturning the permutation wheels and noting when the sense of touch tells that a fiat .65 or notch 86 has-passed either set of contr fingers 25 and 4|].

As was pointed out earlier, this particular permutation mechanism is in its preferred form of the fixed combination type. This preference is governed primarily by considerations of economy and ease of assembly. The operating principles.

nism capable of ,having the opening combination changed as with the, permutation mechanism shown in the, Denerich patent referred to. I therefore do not desire tolimit my invention to a lock construction having the fixed type of combination. r

,With the detailed description of the Various elements in mind,- the complete operating cycle asshown by Figs. 3 and 6 to 10 can now easily be understood. 1 Considering first Fig. 3 which is a View of the locked position, it will be recalled that the slots [5 and l! on the legs 3 and 4 of the shackle are engaged by the toes l8 on .the primary bolt is and the ears 2| of that bolt lie behind the lips 22 of the slots 23 cut in the frame wings 5 with the ears pulled up against the top of slots 23. Also the toe 31 of the secondary bolt liesin the notch 38 cut in the long leg 3 of the shackle. The control fingers 25 and of the primary and secondary bolts are riding on the peripheries of the inner wheels .27. 1

To unlock the mechanism, the user manipulates the permutation wheels until they are set at the primary combination, as indicated in Fig. 6. From that view it will be seen that neither of the bolts' 19 and 35 change position from that shown in Fig.3, the primary bolt being held upward in position by the pressure of shackle spring shackle is released it will rise upward until toe 31 on the secondary bolt 35 contacts-the bottom of slot- 38. The final position is a semi-opened position and represented by Fig. 7. It is to'be noted that while the shackle hasmoved upward,

the motion has not been sufficient to allow the short leg '1 of the shackle to clear the top of base ,2, see Fig. 1 where the motion of the shackle between the locked and semi-opened position is I shown by the distance between the lines X and Y.

wheels 2i, as in Fig. 8, the control fingers 40 being forced into the notches 66 by the secondary bolt spring previously described. When this last I occurs, toe3'lon the secondary bolt will clear slot @fiand theshackle will risetoits ,;ful1y opened "position (see Fig.8), in which position the short leg 4 will clear the top of the base.

As was pointed out earlier, this last setting of the permutation wheels will make the control fingers 25 on the primary bolt ride on the peripheries of the inner wheels, see Fig. 8. Comparing Figs. '7 and 8, the control fingers 25 are first forced outward as the permutation wheels are moved; then, since the primary bolt spring is, urging the bolt towards the inner wheels, the bolt l9 will pivot about the ears 2| until the toes l8 contact the shackle legs 3' and 4. Continued rotation of the permutation wheels until the control fingers 25 ride on the peripheries of the inner wheels will then force the ears 2| out-,

ward alongthe slanting lower edge of the slots 23 but against the tension of the primary bolt spring. Fig. 9 shows the position of the primary bolt at the instant that the secondary bolt is released. This action of the primary bolt will'not, however, interfere with the shackle when it is released by the secondary bolt, for the toes 58 on the primary bolt engage the shackle l below the notches l6'and I1 and ride on the outer surface of the shackle from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 8. On the other hand, the lock can now be locked by simply depressing the shackle, for with the primary bolt positioned as in Fig. 8, if the shackle is depressed the toes l8 follow up the chamfer l5 along the periphery of the shackle past the position of Fig. 9 untiltheysnap into the slots l6 and Il. The ears 2! will then be resting in the corner formed by the lower and back edges of the notches-23 with the bolt vertical. Finally, when the shackle is released and the shackle spring forces it upward, the ears 2! are pulled up position of the parts when the toes !8 have snapped into slots l6 and I1 and then been pulled upwardly by the action of spring [3.

It will be noted that in this last position, the toe 31 on the secondary bolt is out of the slot 38 and not in position to stop the vertical motion of the shackle. However, to unlock the look again, the primary setting of the permutation wheels must be set up to release the primary bolt. As is clear from the drawings, any manipulation of the the primary combination will immediately render the secondary bolt ready to function.

By comparing Figs. 8 and 11, another feature will be noted for, as illustrated by the latter figure, if by mistake or intentionally; when the lock is unlocked the permutation wheels are moved so that they no longer are on the secondary combination, the locking of the shackle will notbe interfered with. Thus in Fig. 8 when the permutation wheels are moved, the control fingers 40 ride up into the peripheries of the inner wheels as in Fig. 11, and the toe 37 immediately rests against the rib 12. -When the shackle is then depressed, the chamfer l5 forcibly cams the toe 31- of the secondary bolt outwardly as shown- As the shackleis pressed further downward the toe permutation wheels with a view of setting up 3'! will finally snap into the slot 38, the'toes l8 on the primary bolt in the meantime sliding along the side ofthe legs 3 and 4. Of, course, after the toe 31 is in the slot 38 the shackle is pressed inwardly until the toes l8 engage the slots I6 and ll, as previously described for the locking operation.

. .Inaddition, this pointshouldbe noted regard-.

ing the above locking operation. If instead of positioning the inner wheels as in Fig. 11, the permutation wheels are turned so that the primary combination is accidentally set up and the primary bolt released to assume the position shown in Fig. 7 where it does not rest on the shackle at all, as soon as the toe 3'1 of the secondary bolt snaps into the slot 38 the shackle cannot be withdrawn beyond its half -opened position so that it is effectively locked but not in its normal position On the other hand, the shackle will rise to this half-opened position when the downward pressure is released and this will warn the user that the primary bolt is not locked.

With the details of the lock construction and its operating cycle complete, certain of the features involved will now be emphasized. In the first place, the toe 3'! on the secondary bolt, when the mechanism is locked as in Fig. 3, lies free between the upper and lower surfaces of the notch 38. The shackle is secured by the toes IS on the primary bolt engaging with the slots 16 and I7. Now, therefore, if the permutation wheels are set to the secondary combination and the secondary bolt moves free of the shackle, and the shackle is then depressed, as is necessary to start the opening operation, the shackle is in no way released but still remains secured by the primary bolt; this is plain from Fig.10. The only time that the secondary bolt can operate to release the shackle is when the primary bolt has been first released by setting up the primary combination on the permutation wheels as described.

However, as soon as the secondary combination is set on the permutation wheels, the primary combination is efiectively concealed. Thus, though the user leaves the lock with the shackle unsecured, and the secondary combination set, which is probably the normal way in which the lock will be used, only one of the two combinations can be observed.

On the other hand, while the secondary combination can properly be called an opening combination, this secondary setting does not have to be destroyed to again lock the lock. Yet, if the secondary combination is disturbed, it does not interfere with the locking of the shackle. Therefore, the secondary bolt functions to constrain a definite cycle of operations during the unlocking of the look but does not require the same cycle in opposite succession during locking of the shackle.

In addition, as was pointed out above, this secondary bolt functions as a safety factor to lock the shackle in semi-opened position in case the primary bolt is unlocked and-not ready to secure the shackle when the lock is being locked.

Numerous other desirable features have been included in my lock construction and these, together with the particular ones pointed out, have enabled me to combine intricate mechanism into a small ru'litary construction which, though inexpensive to make, does not sacrifice positiveness of operation to economy.

However, a main function of the secondary locking bolt is to permit these operations: (1) unlocking completely; (2) relocking without the necessity of touching the permutation wheels. Ihus I have furnished a lock structure which can be locked with all the simplicity of an ordinary spring lock, Prior to my invention, so far as I know, this simple spring lock result was not possible in permutation locks. By this I mean that in prior permutation looks it was necessary to disturb the permutation wheels as part of the necessary locking operations. This has been avoided to the great advantage of permutation locks.

What I claim is:

1. In a permutation look, a securing element having an effective position, an inefiective position and an intermediate position, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectively adapted to hold said securing member in said effective position until said primary combination is set and in said intermediate position until said secondary combination is set for the purpose described.

2. The structure of claim 1 with the primary and secondary locking elements controlled by separate means on said lock controlling elements.

3. In a permutation look, a securing element having an efiective position, an ineffective position and an intermediate position, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectively adapted to hold said securing element in said effective position until said primary combination is set and in said intermediate position until said secondary combination is set, said primary locking element being, as soon as said secondary combination is set, ready to secure said securing element when it is again moved to its effective position.

4. In a permutation lock, 9. securing element having an efiective position, an ineffective position and an intermediate position, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectively adapted to hold said securing element in said effective position until said primary combination is set and in said intermediate position until said secondary combination is set, said secondary locking element being always in position to hold said securing element in the intermediate position whenever said primary combination is set if the securing element is in its effective position.

In a permutation lock, a securing element having an effective position, an inefiective position and an intermediate position, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectively adapted to hold said securing element in said effective position until said primary combination is set and in said intermediate position until said secondary combination is set, the primary and secondary locking elements being affected by separate means on said lock controlling elements and neither by the others means.

6. In a permutation look, a securing element having an effective position, an ineffective position, and an intermediate position, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectively adapted to hold said securing element in said efiective position until said primary combination is set and in said intermediate position until said secondary combination be moved, slightly beyond said elfective position and a position intermediate said effectivev and ineffective positions, permutation members each having alock controlling element and a primary and secondary combination, and primary and secondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements, said primary locking element being adapted, when said primary combination is disturbed, to hold the securing element in its efiective position, and when the primary combination is set and the securing element afterwards moved towards its third position, to release said securing element and allow it to pass towards its intermediate position, said secondary locking element being adapted when thesecondary combination is disturbed to hold said securing element in said intermediate position, and when said secondary combination" is set to allow the securing element to pass to its ineffective position, all for the purpose described.

8. In a padlock construction, a hasp having short and long legs, similar narrow slots one cut in each of said legs transverse to their axes, and a wider slot cut in the long leg adjacent its narrow slot and with its lower edge located lower down the leg than its adjacent narrow slot, a hasp spring mounted on said hasp and, adapted to force the hasp upwards, permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element and having a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondary locking bolts controlled by said'lock controlling elements, said primary bolt having toes at one end adapted, when the hasp is in one position, to engage said similar narrow slots and hold the hasp secured until said primary combination is set, said secondary bolt having a toe at one end adapted to engage said lower edge of said wider slot as soon, as the primary combination is set and the hasp has been'forced slightly upward from its first position by said hasp spring, and to hold said hasp from further unlocking movement in its said raised position until said secondary combination is set, all for the purpose described. I

9. The structure of claim 8 with the primary and secondary bolts controlled by separate mean on the lock controlling elements.

locked position.

10. In a padlock construction, a hasp having an effective position, an ineifective position, and an intermediate position, permutation members each having a lock controlling element consisting of a wheel with a flat and a notch cut in its periphery, primary and secondary locking bolts having at least one too at one end and at the other end, control fingers adapted toiengage said flats and notches respectively to render the bolts ineffective, and slots cut in said hasp and adapted to be engaged by the toes on the respective bolts to holdthe'hasp when the latter is in effective-J and intermediate positions respectively, and to be disengaged from the toes when the permutation members are adjusted until the flats and.

notches respectively engage the primary and secondary bolts for the purpose described. I

11. The structure of claim 10 with the control fingers on the respective bolts and the flats and 1 notches on the lock controlling elements, arranged so that the control fingers on each bolt are aifected only by the flats or by the notches and combination is set, said bolt and permutation mechanism being so constructed ,that when the securing member is unlocked by setting the opening combination in the permutation mechanism,

said member may be relocked from said unlocked position by merely moving the securing element .to its locked position.

13. In a permutation lock having a securing member, primary and secondary bolts for holding the securing member, and permutation mechanism controlling said bolts and having a primary and secondary combination to which said mechanism must respectively and successively be set to free said bolts from said securing members, said permutation mechanism and bolts being so constructed that the securing member maybe relocked from its unlocked position without moving the permutation mechanism from its secondary combination. v I

14. In a permutation lock having a securing member, automatic locking means and permutation means to render said locking means effective and inefiective, said permutation means when manipulated to render said locking means ineffective being thereby put in position to render the same effective upon the mere movement of said securing means to its locked position from its un- KENNETH H. POND.

Images