US2739473A - Cylinder lock - Google Patents

Description

J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 17, 1954 JNVENTOR. do /7r7 D. Qu//e/l J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fj led Dec. 17, 1954 INVENTOR. doh/7 D. @UH/@f7 J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1954 United States Patent O CYLINDER LOCK John D. Quillen, San Leandro, Calif.

Application December 17, 1954, Serial No. 475,943

6 Claims. (Cl. 711-383) The present invention relates to locks having a plug and a barrel with movable tumblers and pins connecting and disconnecting the cylinder end of the barrel.

The primary object of the present invention is to pro* vide a new cylinder lock which is universally operated from the unlocked position to a locked position by any one of a number of keys provided and may not be operated from the locked position to the unlocked position by any other key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock which is operated in cycles, a cycle being from the unlocked position to a locked position, and from the locked position to the unlocked position, which cycle is controlled by a single one of any number of keys.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock and key `system having universal application for use in public locker systems, parking meter systems, industrial uses, such as tool checking, time clock operation, and other applications using a plurality of locks or key operated recorders, key operated mechanisms, and the like, using individual keys.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lock and key system in which a single key can lock any number of locks which may be automatically reset to the unlocked position or manually reset to the unlocked position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lock which may. not be operated by under-keying or over-keying. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock of sturdy and simple construction, having a minimum of parts and one which may be manufactured in quantities from the same number of parts and the same arrangement of those parts without setting individual locks for any particular key, the keys themselves having the diierences which distinguish one from the other and each being operable in all of the locks.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front View in elevation of the face -of the lock,

Figure 2 is a rear view in elevation of the rear of the lock,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a key for use in the lock of the present invention,

Figure 4 is a top view in elevation,

Figure 5 is a side view in cross-section on line 5 5 of Figure 6,

Figure 6 is an end view in cross-section on line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an undeveloped view of two of the slide elements of the present invention,

Figure 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the elements of the invention,

Figure 9 is another exploded view of other elements,

Figure 10v is a schematic view showing the condition of the elements while in unlocked condition,

Figure 11 is another schematic view showing a condition of being keyed and locked,

Figure 12 shows the condition of being locked with key removed,

Figure 13 shows the condition of being under-keyed and still locked, and

Figure 14 shows the condition of being over-keyed and still locked.

Referring in greater detaii to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the present invention consists of a lock having a barrel 10 formed with a tumbler pin housing 11 on its upper side.

Axially positioned within the barrel 10 is a plug 12 and disposed between the plug 12 and the barrel 10 is a plurality of concentric slides or tumblers 13, here shown as four in number concentrically and four in number side by side about the plug 12.

The slides or tumblers 13 are assembled in series of pairs as seen best in Figures 7 and 8 and are formed with diametrically opposed holes 14, half-grooves 15, and elongated recesses 16 which, when each pair is put in side-byside relation form another hole as indicated by the reference numeral 16 in Figure 8.

A pair of pins 17, secured by their one ends to the plug 12 and projecting by their other ends through each of the half-grooves 15 will be seen to engage the tumblers 13 at each end of the grooves formed by the half-grooves 15 and permit the tumblers 13 to rotate on the plug 12 for a rotational movement of Referring to Figures 4, 8, and 9, the plug 12 is formed with diametrically opposed holes 18, one for each of the actuating pins 19 and 20 which extend transversely for contractile and extensile movement and are connected together at their inner ends by the spring 21 by means of which they are biased toward each other. The tumbler pin housing 11 is formed with a plurality of apertures 22 in which are slidable one of each the tumbler pins 23, each one of which is formed with a notch 24. A bore 25 is longitudinally arranged through the housing 11 and into which extends a at sided pin 26 about which rotate for pivotal movement the dogs 27, 28, 29, and 311, each of which bear against the upper ends of the tumbler pins 23, also pivotally connected to the pin 26 is a latch dog 31 which engages the latch 32 at its upper end.

A plate 33 having ngers 34 is formed from resilient metal, or the like, and biases each of the dogs 27 to 31 to the downward position. Bolts 35 secure the plate 33 to the housing 11. A U-shaped member 36 has legs 37 and 33 extending in slots 39' formed in the barrel 10 each -of them extending through the grooves formed by the halfgrooves 15 in the rings 13. Bolts 40 secure the U-shaped member 36 to the side of the barrel 10.

The plug 12 is formed with a reduced portion 41 which projects through the nut 42, having the slots 43. A coil spring 44, formed of flat spring steel, is provided with a leg 45 at it-s outer end which projects into the slots 43 and into one of the slots 46 in the barrel 10.

The other leg 47 of the spring 44 is received into the slot 48 in the end of the reduced portion 41. Tapped holes 49 receive the bolts 50 which secure the latch 32 to the end of the plug 12.

A set screw 51, together with the spring 52 bears against the end of the latch dog 31 and restrains the movement of the latch 32. Each of the dogs 27 to 30 and the latch dog 31 has inwardly projecting bosses indicated by the reference numeral 53 which bear against the flat side of the pin 26. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the pin 26 projects from the rear face of the assembled lock.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the separate and con centric tumblers 13 are indicated by the reference numei-als 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D.

tions.

In the assembly of the lock, the spring 44 is provided with sutlicient tension to bias the latch and the barrel l2 to the position indicated in Figure 6. This will permit the counterclockwise movement of the plug, as seen from the front and indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

A key, shown in Figure 3, is provided with complemental configurations indicated by the reference numeral 55.

Referring to Figures 1G to 14, inclusive, the operation of the lock is shown schematically. The lirst, Figure 10, shows an undeveloped view of one of the tumblers 13 in superimposed position over tumblers 13A, 13B, 3C and 13D. Straight lines indicate an edge view of each of the tumblers 13A to 13D, and the tumbler pins are indicated by the reference numeral 2.3. The actuating ins are 19 and Ztl". The plug is indicated by the partially shaded portion 12.

in Figure the condition in which the lock is unlocked is shown, the pins 17 being represented by the semicircular bodies 17 and are shown located at one end of the groove formed by a half-groove as indicated by the reference numeral 15".

The stop means, consisting of one of the legs 37 or 38 is indicated by the reference numeral 37. in Figure 10 the tumbler pin 23 is shown traversing one of the diametrically opposed holes in the tumblers 13A to 13D, and is entered into the hole 13 in the plug 12.

In Figure 11, a key, as indicated by the reference numeral 54, in Figure 3, having a configuration 55, has been inserted in the key slot 56 in the plug 12 and has raised the actuating pins 19 and 20', the former bearing against the lower ends of the tumbler pin 23 to eject it from two of the tumblers 13C and 13D, but still entered in the holes 14 of the tumblers 13A and 13B.

The plug 12', in this figure, has been rotated 180 counter-clockwise in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 11, the pins being engaged in the ends of the grooves 15" to carry each of the tumblers 13C and 13D for rotation with the plug.

Referring to Figure l2, a condition is shown in which the lock has been locked and the key withdrawn, permitting the associated spring 21 (not show-n) to Withdraw the actuating pins 1.9' and 20', permitting the tumbler pin 23 to penetrate the respective ones of the holes 14 or 16 in those tumblers which have been rotated, and also penetrating the hole 1S in the plug l2.

Referring to Figure 13, the condition of under-keying is shown in which a key has raised the actuating pins 19 and 26', to where they have pushed the tumbler pin 23 out of the tumbler 13D but still engage in the holes of the tumblers 13A, 113B, and 13C. in this position the tumbler EC is unable to move in the irection indicated by the arrow, due to its engagement by the tumbler pin 23', the pin 17 being at the end or" the groove and being prevented from moving the tumbler' 13C because of its abutment or engagement by the tumbler pin 2.3.

ln Figure 14 the condition of over-keying is shown in which key has raised the actuating pins 19 and 20 to a position where the tumbler pin 23 has been ejected from the tumblers 13B, 13C and 13D, while still in engagement with the tumbler 13A. in this position, movement in the direction of the arrow is prevented by the abutment of the end of the groove 15" with the leg 37 which forms the stop means. The dotted line indicated by the reference numeral 54 indicates that each of the pins 1-7 are connected with vthe plug 12.

ln operation, the locks of the present invention are all manufactured identically, and have no set combinar1`he keys have different congurations and operate to set up ditlerent combinations of conditions in which the actuating pins have engaged withfone or more of the tumblers 13. After a key has beeninserted and the actuating pins have pushed the tumbler pins outwardly, the plug and those tumblers i3 which are now engaged by the actuating pins may be rotated 180 counter-clockwise to a position at which the key is removed. At this lock combination set position, the tumbler pins 23 drop into the other of the diametrically arranged holes 14 or 16 and into the opposite ends of the holes 13 in the plug i2.. This locks the plug against movement with respect to the barrel i9. Any other key which enters the lock, if it has not the right combination or conguration will fail to raise the tumbler pins 23 to the proper height to release the right ones of the tumblers 13 for rotative movement to the original or lock combination unset position. The stop means formed by the legs 37 or 38 engage the pins 17 at one end of the movement of the plug 12 and engage the ends of the grooves formed by the half-grooves 15 in each of the rings 13 at the other end.

It will be seen, therefore, that all of the objects of the present invention may be accomplished by the structure and assembly of the present invention as heretofore described.

The pin 26 may be rotated so that the shoulders 53 of each of the dogs 27 to 31 will engage with the flat side of the pin 26 to lift each of the dogs at which point the spring 4d will rotate the plug 12 and any of the displaced tumblers 13 back to the original lock combination inset position. This automatic resetting feature of the present invention permits the lock to be used for timing devices, such as parking meters, it being understood that other spring means would be provided Controlled by a timing element to rotate the shaft 26 to the resetting position.

Other uses for the invention will be obvious, such as an industrial use where special tools are kept under lock and key, possibly within small compartments or lockers, and all of the tools being made available to a number of individuals each provided with a different key by means of which any one compartment could be opened by the operation of the lock of the present invention.

Other uses for lthe invention will be obvious. Clubs and .organizations may provide themselves with rooms or lockers for many purposes and provide each of the ac credited members with a key. A member would use the room or locker, locking it with one of the locks of the present invention and no other Ause could be made of it until Stich time as the same key was inserted within the lock to move it to the unlocking position.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been here illustrated and described, it is believed that other embodiments may be made and practiced Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising a barrel, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a coniigurated key supported in said barrel for rotative movement, a group of tumblers supported in said barrel for individual rotative movement, means carried by said plug operable by any one of the configurations of a key when inserted in the key slot in said plug Vto selectively connect one or more of said tumblers to said plug for rotative movement with said plug to thereby Vcause the connected tumblers to be shifted from a lock combination unset position to a lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers when in the aforesaid lock combination set position operable to resist release upon the insertion in the key slot of said Vplug of a different congurated key than the key employed for eiecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon employmentof the last mentioned key.

2. A lock comprising a barrel, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a conligurated key supported in said barrel for rotative movement, a 'group of tumblers supported in said barrel for individual rotative movement, means carried by said plug operable yby .any one of the configurations of a -key when inserted in the key slot in said plug to selectively connectone or more of said tumblers to said plug ,for rotative movement with said plug to thereby cause the connected tumblers to be shifted from a lock combination unset position to a lock combination set position, cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers when in the aforesaid lock combination set position operable to resist release upon the insertion in the key slot of said plug of a different coniigurated key than the key employed for eecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon employment of the last mentioned key, and said cooperating lock means including means carried by said barrel operable to lock said plug in either the lock combination inset position or in the lock combination set position, the last named means being releasable by said tumbler connecting means when the latter is engaged by a key inserted in the key slot in said plug.

3. A lock comprising a barrel, a group of tumblers arranged in concentric relation disposed within said barrel, a spring biased tumbler pin carried by said barrel and normally extending slidably through said group of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a con tigurated key extending loosely through the innermost one of said group of tumblers and rotatable by a key received in said slot from a lock combination unset position to a lock combination set position, actuating pin means interiorly of and connected to said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movement, said actuating pin means being operable by any one of the coniigurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectively release one or more of said tumblers corresponding to the height of such one of the key configurations from said tumbler pin and attach the released tumblers for rotational move ment with said plug to the lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers operable when in the aforesaid lock combination set position to resist release upon insertion in the key slot of said plug of a diiferent contigurated key than the key employed for effecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon the employment of the last-mentioned key.

4. A lock comprising a barrel, a group of tumblers arranged in concentric relation disposed within said barrel, a spring biased tumbler pin carried by said barrel and normally extending slidably through said group of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a congurated key extending loosely through the innermost .one of said group of tumblers and rotatable by a key received in said slot from a lock combination unset position to a lock combination set position, actuating piu means interiorly of and connected to said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movement, said actuating pin means being operable by any one of the configurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectively release one or more of said tumblers corresponding to the height of such one of the key configurations from said tumbler pin and attach the released tumblers for rotational movement with said plug to the lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers, said cooperating lock means embodying a pin carried by said plug and movable through an arcuate slot formed in adjacent tumblers, operable when in the aforesaid lock combination set position to resist release upon insertion in the key slot of said plug of a different conigurated key than the key employed for effecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon the employment of the last-mentioned key.

5. A lock comprising a barrel, a plurality of groups of tumblers each arranged in concentric relation disposed in side by side relation within said barrel, spring biased tumbler pins carried by said barrel and each normally extending slidably through the adjacent group of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a conigurated key extending loosely through the innermost ones of all of said groups of tumblers, and a plurality of actuating pin means interiorly of and each connected to said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movements, the respective actuating pin means being operable by one or more of the configurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectively release one or more of the tumblers corresponding to the heights of the respective ones of the key configurations from said tumbler pins for rotational movement with said plug to the lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers operable when in the aforesaid lock combination set position to resist release upon insertion in the key slot of said plug of a diterent configurated key than the key employed for etlecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon the employment of the last-mentioned key.

6. A lock comprising a barrel, a plurality of groups of tumblers each arranged in concentric relation disposed in side by side relation within said barrel, spring biased tumbler pins carried by said barrel and each normally extending slidably through the adjacent group of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a congurated key lextending loosely through the innermost ones of all of said groups of tumblers, and a plurality of actuating pin means interiorly of and each connected to said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movements, the respective actuating pin means being operable by one or more of the coniigurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectively release one or more of the tumblers corresponding to the heights of the respective ones of the key coniigurations from said tumbler pins for rotational movement with said plug to the lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers, said cooperating lock means embodying pins carried by said plug and each being movable through respective ones of a plurality of slots formed one each in each of said tumblers of each group operable when in the aforesaid lock combination set position to resist release upon insertion in the key slot of said plug of a different configurated key than the key employed for eiecting the movement to the lock combination set position and being releasable from the latter named set position only upon the employment of the last-mentioned key. l

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,178 Taylor Nov. l2, 1889 591,439 Voight Oct. 12, 1897 2,045,905 Futran June 30, 1936 2,219,866 Futran Oct. 29, 1940

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