US3255620A

US3255620A - Cycle lock

Info

Publication number: US3255620A
Application number: US293011A
Authority: US
Inventors: John D Quillen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-05
Filing date: 1963-07-05
Publication date: 1966-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-14

Description

June 14, 1966 J. D. QUlLLEN 3,255,620

CYCLE LOCK Filed July 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

:4 7 J oHN 0. QUILLEN ATTORNEY June 14, 1966 J. D. QUILLEN 3,255,620

CYCLE LOCK Filed July 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOCKED NEUTRAL $5 UNLOCKED Y fig- 7A INVENTOR JOHN D.QUILLEN ATTORNEY June 14, 1966 J. D. QUILLEN 3,

CYCLE LOCK Filed July 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 1N VEN TOR.

JOHN D. QUILLEN BY J WM 44 ATTORNEY June 14, 1966 J. D. UILLEN 3,255520 CYCLE LOCK Filed July 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

JOHN D. QUILLEN BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,255,620 CYCLE LOCK John D. Quillen, 790 Woodland Ave., San Leandra, Calif. Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,011 12 Claims. (Cl. 70-383) The present invention relates to cycle locks and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

operated by thousands of keys each of which being different in locking combination from all the rest, but which may be used individually to operate the lock in any random sequence of -key selections it being understood that a cycle must be completed with one key before another can be used.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lock for hotels and motel use in which the patron, or guest can furnish his own key for his room, thereby giving him greater security over his person and his belongings while at the same time banishing all the problems and expense associated with maintaining custody and accountability of large numbers of keys on the part of the hotel management.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a lock for residential and home use in which the owner, or

tenant may change keys and keying combinations as often as desired simply by choosing new sets of keys and causing the lock to set itself automatically to the new key combination.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lock suitable for all applications in the sense that the same basic lockmechanism may be installed in homes, in automobiles, post office boxes, bank safety deposit boxes, school lockers, office desks, etc.

A further object of my invention is to provide two models of the cycle lock. One model is designed to be workable only with standard cycle lock keys and shall be called the standard cycle lock. A second model is operable with standard cycle lock keys and in addition utilizes one or more master keys. This latter model is referred to as the master cycle lock.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lock which can be functionally actuated through two separate locking channels of tumblers by use of two separate types of keys. These functional operations may be practiced independently of each other by using two different keys' and without one locking channel interferring with the other.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a lock embodying standard cycle lock features and also master cycle lock features and in addition a grand master key will have complete overriding control of all of the locks functions in that the grand master key can control the standard locking channel of tumblers as well as control the master locking channel of tumblers.

' The operation of the cycle lock has been set forth 'ice.

such characteristics and physical dimensions as to be adaptable to all types of lock applications everywhere.

To provide a key operated security cycle lock which embodies no fixed or defined locking combination within itself, but which is the embodiment of a security medium containing many thousands of potential combinations, any one of which may be brought into play by using the proper key.

To provide a key-operated security cycle lock, the control of which may be transferred from user to user with each user employing his own personal key with a combination known only to himself.

To provide a key-operated security cycle lock which possesses a master control provision using one or a plurality of master keys of different rank. And in addition, providing a permissive" control provision which is operable by standard keys, both of which functions of control may be practiced concurrently with no mutual interference.

To provide a key-operated security cycle lock in which a certain key of the master key group may be used to void an existing family of master keys and to introduce a new familyv of master keys.

To provide a key-operated security cycle lock in which a certain key in the master key group may be used to void the use of standard keys, otherwise called personal keys, thus causing the cycle lock to function to only a single key, or as it were, to function precisely as an ordinary lock.

To provide a key-operated security cycle lock which is uniquely adaptable to hotels and motels and to all public accommodation facilities by making it possible for the tourist and for patrons in general to employ their own personal standard keys while occupying such accommodations.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of. the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

DRAWINGS forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation and a cross section of the standard key used in the cycle lock.

FIGURE 2 is a view of a master key which can be used in the cycle lock.

FIGURE 3 is a view of the end portion of a grand master key which can be used in the cycle lock.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section through the cycle lock and is taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 10, and illustrates a standard key in association with the standard tumbler set in the lock.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the cycle lock.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the cycle lock when looking in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIG-' URE 5. e

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal exploded section and is taken along the line 77 of the cycle lock shown in FIGURE 10. The plug is shown in the cylinder in FIGURE 7, but a few of the tumblers and washers for the standard lock combination are shown in spaced relation to each other and as spaced from the tumbler shaft on which they are normally mounted. Other parts of the cycle lock are also shown separated from the cylinder and rotatable plug.

FIGURE 7A shows a plan view of one of the cycle lock tumblers with its lobes in locked, neutral and unlocked positions on a greatly enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse section taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 5 and shows the cycle lock on an enlarged scale. -In FIGURE 8, both the tumbler set for the standar locking combination and the master locking combination are illustrated in unlocked position and the key slot in the plug is shown in the 9 oclock position.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, but illustrates the standard tumbler set in unlocked combination and the master tumbler set in locked combination.

FIGURE 10 is a partial section similar to FIGURE 9, but illustrates certain tumblers in the standard tumbler set as being moved toward locked position.

FIGURE 11 is similar to FIGURES 8 and 9, but illustrates both standard and master tumbler sets as being in locked position.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 8, 9 and 11 and illustrates the function of the master key in moving the master tumbler set into unlocked position.

FIGURE 13 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG- URE 10, but shows how the use of a wrong standard key in trying to unlock a cycle lock in which a tumbler combination has been set up by another standard key, and illustrates how the lock cannot be unlocked by such a wrong standard key.

FIGURE 14 is a rear view of the cycle lock with the striker plate removed, and its corresponds to FIGURE 11 and illustrates a standard locking dog and a master locking dog swung into locking position when the standard tumbler combination and the master tumbler combination are shown in locked position.

FIGURE 15 is a rear view of the cycle lock on the same scale as FIGURE 14 and shows both locking dogs in unlocked position. This view corresponds with FIG- URE 8 where both the standard and master tumbler sets are in unlocked position.

FIGURE 16 is a rear elevation of the cycle lock and shows the standard locking dog in inoperative position and the master locking dog in locked position. This figure agrees with FIGURE 9 where the standard tumler set is in unlocked condition and the master tumbler set is in locked position.

FIGURE 17 is a rear elevation of the cycle lock and illustrates the standard locking dog in locked position and the master locking dog in unlocked position. This figure corresponds with FIGURE 12 where the standard tumbler set is shown in locked position and the master tumler set is shown in unlocked position.

FIGURE 18 is a plan view of one of the locking dogs and it is shown mounted on a tumbler shaft.

FIGURE 19 is a plan view of the rear face of the end plate for the lock.

FIGURE 20 is a partial sectional view similar to FIGURE 10, but shows how a grand master key can rotate the plug in the lock cylinder for starting to move the standard tumbler set into unlocked position.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In carrying out my invention I will first describe the construction of the cycle lock and the standard tumbler combination and standard key, and then will described the master tumbler combination and master key and finally described the selective operations of the three keys in the cycle lock. The cycle lock comprises a cylindrical casing A, see FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 and this casing has a central cylindrical bore 1 therein for rotatably receiving a cylindrical plug B. The plug has an annular flange 2 at its front end that is rotatably re-. ceived in an annular recess 3, provided in the casing A. The length of the plug is coextensive with the length of the bore 1 in the casing A. The rear end of the plug B has a reduced cylindrical projection 4 whose axis coincides with the plug axis and this projection is rotatably received in a central bore 5 provided in an end plate C, see FIGURE 4. The rim of the bore 5 has arcuate portions of different radii which will be explained later. The end plate is secured to the casing A by any suitable means such as screws 6. A striker plate D is secured to the end of the trunnion-like projection 4, by screws 7 or other suitable fastening means, see FIGURE 15. The striker plate bears against the end plate C and prevents the plug from moving to the left in FIGURE 4, because the screws 7 secure the plug B to the striker plate D. The annular flange 2 on the plug is rotatably received in the annular recess 3 and prevents the plug from moving to the right.

The plug B is provided with key-receiving slot 8 therein. FIGURES 4 and 6 show that the slot 8 does not extend entirely through to the outer rim of the annular flange 2 in a radial direction, but that the slot has one side that opens out onto the outer periphery of the plug B. This side of the slot is in the nature of an enlarged longitudinally extending recess that is semi-cylindrical in cross section for that portion of the plug extending longitudinally beyond the annular flange 2. Also this semi-cylindrical slot portion 8a extends through that portion of the plug disposed adjacent to the flange 2. The key slot opening 8a in the annular flange is made completely circular as shown in FIGURE 6, but this complete circular portion still does not extend entirely through to the outer periphery of the flange 2, see FIGURE 7. The enlarged recess 8a is coextensive with the plug, see FIGURES 4 and 7. The center of the key receiving slot and the other side of the slot, as well, in plug B is provided with enlarged recesses 8b and which extend longitudinally throughout the entire length of the plug. The recess 80 extends along the mid portion of the slot 8.

This is for the purpose of permitting a grand master cycle lock key E3, see FIGURE 3, to be inserted into the key slot 8 and then to be withdrawn and rotated about its longitudinal axis and reinserted into the slot for a purpose which will be described later.

I provide three keys for the cycle lock. The standard key E1 is shown in FIGURE 1 and it has a longitudinal rib 9 that extends along one edge of the key and a center rib 11a, and another longitudinal rib 10 that extends along the other edge of the key. The transverse section through the key E1, also shown in FIGURE 1, illustrates that the key rib 9 is semi-circular in the portion 9a lying immediately adjacent to the web 11 of the key and this portion partially fills the semi-cylindrical recess 8b in FIGURE 9 when the standard key is inserted into the slot 8 of the plug B when the plug is in the position shown in this figure. The other key rib 10 has a semi-circular portion in cross section at 10a that lies immediately adjacent to the central web 11 of the key and this portion partially fills the semi-cylindrical recess 8a in the plug B in FLIGURLE 9. This key rib 10 has slots 12 cut therein for receiving key tumblers in a manner presently to be described. The number of slots 12 and their positions along the key rib 10 determines the particular lock combination for the key. The master key E2 shown in FIGURE 2 and the grand master key E3 shown partially in FIGURE 3 will be described later.

It is best now to refer to the standard tumbler set or standard cycle lock channel illustrated at the position X in FIGURES 8 to 13 inclusive and then describe how the standar key E1 can set up the tumblers in this set so that only the same standard key can unlock the cycle look. In FIGURES 4, 7 and 9, the standard tumbler set at position X comprises a tubular tumblersupporting shaft F that has one end rockably received in a bore 13 provided in the lock casing A. Practically the entire length of the shaft F is received in an enlarged recess A1 provided in the casing A and that opens up into the bore 1 that rotatably receives the plug B, see FIGURES 4, 7, 8-13. The other end of the tumbler shaft F, is received in a bore 14 provided in the end plate C.

The recess A1 is large enough to receive tumblers G and spacing washers 15 that are slipped onto the tumbler shaft F. The exploded view in FIGURE 7 illustrates only a few of the tumblers G and washers 15 spaced apart while in the section view of FIGURE 4 the tumblers and washers are mounted on the tumbler shaft F and fill the shaft throughout the entire length of the tumbler-receiving recess A1. In actual practice each tumbler G is spaced from adjacent tumblers by a spacing washer 15. FIGURES 8 to 13 inclusive show the tubular tumbler shaft F provided with a slot F1 that extends along the entire length of the shaft.

The tumblers G are of novel construction and are made from a slightly resilient material. Each tumbler G has an arcuate or yoke portion 16 that yielding interconnects two lobes 16a and 16b that are disposed at the ends of the arcuate portion and are of a particular shape.

In FIGURE 7A, I show three attitudes of the tumbler element G. Reading from left to right in this figure, I show the tumbler in locked, neutral and unlocked positions. The two lobes may be moved. away from each other into unlocked positions as shown in the right hand figurein FIGURE 7A, but they will tend to return to the center figure or neutral position when they are free to move. Also the two lobes 16a and 16b may be moved toward each other into locked position as shown in the left hand figure of FIGURE 7A, but they will again tend to return to their neutral position when they are freed.'

FIGURE 8 shows the tumbler G with its lobes 16a and 1612 held apart by the outer cylindrical surface of the plug B and the tumbler is in unlocked position in this instance and the spring action of the arcuate bri ging portion 16 will tend to swing the lobes toward each other. FIGURE 12 shows the tumbler G with its lobes 16a and 16b held close together by the outer cylindrical surface of the plug B and by the wall portion 17 of the recess A1. The tumbler G in FIGURE 12 is held in locked position and the arcuate portion 16 will yieldingly tend to return to the lobes 16a and 16b to neutral position as soon as the operation of the lock permits this.

The strike plate D bears against the outer end of the tumbler shaft F, see FIGURE 4, and the end plate C holds the tumblers G and washers 15 in place on the shaft. The tumblers G can be individually rotated on the shaft F and will rock the shaft to actuate locking dogs as hereinafter set forth. The rotation of one or more tumblers G will not cause the other tumblers on the same shaft to rotate. They are restrained from rotating then they, individually, cannot enter the recess 8a because the key rib presents an obstruction. The washers provide a predetermined spacing between adjacent tumblers to facilitate a certain physical tolerance and ease of keying.

Again referring to FIGURE 9, it will be seen that the standard tumbler G has its lobe 16a riding on the cylindrical periphery of the plug B, and has its otherlobe 16b with an inwardly projecting tongue 16c extending into the longitudinal slot F1 provided in the tumbler shaft F. The lobe 16b also rests on the outer cylindrical surface of the plug B. When the standard key E1 is placed in the key slot 8 of the plug B in FIGURE 9 and the rib 10 of the key has a key recess 12 that lies in the same plane as that of the lobe 16a, of the tumbler G shown in FIG-- URE 9, then a counter-clockwise rotation of the standard key E1 from the 3 oclock to the 12 oclock position will move the plug recess 8a under the tubular lobe 16a.

Immediately the spring tension of the arcuate yoke or bridge 16 in trying to move the lobes 16a and 16b toward each other will move the lobe 16a down into the recess 8a in the plug B, see FIGURE 10. Then as the standard key E1 continues to be rotated in a counter-clockwise manner toward the 12 oclock position as shown in FIG- URE 11, the plug recess 8a will rotate the tubular lobe 16a into locked position as illustrated in this figure.

This rotative movement of the tumbler lobe 16a will rotate the tumbler G and cause its other lobe 16b and tongue to move the edge 18 of the shaft slot F1 to rock the standard tumbler shaft F in a clockwise direction when looking at FIGURE 11. The edge 18 is always held in contact with the tongue 160 as will be explained later. As the tumbler shaft F is rotated clockwise, the trailing edge 18a of theslot will not move the lobes 16b of the tumblers G that were not acted upon by the rotating plug B, because the width of the slot F1 is equal to about twice the width of the tongues 160. The tumblers G that were not acted upon by the key will still remain .in unlocked'positions. The rotating of the key E1 from unlocked to locked position sets up a tumbler combination in the standard tumbler set at X that can only be unlocked by the same key. This is why I term my lock a cycle lock because each standard key E1 when moved from the 3 oclock to the 12 oclock position, sets up its own tumbler combination through this movement. The cycle is completed when the same standard key is inserted into the lock at the 12 oclock position and is rotated to the 3 oclock position where the lock will be unlocked.

The clockwise rotation of the shaft F in FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 will rock a locking dog H, see FIGURE 17, into locked position. FIGURE 17 as well as FIGURES 14, 15 and 16 show the cycle lock when looking at it from the rear. The standard key E1 has rotated certain tumblers G in the standard tumbler set at X in FIG- URE l7, and the tumbler shaft F has been rocked by the tumblers that have been moved from unlocked into locked position and the shaft in turn has swung the locking dog H into locked position.

The dog H is shown in the exploded view in FIGURE 7, and also in FIGURE 18. The dog has a circular opening 19 for receiving the end of the tumbler shaft F and it has a tongue 19a that enters the slot F1 in the shaft. The locking dog H also has an arm portion 20 that extends in a radial direction and the arm is provided with an overlying stop 20a that parallels the plane of the arm and is connected therewith by an interconnecting web'20b, see FIGURE 18.

The locking dog H is mounted on the exposed end of the tumbler shaft after the end plate C has been secured to the casing A by the screws 6, see FIGURE 4. The end plate C has a recess 14a, see FIGURE 7, for receiving the dog. This recess 14a has an enlargement 14b, see FIG- URE 17, for swingably receiving the integral arm 20. The periphery 21 of the striker plate D holds the end of the tumbler shaft F in place and also passes through the space provided between the arm 20 of the dog H and the stop 20a that is spaced from the arm by the web 2012. The striker plate D has an upset'projeetion 22 that will strike the locking dog stop 20a when the wrong key is inserted in the plug B and the person tries to rotate the plug from the locked position (12 oclock position) into the unlocked position (3 oclock position in FIGURE 9). The wrong key cannot rotate the plug B into unlocked position. The right key when opening the lock will swing the tumblers G (that were formerly swung into locked position) back into unlocked position. The projection 22 is in reality a slot cut into the rim of the striker plate with two flanges bent up on each side of the slot.

A leaf spring I, is secured to the end plate C, by a screw 23, or other suitable fastening means, see FIGURE 17, and it has a resilient arm 24 whose end bears against the inner surface of the web 2012 for yieldingly urging the locking dog H into inoperative position. The leaf spring I also has a second resilient arm 25 whose end bears against another locking dog H1 for urging it into inoperative position in a manner hereinafter described. The resilient arm 24 tends to swing the locking dog H into inoperative position and this will cause the edge 18 of the slot in the tumbler shaft F to always contact with the tumbler tongue 16c.

I provide novel means for preventing the accidental withdrawal of the standard E1 key from the lock after it has once been inserted. This will prevent a person from accidentally leaving the lock in an unlocked condition and taking the key with him. In FIGURES 7 and 14, I show the end plate C provided with a recess 26 on the side that faces the rear end of the casing A. The key gate K is made from a resilient material and it is U-shaped in form. The key gate has a yielding tongue 27 that lies in the path of a slot or recess 28 provided near the end of the standard key E1, see FIGURES 1 and 14. The standard key also has a V-shaped end with inclined sides 29. When the key is inserted into the lock, and the plug B is in unlocked position, the inclined edge 29 will strike the tongue 27 and will compress the U-shaped key gate K until the tongue registers with the recess 28 in the standard key E1. At this moment the key is entirely in the lock and the tongue 27 will enter the recess 28 and prevent the withdrawal of the key until the key rotates the plug B into locked position.

When the lock is used in hotels and the like, this key gate K, insures the management that a temporary guest or transient user of a room using the lock cannot inadvertently leave the premises unlocked upon his departure. The lock when once actuated by a key to rotate the plug B from unlocked to locked position will remain locked to whatever locking combination set up by the standar key E1. This feature in no way limits the user of the room to go and come as he pleases because his own standard key will operate the lock.

The rotation of the standard key is limited between the 3 oclock and the 12 oclock position, see FIGURES 9 and 11. I provide stops in the end plate C for holding the standard key to a 90 rotation between these two positions, see FIGURE 19, which illustrates the rear face of the end plate C. This figure illustrates the recessed portions 14a and 14b for the locking dog H as extending about one half way through the thickness of the end plate C with the bore 14 extending through the remaining one half thickness. Also the end plate C has an annular recess 30 that encircles the central bore that receives the reduced cylindrical projection 4 of the plug B, see FIGURE 7 as well as FIGURE 19. The bottom of the recess 30 lies flush with the bottoms of the recessed portions 14a and 14b.

The 90 portion of the rim of the bore 5 in the end plate C that is indicated at 5a in FIGURE 19, is adapted to be received in the recess 28 in the standard key E1 when the key is inserted into the plug B and rotates the plug from unlocked (3 oclock) position in FIGURE 9 into the locked (12 oclock) position in FIGURE 11. The end plate has a slot 31 communicating with the annular recess 30 and extending to the front face of the end plate, i.e., the face that contacts the back of the lock casing A. The slot 31 has a stop edge 31a on one side that is longer than the depth of the recess 28 in the standard key E1 and the key will contact this stop when it is in its 3 oclock position and the stop will prevent the standard key from being rotated toward the 6 oclock position.

The arcuate edge 5a in the end plate C will receive the recess 28 in the standard key and permit the key to be rotated into the 12 oclock position. The edge So could be likened to the inner rim portion of a flange that is received in the key recess 28. The end plate has another key-receiving slot 32 that communicates with the annular recess 30 and extends to the front face of the end plate. The slot 32 has a stop edge 32a on one side that is longer than the depth of the recess 28 in the standard key E1 and the key will contact this stop when it is in its 12 oclock position. The stop 32a will prevent the standard key from being rotated toward the 9 oclock position when looking at FIGURE 11.

The standard cycle lock key E1 is very similar to conventional keys with one exception. The difference between the key used for my cycle lock and conventional keys lies in the somewhat thicker edge, or rib 10 in the instance of the cycle lock key. This added thickness is desirable to properly conform with the longitudinal recess 8:: in the plug B, see FIGURE 9, which is wider than the key slot 8 that receives the web section 11 of the key. The key E1 also has the central rib portion 11a. The recess 8a has a rounded bottom to facilitate receiving the lobes 16a and 16b of the tumblers G where the standard key E1 has a recess 12 in alignment with the lobe.

The lobes 16a of the tumblers G drop into the slots 12 cut into the standard key and are received in the recess 8a of the plug as the plug is rotated past the tumblers. Where no slots exist in the key E1 for other tumblers, the lobes 16a of these tumblers cannot drop down into the plug recess 8:1 as it sweeps through the tumbler area X. Hence the standard key E1 selects only those tumblers G which lie directly in line with the key slots 12. This is true regardless of the direction the key and plug B are being rotated, i.e., whether from the locked or unlocked positions. It is in this way that locking combinations are formed or set up within the lock during the rotation of the key and plug from unlocked to locked position. This movement of the lock plug B is one half of the cycle. The other half is when the key rotates the plug B from locked to unlocked position. These locking combinations of the tumblers G corresponds identically with the key configuration, i.e., with the number and placing of the slots 12 in the standard key E1.

If after one standard key E1 is used for setting up the lock combination in the tumblers G by moving the key from unlocked to locked position and other standard key with a different combination of slots 12 therein is placed in the key slot 8 and the person tries to rotate the plug G into the unlocked position, this cannot be done; the reason for this is that if in turning the other standard key from the locked toward the unlocked position, an open key slot 12 in the key appears where the corresponding tumbler G in the lock has not been previously moved from unlocked to locked position, then in this case the other lobe 16b of the unlocked tumbler will drop into the plug recess 8a and will be moved into contact with its companion lobe 16a and will stop further rotation of the plug B toward the unlocked position. This situation is illustrated in FIGURE 13. Only the tumbler lobe 16a is capable of being transferred from the position shown in FIGURE 9 into the position shown in FIGURE 11.

If on the other hand, the key E1 which is being used in an attempt to operate the cycle lock from the locked position to the unlocked position is the wrong key and is wrong in the respect that it has one or more blank or unslotted areas where in fact a notch or notches should be corresponding with previously displaced tumblers G, then in this case the lobe 16a cannot drop into the recess 8a. Whenever the lobes 16a are held up, shaft F is in operative position and the corresponding dog H, :or H will be held down in a locking position to prevent the rotation of the plug B into the unlocked position. It has now been demonstrated that no condition may be attained whereby my cycle lock, when once locked by aparticular standard key E1, may be unlocked by any other standard key bearing a different combination of slots 12, no matter however slight.

There are two definable families of cycle lock keys. The first is the standard cycle lock key E1 which has just been described. The second family of cycle lock keys I wish to refer to as master keys. The standard key family of cycle lock keys are to be used by the general public. An individual may carry his own personal standard cycle lock key E1 which he may use on cycle locks in his own home, automobile, hotel room, safety deposit box, etc. In the instance of personal keys, only the owner would need to know the locking characteristics of the key he carries. In operation, the standard cycle lock key E1 actuates only the tumblers in the standard channel X in the cycle lock. This corresponds with inserting the standard key E1 when the key slot 8 of the cycle lock is at the 3 oclock position in FIGURE 9, and turning it counter-clockwise to the 12 oclock position to secure the lock and vice-versa to open it. The invention could be completed at this point if only one family of keys known as standard keys were used in the cycle lock.

However, my invention makes use of a master key family of keys in addition to the standard group of keys. The master group of keys E2, see FIGURE 2, are derived from the same basic key stock as the standard group of keys. All master keys are designed to operate the cycle lock plug B, between the 9 oclock and 12 oclock positions when looking at FIGURE 12. The master key E2 is similar to the standard key E1 with the exceptipn that the slot 28a in the key is deeper than is the slot 28 in the key E1.

Referring again to FIGURE 19, it will be seen that the arcuate edge 5b which is about 90 in length is spaced nearer the center of the bore 5 in the end plate C than is the arcuate edge 5a. the arcuate edge 5b is less than the radius for the arcuate edge 5a. The arcuate edge 5b is received in the deeper slot 28a of the master key E2. The standard key slot 28 is not deep enough to receive-the edge 5b and therefore the stop edge 32a will prevent the standard key E1 from moving from the 12 oclock toward the 9 oclock position. The standard key E1, could not move to the 9 oclock position in any event because of the differences in the locking combinations. However, without the stop feature, the key E1 would tend to move in the direction of the 9 oclock position and cause a misalignment and overriding of the key slot. This would be a nuisance in operating the lock.

The master key E2 will act-on a second group of tumblers L which are identical to the tumblers G, but are placed in the lock casing A between the 9 oclock and 12 oclock positions and shown at Y, see FIGURE 12. Similar reference numerals will be applied to the tumblers L for like portions between the tumblers L and G. The tumblers L in FIGURE 12 are illustrated in unlocked position, i.e., the lobes 16a and 16b are spaced from each other and the arcuate yoke or bridging member 16 that interconnects the lobes will yieldingly hold them in contact with the cylindrical periphery of the plug B. The tumblers L are mounted on a tumbler shaft M and adjacent tumblers are spaced from each other by the spacing washers 15 that are also mounted on the shaft M. The shaft is provided with a longitudinal slot M1 which as a width equal to twice the width of the tongue portion 160 of the lobe 16b. The shaft M is supported at both ends in the same manner as the shaft F is supported. No further description of the master tumbler channel Y need be given.

The plug B can be rotated by the master key E2 from the unlocked, 9 oclock position shown in FIGURE 12, into the locked, 12 oclock position shown in FIGURE 11. The plug B is in unlocked position when the key slot 8 is in either the 3 oclock position shown in FIGURE 9, or in the 9 oclock position shown in FIGURE 12. The 3 oclock unlocked position is When the plug B is to be actuated by a standard key E1, and the 9 oclock unlocked position is when the plug is to be actuated by a master key E2.

The insertion of the master key E2 into the slot 8 of the plug B in FIGURE 12, and the rotation of the key clockwise into the 12 oclock position of FIGURE 11 will cause certain tumblers L that register with the slots 12 in the master key to have their lobes 16a moved from unlocked to locked position as shown in FIGURE 11. This rotation of certain tumblers L will cause their tongues 16c to rock the tumbler shaft M counterclockwise in FIGURE 12 and to rock a locking dog H1, see FIGURE 17, in a clockwise direction into locked position when looking at the rear of the lock as indicated by FIGURE 14.

In other words, the radius for The locking dog H1 for the master tumbler channel Y, is the same as the locking dog H except that the dog H1 is shaped for swinging in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 14 when moving into locked position while the dog H is shaped for swinging in a counterclockwise direction in the same figure when moving into locked position. The locking dog H1 will be given the same reference numerals for parts that are similar to the parts of the locking dog H. The tongue 19a of the locking dog H1 enters the longitudinal slot M1 in the tumbler shaft M. Therefore a rocking of the shaft M caused by one or more tumblers L being moved by the plug B into locked position, will rock the locking dog into locking position. This movement results when the master key rocks the plug B from the unlocked (9 oclock) position of FIGURE 12, into the locked (12 oclock) position of FIGURE 11.'

The stop 20a on the locking dog H1 will lie in the path taken by the projection of lug 22 on the striker plate D when the master key is used for unlocking the lock by swinging the plug B from the 12 oclock position back to the 9 oclock position. If the right master key E2 is used, the tumblers L that are in locked position will be swung back into unlocked position and will rotate the tumbler shaft M for swinging the dog H1 back into inoperative position. The spring arm 25 will yieldingly hold the locking dog H l in inoperative poistion. If the wrong master key E2 is used, the lobes 16b of the tumblers L, that are in unlocked poistion and that register with one or more slots 12 in the wrong key, will be re- "oeived in the plug recess 8a and will strike their associate lobes 16a and prevent further rotation of the plunger into unlocked position.

The range of rotation of the cycle lock standard and master keys E1 and E2 is governed by the stepped key guide which is an integral part of the end plate C. The first arcuate step 5a, see FIGURE 19, extends clockwise when looking at the back of the end plate from the 9 oclock to the 12 oclock position which would be from the 3 oclock to the l2-oclock position when looking at the front of the lock or when looking at FIGURES 9, 10 and 11. The standard cycle lock key E1 is notched at 28 to receive this first arcuate step 5a.

However, the notch or recess 28 in the standard key E1 will not pass over the second step 5b of th key guide, see FIGURE 19, because. this step projects further inwardly than the recess 28 will accept. The edge 32a at one end of the second step 5b serves as a positive stop for the standard key E1. The key when striking this stop 3211 will be in locked position and may be removed from the lock. The standar key could remain in the lock' and be turned back and forth to effect locking and un locking of the lock as desired.

The second arcuate step 5b on the key guide begins at the 12 oclock position and extends clockwis when looking at the rear of the lock to the 3 oclock position which would be the 9 oclock position when looking at the front of the lock. All keys of the master key family will pass through the second step 5b because the recess 28a is deeper than the recess 28 in the standar key and will receive the arcuate edge 5b. Also, the master key E2, may not be inserted or removed' from the lock when it is in unlocked position or when it is in the 9 oclock position of FIGURE 12. This is because the end plate C has a slot 33 that is not deep enough to free the slot 28a and therefore the edge 33a will remain in the key slot and will prevent the master key E2 from being withdrawn from the lock.

When once the master key combination has been set up in the tumblers L of the master tumbler set Y, by a grand master key (hereinafter explained) that has rotated the plug B from the 9 oclock to the 12 oclock position in FIGURES l2 and 11, then all master keys E2 having this same related combination of slots 12 can be used and will not disturb the standard tumbler set combination shown at X. For example if the cycle lock were used to look a hotel room door, the guest could have a standard key E1 which would place his combination in and control the standard tumbler set X. Then when he left his room locked, no other standard key could be used to unlock the door.

However, a maid could use her master key E2 and gain access to the room by rotating the plug B from the 12 oclock to the 9 oclock position in FIGURE 12. This would not disturb the standar tumbler set at X. The maid could not remove her master key E2 when the lock is in unlocked position. This feature prevents service employees from inadvertently leaving the premises unlocked. Also the master key will strike a stop 33b on the end plate C, in FIGURE 19, when the key is in the 9 oclock position of FIGURE 12 which is the same as the 3 oclock position in FIGURE 19.

The maid or other service employee therefore cannot rotate the master key beyond the 9 oclock position and toward the 6 oclock position and beyond. In other words, the master key E2 is prevented from swinging counterclockwise in FIGURE 12 from the 9 oclock position and without passing this position the standard tumbler set combination already set up at position X by the guest tenant cannot be disturbed. Service employees may still enter and leave the guests room as required when using the appropriate master key.

A further novel features of my invention is the use of a grand master key E3, see FIGURE 3, which may be used to reset the standard locking channel X. This is done to invalidate a prior setting of another standard key E1 in order to transfer control of the standard locking channel X from one tenant to another or to change the channel so that another key can be used. The grand master key E3 is similar to the keys E1 and E2 exc pt that the slot 28b is deeper than the slot or recess 28a, and the key has a cut-away portion 280.

The arcuate section 50 has its edge disposed nearer to the center of the bore 5 in the end plate than the arcuate edges 5a and 5b. The deeper slot 28b in the grand master key E3 will receive the arcuate edge 5c whereas the master key E2 would be stopped when the key contacted the stop 33b. The grand master key E3 can therefore be swung counterclockwise toward the 6 oclock position. The plug B has a reset groove 34, see FIGURE 8, that will be moved through the standard tumbler set X as the key reaches the half-way mark between the 9 oclock and 6 oclock position when being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. In doing this, all of the lobes 16a of the tumblers G that have not already been swung into locked position, will be received in the reset groove 34 and will be moved as shown in FIGURE into locked position and there to be assembled with those tumblers that were previously rotated into locked position. The reset groove 34 is disposed diammetrically opposite to the groove 8a in the plug B.

When the grand master key E3 reaches the 6 oclock position, it can be reversed in its movement and rotated clockwise from the 6 oclock back through the 9 oclock and on to the 12 oclock position. The reset groove 34 will receive the lobes 16a of all of the tumblers G and will move all of the tumblers into unlocked position when the plug B is rotated clockwise into the 12 oclock position. The standard locking channel X is completely reset when the grand master key E3 has been returned (rotated from the 6 oclock counter-clockwise to the 9 oclock position), but the key is rotated still another 90 counter-clockwise from the 9 oclock to the 12 oclock position to relock the master tumbler channel Y. This is accomplished as the key slots 12 in the grand master key E3 sweep through the master locking channel at Y.

At this point, the grand master key is removed from the lock plug B, and reinserted into the key slot 8 with the blank edge 9 uppermost. Inasmuch as the key slot is now at 12 oclock, it is equivalent to having locked the standard locking channel X with a blank key. This being the case, it can be unlocked with the grand master key with its blank edge 9 uppermost in the key slot 8. Hence, the grand master key is rotated to the 3 oclock position and from which position it may be withdrawn from the lock because the cut-away portion 280 of the key will permit it to slip past the key gate K in FIGURE 14. The lock is now ready to be relocked to any desired standard key E1 including the grand master key if the premises controlled by the lock are temporarily vacant.

The grand master key may be employed to change the entire master key family of keys. This is accomplished by inserting the grand master key E3 in the key slot 8 at the 12 oclock position and rotating the key counterclockwise to the 9 oclock position when facing the front of the lock. At this position the grand master key is removed from the lock and a new grand master key E3 with a different combination of recesses 12, is inser-ted into the key slot 8. The new grand master key is then rotated clockwise from the 9 oclock to the 12 oclock position.

This will cause a different combination of tumblers L, corresponding to the recesses 12 in the key E3 to be moved into locked position and thus establish a combination at the tumbler channel Y that will only accept master keys having certain related combinations of recesses 12 as that of the new grand master key. Meanwhile all of the old master keys E2 including the previous grand master key E3 will no longer operate the cycle lock.

The spacing washers 15, when stacked in groups of the required number, form a tumbler blank. One or more of these blanks are required to be incorporated in the master key channel Y in order to provide capabilities for a plurality of master keys.

Whenever the standard tumbler channel X or the master tumbler channel Y is unlocked, this means that all of the tumblers G and L in these channels are in unlocked or expanded position. It will be noted that both channels X and Y of the cycle lock are in the unlocked state in FIGURE 8. This is the condition of the lock before first being used. The grand master key E3 is inserted into the key slot 8 to set up the master channel combination at Y when the key is rotated clockwise from the 9 oclock to the 12 oclock position. The grand master key may now be removed and reinserted with its blank rib 9 filling the recess 8a. The grand master key can now be rotated from the 12 oclock to the 3 oclock position without disturbing the tumblers G in the standard channel at X. I

The lock plug B will now be in the position shown in FIGURE 9 with the master channel Y locked and the standard channel X, unlocked. The grand master key E3 may now be removed and the cycle lock is ready to receive a standard key E1. I have already described the function of the standard key in locking and unlocking the standard channel X. This standard key is used by a guest in a hotel and he sets up his own lock combination in the channel X. The guest can only remove his key from the look when the plug B is in the 12 oclock position.

The maid can use the master key E2 to open the same lock without disturbing the standard channel X combination. She cannot remove her key when the lock is in unlocked position but only at the 12 oclock position. In FIGURES l4 and 19, I have projected the arcuate edge 512 by dot-dash lines at 35 and these dot-dash lines parallel the arcuate edge a to illustrate graphically how the arcuate edge 5b has a shorter radius than the radius for the edge 5a. I have also in the same two figures projected the arcuate edge 50 by dot-dash lines 36 and these dot-dash lines parallel the arcuate edge 5b to show how the arcuateedge 5c has shorter radius than that for the edge 5b. The inwardly projecting tongue 16c on the tumbler G may be placed at a different angular position than that shown in FIGURE 7A. In other words the tongue 160 can be placed at any position along the arcuate portion 16 of the tumbler.

I claim:

1. A cycle lock comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said casing and having a key receiving slot therein that opens I along the length of the periphery of the plug to form a recess for receiving lobes of tumblers;

(c) a tumbler shaft rockably carried by said casing and Whose axis parallels the plug axis; said shaft having a longitudinal slot therein;

((1) a plurality of substantially U-shaped resilient tumblers rockably mounted on said shaft, each tumbler having a first lobe at one end and a second lobe at .the other end with a tongue received in said shaft slot; said tumblers when in unlocked position having their lobes yieldingly pressing against the plug periphery; said first lobes of said tumblers being received in said lobe-receiving recess of said plug when the plug is rotated for moving its recess past said tumblers;

(e) :a key receivable in the key slot and having an edge receivable in the plug recess to prevent said first lobes of said tumblers from dropping into the recess as the rotation of said plug moves the recess past the tumblers; said key having one or more lobe-receiving slots therein in the edge received in the plug recess so that the first lobes of said tumblers that register with these key slots will be received in the recess; the rotation of the plug from unlocked to locked position rotating the tumblers, whose first lobes enter the plug recess, from unlocked to locked position;

(f) a locking dog carried by said shaft and being swingable from inoperative to operative position when said shaft is rocked; said shaft being rocked by the tongues of said tumblers that have been rocked from unlocked to locked position by the rotation of said plug from unlocked to locked position; and

(g) a striker plate rotated by said plug and having a projection that moves past said locking dog when said plug is rotated from locked to unlocked position; said lockingdog when in operative position acting as a stop for said striker plate projection for stopping rotation of the plug from locked to unlocked position when said plug is rotated by a different key from that which rota-ted the plug from unlocked to locked position.

The cycle lock of the combination set forth in claim 1: and in which (a) rn'eansis provided for preventing the withdrawal of the key from the key slot after it has been inserted into the plug While the latter is in unlocked position, thereby requiring the plug to be rotated into locked position before'the key can be removed from the key slot. Y

3. A cycle lock comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said cas-- ing and having a key-receiving slot therein;

(c) a first set of tumblers in the casing and being disposed between a first unlocked position of said plug and a locked position of said plug;

(d) a first key receivable in said key slot when said plug is in said first unlocked position and adapted to be rotated for rotating the plug from said first unlocked into locked position, said key being provided with one or more recesses of permitting certain tumblers in said first set that are aligned with these recesses to be moved from locked to locked position;

(e) whereby said first key sets up its own locking com- Ibination in said tumblers; the tumblers that have been moved into locked position by the movement of said key and plug from unlocked to locked position, preventing the return rotation of said plug from locked to unlocked position unless the same key is used;

(-f) a second set of tumblers in the casing and disposed between said locked position of said plug and a second unlocked position of said plug, said second unlocked position being arranged at a different angular position of said plug from said first unlocked position; a

(g) a second key receivable in said key slot when said plug is in said second unlocked position and adapted to be rotated for rotating said plug from said second unlocked position into locked position, said second key being provided with one or more recesses for permitting certain tumblers-in said second tumbler set that are aligned with these recesses to be moved from unlocked to locked position;

(b) whereby said second key sets up its own locking combination in said second set of tumblers; the tumblers in said second set that have been moved into locked position by the rotation of said second key and said plug from said second unlocked position to said locked position, preventing the return rotation of said plug from locked to said second unlocked position unless the same said second key is used.

4. A cycle lock of the type set forth in the combination of claim 3; and in which (a) means is provided for preventing said first key from rotating said plug from locked position into said second unlocked position.

5. A cycle lock of the type set forth in the combination of claim 3; and in which (a) means is provided for preventing the removal of said first key from the key slot when the key is inserted into the slot when unlocked position;

(b) whereby said first key must rotate said plug from said first unlocked position into said locked position before said first key can be removed from said plug.

6. A cycle lock of the type set forth in the combination of claim 3; and in which (a) means is provided for preventing the removal of said second key from the key slot when said plug is in its second unlocked position;

('b) whereby said second key must rotate said plug from said second unlocked position into said locked position before said second key can be removed from said plug.

7. A cycle lock of the type set forth in the combination of claim 3; and in which (a) a locking dog is associated with each set of tumblers and each being swingable from unlocked into locked position when one or more tumblersin its associate set is moved 'from unlocked into locked position; and

(b) a striker plate carried by said plug and being rotatable therewith;

(c) said striker plate having a projection that will'be moved against the locking dog that is associated with said first set of tumblers when a first key, not having the proper combination of recesses, is inserted in said key slot when said plug is in locked position and said wrong first key is rotated for rotating said plug toward said first unlocked position; the rotation of said plug moving the projection on said plug is in said first said striker plate against said locking dog to stop rotation of said plug before it reaches said first unlocked position;

(d) the projection on said striker plate being moved against the locking dog that is associated with said second set of tumblers when a second key, not having the proper combination of recesses, is inserted in said key slot when said plug is in locked position and said wrong second key is rotated for rotating said plug toward said second unlocked position; the rotation of said plug moving the projection on said striker plate against said last-named locking dog to stop rotation of said plug before it reaches said second unlocked position.

8. A cycle lock of the type set of claim 3; and in which (a) the locked position of said plug lies between the first and said second unlocked positions of said p (b) a third key is receivable in the key slot of said plug and can rotate the plug beyond the second unlocked position and further away from locked position;

(c) said plug having a longitudinal second recess in its cylindrical surface that is brought into registration with the tumblers in said first set when said third key rotates said plug beyond said second unlocked position;

(d) the tumblers in said first set that have not already Ibl1 moved into locked position by said first key, having lobes receivable in said second recess; whereby these tumblers will be moved into locked position by the recess in said plug which is being rotated by said third key;

(e) the rotation of said third key then being reversed for rotating said plug in the opposite direction for again moving the second plug recess past the first set of tumblers, but in the opposite direction;

(f) all of said tumblers having lobes receivable in said second recess during the return rotation of said plug, the moving recess moving all of said tumblers into unlocked position.

9. A cycle lock of the type set forth in the combination of claim 8; and in which (a) a locking dog is associated with said first set of tumblers and is moved from locked into unlocked or inoperative position when all of the tumblers of said first set are moved into unlocked position.

10. In a cycle lock:

(a) a casing;

(-b) a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said casing and having a key-receiving slot therein that opens along the length of the plug to from a recess for receiving lobes of tumblers;

(c) a tumbler shaft rockably carried by said casing and whose axis parallels the plug axis;

(d) a plurality olf substantially U-shaped resilient tumblers rockably mounted on said shaft, each tumbler having a first lobe at one end and a second lobe at the other end; said tumblers when in unlocked position having their lobes yieldingly pressing against the plug periphery;

(e) said first lobes of said tumblers being received in said lobe-receiving recess of said plug when said plug is rotated by a key inserted in the key slot for moving the plug recess past said tumblers;

forth in the combination (f) whereby said tumblers will be moved into locked position;

(g) a key receivable in the key slot and having an edge receivable in the plug recess for preventing said first tumbler lobes from dropping into the recess as the key rotates the plug for moving the recess past the tumblers;

(h) said key having one or more lobe-receiving slots therein in the edge received in the plug recess so that the first lobes of said tumblers that register with these key slots will be received in the recess; the rotation of the plug from unlocked to locked position rotating the tumblers, whose first lobes enter the plug recess, from unlocked to locked position.

11. In a cycle lock:

(a) a casing having a cylindrical bore therein;

(b) a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said bore and having a key-receiving slot therein;

(0) a key removably receivable in said slot and having a transversely-extending recess in its edge of a predetermined depth;

(d) a plate carried by said casing and having an opening for receiving said key, the rim of said opening having an arcuate portion of a radius that will permit this rim portion to be received in said key recess when said key is moved into said key slot to bring the key recess into alignment with said arcuate rim portion and then the key is rotated for causing the recess to receive said arcuate rim portion;

(e) the rim of said plate opening having another arcuate portion lying in the plane of said first-named arcuate portion but having a radius which is less than that of said first-named arcuate portion; an edge being formed at the juncture of said arcuate portions which will act as a stop for preventing said key from being rotated beyond said edge.

'12. The combination as set forth in claim 1, and in which (a) a second key having a recess in its edge that is deeper than the recess in said first-named key; said second key being removably received in said key slot when said first key is removed and the deeper recess in said second key being brought into registration with said second arcuate portion;

(b) whereby said second key can be rotated for causing its recess to receive said second-named arcuate portion for preventing the removal of said second key from said key slot until said second key has again been rotated for freeing its recess from said second arcuate portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH D. S-EERS, Primary Examiner. ALBERT H. KAMBE, Examiner. P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

11. IN A CYCLE LOCK: (A) A CASING HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BORE THEREIN; (B) A CYLINDRICAL PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE AND HAVING A KEY-RECEIVING SLOT THEREIN; (C) A KEY REMOVABLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID SLOT AND HAVING A TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING RECESS IN ITS EDGE OF PREDETERMINED DEPTH; (D) A PLATE CARRIED BY SAID CASING AND HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID KEY, THE RIM OF SAID OPENING HAVING AN ARCUATE PORTION OF THE RADIUS THAT WILL PERMIT THIS RIM PORTION TO BE RECEIVED IN SAID KEY RECESS WHEN SAID KEY IS MOVED INTO SAID KEY SLOT TO BRING THE KEY RECESS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ARCUATE RIM PORTION AND THEN THE KEY IS ROTATED FOR CASING THE RECESS TO RECEIVE SAID ARCUATE RIM PORTION; (E) THE RIM OF SAID PLATE OPENING HAVING ANOTHER ARCUTE PORTION LYING IN THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST-NAMED ARCUATE PORTION BUT HAVING A RADIUS WHICH IS LESS THAN THAT OF SAID FIRST-NAMED ARCUTE PORTION; AN EDGE BEING FORMED AT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS WHICH WILL ACT AS A STOP PREVENTING SAID KEY FROM BEING ROTATED BEYOND SAID EDGE.