EP0414165A1 - Permutation lock for suitcases, bags or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a permutation lock for suitcases, bags or the like, having a plurality of number discs (31) which are each rotatable on an axle (23) and each of which is assigned an actuating handle projecting outwards beyond the lock cover, and blocking sleeves (33) which are coupled to these and which can be uncoupled from the actuating handles in order to change the secret code, and, to achieve an easier actuation, whilst at the same time ensuring a small constructional shape stable during use, proposes that the actuating handle be designed as a rotatable setting wheel (24) which is arranged on the number-disc axle (23) and which is in engagement by means of a rear toothed ring (27) with a respective blocking sleeve (33) arranged on an adjacent axle journal (32), said toothed engagement being uncouplable. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a permutation lock according to the preamble of claim 1.

A permutation lock of the aforementioned type is known from US Pat. No. 4,385,509. The actuating handles are shaped into pushbuttons sprung in the direction of the lock cover, from which fingers directed inward from the lock extend. Each finger of a push button works together with a star wheel of a number disk, which in turn is in latching engagement with a spring-loaded locking sleeve. A blocking slide arranged in the lock housing can only be moved if the correct key secret has been set. Then protrusions of the locking slide enter into form-fitting niches of the locking sleeves. In this position of the blocking slide, the key secret can also be adjusted, the number disks being rotated relative to the locking sleeves via the push buttons. The blocking slide is also moved using an opening button that is accessible from the lock ceiling. The adjustment mechanism of such a permutation lock is relatively light and is not suitable for absorbing larger forces without damage.

The object of the invention is therefore to design a generic permutation lock to be stable in use in a technically simple manner in such a way that, in addition to facilitating operation, larger loads can be absorbed without damage despite the small design.

This object is achieved by the invention specified in claim 1.

The subclaims represent advantageous developments.

As a result of such a configuration, a permutation lock of the type in question is created, which is characterized by an increased use value. There is also a simplified structure, since the actuating handle is designed as an adjusting wheel and sits on the number plate axis. Rotation of the setting wheel accordingly leads to the number plate itself being taken along. The coupling between the number plate and setting wheel can be selected to be stable. Then they can be designed as a separate component, so that different materials can be used. Color matching can also be easily created. The rotary displacement of the setting wheel is transmitted via a rear sprocket to the locking sleeve arranged on the adjacent axis. However, there is such a meshing engagement that a decoupling can be carried out in order to be able to carry out an adjustment of the setting wheel with a number disc independently of the locking sleeve. Once the new key secret has been selected and set, it can be fixed again by bringing the clutch into position. Structural advantages result from the fact that the setting wheel, axle and ring gear are made of the same material. This fact also helps to simplify the construction of the permutation lock and at the same time to make it more stable. The locking sleeve and the teeth located on it can also be made of the same material. It makes sense to design the toothing of the locking sleeve as a ring gear. So that the dial according to the selected number of symbols on the number disc in the different Locked positions, the axis of the setting wheel, opposite the ring gear, forms a locking ring. As a result, even more components are combined into one unit. The locking ring in turn interacts with a resilient tongue of the lock base, the tip of which tongue engages in locking recesses designed by the locking ring. If material with resilient properties is selected for the lock housing, this resilient tongue can be designed with the same material as the bottom of the lock. For example, appropriate plastic can be selected for the lock housing.

• Fig. 1 einen mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Permutations­schloß ausgestatteten Koffer in perspektivi­scher Darstellung,
• Fig. 2 einen mit dem Kofferunterteil verbindbaren Rahmen, welcher sowohl zwei Verschlüsse als auch das zentral angeordnete Permutations­schloß aufnimmt entsprechend der Verriegelungs­stellung der Verschlüsse,
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 das aus Fig. 2 ersichtliche Permutationsschloß in stark vergrößerter Darstellung,
• Fig. 5 eine Ansicht des Permutationsschlosses, in Richtung des Schloßbodens gesehen,
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf das Permutationsschloß, und zwar bei fortgelassener Schloßdecke, wobei das Schlüsselgeheimnis richtig eingestellt ist,
• Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht des Permutationsschlosses, ebenfalls bei richtig eingestelltem Schlüssel­geheimnis,
• Fig. 8 den Schnitt nach der Linie VIII-VIII in Fig. 4,
• Fig. 9 einen Querschnitt durch das Permutationsschloß auf Höhe der Verhakung zwischen dem Träger und der Sperrwippe, ebenfalls bei richtig einge­stelltem Schlüsselgeheimnis,
• Fig. 10 den Schnitt nach der Linie X-X in Fig. 6,
• Fig. 11 den Schnitt nach der Linie XI-XI in Fig. 6,
• Fig. 12 eine der Fig. 11 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch bei verstelltem Schlüsselgeheimnis,
• Fig. 13 eine der Fig. 6 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch bei in Querrichtung verschobenem Träger unter Blockierung der Drehbewegung der Sperr­hülsen,
• Fig. 14 die Folgedarstellung der Fig. 13, wobei der Träger in Längsrichtung verschoben ist unter Aufhebung des Zahneingriffes zwischen Sperrhül­sen und Zahnkränzen der Betätigungshandhaben,
• Fig. 15 eine Schnittdarstellung wie Fig. 11, jedoch bei verlagertem Träger,
• Fig. 16 einen Detailschnitt durch das Permutations­schloß auf Höhe des Rastkranzes der Achse für das Einstellrad,
• Fig. 17 einen Querschnitt durch das Permutationsschloß auf Höhe der Achse,
• Fig. 18 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Schloßge­häuses,
• Fig. 19 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Sperrwip­pe und
• Fig. 20 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Trägers.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

• 1 is a perspective view of a case equipped with a permutation lock according to the invention,
• 2 a frame which can be connected to the lower part of the case and which accommodates both locks and the centrally arranged permutation lock in accordance with the locking position of the locks,
• 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2,
• 4 the permutation lock shown in FIG. 2 in a greatly enlarged illustration,
• 5 is a view of the permutation lock, seen in the direction of the lock bottom,
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of the permutation lock, with the lock cover omitted, wherein the key secret is set correctly,
• 7 is a side view of the permutation lock, also with the key secret set correctly,
• 8 shows the section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4,
• 9 shows a cross section through the permutation lock at the level of the hooking between the carrier and the locking rocker, also with the key secret correctly set,
• 10 shows the section along the line XX in FIG. 6,
• 11 shows the section along the line XI-XI in FIG. 6,
• 12 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 11, but with the key secret adjusted,
• 13 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 6, but with the carrier displaced in the transverse direction while blocking the rotary movement of the locking sleeves,
• FIG. 14 shows the follow-up view of FIG. 13, the carrier being displaced in the longitudinal direction while removing the tooth engagement between locking sleeves and gear rings of the actuating handle, FIG.
• 15 is a sectional view like FIG. 11, but with the carrier displaced,
• 16 shows a detailed section through the permutation lock at the level of the locking ring of the axle for the setting wheel,
• 17 shows a cross section through the permutation lock at the level of the axis,
• 18 is a perspective view of the lock housing,
• Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the locking rocker and
• Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the carrier.

The briefcase illustrated in FIG. 1 has a bottom case 1 forming the bottom of the case and a top case 2 connected to it via hinges (not shown). The latter represents the case lid and is supported in a closing joint 3 on the bottom case 1. There is a circumferential screen 4 on the edge facing the closing joint 3, which covers a central permutation lock 5 and a closure 6 arranged laterally therefrom. The aperture 4 thus forms a lock cover 7 at the level of the permutation lock.

The permutation lock 5 and the side locks 6 are located on the long side of the case opposite the hinges (not shown). The centrally arranged permutation lock 5 is overlaid by a pivoting handle 8, which is pivotably mounted on the panel 4 and is pivotally mounted in lugs 9 on the panel side.

The aforementioned closures 6 are of identical construction. Each closure 6 acts together with an actuation button 10 mounted on the case side wall. The latter also extends in the case lower part 1 and is articulated with a transmission lever 11. A spring, not shown, acts on the transmission lever 11 and thus the actuation button 10 in the outward direction. The transmission lever 11 interacts with a locking rod 12 which is sprung in the direction of the actuation button 10 and which is in turn coupled to a locking rod 13. From the locking rod 12 a closing part 14 protrudes beyond the closing joint 3, which has a hook-shaped design and interacts with a counter-closing part 15 on the case lid side. The locking bar 13 in turn consists of flat material and forms a fork 16 at the end facing the permutation lock 5. This is preceded by a case position switch S, which only releases a shift of the locking bar 13 when the case with its lower case part 1 is placed on a support surface.

The permutation lock 5 has a box-shaped lock housing 17, which is composed of a lock base 18, two parallel lock case longitudinal walls 19, 20 and the end walls 21, 22 connecting these. In the lock case longitudinal walls 19, 20, in the upper area, there are three axes 23 directed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the lock housing 17, which in turn each carry an adjusting wheel 24 adjacent to the lock case longitudinal wall 20. The spherically shaped casing of the adjusting wheel 24 is provided with longitudinal grooves 25 in order to facilitate handling. The area of the setting wheel facing the lock cover 7 penetrates adapted windows 26 of the lock cover 7, cf. in particular FIG. 1. On the end face facing the interior of the housing each setting wheel 24 forms a ring gear 27. The opposite end face of the setting wheel 24, on the other hand, forms a locking ring 28, which in turn rests on the inner surface of the lock case longitudinal wall 20. Both the setting wheel 24, axis 23, ring gear 27 and locking ring 28 are made of the same material. The ring gear 28 is equipped with locking recesses 29. A resilient tongue 30 extending from the lock base 18 engages in one of them in a form-fitting manner.

Each axis 23 is also a carrier of a number plate 31, which has a frustoconical shape in cross section. The symbols designed as numbers from 0 to 9 are located on the circumference of the number disk 31. In the assembled position, the number disks 31 are supported with their larger cross-sectional end face on the inner surface of the lock case longitudinal wall 19. Depending on the number of symbols, the locking ring 28 also has ten locking depressions 29.

Each ring gear 27 meshes with the toothing of a locking sleeve 33 arranged on an adjacent axis 32. The toothing of this locking sleeve 33 is designed to form a ring gear 33 '. These axes 32 are closer to the lock base 18 than the axes 23 which have the setting wheels 24. Furthermore, the three axes 32 are seated on a carrier 34 which is guided in the interior of the lock housing both in the transverse and in the longitudinal direction. Each journal 32 carries one radially at its free end protruding locking projection 35. This can be positively immersed in a radial opening 37 extending from the hub bore 36 of the locking sleeve 33.

The support 34, which is supported on the lock base 18 on the one hand, has in its upper, central region a guide pin 38 opposite the axle journal 32, which plunges into a longitudinal slot 39 of the lock case longitudinal wall 19.

The rear ring gear 27 and the ring gear 33 'of the locking sleeve 33 have the same number of teeth. In the exemplary embodiment, these are 10 teeth each. One revolution of the number plate 31 therefore also corresponds to one revolution of the locking sleeve 33, which has a flattened portion 40 'beyond its ring gear 33'.

The abovementioned flats 40 of the locking sleeves 33 act together with a longitudinal edge 41 of a locking rocker 42 which is pivotably arranged in the end walls 21. For this purpose, the locking rocker 42 forms bearing journals 43 formed on the end, which plunge into bearing openings 44 in the end walls 21, 22. The bearing openings 44 are located close above the lock base 18 and adjacent to the lock case longitudinal wall 9. In the central region, the locking rocker 42 forms an upward-facing ledge 45, which forms the longitudinal edge 41. The aforementioned bar 45 engages in the area between the ring gear 33 'and the facing surface of the carrier 34, cf. in particular Fig. 8. The locking sleeves 33 experience their axial positional security in that they are on the one hand on the adjusting wheels 24 and on the other hand on the bar 45 support the locking rocker 42.

In the direction of the contact position to the locking sleeves 33, the locking rocker 42 is loaded by spring tongues 46. The latter are formed by cut-out areas of the lock base 18.

The carrier 34 is also designed so that it hooks on the rocker switch 42 if the key secret is set incorrectly. For this purpose, two hooks 47 extend from the underside of the carrier 34. The hooked heads 48 pointing in the direction of the axle journals 32 lie opposite form-fitting recesses 49 of the locking rocker 42. If the key secret is set correctly, the hook heads 48 do not engage in the cutouts 49, see FIG. 9.

The lower edge of the carrier 34 is surmounted by an operating extension 50 which passes through an L-slot 51 of the lock base 18 and projects over it. Such an arrangement of the carrier 34 within the lock housing 17 is created in such a way that the carrier 34 cannot self-adjust.

The locking rocker 42 protrudes with two integrally formed, 52 angularly shaped wings 52 in plan, the corresponding end walls 21, 22 of the lock housing 17. The wing portions 52 ', 52' act together with the fork 16 of the associated locking bar 13th

This works as follows:

If the closed case is to be opened, it must be placed on a support surface with its lower case part 1 or with its narrow hinge side. As a result, the case position switch S reaches the locking bars 13 assigned to them in the release position. The correct key secret must then be set using the setting wheels 24. This is visible on the window 26 'of the castle ceiling 7 penetrating number disks 31. About the Sprockets 27 of the setting wheels 24 and sprockets 33 'of the locking sleeves 33 are rotated so that their flats 40 run parallel to the longitudinal edge 41 of the locking rocker 42. This thus pivots into the position shown in FIGS. 6 to 11. From Fig. 7 it can be seen that then the wing legs 52 'of the locking rocker 42 with the fork opening 16' of the dash-dot detachable fork 16 are aligned. The actuating buttons 10 can thus be pressed inward, taking the locking bars 12, the locking parts 14 seated on them and the locking bars 13, so that the case lid can be opened.

If the correct key is not set, see Fig. 12, the locking rocker 42 cannot pivot, and when an attempt is made to actuate the locking bars 13 with their forks 16 act on the wing legs 52 'of the pivoted locking rocker 42, see the dash-dotted line in FIG. 7 Thus, the locking parts 14 located on the locking rod 12 cannot get into a release position.

In the open position of the case lid, the forks 16 remain in their engagement position with the wings 52. The setting wheels 24 are then not rotatable, since the flats 40 of the locking sleeves 33 are supported on the longitudinal edge 41 of the locking rocker 42, which then cannot be pivoted.

The key secret can be changed in this position. For this purpose, the operating extension 50 protruding into the inside of the case can be grasped in order to displace the carrier 34 in the transverse direction, see FIG. 13. At the same time, the axle journals 32 are taken along, their locking projections 35 into the openings assigned to them Immerse 37 of the hub bores 36 in a form-fitting manner. As a result, the rotational movement of the locking sleeves 33 is additionally blocked. This is important if the closure should have entered the locked position despite the lid being open. During the transverse displacement of the carrier 34, the operating extension 50 has moved in the L-leg 51 '. It is then at the level of the other L-leg 51˝. The carrier 34 must then be displaced in the direction of the arrow according to FIG. 14, the operating extension 50 entering the other L-leg 51˝, see the dash-dot line in FIG. 5. Along with this, the locking sleeves 33 are taken along via the axle journals 32, the latter Sprockets 33 'disengage from the sprockets 27 of the setting wheels 24, see Fig. 15. In this position, the setting wheels 24 can be rotated to set another key secret. The symbols recognizable from the window 26 'then indicate the new key secret. This is fixed in that the carrier 34 is moved back in the longitudinal direction to produce the tooth engagement. The transverse displacement is then to be carried out, the locking projections 35 leaving the openings 37 of the locking sleeves 33 assigned to them.

If, when the case lid is open, the locks 6 have entered their locking position, the forks 16 of the locking bars 13 are also removed with this from the wings 52 of the locking rocker 42. The key secret can then be adjusted. At the same time, the locking rocker 42 pivots, the hook heads 48 of the hooks 47 of the carrier 34 engaging in the formations 49 of the locking rocker 42. However, the permutation cannot then be changed, since the hook engagement both a transverse displacement and a longitudinal displacement of the Carrier 34 prevented. The correct key secret must therefore always be selected beforehand.

All the new features mentioned in the description and shown in the drawing are essential to the invention, even if they are not expressly claimed in the claims.

ADDITIONAL SHEET

The disclosure content of the associated / enclosed priority documents is hereby included in full in the disclosure of the application.

Claims (3)

1. Permutation lock for suitcases, bags or the like, with several number disks (31), each of which can be rotated on an axis (23), each of which is assigned an excellent operating handle to the outside of the lock cover, and with these coupled locking sleeves (33), which change the Key secrets can be uncoupled from the actuating handles, characterized in that the actuating handle is designed as a rotatable adjusting wheel (24) which is arranged on the number plate axis (23) and which engages with a rear toothed ring (27) in each case on an adjacent axle journal (32 ) arranged locking sleeve (33), which meshing engagement can be uncoupled. 2. permutation lock, in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting wheel (24), journal (23) and ring gear (27) are formed of the same material. 3. permutation lock, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axle journal (23) of the adjusting wheel (23), the ring gear (27) opposite, forms a locking ring (28), in the locking recesses (29) of a resilient Tongue (30) of the lock base (18) engages.

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