GB2112845A

GB2112845A - Simple combination lock

Info

Publication number: GB2112845A
Application number: GB08138479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Coulson Ryan
Original assignee: COULSON RYAN MARK
Current assignee: COULSON RYAN MARK
Priority date: 1981-12-22
Filing date: 1981-12-22
Publication date: 1983-07-27
Also published as: EP0082626A1; GB2112845B

Description

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GB 2 112 845 A 1

SPECIFICATION Simple combination lock

This invention relates to a combination lock of simple construction, which is primarily intended to use with toys, e.g. childs money boxes.

In order to provide some feeling of security, childs money boxes are often provided with a simple lock, mostly operable by a key. However, to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs to a minimum, particularly for money boxes which are formed from plastics material, it si preferable to provide a lock which is also formed from plastics material.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination lock of a particularly simple construction, which can be readily formed from plastics material.

According to this invention, a combination lock commprises at least one rotatable shaft element of a diameter chosen to locate in a rotatable manner within an aperture provided adjacent an opening in the wall of the product to which the lock is to be fitted, and also through an aperture in a shutter which is slidable to open and close said opening, one end of the shaft element being provided with a head part for locating against the innermost surface (i.e. the secure side) of said wall or shutter as appropriate, the length of the shaft being sufficient to pass through the wall and shutter apertures and provide an outer end part which will project outwardly from the outermost surface of said wall or shutter as appropriate, that part of the shaft length which, in use, locates only within either the wall or the shutter aperture being formed as a flat, diametrical web, said lock further comprising a manipulating element having a dial with combination numbers, or the like, thereon, which element is formed with a bore by which it can be fitted on the outer end part of the shaft element in any one of a number of different rotational positions, which position determines the combination, means being provided to prevent relative rotational movement of the two elements, the manipulating element, in use, being rotatable to bring the diametral web of the shaft element into alignment with, and thereafter slide in, a groove in said wall or shutter as appropriate, which opens radially into that aperture in which said diametral web is located, thereby permitting the shutter to slide relatively to tis wall opening.

The invention includes within its scope a product with a wall and shutter incorporating such a combination lock.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, and further features made apparent, one embodiment of simple combination lock for a money box will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a wall for the money box with a shutter opening and incorporating the combination lock.

Figures 2a and 2b are enlarged end and side elevations, of the shaft element, and

Figures 3a and 3b are end and side elevations of the manipulating element.

Referring first to Figure 1, the wall of the money box is of plastics material and is formed with an opening 2 intended to be opened and closed by a slidable shutter 3, which in this embodiment is located against the exterior wall surface. Adjacent the upper edge 4 of the opening, the wall is formed with a pair of spaced apertures 5, 6 each having a groove 7, 8 which are parallel to each other and which open radially into respective apertures 5 and 6. At corresponding spaced positions towards its upper edge, the shutter 3 is also formed with apertures 9, 10. All the apertures

5. 6, 9 and 10 are of the same chosen diameter. Each set of apertures 5, 9 and 6, 10 in the wall and shutter is intended to support a shaft element 11 of the combination lock.

Referring now to Figures 2a and 2b, the shaft element which is also formed from plastics material, comprises a head part 12 which engages against the inner surface of the wall 1, an intermediate part 13a and 13b which is located with a rotatable fit with its set of apertures 5, 9 or

6, 10 and a reduced diameter outer end part 14, which projects from the outer surface of the shutter 3. It is to be noted that the intermediate part 13a, which locates only within its wall aperture 5 or 6, is formed as a diametral web 15 of a width which is chosen so that it can slide within a respective groove 7 or 8 of the wall,

whilst the intermediate part 13b provides a journal surface within its shutter aperture 9 or 10. The outer end part is formed with an axial tapered external spline 16. Each shaft element 11 has a manipulating element 17.

Referring now to Figures 3a and 3b, each manipulating element, which is also formed from plastics material, is in the form of a knob 18 having | a circular dial 19 around which combination numbers 20 are spaced. A central bore 21 is provided and is formed with 11 equi-spaced axial tapered internal splines 22. Thus, it will be appreciated that each manipulating element may be fixed onto the outer end part 14 of its shaft element in any one of eleven different relative rotational positions, which position determines the combination number. In use, the knobs 18 are turned to the correct combination numbers, so a§ to rotate the diametral webs 15 of the shaft elements 11 into alignment with their respective grooves 7 and 8, thereby leaving the shutter 3 free to slide and uncover its opening 2. In all other rotational positions the diametral webs are angled with respect to their respective groove and hence prevent movement of the shutter 3.

Claims

1. A combination lock characterised in that at least one rotatable shaft element is provided of a diameter chosen to locate in a rotatable manner within an aperture defined adjacent an opening in the wall of the product to which the lock is to be fitted, and also through an aperture defined in a shutter which is slidable to open and close siad

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GB 2 112 845 A 2

opening, one end of the shaft element being provided with a head part for locating against the innermost surface (i.e. the secure side) of said wall or shutter as appropriate, the length of the shaft 5 being sufficient to pass through the wall and shutter apertures and provide an outer end part which will project outwardly form the outermost surface of said wall or shutter as appropriate, that part of the shaft length which, in use, locates 10 within only one of the wall and shutter apertures being formed as a flat, diametral web, and in that a manipulating element is provided having a dial with combination numbers, or the like, thereon, which element is formed with means by which it 15 can be fitted on said outer end part of the shaft element in any one of a number of different fixed rotational positions, which position determines the combination, the manipulating element, in use, being rotatable to bring the diametral web of the 20 shaft element into alignment with, and thereafter slide in, an associated slot defined in said wall or shutter as appropriate, which opens radially into said one aperture in which said diametral web is located, thereby permitting the shutter to slide 25 relatively to its wall openings.

2. A combination lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that said means for fitting the manipulating element on said outer end part of the shaft element comprises an axial external spline

30 on said outer end part, and a number of equi-spaced axiai internal splines spaced around a bore defined in said manipulating element, there being one said.internal spline for each combination number or the like so that the combination may be

35 initially set by fitting an appropriate internal spline to said external spline.

3. A wall opening covered by a sliding shutter provided with at least a combination lock according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at

40 least two said rotatable shaft elements and manipulating elements are provided, the apertures -in the wall for said shaft elements being in spaced relationship along and adjacent a common edge of said opening and the associated slots being

45. directed away from said common edge in parallel relationship.

4. A combination lock-sliding shutter arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the

50 accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press. Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.