GB2169644A - Combination lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination lock comprises a housing (10); a plurality of number wheels (40); a plurality of clips (50) each clamping a respective number wheel (40) to the top wall of said housing (10); a plurality of passive means (60) each mounted on the top of a respective number wheel (40); a fixing plate (20) provided with a push rod (21) being positioned on the top of said passive means (60) and fixing said passive means (60) in position; a locking plate (30) being located on the top of said fixing plate (20); and a retaining spring (70) fixing said locking plate (30) in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combination lock This invention relates to a combination lock and in particular to an easily assembled combination lock of the type which is suitable for the suitcases.

Commonly used combination locks of this type usually have an independent adjusting means which is seperated from the main body of said combination locks, such adjusting means associated with a plurality of number wheels may be used to preselect the desired numbers by which one can open said locks.

Thus said known combination locks have the disadvantages in a relatively complicated structure and hence a rather high cost.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a combination lock which can be easily assembled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination lock which is economic to produce.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combination lock which is easy to fabricate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination lock which is easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragemental view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a passive means shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a number wheel clamped to the housing by means of a clip; Fig. 5 is a top view of Fig. 4; Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1, where the locking plate is in a lower position; Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1, where the locking plate is in a upper position; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, where the push rod is in a first position; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, where the push rod is in a second position; Fig. 9 shows the locking plate being in a lower position; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 9;; Fig. 11 shows the locking plate being in a upper position; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig; 11.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 2 thereof; a .combination lock (1) comprises a housing (10) provided with three par allel slots (11) in the top wall thereof; three marks (100) properly mounted on said top wall and correspondent to said slots (11); three first flanges (13) each of which are respectively mounted on the right side of each said slot (11); three first recesses (12) formed in the upper edge of a first side wall (15) of the housing (10) and correspondent to said slots (11); the edge of each said first recess (12) is provided with a first lug (19); a second lug (151) properly mounted on the inner side of said first side wall (15) of said housing (10); a second side wall (16) of said housing (10) being provided at both ends with a pair of second recesses (18); a pair of thrid lugs (17) being properly mounted on the inner side of said second side wall (16) and located between said second recesses (18); a fixing member (14) being disposed in a recess (161) formed in the inner side of the top wall of said housing (10).

Three number wheels (40) (only one is shown in Fig. 2), each of which is provided on the top wall with a plurlaity of letters (shown in Fig. 1) and correspondent to each said slot (11); each number wheel (40) being provided in the opposite side of said top wall with a polygonal shaft (41) which includes a plurality of faces (410) being correspondent to said letters; one end surface of said polygonal shaft (41) being provided with a plurality of circularly spaced first pins (42); such first pins (42) being correspondent to the faces (410) of said polygonal shaft (41) and also correspondent to said letters.

There are three U-shaped clips (50) (only one is shown in Fig. 2) which correspond to said number wheels (40); each clip (50) being provided with a pair of arms (510) and a terminal portion (520) connected therebetween.

There are three passive means (60) (only one is shown in Fig. 2) which correspond to said number wheels (40); each passive means (60) provided at the peripheral edge with a third recess (61); such third recesses (61) being correspondent to said first flanges (13) on the top wall of said housing (10); three second flanges (62) which correspond to said passive means (60) and are formed integrally therewith; each second flange (62) being provided with a fourth recess (63) in the direction of each said third recess (61); the bottom side of each passive means (60) being properly provided with two pairs of second pins (64) (65) as shown in Fig. 3.

A fixing plate (20) provided at one end with a push rod (21) which is formed integrally with said fixing plate (20) and with three holes (22) which correspond to the slots (11) in said housing (10); a third flange (24) mounted on one terminal of a first side (26) of said fixing plate (20) and extending in the direction of said push rod (21); a hook member (25) located on a second side (27) of said fixing plate (20) and extending also in the direction of said push rod (21); a projection (23) disposed on said fixing plate (20) and projecting in the opposite direction of said push rod (21).

A locking plate (30) provided with three apertures (33) which correspond to the holes (22) in said fixing plate (20); three foruth flanges (34) respectively mounted on the right side of said apertures (33) and extending downwardly from said locking plate (30); an opening (36) being properly positioned in said locking plate (30); a first side (37) of said locking plate (30) being provided with a retaining member (35) which extends upwardly therefrom; a pair of hook means (31) respectively mounted on the both ends of a second side (38) of said locking plate (30) and a pair of fifth recesses (32) being formed in said second side-(38); a retaining spring (70) being positioned between said retaining member (35) and said first side wall (15) of said housing (10) to fix said locking plate (30) in position.

In assembling, each of the number wheels (40) (only one is shown in Fig. 2) is inserted through each slot (11) and into the housing (10). Then, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the two arms (510) of each clip (50) pass through each first recess (12) and clamp the polygonal shaft (41) at its faces (410) to fix said number wheel (40) to said housing (10). It is noted that the terminal portion (520) of each clip (50) is against each first lug (19) to keep said clip (50) in position (Fig. 5). The fixing member (14) is positioned into a recess (161) on the inner side of the top wall of said housing (10).Each passive means (60) is located on the top of the polygonal shaft (41) of each number wheel (40) and arranged in such a manner that the two pairs of second pins (64) (65) on each passive means (60) are engaged with the first pins (42) on each number wheel (40) and the recesses (61) (63) of each passive means (60) are positioned in the direction of each first flange (13) on said housing (10).

Then, the fixing plate (20) is positioned on the top of each passive means (60) and received within said housing (10) in such a manner that the second flange (62) of each passive means (60) passes through each hole (22) and the peripheral edge (66) of each passive means (60) is clamped between said fixing plate (20) and correspondent number wheel (40) and said fixing plate (20) is in turn clamped between said third lugs (17) and said fixing member (14) to fix said fixing plate (20) in position. It is noted that the projection (23) on the fixing plate (20) is located at one side of said fixing member (14).

The locking plate (30) is positioned on the top of said fixing plate (20) in such a manner that the hook member (25) on said fixing plate (20) may pass through the opening (36) in the locking plate (30) and said fixing plate (20) may move back and forth therein and the fourth flanges (34) are all received within the fourth recesses (63) in said passive means (60). It is noted that, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, one terminal (370) of the first side (37) of said locking plate (30) is disposed between the third flange (24) on said fixing plate (20) and the second lug (151) on the first side wall (15) of said housing (10) to serve as a supporting point when said locking plate (30) is driven to move up and down (this will be described later), and the hook means (31) are respectively located on the edges (181) of recesses (18) in the second side wall (16) of said housing (10).

A retaining spring (70) disposed between the retaining member (35) of said locking plate (30) and the inner side of the first side wall (15) of said housing (10) is used to fix said locking plate (30) in position. Now the complete assembly of the present invention is achieved.

Referring to Fig. 7, the push rod (21) originally is in a first position, that is, the two pairs of second pins (64) (65) (not shown in Fig. 7) of each passive means (60) being engaged with the first pins (42) on each number wheel (40) and each of the fourth flanges (34) (not shown in Fig. 7) on the locking plate (30) being received within the fourth recess (63) in each passive means (60).

In use, as shown in Fig. 8, the push rod (21) together with the passive means (60) (only one is shown in Fig. 8) are pushed to a second position in such a manner that the third recess (61) in each passive means (60) will engage with each first flange (13) on the housing (10) and said second pins (64) (65) will disengage from said first pins (42) on the number wheel (40). Thus one now may freely rotate the number wheels (40) to select desired numbers and to make said desired numbers aligned with the marks (100) on the top wall of said housing (10), and then the push rod may be drawn back to said first position as shown in Fig. 7. Now, if a person wants to lock his combination lock, he may randomly rotate the number wheels (40), and the passive means (60) will in turn be rotated by means of the engagement between the second pins (64) (65) and the first pins (42), thus the fourth flanges (34) on the locking plate (30) will disengage from the fourth recesses (63) in the passive means (60), therefore, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the locking plate (30) will be lifted up to a upper position and the first latch (80) will engage with the hook means (31) on said locking plate (30), besides the second latches (90) will engage with the fifth recesses (32) in said locking plate (30), hence the combination lock is locked.

If a person wants to open his combination lock of this type, he may rotate the number wheels (40) to make said preselected numbers aligned with said marks (100), then, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the fourth flanges (34) on the locking plate (30) will be received within the fourth recesses (63) in the passive means (60), and the locking plate (30) will return to its lower position, hence the latches (80) (90) will respectively disengage from said hook means (31) and said fifth recesses (32). Thus the combination lock (1) is opened.

Claims (10)

1. A combination lock comprising; a housing provided with a plurality of slots in the top wall thereof; a plurality of marks properly mounted on said top wall and correspondent to said slots; a plurality of first flanges correspondent to said slots and respectively mounted on one side of said slots; a plurality of first recesses formed in the upper edge of a first side wall of said housing and correspondent to said slots; the central portion of the edge of each said first recess being provided with a first lug; a second lug properly mounted on the inner side of said first side wall of said housing; a second side wall of said housing being provided at both ends with a pair of second recesses; a pair of third lugs being properly mounted on the inner side of said second side wall and located between said second recesses; a fixing member being properly positioned on the inner side of the top wall of said housing; a plurality of number wheels correspondent to said slots and each of said number wheels being provided on the top wall with a plurality of characters; each said number wheel being provided in the opposite side of said top wall with a polygonal shaft which includes a plurality of faces; the end surface of said polygonal shaft being provided with a plurality of circularly mounted first pins; such first pins respectively correspondent to the faces of said polygonal shaft and also correspondent to said characters; a plurality of U-shaped clips being correspondent to said number wheels; each said clip being provided with a pair of arms and a terminal portion connected therebetween; said number wheels respectively inserted through said slots and into said housing; the two arms of each said clip passing through each said first recess and fixing each said number wheel to said housing; a plurality of passive means correspondent to said number wheels; each said passive means provided at the peripheral edge with a third recess; such third recesses correspondent to said first flanges on the top wall of said housing; a plurality of second flanges correspondent to said number wheels; each said second flange being mounted on each said number wheel and provided with a fourth recess in the direction of each said third recess; the opposite side of each said passive means being properly provided with a plurality of second pins; each said passive means being located on one end of the polygonal shaft of each said number wheel and arranged in such a manner that each said second pins are engaged with said first pins on each number wheel, each third and fourth recesses being arranged in the direction of each said first flange on the housing; a fixing plate provided at one end with a push rod and with a plurality of holes correspondent to said slots in the housing; a third flange mounted on one terminal of a first side of said fixing plate and extending in the direction of said push rod; a hook member located on a second side of said fixing plate and extending also in the direction of said push rod; and a projection mounted on said fixing plate and extending in the opposite direction of said push rod; said fixing plate being positioned on the top of said passive means in such a manner that said passive means pass through said holes and are clamped between said fixing plate and said number wheels; said fixing plate being clamped between said fixing member and said third lugs on the second side wall of said housing, said projection being properly located at the one side of said fixing member; a locking plate provided with a plurality of apertures which are correspondent to the holes in said fixing plate; a plurality of fourth flanges respectively mounted on one side of said apertures and correspondent to the fourth recesses in said passive means; an opening properly positioned in said locking plate; a first side of said locking plate being provided with a retaining member which extends in the opposite direction of said fourth flanges; a pair of hook means respectively mounted on the both ends of a second side of said locking plate; and a pair of fifth recesses being disposed, near said hook means, on the second side of said locking plate; said locking plate being positioned on the top of said fixing plate in such a manner that said hook member may pass through said opening in the locking plate and allow said fixing plate to move back and forth and each of said fourth flanges may be received within said fourth recesses in each said passive means and one end of said first side of said locking plate is clamped between said third flange and said second lug; a retaining spring being positioned between said retaining means of said locking plate and said first side wall of said housing to fix said locking plate in position.

2. A combination lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said first lug of each said first recess is used to fix each said clip in position.

3. A combination lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said number wheels, passive means and U-shaped clips which are correspondent to a plurality of said slots in said housing may be simultaneously disposed on said housing to provide a better safety.

4. A combination lock as cliamed in claim 1, wherein said push-rod is formed integrally with said fixing plate.

5. A combination lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a plurality of said second pins of each said passive means may properly engage with a plurality of said first pins of each said number wheel for preventing each said passive means from sliding out of each said number wheel.

6. A combination lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two arms of each said clip may properly contact with the faces of the polygonal shaft of each said number wheel to provide- said number wheel a stepwise rotation.

7. A combiantion lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projection mounted on said fixing plate is properly positioned at one side of said fixing member.

8. A combination lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining spring is connected at one end to said retaining means and the other end thereof is against the inner side of the first side wall of said housing to fix said locking plate in position.

9. A combination lock comprising a housing; a plurality of number wheels; a plurality of clips each clamping a respective number wheel to the housing; a plurality of passive means each mounted on the top of a respective number wheel; a fixing plate provided with a push rod and positioned on said passive means so as to fix said passive means in position; a locking plate located on the fixing plate; and a retaining spring which fixes the locking plate in position.

10. A combination lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.