GB2231909A - A combination locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The locking device comprises a combination locking mechanism 50 and pivoted locking members 90 in a housing 12. The mechanism 50 comprises three units 52 which include a lock cam 62, a number wheel 60, a latch 58 and a turning knob 56. The units are mounted on a bar 54 as shown. The locking members 90 are mounted on a second bar 92 and each includes a profiled cam-engaging part 106, 108. Hooks 102 at the top of the elements 90 are movable between a first locked position and second unlocked position. By turning the knob 56 the cam surface 86 of the lock cam 62 engages the part 106, 108 of the element 90 and causes it to pivot about the bar 92, thus moving the hooks 102 between their first and second positions. In the unlocked position a securing member can be inserted into or removed from the locking device through an opening in the housing. Figure 4 shows the device used in a pencil case (200) where the securing member (220) passes into a gap 42 in housing 12. In the modification of Figures 4, 5, locking members (300) have integral spaces (304) rather than as in Figure 2, and the cam engaging surface (310) has two protrusions (312, 314). <IMAGE>

Description

A CCMBINATION LO(XING DEVICE The present invention relates to combination locking devices.

Combination locks operate by rotating a series of dials, each to a predetermined position. When all the dials are set to the correct combination the lock is released. To facilitate the correct positioning of the dials, indicia e.g. numbers, are displayed on the rotating dials.

In one known mechanism, the lock consists of two parts. The first part comprises a spindle having a series of projections along one side. The spindle may be attached to one end of a chain. The second part, suitably attached to the other end of a chain, comprises dials and a barrel which receives the spindle. The barrel has an elongate slot along one side so as to accommodate the projections. The dials surround the barrel and each comprises a number plate and a turning knob, coupled together. Both have central bores, but the bore of the turning knob has a smaller diameter than the number plate and hugs the barrel. This smaller bore has at one point a recess which, when aligned with the slot in the barrel, accommodates the projections. Aligning all recesses with the slot opens the lock and permits the spindle to be inserted or withdrawn from the barrel.

Once the spindle has been inserted the dials are turned and as the projections cannot pass through the bore in the knobs, the spindle is held firm until the dials are reset to the combination of numbers which align recesses and slot. Traditionally, all or most parts are made of metal.

According to the present invention there is provided a combination locking device which comprises a plurality of locking members mounted so that each is separately pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position, each member having a cam engaging surface, and a plurality of cams each associated with a rotatable dial, a part of which bears indicia, the cams being mounted whereby rotation of the respective dial causes that cam, in contact with the cam engaging surface, to pivot the respective locking member from one said position to the other position.

Preferably each locking member is biased towards the closed position so that cam causes movement to the open position. The bias may be provided by a spring or a resilient part of the locking member.

Generally, the locking device comprises a housing, which suitably has a removable lid to enable access to the mechanism. The housing has an opening which permits a securing member e.g. a spindle or a bar, to be inserted or removed when the locking members are in the open position.

In one suitable construction the dial comprises an indicia plate and a turning knob coupled together by a latch which also couples the dial to the cam. Preferably the latch has dogs which engage both the cam and the knob, but has members which can engage the indicia plate in a plurality of positions so that the indicia forming the combination may be varied.

Preferably the locking device has three indicia in its combination, but more complicated combinations having four, five or six etc. may also be provided.

The device according to the present invention may be principally moulded from plastics material.

In use, the device may be associated with a container, e.g. a suitcase or a pencil case. The locking device is suitably mounted on the side of the container remote from the hinge, preferably on the base, while the container lid is provided with a securing member which is designed to be engaged by the locking members when in their closed position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a combination locking device according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the device shown in Figure 1, indicating the internal parts and the way they fit together; Figure 3 shows an application of the locking device of Figure 1 in a container; Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration for a locking member; and Figure 5 is a section on V-V of Figure 4.

The combination locking device 10 comprises a housing 12 and lid 14, a combination locking mechanism 50 and a locking element 90.

The housing 12 is substantially an open topped cuboid (best seen in Figure 2). One of the long side panels 16 has the top half cut away and the lower half has three slots 18, the bottom of each being stepped to give a deep side 20 and a shallow side 22. The inside of the housing has two pairs of cradles 24,26; one pair is located close to the slotted panel 16 and is adapted to support the combination locking mechanism 50. The other pair 26 is located nearer the opposite long side 28 and is adapted to support the locking element 90.

On the outside of the housing near the top, on the short sides there are two barrels 30 having threaded bores 32. Near the bottom of the short sides are lobes 34 having holes 36.

The lid 14 has an L-shaped cross-section. The top section 14a has protruding lobes 38 which have holes 40. The top section fits over the top of the housing, with the holes 40 in register with the threaded bores 32, to leave a gap 42 as shown in Figure 1. The depending flange 14b fits along the top of cut-away side panel 16.

Screws 44 secure the lid to the housing.

The combination locking mechanism 50 is made up of three units 52 threaded onto a bar 54. Each unit comprises a turning knob 56, a latch 58, a number wheel 60 and a lock cam 62.

The number wheel 60 has an outer cylindrical surface 64,66, part of which is smooth and may bear indicia such as numbers, and part 66 of which is knurled.

Internally, the wheel 60 is bored with a small smooth bore 68 internal of the smooth surface 64 and a large serrated bore 70 internal of the knurled surface 68.

The latch 58 comprises a central circular section 72 having two spring arms 74 which spiral out from the center section. The the end of each arm is a tooth 76. The central section is bored (not shown) and has a pair of dogs 78,80 protruding from each face.

The latch 58 fits within the serrated bore 70 of the number wheel. The spring arms 74 bear outwards against the wall forcing the teeth 76 to lock against the serrations and prevent the latch from rotating relative to the wheel 60. One pair of dogs 78 protrude through the smooth bore 68.

The turning knob 56 has a knurled circumference. In the centre is a substantially H-shaped hole 82. This is adapted so that the knob 56 can be fitted onto the dogs 78 and lie flush against the number wheel 60.

The lock cam 62 also has a central substantially H-shaped hole 84. This is adapted so that the cam can be fitted onto dogs 80. The cam has a generally circular external diameter, interrupted at one point by the cam surface 86.

The latch and number wheel can be fitted together at various angles of rotation so that one of the digits on the surface 64 is chosen as the combination number for that unit 52.

The three units 52 are threaded onto the bar 54. Each unit rotates independently of its neighbour(s).

The combination locking mechanism fits in the housing with the ends of the bar 54 being supported by the cradle 24. The number wheels 60 and knobs 56 protrude through the slots 18, with the number wheels on the shallow sides 22 and the knobs on the deep sides 20 (as shown in Figure 1).

The locking element 90 comprises a bar 92 on which is located three locking members 94 separated from each other by spacers 96. Each locking member comprises a main body 98 the lower part of which is profiled, a resilient arm 100 and a hook 102 located at the top of the main body. Each locking member has a bore 104 and can be freely pivoted on the bar 92 when out of the housing. The profile includes a protrusion 106, on either side of which is a gulley 108.

The locking element 90 fits into the housing, the ends of the bar 92 being supported by cradles 26.

The arm 100 abuts against the face 28. The spacers 96 locate the locking members 94 so that their profiled surface is engageable by the cam surface 86. The hook 102 obstructs the gap 42.

In use, rotation of each knob 56 rotates each cam 86 by virtue of the dogs 78,80 on the S-latch 58.

The cam surface passes freely into one of the gulleys 108 and then engages one side of the protrusion 106. As the cam surface moves the tip of the protrusion, the locking member 94 is caused to pivot about the bar 92, pushing the resilient arm 100 firmly against the face 28. The locking member is thus moved to the open position, with the hook 102 withdrawn from the gap 42. Further, turning of the cam releases the pressure of the cam surface against the profile and the resilience in the arm 100 causes the locking member to pivot back to its closed position with the hook 102 obstructing the gap 42.

The device is only unlocked when the correct combination of numbers on the wheel is shown through the slots 18. This indicates that each cam surface is in engagement with the respective tip of the protrusion 106 and that all hooks 102 are withdrawn clear of the gap 42.

This locking device may be made entirely from moulded plastics material. Alternatively, the bars 54,92 are made of metal, and all other parts are of plastics material.

One application of this combination locking device in a pencil case 200 is shown in Figure 3. The pencil case comprises an upper section 202 and a lower section 204, which are hinged together. (Hinges 206 are shown on the lower section only). At respective parts of the two sections, part of the rim is cut away (at 208) to accommodate the locking device 10.

The lower section 204 is provided with two upstanding barrels 210, each of which has a threaded bore 212. The locking device fits between these barrels with the lobes 34 overlying the tops of the barrels and the holes 36 in register with the bores 212. Screws 214 secure the device 10 to the lower section 204.

The upper section has a securing member or depending bar (shown in dotted lines at 220). This is located so that when the pencil case is closed, and the locks are in the open position, the bar 220 passes through the gap 42 into the device 10. Turning the knobs allows the locks to pivot back to their closed positions, this time with the hooks 102 engaging the bar 220. The case 200 cannot be opened again until the locking device is released.

The pencil case may also be moulded from plastics material.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative configureation for the locking member 300 wherein the main body 302 and the spacer 304 are integral (best seen in Figure 5). The main body 302 is connected to a thin resilient arm 306 and has a hook 308 at the top. The cam engaging surface 310 has two protrusions 312,314. When the locking member is in the open position, the cam surface 86 bears against the locking member intermediate the protrusions 312,314. The locking member has an aperture 316 for receiving a bar for mounting in the housing.

Alternative embodiments of the invention are within the scope of the skilled person. For example, the gap between the housing and lid could be in a side wall, with the shape of the hooks adapted to secure an alternate securing member. Elongation of the housing would accomnodate more units 52, increasing the complexity of the combination.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A combination locking device comprising a plurality of locking members mounted so that each is separately pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position, each member having a cam engaging surface, and a plurality of cams each associated with a rotatable dial, a part of which bears indicia, the cams being mounted whereby rotation of the respective dial causes that cam, in contact with the cam engaging surface, to pivot the respective locking member from one said position to the other position.

2. A combination locking device according to claim 1 wherein each locking member is biased towards the closed position whereby the cam causes movement towards the open position.

3. A combination locking device according to claim 2 wherein bias is provided by a resilient part of the locking member.

4. A combination locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 which further comprises a housing with a removable lid.

5. A combination locking device according to claim 4 wherein the housing has an opening adapted to releasably receive a securing member.

6. A combination locking device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dial comprises an indicia plate and a turning knob coupled together by a latch, the latch also coupling the dial to the cam.

7. A combination locking device according to claim 6 wherein the latch has dogs which engage both the cam and the knob and members which are engageable with the indicia plate in a plurality of positions whereby the combination formed by the indicia is variable.

8. A combination locking device according to any one of the preceding claims having at least three indicia in its combination.

9. A combination locking device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein substantially all of the device is moulded from plastics material.

10. A combination locking device substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

11. A container incorporating a combination locking device according to any one of the preceding claims mounted on the side of the container adjacent an opening and a securing member adapted to be engaged by the locking members when in their closed position, mounted on the other side of the container.