US1261423A - Auto-lock. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. MILLER.

AUTO LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 19x1.

latnted Apr. 2, 1919 notches b on the inner faces of the two arms andfalso preferablywith a lug 5 at the end of one arm adapted to-serve as a guide in applying the lock and as a means to prevent the shackle arms or prongs from entering the openings in the casing should it be attempted to push said casing upon he shackle from the wrong end thereof. To this end a recess a extends through the casing opening into the margin of each of the holes in the opposite end walls of the casing; the recess at one side extending in an opposite direction to the recess at the other side of the casing, so as to provide a passage for the lug. b on one of the shackle arms at either side of the casing to enable the shackle arm to pass through or into the opening through the casing at either side thereof but only when the casing is properly applied, that is, when applied at the end opposite or remote from the key-end.

Within the casing may be fitted a pair of sliding bolts or ratchet ilocking lugs ,"D. each of which is formed with an intermediate aperture (Z, therethrough, preferably of oblong 01' approximately oval form, and having an offset portion (Z at one side thereof, to provide a shoulder for engagement with a key, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5; said pawl also having a beveled tooth or projection 03 at one end, for engagement with the ratchet teeth or notches in the shackle arm, and a recess d at the other end therof in which one end of a spring G may be seated. Said spring tends normally to force and hold the pawl in engagement, with the notches in the shackle arm when the latter is inserted in the casing. The pawls D are fitted to slide back and forth in suitable guideways or grooves a formed within the casing and are disposed in reverse relation to each other, one at or near one end of the casing and the other at or near the i other end thereof; each having its beveled tooth or projection arranged to engage the notches in the adjacent arm of the shackle with its beveled or inclined face facing the inclined faces of the notches in the shackle arm, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. The springs C may each be fastened at one end to a lug a on the inner side of the casing A, and are preferably coiled around a stud a on the same side of the casing so as to in crease the tension of the spring. The free ends of the springs lit respectively within the recesses (Z3 of the pawls D, to adapt them to press laterally against said pawls and force the same continuously into engagement with the notched arms of the shackle without using a key. A single pawl may be I used engaging one arm only of the shackle,

though preferably two are employed, one for each shackle arm. A series of ordinary tumblers E may be seated within a channel and retain the same therebetween.

or recess provided therefor within the easing A, and are preferably disposed between the pawl members D with the openings therethrough in alinementwith the openings through the pawls. Said tumblers may be so arranged as to adapt a different key to lit different arrangements of the series of tumblers in series, thus making it possible to provide a key of different pitch for each lock.- A key F adapted to fit the arranged series of tumblers E may be inserted through the key guide f, through which an opening is formed conforming to the shape of the key; said key guide being annularly grooved to adapt it to be retained by and between the end walls of the plates a and a of the casing which have semicircular recesses formed therein to adapt them to fit the annular groove in said guide Said guide is arranged in direct alinement with the intermediate apertures in the sliding dogs D and the tumblers E.

In operation, when the key F is inserted and turned in the proper direction, (to the right as here shown), the body of the key will engage the shoulders (Z of the dogs I) and force the latter out of engagement with the notches in-the arms of the shackle, thereby releasing the casing A and permitting it to be pulled off of the shackle; but if the key is turned backward or withdrawn, the springs C will force the dog or dogs back into position where they will again engage the notches in the shackle arms and prevent the removal of the lock. The lock can be, applied after removal from the shackle by inserting the prongs of the shackle in the openings through the casing at that end only which is opposite the keyend, for the reason that the dog adjacent said key end normally obstructs the passage through which the prong must enter the casing; the straight edge or fiat face 01 the tooth of the dog being adapted to contact. with the flat end of the shackle arm and arrest the movement and prevent the prong from entering at the key-end, though at the otherend the beveled edge or face of the dog is presented and by engagement of the end Oflille prong therewith it will be forced back against the pressure of the spring to allow the prong to enter. Insertion at the wrong or key end is also prevented by the lug b on the other 'arm of the shackle, which is adapted to strike the end of the casing unless the shackle is properly insorted, in which position the pin 'on the shackle arm will pass through the recess a and freely through the casing. This auxiliary device, though desirable because of its function as a guide in properly inserting the shackle, might be dispensed with.

Other changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts might be iii iii iiiitlihlh" @CDPY made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not desire to be limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown, which is merely a preferred form.

Having thu described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A lock for automobiles and the like comprising a casing member containing suitable locking mechanism; said casing member having openings extending therethrough to receive the arms of a shackle, and a recess in the margin of each of said openings at the end thereof opposite the key-end, the recess at one side of the casing extending in an opposite direction to the recess at the other side thereof, one of said arms having a ratchet face, means within said casing adapted to engage the ratchet teeth and prevent return movement of the casing, a key-guide at one end of the casing through which a key may be inserted, and a projection on one arm of said shackle adapted to fit one of said recesses when the shackle is properly applied, whereby the insertion of the shackle at the key-end of the casing is prevented.

2, A lock of the class described comprising a casing having locking bolts arranged therein, a shackle having a plurality of arms adapted to slidably extend entirely through said casing, said arms being providedwith notches to receive said locking bolts, said locked bolts having beveled ends adapted to permit said arms to slide freely in said casing in one direction, and flat sides adapted to prevent the entrance of said arms in the opposite direction, and means on the shackle and coiiperating means on the casing to prevent the insertion of said shackle into said casing from that end of the casing opposite the key-end.

3. An automobile lock comprising a shackle, having two arms, a casing having opening therethrough in which the arms of the shackle may be inserted, one of the shackle arms having" a ratchet face, means within said casing adapted to engage said ratchet and prevent the withdrawal of the shackle, a key-guide at one end of the casin g through which a key may be inserted for releasing the shackle, and means on said shackle and easing whereby the arms of the shackle cannot be inserted in the openings through the casing when applied at the key-end thereof.

4, A locking device comprising a shackle having two prongs and a casing having openings therethrough to receive s'aid prongs and movable along the same, one of said prongs having a serie of notches therein, means within said casing adapted to engage said notches and lock the casin or prongs against backward movement; sai casing also having means thereon at one end for inserting a key to release the casing, and means on the shackle and cooperating means on the casing to prevent said prongs from being inserted in said openings at the key-end of the casing.

5. In a lock of the class described the combination with a shackle having arms provided with ratchet notches, a casing pro vided' with shackle arm apertures, a plurality of guides in said casing, locking dogs adapted to slide in said guides transversely of said openings, said dogs having beveled teeth flat faced on. the opposite side thereof, a series of tumblers arranged intermediate said guides, a plurality of springs arranged on opposite sides of said tumblers and adapted to normally project said dogs into said shackle arm apertures and prevent the entrance of said arms by contact with the flat faces of said teeth, said dogs and tumblers adapted to receive a key to operate the same. r

6. A casing having shackle openings extendin thercthrough, slidable locking dogs, arranged in said casing and normally projected into said openings and beveled on I one face, mechanism operable from one end of the casing for retracting said lugs, a shackle having a plurality of arms, a series of ratchet notches extending longitudinally of said arms and adapted to be progressively engaged by said dogs as the shackle is moved into said casing whereby the shackle is locked against reverse movement and projections on the shackle arms together with means on the casing adapted to prevent en trance of the shackle arms into said casing from that end of the casing toward which the bevel on said locking dogs face.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of a witness.

ononon M. MILLER.

Witness Frionnnon I. Mnnrznn.

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