US1296301A - Automobile-lock. - Google Patents

Description

1. H. MCCLURE. AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1918.

1,296,301. Patented Mar. (91.919.V

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J. H. MCCLUHE.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25, 1918.

l ,296,301 Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

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.TOI-IN H. MCCLURE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 218,995.

. To all whom t may concern:

-installed to positively lock the coil box and its switch against being surreptitiously opened and the switch actuated.

My invention aims to provide an accessory of the above type including a lock that is articulated with the usual battery switch to control the operation of the same, and associated with the lock is a latch member and strap adapted for holding the lid of the coil box closed. The locking mechanism is assembled so that it cannot be easily removed, but provision is made whereby the mechanism may be detached after the coil box is opened.

My invention further aims to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive mechanism that is applicable to battery boxes now in use, and the many advantages of the lock will be apparent as the invention is better understood.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coil box provided with a lock in accordance with my invention; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the coil box showing the usual ignition switch;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a frame form-- ing part of my locking mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner side of the lock casing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi a detached coupling member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lock, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modiied 'form of lock frame.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a coil box having a lid 2 and the rear wall of said box is provided with anges 3 so that it may be connected to detached the dash of an automobile or other support by screws orV any suitable fastening means. The front Wall of'the battery box has an ignition switch 4 including a key actuated rotatable member 5 and this switch, as well as the coil box, are of conventional form found on the dash of many automobiles.

My invention resides in mounting a frame 6 on the ignition switch't,'said frame conforming in shape to the switch so as to it on the side walls thereof and to hold the frame on said switch I provide said frame with apertured lugs 7 connected to the front wall of the switch by screws 8. Some of the lugs have resilient clips 9 and the bottom of the frame has a depending lug 10. I may use the type of frame shown in Fig. 8, said frame having a front wall 27 provided with a lock opening 28, screw openings 29 and clips 30.

Mounted over the frame 6 is a lock casing 11 which has the bottom thereof provided with an upwardly projecting lip 12 adapted to engage behind the lug 10 of the frame 6, while other lugs 13 of the casing 11 are adapted to engage behind the resili ent clips 9. After the iframe 6 is connected to the switch 4L then the lock casing can be sprung into position'against the front wall of the coil box to inclose the switch 4.

Prior to placing the lock casing in position it is equipped with a lock 14 and a coupling member 18. The lock 1-1 is of the tumbler type that can be-locked against rotation and released bya key 15. The lock has diametrically opposed pins 16 adapted to extend through slots 17 of the coupling member 18 and the ends of said pins are upset, similar to rivets,Y so that the coupling member 18 will hold the lock in the casing 11, yet permit of its rotation when released by the key 15. The coupling member has projecting diametrically opposed arms 19 adapted to engage in the rotatable member 5 and thus articulate the lock with the switch. so that the switch may be turned off or on by rotating the lock in proper direction.

The lock is also employed for holding the lid 2 of the coil box closed, and to this end, I provide the lid with a flexible metallic strap 20 which has the rear end thereof hooked in the rear wall of the coil box, as at 21, and the front end of said strap has an aperture 22.

The top of the casing 11 is provided with ioo a spring pressed latch 23 adapted to engage in the aperture 22 of the strap 20, and said latch may be retracted through the medium of a button or linger piece 24 outside the cas*- ing ll and connected to the latch through the top wall of said casing. To prevent the latch from beingl retracted, at times, the rotat-able coupling member 18 has a segment shaped cam 25 that may be positioned at the forward end of the latch 23 to prevent actuation of said latch by the button 24.

The front wall of the coil box, adjacent the switch 4, has a series of openings 26, and these openings permit of an instrument being inserted in the lock casing ll to, depress the clips 9 when it is desired to remove the lock casing l1. It will be noted, however, that access can only be had to the openings 26 when the lid 2 is opened., as the casing ll covers the outer ends of the openings 26.

When the key 15 releases the lock 14, the lock can be rotated clockwise to close the magneto switch and such movement of the lock maintains the cam member 25 in front of the latch 23 and the coil box cannot be opened. It is only when the lock is turned counterclockwise, to close the battery switch, that the cam member 25 is. out of the path of the latch 23. Then the latch can be manually retracted to permit of the battery box being opened.

It is thought that the operation andutility of the lock will be apparent without further description and while in the drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodimen-t of my invention, it vis to be understood that Vthe structural elements are Y susceptible tov such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is l. The combination with a coil box having a lid, a casing connected'to said box, a strap having one end thereof held rigidly relative to said box, and the otherend adapted to extend into said casing, a latch in saidl casing adapted to hold the said other end of the strap therein, and a lock in said casing adapted to hold said latch against actuation.

2. The combination of a coil box having a lid and a switch, a casing nclosing said switch, a lat-ch carried by said casing for holding the lid of said bo-X closed, and a lock carried .by said casing adapted for actuating said switch and holding said latch againstactuation.

3. The combination of a coil boxyhaving a rotatable switch, a casing| inclosingy said switch, resilient means holding-.said casing.

onsaid switchl and releasabl'e fromVV withieny said coil box, and a lock carried by said casing adapted for lactuating saidy switch.

4. The combination with a coil box having a switch, of a frame fixed to; said switch, a casingy inclosing said switch and said frame,

Vresilient means holding said casing on said lid, a. strap to hold said lidr closed, a switch, v

a. lock on said box adapted to receive and hold an end of said strap, andlock controlling means havingA connection with said switch. so that said lock controlling means may -actuate the switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. MGCLURE. Witnesses:

KARL H. BUTLER, f ANNA M. Donn.

Copies of this'v patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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