US135523A - Improvement in combination locks - Google Patents

Description

H. CLARKE.

Combination Locks.

'Patented`Feb. 4,1873.

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HENRY, oLAnKE, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENTIN COMBINATION LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,523, dated February 4, 1873. A

To all whom it may concern.-

Be lit known that I, HENRY CLARKE, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland,have invented certain Improvements in Combina` Vtion Locks, of which the following is a specication; and I do hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to locks so constructed Vthat certain parts must be placed in some relbearingagainst their inside surfaces, and operated by means ot' an outside movable band fitted to the exterior of the said sleeve, which band, when raised, 4so operates certain of the tumblers, and 'brings them in such position Vwith reference to the said eccentrically-formed -plate, that the latter, at rst locked by the tumblers, is made to partially revolve, admitting of the disengagement of the fastening devices ,of the lock. My invention further consistsin means adopted whereby the upper disk is steadily secured to the lock-case, and to a device or combination of devices whereby the tumblers are forced laterally against the interir suiface'of the sleeve aforementioned, and wear of the operative parts provided for; and my invent-ion, lastly, consists in an arrangement of devices whereby a spring-hook, pivoted within the lock case and held by the eccentrically-formed plate so as to interlock with a latch separate from the lock, is adapted to be disengaged from the said latch when, by means of the joint operation of the tumblers and the said eccentrically-formed plate, the latter is moved from contact with the said spring-hook.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a top view of my improved combination lock. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same upon line y. Fig.

3 is a view of the under side of the lock, the lower plate being removed. are views of detached parts of the invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate'similar parts of the invention in all the figures.

A represents the case or outside covering ot' the lock. Bis a sleeve passing through the upper plate of the case. The lower edge ot' the .sleeve is toothed, the teeth, represented by a, litting within spaces existing between similar teeth formed within a horizontal plate, b, the office of which will be hereinafter fully explained. One or more ot' the teeth on the 'sleeve are turned outwardly, where they project below the plate b, for the purpose of fastening the plate and sleeve together. G is an ornamental band, placed upon the outside ot' the sleeve B, and issecured from turning upon the sleeve by means of the projecting stop c and theslot within which it is inserted. This stop, while preventing any lateral movement ofthe band independently ofthe sleeve, does not interfere with the longitudinal motion ot' thesaid band, as the slot in whichthe stop rests extends tothe lower edge of the band. D is a disk situated within the band C, at the outer end `of the same, and is provided with a suitable number of perforations in which the tumblers d and d rest. E is a shaft `passing through ,the disk D, securing it to the baclr plate of the case A. The shaft E may be lengthened so as to form a convenient method of fastening the lock to the drawer or trunk. F is a circular plate placed upon the shaft E as abearing for the ends of the tumblers el d', and has notches in the edge for that purpose. G is a' spring, formed by cutting one end ot' a sheet-metal cylinder into tapering strips equal in number to that ot the tumblers d d', and bending the strips downward so as to bring their ends nearly to the circular pla-te F. The purpose of this spring is to give sufficient friction tothe tumblers d d to prevent their too ready movement, and also to provide for any wear of the tumblers or adjacent parts. H is a Washer occupying the space between the plate F and the back plate ofthe case A. The tumblers d are provided with grooves f, which are of such depth and at such distance from the disk D as to allow the teeth in the plate b to pass without coming in contact with said tumblers when Vin their lowest position. The

Figs. 4, 5,` and 6 protruding.

tumblers d have the grooves f at a greater distance from the disk, therebyrequiring the tumblers to be raised a certain height to bring the grooves in a line with the horizontal plate b and allow the passage of the teeth on the plate past the tumblers, through their respect ive grooves. The tumblers are each provided with false notches g. The purpose ot' these notches is to mislead any one endeavoring to discover the relative positions to which the tumblers d and d must be brought to admit of the rotary motion of the plate b, sleeve B, and band C. The tumblers d d are provided with the pins h, which engage a projectingv portion of the interior of the band C. These pins serve as means by which the tumblers are moved as the band G is raised above the disk D. I is a hook, pivoted at k, and furnished with the spring l and thumb-piece m.

K is a latch secured to the lid or door of the trunk or other object to which this locking device is applied. The latch passes through an opening in the case A, and is caught by the hook I. The plate b has a projection, b, on the side next to the hook I, which projection, when in the position shown in Fig.3of the drawing, comes in contact with the hook, keeping it from a too-far-backward movement, by reason of which its disengagement from the latch might occur. To provide sufficient space for the movement of the hookI the plate must be moved into the position shown by the dotted lines. rlhe movement of the plate b is checked by its coming in contact with the sides of the case A.

Supposing the different parts of the lock to be in the positions shown in Figs. 2v and 3 of the drawing, wherein the device is represented as being locked, and it is desired to unlock it, the operation is as follows: The band C is raised above the disk D, carrying the ends of the tumblers d and d through the disk. The band is then replaced, leaving the tumblers The tumblers d, which are also represented in Fig. 1 by the letters A, D, F, and H, are then forced into their original positions, bringing the grooves f opposite the teeth on the plate b, the grooves in the tumblers d', represented by B, C, E, and Gr, being already in that position. The band G with the connecting parts is now free to turn until the plate b is brought to the position indicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines. The projection b upon the plate b is thus removed from contact with the surface of the hook I, which can now be moved by the pressure of the thumb upon the piece m,'so-as to releasethelatchsl. A lid, L, is arranged, as shown in` Fig. 1, to cover the disk D and ornamental band C, and to slide back upon a pivot after the manner of the ordinary sliding cover to somekey-holes. In Fig. 4 thecover is shownfslipped over the band C. The use `of both lids is to protect the parts of the lock coveredfrom damage by blows, and vto keep them clean and free from dust.

A person unacquainted with the combination of tumblers necessary to be forced to their original positions after the entire number has been raised would be unable to unlock the device. Y

The arrangement of this lockcan be altered to suit the different objects to which it may be applied. For instance, the plate b maybe irnmediately connected with a bolt corresponding with the bolt of an ordinary lock; or other modifications, in shape and con-struction, may be made, the principle hereinshown at the same time remaining unchanged.

It is at once apparent that this lock is applicable to trunks, valises, desks, or any other object or place whereto locks are usually ap'- .plied, and that it has no keywhich may be misplaced or lost.'

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. The movable ecent'rically-formed toothed plate b b', sleeve Bftumb'lers d d', and case A, relatively arranged substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

2. The case A and bolt E, in combination with the sleeve B, band G, disk D, and tumblers d d having the pins h, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In combination with the tumblers d d', the spring G, disk D, circular plate F, and washer H, substantially as herein shown, for the purpose specified.

4. The spring-hook I m, pivoted Within the y case at 7t,`aud latch K, in combination with the plate b b', adapted to be made stationary or movable by means of the tumblers d d operatin g with it2 substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed myname in the city of Baltimore this 20th day of December,in the year of our Lord Y HENRY CLARKE..

- Witnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, THOMAS MURDocH.

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