US138566A - Improvement in seal-locks - Google Patents

Description

J. KINZER.

Seal-Loc,k.s.

Patented May 6,1873.

l rm

UNITED -STATEs PATENT QEEICE.

JACOB KINZER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ROB- ERT PITCAIRN, DAVID M. WATT, AND JOHN J. TORLEY, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,566, dated May 6, 1873; application iiled Y March 3, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known '.that I, J AeoB KINZER, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved lock, which is represented as partially broken away for the purpose of illustrating the manner of securing the bolt. Fig. 2 is alike view of the same, the face-plate being removed to illustrate the operation of the lock. Fig. 3 is an edge view, the hinged cover of the. lock-case being thrown back; and Fig. 4 is a view of the seal I use in connection with the lock.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to an improved construction of a seal-lock for railroad-car and other doors where seal-locks are desired; and consists, rst, in combining a locking-shank having an arm and a T-head with the swinging dog of a lock-case, and suitably arranged for holding the dog in an unlocked position when unsealed, and retaining, after locking and sealing, a metallic seal placed thereon; second, in the construction of a metallic seal having an oblong slot, over which the T-head of the shank may be turned to secure it in place, and also having overlapping lips or other equivalent stop device to prevent the rotation ofthe seal; and, third, in combining a hinged lid arranged to cover the key-hole, and also by a-ceutral opening to expose a shipping-card with barbs for holding the card, and also with a non-rotating seal and T-headed shank, all substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and mode of operation.

The closed case a, which isattached to the plate g, contains a three-tumbler spring locking-dog, c, pivoted at any suitable point, as at b', and provided with a hook-catch, c1. Above the locking-dog c is a shank, d, which extends through the front or face of the case a. 'Ihis shank is provided with an arm, d1, which operates inside the lock-case, against, and as a stop to, the dog c, in the following manner: The dog c, being actuated by a spring, can only be drawn back or swung around to an unlocking position by the use of a key. When drawn back for the purpose of unlocking the car-door, the arm dl, which formerly occupied the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, parallel with the straight face c2, being actuated by the spring e coiled around it, is thrown around, as shown in Fig. 2, against the straight face c2 of the dog c. This holds the lock open, and obviates the necessity of using the keyj'for this purpose. The arm d1 cannot force the dog c back, as shown in Fig. 2, because the spring e is not sufficiently powerful for that purpose,being intended only to throw the arm d1 against the dog when the latterV is drawn back. In addition to this, the spring lockingdog b is not suited to such operation of the arm dl, as it is provided with a stop which prevents its being unlocked, so as to draw back the catch c1 without the use of the proper key. The top of the shank d is provided with a T-head, d2, whereby it may be turned back to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. On one end of the plate g are two guides or holders, h h', standing opposite to the opening fi in the side of the case a. The guides hold the sliding bolt 7c, which cannot be Withdrawn entirely therefrom because of the stop k encountering the side of the guide h. The forward end of the bolt is hook-shaped, so as to hook onto the hook-catch c1 in locking and when locked. The guide It is provided with a recess for the passage of the stop lo. In addition to its other function, the guide h operates as a staple over which the hasp of the car-door is placed. When the door is locked the hasp lies below the sliding bolt lc at m. The upper face of the case a is provided with a key-hole, f for the insertion of the, key f. The upper face of the lock-case a, in-

cluding the key-hole f', is covered by the hinged lid a, whichis recessed so that it will close down over the projecting head of the shank d, and has a center opening, al, and two openings, a2, for the projection of the barbs p, one at each end of the longitudinal opening al. The opening nl is made for the purpose of containing a shipping or direction card, g, such card being placed on the barbs p before the lid n is shut down, so that when the lid is closed it will be held in place, and the inscription upon it shall show through the opening` nl.

This lock is designed tov be used with a seal in such a manner that when it is locked and sealed the lid a is closed and covers the keyhole f', and cannot be opened to give access to the key-hole without breaking the seal. The seal i", shown in Fig. 4, is a light casting of any brittle metal, or metallic composition, or rigid frangible material7 and has a slotted opening, r1, of such shape as to fit over the iop of the shank d, and overlapping lips fr, which are designed to extend over the edge of the case a at s, to prevent its rotation. The manner in which this seal is used is as follows: The dog c is drawn back by means of the key f so as to allow the arm d1 of the shank d to spring around in the position shown in Fig. 2. The hooked end of the bolt 7c is then pushed past the hook-catch c1, and the lid n is shut down. Then the seal i is slipped over the head d2 of the shank d, and rested upon the closed lid u, with its lips r2 extending over the edge s of the case a. The shank d is then turned by means of the T-head or thumb-piece d2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. This turns the arm d1 to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thereby releases the dog c, which springs forward, causing the hook-catch c1 to hook into the bolt k, as shown in Fig. l. When the seal o" is in this position it cannot be removed except by breaking it. The shank l cannot be turned until the dog c is drawn back, and this can only be done by the key f, which cannot be used because the key-holef/ is covered by the lid a, which in its turn cannot be opened until the seal i is taken off'. The seal i" cannot be turned so as to make the opening r1 parallel with the T-head d2 because of the lips r2, which extend down over the edge s of the case a, and hence can be removed only by breaking. Instead of the lips r2, dowel-pins or other suitable device may be employed to prevent the rotation of the seal. When it is desired to open the lock the seal r is broken, the lid 'n raised, as shown in Fig.

3, and then by means ofthe key f the dog is turned back so as to release the bolt 7c, as shown in Fig. 2. The bolt may then be Withdrawn to permit the hasp to be taken oi of the staple h. Any suitable spring-lock may be employed.

The lock is secured to the side of the car by screws passing through the holes t in the plate g, and the hasp extends over from the car-door to the staple h. When sealed this lock cannot be tampered with without breaking the seal. This fact will prevent many persons from meddling with it who would, were the keyhole exposed, attempt to open the lock by means of false or fraudulently-procured keys. In addition to this, the fastening between the bolt 7c and the lock isentirely closed, and cannot be reached except by breaking away the face of the lock. This is an additional guard against persons tampering with it.

It will be observed that when the dog is thrown back sufficient room is provided at the opening i for the insertion ot' the bolt, with its hook engaging the hook o1 of the dog, as a matter of convenience in locking.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The shank d, having an arm, d1, and a T'- head, d2, in combination with the swinging dog of a lock, and suitably arranged for holding the dog in an unlocked position when unsealed, and retaining, after locking and sealing, a metallic seal placed thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. A metallic seal, i", having an oblong slot, r1, over which the T-headd2 may be turned to secure it in place, and overlapping lips r2, or other equivalent stop device to prevent its rotation, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The hinged lid n, arranged to cover the key-hole, and also by a central opening, nl, to expose a shipping-card, q, in combination with barbs lo for holding the card, the non-rotatin g seal fr, and T-head d2, substantially as setv forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JACOB K1N- ZER, have hereunto set my hand.

JACOB KINZER. Witnesses:

A. S. NICHOLSON, Trios. B. KEER.

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