US1537651A - Coin-controlled lock - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1925. 1,537,651

v D. C. MORGAN COVIN CONTROLLED LOCK4 Filed June 17. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR amm/ D amo/esa A? ORNEY v May .1.2, V1925. 1,537,651

D. C. MORGAN COIN CONTRQLLED LOCK INVENTOR nor/ALU amena/m A May l2, l1925.

t D. c. MORGAN COIN ,CONTROLLED LOCK Filed June 17. 1922 4- sheets-sheet 4 Ffa. f2.

rfa. n.

Patented May 12, 19.25.

UNITED STATES 1,537,651 PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD C. MORGAN, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, .ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SANI- TARY LOCK CORPORATION, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF IN- DIANA.

COIN-CONTROLLED LOCK.

To @ZZ fio/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DONALD C. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Locks, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to coin controlled locks and is designed primarily for use on closet doors, although it will be understood that the same may be used for any suitable purpose where a coin controlled mechanism is applicable. One feature of the invention is the provision of a main operating tumbler for releasing the latching ward from its keeper when a coin is introduced into the lock and an additional or secondary tumbler for operating and releasing the ward without requiring the introduction of a coin.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for arresting and maintaining a coin, after it is introduced into the lock, in position to engage with parts of the lock whereby the main tumbler may be operated for releasing the ward from its keeper, additional means being provided for automatically releasing the coin after the tumbler has been given a partial rotation for releasing the latching ward.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the coin arresting and supporting means whereby coins of various diameter may be used for operating` the lock.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for automatically locking the primary tumbler in neutral position whereby it may be operated for releasing the latching ward after the coin has been released thereby avoiding any possibility of losing the coin through the release thereof before the main or primary tumbler has been sufliciently operated to fully release the latching ward. j

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means in connection with the latching ward for automatically releasing the locking mea-ns employed for holding the primary tumbler in neutral position at such time as the latching ward is thrust into the lock by coming in contact with its keeper, as when the door to which the lock is at.- tached is moved to closed position.

A further feat-ure the invention is. the

provision, in connection with an opening in the wall of the lock for the admission of a coin, of an automatically operated shutter having a slot therein for the admission of a coin, which slot is in registration with the coin opening in the casing'of the lock at such time as the parts of the lock are in locked position, butwhich is moved out of registration with the coin opening in the casing of the lock when the primary tumbler isoperated to release the latching ward, said shutter having a wing or projection thereon which guides and maintains the coin in upright position when first introduced into the lock and which contacts with vthe coin and causes the shutter to swing to inoperative position due tothe swinging movement of the tumbler carrying the coin being operated to release the latching ward.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a detent for normally holding the shutter against reverse swinging movement until such time as the occupant operates the inner handle for releasing the latching ward, means being associated with the secondary tumbler operated by the innerhandle, for releasing the detent from the shutter.

A further feature of the invention is the provision, in connection with the main tumbler, of a combined stop and coin controlling member with I hich co-operates a swinging pawl which engages with the stop member and prevents the operation of the main tumbler until such time-as a coin is introduced between the -tumb-ler and the outer end of the pawl, said stop being adjustably connected with the tumbler so that it may be adjusted to accommodate coins of different thicknesses whereby when a coin of a less thickness than that for which the stop member is set is used. it will not elevate the end of the pawl out of the path of the stop, consequently the tumbler cannot be operated for releasing the latching ward.

And a further feature of the invention is in so positioning the swinging pawl with respect to the main operating tumbler that in the event a Vcoin of improper thickness is introduced into the lock,'an additional coin or coins may be entered into the lock'to cause the pawl to'operate without interfering with the operation of the tumbler or clogging the lock.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lock ready for use,

Figure 2 is a sectional View thereof as seen on line 2-2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view as seen on line 3-3, Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view as seen on line 4k-4,Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view as seen on line 5 5, Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view similar to Figure 4, showing the position of the parts of the lock when the wardhas been operated to release the same from its keeper,

Figure 7 is a similareview with the operating parts of the lock in neutral position,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view as seen on line 8.*8, Figure 3,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the secondary or auX- iliary tumbler when operated by the inner handle for releasing the latching ward and likewise for releasing the detent from the shutter,

Figure 10 is a ydetail sectional view through the lower portion' of the lock casing rshowing means for cont-rolling and covering the-visual space over the coincounting register,

Y Figure y11 is a detail vfront elevation of the primary ward operating tumbler,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the shutter,

Figure 13 is a top plan View of the latching ward, and

Figure 14` is a detail sectional view as seen on yline 14-14 of' Figure 1. Y Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a casing in the lower portion of which is provided a sliding panel 2 through which access may be had to the ir.- terior of the casing for removing the coins therefrom, said panel being secured in closed position by a lock 3. The rear face of the casing 1 is provided with a removable wall 4 which may be secured to the casingV in any suitable manner, but preferably by providing an overhanging lip 5 at the upper end ofthe casing, while the lower endy of the wall is secured in position by introducing screws 6 through the wall and into clips 7y Xed to the interior of the casing.

Extending transversely through the cas-y ing 1 is a tumbler shaft 8 upon which is mounted the hub port-ion 9 of a main or primary tumbler 10, said tumbler being preferably constructed more or less in the form of a plate and having its side edges presented to the front and rear walls of the casing, the upper end of the tumbler having a tongue 11 which enters a notch 12 in one face of a latching ward 13, said tumbler, when moved in one direction, striking a shoulder 14 at one end of the notch 12 and moving said ward lengthwise and releasing the latching end 15 thereof from its keeper (not shown). One end of the shaft 8 extends through a strap 16 and is provided in its end with a slot 17 with which engages a tongue 18 of an operating pintle 19, the outer Yend of said pintle having a knob 20 attached thereto. The hub 9 is fixed to the tumbler shaft 8 in any suitable manner, as by means of a set screw 21, so that when the knob 2O is operated the tumbier 10A will be swungin the yarcof a circle.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 8, between one end of the hub 9 and the strap 16, is a shutter 22 which co.-operates with an opening 23 in the front face of the casing 1 and through which a coin is introduced into the casing, the shutter 22 having a .slot 24 through which thev coin passes to position over oneface of the tumbler 10 and between said tumbler and a wing 25 extending at right angles to the face of the shutter 22 and at one edge of the shutter, said wing properly guiding the coin to position over the face of the tumbler. Wing 25 is engaged by a portion of the tumbler 10 and swings on the tumbler shaft to move the.

slot 24 out of registration with the opening 23. The shutter 22 is yreturned toy and normally held in its initiall position by means of a Spring' 26, one endYK of which is connected with the strap 16 and the opposite end to an extension 27 on the lower end of the shutter, while the shutter is held in its inoperative position by means of a detent 26, the lower end of which is adapted to engage a notch 29 formed'on one edge of the shutter, a spring 30 causing the lower end of the detent to move into engagement with said notch when the shutter is swung in the arc of a circle on the shaft 8,Y said detent retaining the shutter in inoperative position so that no additional coin can be introduced into the lock until such time as all the parts of the lock have been returned to their initial position. On the face of the shutter 22 is shown the word Vacant which registers with the opening 23 when the shutter is inoperative, while at another point on the shutter are the words In use, which latter words move into registration with theropening 23 when the shutter has been operated by the movement of the main tumbler thereby constantly indicating the condition of the lock.

Mounted in ears 31 on the rear face of the tumbler 10 is a shaft 32 to which are secured a pair of pins 33, the free ends of said pins extending through recesses 34 in the side edges of the tumblers 1() so that when a coin is introduced through the slot 24 its descent will be stopped by said pins and the coin held in position over the tace of the tumbler so that when swinging movement is imparted to the tumbler, through the medium of the knob 20, the coin (see Fig. 8) will engage the end of a pawl 36 pivoted to the casing 1 and cause said end of the pawl to ride over a stop member 37 attached to the 'face of the tumbler 10 thereby permitting the tumbler to be swung to its full stroke and release the latching ward from its keeper. Each of pins 33 may be placed in any one of a series of holes 'formed in the shaft 32 (see Fig. 11) so that coins ot various circum'terences may be employed for operating the lock, whereby different valued coins may be required for operating the lock, and when the pins are set to receive a coin ot' a larger circumference and incidentally ot' a larger value, a smaller coin, when introduced into the lock, will drop between the pins and fail to release the lock. The stop 37 is adjustably mounted on the tace of the tumblerl 10 and may be regulated to project beyond the face of the tumbler a distance equal to the thickness of the coin beingused, so that in the 'event a coin of less thickness than the height of the stop is introduced into the lock it will not lift the end ot the pawl 36 clear of the stop 37, consequently the latching ward will not be released trom its keeper. rlhe end of the pawl 3G is so positioned with respect to the tace of the tumbler 10, that in the event a coin of less thickness than is required to raise the end of the pawl out of the path of the stop 37, is entered in the lock, an additional coin or coins sufficient to raise the pawl above the stop may be entered into the lock without clogging the lock, and likewise the shutter 22 will move sutliciently to permit the additional coins to enter. Then no coin is entered in the lock, the tumbler 10 cannot bc operated, as the stop 37 will strike the end ot' the pawl and prevent further swinging movement of the tumbler, a` spring 38 being employed for normally holding the pawl in the path of thel stop while the downward swinging movement of the pawl is limited by striking a stud 39.

The pins 33 are swung downwardly and out ot the path of the coin so that the coin may descend into the lower part of the casing 1 by attaching a shank 40 to the shaft 32, said shank extending substantially at right angles to the pins 33 and in the path ot a stationary bar 41, the shaft being normally held in contact with the bar through the medium of a coiled spring 42. As soon as the tumbler' 10 starts to swing to move the ward 13 to unlocking position, the end ot the pawl 33 strikes the coin and swings upwardly so that the end thereof passes beyondthe stop 37 and incident to this movement the shaft 32 will be rotated by the shank 40 dragging over the bar 41, thereby swinging the pin-s 33 downwardly and out of the path of the coin so that by the time the end ot' the pawl 36 passes above the stop 37 the coin will be released and drop to the lower portion of the casing. To avoid the possibility of the tumbler 1() returning to its initial position, should the knob not be given a suflicient turn to fully tree the ward from its keeper, thereby requiring that an additional coin be inserted in order to release the ward, a ledge 43 is formed on the hub 9 which will have moved upwardly a. sutlicient distance to permit the toot portion 44 of a swinging latch 45 to pass beneath the ledge just prior to the releasing ot'V the coin from the pins 33, consequently the tumbler 10 will be held in a neutral position until such time as the swinging latch is disengaged from the ledge, and the knob 2O may be turned as often as often as necessary to release the ward from its keeper without the introduction of an additional coin. j

As soon as the foot portion 44 has been moved out ot' the path of the ledge 43 the tumbler 10 will be instantly returned to its initial position through the medium offa spring 46, while the foot portion ot the latch 45 is caused to swing below the ledge 43, when said ledge is elevated, by means olf a spring 47. The shank end 48 ot the swinging` latch 45 enters a notch 49 in the Jface of the ward 13 opposite the notch 12 and is adapted to strike a shoulder 50 when the ward is moved to a position to disengage from its keeper, said shoulder swinging the latch on its pivot and moving the lower end thereof outwardly away from the ledge 43, but so long as turning action is being imparted to the handle 2O for operating the latching` ward to release it from its keeper, the latch 45 will return to position below the ledge 43 be'lore the tumbler can return to its initial position. The tumbler 10, there-tore, can only return to its initial position in the event the knob is released and the door to which the lock is attached. moved to closed position, the movement of the ward lengthwise, incident to Contact with its keeper, causing the shoulder 5G to strike the shank 48 of the latch 45 and swing the toot portion thereof from beneath the ledge 43, whereupon the spring 4G will instantly swing the tumbler 10 to its initial position and the ledge 43 below the tace of the footportion 44. When the parts of the lock are in thisv position they cannot be operated to open the door, except by manipulating the inner knob or handle 51, which is on the inside of vthe closure or door to which the lock is attached and is connected with a pintle 52 which passes through the rear wall 4 and enters a bore 53 in the inner end of the tumbler shaft 8, but is independently movable of said tumbler shaft. To release t-he ward 13 from its keeper by rotating the pintle 52, a

- secondary or inner tumbler 54 is mounted on the pintle 52 and is caused to swing, due to the rotation of said pintle, by means of a pin 55 which passes through the pintle 52 and has its ends entered in slots 56 through the secondary tumbler 54, the movement of the secondary tumbler 54 in one direction causing the upper end .thereof to contact .with a shoulder 57 at the opposite end of the notch 49 from the shoulder 50, the continued swinging movement of the secondary tumbler Vreleasing the latching` ward 13 from its keeper whereupon the door to which the lock is attached may be 4swung to open position. As soon as the knob 51 is released, the secondary tumbler 54 is returned to its initial position by means oi' a. spring 58, the swinging movement ot' the tumbler in this direction being stopped by the bar 41.

The swinging movement ofthe secondary tumbler 54, incident to releasing the ward 13 from its keeper, is also utilized for releasing the detent 28 from the notch 29 of the shutter 22, said tumbler having an extension 59 which contacts with a lever 60 pivoted to the strap 16, the opposite end of said lever 60 striking a shoulder 6l on the under side of the detent 28 and imparting a. lifting action against said shoulder and swinging the lower end of the detent out of engagement with the notch 29', whereupon the spring 26 will immediately swing the shutter 22 to it'sinitial position and again bring the slot 24 into registration withk the opening 23 so that an additional coin may be introduced into the lock for operating the same.

In order to register the number of coins entered in the lock, the ordinary or any preferred form of counter or register 62 is mounted within the casing 1, adjacent one side wall thereof, said counter being operated by connecting the crank thereof with the extension 27 ofV the shutter 22 through the medium of a link 63, consequently each swinging operation of the shutter 22 will be registered on the counter.

In order to observe the number of operations oi' the shutter, a visual opening` 64 is provided in the wall oi' the casing 1 directly opposite the opening in the counter or regisf ter and to exclude from public view the 'designating numerals on the counter, a

.plate 65 is placed on the interior of the casing, the upper end thereof having an elongated slot 66 through which is extended a screw 67, VsaidV screw forming a guide tor the upper end of the plate 65, while the lower end of the plate is heldin juxtaposition to the wallof the casing 1 by means of a strap 68, the lower end of the plate having a shoulder 69 at one edge thereof which normally rests on the upper edge of the strap 68 and holds the visual opening 7 O in the plate out of registration with the opening 64 in the casing, consequently the numerals on the counter will be concealed from view until such time as the plate 65 is lowered. The shoulder 69 is prevented from casually leaving the strap 68 by providing an extension 71 at the opposite edge of the plate 65 from the shoulder 69, the length of said extension being such that it willV rest against the .inner face of the panel 2 when the shoulder 69 is resting upon the strap 68, but when the panel 2 is moved to open position and the plate 65 swung until the shoulder 69 disengages the strap 68, the end of the extension 71 will swing'into the path. of the panel 2 and thereby prevent said panel being closed until such time as the plate 65 is returned to its initial position, thus obviating any possibility of closing the panel without first concealing `from view the numerals of the counter.

In the event it is necessary for the attendant to release the-latching ward to open the door, he may accomplish such result without introducing a coin into the lock by entering a key into a lock 72 which is so arranged that it will engage an extension 73 on the latching ward and will vretract the ward suiliciently to release the same from its keeper and the number of times that the ward is thus operated may be in dicated byv providing a counter 74 which is operatively connected with the lock 72 in any suitable manner.

In operation, the parts being in their initial positions as indicated in Figures'l, 3 and 4, a coin is introduced through the slot 24 and descends onto the pins 33, the stop 37 and the wing 25 guiding the coin onto the pins. The knob 20 is then turned to the right which moves the tumbler 10 and parts associated therewith to the positions indicated in Figure 6, while the shutter 22 will be turned to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. This operation releases the ward 13 from its Akeeper' and permits the door or closure to which the lock structure is attached to be swung open. Upon releasing the turning action on the knob 20, the tumbler 10 and parts associated therewith will assume the position shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, while the ward 13 will return to its initial position. It will be noted that the pawl 36 is not now in position to interlock with the stop 37, consequently the tumbler 10 may be manipulated any number off times for retracting the ward 13, even though the coin has been released from the pins 33. As soon as the occupant enters the enclosure and swings the door to closed position, the engagement oit the outer end of the VWard, 13

with its keeper will force the ward inwardly and cause the shoulder 5l() to strike the shank 48 ot the swinging latch 45 and disengage the lower end thereof from the ledge Y 43, said swinging latch being moved to substantially the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. As soon as the foot portion 44 is moved from beneath the ledge 43 the spring 46 will instantly return the tumbler IO to its initial position, consequently the ledge 43 will be so positioned that the foot portion 44 will not pass beneath the same as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Likewise, the pawl 36 will have returned to its initial position and any attempt to again operate the l-:nob 20 will move the stop 37 in position to engage the end of the pawl and prevent further operation of the tumbler 10.

lVhen the tumbler', and parts associated therewith are turned to the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the shutter 22 will have moved to the position shown by dotted llines in Figure 3, so that the lower end of the detent 28 will engage with the shoulder 29 on the shutter and will retain the shutter in this position until such time as the inner knob is operated to again re# lease the ward from its keeper.

The ward 13 is retracted by the operation of the inner knob by the provision ot the secondary tumbler 54, the turning of the pintle 52 in one direction swinging the upper end oit the tumbler 54 into engagement with the shoulder 57 on the ward 13, the swinging movement ot the tumbler 54 continuing until the ward is entirely released from its keeper, `whereupon the door may be swung to open position. Incident to the swinging movement of the tumbler 54, the extension 59 will depress one end of the lever GO and swing the opposite end thereof against the shoulder Gl of the detent 28, and release the detent 28 from the notch 29 of the shutter 22, thus releasing the shutter and permitting the same to be swung to its initial position through the medium of the spring 26. By retaining the shutter 22 in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig ure 3, the slot 24 will be held out of registration with the opening 23, so that no additional coin can be introduced into the lo'ck until all parts of the loc-k have been restored to their initial locked positions.

Having thus 'ully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a coin controlled lock, a latching ward, a tumbler for engaging and operating said ward, normally operative means for preventing the operation of said tumbler, means carried by the tumbler and relatively movable thereon for temporarily supporting a coin in operative position on said tumbler to render said irst mentioned means inoperative, 'means for normally retaining the supporting means .in position to support a coin, and means for causing movement oi the coin support on the tumbler for releasing the coin when the tumbler operates the ward.

2. In a coin controlled lock, a latching ward, a primary tumbler for engaging andV operating the latching ward, means for preventing the operation of said primary tumbler, an adjustable coin support carried by and movably mounted on the tumbler for supporting a coin in position over one face ot the tumbler for rendering said first mentioned means inoperative and means for automatically moving the coin support out of the path of the coin when the tumbler operates the ward. K

3. In a coin controlled lock, a swinging tumbler, pivotally mounted means in the path of said tumbler, a stop on said tumbler adapted to engage the free end of the pivoted means for holding said tumbler against operation, means for supporting a coin in the path of the pivotally mounted means :tor causing the same to ride over said stop, and means for adjusting said stop for determining the thickness of the coin to be used.`

4. In a coin controlled lock, a locking ward, a swinging tumbler engaging said Ward for operating the same, pivotally mounted means in the path ot' said tumbler, a stop on said tumbler adapted to engage the free end of the pivoted'means for holding said tumbler against operation, a coin support carried by the tumbler for supporting a coin in the path of the pivotally mounted means for causing the same to ride over said stop, and means for retracting said coin support relative to the coin when the tumbler operates the ward.

5. In a coin controlled lock, a swinging tumbler, coin supporting means associated with said tumbler, means for adjusting the coin supporting means for regulating the circumference otl the coin to be used, an adjustable stop carried by'said tumbler, and pivotally mounted means in the path of said. stop for determining the swinging movement of said tumbler in one direction.

6. In a coin controlled lock, the combination With a tumbler, of a pair of coin supporting pins, a shaft to which said pins are connected, means for adjustably connecting said pins to said shaft, means for normally holding the free ends of said pins in position to support a coin over one face ot the tumbler, means for rendering said tumbler inoperative, said means being rendered inoperative by the positioning of a coin on the 'face of the tumbler, a shank connected to said shaft, and means for causing said shank to rotate said shaft and'swing the ends of said pins out of the path of the coin resting thereon.

CII

7. In a coin controlled lock, a Ward, an Operating tumbler therefor, a stop carried by said tumbler, and a pivotally mounted paWl having its free end in the path of said tumbler and adapted to engage said .stop for holding the tumbler against operation, said free end of the pavvl being spa-ced a distance from the face of said tumbler whereby .one or more coins may pass between the tumbler and said end of the pa-Wl.

8. In a coin controlled lock, a Ward, a Ward .operating tumbler, a shaft Xed to .said tumbler, a shutter mounted on said shaft and movable independent of said tumbler, said shutter having a slot therethrough for the passage of a coin, means on said shutter adapted to guide said .coin in position over one face of the tumbler and be engaged by said tumbler vWhen the tumbler is operated.

9. In a coin controlled lock, .a tumbler shaft, a tumbler fixed to said shaft, a slotted shutter mounted on said shaft and rotatable independently of the tumbler, means on the shutter projecting into the path of the tumbler yfor moving the shutter to inoperative position When the tumbler is operated, means for temporarily locking the shutter in inoperative position, a v.pintle co-operating With said tumbler shaft, a secondary tumbler on said pintle, means on the pintle for causing said secondary tumbler to .ope-rate when the pintle is rotated, and means controlled by the operation of the seconda-ry tumbler for releasing' the locking means from the shutter whereby said shutter may return to its initial position.

l0. In a coin controlled lock, a :tumbler shaft, .a primary tumbler mounted on said shaft and fixed thereto, means operable adjacent one face of the lock for operating said shaft and tumbler, a pintle co-operating with said tumbler shaft and rotatable independently thereof, a secondary tumbler mounted upon and opera-ble by said pintlemeans operable adjacent the other face of thelock for operating the pintle, a shutter mounted on said tumbler shaft and movable independently thereof, means on lthe shutter projecting into'the path of the tumbler vfor moving the shutter to inoperativeposition when nthe primary ,tum-bler is operated, means for temporarily locking the shutter in inoperative position, and means controlled by .the fsecondary tumbler for releasing the locking mechanism for the shutter.

ll. In al .coin ycontrolledlock, :a latching Ward, a tumbler for retracting said latching Ward, means for preventing the operation of said tumbler in the absence of .a coin .of

proper thickness and l'circiunference, means for releasing the coin prior to the completion of the retraction of said Ward, and means releasable by said Ward Vfor limiting the return movement of said tumbler Whereby said tumbler may Vreceive `additional operations for retracting .the Ward after the coin has been released from the tumbler.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 7th day of June, A. D. nineteen hundred and `twenty-two.

DONALD C. MORGAN.

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