US1561207A - Changeable-combination key lock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10,1925. 1,561,207

E. M. BENHAM CHANGEABIJE COMBINATION KEY LOCK Filed Jan. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov 10, 1925 07 E. M. BENHAM CHANGEABLE COMBINATION KEY LOCK Filed Jan. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR M. BENHAM, OF NORVVOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOSLER LOCK COMPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CHANGEABLE-COMBINATION KEY LOCK.

Application filed January 21, 1925' Serial No. 3,718.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. BENHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ohangeable- Combination Ke Locks, of which the following is a speci 'cation.

My invention relates to looks, and more particularly to locks of the type commonly known as changeable combination key locks, and this invention relates specifically to an improvement of the lock which is the subject-matter of an application filed by me April 26, 1922, Serial No. 556,709, and entitled Changeable combination key locks.

In said prior and copending application I have described a lock having a plurality of commonly pivoted tumblers, some having pivotal movement in opposite direction to other tumblers. These tumblers are divided into three sets, to wit, the main tumblers, which dog fingers on slides adjustably carried on the bolt bar, the guard tumblers, which dog fingers on plates also supported on the bolt bar, and change tumblers, which dog fingers on other plates also mounted on the bolt bar. The slides and plates above mentioned are preferably arranged in a stack, with a spacer plate intermediate each two of these elements, these spacer plates also extending between adjacent tumblers.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction above referred to without detracting from the advantages thereof. More particularly, the object of this invention is to eliminate the necessity of providing spacer plates in addition to the members which cooperate with the tumblers.

Other objects of my invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide slides for dogging the main tumblers. Intermediate each two slides I interpose a plate, which also preferably extends between two adjacent main tumblers. Some of these plates are arrangedto cooperate with guard tumblers, and others of these plates are arranged to cooperate with change tumblers. In this way, each of these plates not only acts as a spacer plate for the slides and main tumblers, but also serves as an operative part of the guard and change mechanism of the lock.

In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is here by directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating one possible embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the lock;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the lock with thecover removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view and is taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view, showing the position of a main tumbler, the slide and bolt when the lock is unlocked in the regular y;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view, showing the position of a guard tumbler adjusted into unlocking position, and a cooperating plate carried on the bolt bar, which is shown in locked position;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view showing a change tumbler adjusted into unlocking position, and a cooperating plate carried on the bolt bar, which is shown retracted to such an extent that the regular key may be withdrawn from the look while the lock is in unlocked condition;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a regular key;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a guard key; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a change key.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the lock mechanism is housed in a suitable casing, comprising a box 1, having a cover 2. The lock mechanism includes a suitable bolt bar 3, having a bolt portion 4. Th bolt bar is provided with two pins 5, on which are nested or stacked the slides 6 for the main tumblers], the plates 8 for the guard tumblers 9, and the plates 10 for the change tumblers 11. There are a plurality of slides 6 and an equal number of main tumblers 7. Between each two of the slides 6 is interposed either one of the plates 8 or one of the plates 10, and each of these plates extends inwardly a suflicient distance to have its inner end at all times disposed between tumblers is either '1 two adjacent main tumblers '2'. In this way, each main tumbler 7 is maintained at all times in alignment with its corresponding slide 6. The tumbler sets I, l) and ll are preferably, but not n cessarily, pivoted on a single pin 12, extcn wardly from the base of the casing .L. number of guard tumblers and the number 01 change tumblers may be varied bitrarily, and. it desirec, the cha blers may be omitted entirely. requirement is that for each gu rd in.

there is a corres onding guard plate p that for each change tumbler ll corresponding change plate 1 blers may assume various shapes.

sta nce, each regular tumbler 1:: shaped, pivoted at its rear, and ha 13 at its front adapted to receive the 14 of the correspondi n "lide when he tumbler has been aligned 'rewith, by means of manipulating the regular i in the key tube 16 in the regular we after the guard tumblers have been set up by means the guard tumbler 9 may be rectz..wula with a cut-awz portion 12 around tube 16. and have a rearu'ardly pro c finger or shoulder portion 18 for on ment by a guard hey operating In tube 20, and at its front may be provide il with a forwardly projecting linger .21 adapted to enter r cess 22 in the correspond 'ng guard plate 8 when the tumbler has been properly adjusted by means oi the guard key 19. Each change tumbler i1 may be similar to the guard tumblers 9, or. ii desired, instead of providing a linger at its the i .ie provided with a recess 23 adapted to rev ve a finger 24 on the corresponding Jigs plate so that when. the change trmblers lrwc adjusted by propern; manipuh 3 [lie change key in the l tube 20, the

front, as on the guard tumblers, edge or each tumbler ll :w a

cesses 23 of the change iblers 1i aligned with the lingers ch plates 10 to permit sullicieut fell-action the lock while the locl: is dition.

As illustrated in the druwin' there are eight main tumblers and eight slides, one cooperating will each tumbler. is before stated, intei mediate each in unlocked conair:

1! J. 0,5 -.hes.e achanee b tumbler. Accordingi the l i guard and change tumblers seven lock illustrated. There are tour blers and three change iilllllljlQl'S, guard and change tumblers ar ois alternating succession. r iccordingz lv are e ght bits 26 on tire regular l addition to the bit 2b", which engages the lard tumbler or v.

bolt bar to slide the same, and four hits 28 in the guard key, and three hits 29 on the change key.

The operation of a loclc of this type being well-known, it is not deemed necessary nor proper to describe the operation thereoii being sui'licient to say that this loci; operates in the n anner usual to lOClZS of this type.

ln the lock of my said prior application, the presence or" the spacer plates between the slides and tumbler plates necessitated the inclusion oi corresponding spacer plates betweei the tumblers. These spacer plates between the tumblers are new eliminated. Accordingly, for a given number of turnblers the thickness of the lock is now reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate thickness 01" the spacer plates which were required heretofore and are now eliminated as separate elements. Conversely, and for the same reason, in a lock oi a given tl'iicliness more tllll'llJlQlS can be accommodated in my improved lock. and more changes (i connination are available. The decrease in the number of parts for a given number of tumblers decreases cost of materials and manufacture, as well as decreasing the time and expense of assembly. All the adva; k s of my prior loch construction are retained, and the manner 01 operating, adjusting and resetting the lock is similar to the manner of ope 'ating, adjusting and resetting said prior lock.

lVhat I claim is i. In a lock of the character described, the combination. with a first tumbler and a second tumbler adjacent thereto, of a bolt bar, and a plate carrieo on the bolt bar in alignment with the second tumbler and in overlapping relation with said first tumbler.

2. a lock of the character described, the

JLJJ. combination with a lirst tumbler and a second tumbler adjacent thereto, 01' a bolt bar, and a plate carried on the bolt bar in alignment with the second tumbler and in overlapping relation with said first tumbler, said second tumbler and plate having a recess and tongue cooperation and relatively adjustable into and out of dogging relation with each other.

3. In a lock of the character described, the combination with a first tumbler and a second tumbler adjacent. thereto, of a bolt bar, and a plate carried on the bolt bar in alignment with the second tumbler and in overlapping relation with said first tumbler, said plate having a recess at its rear ec go and said second tumbler having a forwardly extending linger, said second tumbler being adjustable to align said finger with said recess. V

l. In a lock of the character described, the combination. with a first tumbler and a second tumbler adjacent thereto, of a bolt bar, ano a plate carried on the bolt bar in alignment with the second tumbler and in overlapping relation with said first tumbler, said plate having a finger projecting rearwardly from its rear edge and said second tumbler having a recess on its front edge, said second tumbler being adjustable to align said recess with said finger.

5. In a lock of the character described, the combination with a slidable bolt bar and a plurality of tumblers, of plates carried on said bolt bar and extending between said tumblers in alternating relation therewith, and other tumblers cooperating singly with each of said plates.

6. In a lock of the character described, the combination with a slidable bolt bar and a plurality of tumblers, of plates carried on said bolt bar and extending between said tumblers in alternating relation therewith, and other tumblers cooperating singly with each of said plates, a plurality of slides mounted on said bolt bar and each cooperating individually with one of said tumblers first mentioned, said plates being disposed between said slides in alternating relation therewith.

7. In a lock of the character described, the combination with a slidable bolt bar and a plurality of tumblers, of plates carried on said bolt bar and extending between said tumblers in alternating relation therewith, and other tumblers cooperating singly with each of said plates, at least one of said plates being a guard plate and at least one of said plates being a change plate.

8. In a lock of the character described, in combination, a plurality of tumblers stacked one directly upon another, a plurality of members aligned singly with said tumblers and coacting therewith, and means for holding alternate tumblers stationary while the other tumblers are actuated.

9. In a lock of the character described, in combination, a plurality of tumblers stacked one directly upon another, a plurality of members aligned singly with said tumblers and coacting therewith, said members being stacked one directly upon another, and means, comprising alternate ones of said members, for holding alternate tumblers stationary while the othersof said tumblers are actuated.

This specification signed this 12 day of January, 1925.

EDGAR M. BENI-IAM.

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