US1577803A - Combination electric switch lock - Google Patents

Description

March 23 1926. 1,577,803

' M. C. LEVINSON COIBINTION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK gilad'i'eb. 21, 1924 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NHL/RICE 6T Lawn/son! ATTORNEY.

March 23 1926.

M. C. LEVINSON COMBINATION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK Filed Feb. 21, 1924 2 sweets-sum a I M n.

, ,mmyrox. Naumcz: 6T Lawn/son.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2:5;1926.

UNH'EED stares 1,577,803 rarer-r QFEEQE.

MAURICE G. LEVINSON, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA,. ASSEGNOR AUTO THEFT ALARM CORPORATION, A OOREORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

Application filed February 21, 1924. Serial No. 684,307.

Ton?! whom may concern:

lie 1; known that I, Miiunrcn C. LnvINsoN,

a U a a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, res1d-,

ing at Long Beach, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have in.- vented a new and useful Combination Electric Switch Look, of which the following is a specification. T i

This invention relates to an improved form of switch lock especially adapted to be used in connection with auto vehicles.

An important object is to provide a switch lock operated by a secret combination that will effectually control the ignition and signal circuits of an auto vehicle, to prevent its unauthorized use.

A further object is to provide a switching device of the disk tumbler type that is practically noiseless in operation, thereby rendering it extremely difficult for an unauthorized person to effect an operation ofthe lock to close an electrical circuit.

A still further object is to' provide a switching device in which the enclosing case is so constructed that it will effectually prevent an unauthorized manipulation of the switching mechanism disposed therein.

Briefly the invention herein described consists of a combination lock and switching mechanism adapted to be mounted upon the outer face of an automobile instrument board in order that the driver of the vehicle may conveniently manipulate the same. The casing of the lock is preferably cylindrical in form having a removable back plate attached to the casing in such manner as to prevent unauthorized tampering with the mechanism disposed therein. Rotatively mounted in a bearing on the front face of'the casing is a knob actuated stem, carrying a circular dial provided withsuit able markings, and co-acting with an indi cating mark on the casing face in order that the operating combination of the lock may be readily found by a person familiar with the combination.

Mountedwithin the circular casing is a thin met al' enclosing casing insulated there from and disposed on its bottom wall are a pair of spring switches connected bycircuit line wires to the horn and ignition circuits of the vehicle. Disposed on the knob actuated stem within the casing are a plurality of lock tumblers adapted to actuate a double ended switch arm to close the switches when the tumblershave been rotated to the proper combination, a main tumbler having a cam edge engaging and moving the arm radially to close one or the other of the switches. One of the switches I is connected in circuit with the signal horn reference being had to the drawings accoinpanying the same in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the switching device showing the various operating parts disconnected'and disposed in assemblin'g relation.

Fig. 2 is an electrical diagram of the ignition and signalling circuits of an auto vehicle showing the-method of connecting the switching device in the circuits.

Fig. .8 is a. face view of the switch device.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the device showing a method of mounting the same on'an auto vehicle. I

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 6.

Fig; 6 is a transverse line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the vehicle hood cover switch.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectionof section taken .on

the tumbler and switch operating mecha-- forms an annular flange 12 that engages the outer face of a vehicle instrument board 1- when the switch device is mounted there- The circuit controlling switches and the tumbler mechanism for operating the same are mounted within a circular metallic case or dru1n'15, provided with heads 16, 17, the interior and exterior surfaces of the drum 15 being covered with an insulating material 18, such as fibre. Head 16 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 19 for the passage of the circuit line wires leading from the switches. In this construction I have shown an ignition switch 30, and a horn signal switch 21, the signal switch being normally closed when the vehicle is not in operation and open when the ignition switch is closed. It will be understood that the opening or closing of the horn signal switch has no effect on the usual manually operated-switch connected to the horn signal. I

Horn signal switch 21, consists of a flat spring member 22, segmental in form and rigidly secured in position on a flat circular base 23 by means of a metal tongue 24 projecting from theinner face of the base, the tongue passing through a slot formed in the end of the switch member, and the insulatthe switch member end. The free endof the spring member 22 is provided with a downwardly extending end portion 27 that normally contacts with the other switch member. Switch member 28 is similar to member 22, its free end being turned upwardly and normally resting against switch member 22, its other end being secured to the head 17 and insulated therefrom in the same manner as switch member 22. Ignition switch 30 is also similar'to the horn signal switchconstruction, and consists of a metallie spring member 31, one end 32 being secured to atonguc cut from the base 23and insulated therefrom, while the other member 33 is secured to the base 23 in the same manner as member 31, the two members being normally out of contact with each other as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings when the vehicle is not in operation.

The switch operating and locking mechanisms preferably consist of a plurality of flat- circular disk tumblers 35, 36, 37, loosely mounted on the inwardly extending stud bearing, washers 38, 39, 10, rigidly secured on the stud bearing between the tumblers serving to maintain the tumblers in spaced relation, and also to prevent a shifting movement along the bearings during their rotation. The main operating tumbler 37 is rigidly secured on the shouldered inner endof stud 6, and the switch actuating arm or lever 41 is loosely disposed thereon, the

111g washers 26 secured on either side of switch actuating arm or lever being held against longitudinal movement by a disk 42 rigidly secured to the free end of the operating stud. Tumblers35, 36, are each provided on their peripheral edges with slots 13, 44., and main tumbler 37 is also provided with a slot 15, one of the side walls 16 of the slot being curved to form a cam surface for actuating the switch actuating arm 11 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

'Tipnbler disk 35 is provided on one of its faces with an npstandinglug 50, and disk 36 is provided with a pair of similar upstanding lugs 51, 52, a lug extending from each of the disk faces, while main operating tumbler 37 has a single lug 53, the lugs of the disks are adapted to engage with each other on a rotation to align the slots of the tumblers as shown in Fig. 8, so that the switch actuating arm 41 may be operated. The switch arm 41 is provided with a slot 5st to fit slidably upon the shouldered end of stud 6. This arm is provided adjacent one end thereof with a pin 55, adapted to regis ter with the slots of the tumblers and main tumbler when the proper combination is worked, or to ride upon the peripheral edges of the tumblers when the slots of the tumblers are out of registration.

hen the switching and lock operating mechanisms are mounted within the case 5, a circular closure plate 56 having a centrally disposed aperture for the passage therethrough of the circuit wires, is adjusted in position. This plate 56 is provided on its edge with an annular groove 57, which regis lot) ters when the plate is in position with a like groove 58 formed on the inner circular wall of the enclosing case, a corrugated spring ring being mounted in the grooves to provide against a removal of the closure plate when the switching device is assembled. The inner edge of the centrally disposed aperture in the closure plate has an annular depression 61 therearound that is swivelly engaged by the rounded end 62 of an exteriorly threaded, adjusting tube 63, adapted to engage the interiorly threaded end of a steel tube -64: in which is disposed the wires leading from the switching device to horn signal and ignition coil. The free end of the wire conducting tube 64 passes through an aperture formed in the transverse front wall of the vehicle body. By adjustably securing the tubes together it will be possible to adjust the same to various makes of vehicles, in which the distance from the instrumentboards and the front body'wallsvary. As the outer end of the tube 64: is flanged as well as the switch case it will be seen that when the tubes are screwed together the switch device will be rigidly held in position on the instrument board.

iii

lVhen the switch device is in a locked position, one end 70 of the switch actuating arm 4L1 contacts with spring switch member 26 and holds the same into engagement with switch member 22 to close the circuit through the horn signal, the ignition switch 30 being normally open until the device is operated by apredetermined combination.

Presupposing the parts to be in the position as indicated in full lines in Fig. (3, with horn signal switch closed, and'it "desired to close the ignition switch 30 to enable an operation of the vehicle engine. 'lo accomplish this, that is to cause the end 71 of the switch actuating arm 41 to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the knob 10 is actuated to bring all of the slots of the respective tumblers into registration,

at which time the spring member 28 of the horn signal switch 21 will slide the actuating arm 41 downwardly, the pin entering theslots of the tumblers. On a'further rotation of theknob 10 to the right the vertical side walls of the slots will rotate the arm 41 mtp engagement with a stop 7 formed on the inner face ofthe base plate. hen in this position the horn signal switch will be open and the end 71 of the actuating arm will force the spring member 31 of the ignition switch 30 into engagement with the spring member 3-3 to close the circuit through the ignition coil. When it is desired to open the ignition switch and close the horn signal switch the knob 10 is retated to the left as viewed in Fig. 8, the cam surface on the peripheral edge of the main tumbler lifting the pin connected to the switch actuating arm out of the tumbler slots and sliding the arm 41 so that its end will force the spring switch member 28 of the signal switch into contact with its companion member and thus restore thecircuit through the horn signal.

In order to provide against any tampering with the circuit wires leading from the switch device to the horn signal or ignition coil, I have connected in the horn signal circuit a spring operated switch 75, said. switch being located adjacent one or both of the hood covers 76 of the vehicle, the switch being normally open. By this arrangement, if one or both or" the hood covers are raised, the switch will. automatically close the circuit leading to the signal to sound an alarm. I have also provided a spring operated contact switch 74 in the signal circuit, and mounted the same ad jacent the hand brake lever 7 7 of the vehicle, so that when the same is releasedthe spring switch will automatically close the circuit through the signal horn to sound an alarm It will be perfectly obvious that switches may be mounted in the signal circuits at convenient points on the vehicle, such as the doors, windows, or other parts so that when the same are operated the circuits will be closed to sound the signal.

In the electrical diagram shown in 2, member 22 of the horn signal switch is connected by a line wire '78 to switch '75 and ground, and also through line wire 79' through switch 74: to ground. The other switch member 28 is connected by line wire 80 through signal horn 81 and line 89 to battery 83, being grounded in the usual manner; Member 31 of ignition switch 30 is connected by line wire 85 to battery 83, while member 33 is connected by line wire 86 through ignition coil 87 to a ground.

By insulating the switching and locking mechanisms in the case 5, it will be seen that it any attempt is made to cut the case by using a hack saw a signal will be sounded through the horn 81, as the metallic case is connected to the vehicle horncircuit by a line wire 88, clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. Further, as the tubing which rigidly secures the switching device on the instrument board is formed of tool steel, it will be practically impossible to cut the same with ordinary tools inorder to gain access to the circuit wires disposed therein.

From the above it. will be noted that l have provided anextrcmely compact switch ing device for controlling the ignition circuit of an auto vehicle, which cannot be operated without the knowledge of a secret combination of characters, and which is so connected to audible signals of vehicles that an alarm will be sounded on any tampering with the vehicle parts.

lVhat I claim is: v 1. A combination locking device, comprising a casing having a plurality of electric switches mounted therein, a plurality of tumblers mounted within said case, a revoluble stem extending into said case, a

switch operating arm loosely mounted on said'stem capable of both slidingandrotary movements, and a tumbler disk having a cam edge for engaging and actuating the switch operating arm to control the opening and closing of said switches, saiddisk secured. to said stem and revoluble therewith.

2. A combination electric switch lock, comprising a circular casing, a plurality of electric switches mounted therein, a plurality of tumblers each having a peripheral slot mounted in said casing, a knob actuated stem extending into said casing, a main tumbler secured to the free end of said stem and rotatable therewith, said tumbler being provided with a peripheral slot, one of the walls of said slot forming a cam edge, and a switchactuating arm loosely mounted on said stein capable of both sliding and rotary movement, said arm carrying a slot engaging pin, whereby the switch actuating arm will be locked against movement when the tum- &

bler slots are out of register or is permitted to slide and rotate to operate the switches when the slots are in register.

3. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a turning dial having an apertured hub,

a rotary stem mounted in said hub, a plufor causin successive rotation thereof a pair of electric switches mounted in said casing, a displa eable lever supported on said stem, a pin carried by, the lever disposed for movement into and out of regis tration with the notches of all the tumblers, said pin when in engagement With the notches adapted to open one of the switches when the main permutation disk is rotated in one direction and to close the other of said switches, a reverse rotation of said main disk due to the cam shaped Wall disengaging the pin from the disk notches and locking the lever against movement.

4. A combination locking device, comprising a casing provided With a bored hub, a pair of spring circuit switches mounted in the casing, a knob actuated stem rotatively mounted in the bore of said hub, a plurality of disk tumblers loosely mounted on said hub having peripheral slots, a main tumbler provided with a slot having a cam shaped Wall secured to said stem and rotatable therewith, a switch closing member mounted on said stem having a pin adapted to engage the slots in said tumblers when the slots are in register to close one of said switches and open the other, said member being capable of both a rotary and sliding movement, whereby When the pin on the switch actuating member is rotated in a reverse direction out of disk slots due to the cam shaped Wall it will be locked against movement.

5. A combination electric switch lock, comprising a casing, a plurality of locking tumblers mounted therein, a knob actuated stem extending into said case, a plurality of switches mounted in said case, a main tunr bier having a peripheral cam surface rigidly secured to said stem, and a switch actuating arm disposed on said stem adapted to be operated by the main tumbler on an actuation of the knob stem.

6. A combination switch lock comprising a meal casing, a metal enclosing casing carrying the operating mechanisms mounted in said casing and insulated therefrom, a pair of electric switches mounted in said enclosing case, a knob actuated stem concentric of the casing, a main tumbler and a plurality of locking tumblers carried by the stem, said main tumbler provided with a cam slot in itsperiphery, a lever mounted on said stein capable of both sliding and oscillating movements, a pin carried by said lever and engaging the cam slot in the main tumbler for pressing the lever against one of the switches to close the same, and means formed on said enclosing case for sliding the lever against the other of said switches to close the same.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of January, 1924.

MAURICE C. LEVINSON.

Images