US1588896A - Said hensger - Google Patents

Description

June 15 1926.

M. J. LENSKY EF AL COMBINATION Loox 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet K 1 Filed May 22 www Snom MJ LbNsKy f.' Il. Heh/56er.

June 15,1926.

' M. J. LENSKY ET AL COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 22. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. Ww .E L J.. ym

Patented June 15, 1926 I UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS J'. LENSKY .AND FRED A. HENSGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIOi; SAID HENSGER ASSIGNOR TO CARL R. TAYLOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application led May 22,

This invention relates to combination locks and more particularly to a combination lock for controlling an electric circuit such as the ignition circuit of an automobile.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact, easily operable lock which is adapted to be set for any one of a large number of combinations and in which the combination can be easily clanged whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a lock in which the controlling elements can be individually actuated and reset by a single actuating member. i

A further object is to provide a combination lock operated by a rotatable knob which is movable in and out, as well as rotatably to operate individual controlling members and to reset the controlling members.

A further object is to provide a dial movable with the operating knob to actuate the controlling members, and provided with means for automatically positioning' the `dial with respect to the controlling members.

l Other objects will be apparent from the following description in connection with the annexed drawings.

The following description and annexed drawings set forth in detail certain means embodying our invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lock showing a `portion of the cover plate broken away to show the dial.

Fig. 2 is a section through the lock taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4 showing the knob pushed in to shift one of the controlling pins.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing the knob pulled out to reset all the controlling pins.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the lock attached to its support.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing thc manner in which the lock is applied to an automobile ignition system.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views showing the knob, cover plate, dial, insulating block, resetting plate and connecting bolt,and'lock casing, respectively,

1922.. Serial N0. 562,768.

separated but arranged in the order in which they are assembled.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the dial.

1Iig. 14 is a plan view'of the resetting p a e. p

Referring` to the annexed drawing, the lock ousing consists of a cup shaped casing 1 and a cover plate 2. The casing 1 has a -iiat back ,wall 3,.a cylindrical body and an outturned front flange 44 to which the cover plate 2 is attached. The entire lock mechanism ismounted in the housing and the casing 1 is fitted into an aperture in a support 5, such as the instrument board of an automobile, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with the flange 4 resting against the outer face of the support around the aperture. The lock housing is secured to the support 5 by means of bolts 6 passing through the support from the rear and through apertures 7 in the iiange 4 and screwedinto threaded apertures 8 in the cover plate 2 which register -with the apertures 7 in the flange 4.

Figure 6 shows the lock applied to the ignition circuit yof an automobile. One terminal is connected to the wire11 which is connected to the primary 12 of a transformer,tlie secondary 13 of which is connected to the distributor -14 which delivers the current to the spark plugs 15 in proper succession, as is well understood in the art. The wire 11 is preferably enclosed in an armored conduit 16 secured to thecasing enclosing the coil. The conduit is of a wellknown type which cannot be easily cut or severed and is suitably secured in any wellknown manner to the lock casing and the coil casing, so that it cannot be removed therefrom without destruction or removal of such casings. The wire 9 is lpreferably not enclosed inthe armor casing but leads directly to the battery from one terminal of the lock.v With this construction it will be seen that the wire 11 is well protected between the combination lock and the coil casing, so that it cannot be reached and short-circuited outside the lock.

The circuit make and break devices of the lock are mounted in a circular block of insulating material 17, which fits within the casing 1 and is rigidly secured therein. The insulating block 17 is provided with a boss 18 adjacent the edge thereof, which projects through 'an elongated aperture 1.9V in the of the inner face Vwall 3 of the casing 1 rear Vall 3 of the casing 1. rlhe boss 18 has einbedded therein a pair ot' conductor terininal posts 2O and 21 adapted to be connected to 'the Wires 9 and 11 o'i the igcircuit. The body oi the insulating,l o 17 is spaced troni the rear vall 3 ot h easing 1 by inea-ns of a plurality ot bosse Q2 which abut against the rear vail. Bol holes 23 extend through the block 1T centrally ot the bosses 12 and are counterbored to receive the heads of attaching bolts E24: which are screived into threaded apertures 25 in the rear Wall 3 ot the czrsing7 which register with the bolt holes 23 in the insulating block 1.7. The insulating block 17 has a relatively deep peripheral groote and a series ot regularly spaced aiertures 27 extending` therethrough and intersecting the bottoni portion of the groove 26, Fit ting in each of the apertures 2? is pin 28 forined of hard rubber or other insuletiA 11; material, the pins 28 being` all et 'the size and shape and interchangeable. Each pin 2S has a pair ot periph ral round bottoni grooves Q9 spaced equal distances 'trein ition sin CD the opposite ends thereot and a thin niet lic collar 30, preferably of brass, at one en and extending,` into one of the grooves 29. Mounted in the peripheral groove 2G of the insulating' block 17 are a series or inetellic balls 31. interposed between the pins 23 and adapted to seat in the rounded grooves il of the pins. The balls 31 are held in place by e suitable elastic ring 32 which rn t have an insulated inner face and may be in the. 'forni or a rubber band.

The band or ing 32 is preferably superposed by a sprin 32 which together with the band gives sui.- ficient tension to hold the bulls 31 firmly place. The terminal posts QG and e. Contact with one oit the balls and *when tl pins are so positioned hat the r collar ot each pin 28 is in Contact .vith the adjacent balls 31, current can lovv troni the terminal post 20 to the other terniinal post il through the balls 31 and collars 30. A. pin resetting` plate 33 is nounted to movement between the rear Wall 3 or" the casing 1 and the rear 'tace of the insulating' block 17. The resetting plate. 33 has an elongated aperture 3l through which the boss 18 oit the insulating block 17 extends and apertures 35 to receive the soar/Jing; bosses 22, The resetting plate 33 is sli lable on the bosses 18 and 22 bet-Ween and the rear 'tace the insulating block 17. A. dial plate 36 has a central cylindrical boss 3'? projecting; from its inner face and fitting` in a central aperture 33 through the insulating` block 17. Projecting` from the front tace oi"- the dial plate 36 is a knob receiving' boss which extends through a. central aperture cover plate. rllhe dial plate 3G axially through the bosses 37 and o9 the rear ceive a connecting` bolt 11 and the boss 39 has a counterbore 42 in which the knob is secured. The knob 4:3 has a knurled head All and a cylindrical. boss 1which tit-s within the counterbore 42. T he boss Ll5 of the knob is bored axially and tapped to receive the threaded end ot the connectingv bolt l1. A stud secured in the bottoni oli the counterbore 49. of the dial plate boss 3S) and the boss l5 ot the knob -l3 has u b re Il?, into 75 which the stud 48 projects to prevent rotation or" the l'nob lf2 with respect to the dial plate The roar wall o the casing Yl has a cent-ral aperture 4S large enough to perinit the hoz. l 50 ot the connecting bolt t() S0 to 'freely pass therethrough. Vlie resetting plate 33 has a cent 'al A ture 5l 'to receive the sten or the connecting bolt Ll0. n coil d b-tn'een thc end ot t 3G and thc re- S5 l Lo normally hold the und 'o `ie inner 'tace o't toting` plate 33 't the .ng l.

and rcs-'et- 90 d as above dee rotated by the n be pushed to- T br; pressing inhe ref-,'etting- J ist the rear face of thc ij block 7 by pulling the knob `dly, the dial plate, icsetingf plate and knob being returnrd to nornia p-A i tle spring 50 when 2W "F Q,"

o carries inw? o3 which is inv one ot' the apertures Q block ant to the knob focrture when 't "e the ate row of concave indentations 54, which have the same angular spacing as the apertures 27 in the insulating block 17. A slidable pin provided with a rounded end ei'igageable in the identations 54 in the dial plate 36 is seated in a recess 56 in the insulating block 17 and is pressed outwardly by means o1 a coil spring 57. The outer face of the dial plate 36 is .provided with an arcuate row of suitable characters such as the ordinals 1,2, 3, etc., which have the same angular' spacing as the apertures 28 in the insulating block. The cover 2 has a cirN cular aperture 58 covered by .a transparent panel 59, `in registry with which the characters on the dial are successively positionet as the dial is rotated. rthe dial plate 36 is so positioned with respect to the insulating .ilock 17 that when the spring pressed positioning pin 55clicks into an identation 54 on the'inner face of the dial plate, one of the characters on the dial registers with the aperture 58 in the cover 2 and the stud 53 registers with the corresponding aperture 27.

In the drawing, a dial plate bearing thc numeralsl to 12 isshown, corresponding to the twelve apertures 27 in the'insulating block 17, in which the pins 28 are mounted. The stud 53 is so positioned that when the numeral 1 on the dial registers with the aperture 58, the stud 53 is'in alinement with the first pin 28 on the left hand side of the terminal posts 20. Y By turning the knob43 'in a clockwise direction, the numerals 1 to 2 are successively brought into view and the dial plate is successively positioned opposite each of the twelve controlling pins 28. 1t 'is to be notedthat between the numerals 1 and 12 on the dial plate is a space substantially larger than the'intervening spaces between the numbers consecutively arranged on the dial. Similarly, the indentations 54 on the inner face of the dial plate have an unusually large space between the first and last indentations. By this arrangement the operator can rotate the knobs 43, listening to the click of the pin 55 until the space is reached between the first and last identations. He will then know that the first clicks after that corresponds to number 1 on the dial, etc. Even in the dark therefore he will be able to operate the correct combination simply by listening to or feeliug'the clicks as the dial rotates.

The lock may be set for any possible combination of the numbers on the dial by reversing the pins corresponding to the numbers o1 the selected combination. As shown in Fig. 4, all the pins have'their metal covered ends. to the rear of the insulating block resetting plateV 33 against the rear face of the vinsulating block 17 to return the projecting pins tov their original position. The' circuit can be rendered inoperative if desired by turning the dial to expose one of the numbers not in the combination and pushing inY the knob 42. If so locked, it is necessary to pull the knob outwardly to reset the pins before operating the combination. In order to close the circuit it is necessary that only the pins corresponding to the numbcrs of the combination be actuated. 1f a wrong pin is actuated, it is impossible to closethe circuit without first resetting the pins. Meddling with the lock by an unauthorized person may thus be detected. It the owner has locked the car by resetting the pins and someone has pressed in a pin not one of the combination during his absence, he willknow that the lock has been tampered with because when the combination has been operated the circuit will not be closed rand it will be necessary for him to reset the pins andreoperate the combination. Y

In assembling the lock the pins 28 are assembled in the apertures 27 in the insulating block 17 with the pins corresponding to the selected combination reversed with respect to the others, and the balls 31 are assembled within the band 32 in the peripheral groove 26. The resetting plate 33 is fitted upon the bosses 18 and 22 of the insulating block 17 and the block 17 with the resetting plate 33 in place thereon is att-ached to the rear wall 3 of the casing k1` by means of the bolts 24. The coil spring 52 is inserted in the axial aperture 38 of the insulating block 17, the spring 57 and pin 54 areplaced in the recess 56 in theinsulating block 17, and the boss 37 of the dial plate 36 is inserted in the aperture 38 of the insulating block. The cover plate 2 is then placed upon the boss 39 of the dial plate, knob boss 45 insertedA in the counterbore 42 of the boss 39 with the pin 46 in the bore 47. The connecting bolt 41 isthen slipped through from the rear and screwed into the knob 43. The cover plate 2 is then positioned and secured to the flange 4 orp the casing 1. Forv securing the cover plate 2 to the flange 4 before the lock is fitted upon its support the cover plate 2 has threaded apertures alternating with the attaching bolt apertures 8l and the flange 4'has aperh tures 6l alternating with the apertures 7. The apertures 61 are countersunk on'the rear side of the flange 4 to receive the heads of screws 62 which secure the cover plate in ico place. lith the dial characters vand pin operating stud arranged as shown in the drawings, the cover plate 2 should be positioned when attached to the flange t with its aperture 58 diametrically opposite the boss 18 of the insulating block 17. The lock will then be positioned on the instrument board 5 with the aperture 58 at the top and the lug 18 at the bottom. IVhen the lock is attached to its support none of the lock attaching devices are accessible except from the rear side of the support, so that it is not possible foi` anyone to gain access to the lock mechanism from the front thereof.

It will thus be seen that we have devised a simple and efficient mechanism for easily making the electric circuit, for the ignition circuit of an automobile if the lock be applied to this use by simply shifting the proper pins so that their electrically conducting grooves will contact with the balls. As there may be any number of pins to be shifted and as there are a great multiplicity of combinations possible, it will be practically impossible for an unauthorized person to obtain the correct combination.

It will also be noted that if any one of the pins not in the combination to produce an electric circuit be shifted, the shifting of any or all of the remaining pins will not give a continuous electrical circuit through the llock, and all of the pins will have to be reset by pulling the actuating member outwardly and the correct pins in the combina.- tion properly shifted.

It will also be noted that as the pins are reversible, the combination may be changed as frequently as desired by simply removing one or more pins and reversing them end for end when returning them to the insulating block.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for the puposes o f explanation and illustration, and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. In a combination lock, the combination with a series of shiftable controlling members, of a selective operating member mounted for movement into operative relationship with the individual controlling members and operable when so disposed with respect to a controlling member to shift the same and operable in any position to retract all controlling members which have previously been shifted.

2. In a combination lock, an arcuate row of shiftable controlling members, a rotatably and slidably mounted actuating member, said member having means thereon engageable with a controlling member when said actuating member is shifted bodily in one direction, and means for controlling the rotative movement of said actuating member to cause the same to stop with the engaging means in alinement with one of the coiitrolling members.

3. In a combination loch', a casing, a block fixed in said casing, an arcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, a rotatable and bodily sliiftable dial plate, having astud on its inner side, means for controlling the rotative movement of said dial to cause said stud to be alined successively with said pins whereby said pins can be successively shifted by a bodily movement of said dial plate, and means for resetting said pins.

Ll. ln a combination lock, a casing, a block fixed in said casing, an arcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, a rotatable dial plate movable toward and Vfrom said block, said dial plate having a stud projecting from its rear face and an arcuate row of indentations therein, said dial plate having also an arcuate row of characters thereon, the angular spacing of said pins, the indentations in said plate and the. characters in said arcuate rows being the saine, a detent carried by the block and engageable with said indentations to cause said stud to register with the individual pins, a cover plate for said casing having an aperture with which said characters on said dial plate successively register when said dial plate is rotated and a knob projecting through the cover for actuating said dial plate.

5. In a combination lock, a casing, a block secured in said casing, said block having an arcuate row of apertures therethrough, pins slidably fitting in said apertures, a rotatably actuating member mounted for bodily movement toward and from said block and adapted to shift the individual pins when moved toward the block, a resetting plate upon the opposite side of said block and means for moving said resettinfY plate toward and from the rear face of saitl block to reset all pins previously shifted.

6. In a combination lock, a casing, a block secured in said casing, said block having an arcuate row of apertures therethrough, pins slidable in said apertures, a cover plate, a pin actuating member rotatably mounted and slidable between the block and cover plate, a resetting plate slidably mounted between the rear wall of the casing and the rear face of the block, a spring interposed between said resetting plate and actuating member for normally holding them in engagement with the rear wall of the casing and the cover, and a common actuating means for said actuating member and resetting plate for rotating said actuating member and shifting the same toward the block and for shifting said resetting plate toward the block.

7. In a combination lock, a circular block having a peripheral groove and a series of apertures intersecting the bottom portion of said groove, a series of slidable pins in said apertures, each of said pins having a pair of peripheral grooves, one of said grooves being normally in register with said groove, a series of balls in said block groove, each ball engaging in the grooves of two adjacent pins, resilient means for holding said balls in said groove, and means for shifting said pins to engage either of the grooves thereof with said balls.`

8. In a combination lock, a circular insulating block having a peripheral groove and an arcuate series of apertures intersecting the bottom portion of said groove,` a series of pins made of insulating material slidably fitting. in said apertures, each of said pins having a pair of peripheral grooves and a metal band encircling one of said grooves, said pins each being adapted to be reversely positioned in said apertures, an arcuate row of metallic balls alternating With said pins in said block groove, each of said balls being in engagement with one of the grooves in each of two adjacent pins, conductor terminals in engagement With the end balls of the row, means for yieldingly holding said balls in place, and means for selectively shifting said pins and resetting the same.

9. In a combination lock for making an electric circuit, the combination with an arcuate row of shiftable reversible non-conducting pins having a portion of their surfaces forming an electrical conductor, of electrically conducting members contacting with adjacent pins, and a selective operating member mounted for movement into position to shift any such pin to make 0r break the electric circuit between such electric conductors. f

l0. In a combination lock for making an electric circuit, the combination with a casing, of a block fixed in said casing, an arcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, said pins having grooves to be engaged by resiliently-pressed, electrically conducting members mounted in a groove in said block to normally tend to hold said pins, one of said grooves of each pin forming an electrical conductor, and a selective actuating member rotatable to individually shift said pins to aline the electrically conducting grooves with said electrically conducting members whereby an electric current can pass through said electrically conducting members and pins.

11. In a combination lock, a circular block having a peripheral groove and a series of .apertures intersecting the bottom portion of said groove, a series of slidable pins in said apertures, each of said pins having a peripheral non-conducting groove and a peripheral electrically conducting groove, one of said grooves being normally in register with said groove, a series of electrically conducting balls in said block groove, each ball engaging in the grooves of two adjacent pins, resilient means for holding said balls in said groove, and means for shifting said pins to engage either of the grooves thereof with said balls, whereby an electric current may be transmitted through said pins and balls when said electrically conducting grooves of said pins are in contact with said balls.

l2. In a combination lock for completing an electric circuit, the combination with a casing, of an insulating block carried by the casing and having a groove therein, a series of circuit making or breaking members shiftable transversely of said groove, electrical conducting members mounted in said groove to resiliently engage said shiftable members, said shiftable members having portions of their surface electrically conductive, and selective means operable to individually shift said members to make or break the circuit, and means to reset said members.

13. In a combination lock for an electric circuit, the combination with a casing, of an insulating block carried thereby and having a groove therein, a series of pins mounted in said block for movement transversely of said groove, said pins having portions of their surface formed of electrical conductive material and other portions of said pins being non-conductive, electrical conductive members in said groove and resiliently engaging said pins, means to selectively shift said pins individually to make or break the electric circuit, and means to reset said members.

14. In a combination lock, a casinghaving a cover member, a block fixed in the casing, an arcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in the block, said cover member having an aperture therein, a 10- tatable and bodily shiftable dial plate having a stud on its inner side ,and having indicating devices on its outer side to be visible successively through said aperture, means for controlling the rotative movement of said dial to cause said stud to be alined successively with said pins indicated by said indicating devices, whereby said pins can be successively shifted by the bodily movement of said dial plate, and means for resetting the pins.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures.

MORRIS J. LENSKY. FRED A. HENSGER.

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