US1589256A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

.lube 15 1926. 17,589,256

H.-sPRu'rH Loox Filed March 1o 1923 4l sheets-sheet 1 I Figd; 12 as l 'June 15 1926.

H. 'SPRUTH LocK Filed March 1d.

- 4 She-ets-Sheet 2 June 15 19.26'. 1,589,256

H. sPRu'rH Losx' 'Filed Maren 1o 1925 sheets-sneu 4 F1928.l Fig-.27.

Patented June 1.5, 1926.

UNITED STATES HANS sratr'rn, -or"IERLIrI-LAn-xv'rr'iz, GERMANY.

LOCK.

- Application led March o10, 1928, Serial No. ,624, 2325 and in Germany March 13,

My invention relates to locks and-more especially to locks of the kind in which the locking or unlocking is effected U U a key aetuatingthe lock by merely beine 1nserteditherein, and where annular tu blers are provided in a stationary or rotatory'cyl-- inder, such tumblers bein .rotated by a f curved Lgroove provided in t e key and acting on a locks of l this kind blers must be provi ed with braking springs or with abutment lugs and retracting springs and their arrangement is such that the key can be introduced only if all tumblers as'. sume`a certain denite position relatively to each other. A In the improved lock according tol the present invention the annular tumblers are freelyrotatable in their casing and cofoperate with a key having at the free end of its shaft a more or less pointed projection formed of two. converging and preferably helical faces.` This projection eo-operates with interior lugs oi the rotatory tumblers which latter. are positivelyturned by the key while it is introduced into the lock to such an extent that notches provided in the tumblers form a continuous straight groove permitting of the introduction of the bolt or latch or the like. The rotatability of the annular.

tumblers, as just mentioned, may, however, be restricted, if desired, in such a manner that theextent of motion of each tumbler relativelyto its neighbouring tumbler or turns bl'ers amountsI only to a small angle whereby it is rendered possible to make the pointed end of the key 'very short and practically obtuse without interfering-with its insertion.

- As the tumblers used in my improved lockv permit of-being arranged in large numbers side by side, and as there is no spring what-v ever co-operating with them, the security and the yelocity of locki and unlocking is considerably increased. he free rotatability ofthe tumblers renders it practically impossible to turn the latter singly into thev opening position by means of a false key or a lock-picker. `Besides, the guide groove'or slot provided in the key may have various `configurations so that an unlimited number ot locks of the same construction may have keyswith guidegrooves orslots of different shape. The invention is applicable to locks by means of bolt or equivalent member. y In. itherto known the tum.- -1

.pad-locks, and so on.

tionad forming part thereof several locks In the drawings aiixed to this specificaembodying my invention are 'illustrated by,

LWay of, example. In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a adlock, the U-shapedl bolt or yoke being unocked and ready for withdrawal.

a--b in Figure 1'.

Figure 3 is a plan and F'gure 4 is a transverse/section 0fan unfinished annular tumbler'.- i

`Figure 5 is a plan of a finished tumbler.

Figure 6 is an illustration similar to Fig= ure l, showing the U-shaped bolt or the yoke in 'locked position.A f

Figure 7 is a view of the key co-operating `With the lock illustrated in Figures 1 and. 6. Figure 8 shows thesame key turned 90 and partly in axial section.L

Figure 9 is an axial section of a modied tumbler casing` and its tumblers l Flgure 10 is a transverse section on the linec-d in Figure 9. i Flgure 11 is an illustration of the key deslgned tol co-operate with a lock having turnblers of the kind'showli in Figures 9 and 10. I -Figure-12 isa plan of a tumbler as shown 1n Figures 9 and 10, ldravvnto a larger scale. Figure 1 3 is 'a side view of twol neighbour- `1n tumblers of the same kind. l igure )14 is an axial section through on such tumbler. v l.

Fi ure 15 is a frontal View of thawork! ing end of the key shown in Figure 11, the scale being the same as of Figures 12-14.

4Figure 16 is an illustration similar to Fig- Efe 12, showing a pressed sheet-metal tumer. Figure 17 is 'a transverse section on the l1ne e-l-f in Figure 16. c

Flgure 18 isla transverse section on the line -g--L in Figure 16. i 4 Flgure 19 is`an illustration similar-to Figure 15' and relating to' the key usedin connection Wlth tumblers of the kind'sh'own in Figures 16-18. l .Fi ure 20 is a side-view of a lock provide with tumblers and a tumbler fcasing constructed according to this invention,l some par@ @ting ShQWD, in vertical section,

`Figure 2 is atransverse section onf the line v Figure 21;.is a section on the line A-,B in Figure 20, the tumbler sleeve being shown in side view as viewed from the left in Figure 20. l .f

Figure 22 is a `separate illustration of the locking member or bolt pertaining vto the lock show n in Figures and 21.

Figure 23 is a side view ofa modified f tumbler sleeve.

Figure 24 is a transverse section on the line C-D in Figure 23.

Figure 25 isa transverse section on the line E-F -in .Figure 23.

Figure 26 is a side view of a tumbler 15 Sleeve having a divided locking member.

25 and lFigure 27 is an illustration similar to Figure 2O showing another modification.

Figure 28 is a section on the line G-H in Flgure 27.

Figure 29 is a horizontal section on the line I-K in Figure 27.

Figure 30 is a side View, as well as a transverseA section of the locking bolt pertaining to the lock shown in Figures 27-29,

31, 32 and 33 show details,

Figures fully described hereinafter.

ln'Figures 1-8, the invention is shown as applied to a padlock.v The lock casing conalso 30 sists of two plates 1 and 2 connected with each other by a sleeve 4 provided with a longitudinal slot 3. Within the sleeve 4 is located a plurality of annular tumblers 5 having each an internal lug 6, as well as an external notch 7 (Figure 5). The plate I1 is the top plate of the padlock; it is provided with two bores 8 and 9 permitting the insertion into the lock casing of the limbs of a U-shaped locking member or shackle l0. The position of the bore 8 is such that it coincides at least partly with the circumference of the tumbler disks 5 Iand forms a continuation of the groove or channel formed by the notches 7' if the position of all tumblers 5 is that shown in Figures l and '2. The limbs of the shackle 10 can be inserted only if the tumblers are in that position.

L Each limb is provided with a recess 11, the length of which corresponds to the thickness of the disk l and the depth of which corresponds to the depth of the notches 7 of the tumblers 5. The shackle limbs mayfthus, be shifted laterally with respect to the disk 1, that is to say, they rn-ay assume the aposition illustrated in Figure 6, into which the limbs are moved by any one of the tumblers, as Well as by all together, as the case may be. lf the tumblers are rotated in unison, or if any one of them is rotated se arately so as to make the adjacent part o? the limb leave the/ notch of the respective tumbler or tumblers," that motion of the latter entails a1 motion of the shackle limbs from the position Figure l to the position Figure 6', the

top disk l-of the lock casing entering, 'at

the bores 8 and 9, the recesses 11 of the shackle limbs whereby'the shackle is checked and the lock is, therefore, locked up. The recesses 11 and, in connection therewith, collars 12 provided between the shackle proper and the limbs proper of the locking member 10 prevent this latter from assuming an oblique position with respect to the tumblers. The sleeve 4 may be provided, if desired, with a lug 13, Figures 1 and 6, Aengaging when the lock i s locked up a recess 14 provided in the adjacent limb of the shackle. Of course, there may be more than one such lug and krecess.

Rotation of the tumblers 5 is effected by a suitably constructed key 15, of which Figures 7 and 8 show one of the many configu rations possible. The shank of this key is hollow and a multi-curved slt 16 is milled v thereinto. The shape of this slot may be chosen as desired, and its portions may be curved in one or the other direction, preferably always beyond 45o. `The free end of the shank is cut off obliquely and forms two curved guide surfaces 18, as well as an edge ora point 17. The key may be introduced into the lock in any desired position. lVhatever the position may be, one or the other of the guide surfaces 18 contacts with the interior lug 6 of the first tumbler and thereafter with the consecutive lugs of the other tumblers. The position of the lugs 6 ofthe tumblers-relatively to the position of their notches 7 corresponds to the position of the various portions of the key slot 16 rela-tively to the point 17, in consequence whereof the tum- -blers are so turned by the inserted key that their notches 7` are placed side by side so as to form a channel adapted to receive one of the limbs of the yoke 10.A The tumblers have arrived in their final position when the key grip 19 contacts with the lock disk 2.

An important feature as regards the right position of the notches 7 relatively to the pins 6, viz corresponding to the configuration of the key slot 16, lies in the fact that the notches are milled into the tumblers only after the pins'G have been inserted, the tumblers having then the appearance shown in Figures 3 and 4. These unfinished tumblers are now shoved on the key, their pins entering into the slot 16 whereby the right position of the tumblers relatively to each other is determined. Now the notches are milled into the tumblers on the key, in that a continuous channel is milled thereinto parallel to the axis of thekey. The thus finished tumblers are shoved into the sleeve 4, Without changing their order. Irrespective of the position of the tumblers, they are adjusted so as to make the notches 7 form a channel merely .by the insertion of.

llO

shackle limbs being in either case shifted' laterally. The security obtained in looking, or preventing unauthorized unlocking of the-lock is very great.

that a practically 'unlimit number of locks of the sam-e type ma y be manufac- Ptured to which `pertain keys distinguished from'each other merely by the different conigurations of their slots 16. Making a falsel key which is anv exact copy of the original is practically out of the question as is also adjusting the tumblers by acpick)A lock or the) like'l The security the lock offers is, thus, extraordinarily great and unparalleled as regards locks ofthe kind in Question, the more so since the tumblers-may consist of thi-n sheet-metal and their number may be very great.'

With thelock illustrated in Figures v1-8 all tumblers.l are freely rotatable in the cas- 'ing or sleeve 4.* The rotatableness (may, however, be ,restricted with respect to the neighbouring tumbler or tumblers, as is 35, the case in the modification showh in Figures .9-15. The tumblers 5 are also in this case rotatable in their. common sleeve 21 which is` provided with a longitudinal slot 3, theyT are prevented from leaving the sleeve 4Q by means of a cap-nut 22. Each. tumbler is coupled with its neighbouring one or ones by a member permittingonly of avrestricted rota-tory movement of the respective tumblers relatively to each. other. In the example `shown s aid members consist of. balls 24 located incircularly curvedslots 23, 'of which thee are always two co-operating with -one P `bal or its equivalent. l Y Another difference, as regards the tumvblers, consists in ,the substitution of`central apertures o f non-,circular shape, such as 2 0 in Figure 10. There are in dthe modificatibn in question semi-circular apertures 20 as shown i'ri Figs. 9 and 10 the chord of f5 which is engaged bythe key. This lartter.

is notl hollow, but its sectional shape corresponds Vto that o 'f the a ertures 20?, and it is ,distorted in the manner shown in- Figure ,11; these distortions beingy an equivalent to 0.0 the multi-curved slot of the key ofthe firstdescribed lock.A The sectional. shape of the Vkey 15," Figure l1, is the' same along the whole length of the distortions, always correspon-ding to theaperture 20.- Atthe free '55' end of the-key Shaft is an obliquev guide face 18" by which the tumblers are so turned by means of the inserted key that their with it the neighbouring tulrbler with which it is coupled by the respective ball 24, the next tumbler being thusl positively turned into such a position that the end 18S of the keyv gets 'irto the range of action of that end. .If this range extends over a certain deiinite angle, say two times 415, the grooves 23 need: extend only over 45'.

The restricted rotatableness of neighbouring tumblers may be brought about, instead of by balls or the like, valso by stationary projections engaging slots of the neighbouring tumbler or tumblers. The projections may .be formed by pressed-out parts of the tumblers, as shown, by way of example, in Figures 16-18 in which the tumbler consists of sheet-metal and is provided on one side with .conical projections 25 7 formed by pressed-out parts of the tumbler, and on' `the otherside with a short radial rib 26 which Aextends above ythe respective plane of'the tumbler, If the tumblers are placed sideKby side 'in such manner that the ribs of onetumbler engage the conical projections of the othersid., the rotatableness of the thus .coupled tumblers-is correspondingly limited. The apertures receiving the key Iare oblong, as shown at 20" in lFigures -16- and 18,and the free end of the key 15, lFigure 19, is correspondingly shaped and provided with oblique guide surfaces 18". w The .novel lock mechanism may be used in connection with locks of any kind. If it is in nded for a door-lock, the sleeve 21, Figures 9 and 10, is arranged rotatably in the lock casing and rotated Iby means/of sli the key, whereby it is changed into a tum-Kv line v- (Figilrehll) 'of thel key, but the i by a projection 27, Figure 11,-of the n 12o symmetricallywith respect tol the middle key' halves extending .from the line w-m t one and the other endqofl the shank -inay be differently sha may be different. p

,Figures 20 and 21 show the parts as used. .in` a doorlock. ,The-lock casing is provided with an internally threaded spacing ring 32,

' intewhich is screwed 1f-gagging v53 that ew' ped and^ alse :their pitches I iso closes the tumbler box 34. rli`his casing is provided with a longitudinal recess re- .':eivingfthe locking member 36, and within the box 34 is a plurality "of tumblers 5 which may be rotated and adjusted by means tween said projections and' may then act' upon the bolt, which extends through a segment-shaped slot/39 of casing 35 into an annular groove of thetumbler box 34. The slot 39 extends through Y'the spacing ring 32 and the casing 33, and the bolt 38 holds the box 34 in its position,

The tumbler box is provided also with annular grooves 4-5 which` all cross 'the longitudinal slot 3. This slot forms a guide for the locking member 36 which is providedl with tooth-like projections 36 extending intothe free space formed by the annular grooves V45 and 45 whereby lateral removing of the locking member is rendered impossible. l Such a locking member'may be manufactured in the most simple manner from a cylindrical piece having lateral parallelwflat surfaces 36 forming guide-surfaces in the longitudinal slot 3 (Figures 22 and 23). The central projection of the projections 36 acts as a tooth on the latch 38, and all these projections hold the locking member 36 in the right position. This member 'may have, cof course, any other desired sectional shape, as well as such o-ther milledoff parts as are suited to the purpose.

In order to permit the locking member 36 to move, with the teeth that extend beyond the slot 3, from the locking position into the open position, that is to say, radially, the tumbler box is provided .with a flat part 37 located at the inner end of the slot 3.

Figures 23-25 show a modification of the tumbler box. It differs from that just de- -scribed only in the. feature that the annulargrooves 45 are dispensed with and are substituted by milled recesses 47 between which the teeth' 36extend beyond the longitudinal slot 3. Said recesses 47 are sub` stituted for the fiat parts 37 of the beforedescribed construction. The modified form presents the advantage that also small tumbler boxes maybe provided with annular tumblers.

With the two forms of constructions illustrated in Figures 21-25, the locking member 36 extends along the whole breadth of the tumblers. In order to hinder burglars to get access to thelock by drilling a holein the casing the locking member 36 may be divided into la plurality of members 46 as shown in Fig. 26 each of which is adapted/to engage a. longitudinal slot 3 in the periphery. of the tumbler box 34, the slots and `locking members being staggered.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 27 and 28 the casing for the locking device consists of two parts 33 and 33 which are screwed into the spacing ring 32 and abut against annular flanges or collars 34 located at, and bordering," the annular groove45 of the tumbler box.

The locking member used in connection with vthis lock consists of a somewhat ovalv shank 48, Figure 30, and of a central projection shaped like a key beard and consisting of a large main tooth 49 and nof' twolateral smaller teeth 50. The shank 48 and the beard or teeth 49, are laterally flattened at 51, these surfaces being guide surfaces Which contact with the lateral surfaces of the longitudinal slot 3 provided in theI middle flanges or collars'34. The tooth o1.' beard part 49 which projects beyond said flanges or collars forms the head of the locking member 48 which acts on the lock bolt,

The member 48 forms a kind of key having its beard in its central portion, the shank lconsisting of two partsextending each from said beard to the ends of thekey, and cooperating with rotary tumblers ofthe kind described.

Coupling the tumbler box with the casing parts 33 is obtained in this way-that Vthe vaulted parts of the teeth or beard parts 50 which lie between the flattened sides 51 enter into correspondinggrooves 52] and 52' of the casing parts 33 and 33. The flattened sides 51 of the locking member 48 render possible a good radial straight-line guidance and makes, besides, the size of theteeth 49 and 50 independentiof the height of the member ,48 so that a uniform maximum strength may be obtained in all checkingparts.

In order to be able to put the tumblers 3 easily and conveniently into the tumbler box 34 and to secure their right position therein without jamming, the vbox 34 is closed at one end by a cap-nut 22. In order to prevent this nut from being screwed out. the longitudinal slot of the box is extended through the rim of said nut, the end of the locking member` 36, Figure 32, engaging the thereby cut-up rim and securing the cap-nutagainst screwing out. The same 'safety means may be used if the tumbler box con;-

sists of two' parts screwed one into the other.

The casing 33 used in connection wi h the tumbler casing of the lock illustrat d in Figures 20 and 21 conditions a compara-4 tively vlarge diameter/of the tumbler casing. having a peripheral .recess to receive said In order to` reduce-this diameter and, therelocking member and .controlling the moveby, the weightialso, the corresponding casing ment of said member radially of the sleeve of Figures 26 and 27 is 1n de in two parts, toits locking and unlocking positions, a key," 33 and 33', whereby at. the same time the coacting. means on each of said discs and the tumbler box 34' isaccurately centered' and key to relatively rotate the discs when the guided by means o the middle langes or key is moved axially in one direction withv collars 34. There must, however, vded`an d is provided, a safety against unauthorized unscrewin means discs t0 permit movement of said memberpto said its unlocking position, and said `discs coact- -means consists of a yoke 53 shifta ly suping with the locking member when the key 'ported in aslot 57 of the "for 'independent rotation and held against cent tumbler discs.

'i i?, tuent 4relative to the sleeve, eac

lock casing, and is moved axially in the opposite direction. provided with Jwedge-shaped projections to project said member toits locking posibe prorespect thereto and align the recesses of said nsY 58 Figure 29, extendlng through lateral retion, and additional meansoperating in the cesses A53, Figure 33, of the spacing ring 32 latter position of the locking member to preinto corresponding notches 54., Figure 29, vent 'movement thereof axially with respect provided at the circumference of the casing to the tumbler discs and the sleeve..

parts 33 and 33. lThe yoke 58 is pressed in- 2.- A lock comprising a plurality of anwards by an adjusting screw 59 provided in .nular tumbler discs and,means for supportthe lock casing 31 and ensures in this way ing said discs in closely contacting vrelation permanently the spacing rin casing parts 33 and 33 in t eir positions movement while preventing the independent relativel to each other.

teeth at its upper rim, as well as at its lower outer periphery adapted to receive a. lockone, whereby it is rendered possibleJ to use ing member, an operating key provided with 32 v.and the with each other for indepen ent rotary or unitary axial movement thereof, each of" .The b lt 38, Figure 27, is provided with vsaid discs beingr provided Witha recess in its the lock for\right hand-closing and left a longitudinally extending sinusoidal surhand-closing. doors. The lower teeth c oface D and adapted for axial movement operate Lwith the latch sleeve 30 arranged 1n through the tumbler discs, eachof said discs the lock casing. There is at said sleeve a having a surface at. its inner edge adapted lug. 30 against which presses the latch to be engaged by the sinusoidal surface of".

spring of the rotated to align the peripheral recesses therebolt is in locking position. The right end lookin member, andsaid discs upon withposition of the lug 59 isensured by an abutdrawa of the key adapted to independently ment 56 provided in the lock casing. the bolt is supported and guided by the the same to locking position. front plate 55, as well as by the' pin 60, also 3. A lock comprising a sleeve, the latch which is connected with the sleeve of tumbler discs arranged within t e sleeve 30 is checked. If the key is so turned that in close contacting'relation with eachother the bolt is moved to the right (Figure 27) for independent rotary movement, each disc the tooth 41,is moved oii the lug 59 which having means to cooperate with a locking then is pressed against said tooth by the member, a key having a longitudinally exspring 29 which moves the bolt further to tending surface to coact with a surface on the right. The Other Gnd POStOIl, at the each of'said tumbler discs in the axial move. right (Figure 27) is 'determined by the ment of the key to rotate said discs relative spring 61 which, however, can sh1ft the bolt' to eachv other, and 'the opposed contacting tolthe. left only as far as allowed by an surfaces of adjacent discs having coacting abutment pin 62. Each of the two springs coupling means thereon restricting the inde- (29 and 61), therefore, shifts the bolt topendent rotation of said discs. wards the .other spring whereby accurate 4. A lock comprising a sleeve, a plurality and quick closing is effected. of tumbler discs arranged within the sleeve I wish it to be understood that I do not in close contacting relation with each other desire to be limited to the exactdetails ofy for independent rotary movement, each disc l aving means to. cooperate with a locking..

construction shown and described, for ob'- a lurality s 29. A second lug 59 is so arranged the key whereby said discs are successively with respect4 to the lower tooth 41 bolt that vit enters below said tooth when the of with each other for the )reception of the As ycoact with the locking member to project vious modifications Awill occur to a person imember, a key having a longitudinallyexf skilled in the art.

I claim: 1`. A lock comprising, in combination with ment of the key to rotate said discs relative a locking member, a sleeve, a plurality of to each other, and means for limiting the tumbler discs closely nested in said sleeve independent relative rotation of the adjatendin axial move- 5. A lock comprising a sleeve, a plurality either independent or unitai/ of said discs of rotatable annular tumbler discs arranged surface to `coact with a surface' on each o said tumbler discs 1n the axial vmo've- 1n said sleeve in closely-nested contacting relation and restrained against independent or unitary axial movement, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot in its said transverse slot adapted to receive a inember to bev locked, each of said tumbler discsbeing providedon the inner side thereof with a key engaging surface, and a 'key adapted to be inserted axially through said discs and having a longitudinally extending sinusoidal surface tocooperate with saidkey engaging surfaces of the tumbler discs and successively rotate said, discs to register the peripheral recesses thereof with the slot in the sleeve wall and thereby permit ofthe inward radial movement of the locking member into said recesses and said tumbler discs upon withdrawal ofthe key independently coacting with .said locking member to pro-,

ject the same outwardly from the recesses of said discs and into engagement with the part projecting into said transverse slot in the sleeve wall.

6. In a lock, a casing, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of relatively rotatable tumbler discs in said sleeve', a locking member mounted lin said sleeve for movement radially thereof, each of the tumbler discs having means to cooperate with Athe locking member and permit movement of said member in one direction to its f released position, a key, said key and the tion said means thereof in cooperative relation with the locking member, said casing having means to permit movement of said locking member to its locking position, said tumbler discs bein relatively rotated in the axial movement o the key in the opposite direction to retain said member in its locking position and prevent rotation of said sleeve.

7. In a lock, a-casing, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of relatively rotatable tumbler discs in said sleeve, a locking member mounted in said sleeve for movement radially thereof, each of the `tumbler discs having means to cooperate with the locking member and permit movement of said member in one direction to its released position, a key, said'key and the tumbler discs having coacting means operative in the axial movement of-the key in one direction to rotate the discs and posi-v tion said means thereof in cooperative relation with the locking member, said casing 'having' a longitudinally extending recess in its wall to permit outward radial movement of the locking member in said sleeve to its locking position and said member having means cooperating with the sleeve to prevent longitudinal movement of said member in said recess, said tumbler discs being relatively vrotated in the axial movement of the key in theopposite direction to retain said member in its locking position and prevent rotation of said sleeve.

8. A lock comprising a sleeve a plurality of closely contacting annular tumbler discs arranged in said, sleeve for independent rotary movement while restrained b5 the sleeve against either independent or unitary-axial movement, each of said discs being provided with a recess in its outer periphery adapted to receive a locking member, an operating key provided with a longitudinally extending sinusoidal surface and adapted for axial movement through the tumbler discs, each of said discsyat the inner edge thereof having anangular surface adapted to be engaged by the sinusoidal surface of the 'key whereby said discs are successively rotated to align the peripheral recesses thereof with each other for the reception of the locking member, said "inner edge surfaces of the several discs in the different positions thereof, compositely determining the average shape ofthe opening through` the series of discsb'and said key having a terminal portion substantially conforming in shapeto said average shaped opening through the discs.

9. A lock com rising a sleeve, a plurality of annular umbler discs arranged in said sleeve in closely contacting relation with each other for independent rotation while restrained by the sleeve against inde-n pendent or unitary axial movement, each of the discs being provided with a recess in its outerperiphery adapted to receive a locking member, an operating key having a longitudinally extending sinusoidal surface, the eurvature of said surface being reversely symmetrical on opposite sides of a Ypoint substantially midway between itsV xfends, and-each of said discs having a surface at its inner edge engageable by the sinusoidal surface of the key when the latter is inserted through the openings in the discs from either side of the lock whereby said discs are successively rotated to align the peripheral recesses thereof with each other for the reception of the locking member.

10. A lock comprising a sleeve, a plurall i-ty of annular tumbler discs arranged in closely contacting relation with each other in said sleeve for independent rotation while restrained by the sleeve against independent or unitary axial movement, each of said discs being provided,` at its outer periphery with means with which a locking member is adapted to coact and each disc at its inner edge having a surface adapted to be engaged by a key to successively rotate the discs and position the locking member engaging means `thereof with relation to each other, and a key axially movable through the annular tumbler discs and havin a longitudinally extending sinusoidal surace to cooperate W1th sald key engaging surfaces of from one the discs, saidA sinusoidal surface end to the other thereof extending In testi mony'vvhereo` I affix my signature.

HANS SPRUTH.

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