US1606279A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

'M. WILDRICK Nav. 9, 1926.

LOCK

Filed Nov. 24, 1925 s sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR By Attorneys,

Nov. 9 1926.

M. WILDRICK LOCK Filed Nov. 24. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZM WA By Attorneys,

Patented Nov. 9.1926.

MEADE WILDnIoK, or SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, AssIGNo'It, BYfivIEsNEAAssientaaims,

To THEsEsAMEE COMPANY, or ruftJa'rroiao,r CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

LOCK.

applicati@ inea November 24, 1925.'v serial 71,096.-

This invention relates to improvements in locks, preferably of the keylessftypeycoin-l monly designated permutationlo'cks or 'Combination locks. Such locks comprise, i'n gene eral, a'bolt lor other locking `element'th'e effective movement of which, under certain desired Circumstances, may Vloe preventedby variably sett-able movement-obstruoting` elements or tumbleis usually in the form rof permutation wheels, sometimes called 'combination wheels, which -must be setin a=pre determinedl relation to [permit the boltgor locking element to be moved. l

Itis an object'of the present invention -to i provide va lock of the above described character in which lthe settable movement-obstructing elements herein referred toas tumble'rs are Ymounted in a housing which is movable with respeet tol lthe :fixed portionof the/lock and ywhich may be used as 'a manipulator for the'bolt or lockingelement. Except ivhen't'he tuniblers have been set in 'a prede-y termined relation,'mo'vement of the connected housing and locking element is prevented by stops mounted in or forming a partof' the stationary'or fixed portion of the lock f and lying in'thepa'ths ofvmovementof parts of the tumblers. i y l Itis a further object ofthe invention to provide means whereby the fcoinbination 'of the 'lock 'may be readily 'changed and to con; trol the` conditions under rwhich a change of c the combinationmaylbe'eected control relative movement betweentwo or more parts.

In the drawings illustrating the 'preferred and one modified form of the inventiony Figure lis Aa face view of a loclI embodying the invention lin its preferred form.

Fig. is va face view of lthe same lock drawn to alargerscale, parts being broken away nand parte'being illustrated in section. Flg.' Bris fa view ofythe lockillustrated in Fig. Q J parts'beingA shown in elevatio'nand'V Vparts 1n section 'along the line 3 8 of Fig.v

2`vi'ewed in' the :direction .indicated by the arrows. v

.Figft is "a viewin orossfsection taken along the linee-4 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Y Fig. 5 isa side view of the 'loclI drawn to a smaller scale than that of Figs. 2, `3 and 4L, parts' being 'shown in'longitudin-al section through the `'line of Fig. .Las viewed in the directionindicated 'by the 'arrovvsff f Fig'is' a face view lof the mounting'mem- 'i Y bery orstationary part of being lrem'oved.

the lock, other 'parte' f the tumble'rs and' associated mechanisml are ',Fg. 8' is a view in cross-section through the mounting member and tumbler housing, l" VJ@he two parts ofthe housing and the mount-.

'ing member being v indicated as having been detachedandjslightly7 separated." y Y l Fig. 9 Vis a view in perspective of a tumble'r herein disclosed -asea two-'part permutation'wh'eel, one part comprising 'alock-controlling" element and the other comprising a setting element.

Fig. 10 is -a view, vin longitudinal cross-V section, of the lock disclosedyin- Fig. @,th'e locking element, ltumblers andtumbler cas ing Vbeing indicated in the positions :to which they ar'emoved-to render the lock ineif'ectiife.

11 is a similar cross-sectional view of the lock, parts Yofv the -same being indicated .as havingbeen vmoved to positions rwhich make 'it'p'ossible to vary Vthe relations bel jaloIig the lline :l2-l2 of Fig. *15, andfp'arts being shownin cross-section along the-line 12"-12 lof Fig. 15,A said parts being viewed in A'the direction indicated 4by ythe arrows.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional vieW of the lock illustrated in Fig. 12, the section being taken along the line 13-13 thereof and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. y

Fig. 14 is a View in cross-section through the mounting member orstationary part ofl the lock illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view ofthe assembled lock.

F ig. 16 is a side view of one of thepermutation Wheels of the lock illustrated in Fig. 12, said Wheel being detach-ed from the mechanism.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 11 of the .drawings, the preferred form of the invention is indicated as being embodied in a lock coinprising a relatively A.stationary or fixed mounting element 30, a locking member 31 and a lock-controlling mechanism mounte in a tumbler housing or casing 32 (Fig. 4), the mounting element being. adapted for attachment to the bonr or other structurerhaving parts to be locked, and the lockingmember. 31 and housing'32 being so mounted therein as to be movable from a position in which the locking member' is effective to a positionin which it is ineffective.

The tumbler housing may, in order to facilitate assembling, be constructed in tivo parts herein disclosed as a rear box-like portion or casing v33 (Fig. 4) and an exposed face plate or cover-like portion 34, saidv parts being connected together by means of lugs (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and S), Which may project from the rear surface ofthe face plate through slots 36 in th-e mounting member into direct engagement withopposed surfaces ofattaching iianges 37 yextending outwardly from the side Walls of the rear portion of the housing. Separation of the front and rear portions of the housing may be prevented by fastening means of any appropriate character, such, Yfor example, asscrews 38 passing through openings '39 in the rear portion of the housing'and having 4threaded engagementfvvith holes 40 tappedr in the lugs 35.

As clearly indicated in Figs. 1', 2 and 5, the length of the slots 36 exceeds the length of the lugs 35 by an amount equal to the desired movement of the locking member to provide for the movement of the housing With the locking member from its effective to its ineffective position.

The locking member 31 may be `connected With-the tumbler housing 32 in any desired manner, as by means `of a shaft or bolt 41 which; may be passed through a kbracket 42 extending rearwardly from the under surfacel of the mounting element. In order to facilitate the assembling and detachment of the parts, the bracket 42 may I:be made separate from the face portion'of. the mounting element and may be secured thereto byV screws or other appropriate fastening means V43 passing through openings in the mountrlocking member 31 may be detachably secured to a squared endportion 45 (Fig. 3)

of the bolt 41 in any suitable manner, as'by means of a pin 46.

The mov-ement of the locking member 31 andconnected parts from an effective locking positioin as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, to an ineffective position, as indicated in Fig. 10,y may be controlled byV the movement-obstructing elements'or tumblers 47 (Fig. 2) mounted in thehousing 32 .and cooperating With stops 48 which may preferably comprise parts of the mounting element 8() or other fixed part of the lock structure, Vbut might, if desired, constitute separately constructed elements, mounted or secured therein in any appropriate manner. Y y

In the preferred form of the invention cach of the tumblers may comprise a lockcontrolling element and a setting clen'ient 50, the former of which n'iay consist rof ahub` 5l provided Withv tivo. oirtwardly-extending spaced fianges 52, 53, the latter to serve as a part of the means whereby. the two elements of the tumbler may be coupledy together, and the former to serve as a means cooperating With the stops 48 in controlling the movements of the locking member and connected parts. v

The coupling of the tivo parts of? each of the tumblers may be satisfactorily effected by means of one or more pins 54 projecting from one surface lof the setting element l into engaging relation with one of a series ofL notched portions 55.l in Vthe flangev 153, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

When the parts of the lock are intheir .effective positions as indicated in Fig 2, the stops 48 lie in the paths of movement of the abutments afforded bythe flanges 52 and thereby prevent the shifting of the housing and connected locking member to unlocked position. Each of theflanges 52 is provided With a slot 56 Which forms a clearancevvay for the adjacent stop 48 when in registration therewith, thereby permitting the lock-controlling element of the tumbler (to be moved to the left to the position indicated in Fig.A 10. A i y y To facilitate the setting of the ytumblers in a predetermined relationsuch as to cause the slots in the flanges 52'to be brought into registration With the stops, 48 and permitthe lock-controlling element to be moved to its ineffective position,y each yof the 'setting elements 50, which may be mounted upon one yelements of the tumblers, as indicated in Fig. 1l. It will be observed that, if the lock is in the position indicated in Fig. 2, this operation can only be effected when the permutation Wheels are in their set position, otherwise the separation of the parts of the tumblers Will be prevented by the stops 48, which constitute fixed parts of the lock structure. y These stops prevent movement of the abutments tothe left, and movement of the setting elements kand housin to the right '1s i prevented by the engagement of the lugs 35 With the Walls at the right-hand ends of the slots 36, as illustrated in Fig. however, the tumblers have `been set in accordance with the combination of the lock,

' the couplings may be disabled in the manner heretofore explained, and, with the parts ofthe lock in the vpositions illustrated in Fig. 1l, the setting elements4 may be freely turned to any desiredV positions corresponding with a new combination While the lockcontrolling elements are held fast b-y engagement bet-Ween the slotted abutments 52 and the stops 48.Y After the combination has been changed, the parts of the lock are restored to their normal positions by rotation of the manipulator 72 and connected parts in the proper direction to vadvance the threaded driving element 68 from the position indicated in Fig. 11 back to the position indicated in Fig. 2. y

In order that the coupling` disabling mechanism may notv be operated to effect a change of the combination when the'lock'ing mechanism vis locked in the position in which the locking member is ineffective, additional locking means is provided to prevent such operation Without first placing the tumblers in accordance With some predetermined combination. This feature of the invention, as herein disclosed, comprises a series of stops extending from 'the inner surface of the tumbler housing into the paths of movement of the flanges 53, except when said flanges are turned into positions such as to bring` extended slots 76, provided for such purpose in the flangesv 53, into registration With the. stops 75. If the slots 76 of any one of the flanges 53 is not in registrati-on with theV adjacent stop 7 5, relative lateral movement of the component elements of the tumblers is prevented, since the setting elements 50 are held Within the housing because of their engaging;` relations With the slots 58 and 59, and movement of the lock-controlling elements to the left with respect to said housing is prevented by the contacting elementsv of the flanges and the stops 7 5.

From the foregoing description of the locking means which controls the operation of the coupling disabling mechanism it Will be apparent that, if it is desired to prevent meddlers from changing the combination at times when the coupling disabling mechanism is accessible, this may be effected by merely moving the parts of the lock to their ineffective positions and then turning the tumblers out of their set relation` ln order to operate the coupling disabling'mechanism it is then necessary to first reset the tumblers into a predetermined relation, WhichV can be done only by 'one who has knowledge of the combination.V

ils clearly indicated in Fig. l of the' drawings, the lock embodying the. above described invention may be so constructed as to present an extremely neat and simple appearance. There is no requirement that such a lock be provided with anything in the nature of a projecting knob, hook or handle by which itmay be operated. The face plate34 of the housing 32, which projects slightly above the surface of the face plate `of the mounting element 30, is adapted to serve as a manipulator which may be ymoved by thev fingers when it is desired to shift the connected locking member 3l from `its effective to its ineffective position. -A device to which a lock embodying the invention is applied may, therefore, be unlocked by setting the permutation Wheels, portions of which are exposed through slots spaced along the central portion of the face plate of the housing, after which the locking member'm ay be released by a movement of the entire housing and its enclosed mechanism, usingthe face plate as a manipulator, as already described.

Any desired portions of the lock may be so constructed as to be separable from other portions in order to facilitate the assembling and dismantling of the same. If constructed in the manner hereinv indicated the lock may be readily assembled by first passing the end vof the bolt 41 through the openings in the bracket 42 and guide 67. The rear portion of the housing may then be adjusted to its proper position'with respect to the mounting element and the rbracket 42 secured in place by inserting the fastening screvvs 43. The head of the locking member 3l may then be applied to the squared end 15 45 of the bolt 41 and secured thereto by inserting the pin 46, which 4may be of such diameter as to be maintained in place by frictional contact. The threaded head 68 'of the coupling disabling mechanism-may then be threaded'into the opening provided therefor in the bolt 4l, after which the component elements of the tumblers may be inserted through the opening in the mounting element and secured in place by means of the shaft 69 of the coupling disabling element, which maybe passed endvvise through the opening in the bracket 73 and the openings in the hubs of the lock-controlling elements to a position in Which its-right-hand end is properly positioned within-the openingt-he driving element 68 to receivey the key 70. This key may be inserted through the opening 7l provided-therefor' in the bolt 4-1and the 'assembling of the lock may be lock is lapplied is'. free to beopened.

In thefmodified` form lof the `invention illustrated in Figs.,- 12" to 16,V inclusive, parts corresponding with those of' the preferredy form illustrated'in Figs. 2 to 11,2 inclusive',

are designated by. like reference characters y with primes added. This `form `differs from' the' iirst form described"principally in that the lugs 48', which correspond to the' stops 48, lare-carried by asupport 77 ot circular f cross-'section havingtzsquared ends; 78 extending. into rrecessesk i9' provided thereor'in the mounting element l The -end'sv of this support are firmly held in placevvithout the aidl oi any' direct securing means,r since` they are confined between the front andv rear portions of thel tumbler housing, one Vofv Which' is securedfto theV other by means 'of the screws 38. 4 I

Abutments y52", having rthe samefunction as the abutments 52 ofthe preferred form of the invention', are provided. by recessingV the hnbs ofthe permutation vWheels 47 as at 80 and slotting'the'remaining; portions as atf56 to provide clearanceWa-ys for the lugsv481 during movement of the permutation` Wheels, tumbler housingandV locking member Jfrom effective tov ineective position, and vice versa.

In the modified form vofthe inventionathe tumblers' are setV and the `partscf; the lock operated to .move' the f lockingV member from effective to ineffective position exactly as Ythe corresponding parts of the 'preferred form are operated. Further, description of the modied formis therefore unnecessary. Y

Thel invention is Anot intended to be' limited in application'to the speciic'forms herein'disclosed for purposes of illustration but .may include modifications and f variations Within the scope o-:thev appended claims.; Whatis claimed is: Y l. A lock comprising a-mountingelement, a locking element so' mounted therein as to bemovable from an effective'to'an ineffective position vand vice versa, a tumbler carrier connected With, said locking; element and i -movablertherevvith relative to said mounting element, independentl-y4 settable tumble'rs mounted in said carrier, said tumblers havingv portions accessible for `manipulation 2.' Az-lock comprising'a mounting element,l Y

alo-cking elementsdmounted therein as'to" bemovable' from an eiective' to yanineiectiveA position.v andv -v1cevei".sa manipulator con-I nected- Withlsaid lock-ingfelement and: aiiording-means whereby: the' ylatter. 'mary' be moved from one oits tvvo positions to the other, permutationWheelsfmounted in said manipulator: andl having, parts accessible through openi-ngsin'its face' whereby they may be set, andr fixed'` stops extendingV from said mounting element into the paths of movement'of parts of said Wheels, thereby preve1iting-eectivemovement of said locking element,v except/When' saidyvvheels have been set in a predetermined relation. I

3; A lock comprising a mounting element, aV latch'. Son-mounted' therein as 'to be movable from aneifec'tive-to an'ineiective position andlvice versa, motivemeans normally tend-l ing; to hold fsaid latch in' its effective position and capable of return-ingiit thereto afterit has kbeen retracted, as manipulator connected with said latch and affording. means;y Whereby it maybe. retracted, permutation tumblers mounted in {saidmanipulator,` and: fixed stopsv extending, from said ymounting' element intothe-paths of/moveme'nt of parts of said tumblers,`v` the mvement-obstructing` elementslofsaid stops and tu-mblers being so disposed asto permit free movement of said latch-'trom either of its tivo positions to 'the other onlyfvvhen 'said tumblers have -been set in a; predetermined relation-and to permit said tumble'rs'to be moved out of suchset. relation: when said latch isin eitherl position. y n permutation lock comprising a` plurality'otpermutation Wheels each havingva lock-'controlling element and a setting` elementi couplings normally preventing relativegfrotatifon-of-sald partsVa coupling disabllng mechanism, comprising tvvo partis 'one threadedyinto the other `so as to be moved towardsandrfronipeach other by relative rotation, and. means through Which the 'to and fro movements of said parts be commun-icatedv to the parts of saidlcouplings,

whereby/on rotation of one-of the parts of 1 posite direction the-eifectiveness of said couplingsmay be restored; v y 5. Alock -comprising-al-locking element movable froman effective to an ineffective position and vice versa, a permutation mechanism to control the movements of said locking element, said mechanism comprising permutation wlieels each having a settingelement and a lock-controlling element including, as a part thereof, a circular slotted abutment, a set of stops to cooperate with said lock-controlling elements, connections between said locking element and said permutation mechanism whereby effective movement of the former is dependent upon relative translatory movement between said stops and said lock-controlling elements such as tocause said stops to pass through the slots in said abutments, said movementcontrolling parts being so disposed as to prevent relative translatory movements except when said wheels are set in a predetermined relation with said slots and stops in registration, couplings normally preventing relative rotation between the parts of said permutation wheels, a coupling disabling mechanism comprising` two parts one threaded into the other so as to be moved towards and from each other by relative rotation, and means through which the to and fro movements of said parts may be communicated to the parts of said couplings, whereby on rotation of one of the parts of said disabling mechanism the-couplings may be rendered ineffective, thereby permitting the said setting'elements to be rotated independently of the lock-controlling elements to change the combination of the lock, the stops and parts of said permutation wheels being so proportioned and disposed as to prevent coupling disabling movements of parts of said lock when said locking element is in its effective position except when said permutation wheels are in their set relation, thereby permitting said stops to enter the slots in the abutments on said lock-controlling elements, and thereby prevent rotary rmovement of the latter during the combination-changing movements of said setting elements.

V6. A permutation lock comprising a plurality ot' permutation wheels each having a lock-controlling elementand a setting element, couplings normally preventing rotation of one of the elements of each of said wheels with respect to the other element thereof but capable ot' being rendered ineffective as a result of axial movement of one of said elements relative to the other, a coupling disabling mechanism comprising two parts one threaded into the other so as to be moved towards and from each other by relative rotation, means through which the to and Vfro movements ot said parts may be communicated to the elements of said permutation Wheels whereby a rotation of one of the parts of said disabling mechanismv may be caused to produce the relative axial movements between the elements of said permutation wheels rnecessary to render said couplings ineective, and locking means controlling the operation of said coupling disabling mechanism, comprising opposed elenents obstructing therelati've movements of its parts to render said couplings ineffective except when said permutation wheels have been set in a predetermined relation.

T. A permutation lock comprising a plurality or'k permutation wheels each having a lock-controlling element andV a setting element, a supporting element for said wheels, couplings normally I preventing rotation of one of the elements of each ofsaid. wheels with respect to the other elementk thereof but capable of being rendered ineffective as a result of axial movement lof one osaid elements relative to the other, a coupling disabling mechanism comprising two parts one threaded into the other so as to be moved towards and from each other by relative rotation, means through which the to and fro movements of said parts may be communicated to the elements of said permutation wheels whereby a rotation of one of the parts of said disabling mechanism may be caused to produce the relative axial movements between the elements ot said permutation" wheels necessary to render said couplings ineffective, and locking ymeans controlling the operation of said Vcoupling disabling mechanism comprising portions of the elements of said permutation wheels and. opposed portions o'f their supporting element, said' opposed portions being so ldisposed as to prevent such relative axial movements of the elements of said permutation wheels except when said wheels have been set'in a predetermined relation.

v8. A lock comprising a fixed mounting member, a movable lock-operating member, and a pair of cooperative movement-obstructing elements to controlr the movements of said lock-operating member, one ot the elements of said pair having parts so disposed as to lie in the path of movement ot a part of the other except when one of said elements is set in a predeterminedposition with respect to the other, the settable element of said pair being mounted in themovable operating member and being movable to its movement-obstructing position when said operating member is in either its efective or its inelective position, and the -other element being mounted in the fixed mount-ing member.

9. A lock comprising a lixed mounting` member, a movable mounting member, a locking member controlled by said movable mounting member, and a permutation mechanism to control the movements of said movable mounting member, said mechanism comprising pairs of cooperative movement-obstructing elements, one of the elements of each pair having parts so disposed as to lie in the path of movement of a part of the other except When one of said elements is set in a predetermined position with respect to the other, the settable element of each pair being mounted in the movable mounting member, a portion of each being exposed for independent manipulation through an opening in the face of said movable mounting member, and the other element of each 10 MEADE WILDRICK.

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