US175818A - Improvement in locks for post-office boxes - Google Patents

Description

W. H. BRAMBLE.

LOCKS FOR POST OFFICE BOXES.

Patented April 11, 187B.

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N PETERS. PNDTQLITHOGRAPMER. WASMNGION` D UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM H. BRAMBLE, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS FOR POST-OFFICE BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,8 I8, dated April 11, 1876; application tiled October 4, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BRAMBLE, Y

of Decatur, in the county of Macon and Slate of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Post-0tlice Lock; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view o't' the block from which the lock frame is constructed. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation ot' the lock; Fig. 4, a plan of the lock, showing the faee-plate`in section, the back-plate being removed; Fig. 5, a vertical erosssection ofthe same; Fig. 6, a horizontal cross-section of the same, and Fig. 7 a plan of the key.

Similar letters of reference in the accom pa' nying drawings denote the same parts.

The object ot' this invention is to simplify and perfect the construction of permutationlocks, and to adapt them for more advantageous use upon postoiiee boxes than heretofore.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in a new mode of constructing the frame or plate which supports the working parts, and in the frame or plate thus constructed; sec` ondly, in the combination of a permutationA lock with a key and sliding bar so constructed as to unlock, when the key is inserted, by simply pressing the linger on the sliding bar; and, thirdly, in the details of construction, substantially as I will proceed to describe.

In the construction of my improved lock, I first prepare a block, B, Fig. 1, of brass or other suitable metal, having a flange, f, extending around the rear edge and two ends, so as to leave a plain dat face on one side, and on the other side a raised bed, b, surrounded on three sides by the flange. I then bore a series of small holes, h h, into the end of the bed b to the depth required for the accommodationof the springs, hereinafter described, and as many in number as there are to be sliding plates or deteuts elnployed in the lock. I then saw a series ot' kerfs or channels, c, from the top ot' the bed b down through the center ofeach hole lt to the level ofthe flange f. After this 1 saw a kert or channel, d, into the end ofthe bed b to the distance of onehalt' or three-fourths ot' an inch, more or less. 1 then mill out a channel, g, for the sliding bolt, and another channel, k, for the key, and cut away one corner ot' the block for the acconnnodatiolrof the catch or latch-lever. The block is then ready to receive the working parts of the lock.

The working parts consists essentially of', first, a sliding bar, A, having a thumb-piece, of, and a series ot' lateral notches, a a a, and adapted to slide back and forth in the recess g, into which it closely lits; secondly, aseries ot' sliding detent-plates, e e c, cut away on their upper edges to accommodate the bar A, and arranged in the channels c in such a position as to extend across the recess g, with one of their ends projecting into the key-passage It, and the other in contact with small spiral springs i operating in the holes h; thirdly, a catch or latch, Z, supported by a bellcrank lever, L, one arm of which Works in the channel d, while the other lies outside ot' the bed b, and extends to, and in contact with, the inner end of the sliding bar A, so that, when the latter is slid in, it will operate the lever and raise the latch for the purpose ot'` opening the door; and, lastly, a key, K, Fig. 7, adapted when slidden into the key-passage k to move all the detent-plates e e back, so as to disengage them from the lateral notches of the bar A, and allow the latter to move. In addition to all these parts a face-plate, P, and back-plate 1:" are required, the former having suitable openings to accommodate the key and the projecting end ofthe bar A, and the latter having suitable means for attachment, by

screws or rivets, to the block B, and when the lock is to be used for post-oiice lock-boxes a rod, M, screwing into the edge of the bed b, and extending through the material ot' which the walls ot' the boxes or pigeon-holes are made may be employed for securing the lock to the box, and a stop, N, likewise passing through the wall of the box, may be used to enable the clerks within the otiice to prevent the box from being unlocked by anypersou outside, the thumb piece or milled head n screwing firmly against the inner edge ot' the loclcbox when desired, in order to hohl the lever L from moving, and thereby preveutthe sliding M FFICZEc bar A from unlocking the box. When the head n is screwed ont again the rod N may be used for unlocking the door from the inside, in case of the loss of the key, or whenever desirable.

This lock is set into a recess in the side Wall of the lock-box, its metallic face-plate P covering the front edge oi' such Wall, and the catch or latch l projecting laterally into the lock-box. The face-plate may be provided With a iiange, r, adapted to fit into a vertical groove in the front edge ot' the wall, in order to hold the lock more securely in position. The box-door is hinged to the opposite side wall ot' the box, and shuts against the faceplate P, being provided with a hook Which catches over the projection l, and securely locks the box. The box-door can thus be made very light and neat, inasmuch as it is not obliged to furnish a support for the lock.

When it is desired to unlock the box, the key K is to be inserted into the key-hole o, and then, without the necessity of turning the key, the door will be unlocked by simply pressing the bar A inward, the operation of the bar being to move the lever Land raise the projection l, so as to disengage it from the door-catch.

The box-door may be provided with a spring to automatically throw it open when unlocked.

The hinge supportsoi' the adjacent door may be cast or formed on the face-plate P, as shown at t, which represents one oi'such supports, namely, the one at the upper end ofthe faceplate.

The projection Z may be arranged so as not to project'beyond the line of the side ofthe box, in Which case it will offer no obstruction to the removal of mail matter from the box.

This lock is exceedingly compact, so that almost any number of permutations can be arranged on it by varying the number of the slide-plates e, the length ofthe gains or notches in their edges, their distance apart, &c. It is at the same time so simple in construction, and its frame so strong, that it cannot easily be broken or gotten out of Working order.

As here described and shown, it forms an admirable fastening for post-office box purposes,and with slight and obvious adaptations it can be employed for any other purpose to which such a lock is applicable.

Being adapted to be supported by the side Wall ofthe box instead ot by the door, it enables the door to be made much lighter and neater than heretofore.

I claim as my invention- 1. The block B, having the flange f, the raised bed b, the holes h, and the channels c d g k, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of a supporting block or frame, with the lever L l, bar A, spring-detents e e, and key K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A lock for post-oice boxes, having a metallic face-plate, and a slidebar projecting therefrom, and adapted by suitable internal mechanism to be unlocked by simply inserting the key without turning it, and then pressing the slide-bar inward, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination of the lever L, the springs i, the plates e, and the slide-bar A, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the rod N and screwhead n, with the le ver L of the lock, substantially as and for the purpose described.

A post-office box-lock, combined withI a rod or strip adapted to be operated at the rear edge of the box for the purpose of preventing the lock from being unlocked by the key, sub stantially as described.

7. A postofiice-box lock, combined with a rod or strip adapted to unlock the box from the rear side Without a key, and also to prevent the box from being unlocked from the front side with the key, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. BRAMBLE.

Witnesses:

M. CHURGH, E. S. KARNER.

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