US1821567A - Lock mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1931.

.E. E. NEAL LOCK MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 1929 ATmRNEYs.

patented Sept. 1,

mcr-

lELlVIER n. NEAL, on NEW HAVEN, CoNNECTICUr, ASSIGNORTO PEERLESS simmers COMPANY, on SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS LOCK MECHANISM Application filed. October 24, 1929. Serial No. 402,188.

This invention relates to an improvement in look mechanisms. It is particularly designed for use in handcufi, thumb cuffs, leg irons, or like police officers means for looking a restraining instrument on prisoners.

I will illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention in the form'of a handcuff of the type in which two arms pivoted-to each other make up aprisoners cuff and with a locking mechanism which permits complete respective rotation of the arms until a wrist is embraced between them and then locks on the wrist because the relative rotation past the lock mechanism can normally occur only in one direction.

- One of the principal features of the present invention is to provide novel mechanism for the purpose stated which can be manufactured at a low cost, and to provide such a mechanism with other advantages than the low cost. The various features of the invention will be brought out in the following specification and annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of one bracelet of a handcuff mechanism such as is usually used in sets of two connected by a chain; The side plate of the lock casing is removed and the locking mechanism shown'in place; v

Fig. 2 is a detail view ofthe boltmember which carries the locking roll;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pivoted wedge member;

Fig. 4 is a view of the type of key that'may be used for lock operation.

As shown, the handcufi consists in two spaced parallel arms 1 and 2 which have a pivot pin 3 connecting them at one pair of adjacent ends and a filler piece 4 between theopposite pair of ends. The locking arm 5 is mounted on pivotjpin 3 for complete rotation between arms 1 and2. The arm 5 has a peripheral arc portion 6 struck from pivot 3 as a center. This are portion 6 preferably has a smooth surface over whicha roller may normally contact with little or no friction. Arm 5 is mounted so the are 6 may pass over the opening of the lock casing. The latter is formed by filler plece 41 serving as its bottom and end walls and the enlarged ends of arms 1 and 2 as its side plates. The side plates and filler piece 4: are ordinarily riveted permanently together. I

lVithin the lock casing I provide the U- Shaped or yoke member 7 with the two legs 8 and 9 in horizontal position, as shown. The yoke member straddles the key hole lOof the lock casing. Its upper leg 8 has a roller 12 in bearings at the outer end of the leg.

Pivoted in the casing between its side plates is a V-Shaped block 13. Thelower edge of the block isfinished to make surface Contact with the inside Surface of lower leg 9. The

upper block surface is on a slant to act as a wedge and on occasion crowd roller 12 between the wedge and the arc portion 6" of arm 5. l A coiled spring 14 mounted in arecess in fill-er piece 4-normally urges member 7 to the left. 7

With the construction illustrated, arm 5 may rotate in one directioncounterclockwise (as shown) at all times until a wrist or other object-is embraced by the arms. In such rotation, spring 14 holds roller 12 in position to contact are 6 in each rotation; The position of wedge 13 is such thatthere is enough friction between the arm 5 and the roller to hold the arms against movement until there is force enough to compressspring liand release the wedging action. This provides enough friction hold to ordinarily keep the parts in place, until movement is desired. After the arms are moved to embrace a Wrist,

arm 5 cannot be separated from the other" arms at the lock casing. Any attempted movement of separation causes a complete 'wedging movement of roll 12 between block 13 and arc'6'with. spring 14 helping. The

arm 5, so that anyretractive force on the latter wedges the parts more tightly together 'against'all movement in that direction. The block '13 cannot swing out of: place with leg 0 9 lying between its outer end and the bottom of the lock casing. The only thing which can springis strong enough to'place sufficient friction'between the roll surface, block 13 and 90 ron the use of the key. The key and key hole are shown in their simplest possible forms, but it should be understood that any of the known arrangements for making it diflicult for any instrument except the key to reach through the hole and apply force. to a locking part is comprehended in my invention.

It may be desirable to have the line of contact between parts 9 and 13 at a small angle of inclination opposite to the wedge to permit part 13 to drop slightly in the unlocking operation, and I have shown this in the drawings. It should also be understood that member 7 has a loose enough fit in the lock casing topermit the upward wedging movement of roller 12, as described.

It Will be clear that my new locking device is not susceptible to lock picking operations in the same way as a ratchet lock on arm 5 would be. And so I do not need to put any 7 anti-picking means to guard the necessary clearance between arm 5 and the top of the lock casing.

The cost of making a lock for my purpose, as shown, is far less than the mechanisms heretofore used for the same purpose. There is nothing to get out of order. And the Whole device is particularly adapted for use where a very simple and yet efiective handcuflf or the like is wanted.

What I claim is:

1. A policemans cuff for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable arms to form the cult, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and wedge members in said lock mechanism arranged to permit relative rotation of the arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in the other direction.

2. A policemans cult for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable arms to form the cuff, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and wedge members in said lock mechanism arranged :to permit relative rotation of the arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in the other direction, and a springpressed means to hold said roller and Wedge in normally operable position.

3. A policemans cuff for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable arms .to form the cufi, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and Wedge members in said lock mechanism arranged to permit relative rotation of the arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in the other direction, a spring pressed means to hold said roller and wedge in normally operable position, and a key engageable part on said means for putting said roller and wedge out of relatively operable position.

,4. A look mechanism comprising relatively :movable locking arms and lock mechanism having a lockcasing on said arms, a roller in said mechanism for engaging one of the arms as it moves past the lock casing means to support said rollerandmove itfrom one position to another for locking and unlocking operations in said look casing, and wedging means operable on said roller to bind it into holding engagement with said arm when the roller is moved for its locking operation.

5. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casing having a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted for rotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leg lying adjacent one wall ofthe lock casing and another leg lying adjacent an opening from the lock casign in the path of said rotatable arm, a roll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedge member mounted between said legs, and means to move the yoke member into and out of position to jam the roller between the wedge and the rotatable arm.

6. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casing having a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted for rotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leg lying adjacent one wall of the lock casing and another leg lying adjacent an opening from the lock casing in the path of said rotatable arm, a roll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedge member mounted between said legs, and means to move the yoke member into and out of position to jam the roller between the wedge andthe rotatable arm,

said last named means including a spring v mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedge member mounted between said legs, and means to move the yoke member into and out of position to jam the roller between the wedge and the rotatable arm, said last named means including a spring normally acting to move the yoke member toward the wedge position, said wedge being positioned for the roll to ride up into amming position in one direction of rotation for said arm and away from said position in the other direction of rotation.

8. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casing having a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted for rotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leg lying adjacent one wall of the lock casing and another leg lying adjacent an opening from the lock casing in the path of said rotatable arm, a roll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedge membermounted bet-ween said legs,and means to move the yoke member into rai er and out of position to jam the roller between the wedge and the rotatable arm, said lock casing having a key hole located between said legs to permit the key to reach the part of the yoke connecting the legs to move the latter out of cooperation with the wedge.

9. In a locking device for application to prisoners, comprising two relatively movable arms, a look casing on one arm having an open wall portion adapted to be closed by a portion of the other arm, lock mechanism in said casing having a roll in said open wall portion adapted to contact the portion of the arm which is adapted to closed said portion, spring pressed means to hold said roll in such contacting position, and a wedge-shaped member underlying said roll to contact therewith and jam the roll against said portion whenever the latter is moved in one direction past said lock casing.

10. A handcuif comprising pivoted arm members arranged for complete relative rotation, a lock casing carried at the free end of one member and having an open wall portion adapted to be closed bythe portion of the other member adjacent its free end, and locking mechanism in said casing comprising a wedging device operable out of wedging position by contact with the rotatable arm member when moving in one direction and into wedging position when moving in the opposite direction, said wedging operation acting to direct the thrust of the rotatable arm against the pivot of said arm members.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

I ELMER E. NEAL.

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