US1855687A - Lock mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. E, E NEAL 1,855,687

LOCK MECHANISM Filed 001;. 24, 1929 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED" STATES PATENT LOFFICE ELMER E. N EAL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T PEERLESS HANDCUIFF COMPANY, on SE'ITS SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01E MASSACHU- LOCK MECHANISM Application'filed October 2 4, 1929. Serial No. 402,189.

This invention relates to an improved lock mechanism constructed particularly for use 'in officers irons, such ashandcufi's, thumbcuifs, leg irons, and like devices for restricting a prisoners movements; It will be described'in its preferred form as a handcuif mechanism, and its otheruses will be apparent from this description.

The features of the invention will be made clear as its preferred form is describedin detail-and then they will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 shows one of a pair of handcufis with the side plate of the lock casing cut away and with all the'par'ts of the mechanism-in operative position;

Fig. 1a is adetail view of the corresponding parts of Fig. l'but with the key in the lock and holding the latch in unlocked position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the spring bolt or latch with its spring; p

' Fig. is a detail view of the bolt for'double locking; Y

' Fig. v'is a detail view of the filler piece for the lock casing which makes up the end, top, and bottom walls'of such casing; and

used.

shown, the arm 5 is pivoted at 3 to spaced arms 1 and2 between which the filler piece 4: is fastened to make up the lock bearing arms.

in the opposite directions is stoppedQby-a ratchet device in the lock mechanism. So if a wristis embraced to stop rotation in one direction, the ratchet stops it in the other, and the braceletis lock'edron the wrist. This general operation is now well known.

According to one feature of my present invention I provide a novel lockingmeans for the handcuif which has the advantage of extreme simplicity and in addition the capacity for efiicient operation in the ways I in one'aspect this is purpose of my present will describe.

an In constructing the cufii, I place the filler Fig. 5'shows one form of key that may be i in completely-unlocked position. In such- .It will be understood that in the form In the normal operation, arm 5 may rotate piece 4 with the parts assembled with it, as shown in Fig. l, on one of the side plates and rivet the other side plate, forexample as at the points indicated, by rivet pins. Then I rivet arm 5 at pivotal point 3 for rotary movement. r

The ratchet teeth 6 (on an are from point 3) are in rotation line with the latch teeth 7. In the ratchet action the latch 8 moves straight up. and down,.being guided by the casing walls and filler piece 4, and is returned by its spring 9.

When the teeth are in full engagement, the bolt pusher 10 can be pressed by the end of the 1 1 key or a device like a match to throw bolt 11 under latch 8' and double-lock the device against all movement between armson pivot 3. This is the final locked position fort-he prisoner. The latch locks automatically in the first place and the bolt 11, operable in v only one direction from without any necessary use of the key, gives the final locking movement. To'unlock the cuff the key is inserted and turned to move the bolt 11 back, which resets pusher10.. Then a continued turning of the key engages lug 12 to push it down against its spring. This lug 12 is preferably formed with a cam end tor-hold the key-in positionby spring action if left Y backward movement of arm 5 unlocks the wrist, It is quite obvious that the pusher pin 10 may be an integral extension ofbolt 11, if desired, as these two parts always work togetherwith no necessary separation.

There is considerable advantage, particularly'in handcufi' mechanism, to have available for use when neededa variety of novel lock mechanisms. That is to'say, from the policemans or manufacturers standpoint it may be that one mechanism will become so well known" (on,account of the tendency to standardize parts) that there is more danger of its being picked by the skilled criminal.

easy change of mechanism is considered, and

invention as contrasted with previous ones.

Therefore, the potentiality of a desired and To put it another way, the novelty per se has utility in these mechanisms apart from any academic view as to whether one mechanism is an improvement on another.

According to one feature of novelty, the key unlocks both the bolt and pawl by moving the key'in the same direction, rather than by movements in opposite directions, as in one of my .prior mechanisms. In addition, .the movement of the latch in unlocking is a straight line rather than a pivotal movethe side plates of that lockcasing to restrict latch 8 and bolt 11 to the desired straight claim is w '1'. IA lock mechanism for police oflicers use,

linemovements.

As previously mentioned, the lock 'mechanism of Fig. 1 has the merit of extreme SlIIl plicity. The only necessary parts aside-from the lock casing and arms, are latch ,8, spring 9, boltv 11, and the key. No skilled work is required in fitting the .lock mechanism or in originally constructing its parts. All its merit as an arresting iron ofthe simplest character is due to its design. It makesan effective tool .for the oificer7s use and there is nothing in it :to get out of order. The key hole and ke are shown as ofthe simplest POSSlblGfOTIIl ut it should be understood that these can be made in various other known forms which require only well known changes 0f design to vary such parts for the general Flock making purposes.

Having described my invention, what; I

comprising pivoted locking arms provided with a lock casing, means in the lock casing for preventing relative rotation of the arms either in one direction or bothd-irections, said 'means including as its essential parts a :spring pressed latch mounted for straight line movement into and out of ratchet engagement withone of said arms, a bolt slidable to :and from position toblock said latch against movement, said bolt arranged for movement to its blocking position .by means acting from without the casing independently of the key .hole in the casing and-for movement from its blocking position only by a key.

2. A lock mechanism to restrain a'prisoner?s limb movements comprising rotatable locking arms and a lock casing carried thereby, a spring .latch and a bolt in the lock casing, one of said arms having teeth for latch engagement, said latch and bolt each arranged-for a straight line movement one at an angle to the other whereby the bolt may be moved to block all movement of the latch when the latter is in engagement with said teeth.

3. A lock mechanism to restrain a prisonerslimb movements, including a lock casing, a bolt slidable on'the bottom of said casing, aspring latch slidable in a straight line against a side wall of said casing at an angle to the bolt, 21 small opening in the oppos1te side wall of the casing whereby the bolt may be thrown from without the casing "into position'toblock said latch movement, said casing having a. key hole and a key to operate said bolt and latch for moving them to unlocked positions. 7

4. A look mechanism to restrain a prisoners limb movements, including a lock cas- .ing, a bolt slidable on the bottom ofsaid casing, a spring latch slidable in a straight line against a side wall of saidcasing :at an angle to the bolt, a small opening inthe opposite side wall of the casing whereby the bolt may be thrown .from without the casing into-position to blocksaid latch movement, said casing having .a key hole and a key'to operate said bolt and latch for moving them to unlocked positions, saidubolt and latch having key engageable partsto cause an unlocking movement of both when the key is rotated in one direction.

.5. A look mechanism to restrain a prisoners limb.movements,including a lockcasing, a bolt slidable on the bottom of said casing, a springlatch .slidable'in a straight line against a side wall of said casing at 'an angle to the bolt, a small opening .in the opposite side wall of-the casing whereby the boltmay be thrown fromwithoutathe casing into position to block said latch movement,

said casing having a key hole and a key to operate said bolt and "latch 'for moving them to unlocked positions and relatively rotatable locking arms .onewof which is provided with latch engageable teeth in rotatable line with the top of said lockcasing.

6. A prisonerscufi comprising clasping means, a lock casing rigidly mounted adjacent oneend thereof, a locking arm pivoted at the other end and provided with teeth at its free. end on a peripheral arcin .rotative line vith "the top of said lock casing, .21 straight latch mounted to move in a straight line into and out ofengagemen't, with said teeth, a spring forsaid latch, a .key engageable lug on the side of said latch, a bolt having a part to underlie sai'd .latch when the latter engages said teeth, a key engageable shoulder on said boltand means extending for access from without the casing to move said bolt to underlie the latch independently of the keyhole access to the lock casing.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

7 ELMER E. NEAL.

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