US1899739A - Key - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1933. o. D. VON MEHREN KEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 26 1929 'lll INVENTOR.

BY @W RNEYS.

Feb- 23, 1933- o. D, voN MEHRl-:N

KEY

Original Filed Feb. 26, 1929 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 ma w F IG. IO

Flai' l IIyI/EIVTOR.4

BY v

A oRNEYs.

thoroughly efficient in the APatented Feb. 28, 1933 yUNI-TED 'STATES PATENT Vori-*ICE oswALD D. vox MEHREN, or NEW Yonx, N. Y., ASSIGNOR To MEHREN Loox co., ING., or CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY, A coRroRArroN ,or NEW JERSEY KEY Application med February 2c, ,1929, serial No. `342,723. Renewed July 26,3 19321 This invention relates to keys for change- .able combination locks, the object of 'the invention ybeing to pro-vide a simple `and ecient key construction for use in conjunction with such locks. f j

Locks of the character under consideration "are adapted to be operated by a suitable key, which when thrust into the keyhole of the lock barrel serves, through such operation, to .act upon relatively `movable pins or rods in 4order to ,so relatively longitudinally position them as to unlock the barrel for rotation. The relative positions of the several pins .or rods determine the locked or unlocked condition of the barrel.

My prior application, Serial No. 276,7 65 discloses a novel form of lock of the charac- Vter .under consideration and provides for change of combination by authorized persons. The present application, which is directed to y.the Vkey for cooperation with such a lock, l l

used having longitudinal adjustable slides `,and .analogous devices for operating the movable parts Y Aprior, constructions have..the features to formsa continuation in partof my said pendingapplication. j Y Y 4 .One important object of the present inven- .tion is to provide a key embodying rod or pin .operating devices which are relatively adinstable, so that they will severally act upon :the pins or rods in a predetermined manner A.to .simultaneously adjust all ofthe pins or rods to the relative positions required lfor any rticular .combination and to so constitute a Eythat it will be simple in construction and performance of its intended functions.

.In practically vcarrying out the invention, the key provided with a suitable shank having an appropriate handle portion. The :shank is formed With longitudinal passages in which .are positioned longitudinally adjustableplungers adapted to engage and opcrate/the pinsor rods of the lock When the key is introduced into the keyhole. These plungers :are adapted for longitudinal adjustment into Various relative positions in order to effect'different combinations, and means is proshiftinguntil such time as it isfdesireri'eoef- Within the slots or slidesin which they are guided so that said plungers are supported in more or less enclosed condition throughout their entire length. As a result they cannot 'be-bent if 'the key is dropped or struck againstsome unyielding obstruction, but Will retain -the straightefffective condition indefinitely.

` Another important practical feature con- .sists in so forming thehandle of the key that atleast a portionVV of such handleis movable Iinto and out of position to cover and conceal the adjusting devices for` s-uch plungers and serve in effect as a lock or shield Which, under ordinary conditions, Willpreclude tampering with the combination vfof the key.

I am aware thatikeys have heretofore .been

of a lock, butin none ofthe'se Which 'I have referredA found practical embodiment.

` in marked practical improvements in key construction With the resultv thata key is pro- `duced capable of efficient operation of such locks as `I have hereinbefore referred to.

Features of the invention, other than those i referred to, Will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, .when

readin `conjunction With the accompanying drawings.' i l The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of theinvention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as ',illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

`Figure 1 is a side Velevation of one form of key embodying 4the present invention.

Figures 2, 3 .and 4c are',prespectively, vsecktions'on the lines 2 2, 3 3 and 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a detailed elevation of one key pin or plunger used in the `.constructionof Figures to 6.

Figure 6 is a. face view of the keyrof Figure 1 with the cover removed.

i "te therein is made in Figure 7 is a face view of a modified form of key with ther cover removed. Figure 8 is a like view of the key of Figure 7 with the cover closed.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7. i

Figure Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the pins or plungers shown in the key of Figure 7. A j y Y y yFigure'12 is a side elevation of a further 10 is a section on the line 10,10 of kmodified -form of key.

' Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, the key vthe form of a flat blank of material :comprising a shank 101 and a handle 102. The key is of the general chari adjusted longitudinally in acter of a conventional flat of the blank, gitudinally of the shank and from the Vfree A another and Vpreferably l or Ahook shaped toe 105.

' graduated by 6 to adjust the pins to slightly thicker. Adjacent the opposite face holes are bored extending lonend thereof. These holes are parallel to one sov close to the facial surfaces of the key that thefaces of the blank. i

Six such holes are bored and they are dis- Vposed in the same relative relation as the klock pins or rods with ved to cooperate.

which they are adapt- In each of the holes is introduced a pin orplunger 103 and each plunger has a cut away portion 104 provided at the rear end of the pin with an upturned The opposite faces ofthe handle 102-are :provided with'dove tail slots 106 and in each.

of these dove tail slots is positioned a sliding `plate 107, the inner face of which is grooved to provide -a number of parallel groovesv 108 Iextending across axially of thekey and spaced closely apart.

' dinally into the position of Figures 1 and 3,

the toes 105 of the respective plungers 103,

fwill engage with appropriate groovesl 108 on the slides 107, and the plungers will Ybe thereby locked in' position against inadf vertent longitudinal shifting so long as the plates are in their closed positions exhibited in Figurel. The plates are normally sekey although they will cut through rit precludes cured in these closed positions by means of screws 110. V

A notch 111 is preferably formed in the shank of the key to cooperate with the front plate of the lock preclude removal. of the key in positions other than those predetermined;

In the construction of Figs. 7 to 11, the body of the key is formedwith a shank 101e and a handle 1020i.y vided with longitudinally `parallel grooves 112 which are undercut or dove tail as shown. 1 In eachof these grooves is a n plunger 103e of corresponding cross Section5 Each plunger has a serrated edge aland with ythe serrated edges of 'each two plungersv a leaf spring 108e is adapted to cooperate. j The leaf springs are secured in'place'f by -rivets in such manner as to The key blank is proa 113 and the free end ofeach of theseleafr" sprin gs is provided with a turned down noseadapted to simultaneously engagel with the serra-ted edges 105er, of theV two i associated plungers to lock the plungers against inadvertent longitudinal movement. j When it is desired lto change'the adjustment of the plungers,4 the leaf springv is drawn outwardly to release the plungersfor adjustment, and after theadjustments have been made with the assistance of scales 1090!, i. ,v

the springs are released and sprungbazck' into with the plungers to' lockflthem engagement j j The oppositefaces of the blank in position.

are flush and with these faces'of thehan'dle portion are of the blank. mounted for pivotal movementon'ja'rivet 106e kand are secured together'forfsimultaneous pivotal movement *by an interposed abutment 114, the yinner p y curved at 115 on a radius, the center ofwhich is the axis of the rivetv106a. i The corresponding end lof the' handle Valso curved as at 116 on the rsame radius so` that the cover platesfmay` be swun'gfrom the position shown in Figure7 to the position shown in Figure8 and viceversa. When in position as shown in Figure 7, the plungers may be readily adjusted, but: when in the position ofFigure 8, the cover plates' conceal thev adjusting 'devices in the key.l The'cover plates maybe locked in the position shown in'Figure 8 by a screw 110e.y The key blank j is preferably provided witha kkey chain hole 117 and the cover plates are preferably s0 formed as to provide perforations 1118 'to register with the perforations 117 when the parts are in the position of Figure 8. vZhen adapted toicooperatefcoverplates 107-a, one of which is positionedlat each face f- Both 'the coverf plates" are fie the key as'shown in Figure 8 is positionedon a key ring, alined perforations of the handle andlcover plates and will hold the cover plates in closed position even though the y,screw 1 10ar,"i`s not the ring will pass through the4 secured in place. This .is advantageous'since changing of the key ycombina- AVtion without removal of the key from `the key Yring ,and 'this minimizes the opportunity vr`In Vthe structure of Figures 12 and 18, an unadjustable key is shown. With this arcombination cannot be vided therein with pockets :119, the 'bases of which form abutments 120 to engage with fthe key operated pins or'rods of the lock.

The advantage of the structure of Figures A12 and 1,3 over some of the keys heretofore employed is Iits 'marked' lsimplicity and the further fact that dirt or extraneous matter cannot lgetinto the holes or pockets and clog them nor are there `any projecting parts "which may be readily bent and thus rendered inoperative to actuate the lock. In all of the adjustable forms of key which I have shown, the plungers for operating the lock pins into predetermined relative positions are supported throughout their ent-ire lengths in slots or holes vformed in the key blank. This is of Vvery considerable importance because I have found in practice that'where keys are providedv with plungers which extend beyond the end of the shank or handle, as in 'the majorityv of cases, these pinswill, after a relatively short time', become bent, or distorted because they must of necessity be made quite `small and relatively weak structurally.

With the present invention, in contradistinction, the plungers may be made even smaller .than heretofore .and a `greater number of them may be grouped on av key of relatively small size and yet by 'supporting them throughout their entire length, the possibility of damage to the plungers is practically nil. In all of the structures which yI have shownl and described, moreover, the slots in Which the plungers are mounted forI adjustment are open to the sidesof the key, so that dirt or other extraneous matter cannot accumulate therein or preclude function .of

"the key in a proper manner.

` The arrangement in each instance is such as 4to permit the use of .a key of relatively small. size and in the adjustable combination keys, the key need be little if any larger than conventional lock keys as now employed. The ability to adjust a key in the manner 'which I have described and to normally cover p and conceal the adjustable devices asso- 1 ciated therewith in `a manner to safeguard the same from tampering, is, so far as I am jjaware, highly novel.

j The arrangement described is of marked practicalimportance for it enables a key holder to change the combination of the .lock at willwithout necessity of employ* ment of a different key, it being only necessary to manipulate the lookin the manner required and vto thereupon change the key cess to the adjustable devices of the key.

accordingly. 'This change lmay be Vmanifestly accomplished without the use of tools, :any implement which will release the screws 110 or v110e being appropriate to vpermit .of fao'- rll-he accompanying drawings are illustrative of the invention in its preferred l'practical form, but the' invention is to ibejunder- Lstood as fully commensurate vwith the appended claims. V

j AHaving thus fully described the invention,

` what 'I claim as new and desire to secure by nally `of the shank and parallel to one anlotherand lhoused wholly within the -conlines of the blank to be supported for their entire lengths at all times, said plungers being mounted for longitudinal adjustment relative to the shank and each other, means for lock-ing all ,of the rods against inadvertent movement, and means for securing theA plunger lockingmeans against inadvertent release of the plungers.

3.,A combination lock key embodying a blank having shank and handle portions, l'ock :10F

operating plungers extending longitudinally of the shank and parallel to one anotherand housed wholly within the `contines of the blank to be supported for their entire lengths at all times,` said plungers being mounted fon longitudinal adjustment relative to Ithe shankand each other, means for locking all of the plungers against inadvertent movement, and a graduated scale formed on the blankadjacent the plungers to facilitate positioning of the plungers according to a predetermined Combination when said plungersare released for adjustment.

4;. A combina-tion lock key embodying a blank provided with shank and handle por tions, the shank portion having a plurality of passages extending from the free end of the shank in parallel relation to one,l another and with one side of `each passageopen for its entire length to one facefof the blank, loc-k' operating plungerspositioned in and 'longitudinally adjustable lwith respect to saidpassages said plungers being supported for their full lengths by the walls of the passagesat y tions, the shank portion having a plurality of passages extending from the Jfree end of the shank in parallel relation to one another and With one side of each passage open for its entire length to one face of the blank, lock operating plungers positioned in and longitudinally adjustable With respect to-said passages said plungersbeing supported for their full lengths by the Walls of the passages at all times, means for locking said plungers against.k inadvertent longitudinal movement, andv means for securing a plunger locking means against inadvertent release of the plungers. Y

6. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided with shank and handle portions, the shank portion having a plurality Vof passages extending from the free end thereof into the handle portion, plungers positioned Within the passages and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said passages being open to one face of the blank at least in the handle portion thereof to permit access to the plungers for longitudinal adjustment, and a cover normally overlying the exposed Vportions of the plungers at the handle portion of the key. 1

T7. A combination Vlock key embodying a Lblank provided With shank and handle portions, the shank Vportion havingY a plurality of passages extending from the free end thereofv into the handle portion, plungers positioned Within the passages and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said passages being open to one face of the blank at least in the handleportion thereof to permit access to the plungers for longitudinal adjustment, a cover normally overlying the exposed portions of the handle portion or" the the plungers at for securing the. cover 1n key, and means closed position.

`8. A'combinationl lock key embodying a blank Vprovided with shankand handle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from the reeendof the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of the passages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operating plungers positioned in and adjustable longitudinally of said passagesfand means associated with the handle or the blank to lock the plungers against inadvertent shifting.

9. A combination lock key embodying a blank'provided With shank andhandle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from the free end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of the passages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operatingV plungers positioned in and adjustabler longitudinally of saidv passages, and unitary means for locking a plurality of said plungers against inadvertent longitudinal movement.

10. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided with shank and handle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from the free en-d of the shank intoV the handle portion, one side of each of the passages being opento the yadjacent face of said passages, cover plates movable with respect tothe handle portion and adapted to bey moved fromopen toclosed position land vice versa, to permit access to the ends of the plungers which extend into the handle portion.V

l1. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided With shank and handle portions and having a plurality of passages eX- tending. from the Jfree end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of the passages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operating plungers posiy tioned in and adjustable longitudinally of said passages, cover plates movable With respect to theh-andle portion and adapted to be moved tromopen'toclosed position and vice versato permit access lto the ends of the plungersvvhich extend into the handle portion, and graduated scales associated with the handle portion of the passages to Afacilitate adjustment of the plungers Yto predetermined combinations.

l2. A combination lock key embodying a .blank provided With shank and handle portions and having a plurality of passages extending icrom the free end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each yof the passages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operating plungers positioned in and adjustable longitudinally of said passages, cover plates movable With respect to the handle portion and adapted to be moved from open to closed position and vice versa, to permit access to the ends ofthe plungers which extend into the handle por- Y. tion.Y graduated scales associated with the handle portion of thepassagesto facilitate adjustment of the plungers to'predeterminedV combinations, and means for securingvthecover plates in normally closed position.

13. A combination lock key embodying a fiat blank provided in at least one face thereof with parallel channels all of which extend from one' end of the blank, lock operating plungers longitudinally adjust-able VWithin said channels, and means to lock the plungers in vari-ous positions of adjustment,

said plungers being of such length that they will not extend beyond the said end of theV blank, in any of such positions of adjustment. A .f Y

14. combination .lock keyhaving a shank Jitrom the free end of which extends a plurality of parallel passages adapted to receive the operating pins of a lock when the key is brought intcooperative relation thereto one side of each passage being cut away to the adjacent face of the shank to preclude lodging of extraneous matter in the passages.

l5. A combination lock key having a shank from the free end of which extends a plurality of parallel passages adapted to receive the operating pins of a lock when the key is brought into coopera-tive relation thereto, one side of each passage being cut away to the adjacent face of the shank to preclude lodging of extraneous matter in the passages, and an adjustable member in each passage to regulate the depth thereof to the desired connbination.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

OSWALD D. voN MEHREN.

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