US1997113A

US1997113A - Safe protector

Info

Publication number: US1997113A
Application number: US743295A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas N Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-09-08
Filing date: 1934-09-08
Publication date: 1935-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1952-04-09

Description

April 9, 1935. T. N. LEWIS 1,997,113v

SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet i I mentor .7 /z0Z7m5/V17ewz'5,

Attorney T. N. LEWIS 1,997,113

SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1954 April "'9, 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventor Attorney April 9, 1935.

T. N. LEWIS SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 'Attomey Patented Apr. 9, 1935 P TEN -OFFIC 1,997,113 7 SAFE PROTECTOR '1 I Thomas N; Lewis st Louis, Application September 8, 1934, Serial No. 743,295 at 8 Claims. (01. 1094) I This invention relates to devicesused for protectingthe combination locks of bank vaults and safes and has as its object the provision .of a device which will frustrate burglars when the latter, as is the-usual practice when the combination lock cannotbeimastered, attempt to knock oif the knob of the permutation lock and drive the spindle inwardly, therebymoving the lock tumblers in the safe out of line with the dog' or fence, and release the locking engagement of the bolt stop with the bolt of the look; there being provided-in accordance with the presentinvention, means operable to'discharge an obnoxious gas as soon as an eifort is made in the manner just described to unauthoritatively enter the safe or bank vault. 7

The invention, together with its objects and" advantages, will be best understood from a studyof the'following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device applied; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slide member.

I Figure 3is' a plan view of a-gas containing tube, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section; c

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the device in applied position; the gas tube being omitted. V v V Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation" illustrating certain details of construction to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view. Figure '7 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view'showing the eccentric pin arrangement of the device Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will'be seen that Iii designates'a circular casing'of frangible material having an open side to which is secured a plate l I having an integral formation H formed thereon and recessed as at l2 to accomodate the dial l3 of the permutation lock with which the vault or safe I4 is equipped;

said formation at the inner end of the recess I2,

being also provided with an opening E5 to accommodate the knob l6 of the permutation look as clearly shown in Figure 4. At the open side thereof the casing I B is provided with an inwardly directed flange I! whereby through the medium of screws or other fastening devices l8 the plate n is secured to the casing. V

A disk l9 of suitable material has a reduced portion |9a rotatable in an opening ZUprovided inan end wall of the casing in. For the disk 19 there is provided a knob 2| that engages the outer face of the'end wall-of the casing l and is secured to the disk H! by screws or. the like 22, the disk [9 and knob 20 being secured in this manner cooperating to retain the diskvin operative. position. I The disk I9 is also'provided with a hollow hub 23 that terminates in slightly spaced relation to the end wall ofthe recess l2.- The hub 23 of the diskis also slotted as at 24 for slidably accommodating a slide 25, provided on one edge with ratchet teeth 26, springs 45 yieldingly retaining the slidein retracted position. v

On the insiderof theend wall of the casing I In there is a stop lug 2'! and to accommodate the lugthe disk I9 is formed with an arcuate groove or slot- 28 the ends of whichformshoulders 29 and 29 ';that engagethe lug 27 for limiting 'rotative-movement of the disk. Lug 21 is provided with ratchet teeth 30 cooperable with theteeth of the slide in a manner to lock thedisk l9 against rotation;

For operating the. slide 25' thereis-provided in 25 the knob 2| of the disk a conventional keyoperated lock 3| the rotating tumbler of which is provided with an eccentric pin 32 that operates in a D -slot 33 provided in the slide 25 intermediate the ends of the latter, as clearly shown in Figure 5. Manifestly by placing the key 34 in the lock 3l and rotating the tumbler. thereof the .slide. 25 will be projected or retracted according to the direction of rotation of the tumbler and as it is desired to lock. or release the disk I9.

35 For releasably securing the device in place, there are pivoted to the end wall of the recess 12 atcircumferentially spaced points, dogs"3 5 that are normally urged by suitably mounted springs 36 radially'outwardly with respect to the center 0 of'the device and the neck of the knob is. Adjacent their free'ends thedogs are provided with laterally extending pins on which are journaled rollers 31 that are engaged by cam humps 38 formed on the inner edge of a ring 39 secured to the inner side of the disk H! by screws 40 and spaced from the'disk by sleeves 4| disposed on the screws between the ring and the disk as clearly shown in Figure 4.

From the above it will be apparent that normally the cams 35 are in spreadorradially outward position. When in this position, the casing and associated parts are slipped over the knob l6 and dial l3 of the combination lock. The knob 2| is then turned to rotate the disk in a countersecured-in position as above described, I should an the cracksman will be drive'n awayor'disabled.

lock against unauthorized opening, a casing of :2 clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 andfi. Rotation of the disk will, through the medium of the cams 38.engaging the rollers 31, force the dogs 35 against the action of springs 36. radially inwardly to engage the neck of the knob It in a manner to secure the deviceiin positiorr- Also, and as is obvious, the disk l9 will rotatein the direction just mentioned until the shoulder 23 is brought into engagement with the lug 21 when the key 34 is turned to project the slide 25 alined with the lug 21 resulting in an inter-engagement of the

teeth

26 and 30. The key 34 is then withdrawn whereupon the device is left in position with the disk l9 secured against unauthorized rotation to release the device. 7

Arranged within the casing Ill isra circularor doughnut-shaped tube 42 of frangiblematerial,

such as glass, and as shown-thetdbefits concentric to the recess i2 and the disk 49. Sealed within the tube is a gas 43, commonly known in the-art as tear 'gasand-consistin'g of a suitable mixture of 'chloracetophenone and chloropi'crin in liquid form, and which, as 'is well known,evapknown tear-gas. V v r It will thus be "apparent that with the device attempt be made to disturb'the lockedv condition -o'f a safe, and in so doing the burglar attempt to pry off the casing-10, the tube" 42 will be' brok en or fractured, resulting in making an exit for the gas, andas'is obvious, uponliberation of the gas "What'iselaimed is: v r

1. In combination witha 'lock'having a dial and a knob, means forprotecting theflock against unauthor zed access to -the knob or dial, said means comprising a casing, key-controlled cam-actuated means-fordetachably locking the casing to the knob with the easing concealing th'e kn'o'b-and dial, andan an'nu'lar tubular vessel of fran'gible material, charged with 'a toxic fluid, arranged within the'casing. I

2. In a device for protecting :a permutation brittle material, means-for detachably locking "the casing to the l'ock to conceal the knob and dial of the lock, said means including pivoted elements 'engageable with the lock to "secure-the casing thereto, and key-controlled, 'carn-ac'tuated means for securing the pivoted element "against unauthorized re'leasej '3. In a device for protecting a permutation "lock against unauthorized opening, "a casing adapted to receive the -knob o'f the lock, pivoted locking dogsjwithin the casing en'ga'geable' with the knob for detachably "locking the casing to the lock, \me'ansffor moving the dogs into and' .out of engagement with'the'knob of the lock, and

a -.vesselof frangible material, charged with a toxic fluid, arranged within the casing.

,Within thecasing to engage *dial of" sageof thel'knob of the look into the casing,

4. In a device for protecting a permutation lock against unauthorized opening, a casing of brittle material, pivoted elements arranged the knob of the lock to detachably secure the casing on the look, a rotary actuator arranged in the casing, means operatively connecting the actuator with the pivoted members for moving the latter into locking engagement with the knob of the lock, and key-controlled means for securing 'the actuator against unauthorized rotation.

5. Ina device for protecting a door against unauthorized opening, a casing, having an end plate provided with a recess to accommodate the the lock, and an aperture for the pasmeans for detachably locking the casing to the knob of the lock, and a doughnut shaped tube of frangible material arranged within the casing and charged with a toxic fluid.

6.1'In' a :device for preventing unauthorized Itampering with a permutation lock, a casing iprovided with an end plate having a recess to accommodate the dial-of the :lockandan-aperture to "accommodate the knob of thelock and .permit 'the'casing to be slipped onto the look, a r series =of pivoted dogs arranged within the casing and adapted to be :moved into engagement with the knob ior'releasably locking the casing to the lock rotarycam means within the casingand engageable with the dogs for moving the latter into engagement with the knob of the lock, ac- 'tuator means for Isa-id cam means, and :means internally *of .thecasing holding a chargeof gas or gas-producing liquid whereby unauthorized removal of the casing from the lock will cause ,a liberation of the gas charge.

'7. In alock protecting device, a casing surrounding 1the controllingelement of a lock mechanism,key-'controlled, ,pivoted element mounted i -nternally of the=casingengageable with the'controllingoelements of the-lock mechanismior releasablylocking the casing thereto, anda .doughnut-shaped tube, charged with a gas or gasproducing fluid-arranged within the casing :and

surrounding the said controlling element crime lock mechanism.

,8. In a lock protecting device, a mounting teasing surrounding the controlling elements of a'lock mechanism; locking dogs pivotally mounted in the casing and engageable with the controlling elements :for releasably locking the casing thereto, an actuator rotatably mounted in the casing, interengaging means on theiactua'tor and the dogs .iorimoving the latter into engagement with the said controlling elements, of the lock mechanism, a knob 'for the actuator, keycontrolled meansarranged in the knob for looking the actuator against unauthorized operation,

and frangible means within'the casing, charged with a gas or gas-producing fluid. I

(THOMAS N. LEWIS.