US2095228A

US2095228A - Combination lock

Info

Publication number: US2095228A
Application number: US100084A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burns Fred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-06-23
Filing date: 1936-09-10
Publication date: 1937-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-12

Description

Oct. 12, 19-37. F. BURNS' -2',095,22s

\ COMBINATION LOCK Filed Sept. 10, 1956 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION LOCK Fred Burns, Footscray, Australia Application September 10,1936, Serial No. 100,084 In Australia June 2 3, 1936 1 Claims; (01. 70-302 compact and of small proportions so as to provide the necessary neatness of appearance when attached to hand bags.

The object of this invention is to provide a combination lock that will have single control by means of providing one knob or handle, the manipulation of which is adapted to effect the dual function of operating the locking mechanism and also to provide the release of the catch or bolt associated with said lock to effect the opening of a safe, bag or the like.

With the above object in view, this invention apprehends more specifically a combination lock having a knob, handle, dial or the like for manipulation purposes and which may be rotated in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction to effect a predetermined setting of lockingelements in order to permit a bolt or catch to be moved by a further manipulation of the control dial or knob whereby the safe, door or bag may be opened.

An important feature embodied in the invention consists in that the control knob or handle has associated therewith indication devices for selecting the combination of the lock, the locking members of which are operatively connected with the knob or handle and the movable bolt or catch whereby, on the locking members being adjusted according to the predetermined setting thereof, the correct manipulation of the handle or knob permits the said bolt or catch to be moved for.

the purposes herein described.

It is a further important feature of the invention that the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of spaced concentrically arranged locking elements adapted to be brought into a predetermined setting of'registration to permit the catch or bolt associated therewith to be displaced from the locking position in order to open thearticle or the like to which the lock is attached.

.It is a further important feature of the invention that the locking elements comprise a plurality of concentric collars or rings rotatably mounted in conjunction with the control knob or handle and the movable bolt or catch, the said collars or rings having means associated therewith whereby rotation impulses to the outer ring or collar are transmitted to the inner collars or rings according to the direction of rotation imparted by the handle or knob whereby by rotating the handle or knob in a clockw se r ant c kw e rection, the rings or collars are set to the predetermined release position in accordance with a dial setting from the knob or handle to permit the said bolt or catch to be operated and displaced from the locked position for the purposes described.

It is a further important feature of the inven- 7 tion that the locking elements are slidablydisplaced on a rib or ledge on the base plate of the lock which has formed thereon teeth, pins or the like to seat in the locked position between the collars or looking elements whereby each locking element or collar has to be independently set to bring slots or openings in the locking elements into registration whereby the said elements may be displaced from the locked position by means of the teeth engaging with'the slots, and in displacing the locking elements, the bolt or catch is moved therewith. v

A still further important feature of the invention is that in operating the lock described, the control handle or knob is rotated in an anticlockwise and clockwise direction in sequence whereby each locking element or collar is rotated until it reaches a position when the slots therein are in registration at which position a displacement of the control handle or knob or portion thereof permits either the locking elements to move past and out of engagement with the locking teeth or vice versaaccording to the design to release the catch or bolt.

Other features of this invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the combination look as adapted to a safe door.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3. is a sectional elevation of the combination locking mechanism. 1

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the combination locking mechanism with the base plate removed.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the combination lock.

According to one form of carrying my inven- 4 tion into practical effect, the improved lock may comprise a base plate 6 on which is formed an upraised rib 1 extending to the periphery of said plate 6 from near the centre thereof. This rib l has formed thereon a plurality of teeth or pins 8. Adjacent the inner end of the rib I is a recess or slot 9 formed through the base plate 6 to permit said plate 6 to be moved at right angles to its axial centre line in order topermit unlocking mechanism to be operated as hereinafter .de-

scribed, the said slot 9 also limiting the movement of said plate 6.

The slot 9 of the base plate 6 engages with a rectangular or other shaped projection I0 formed on the rear of a disc or circular plate I I having a plurality of concentric recesses or grooves I2 formed on the front thereof and into which recesses are freely and independently disposed locking elements I3 comprising rings or collars.

A radial slot I4 is also formed through this circular plate I I to receive the rib I on the base plate 3 so that the top of the teeth 8 formed in said rib 7 become flush with the front face of the circular plate II and the spaces I5 between said teeth coincide with the circumferential grooves I2 in said circular plate II to permit the locking elements I3 to be rotated in theirrespective grooves I2 when the base plate 6 is disposed in the locking position.

A spindle It extends from the centre of the disc or circular plate II and is threaded at its upper end to receive a cap I? and locking nut I8, the inner surface of the cap I? having concentrically arranged thereon recesses or grooves l9 to correspond with the grooves I2 in the disc or circular plate II and fit over the upper circumferential edges of the locking elements I3 in a manner to permit said elements I3 to be rotated within their grooves I2 and I9.

Mounted to the disc or circular plate II is a flanged casing 23 which completely covers the locking elements I 3 and retaining cap I1, the flange 2! of the casing engaging with a recess 22 in the circular plate II and being held in a revolvable manner by a nut 23, the periphery of said plate II being threaded for the purpose.

The flange 2| of the casing is provided with a cut-out 24 through which the teeth 8 and rib 'I on the base plate 3 are permitted to pass when the locking elements I3 are disposed in an unlocked position.

Projecting inwardly from the interior wall of the flanged casing 20 and preferably near the flange 2| thereof is a projecting lug or pin 25 and for the purpose of assembly of the casing 20 and associated parts a slot 26 is provided in the retaining cap I! and through which the pin 25 passes.

Each of the locking elements I 3, as before mentioned, is capable of independent rotation and are arranged concentrically around each other and provided with lugs 21 projecting exteriorly and interiorly from the wall thereof and in the same plane as the lug 25 on the flanged casing 23. The respective lugs 2! on the locking elements I3 are adapted to engage with corresponding lugs 21 on the adjacent locking element I3, the engagement of the lugs 2'! with each other causing the locking elements I3 to rotate in unison, that is to say, one locking element I3 on being rotated uninterruptedly in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction will, after passing through a. number of degrees of rotation, pick up the adjacent inner locking element I3 which, in turn, picks up the locking element I3 within it whereby the said locking elements I3 may all be caused to'rotate in unison if desired. Similarly the lug 25 on the flanged casing 20 after said casing passing through a number of degrees of rotation registers with the lug 2'! on the outer collar or locking element I3 and causes said outer collar to rotate in unison therewith.

Each of the locking elements I3 is provided with a cut-out 28 on the edge adjacent the disc or circular plate II and through which the rib I and teeth 8 on the base plate 6 are adapted to move when cut-outs 28 of all the locking elements I3 and the cut-out 24 on the flange 2| of the casing 20 are in alignment.

With the elements I3 and casing 23 in this position the base plate 6 is adapted to be moved thereby permitting unlocking means connected with said base plate 6 to be operated and, in one embodiment of the invention, I will refer to its use in conjunction with the door of a safe and, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the locking mechanism being disposed between the outer casing 29 of the safe and the inner lining 33 thereof.

. In order to operate the mechanism, the top of the flanged casing 23 is provided with a slot 3| or like means adapted to receive the head 32 of an extension shaft 33 which passes through the outer casing 29 of the safe to rotatably engage with a control dial 34 but be permitted to move axially independently thereof, a feather 35 being provided for the purpose. Fixedly mounted to the outer end of the extension shaft 33 is a countersunk operating knob 36 having recesses 37 for finger-gripping purposes. The knob 36 is normally held flush with the control dial 34 by a spring 38, the said spring 38 normally retaining the head 32 of the extension shaft 33 in contact with the slot 3| in the top of the flanged casing 23 to permit the casing 23 to be rotated when the dial 34 is turned and the knob 36 in normal position.

Freely disposed on the extension shaft 33 and adjacent the top of the flanged casing 23 but exteriorly thereof is a toothed pinion 33 adapted u to be in constant engagement with a rack 43, an oppositely disposed rack 4I being also in mesh with the pinion 39, which rack 4I acts as a locking bolt. The rack 40 is connected to the base plate by an arm 42 so as to move in unison therewith.

Fixedly mounted to the extension shaft 33 and disposed adjacent the freely rotatable pinion 39 is a collar or flange 4-3 with dowels 44 thereon, the said dowels being adapted to engage in corresponding recesses or openings 45 in the face of the pinion 39 adjacently disposed but only when the operating knob 33 has been depressed. and rotated to bring the said dowels 44 and openings 45 in alignment, such depressing action of the knob 36 also disengaging the head 32 of the extension shaft 33 from the casing 23 to perrrnt the said shaft 33 being rotated independently of the casing 20, but before said shaft 33 can be rotated to operate the pinion 39 and racks 43 and 4I and associated mechanism, the flanged casing 23 and locking elements I3 within it must be arranged to permit the rib I and teeth 8 formed on the base plate 6 to pass through the respective cut-

outs

23 and 24 in the locking elements I3 and casing flange 2! thereby permitting the said base plate 6 and associated racks 4D and M to be operated by the rotation of the dowels 44.

In order to prevent the retaining nut 23 of the flanged casing 20 from being removed by any unauthorized person in cases where the flanged casing 20forms the control dial, a transverse bar 43 is provided in the rear of the disc or circular plate II, which bar 43 extends to the periphery of the nut 23 and prevents same from being removed from the disc II before removal of the bar46 which is mounted to the disc I I by screws 41. The control dial 34 is provided with an indicator or projection 48 to provide indication means for setting the dial 34 in relation to projections 49 disposed on the outer casing 23 of the safe, the said latter projections 49 being concentrically arranged in the manner of a clock dial, such sets of

projections

48 and 49 permitting the lock to be operated by sense of touch in the darkness.

To operate the lock the user, being aware of the combination, imparts firstly rotation to the control dial 34 whereby all the locking elements l3 may rotate in one direction to ensure that the lock is ready for adjustment.

As the projections 49 on the casing 29 correspond with predetermined settings for each looking element l3, the operator rotates the dial 34 to effect the setting preferably of the innermost locking element l3 to adjust the cut-out 28 therein with the circular plate H to register or coincide with the radial slot l4 in alignment with the rib I and teeth 8 of the circular plate.

The control dial 34 is then rotated in an opposite direction to adjust the next adjacent locking element l3 to bring its recess 28 into alignment with the previously adjusted element l3 to be in alignment with the said teeth 8.

Each locking element I3 is adjusted by continuous rotation in an anti-clockwise and clockwise direction by the control dial 34, the engagement of the

respective lugs

25 and 27 between the casing 20 and the locking elements l3 effecting the rotation.

When the casing 20 and all the locking elements l3 have the respective cut-outs. 24 and 28 in alignment with the teeth 8 the operatin knob 36 is depressed to disengage the head 32 of the extension shaft 33 from the slot 3| in the flanged casing 20 and thereby permit the unlocking rack 4| to be operated by the continued rotation of the control dial 34 without displacing the locking elements from their position.

In another embodiment of the invention when the lock is attached to hand or cash bags or portmanteaux or the like, the catch on one flap or side of the article may be in the form of a recess to engage with a bolt or projection connected to the disc or circular plate ll adjacent the base plate 6, which base plate 6 becomes the fixed member and the lock and associated parts the lateral moving member so that when all the locking elements 13 have their respective cut-outs 28 in alignment with the teeth 8 of the base plate 6 the flanged casing 20 may be moved laterally whereby the said locking elements l3 move laterally along the rib and carry with them the before-mentioned bolt or projection.

In the above modification the invention is of neat and compact appearance, being substantially small incomparison with the size of the types of locks at present employed utilizing the combination principles so that the lock provides forefiicient application to cash bags or business bags in which valuable papers may be carried.

In applying the lock to safes and doors a further handle may be employed if necessary other than the operating knob 36, which handle would be operatively connected with the lock or catch whereby, after the control dial had been. set toadjust the locking mechanism to permit same tomove, the handle could then be adjusted to effeet the displacement of the catch or bolt to open the door or safe.

If desired the invention may be utilized in conjunction with the switching mechanism of radiosets or the like to prevent independent adjustment for the condensers and eliminate unauthorized use of the set.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An improved combination lock characterized by a'plurality of circular collars concentrically and rotatably arranged in grooves within a flanged casing, the said collars and casing having cut-outs adapted to be brought into alignment to release means for actuating unlocking mechanism.

2. An improved combination lock characterized by a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably disposed between grooved plates the said elements being adapted to be independently positioned to bring cut-outs. formed therein into alignment and release associated means for unlocking an article to which the lock is attached.

3. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of concentric locking elements rotatably disposed between grooved plates located within a flanged casing, lugs projecting exteriorly and interiorly from each element to impart rotation from one element to the adjacent inner element, the outer element being rotated by a lug projecting interiorly from. the wall of the flanged casing rotatably connected to one of the grooved plates, said casing on being rotated in sequence in an anti-clockwise and clockwise direction to predetermined settings effectsthe positioning of the locking elements. to bring said cutouts formed therein in. alignment to permit an independent section completing the concentric grooves in one of said plates to be displaced for the purpose of actuating unlocking means.

4. An improved combination lock characterized by a casing adapted to be rotated in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction to eifect a predetermined setting of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged within said cas ing and thereby permit means associated with said elements to be moved by a further manipulation of the casing whereby an article to which the lock is attached may be opened.

5. An improved combination lock comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and rotatably disposed within a casing slidably mounted in relation to a base plate, a radial rib on said base plate, teeth formed in said rib and adapted to seat in the locked position between the locking elements. cut-outs formed in the locking elements each of which elements is adapted to be independently set to bring all the cut-outs. into registration and alignment with the teeth to permit the said elements to be displaced from the locked position to effect the unlocking of a bolt or catch and thereby open an article to which the lock is attached.

6. An improved combination lock according to claim 3 and wherein the rotatable casing has an upraised indicator or marking adapted to be set in relation to fixed upraised indicators surbe independently positioned to bring said cutouts formed therein into alignment and permit the release of associated means for unlocking an article to which the lock is attached.

9. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged" in grooved plates located within a casing, each of the locking elements having a cut-out or recess adapted to be brought into alignment with an independent movable section forming portion of one of the grooved plates to permit said section to be displaced in an outward direction for actuating means to unlock the article to which the lock is attached.

10. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged in grooved plates located within a casing, each of the locking elements having a cut-out or recess adapted to be brought into alignment with an independent movable sec- 7 tion forming portion of one of the grooved plates to permit the movable section to be displaced in an outward direction, such displacement preventing said casing and locking elements being ro tated while said section actuates means to unlock the article to which the lock is attached.

11. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably located within a casing, the manipulation of said casing effecting the operation of the locking elements to allow the release of a catch or bolt associated with said lock to effect the opening of an article to which the lock is attached.

12. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of concentric locking elements revolvably mounted in and associated with a rotatable casing, a slidable bolt or plate in operable conjunction with said locking element s, means associated with said elements whereby rotational impulses imparted to the outer locking element are transmitted to the inner elements according to the directionof rotation imparted to the casing whereby rotating the casing in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction the locking elements are set to a predetermined release position in accordance with the casing setting to permit said slidable bolt or plate to be operated and displaced from the locked position for the purpose of opening the article to which the lock is attached.

13. An improved combination lock, comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged in grooved plates located within a casing detachably connected with the extension shaft of a combined control dial and operating knob, the dial effecting the rotation of the casing in an anti-clockwise and clockwise direction, in sequence, to effect the position of each locking element to release a base plat-e at which time a depression of the operating knob permits the rotation of said extension shaft and control dial independently of said casing to displace said base plate from its locked position and simultaneously operate unlocking mechanism to open the article to which the lock is attached.

14. An improved combination lock comprising a plurality of independent locking elements concentrically and rotatably arranged between grooved plates, a cut-out in each element, a rotatable flanged casing detachably connected to one of the said grooved plates and completely housing the locking elements, a projecting lug on the inner wall of said casing and adapted when rotated through a predetermined number of degrees to register with a lug projecting exteriorly from the outer locking element, the for mer lug effecting the rotation of said outer element, a lug projecting interiorly from the outer locking element and adapted when rotated through apredetermined number of degrees to register with a lug projecting exteriorly from the adjacent inner locking element to effect the rotation of said inner element, the said casing when rotated in an anti-clockwise and clockwise direction effecting by means of the said lugs the alignment of all the cut-outs in said velements and a cut-out in the flange of the casing with teeth disposed on a slidable base plate forming portion of the grooves of the plate adjacent the flange of the casing, to permit said teeth and base plate to be displaced outwardly to actuate unlocking means to open an article to which th lock is attached.

15. An improved combination lock comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged in grooved plates located within a casing adapted to be rotated by an extension shaft detachably connected with said casing, the said shaft having a control dial slidable thereon and a spring-controlled operating knob mounted thereto, the operating knob disengaging the shaft from said casing and engaging said shaft with a pinion whereby on the rotation of the knob and control dial unlocking means are adapted to be actuated when the look ing elements within the casing are in a predetermined position.

16. An improved combination lock comprising a plurality of locking elements concentrically and revolvably arranged between grooved plates located within a casing adapted to be rotated by an extension shaft detachably connected thereto,

the said shaft having a control'dial slidable thereon and a spring-controlled operating knob mounted thereto, the dial effecting the rotation of said casing to position the locking elements in an unlocked position in relation to a slidable base plate, the operating knob disengaging the shaft from said casing and engaging said shaft with a pinion having means associated therewith for unlocking purposes, said means moving in unison with the said base plate when the locking elements within the casing are in an unlocked position.

FRED BURNS.