US2132201A - Padlock - Google Patents

Description

@ciu 49 i3., J. ALLMAN 2933293011 PADLOGK Original Filed June 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l JIJ J. ALLMAN @Clt 4, 1938.

PADLOCK Original Filed June 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQQMM Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNl'l'ED STTES amati PADLOCK Joseph Allman, Chicago, lll., assigner, by mesne assignments, to `loseph Allman, trustee Application .lune 27, 1935, Serial No. 28,638 Renewed .lune 13, 1938 1l Claims.

The present invention relates to padlocks, and is particularly concerned with the provision oi an improved padlock of the permutation type, adapted to be actuated by'manual actuating devices, which may be actuated without necessity for looking at any dial so that the lock may be opened in the dark as well as thelight.4

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved permutation padlock in i.) which there are no parts exposed that can be drilled or otherwise attacked with ordinary tools to break the lock.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved permutation padlock in 1,; which there are no parts which can be damaged in such manner as to open the lock by means of a hammer.

Another object of the invention is the provin sion of an improved permutation lock adapted .3 to be actuated by push buttons, in which the parts are so formed that they cannot be grasped by a pair of pliers or other gripping tools to push or pry the push buttons out of the lock.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved permutation padlock structure which is simple, efficient, sturdy and capable of manufacture at such a low cost that it may be manufactured within the means of a vast number of purchasers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the padlock;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the padlock mechanism, with one of the cover plates removed; 4 Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view;`

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line l-l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; l

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9 9 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the lock, showing the end elevation of the ratchet member;

Fig. 1l is a sectional view, showing the cam in elevation;

Fig. 12 is another sectional View, showing one of the permutation members in elevation; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view, showing another of the permutation members in elevation.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, 2li indicates in its entirety the padlock, which is preferably provided with a body 2|, which may be constructed of a block of hardened metal suitable for resisting the attacks of ordinary tools.

The block 2l has a plurality of fiat, rectangular sides, the corners 22 being preferably cham- I.fered, but the block may be made in any desired shape. It is `provided with an enlarged circular transverse bore 23 for the purpose of housing the mechanism of the lock, and with a pair of inwardly extending bores 2d, 225 at the top, which latter bores are parallel to each other and communicate with the enlarged bore 23.

1t also has a pair of parallel cylindrical bores 26, 21 extending inwardly from the bottom for the purpose of housing the push buttons 2t, 2e, and these latter bores also communicate with the enlarged bore Z3. p

The padlock is preferably provided with a U- shapedshackle 353, comprising a hardened metal rod bent to substantially U shape and having a pair of parallel legs 3|, 32, the latter leg being longer, since it is adapted to be rotatably and slidably mounted in the lock body.

The leg 3| is provided at its lower end with a transverse groove,l having a diagonal surface 33 and a transverse shoulder 34, the latter being adapted to engage a locking bolt or pivoted member when the padlock is in locked condition. The opposite leg 32 is also preferably provided with a similar beveled surface 33 and a shoulder 34, the two grooves facing each other.

In some embodiments of the invention, however, only one pivoted locking member may be utilized. Each of the legs 3|, 32 is preferably slidably mounted in a hardened metal sleeve 35 or 39, which has a lower reduced cylindrical portion 36 that has a pressed frictional t in the bore 25. The sleeve is driven home against the annular shoulder 31 and has its edge at one side removed at the point 38, so that the sleeve will not interfere with the operation of the other parts of the mechanism. In other words, the sleeve 33 does not project into the enlarged bore 23.

The sleeve 35 is cut away at 56at the upper end, so that the shackle 3|! may be pivoted to move the leg 3| out of the sleeve 35 when the groove M registers with pin l l. The upper part of sleeve 35 thus serves to align the leg 3|, with the bore in the sleeve 35, when rotating the shackle 3i! back into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.`

The bore 26 is also provided with a similar sleeve 33, the latter sleeve being also provided with an aperture 40 for passing a pin lll, which has a drive t in a transverse bore 42. The leg 32 is provided with a vertically extending slot 43 on the side towards the pin 4|, so that the pin 4| may slide in the sl'ot 43, preventing rotation of the shackle 30 until it reaches the upper limit of its movement, where the slot 4| extends sidewise at 44, on the periphery of the leg 32.

The leg 32 is also provided with an axially extending bore 45 in its lower end for receiving the compression spring 46, which tends to move the shackle 30 up out of the padlock body. The mechanism of the padlock is supported upon a cylindrical metal supporting member 41, which also has a bore 48 for the leg 32, the bore 48 registering with the bore in the sleeve 3! when the parts are assembled. Bore 48 may be provided with a plate 49 at its lower end, which is pressed in place to provide a better seat for the spring 4G.

The body, at each end of the enlarged bore 23, is preferably provided with counterbores 50, 5|, substantially tting the outer edges 52 of the beveled cover plates 53, 54. After all the parts of the lock are assembled, the adjacent part of the lock body 2| may be spun over the beveled edges of the cover plates 58, 54 to permanently secure these plates to the body.

One of the cover plates, such as 53, for example, is preferably provided with some identifying mark to distinguish it from the other cover plate, so that the operator may tell in the dark which is the front side of the lock, for the purpose of identifying the two push buttons from each other, as a right push button and a left push button. In the present embodiment an ornamental circular groove 55 is formed in the front cover plate for this purpose.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 'land 8, the mechanism of the lock is mounted upon the circular body 41. This body is provided with a transverse cylindrical bore 51 for receiving the permutation discs. It alsol has the upwardly extending bores 58, 59, which register with the bores 25, 21, respectively, when the lock is assembled, and these latter bores communicate with the Vcentrally, located bore 51. The supporting member 41 is also provided with a circular bore 60, centrally located therein with respect to the periphery of the body 41 for passing the shaft 9|, which has a reduced knurled end 62 that may have a drive lit in a bore 83 in the back cover plate 54. Shaft 6| is thereby prevented from rotating, and it rotatably supports the permutation discs 94, 65, the cam disc Bt, and the ratchet wheel 61.

The tumbler discs 94, are spaced from each other by a washer 68 which is provided with a radially inwardly extending key 59, adapted to ex tend into the key-way 10 in the shaft 6|. A similar washer 1| ismounted between the tumbler disc VS5 and the cam 65. Cam 55 may be iixedly secured to the ratchet wheel 5,1 by being pressed on a tubular hub 12 carried by the ratchet wheel. The washers 68, 1| isolate the permutation discs from each other so that they can be rotated only by the inter-engagement of the pins carried thereby.

The permutation discs 64, 05 both have slots 13. 14 which are adapted to receive the locking lug 15 .when these slots are aligned. The cam 55 has its periphery arrangedcn an increasing radius so that at its largest radius the cam surface 16 is adaptedto, lift the locking lug 15 out of the slots 13, 14. The smallest radius portion of the cam permits the locking lug 15 to drop into the slots 13, 14, if they are aligned. The permutation disc 64 may be provided with another slot or cut-away portion 11, forming the radial shoulders 18, 19Von each side of a stop pin 80. Stop pin is mounted with a pressed fit in a suitable bore 0| in the body 41. The purpose of the shoulders 18, 19 is to limit the rotation of the first permutation disc so that it will not take so many step-by-step impulses to v move it back to its initial position. Therefore, the

rst number of the combination may be much smaller than it would need to be if stops 18-80 were absent.

Permutation disc 6ft is also provided with a laterally projecting pin 82, which projects past the washer 60 into position to engage a pin 83, which projects from both sides of the permutation disc 65. The cam 69 also has a laterally projecting pin 84, which projects into the path of the left end of pin 83 past the washer 1|. The inter-engagement of these pins serves to permit the alignment of the slots 13, 14 in the permutation discs by actuating the ratchet wheel G1.

Ratchet-wheel 31 comprises a substantially cylindrical metal member provided with a plurality of equally spaced slots 85 and teeth 86 on its periphery. It has an enlarged bore 81 from which extends a bore 88 of the hub 12, so that the ratchet wheel may be rotatably mounted on the shaft 5|, and a spring 89 may be mounted in the bore 81. Shaft 6| is provided with a threaded and countersunk bore 90 for receiving the screw 9|, which passes through and secures a plate 92 in the counterbore 81 to provide a seat for the spring 99. The spring 89 constantly urges the assembly of rotatably mounted parts on the shaft 5| axially into engagement with each other and maintains these parts under predetermined pressure, so that the friction between them is suicient to hold the tumbler discs in the position to which they are turned by the operation of the pins 82-84- The locking lug 15 is carried by the lower end of a sliding member 93,'which is slidably mounted in the body 41. The sliding member 93 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting lugs 94, 95, and it is slidably mounted in a guideway 96 in the body 41. The body 41 is also provided with slots 91, 98, which communicate with the guideway 96 so that pivoted locking bolts 99, |00 may be mounted in the slots 91, 98, an arm of each locking bolt projecting into the guideway 96. Each of the locking bolts may be Videntical in construction, and therefore only one need be described. They are rotatively mounted on pins |0| and are provided with the partially cylindrical actuating arm |92 and with the other arm having a laterally projecting lockingpshoulder |03.

The slider 93 is provided with an axially extending bore |94, within which is housed a compression spring |05. Compression spring |05 engagesthe upper wall of the enlarged bore 23 and urges the slider 93 downward, or in such a way as to tend to withdraw the locking bolts 99, |00. They cannot be withdrawn, however, unless the slots 13, 14 of the permutation discs are aligned. The laterally projecting lugs 94, have inwardly extending slots |06, |01, within which are mounted the partially cylindrical ends of the arms |02 of the locking bolts 99, |00. The guideway 99 communicates with the centrally located bore 51, so that the locking lug 15 may pass downward intoV the slots 13, 14.

The ratchetwheel 51 is adapted to be actuated` by the push buttons 28, 29.; For this purpose there is mounted in each of the bores 58, 59 a plunger |08, which is provided with a head |09, slidably mounted in the bore 58. 'Ihe reduced cylindrical stem ||0 of the plunger |08 is slidably mounted in a complementary bore and a spring II2 engages a portion of the body 41 and constantly urges the plunger |00 downward into engagement with the inner end of a sleeve II3. Each of the plungers |08 carries an auxiliary stem I 9 and a pawl I I4, pivotally mounted thereon by means of a pin I I5.

The body 41 is suitably cut away and provided with a slot sothat the pawl ||4 may move up and down with the plunger I08.- Pawl IIA is provided with a ratchet-engaging shoulder ||6 and a beveled surface I I1, and the end of the pawl has a socket I|8 for receiving the end of a spiral spring II9, the other end of the spring being xedly secured to the body 41 by being mounted in a bore in a screw |62. Spring II 9 constantly urges the pawl I I4 toward the ratchet wheel, but the edge of the slot III limits the movement of the pawl I|4 and prevents it from engaging the ratchet wheel except during a predetermined range of the motion of the plunger |08.

As plunger |08 is moved upward, the pawl is moved over into engagement with the ratchet Wheel 61, where it engages in one of the slots and moves the ratchet Wheel a movement which corresponds to the space corresponding to one slot and one tooth.

Both of the pawls being identical in structure, only one will-be described, but the one pawl is adapted to move the ratchet wheel step by step in a clockwise direction, and the other in a counterclockwise direction, corresponding to the usual movements of the dial of a permutation lock.

The push buttons 28, 29 comprise hardened metal members provided with frusto-conical outer portions |2I. These frusto-conical portions are so hardened that no impression can be made thereon by any ordinary tool, and they cannot be gripped by pliers or other clamping members so as to Withdraw them from the lock.

, The push buttons also have a cylindrical body spring ||2 so that when the push buttons are actuated under ordinary conditions spring |25 does not give but is suflicient to transmit the motion of the push button 28 to the plunger |08.

Sleeve I3 is also made of hardened metal, and has a pressed t in the bore 26. It haslan inwardly extending annular ange |26 at its inner end, providing a seat for the head |09 of plunger |08. At its outer end it has an outwardly extending annular shoulder |21, determining the final position of the sleeve in its bore.

The push button has a reduced cylindrical portion, providing space for a metal ring |28, which has a pressed t in the bore |23, providing a stop shoulder for the outward movement of the push button and holding the push button in its socket. rlhe purpose of the spring |25 is to protect the other parts of the mechanism from hammer blows on the push buttons 28, 29. Whenever such blows are given the push buttons, the spring |25 gives and absorbs and cushions the blow that would otherwise be transmitted to the other mechanism of the lock.

The operation of Ythe lock is as follows: The push buttons 28, 29 are pushed a predetermined number of times in predetermined sequence, dependingvupon the combination, to align the permutation discs. When they are aligned, the lug 15 passes into the slots of the discs, and the locking bolts 99, |00l are withdrawn. Spring Mi then causes the locking member 30 to project from the padlock. The padlock may only be locked when the permutation discs and or cam are so arranged as to project the locking member 15 from the slots. The lock may be locked with a few turns by merely actuating the cam with one of the buttons so as to project the locking lug 15 from the slots, thereby actuating the locking bolts 99, |00. Under such conditions, it is only partially locked, and may be brought back to the initial position by pushing the other push button to move the cam backward as many steps as were taken to lock the device.` Of course, it maybe securely and thoroughly locked by following a suitable combination, and to anyone not familiar with the device it is just as well locked when in the partially locked condition I have just mentioned.

The present device is adapted to withstand the attacks of all ordinary tools, and is practically burglar-proof. It can be unlocked in the dark as well as in the light by actuating the push buttons, since it is not necessary to look at the push buttons while giving them a predetermined number of pushes in proper sequence,

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to' secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a permutation lock, the combination of a support with a plurality of permutation discs, a ratchet wheel for actuating said permutation discs step by step, a locking member controlled by said permutation discs, a pawl, a manual actuating member for actuating said ratchet wheel, and resilient means between said pawl and said manual actuating member adapted to give when a blow is struck upon said manual actuating member to protect the mechanism of the lock from hammer blows.

2. In a permutation lock, the combination of a support with a plurality of permutation discs, a ratchet wheel for actuating said permutation discs step by step, a locking member controlled by said permutation discs, a pawl, a manual actuating member for actuating said ratchet wheel, resilient means between said pawl and said manual actuating member adapted to give when a blow is struck upon said manual actuating member toy protect the mechanism of the lock'from hammer blows, said manual actuating member comprising a push button, and spring means for urging said push button outwardly from said support.

3. In a permutation lock, the combination of a support with a plurality of permutation discs, a ratchet wheel for actuating said permutation discs step by step, a locking member controlled by said permutation discs,V a pawl, a manual actuating member for actuating said ratchet wheel, resilient means between said pawl and said manual actuating member adapted to give when a blow is struck upon said manual actuating member tofprotect the mechanism of the lock from having a surface tapering toward the outer endv to prevent application of a pulling force by a clamping tool.

4. In a permutation padlock, the combination of a metal body, all exposed parts of which are' armored, with a permutation lock in said body, a pair of push buttons for actuating said lock, said push buttons projecting from said body, and said push buttons being constructed with formations having a surface tapering toward the outer end, whereby the push buttons cannot be gripped by a clamping tool to withdraw them.

5. In a padlock, the combination of a metal body formed with an enlarged transverse circular bore, a permutation locking mechanism located in said bore, actuating push buttonsV located in bores transversely to said enlarged bore for actuating said lock, a U-shaped shackle having its legs extending into other bores located transversely to said enlarged bore, said enlarged bore being closed on each side by a hardened metal plate located in said enlarged bore, and the material of said body being spun over said metal plates, one of said plates having a distinguishing mark by means of which the operator may distinguish the front of the lock and distinguish the push buttons as right and left push buttons, so that the lock may be actuated in the dark.

6. In a permutation padlock, the combination of a supporting body provided with a transverse circular bore, a U-shaped shackle having both of its ends slidably mounted in bores which communicate with said transverse bore, spring means for projecting said shackle, one of the legs of said shackle being longer, stop means for retaining said latter leg in said body, guide means for permitting rotation of said latter leg, permutation locking means in said body for locking said shackle with both legs in said body, and a pair of push buttons slidably mounted in said body and adapted to actuate said permutation locking means, and said push buttons having a surface tapering toward the outer end, whereby they cannot be gripped by any ordinary clamping tool to withdraw the push buttons.

7. A locking unit 01" padlocks comprising a substantially cylindrical body provided with a cylindrical transverse bore for receiving the permutation discs, a shaft xedly mounted in said bore, a plurality of permutation discs on said shaft, fixed bearing means between said discs for preventing one permutation disc from entraining another except through the interconnecting shoulders carried thereby, a pair of pivoted locking bolts, a movable member carrying a locking lug and mechanically connected to said locking bolts, said permutation discs having slots adapted to be aligned to receive said locking lug and permit the movement of said locking bolts.

8. A locking unit for padlocks, comprising a substantially cylindrical body provided with a cylindrical transverse bore for receiving the permutation discs, a shaft'iixedly mounted in said bore, a plurality of permutation discs on said shaft, fixed bearing means between said discs for preventing one permutation disc from entraining another except through the interconnecting shoulders carried thereby, a pair of pivoted locking bolts, a movable member carrying a locking lug and mechanically connected to said locking bolts, said permutation discs having slots adapted to be aligned to receive said locking lug and per- Init the movement of said locking bolts, resilient means for urging said locking lug into said slots of said permutation discs, and cam means adapted upon rotation to force said locking lug out of said slots to effect a locking'movement of said locking bolts. l

9. In a permutation padlock, the combination of a supporting body provided with an enlarged transverse bore, said body also having a pair of inwardly extending bores at the top, and a pair of inwardly extending bores at the bottom, cornmunicating with said enlarged bore, a U-shaped shackle having its legs slidably mounted in said top bores, one of said legs being longer and adapted to permit rotation of said shackle when said other leg is out of its top bore, a permutation locking device mounted in said enlarged bore, and comprising a pair of locking bolts adapted to engage shoulders on said legs, and a pair of push buttons in said lower bores adapted to actuate said permutation locking means by a predetermined number of impulses in predetermined sequence.

10. In a permutation padlock, the combination of a supporting body provided with an enlarged transverse bore, said body also having a pair of inwardly extending bores at the top, a pair of inwardly extending bores at the bottom, communicating with said enlarged bore, a U-shaped shackle having its legs slidably mounted in said top bores, one of said legs being longer and adapted to permit rotation of said shackle when said other leg is out of its top bore, a permutation locking device mounted in said enlarged bore, comprising a pair of locking bolts adapted to engage shoulders on said legs, and a pair of push buttons in said lower bores adapted to actuate said permutation locking means by a predetermined number of impulses in predetermined sequence, and spring means interposed between said push buttons and the mechanism of said permutation locking means to absorb hammer blows and protect said mechanism from hammer blows on said push buttons.

11. In a permutation padlock, the combination of a supporting body provided with an enlarged transverse bore, said body also having a pair o1 inwardly extending bores at the top, a pair of inwardly extending bores at the bottom, communicating with said enlarged bore, a.A U-shaped shackle having its legs slidably mounted in said top bores, one of said legs being longer and adapted to permit rotation of said shackle when said other leg is out of its top bore, a permutation locking device mounted in said enlarged bore, comprising a pair of locking bolts adapted to engage shoulders on .said legs, a pair of push buttons in said lower bores adapted to actuate said permutation locking means by a predetermined number of impulses in predetermined sequence, and springmeans interposed between said push buttons and the mechanism of said permutation locking means to absorb hammer blows and protect said mechanism from hammer blows on said push buttons, said push buttons having a surface tapering toward the outer end, whereby they cannot be gripped by ordinary gripping tools to remove the push buttons.

. JOSEPH ALLMANV

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