US2195574A - Combination lock - Google Patents

Description

April 3 9 K. LECHNER 2,195,574

COIBINATION LUCK Filed Nov. 1, 193a INVENTOE KATHAR/NA LECHNER ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. .2, 1840 "UNITED S ATES 'I E T or -CE Y v 2,195,574 COMBIN TION LooK Katharina Leclmer, Vienna, Germany.

Application November 1, 1938, Serial'No. 238,130 In Austriav November 3, 1937 40mins. (01. 70-299) This invention relates to a combination lock,

with control .pieces including elements which are provided with two superposed stepped portions and which are actuated by outer keysdesignated for instance by numerals and used to move the control pieces in the axial direction.

In prior. art','such control pieces had the form of the-control (pieces. .The control pieces were so arranged that in their displaced position their longitudinal arms extend into the elongated slots.

' Loclm of this 'type'have the disadvantage that the control pieces maymove in relation to the plates as .a result of even small shocks, with the result that the locking device may open or become inoperative. An object of the present invention is to eliminate this drawback by providing means for securing the control pieces against unintended rnov'er'n'ents', for instance, by arranging the control pieces upon slotted bolts havingthe form of split pins.

' Another drawback of locks known in prior art is the necessity of using elements consisting of two layers and having the form of double crosses;

The cost of manufacturing these double crosses is very his particularly as far as locks of small diniensions are concerned, and these crosses break easily irrespective of the material of which they are made. Furthermore, if the slots and openings of the plates are not quite exact, the crosses may become jammed ormay damage the sharp edges of the slots. The'manufacture of such manufacturing costs are further increased.

Another object of the present invention is toeliminate these drawbacks through the use of control pieces having T-shaped heads or heads t of a half-cross form.

In accordance with the present invention, the

cost of production may befurther decreased by substituting circular plates having cylindrical portions of different diameters arranged in a 55 stepped formation for the aforesaid crosses, al-

crosses requires special skill, with the result that though mm case the centralstep must bemade as small as possible. .1 i The drawing illustrates by way of example two 'forms'ofa lock constructed in a'ccordance'with the principles of the present invention; y In the drawing: 1 i Figure "1 is a top view of a round .lock wherein ,half'crosses are-used as control pieces, the cover and the upper carrying plate being partly broken Figure Z'is a top 'view of a round lock wherein H round or circular plates are used as control pieces, the cover andthe upper carrying plate being part, 1y broken off I Figure 3 1s a cross-section through the 1c1 15 shown in Figural ona somewhatlarger scale;

Figure 4 is a perspective iew of a control piece used in the device shown in Figures 1 and 3;" and Figure 5 is a perspective view 'of a control piece used in the device shown in Figure 2. a l Each of the two locking devicesillustratednin the drawing comprises three superposed plates a,

1), and cwhich are situatedwithin a casingd The two outer plates a and c are firmlyconnected with the casing and are therefore immovable, 25 while themiddle plate 11' is rotatable about its central axis. The middle plate'b'has a square central opening intoqwhich a square portion of a pinf is fitted, so that the plate I) is rotated along with, the pin 1 e 30 Obviously, the pin f may be made immovable and the plate I) may be caused torotate around thepini Y A hook 2 also has a square opening into which a square portion of the pin f'is fitted, so that the hook e rotates along with the plate 1b andthe pin 1. Obviously, the hook e may constitute a part of the plate I).

A number of control pieces g are arranged in a circle around the central axis of the plates.

The control pieces shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4 comp-rise an upper larger head portion 91 and a smaller lower head portion 02 which have the form of a T or a half cross. i Each of the control pieces is provided with a slotted bolt n having the form of a split pin;

The plates at, b, and 0 have openings the form of which corresponds to that of the control pieces.

The upper plate a and thelowest plate 0 have openings hi corresponding to the larger head portion 91 of the control pieces 9 while the middle rotary plate b has openings hr which are integral with elongated slots hz into which the portions oz of the control pieces may be fitted.

The control pieces are actuated by means of .plates a and c.

keys i which are depressed manually and which are returned into their original position by means of springs. The keys 1'. are arranged in a circle and may be designated by numerals or other insignia. 1 i

The device used for returning the displaced control pieces to their original position comprises a returning plate k, which may be raised by means of a fiangel constituting a part of the pin 1, which is provided with a handle m so that it can be easily grasped and pulled in the axial direction. Furthermore, the same handle m may be turned to rotate the middle plate b, which is rotatable along with the pin 1.

Due to the provision of the slotted bolts n, the control pieces are held in their proper position by the spring action of these bolts, so that it is possible to move them relatively to the plates only by a comparatively strong pressure or action.

The device is operated as follows:

The control pieces are originally set-in the upper plate a in such manner that most of them have their larger upper portions g1 situated in the openings hl of the upper fixed plate a, while their smaller head portions 92 are situated in the openings ha of the movable plate b. If all the control pieces were located in this position, the middle plate b could be rotated relatively to the However, some of the control pieces are arranged in such manner that their smaller head pieces 112 are situated in the openings hl of the upper plate a, while their larger head portions g1 are situated-in the openings hi of the middle plate I). Then it is not possible to move the middle plate b any more, since the lastmentioned control pieces lock this plate against movement.

For example, the positions of three control pieces actuated'by keys i numbered 2, I, and 3, may be arranged in reverse positions in this manner.

In order to open the lock, it is necessary to move these three reversed control pieces in such manner that they will not lock the middle plate b any more. This can be achieved by moving the smaller head portions oz of the three reversed control pieces into the openings he of the middle plate 12 and by moving the larger head portions 911 of these pieces into the openings ill of the lowermost plate '0. In order to move the reversed control pieces to these positions, it is necessary to depress the keys numbered 2, l, and 3 until the reversed control pieces are moved inwardly to the extent of the thickness of a plate.

If the operator by mistake depresses the wrong control piece, so that one of the three reversed control pieces is not moved into the correct position, the lock remains locked and does not open even if later on he operates the correct key.

In order to open the lock, it is necessary first to reset all the keys and control pieces by raising the returning-plate Ia and then to press the correctly numbered keys, whereupon the middle plate can be turned to, unhook the hook e.

The described lock can be used not only for locking doors of all kinds but also for motorcars, as a lock for the starting device, the car door, the ignition, and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination lock consisting of stepped control pieces in two layers displaceable by means of keys marked on their outer face between and vertically .to carrying plates, in which the said control pieces are held by the spring action of split pin-like slotted bolts in their proper position.

2. In a combination lock consisting of stepped control pieces in two layers displaceable by means of keys marked on their outer face between and vertically to carrying plates, in which the said control pieces are of a T-head form.

3. In a combination lock consisting of stepped control pieces in two layers displaceable by means of keys marked on their outer face between and vertically to carrying plates, in which the saidcontrol pieces consist of circular plates with a central boltlike nose.

4. In a combination lock, in combination, three 1 superposed plates, movable control pieces extending perpendicularly to said plates, each of said control pieces having two portions adapted to engage openings formed in two of said three plates, one of said three plates being rotatable relatively to the other two plates, each of said control pieces also having mechanical locking means maintaining it in position relatively to said plates to prevent the shifting of the control piece; and separate keys for actuating said control pieces.

KATHARINA LECHNER.

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