US2279592A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

April 14, ,94'2. H. MACHINIST LOCK Filed Fb. 2, 1958 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 Loon Harold Machinist, Long Island City, N. Y., as-

signor to Dudley Lock Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 2, 1938, Serial No. 188,327

(Cl. 'Y0-3,94)

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of locks of the type known as cylinder locks, and is con-- cerned with a novel method and means for servicing such locks, by which term is meant the opening of a lock without using the key particularly cut for that lock, required in instances when the key has been lost and there is no other way of opening the lock. While the method of servicing and the means therefor described nerein may be used to open different types of cylinder locks, the following description is made with special reference to the lock described in United States Patent to George D. Full, No. 2,030,836, and known generally as the Dudley lock.

The object of this invention is to provide a facile and quick method of servicing cylinder locks, such as the aforementioned Dudley lock,

and to provide means for practicing such method.

For the attainment of these objects, and such Figure 2. The tumbler elements when free are yieldingly projected by coil springs' 32, Figure 2, into longitudinally extending grooves Id,

formed in the inner wall of the casing for lock-` ing engagement therewith. Y y .v

The casing I is closed .by a cap plate 2@ which is secured to the cylinder or plug H so as to rotate therewith Within the casing. The cap is formed with an opening 20h, Figure 3, corresponding to and registered ywith the key slot Hb formed in the rotary cylinder, Figure 2, for. accommodating a key of a suitable size. The edge of each tumbler element adjacent the key slot Hb is provided with an abutment surface 39C adapted to be engaged bya cooperatively formedA cam surface of the key 35,'Figure 4.

These key abutment surfaces or shoulders are y disposed lfor engagement by a key for causing other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out; I have shown one embodiment of the said means in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the lock in section, with the servicing tools of my invention in place therein;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of the lock taken on lines 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the lock cylinder;

Figure 4 shows a regular key, in fullview, for operating the lock;

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the key, taken on lines 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a pair of servicing tools; and

Figure '7 illustrates a second pair of servicing tools, each bearing a different number or indicia and presenting different cam configurations, both gures being front views;

Figure 8 is a top view of a pair of servicing tools;

Figure 9 is a, sectional view, taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 6, of the four complementing quarter tools;

Figure 10 is a top View of a single servicing tool formed in halves rather than in quarters.

The Dudley lock, more fully described in the said patent, includes a cylindrical casing l0 ofv annular form in which is mounted a rotary cylinder or plug Il adapted for' rotation therein under control of a plurality of tumbler elements 30 when actuated by key 35, Figure 4. The cylinder or plug Il is made up of two longitudinally extending sections, indicated at I4 and l5, spaced apart by longitudinally extending plates IB and provided with slots, respectively Hic and |5c, Figure 1, in which the said tumblers 3l) slidably fit. As shown in Figure 1, there are four pairs of tumblers, each pair comprising a tumbler associated with each of the sections i4 and I5,

movement of the tumbler elements in a direction against the reaction of their respective springs 32..` As is well understood in the art, these tumbler elements are preferably formed different from each other in that their key-operated abutment shoulders 30o may be located at one of a plurality of predetermined positions from the:

end of the effective locking surface of the tumbler elements. The cam surface of the key for engaging the abutment surfaces of thetumbler elements have their contours shaped accordingly.

It will be manifest from the construction above described that the particular arrangement l of the tumbler elements is such that certain of the tumbler elements of each series are movable in opposite directions from the others,

The construction in effect providesfour sets'of independently operable tumbler elements, and to accommodate such construction, the keyis pro,-

vided withfour longitudinally extending unrethe key. As may be seenl in the drawing, the

operating portion of the key is of relativelyflat stock, and for convenience the narrowtop andy bottom surfaces of the operating portion of the.. i key are referred to as edges. Although the-disclosure represents a preferred form of key', -it is evident that the relative proportions of these narrow surfaces to the may vary widely,

The side walls of the keyl slot Hb, formedin ,Y thecylinder, are providedA with Vadditional Wards consisting of embossments ld-'and 5cZ,"which are in the form of interrupted ribs which are and are 'enl gageable by different cam surfaces of 'a key.

Likewise, the other series of tumbler elements are 1 engageable by different cam surfaces of the key.`

side surfaces `of thekey l engageable in cooperating longitudinally extending ward grooves 35g and 35h, formed vin the op,- posite side walls of the key. These embossments on the respective cylinder sections I4 and I5 are preferably of different size or shape, as seen in the drawing, and serve to assist in guiding the key when it is inserted into the lock, and ensures inserting the key in the lock in only one possible position. The cap plate .20, Figure 3, is formed with projections Zllf and e, corresponding in outline, respectively, to wards |511 and |4d of the cylinder sections, Figure 2.

My method of servicing cylinder locksof the type described (i.'e., having groups of tumbler elements, such as thev group of four tumblers in the upper left, Figure 2 (designated I), the group of four inthe upper right (designated II), the group in the lower right (designated III), and

group (IV)) consists in taking up one group at aV time and in manipulatingV the service tool to determine the combination and characteristics Vof that group of tumblers. My method contemplates a systematic investigation of the tumbler elements-one group at atime-by the use of a series of servicing tools used in a predetermined d order. After determining the opening combination of one group of elements, the same procedure is followed to determine the combination of the other group. After which, the determined tool selected for each group are used together to open the lock.

A clearer understanding of this method will be I gotten following a description of the servicing tools referred to. But before describing these tools, the structure of the regular keys will first be explained with reference to its section. The key section is shown in Figure 5 to comprise an upper and a lower recess 351 within which fit the ends of center plates Iii-I6, see Figure 3, and 4a left ward groove 35h within which t the ward |5d of the cylinder, Figure 2, and the ward 28j of the cap plate 20, Figure 3, and a right ward.

groove 35g, Figure 5, within which lit the ward Idd of the cylinder, Figure 2, and the ward e of the plate cap, Figure 3. The cam surfaces a, 351i, 35e, 35d are variously positioned and dimensioned, as shown, in accordance'with a particular individual combination. It is thus seen that the cam surfaces 35a operate upon the tumbler elements of group I, Figure 3; cam surfaces 355 operate upon group I I; cams 35d, on III; and cams 35e, on IV.

In practicing my improved method of lock servicing as briefly outlined above, I provide a series or set of servicing tools, such as are shown in Figures 6 and 7. Each individual tool, to which the general designation |35 has been given, may

be considered as a half or quarter part of the regular key, such as key 35 of Figures 4 and 5. The individual tools may be considered as having been formed from the key 35 `as. theresult of two cuts, viz., a longitudinal cut centrally of the key, as `viewed in Figure 4, to form an upper tool |35b, and a lower tool |35d, as viewed in Figures 6 and 7 and a cross cut longitudinally of the key, as viewed in Figure 5, to form a left tool |3511 and a right tool |3512, as viewed in Figure 8. As a result of both cuts referred to, there are formed four quarter tools |35a, |3519, |350, and |3511, Figure 9, each eifective to operate upon the tumbler elements in, respectively, groups VI, II, III, and IV, Figure 3. l

It will be4 understood, however, that half-sectionedservicing tools', as may appear in Figures 6 and 7, may be employed above.

As best seen by comparing Figures 6 and 7 with Figure 4, the quarter tools, where these are used, are not formed by merely cutting the key in half along its longitudinal center, vas viewed in Figure 4, but involves, in addition, the removal of at least that portion of the regular key body which forms the Ward grooves 35g and 35h, Figures 4 and 5. Since the left wards |5d and 2|!) are made of a ldiiferent size than the right wards Md and 20c, more metal is removed between the left pairof quarter tools |3511 and |350, Figure 9, (distance |35L, Figure 9) than is removed between the right pair of quarter tools |3519 and |35d (distance |35R, Figure 9).

A complete set of tools comprises a plurality of quarters, such as |3511, Figure 9, and insertable lin the lock to `operate upon the tumbler elements in group I, Figure 3, and a plurality of quarters for each of the other groups II, III and IV. That is, a complete set of tools may comprise four groups of quarters (though two may sumce for some purposes), the individual members of each group being formed to present dilerent cam surfaces (I3Ea, |365, |36c, |3611, Figures 6 and 7) combinations, and each unit being consecutively numbered |31.

In servicing a lock in accordance with my improved method and using the servicing tools herein described, any one of the two or four v groups of tumbler elements I to IV may be taken up first. We will assume that group I vis first investigated. The individual segments, either the half or quarter tools of group I, are inserted into the lock, one at a time, and manipulated backward and forward and by a wiggling movement until the proper key segment or quarter, i. e., the one which will operate the tumbler elements of that group, is determined and which is ascertained by the limitation of movement of a pair of tumbler elements; is either laid aside or its number or indicia |3'| noted. The next group, e. g., II, is then investigated and the proper key tool of group II selected. This is con- Y tinued until the two segments or four quarter key parts are determined; by operating two or all four together, the lock maybe opened.

Referring toFigure 9, it will be observed that a quarter tool |3511 will t in that portion of the key slot 2517, see Figure 3, which is associated with group I tumbler elements, with thebottom edge |33 of the tool riding on the top edge 38 of ward 2fand with lip |39 (depending from the lower portion of the tool) clearing to the right of ward 20j. This results from the fact that the metal (|35L) corresponding to Ward groove of the key (35g, Figures 4 and 5) has been removed from between the pair of tools |3511 and |350. In like manner and for the same reason, the other tool parts may be received in the key slot corresponding to the respective tumbler element group or quarter.

In trying one tool after another, in its proper tumbler group, the tool is manipulated forwardly and backwardly and wiggled in the key slot until the locksmith determines, principally by feel,

down a slight extent, so that the key will have a slight play when inserted in the proper quarter of key opening Zilb. To facilitate tool manipulation, it is provided with depressions itl, Figures 1, 6, 7 and l0.

Specifically, as already inferred, instead of forming the tools as quarter parts of a key, the tools may be formed as half parts, as shown by the key tool 235, Figure 10. In this case, the tools may be formed by cutting a regular key in half (Figure 9) to form an integral upper half (H3511 and |3519) and an integral lower half (635C and |3501); the metal between the two halves may be removed in precise conformity with the left and right ward grooves H3511 and lSR), so that the two key halves will have the outline shown in Figure 9. Or, the metal may be removed to an amount equal to the width of the larger of the two ward grooves; in this case, the half tool will rest upon the top ledge of the larger (25j, Figure 3) of the two wards 20j and 2te.

In this manner it will be observed that I have described and illustrated a servicing tool having tumbler operating cams independent of the guides or wards provided for the regular keys, so that by the method of applying wiggling, sliding and free manipulative pressure, `the tumblers (elements til) may be slid to the proper position for rotating the cylinder, the key combinations characteristics observed, and the lock opened without the regular key predeterminedly designed for the lock. It will be further observed that I have provided a servicing tool by the provision of tumbler camming elements having effective tumbler camming innuence of large magnitude, by mounting camming elements so as to have wiggle clearance larger than the maximum camming displacement of the tumblers. The term wiggle wiggling or wiggled as herein used and as used in the claims is intended to i denote a rocking or canting movement with or without a partial rotary action.

It will also be observed that I have provided a servicing tool which has variable sliding clearance within and into the seat of the lock within limits larger than the key regularly designed to open the lock.

It will also be observed that I have devised a new and novel method of servicing locks and for making the servicing tools.

While I have described and illustrated my invention in its preferred form by using all of the coordinated parts as achieving the desired results, it will be understood that portions thereof may be employed as to other novel features and therefore the scope of my invention is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a lock servicing tool including tumbler camming eleand having wiggle clearance when used in a lock with and in respect of the remaining segments. 2. As a new article of manufacture, a lock servicing tool including tumbler camming elements having effective tumbler camming iniiuence of a magnitude to make available the camming influence of said elements along intermediate points on said elements formed as half segment of a full key having ward. engaging portions and having wiggle clearance when used in a lock with and in respect of the remaining half thereof on one edge and ward engaging portions along the length thereof on the opposite edge and having sliding and wiggle clearance in the cylinder slot between the ward of said lock and the tumblers thereof.

4. For use in a cylinder. lock having a plurality of tumbler elements arranged in groups, the hereinl described servicing means comprising individual tools arranged in a number of groups equal to the said tumbler elementy groups, the individual tools having cam projections operable upon the said tumbler elements, the said tumbler elements of each group presenting different combinations, and the individual tools of each group being of smaller dimensions than a key for said lock and presenting an assortment of cam projections operable upon different tumbler combinations, said camming projections having effective tumbler camming influence of a large magnitude to make available the camming influence of said elements along intermediate points on said elements whereupon by wiggling the same within the cylinder lock slot and the dimensions ofthe individual tools in respect of each other and the cylinder slot permitting wiggling of each of said tools in respect of each other.

5. The combination according to claim `4l, wherein the lock comprises four groups of tumbler elements, and the said servicing means comprises four groups of individual tools.

6. The combination according to claimY 4, wherein each group comprises four tumbler elements and wherein the said individual tools are provided with four cam positions.

'7. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the said lock is provided with a key slot, and a ward projecting on two sidesl thereof, and wherein the said individual tools are formed with a portion adapted to rest upon the ledge of the said wards but movable in respect thereto by a wiggling action.

8. The servicing tool for combination with a cylinder lock having a plurality of tumbler elements, and a key slot for receiving a key having wards in respect to which the tumblers have ra predetermined movement for permitting cylinder movement, vsaid servicing tool comprising a segment tting within said key slot and carrying tumbler camming elements on one part having effective tumbler camming influence of a large magnitude to make available the camming influence of said elements along intermediate points on said elements and other portions thereof said segments being smaller than said slot and being formed to permit wiggling of said means within said slot in respect of the wards of said lock and in respect of each other.

HAROLD MACHINIST.

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