US2307106A - Cylinder lock - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1943. w. A. BRUSH 2,307,106

CYLINDER LOCK Filed Sept. 10, 1941 INVENTOR A TTORNE YS- Patented Jan. 5, 1943 NETE!) STATES A'E'ENE @ENCEY CYLNDER LOCK William A. Brush, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 10, 1941, Serial No. 410,249

(Cl. Y0-447) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder locks and particularly to a -construction thereof designed to prevent freezing up of the lock in cold weather and for protecting it against the effects of foreign material, the principal object being the provision of a simple and economical construction for achieving this result.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a cylinder lock in which the plug is inwardly spaced from the axially outer face of the barrel and a partition wall or shield is arranged in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the plug and provided with an opening therein for passage of a key to the plug; the provision of a cylinder lock in which the -outer end of the plug is spaced inwardly from the outer end of the barrel and a partition wall or shield is arranged across the plug receiving bore of the barrel in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer face of the plug and is rotatable with the plug, the wall being provided with a recess therein for passage of the key to the plug; the provision of a construction as above described in which the partition wall or shield is arranged in substantially flush relationship with respect to the outer face of the barrel; the provision cf a lock as above described in which the barrel is provided with a conventional dust cap adapted to close the outer end of the plug bore therein;

the provision of a construction as above described in which the partition wall is removably attached to the plug; the provision of a construction as above described in which the partition wall is removably attached to the plug and is maintained in operative relation with respect thereto by assembly of the plug to the barrel; and the provision of a construction -as above described in which the partition wall comprises a plate-like member provided with axially extending iingers the free end portions of which are formed for inter-engagement with complementary recesses formed in the periphery of the plug.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates 7 suitable embodiments of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parte through the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face View of an automoed in accordance with the present invention and with the dust cap or cover thereof in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the dust cap or cover thereof in openposition;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional View taken axially through the cylinder lock shown in the preceding views as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional View taken through the lock structure shown in the preceding Views as on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the partition wall or shield member shown associated with the lock of the preceding views; and

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a modified form of construction.

The present invention is applicable for use with any cylinder type lock which is exposed to the elements in use. One particular such use is in connection with the doors of automobiles and for the sake of simplicity in explanation the description of the invention will be limited to such particular use only, its application to other uses thereby being made apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that such description will thus be by way of illustrationand not limitation.

In the use of cylinder looks to the locking mechanisms of automobile doors the cylinder lock is usually arranged in the door panel itself or fin the end of the door handle, and in either case 35 fit is exposed to the eects of the elements as will AIA bile door provided with a cylinder lock oonstruct- B5 be readily appreciated. The present invention is applicable to such locks regardless of the mounting thereof but inasmuch as the panel mounting is most widely used such construction is shown in the drawing by way of illustration.

in certain makes of automobiles no attempt is made to protect the outer end of the cylinder lock exposed on the face of the door panel, while in other makes a so-called dust cover or cap is mounted on the cylinder barrel and movable from a position in protecting relation with respect to the plug to a position outwardly removed' therefrom to permit the insertion and manipulation of a key in the plug. Where no protecting cover is employed rain, dust and the like can, of course, directly Contact the outer end of the lock plug and iind its way between the relatively movable surfaces of the plug and barrel. Furthermore when the car is being Washed the water employed in the washing operation inevitably finds its way into the plug and between the plug and the barrel. Where such water finds its way into the lock plug and between the plug and its barrel and the automobile is then subjected to freezing temperatures as often occurs in the more northernly climates, the water becomes frozen Within the lock and renders the lock inoperative to the inconvenience of the owner and/or operator. Where a lock is so frozen while an automobile is locked up, the only remedy for the condition is to tow the car into a heated garage and allow it to remain there sufficiently long to melt the ice thus formed in the lock, or to melt the ice by the direct application of heat to the lock itself. In either event the operation of thawing out the lock is inconvenient and the delay occasioned often exasperating. Furthermore where such lock is not equipped with a socalled dust cover the dust and dirt which is constantly met with on the streets and roads inevitably finds its way into the lock plug and between the plug and its barrel and in many cases accumulates in time to such an extent as to impair if not entirely prevent operation of the lock.

Where a conventional type of dust cover is provided over the outer face of such lock it has been found that seldom does such cover form a water tight seal with the face of the lock. Usually when it is in its closed position it is spaced at one or more points of area from the face of the lock by a small amount and when water floods the outer face of the lock such small space often acts as a capillary passage and draws such water into the space underneath the cap and across the face of the lock plug where it finds its way into the plug and between the plug and its barrel where it may be frozen and cause just as much inconvenience as in the case of the uncovered lock above described. Furthermore where such a cap or cover is slightly spaced from the face of the lock eddy currents may be set up around the edge of the cap or cover which may actually tend to draw dust or other foreign material into such space and into contact with the face of the lock. In this respect an inspection of the back face of any such cap will usually disclose the presence of a film of dust and dirt thereon in spite of the fact that the cover is maintained in closed position except when the lock is actually operated, thus illustrating the fact that despite such caps dust and dirt actually finds its way into contact with the face of the lock proper. It will, of course, be appreciated that any water which finds its way into the key receiving slot of the lock plug and freezes not only obstructs the passage of the key into the plug but if displaced may often lodge between the operative edge of the key and the lock tumblers and thereby cause improper displacement of the lock tumblers upon insertion of the key, thereby preventing the lock from being operated by the proper key.

In accordance with the present invention the lock is so designed and means are provided in conjunction therewith which prevents water coming in contact with the face of the lock from entering the key receiving slot of the plug thereof and is effective to a great extent to prevent any material amount of water or moisture from nding its way between the plug and the bore of the barrel. This is accomplished by so locating the plug in the barrel that the outer face of the plug is recessed inwardly from the outer face of the barrel and by providing a partition wall or shield member across the outer end of the plug receiving bore in the barrel, preferably in the form of a light metal shield or the like, having an opening through which the key may be inserted into the plug. It may be employed either with or without the ordinary dust cap but the use of such dust cap is preferred.

The effect of the construction is to provide a chamber between the outer face of the lock plug and the outer face of the lock barrel through which the key may be projected into the plug for operating the lock. With such construction any water contacting the outer face of the wall or shield can enter the lock only through the key receiving opening therein or around the periphery thereof, and once having passed such wall or shield it enters into a chamber between the wall or shield and the outer end of the lock plug in which the air is substantially quiescent and, accordingly, in which the water will immediately tend to drain or settle downwardly into the bottom of the chamber thus formed without actually contacting the face of the plug and particularly the key receiving slot thereof. A drain hole is preferably provided at the bottom of such chamber, or the fit between the wall or shield and the bore of the barrel is such as to provide a space, through which any water or moisture tending to accumulate in such chamber may drain to the outside of the lock. Should water freeze over the key receiving opening in the wall or shield. it will be so thin that it may be readily displaced during the insertion of the key and will fall down into the chamber thus formed instead of being carried into the key receiving slot in the plug itself. Any dust or dirt which finds its way through the key receiving opening of the wall or shield will normally settle to the bottom of the chamber where it may be ejected through the drain passage and at least will be maintained to a great extent out of the key receiving slot of the plug. Accordingly, the construction provided by the present invention is such as to eliminate the above described disadvantages of conventional constructions.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing a portion of the outer panel of an automobile door is illustrated at I0. As illustrated in Fig. 4 an edge member I2 has its outwardly flanged outer end I4 secured within the reversely turned edge portion of the front panel II). Inwardly of the edge of the door the front panel I 0 is provided with a circular opening I6 through which the lock is adapted to be projected. 'I'he lock may be supported in the door in any suitable manner but in the particular case shown by way of illustration a tubular sleeve I8 issecured, as by welding or the like, to the rear face of the panel I0 in alignment with the opening IS, the bore of the sleeve I8 being of a size corresponding with the size of the opening I6.

The lock itself comprises a barrel 25 and a plug 22 which may be of any conventional construction of tumbler type cylinder lock. The barrel is of generally cylindrical formation and is received in the opening I6 and within the sleeve I8 by a slidable but preferably relatively close lit. The plug 22 is rotatable in the barrel 20 and is limited in its inward movement in the barrel 20 by engagement of its inner end with a radial shoulder 24 formed in the bore of the barrel. Displacement of the plug 22 outwardly of the barrel is prevented by means of a spring element 26 received in slot 28 in the barrel 20 and slidably engaging in a peripherally extending slot 30 inthe plug 22. The plug 22 is proreceiving slot 34 therein for reception of the key and pin tumblers 38 engageable in a recess 38 in the bore of the barrel in a conventional manner. The barrel 20 at its outer end is provided with an outwardly directed annular flange portion 48 which engages the outer face of the panel 58 around the margin of the opening I6 to limit inward movement of the barrel with respect to the panel and, as illustrated in Fig. 4, any suitable means such as a set screw 42 may be provided between the sleeve i8 and the barrel 28 to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the barrel 20 from the sleeve i8 and panel l'l) and turning ofv the barrel in the sleeve. l.

In accordance with the present invention the plug 22 is so located in the bore of the barrel 28 that its outer end face is inwardly spaced from the outer end face of the barrel 28, and arranged in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer end face of the plug 22 and preferably in flush relation with respect to the outer end face of the barrel 28 and substantially completely closing the outer end of the bore in the barrel 28, is a partition member, shield or the like 44. The member or shield 44 is preferably of relatively thin section and is provided with an opening 46 therein of the same contour as the cross-sectional conformation of the key slot 34 in the plug 22, and is arranged in aligned relation'th'erewith so that a key may be inserted through the opening 46 and into the key receiving slot 34 of the plug 22.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the wall or shield 44 must rotate with the plug 22 during operation of the lock and, accordingly, that the partition or shield 44 must rotate in the lbore of the barrel 28. While any suitable means may be provided in accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention for mounting the wall or shield 44 in spaced relation with respect to the outer end face of the plug 22 and to cause it to rotate equally therewith, the particular means shown by way of illustration for effecting this result comprises four legs 48 arranged in equally angularly spaced relation about the periphery-oi the wall member vor shield 44 and extending axially rearwardly therefrom as best illustrated in Fig. 6. A Preferably the arms 48 are formed integrally with the wall or shield 44 and under such circumstances the wall or shield 44 is preferably formed fromrelatively thin but relatively hard sheetl metal so that the arms 48 lwill be more or less spring-.like in nature. Preferably plated steel or brass is employed for this purpose.

The free ends of the arms 48 are each formed to provide a radially inwardly extending boss or protuberance 58. The plug 22 as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is provided with axially extending channels 52 in its periphery opening onto the forward face thereof and ycomplementary in size and disposition to the arms 48 so as to receive the same therein. The inner ends of the channels 52 are deepened to form pockets 54 complementary to the protuberances 50 on the arms 48 so as to relatively closely receive the same therein. The depth of the channels 52 and pockets 54 are such that before the plug 22 is assembled to the barrel 28 the shield member 44 may be applied to the plug with the arms 48 and nrgtllbelanes 0.. 1e9gird etheir,commending channels 52 and pockets 54, the arms 48 springmg folaiiw such assembly. Upon assembly or the plug 22 in the barrel 20 as above described engagement `of 'the arms 48 and protuberances '58 with thewall o`f the bore in the barrel 20 will eiectively maintain the inter-engagement of the arms 48 and protuberanceslll with the plug 22, thus maintaining'the shield 44 in its desired location with respect to the plug 22 and causing equal'ijotatiori ofthe shield 44 with the plug. It

will be appreciated, of course, that the pockets '54 are so positioned with respect to the forward face of the plug 22 that when the plug 22 is in its'properly assembled 'relationship with respect to the barrel 28 the outerface of the shield 44 will preferably be flush with the outer end yface of the barrel 20 as illustrated.

It will be appreciated that it is not essential that the opening for the key in the shield member be of a contour complementary to the crosssectional configuration of the key slot 34 in the plug 22. Instead and as illustrated in Fig. 7 the partition Wall or shield member 44 may be provided with a plain, rectangular slot 56 therein of suicient size to admit the key to the plug, without materially affecting the advantages of the construction. In fact the plain, rectangular slot 56 shown in Fig. 7 may be preferable under some circumstances as in such case in attempting to pick the lock, as by the insertion of a pass key or the like, a thief could not determine the cross-sectional conguation of the key by an inspection of the face of the lock. In other words, such conformation of the slot 34 could only be determined by inspection of the same through the s'lot 58, a feat which would be difficult even in daylight.

Any suitable means may be employed for providing drainage from the chamber 60 thus provided between the partition 'wall or shield member 44 and the outer face of the plug 22. While such drainage may be accomplished by providing a groove in the bottom end of the bore in the barrel' 28, or providing a loose fit between the periphery of the shield member 44 and the bore of the barrel 20, it is preferably formed by providing a notch 'such as 62 in the bottom edge of the shield member 44 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 when the lock is either in locked .or unlocked condition.

As previously mentioned and although not essential in the broader aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to employ a dust cap in connection with the outer face of the lock.

While any suitable or conventional form of dust cap may be employed that shown in the drawing by way of illustration comprises a plate-like member 64 rotatably secured to the outer end face of the barrel 28 for movement about the axis of Va pin 66 extending in axially parallel relation with respect to the axis of the barrel 28. This isv a conventional construction and as will be appreciated permits the dust cover 64 to be swung from the positionV illustrated in Fig. 1 in which it overlies the outer end of the bore in the barrel 20 to the position illustratedinFig. 2 in which the bore is uncovered and exposes the full face of the partition member or shield 44 therein. When the dust cover 64 is in the position illustrated'in Fig. 1 it will be appreciated that it substantially contactsV the outer face of the barrel 20 about the margins of the opening orbore therein.

Froml the foregoing it willbe appreciatedfthat the partitionmemberor shield 44 forms afprotecting wall in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the forward face of the plug member 22 tending to protect it against direct contact by rain or other water regardless of whether a dust cover such as 64 is employed or not, and that should any such rain or water iind its way through the opening 46, or the opening 56 where employed, or between the periphery of the partition wall or shield member 44 and the bore of the barrel 20 such water will simply nd its way into the chamber 60 where, because of the relatively quiet air therein, it will immediately tend to drain into the lower portion of such chamber and then drain outwardly therefrom through the drainage means such as the notch 62 shown. Thus any such water is not only prevented from entering the key slot of the plug where it might later be frozen, but is drained away from a position where its freezing might cause inconvenience. Should rain become deposited upon the face of the shield member 44 and freeze thereon as some times occurs, at the most it will form a coating of ice over the key passage therein of substantially no greater thickness than the thickness of the shield member 44. Accordingly, under such circumstances a key may be readily forced through the opening 46, or the opening 56 when employed, by an inserting movement of the key toward the lock and such thin film of ice readily broken away to permit the proper insertion of the key in the lock. Any such ice thus pushed through the openings 46 or 56 will simply fall to the bottom of the chamber 60 where its presence will have no detrimental effects and when melted will simply drain out of the lock. Any ice which should freeze between the periphery of the shield member 44 and the outer end of the bore in the barrel 20 likewise will be of such small dimensions that the turning of the key in the lock will quickly and readily break the ice.

Where the dust cap or cover 64 is employed, any water nding its way under the cap and between the rear face of the cap and the forward face of the partition wall or shield 44 will likewise be in more or less film-like condition so that when the dust cap 64 is moved out of the way insertion of the key in the lock will readily break through such lm. Thus it will be appreciated that by the practices of the present invention a simple and effective means is provided for eliminating the deleterious effects of water contacting and freezing on a cylinder lock and this is accomplished in a simple and economical manner.

It will likewise be appreciated that whether the dust cover 64 is employed or not dust nding its way to the outer end surface of the lock and through the opening 46 or 56, whichever is employed, will be projected into the chamber 60 where, because of the relatively quiet air therein, it will normally tend to settle to the bottom of the chamber and eventually be discharged through the notch 52 or other drainage means. Thus the bulk of the dust which would otherwise directly contact the plug 22 and enter the key receiving slot 34 thereof, or find its Way between the plug 22 and the barrel 20, will be prevented from contact with the plug 22 and thus the construction will aid in keeping the Working parts of the lock in a relatively clean condition so as to aid in maintaining the operativeness of the same over a long period of time. The added advantage of the lock from a theft proof standpoint has already been mentioned.

Having thus described my invention what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cylinder lock, in combination, a barrel having a bore therein, a lock plug rotatably received within said barrel and arranged with its axially outer face in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the axially outer face of said barrel, and a member arranged in shielding relation with respect to said bore in said barrel and in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer end face of said plug, the space in said bore between said plug and member being substantially devoid of obstructions whereby to form a liquid separation chamber, and said shield member being rotatable with said plug and having a key receiving opening therein.

2. In a cylinder lock, in combination, a barrel having a bore therein, a lock plug rotatably received Within saidbarrel and arranged with its axially outer face in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the axially outer face of said barrel, and a member removably supported by said plug arranged in shielding relation with respect to said bore in said barrel and in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer end face of said plug, said shield member being rotatable with said plug and having a key receiving opening therein.

3. In a cylinder lock, in combination, a barrel having a bore therein, a lock plug rotatably received within said bore, means for locating said plug with its outer end face in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the plane of the outer end face of said barrel, a member arranged in shielding relation with respect to the outer end of said bore in said barrel whereby to form a chamber between its inner face and the outer face of said plug, said member being rotatable with said plug and having an opening therein for the insertion of a key to said plug, and said member and said barrel cooperating to form a drain passage leading from said chamber to an exterior face of said lock.

4. In a cylinder lock, in combination, a barrel having a bore therein, a lock plug rotatably received Within said bore, means for locating said plug with its outer end face in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the plane of the outer end face of said barrel, a member arranged in shielding relation with respect to the outer end of said bore in said barrel whereby to form a chamber between its inner face and the outer face of said plug, and means constantly cooperating between said member and said plug constraining said member to equal rotation with said plug.

5. In a cylinder lock, in combination,'a barrel having a bore therein, a lock piug rotatably received within said barrel and arranged with its axially outer face in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the axially outer face of said barrel, and a member arranged in shielding relation with respect to said bore in said barrel and in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer end face of said plug and with its outer face in substantially ush relationship With respect to the axially outer face of said barrel, the space in said bore between said plug and member being substantially devoid of obstructions whereby to form a liquid separation chamber, and said shield member being rotatable with said plug and having a key receiving opening therein.

6. A cylinder lock comprising, in combination, a barrel having a bore therein, a plug rotatably mounted in said vlbarrel with its outer face in inwardly spaced lrelation with respect to the outer face of said barrel, a member arranged with its outer face substantially flush with the outer face of said barrel and in closing relation with outer face substantially flush with the outer face of said barrel and in closing relation with respect tofsaid bore, said member having an opening therethrough for the passage of a key to said plug, said plug having recesses formed in the periphery thereof opening onto the forward face thereof, and arms on said member removably receivable in said recesses cooperating therewith to maintain the axial and rotatable relation of said member with respect to said plug, said arms being confined in said recesses by the wall of said bore whereby to maintain the operativeness of the connection between said member and said plug.

WILLIAM A, BRUSH.

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