US2373893A - Key embodying a signaling device - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1945. -G HOENGER 2,373,893

KEY EMBODYING SIGNALING DEVICES Filed Dec. 23, 1943 Patented Apr. 17, 1945 Y Application December 23, 1943,. 5eriall5lo. 515,451 j In Switzerland Nv einber 4 -194 2I T 4 Claims. (cum-395.)

This invention relates to, alock with a key and embodies a signaling device for indicating ifthe key-has-beemused recently for opening or-locking said lock. F 4 a 2' rIngthe devices heretofore proposed withthe view to meet this requirement, the, key is generallyequipped with a ring surrounding'the bit, holder; of the key. When operating this latter in the lock, this-ring is automatically subjected tozaniangular displacement Witlrrespect to-the bit, 'r'which displacement indicates whether a v the key --:has recently been used for opening or'for locking-theilock. This arrangement maybe suite. azblefor. keys the bitholder of which has a :cir.-. cular section, but the addition of such axring to flat'keysLof the kind denominated safetykeys, is disadvantageous because itdep-rives the keys of the benefit of their fiat form. a -'-I'he present invention provides a lock with a key embodying a signaling deviceindicating the actual position-o'fthe bolt when takingit off,

wherein the signaling device is constituted by at least one element born bythe key and: movable in ap'lane parallel to the rotation axis .dfi this" Fig. 1 is a front view of a flat key fully inserted within a cylinder lock.

slightly smallergthanithe diameterfoi thecircular openings' l5 Within the thickness of the key there is a recess 22 closedbyja cover 23.] The-key and the cover are each providedwith circular windows 24 and 'iijlocatedv opposite each other Moreover the bottom of the recess 22 base blind .,Withi n themes}: all is located the signalingdeyicen This-latter is-constituted by a springsteelcrankeleverdlpivoted on a .fixe-d pin;'2;8. Qneqof its. arms projects outside of the key; at the region of its intermediary part 2 I The other arm 30 bears a stamped boss 3| in-.

'7 tended to penetrate either into the .window 24 or into the blind hole 25, and -tolock the lever 27 I in a one of the: extreme positions as indicated in fulliand-in chain :dotted lines (see Fig. 2).

- The signaling device operates as follows: a I Theukeyean only-be. introduced into the lock inwthe -position asshown in the drawing that is bymsingthenot'ch l6 for the passage of the bit.

The key. can .onlyrevolve in the-lock after it has Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section according v to IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal sectional view accordingfto III-III of Fig. 1.

The embodiment represented is intended fora fiat key for operating a cylinder lock revolving about an axis ll, I

Only the parts of the lock necessary for the understanding of the working of the signaling device showing the actual position of the bolt when taking off the key, are represented in the drawing;

The lock embodies a drum l2, 2. front-plate I3 I been fully introduced; that is, when. the active or control pa'rtof the-'Ibit has overreached theaplane be turned a complete revolution in the right hand direction (seen in front) for locking the lock, then the lateral edges of theextremity of the arm 29 will successively meet the boss I8, and then the boss 11. This latter will push the arm 29 towards the back, with the effect of bringing the lever 21 into the position indicated in full lines on Fig. 2. Should now the key be taken out of the lock, then this latter is in its locked position and the arm 30 of the lever obstructs the windows'fl and 25, thus indicating that the key has last been used for locking the lock, and the-stamped boss 3| en- The key intended for operating. the lock is of I gages the window 24 to keep the lever 21 firmly in its position.

To open the lock. the key should be turned through a. complete-revolution towards the left. The arm 29 meets successively the bosses IT and I8. The arm 29 is pushed forward by the boss l8 and the lever 21 is brought into the position indicated in chain dotted lines on Fig. 2. Should now the key be taken out of the lock, then the latter is in the opened position and the windows 24 and 2-5 are no longer obstructed rbythe arm 30,

this fact indicating that the key has been last used for opening the lock. In this case, the boss which indicates always the accurate position of I the lock, even in the locks in which two complete turns of the key are necessaryior eflecting.

their opening or their locking. i

The signaling device controlled by a helical slot or by a screw-pitch can be designed" for producing either a translation motion parallel.

to the rotation axis of the key in thelock, or an oscillating motion about a pin carried by the key and situated atright angles to the rotation axis of this latter in the lock.

The extremity '30 of the arm 21 may move with respect to any kind of reference mark provided onthekey. I g g The device described is only one example of embodiment for the subject matter of the present invention. The oscillating lever 21 can, for instance, be replacedby an element slidinginternally in the recess provided within the key. The indicating element can be provided with rei erence marks indicating the opening or looking o erations of the key. t. What is claimed is: Y 1. Lock and key indicating mechanism convprising a bell crank lever pivoted in a cavity in the header the key said lever having a longer spring arm extending substantially longitudinally of the key within" said cavity and a shorter rigid arm projecting laterally from the'cavity, means in the lock engaging said shorter arm during operation of the'key said means moving said lever to one position when the key is turned in one direction to lock the lock and to another position tain said spring arm resiliently in either of said positions, said positions being visually ascertainable.

2. Lock and key indicating mechanism comprising a bell crank lever pivoted in a cavity in the head of the key said lever having a longer spring arm extending substantially longitudinally of the key within said cavity and a shorter rigid arm projecting laterally from the cavity at a point between the head and the stemof the key, axially spaced means in the lock located on either side of said projecting arm portion when the key turned in the opposite direction to open the lock,

and means in said cavity to retain said sprin arm resiliently in either of said positions, said positions being visually asceitainablei 3. Lock and'key indicating mechanismcom prising a bell crank lever'pi'voted inacavity in the head of the key said lever having alongsr spring arm extending substantially'longitudinally of the key within said cavity and a shorter rigid arm projecting laterally from the cavity, means in the lock engaging said shorter arm-during op eration of the key said means moving said lever to one position when the key is turned in one direction to lock thelock and-to another position when the key is turned in-the "opposite di rection to open the lock, and means in said =cavity to retain said spring arm resilientlyin'eith'er or said positiona'said positions-'beingvisually'ascertainable, said retaining means including a bulge on said spring closurably engageable with a window opening inasideof the key head. i

. 4.. Mechanism according .to-claim 2 in which said axially spaced meansin the lock comprise'a pair of bosses extending radially-or theaxis of the keyhole'of the lock and opposite to each other, each of'saidbossesvproiectin towards the projecting arm portion, one from :one side and'the other from the other side thereof.

" Gumo HOENGERQ

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