US2471291A

US2471291A - Padlock

Info

Publication number: US2471291A
Application number: US695357A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry E Soref; Daniel J Foote
Original assignee: Master Lock Co LLC
Current assignee: Master Lock Co LLC
Priority date: 1946-09-07
Filing date: 1946-09-07
Publication date: 1949-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1966-05-24

Description

May 24 1949- H. E. soREF Erm. 2471,291

PADLOCK Filed sept. v, 194e JNVENTORS 1 Patented May 24, 1949 PADLOCK Harry E. Scref and Daniel J. Foote, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors to Master Lock Company, Milwankee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 7, 1946, Serial No. 695,357

6 Claims.

This invention relates to padlocks, and it is particularly concerned with the type of padlock in which a portion, at least, of the casing is of laminated construction, consisting of a plurality of superimposed plates with apertures therein forming spaces for the shackle iegs and for the key.

One object of the invention is to provide a laminated casing structure adapted to be included in a lock casing and providing a guideway for a locking lever, together with a fixed tumbler for a notched key, all so related that the position of the xed tumbler may be varied in the assembly of the lock so that different locks of this type will require different keys to actuate them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple construction for a padlock involving a limited number of parts which are easily constructed and assembled.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a laminated lock construction adapted for use with a removable shackle and including a fixed tumbler feature which may be variously positioned in the assembly of the lock so as to produce a series of locks operable only by a corresponding series of different keys.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a padlock embodying this invention, showing a key inserted therein at operative position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse or plan section taken substantially as indicated at line 2--2 on Fig. 1 to show the contour of one of the special plates with which the locking lever is associated.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembly of three special plates, forming the group in which the locking lever is guided for movement.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a spring for the locking lever.

Fig. 5 is a'perspective view of the locking lever.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View of the lower end of the lock showing the rotatable ward plate through which the key is inserted.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section taken as indicated at the line 'l-l' on Fig. 2, with the key turned 90 degrees.

Fig. Sis a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 7, but showing the fixed tumbler plate ata different location, and showing a fragment of the key required with this assembly. Fig. 9 is another sectional view similar to Fig. 7, showing still another position for the fixed tumbler plate and indicating the contour of the ke required with this arrangement,

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view taken as indicated at the line Iil-I on Fig. l.

TheV drawings illustrate the invention as embodied ina lock having a removable shackle IIl with a plurality of notches II in each leg of the shackle, thereby adapting the lock for use as 'a bicycle lock, particularly when the shackle I0 is made to form an elongated loop dimensioned to lit over and embrace various elements of a bicycle frame and drive mechanism. It may be understood, however, that the principles of the present invention are not limited to padlocks of this particular type, and may be readily applied topadlocks in which the shackle is permanently secured in the casing so as to pivot around the axis of one leg when the other leg is released from the casing.

The casing, as shown, is wholly of laminated construction, but it may be understood that the present invention is applicable to a casing in which only a portion is of laminated form. As shown, the casing comprises a top plate I2, a bottom plate I3, and a plurality of intermediate plates,

' all similar in external contour to the plates I2 and I3, and secured together in superimposed relation by means of rivets, such as those shown at I4 in Fig. '7. A lock of this type is intended to be operated by means of a key, such as that shown at I5, having notches It disposed in pairs in its opposite edges for registration with wards or xed tumblers in certain of the plates, which are the plates indicated at Il, I8 and I9 in Fig. 1. The contour of each of these plates may be that shown in Fig. l0, in which the keyway 20 is of buttonhole form, including arcuate outlines 22 at opposite sides and notches 23 at opposite ends to permit insertion of the key, with its edges extendinginto the notches 23. The arcuate portions 22 dene a space only slightly larger than the reduced width of the key between notches I6, I 6, so that the key can be turnedk only if the notches I5, I6 register with these

arcuate portions

22, 22 of each plate of this type included inthe casing. i

The upper end of the key is reduced at 24 and fits into an opening in a stop plate 25, disposed next to the end plate I2, so that the shoulders 26 formed on the key adjacent its reduced end portion 24 abut and stop yagainst. the portions of the plate 25 adjacent its central opening. Near the other end of the casing a circular ward disk 21 is rotatively carried in the plate 28 Which is next to the bottom plate I3, and this disk has a slot 29 of substantially the same cross-section as the shank of the key; the disk thus serves to center one end of the key when it is inserted in the lock at the position shown in Fig. 1, in which its opposite and reduced end portion 24 is rotatably guided in the aperture of the plate 25. Clearance for the reduced end 24 offthe key is provided by forming a dome-shaped boss or blister 3|) on the top plate I2 in registration with the axis of the keyway, as seen in Fig. 1.

All the plates of the casing are formed with openings near their ends, and such openings, when registered in the assembly of the plates, provide guidevvays to receive the two legs of the shackle I0, as shown in Fig. l. Both legs of the shackle are notched so that either of them may cooperate with a locking member or lever 3| which is normally projected into locking position by means of a spring 32 disposed inside the casing and bearing against the inner end of the lever 3l. Preferably, the lever is equal in thickness to a plurality of the plates, and, as shown, it is nearly as thick as the three

plates

33, 34 and 35 which constitute a special assembly associated lwith the lever 3 I. 'Ihe plates of this group have

openings

36 and 31 near their ends to receive the legs of the shackle I0, and they are also formed with relatively large registered openings in which the locking lever 3| is slidably accommodated. Said lever has parallel sides 38 and 3S which rit between parallel walls 40 and 4| of the openings in the

plates

33, 34 and 35, and said lever has a beveled surface 42 at one end for engagement with the end of the leg of the shackle l when the latter is inserted and forced past the lever into position for locking engagement of the lever 3| with one of the notches in the shackle leg.

Sliding movement of the locking lever 3| is limited by

stop shoulders

43 and 44. The shoulders 43 are formed in all three

plates

33, 34 and 35, and are aligned vertically, but, if desired, the' stop shoulder 44 may be formed in only one of the plates, and, as shown, is formed only in the top plate This plate, as shown in Fig. 3, also includes a xed projection or tumbler 45 so that when a key is inserted in the lock, in the position shown in Fig. 1, the key cannot be turned about its own axis unless it has a notch registering with the tumbler or projection 35, as will be readily appreciated from a consideration of Fig. 2, in which the key is shown in section. A key designed to cooperate with this particular lock will therefore have such a notch 45, and, preferably, has a pair of similar notches 46 disposed at 0pposite edges, as shown in Fig. 1.

When this kelr I is inserted in the position shown in Fig. 1 it will be disposed as indicated in Fig. 2, and upon being rotated about 90 degrees, one side of the key will engage the shoulder 41 of the lever 3|, for forcing the lever 3| out of llocking engagement with the leg of the shackle I0 in opposition to the spring 32. Such rotation of the key will be permitted by registration of one of its notches 43 With the projecting tumbler por- 4 tion 45 of the plate 33, and, due to the fact that the lever 3| is considerably thicker than any one of the plates of the laminated structure, a portion of the key adjacent the opposite notch 46 will aiford suncient area for engagement with the shoulder 4'I of the lever.

Fig. 7 illustrates the same relation between the key and the lock casing as that shown in Fig. 1, in which the uppermost plate 33 of the special group is the plate which includes the projection or fixed tumbler portion 45.

Figs. 8 and 9 indicate that the plate 33 may be assembled between the

plates

34 and 35, or as the lowest plate of the group, if desired, and that these diierent arrangements will require the use of diierent keys |5X and |55', respectively, in which the clearance notches are properly located to register with the projecting tumbler portion 45. It Will also be evident that the special group of interchangeable plates in which the locking lever 3| is housed need not be limited to three plates, as shown, but may comprise more than this number, if desired, in which event the lever 3| Will preferably be increased in thickness to approximate the thickness of the combined group of plates.

It will be understood that in a laminated lock of the type shown in Fig. 1 the individual locks will be differentiated from each other by changing the relative locations of the plates ll, I3 and I9, thus requiring the keys for the several locks to have their clearance notches I5 differently located. But by the use of a group of plates, such as the plates v33, 34 and 35, the number of possible changes is tripled, since each arrangement ofthe plates I 1, I8 an I9 can be employed first with the tumbler plate 33 at the top of the group, then with this plate at the middle of the group, as shown in Fig. 8, and again with the plate 33 as the lowest plate of the group, as shown in Fig. 9. If the group consists of four or i'lve plates, the number of changes will be correspondingly increased. Thus a large number of locks each difrering slightly from the other, and each requiring a different key, may be assembled from similar groups of parts merely by rearranging the order in which certain of the plates of the body or casing are placed in each assembly.

In any padlock, and particularly in a bicycle lock, it is desirable to provide a maximum space between the two legs of the shackle. It will be noted that in the lock illustrated herein the outlines at the opposite ends of each plate or lamination are bulged outwardly at the middle portion and concentrically With the axes of the adjacent legs of the shackle I0. This provides a casing or body which accommodates a shackle of maximum Width without making the casing itself appear unduly Wide, since the visual estimate of width will be determined by the length of either of the longer sides of the plate or lamination, the bulged portion ateach end appearing as an additional and ornamental feature, although it actually does increase the Width available for accoinmodating the shackle.

While there is shown and described herein certain 'structure embodying the invention and il lustrative thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but includes all modifications, variations, and equivalents which r'nay come Within the sc'ope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a padlock which includes a casing having a laminated portion coin-posed of a plurality of superimposed plates formed with registered openings, a locking lever approximating in thickness the combined thickness of said plates and movable in said opening toward and from locking position, said lever having an opening to admit a key and having a shoulder adjacent said opening, one of said plates having a fixed tumbler portion projecting into the opening of said plate, said plate which has the xed tumbler portion being adapted to Ibe transposed with any other plate of said group in the process of assembling the lock to produce a lock requiring a different key.

2. In combination, a padlock which includes a shackle having a notched leg, a body having a laminated portion composed of a plurality of superimposed plates formed with registered openings which provide a guideway for said notched leg of the shackle, a locking lever approximating in thickness the combined thickness of said plates, said plates having registered openings in which said lever is movable transversely into and out of the guideway, said body providing a keyway extending through said last mentioned openings, said lever having an opening registered with said keyway and a shoulder adjacent said opening, one of the plates having a xed tumbler portion projecting into said keyway, said lock being adapted to receive a notched key rotatable in the keyway when positioned with its notch in registration With said tumbler portion, a part of the key adjacent said notch being engageable With the shoulder of the lever for actuating the lever when the key is turned.

3. In combination, a padlock which includes a casing having a laminated portion composed of a plurality of superimposed plates formed with registered openings, a locking lever approximating in thickness the combined thickness of said plates and movable in said opening toward and from locking position, said lever having an opening to admit a key and having a shoulder adjacent said opening, one of said plates having a xed tumbler portion projecting into the opening of said plate, said registered openings of the plates having sides with straight parallel portions, and said lever having parallel sides fitting slidably between said parallel sides of the openings, the opening in at least one of said plates having an outline which includes stop shoulders facing in opposite directions respectively, and said lever having stop shoulders to cooperate therewith for limiting the sliding movement of the lever, said lock being adapted to receive and to be operated by a key formed with a notch in its edge slightly wider than saidA tumbler portion to clear the tumbler when the key is operated, while an adjacent portion of the key engages with the shoulder of the lever for actuating said lever.

4. In the combination deiined in claim 1, said registered openings including portions which form a recess, and a spring pocketed in said recess and positioned to urge the lever yieldingly into locking position.

5. In combination, a padlock which includes a casing having a laminated portion composed of a group of interchangeable superimposed plates formed with registered openings which constitute a portion of a keyway in said casing, and a locking lever movable in said registered openings toward and from locking position, said lever ha ing a shoulder engageable by a key for actuation of the lever, said shoulder extending substantially throughout the combined thickness of said group of plates, one of said plates having a xed tumbler portion projecting into the said keyway for registration with a notch in the edge of a key to actuate the lever, said casing including at least one other xed projection for registration with another notch in the key to determine the operative position of the key in the lock, said plate which has the fixed tumbler portion being adapted to be transposed with any other plate of said group in the process of assembling the lock to produce a lock requiring a diirerent key.

6. In combination, a padlock which includes a casing having a laminated portion composed of a group of interchangeable superimposed plates formed with registered openings which constitute a portion of a keyway in said casing, a locking lever movable in said registered openings toward and from locking position, said lever having a shoulder engageable by a key for actuation of the lever, said shoulder extending substantially throughout the combined thickness of said group of plates, one of said plates having a xed tumbler portion projecting into the said keyway for registration with a notch in the edge of a key to actuate the lever, said casing including at least one other fixed projection for registration with another notch in the key to determine the operative position of the key in the lock, said lock being adapted to be operated by a key formed with a pair of aligned notches in its opposite edges, each slightly wider than the thickness of said tumbler portion so that one of said notches will clear the tumbler when the key is operated while the portion of the key adjacent the other notch engages with said shoulder of the lever for actuating it.

HARRY E. SOREF. DANIEL J. FOOTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,316 Erichson 1 July 14, 1905 1,020,891 Dowe Mar. 19, 1912 1,490,987 Soref Apr. 22, 1924 2,282,983 Lack May 12, 1942 2,409,424 Falk Oct. 15, 1946