US2476062A

US2476062A - Permutation lock container

Info

Publication number: US2476062A
Application number: US621131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Silas A Pierce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-10-08
Filing date: 1945-10-08
Publication date: 1949-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1966-07-12

Description

PERMUTATION LOCK CONTAINER Filed Oct. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /g INVENTOR ATTORN EY July 12, 1949. 5, PIERCE, JR 2,476,062

PERMUTATION LOCK CONTAINER Filed 001;. 8, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1949 ITED .:S TATES ZPAJT EN T OFFICE.

'PERMUTATIGN LOCK CONTAINER silas A. Pierce, Jr., Pawtucket, R. 1.

Application October 8, 194-5, Serial No. 621,131

'8 Claims.

. :My invention mlates toiimprovements in conand particularly to permutation looks i'or said-containers.

.Anoblectofvmy invention-is to :modify the elements of large permutation locks for sales and;

other. containers -=to:pmviea loch-which is commact macaw: up such small compass that it ca n-;be.readiiy:. mbstantially concealed :-in the Jillmf' the containeritself: without thickening snldwall to -mnabnomal degree.

.Aiflmthennbjedtofmy invention is to embody zn-incipleszotn permutation lock with a sell- :dosingsiaidz. :izmeferably -emmoy asimple pivmting fiateh whiohxisslnm'moilyzurgedz to a closed 3Insition. ;and;n:;mmmatlon. 1ock normally re- :ttiningfsaidwlalzzhr inifiatched :position, but .tln awhichthemmutationiocklngmembers are; movto gaositionsx: permitting unlatching orsald .:A.turthar oblqctz'ofzmysmoention .thereforexzls .to pmaldmm: mmmtutionx lnck whi'oh beoomos ;-ltic'ally=cziosedm when the permumuniso: aaemmutaated alignment hoxzisrmerdyazlosed.

members mommy :used in tamer-mutation slacks, :I wid -m :lilura'iityrsdnmterahly olosely :nested herniation members which may '::be rima-owlL-of theabox and (which have handleeimaerahle the exterior of the box whioh selectively set inwelative per- .mutated arrangement to permit imlatching of the latch.

further noblectrof my:lnvention to --provide almhimd adevor ior omtinssaid latch, hot-h of mayphat in I a mrallel --hlane :parallel tetothe wallofwtheboren which they-are-mounted.

4 h-iurther-objectofim invention sis-rho provide m. ,pezmutatlon lock -whloh 'while preferably adapted for ems-smell school v-or other box look sthe box but also will-lock a slidable :drawer takenalong the dine? s-sizoiv Fig.

2 in closed position within said box. "This drawer may be provided withacover soas to -prwlozle a valuables drawer for keeping money orother keepsakes or treasures of the school child from the other contents of the box; such-as books.

Theseuand other objects of =my invention as may hereinafter appear will :be best understood from the description .of the accompanying'draw- :ings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is -18, perspective-view of a school box constructed in accordance with my invention in closedposition withvithe closed-cover also retaining :a drawerrin closed-position.

Fig. 2 is a perspectivelriew oithe :box .-shovm in Fig. 1 with the coverretracted to open-position and the draweropenedgwith portions of the front walla-niche cover :being broken-away to show the lengthm" theslidable permutation members in the relative -.:positions thereof. shown :in Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is .arsectional view of the .claoseda'box Figs. 4,. .5, and 6 one rdiagrammatlcrperspenfite views of the "intrinsic parts otmy. improvedtwmutation look in assembled relationship including the latch, the latch ilever-zandthe-wcentml portions of the. slidablepemnutationtmembers,

.:Fig. 4 showing the'ilock .in ioekedhosition with the. notches of the permutationwmembers moved :out of relative v-permut-ated alignment, showing the notches of the slidablespermntafion members being moved into-alignment :towreceile the locking arm of the latching lever .afterhhe handles thereof 7 have been-moved into the PG?! mutated position :shown :in .1, and ;--6

shows a finger lifting the operating arm-of-ithe latch lever to'pivot the locking arm thereofwithln .the aligned notches if or aunlatc-hlng the latoh'prior to lifting the cover to open-position.

Fig. 7 is a front-elevation of the latohxand latoh lever showing how the latch may pivotas libel-box closes to permit-the locking pin in the box-body to ride up the point of the latch into the latoh -notch against the pressure of the spring even when the latch lever is \retainedin lockedposltion by the lower-ledges of the-permutationmembers in the positlonishownin-Flgwl.

In the drawings, wherein like chanacters--.of

--reference generally indicaterllkeparts throughout, in generally indicates asohool box honstrnctecl in accordance with my invention. While I have shown my invention applied tosa school hon-it is obvious that :the-variousleatures thereof may be appliedto any type-0f container. The box comprises a box :body 1 2-havingzthet-upstand- 1 ment of the drawer 40. "shown to more clearly separate the money or treasures of the child from the remainder of the box, I provide a cover 54 for said compartment 52 which may have a front edge 56 to' :abut the lip 44 to alternatively limit the inward ing rear wall l4, the upstanding front wall l6, and the upstanding end walls [8 and 20. In the embodiment shown, the front and end walls are provided with the upstanding lip 22 on the inner portions of the tops thereof.

As stated, one feature of my invention is to provide a box having a drawer which may be automatically locked in closed position when the box is closed. For this purpose one of said front and end walls l6, l8, or 28, as shown the end wall has a cut away portion 24 of substantial length for a purpose to be described. The box I8 is also provided with a cover 26 having a rear wall 28 pivotably mounted, as by the hinges 38, on the rear wall l4 of said box body I2, having cooperating depending front and end walls 32,

34, and 36 respectively, also having a depending lip 38 adapted to overlap the lip 22 on the outer portions of the tops of the body walls. I also provide a drawer 4'0 slidable through said cut away portion 24- having an outer end Wall 42 also having an upstanding lip 44 on the inner portion of the top thereof. Said drawer front wall 42 is movable to a closed position flush with said 'box body end wall 28 to bring their respec- :tive lips 44 and 22 into alignment so that on f closing of said cover 26 its lip 38 will overlie the drawer lip 44 to contain the drawer 48 within the box. In the embodiment shown, I also provide a partition 46 separating the portion of the box body 48 interior of said cut away portion 24 from the remainder. 58 of said box to provide a drawer compartment 52. The draw- 6! compartment 52 may if desired, be provided with an inner end wall to limit the inward move- In the embodiment movement of the drawer 48 within its compartment 52 which cover may have a mirrored upper surface.

the cover need not extend all the way around, but may only extend a sufficient distance over .the exterior of the cover lip 44 'to retain the 'cover in locked position within the box and the lip 22 may be omitted, if desired. It is obvious however that as the

lips

22 and 38 extend all "the way around the box, they will provide means for preventing insertion of a flat member between the box body and cover to unlatch the latch of my improved specific type of permuta- "tion lock about to be described. So far as I am aware, however, I am the first "to provide means on the cover of a box to cooperate with means on the drawer when slidable If desired, the depending lip 38 on to a closed position within said box to permit locking'cf the box cover to also lock the drawe within the box. I

As stated, I employ a permutation lock for locking the cover 26 to the body l2 of the box. While my improved permutation lock is contained in such small compass that it may be ideally incorporated in the wall of a small box The elements of my improved side of said arm and a power arm 61 project- 'ing laterally therefrom having a lip 68 projectpoint 13 of said cover.

4 preferably nested slidable permutation members 66 having portions namely the lower edges 68 thereof abutting said locking arm 64 to retain said latch in locked position and having notches 10 adapted when brought into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm 64 through said aligned notches 18 to permit said locking means 68 to tilt said latch 58 to an open position on movement of said operating portion f'62. The permutation members ar'erel'ativelyslidable alon the front wall 32 of the box cover 26. The front wall of said box cover i preferably provided with the vertical operating slot 12 and the top wall 31 of said cover is preferably provided with the longitudinal slide slot 14 and the graduations on scales 16 adjacent said slide slot. Each slide member 66 is provided with an operating handle 18 projecting upwardly through said operating slot 14. It is thus obvious that the slidable members 66 form a unit as they are in closely nested relationship so that the handles 18 thereof may project through the top wall 31 of the box through a single slot vI4 opposite the graduated scale 16. v h

In the preferred embodiment shown, the various parts of the permutationglock hitherto described are specifically constructed and assembled within the box orother container H] as follows: The box body is provided with the latching pin 88 projecting inwardly from the front wall thereof if desired, as shown across a slot 82 projecting downwardly from the top of said front wall thus making said locking pin extend horizontally rearwardly at right angles to the lockingarm of the latch 58. The rear portion of the front wall 32 of the box cover 26 is provided with a central cut out portion 84 extending at least partially through the top wall of the box and channels 86 extending laterally'of said out out portion 84 in the upper portion of said rear wall.

-The front wall 32 as stated, has the vertical operating arm slot 12 through it extending to said cut away portion substantially centrally thereof. The top wall 31 of the cover is profvided with a channel 88 extending lengthwise thereof above the cut away portion 84 and channels 86 in said front wall and as stated, has the slide slot 14 extending substantially equi-distantly of said operating slot. As stated, the graduations 16 comprising a. scale containingany 'desired numerals, letters or characters are provided on said cover adjacent said operating slot.

'- The latch 58 is pivotably mounted in any suitable manner as by the screw 98, in the cut out portion 84 of the front wall of the cover to pivot parallel to the wall of the cover and is provided with the depending latching work arm 59 having a notch 6| in one side thereof and a point portion 63 tapering from below said notch 6| to the opposite spring H extends from the top of saidlatch preferably from the power arm 61 thereof to a fixed In the embodiment shown said spring H has one end thereof soldered or otherwise secured to'said power arm 61 and theopposite end 13 underlying thepin' 75 projecting rearwardly from said cover front wall within the cut out portion 84 and may if desired, have 'its end fixed by projecting within said wall. 'While I have shown a .resilientwirespring" for 1 this purpose,it is obvious that any suitable type of spring may be employed or that other means ata-gone may 1 be "employed to norinailly urge t-h'e latc'h mounted on the -same pivot-=screw' 90. *As 's'tat'd,

the latch lever 'or ldcking means is provided with an operating -arm 1 6-2 projecting forwardly 'throughsaid arm-slot ii and a locking arm M projecting rearwardlyt therefrom.

-A plurality -of nested aligned spacers 92 are mounted in the compartment -94 formed by the longitudinal channels and 8'9 formed in the top walland upperpo'rtion of the front wall of said "cover-to provide with tha walls of said compartment "nested" slide guide ways- 95 above said locking-arm -64. The fixed spacers are provid'ed."-'With"the aligned. notches 96 in the lower edges thereof. The slidemembers 66a; 66b; and '(ilic' as shownin Fig. '2 are "preferably of" a less length" than the--1'ength'of"the-cover" 26' less the length-of the slide slot l t-and are-'each'mounted in one of said guide ways 9 5 and each have the notcheslfla, Mo and 10min different portions or the "lower edges 68 thereof. The respective handle 1ugs-'1 8a,*"-18b,-and 180 project upwardly substantially -oent'rally"'of "said respective slide members" 6611, Boo-66c through saids'ing'le "slide slot 14. If desired, the-handle lugs I'Ba'and "18c taper outwardly the "mannenshown' for ease iii "manipulationof'the finger of the operator, "laterally 'of'the slot '14. For easy dis'ass'e'mblyone end of the slot 'maybe provided" with" the'opening Bdrm-removing the handle lugs l8'selectively throughthesl'ot 14.

It is thus" obvious that ithe slidable ,.permuta tion' members Stay-66b; and 660 are laterally snaabiewithin the respective guide ways 95 formed between the guide members" 92 and walls of said channels in said. cover and cover 'p'l'ate -I'll-ll. to be"describ'ed. With this-construction, it is ob- 'vious'that"the lower 'edges'li8 of said .s'lidalole permutation members 66a; s'so, andliGc normal- 1y abut 'saidilatcli lever lockingarm '64 as shown in Fig 4 'to' positively prevent operation of. the latch lever thereby retaining 'thelatch in latched position. shown in-Figs. land-5,..however, when each of the respectivehandles 78a; 18b, and 180' aremoved opposite predetermined. graduated numbers on said scale -'96 all the respective notches Ita,"'lllb, and 'Hlr:v are brought intoalignment with'the notchesQBiin the spacers and with each "other to pe'rm'itithe locking arm 54 .of the latch lever or-Ilocking means to pivot .upwardly 1 on upward .movement v of. saidoperating arm62 through the composite notch form-ed thereby to tilt said latch58 including .the notch Bl'thereof away' from said latching pin-80 to permit raising ofthe cover 26. Fig. 5 'shows the notches l 0a, -'l 0b, and 1 0c brought into alignment with the notchesQB' 'and'Fig." 6 shows a'finger raising "the operating arm t2 tobring the locking arm-6'4 of the latch'upwards' within the composite groove formed by'said alignednotches 70a, Tub, and lilo "'and 'ilfi. It is thus apparent that the handles 18a} i811, and 180' for *theslidableper- 3 mutation members mustt be moved intorithe-zdesiredpredeterniined irelafionshipsonth' graduated "scale "to permit unlatching otfisaid atone-but 'that "once the --1at'ehis -lat'chedflwhether ithey: are -in this position orlmoved outpf this positiongthe cover -will automatieally latch inthe oinanner shown 'in l i'g. 7 even-with the notch'es mm; 1111b, and W00 out of alignment. nfter therboxis onoe opened tdlock the 'deVioeL it is-obv-ious' it i's' necessary to move th 'halitlle's' out -"of alignment- 1:0 permit the" lower=-' d'ges 158 of the permutati on slidaole- 'memhers GB -ZGSU -and we toabutthe locking arm 64 'to prev'ent the='=1-atc1i st' from loe- 'ingun la'tched.

the "einbodiment showni 'I rovide the cover plate Ill 0" ror'the rearsu'rface*of said cover front wall 32 to complete thecompartment '=31l.ld1e tain saidspa'cersllrand 'sl'idemembers 66 withins'aid" compartment. It is "apparent 'that salid ooverpla'te-retains said spacers and slide-mem- "bers within saidm'omp'artmentin use. 'Sa'id plate "PD 0' may have extension I 0 2 underlying the 'cut out portion -84 of the front wall- '3 has an op-en p ortion W04 *for] lateral pivotaole 'moven'l'ent of the I'a'tch'arniSS therein.

Asstatedhitherto; the guide-ways may *beprovided in "any suitablemanner and the spacers 92 oniitted, if desired. 'l hech'a'nnels -86 and 88 mm also" be omitted to "have the entire slides :function in rearof the front-wall- '32 of 'the'c'over and if desired, the slidemembers fifi-may' functioniat any desired distance from each other although "for compactness 'I' much prefer -theiiested "ar- 'rangenrent shown. It is obvious that the notches *Nla; 10b, and 70:: maybe 'form'edin "different portions of the slidable'members -lili to achieve (ii-i- Ierentcombinations. Several dinerent permutations, however,"may be attained by reversing the positions of 'the slides inthe compartment.

' Itis apparent therefore, that I'have'provi'deda novel type of "box particularly adapted 'ior-'-ia school box and pre'ierablyequipped with a novel type of permutation "lock and if desired, the elemerits of thep'ermutati'onlock' may be employed for 'lockingother types of containers, with: the advantages described above.

"Itis "understood that my invention is not limite'd to "the specific embodiment shown and that; various deviations thereof.mayv be made Without departing from the. spiritrandsscope of the .aD- pended claims.

- What I claim 1. (A per-mutationlock for-a box, having a box :body having a latching pin. projecting inwardly of the front wall thereof, and a cover for-said box. bodyepivotably mounted on the rear Wall-0f saidbox body having afront "wall havinga verticaloperating. arm -.slot thr-ou'gh said wall substantially oentrallythereof; a top wall having a slide slot therein extending substantially equidistantly of said operating slot;andgraduations on said :covertadjacent said slide slot, comprising alatch .pivotably "mountable l onwthe front wall :of said cover to pivot parallel thereto having a latching work arm having a notch in oneside thereofan'd a point portion tapering from below said notch to :the. opposite side thereof and a power arm: pro- :jecting lateral-1y therefrom having a lip projecting aforwardly thereof; a normally straight spring adaptedtoextendsfrom said l-atchlto a fixed point in @said coven urgin said :powerarm .to a position loringingasaid latching-arm lintoea substantially vertical position Withsaid-lattlhing pin engaged in-yithew notch Lthereof, .yieldable to: permit -said latching pinto ride up said inclined point por- 7 tion into said notch to permit automatic latching on closing of said cover, a latch lever also pivotably mountable on said cover to pivot parallel to said latch to abut said latch lip to pivot said latch to an unlatched position, having an operating arm .adapted to project forwardly through said arm slot and a locking arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of nested aligned spacers mountable in rear of the front wall of the cover to provide nested slide guide ways above said locking arm, said spacers having aligned notches in the lower edges thereof, and a plurality of permutation slide members each mountable in one of said guide ways having notches in different portions of the lower edges thereof and handle lugs adapted to project upwardly substantially centrally thereof through said cover slide slot whereby the lower edges thereof normally abut said latch lever locking arm to retain the latch in locked position and when eachjof said handles are moved opposite predetermined graduations all Of said notches are brought into alignment permitting the locking arm to pivot upwardly on upward movement of said operating arm, tilting said latch notch away from said latching pin to permit raising of said cover.

2. A permutation lock for a box having a box body and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally spring urged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from without said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means, and a plurality of nested slidable members having portions normally abutting said locking arm to retain said latch in locked position and having notches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said slide members are brought into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said aligned notches to permit said locking means to tilt said latch to an open position on movement of said operating portion.

3. A permutation lock for a box having a box body and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally spring urged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from without said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will a cause a tilting movement of said latching means,

and a plurality of slidable members having portions normally abutting said locking arm to retain said latch in locked position and having notches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said slide members are brought into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said aligned notches to permit said locking means to tilt said latch to an open position on movement of said operating portion.

4. A permutation lock for a box comprising a box body and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally urged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from without said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means, and'a plurality of permutation members having portions normally abutting said locking arm and having notches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said permutation members are moved into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said composite aligned notches to permit said operating portion to move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position.

5. A permutation lock for a box comprising a box body and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally urged to a'latching position, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from without said box and a plurality of permutation members adapted when moved into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit said operating portion to move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position.

6. A box comprising a box body, and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally urged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from Without said box and a locking arm, a plurality of nested slidable members having portions normally abutting said locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means, and having notches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said slide members are brought into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said composite aligned notches to permit said operating portion to move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position, said slidable members having handles extending in nested relationship through a single slot in said box, and graduations on the exterior of said box adjacent said slot.

7. A box comprising a box body, and a cover pivotably mounted on said box body, tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normally urged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movable from without said box and a looking arm, a plurality of slidable members having portions normally abutting said locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means, and having notches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said slide members are brought into predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said composite aligned notches to permit said operating portion to move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position, said slidable members having handles extending through slot means in said box, and

graduations on the exterior of said box adjacent said slot means.

8. A permutation lock for a box, having a box body having a latching pin projecting inwardly of the front wall thereof, and a cover for said box body pivotably mounted on the rear wall of said box body having a front wall having a vertical operating arm slot through said wall substantially centrally thereof, a top wall having a single slide 9 slot therein extending substantially equi-distantly of said operating slot, and graduations on said cover adjacent said slide slot, comprising a latch pivotably mountable on the front wall of said cover to pivot parallel thereto having a latching Work arm having a notch in one side thereof and a point portion tapering from below said notch to the opposite side thereof and a power arm projecting laterally therefrom having a lip projecting forwardly thereof, a normally straight spring adapted to extend from said latch to a fixed point in said cover urging said power arm to a position bringing said latching arm into a substantially vertical position With said latching pin engaged in the notch thereof, yieldable to permit said latching pin to ride up said inclined point portion into said notch to permit automatic latching on closing of said cover, a latch lever also pivotably mountable on said cover to pivot parallel to said latch to abut said latch lip to pivot said latch to an unlatched position, having an operating arm adapted to project forwardly through said arm slot and a locking arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, and a plurality of nested permutation slide members, mounted in rear of the front wall of the cover, having notches in different portions of the lower edges thereof and handle lugs adapted. to project upwardly substantially centrally thereof through said cover slide slot where- 10 by the lower edges thereof normally abut said latch lever locking arm to retain the latch in locked position and when each of said handles are moved opposite predetermined graduations all of said notches are brought into alignment permitting the locking arm to pivot upwardly on upward movement of said operating arm, tilting said latch notch away from said latching pin to permit raising of said cover.

SIMS A. PIERCE, JR.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS