US2587654A - Attack defeating combination lock - Google Patents

Description

March 1952 F. w. sAMMoNs ATTACK DEFEATING COMBINATION LOCK INVE TOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1947 March 4, 1952 F. w. SAMMONS ATTACK DEFEATING COMBINATION LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1947 INYENTOR 2b;- ATTORNEYS swa 4M 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. W. SAMMQNS ATTACK DEFEATING COMBINATION LOCK March 4, 1952 Filed Nov. 26, 1947 INVENTOR BY v ATTORNEYS March 4, 1952 w, SAMMONS 2,587,654

ATTACK DEFEATING COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY M, W, Wm +133 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 4, 1952 ATTACK DEFEATIN G COMBINATION LOCK Francis W. Sammons, White Plains, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1947, Serial No. 788,290

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel mechanism which is incorporated between the bolt of a lock and the operating handle of the lock, and functions to operate the lock successfully until tampered with by an unauthorized person. The

improved mechanism may be installed in any lock produced for installation in houses, files, trucks, automobiles, or other places.

One of the important features of this mechanism is that it will automatically become inoperative when an unauthorized attempt is made to operate the lock.

Another feature of this improved invention is that the lock is provided with a simple combination for use in opening the lock, and is also provided with a key which is only used when the lock has been made inoperative by reason of an unauthorized attempt to open the lock. The key operates to restore the lock to its normal operating arrangement.

The door or other closure in which the lock is incorporated will normally remain locked at all times so long as it remains in closed position, and

in closing will automatically turn the combina-' tion from its operating setting, to a non-operating setting. The operator who has the combination may readily turn the handle to the same combination and open the look without the use of a key. With this improved lock structure, it will readily be noted that the door or closure for any'delivery truck or other transportation vehicle having this improved lock installed therein, will remain locked at all times and will be easily and quickly opened by the authorized operator.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide an improved lock mechanism that automatically uncocks itself or collapses when it is tampered with by an unauthorized person, and can only be "cocked or reset or placed in operating condition or arrangement by the operator using a key provided for the lock, and then moving the dial combination elements to their proper settings.

The improved invention also provides for a series of novel constructed elements that cooperate in operating the lock under normal conditions and which -will be thrown out of this cooperation when unauthorized persons attempt to operate the lock.

The improved mechanism may be used in conjunction with any type of lock wherein this novelmerchandise heretofore due to the driver inadvertently leaving the car door unlocked. I

The preferred mechanism herein generally includes a handle housing concealed in the door, with a fixed dial on oneend outside of the door.-

The handle proper also has a dial adapted'to rotate within the fixed dial.

These two dials act as a combination which is predetermined and is only known to the driver..

When the driver leaves the truck and lets go of the handle, it will rotate partially by gravity or by any other means to throw the combination out of actuating positions, so that the door cannot be-openeduntil the driver resets the combination.

In addition to the combination dials, theimproved lock mechanism provides means formaking it impossible to open the door without a key, if the handle and the lock have been tampered with.

If the handle has not been tampered with, and;

the other leg of the right angular plate upwardly through registered slots in two tubes.

The handle may then be rotated to bring the upturned leg into a position for retracting the bolt of the lock from the door jamb to open the door. On the reverse movement, the right angu lar plate returns to normal position and one tube moves'relative to the other and the slots in the two tubes are moved out of registry.

If the handle hasbeen tampered with during the absence of the driver, and the driver on desiring to open the door pushes the handle in- -wardly after setting the dials, the slots in the tubes will be out of alignment and the door cannotbe opened. During the tampering the striking pin struck the angular plate, the leg could not move through the slots, and the striking pin I which was normally held in an operating position by a ball detent wa released from the detent and urged backward by a spring out of contact with the angular plate.

Upon appreciating the inoperativeness of the lock, it is then necessary for the driver to use the key in the handle for resetting or recocking the striking pin. tion by using the key to move some of the internal elements of the lock. He then pulls out on the handle which changes the relationship of the The driver performs this opera-' striking pin and handle, which operation has the effect of lengthening and resetting the striking pin back to normal position. The driver then sets the dial combination thereby causing the two slots in the two tubes to come into registry. When the handle is again pushed inwardly, the striking pin will be long enough to rock one leg of the angular plate up through the slots, since the ball detent is strong enoughto holdthe striking pin in position'to rock the angular plate about a pivot.

Other features and advantage of the present invention will be obvious as brought out in the following specification and claims: Y

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate. cr'= responding parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a front View of the handle showing the combination dials viewed from the outside.

ing the apparatus of the present'invention in sideelevation Fig. 3 is an end View looking from the inside of the door showing diagrammatically the relative position of one of the legs of the angular plate in respect-to a conventional door lock bolt;

Fig. 4 is a modified form showing theoperating mechanism for actuating a rotary form of lock instead of the sliding door bolt illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5- is a; longitudinal cross sectionthrough the handle mechanism, taken on line 5-5 of Fi 2';

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section. taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the handlev mechanism in operating'position;

Fig; 7 is a cross-section similar to Fig; 5, only showing the striking pin in the inoperative position;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 'Z,v showing the striking pin in the operating position;-

Fig; 9 is a cross-sectiontaken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

r Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the plug which supports the striking pin;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the plug which supports the angular bolt operating plate and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of mean for partially rotating. the. handle to upset the dial combination as the door is being moved to closed position.

Referring to the drawings where there. is shown,

by way of illustration merely, a lock for'vehicle.

doors, comprising a tubular housing ||l havingan integral flange l4 at one end and a threaded portion l3 at the other end to receive a nut I2.

The tubular housing i0 is inserted in an opening l5 in a vehicle door H and secured therein by tightening up the nut IE on the inside of the door so -as to bring the flange l4 up against the outside of the door Ii. A collar 85 is provided at the end of housing as and is secured on tube Hifor preventing. the assembled tubes from being withdrawn from housing It.

The tubular housing If! secured to the door contains a plurality of snugly fitting telescopic tubes adapted to oscillate and slide one within the other, and in order to differentiate the tubes from each other, they are designated as the first, second, third and fourth tubes, beginning with the outside tube.

,The first tube |6 ismounted for oscillation or 4 partial rotation within the tubular housing In and has a flange thereon for supporting a ring 2|.

The ring 2| is screwed to the flange by screws 22 and the face of it carries a dial 23. A change of combination of the lock is readily obtained by removing screws 22 and rotating the ring 2| relative to the dial plate 21 and again replacing the screws. A further change of combination may be obtained by removing the screws 28-from thedial plate 21 and replacing the same after relative movement to the ring 2|.

Adjacent the inner end of the first tube l6 there is a longitudinal slot 24, the purpose of whichwill hereinafter, be described.

The second tube 25 has a flange 26 thereon fonfixing a dial plate 21 thereto by screws 28.

Adjacent the, inner end of the second tube 25, there is a slot 29 substantially the same size as the slot 24 in the first tube I6.

A plug I8 is secured in the end of the second tube 25; by screws. 3 l-see Fig. Sir-and. secured by screws l9, to the end-of. the plug |8 is aplate II.

The. plug, L8 is; tubular in, shape and has; a,

longitudinalslot 3,2 s.ee. Fig. 11th.er n to as: com-modate an, angular 1 M6 The; angular plate, 33 has a leg 34 and a leg; 35, and is. pivoted atv 36' to thewalls of the slot 32 and is normally held in the, inoperative or downposition by aspring 31, as shown in Fig. 7.

The third tube- 38 has a pin 39 therethrough which is. adapted to ride in diametrically opposed slots 40 in the fourth tube 4|.

The fourth tube 4| has a. plug 42 secured in the end thereof byscrews 43-see Fig. 10.. This plug 42 is hollow but has. a solidend portion 44 to accommodate a bias holdingjmeans; such as.

a, ball detent, 4.5 which is urged into an annular groove 46 in a striking, pin 41.

The striking pin 41 slides in, a, bearing 48 in l the solid end portion 44, and has a head or;

flanged portion 49 to guide itv along the hollow wall of the plug 42..

Mounted between the head 49 of, the striking pin 41 and the solid portion 44 there is a spring 55' which normally urges the, striking pin 41 against the pin 39 when the striking pin 41 is disengaged from the ball detent 45-see Fig. '7.

The door handle 5| is secured to the end of the fourth tube 4| by screws 52; and has a shank portion 53.

Concealed in the shank portion 53, there is. a conventional small handle bolt 54 which is ope. erated by the. handle key, not shown, and which is adapted to be inserted in key hole shown in- Fig. 1.

The small bolt 54 is adapted to engage with the square openings 55 and 56 in the third tube 38 and the fourth tube 4|, respectively, when they register and are aligned with the small. bolt .54.

In operating the improved lock device, the combination dials 23 and 21 are predeterminately set, so that when particular numbers or divisions or markings on the dials arebrought into registration, the mechanism is ready to permit the driver to open the door.

The mechanismis then set, and the handle is.

screw 58 in the third tube 38-see Fig. 6.

- The distance of travel is enough to allow the striking pin 41 to engage with the leg of the angular plate 33 and pivotally carry the leg 34 up through the slots 24 and 29 in the first tube 16 and the second tube 25 to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the mechanism is now in the position as shown in Fig. 5, it is only necessary to rotate the handle slightly to retract the bolt 60 from the door jamb 6 I see Fig. 3. The bolt 60 is normally held within the door jamb 6| by the spring 62.

The above described operation, referring to Fig. 5, may be accomplished when the driver returns to the truck and no one has tampered with the mechanism.

Now, assuming that after the driver leaves the truck and the mechanism has been tampered with, the operation will be as follows:

When the driver leaves the truck, the handle will rotate by gravity since one part ,of the handle is loaded or may rotate by other means, and the coil spring 63 mounted between the washer 64 and the end of the third tube 38 urges the handle outwardly to a normal position as shown in Fig. '7.

When the handle is in this position, the slots 24 and 29 are out of alignment and the leg 34 of the angular plate is held down in a horizontal position by the spring 31 within the second tube 25.

If the handle is now pushed inwardly, the forward end of the striking pin will strike the back edge of the leg 35, and since the other leg 34 is held down by the inside wall of the first tube I6, the striking pin will be forced backward and become disengaged from the ball detent, and after this happens the coil spring 50 will urge the head 49 of the striking pin back against the pin 39, as shown in Fig. '7.

When the handle is again pushed inwardly, the striking pin will not be long enough to reach the leg 35, and the mechanism is therefore, in-' operative to the intruder.

If the mechanism has been tampered with and the driver wishes to re-enter the truck, he must first reset the striking pin 41, and the only way this may be done, is by inserting the key in the handle and rotating it until the small handle bolt 54 is retracted and disengaged from the square O ening 55,

When this disengagement takes place, the handle may then be pulled out to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and in so doing, the fourth tube 4| will move independently of the third tube 38.

Since the fourth tube 4! is connected to the shank of the handle at one end and connected to the striking pin plug at the other, the striking pin is carried along with the handle while the head 49 is butting against the pin 39, and a further movement of the handle compresses the spring 59 and moves the angular groove of the striking.

pin under the ball detent thus resetting the striking pin.

When the striking pin and the ball detent have been reset into normal position, the openings 55 and 56 come into registry upon the handle being passes through the registered slots 24 and 29, see: Fig. 5, and engages the bolt 60 and moves it to unlock the door.

A modified form for initially rotating the Mn dle instead of by weight is shown in Fig. 12, where a spiral groove is cut into the third tube 38 to accommodate a spring pressed ball 66 in the second tube 25. This modified mechanism operates to turn the handle to different distances from the predetermined combination dial setting by reason of the spring 63 incorporated in the device causing the ball 66 to move in the groove 65.

In place of having the bolt operatin leg 34 coming out of the side of the tube l6, a modified form of bolt actuatin mechanism is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the striking pin 41 strikes a rack arm 19 which rotates a gear H on a shaft 12. This shaft 12 carries a large gear 13 which meshes with a rack arm 74. This rack arm has a depending arm 15 for engagement with slots 16 and 11 in the movable plates 18 and 19.

If the slots 16 and T! are in register, the mecha-' nism will operate similar to when the slots 24 and 29 register in use on the truck, but if they do not register the striking pin 4! shown here, will be released from the ball detent as noted before.

It will be understood that in many cases it will be desirable to provide a suitable illuminating means for the dials so that they may be seen in the dark. This illumination may be accomplished by providing a small light, or by having the mark ings on the dial made of luminous material. In any event, any suitable manner of illuminating the dials, and if desired, the key opening in the handle, may be provided.

It will be noted from the foregoing detailed description that the improved mechanism incorporated between the bolt of a door lock and the handle operates in a most satisfactory manner without the use of a key, so'long as the operator sets his simple dials and so long as there is no unauthorized tampering with the lock.

With this type of novel lock mechanism, a delivery driver may rest assured that so long as he closes the door to his vehicle or truck, that no one will get in through the door, and when he wishes to open the door, it is very easy to reset the dials and operate the door handle in normal manner. The driver also quickly learns when the lock has been tampered with and it is only then that he employs a key to reset or recock the mechanism so that operating conditions are reestablished.

The driver also has the confidence that if there is an unauthorized attempt to unlock the lock, that it cannot be done and that there has been no entry into his vehicle as the lock automatically becomes uncooked or disabled before the door may be opened.

It will also be noted from the detailed description that the novel mechanism is quite simple and is simple to operate and that the few parts cooperate readily to prevent the door or lock from being opened by unauthorized person, or persons. Thus, the owner or driver has the confidence that his goods or wares or other commodities are safe at all times.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the preferred form inner of saidtubes and positioned to have a leg element thereof 'rnove'through said registerin 6penings and into engagementwith said freein bolt,and mechanical elements in said mechanism in cooperation with said handleand said plate for oscillatingsaid'plate. i

2 Ina lookga mechanism mounted between a lock freeing bolt and a handle for operating said lock, said handle having a key hole therein, said mechanism comprising a series of concentric tubes assembled to have oscillations with each other and to be held in assembled positions, two of which tubes have apertures therein adapted to register under predetermined conditions, an an- "gular plate mounted in the inner one of said tubes and positioned to have a leg element thereof move through said registering openings and into engagement with said freeing bolt, mechanical elements in said mechanism in cooperation with said handle and'said plate for oscillating said plate, some of said elements adapted to become inoperative by having relative longitudinal movement to each other in event said openings in said tubes are not in alignment when saidhandle is operated, and a key operating through said handle for resetting said elements rendered inoperative and for facing said lock'e'lements in operable condition to have said openings in registration for normal operation of said lock.

' 3. In a lock, a mechanism mounted between a lock freeing bolt and a handle for operating said lock, said mechanism comprising a series of concentric tubes assembled to have oscillations with each other and'to be held in assembled positions, two of which tubes have apertures therein adapted tof register under predetermined conditions, an angular platamounted within one of said tubes and positioned to have a lock element thereof move through said registered openings and into engagement with said freeing belt, a striking pin for inoving said angular plate, a biased holding means for maintaining said striking pin in predetermined relation to said angular plate until said plate resists movement sufficiently to cause said striking pin to have relative movement to said bias holding means, a spring for moving said striking pin under said resistance thereby to collapse the operating mechanism and allowing said handle to have full movement While not scillating said angular plate to engage said freeing bolt.

T 4, In a lock, the combination of a lock bolt witnessin a door carrying said look, a handle for operating said bolt, a mechanism incorporated between said bolt and said handle, said mechanism comprising four concentric tubes of different lengths, said tubes being assembled to have oscillations with each other and to be maintained in assembled positions, two of said tubes having openings for registry therebetween under predetermined conditions, an angular plate mounted to have one portion thereof moved through said openings when said openings are in registry to engage said lock bolt for moving the same, two other tubes having two openings for registry to receive a handle bolt, a handle carrying said handle bolt and operating through said last named tubes to move the same, and a striking pin carried by one of the two latter tubes and adapted to engage said angular plate and by reason of the movement of said handle thereby to move said lock bolt.

5 A look of the kind described comprising, a spring pressed bolt in the locked position, means 9? n netie seq elt c r s n ub i eineh v n t lqn iiusiina ad acen me d the e s we tu moun ed (w hin: sa d first time an hav n a sl he ei adapt t said slot, a thirdtub e-mounted within saidsec ond i e a h in a p n he in a f r h tube mounted within said third tube and having ;a slidable striking pin therein, an operating handle connecting to said fourth tube, means in said handle for connectingsaid third and fourth tubes together, a ball detent for holdingsaidstriking pin in the operating position, and means including said striking pin for urging said-angular plate through the slots in said first and second tube when said slots are registered.

6. In a lock, the combination of a lock'boltfor releasinga door carrying said lock, a handle for operating said bolt, a mechanism incorporated betweensaid bolt and. said handle, said mechanism oomprisingfour concentric tubes of different lengths, two of said tubes having openings-for registry therebetween under predetermined conditions, an angular plate mounted to have one portion thereof moved through said openings when said openings are in registry to engagesaid lock bolt for moving the same, two other tubes having two openings for registry to receive a handle bolt, a handle carrying said handle bolt and operating through said last named tubes to move the same, and a striking pin carried by one of the two latter tubes and adapted to engage said angular plate and by reason of the movement of said handle thereby to move said lock bolt, bias holding means engaging said striking pin and cooperating therewith to maintain full throw of said striking pin to move said angular plate, said striking pin and said bias holding means be coming disengaged when the openings in the first two concentric tubes are not in registry.

7. A look of the kind described comprising, a spring pressed bolt in the locked position, means for retracting said bolt comprising a first tube housing having a longitudinal slot adjacent one end thereof, a second tube mounted within said first tube and having a slot therein adapted to register with said slot in said first tube, a pivoted angular plate fixed in said second tube adjacent said slot, at third tube mounted within said second tube and having a pin therein, a fourth tub-e mounted within said third tube and having a slidable striking pin therein, an operating handle connected to said fourth tube, said handle having a key hole therein, means in said handle for connecting said third and fourth tubes together, a ball detent for holding said striking pin in the operating position, means including said striking pin for urging said angular plate through the slots in said first and second tubes when said slots are registered, a dial held in fixed position on said look; a second dial fixed on said handle and movable therewith and with markings to register with markings on said fixed dial, and a key for operating said handle bolt to withdraw it from one of said tubes to permit relative longitudinal movement of one of said tubes for resetting said striking pin and said bias holding means to normal engagement to operate said angular plate, said handle bolt being reintro: duced into the opening in registry therewith in the adjacent concentric tube to complete the train of mechanism to transmit motion from said handle to said lock bolt.

8. In a lock, the combination of a lock bolt for eleases a d o c rr in a d belt a handle fo operating said bolt, said handle having a key hole therein, a mechanism between said bolt and said handle, a plurality of concentric tubes arranged to have relative angular movements with each other, two inner tubes of said plurality of tubes having longitudinal movements in addition, the two outer tubes of said plurality of tubes having openings for registering to allow a leg of an angular plate to pass through said openings in registry and to engage said lock bolt, a striking pin carried by the innermost tube, a bias means for holding said striking pin in predetermined position with said inner tube, said striking pin movable to oscillate said angular plate to move a leg thereof through said openings, a handle for operating said look, a handle bolt carried by said handle and arranged to pass into registering openings in said inner concentric tubes, a spring for maintaining said inner tubes in predetermined normal positions and acting to return said tubes and said handle to normal position after being moved by said handle to oscillate said angular plate, a spring acting to move said striking pin away from said bias holding means when considerably resisted by said angular plate, a pin carried by next to the inner tube and extending through slots in the inner tube, a key for insertion in said handle for removing said handle bolt to allow relative longitudinal movement between the two inner tubes to have said pin reset said striking pin into engagement with said bias holding means and to be returned to its normal position to have said handle bolt reengage the two openings in said inner tubes for transmitting movement from said handle to said angular plate, a fixed dial carried on said lock, a second dial carried by said handle and movable therewith to have markings on each dial register for a predetermined combination setting that permits the handle to be moved longitudinally to carry said striking pin into engagement with said angular plate to push the leg thereof through said registering openings in said two outer tubes and into engagement with said lock bolt to move the same when said handle is turned thereby opening said door, an automatically operating handle structure for oscillating said handle out of predetermined combination setting when said handle is returned to its'normal position under the influence of said first spring.

9. In a lock, the combination of a lock bolt for mitting the mechanical movement of said handle to said bolt, said mechanism including two sets of interengaging elements, said interengaging elements of each set being relatively movable to each other and constructed to firmly engage each other for normal engagement and thereby assisting in moving said bolt upon the movement of said handle, a dial means associated with said handle and bein movable therewith and in relation to a permanently held dial on the front of said lock for setting a predetermined combination for operating said lock without a key, automatic means for turning said dial means which is associated With said handle from its set position as said handle is released, one set of said interengaging elements becoming disengaged when said lock has been tampered with unauthorizably and therecy destroying the said transmitting function of said mechanism, and a key operating through said handle for resetting said last mentioned elements for placing said lock in operable condition.

10. In a lock, the combination of a lock bolt for releasing a door carrying said look, a handle for operating said bolt, said handle having a key hole therein, a mechanism incorporated between said bolt and said handle, said mechanism transmitting the mechanical movement of said handle to said bolt, said mechanism including two sets of interengaging elements, said interengaging elements of each set being relatively movable to each other and constructed to firmly engage each other for normal engagement and thereby assisting in moving said bolt upon the movement of said handle, a dial means associated with said handle and being movable therewith and in relation to a permanently held dial on the front of said lock for setting a predetermined combination for operating said look without a key, one set of said interengaging elements becoming disengaged when said lock has been tampered with unauthorizably and thereby destroying the said transmitting function of said mechanism, a key operating through said handle for resetting said last mentioned elements for placing said lock in operable condition, and a weight incorporated in one portion of said handle operating to turn the handle and said dial means from its set position as said handle is released by the operator.

FRANCIS W. SAMMONS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 174,273 McCaskey Feb. 29, 1876 1,426,977 Gambino Aug. 22, 1922 1,626,106 Tibbetts Apr. 26, 1927 1,673,510 Hill June 12, 1928 1,816,575 Full July 28, 1931

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