US2591165A - Device for nullifying combination locks - Google Patents

Description

April 1, 1952 N. KRASNANSKY ETAL 2,591,165

DEVICE FOR NULLIFYINO COMBINATION LOOKS Filed Feb. 14, 1947 Patented Apr. 1, 1952 GFFICE DEVICE FOR NULLIFYING COMBINATION LOC Natalie Krasansky, Mauricio Sulik, Pablo Eliscovich, and Juan Levy, Buenos Aires,

Argentina Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,620 In Argentina December 31, 1946 Claims.

rThis invention refers to a combination lock of the type of locking device in which the displacement of the bolt or locking element is dependent upon a predetermined position of the mutable segments of a code forming mechanism, such as described in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,772,076 and 2,160,698, and more particularly this invention relates to a cover mechanism provided with means for destroying the code combination of the segments.

Many devices of this nature have been designed for this type of mechanism, with usually satisfactory results due to the multiple combinations which may be obtained by changing the corresponding segments. Of little value, however, is the efnciency of the loclr unless it requires that the operator destroy the given code combination to secure the locking eiiect properly.

This signifies that any combination lock requires a further operation which calls for some care, as the safety of the lock depends upon this operation, which also must nullify all traces which might serve to reveal the secret of the code.

In View of what is stated above, it is understandable that a combination lock may be considered really eiiicient if it is provided with means capable of destroying the combination in a somewhat automatic manner, so that it does not require the attention of the operator after the opening operation; this very condition has been attained in the combination lock improved according to this invention.

According to the invention, the segment mechanism is provided with a lid which at the same time as it serves as a terminal closure member, operates a segment alining device in such a way that, on closing said lid, the code which serves as the opening combination for the look is completely nullied.

Io this end. the segments operate between two strips which are displaceably mounted in a frame to which is also pivoted said lid, which strips allow the segments to move into different positions when the lid is open, as will be later explained.

Said strips are provided with means operable by the lid to move the segments into alinement and out of the code combination when the lid is closed.

In addition to the above object, this invention provides a number of other objects, among which may be cited the securing of ample safety in the closure of the lock, as the combination code cannot be discovered due to ioregetfulness or emission in operation, as on closing the lid of the lock, the opening combination is completely nullied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following Specication. The invention will now be more specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are to beV understood explicative of the invention and not limitative of its scope.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the lock showing its external casing with the hasp slot, operating element of the slide, the plurality of segments forming the combination of the code, and a part oi the code vnullifying assembly in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the loci; with the lid closed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but with the lid reopened, to show that said lid, after being closed, alines the segments and breaks up their combination, nullifying the code.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lock partially in section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 4, but taken on line V-V of Fig. 2.

In the various drawings, the same reference numbers designate similar or corresponding elements or parts; and the devices or elements which comprise various parts are identied by letters.

In view of the fact that the mechanism of the combination lock is known (see prior art cited) only those parts and means necessary for the explanation of the code nullifying assembly will be specifically mentioned.

As may be seen in the drawings, a is the base plate of the lock.

This base plate a may be fixed to the outer face ci a piece of luggage, in any convenient Way, such as by bolts (not shown) passing through openings l. On said base plate a cover E is mounted having a plurality of projecting ears 2 (see Figures 4 and 5), passing through slots 3, and suitably bent so as to secure said cover 6 to said base plate a. The different parts and operating means of the combination lock, which are known are located in housing 4 and connected through lever 'l to a governor element 9 which is manually operable towards the position indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1 so that upon positioning of a plurality oi segments Ell according to a certain code, said governor element 9 may move tongue 8 visible in slot 5 will be readily understood to those skilled in the art, to free the hasp (not shown).

Each segment I5 consists of a cylindrical body provided with a notch I and an arm I9. The cylindrical body of each segment I0 is housed in housing Il. Cover 6 is provided at its upper face II with a longitudinal opening I 2 through which arms'l emerge. Notches I0 are arranged at different positions, and in order to aline all notches I0 it is necessary to adapt said segments I in different positions which correspond to the code.

On the upper face II of cover 6 a frame I4 is mounted having an opening I3 coinciding with opening I2 and through which project the free ends of arms I0 cf segments I0.

Said frame I is xed to said upper face I I by means of a plurality of projecting ears I9 passing through slots 20 arranged on the upper face II, said projecting ears I9 being suitably bent as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Frame Illthus comprises two side bands I4 and III" forming opening I3, said side bands I4 and I4 having each a recess 2 I A pair of strips I5 provided with projecting wedges I 6 are at least partially housed in said frame I4. Said wedges are capable of penetrating into recesses 2 I, as will be later on explained. Frame I4 is provided at one end portion with a hinge I3, about which swings a lid I1 having sides II which in closed positionof said lid II are in closed contact with frame Ill.

Each of said strips I5 have a comb shape edge 22 formed by a number of recesses 23 and. projections 25. The number of recesses 23V of each edge 22 coincides with the number of segments Il). The strip I5 may enter in contact through their projections 24, so that two opposite recesses 23 form an opening, the area of which substantially coincides with the area of a normal transverse section of arm III at the level of said edges 22.

As may be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, strips I5 are slidably displaceable on the upper face II of cover 5. When the lid I'I is open, as shown in Fig. l, strips I5 may easily be separated such as by actuating arms I0" of segments Ii! to establish the desired code position. Obviously in order to enable some of the segments to be inclined either to one or the other side, strips I5 may be separated and their corresponding wedges It then project laterally outwardly of theframe III. Thus upon closing lid II, sides I1 will act on said wedges I6 and push strips I5 towards the center line of opening I3; whilst the wedges I 5 penetrate into recesses 2l, these strips I5 bearing in turn by means of their recesses 23 against arms I9" of segments II! thereby forcing them into the perpendicular position shown in Fig. 5. In consequence, after lid I'I has been closed and even if it is immediately opened, segments Il) are not in the combination position and only the person acquainted with the code may again recombine them to open the lock.

In view of the foregoing and what is known in the art, it has to be accepted that the segments I5 would otherwise remain in the position in which they have been placed such as for instance in the position to form the opening combination. Theroperator, were it not for the code nullifying assembly would be obliged to move all the arms IU of the mutable segments to destroy their order and maintain the secrecy of the combination. However, due to the code nullifying assembly any preoccupation in this connection is completely unnecessary. In fact, it is sufcient to close the lid I'I to ensure that all arms I0 of the segments are alined, as the sides I'I' of 4 this lid I1 act upon the wedges I6 the strips I5 of which consequently aline all the arms I0" of segments I0; as seen in Figs. 3 and 5.

Thus, if an unauthorized person should open lid I'I, he would find the plurality of segments in the condition as shown in Fig. 3, i. e., with the two strips I5 displaced towards the center line, through openings 23 of which appear arms I0" of segments I0.

As the strips I5 are easily displaceable, nothing will prevent any person from actuating arms I0" and tipping them over to one side or the other but if said person is ignorant of the secret code or combination, it will not be possible to open the lock, as said segments IU, if they do not present their corresponding notches I0 in a line, stop and prevent all movement of governor element 9.

Knowing the code, it is very easy to open the lock, it being simply necessary to move arms I0 to one side or the other in the order called for by the code so that notches I0 will be alined and allow the movement of the governor element 9 towards the position shown dotted in Fig. 1; this movement withdrawing tongue 8, so that a hasp (not shown) may be lifted away from the main body of the lock.

The lock may be constructed in various forms according to its specific application to doors,`

cabinets, luggage, etc., provided that no departure is made from the fundamental principles which govern its construction, and which are clearly specified in the claims appended herein.

We claim: l. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a frame, a plurality of movable arms in said frame projecting from the frame and Y which when arranged in a predetermined code position permit the displacement of a lock element, a code nullifying assembly in structural and functional relationship with said projecting arm and including a lid pivotally mounted on the frame, and means on the frame operable by said lid to contact and move the arms into alignment and thereby out of the combination when the lid is closed during the later part of the closing movement thereof.

2. In a combination lock of the type described, comprising a plurality of arms in structural relationship with a lock element operable when said plurality or armsrare in a predetermined code position, each of said arms consisting of a cylindrical body and a projecting arm, a base plate, a cover mounted on said base plate and having a longitudinal opening, said plurality of arms being housed in said cover and said arms projecting through said opening, a frame having two side bands defining a second longitudinal opening, said frame being mounted on said cover and the longitudinal center lines of said rst and second-mentioned openings being coplanar in a plane perpendicular to said base plate, said arms projecting beyond said second-mentioned opening, a lid pivotally connected to said frame and adapted to cover said frame and arms whenV in the closed position, a pair of strips atleast partially and slidably housed in said frame, each strip having an inwardly and upwardly Vdirected projection engageable with said lid during the later part of the closing movement of said lid, said strips having opposite edges engageable with said projecting arms to move said arms into alignment andout of the code position when the lid is closed.

3. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality of arms in structural relationship with a lock element through a governor element operable when said plurality of arms are in a predetermined code position, each of said arms consisting of a cylindrical body and a projecting arm, a base plate, a cover mounted on said base plate and having a longitudinal opening, said plurality of arms being housed in said cover and said arms projecting through said opening, a frame having two side bands defining a second longitudinal opening, said frame being mounted on said cover and the longitudinal center lines of said iirst and second-mentioned openings being coplanar in a plane perpendicular to said base frame, said arms projecting beyond said second-mentioned opening, said frame having an end portion, a hinge supported by said end portion, a lid pivotally linked to said hinge, a pair of strips each of which is provided with an outwardly and upwardly facing wedge projection and being partially and slidably housed in said frame, said side bands having each a recess for receiving said projections, the face of said wedge projections being engageable with said lid during the later part of the closing movement of said lid for moving said strips toward each other and toward said projecting arms, said strips having opposite' edges engageable with said projecting arms to move said arms into alignment and out of the code position during such movement of said strips, and said opposite edges being engaged with each other when the lid isclosed.

4. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality of swingable projecting arms in cooperative relationship with a lool: ele 5 ment, a cover having a longitudinal opening, said projecting arms passing through said longitudinal opening, a frame fixed to said cover and having a second longitudinal opening similar to said iirst-mentioned longitudinal opening arranged parallel therewith and spaced therefrom, said arms also passing through said secondmentioned opening, a lid pivotally linked to said frame to cover said frame and said arms, a pair of strips slidably housed in said frame and each provided with a wedge projecting outwardly and upwardly from said frame and engageable with said lid, said pair of strips having two opposite comb-shaped edges formed by a plurality of recesses and projections, the number of recesses of each edge coinciding with the number of arms, said pair of strips being engageable with each other by means of their projections, whereby two opposite recesses dene an opening, the area of which substantially coincides with the area of a normal transverse section of one of said arms at the level of said edges, and said pair of strips constituting a shutter-.like obstruction between the iirst and second-mentioned longitudinal openings, and thereby moving the arms into alignment and out of the code position when the lid moves during the later part of the closing movement thereof.

5. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality of swingable projecting arms adapted to control the movement of a lock element, a cover having a longitudinal opening, said projecting arms passing through said longitudinal opening, a frame fixed to said cover i and having a second longitudinal opening similar to said first-mentioned longitudinal. opening and arranged parallel therewith and spaced therefrom, said arms also passing through said second opening, a lid pivotally linked to said frame to cover said frame and said arms when in the closed position, said lid having two parallel sides, a pair of strips slidably housed in said frame and each provided with a wedge projecting upwardly and outwardly of said frame land engagement with said sides of said lid, said strips having opposite edges engageable with said arms, whereby upon closing said lid said pair of strips' will bring said arms into alignment due to the action exerted on said wedge by contact with said sides of said lid during the later part of the closing movement thereof.

NATALio KRASANSKY.

MAURICIO SULIK.

PABLO ELISCOVICH.

JUAN LEVY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,772,076 Feldmeyer Aug.. 5, 1930 2,160,698 Herbst MayI 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 102,744 Sweden Oct. 7, 1941

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