US2692495A

US2692495A - Perforated key controlled lock

Info

Publication number: US2692495A
Application number: US756951A
Authority: US
Inventors: Verdan Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-06-26
Filing date: 1947-06-25
Publication date: 1954-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-10-26

Description

O 6, 4 c. VERDAN ,69 5.

PERFORATED KEY CONTROLLED LOCK Filed June 25, 1947 Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to a lock and it is one of the objects of \"ie present invention to provide a lock wherein the operation of the bolt is controlled by at least one member in accordance with a secret code.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock the controlling members of which comprise a key and at least one counterkey and both said keys have indications as per forations, projections, surface deformations and the like disposed exactly in the same manner in accordance with a predetermined code word or cipher provided for the lock.

It is still another object of th present inven- I tion, to provide a lock in which the counter-key or counter-keys are housed permanently inside the lock in association with a suitable mechanism acting on the bolt while the operation of this mechanism, and consequently of the bolt, is rendered possible by the introduction of the key into the lock and the coordination made of the perforations or the like records carried by it with those of the counter-key, said coordination being executed mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, electro-optically, pneumatically and/or hydraulically, etc.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the key operating the lock;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a corresponding counterke Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front face of the lock with the code key and conventional key;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the coordinating feeler mechanism between the key and counter-key.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the feeler mechanism indicating its position after complete insertion of the key into the lock;

Fig. 6 is a perspective top view of the key and counter-key with the intermediate feeler mechanism;

Fig. '7 is an elevation partly in section of the feeler mechanism in combination with the bolt operating mechanism;

F g. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the clutch mechanism for the lock bolt operator; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the punching setting for the key.

Referring now to the drawings, an actual key I is used and a corresponding counter-key 2 removably and interchangeably housed in a permanent manner inside the lock. The key I and the coun- 2 ter-key 2 are each of a thin blade of metal or other suitable material provided with properly disposed indications, which in the present case comprise perforations 3 forming a system distributed in the same manner for both keys. (Figs. 1 to 4.)

l'he pattern obtained corresponds to a code word which in the illustrated case is the French word Univers. The location of each perforation corresponds to a letter of the code word and its location is defined longitudinally by the reference number of the letter in the alphabet and in the transverse direction across the blade surface by the place of the letter considered in the code word.

If keys are used that allow distributing ten letters across and twenty-five letters of the basic alphabet longitudinally, the number of different combinations that may be obtained is equal to 92,620 billions, as will be readily ascertained from the calculation of the combination of ten variable elements forming the code word, that are adapted to assume each 25 different positions; in other words, the number of combinations is practically unlimited.

It is not always necessary to use a normal standard alphabet and any other alphabet can be used including fancy alphbets wherein normal letters are classified in a fancy order. Similarly, the code word chosen need not have any actual meaning and be simply constituted by any predetermined sequence of letters that may be e. g. cut out of a word or a mnemotechnic coined word.

The counter-key 2, which is disposed in the upper portion of the lock housing, is associated with a mechanism adapted to control elements of the lock for clutching a bolt operator to the lock bolt 20. When the latter is in its closed or locking position, this mechanism retains the lock bolt 28 in its locking position. The release of the lock bolt 26 is brought about by coordination of the records 3 on the key A and counterkey 2 as provided by mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical, electro-optical, pneumatic and/ or by hydraulic means or a combination of two or more such means and the bolt 2!] is conditioned for release when a key 1 having records identical with those of the counter-key 2 has been inserted into the lock housing.

While any one or a combination of the mentioned different means may be used as feeler or comparison means between the respective records of the key and counter-key, the drawing discloses by example only mechanical feeler means.

The feeler means comprise substantially a pluralit of runners l each of which is slidably mounted on a longitudinally disposed rod 5. All rods 5 are arranged parallel in a horizontal plane spaced apart from each other below the counterkey 2, so that each runner 4 may assume any position opposite a corresponding imaginary 1ongitudinal line on the counter-key 2. Each runner 4 is equipped with an upwardly extending pin 6 which supports the counter-key 2 in its raised inoperative position.

A pawl-like member I is pivoted to the bottom portion of each of the runners 4 and extends in the plane of and close to a crosswise disposed horizontal slot 2I of the outer lock-plate 22, the slot 2I being adapted to receive the key I when inserted into the lock. A slide 8 of a width to extend below all the runners 4, when the latter are in their forward inoperative position, is provided below the runners 4 and. carries a plate 9 having a front flange 9 and a rear flange 9, which flange 9 is adapted to bring about the return forward movement, respectively, of the different runners 4 along the rods by engagement of the flange 9 with the runners 4.

When inoperative, the feeler mechanism assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the key I is about to enter the slot 2I of the lock plate 22 upon movement of the key I by hand in the direction of the arrow a. This movement of the key I is continued until the pawllike member i of each runner 4, which normally rests by means of gravity or by means of spring pressure (not shown) on the flange 9 of the plate 9, travels on the top face of the key I along a longitudinal imaginary line thereon until the hook end of the pawl-like member 'I of each of the runners 4 engages the corresponding perforation 3 provided in the key I. The gravity or spring pressure exerted upon the pawl-like member I retains the latter in the respective perforations 3 of the key I.

The continued movement of the key I in the direction of the arrow a into the lock housing through its slot 2 I, results in the rearward movement of the respective runners 4, one after the other immediately upon locking the hook end of each of the pawl-like members 'I with the corresponding perforations 3 of the key I. The rearmost runner 4 engages the flange 9 of the plate 9 of the slide 3 and moves the latter likewise in rearward direction against the operation of an expansion spring 8 by means of an intermediate cable 8 or the like, one end of which is secured to the spring 8 while its other end is secured to the bottom of the slide 8. In this manner the respective runners 4 will assume positions corresponding with the pattern of the perforations 3 on the key I. At. the end of the inward stroke of the key I, the pins 6 of the respective runners 4 will be disposed opposite the perforations 3 of the counter-key 2, provided that key I and counter-key 2 are equipped with an equal pattern of perforations 3. It is apparent that the perforations 3 of the counter-key 2 will not be exactly opposite those of the key I. The respective corresponding perforations will rather be spaced apart for the longitudinal distance between the pins 6 and the hook ends of their corresponding pawl-like members 'I.

When the key I reaches the end of the inward stroke, the counter-key 2, which in its raised inoperative position was supported by the pins 6, is lowered by gravity or by a leaf spring 6' or by any other suitable mechanism into its operative position. It is to be noted that all perforations 3 of the key I must conform to those of the counter-key 2, since if only one single pin 6 of the runners 4 does not find an opposite perforation 3, lowering of the counter-key 2 is prevented. Thus, the lowering of the counter-key 2 may be used as a conditioning means for moving the bolt from its closed position to its open position, thereby opening the lock.

There are known a great number of conventional bolt operators either of which could be used in connection with the present invention, which provides elements controlled by the keys and counter-keys for clutching the mentioned bolt operator. One such clutching structure is disclosed in the drawing, though the present invention is not limited to such specific structure.

The front plate 2| of the lock is provided with a hole 23 for a conventional key M which upon its insertion into the key-hole 23 is connected for common turning to a disk I0 having at its periphery a notch I0 the disk I0 being mounted to be turned with respect to a second disk I I by means of the key M.

As stated above, the counter-key 2 rests in its inoperative position on the pins 6 of the respective runners 4 and in addition is kept in its raised position by means of a rod I5 pivoted thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, which rod I5 is pivoted at its lower end to one arm of a two armed lever I6 which is pivotally mounted in the lock housing. The pivotal connection between the rod I5 and the lever I6 is such that a small amount of lost motion is provided for reasons which will hereinafter appear. The lever I6 is under the influence of a spring I6 which tends to turn the lever I6 clockwise in such manner that the rod I5 is thereby raised.

When upon insertion of the key I the runners 4 are brought in the proper positions due to the respective perforations 3 in the key I, in which positions the pins 6 of the runners 4 are exactly opposite the equivalent perforations of the counter-key 2, provided of course that the correct key I having the same pattern of perforations 3 as that of the counter-key 2 has been used, the counter-key 2 is lowered, since the pins 6 may now enter the perforations of the counter-key 2. This lowering movement of the counter-key 2 is made possible, because the comparatively weak spring I6 cannot balance the weight of the counter-key 2 together with the rod I5. The lowering movement of the counter-key 2 brings about a turning of the double-armed lever I6 upon its pivot counter-clockwise and, thereby, frees another angular lever I1 pivoted in the lock housing and disposed adjacent the lever I6 (Fig. '7). One arm of the lever I'I carries a pin I'I adjacent its outer end and a second pin I'I intermediate the said pin I! and the pivot point of the lever H. The lever I'I turns in clockwise direction by gravity, spring pressure (not shown) or any other suitable means, which turning movement is prevented, as long as the end of one arm of the lever I6 engages the pin I1 of the lever II. The counter-clockwise movement of the lever I6 frees the engagement between the lever I6 and the pin II and conditions the clockwise turning movement of the lever II. The end of the arm of the lever II which carries the pin I'I adjacent its end is formed to an inwardly projecting hook I1 A clutch-pawl I2 is turnably mounted on a pivot I3 secured to the front face of the disk I I, which clutch-pawl I2 has a hook extension I2 at one end, adapted to engage the notch II) of the disk I0, while its other is set-off for engagement with one end of a flat spring I4, the other end of which is secured to a bolt I4 secured to the disk I I. The clutch-pawl I2 carries adjacent the hook extension I2 a pin I2 which is adapted to be normally engaged by the hook I1 of the lever IT. The fiat spring I4 tends to move the hook extension I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 towards the periphery of the disk I and in particular into the notch III thereof in order to couple the disks I0 and II for common rotation.

The clockwise movement of the lever II disengages its hook I1 from the pin I2 and, thereupon, the clutch-pawl I2 is turned clockwise by means of the flat spring I4 so that the hook extension I? engages the periphery of the disk I0. Upon turning the disk ID with respect to the disk II by means of the conventional key M, the disk II stands still and, therefore, the hook extension I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 will slide on the periphery of the disk III until the hook extension I2 will reach a position opposite the notch III of the disk III and will engage the notch II) and, thereby, bring about the coupling of the disks I0 and II.

The continued turning of the key M will now turn simultaneously the disk I0 and I I and a bolt II extending from the disk II can now cooperate in known conventional manner with a lever 24 having a forked end 24 for receiving the bolt H and which lever 24 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the lock bolt 20.

As indicated before, the lowering of the counter-key 2 brings about a counter-clockwise turning of the lever I 6 and consequently a clockwise turning of the lever IT. The turning of the lever I! will continue until its pin I 1 engages the downwardly extending arm of the lever I6. Upon removal of the key I, the efiort of the spring I6 and the tendency of the lever I! to swing clockwise is now sufliicent to overcome the weight of the counter-key 2 and of the rod I5 and to lift the counter-key 2 again to its original raised position. Since the pins 6 of the respective runners 4 are now removed from the perforations 3 of the counter-key 2 the spring 8 will return the slide 8 to its original front position and the flange 9 of the plate 9" secured to the slide 8 will likewise return the runners 4 into their original front position.

The turning of the key M in counter-clockwise direction, opens the lock bolt and in clockwise direction closes the lock bolt 2|] provided that the disks I0 and II are in coupled position. In order to bring the lock bolt 20 again into its closed or locking position, the key M and, thereby, the disks I0 and II, are turned in clockwise direction, thereby, upon engaging the forked end 24' with the bolt H operating the lever 24 and moving the lock bolt 20, until the pin II! of the clutch-pawl I2 engages and raises the substantially horizontally disposed arm of the lever II. This movement results in the locking of the lever I! by engagement of the endof the downwardly extending arm of the lever IS with the pin I 1 of the lever I1. When the bolt 20 reaches its closed position, the bolt II is disengaged from the forked end 24' of the lever 24 and the latter stands still while the bolt I I continues to turn with the disk I I. Upon continued turning of the disk II, the pin I2 engages now the hook I7 of the lever I! and the latter turns the clutch-pawl I2 on the pivot I3 against the efforts of the flat spring I4 from its coupling position into its uncoupling position and, thus, restores the original position, in which the key M turns again without operating the lock bolt. Now the bolt 20 remains in looking position.

In order to move the bolt 20 from its locking position into its unlocking position, the key I is 6. inserted and upon reaching its 'endposition, the lever I6 will perform a movement in counterclockwise direction, whereby, the lever H with its downwardly extending arm will now perform a movement in clockwise direction. Due to the last mentioned movement the clutch-pawl I2 is also released and assumes a position engaging the periphery of disk II] to enter the notch I0 and couple together the disks I0 and II upon moving the key M in counter-clockwise direction. When the bolt II reaches the extreme right position, it will enter the forked end 24 of lever 24 and bring about upon continued counter-clockwise movement of the key M for the return of the lock bolt 20 into its unlocking position. The pin I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 lifts the substantially horizontally disposed arm of the lever I1 and, thereby, restores the relative locking position between levers I6 and II.

It is apparent that if the pattern provided on the key and counter-key is identical, the shifting of the counter-key may be performed freely whereas any slight difference between the patterns of the key and counter-key prevents such a movement.

Consequently this possible movement of the counter-key may be made use of for controlling mechanically or otherwise the opening of the lock through a shifting of its bolt. To obtain this result, numerous solutions are possible.

It should be pointed out that the selective perforations in the key and counter-key may be obtained by means of an ordinary punching machine wherein each depression of the punch controls a step in the intermittent progression of the blade forming the key or counter-key in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade, so that after each perforation the punch can only operate on a longitudinal line of the blade that has not yet been submitted to perforation.

In the example illustrated, only two record carriers are provided; but of course it is possible to consider the provision of more than two of such parts and, instead of forming the records by means of a system of perforations, projections, deformations of the blades and the like may be resorted to. Similarly it is possible to apply the invention to technical problems different from that of locks; In particular, the control of the shifting of mechanical parts in a machine of any type may be obtained through comparision of similar records, as disclosed hereinabove in its application to the case of looks.

The present invention allows also assocation of v the lock or like parts with the operation-of mas- I ter-keys. For instance, such a master-key may be designed as follows: the individual key or keys and the master-key or keys are designed according to different patterns. The counter-keys of each lock are then provided in superposition with two systems of perforations of which one corresponds to that of an individual key and the other to the general pattern of the master-key. In the case of sub-master keys, that is of master-keys corresponding to only one group of looks, it is sufiicient to provide in each counter-key in addition to its individual pattern of perforations, the pattern of perforations providing cooperation with the desired sub-master keys that are to open the corresponding lock, in accordance with the requirements of the case considered as concerns the grouping of different locks.

While I havedisclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a lock, a housing, a key adapted to be removably inserted into the said housing, at least one counter-key disposed in the said housing and adapted to be moved from its inoperative raised position into its operative lowered position, means for supporting the said counter-key in its inoperative raised position, both said key and said counter-key being provided with a system of identical indication means, the said key being adapted to be arranged in superposed position in respect to the said counter-key, feeler means coordinated to the said indication means of the key and counter-key, the said feeler means being adapted to be disposed between the said key and the said counter-key and to be moved from their front inoperative position to their operative position forming a pattern equivalent to that of the said indication means of the said key and the said counter-key, the said feeler means including means for setting up the pattern of the said feeler means equivalent to the said indication means of the key and counter-key in cooperation with the indication means of the said key to bring the said feeler means into registration with the indication means of the said counter-key in order to permit the releasing movement of the latter from its raised inoperative position into its lowered operative position, means for returning the said feeler means into their original positions upon raising the said counter-key into its raised inoperative position, a lock bolt mounted for reciprocation in the said housing, a lock bolt operator disposed in the said housing, and means controlled by the movement of said counter-key to its lowered opertive position for clutching the said bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

2. In a look, a housing, a key formed of metal sheet adapted to be removably inserted into said housing, at least one counter-key formed of metal sheet disposed in the said housing and adapted to be moved from its inoperative raised position into its operative lowered position, both said key and said counter-key being provided with a system of identical indication means comprising perforations in the said metal sheets, the said key being adapted to be arranged in superposed position in respect to the said counter-key, feeler means coordinated to the said indication means of the key and counter-key, the said feeler means being adapted to be disposed between the said key and the said counter-key and to be moved from their front inoperative position to their operative position forming a pattern equivalent to that of the said indication means of the said key and the said counter-key, the said feeler means including means for setting up the pattern of the said feeler means equivalent to the said indication means of the key and counter-key in cooperation with the indication means of the said key to bring the said feeler means into registration with the indication means of the said counter-key in order to permit the releasing movement of the latter from its raised inoperative position into its lowered operative position, means for returning the said feeler means into their original positions upon raising the said counter-key into its raised inoperative position, a lock bolt mounted for reciprocation in the said housing, a lock bolt operator disposed in the said housing, and means controlled bythe movement of said counter-key to its lowered operative position for clutching the said bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

3. The lock, as set forth in claim 1, in which the said feeler means include second means constituting the said supporting means for the counter-key in its inoperative position as well as the registration means with the indication means of the said counter-key in its operative position.

4. In a lock, a housing, a key formed of a metal sheet adapted to be removably inserted into said housing, at least one counter-key formed of metal sheet disposed in the said housing and adapted to be moved by its own weight from its inoperative raised position into its operative lowered position, both said key and said counter-key being provided with a system of identical perforations, the said key being adapted to be arranged in superposed position in respect to the said counterkey, feeler means comprising runners coordinated to the said perforations of the key and counterkey, the said runners being adapted to be disposed between the said key and the said counter-key and to be moved by means of the said key upon its insertion into the said housing from their front inoperaitve position to their operative position forming a pattern equivalent to that of the said perforations of the said key and the said counterkey, each of the said runners having an upwardly projecting pin supporting the said counter-key in its raised inoperative position and when registering with the corresponding perforation of the said counter-key being received by the said perforation when the said counter-key is assuming its lowered operative position, the said runners having further a pawl-like member pivoted thereto adapted to enter the corresponding perforation of the said key upon insertion of the latter into the said housing and to move the said runner carrying the said pawl-like member into its proper,

pattern position to bring the said pins of the runners into registration with the said perforations of the said counter-key in order to permit the releasing movement of the latter from its raised inoperative position into its lowered operative position, means for returning the said runners into their original front position upon raising the said counter-key into its raised inoperative position, a lock bolt mounted for reciprocation in the said housing, a lock bolt operator disposed in the said housing, and means controlled by the movement of said counter-key to its lowered operative position for clutching the said lock bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

5. The look, as set forth in claim 4, in which the said returning means for the said runners comprises a spring biased slide having an upwardly extending flange, the said slide being moved together with the rearmost of the said runners when the latter assumes its operative position, while the return of the said slide by means of spring action will bring the said flange of the said slide successively into engagement with all said runners and return the latter into their front inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,844 Sauleiko Mar. 12, 1912 2,301,155 Sebestyan et al Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 401,151 Germany Aug. 26, 1924