US2730392A

US2730392A - Magnetic locking device

Info

Publication number: US2730392A
Application number: US468223A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nils A Thiebaud
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-11-12
Filing date: 1954-11-12
Publication date: 1956-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1973-01-10

Description

Jan. l0, 1956 N, A, ||||EBAUD 2,730,392

MAGNETIC LOCKING DEVICE Filed NOV. l2, 1954 v Ill/VIII INVENTCR United States Patent "O 4 2,730,392 MAGNETIC LOCKING DEVICE Nils A. Thebaud, La Canada, Calif. Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,223

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-201) My invention relates to a secret magnetic locking device of simple construction and novel functioning,

It is an object of my invention to provide a lock and key` rendering a private means of access to a container for addedsecurity.

.The actual operation of my device,` being undetectable to onlookers, provides a further object of obvious skill of the operator in the art of legerdemain.

Another object is to provide added utility to a container after it has fulfilled its originally intended use.

A further object is to provide a new and inexpensive articleof. manufacture which renders added sales appeal to various everyday containers.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which especially characterize my invention will be described.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying myvinvention; a box simulating the appearance of a book, on the cover of which is shown a conventional match book packet.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1, the view being on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away to show the interior elements of my device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views showing other applications of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of my device as a locky of unitary structure.

In Fig. 1 the lock part of my device is attached to the inside surface of box lid 2, being invisible to the exterior, and in the region of the match book packet 1 lying on the surface of said box lid. The match book packetl embodies and conceals the lock actuating element r key part of my device, and is shown in relative operating position.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the interior elements of my device comprising three

main portions

3, 4, and portion 3 is the latch bar, formed of non-magnetic material and rotatablyl mounted on the interior surface of box lid 2; portion 4 is the latch bar engaging member, also formed of non-magnetic material and installed in a position on the interior surface of a side wall of the box to engage latch bar 3; and portion 5 is a permanent magnet concealed within match book packet 1 and serving as the lock actuating element.

Permanent magnet 5 imbedded in match splints of match book packet 1, more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is not limited to one permanent magnet, but may consist of several smaller magnets, depending upon adaptability to the type of article in which they are embodied to fulfill the purpose of concealment and secrecy of operation.

Concealed placement of said permanent magnet 5 in match book packet 1 is accomplished by the removal of suicient match splints from the row adjacent to the back cover of the packet to make space for said magnet A5l, which is therein attached by suitable means to facili- 2,730,392 vPatented Jan. 10, 1956 tate removal for replacement of the packet upon deterioration of same; in this case said magnet S is simply taped in place.

6 and 7 shown in Figs. 2 and 6 in Fig. 3 are magnetizable elements, intthis case soft iron pins installed in lock casing 8 to restrict the movementv of and secure latch bar 3 in the latched and unlatched positions.

9 is a permanent magnet embodied in latch bar 3 to coact with magnet 5 for operation of my device.

Latch bar 3 is mounted to rotate on pin 10, as shown in Fig. 3,v pin 10 also serving as the attachment means for lock casing 8 to box lid 2.

Operation of my device is attained by bringing permanent magnetY 5 into a mutual ysphere of attraction with permanent magnet 9, causing a dual action of magnetic attraction upon one another between unlike poles, and magnetic repulsion upon one another between like poles to rotate latch bar 3 into latched and unlatched positions withy latch engaging member 4.

The security of latch bar 3 remaining in the latched and unlatched positions to prevent untimely pivoting is obtained by the magnetic attraction of permanent magnet 9 upon the

magnetizable elements

6 and 7 shown in Fig. 2, when latch bar 3 is brought into contact with said elements which are installed in the latched and unlatched positions.

Fig.,4 shows another application` of my device; herein, latch bar 3a is. rotatably mounted within casing 8a on an interior surface ofthe side` wall of a. container instead of on the lid as described in: Figs. 2 and 3; and the latch bar engaging member 4a is mounted on the interior surface of lid 2 instead of on a side wall as described in Figs. 2 and 3. From the foregoing it can be appreciated that installation of my device is not limited to any one arrangement within a container in order to accomplish its purpose.

Fig. 5 illustrates another application of my invention wherein it is installed in a cabinet or closet serving to secretly lock a sliding or swinging door or panel; in this case a sliding panel.

Fig. 6 shows my device constructed and installed in a container as a complete unit 11. Herein, latch bar 3c is enclosed on all sides except the side adjacent to latch bar engaging member 13, by casing 12. Pin 14 serves only as a pivoting mount for latch bar 3c; attachment means for the unit 11 are furnished by

pins

15, 15. With this arrangement the device may be furnished complete in three parts; namely,

parts

11, 13, and 5; which facilitates embodiment in any suitable container.

To further describe the novel features and secrecy of operation of my device as illustrated herein: the match book packet is held between the finger tips, to be more effective a cigar or cigarette may be held between the ingers of the same hand, creating the impression that the operator is about to light up. Spectators attention is normally drawn to the empty hand which is grasping lid to open same, while the match book packet in the other hand is unobtrusively placed in known position over locking device and actuating same. With practice this operation becomes very effective from the standpoint of obvious skill in the art of legerdemain. If the match book packet is clumsily handled and an onlooker requests inspection of same I have found most persons will merely open the packet cover and in finding only the normal appearance of a row of match splints they will return the packet without further investigation.

From the foregoing can be appreciated the sales appeal my device would add to a cigar or cigarette gift box; the tobacco industry suffers a long existent need for a novel gift box to promote the sale of their merchandise; merely wrapping a conventional box in holiday or gift paper at present. An expensive cigar smoker would esvice 3 pecially appreciate a lch-proof cigar box. My device is also particularly adaptable for use by the liquid industry which is constantly changing packaging in the eiort to promote the sale of their merchandise.

Other novel adaptations of my device which will be appreciated are in a personal jewelry box with the actuating element embodied in an ornamental or other part of the box, or in a personal ring; a cash or strong box with the actuating element embodied in a conventional lock key; a liquorbar cabinet with the actuating element embodied in a bottle opener or cork screw; and a personal diary or book with the actuating element embodied in a pen or pencil.

It will be evident from the foregoing that one of the most important features of my invention is the novel concealment and functioning of the actuating element or key part of my device which, as described in appended drawings, is concealed within a conventional match book packet; but I wish it understood that it is not restricted to this embodiment. guised or concealed within any other article that may be equally adaptable for the purpose. My invention resides in the essence of secrecy obtained by the novel combination and functioning of its parts; it is not limited to the specific arrangements and precise embodiments as disclosed herein; and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A magnetic locking device comprising: a rotatably mounted latch bar formed from non-magnetic material embodying a permanent magnet, a latch bar engaging member, two magnetizable latch bar securing members, and a permanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from the latching members; arranged The actuating element may be dis z in a manner to function substantially as described here- 2. A magnetic locking device comprising: a rotatably mounted latch bar formed from non-magnetic material embodying a permanent magnet, a latch bar engaging member, two latch bar securing members formed from magnetically reactive material to secure said latch bar in latched and unlatched positions by the magnetic force exerted on said securing members by the permanent magnet embodied in said latch bar, and a permanent magnet or magnets embodied separately from the latching members to coact with the permanent magnet embodied in said latch bar for positioning said latch bar in the latched and unlatched positions.

3. A magnetic locking device as claimed in claim l wherein said permanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from the latching members is concealed and embodied in a conventional match book packet or any other article equally adaptable for the purpose.

4. A magnetic locking device as claimed in claim l wherein said permanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from the latching members is concealed and embodied in any article which serves the purpose of fulfilling the objects described herein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,298 Louis Aug. 9, 1904 795,882 Mather Nov. 15, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS 765,061 France Mar. 19, 1934