US2782624A - Pick-proof cylinder lock - Google Patents

Description

Fgb. 26, 1957 s: PELLE 2,782,624

PICK-PROOF CYLINDER LOCK Filed Aug. 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JffAPYi/V 22x51 Feb. 26, 1957 s. PELLE PICK-PRO0F CYLINDER LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 United States Patent PICK-PROOF CYLIYDER LOCK Stephen Pelle, Bronx, N. Y. Application August 6, 1952, Serial No. 302,919 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-419) This invention relates to locking devices and more particularly to cylinder locks.

It is well known that some types of cylinder locks may be opened in a few minutes by a professional burglar employing the following means:

A thin, flat, serrated piece of metal is placed in the keyhole of cylinder locks now in use and the serrated piece of metal is then caused to play upon the tumblers until they fall into proper order and the lock is opened. The serrated piece of metal resembles a hack-saw blade, the smooth side of which is filed down until it fits the cylinder key-hole. The serrated piece of metal is usually in operative engagement with a revolver trigger, the pulling of the trigger causing the serrated piece of metal to play upon the tumblers in the cylinder, causing them to jump up and down until they fall into the proper order, thus opening the lock. During this operation, this thin blade is twisted slightly and in the same manner and direction as a conventional key is twisted in the cylinder. By the above means, a professional burglar may readily open some of the conventional cylinder locks now in use.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved cylinder lock which for practical purposes cannot be opened by using a serrated piece of metal in operative engagement with a revolver trigger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved cylinder lock which practically cannot be picked with a piece of wire.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a cylinder lock which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, has a minimum number of parts, is compact and durable, is easy to install in the door, and is highly efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary and sectional view, in part, of a cylinder lock embodying the features of the present invention and shown assembled upon a door;

-Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the pushbutton mechanism in operative engagement with a part of the lock;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock showing a key in operative engagement therewith;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of one of the parts of the invention;

Figs. 9a and 9b are fragmentary elevational views of slides;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view with portions broken away of the lock shown in Figs. 8-10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another of the parts of the modified form shown in Figs. 8-12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of still another of the parts;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of still another of the parts.

Referring now to the figures in detail, and in the practice of my invention, 16 represents a hollow cylinder which has at one end thereof a pair of diametrically opposite holes 22 internally threaded to receive screws 17 whereby to secure the cylinder to a door plate 51 secured in conventional manner to door 52. Integral with the opposite end of the cylinder is a plate of flanged formation 53 which will appear at the front of the door. A hole 54 extends through the plate formation and this hole is of less diameter than the interior diameter of the main part of the cylinder 16 and provides a shoulder 55. The cylinder 16 has longitudinally extending slots 1 and 2 into which slides 56 of slide assemblies 57 may be assembled as the assemblies are aligned with the hollow cylinder as described in my prior United States Patent 2,603,081. Several slide assemblies 57 are secured in' conventional manner upon a plate 7 and upon rods 7 thereof, as described in my above noted prior United States Patent 2,603,081. This plate 7 has the usual key opening therein adapted to be aligned with key openings 58 of the assemblies. The plate 7 is shouldered at 59 and this shouldered part extends into the opening 54 of the plate portion 53 on the front of the door. A key 9 penetrates these key openings as shown in Fig. 3.

As described in my prior patent, each slide assembly 57 has separable casing parts which, when coupled together, retain slide 56 and springs 60 which urge the slides outwardly. 1 Each slide has a projection 61 against which the spring acts and also a projection 62 on the opposite side of the slide adapted for engagement by the key 9 as it is extended through the slide assembly. The slide assemblies may be secured together by rivets located in holes 63. Openings 64 are provided in the slide assemblies so that they can be adjusted along the rods 7. The entire assembly is placed into the cylinder so that the plate shoulder portion 59 extends through the opening 54, whereby some of the projections of the slides adapted for engagement by the key are disposed on one side of the key, while others are disposed on the other side thereof, thus the slides 56 of three assemblies 57 are adapted to be pushed by one side of the key 9, and the slides 56 of three assemblies are adapted to be pushed v by the other side of the key 9. In this manner the six Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of another of the parts of the invention;

Fig. 6' is a vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is 'a perspective view of the cylinder of the lock; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the present invention shown in a locking position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and showing the modified form of the present invention in an open position;

assemblies are thereby placed in open positions. By the foregoing arrangement, if the trigger-gun described above is used toretract the slides of three assemblies having projections for engagement on one side of, the key-hole, the other three slides will remain in a locking position. I

Referring-to Fig. 7; and in the further practice of my invention, the cylindrical member 16 is provided with a plurality of grooves 65 of varying depth and extending the length of the cylinder providing thereby a plurality of trap-holes or channels where the slides 56 are locked every time the lock is picked with a wire by a burglar in an attempt to rotate the assemblies 57. I prefer to provide thirty-two grooves or thirty-four locking positions or" the slides. It isobvious that with six slides 56, a bur-' glar picking the lock with a wire will have to pick each slide in each groove and slot, thereby making it necessary to pick the slides two hundred and four times, without being in position to pick the lock.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, and in the further practice of my invention, the cylinder 16 at one end thereof is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded plate member 13 provided with diametrically opposed holes adapted to receive the rods 7. The plate member 13 is provided at the center thereof with a hexagonal hole 68 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A sleeve projection 66 of the plate member 13 is provided at the center thereof with a cylindrical hole 67 communicating with the hexagonal hole .63. A plug 12 is provided having a hexagonal end 69 adapted to engage the hexagonal hole 68 shouldered at 70 adajcent an enlarged cylindrical portion 71 adapted to engage the cylindrical hole 67, the plug being provided with an annular recess 72 adjacent the cylindrical portion 71 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The annular recess 72 is abutted by a flange 73 and a sleeve portion 74 provided with an axial member 18 secured thereto by a pin 76. A hollow cylindrical member 11 is provided with an internal hole adapted to slidably receive the circular flange 73 and is provided at its outer end with a flange 77 adapted to slidably receive the sleeve 74 and to thereby provide an annular compartment 78 housing a helical spring 14. This spring normally urges the plug 12 into engagement with the member 1 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical member 11 is provided at its inner end with a flange 80 adapted to coincide with the cylinder 16 surrounding the large opening thereof and secured thereto in conventional manner by screws or the like. The cylindrical member 11 is provided with an opening 81 communicating with the annular recess 72 of member 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A push-button member is slidably located in a longitudinal opening in the cylinder 16 and is provided with an inwardly extending arm 82 engaging the opening 81 and the annular recess 72, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer side of the flange 80 is provided with a pair of pins 83 and 84, an arcuate arm 85 being rotatably mounted on the pin 84 and having integrally formed therein a dog adapted to engage an opening 86 in the cylindrical member 11 adjacent the flange '80. A spring 87 is secured at one end to the pin 83 and at the other end to the dog 15, as shown in Fig. 6, and serves to normally urge the dog into the opening 86. The flange St) is further provided with an opening at its periphery adapted to receive the push-button member 10.

In operation, the key 9 is turned to the right until the bolt is locked and will go no further. At this point, the push-button member 10 is pushed in, thereby disconnecting the plug 12 from the plate member 13 and permitting the dog 15 to snap further into opening 86 to engage the shoulder of the cylindrical portion 71 adjacent the hexagonal portion 69 of the member 12. The key 9 is now free to rotate completely from one to six times, rotating therewith the plate member 13. The sixth rotation brings the plate member 13 adjacent one end of the internal threads of member 16, due to the threaded engagement therebetween, to a locking position. Now, in order to open the lock, the cylinder and assemblies must be rotated in the opposite direction by means of key 9, or in the ease of a burglar attempting to pick the lock, each of the six slides must be picked two hundred and thirty eight times, considering the grooves 65, or altogether the slides will have to be, picked fourteen hundred and twenty eight times. The sixth turn to the left brings the plate member 13 adjacent to the other end of the internal threads of the member 16, whereby member 13 automatically disengages the dog 15, and the spring 14 simultaneously pushes the push-button member 10 back to its original position an: the; member 12 into engagement with the plate member 13. Finally, the key 9 is turned one more time to the left and the lock is open.

I have found from experience that the trap-holes are more than suflicient, but in places of business and especially during the week-ends, it is more convincing to turn the key around a few more times when pushing the push-button member. It is not necessary to count the number of times the key is turned to the locking position. When unlocking the lock, merely turn the key to the left until the lock is unlocked.

Referring now to Figs. 8l5, and in the further practice of my invention, there is shown a modified form of a lock. The cylinder 16 is similar to that shown in the first form, with the modification that longitudinally extending slots 3 and 4 are provided which are apart from the slots 1 and 2 and ratchet grooves 65 replace the grooves 65 of the first form. The slides 56 of the usual assemblies 57 which slides 56 have been replaced by slides 56 of the form shown in Figs. 9a and 9b in the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, extend into these slots, the assemblies 57" being mounted on rods (not shown) integrally formed in a modified plate 27.

The cylinder 16' is provided at one end thereof with a shoulder 88 adapted to receive a circular plate 34 having a circular opening 89 at the center thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. An assembly 57' similar in its internal construction to the assemblies 57 is positioned adjacent the plate 34 within the cylindrical member 28, a notched element 90 being secured to the rear face 33 of the assembly 57' and adapted to enter the opening 89. A notched cylindrical member 31 is secured to the front face of the assembly 57' and extends outwardly therefrom. An end plate 29 adapted to coincide with the end of the cylindrical member 28 adjacent the opening thereof is secured thereto in conventional manner and is provided with a sleeve portion 91 having a flange 92 adapted to slidably receive the member 31, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. A compressed spring 30 surrounds the member 31 and is positioned between the assembly 57' and the flange 92 and normally urges the member 31 and assembly 57' away from the flange 92. The cylindrical member 28 is provided at the interior thereof with a plurality of ratchet teeth 93 extending the length thereof and is further provided with an annular recess 28 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The key plate 27 is provided with a shoulder 94 abutting the shoulder 55 of the cylindrical member 16' and is further provided with a flange 95 spaced therefrom to provide an annular compartment 96 adapted to receive a concentric spring 97, one end of the spring being secured to the plate 27 by a pin 37 and the other end of the spring engaging the slot 3, as shown in Fig. 10. The key-plate 27 is provided at the end thereof with a key-hole 98 adapted to receive the key 9.

Fig. 8 shows the lock in a locked position.

In operation, the key 9 is inserted in the key-hole 98 with the hole 36 in an upper position, as shown in Fig. 9. The upper side of the key 9 moves the three slides disposed above the key while the lower side of the key moves the three slides disposed below the key, at the same time the inner end of the key 9 pushes the notched element 90 and the assembly 57' with the notched cylindrical member 31 to an unlocked position as shown in Fig. 9. The interior of assembly 57' wherein moves slide 56 is similar to that of assemblies 57. The rear face of the assembly is secured by screws located inholes 40. As soon as the key 9 is pushed into the key-hole 98 with the upper edgethereof directed towards the slot 2, the plate 27 with the assemblies 57" automatically rotates oncearound until it arrives at the locking position of the lock bolt. The upper edge of the key 9 is again directed towards the slot 2, as shown in Fig. 9. Now, turn the key to the right until the upper edge of the key is directed towards slot 3. Slots 1- and 2- are now free, while slots 3 and 4 are in registration with the outer ends of the slides in the position of the. key referred to and such slots will receive theouter ends of the slides when the key is removed. The key, when turned to the right, makes one and revolutions. The key is pulled out when it is directed towards the slot 2.

To unlock the lock, turn the key one and revolutions to the left. The cylinder 16 has four longitudinal slots and thirty grooves 65, and considering the additional 4 turn covering eight additional grooves makes a total of forty two trap-holes.

One end of the spring 97 is connected to the plate 27 by means of a pin 37, while the other end is weighted down with lead 27 (Fig. and dropped down in slot 3 as far as it will go. See Fig. 10.

While the lock-picking instrument is pushing the member 90 and assembly 57 toward the annular recess 28*, a constant clockwise pressure must be exerted on the instrument due to the spring 97 always forcing the assemblies to a locking position. In the event the lock-picker makes progress, it is inevitable that he will change his position or lose his grip long before he goes around the forty two trap-holes, in which case the assemblies always jump back to the locking position. All of the assemblies 57" and 57 are provided with openings 39 for assembling on rods the same as the rods 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the usual manner. I prefer to form the rods 7 integral with the plate 27.

The cylindrical member 28 has thirty four ratchet teeth 93 designed to provide trap-holes for locking the slide 56'. The annular recess 28 which permits free movement of the slide 56' when the key is pushed in, is shown in Fig. 9.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided improved pick-proof cylinder locks, particularly with reference to the use of a serrated piece of metal, and also which will be invulnerable to the picking of the locks with a piece of wire.

While I have disclosed 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 present invention being determined by the claims.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A lock device comprising a hollow cylinder, a plurality of slide assemblies rotatably disposed within said hollow cylinder, said cylinder having diametrically opposed slots and a plurality of grooves intermediate said slots, said grooves being of varying depth, said slide assemblies having slides adapted to be projected into said slots and said grooves and retracted therefrom, some of said assemblies being arranged so as to project their respective slides into one of said slots, the remainder of said assemblies being arranged so as to project their respective slides into the diametrically opposed slot, said assemblies being adapted to receive a key of the type that is serrated on both edges whereby to engage the slides projected into the first slot on one edge and to engage the slides projected into the second slot on the opposite edge thereof, said cylinder having a second pair of longitudinal slots disposed 90 apart from said first pair of slots, said grooves being ratchet-shaped, said slides having flared ends whereby to slide in and out of said ratchet-shaped grooves in one direction of rotation of said slide assemblies and to slide into but not out of said grooves in the opposite direction of rotation, a second hollow cylinder adapted to coincide with said first hollow cylinder and secured thereto whereby to provide an interior compartment adjacent said assemblies, a plate member rigidly secured within said first hollow cylinder adjacent said assemblies and intermediate said second hollow cylinder and said assemblies, said plate member having an opening at the center thereof, said second hollow cylinder having a plurality of ratchet-shaped grooves at the interior thereof and an annular recess, an additional assembly longitudinally adjustable within said interior compartment adjacent said assemblies, said additional assembly having a slide adapted to extend into said last mentioned grooves and said annular recess, means operable by said key extending into said opening of said plate member for adjusting said additional assembly longitudinally in said compartment so as to position the slide of said additional assembly in said annular recess.

2. A lock device according to claim 1, said means for adjusting said additional assembly longitudinally comprising a notched element secured to one face of said additional assembly adjacent said plate member, said notched element being located at the center of said one face and adapted to receive the end of said key, a notched cylindrical member secured to the other face of said additional assembly and extending outwardly therefrom, said notched member being adapted to receive an axial member external to said lock, and end plate adapted to coincide with the end of said second hollow cylinder adjacent the opening thereof and secured thereto, said end plate having an outwardly extending sleeve having an inwardly extending flange adapted to slidably receive said notched cylindrical member, a compressed spring surrounding said notched cylindrical member intermediate said inwardly extending flange and the other face of said additional assembly whereby to normally urge said additional assembly and the slide thereof out of said annular recess.

3. A lock device according to claim 2 including a key plate located within said first hollow cylinder and abutting one end thereof, said key plate at the inner end thereof having an outwardly extending flange spaced from one end of said first hollow cylinder whereby to provide an annular compartment therebetween, a concentric spring located within said annular compartment, one end of said spring being secured to said key plate and the other end of said spring extending into one of said slots, whereby to automatically rotate said key plate and said assemblies when said key is in operative engagement with said slides of said assemblies and the end thereof has engaged the notched element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,107,376 Thiman Aug. 18, 1914 2,055,289 Hanan Sept. 22, 1936 2,202,422 Hoof May 28, 1940 2,309,677 Segal Feb. 2, 1943 2,358,164 Honger Sept. 12, 1944 2,603,081 Pelle July 15, 1952

Images