US2945371A

US2945371A - Lock construction

Info

Publication number: US2945371A
Application number: US736801A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Grogan
Original assignee: Hurd Lock & Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Hurd Lock & Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1958-05-21
Filing date: 1958-05-21
Publication date: 1960-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-19

Description

July 1960 R. D. GROGAN I 2,945,371

* LOCK CONSTRUCTION,

Filed May 21, 1958 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. GROGAN v BY Flm G. OLSEN A'r'romcv iinite LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed May 21, 1958, Ser. No. 736,801

9 Claims. (Cl. 70-78) The present invention relates to a lock construction adapted primarily for use in a glove box of an automobile. However, it isto be understood that the present invention is not limited to such use, but can be used for numerous other purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile glove compartment lock construction which has a reciprocable cylinder part for actuating the latch part that secures the door of the compartment, said lock construction being characterized by the compactness of the parts and the unique mechanical movements employed so that it occupies a minimum of space and assures positive movement of its components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock construction of the foregoing character wherein axial movement of the cylinder part is converted into transverse movement of the latch part by a simple camming action between these parts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lock construction of the foregoing character which has a simple and unique means for locking movement of the reciprocable cylinder part so as to prevent moving said latch part to its open position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lock consruction of the foregoing character which has a key plug member rotatably mounted in said cylinder part and wherein said means includes a bolt member movable transversely of said cylinder part and wherein a spiral slot is formed in one of said members and a pin extends from the other member into said slot so that on rotation of said key plug member the bolt member can move into or out of a locking position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lock construction of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged so that a single spring functions to return both the cylinder part and the latch part to their normal positions.

'Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lock construction embodying the present invention;

. Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with portions of the inner works omitted;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the lock construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

' Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement States Fatent Patented July19, 1960 ice 2 of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of the present invention will be given. The lock construction 10 includes a housing 12 which has a pair of laterally extending attachment flanges 14. Carried within the housing for reciprocal, axial movement is a cylinder part 16 within which is a rotatable key plug -18. A latch part 20 of generally U-shape is mounted in inverted position on the housing and is adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly, in a manner to be described, as a result of axial movement of the cylinder part 16.

In the normal use of the lock construction 10, it will be mounted in the door of a glove compartment (not shown) of an automobile. The latch part 20 will operatively engage the frame for such door for keeping the latter closed. When it is desired to open the door, the front of the cylinder part 16 will be pushed inward causing the cylinder part 16 to move axially inwardly, thereby lowering the latch part 20 and allowing the door to swing open. It is desirable to lock such door, on occasions, and for this purpose the key plug member 18 is mounted in the cylinder part 16. One of the novel features of the present invention is the simple and compact construction and arrangement provided for locking the cylinder part 16 against axial movement.

The rear or inward face 22 of the key plug member 18 has a spiral slot 24 cut therein, as best can be seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6. A bolt member 26 is positioned againstthe rear face 22 and is adapted to be moved transversely through the

openings

28 and 30 in the cylinder part 16 and the housing 12, respectively. As can be seen, the

openings

28 and 30 are axially aligned with the intended path of movement of the bolt member 26. :Carried by the bolt member 26 is a pin 32 which extends into the spiral slot 24 and is free to travel therein on rotation of the key plug member 18. By virtue of the shape of the spiral slot 24 and the length of the bolt member 26, one revolution of the key plug member 18 will cause the bolt member 26 to be raised from the position shown in Figure 5 to a position wherein the lower end of bolt member 26 will be withdrawn from the opening 30 in the housing 12. Thus, turning of the key plug member 18 will effect locking or unlocking of the axial movement of the cylinder part 16, and thereby prevent or permit unlatching of the glove compartment door (not shown). 'It will be observed that minimum space is required to house this locking mechanism.

Another feature of the present invention is the simple and compact construction and arrangement for raising and lowering the latch 20. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be observed that the cylinder part 16 has two laterally extending

lugs

34 and 36 whichare slidable on the

inclined ramps

38 and 40, respectively, formed on the inner sides of the

legs

42 and 44 of the latch part 20. Referring to Figure 1, when the cylinder part 16 is pushed to the right, the lug 34 will slide on the inclined ramp 38, causing the latch part 29 to be lowered. On return of the cylinder part 16 to its original position, the latch part 20 is free to return to its original position. To eifect this return and also to urge the cylinder part 16 in an outward direction, a compression spring 46 is seated at its upper end in the base of the U-shaped latch part 20,, and the lower end extends through an opening 48 in the housing 12 into engagement with the pin 50 which seats} on top of the cylinder part 16 in the groove 52 uins.

the spring 46 functions to urge the latch upwardly, and through the

ramps

38, 40 and the

lugs

34, 36 urges the cylinder part 16 to its outermost position. Also, the pin 54) which ifits in groove 52 as well as into opening 48 prevents the cylinder part 16 :from'being withdrawn further from -housing.12 than the amount shown in Figure 1.

- From the foregoing it can :be seen that as'imple compact lock construction has "been provided, which utilizes minimum space and parts, and which 'is sturdy and re quires minimum movement of parts to eifect opening and closing of the latch-as Well as looking the same against opening.

, Having thusdescribed my invention,:I claim:

1. In a lock construction, a housing having an 'opening on each of its opposite sides, 'an inverted 'U-shaped latch part straddling said housing and having an inclined ramp on the inner side of each legadjacent each of .the respective openings in said housing, a cylinder part for a 'key plug member axially movable in said housing and having zlaterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding on said ramps so that on axial movement'of said cylinder part the latch part will be moved upwardly or .downwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted in said cylinder part, a bolt member positioned transversely of said housing and operably connected to said key plug member so as to be moved transversely on rotational movement of said key plug member, said housing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter being of sufi'icient length to extend into both the last-named openings when the key plug member is turned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when the key .plug member is turned to another position, whereby when said key plug member is turned to said one position the bolt member will prevent axial movement of said cylinder part.

2. In a lock construction, a housing having anopening on'each of its opposite sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing and having an inclined ramp on .the inner side of each leg adjacent each of the respective openings in said housing, a cylinder part for a key plug member-axially movable in said housing and having laterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding on said ramps so that on axial movement of said cylinder part the latch part will be moved upwardly or downwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted in said cylinder part and having a spiral slot on its rear face, a bolt member positioned transversely on the rear face of the key plug member with a pin extending from said bolt member into said spiral slot, said housing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt-member, the latter being of sufficient length to extend into both the last-named openings when the key plug member is turned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when the key plug member is turned to another position whereby axial movement of said cylinder part can 'be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one or the other of said positions.

3. Inalock construction, a housing having an opening in one of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing, a cylinder part fora key plug member axially movable in said housing, one of said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having a projecting lug extending through said opening and slidably positioned on said ramp, said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axial movement of said cylinder part in one direction the latch part can be moved downwardly and on axial movement of said cylinder part in the other direction the latch part can be moved upwardly, a'key plug member-rotatably mountedin said cylinder part and having a spiral sloton its rear face, a'bolt member positioned transversely on the rear 'face of the key plug member with a pin extending fromsaid boltmeniber into said spiral slot, said 'housing'and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter being of suificient length to extend into both the last-named openings when the key plug mem ber is turned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when the key plug member is turned to another position whereby axial movement of said cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one or the other of 'said positions.

4.. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening :in one of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing 'and having an inclined ramp on the inner side of one leg, a cylinder part for a key plug member axially movable .in said housing and having a laterally projecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp 'so that on axial movement of said cylinder part in one direction the latch part is moved downwardly and on axial movement of said cylinder part in the other direction the latch part can be moved upwardly, a key plug member mounted in said cylinder part, a bolt member positioned transversely on the rear face of the key plug member, one of said members having a spiral slot opening in the direction of the other, and the other member carrying a pin extending into said spiral slot, said housing and saidcylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter being sufficiently long to extend into both lastnamed openings when the key plug member is turned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when the key plug member is turned to another position, whereby axial movement of said cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one or the other of said positions.

5. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening in one of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing, acylinderpart for a key plug member axially movable in said housing, one of said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having a projecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp, said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axial movement in one direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved downwardly and on axial movement in the 'other direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved upwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted in said cylinder part, a bolt mem-. ber positioned transversely on the rear face of the key plug member, one of said members having a spiral slot opening in the direction of the other, the other member carrying a pin extending :into said spiral slot, said housing .and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter beng sufliciently long to extend into both the last-named openings when the .key plug member is turned to one position and .to be re tracted from the last-named opening in said housing. when the .key plugmemberis turned to another position, whereby axial movement .of said cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one .orthe other of said positions.

6. In a lock construction, ,a housing having an opening in one of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing a cylinder part for akey plug member axially movable in said housing, one of said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having a projecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp, said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axial movement in one direction of'said cylinder part the latch part can be moveddownwardly and on axial movement in the other direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved upwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted in said cylinder part, a bolt member positioned transversely of 'said housing and operably connected to said key .plug member so as to be moved transversely on rotational movement of said key plug member, said housing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter being sufficiently long to extend into both the last-named openings when the key plug member is turned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when the key plug member is turned to another position, whereby axial movement of said cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one or the other of said positions.

7. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening in one of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing, a cylinder part for a key plug member axially movable in said housing, one of said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having a projecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp, said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on 15 axial movement in one direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved downwardly and on axial movement in the other direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved upwardly.

8. In a lock construction, a housing having openings in each of its sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing and having an inclined ramp on the inner side of each leg, a cylinder part fora key plug member axially movable in said housing and having laterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding on said ramps so that on axial movement of said cylinder part the latch part will be moved upwardly or downwardly.

9. In a lock construction, a housing having openings in each of its sides, an inverted U-shape latch part straddling said housing and having an upwardly and forwardly facing inclined ramp on the inner side of each leg, a cylinder part for a key plug member axially movable in said housing and having laterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding on said ramps so that on axial inward movement of said cylinder part the latch part will be moved downwardly, and a compression spring opera-bly positioned between the base of said latch part and said cylinder part for urging said latch upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,938 Eckstein May 28, 1907 1,257,998 Gruber Mar. 5, 1918 1,369,820 Kriz Mar. 1, 1921 1,521,862 Briggs Jan. 6, 1925 1,828,152 Nonamaker Oct. 20, 1931 1,965,939 Jacobi July 10, 1934 2,240,412 Nyquist Apr. 29, 1941 2,306,022 Lach Dec. 22, 1942 2,454,926 Jacobi Nov. 30, 1948 2,753,061 Raymond Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,028 Denmark May 31, 1943