US2985005A

US2985005A - Combination lock

Info

Publication number: US2985005A
Application number: US28894A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kahn Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-13
Filing date: 1960-05-13
Publication date: 1961-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-23

Description

May 23, 1961 M. KAHN 2,985,005

COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 1 I l ZI/E c-rwcu-kou Ill i i i L 1 31 F4 31/ o (D o 84 Y El 2 5 INVENTOR:

Maw/1M KQM May 23, 1961 H COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1960 wii // l/l/l/ INVENTOR! Maw/s XaR/n BY 01% W United States Patent F 2,985,005 COMBINATION LOCK Morris Kahn, 1540 41st St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed May 13, 1960, Ser. No. 28,894

11 Claims. (Cl. 70-25) My invention relates to combination locks or to locks which can be opened only when each of a number of tumblers is moved into a definite predetermined position whereby a person who has no knowledge of the combination of these positions or is not in possession of a setting tool incorporating this combination is unable to open the lock.

In addition to this general object of combination locks, objects of my invention are to facilitate the production and assemblage, to provide a structure that is compact, of small size and comprises only a small number of parts, to shape these parts so that they can be inexpensively manufactured, to arrange these parts so that they interlock each other inseparably in locked condition of the lock, thereby to avoid the use of screws, rivets or the like elements for the assemblage, and thereby to simplify the assemblage and to make it impossible to force the lock open by removal of such elements.

Other objects are to make possible exchange of the tumblers or entire disassemblage of the lock after it has been unlocked, thereby to make possible change of the combination or replacement and repair of parts, and to prevent unintentional separation of the parts also in unlocked condition.

Further objects are to facilitate the setting of the tumblers for the opening combination, to provide the lock with a wall having slots along which projections of the tumblers are slidable, to make this wall separable from the remaining lock casing whereby removal of this wall uncovers the tumblers, so that they can be exchanged, to provide this wall with projections extending into the interior of the casing, to engage these extensions by an inner shaft whereby said wall can not be separated when said shaft is in assembled position, and thereby to prevent removal of this wall in locked condition of the lock.

Another object is to frustrate any attempt to feel out the unlocking positions of the tumblers singly whereby unauthorized opening of the lock is made impossible.

Still further objects are to arrange the tumblers in separated channels whereby the tumblers will not have frictional contact with each other and movement of one tumbler will not afiect the setting of other tumblers, and to make the walls separating these channels as spacers separately made and inserted in the lock casing whereby the manufacture of the latter is simplified.

Still other objects are to simplify the setting of the tumblers for the opening combination, for this purpose to provide a tool adapted to push the tumbler projections so that the latter make different steps moving each tumbler into the position which corresponds to the predetermined combinations, and to make this tool adhere to the lock by magnetism whereby the tool will maintain its position and, thereby, that of the tumblers while the lock is being opened.

Still further objects are to provide a locking member which has a part guided in the lock casing, to secure this member part in the casing by a stop limiting the movement of the member, to insert this stop permanently and ice inseparably in the casing, to enable said member part to bypass the stop when this part is turned into a position different from the locking position, and thereby to make possible assemblage and disassemblage in the latter position.

Still other objects are to move the locking member automatically in opening direction when the lock is being unlocked, and to arrange a block so that this block, when the locking member moves into opening position, moves into a position in which this block obstructs disassemblage of the look, but so that this block can be pushed out of the obstructing position when disassemblage of the lock is desired.

Still a further object is to attain these advantages with any type of lock, especially also with a lock of the padlock type.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of my invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an exemplifying embodiment of my invention in locked condition.

Fig. 2 shows the same embodiment seen from the right side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a partly sectional view of the same embodiment, the sectional represented parts being out along line 33 in Fig. 2, an uppermost part being broken ofi.

Fig. 4 shows a partly sectional view of the same embodiment, the sectionally represented parts being cut along line 4-4 in Fig. l, uppermost and lowermost parts being broken off.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section taken along line 55 in Fig. l, uppermost and lowermost parts being broken off.

Figs. 6 to 10 show perspective views of single parts of the same embodiment,

Fig. 6 showing a cover wall,

Fig. 7 showing one of the tumbler bars,

Fig. 8 showing a spacer,

Fig. 9 showing a shaft for operation of the lock, and

Fig. 10 showing a block.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 6 is a casing which is preferably solid except for the spaces mentioned in the following. A bore 7 extends from one side of the casing. Inner channels 8 extend across the axis of this bore through a segment of this bores cross-section. In the shown embodiment, this segment is one half of this crosssection. Another bore 9 extends from another side of the casing across the bore 7.

A shaft 11 is inserted in the bore 7 and guided therein rotatably and axially shiftably. This shaft has an end 12 forming a disk of larger diameter than the remaining shaft, inserted in an end of the bore 7 of correspondingly larger diameter and projecting to the front and rear of the casing 6 whereby this disk is adapted to be used as a handle for moving the shaft. The portion 13 of the shaft 11 which crosses the channels 8 has a cross-section of which the segment through which the channels pass is cut away whereby, in one definite position of the shaft, the latter does not enter the channels. The portion of the shaft 11 which crosses the bore 9 has a cross-section reduced to form an eccentric stem 14.

In each of the channels 8, a tumbler bar, for example the bar 15a or 15b, is inserted and extends across the shaft portion 13. The channels are longer than the bars '15 whereby each bar can slide along the channels between the positions in which the one or the other bar end contacts one end of the respective channel. The channels are preferably separated from each other by walls which form spacers 16 preventing contact between the tumbler bars whereby the latter have no frictional contact with each other and movement of one bar does not tend to move the neighboring bars. The spacers 16 are preferwith a definite position of the projections 21.

ably not made in one piece with the casing 6, but are separately made pieces inserted in the casing. Each spacer 16 has a cut-out 17 allowing rotation of the shaft portion13.

Each tumbler bar has a recess 18 at its side facing the shaft portion 13'. This recess is so shaped that it allows rotation of the shaft portion 13 into the recess when all tumbler bars are so positioned that the recess coincides with a sector of the segment cut away from the shaft. The position which the shaft has when it. is turned into the recesses 18 is indicated in Fig. by dotted lines which also show the corresponding position of the recess 18. The distance of the recess 18 from the ends of the respective bar is such that the bar must be shifted over a definite predetermined way in order to bring the recess into the position allowing rotation of the shaft. The length of this shift may be measured by steps. Each bar may be recessed to require a different number of steps, and the step numbers of all bars form the combination for opening the lock.

Each tumbler bar may have. additional recesses 19 positioned at the same side as the recess 18, .but at the step distances which do not correspond to the opening combination. The recesses 19 are too shallow to allow appreciable rotation of the shaft 11, but form unevennesses which produce the same feeling as the recess 18 when a person tries to turn the shaft without all bars being set for the correct combination. Thereby, the recesses 19 frustrate any attempt to feel out the correct positions of the tumbler bars singly,

Except for the different positions of the

recesses

18 and 19, the tumbler bars are preferably of identical shape. Each bar has a projection 21 extending to the front of the casing through a slot 22 in the casings Wall 23 which covers the channels 8. The slots 22 extend along these channels and are a little narrower than the tumbler bars.

In order to make possible any desired change of the combination, additional tumbler bars adapted for diiferent steps may be kept in store. The shown embodiment has five bars and provides for 6 steps whereby almost eight thousand difierent combinations are possible. However, the number of possible combinations may be still 7 more increasedby providing more bars and/or more steps.

The slotted wall 23 is preferably not an inseparable part of the casing 6, but is incorporated in a cover 24 which is so countersunk into the surface of the main body of the casing 6, that the outside of body 6 and cover 24 together form even surfaces. Preferably, the

cover 24 includes the end walls 25 of the channels and has inwardly extending projections 26. V The casing is provided with pockets 27 for the reception of the projections 26. The latter have holes 28 through which the shaft 11 passes whereby the cover 24 is secured to the casing when this shaft is inserted.

The different steps or positions of the tumblers. may be indicated on the front of the lock, for example, by numerals or other suitable marks. Fig. 1 shows such numerals 0 to 5 and lines 29 co-ordinating each numeral Instead or in addition, the tumblers maybe set with a plate 31 which is shifted in the direction ,of the slots 22 along the surface of the wall 23. V

This plate may be made of a flat piece in which an opening 32 is cut out, for example, by a suitable stamping tool so that one side of this opening forms steps 33, each crossing one of the slots 22' and having such a distance from the opposite opening side that the projections 21 which extend into the opening are pushed into, the positions corresponding to the predetermined combination when the plate is shifted in the direction of the slots 22.

Plates for diiferent combinations may be made of one type of flat piece and with the same stamping tool which stampsout, in each operation, an area of the width and '4 length of one step and which is operated repeatedly until the opening 32 is completed.

The use of the plate 31 does not require a hole in the lock as would a key. If it is desired to hold the plate temporarily in position on the casing, this may be done by magnetism. For this purpose, one or more magnets 34 are inserted in suitable openings of the plate 31. Thereby, the plate is made magnetic and adheres to the wall 23 which is made of steel or other magnetizable material.

A locking member 35 has a part 36 for engagement with a keeper and apart 37 extendinginto the bore 9. In the shown embodiment, the member 35 is a shackle and has the general shape of a U of which the

parts

36 and 37 form the legs. In the shown locked condition of the lock, the shorter leg 36 extends into a bore 38 of the casing 6 whereby the latter acts as keeper in the manner of a.pad1ock.. At the same time, a portion 39 of the leg 37 extends across the shaft bore 7. The portion 39 has a recess engaged by the stem 14 when the shaft is in the shown position. When the shaft is rotated into the tumbler recesses 18, the stem 14 moves into the position indicated in Fig. 4 by a dotted circle whereby the locking member is disengaged and can move in outward or unlocking direction.

This outward movement is preferably limited in the following manner: The part 37 has a portion 41 of reduced diameter extending between thicker portions. A pin 42 is inserted in a bore of the casing and crosses the bore 9 aside of the reduced portion 41 whereby this pin forms a stop for the axial movement of the locking member.

Preferably, the pin 42 is permanently and ins'eparably secured in the casing, and insertion or extraction of the member part 37 is made possible in the following manner: The portion of the part 37 which extends from the portion 41 farther into the bore 9 and includes the portion 39 is cut out at the side 43 which is opposite to the side on which the pin 42 passes the portion 41 (see Fig. 3) along a plane which extends parallel to the axis of the part 37 and is tangential to the diameter of the reduced portion 41. Thereby this cutout side is as narrow or has an axial distance as small as the portion 41. When the member is withdrawn from the

bores

9 and 38 until the part 37 is beyond the stem 14 and then turned about the axis of the bore 9 until the side 43 faces the pin 42, the member can bypass the pin, and the member can be extracted from the bore 9. Insertion of the member is possible by reversal of the steps of the extracting operation.

A coiled spring 44 is provided in the bore 9 farther inward than the part 37 and urges the member 35 outward as soon as it is disengaged from the stem 14. The way of the movement resulting from this urge is large enough to lift the part 36 out of the keeper bore 38.

Preferably, a block 45 is arranged between the spring 44 and the member part 37. This block has a tip 46 of reduced diameter for centering the spring, and has one side 47 cut away in order to let the block bypass the pin 42 when the block is inserted in the bore 9. When the spring moves the block and the member 35 outward, the block enters the space where the bores 7 and 9 cross. In this position, the block obstructs extraction of the shaft 11 from the casing and, hence, disassemblage of the entire lock.

The described embodiment may be assembled in the following manner:

The pin 42 is driven into a corresponding bore of the casing 6 which the pin engages firmly.

The tumbler bars and the spacers 16 are inserted in the casing. The cover 24 'isthe'n inserted. The block 45 together with the spring 44 is dropped to the bottom of the bore 9, bypassing the pin 42. i

While the block 45 is temporarily pressed down against the urge of the spring 44 with a thin, long tool inserted in the bore 9, the shaft 11 is inserted in the bore 7 a short way sufiicient to position the shaft over the block 45. Then, the inserted tool is removed and the tumblers are set for the opening combination whereupon the shaft is fully shifted into the bore 7.

Then, the part 37 of the locking member is inserted in the bore 9 while this member is so turned that the side 43 of its lowermost portion faces the pin 42. When this latter portion has bypassed the pin 42, the locking member is so turned that its part 36 is alined with the keeper bore 38. The lock is now in open, operable condition. It is locked in the following manner:

The locking member 35 is pushed inward against the urge of the spring 44 whereby the part 36 enters the keeper hole and the part 37 is positioned for engagement by the stem 14. Then, the shaft 11 is rotated in clockwise direction, seen in Figs. 2. and 4 whereby the stem engages the corresponding recess of the member portion 39. In this position of the shaft, the tumbler bars are shifted out of the opening setting, either by automatically sliding down in the channels 8 or by hand.

The lock may be opened by repeating the locking steps in reversed sequence and direction, and it may be disassembled by repeating the assembling steps in reversed sequence and direction, except that initial outward movement of the locking member is automatically produced by the spring 44.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that my invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims without department from the spirit of my invention as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described is only one of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of my invention.

Having described the nature of my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination lock comprising a casing having a first bore and channels extending in said casing across a segment of said bores cross-section, said casing having a second bore crossing said first bore; a shaft inserted in said first bore and having a handle-forming end accessible from said casings outside, said shaft having a first part crossing said channels and a second part crossing said second bore, said first part having a cross-section corresponding to said segment, said second part having a cross-section reduced to form an eccentric stem; tumbler bars slidable in said channels and extending through said segment whereby each bar obstructs rotation of said shaft, each bar having a recess allowing rotation of said shaft into said recess when all bars are in definite positions in which their recesses are alined; a locking member having a first part adapted to engage "a keeper and a second part inserted in said second bore, said locking members second part having a portion extending across said first bore and being recessed to be engaged by said stem when said shaft is not rotated into the recesses of the tumbler bars, but not engaged by said stem when said shaft is rotated into said recesses whereby shift of said member is possible only when all said tumbler bars are in definite positions, said member portion obstructing extraction of said shaft from said casing when said portion is not withdrawn from said first bore.

2. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing comprising a separable part forming a wall covering said channels and having slots extending along said channels, said tumbler bars having projections extending through said slots.

3. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing comprising a separable part forming a wall covering said channels, said wall having slots extending along said channels and having projections extending across said first bore, said latter projections having holes, said shaft passing through said holes whereby said casing part can not be removed when said shaft is inserted in said casing.

4. A combination lock according to claim 1, said tumbler bars having additional recesses at the same side as said first mentioned recesses, said additional recesses being shallow whereby they do not allow appreciable rotation of said shaft, but form unevennesses frustrating any attempt to feel out the position of said first mentioned recesses singly.

5. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising removably inserted spacers separating said channels and having recesses allowing rotation of said shaft.

6. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing having a wall covering said channels and having slots extending along said channels, said lock further comprising a plate placed shiftably and removably on the outside of said wall and having an opening forming steps extending across said slots at definite distances from the ends of said slots, said tumbler bars having projections extending through said slots into said opening whereby, when said plate is shifted in the direction of said slots, said steps push said projections and shift said bars into definite positions.

7. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing having a wall made of magnetizable material, covering said channels and having slots extending along said channels, said lock further comprising a plate placed shiftably and removably on the outside of said wall, and a magnet incorporated in said plate whereby said plate adheres to said wall, said plate having an opening forming steps extending across said slots at definite distances from the ends of said slots, said tumbler bars having projections extending through said slots into said opening whereby, when said plate is shifted in the direction of said slots, said steps push said projections and shift said bars into definite positions.

8. A combination lock according to claim 1, said second locking member part having a portion of reduced diameter positioned in said second bore, said lock further comprising a pin inserted in said casing and crossing said second bore aside of said portion of reduced diameter whereby said pin forms a stop against complete extraction of said second locking member part.

9. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned in said second bore and urging said second locking member part in axial direction whereby disengagement of said stem from said second locking member part results in axial movement of the latter.

10. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising a block axially slidable in said second bore farther inward than said second locking member part, and a spring positioned in said second bore and urging said block and, hence, said second locking member part in axial outward direction whereby disengagement of said stem from said second locking member part results in an outward movement of said second locking member part and in movement of said block into the space of said second bore which crosses said first bore so that said block obstructs axial extraction of saidshaft.

11. A combination lock according to claim 1, said locking member having the shape of a U of which said member parts form the legs, said casing having a third bore receiving said first locking member part whereby said casing acts as keeper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,686,632. Mayer Oct. 9, 1928