US3041866A - Lock construction - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1962 s. SEGAL 3,041,866

LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul 8, 1959 M INVENTOR.

SAMUEL 556/11.

3,641,866 Patented July 3, 1962 free 3,041,856 LGCK CONSTRUCTION Samuel Segal, 441 West End Ave, New York, N.Y. Filed July 8, 1959, Set. No. 825,833 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-15) The present invention relates to a lock construction.

Although the present invention is particularly described in its application to lock constructions as may be applied to door locks it has a much broader application to locks which may be generally utilized for safes and for other closures.

In the ordinary door lock it is customary to provide a safety device usually manipulated from the inside of the door so in case the tumbler lock is removed from the outside there will be a closure automatically actuated to prevent a screw driver from being inserted to turn or open the lock.

In one form of safety device a prong projects from the side of the interior of the lock in the inside face of the door and it is necessary to press such device down and over in order to permit the blade of the tumbler lock to project therethrough into actuating position. These devices not only are frequently bent or readily damaged into manipulation but they are also diflicult to manipulate and are not reliable in their action.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an automatic release device which will permit the insertion of the blade but at the same time if the blade of the tumbler lock mechanism be removed will permit immediate closure of the recess permitting access to the lock, itself, so that a screw driver may not be inserted to release or open the locking mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel locking arrangement in which the safety device for closure of the lock in case of external removal of the tumbler arrangement will be achieved without projections from the interior of the lock and without the use of projecting stud or leaf elements readily bent out of position or damaged by the user thereof.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to form the safety device so that it is all included in a shallow enclosure readily keyed to the back of the main lock and which will be readily actuated into released position when the lock is assembled against the back plate of the door.

In accomplishing this, there is provided a slidable or laterally movable plate in said shallow receptacle provided with a biasing spring which will normally be locked in retracted position but which when pressed against the back plate on a door will be moved to release position so that it may close the opening into the lock if the tumbler be removed together with its knife blade. Normally, it is sumcient if the sliding plate be recessed at one corner thereof and be driven by a stress spring so that the attachment of the lock to the back of the door will automatically release the sliding plate mechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an inside perspective view of a lock mechanism in its position as it maybe ready to be placed against the back of the door before the locking plate has been latched in position and showing the tumbler with the lock and key in removed position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view partly in section taken upon the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the latched position permitting insertion of the blade.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the plate in recessed position with the whole lock.

FIG. 4 is a one side sectional view showing the section of the plate upon the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown an interior lock mechanism A having the locking rod B which engages the receptacle stud member C mounted on the jamb. The lock is designed to be mounted upon the inside face of the door E which receives the tumbler lock face member F receiving the key G with a tumbler member H and the attachment screws J. The tumbler is designed to be attached to the back plate K which acts as an abutment plate which serves to release the safety mechanism L. The safety mechanism L includes a shallow box-like enclosure M which may be keyed to the back of a lock structure A and which is provided with a sliding plate N having a driving spring D. The plate N is normally locked in retracted position as indicated in FIG. 2A until it is inserted and by insertion it will be released by contact with the back plate K but will be prevented from sliding to the left, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the blade Q projecting inwardly from the tumbler lock H.

A sleeve bearing R is also provided projecting through said plate within which the blade Q will turn, serving both to prevent wear by the blade Q against the edges of plate N and also serving as a pivot upon which the blade may oscillate when it is depressed upon movement against the back plate K.

The safety device itself will have the top wall 10, the end wall 11 and the side walls 12 which may have downwardly projecting prongs 13 which project :into recesses 14 in the plate element 15 of the lock.

The opening 16 in the back plate 10 will receive the blade Q of the tumbler lock and the sleeve R will have a barrel or cylinder member 17 within which the blade Q will be turned. The flange or outwardly projecting lip 18 will act as a pivot mount upon which the plate N may rock. Normally the sleeve 17 will fit through an opening in the plate and protect the edges of the opening from wear against the side edges of blade Q and at the same time will permit a rocking motion as indicated by the double arrow 20, preventing the plate from rubbing either against the plate 15 on the back of the lock or the top wall 10 of the box enclosure M. t

The reciprocator plate N has a recessed portion in which the coil spring D is received. This coil spring will normally bias or tend to press the locking plate or enclosure plate N in the direction of the arrow 23 (see FIG. 3). The sliding plate N has a downturned oblique locking tongue portion 24 which when the plate is locked in open position will latch in the opening 25 in the wall 10 of the enclosure M.

The end of the wall 10 has projecting out of the end of the enclosure M the oblique actuating tongue member 27. Normally the locking of the oblique tongue 24 in the opening25 will cause the sleeve 17 to match the openings 16 and the opening 29 in the plate 15 through which the blade projects to actuate the lock A. However, it is aoanaas desired to provide that in case the external tumbler F is removed that this opening 29 be closed so that a screw driver can not be inserted to open the lock. This is accomplished by the safety device of the present application indicated at L in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In assembly the tumbler H is first assembled in position with the back plate K by means of the side screws I which extend through the door structure E and also through the ears 41 at the side of the tumbler body 42. Then the lock A may be attached by screws extending through the openings 43 and 44 (see PEG. 1) at the back of the door. When this occurs the nose 28 of the locking plate will be pressed inwardly as indicated by the arrow 45 (FIG. 3) releasing the oblique locking tongue 24 from the opening 25. This will cause the plate N to be free to move in the direction 23 under the influence of the stress spring D. However, it will be held in position by extending the blade Q through the opening 29 into the lock structure A. However, it through any manipulation the external tumbler lock F is removed or drilled away and the blade Q is withdrawn, the plate N will immediately move to the left in the direction of the arrow 23 blocking the opening 29, which permits entry to the lock A, and preventing insertion of a screw driver to operate the locking mechanism and open the door.

It is thus apparent that by the use of this relatively simple, compact, automatically actuated device the lock is protected against removal of the external tumbler arrangernent H and it is impossible to insert a screw driver to operate the lock after the blade Q and tumbler H have been withdrawn.

The setting of the plate N does not depend upon any manual manipulation of any prong or blade projecting from the end of the lock and the plate is automatcially set in released position ready to close the opening 29 as shown as the lock A has received the blade Q and been assembled against the back of a door with the tumbler H in position.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed:

What is claimed is:

1. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the back of a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member is connected by attachment screws extending transversely through an opening in the body of the door and also of the type having an external key actuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internally projecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closure having an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into said opening and operating said lock, said device being positioned between said tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when said tumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box on the back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring means biasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, said plate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and a latch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold said plate against movement in said direction, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

2. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the back of a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member is connected by attachment screws extending transversely through an opening in the body of the door and also of the type having an external key actuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internally projecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closure having an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into said opening and operating said lock, said device being positioned between said tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when said tumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box on the back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring means biasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, said plate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and a latch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold said plate against movement in said direction, said latch consisting of an outstanding tongue and a corresponding opening in the top of said box, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

3. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the back of a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member is connected by attachment screws extending transversely through an opening in the body of the door and also of the type having an external key actuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internally projecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closure having an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into said opening and operating said lock, said device being positioned between said tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when said tumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box on the back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, means biasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening and a latch to hold said plate against movement in said direction, said plate having an outstanding obliquely directed member automatically releasing said latch upon assembly of the lock against the closure, said back plate on the back of the door Upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

4. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the back of a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member is connected by attachment screws extending transversely through an opening in the body of the door and also of the type having an external key actuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internally projecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closure having an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into said opening and operating said lock, said device being positioned between said tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when said tumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box on the back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring means biasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, said plate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and a latch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold said plate against movement in said direction, said plate having a central opening through which said blade passes and said opening receiving a bearing sleeve for said blade to prevent contact between the blade and the plate, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

5. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the back of a door having -a back plate to which a tumbler lock member is connected by attachment screws extending transversely through an opening in the body of the door and also of the type having an external key actuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internally projecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closure having an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into said opening and operating said lock, said device being positioned between said tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when said tumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box on the bass of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring means biasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, said plate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and a latch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold said plate against movement in said direction, said plate having a central opening through which said blade projects and mounting means for said plate so that said plate shall be substantially free from frictional contact with the lock or with the box and may be readily moved 'by said spring, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

6. A safety tampenproof tumbler type lock construction of the type having a tumbler key receiving front member accessible on the front of a door with a rearwardly extending rectangular blade and a box receptacle carrying the lock operating mechanism on the rear of the door, the rear end of said blade extending into a receptacle opening in the receptacle and upon rotation of the blade operating said lock mechanism, said construction including a temper proof, spring-closed closure plate, normally latched in open position, to close off said opening automatically and prevent insertion of a screw driver to open the lock mechanism when the blade is removed from the front of the door, said plate having a partial enclosure box with an open side with a spring biasing the rear end of said plate out of said box and latch means to hold said plate against locking movement during mounting and automatically to release said plate after mounting, and a plate opening in said plate to match said receptacle opening and receiving said blade to hold said plate against movement by said spring when said blade is in position and releasing said plate to closure position closing said receptacle opening when the blade is removed.

7. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate opening having a bearing sleeve to hold said plate centrally in position to prevent bearing of the edges of the blade against the edges of the opening in the plate.

8. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate at its forward end away from said spring having two out-turned oblique latch tongues, one to latch and hold the receptacle and plate openings aligned during installation and the other to release the plate after installation and insertion of the blade through the aligned openings.

9. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate being recessed at its rear end and a coil spring being positioned in said recess and reacting between the end of the recess in the plate and the rear end of the partial enclosure box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,898 Segal June 17, 1930 1,904,882 Prior Apr. 18, 1933 2,942,449 White June 28, 1960

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