US3077970A - Coin controlled lock - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1963 w. F. STACKHOUSE 3,077,970

com CONTROLLED LOCK Filed July 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r a i Q as as g 5e 40 se 662 40 44 44 7 80 4 [84a 60 4i 6 78 65 74 84 78 76 74 84 12209823303 M2586 E'fiiaafiizozwe. 6y 2. \kwm.

Patented Feb. 19, 1963 3,077,970 CDIN CONTROLLED LQCK Wells F. Stackhouse, Andover, Mass, assignor to American Locker Company, Inc, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No. 125,477 6 Claims. (Cl. 194-92) This invention relates to coin controlled locks of the nature employed in parcel checking cabinets and par ticularly to improvements in the coin controlled lock disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 819,436 filed June 10, 1959, now Patent 3,023,875 dated March 6, 962. Considerable trouble has been experienced due to mischievious and irresponsible persons attempting to beat the lock and thus secure service without payment of the required coin or coins. One primary form of such attempts includes the stuffing of paper or other material into the lock to serve the function of the required coin and thereby release the lock for operation. My said copending application discloses novel mechanism for eliminating this difiiculty by requiring a subsequent and final dropping of the coin by gravity to a lower level in the lock and wherein it serves to effect release of the bolt holding pawl, and my present invention adds certain improvements thereto rendering such plugging of the lock more difiicult and including a simplified and stronger mechanism together with means for automatically reset- .ting the mechanism after each use and for preventing repeated operation of the lock should it be thus released by unauthorized means.

The coin controlled lock comprising my invention embodies a locking bolt mounted on a rotary lock barrel and disposed to move therewith forwardly and rearwardly through an arcuate path to and from door locking and retracted positions respectively. The bolt is normally prevented from full forward movement by a latch and can be thus moved to door locking position only upon the depositing of the required coin or coins in the lock. Attempts have been made to beat the lock by forcing the bolt to door locking position by means of an instrument placed against the bolt, especially when the door is open and the bolt exposed. Such attempts usually break the latch and cause considerable damage. Whereas the invention disclosed in my said copentling application prevents this damage by permitting a temporary and idle forward movement of the bolt under such forced action, my present invention provides an improved and rugged latch mechanism directly opposing such forced pressure on the bolt and positively preventing such forced movement. This latch furthermore prevents door locking movement of the bolt until the required coin is deposited and novel mechanism cooperating therewith is adapted to retain the latch in inoperative position and permit such movement of the bolt when the required coin or coins have been deposited in the lock.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG..1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a bank of checking cabinets employing my improved coin controlled lock,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the lock in unlocked position,

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing a pivoted latching member held out of normal position by a coin,

FIG. 4 is a like view showing the bolt rotated to door locking position,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary left side elevation of the lock showing two coins deposited therein,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary portion of FIG. 5 showing the top coin dropped to a lower elevation,

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing the coins released,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a like view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. '3,

FIG. 10 is a like view when the locking bolt is moving from FIG. 3 to FIG. 2,

FIG. 11 is a like view when the locking bolt has returned to the position of FIG. 2 and FIG. 12 is a like view taken on line 1'212 of FIG. 4.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a bank of coin controlled checking cabinets and 12 indicates the closure door of one of the cabinets. The lock mechanism 14 is secured to a marginal portion of the cabinet in position to cooperate with and lock the door. This lock mechanism comprises a body member or frame 15 having a front plate 16 secured thereto and disposed over and filling an opening through the cabinet wall, the lower end of the plate being provided with a lip 18 engaging behind the cabinet wall and the upper end being equipped with a lock at 20 for securing the front plate in place.

A lock barrel 22 including a removable key receiving portion 23 is rotatably mounted in a cradle portion 24 of the body 15. A door locking bolt 26 is mounted on the barrel to rotate therewith forwardly and rearwardly to door locking and released positions respectively as shown in FIGS. 4 and 2. Means including a gear segment 27 in mesh with teeth 28 on the barrel normally rotates the barrel to and holds it in the retracted position of FIG. 2, all as more specifically described in Patent 2,437,742.

The lock barrel 22 and bolt 26 can be rotated forwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to a position slightly beyond FIG. 3 which is short of the door locking position shown in FIG. 4. Further forward rotation is prevented by a strong latch pawl 29 pivotally mounted on a relatively large stud 30 and normally held in contact with the lock bolt by a U-shaped spring 32 having one end extending right angular-1y into a hole in the pawl and the other end anchored at 31. The lock bolt is notched to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder 34 disposed forwardly of the pawl in the normal position of FIG. 2 whereby the pawl will enter the notch and normally permit only limited forward rotation of the barrel and bolt.

An element 36 pivoted to the frame at 38 has a coin intercepting portion 4%) disposed to project into a coin slot 42. A spring 44 anchored at one end to the frame 15 and attached at its other end to an arm 46 normally pivots the element 36 clockwise and projects the portion 40 into the coin slot (FIG. 2). The element 36 carries a tooth 4S normally extending into a recess 50 in the lock barrel when the parts are in the normal position shown in FIG. 2. When the barrel is rotated forwardly from such position the tooth is forced outwardly of the recess, thereby pivoting the element 36 counterclockwise (FIG. 3). Such movement of the element pulls the coin intercepting portion 40 outwardly of the coin slot. The tip end of the portion 40 is recessed at 52 to thereupon receive a coin thereinto for a purpose hereinafter described.

Locks of this nature are constructed to require the depositing of one or a predetermined plurality of coins thereinto and the lock herein illustrated requires two such coins $3. The bottom coin is held in the coin slot magazine between a leaf spring 54 and the laterally disposed end 55 of an arm 56 pivoted at 58. .The top coin is adapted to rest on the bottom coin and against the coin intercepting portion 40 of the element 36. The arm 56 is held downwardly in the coin supporting position of FIG. 5 by said portion 40 extending over the free end of an arm 69 integral with the arm 56. r

When the coins are deposited. the bottom coin is trapp ed between 54 and 55 and the top coin rests thereon and rolls downwardly against the non-recessed portion of 40 (FIGS. 2 and 8). When the barrel and bolt are rotated from the position of FIG. 2 to the position permitted by the pawl 29 the element 36 is pivoted counterclockwise to a position in which the recess 52 is disposed opposite to the top coin which thereupon drops by gravity into the recess (FIGS. 3 and 9). When the barrel and bolt return to the position of FIG. 2 the coin within the recess 52 prevents return of the portion 40- into the coin slot and the element 36 is thereby held in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

A stud 70 fixed to and projecting laterally from the bottom end of the element 36 is provided with a head 72 on its free end. A latch member 74 is mounted on the stud and is normally held flatly against the head by a compression spring 76 on the stud. This latch member is disposed to cooperate with the bottom end 78 of the pawl 29 as illustrated in FIGS. 812 and hereinafter described, said end being beveled at one face 80. The lock is shown in its normal position in FIG. 2 in which position a portion 82 of the bolt 26 contacts the pawl 29 and holds it pivoted outwardly.

It will be apparent that the pawl 29 functions to prevent locking movement of the bolt beyond the shoulder 34 so long as no coins are deposited in the lock. When the required two coins are deposited and the barrel rotated forwardly from FIG. 2 to the position permitted by engagement of the pawl with the shoulder 34 the top coin drops into the recess 52 and retains the element 36 in the position of FIG. 3 while the barrel and both return to the position of FIG. 2. During this last movement a laterally extending portion 84 of the latch member 74 engages and rides over the beveled face 80 (FIG. and latches behind the bottom end 78 of the pawl (FIG. 11). The pawl is thus held outwardly as illustrated in FIG. 11 and the barrel and bolt can thereupon be rotated to the door locking position of FIG. 4. When the parts are thus rotated, the portion 82 of the bolt pivots the element 36 and its portion 40 outwardly (FIG. 4) to the position freeing the arm 60', the arm 56 thereupon pivoting upwardly and releasing the coins (FIG. 7). Thus it will be apparent that the lock can be rotated to door locking position only after the top coin ha dropped by gravity into the recess 52. To make doubly sure that the coin thus drops into the recess I provide a pendulum 64 so pivoted at 6-6 that it rests against the top coin and aids gravity in moving the coin into the recess.

When the parts are in the position of FIGS. 2 and 8 the latch member 74 is held right-angularly to the arm 36 by a finger 67 on the member 74 engaging in a notch 68 in the head 72. Riding of the latch portion 84 on the surface 80 (FIG. 10) withdraws the finger from the notch and permits rotation of the member 74 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This rotation takes place when the bolt is moved to door locking position at which time the extended portion 86 at the upper right hand corner of the member 74 (see FIGS. 3 and 12) contacts the abutment 88, thereby providing return clearance between the parts 74 and 78. When the parts move from locked position (FIG. 4) back to unlocked position (FIG. 2) the upper left corner of the member 74 abuts against the coin slot wall and rotates the member 74 back to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the finger 67 again engages within the notch 68.

The lock is operated by a key 62 which is removable from the lock only when the lock is in the door locking position of FIG. 4, the key thereupon serving as a check and which thereafter can be used to reopen the cabinet. When the bolt is turned to the door locking position of FIG. 4 the laterally extending arm 86 (FIG. 12) contacts the abutment 88 and pivots the latch member 74 to a position releasing the bottom end 78 of the pawl 29, whereupon the spring 32 returns the pawl to its normal position for engaging the shoulder 34. Thus further or repeated unauthorized operation of the lock following each door locking movement of the bolt is automatically prevented. It is especially noted that the plugging of the coin slot with paper or material other than the required coins cannot serve to permit movement of the bolt to door locking position.

A further and important feature of the invention comprises an additional function served by the pawl 29. As hereinbefore stated, coonsiderable trouble and damage has heretofore been experienced due to attempts to beat the lock by forcing the locking bolts toward locking position. Whereas the invention disclosed in my said copending application prevents this damage by permitting a temporary and idle forward movement of the bolt under such forced action, the pawl 29 of my present invention directly opposes and positively prevents any such forcing of the bolt. Particular attention is directed to the rugged character of the pawl and heavy stud 30 on which it is mounted whereby fully to serve this function, the shoulder 34 preferably being on the bolt and the pawl in the plane of the bolt as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin controlled lock comprising in combination, a frame, a door locking bolt mounted in the frame for movement forwardly and rearwardly to door locking and released positions respectively, means including a latch permitting forward movement of the bolt toward but short of door locking position when the latch is in operative position, means normally moving the latch to 0perative position, means providing a coin slot in the lock, a pivoted element having a coin intercepting portion, resilient means normally pivoting the element to a position projecting said portion into coin intercepting position in the slot, means for partially withdrawing said portion from the coin slot when the locking bolt is moved forwardly to the position permitted by the latch, means whereby a coin supported on said portion drops by gravity to a lower level when said portion is thus partially withdrawn and including a shoulder on said portion for engaging said dropped coin and thus limiting the return of said portion into the coin slot, and cooperating means carried by said element and latch for maintaining the latch in inoperative position when the return of said portion is thus limited.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the door locking bolt is part of a unit comprising a barrel rotatably mounted in the frame and having the bolt mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, said unit having a rearwardly facing shoulder and said latch comprising a pawl pivoted to the frame rearwardly of the shoulder and having a forwardly extending end normally spaced from and in position to be engaged by the shoulder and prevent said forward movement of the bolt beyond a predetermined position short of door locking position.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said shoulder is on the bolt and the pawl is disposed rearwardly thereof and in the plane of the bolt.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 plus means for automatically releasing said cooperating means and permitting the latch to return to operative position when the locking bolt is moved to door locking position.

5. A coin controlled lock comprising in combination, a frame, a door locking unit comprising a barrel rotatably mounted in the frame and having a bolt mounted thereon and rotatable therewith forwardly and rearwardly to door locking and released positions respectively, the unit having a notch therein providing a rearwardly facing shoulder, a pawl pivoted to the frame rearwardly of the shoulder and having a forwardly extending end adapted to enter the notch in position to be engaged by the shoulder and prevent said forward movement of the bolt short of door locking position, means normally pivoting the pawl into the notch, means providing a coin slot in the lock, a pivoted element having a coin intercepting portion, resilient means normally pivoting the element to a position projecting said portion into coin intercepting position in the slot, means for partially withdrawing said portion from the coin slot when the locking bolt is moved forwardly to the position permitted by the pawl, means whereby a coin supported on said portion drops by gravity to a lower level when said portion is thus partially withdrawn and including a shoulder on said portion for engaging said dropped coin and thus limiting the return of said portion into the coin slot and means carried by said element for engaging and holding the pawl from entering the notch when the return of such portion is thus limited.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which the pawl has a rearwardly extending end portion and said pawl holding means carried by said element comprises a resilient member disposed to slide past and engage behind said rearwardly eXtending end portion of the pawl, and means for moving and retaining said member out of pawl holding position while the bolt is being moved to locked position and returned to unlocked position.

Beimel July 15, 1952 Beimel Apr. 14, 1953

Claims (1)

1. A COIN CONTROLLED LOCK COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, A DOOR LOCKING BOLT MOUNTED IN THE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY TO DOOR LOCKING AND RELEASED POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS INCLUDING A LATCH PERMITTING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOLT TOWARD BUT SHORT OF DOOR LOCKING POSITION WHEN THE LATCH IS IN OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS NORMALLY MOVING THE LATCH TO OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS PROVIDING A COIN SLOT IN THE LOCK, A PIVOTED ELEMENT HAVING A COIN INTERCEPTING PORTION, RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY PIVOTING THE ELEMENT TO A POSITION PROJECTING SAID PORTION INTO COIN INTERCEPTING POSITION IN THE SLOT, MEANS FOR PARTIALLY WITHDRAWING SAID PORTION FROM THE COIN SLOT WHEN THE LOCKING BOLT IS MOVED FORWARDLY TO THE POSITION PERMITTED BY THE LATCH, MEANS WHEREBY A COIN SUPPORTED ON SAID PORTION DROPS BY GRAVITY TO A LOWER LEVEL WHEN SAID PORTION IS THUS PARTIALLY WITHDRAWN AND INCLUDING A SHOULDER ON SAID PORTION FOR ENGAGING SAID DROPPED COIN AND THUS LIMITING THE RETURN OF SAID PORTION INTO THE COIN SLOT, AND COOPERATING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID ELEMENT AND LATCH FOR MAINTAINING THE LATCH IN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE RETURN OF SAID PORTION IS THUS LIMITED.

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