US3250100A

US3250100A - Locking device for vaults, particularly hotel safety deposit boxes

Info

Publication number: US3250100A
Application number: US370003A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cornaro Vittorio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-03
Filing date: 1964-05-25
Publication date: 1966-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-10
Also published as: NO120773B; DE1584262B1; DK112364B; NL140314B; GB1032304A; SE305606B; CH428489A; NL6404198A; ES299366A1; BE647793A; FI43145B; AT245966B

Abstract

1,032,304. Locking devices. V. CORNARO. June 5, 1964 [Oct. 3, 1963], No. 23516/64. Heading E2A. A locking apparatus for a container for valuables comprises a lock 5 disposable in and removable from a wall portion 1 of said container in the unlocked condition of the locking apparatus, and a locking bolt 14 carried by said wall portion, said lock comprising a housing and a locking bolt actuating mechanism, said locking bolt being displaceable by said mechanism into a locking position only after insertion of said lock in said wall portion. In the embodiment shown the wall portion is the door 1 of the container with a recess 3 for receiving the lock actuating mechanism 5, the mechanism being held in place by a leaf spring 6, a shoulder 7 of which engages an opening 8 in the rear wall 1b of the door. The element 10 comprises a slide member which is displaced vertically out of the housing 4 by means of a key. In the upper part of the door there is a bolt 14 displaceably supported for vertical upward movement within a sleeve 15. The bolt has a shoulder 17 which bears against a door ledge 16 in its lowest position and a surface 14a which bears against the upper surface 10a of the slide member 10 so that on moving the member 10 upwardly the bolt 14 is simultaneously moved upwardly to protrude from the door wall into an opening in the frame of the door. During unlocking the slide member 10 is pulled downwardly allowing the bolt 14 to be withdrawn into the door under its own weight. In another embodiment the lock actuating mechanism has a further bolt which co-operates with the slide member 10. The slide member 10 is formed with an inclined slot in which a cylindrical pin rigidly connected to the additional bolt slides so that when the slide member extends the bolt 14 it also extends the bolt 23 (Fig. 3, not shown). There may also be provided at least one additional bolt in the door preferably moving vertically but extending from the bottom of the door. The two bolts may be operated simultaneously by the horizontal movement of a double wedge member, a toggle device the two links of which are connected to the slide members or a rotatable cam disc which co-operates with rollers on the inner ends of the bolts.

Description

May 10, 1966 v. CORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES Filed May 25, 1964 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V/H-om'o COMM R Z7. KZMM May '10, 1966 vv CORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES Filed May 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet B Fig.3

lNVENTOR ViHaaio comm-n0 BY 3 (3.102... ix?

May 10, 1966 vv CZORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES Filed May 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

Fig. 7 giF 5 37 14 38 37a INVENTOR Vii-Louie Co n United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY The present invention relates to an improved locking device for vaults, in particular hotel safety deposit boxes or safes.

It is already known to provide for the guests in hotels individual vaults or safety deposit boxes which are combined together in groups and housed in a main vault, generally located in the ground floor or basement of the hotel. The use of such safety deposit boxes occurs in a manner that the hotel guest desiring to secure his valuables from theft receives a. key from the hotel personnel in charge of this function, for example reception clerk or hotel manager, and then personally has direct access to his individual vault or safety deposit box, of course only after the temporary unlocking of the main vault by the relevant hotel personnel.

This arrangement and mode of use of the safety de posit boxes indeed has the advantage of permitting of relatively discrete depositing of the hotel guests valuables, yet such is associated with several disadvantages however. First of all, it is cumbersome and time consuming for the hotel guest to first have to be shown his individual safety deposit box and to receive the necessary key therefor. Also, the possible removal or the subsequent depositing of valuables during the stay of the guest at the hotel, which in each instance requires opening of the main vault by the personnel of the hotel, is also cumbersome and associated with considerable loss in time. Above all, however, in this case there exists the disadvantage that the hotel guest cannot be absolutely certain that a master-key to the individual safety deposit boxes does not exist, that is, if a sufficient security against unlawful removal of his valuables is actually guaranteed. Additionally, it oftentimes occurs that the hotel guests upon returning late to the hotel in the evening must wait with the deposit-ing of their valu ables, for example jewels, until the next morning which, in each case, represents a considerable :risk as to loss in consequence of foregoing secure depositing of the valuables. After all, if the valuables are stolen such obviously results in the loss of reputation and good will of the hotel.

There are also already known to the art other vaults or deposit boxes which can be used by a continuously changing group of persons, constructed in such a manner and primarily erected in larger railroad stations such that everyone is able to use them. In this case, one is concerned with deposit boxes provided with a key which, similar to automatic dispensing machines, only after inserting a coin actuates the key for locking the vault door of the deposit box and only then can be removed therefrom. Instead, in this instance, the use of the deposit box is not as cumbersome and time consuming as with the aforementioned hotel safety deposit boxes.

However, in this case, the traveller has no security against unlawful removal of his checked luggage or otherwise, since experience has shown, particularly in railway terminals of larger cities, sometimes after depositing a coin the key is removed from the deposit box only for the purpose of producing a skeleton key, the original deposit box key is then reinserted and then at an opportune moment the contents of such deposit box which,

3,250,100 Patented May 10, 1966 in'the meantime has been filled by another user, are then unlawfully removed. This possibility of theft is in this situation, in fact, very attractive so that it must be assumed that theft with such type use of these deposit boxes will become more commonplace and, therefore, an eflicient possibility of depositing valuables in such manner will become meaningless.

This disadvantage of such type safety deposit boxes useable by a non-determinable or random continually changing circle of persons essentially resides in the fact that, :the locking devices previously employed with such deposit boxes are still considerably insufficient in view of the characteristic mode of use based upon a changing use of such deposit boxes by travellers.

Finally, there has also already been proposed in banks.

or oflices to provide lockable drawers or receivers or safety deposit boxes. These are likewise provided for a non-determinable changing circle of users and exhibit a recess at an appropriate location in which the momentary user can insert his own lock and can then close the same by means of his own key and, in this manner, is able to lock the drawer or safety deposit box. If this user later has removed his valuables from the relevant receptacle and also his insertalble lock from the drawer or safety deposit box, then such drawer or safety deposit box is available for use by another person who can then likewise insert his own lock and can close such drawer or safety deposit box by means of his own key.

Such -a locking mechanism indeed guarantees for a simple, relatively uncomplicated mode of use which requires relatively little time, yet also has the disadvantage of providing relatively little security against unlawful removal of the deposited valuables by unauthorized persons. It should be obvious that with such an insertable lock the bolt and its support in the housing of the insertable lock cannot be so strongly and stabily constructed as the owner of the lock desires since otherwisesuch insertable lock will become too heavy and bulky. However, it is just such travellers who, as a general rule, carry articles of considerable value such as money, jewels, documents or business papers, and, on the other hand, take along luggage which is as light as possible, that is, at best an insertable lock of only relatively small size and weight, who can only have very little trust'with such mode of use of these safety deposit boxes as to the security of the articles they have deposited. 1

Such is probably the main reason why the locking devices incorporating insertable looks which can be removed and exchanged from the safety deposit box have practically, up to the present, not been employed in'the precarious situation of hotel safes and, in all probability, will never be used in such environment. On the other hand, the fact that travel is always becoming more commonplace and the articles of travel are always becoming more valuable in view of the higher standard of living, it has become more and more the desire of such travellers to be able to find not only a convenient, but above all, a secure possibility for depositing their valuables, preferably in hotels, yet also in ships, railroad stations and so forth.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the previously mentioned known vaults or safety deposit boxes provided for use by a random circle of p rsons which is continuously changing, in other words, to provide a locking device for vaults, especially hotel safes which not only renders it possible that the temporary user can easily remove his deposited valuables at any time, but also guarantees for a'high degree of security of the deposited for vaults and the like which is relatively simple in construction yet highly reliable in operation, economical to manufacture and affording a high degree of security.

In order to implement these and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the

present invention contemplates the provision of an improved locking device for vaults, in particular hotelsafety deposit boxes, used by a random circle of persons which is considerably changing and not previously ascertainable. This inventive locking device is characterized by the features of a lock or bolt actuating mechanism which in the unlocked condition of the arrangement can be removed from a wall portion of the vault and exchanged, such bolt actuating mechanism incorporating at least one element movable by means of a key which can be removed from the aforesaid bolt actuating mechanism and which after insertionof the bolt actuating mechanism in the wall portion is in operable Working association with at least one vault bolt arranged in such wall portion. -In accordance with a preferred construction such locking device can be constructed in such a manner that the bolt actuating mechanism is insertable in the vault door and in the latter there is arranged at least one locking bar or bolt serving as the vault bolt.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description wherein like reference numerals have been generally employed in the various embodiments for the same or analogous elements, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a vault or safety deposit box door provided with the inventive locking device depicted in unlocked condition and taken along lines II of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary crosssectional view, of the vault door shown in FIGURE 1 and taken along lines IIII thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a vault or safety deposit box door provided with a variant form of locking device depicted in unlocked position and taken along lines III-III of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the vault door shown in FIGURE 3 and taken along lines 'IVIV thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic side-view of a locking device provided with a Bascule-type bolt arrangement;

FIGURE 6 illustrates in side view a different form of drive mechanism for the locking device of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a further variant form of drive mechanism for the locking device of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to the embodiment depicted in FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that there is illustrated a vault or safety deposit box door 1 formed of steel plate for example. This vault door 1 is provided at its lateral end wall In, situated opposite the non-illustrated door hinges, with a Windowshaped opening 2 and abox-shaped recess or compartment 3 terminating at the aforesaid opening 2. The compartment 3 is formed by a housing 4 open in the direction of the window-shaped opening 2 and welded or otherwise connected, at 411, to the vault door 1. A look or bolt actuating mechanism 5 is inserted from the side in the direction of the arrow A through the window-shaped gpenirig 2'into the housing 4 and thereby into the vault oor Directing attention to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that a leaf spring 6 is secured zby screws or riveting to a housing 5a of the bolt actuating mechanism 5. This leaf spring 6 is provided at its free end 6a with a knob-like projection or shoulder 7 which upon insertion of the bolt actuating mechanism 5 into the vault door 1 engages in a suitable opening or recess 8 of the rear wall 1b of the vault door 1 under the action of the leaf spring 6, thereby securing the aforesaid lock actuating mechanism 5 in such vault door 1. A small handle 9 is applied to a narrow side 5b of the housing 5a, by means of which the bolt actuating mechanism 5 can be laterally removed from the vault door 1 after pushing back the knob-like shoulder 7.

The bolt actuating mechanism 5 is provided with a portion or element 10 movable by means of a non-illustrated key removable from said bolt actuating mechanism 5, with such movable element 10 being shown in its starting position in dotted lines. This element 10 is-constructed as a slide member housed in the housing 5a and upon turning of the key is displaced vertically upwardly by means of a suitable mechanism, schematically indicated at 10a in FIGURE '1, and located in the housing 5a of the bolt actuating mechanism 5, whereby such slide member 10 can extend out of the housing 5a and subsequently also out of the housing 4 welded to the vault door 1 after passing through an appropriate opening 4a provided at housing 4. The details of the physical structure of different illustrative mechanisms for displacing the slide member 10 will be explained more fully in conjunction with FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

In FIGURE 1 reference numeral 11 designates a key hole arranged at the housing 5a of the bolt actuating mechanism 5 and provided for a detachable key constructed as a safety key, whereas in FIGURE 2 a cor responding opening, somewhat larger dimensioned, not provided with security serrations, yet likewise provided for the key is designated by reference numeral 12. Both of the key holes or

openings

11 and 12 are essentially disposed in alignment behind one another when the bolt or actuating mechanism 5 is introduced until the knob-like shoulder engages in the recess 8 of the vault door 1, this condition being schematically indicated in FIGURE 2 by the common key axis 13.

In the upper part of the vault door 1 there is displaceably supported for vertical upward movement a bolt 14 here in the form of a substantially vertically displaceable locking bar or rod, such bolt 14 being mounted in a sleeve 15 which is welded at 15b with a ledge or molding 16 welded to the vault door 1 at 16b and provided with an appropriate opening 160. The bolt 14 is provided with a shoulder 17 by means of which, in its lower starting position, it bears against an upper surface 16a of the door ledge 16. A lower frontal surface 14a of the bolt 14 is in operable working association with a confronting upper frontal face 10a of the slide 10, and in such a manner that said slide 10 with closed vault door 1 during its upward movement and by virtue of the aforesaid confronting

frontal surfaces

10a, 14a simultaneously upwardly displaces the bolt 14, whereby such moves out of an upper side wall 1c of the vault door 1, moves into an appropriate opening of a horizontal upper wall of the non-illustrated bolt housing forming the door frame for the vault door 1, to thereby lock the aforesaid vault door 1.

During unlocking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is pulled back downwardly by means of the mechanism 10a of the bolt actuating device 5 in consequence of turning the key, whereby the bolt 14 by virtue of its own weight follows the slide member 10 until such bolt 14 seats against the door' ledge 16 via its shoulder surface 17, whereby such bolt member has again reached its starting position.

During installation or mounting of the vault the bolt 14 i is pushed from above into the vault door 1 and then rests by means of its shoulder surface 17 against the door ledge 16. In order to positively prevent an unauthorized removal of the bolt 14 or loosening of the same, for example during transport of the vault, it is possible during erection of the vault door 1 to provide the bolt 14 with a laterally protruding shoulder which with a small further displacement of the bolt 14 past its locking position comes to bear against a stop surface provided at the vault door 1. Thus, for example according to FIGURE 1 the shaft-like portion 14b of the bolt 14 can be provided at its lower end with a rigidly connected ring-shaped collar 18 which with a small further movement of the bolt 14 upwardly out of its locking position abuts against a lower frontal face 15a of the guide sleeve 15. However, it is-also possible to provide the bolt head 14a of the bolt 14 with a ring-shaped shoulder 19 which, duringfurther movement of the bolt 14, comes to bear against the lower face or surface 20 of the upper frontal wall 10 of the vault door 1.

The mechanism for actuating the slide member 10 is provided with a plurality of bolt keepers or tumblers, similar to the mechanism of a security lock, and which in conjunction with safety keys, preferably such possessing double-sided or faced key .bits, renders more difficult the making of a skeleton key and provides a high degree of security against unlawful opening of the vault by unauthorized persons.

Since the opening 12 in the vault door housing 4 for the introduction of the key is somewhat larger than the actual key hole 11 of the bolt actuating mechanism 5, there is ensured that all bolt actuating mechanisms with similar external dimension of their housing 5a, similar arrangement of the position of the key hole 11 and similar position, size and form of the slide member 10, however with differing tumblers, keys and key holes, can be mutually exchanged and introduced into the vault door 1 and employed for locking the relevant vault.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 there is illustrated a variant embodiment of locking device which differs from the embodiment previously described in conjunction with FIGURES l and 2 in that, in addition to the bolt erected in the vault door 1 the lock or bolt actuating mechanism 5 is itself provided with its own bolt means which is in operable working association with the slide member 10. Such own bolt means, like the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, is displaced by turning the key through the agency of a non-illustrated mechanism and after insertion of the .bolt actuating mechanism in the vault door the aforesaid W1; bolt means in displaceable into a side wall of the vau t.

It is to be appreciated that the same elements in FIG-

URES

3 and 4 which were also present in the first described embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 have here again been designated by similar reference numerals.

In FIGURE 3 the housing 5a of the lock or bolt actuating mechanism 5 mounted in the vault door 1 is provided with a guide 21 in which the slide member is vertically displaceably supported. This slide member 10 is operably associated with the bolt 14 and actuatable upon rotation of the key. Such slide member 10 possesses an inclined slot 22 into which engages a cylindrical plug or pin 23 rigidly connected with an additional bolt means 24 arranged and horizontally displaceably supported in the bolt actuating mechanism 5. In this manner, the slide member 10 also is operably associated with the bolt means 24.

During locking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is vertically upwardly displaced in the guide 21 by means of the non-illustrated security or drive mechanism, whereby such slide member simultaneously operates the bolt 14 and the lateral operating bolt means 24, in that such slide not only displaces the bolt 14 upwardly, rather also, by virtue of its inclined slot 22 and the pin 23 guided therein, laterally displaces the bolt 24 out of the vault door 1, to thereby lock the aforesaid door at two locations.

During unlocking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is pulled downwardly into its starting position by means of the drive mechanism of the bolt actuating mechanism 5, whereby the bolt 14 under its own weight follows the slide member 10 back into the starting position, as already previously explained in conjunction with the description of the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2. During such time as the slide member 10 moves downwardly the lateral bolt means 24 is also, however, forcibly returned back into its starting position since the inclined slot 22 exerts a pressure upon the pin 23 rigidly connected with the aforesaid bolt means 24 which is opposite the arrow B indicating the locking displacement movement of such bolt means 24. Quite obviously, the inclined slot 22 could be'provided in the lateral bolt means 24 and the pin member 23 would then be arranged at the slide member 10.

It is also possible to provide at least one "additional vertically displaceable bolt in the vault door 1 which, in turn, after mounting of the bolt actuating mechanism 5, is in working association with a member of the aforesaid bolt actuating mechanism movable upon rotation of the key and which is then actuated simultaneously with the first vertically displaceable bolt.

In FIGURE 5 there are illustrated the principles of a preferred variant of such an embodiment of locking device. In this case, then, in addition to the bolt 14 there is provided a further bolt 25 also in the form of a substantially vertically displaceable locking bar or rod and which is displaceably mounted in the vault door 1 for vertical downward movement and collectively form a socalled Bascule-bolt unit or arrangement. Under the term Bascule-bolt unit or arrangement, as employed herein, there is to be understood at least two, generally vertically displaceable, even possibly rotatable, bolt members which can be simultaneously operated from a central or common bolt'actuating mechanism or lock in order to conjointly bring such bolts into their operative locking position or inoperative unlocking position. A return spring 26, against the action of which the bolt 25 is displaced into its locking position, ensures that the bolt 25 upon unlocking of the vault door 1 of itself again returns into its upper starting position. This return spring 26 bears with its one end against a spring plate 27 rigidly mounted to a shaft portion of the bolt 25 and with its other end against a stationary portion or member 28 of the vault door 1 serving as an abutment, whereby member 28 at the same time serves as a guide bearing for guiding the bolt 25.

The simultaneous operation of both bolts .14 and 25 of the Bascule-bolt unit illustrated in FIGURE 5 can take place in a number of different ways. Thus, for example, and as illustrated in FIGURE 5, two

slides

40 and 41 mounted in the bolt actuating mechanism 5 can be vertically extended in opposite directions by a common movable operating or drive element 42 constructed as a doublewedge member and against the force of return springs 43 and 44 respectively. When the double-wedge member 42 is moved in the direction of the arrow C of FIGURE 5, then both of the

slide members

40 and 41 move vertically upwardly and downwardly respectively. Consequently, both of the

bolts

14 and 25 are extended at the same time in the direction of the arrows D and E, respectively. In this instance, both of the slide members 40 and 411, similar to the lower bolt 25, are equipped with non-illustrated spring plates which, as in the case of bolt 25, ensures that during unlocking of the vault door 1 the

slide members

40 and 4 1 return back into their starting position.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIGURE 6 the bolt actuating mechanism 5 can be provided with a toggle link device 29, both of whose toggle levers 30 and 31 are hingedly connected with two

slide members

32 and 33 respectively. A draw or pull rod 36 arranged at the region of the toggle joint or knee 34 and articulated to the pivot bolt 35 thereof is operatively connected with the non-illustrated security mechanism of the lock or bolt actuating'mechanism 5 and extends the pair of toggle levers 30, 31 during its movement in the direction of the arrow F. As a result, both of the

slide members

32 and 33 are displaced vertically upwardly and downwardly respectively, thereby at the same time both of the vertically

displaceable bolts

14 and 25 are also moved into their respective locking positions.

In FIGURE 7 there is illustrated a different embodiment for the actuation of both of the

bolts

14 and 25 illustrated in FIGURE 5. Here there is provided a rotatably mounted cam disk or plate 37 arranged in the housing of the bolt actuating mechanism and operably connected with the non-illustrated security mechanism of such bolt actuating mechanism. During rotation of the cam plate 37 in the direction of the arrows G such displaces the

bolts

14 and 25 into their locking position by means of two lift 'cam surfaces 37a and 37b respectively, cooperating with cam rollers or followers 38 provided at

such bolts

14 and 25. The additional bolt 25 of FIGURE 5 could, however, also then be provided if the bolt actuating mechanism 5, as in the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, is provided with its own bolt means. In this case it could be, for example, similarly actuated with the aid of a second slide member directly displace- .able by the mechanism of the bolt actuating mechanism, as such has already previously been explained in conjunction with FIGURES 3 and 4.

The actuation of the second slide member could, however, also take place in such a manner that the guide pin 23 of the lateral bolt means 24, while maintaining the embodiment of bolt actuating mechanism of FIG-

URES

3 and 4 and the arrangement of both bolts of the Bascule-bolt unit depicted in FIGURE 5, possesses a larger length and with its end extending further out of the flat slide member engages in an inclined slot of the second slide member housed in a separate guide. With such an embodiment there is thus provided two vertical guides arranged in two planes disposed behind one another.

In such case, naturally, the slot of the second slide member must be oppositely inclined with respect to the slot 22 of the first slide member 10, so that during movement of the bolt means 24 together with guide pin 26 into the locking position, the second slide member and there-with also at the same time the second bolt 25 carries out a vertical downward movement. If with such a physical structure of locking device the vault door is unlocked, then not only does the first slide member (cf. slide member 10 of FIGURE 3) move into its lower starting position, rather at the same time the second slide member also moves into its upper starting position, and indeed on account of its form locking connection with the bolt means 24 brought about by its pin and the inclined slot, as just explained. With such an embodiment the second bolt 25 in consequence of the action of the return spring 26 follows the second slide member and likewise returns back into its upper starting position.

While maintaining the embodiment depicted in FIG- UR-

ES

3 and 4 it is possible to also actuate the additional bolt 25 (cf. FIGURE 5) in a different manner. For example, the second slide member serving to extend the lower bolt 25 could be coupled via an inclined slot and a guide pin engaging therein with the lateral bolt means 24, in other words similar to the connection of the first slide member 10 of FIGURE 3 with the lateral bolt means 24.

Naturally, with the heretofore described embodiments of locking device provided with slide members mounted in separate guides arranged in two planes behind one another, such slide members or one of such slide members can be provided with appropriate offset portions, so that with the arrangement of both bolts of the Basculebolt unit there appears a certain freedom with respect to the depth, that is, the thickness of the vault door. Naturally, the passage openings for the slide members in the housing of the bolt actuating mechanism 5 and in the receiving housing of the vault doornl must then be appropriately largely dimensioned so that the slide member offset in such manner during its movement can pass through such passage openings. For the same purpose, however, it is possible that also the bolt itself possesses an offset shaft, whereby then, of course, an enlargement of the passage openings for the slide members becomes superfluous.

' As a modification of FIGURES 5 and 6, it would be possible to also arange within the vault door 1 more than two Bascule-type bolts, for example two upwardly and two downwardly displaceable Bascu'le-bolts could be provided which collectively are simultaneously moved by the bolt actuating mechanism via one or more members movable upon rotation of the key. With such an embodiment, both upper bolts and both lower bolts could for example be connected in pairs with one another by means of a crosstie rod, whereby then two slides vertically displaceable in opposite direction engage with both crosstie rods, approximately at half their length.

i It would also be possible while employing the same principles of actuation as described for the'vertically arranged Bascule-bolts, to also mount in the vault door horizontally displaceable bolts which, then, in similar manner as described for the aforesaid vertical Basculebolts, would be extended and retracted by appropriately constructed and arranged movable members of the bolt actuating device 5. The possibility exists of installing at the vault door bolts or groups of bolts extendable in three different directions, all of which are actuated at the same time by the bolt actuating mechanism mounted in the vault door. In so doing, the mechanism mounted in the lock device can possess a force transmission means so that the key can equally well be easily turned. Such a force transmission means has for example already been realized with the embodiment of FIGURE 6 employing the toggle lever mechanism. However, other possibilities for mechanical force transmission or obtaining a mechanical advantage can also be employed, as for example levers, wedges, screws or gear drives, the :latter particularly then in such case when the movable member of the bolt actuating mechanism for operating the bolt or bolts itself carries out a rotational movement.

It will be appreciated that the invention is in no way limited only to the examples of embodiments depicted inthe drawings, rather the details thereof can be varied within the framework and underlying principles of the invention.

Since the bolt or boltsof the vault are constructed in the conventional heavy and massive manner as well as also being arranged and mounted in the particular manher which has proven itself to be effective in the construction of vaults, there is thus achieved by means of the previously described locking device the large advantage that now also the vaults provided for use by a non-determinable and changing circle of persons guarantees a large degree'of security for the momentary user. As as result, it is rendered possible to install vaults in the particularly attractive manner mentioned at the outset for a changing circle of users and to install them in hotel rooms for the hotel guests. security against theft is guaranteed by virtue of the heavy bolt, the employed bolt actuating mechanism itself can be small and possesses a small weight since the actual locking elements essential for attaining such high degree of security, as previously the case, are themselves arranged in the vault proper.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Locking apparatus for vaults having a wall portion, particularly hotel safety deposit boxes used by a nondeterminable changing circle of persons, comprising a bolt'actuating mechanism removable and exchangeable from the wall portion of the vault in the unlocked condition of the locking apparatus, at least one vault bolt arranged in the wall portion of the vault, said bolt actuating mechanism incorporating at least one movable element 'actuatable by means of a key which is detachable Although a large from said bolt actuating mechanism, said movable element being disposed in operable working relation to said vault bolt upon insertion of said bolt actuating mechanism in said wall portion.

2. In combination with a vault incorporating a wall portion, a locking apparatus for said vault which comprises a bolt actuating mechanism removable and exchangeable trom said wall portion of the vault in the unlocked condition of the locking apparatus, at least one vault bolt arranged in said wall portion of the vault, said bolt actuating mechanism incorporating at least one mov able element actuatable by means of a key detachable from said bolt actuating mechanism, said movable element being disposed in operable working relation to said vault bolt upon insertion of said bolt actuating mechanism in said wall portion.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall portion provides a vault door having a recess, said bolt actuating mechanism being removably insertable in said recess.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3-wherein said at least one vault bolt comprises a substantially vertically displaceable locking bar arranged in said vault door.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable element and said vault bolt are each provided with confronting frontal faces arranged in cooperative relation.

6. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein at least one further vault bolt cooperates with said movable element.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said further vault bolt comprises a substantially vertically displaceable locking bar.

8. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein a pair of vault bolts defining a Bascule-bolt unit are arranged in said vault door for vertical displacement in opposed directions, return spring means provided for the vault bolt which is downwardly displaceable.

9. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable element of the bolt actuating mechanism comprises vertically displaceable slide means.

10. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said bolt actuating mechanism further includes a laterally displaceable bolt cooperating for simultaneous movement together with said movable element upon actuation by the key.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 including means placing said movable element of said bolt actuating mechanism in continuous working association with said laterally displaceable bolt.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said means placing said movable element and laterally displa'ceable bolt in continuous working association comprises an inclined slot provided at one of such members and a guide pin arranged at the other of such members engaging with said inclined slot.

13. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said bolt actuating mechanism incorporates force transmission means.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein sad force transmission means comprises a toggle lever arrangement.

15. In combination with a vault incorporating a wall UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,421 6/ 1910 Sibley 431 1,179,644 4/1916 Mouldin 70l34 1,670,277 5/1928 Albach 70118 1,671,249 5/ 1928 Lieberman 70-118 2,947,160 8/ 1960 Wolters 10959 X PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. LOCKING APPARATUS FOR VAULTS HAVING A WALL PORTION, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES USED BY A NONDETERMINABLE CHANGING CIRCLE OF PERSONS, COMPRISING A BOLT ACTUATIG MECHANISM REMOVABLE AND EXCHANGEABLE FROM THE WALL PORTION OF THE VAULT IN THE UNLOCKED CONDITION OF THE LOCKING APPARATUS, AT LEAST ONE VAULT BOLT ARRANGED IN THE WALL PORTION OF THE VAULT, SAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM INCORPORATING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE ELEMENT ACTUATABLE BY MEANS OF A KEY HICH IS DETACHABLE FROM SAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM, SAID MOVABLE ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED IN OPERABLE WORKING RELATION TO SAID VAULT BOLT UPON INSERTION OF SAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM IN SAID WALL PORTION.