US3261188A - Quick-change axial pin tumbler lock assembly - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1966 w. J. KERR QUICK-CHANGE AXIAL PIN TUMBLER LOCK ASSEMBLY 'Filed July l5, 1964 I www) mail July 19, 1966 W. J, KERR 3,261,188

QUICK-CHANGE AXIAL PIN TUMBLER LOCK ASSEMBLY Filed July 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 F165 n Q50 86 II@ 6 y '3| I8 |37 X/ |30 77 73 I4 42 q l'l' 52 INVENTOR: WILLIAM J. KERR ATT'Y July 19, 41966 w. J. KERR 3,261,188

QUICK-CHANGE AXIAL PIN TUMBLER LOCK ASSEMBLY Fled July l5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; WILLIAM J. KERR BY ATT'Y United States Patent O 3,261,188 QUICK-CHANGE AXIAL PDI TUMBLER LOCK ASSEMBLY Wiiiiam I. Kerr, Glenview, Ill., assignor to Chicago Lock Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,914 11 Claims. (Cl. 70-363) The improved lock assembly comprising the present invention has been designed for use primar-ily in connec- -tion with the cabinet door of a vending machine where managerial policy dictates that the pin timbler combination of such vending machine lock assembly shall be changed, or when proper occasion demands, frequently. The invention is, however, capable of other uses and lock assemblies constructed according to the present invention may find wide application in other elds too numerous to mention.

The invention is concerned primarily with a lock assembly of Ithe axial pin tumbler type wherein the split pin-variety tumblers that are associated therewith are circumferentially spaced about, and extend parallel to, the central longitudinal axis of the lock barrel, are spring pressed forwardly, and are designed for cooperation with a key having rearwardly facing circumferentially spaced, tumbler-engaging shoulders which engage the forward ends of the split tumblers and depress the tumblers upon proper insertion and manipulation of the key with respect to the assembly. This -type of lock assembly is widely used in connection with a vending machine which is installed in a public place such, for example, as a subway station or the like.

The changing in the iield of the pin tumbler combination of a lock assembly f the type and character under consideration has heretofore been hampered by the necessity of working from the rear or 4inner side of the cabinet door and of dismantling as much of the ilock assembly as is necessary in order to render fthe split pin tumblers accessible for removal and subsequent substitution or replacement. With an operator working from the back side of the cabinet door, the necessarily open cabinet door is frequently a hinderance to passers-by such as are encountered on a narrow subway platform. An additional limitation resides in the fact that the operator is burdened with the inconvenience of taking charge of the various parts of the different lock assemblies that are assigned to him 'for combination-changing purposes,

In my copending United States patent application Serial No. 336,795, filed on January 9, 1964, and entitled Quick-Change Axial PinTumb'ler Lock Assembly, there is shown and described a lock assembly of the type under consideration and wherein pin tumbler change-over operations may be performed in a relatively short period of time with most of the work taking place from the front or outside of the cabinet door and with the door in its closed or nearly closed position. The present invention relates to a lock assembly which is of the same general type as that forming the subject matter of such copending patent application, is structurally similar thereto, but is so designed that pin tumbler change-over operations may be effected wholly from the outside of the cabinet even, if necessary, without opening or even unlocking the cabinet door. The provision of such a lock assembly being the principal and general object of the invention, it is another object to provide such a lock assembly which requires that the operator carry no special tools or assembly parts whatsoever, other than a small latch-release pin and, of course, the necessary replacement key to iit the new pin tumbler combination after the change-over operation has-been completed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at ICC this time enumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, two illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a lock assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the operating key of the assembly being shown in its assembly-unlocking position within the lock assembly;

FG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the improved lock assembly, the parts of the assembly being shown in their unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view ofthe lock assembly with the parts in their locked position;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. l and in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View taken substantially on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lock assembly, illustrating the manner in which a pin tumbler change-over operation is eifected in s-itu with the aid of a latch-release pin;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the parts of the lock assembly in their locked posit1on;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion ofthe structure shown in FIG. 8 and illustrating specifically *theA position of the rotary latch member which forms a part of the improved lock assembly;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the parts in an overrun posi-tion for cap removal purposes;

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. l2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the latch member in its position of release under the influence of the latch-release pin;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the latch-release member;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing a modified form of rotary latch member;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the modied form of rotary latch member illustrated in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 1717 of FIG. 15.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. l to 3, inclusive, wherein a preferred form of lock assembly embodying the quickchange features of the present invention has been illustrated and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, the key for operating the lock assembly is shown at 12. The lock assembly is of the axial pin tumbler type, which is to say that the split pin tumblers that are associated therewith and form a part thereof extend in the axial direction of the lock barrel and are shiftable endwise upon engagement with forwardly facing pin-actuating shoulders on the operating key 12.

Specifically, the lock assembly 10 is similar in many respects to the lock assembly which is shown and described in my aforementioned icopending patent application Serial No. 336,795, and it differs therefrom solely in the means whereby the front key-receiving cap is released so that it may be removed and the forward end portions of the split pin tumblers made accessible for tumbler interchange or replacement pur-poses. Whereas, in the lock assembly of my copending application, such release of the key-receiving lcap is effected with the aid of a suitable release pin which is inserted through a hole in the lock barrel at the rear of the cabinet door on which the lock assembly is installed, release of the cap in the present instance ris effected by insertion of a release pin through a hole in the ca-p itself, and consequently, the release oper-ation may be effected from in front of the cabinet door, even without opening the door.

An understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by a brief preliminary description of the common structures involved in connection with both lock assemblies -and by means of which release of the key-retaining caps may be effected at will by .an operator for pin tumbler change-over operations. As shown in FIG. 3 of the present drawings, a key-receiving cap Sil having ydiamet-rically opposite and rearwardly extending hook portions 86 is releasably held within a cupashaped protective washer 30 which is adapted to be fixedly clamped against the front side of a cab-inet door, such as the door 26 of FIG. 1. A rim flange 16 on the usual tubular lock barrel 14 is provided with voids 122 which receive the hook portions 86 and hold the cap 80 against rotation with respect to the lock barrel 14. The side walls of the voids 120 and the hook portions 86 constitute fixed interengaging means for preventing rotation of the cap relative to said lock barrel. In addition to the barrel, the lock assembly 10 is :provided with a rotatably mounted lock shaft 42. The latter is provided with Ian enlarged head 70 which is rotatable within the lock barrel :and has -an annular rim flange 88 with a lpair of diametrically opposite notches 120. The rim flange 88 slides behind the hook portions S6 of the cap 80 and normally prevents removal of the cap from the washer 30. However, when the notches 120 register with-the hook portions 86, the cap may be removed by pulling it forwards with respect to the washer 30 of the lock assembly. The cap 80 conceals the forward ends of an -annular series of circumferenti-ally spaced shaft pins 66 at the front portion of a split pin tumbler arrangement and, when the cap is removed, these pins are accessible for interchange or substitution. The shaft prins are bodily rotatable with the lock shaft 42 and the latter may normally be turned by means of the key 12 through an angle of 90 between door-locking and door-releasing positions. In neither of these two extreme positions do the notches 120 move into register with the hook portions 86 of the cap 80, and thus the cap is normally retained in position against removal from the cap 80. However, by release of a certain lat-ching mechanism that is operable under the control of la latch-release pin 130 (see FIG. 7), the lock shaft 42 may be turned through an additional angle of 221/2o to bring the notches 120 and the hook portions 86 into register for cap-release purposes. The pin 130 is insertable through a small hole 131 in the cap 80 `and through a longitudinal bore 133 in the stationary lock barrel 14 and it cooperates with a spring biased, collarlike latch member 135 having a combined limit stop and latch pin 137 which normally rides on a 90 sector 139 (see FIGS. 3, 6 and l0) between the locked and unlocked lpositions of the lock shaft 42, but which m-ay be pushed rearwardly by means of the latch-release pin 130 so as to clear an intervening shoulder 141 and permit the pin 137 to ride upon a 221/2 sector 143 in order thus to bring the notches 120 and the hook portions 86 into register. As shown in the drawings, the sector 139, the shoulder 141 and the sector 143 are formed on the inner or rear end of the lock barrel 14. Apart from this capreleasing feature, the flock assembly of the present invention remains substantially the same as the lock assembly of my aforesaid copending patent application, such an assembly having been selected for illustration herein as an exemplary form of lock assembly that is Icap-able of modification to include the cap-releasing feature of the present invention. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that other forms of lock assemblies of the axial pin tumbler 4type are adaptable to the present cap-releasing feature by appropriate modification thereof if necessary.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3 in more detail, the fixed tubular lock barrel 14 of the lock assembly 10 is provided with an integral, rearwardly extending shank portion 18 of the interrupted screw threaded type, which is to say that the external threads 20 thereon are interrupted by oppositely disposed flats 22 and 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The lock assembly is shown in FIG. 1 as being operativelyinstalled upon the swinging or hinged door 26 by means of a nut 28 which is threadedly received on the threads 20 of the shank portion 18 and cooperates with the previously mentioned protective washer 30 in clamping the door therebetween. The tubular lock barrel 14 projects rearwardly through an opening 32 in the ldoor 26 as shown in FIG. 5.

The lock shaft is rotatably disposed in 4a longitudinal bore 40 (see FIG. 5) in the lock barrel 14 and the rear end of the shaft projects outwardly of the barrel and is provided with a male or external screw thread 44. Flats 46 (see FIG. 2) on the threaded rear end of the lock shaft 42 :cooperate with a substantially rectangular hole 48 in the proximal end in a radial locking cam 50 in maintaining the cam non-rotative on the shaft. A nut 52 on the threaded rear en-d of the lock shaft 42 serves effectively to clamp the locking cam 50 in place. The locking cam 50 is designed for cooperation with the fusual locking shoulder 54 (see FIG. 5) in maintaining the door 26 in its closed position against the usual gasketed door opening jamb (not shown).

An annular series of circumferentially spaced, axially extending sockets 60 are formed in the lock barrel 14 and receive slidable therein the usual non-rotatable barrel pins 64 at the rear portion of the aforementioned split pin tumbler arrangement. The cooperating shaft pins 66 are slidable in axial bores 68 in the enlarged head 70 at the front of the lock shaft 42, such bores being arranged in an annular series and spaced circumferentially. Helical compression springs 72 in the rear ends of the sockets urge the pins 64 and 66 in a forward direction. The forward ends of the bodily rotatable shaft pins 66 cooperate with shoulders 74 Ion the key 12 in the usual manner of an axial pin tumbler lock assembly so that when the split tumblers are so disposed that the splits which exist between the labutting ends of the pins 64 and 66 occupy the same traverse plane, the lock shaft 42 may be turned within the barrel 14, otherwise not.

A forwardly extending key or pilot post 71 on the front end of the lock shaft 42 cooperates with an axially extending socket 73 in the tubular part of the key 12 in aligning the key on the lock shaft 42. A longitudinally extending notch 75 in the post 71 cooperates with a longitudinal spline 77 on the interior of the tubular part of the key so that torque may be transmitted from the key to the lock shaft for shaft turning purposes. As previously described, the lock shaft is capable of being rot-ated by the key throughout an angle of between the unlocked condition of the cam 50 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 and the locked condition thereof as shown in full lines. The shaft 42 also is capable of being turned an additional small angle to the overrun or terminal position wherein it is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 when released by the latch member of the present invention in order to release the cap 80 and thus expose the shaft pins 66 at the front portion of the split pin tumbler arrangement for changeover operations, all in a manner that will be described presently.

The key-receiving cap 80 is formed with the usual inturned key-receiving rim 81 while the protective Washer 30 is formed with a forwardly projecting annular wall 8.2.

which establishes a shallow forwardly facing recess 84 for telescopic reception therein of the cap 80. The previously mentioned rearwardly extending hook portions 86 on the cap 80 encompass and slidingly hook behind the interrupted or notched rim flange 88 on the enlarged head 70 of the lock shaft 42 and constitutes slidable interengaging means which, as previously pointed out, normally prevents removable of the cap 80. When change-over operations are instituted, the lock shaft 42 may be turned through a 221/2 angle beyond its fully locked position as previously described so that the hook portions 86 register with the notches 120 and permit forward movement and consequent removal of the -cap S0, this additional 221/2 movement of the shaft being contingent upon release of the shaft by the latch member 135. The inturned keyreceiving rim 81 of the cap 80 has a central opening 92 which is coaxial with the forwardly extending key post 71 at the front end of the lock shaft 42 and through which the tubular part of the key 12 is adapted to be projected for lock operating purposes. Notches 94 and 95 in the rim flange 81 of the cap 80 cooperate with a radial, outwardly extending lug 96 on the key to permit entry of the key into central opening 92 in the cap of the lock assembly and removal thereof from the assembly in either the unlocked or locked position of the assembly.

In order to determine the three limiting positions of which the lock shaft 42 is capable of assuming, the previously mentioned collar-like latch member 135 cooperates on two levels, so to speak, with the end face sectors 139 and 141 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) on the rear end face of the fixed lock barrel 14. As best seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, this latch member 135 is in the form of a two-piece assembly consisting of an `annular body 151 and a thin, flat, flexible ring 157. The body of the latch member is of appreciable thickness and its forward side is relieved on a small angular bias as at 153 to provide a clearance space 155 to allow for lateral flexing movement of the ring 157. The latter is formed of spring steel or other suitable spring material. It is riveted `as at 159 to the forward side of the annular body 151 and has a portion overlying the clearance space 155. A previously mentioned combined limit stop and latch pin 137 projects forwardly Ifrom the ring 157 and is backed by a helical compression spring 163 which seats within a socket 164 in the body 151. The two-piece assembly which comprises the latch member 135 is received over the rear end of the lock shaft 42 with the combined limit stop and latch pin 137 opposing the rear end face of the lock barrel 14 so that the pin may ride normally on the 90 sector 139. When thus riding upon the sector 139, the pin 137 is limited in its movements by the previously mentioned shoulder 141 and a shoulder 165 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) on the rear end face of the lock barrel 14. the two shoulders being circumferentially spaced and opposed. When the combined limit stop and latch pin 137 is in position against the shoulder 167 as shown in FIG. 6, the lock assembly is in its unlocked condition. When the pin 137 is in position against the shoulder 141, the lock assembly is in its locked condition and the pin 137 is in register with the longitudinal bore 133 (see FIGS. 3 and 8) in the lock barrel 14 so that when the latchreleasing pin 130 is inserted through the hole 131 in the cap and projected through the bore 133, the combined limit stop and latch pin 137 will be lifted from its seating engagement on the sector 139 and caused to clear the shoulder 141 so that the lock shaft 42 may be turned an additional 22% and the pin 137 ca-used to seat upon the sector 143 where its movement is limited by a shoulder 167 (see FIGS. 2 and 10). With the pin 137 against the shoulder 167, the locking cam 50 will assume the dotted line position wherein it is shown in FIG. 3, the cabinet door remaining locked, but the notches 120 in the rim flange 88 becoming aligned with the rearwardly extending hook portions 86 on the cap 80 so that the cap is then released for removal purposes and consequent exposure of the shaft pins 66 for interchange or substitution.

When the cap is thus removed, the shaft pins 66 at the front portion `of the split pin tumbler 'arrangement are exposed for removal, interchange or replacement, as desired. The change-over operation may be effected in various ways. Usually the service man will carry a small magnetic tool by means of which he m-ay attract the various shaft pins 66 which are loosely disposed Within the bores 68, the tool being employed for both shaft pin removal and replacement purposes. An interchange between any two Idifferent length shaft pins 66 will suffice to change the combination of the lock assembly and such a procedure will obviate the necessity of the service man carrying a supply of shaft pins and of keeping track of their effective lengths. After a desired change-over operation has been completed, a new key such as the key shown at 12A in FIG. 7 will be required to operate the lock assembly 10, such key being provided with shoulders 74A which are machined or otherwise formed to accommodate the new split pin tumbler arrangement.

After a given tumbler interchange, replacement or substitution has been made, the cap 80 will be replaced in the shallow, circular, forwardly facing recess 84 in the protective w-asher 30 and the rearwardly extending hook portions 86 of the cap resultantly caused to enter the voids 122. Thereafter, the new key 12A is inserted through the key-receiving opening 92 and brought into proper cooperation with the shaft p-ins 66, whereupon turning of the key in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. l and 3 will cause the latch pin 137 to slide off of the 221/2 sector 143 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) and move onto the sector 139, thus causing the rim flange 88 to slide behind the hook portions 86 and otherwise restoring the lock assembly to normal operation between its locked and unlocked conditions.

It is to be noted at this point the latch-release pin 130 is employed only once during any given tumbler changeover operation, it being employed to release the combined limit stop and latch pin 137 from the shoulder 141 and allow the lock shaft 42 to be turned to its overrun position. In turning the lock shaft back to its 90 range of movement, the pin 137 is free to slide over the shoulder 141 without the aid of the pin 130. It also is to be noted that the notch 95 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 7) is provided, in addition to the notch 94, in order that the key 12 may be removed from the cap 80 at the time of removal of the latter from the protective washer 30, this being a convenience to the service man who can then reapply the cap 80 to the lock assembly with no thought being given as to the orientation of the key 12A. Additionally, since the key 12 must be removed from the cap 30 for key replacement purposes, it is considered advantageous to be able to remove the key at the commencement of a change-over operation immediately after the lock shaft 42 has been turned to its extreme overrun position. Although the combined limit stop and latch pin 137 is intended to be manipulated by means of the latch-release pin from the outside of the cabinet door, it is possible to manipulate this pin from behind the cabinet door in the event that the service man has misplaced his operating tool 130. The collar-like latch member occupies an exposed position on the rear end of the lock shaft 42 so that it is possible to insert a flat tool such as the blade of a pocket knife into the clearance space 155 (see FIG. 12) and pry the llexible ring 157 rearwardly and thus withdraw the combined Ilimit stop and latch pin 137 from its position of circumferential register with the shoulder 141 and allow further turning movement of the lock shaft 42 to its overrun position.

Finally, it is to be noted that upon insertion of the latch-releasing pin 130 through the hole 131 in the cap Sti and the aligned bore 133 1n the lock barrel 14 and depression of the pin 137 to the ful-lest extent of which it is capable of being depressed as shown in FIG, 13, the pin 137 remains in circumferential register with the shoul- 7 der 167 (see also FIG. 3) so that it is impossible to turn the lock shaft beyond its overrun 221/2 position.

In FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, there has been illustrated a modified form of latch member 335 capable of being substituted bodily for the latch member 135 and which, when thus substituted, will cooperate with the latch-release pin 130 to release the lock shaft 42 so that it may be turned through a final '221/2 angle in the manner previously described in connection with the latch member 135 for cap-releasing purposes. In FIG. 16, this modified form of latch member has been illustrated in exploded fashion and `in FIGS. 15 and 17, the latch member 335 is shown as being operatively installed in a lock assembly 210 which, otherwise, is identical with the lock assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive. Therefore, only those portions of the lock assembly 210 which are in the immediate vicinity of the latch member 335 have been illustrated in FIGS. and 17 and, furthermore, in order to avoid needless repetition of description, similar reference numerals but of a higher order have been applied to the corresponding parts as between the disclosures of FIGS. 9 and 15.

The latch member 335 is in the form of a collar-like annular body 351 which is received over the lock shaft 242 and the forward or front end face of which is formed with a socket 364 therein providing a seat for a spring 363. The spring 363 serves to bias a combined limit stop and latch pin 337 against the rear end face of the lock barrel 214, and when the lock shaft 242 is in its lock-ing position, the latch pin 337 is in axial register with a bore 333 provided in the barrel so that a tool, such as the tool 130 of FIG. 7, may be projected through the bore 333 and into engagement with the latch member for shaft-releasing purposes to the end that the lock shaft may then be turned through an angle of 221/2 for capremoval purposes as described in connection with the lock assembly 10.

At such time as the end of the tool 130 engages the latch pin 337, the latch pin is forcibly moved to a retracted position within the socket 364 against the yielding action of the spring 363. When thus retracted, it clears a shoulder similar to the shoulder 141 of FIG. 8 on the rear end face of the lock barrel 214 so that it may move into register with a sector similar to the sector 143.

As shown in FIG. 17, the rear end face of the annular body 351 is formed with a recess 361 therein which affords a clearance for a split retaining ring 367, the latter seating within an interrupted recess 365 formed in the lock shaft 242. By such an arrangement, the annular body 351 is maintained on the lock shaft 242 with its front end face in direct `opposition to the rear end face of the lock barrel 214 for proper cooperation between the latch pin 337 and the two sectors of the adjacent end face of the lock barrel which correspond to the sectors 139 and 141 of FIG. 8.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification `as various changes in the details of c-onstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, whereas the overrun sector 143 (FIG. 8) has been shown and described herein as being of 221/2 angular extent, other small angular extents for such sector are contemplated, the particular extent not being critical. Similarly, although the interlock between the key-receiving cap 80 and the lock shaft 42 comprises male hook portions 86 on the cap and female notches 120 on the shaft, a reversal of such male and female interlocking means or parts may be resorted to. The circumferential disposition of the tool-receiving hole 131 in the cap is not necessarily at an approximately ten oclock position on the front face of the cap as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, inasmuch as this hole and its counterpart bore 133 in the lock barrel 14 may be disposed wherever convenient and wherever its location does not interfere with adjoining and moving parts of the lock assembly. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

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

l1. In an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable Within said bore and having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face of the barrel, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, fixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a rst angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interenga-ging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap `when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and including an axially shiftable latch pin yieldingly and slidingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, first, second and third spaced shoulders on said rear end face of the barrel engagea-ble by the latch pin to determine said first, second and terminal positions of the lock shaft respectively, there being access openings in said cap and barrel in axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of the latch pin by a suitable pin-like tool and consequent withdrawal of the latch pin from said second shoulder to allow the lock shaft to be moved to its terminal position 2. In an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and having an enlarged head .presenting a rear end `face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face of the barrel, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel land shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly land axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, fixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and including an axially shiftable latch pin slidingly and yieldingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, first and second circumferentially spaced and opposed shoulders on said rear end face of the barrel engageable by the latch lpin for establishing the unlocked and locked positons of the lock shaft respectively, a third shoulder on said rear end face circumferentially spaced from the second shoulder on the side thereof remote from the iirst shoulder and engageable by the latch pin for establishing said terminal position of the lock shaft, there being small diameter access bores in sfaid cap and barrel in axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of the latch pin by a pinlike latch-releasing tool projected through -said access bores and consequent withdrawal of the latch pin from said 9 second shoulder to allow the lock shaft to be moved to its terminal position.

3. In an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular front land rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and `having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face of the barrel, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, fixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging melans permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and including an axially shiftable combined limit stop and latch pin yieldingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, rst and second circum-ferentially spaced and opposed shoulders on said rear end face of the barrel establishing therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin, said shoulders being engageable by the latch pin -for establishing the unlocked and locked positions of the lock shaft respectively, and a third shoulder on said rear end face circumferentially spaced from the second shoulder on the side thereof remote from the irst shoulder and connected thereto by Ia raised arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin, said third shoulder being engageable by the latch pin for establishing the terminal positlon of the lock shaft.

4. lIn an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face of the barrel, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, fixed interengagi-ng means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from the first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable intereng-aging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and including an axially shiftable combined limit stop and latch pin yieldingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, first and second circumferentially spaced and opposed shoulders on said rear end face of the barrel establishing therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin, said shoulders being engageable by the latch pin for establishing the unlocked and locked positions of the lock shaft respectively, and a third shoulder on said rear end face circumferentially spaced from the second shoulder on the side thereof remote from the rst shoulder and connected thereto by a raised arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin, said third shoulder being engageable by the latch pin for establishing the terminal position of the lock shaft,

there being a small diameter access bores in said cap and barrel respectively and in axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of the latch pin by a pin-like latch releasing tool projected through said access bores and consequent withdrawal of the latch pin from said second shoulder to allow the lock shaft to be moved to its terminal position.

`5. In an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face of the barrel, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, fixed inte'rengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun te-rminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel, said latch member including a relatively thick washer-like body having a front end face opposing the rear end face of the barrel, a limited peripheral region of said front end face of the body being relieved to provide a clearance space, a thin flexible ring of spring material sesured to said front end face of the body at a region diametrically opposed to said limited peripheral region and having a portion overlying said clearance space, a combined limit stop and latch pin mounted on the overlying portion of the ring and slidingly and yieldingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, and first, second and third spaced shoulders on said rea-r end face enlgageable by the latch pin to determine said first, second and terminal positions of the lock shaft respectively.

h `6. In an axial pin tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annula-r front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face o-f the barrel, an axial split tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and 4shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and axially removable annula-r cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and e-ncircling said shaft head, fixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation o-f the cap, said shaft being`rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun termi-nal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel, said latch member including a relatively thick washer-like body having a front end face opposing the rear end face of the barrel, a limited peripheral region of said front end face of the body being relieved to provide a clearance space, a thin flexible ring of spring material secured to said front end face of the body at a region diametrically opposed to said limited peripheral region and having a portion overlying said clearance space, a combined limit stop and latch pin mounted on the overlying portion of the ring and slidingly and yieldingly bearing against the rear end face of said barrel, and first, second and third spaced shoulders on said rea-r end face engageable by the latch pin to determine said first, second and terminal positions of the lock shaft respectively, there being small diameter access bores in said cap and `barrel respectively and in axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of said latch pin by a pinlike latch-'releasing tool projected through said access bores, accompanied by flexing of the overlying portion of the ring into said clearance space, and consequent withdrawal of the latch pin from said second shoulder to allo-w the lock shaft to be moved to its terminal position.

7. In an axial pin-tumble-r lock assembly, the combination set forth in claim 6 and wherein said first and second shoulders on the rear end face of the barrel define therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in one radial plane, and wherein said second and third shoulders on the rear end face of the barrel define therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in a second radial plane reanwardly of said one radial plane.

8. In an axial pin-tumbler lock assembly, in combination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and annular lfront and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore `and having 'an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel land shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly iat the head for cooperating with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly and laxially lremovable annular cap positioned -forwardly of the barrel land encircling said shaft head, ixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and having a front end face opposing the rear end face of the barrel, there being a socket in said front end face, a combined limit stop and latch pin slidable in said socket, spring means disposed within the socket and yieldingly urging said latch pin against the rear end face of said barrel, and first, second and third spaced shoulders on said rear end face engageable by the latch pin to determine said first, second and terminal positions of the lock shaft respectively, there being small diameter raccess bores in cap and barrel respectively and in axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of said latch pin by -a latch-releasing tool projected through said access bores and consequent withdrawal of the latch pin from said second shoulder to allow the lock shaft to be moved to its terminal position.

9. In an axial pin-tumbler lock assembly, the combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second shoulders on the rear end face of the b-arrel dene therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in one radial plane,' and wherein said second and third shoulders on the rear end `face of the barrel define therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in .a second radial plane Irearwardly of said one radial plane.

10. In an axial pin-tumbler lock assembly, in cornbination, an open-ended, non-rotatable tubular barrel having an axial bore and `annular front and rear end faces, a lock shaft rotatable within said bore and having an enlarged head presenting a rear end face in rotative sliding contact with said front end face, an axial split pin tumbler arrangement including cooperating barrel and shaft pins, said shaft pins projecting forwardly of the head for cooperation with a key and being freely removable endwise from the shaft head for purposes of pin interchange, a forwardly .and axially removable annular cap positioned forwardly of the barrel and encircling said shaft head, iixed interengaging means on the cap and barrel preventing rotation of the cap, said shaft being rotatable from a first angular unlocked position, through a second angular locked position, to a third overrun terminal position, slidable interengaging means on the cap and shaft head normally preventing removal of the cap, said slidable interengaging means permitting forward removal of the cap when the lock shaft is in its terminal position, a collar-like latch member mounted on and rotatable with the lock shaft rearwardly of the barrel and having a front end face opposing the rear end face of the barrel, there being a socket in said Ifront end face, a combined limit stop and latch slidable in said socket, spring means disposed within the socket tand yieldingly urging said latch pin against the rear end face of said barrel, and first, second and third spaced shoulders yon said rear end face engageable by the latch pin to determine said first, second and termin-a1 positions of the lock shaft respectively, there being small diameter access bores in cap and barrel respectively and in .axial alignment with said latch pin when the latter is in position against said second shoulder to permit depression of said latch pin by a latch-releasing tool projected through said access bore and consequent Withdrawal of the latch pin from said` second shoulder to allow the lock shaft to lbe moved to its terminal position, the rear end face of said latch member being `formed with a recess therein, and a retaining member disposed within said recess and interlocking with said lock shaft for preventing rearward shifting of the latch member on the lock shaft.

11. In an axial pin-tumbler lock assembly, the cornbination set forth in claim 10, wherein said first and second shoulders on the rear end face of the barrel dene therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in one radial plane, and wherein said second and third shoulders on the rear end face of the barrel define therebetween an arcuate path of sliding movement for the latch pin in a second radial plane rearwardlyof said one radial plane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,412 9/1964 Christopher 70-363 EDWARD c. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN AXIAL PIN TUMBLER LOCK ASSEMBLY, IN COMBINATION, AN OPEN-ENDED, NON-ROTATABLE TUBULAR BARREL HAVING AN AXIAL BORE AND ANNULAR FRONT AND REAR END FACES, A LOCK SHAFT ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID BORE AND HAVING AN ENLARGED HEAD PRESENTING A REAR END FACE IN ROTATIVE SLIDING CONTACT WITH SAID FRONT END FACE OF THE BARREL, AN AXIAL SPLIT PIN TUMBLER ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING COOPERATING BARREL AND SHAFT PINS, SAID SHAFT PINS PROJECTING FORWARDLY OF THE HEAD FOR COOPERATION WITH A KEY AND BEING FREELY REMOVABLE ENDWISE FROM THE SHAFT HEAD FOR PURPOSED OF PIN INTERCHANGE, A FORWARDLY AND AXIALLY REMOVABLE ANNULAR CAP POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF THE BARREL AND ENCIRCLING SAID SHAFT HEAD, FIXED INTERENGAGING MEANS ON THE CAP AND BARREL PREVENTING ROTATION OF THE CAP, SAID SHAFT BEING ROTATABLE FROM A FIRST ANGULAR UNLOCKED POSITION, THROUGH A SECOND ANGULAR LOCKED POSITION, TO A THIRD OVERRUN TERMINAL POSITION, SLIDABLE INTERENGAGING MEANS ON THE CAP AND SHAFT HEAD NORMALLY PREVENTING REMOVAL OF THE CAP, SAID SLIDABLE INTERENGAGING MEANS PERMITTING FORWARD REMOVAL OF THE CAP WHEN THE LOCK SHAFT IS IN ITS TERMINAL POSITION, A COLLAR-LIKE LATCH MEMBER MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE WITH THE LOCK SHAFT REARWARDLY OF THE BARREL AND INCLUDING AN AXIALLY SHIFTABLE LATCH PIN YIELDINGLY AND SLIDINGLY BEARING AGAINST THE REAR END FACE OF SAID BARREL, FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD SPACED SHOULDERS ON SAID REAR END FACE OF THE BARREL ENGAGEABLE BY THE LATCH PIN TO DETERMINE SAID FIRST, SECOND AND TERMINAL POSITIONS OF THE LOCK SHAFT RESPECTIVELY, THERE BEING ACCESS OPENINGS IN SAID CAP AND BARREL IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LATCH PIN WHEN THE LATTER IS IN POSITION AGAINST SAID SECOND SHOULDER TO PERMIT DEPRESSION OF THE LATCH PIN BY A SUITABLE PIN-LIKE TOOL AND CONSEQUENT WITHDRAWAL OF THE LATCH PIN FROM SAID SECOND SHOULDER TO ALLOW THE LOCL SHAFT TO BE MOVED TO ITS TERMINAL POSITION.

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