US3379040A

US3379040A - Pushbutton lock

Info

Publication number: US3379040A
Application number: US529308A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shimono Junichi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-02-23
Filing date: 1966-02-23
Publication date: 1968-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-23

Description

FIG. I

April 23, 1968 Filed Feb. 23, 1966 INVENTOR. Jazz/d7! 5/11770/20 IQI IOP I02 IQO FIG. 2

FIG. 3

April 23, 1968 JUNlCHl SHIMONO PUSHBUTTON LOCK 1O Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 100 IIOO' 9 I00 :02 I00 r IOWTI FIG.4 3

INVENTOR. JM/fl/ 677M050 April 1953 JUNICHI 'SHIMONO PUSHBUTTON LOCK 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1966 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. Jwz'afiz' 517222027 Apr l 1968 JUNICHI SHIMONO PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 25, 1966 10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG. IO

FIG. 8

FIG. n'

FIG. 9

INVENTOR. (ZJZIZZ/ZZ' 5/727270/20 April 1963 JUNICHI SHIMONO 3,

PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 1 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. l2 FIG. I4

FIG. l5 FIG. I5

April 23, 1963 JUNICHI SHIMONO 3,379,040

PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 v 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. i8 FIG. l6

2| 8 2o &1 I |o5- 45' o .4402 23 22 J i? 10 43 i 5 Q 11 68" 1 FIG. 9

FIG. I? v Q FIG. 20

32 3| lg l l' 33 d 29 I8'\ ODI9 30 INVENTOR.

April 23, 1968 JUNICHI SHIMONO 3,379,040

PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 1 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 2i FEG. 22

FIG. 23

April 23, 1968 JUNICHI SHIMONO 3, 9, 0

PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 10 Sheets-Sheet a 84 FIG. 31 5 FL l l I I l 4 l J 1 l I X 3 5' 7o/72\7476)78-)8o a2 Q FIG. 32 s 84 5 7o 72 74 76 78 80 a2 69 7| 73 7s 77 79 BI FIG. 33 5 INVENTOR.

Jz/mafiz'jfimam April 1968 JUNICHI SHIMONO 3,

PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 FlG. 35

INVENTOR. Jzifiz'cf/z' 5776720120 filial-my.

April 1968. JUNlCHl SHIMONO 3,

U PUSHBUTTON LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1966 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O United States Patent 3,379,040 PUSHBUTTON LOCK Junichi Shimono, 144 Z-chome, Torimi-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-511i, Japan Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,308 8 Claims. (Cl. 70--313) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure deals with a lock having in a casing 21 slidable bolt with a multitude of transverse notches, and a multitude of tumbler elements individually movable into and from register with respective bolt notches in locked bolt position. One handle each on the front and rear side of the casing may independently be operated simultaneously to move all tumbler elements into a certain position in which all but a select number thereof are out of register with the respective bolt notches, thereby locking the bolt in lock position with the select tumbler elements. Another handle on the rear side of the casing may be operated simultaneously to move all select tumbler elements from register with the respective bolt notches to thereby release the bolt in its locked position for movement into its unlock position. Further provided on the front side of the casing are handles, one for each tumbler element, of which those associated with the select tumbler elements are individually operable to move the latter out of register with the respective bolt notches, while the remaining handles are individually operable to move the associated tumbler elements into register with their bolt notches.

The present invention relates to locks of pushbutton type which are operable without keys.

A lock of keyless type is usually provided with a dial set on the door of a room or a safe and exposed on the outside. In such construction the lock is operated by rotating the dial with reference to figures or letters on the dial according to a sequence determined previously by the user and thereby working the mechanisms built in the lock body. This kind of lock is, however, rather complicated and also has serious drawbacks in that the lock can be opened fairly easily by skilled strangers by touch or by listening to the sound produced when turning the dial of the lock.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a keyless lock in which the above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated and which can be closed or opened with certainly either from the inside or the outside. It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a lock of this type which is structurally very simple and easy to operate.

The lock according to this invention will now be described in detail by way of example of an embodiment thereof with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the lock according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another front view of the lock with its front cover opened;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lock;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the lock enclosure and showing many of the operating parts therein in front view;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section through the lock enclosure and showing many of the operating parts therein in top view;

FIG. 6 is another horizontal section through the lock enclosure and showing many of the operating parts therein in bottom view;

FIG. 7 is anexploded view of a main operating unit 7 of the lock, showing the parts thereof disassembled and in section;

FIGS. 8 through 12 are cross sections through the lock substantially as taken on the lines 8-8 to 1212, respectively, in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a section similar to FIG. 12, but showing certain operating parts in different positions;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section through the lock taken substantially on the line 1414 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a section similar to FIG. 14, but showing certain parts in different positions;

FIG. 16 is another cross-section through the lock taken substantially on the line 1616 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 17 through 27 show various detail members of the lock;

FIG. 28 is a front view of the shaft of the lock;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of the same shaft;

FIG. 30 is an end view of the same shaft;

FIG. 31 is a front view of the bolt of the lock;

FIG. 32 is a plan view of the same bolt;

FIG. 33 is an end view of the same bolt;

FIG. 34 is a cross-section through the lock taken substantially on the line 34-34 in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 35 and 36 are sections similar to FIG. 34, but showing certain parts in different operating positions;

FIG. 37 is a cross-section through the lock taken substantially on the line 3737 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 38 and 39 are sections similar to FIG. 37, but showing certain parts in different operating positions;

FIG. 40 is a cross-section through the lock taken substantially on the line 4040 of FIG. 6; and FIGS. 41 and 42 are sections similar to FIG. 40, but showing certain parts in different operating positions.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 designates a generally cylindrical fixed lock shaft or bar having a tapped hole 2 in one end. On the other end of the lock shaft 1 there are provided a flange 3 and a bar 4 (FIGS. 28, 29 and 30). Provided in one side of the lock shaft 1 is a groove 6 for sliding reception of a lock bolt 5. Shaft 1 is further provided with opposite grooves 7. A notch 8 in the flange 3 is continuous with the groove 6 and fits over and retains the lock bolt 5 in the shaft groove 6. The lock bolt 5 is shown in detail in FIGS. 31 to 33. Among the parts assembled with the shaft 11 (FIG. 7), part 9 is an end plate (see also FIG. 27) having a stop bar 10 and stop

pins

11, 12 and 13. End plate 9 is also provided with

key formations

14, 14 received in the

grooves

7, 7 of shaft 1. End plate 9 has an aperture 16 for receiving shaft 1, with a notch portion 15 of the aperture being identical and in alignment with notch 8 in the shaft flange 3. Numeral 17 denotes another end plate of rectangular shape (see also FIG. 17) on which there is provided a hole 10' in which the free end of the stop bar 10 is mounted. Provided on end plate 17 in line with the stop pins 11, 12 and 13 on the other end plate 9 are stop pins 11, 12' and 13' and there is in end plate 17 also a hole 18 for mounting therein the adjacent end of the fixed shaft ,1, and a hole 19 for passage of the lock bolt 5 which is slidably fitted in the groove 6 and the notch 8 in the shaft 1. Numeral 20 (FIG. 18) designates a washer having

key formations

21, 21 and also an aperture 23 with a notch portion 22 for fitted reception of the shaft 1 and bolt 5. In the present example, six identical washers 20 are used (FIGS. 4 and 7). Numeral 24 (FIG. 19) denotes a washer of the same size and shape as the washer 20 (FIG. 18). In this example, ten washers 24 are used (FIGS. 4 and 7). Like the washers 20, the washers 24 have

key formations

25, 25 and shaft apertures 27 with bolt guiding notch portions 26. Numeral 28 (FIG. 20) denotes a false or make-believe tumbler element or ring of which there are seven used in the present example (FIGS. 4 and 7). Each tumbler ring 28 has an aperture 30 for receiving the lock shaft and a notch portion 29 of the same shape and size as the notch 8 in the shaft flange 3 (FIG. 30). Each of these tumbler rings 28 is also provided with spaced

teeth

31 and 32 above and to one side of the stop bar 10 (FIG. 12), and is further provided underneath the stop bar 10 with a finger 33. Numeral 34 (FIG. 21) denotes a tumbler element or ring which in the exemplary lock operation is designated for a single pushbutton operation, and which is provided with an aperture 36 for receiving the lock shaft 1 and a notch portion 35 similarly as the tumbler ring 28 (FIG. 20). There are two of these rings 34 used in the present example (FIGS. 4 and 7). Each of these tumbler rings 34 is provided with

teeth

37 and 38 and a finger 39 at relative locations corresponding to the

teeth

31 and 32 and the finger 33 of the tumbler ring 28 (FIG. 20). The arrangement is such that when the notch portion 35 of either tumbler ring 34 aligns with the notch portion in the end plate 9, the tooth 37 of this ring 34 will be in the same angular position as the teeth 32 on the tumbler rings 28 (FIGS. 14 and 12). There is further provided on each tumbler ring 34 another finger 40. Numeral 41 (FIG. 22) denotes a tumbler element or ring which in the exemplary lock operation is designated for a two-time pushbutton operation, and which is provided with an aperture 43 for receiving the lock shaft and a notch portion 42 similarly as the tumbler ring 34 (FIG. 21). There is one tumbler ring 41 used in the present example (FIGS. 4 and 7). This ring 41 is provided with

teeth

44 and 45 and a finger 46 at relative locations corresponding to the

teeth

37 and 38 and the finger 39 of the tumbler ring 34 (FIG. 21). The arrangement is such that when the notch portion 42 of the tumbler ring 41 is in alignment with the notch portion 15 in the end plate 9, the tooth 44 of ring 41 will be in the same angular position as the tooth 38 of the tumbler ring 34 (FIGS. 16 and 15). The tumbler ring 41 is further provided with another finger 47. Numeral 48 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 23) denotes an unlocking ring having an aperture 50 for receiving the lock shaft 1 and a notch portion 49 similarly as the tumbler ring 28 (FIG. This unlocking ring 48 is provided with a peripheral lug 51 and also with a tooth 52 which are in the angular position shown in FIG. 10 when the notch portion 49 thereof aligns with the notch portion 15 in the end plate 9. Numeral 53 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 24) denotes an unlocking ring which is a companion to and used with the unlocking ring 48 (FIGS. 10 and 11). This unlocking ring 53 has an aperture 55 for receiving the lock shaft 1 and a notch portion 54 similarly as the unlocking ring 48, and further has a peripheral lug 56. Extending between and carried by the

lugs

51 and 56 of the unlocking

rings

48 and 53 is a bar 57 (FIGS. 4 and 7 Numeral 58 (FIGS. 4, 7 and designates a locking ring having an aperture 60 for receiving the lock shaft 1 and a notch portion 59 similarly as the ring 28 (FIG. 20), and further having a peripheral lug 61. The locking ring 58 has also

teeth

62 and 63 in the respective positions shown in FIG. 8 when the notch portion 59 thereof aligns with the notch portion 15 in the end plate 9. Numeral 64 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 26) designates a locking ring which is a companion to the locking ring 58, with said locking ring 64 having a shaft aperture 66 and notch portion 65, as well as a peripheral lug 67. Extending between and carried by the

lugs

67 and 61 on the locking rings 64 and 58 is a bar 68 (FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGS 31, 32 and 33 which show the lock bolt 5 in detail, numerals 69 to 82 denote notches between rack tooth formations on the bolt which align, in the order shown from left to right in FIG. 4, with unlocking ring 53, locking ring 58, tumbler rings 28, 28, 34, 28, 28, 34, 41, 28, 28, 28, unlocking ring 48, and locking ring 64. These notches 69 to 82 are spaced from each other by the thickness of the

intermediate washers

20 and 24. A permanent magnet 84 is carried by the lock bolt 5 at a distance from the end notch 82 equal to the combined thickness of the intermediate washer 20, end plate 9, washer 20, and shaft flange 3 (FIG. 4), and in the adjacent end of the lock bolt there is provided a slot 85 and parallel transverse pins 86 and 86'.

In assembling the lock shaft 1 and the parts thereon, the lock shaft is inserted through these

parts

9, 20, 24, 28, 34, 41, 48, 53, 58 and 64 in the order shown from right to left in FIG. 4, and in such manner that the described notch portions in these parts align with the notch 8 in the shaft fiange 3 (FIG. 30) for longitudinal slide-in of the lock bolt 5. One end of the lock shaft 1 and the end plate 17 are provided with the aforementioned bores 2 and 18 (FIGS. 17 and 30) for mounting shaft 1 in end plate 17 through intermediation of a stub (not shown). The free end of the stop bar 10 is fixed in a hole 10' in the end plate 17. The

bars

68 and 57 are assembled with the

lugs

67, 61 of the

rings

64, 58 and with the

lugs

56, 51 of the

rings

53, 48, respectively (FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8 to 11). The bar extension 4 of shaft 1 is fixedly mounted in any suitable manner in an end plate 118 (FIG. 4), and the shaft 1 is thus finish-mounted against rotation and against axial motion. Springs 87 and 88 are provided between the unlocking ring 48 and casing 83 and between the locking ring 58 and casing 83 (FIGS. 10 and 8). Spring 87 normally holds the lug 51 on ring 48 in engagement with the stop pin 13 (FIGS. 4 and 10), and spring 88 normally holds the lug 61 on ring 58 in engagement with the stop pin 12' (FIGS. 6 and 8).

Numeral 89 designates a handle element, preferably a pushbutton, for operating the unlocking ring 48 (FIGS. 3 and 10). The pushbutton 89 has a pawl formation 90 in line with the tooth 52 of ring 48, with the head of the pushbotton projecting from the rear plate 91 of the casing 83 (FIG. 10). Numerals 92 and 93 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 8) denote handle elements, preferably pushbuttons, for operating the locking ring 58. These

pushbuttons

92 and 93 are provided with pawl formations 94 and 95, respectively, which are in line with the

teeth

63 and 62 on ring 58, with the heads of the

pushbuttons

92 and 93 projecting from the rear plate 91 and the front plate 96, respectively, of the casing. Applied to the

pushbuttons

89, 92, and 93 are return springs 97, 98 and 99 (FIGS. 10 and 8).

Numerals

100, 101 and 102 (FIG. 2) denote handle elements, preferably pushbuttons, for operating the tumbler rings 28, 34 and 41, respectively. These

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102 are in this example arranged in numbers of 7, 2 and 1, respectively, to coincide with the respective numbers of tumbler rings 28, 34 and 41. Applied to the

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102 are

return springs

103, 104 and 105 (FIGS. 12, 14 and 16). Carried by the

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102 are pawls 109, and 111, respectively, which are projected into operative position by springs 106, 107 and 108 (FIGS. 12, 14 and 16). The

pawls

109, 110 and 111 are in operative alignment with the

teeth

32 and 31 of the rings 28, with the

teeth

38 and 37 of the rings 34, and with the

teeth

45 and 44 of the ring 41, respectively. These pawls and teeth are adapted to cooperate on pushbutton depression indexing the tumbler rings 28, 34 and 41 through a fixed angle with each single inward push or depression of the

buttons

100, 101 and 102. The heads of these

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102 project from the front plate 96 of the casing, and the same are inscribed with distinguishing marks, preferably consecutive numerals. Numerals 112 (FIG. 4) denotes a leaf spring fixed to the casing. There are used ten of these springs in the present example. Thwe springs 112 bear against the tumbler rings 28, 34 and 41 to prevent them from backing up on spring-return of the associated

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102 to normal position. Numerals-113 and 114 (FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6) denote handles for advancing and retracting the lock bolt 5, with these

handles

113 and 114 projecting through the front plate 96 and the rear plate 91of the casing for manipulation thereat. The handles 113 and 114 (FIGS. 5 and 6) project between the

pins

86 and 86 on the lock bolt 5. Also provided on the

handles

113 and 114 are pins 115 and 116 on which are anchored the ends of a preloaded spring 117 to facilitate operation of the handles 11 3 and 114 into lock-open position. Numeral 119 (FIG. 2) designates a small electric bulb for lighting the front plate 96 of the lock. The bulb will be switched on or off by a switch 121 which opens the bulb circuit when the hinged front cover 120 (FIG. 1) is closed, and which closes the bulb circuit when this front cover 120 is opened. Numerals 89 and 92 (FIG. 4 designate insert apertures in the rear plate of the casing 83 for the

pushbuttons

80 and 92, and the

numerals

93', 100, 101 and 102' designate insert apertures in the same rear plate for the

pushbuttons

93, 100, 101 and 102. Numeral 122 (FIG. 1) designates a window in the cover 120 through which to expose to view names or other information.

Operation of the lock according to this invention will now be described. Thus, when the front cover 120 is opened, the

pushbuttons

100, 101 and 102, the pushbutton 93, the handle 113 and the bulb 119, are exposed to view. The switch 121 is then closed and the bulb 119 lighted. To close the lock from the outside, handle 113 is operated into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to shift the lock bolt 5 into the illustrated locked position at which time the magnet 84 is adjacent and attracted to the shaft flange 3. Pushbutton 93 is then depressed inwardly with the result that the

rings

58, 64 and bar 68 therebetween are turned counter to the spring 88. In the course of this pushbutton effected rotation of the action bar 68, the latter rotates the tumbler rings 34, 34 and 41 through the

fingers

39, 39 and 46 into the locking positions shown in FIGS. 37 and 40 in which these fingers are in engagement with the stop bar 10. When the pushbutton 93 is released for spring return (FIG. 8), the

rings

58, 64 and bar 68 therebetween are also restored to normal position by the spring 88. However, the tumbler rings 34, 34 and 41 will remain in the angular locking positions shown in FIGS. 37 and 40 in which they register with, i.e., project partly into, the

notches

73, 76 and 77, respectively, in the lock bolt 5 and thereby lock the latter against opening or retraction. Thus, the lock end 5' of the bolt will remain in the projected or lock position shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. With the bolt 5 now safely locked, the front cover 120 may be closed to cover the

pushbuttons

93, 100, 101 and 102, handle 113, and light bulb 119 and also extinguish the latter. For releasing or opening the lock, the front cover 120 is again opened and, in accordance with the exemplary unlockinng code of this lock, the

pushbuttons

101 and 101 are each pushed inwardly once and the pushbutton 102 is pushed inwardly twice. In this pushbutton operation, the tumbler rings 34, 34 are by single pushing of the associate-d pushbuttons 101 indexed to the position in FIG. 38, and the tumbler ring 41 is, by twice pushing the associated pushbutton 102, indexed first into the position in FIG. 41 and then into the postion in FIG. 42. With the tumbler rings 34, 34 and 41 thus indexed into these positions, their

respective notch portions

35 and 42 are in alignment with the corresponding notch portions in the remaining parts on the lock shaft 1 and also with the notch 8 in the shaft flange 3, wherefore the lock bolt 5 is then free for opening or retracting movement on appropriate manipulation of the handle 113, as will be readily understood. Thus, one familiar with the exemplary described code of operation of the lock may unlock the same with the described minimum pushbutton operations according to the inscribed numerals on the pushbuttons 100 to 102. If in an attempted unlocking operation anyone knowingly or unknowingly should push a button 100 (FIG. 12), for example, the lock will remain closed because such pushbutton operation will angularly shift the associated false tumbler ring 28 out of the normal bolt releasing position (FIG. 12) and into partial register with the notch 71 in the lock bolt 5 and thus lock the latter against opening regardless of what other pushbutton operations are undertaken. Further, if either pushbutton 101, which for unlocking is to be pushed only once is pushed twice by error, the associated tumbler ring 34 1s overdriven (FIG. 39) and partially registers with the aligned notch 73 in the lock bolt 5 and thereby arrests the latter even further in locking position. Further, if the pushbutton 102, which for unlocking is to be pushed twice, is pushed only once, the tumbler ring 41 is not unlocked from the bolt 5 but remains interlocked with the notch 77 thereof (FIG. 41). To release the lock after any of these abnormal or erroneous pushbutton operations for unlocking, a party knowing the operation of the lock will first depress pushbutton 93 (FIG. 8) and thereby activate the bar 68 to return the displaced tumbler rings 28, 34 and 41 to the respective locking positions in FIGS. 34, 3'7 and 40 in which their

respective fingers

33, 39 and 46 rest against the stop pin 10 and all tumbler rings assume angular positions for unlocking the lock on subsequent correct single operations of the pushbuttons 101 and operation twice of the pushbutton 102, as will be readily understood.

The above description dealt with the operation of the lock from the front or outside. In case of operating the lock from the rear or inside for locking the same, the handle 114 is operated to project the lock bolt 5 until the magnet 84 engages the shaft flange 3, whereupon button 92 is pushed (FIG. 8) whereby the

rings

58, 64 and bar 68 therebetween are turned against the tension of the spring 88,, with the bar 68 then turning the tumbler rings 34, 34 and 41 into the respective bolt-locking positions in FIGS. 37 and 40 in which their

respective fingers

39 and 46 engage the stop pin 10. Accordingly, the lock will thus remain locked until unlocked from the inside or outside. In order to unlock from the inside, the pushbutton 89 may be pushed (FIG. 10) whereby the

rings

48, 53 and the bar 57 therebetween are turned against the tension of the spring 87. Pushbutton rotation in this wise of the bar 57 causes rotation of the tumbler rings 34, 34 and 41 into the positions shown in FIGS. 38 and 42, respectively, in which their

notch portions

35 and 42 align with the corresponding notch portions in all parts on the shaft 1 and with the notch 8 in the shaft flange 3, so that the bolt 5 may then be opened or retracted on manipulation of the handle 114.

In the described exemplary embodiment, two tumbler rings 34 are used each for a single operational push, one tumbler ring 41 is used for a two-time push, and seven tumbler rings 28 are available for false or make-believe push operations. Obviously, however, the number of the above-mentioned tumbler rings may be varied and their operation may also be varied to many different codes for unlocking.

As will be apparent from the present exemplary lock, the invention features a multitude of pushbuttons for turning individual ones of a multitude of tumbler rings, and one pushbutton for simultaneously returning all pushbutton-displaced tumbler rings, to a locking position from which certain predetermined tumbler rings are displaced into bolt-releasing position on predetermined operation of the pushbutton or buttons designated for the purpose. The keyless lock according to this invention permits operation of any number of pushbuttons which are identical in appearance and size and, hence, afford no suggestion of the unlocking code. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for strangers to decipher the combination of the lock, and even experts trained in opening conventional key-operated locks cannot succeed in opening the present lock by sense of touch or sound, because no particular revealing clicks are felt or heard in operating the lock since any clicks are exactly the same in operating any or all of the pushbuttons. The lock according to this invention thus affords exceptional safety and, moreover, is of simple and low-cost construction.

What I claim is:

1. A keyless lock, having a casing with front and rear sides; a bolt mounted in said casing for sliding movement into lock and release positions and having a multitude of transverse teeth defining notches between them; two

handle members outside and on the front and rear sides, respectively, of said casing, with each member being independently operable for sliding said bolt; a multitude of tumbler elements mounted in said casing for individual movement into and from register with said notches, respectively, in said bolt in its lock position, with said bolt being arrested in said lock position against movement into its release position on registry of any of said tumbler elements with the associated bolt notch; a first device in said casing including two first handle elements outside and on the front and rear sides, respectively, of said casing, with each of said handle elements being independently manually operable to actuate said device to engage and move into a certain position all of said tumbler elements which are out of said certain position, with all but a certain number of said tumbler elements being in said certain position out of register with the associated bolt notches; a multitude of handles of individual operation outside and on the front side of said casing, of which first handles are operatively associated with said certain number of elements, respectively, to move the latter from said certain position into an unlock position in which they are out of register with the associated bolt notches on predetermined numbers of operations, respectively, of the associated first handles, and the remaining handles are operatively associated with the remaining tumbler elements, respectively, to move either of the latter from said certain position into register with the associated bolt notch on operation of the associated handle; and another device in said casing, including a handle element outside and on the rear side of said Casing and manually operable to actuate said other device to engage and move said certain number of elements into said unlock position, whereby said lock may be operated from the front and rear side of said casing.

2. A keyless lock as in claim 1, in which said handles and handle elements are normally spring-projected pushbuttons which for operation are depressible.

3. A keyless lock as in claim 2, in which said pushbuttons on at least the front side of said casing are identical in shape and normally project the same distance.

4. A keyless lock as in claim 1, in which said handles are identical pushbuttons having different markings and being normally spring-projected the same distance and depressible for operation.

5. A keyless lock as in claim 4, in which said markings are different numerals.

6. A keyless lock as in claim 1, which further has in said casing a fixed bar with a longitudinal groove, said bolt has front and rear sides and is guidingly received in said groove with its rear side and projects outside said groove with its front side in which said teeth and notches are formed, and said tumbler elements are rings turnable mounted on said bar and having in their inner peripheries notches which are of the same shape as said teeth, and said tumbler rings are by interposed spacers on said bar held in alignment with said bolt notches, respectively, so as to be turnable into and from register therewith.

7. A keyless look as in claim 6, in which said tumbler rings are provided with a plurality of peripheral teeth, and said handles have pawls cooperating with teeth on the associated tumbler rings to turn the latter on operation of the respective handles.

8. A keyless lock as in claim 6, in which said tumbler rings have peripheral fingers, and said first device provides two other rings turnable on said bar and flanking said tumbler rings thereon and a rod connecting said rings and engaging said fingers on said tumbler rings for turning the latter into said certain position on joint rotation of said other rings and rod from a home position, said other rings being in alignment with two of said bolt notches and having in their inner peripheries notches which are of the shape of said bolt teeth and align with the latter in said home position of said other rings, and spring means normally urging said other rings and rod into said home position, with said first handle elements being operable to turn said other rings and rod from said home position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,227,535 5/1917 Greif 313 1,483,993 2/1924 Sprowles et a1. 70306 1,525,954 2/1925 Romano 70-129 1,700,376 1/1929 Pimel 70-306 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.