US3386271A - Combination padlock - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1968 L.l H. MORIN 3,386,271

COMBINATION PADLocK Filed May 2o, 196e I INVENTOR.

0a/5 #M0/fw IF 55 BY i? O O Ii g'. B.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,386,27 l CGMBINATION PADLOCK Louis H. Morin, Bronx, NX., assigner' to Coats & Clark Inc., New York, NSY., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,742 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-25) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A combination padlock having settable combination wheels and manual means for changing the combination when said padlock is in open position.

This invention relates to padlocks comprising two casings, within and between which a hasp is slidably and rotatably mounted and, wherein, a plurality of insignia wheels are rotatable about the mounting end portion of the hasp, with cooperating means on the hasp and said wheels controlling a predetermined combination setting, facilitating movement of the hasp into open position and, particularly, wherein the wheels have a multiplicity of key grooves or the like for enlarging upon the number of combinations that can be produced by the padlock. More particularly, the invention deals Iwith a padlock structure employing manually operated means, facilitating movement of the hasp and control elements arranged thereon into a position facilitating freedom of movement of the wheels in the operation of changing the combination of the padlock.

Still more particularly, the invention deals in a padlock structure, `wherein the wheels, as well as other parts associated with the wheels, can be formed as `die castings, thereby eliminating machine operations and, accordingly,

economizing on the cost of construction of the combinathe section being substantially on the line 1 1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the padlock, as seen in FIG. l, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of FIG. l, with parts of the structure broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of a number of wheel keying sleeves, which are employed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view, generally similar to FIG. 1, showing a modified form of padlock.

FIG. 6A is a detail plan of part of the padlock shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a section on the broken line 7 7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a face view of one of the insignia wheels as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawing.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, `I have shown one adaptation of my invention, wherein the padlock comprises a body 10, composed of t-wo -generally similar hollow casings 11, 11', the casing being delined by top walls 12, 12', bottom walls 13, 13 and end walls 14, 14', these walls all being integrally joined by the sides of the casings. The casings include crossframe portions 15, 15. One of the registering end Walls of the casings are recessed at spaced intervals to form apertures 16, 16 for reception of a ice hasp 17. The top walls 12, 12' are further recessed to form spaced viewing apertures 18.

The crossframe 15 includes integral projecting rivets 19 which engage apertures 20 in the crossframe 15', as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, and these rivets secure the two casings 11, 11 together.

The crossframes 15, 15 are also recessed to form registering apertures 21, best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing. These apertures provide freedom o-f rotation of insignia wheels, later described. The crossframes also are recessed where they abut to form keyways 22, one of which is seen in section in FIG. 3, but otherwise clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The hasp 17 includes a reduced shank 23, on which are mounted three wheel keying sleeves 24 and spacers 25 between the sleeves. This assemblage is secured in position by the rivet end 26 of the shank, as will be apparent. Insignia wheels 27 are mounted in the apertures 18 and register with the apertures 21, these Wheels having suitable insignia 28 on the periphery thereofand spaced circumferentially of the periphery, such as a series of nurnbers l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0. However, any type of characterizations can be used. Each of the wheels 27 have, in the bore thereof, circumferentially spaced alined key grooves 29, similar in number to the characters employed and registering substantially centrally therewith, as -will be apparent from the illustration of FIG. 3 of the drawmg.

Each of the sleeves 24 have alined projecting keys 30 at one side thereof which are adapted to operatively engage alined grooves 29 on the wheels 27. The other side of each of the sleeves 24 has an annular liange 31, note FIG. 4, including a projecting key 32 normally positioned out of engagement with the keyways 22, but adapted to engage these keyways in opening the padlock and in changing the combination of the padlock, as later described.

At one side of each of the wheels 27 are circumferentially spaced pairs of lugs 33, note FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawing. These are adapted to be engaged by beads 34 on springs 35 mounted in the casing part 11, as indicated ldiagrammatically in dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawing. One of these springs will be adjacent each of the three wheels 27, which are shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. These springs serve to provide a click in the adjustment of the wheels for movement of the proper numbers into registration with the apertures 18 and, further, to retain the wheels in this position in movement of the hasp 17 into open position or, in other words, where the lock end 17 thereof has cleared the aperture 16', note FIG. 1. The proper registration of the wheels will be further facilitated by using arrow markings or the like on one of the casings 11, 11 adjacent the apertures 18. By way of illustration, arrows, such as the arrow 36 of FIG. 6A, later described, would be illustrative.

At 37 I have shown an oifset slide mounted between the casings .11, 11. One end portion 38 of the slide has, at its free end, a keyway 39, the function of which will be later described. The other end portion itl of the slide has an offset tingerpiece 41, which projects into a recess 42 formed between the two casings to facilitate finger engagement therewith in manual actuation of the slide. The slide 37 also includes, within the casing, a substantially L-shaped housing portion 43 forming a seat for one end of a coilspring 44, the other end of which seats upon a platform 45 on the bottom walls 13, 13 of the casings.

Assuming that the padlock, as shown, has been adjusted so that the wheels 27 have been properly adjusted to put pre-known numerals such, for example, as 2, 3 and 6 into registration Iwith the apertures 18, reading from left to right, the padlock then is in position for moving the hasp 17 into open position, in other Words, to the right,

as shown in FIG. 1. All of the keys 32 are in alinement with the keyways 22 and the hasp will move suriiciently to clear the padlock end 17' from the aperture 16', this movement being checked by the upper end 38 of the slide 37. Engagement of the keys 32 with the respective keyways 22 will positively retain all of the wheels against rotary movement and the hasp will be ree to rotate1 as will be apparent.

Now, -when it is desired to alter the combination, the slide 37 is moved into a lowered position by hand against the action of the coilspring 44, until the keyway 39 registers with the adjacent keyway Z2. This will provide an additional movement of the hasp to the right, clearing all of the keys 3@ from the key grooves 29 of the respective wheels 27. The wheels may then be rotated to bring any other numbers or characters in registration with the apertures I8; whereupon, the hasp I7 is moved inwardly with the keys 36 passing into the key grooves 29 then in alinement therewith and the parts can be returned to the normal closed position, shown in FIG. l. In this operation, the slide is released and the coilspring 44 returns the same to the normal operative position.

After the hasp has been fully returned, the several wheels are then rotated to break the visual combination and, to again open the padlock, it will be necessary to bring the newly selected combination of numerals or the like into registering position with the apertures 1S.

In FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive, I have shown a modified form of combination padlock of a simpler structural arrangement. In these figures, the padlock is generally elliptical in cross-sectional form, as seen in FIG. 7, and comprises two casing parts 46, 46', the part 46 including a pair of integral rivet pins 47 which are riveted to the casing 46', as seen at 4S in FIG. 7.

At 49 is shown a hasp, generally of the contour of the hasp i7, the hasp having a long end portion Sil', which is slidable and rotatable in the casings and with respect to the aperture 51 formed between the casings. At 52 is sho-wn the padlock end portion of the hasp which is retained in and slidable in the aperture 53 formed between the casings. The end portion S of the hasp has three longitudinally spaced and alined keys 54, which operate in keyways 55, formed between the casing parts, as clearly seen in FIG. 7.

At 56 I have shown three insignia wheels having bevelled surfaces 57 at one side, upon which suitable insignia 58 is arranged, this being in the form of the numerals 1 to O, inclusive, as will appear from a consideration of FIG. 7 of the drawing. These are integrally formed in the die casting or molding of the wheels 56. In the casting or molding of the wheels 56, short grooves, notches or depressions 59 are formed exposed through the opposed surface of the wheels 56 and one long key groove 60 is formed. In other words, there will be nine of the short grooves 59 and one only of the key grooves 60 on each wheel. To simplify the illustration, all of the grooves 66 are shown in alinement in FIG. 6 of the drawing. It will be understood, however, that, for proper solution of the combination, all of the grooves 60 will assume a position at 180 to that shown in FIG. 6 or, in other words, in alinement with the keys 54 for releasing the hasp for movement into open position. It might here be well to -point out that movement of the intermediate wheel, shown in FIG. 6, or, in other words, the wheels 56 shown in elevation in FIG. 7, to the proper combination position, the numeral 3 would appear where the numeral 8 is now shown in registration with the arrow 36 of FIG. 6A. This marking has been referred to in the description of the showing in the earlier figures. However, in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the arrow 36 is a molded part of each of the casings 46, 46' on the upper surface 61 thereof which will collectively define the arrow-like structure, the arrow being at the top center of the casings and on the parting line of the casings.

With the structure shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive, there would be no means for changing the combination.

However, from the standpoint of trying to ind the combination, it will take many different settings of each of the three wheels one with respect to the other before all of the wheels will have the proper grooves 60 in alinement. With any other setting, opening movement of the hasp 49 will be checked by the shortness of the key grooves, notches or `depressions 59.

Combination padlocks of the type and kind under consideration can be made exceedingly small and, from this standpoint, the illustrations in the accompanying drawing can be regarded as enlarged showings.

In connection with the two types of padlocks disclosed, it will be apparent that padlocks can be produced with a minimum of two but more than three wheels, depending upon the extent of control which is desired. Further, with both of the padlocks, wheels can be freely spun after the hasp is in the locked position. Thus, re-opening of the padlock will require the proper setting of the wheels which will permit movement of the hasp into open position.

Having fully described lmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I. A combination padlock comprising a lock body formed from a pair of generally similar casing parts, one casing part having a pair of integral pin portions arranged in and riveted to the other casing part in forming said lock body, a hasp having a long wheel supporting end portion and a short locking end portion, the casing parts collectively forming apertures in which said end portions of the hasp operate, the upper portion of the casing parts collectively forming spaced apertures, insignia wheels mounted on the long end portion ofthe hasp and operating in said last named aperture for exposure of insignia on the wheels, key means spaced longitudinally of the long end portion of the hasp, the casing parts having keyways, in which said key means operate in movement of the hasp into open and closed positions, said wheels having key grooves engaged by said key means in controlling proper combination setting for free movement of the hasp into open position, said key means of said hasp comprising spaced sleeves on the long end portion of the hasp, each of said wheels having circumferentially spaced key grooves, said sleeves having keys adjustably engaging the key grooves of said wheels in controlling the combination setting of said wheels, and means movably supported in the lock body engaged by one of said wheels in checking movement of the hasp into open position.

2. A padlock as delined in claim 1, wherein said last named means is manually operated and movable into inoperative position to provide extended movement of the hasp permitting free rotation of the wheels in revision of the combination of the lock.

3. A padlock as defined in claim 2, lwherein said last named means comprises a slide, and tensional means for normally supporting the slide in operative position.

4. A padlock as defined in claim '3, wherein said slide includes a finger engaging portion exposable externally of the lock body.

5. A padlock as defined in claim 1, wherein the key -grooves of said wheels are radially alined with respect to insignia characters spaced circumferentially of the periphery of the wheels.

6. A padlock as defined in claim 5, wherein a spring engages a surface of each wheel and engages means on each wheel for retention of the insignia characters in registration with the openings in the upper portion of the lock body.

7. In padlocks of the character described, a lock body, a hasp movable into open and closed positions with respect to said body, a plurality of insignia wheels rotatable in said body and exposed through apertures therein, said wheels rotating about one long end portion of the hasp, said end portion of the hasp having sleeves spaced longitudinally thereof and corresponding in number to the number of wheels employed, each wheel having circumferentially spaced key grooves, each sleeve having key means operatively engaging the grooves in said wheel, said sleeves having other key means operatively engaging keyways in the lock body in movement of the hasp into open and closed positions, and means movably supported 5 in the lock body normally checking movement of the hasp into open position in the proper combination setting of the insignia characters of said wheels.

8. A padlock as dened in claim 7, wherein said last named means is manually movable into position providing disengagement of the first named key means of said sleeves with the key grooves of said wheels in changing the combination setting of said wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 906,354 12/1908 Wrlla 70--28 1,940,789 12/1933 Diaz 70-316 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1945 France. 4/1951 France.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiner.

E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner.

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