US3455125A - Combination locks - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 A. r. DA SILVA COMBINATION'LOCKS a Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 27, 1967 INVENTOR filmugro TRVAKES 1M Sun/ 4- ATTORNEYS J l 15, 1969 A. T. DA SILVA 5 125 COMBINATION LOCKS Filed April 27, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5 71 F IG. 6

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BY W 3 M ATTORNEY$ United States Patent 3,455,125 COMBINATION LOCKS Augusto Tavares da Silva, Vale de Cambra, Portugal, assignor to Silva, Pinho & Cruz, Limitada, Vale de Cambra, Portugal Filed Apr. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 634,349 Int. Cl. E05b 37/00 US. Cl. 70186 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination lock having a key-operated rotary cylinder which can be turned from a given starting position thereof only when a blocking structure which normally blocks rotary movement of the cylinder is placed in a predetermined release position by providing for the lock a preselected combination of settings of dials thereof known only to persons who are properly authorized for operation of the lock. By turning the key-operated cylinder through a given angular increment from its starting position it is possible to place the lock in a condition where one preselected combination of dial settings can be changed for another preselected combination of dial settings which will enable the lock to be operated. The structure which normally blocks the keyoperated cylinder from rotary movement is immobilized by the presence of a key in the cylinder so that it is not possible to actuate the dials as long as a key is in the key-operated cylinder of the lock. The lock also has a structure which enables it to be set into a position releasing the key-operated cylinder for rotary movement with information received from the manufacturer of the lock, so that if the combination of dial settings required for operation of the lock should become lost or forgotten, it is possible with this information derived from the manufacturer to provide the combination of dial settings for operating the lock. In addition, when the lock is dismounted from the structure which normally carries the same, it has openings through which reference marks are visible when the lock is in a condition releasing its key-operated cylinder for rotary movement, so that in this way also it is possible to provide the combination of dial settings to operate the lock in the event that the old combination should become lost or forgotten. While the lock can be used for any door, box, window, or the like, it is also capable of use with a steering column of a vehicle to lock the steering column against unauthorized turning. Particularly in the case where the lock is associated with a steering column, it is situated within a housing from which it cannot be removed until the keyoperated cylinder is turned to a given angular position.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to looks.

In particular, the present invention relates to combination locks having a structure such as a dial structure which requires a preselected combination of settings to be made before the lock can be actuated.

While there are a great many known locks of this general type on the market, used for various purposes such as on doors, boxes, trunks, safes, and the like, they have secret combinations which cannot always remain unknown to unauthorized individuals who should not learn of these secret combinations. For example, some locks of this general type are operated by a key on the theory that it is not possible to turn the key and open the lock until a preselected combination of dial settings has been made. However, conventional locks of this type can quite often be operated with a false key. Moreover, some of these locks can be operated by individuals who through ice feel are capable of determining the combination required to operate the lock.

A further drawback of conventional locks of this type resides in the fact that considerably difficulties are encountered when it is desired to change one preselected combination of dial settings for another. Also, if it should happen that the combination required to operate the lock becomes lost or forgotten, very great difliculties are encountered before a person of proper authority is again in a position to operate the lock.

It is also known to use locks of the above general type in connection with the steering columns of vehicles to prevent operation of the latter except by authorized individuals. In this case not only do the locks themselves suffer from the above drawbacks, but in addition the structure for immobilizing the steering column of the vehicle presents great inconveniences. For example, in many types of structures of this type it is necessary for the steering column to have a given angular position before it can be locked, and this requirement limits the positioning of the wheels of the vehicle when it is stopped and locked. Furthermore, constructions of this latter type suffer from the drawback of enabling the lock structure together with the catch for the steering column to be removed from the vehicle, so that without any requirement of knowledge of any secret combination it is possible for an unauthorized individual simply to remove the lock and the catch from the steering column, so that the latter can be readily turned.

Summary of the invention It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a structure which will avoid all of the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure where a key-operated rotary cylinder of the lock can be turned to carry out an unlocking operation only when a preselected combination of dial settings situates a blocking structure, which normally blocks turning of the key-operated cylinder, in a position where it will release the latter cylinder for rotary movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction of this type which enables one preselected combination of dial settings to be changed at any time for another combination of settings without any particular inconvenience.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will immobilize the blocking structure against movement as long as a key is in the key-operated cylinder.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which can be conveniently actuated with information derived from the manufacturer of the lock to set the latter for operation and to provide the secret combination of dial settings, in the event that the old combination becomes lost or forgotten.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which, when the lock is displaced from its usual supporting structure, provides in a visual manner an indication of the setting of the lock which will enable the latter to be operated so that thereafter it is possible to provide the secret combination of dial settings.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a lock structure of the above type which coacts with a catch structure for preventing turning of a steering column of a vehicle.

In particular, in this latter connection, it is an object of the invention to provide a catch structure which will automatically enter into a slot of the steering column to prevent turning thereof even if the lock is actuated when the slot of the steering column is not precisely in alignment with the catch structure, so that it becomes possible for the operator to actuate the lock of the inventiton and to leave a vehicle, whereupon if an unauthorized individual turns the steering column the catch will snap into the slot thereof automatically.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction where the lock structure is prevented from being removed from a housing mounted on a steering column unless an authorized individual carries out certain secret initial operations enabling the lock structure to be released.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a lock structure capable of accomplishing all of the above objectives and at the same time being composed of a relatively small number of simple rugged elements which are very reliable in operation.

In accordance with the invention, the lock includes a support means and a rotary means which is supported by the support means for rotary movement from a predetermined starting position in order to carry out an unlocking operation. A blocking means is movably carried by the support means for normally blocking the rotary means against the rotary movement from its starting position, and this blocking means is movable to and from a given release position in which it must be placed before the tary means can be released for turning movement. A combination means coacts with the blocking means for situating the latter in its release position only when a predetermined combination of settings, selected from a large number of settings, is provided. The rotary means is formed with a longitudinal key-receiving slot for receiving a key, so that the rotary means is key-operated, and a means coacts with the key to release the rotary means for turning movement only when a proper key is introduced into the slot. This latter means for permitting operation only with a predetermined key is independent of the blocking means which is actuated by the preselected combination of settings. In addition, an immobilizing means responds automatically to the introduction of a key into the slot for immobilizing the blocking means against movement, so that it is not possible to actuate the combination setting means while a key is in the rotary means.

Brief description of the drawings The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one possible embodiment of a lock according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the lock, taken along line IIIIII of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional illustration of the lock, taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the lock of FIG. 3 taken along line V--V of FIG. 3 in the dircction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation 'of the lock taken along line VIVI of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 illustrates, at a relatively small scale, an auxiliary hook or key used for changing the dial combination required to operate the lock;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the lock as used in connection with a steering column of a vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the lock of FIG. 8 showing the housing of FIG. 8 in a sectional plan view so as to more clearly illustrate the details of the lock therein;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the lock of FIG. 8 taken along line X-X of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10 in the direction of t e o s;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken in a plane similar to that of FIG. 11 but showing a different embodiment of a structure of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a transverse section taken along line XIII- XIII of FIG. 10 in the direction of the arrows and showing a motion-transmitting structure;

FIG. 14 is a transverse section taken along line XIV- XIV of FIG. 10 in the direction of the arrows and showing further details of the motion-transmitting structure;

FIG. 15 is an exploded elevation of a relatively short spring-loaded locking pin used with the structure of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 16 is an exploded elevation of a relatively long spring-loaded locking pin also used with the structure of FIG. '8.

Description of preferred embodiments Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, the lock structure of the invention which is illustrated therein includes a support means 1 in the form of a suitable, substantially rigid body of essentially circular configuration. This support means 1 has a front portion of relatively large diameter which is formed with suitable cutouts so as to accommodate the other structure described below, and it also has a rear tubular extension 48 the interior of which forms an extension of a cylindrical bore which is formed in the support means 1. A rotary means 2 is turnable in this central bore of the support means 1, as well as in the tubular extension 48 of the support means, and this rotary means 2 is in the form of an elongated cylindrical body having an exterior cylindrical surface coaxially surrounding the central axis of the body 2 and the bore in which it is turnable. The rotary means 2 is key-operated and for this purpose it is formed with a longitudinally extending radial slot 3 adapted to receive the fiat key 4 which may be introduced into the rotary means 2 through the open front end of the slot 3 which is formed therein. Adjacent the re'ar'end of the slot 3 the rotary means carries a transverse hinge pin 5 on which is pivotally mounted a flat link 6 which when turned together with the rotary means 2 will lock or unlock any known catch or lock-bolt system which does not form part of the invention and which therefore is not shown in the drawings. The entire mechanism of the look is housed within the support means 1 which is provided at its front end with a face plate 7 having a front exposed surface which is visible at the front of the lock and fixedly carrying at its rear surface a pair of internally threaded hollow studs 8 (FIG. 3). The support means 1 includes at the rear of its front portion which is of relatively large diameter a rear closure plate 9 which is fixed to the front plate 7 by means of screws 10 which pass through suitable openings of the rear plate 9 and which are received in the threaded bores of the studs 8, these fastening screws 10 being indicated in FIG. 6 while the plate 9 is visible in FIG. 4.

A combination means is provided for permitting the lock to be operated only when predetermined settings selected from a relatively large number of settings are introduced into the lock. This combination means includes in the illustrated example four dial cylinders 11, 12, 13, 14 all supported for rotary movement by the support means 1 and distributed about the rotary means 2. The support means 1 is formed at its front surface with openings where front ends of the dial cylinders are accessible, and for this purpose it will be noted that the plate 7 is formed with these openings where the front ends of the dials 11-14 are accessible. Each of the cylinders 11-14 is formed with a longitudinally extending radial slot 15, while the support means 1 carries at its front surface setting indicia in the form of dial numbers situated around each opening where a front end of a dial cylinder is situated. In this way the front end of each slot 15 can be aligned with a selected dial number to provide each dial cylinder with a preselected angular position, as is apparent from FIG. 1. In order o tum the di l y nders to their selected positions which will provide the preselected combination of settings the front end of the key 4 may be introduced into the slots 15. Thus, these slots coact with the setting indicia situated at the front surface of the support means 1 to provide in the particular example shown in FIG. 1 the number 4782. The front plate 7 of the support means is formed with a central opening which receives the front end of the rotary means 2 which may !be turned when the main key 4 is inserted into the slot 3, provided, of course, that the several slots 15 of the dial cylinders 11-14 are in angular positions aligned with the preselected numbers of the various dials, these numbers denoting the secret lock combination. In this event the key will be capable of turning freely to gether with the rotary means 2, so that through the link 6 the lock can be actuated.

The several dial cylinders 11-14 are axially shiftable from their rear positions shown in FIG. 5 forwardly in suitable guide openings formed in the support means 1 as well as through the openings formed in the plate 7 of the support means, for a purpose described below. Although it is not essential, a spring means is provided for releasably retaining the several dial cylinders in their inner, rear positions shown in FIG. 5. This spring means takes the form of a plurality of coil springs 22 which are respectively coiled about the several dial cylinders, which respectively have front ends pressing against the rear surface of the plate 7, and which respectively have rear ends extending respectively into the slots 15 and engaging the rear ends of these slots 15 so as to urge the several dial cylinders back to the positions thereof indicated in FIG. 5. If desired, the rear ends of the springs 22 may instead engage flanges 16 which are respectively fixed to and project from the several dial cylinders, so that in this way also the latter cylinders can be urged rearwardly to their positions shown in FIG. 5.

A blocking means is provided for blocking rotary movement of the rotary means 2 except when the blocking means has a predetermined position, and this blocking means includes a plurality of hollow barrels 18 distributed about the rotary means 2 and supported for rotary movement by the support means 1. These hollow barrels 18 have open front ends into which the several dial cylinders respectively extend. The several rotary bodies which form the barrels 18 of the blocking means are capable of being turned by the several dial cylinders 11-14, and for this purpose each body 18 has a tooth structure meshing with a tooth structure of the dial cylinder which extends into the same. Thus, each dial 18 is provided with an inner series of circumferentially arranged teeth 19 meshing with a circumferentially arranged series of teeth 17 fixed to and projecting from the dial cylinder. In the illustrated example, since there are a series of ten digits around each dial cylinder at the front surface of the support means 1, there are ten teeth 19 which mesh with ten teeth 17. Of course, any other number of teeth and dial graduations may be chosen, and the dial graduations can take the form of letters instead of numbers, for example.

At its rear end each barrel 18 carries a circumferentially arranged series of teeth 20 (FIG. 6), and while the spacing between these teeth is such that ten teeth can be accommodated circumferentially around each barrel, one of these teeth is omitted so that the series of circumferentially arranged teeth have an elongated gap between the first and last tooth of the series of nine teeth. Thus, the series of teeth 20 surrounding each barrel 18 at its rear end extends through less than 360.

At its rear surface, the circular enlarged body of the support means 1 fixedly carries a pair of diametrically opposed pins 24 which may be rivetted or otherwise fixed to the rear surface of the body 1, as indicated in FIG. 6. These pins coact with leaf springs 25 to maintain the free ends of the latter pressing against the teeth 20. Thus, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 6, the pins 24 will maintain the leaf springs 25 in the position shown in FIG. 6 with their curved free ends pressing against the teeth 20 of the several barrels 18, respectively. Thus, this construction forms a leaf spring means which will perform a plurality of functions among which are the function of releasably maintaining the dial cylinders 11-14 in the positions in which they have been set by the operator.

The series of teeth 20 perform the additional function of forming part of an immobilizing means for immobilizing the blocking means against movement under certain conditions referred to below, and for this purpose the pair of pins 24 have wound thereon intermediate portions of a pair of hair springs 28 which have their free ends extending around pawls 27 pivoted on pins 26 which are carried by the support means 1, so that the springs 28 seek to retract the pawls 27 away from the teeth 20. When the teeth of the pawls 27 engage the toothed portions 20 of the barrels, the barrels are immobilized against turning movement.

The blocking means further includes four recesses 29 formed in the exterior cylindrical surface of the cylinder 2, and these recesses 29 are located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 2 at the ends of a pair of mutually perpendicular diameters of the cylinder 2 which are located in this plane, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 5. The support means 1 is itself formed with a plurality of openings 32 which are in radial alignment with the recesses 29 when the rotary means 2 is in a given starting position. These openings 32 may extend, for example, through openings formed in the tubular extension 48 of the support means. The rotary barrels 18 of the blocking means are formed at their exterior surfaces, in the same plane as the recesses 29, with recesses 30 which can be radially aligned with the openings 32. When the several recesses 30 of the rotary bodies 18 are respectively in radial alignment with the openings 32, the blocking means is in its release position releasing the rotary means 2 for rotary movement from its starting position.

The blocking means further includes a plurality of displaceable bodies 31 in the form of metal spheres, for example, capable of extending partly into the recesses 29 and partly into the recesses 30, while extending at all times partly into the openings 32. When the recesses 30 are in radial alignment with the openings 32, it is possible for the displaceable bodies 31 to move all the way out of the recesses 29 and partly into the recesses 30, thus releasing the rotary means 2 for rotary movement. Thus, When the blocking means is in its release position where the openings 32 and recesses 30 are respectively in alignment with each other, the simple turning of the rotary means 2 will radially displace the bodies 31 out of the recesses 29 and into the recesses 30. It will be noted that it is essential for thisoperation that all four barrels 18 have predetermined angular positions where their recesses 30 are respectively aligned with the openings 32. If any one barrel is not in this position then it will not be possible to turn the rotary means 2. In the example shown in the drawings, the toothed driving connections between the dial cylinders and the dials 18 will situate the barrels 18 in the angular positions where the recesses 30 are respectively in radial alignment with the recesses 29 when the dial cylinders are turned to the positions shown in FIG. 1 where the front ends of the slots 15 indicate the combination 4782. If any one of these dial cylinders is not in the position thereof shown in FIG. 1, thebarrel operatively connected thereto will have its recess 30 displaced from the location where it is capable of receiving a ball member 31, and thus the rotary means 2 will not be turnable.

In order to change the secret combination of four digits required to operate the lock, the key '4 is introduced into the slot 3 of the rotary cylinder 2, and the cylinder is then turned through one eighth of a revolution. In this way the key becomes located in a plane which contains the axes of a pair of diametrically opposed dial cylinders such as the dial cylinders 11, 13 or 12, 14. The rotary means 2 fixedly carries an outer flange 33 which has the non-circular square peripheral configuration apparent from FIG. 3. A spacer ring 34 is situ ated between the flange 34 and the plate 7 around the front end of the cylinder 2. When the cylinder 2 is in its starting position shown in FIG. 3, the corners of the flange 33 overlap the flanges 16 of the dial cylinders 1114 to prevent forward movement thereof in opposition to the springs 22. However, when the cylinder 2 has "been turned through one eighth of a revolution, the flange 33 will assume the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 3 where the periphery of the non-circular flange is situated inwardly beyond the path of forward movement of the flanges 16, so that now it is possible to displace the dial cylinders 11-14 forwardly to a location where their teeth 17 are out of mesh with the teeth 19 of the barrels 18, so that there is no longer a driving engagement between the dial cylinders and the barrels, respectively. Now the key 35 which is shown in FIG. 7 can be introduced into each slot 15 to engage the front end of a dial cylinder in the manner shown in FIG. 5, so that each dial cylinder can be displaced forwardly and turned to a new setting before being returned by its spring 22 into the rear position where it is again in driving engagement with the barrel into which it extends. All of the dial cylinders can thus be respectively repositioned in the same way with respect to the barrels 18 with which they coact, so that in this way it is possible to provide a new combination of settings for operating the lock. Of course, after each dial cylinder has been displaced forwardly and turned to its new position so as to be returned to provide a new setting, the key 35 is removed therefrom.

In the event that the secret combination of settings for the dial cylinders should become forgotten or lost, it may again be determined with information which has been provided by the manufacturer of the lock. For this purpose an implement such as the flat front end of the key 4 or the auxiliary key 35 is introduced into each dial cylinder, in the slot 15 thereof, and each cylinder is turned, step by step, while the operator feels the teeth 20 moving one by one past the leaf spring 25 which will provide a certain increase and then release of re sistance as each tooth moves beyond the leaf spring 25. When the gap between the first and last of each series of teeth 20 is felt by the operator, which will become apparent because of the increase in the play which is immediately perceptable, the operator will know that each *barrel 18 is in a given starting position. Thus, it becomes possible to identify these starting positions of barrels 18. Now, during the continued turning of each barrel the operator will count the number of teeth 20 thereof which move past the spring 25 in accordance with a predetermined combination supplied by the manufacturer on a special card, this latter combination providing an unalterable indication of the angular positions of the barrels 18 when their recesses 30 are respectively in radial alignment with the openings 32. Thus, when the operator has again reestablished the angular positions of the rotary bodies 18 which will release the cylinder 2 for rotary movement, the operator need only note the positions of the front ends of the slots 15 with respect to the setting indicia, and the secret combination Will again be determined. If desired, the operator can of course at this time provide a new combination of settings in the manner described above.

Before the lock has been mounted in its final position in a door or the like, or when it has been removed from such a location, the positions of the barrels 18 respectively aligning their recesses 30 with the openings 32 can be determined in a different manner. For this purpose each barrel 18 carries at its exterior surface a reference mark 21, while the rim 37 of the support means 1 is formed with four openings 36 through which the reference marks 21 are respectively visible when the barrels 18 are respectively in angular positions where their recesses 30 are respectively in alignment with the openings 32. As a result it is a simple matter for the operator at this time to turn the four barrels 18, as by rotating the dial cylinders 11-14 with the front end of the key 4 introduced into the slots 15, until the four reference marks 21 are all visible in the openings 36, and then the operator will again know that the settings of the slots 15 at their front ends with respect to the dial indicia on the front surface of the support means indicates the secret combination of settings which should be memorized so as to be available for use when it is desired to operate the lock.

As was indicated above, the several pawls 27 coact with the toothed portions 20 of the several rotary bodies 18 to form part of an immobilizing means which will prevent movement of the blocking means. This immobilizing means funther includes displaceable bodies 38, 40 and 41. These displaceable bodies are in the form of metal spheres, for example. When the key 4 is not in the slot 3 of the rotary means 2, the lower body 38 shown in FIG. 6 is maintained in an upper position extending into the recess 39 of the body 2, this position being derived from the force with which the lower pair of pawls 27 are urged toward each other by the lower spring 28. The rotary means 2 is formed in the same plane as the recess 39, which is the plane of FIG. 6 which is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 2, with an additional recess 42 for receiving the bodies 40 and 41. When the key 4 is introduced into the slot 3, the lower edge of the key 4 will displace the body 38 downwardly while the upper edge of the key will displace the intermediate ball 40 and through the latter the upper ball 41 upwardly. However, when the key is not in the slot 3, the lower ball 38 will be situated partly within the recess 39 and partly within the opening 39 (FIG. 4) formed in the tubular extension 48 of the support means. In the same way, when the key is not in the slot 3 the ball member 41 will extend partly into the recess 42, and of course the intermediate ball member 40 will be located at a position lower than that shown in FIG. 6 where the upper end of the body 40 is flush with the cylindrical exterior surface of the cylinder 2. The recess 42 forms an extension of a recess 42 formed in an upper structure 43 of the support means 1, as indicated in FIG. 4. The upper ball 41 engages the upper pair of pawls 27 and is normally pushed down by the influence of the upper spring 28 which retracts these upper pawls toward each other. Thus, when the key 4 is not located in the lock, the bodies 38, 40 and 41 are situated in positions where the pawls 27 can be retracted by the springs 28 away from the barrel teeth 20, and thus the barrels can be freely turned at this time. However, when the key is in the slot, the immobilizing means will automatically respond to the presence of the key in the slot by the automatic displacement of the bodies 38, 40 and 41 to positions where the ball members 38 and 41 hold the pawls 27 in engagement with the teeth 20, thus immobilizing the barrels 18 against rotary movement. The dimensions of the ball members 38, 40 and 41 and the key are such that the engagement between the pair of upper ball members is flush with the exterior surface of the cylinder 2, while the lower ball member 38 when the key 4 is in the slot 3 will also have its upper surface flush with the exterior surface of the cylinder 2. Therefore, it is possible for the cylinder 2 to turn with its exterior surface riding along the ball members 38 and 41 but, at the same time, it will not be possible to turn the barrels 18. As a result it is not possible for an unauthorized individual to determine the secret combination simply by sensing and turning the dial cylinders and barrels 18 simultaneously with rotary movement of the key 4. It will be noted that this result is achieved as soon as the key 4 has been introduced into the slot 3 and before the cylinder 2 is turned. The ball members 31 will of course extend partly into the recesses 30 of the barrels 18 to provide an additional immobilizing thereof after the cylinder 2 has been turned from its starting position. However, the ball members 38 and 41 maintain the barrels 18 immobilized even after the cylinder 2 has been turned through increments of 90 where the several recesses 29 successively become aligned with the several openings 32.

For the purpose of permitting turning of the rotary means 2 only when a proper key 4 has been introduced into the latter, the support means 1 includes at its tubular extension 48 a radial extension 43 formed with a plurality of radial bores 43a, of which there are three in the illustrated example shown in FIG. 4. Outer locking pins 44 are respectively slidable in the bores 43a, and coil springs 45 respectively urge the lock pins 44 inwardly toward the rotary means 2. The rotary means 2 itself is formed with three radial bores 46 which respectively form extensions of the bores 43a when the rotary means 2 is in its starting position, and these radial bores 46 respectively communicate with the slot 3. Lock pins 47a, 4711' and 47:: which are respectively of different lengths are respectively slidable in the bores 46 and respectively have outer ends which engage inner ends of the pins 44 when the rotary means 2 is in its starting position where its bores 46 respectively form extensions of the bores 43a. Thus, in the neutral or closed position of the lock, before the key 4 has been introduced, the lock pins 44 can extend across the exterior surface of the rotary means 2 so as to prevent turning of the latter. At this time the pins 44 will be located partly in the bores 43a and partly in the bores 46. In accordance with the profile of the upper edge of the key 4, when the latter is introduced into the slot 3, this profile will coact with the lock pins 47a, 47b, 470 to displace them to the elevations shown in FIG. 4 where their upper ends are flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotary means 2, while at the same time the lower ends of the outer pins 44 also become flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotary means 2. It will be noted that the lengths of the pins 47a, 47b and 470 have been selected so as to cooperate properly with the configuration of the key 4 so as to achieve this result. Therefore, when the proper key 4 has been introduced into the rotary means 2, it is possible for the latter to be turned with this key, and at this time the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotary means 2 will simply slide along the inner ends of the pins 44. On the other hand, if an unauthorized individual attempts to use a different key, the rotary means 2 will remain locked in its starting position because the outer ends of one or more of the pins 47a, 47b, 476 will not be flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotary means 2. Thus, location of any of the six locking pins at this time partly in a bore 43a and partly in a bore 46 will prevent operation of the lock.

The above description of a lock of the invention illustrates the operating principles thereof, and such a lock may be used on any doors, boxes, or the like. In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 816, the lock structure of the invention is shown cooperating with a structure for releasably locking a steering column of an automobile or other vehicle against turning movement.

The elements of FIGS. 8-16 which are identical with those described above are indicated by the same reference characters. The primary operating components of the lock structure are the same as those described above, except that the rotary means 2 and the cylindrical extension 48' of the support means 1' have a different construction.

The support means 1 of this embodiment with all of the above-described components which are carried thereby, is carried by a mounting means which includes a housing having a cylindrical wall 50 and an end wall 51, this housing having an open front end where the front face of the support means 1' is visible, as is apparent from FIG. 8. The mounting means includes in addition to the housing 50 a pair of lateral projections or wings 52 which may be integral with the housing and which can be fixed in any suitbale way to the outer casing of the rotary steering column of the vehicle so that in this way the structure can be mounted to coact with the rotary steering column. The manner in which the housing 50 is fixed to the steering column by fastening of the projections 52 onto the casing thereof does not form part of this invention and is therefore not indicated.

A spring-loaded catch means 53 protrudes through a slot of the housing 50, as shown in FIG. 9 where it is also indicated that this slot serves to guide the catch means 53. This catch means extends into the space between the wings 52 and at its left free end, as viewed in FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12, the catch means is adapted to enter into a slot of an unillustrated rotary steering column so as to block rotary movement thereof. This blocking action will take place when the left extremity of the catch means 53 is at the position D indicated in FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12. On the other hand, when the catch means 53 is retracted to locate the left free end of the catch means 53 at the position A, the steering column is free to turn.

Within the housing 50 the catch means 53 has an inner elongated portion 54 which is of a lesser axial width than its outer portion which extends beyond the housing but which is of a greater thickness than this outer portion, as is apparent from FIGS. 9 and 11. This inner portion 54 of the catch means is formed with a recess 55 having the configuration which is clearly apparent in FIG. 11. Thus, this recess is defined by a pair of opposed end surfaces 56 and 58 and a longitudinal inner surface 57 extending therebetween. The spring action for the catch means is provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 by way of a spring means 60 in the form of a coil spring having its left free end, as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 11 received in a suitable recess 59 formed in the right end of the catch means 53, while the right free end of the spring means 60 simply pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical housing 50.

A motion-transmitting means coacts with the rotary means 2' and with the catch means 53 for at least initiating the movement of the catch means toward its looking position and away from its locking position, and this motion-transmitting means includes a lost-motion connection described in greater detail below and shown most clearly in FIGS. 13 and 14. This motion-transmitting means includes a projection in the form of a driving dog 62 which extends into the recess 55, having a considerable freedom of movement therein. The motion-transmitting means of the invention will displace the projection 62 along a semicircular path indicated by the dot-dash line 63 in FIG. 11. This projection 62 is integral with and extends from the rear face of a rotary motion-transmitting member 61 of the motion-transmitting means, this member 61 being freely turnable within the tubular extension 48' of the support means and being prevented from axial movement by its location between the catch means 53 and the rotary means 2', as is apparent from FIG. 10. Thus, the motion transmitting member 61 is situated next to the inner end of the rotary means 2' and forms an extension of the latter. This rotary means 2 is somewhat shorter than the rotary means 2 and has at its inner, rear end a motion-transmitting projection in the form of a driving claw 67 (FIG. 14) which has the configuration of a quadrant of a circle. In the same plane as this pro jection 67, and in the path of turning movement thereof, is located a projection 64 of the rotary transmitting member 61, this projection 64 also having the configuration of a quadrant of a circle. Thus, the projection 64 extends forwardly from the front face of the motion transmitting member 61 and is situated in the path of turning movement of the projection 67.

When the key is turned in a clockwise direction, so as to provide for unlocking of the steering column and retraction of the catch means 53, the parts shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will also turn in a clockwise direction. On the other hand, the key is turned in a counter-clockwise direction to permit the spring 60 to displace the catch means to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 9, 11 and 13, to its locking position, and at this time the parts shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will also turn in a counter-clockwise direction.

As was indicated above, when the steering column is locked against rotation, the catch 53 is displaced to its outermost position where its outer extremity has the location D. At this time the inner end surface 56 of the recess 55 is pressed by the spring 60 against the right surface of the driving dog 62, as viewed in FIG. 11. In order to release the steering column, the key 4 is introduced into the slot 3 of the rotary means 2 and is turned through a full revolution in a clockwise direction, so as to retract the catch means 53. During this turning movement of the rotary means 2', the surface 68 of its driving claw 67 (FIG. 14) engages the surface 65 of the driven claw 64, so as to initiate the turning of the latter only after the rotary means 2 has turned through 180 in a clockwise direction. During the second half of its revolution the rotary means 2 and the motion-transmitting member 61 turn together. As a result, the dog 62 will travel toward the right along the path 63 indicated in FIG. 11 from its left hand position shown in dotted lines to its right hand position shown in full lines. During this movement the right side surface of the dog 62 by engagement with the end surface 56 of the recess 55 will displace the catch 53 to the right in opposition to the spring 611 until the catch means is in the open position A indicated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11.

At this time the motion-transmitting member 61 becomes completely immobilized. The driven surface 65 of the claw 64 is engaged by the driving surface 68 of the driving claw 67. The key 4 is now withdrawn from the slot 3. The lowermost exterior surface portion of the driving dog 62 engages the surface 57 of the recess 55. The engagement between the surfaces 65 and 68 of the driven claw 64 and driving claw 67 prevents any counterclockwise turning of the motion-transmitting member 61, while the engagement between the dog 62 and the surface 57 prevents clockwise turning of the motion-transmitting member 61.

When it is desired to lock the steering column, the catch means 53 will be displaced to the left from the position A indicated in FIGS. 8, 9, 11. At this time the key 4 is inserted into the slot 3 of the rotary means 2' and is turned through a full revolution in a counterclockwise direction, after which the key is withdrawn from the lock. During the first half of this counterclockwise revolution, the driving claw 67 at the inner end of the rotary means 2 moves away from the driven claw 64 so that the motion-transmitting member 61 can remain in the same position at this time. The frictional engagement between the right surface of the dog 62 and the end surface 56 of the recess 55, provided by the pressure of the spring 60 is sufiicient to maintain the dog 62 at its right end position shown in solid lines in FIG. 11. When the left surface 69 of the driving claw 67 engages the left surface 66 of the driven claw 64, as viewed in FIG. 14, after completion of one half of a revolution by the rotary means 2', the motiontransmitting member 61 will be turned in a counter-clockwise direction by the driving claw 67, as a result of the transmission between the surfaces 69 and 66. When the dog 62 is displaced from its right end position, the pressure of the spring 60 acting through the end surface 56 of the recess 55 will provide further displacement of the dog 62 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus causing the motion-transmitting member 61 together with its projection 62 to advance in a counter-clockwise direction beyond the driving claw 67, in this way achieving an overrunning action where the spring itself hastens the movement of the catch and the speed of movement is no longer con trolled by the speed with which the rotary means 2' is turned. Thus, the lost-motion action is achieved. From the moment that the movement of the catch means toward its locking position is produced by the spring 60, this movement continues to take place independently of the turning of the rotary means 2', and the dog 62 completes its semicircular movement along the path 63 back to the dotted line position of FIG. 11 independently of the catch movement. In this latter position the motiontransmitting member 61 has also completed its movement and is immobilized. The surface 66 of the driven claw 64 will be engaged by the surface 69 of the driving claw 67 when the rotary means 2 has completed its counterclockwise revolution. The key 4 is now withdrawn. The lowermost surface of the dog 62 again rests on the surface 57 of the recess 55 of the catch means, thus preventing counter-clockwise turning of the motion-transmitting member 61, while clockwise turning thereof is prevented by engagement of the surface 66 with the surface 69.

Thus, at this time the catch means 53 has been displaced outwardly by the spring 60, and this outward stroke of the catch means will come to an end when the outer end of the catch means engages the exterior surface of the steering column, this being the position C indicated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. The complete outward stroke of the catch means can take place only when the catch means enters into the slot formed in the surface of the steering column, at which time the catch means will have the position D. However, when the catch means is actuated it is unlikely that the slot of the steering column will be in alignment with the catch means. It is only after the steering column has been turned that the slot thereof will become aligned with the spring-pressed catch which will then automatically enter into the slot to lock the steering column. Therefore, under these circumstances, if an unauthorized person attempts to operate the vehicle, it may be possible to turn the steering column initially through a given angle, but then the catch means 53 will automatically snap into the slot of the steering column so as to lock the latter against further turning movement. At this time, which is to say when the outer extremity of the catch means is in the position D, the outward movement of the catch means is also limited by engagement of the surface 56 of the recess 55 with the dog 62. The catch means will now remain in its locking position preventing further rotation of the steering column.

It is apparent that the use of the circular quadrants 64 and 67 in the motion-transmitting means of the invention provides for a lost-motion of a complete half turn of either one of these claws with respect to the other, so that it becomes possible for the rotary motion-transmitting member 61 to turn only through at each operation of the lock. This extended turning of the motion-transmitting member 61 is necessary because of the eccentric position of the dog 62 limiting the latter to turning through 180 during each stroke of the catch means, either outwardly or inwardly. The position of the eccentric projection 62 with respect to the member 61, and in particular with respect to the driven claw 64 thereof is such that when the catch is fully retracted to the position A, after completion of a full clockwise rotation of the key 4 and the rotary means 2, the projection 62 will have the solid line position shown in FIG. 11. At this time the key 4 is in the same starting position as when it was initially introduced into the lock, and it is clear from the above description for the lock that the key 4 can only be removed therefrom when the rotary means has returned to its starting position.

It is also apparent from above description that the left end surface 58 of the recess 55 never engages the driv- 13 ing projection 62 during normal operation of the structure.

The rear end of the tubular projection 48' of the support means has upper and lower extensions 49 projecting to the rear so that they extend beyond the rotary means 2' and the motion-transmitting member 61, so as to form in this way upper and lower guides for the upper and lower surfaces of the inner end 54 of the catch means 53, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 9 as well as FIG. 11. Also, this coaction is shown in longitudinal section in FIG. 10. These extensions 49 of the tubular part 48 in turn are received within arcuate projections extending inwardly from a plate 86 which is located next to the inner end wall 51 of the housing 50. The edges of the arcuate projections 87 also serve to guide the catch means, and in addition it will be noted that they coact with the support means 1' to provide for the latter a proper angular position within the housing 50. Thus, the proper central and angular position of the entire lock in the housing 50 is achieved in this way. The plate 86 is a flat circular plate of the same size as the end wall 51 of the housing. Thus, by the combined action of the guides 49 and 87 proper linear movement of the catch means 53 is achieved as well as proper coaxial positioning of the entire support means 1 in the housing 50.

In order to prevent unauthorized removal of the lock from the housing 50, the lock is fixed within the housing 50 in a manner which will prevent removal of the lock except by persons who know how to carry out certain preliminary operations to prepare the lock for removal from the housing 50. This result is achieved by providing a pair of lock pins 74 and 78 respectively shown in FIGS. and 16 and indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 8. The support means 1' is formed with a pair of radial bores 72 and 73 for this purpose, the bore 73 extending from the top end of the support means all the way through to the rotary means 2, white the lower radial bore 72 terminates below the rotary means 2'. In the illustrated example these bores 72 and 73 are coaxial. Also, it will be seen that the bores 72 and 73 are situated at diametrically opposed parts of the rotary means 2'. The shorter bore 72 which has an inner closed end receives the shorter pin 74 which is shown in FIG. 15 as well as the coil spring 82 which surrounds the pin 74, engages the flange 76 which is fixed thereto, and also engages the inner end of the bore 72 so as to urge the pin 74 outwardly. The diameter of the bore 72 is large enough to accommodate the spring 82, but the housing 50 is formed in alignment with the bore 72 with an opening 70 which is small enough to receive only the shank of the pin 74, this opening 70 having a diameter smaller than that of the outer periphery of the flange 76. When the lock is correctly positioned within the housing, the outer end 75 of the pin 74 will be received in the opening 70, but the flange 76 will engage the inner surface of the housing 50 to limit outward movement of the pin 74. Thus, with the support 1' properly situated within the housing 50, the head 75 of the pin 74 is accessible at the opening 70 while the flange 76 is pressed against the inner surface of the housing 50 by the spring 82. Any pointed instrument may be applied against the end 75 of the pin 74 to displace it inwardly beyond the opening 70 so as to release the lock for movement out of the housing 50. At this time the inner end 77 of the pin will engage the inner end of the bore 72, so that the lock can be withdrawn from the housing. Of course, this construction does not prevent removal of the lock from the housing, but the other, longer pin 78 cannot be operated in this way.

This longer pin 78 is situated in the bore 73 which extends all the way to the cylindrical bore in which the rotary means 2' rotates. While the bore 73 has over most of its length a diameter large enough to accommodate the pin 78 and spring 83 coiled about the latter, at its inner end portion the diameter of the bore 73 is reduced so that it has an upwardly directed shoulder, and beyond this shoulder it is only possible for the inner end 81 of the pin 78 to move. The spring 83 engages at its inner end this shoulder of the bore 73. The inner end 81 of the pin 78 may extend through the portion 84 of the bore 73 which is of reduced diameter into a recess 85 which is formed in the exterior surface of the rotary means 2' but which is displaced by 90 from the bore 73 when the rotary means 2 is in its starting position. The total length of the pin 78 is such that when the support means 1 is correctly positioned within the housing 50, the flange against which the top end of the spring 83 presses, engages the inner surface of the housing 50 with the upper end 79 of the pin 78 extending into the opening 71 of the housing. At this time the inner end 81 of the pin 78 is flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotary means 2' so that the latter can turn with respect to the pin 78. At this time it is clear that the pin 78 cannot be pushed inwardly and its upper end 79 will remain in the opening 71. Only after the key 4 has been introduced into the slot 3 of the rotary means 2' and the latter has been turned through 90 so as to locate the recess in alignment with the bore 73 is it possible for the pin 78 to be pushed inwardly so that its inner end 81 will enter the recess 85 thus enabling the outer end 79 of the pin to be displaced inwardly beyond the opening 71, so as to permit removal of the lock from the housing 50. Therefore, with this construction it is essential for a person to know enough to turn the rotary means 2' through before it is possible to remove the lock from the housing 50.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the invention where the spring means 60 is replaced by an over-center spring means. With this construction the catch means is not continuously urged to its locking position but instead will be spring urged both to its locking position and to its retracting position. The position B indicated in FIG. 12 represents the dead-center position of the over-center spring means. When the catch means 53 is displaced to the left beyond position B, this spring means will urge the catch toward its locking position, while when the catch means is displaced to the right beyond the position B, the over-center spring means will displace the catch means to the right, as viewed in FIG. 12, to its retracted position.

Thus, in the particular example illustrated in FIG. 12 there are four over-center springs in the form of hair springs of V-shaped configuration, each of these springs having a spring force which tends to open the V so as to displace the legs thereof apart from each other. In order to assure a symmetrical actuation of the catch means 53, these springs are arranged in pairs, FIG. 12 illustrating the left hand pair 88 and the right hand pair 89. The free ends 90 and 91 of each over-center spring are turned through 90 with respect to the plane of FIG. 12, and these ends 90 and 91 extend in opposite directions. The ends 90 of the springs are directed rearwardly and are received in small openings formed in the rear plate 86, so that in this way fulcrums are provided for the springs. The forwardly directed free ends 91 of the springs are received in small openings formed at the rear surface of the catch means which is directed toward the plate 86, and there is between the catch means and the rear plate 86 sufficient space to accommodate the overcenter springs. The catch means 53 is shown in its retracted A position in FIG. 12. It will be seen that when the forwardly directed ends 91 of the several springs are situated respectively in vertical alignment with the rearwardly directed ends 90 thereof, the ends of each spring are closest to each other and the spring is in its dead-center position where the outer extremity of the catch means is at the position B shown in FIG. 12. It will furthermore be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 12 the recess 55' has a size somewhat different from the recess 55 of FIG. 11. The end surfaces 56 and 58' of the recess are positioned nearer toeach other. At the inner end 54 of the catch means elongated 1 5 projection 54' acts as a stop by engaging the inner surface of the housing 50 so as to limit the retracting movement of the catch means to the position A shown in FIG. 12.

During movement of the catch means in either direction, the driving projection 62 of the rotary motion transmitting member 61 cooperates with the surfaces 56' and 58' in a manner which in some respects is similar to and in some respects is different from the operation provided with the structure of FIG. 11. Thus, when the catch means 53 of FIG. 12 is in the D position, preventing the steering column from turning, the end surface 56' of the recess 55' engages the driving projection 62 in the same way as in the embodiment of FIG. 11, the springs 88 and 89 urging the catch means to the left, as viewed in FIG. 12 at this time. At this time the ends 91 of the several springs are situated to the left of their ends 90. With this embodiment also during the second half of the clockwise rotation of the rotary means 2, the motion-transmitting member 61 will turn with the rotary means 2' and the driving projection 62 will move along the semicircular path 63 shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 12, from the left dotted position to the right solid line position. At this time the projection 62 engages the surface 56' to push the latter and the catch toward the right until the catch reaches the position B. From this moment on, the springs have moved beyond dead-center positions and they take over the displacement of the catch means so that it is the springs which continue the retracting movement of the catch means at this time until the finger 54' engages the inner surface of the housing 50 and the catch means is at the position A. In this position it will be noted that the end surface 56 of the recess 55' does not engage the driving dog 62.

When it is desired to lock the steering column, the driving projection 62 will travel along the semi-circular path 63 from the solid to the dotted position shown in FIG. 12 when the first half-revolution of the rotary means 2' in a counter-clockwise direction has been completed. Initially the driving projection 62 turns freely without engaging any of the surfaces of the recess 55. However, when the projection 63 is in the region of the upper central part of its stroke, it engages the surface 58 of the recess 55 and displaces the catch means 53 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 12, in opposition to the spring 88 and 89. As soon as the catch means again reaches the B position, the springs are again at their dead-center positions, and during the continued movement of the drive projection 62 in order to displace the catch means toward its locking position, these springs take over the displacement of the catch means, the forwardly directed ends of the springs now moving automatically to the left beyond the rearwardly directed ends thereof, so that the above-described overrunning of the catch means beyond the turning of the driving projection 62 is achieved in the same way and the turning of the rotary means 2' may be completed while the spring structure will itself complete the stroke of the catch means urging it into the slot of the steering column but permitting the catch means to stop at the position C until the slot of the steering column becomes aligned with the catch means after which it will snap under the influence of the springs 88 and 89 into the slot of the steering column. At this time the catch means will have the position D shown in FIG. 12, and of course at this time the surface 56 of the recess 55 will engage the projection 62.

It is to be noted that the path of movement of the driving projection 62 and the catch means 53 as well as the recess 55' are dimensioned in such a way that the over-center springs urge the catch means 53 outwardly before the outer end of the catch means reaches the steering column, or in other words the position C, so as to maintain in the same way as described above in connection with FIG. 11 the lost-motion connection in the drive.

Of course, instead of providing a separate circular plate 86 with the projections 87, it is possible to eliminate this plate and to provide the projections 87 directly on the inner end wall 51 of the housing 50. Also, two relatively long pins 78 may be provided instead of one longer pin 78 and a shorter pin 74, and in this case the rotary means 2 would be formed with a pair of diametrically opposed recesses for respectively receiving the inner ends of a pair of such longer pins after the rotary means 2 is turned through Thus, it is apparent that various changes and modifications are possible in the above-described structure of the invention which therefore should be interpreted as being illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising support means, rotary means supported by said support means for rotary movement from a given starting position for performing an unlocking operation, releasable blocking means carried by said support means for movement to and from a release position and coacting with said rotary means for blocking movement thereof from said starting position except when said blocking means is in said release position thereof, and combination means movably carried by said support means for movement to a large number of settings, said combination means coacting with said blocking means for situating the latter in said release position thereof only when said combination means is moved to a preselected combination of said settings known by a properly authorized operator of the lock, a mounting means coacting with said support means for mounting the latter on the steering column of a vehicle which has a rotary steering column formed with a slot, spring-loaded catch means carried by said support means for movement into and out of said slot of said steering column, and motion transmitting means coacting with said catch means and said rotary means for at least initiating movement at said catch means toward said slot and for at least initiating movement of said catch means away from said slot upon actuation of said rotary means, said support means being formed with a cylindrical bore in which said rotary means is turnable, said rotary means having an inner end situated in said cylindrical bore and said motion-transmitting means including a projection of said rotary means at said inner end thereof, said motion transmitting means including a motion-transmitting member turnable in said bore in said support means and having a projection situated in the path of movement of said projection at said inner end of said rotary means to be turned thereby only during a fraction of a revolution of said rotary means, so that a lost-motion connection is provided between said rotary means and said motion-transmitting member, said catch means being formed with a recess and said motion-transmitting member having a second projection situated in the latter recess for coacting with said catch means for displacing the latter.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a spring means urges said catch means toward the slot of the steering colmn at least during a portion of the turning of said rotary means subsequent to an initial portion of turning thereof to initiate the displacement of the catch means toward the slot of the steering column, said recess of said catch means having with respect to said second projection of said motion transmitting member a clearance sufficient to provide for completion of the movement of said catch means into the slot of the steering column by said spring means after said rotary means has been turned through an angle required to displace the catch means to a position where it will become situated in the slot of the steering column, so that even if the slot of the latter is not aligned with said catch means, the latter will nevertheless still be urged toward the steering column to automatically enter into the slot thereof when the steering column is turned.

3. A lock comprising support means, rotary means supported by said support means for rotary movement from a given starting position for performing an unlocking Operation, releasable blocking means carried by said support means for movement to and from a release position and coacting with said rotary means for blocking movement thereof from said starting position except when said blocking means is in said release position thereof, and combination means movably carried by said support means for movement to a large number of settings, said combination means coacting with said blocking means for situating the latter in said release position thereof only when said combination means is moved to a preselected combination of said settings known by a properly authorized operator of the look, a mounting means coacting with said support means for mounting the latter on the steering column of a vehicle which has a rotary steering column formed with a slot, spring-loaded catch means carried by said support means for movement into and out of said slot of said steering column, and motion transmitting means coacting with said catch means and said rotary means for at least initiating movement at said catch means toward said slot and for at least initiating movement of said catch means away from said slot upon actuation of said rotary means, said mounting means including a housing receiving said support means and having a wall portion located next to said support means and formed with an opening, said support means being formed with a bore aligned with said opening of said housing, and a spring-loaded pin located in the latter bore and extending partly into said opening of said housing, so that said support means cannot be removed from said housing until said spring-loaded pin is pressed inwardly into said support means away from said opening of said housing.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said bore of said support means has an inner end terminating at said rotary means and the latter engaging an inner end of said spring-loaded pin to prevent displacement of the latter inwardly from said housing opening so as to retain said support means connected with said housing of said mounting means, said rotary means having angularly displaced from said bore of said support means when said rotary means is in said starting position a recess for receiving said inner end of said spring-loaded pin, so that only when said rotary means is turned to a position aligning said recess thereof with said bore of said support means can said pin be displaced inwardly toward said rotary support means to release the connection between said support means and housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 840,007 1/ 1907 Mullikin -146 1,446,085 2/1923 Falk 70-150 1,840,469 1/1932 Sabo 70-38 1,867,606 7/1932 Van Sickles 70-92 2,039,244 4/1936 Lowe 70-368 2,101,446 12/1937 Neiman 70-186 2,266,106 12/1941 Voight et al. 70-153 2,707,385 5/1955 Fisler 70-134 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,314,749 12/ 1962 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 70-284, 368, 380

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