US3464241A - Locking pins and fittings therefor - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1967 Fig.2.

INVENTOR. John liweLlekens Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. I, 1967 INVENTOR. John FWeLLekens BY fl fi L diiorngy Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 3, 1967 INVENTOR. John F.WeLLekens d/ifiorn gy Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS 3,464,241

LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 3, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l ywgmn;

I N VENTOR.

gghn FWeLLekens dii rngy United States Patent U.S. C]. 70-91 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking pin for coupling together a plurality of elements, such as two doors, a single door and its frame, windows, sliding or moving drawers or trays and many other articles, such as those for example which are usually locked against opening by a padlock or other type of exposed locking means. The locking pin consists of a hollow tube containing a locking mechanism that includes a latch that engages a recess in the passage or opening through which the pin is inserted and which engagement between the latch and recess holds the pin against axial displacement or unauthorized removal. The pin may be extended through lugs or eyes or other parts and cannot be axially shifted or removed except by the use of a suitable key operative on the contained locking mechanism to shift the latch and disengage it from the recess. The locking mechanism contained within the tube may be of a type providing for an easy change of its key combination.

The invention relates to locking means, and particularly to a device of this character which can, for example, be used as a substitute for the conventional padlock and can also be used in many diiferent ways for various purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a form of tubular locking pin, insertable into or through parts or elements which are, by the use of the device, held against movement relatively to one another or are in other words, held locked together.

The tubular locking pin contains a well-concealed and protected locking mechanism used for controlling the operation of a latch that normally holds the pin in looking position but permits the ready removal of the pin from its locking position when the locking mechanism is keyactuated to displace the latch from its engagement with at least one of the elements in which the pin is fitted.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein several embodiments of the invention are disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with portions of two doors shown in section, of a locking device constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the two plates that are attached to the doors;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 1 as seen from the right thereof;

FIG. 5 shows the locking mechanism;

FIG. 6 shows the locking pin employed in the structure of FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view of the construction shown in FIG. 7 as seen from the left;

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention as applied to a coin-collection receptacle, and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a view showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front face view of the plate that is fastened to the door in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the lock housing and attaching plate provided thereon for coupling with the plate shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a bushing used in the embodiment of FIG. 15 and attached to the door in that embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lock housing that is employed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, and

FIG. 17 is a view, in a reduced scale, of the bushing employed in the last-mentioned embodiment.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, an arrangement is disclosed that is particularly adapted for the locking together of double sliding or swinging doors. One of the doors is shown at 1, and a portion of the second door is shown at 2. In their closed position, the doors come together substantially as shown in FIG. 1.

The door 1 carries a plate 3 fastened to the door by bolts or screws 4 extended through holes 4a in the plate, and formed integrally with the plate 3 is a plurality of equally spaced tubular loops or lugs 5 which project beyond the edge of the door 1.

Mounted on the face of the second door 2 is a plate 7 that is secured to the door 2 by means of screws or bolts 8 extended through the holes 8a, and said plate 7 is formed with integral tubular lugs or loops 9 which are arranged to fit between the lugs 5 on plate 3 when the doors are in their adjacent or closed position as shown in FIG. 1. When in such closed position the several lugs 5 and 9 have their openings disposed in axial alignment, or disposed to provide a continuous passage through them so that a locking element, such as the hollow pin to be described, inserted through the aligned lugs, will couple the doors together and hold them against opening movement or separation.

The hollow locking pin provided for the passage through the lugs or loops is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Therein is shown a relatively lengthy tube 10 of such length as to enable it to fit through the several axially aligned loops or lugs 5 and 9. The lowermost lug 5a is shown as being closed by a disk 11, welded or otherwise securely mounted in place. The tube 10 and its contents are arranged to be longitudinally inserted within or withdrawn from the passage through the lugs or loops 5 and 9 and to effect the withdrawal of the tube and its contained locking means, such locking means must be in an unlocked condition. Fitted in the lower end of the tube 10 is a protective closure plug 22 having a head 23 at its end.

At the end of the tube 10 remote from the closure plug 22 is fitted a bushing 12 containing a rotatable plug 13 provided with a key slot 14. Contained in the tube 10 between the plug 22 and the bushing 12 is a cylindrical locking mechanism 15. Such locking mechanism consists of a lock of the cylinder type and is preferably, although not necessarily, of a construction similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 3,260,080. Such type of locking mechanism is one in which the combination can be speedily and easily changed whenever it is desired, to enable the lock to be operated by a selected key. Thus, a feature of the present construction resides in the fact that when the possibility exists that the lock can be opened by a person or persons having unauthorized possession of a suitable key, the combination of the lock can be changed and this can be done without difficulty or extensive eifort so that a differently contoured key will be required in order to open the lock.

In a lock of this kind a plurality of wafer-like, disksh-aped elements 17 are employed, such elements being provided in their peripheral edge with a plurality of notches. By the alignment of selected notches in the several elements, a certain combination is set for the acceptance of a specific key. Thus, all that the lock requires for the setting of a desired combination, is the manual rota. tional adjustment of the several elements to selected positions according to the contour of the key to be employed. This can be done by finger operation and without the use of tools while the lock assembly 15 is out of the tube 10. The structural details of a lock of this kind are more specifically shown and described in my said Patent No. 3,260,080.

The locking mechanism 15 includes a latch 16 extending through an opening 16a in tube 10 (FIG. 6) and said latch is retractible by the insertion of a key through key slot 14 and into the locking mechanism, and by the manual rotative movement of the key. In its extended or locking position, as shown in FIG. 7, the latch 16 extends through an aperture 16a in the side wall of the tube 10 and enters a groove 19 formed in the central tubular lug 5. While the latch 16 is so engaged with the groove 19 it will be apparent that the tube 10 and its contents cannot be longitudinally shifted or withdrawn out of the aligned lugs and 9.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device will be apparent. When the tube and the contained locking mechanism are not arranged in the lugs 5 and 9, it will be obvious that the two doors 1 and 2 can be separated. To secure the desired locking effect and hold the doors against separation, the tube 10 and its contents are inserted down through the aligned lugs 5 and 9 as shown in FIG. 3, and the latch 16 engaging the groove 19 in one of the lugs 5 will hold the tube and its contained lock ing mechanism positioned within the lugs and hold the plates 3 and 7 against separation. By the insertion of a suitably contoured key through the key slot 14 to enter the lock mechanism, and by the turning of such key, the latch 16 will be moved out of the groove 19 whereupon the tube 10 and its contained locking mechanism can be withdrawn from within the lugs 5 and 9 and the coupling between the plates 3 and 7 eliminated and the doors then be free to separate.

While the structure has been described as being particularly applicable for use in connection with a pair of doors, it can also be used in connection with a single door or other part or parts to be held against separation.

The locking mechanism contained well within a sturdy protective tube 10 is difficult to reach by anyone attempting to pick the lock, and the ease in changing the combination of the lock, as explained in detail in my said Patent No. 3,260,080 provides for an inexpensive but highly effective locking means used in many environments.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, :a portion of a hinged or swinging door is shown at 25. Secured to a face of the door by screws or bolts 26 is a sturdy C-shaped bracket 27. A housing 28 is provided at the back with a T-shaped plate 29 arranged to be slidably received within the bracket 27 and the housing is provided at the back with rearwardly extending flanges 30 and 31, the bracket 27 and plate 29 being located between these flanges.

The housing 28 includes a vertically disposed tubular sleeve 32 within which the tube 10, the locking mechanism 15 and the various other elements described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, are contained. In this embodiment now described, the sleeve 32 is open at the bottom, so that the head 23a on the plug 22 may protrude below the sleeve 32 and enter into a recess 33 or other keeper provided in or on the floor 34. The latch 16 enters a groove 19a formed in the inner wall surface of the sleeve 32.

In this embodiment, the tube 10 and its contents can be lifted out of the sleeve 32 by the displacement of the latch 16, thus disengaging the head 23a from the floor recess 33 and permitting the door to be swung to open position. When this is done, the housing 28 may, if desired,

he slid out of the bracket 27. The desired locking effect is secured by sliding the housing 28 in to the bracket 27; swinging the door to position the sleeve 32 above the recess 33 and inserting the tube 10 in the sleeve 32 until the latch 16 engages the groove 19a, at which time the head 23a will be engaged with the recess 33. This locking pin, like that previously described, can have the combination of its locking mechanism readily changed.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown the locking means applied to a drawer or tray of a vault used for the collection of coins. Such drawer may be a part of a coin-controlled apparatus for washing or drying machines such as used in a laundromat, or it may be efiectively employed in many other types of vending machines.

At 40 is shown a housing mounted by screws passing through apertures 41, at the required location on the machine, a portion of which is shown at 42, to receive the deposited coins. The removable coin-collection drawer or tray 43 is contained within the housing 40 and by the use of the improved locking means the drawer or tray is prevented from removal from the housing without the use of a suitable key. Secured to the opposite walls 45 and 46 of the housing are spaced bars, those on the walls 45 being indicated at 47 and those on the wall 46 being indicated at 48.

Extending across the drawer or tray 43 and secured to the walls 49 and 50 thereof, is a cylindrical sleeve 51, containing an inner sleeve 52, which is also secured to the walls of the drawer or tray. The locking pin employed in this embodiment is similar to that previously described and shown in FIG. 6. The pin includes the tube 10, containing the locking mechanism 15 and the latch 16 actuated thereby and is also closed at one end by the plug 22. The opposite end of the tube 10 is closed by the bushing 12, containing the plug 13 having the key slot 14.

When the locking pin, constructed as above described is fitted through the inner sleeve 52 as shown in FIG. 10. The head 23 on plug 22 will fit in the space between the bars 47 while the opposite end of the tube 10 will fit between the bars 48. This will prevent withdrawal of the drawer or tray by movement in the direction of the arrows 44 as long as the locking pin is positioned as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Longitudinal or axial movement of the tube 10 and its contents will be prevented as long as the latch 16 is maintained in engagement with the aperture 54 provided through the wall of the inner sleeve 52. By manipulation of the lock by a required key inserted through the key slot 14, the latch can be retracted and the tube 10 and its contents withdrawn from within the sleeve 53, leaving the drawer or tray free to be removed from the casing 30.

While the last mentioned embodiment shows the looking means as applied to a specific drawer or coin tray it will be apparaent that it can readily be used in many other environments.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, inclusive, there is secured to a face of the door 25 by means of screws 60, a substantially disk-shaped plate 61 which is notched at diametrically opposite points as shown at 62 and provided with arcuate lugs 63 between the notched portions.

The lock housing shown at 65 is similar in many respects to that shown at 28 in FIG. 7. The housing 65 is formed at the back with a plate 64 having spaced intumed flanges 66 which are adapted to engage behind the lugs 63 and thereby attach the housing 65 to the plate 61. This attachment is attained by fitting the housing against the plate 61 and rotating the housing until the flanges 66 engage behind the lugs 63. Thus, a bayonet-joint coupling is attained between the housing 65 and the plate 61, the latter being attached to the door as heretofore mentioned. It will be understood that the housing 65 contains the lock elements as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and which operate in the manner described in relation to the embodiment therein shown.

Another means for attaching the lock housing 65 to a door shown at 25 is shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, inclusive. Therein a bushing or sleeve 67 is provided at one end with an integral annular flange 68 which abuts against a face of the door while the bushing or sleeve 67 enters into an aperture 71 provided in the door.

The housing 65, in this embodiment, is formed with a rearwardly extending stem 70 arranged at substantially right angles to the axis of the housing 65 and which fits within the bushing 67. The bushing is fixedly attached to the door by screws 69 which extend through the flange 68 and enter the door.

Diametrically opposite grooves 73 are formed within the bushing 67 and splines 72 formed on the stem 70 engage with the grooves to thereby suitably position the housing 65 relatively to the door.

Near its rear end and behind the bushing 67, the stem 70 is provided with cross pins 74 which can be spring biased and act to prevent separation of the housing 65 from the bushing. The housing 65 in this embodiment also contains the lock elements disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 8.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 17, inclusive, the separation of the lock housing from the door is simple. When locking of the door is required, the lock housing is quickly attached to the door. This is done, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, by rotatively adjusting the housing 65 until the flanges 66 engage behind the lugs 63 on the plate 61 to line up the bolt portion 23a of the locking pin with the floor recess in which it is to enter. In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 to 17 the stem 70 is inserted in the bushing 67, the engagement of the splines 72 with notches 73 assuring proper line-up of the bolt part 23a with the floor recess when the locking pin is inserted in the housing.

When the lock casing 65 is bodily removed from the door, only the plates 61 and 68 respectively will remain on the door and the same are unobtrusive and nonprojecting.

Having thus described several embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the same are not to be restricted thereto.

What I claim is:

1. A locking pin arrangement adapted for engagement with a plurality of elements to hold the elements against separation, one of the elements consisting of a sleeve having a plate portion, a substantially C-shaped bracket secured to a door and receiving and embracing the plate portion of the sleeve to thereby removably attach the sleeve to the door, a locking pin including a tube entering into the sleeve and containing a locking mechanism within it, the tube including an end part normally projecting out of one end of the sleeve for engagement with a recess in a fixed element to hold the door against opening movement, the locking mechanism including a latch that is actuated by key manipulation of the locking mechanism, the sleeve having a recess in its wall for receiving the latch and preventing axial movement of the tube and its contents out of the sleeve, the removal of said tube withdrawing the projecting part of the same out of the recess and permitting movement of the door as Well as permitting the separation of the plate from the embrace of the C-shaped bracket.

2. A locking pin arrangement adapted for attachment to a door or the like, comprising a plate secured to the door, a sleeve carrying a part for interfit with the plate to thereby detachably couple the sleeve to the plate, the sleeve being detachable from the plate by movement of the sleeve relatively to the plate, a tube slidable axially within the sleeve, said tube having an end part projecting out of one end of the sleeve for engagement with a recess in a stationary element located adjacent to the door to hold the door against movement, key-controlled locking means contained in the tube, a latch controlled by said means, a recess in the sleeve engaged by the latch, the retraction of the latch permitting axial withdrawal of the tube out of the sleeve.

3. A locking pin arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the plate secured to the door has diametrically opposite edge flanges spaced from the face of the door and the sleeve has a disk provided with spaced inturned flanges that engage behind the flanges on the plate to thereby detachably couple the disk and its sleeve to the plate.

4. A locking arrangement adapted for attachment to a door, according to claim 2, wherein the plate that is secured to the door has a bushing extending into the body of the door, the part carried by the sleeve consisting of a stem passing through the bushing and having parts interfitting with the bushing to thereby locate the stern in a predetermined position relatively to the bushing and prevent rotative movement of the sleeve relatively to the door, and stop means on the stem for engagement with the bushing to prevent withdrawal of the stem out of the bushing.

5. A locking pin arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the C-shaped bracket includes opposed flanges disposed transversely of the sleeve and between which the plate on the sleeve is embraced, the plate on the sleeve being slidable in a manner to free it from the embrace of the flanges and by movement transverse to the axis of the sleeve, and the sleeve having flanges disposed respectively above and below the opposed flanges on the C-shaped bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,331 6/1909 Feola -371 1,434,161 10/1922 Smith 70-371 X 1,912,663 6/1933 Shinn 70--33 3,392,557 7/1968 Solow 70-211 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner EDWARD J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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