US3521471A

US3521471A - Combination locks

Info

Publication number: US3521471A
Application number: US717835A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donato Aretola
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-04-05
Filing date: 1968-04-01
Publication date: 1970-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 1987-07-21
Also published as: FR1573167A

Description

July 21, 1970 D. ARETOLA COMBINATION LOCKS Filed April 1, 1968 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7/4". I .9 [29. j 2B D H I I I EL 355F435? liil iaii 1%, "h" J\ I 4 ,1 V I sf V7" V .fl

my 2 12 l0 I2 10 5B EqZ If I M 3 W L AW 11" 5A v INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 21., 1970 D. ARETOLA 3,521,411

COMBINATION LOCKS I Filed April -1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY (EM -1,024

r ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,521,471 COMBINATION LOCKS Donato Aretola, 18 Winchester Buildings, Copperfield St., London, SE. 1, England Filed Apr. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,835

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 5, 1967,

15,700/ 67 Int. Cl. E05b 37/02 US. Cl. 70-312 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is of a combination lock for doors, switches, controls, etc. in which a plurality of combination wheels mounted on a spindle control the position of a radial key or feather, so that it assumes either an in or an out position according to whether the combination is set or scrambled, so that the spindle is either locked or free. The feather in the set situation, enters radial slots in the wheels and only does so when all slots coincide.

This invention relates to combination locks, and more particularly to locks in which a spindle-like element is the operable part of the lock. The spindle may operate by rotation, for example thus withdrawing a bolt or latch; or by axial movement, for example thus working a starter-switch of a motorcar; or the spindle may have different functions, for example its rotation operating an ignition switch and its axial movement operating a starter switch. Primarily however the invention is intended to be applied to mechanically-operating locks of which an example is a motorcar door lock with a spring-urged latch, or a lock for a cabinet drawer having a rotatable latch or a sliding bolt.

The invention seeks to provide a combination lock of simple, robust, and economic construction. It is further concerned to provide combination locking means which can be fitted to an existing lock or door-handle spindle (such as that of a motorcar door) with little or no modification of the existing fittings excepts the removal of the handle. It also provides for an attractive and compact arrangement in which the assembly of combinationwheels itself forms a knob or handle. According to the degree of elaboration, the combination is either preordained at the time of initial assembly, or is open to selection by a later setting.

According to the invention, there is provided mounted for rotation on the spindle a plurality of axially-bored combination wheels or dials the exposed rims of which have letters, figures, or symbols visibly displayed, and each such wheel has in its bore a radial notch or recess; and the spindle has a radial slot in which is radially slidable a feather or key which is so dimensioned and so located as to enter the notches when all the notches are aligned and collectively register with the feather; and the feather and/or the notch formation is bevelled or chamfered so that forcible rotation of one of the wheels urges the feather into its slot thereby disengaging it from the wheels.

In one form of the invention, the feather has a pin or projection which can extend right through the spindle (which is of course radially bored for this purpose) and the pin, when projecting from the spindle, engages in a recess in a fixed bezel or mounting in which the spindle is borne when so engaged, the spindle is thus locked to the mounting against movement, and so the door is locked (or equivalent function performed). This occurs when the combination is scrambled by turning at least one wheel relative to the others, and the lock is secure until the combination is re-set whereupon the feather, re-

entering the aligned notches, retracts from the final recess and so unlocks.

In another form, the invention is applicable more especially where the spindle is spring urged one way; for example when it operates a spring latch as is usual on car doors. In this form, the feather does not have a positivelylocking pin. The feather simply acts, when in the notches of the wheels, as a key preventing the assembly of wheels from rotating on the spindle. In this case, the assembly itself as a whole is used as a door-knob, and it can only turn the spindle (to open the door) when the feather is notched, i.e. when the combination is set. Scrambling the combination pushes the feather into the slot of the spindle leaving all the wheels free to rotate, and so the door is effectively locked; it is observed however that this is a pseudo-lock, because what has really happened is that the knob has been unlocked from the spindle. The term lock is therefore used here in its general or colloquial sense of making it impossible to open.

The invention further includes certain features which will be enlarged upon in the following description; for example, the provision of means whereby the owner can select and set a new combination.

The invention is exemplified in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation, of a pseudolock for a motorcar door.

FIG. 2 is a similar view to that of FIG. 1, illustrating the positive-locking form as a variant of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view to illustrate one way in which the feather and notches can be arranged.

FIG. 4 is a section of a modified combination wheel allowing for individual setting;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate as scrap views, two. ways of using the combination of FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 illustrates the invention as it applies to a pseudo-lock. As applied to a car door, the latch-operating square-section spindle is shown at 1. This is secured on the inside of the door, perhaps by carrying an inside lever (not shown) or the like secured by a stud screwed into a threaded blind bore 1A. On the outer end of spindle 1 is mounted a cylindrical extension boss 2, which has a square blind bore at 2A into which fits spindle 1, and a grub-screw or dowel-like pin 2B secures these two parts together. The boss 2 has a radiallyextended head 3, and in its length an axially directed radial slot 4. In the slot 4 is radially slidable a feather 5, spring-urged outwards by two light helical springs SA partially housed in, and located by, blind bores in the feather 5; the springs 5A bear on the bottom of the slot 4. The outer edge 5B of the feather is tapered or chamfered as seen in FIG. 3; this formation may be unilateral or bilateral as illustrated. If unilateral the combination can be scrambled only by turning the wheels in one sense of direction. Alternatively the feather may be of rectangular section and the notches later described (and as illustrated in FIG. 3) have one or both flanks inclined.

The boss 2, which is in effect part of the spindle 1, is borne in a fixed bezel plate 6 of which the reverse side is contoured to fit the contour of the car door; the curved fitting surface is indicated in FIG. 1 at 7. The fitting surface may have dowels, indicated at 7A (not in realistic positions) projecting from it, to fit into holes in the door panel such as are normally present. It is understood, then, that the plate 6 is fixed to the door and the spindle as a whole (1 and 2) is rotatable in it.

On the cylindrical boss 2 are rotatably mounted three

combination wheels

8A, 8B, 8C. These may have equal external diameters, so that collectively they form a cylindrical shape; or they may be tapered as an assembly so that the outermost, 8A is smaller than 8C which is the innermost. From the point of view of production, if they are all of the same size they may, obviously, be manufactured as virtually identical components as seen in FIG. 1. Each wheel has its perimeter marked with letters, numbers or other indices, to form the combination. Such marking is preferably on slightly upstanding castellations such as are illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 40 at 8D. Each wheel has of course, a central axial bore, fitting on the boss 2. In each bore is a radial notch, indicated at 9. The flanks of each notch are convergent or tapered, as seen in FIG. 3; thus, when the feather is engaged in a notch 9, partial rotation of the engaged

wheel

8A or 8B or 8C causes that wheel to ride over the feather and force it inwards into the slot 4 against the springs 5A. This action is the result of scrambling. Rotation of any one of 8A, 8B or 80 (so of course, all of them), having pushed in the feather, leaves the wheels collectively free to turn on the boss 2. Therefore, the spindle 1 cannot be turned against such frictional and spring resistance as it always has. Since the only way of opening the door by turning the spindle 1, is by using the assembly of

wheels

8A, 8B, 8C, as a door-knob, it follows that the door-knob is free to rotate, and the door therefore cannot be opened. This is what has been called pseudo-locking; it is, in reality, a declutching of the assembly of wheels from the spindle.

As a matter of construction, each wheel has at its periphery an axially-projecting rim or flange 10, of which the section is channel or hook-like (see FIG. 1). In the unique case of the outermost wheel 8A, there is inserted in the channel at 10 a resilient disc 11 which encloses the head 3 (which retains the wheel assembly), thus rendering the whole of the spindle assembly inaccessible. On the other hand, when it is required to dismantle the device, the screw at 1A (and whatever fitting it secures) being removed the whole assembly of FIG. 1 can be withdrawn from the door, leaving the plate 6 (or removing it if required). At this point it is mentioned that on one side of each

wheel

8A, 8B, 80, there is, between the

wheels

8A, 8B; 8B and 8C; and 8C and fitting 6, a roughly semicircular spring-wire retaining clip 12 of which the ends are located in small blind bores in the boss 2; these serve to locate the wheels individually and also to space each wheel from its neighbour by a small clearance, to prevent their mutually frictionally binding one against another. When the assembly is removed from the door, then the innermost ring 12 is. removed and wheel 8C is removedfollowed by the next ring and wheel 8B and the third ring and wheel 8A. But wheel 8A must be forced off, so that the disc 11, being resilient and stopped by contact with the head 3, is displaced from the channel at 10 and thus wheel 8A is removable.

On the plate 6 or other reference basis is marked an index line or arrow. When the combination letters (or like) on all wheels, are aligned with each other and with the mark on the plate 6, the combination is set. In that circumstance uniquely, the assembly of wheels used collectively as a knob, can turn the spindle 1 and thus open the door. When any one wheel is in any other relative position, the feather 5 must be in its inward posi tion, and the assembly of wheels is free to rotate on the spindle so the door cannot be opened from the outside. Note, however, that whatever fitting is on the inside of the door, can still turn the spindle and open the door. This fact distinguishes this example of the invention from the variant of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the plate 6 has a radial notch 6A in its bore. The boss 2 has a hole through it at 6B.'The feather 5 has an extension from which projects diametrically through the hole 6B a locking pin 5C capable of entering the notch 6A. In this case, when the lock is scrambled and the feather 5 is in its in position, not only is the assembly of wheels declutched from the spindle but the pin 5C positively locks the spindle to the fixed plate 6. Thus, the locking is positive; note that, for the same reason the door cannot be opened from the inside. This can be a disadvantage in some cases (it may be' so regarded in the ordinary case of a car door) but it may be an advantage in other cases; for example positive locking could be adopted, if the end of the spindle 1 is to have a conventional handle.

The feather 5 can conveniently be made of a hard but fairly low-friction synthetic plastic. If it be arranged so that it is always operable downwards then the springs 5A can be omitted and gravity relied upon. Or, it may be a permanent magnet and a bitt be provided in each wheel (or the Wheels may be of magnetic metal) so that the feather tends always to move outwards.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a wheel of which the combination-cipher can be selected. The wheel comprises an annular outer rim 40 (with the flange 10 as before, which is a taper fit on an inner part 41 which is axially bored to fit on boss 2, and notched, as are the wheels of FIG. 1 or 2. The rim 40 can be located at choice on the part 41 so as to choose the relation between the selected combination-cipher and the notch 9. The two wheel parts may be interlocked by friction (or cementing) which is not highly favoured but may be tolerable; or by providing their innerface with serrations as shown in FIG. 4A at 42, giving a fine adjustment of positive connection; or by providing the rim 40 with a sunk grubscrew 43 ,(FIG. 48) to lock it to the part 41 in selected position. If, as intended, the construction is mainly of light-alloy, the grubscrew will firmly imbed itself in part 43. Yet again and as shown in FIG. 40, the inner part 41 has periphical notches 44 corresponding in number to the castellations 8D and a grubscrew 43c engages one of the notches 44; the inner and outer parts are thereby initially settable. A broken line at 9A in FIG. 4C, illustrates that one wheel, (or even two wheels out of three) may have its notch with radial flanks whilst only one wheel has the lateral flank. Then the unique wheel determines Whether or not the feather is engaged or disengaged.

Combination locks can be inconvenient in the dark. It is proposed that (especially in the example of FIGS. 4) the outer part at least of each wheel be made of a material impregnated or coated with a luminescent substance, the actual ciphers (and any index mark) being opaque and non-luminescent so as to stand out visibly. Then, at least for many hours after exposure to a source of light, the combination can be seen. Alternatively or as well the facets (such as at 8D) on the Wheels, may be formed in heavy relief so as to be identifiable by feel. The normal setting of the lock may be such that the combination has to be vertically upwards, and providing the adjustment is not of too fine dimensions, the fixed index (such as a mark on the plate 6) may be dispensed with.

The foregoing description pertains entirely to rotary looking. it is observed, however, hat the action of the feather may be to release the spindle for axial movement relative to the Wheel assembly. Thus, locking may be against rotation plus axial movement, or against axial movement alone. The former case is deemed to be applicable to that type of motorcar fitting which provides a rotary switch for ignition (imagine the spindle 1 being the ignition switch spindle or arbor) and a press button switch for the starter relay ,(imagine the spindle, adapted for some axial movement and exposed by absence of the disc 11, being the starter button).

It will thus be seen that the invention is open to wide variation according to the requirements of application, and lends itself to standardisation in the sense that very few individual parts are required to be manufactured. As a further example the whole of the combination assembly may be applied to a sliding bolt rather than to the rotatable spindle, the feather in such case being operative only against axial movement.

The wheels may be extended, one nested within the other, in a radial direction, and instead of their rims being used to display the combination, their annular coaxial faces will be the display, one surrounding the next.

The invention may be usedperhaps especially in the pseudo-locking form like FIG. 1-for various purposes such as to prevent theunauthorised use of electric switches, or of apparatus in which a rotation is to be achieved for an operation. For example in the console of a control panel it may be required to provide some emergency or safety operative device in the form of a knob to be twisted. The invention can be adapted thereto, to prevent such action except by some authorised person who knows the combination. In another example, the device is adapted to the closure of a container; for example a drug or poison-bottle has a screw-on cap or stopper and this cap (intended to be firmly screwed on) constitutes the equivalent of the spindle 1 of FIG. 1, the combination assembly being mounted on it. Then, the cap can only be removed by one who knows the combination, because otherwise the combination assembly, totally enshrouding the cap, prevents it being unscrewed by precluding access to it and providing the pseudo-locking effect. A securing-bolt, eg between two frames of a window, may have its head enshrouded by the combination assembly, so that an unauthorized person cannot get at it to unscrew it, but when set, the assembly forms a bolt-head or knob for removal of the bolt.

I claim:

1. A combination lock comprising: a spindle which, when rotated, serves to actuate an opening or switch mechanism; a plurality of combination wheels arranged for co-axial separate rotation on one end of said spindle and so formed that said wheels collectively constitute a knob for the rotation of said spindle; the bore of each said wheel defining a radial notch; said spindle end having a radial slot along its longitudinal axis; a key-like feather member disposed within said slot and adapted to engage each of said notches when they are all aligned thereby permitting rotation of said spindle as said wheels are rotated; resilient means urging said feather member out of said slot and in engagement with said notches; and bearing means providing for separate rotation of said wheels on said spindle one end whereby misalignment of said notches causes said feather member to be urged completely into said slot by the bore wall of at least one of said wheels thereby preventing rotation of said spindle as said wheels are rotated.

2. The lock according to claim 1 further comprising a fitting member on said spindle, said fitting member being fixed relative to said spindle and having a radially extending recess therein, said feather member being provided with a radially extending pin for movement into and out of said recess thereby locking said spindle against rotation within said fitting member when said feather member is urged completely into said slot.

3. Lock according to claim 1 wherein one of said wheels comprises an outer rim-like part bearing a cipher for combination and an inner part having the bore and notch, said outer and inner parts being relatively rotatable for initial setting and thereafter capable of being inter-locked.

4. Lock according to claim 1 in which the outermost one of said wheels carries a closure disc enclosing and concealing said spindle one end.

5. Lock according to claim 1 in which said bearing means comprises ring elements located between said wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,387 2/ 1894 Silvey -22 659,045 10/ 1900 Amess 7025 942,553 12/ 1909 Hamilton 70149 972,171 10/1910 Dupont 702l 1,560,596 11/1925 Marra 7013 2,276,733 3/1942 Mayewski 7021 9 2,718,777 9/1955 Kincaid 70-305 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,061 12/ 1924 Norway. 244,367 12/ 1925 Great Britain. 298,013 6/ 1954 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 70-213, 326, 445