US678769A - Combination-lock. - Google Patents

Description

No. 678,769. Patented My 16, l90l1.

S. W-. SHUUPE.

COMBINATION LOCK.

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1900.) (No Model.)

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SAMUEL \V. SI-IOUPE, OF HAGERSTOWVN, MARYLAND.

COMBlNATlON-LOCK.

SEECIFICAEION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,769, dated July 16, 19011. Application filed November 23, 1900 Serial No. 37,507. (No model.)-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. SHoUPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hagerstown, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Combination-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to combination-locks, and more particularly to one in the form of a hasp-lock or padlock.

One object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly cheap and simple construction of combination -padlock which can be quickly and easily operated without the use of a key and one which will be safer than the usual form of combination-padlock.

Another object is to provide a lock which can be operated in the dark as easily as in thelight, provided the combination be known, and another object is to provide a deceptive means for preventing the lock being picked by pulling on the hasp and turning the tumbler-disks.

With the above objects in .view the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the lock open. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the lock being closed. Fig. 3 is-a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the tumbler rings and disks;

and Fig. 5 is a view of the same part, showing the opposite side.

In constructing a lock in accordance with my invention I employ a plate A, essentially circular in shape, and having another plate or arm B cast integral therewith and extending at a right angle to the said plate A, the plate or arm B being curved, as shown. The hasp or shackle O is pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm or plate B, said hasp or shackle being curved in the usual manner, and it will be understood that the plate or arm B is curved for the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the lock in a staple.

A post or spindle D is rigidly attached to the plate A and extends therefrom at a right having four or more threaded openings F adapted to receive the screws F by means of which the disks E are attached to the said rings, and it will be understood that by having a plurality of threaded openings the disks can be turned within the rings whenever it is desired to change the combination. The tumbler-disks have a central circular opening which permits it to turn freely upon the post or spindle, and this circular openingis notched or enlarged at one point, as most clearly shown at E, which notch or enlargement is adapted to be brought into engagement with the slot or recess in the post or spindle for the purpose of receiving the reduced end of the hasp or shackle, it of course being understood that a portion of the said reduced end will rest partly within the spindleand partly within the tumbler-disks. The reduced end of the hasp or shackle has wards C out therein, said wards being so spaced that when the reduced end of the hasp or shackle is inserted into the post or spindle the said wards will be brought into alinement with the tumbler-disks, and then by turning the rings in either direction the notches will be moved out of alinement with the slot or groove in the spindle, and in this manner the hasp or shackle will be securely fastened within the said post or spindle.

Figures or other marks are arranged upon the exterior of the rings F. In the present instance I have placed numbers from l to 14 upon each ring, and when the rings are turned so as to bring the numbers 14 and 11, respectively, opposite a mark G, produced at the top of the plate F, the notches in the tumbler-disks will be brought into alinement with the slot or groove in the post or spindle. The tumbler disks and rings are held in their proper positions upon the post or spindle by means of a washer-plate H, which is screwed upon the threaded end of the post or spindle, said washer-plate having a notch H, which alines with the groove or slot in the post or spindle, thereby permitting the ready insertion of the reduced end of the hasp or shackle into the lock.

As before stated, the tumbler-disks are so arranged within the rings that when the numbers 14 and 11 are brought into alinement with the mark upon the top of the plate A that ward end of the hasp can be inserted and withdrawn as desired. In order to prevent the lock being picked by pulling upon the hasp and turning the tumbler-disks, I construct the said tumbler-disks with a series of so-called deceptive notches or recesses I, said notches or recesses being produced in the face adjacent to plate A and radially arranged about the central opening. The purpose of said notches or recesses is to permit the ward end of the hasp or shackle to be brought into engagement therewith, thereby permitting the said hasp or shackle to yield slightly and at the same time lock itself in engagement with the said deceptive notches or recesses. Inasmuch as there are a number of such notches or recesses it will be readily understood that any person attempting to pick the lock in this manner will be frustrated.

As before stated, the lock can be opened by bringing the numbers 14 and 11 into alinement with the mark on the top of the plate. This will be very Well, provided the operator has sufficient light to observe the numbers; but as my lock isintended for out door use as well as indoor use I propose to construct it in such a manner that it can be opened in the dark as well as in the light, and in order to accomplish this I cut a groove K in the upper face of the arm B and locate in the said groove a bow-shaped spring L, having its ends- L bent toward each other and adapted to rest slightly above the upper face of the said arm and substantially parallel therewith, the said ends L acting substantially in the nature of a spring-pawl, which will normally engage the periphery of the tumbler-disks, and I also propose to produce a series of transverse slots M across the periphery of each ring and between the numerals, except between the numerals 1 and 2, thus leaving a blank space between the said numerals 1 and Now in turning the rings the pawl ends of the spring will engage the cross-slots M and will produce a click which will be audible to the ear and will also check the movement of the said ring, which will be perceptible to the touch, and in this manner the operator can readily ascertain the exact number opposite the spring pawl, inasmuch as the blank space between the numbers 1 and 2 will notify him that he has just passed the numeral 1, and turning in the proper direction the next click or check will be numeral 3, the the next numeral 4, and so on.

The numerals 14 and 11 are brought into alinement with the mark at the top of the plate to throw the lock open, and when the numerals 14 and 11 are so alined the numerals 7 and 4 will be in alinement with the spring-pawls, so that in opening or closing the look at night or in the dark the combination will be 7 and 4: opposite the spring-pawls, and in the light the combination will be 14 and 11 opposite the notch at the top of the plate.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple and efficient construction of combination-lock which cannot be easily picked and which can be operated in the dark as well as in the light.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lock of the kind described, the combination, with the plates A and B, of the spindle or post projecting from the plate .'A and slotted as described, the tumbler-disks arranged upon the said post or spindle and connected with the rings as set forth, said rings having their peripheries notched,and a spring located in the plate B and having its ends shaped to engage the notched rings, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a lock of the kind described, the combination, with the plates A and B, of the post or spindle attached to the plate A, the hasp or shackle pivotally connected to the plate B, the tumbler-disks arranged upon the post or spindle, the rings to which the disks are attached, said rings having their peripheries notched as described, and the spring seated in a groove cut in the top of the plate B and having its ends bent to engage the notched peripheries of the rings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a lock of the kind described, the combination, with the spindle and plates of the tumbler disks and rings, said rings having their peripheries notched, and the springpawls carried by the plate and adapted for engagement with the tumbler rings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL W. SHOUPE.

Witnesses:

J. A. YOUNG, DANIEL H. GARVER.

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