US962558A - Key. - Google Patents

Description

F. C. EGKERT.

KEY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1909.

962,558. Patented Jim@ 28,1910.

@NTT

FREI) C. ECKERT, OF WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN.

KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 190.9.

Patented J une 28, 1910.

Serial No. 506,519.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED C. ECKERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vaukesha, in the county of Waukesha and State of Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Key, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to keys for locks such as used on doors and the like and its object is to combine with a key means whereby the same can be positively prevented from rotating, it being thus impossible for persons to surreptitiously turn the key from outside the door or other object in which the lock is located.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which, when not in use, is completely housed within the shank of the key and will not catch in any object contacting therewith, thus permitting the key to be carried in the pocket as ordinarily.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings z-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the guard strip and eye shifted out of their normal positions and into the positions assumed by them while the key is locked against rotation within a lock. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the key and showing the guard strip, eye and stem in elevation.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the shank of a key, the same being provided with a longitudinal slot 2 preferably extended at right angles to the plane occupied by the ward 3 of the key. One end of the shank 1 is forked as indicated at 4, and a longitudinal groove 5 extends from this fork to the slot 2. A stem 6 is pivotally mounted within the forked end of the shank 1 and is provided at one end with an eye 7, such as is usually provided at one end of a key shank, while the other end of the stem 6 is designed to normally rest within the longitudinal groove 5.

A guard strip 8 is pivotally mounted within the slot 2 and is so shaped as to completely lill said slot when the strip is completely housed in the shank, one end of said guard strip being provided with a tongue 9 which constantly locks the inner end of the stem G and normally cooperates therewith to completely lill the groove 4 in which said stem is designed to rest. A shoulder' is formed at the end of the tongue 9 as indicated at 10 and a longitudinal groove 11 is formed within the under or inner face of the tongue and opens into a socket 12 formed within the shoulder 10. The groove 11 is designed to receive the stem 6 when the parts are housed within the shank, the end of the stem at this time projecting into the socket 12. When the parts are thus housed it is impossible for dirt to accumulate between them. i

Tn using the device herein described the key is inserted into the lock as ordinarily and turned so as to shift the bolt of the lock. After this shifting action has occurred and while the ward of the key is extended at an angle to the key-hole the operator swings the eye 7 of the key downwardly upon its pivot, thus causing the stem 6 to press upwardly against the tongue 9. This will cause the opposite portion of the strip 8 to swing downwardly into the key-hole and thus positively prevent the key from rotating within the lock. The stem 6 is designed to assume a position at right angles to the tongue 9 and when thus located it will be apparent that no manipulation of the projecting lowered end of the strip 8 will result in the return of said strip to the key shank. The only way in which the key can be rotated within the lock is by grasping the eye 7 and returning the stem 6 and the tongue 9 into the housing, this being only possible of course when a person is within reach of the key. When the stem 6 is swung into the shank its end moves into the socket 12 and thus operates to swing the strip 8 back into the slot.

As heretofore pointed out a device such as herein described can be readily carried in the pocket, because it has no projecting parts likely to tear or otherwise injure any fabric contacting therewith. The key is of very simple construction, being formed of but three parts, to wit, the shank, the retaining strip, and t-he eye stem.

It will be noted that the shank 1 is provided with an annular bead 13. This bead is important in that it prevents the insertion of any long thin instrument through the key-hole in which the key is seated and past the guard strip and into Contact With the eye 7.

It is of course to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit or sacricing the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is l. A key including a shank, a guard pvotally connected thereto and adapted to swing laterally therebeyond, and means pivotally connected to the shank and movable laterally there-beyond for shifting the guard into position to hold the shank against rotation Within a lock, both the guard and its actuating means being movable in a plane extending longitudinally of the shank.

2. A key including a slotted shank having a Ward extending therefrom, a guard strip pivotally connected to the shank and normally housedwvithin the slot, and means pivotally connected to the shank for shifting the guard strip beyond the shank to hold said shank against rotation Within a lock.

3. A key including a longitudinally slotted shank having a Ward extending therefrom, a guard strip pivotally mounted Wit-hin the slot and normally housed therein, an eye pivotally connected to the shank and having a stem projecting into the slot, said stem engaging the guard and constituting means for shifting the guard out of the slot to hold the shank against rotation Within a lock.

el. A key including a shank, a holding member pivotally mounted therein, said member having a tongue extending therefrom, there being a socket Within the member and adjacent the tongue, and a stem pivotally connected to the shank'and movably mounted upon the tongue and Within the socket, said stem operating to shift the holding member into and out of the shank.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRED C. ECKERT.

Witnesses: Y

A. L. BLAcKsToNE, T. L. J. FRAME.

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