US988663A - Changeable-key lock. - Google Patents

Description

w. REES.

OHANGEABLE KEY LOOK.

APPLICATION IILSD D110. 20, 1909. v v 988,663. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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OHANGEABLE KEY LOOK. APPLICATION mum nno. 20,1900.

988,663,. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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UHANGEABLE KEY LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 111:0. a0, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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WALTER REES, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHANGEABLE-KEY LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed. December 20, 1909. Serial No. 534,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER Runs, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Changeable-Key Locks, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the usual practice of lessors of safety deposit boxes to provide them with locks which may be opened with keys furnished to the lessees, and, upon the termination of the lease of a given box to provide it with a new look to insure that the former lessee has not a duplicate key with which the box may be opened after it has been leased to another person. My invention may be advantageously employed to obviate the necessity of providing new locks under such circumstances, although my invention is not limited to such use.

As hereinafter described, my invention includes a lock of the Yale type having a single rotatory plug arranged to normally eooperate with a main series of radially reciprocatory pin tumblers but having an auxiliary series of pin tumblers including unit sections each as long as the minimum difference in depth of the notches in different keys. An adjustable detent, normally limits the extent of turning movement of said plug so that only the main series of pin tumblers are utilized in connection with the key, but

' said detent may be manually disengaged so as to permit said plug to be turned into registry with the auxiliary set of tumblers. Said plug being turned with the normal key to register with said auxiliary set of tumblers, said key may be then withdrawn, and, a new key with different notches being inserted in said plug, itsnotches are filled with the unit divisions of the auxiliary pin tumblers to the radial extent of the plug, and the latter being returned to the normal position and the detent replaced, the lock is thus set for operation by said new key, which then becomes the normal key. It is to be understood that the number of different keys to which such a lock may be thus set is only limited by the permutability of the tumbler divisions.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings :Figure I is a front view of a lock conveniently embodying my invention. Fig. II is a side view of said lock. Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. I, but omitting the face plate and showing the tumbler sockets in section. Fig. IV is a sectional view, taken on the line IV, IV in Figs. II and III. Fig. V is a sectional view taken on the line V, V, in Figs. I, III and IV. Fig. VI is a view similar to Fig. III, but showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. VII is a sectional view, taken on the line VII, VII in Fig. VI. Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. III, but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. I to V inclusive; the lock casing 1, has the removable face plate 2 detachably connected therewith by the screws 3 shown in Fig. I, which engage the threaded lugs 1 shown in Fig. III. The rotary plug 5 having the keyway 6 for the key 7, and the series of radial pin tumbler sockets 8, is journalcd at its rear end in the bearing 9 in said casing 1, and at its front end in the bearing 10 of said face plate 2. The circumferential flange 12, on said plug 5 bears against the face plate 2 and maintains said plug in proper longitudinal position in said casing. Adjoining its rear end, said plug 5 has the rectangular shoulder 13 which fits the corresponding opening 14 in the cam 15 which extends in the recess 16 in the shank 18 of the lock bolt 20; the arrangement being such that when said plug 5 is turned in either direction it effects corresponding movement of said bolt 20, the latter being shown in locked position in Figs. I, III and IV. The pin tumbler sections 21 in the rotary plug 5 are rounded at their inner ends so as to readily slip into and out of the angular notches 22 in the keys. The length of each of said tumbler sections 21 equals the radial thickness of said rotary'plug 5 beyond the keyway 6, and, the extent of said sockets 8 radially beyond said tumbler sections 21 is filled by the unit pin tumbler sections 24 which are each as long as the minimum difference in depth of the key notches 22. As shown in Fig. V, said tumbler sockets 8 are filled to the radial extentof the plug 5 with different numbers of said unit pin tumbler sections 24, in accordance with the different depths of the key notches 22. Said shank 18 of the lock bolt 20 is fitted to reciprocate in the recess 26 in the tumbler frame 27 and has the series of pin tumbler bearings 28 which register with said sockets 8 in the plug 5 and with the main series of tumbler sockets 29 in said frame 27, when said bolt is in locked position as shown in Figs. HI and V. Said sockets 29 contain pin tumbler driver sections 31, ,which are pressed toward the rotary plug 6 by respective springs 32 so that when the proper key 7 is inserted in the keyway 6 as shown, the tumbler sections 33 which extend in the bearings 28 of' the bolt shank 18 and are co-extensive with the thickness of the latter, do not project from said shank, and the latter may be shifted back and forth by the cam 15 on said rotary plug 5, as the latter is turned by the key. However, when the key is withdrawn with the bolt in said locked position; said springs 32 shift the pin tumblers toward the plug 5, to engage the bolt shank 18 in the frame 27 and prevent its unlocking movement. Thereafter, it is impossible to unlock the bolt 20, except when the proper key 7 is inserted in the keyway 6 of the rotary bolt 5; because a key having different notches causes the tumbler sections 33 to project from the bolt shank 18 and engage said frame 27.

The unlocking movement of the lock bolt 20, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. III, is normally limited by the detent 35, which is conveniently a lever fulcrumed on the stud 36 and having the handle 37 extendin through the slot 38 in the casing 1. Said detent 35 being provided with the spring 40 is normally automatically maintained in the position shown in Fig. 111, to so limit the unlocking movement of said bolt 20 that the rotary plug 5 cannot be turned to present its tumbler sockets 8, in registry with the auxiliary series of tumbler sockets 41 which extend in said frame 27 in radial relation with said plug 5 and conveniently at right angles to said main series of tumbler sockets 29. However, said handle 37 extending through the slot 38 in said casing 1, is accessible from the interior of the structure to which the lock is applied, so that said detent 35 may be manually raised to present its recess 42 opposite to the recess 26 in the tumbler frame 27 and thus permit the lock bolt 20 to be withdrawn to the abnormal extent of the unlocking movement necessary to present the sockets 8 in the rotary plug 5 in registry with said auxiliary series of tumbler sockets 41, which contain unit pin tumbler sections 24 and springs 43, which press them radially toward said plug 5 so that the sockets 8 of the plug 5 may be filled to the radial extent thereof when presented in registry therewith, with any key having notches 22 of depths measured by the unit length of said tumbler sections 24, and the lock be thus set for operation by any such key regardless of the difference in depth of notches of the different keys.

Referring to Fig. III it may be observed that when the deepest notches 22 in the key 7 permit the sections 21 to assume their innermost position, but three sections 24 are required to fill the sockets 8 to the radial extent of the plug. However, four such unit tumbler sections are provided for each notch in the key 7; the extra ones always remaining in the auxiliary sockets 41, as drivers for the other sections, under pressure of said springs 43.

The form of my invention above described operates as follows :The "lock being set for the key 7 to present the tumblers 33 in the position shown in Fig. V; the bolt 20 may be unlocked and locked by turning the rotary plug 5 with said. key to the extent per-' mitted by the movable detent 35, and, when said key 7 is withdrawn, with said bolt 20 in the locked position shown in Figs. III and V, the tumbler sections 33 are driven radially toward the plug 5 by the'springs 32, so as to project from the bolt shank 18 into the tumbler frame 27 and thus prevent movement of said bolt 20 in either direction. However, said pin tumbler sections 33 are,

of course, restored to the position shown in Figs. H1 and V, whenever said key 7 is inserted, and then permit said bolt to be unlocked. It being desired to set said lock to be operated by a new key, having notches 22 differing from those of the key 7; the latter being inserted as shown, and the detent 35 being raised, the rotary plug 5 is turned to present its sockets 8 in registry with the sockets 41 of the auxiliary series. Said key 7 is then withdrawn and, the new key being inserted with the sockets 8 of said plug 5 in registry with the auxiliary sockets 41,

the different notches 22 of the key are filled with the tumbler sections 21 and suflicient of the unit sections 24, to the radial extent of said sockets 8 in said plug 5. It is to be understood that said unit sections 24 may thus be taken from or restored in the auxiliary sockets 41. Said plug may then be returned to the locked position shown in Figs. III and V, thus permitting the detent 35 to be returned by the spring 40 to its normal position shown in Fig. HI, and, thereafter, the lock may only be operated by the new key, until set for a-notherkey.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. VI and VII, the lock casing 44, which is similar to the lock casing 1 above described, is provided with the face plate 45 similar to the face plate 2 above described, but the lock bolt 46 differs from the lock bolt 20 aforesaid, in that its shank 47 is provided with the lug 48 adapted to fit within the recesses 49 of the pivoted tumblers 50 which are mounted to oscillate on the shaft 51 and respectively provided with springs 52 which press them upon the pin tumbler sections 53in the main series of tumbler sockets 54 in the tumbler frame 55, so as to press said tumbler sections 53 radially toward the rotary plug 56 which is constructed and arranged like the plug 5 above described, having the tumbler sockets 57 adapted to register with said sockets 54, or with the auxiliary series of sockets 59 in said frame 55. In this form of my invention the unlocking movement of the bolt 46 is normally limited by the detent 61 which is a reciprocatory plunger having the handle 62 projecting through the slot 63 in said casing 51, and, the spring 65 which normally presents said detent in the path of the shank 47 of said bolt 46, as shown in Fig. VI. It is to be understood that when it is desired to set this look for a new key said detent may be manually lowered to permit the necessary extension of the unlocking movement of said bolt.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. VIII; the lock casing 71 is similar to and provided with a face plate like the other casings above described, but the lock bolt 73 has a bifurcated shank comprising opposite members 74 and 75 which embrace the tumbler frame 76. Said shank member 74 has the series of main tumbler sockets 78 containing springs 7 9 and tumbler sections 80, and adapted to register with the turnbler sockets 81 in said frame 7 (5, in which the tumbler sections 82 reciprocate. The rotary plug 83, which is like the other plugs above described and includes a series of pin tumbler sockets 84, containing inner tumbler sections 85 and unit tumbler sections 86, is arranged to be turned to register with said sockets 81, or with the auxiliary sockets 87 containing the springs 88 and auxiliary unit pin tumbler sections 86 which are utilized in the manner above described with reference to the form of my invention shown in Figs. I to V inclusive.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein shown as it is obvious that various modifications will be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a lock, the combination with a rotary plug having a keyway, and a single straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets; of a casing having two straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets, arranged to respectively register with the sockets in said plug, in different rotary positions of the latter; pin tumblers in said sockets; springs thrusting said tumblers toward said plug; a pivoted detent arranged to limit the rotary move ment of said plug to register with but one or both of said series of easing sockets in accordance with the position of said detent, and, a spring presenting said detent in position to limit the rotation of said plug to register with but one of said series of easing sockets.

2. In a lock, the combination with a rotary plug having a keyway, and a single straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets; of a casing having two straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets, arranged to respectively register with the sockets in said plug, in different rotary positions of the latter; pin tumblers in said sockets; springs thrusting said tumblers toward said plug; and, a detent arranged to limit the rotary movement of said plug to register with but one or both of said series of easing sockets in accordance with the position of said detent.

3. In a lock, the combination with a rotary plug having a keyway, and a radial pin tumbler socket; of a casing having two radial pin tumbler sockets, arranged to re spectively register with the socket in said plug, in different rotary positions of the latter; pin tumblers in said sockets; resilient means thrusting said tumblers toward said plug; and, a detent arranged to limit the rotary movement of said plug to re ister with but one or both of said casing sockets, in accordance with the position of said detent.

4. In a lock, the combination with two series of tumblers; of a rotary plug having a keyway, arranged to alternately cooperate with both of said series of tumblers; and, a detent movable to render one of said series of tumblers inoperative.

5. In a lock, the combination With a rotary plug having a keyway, and a single straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets; of a slide bolt having a single straight series of pin tumbler sockets; a casing having two straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets, arranged to respectively register with the sockets in said plug in different rotary positions of the latter; pin tumbler sections carried in and coextensive with the sockets in said slide bolt; and changeable pin tumblers in the sockets in said plug.

6. In a lock, the combination with a rotary plug having a keyway, and a single straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets; of a slide bolt having a single straight series of pin tumbler sockets; a casing having two straight series of radial pin tumbler sockets, arranged to respectively register with the m s m E W m N R N a E w w m m d A M w W m. n IR .1 A m P W .N w m R W HT m AG 7 t m W mow .v v1 O- wm m y P m .i e ymtww r od c 6 all 0 m m m mwfi hp mnm m e di d E 3 .1n S l d fl m m.m.m1 m M .7 a r mw w e; 6 P y m mh p mm S66 nm fi b Sm s flnmw m m m io mmm oam hhnw stlcs s 5 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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