WO1995021982A1

WO1995021982A1 - An improved storage means with combination lock

Info

Publication number: WO1995021982A1
Application number: PCT/IB1995/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shu-Ming Anton Wong; Tze-Kei Choi; Wai-Keung Chu; Nobukazu Ishida
Original assignee: Wong Shu Ming Anton
Priority date: 1994-02-15
Filing date: 1995-01-23
Publication date: 1995-08-17
Also published as: AU1423695A; JP3001090U; CN2237616Y

Abstract

A lockable storage means comprising a top member (20), a base member (10) and a plurality of locking modules (30) located therebetween, the locking modules (30) are adapted to engage with each other and with the top member (20) or base member (30) so as to form side walls of the complete storage means. The locking modules (30) are rotatable and in combination comprising a combination lock, which combination is selectable by a user upon disassembly and reassembly of the modules.

Description

AN IMPROVED STORAGE MEANS WITH COMBINATION LOCK

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage means, in particular, it relates to a portable storage means which comprises a plurality of interlocking cavity-forming building modules which are also parts of a combination lock. The number of possible security access code combinations for the combination lock depends on the number of locking modules and the number of variables on each locking module and can be virtually infinite because of its modular nature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage means with security means for the storage of valuable or personal items are well known. Some of these storage means exist as a simple enclosure with an external pad-lock to prevent un-authorised access and some exist as a portable money-safe with a built-in turn- key type or dial-type combination lock to prevent unwanted access. Although many people have used those storage means to secretly store their favourite items early in their childhood, and although they may be curious about the locking mechanisms, it is very unlikely that these devices will inspire them to look into the underlying principles as the mechanisms are always very complicated and concealed under solid housings and the conventional locks provide no other attraction but security. Some key-and-lock toys are available, however, they are always too simple and straight-forward and can not even inspire an average child to explore the operating mechanism of a practical lock.

It would therefore be desirable if a simple, interesting but reliable locking mechanism can be integrated into a useful storage means which can be constructed from some simple blocks such that a useful and lockable storage means can be assembled by following simple instructions without undue frustration. For people who are more inquisitive and love intellectual exercise, such a device shall enable them to appreciate the ingenuity of a simple but practical locking mechanism which can actually be applied in many circumstances. To make such a device suitable for persons of all ages, it is further desirable that the device comprises a minimum number of building blocks and no small or sharp components such as nails, screws or other extrinsic fasteners, are necessary for construction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a simple, interesting and practical and practical storage means having a modular security means formed integrally on the periphery thereof. Such a storage means can be easily assembled and dis-assembled by following simple instructions so that a useful and reliable storage means can be built by interconnecting various functional parts in an interesting and educational manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lockable storage means with a plurality of modular security means the combination security access code for which is virtually unlimited and dependent on the number of locking modules and the number of variables on each locking module.

According to the present invention, there is therefore provided a lockable storage means comprising a top member, a base member and at least one locking module located therebetween. Each of the locking modules is adapted to engage with each other and with the top member or base member so as to form side walls of the storage means. The locking modules are rotatable and in combination comprising a combination lock, the combination of said lock being selectable by a user upon disassembly and reassembly of said modules.

Preferably the each locking module comprises a slidable member and a core member. The slidable member is in contiguous contact with the core member and is rotatable relative to the core member. It comprises means for identification on its periphery, means for releasing and retaining the key and means for coupling with the core member. The core member is partially receivable inside the slidable member and the base member. It comprises an interior wall within which storage space is formed, an exterior wall in contact with the slidable member, means for coupling with other core members, or with the top or bottom members, means for guiding the key. The top member is communicable with the locking module and comprises means for coupling with the core member and means for guiding a key. The base member is communicable with the locking module. It comprises means for supporting the core member in an axial position, means for coupling with said core member and means for guiding the key. The key comprises protrusion means retainable by the locking module. Preferably the exterior of the said core member and the interior of the said carrier unit is substantially cylindrical. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows the perspective view from above of a lockable storage means embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the perspective view of the base member of the storage means described in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the top and bottom perspective views of the top member of the storage means; Figure 4 shows the perspective view of a carrier unit of the storage means;

Figure 5 shows the perspective view of a variable unit of the storage means;

Figure 6 shows the perspective views from opposite sides of a core unit of the storage means;

Figure 7 shows the assembly of a slidable member formed by the carrier and variable unit described in figures 4 and 5;

Figure 8 shows the assembly of a locking module formed by the slidable member and a core member described in figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 shows a key for the storage means;

Figure 10 shows the assembly of three locking modules described in figure 8 and the base member described in figure 2;

Figure 11 shows the assembly of the top member described in figure 3 with the assembly described in figure 10;

Figure 12 shows the insertion of the key described in figure 9 into the assembly described in figure 12; and Figure 13 shows locking of the storage means by randomising the variables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring firstly to figure 1 , there is shown a storage means with security codes embodying the present invention comprising a base member 10, a top member 20, a plurality of locking modules 30 and a key 80.

Referring to figure 2, the base member 10 comprises a substantially circular base-plate 11 with a first annular base wall 12 extending vertically upwards from the rim thereof, forming a tumbler-shaped base member. Inside the base member 10 there is provided a second annular base wall, the base receiving-wall 13, concentric to and the same height as the first annular base wall 12 and connected thereto by a plurality of radial ribs 14. The base receiving wall 13 is discontinued at one point and the gap thus formed is replaced by a rectangular opening extending from the base-plate 11 to the top edge 17 of the base wall 12, forming a key receptacle 15.

A plurality of elbow-shaped catch-recesses 16 which extend downwardly from the top edge 17 and then horizontally at a distance below the edge are formed on the interior of the base receiving-wall 13. Each recess 16 becomes a locking or retaining means for engaging with a lug which, for example, is commonly formed integrally on other parts or units for coupling purposes.

Referring to figure 3, the top member 20 comprises a circular top-plate 21 which is slightly convex with a first annular top wall 22 extending vertically downwards from the rim thereof. On the convex surface of the top member there is provided a slit opening 23 for depositing items (in particular coins). Another opening is provided near the rim, forming a receptacle 24 for the head portion of a key 80 (Fig. 9).

Inside the top member 20 there is formed a second annular top wall 25 concentric to the first top wall 22 and extending downwards and beyond first wall 22. The portion of the second top wall 25 which extends beyond the first top wall 22 is thinner than the remainder of the second top wall, thereby forming a step-edged top coupling-wall 26 along the outer perimeter of the second top wall 25. On the outside of the top coupling-wall 26, there are provided a plurality of lugs 27 which are designed to be engageable with retaining means, for example, of the aforementioned type of recess.

Ideally the first annular walls 12, 22 of the top and base members should have the same cross-sectional dimensions and the top coupling-wall 26 should be just completely receivable inside the base receiving- wall 13. Turning now to the locking modules. Each locking module 30 comprises two members: a core member 40 and a slidable member 50. Each slidable member 50 in turn comprises a carrier unit 60 and a variable unit 70. The slidable member 50 will now be described.

Referring to figure 4, the carrier unit 60 comprises an annular member the dimensions of which are between those of the first 12, 22 and second walls 13, 25 of the base 10 or top 20 members. The interior wall of this carrier unit is divided horizontally into upper 62 and lower 63 portions by a circumferential rib 64 formed near the middle. The interior surface of the carrier unit 60 above the rib 64 is smooth and an indentation is formed therein as a key-release 65 at a position where the rib 64 is discontinued. A plurality of recesses which have smooth transition edges to the lower interior wall 63, for example, corresponding to two times the number of variable marks on the variable unit 70, are formed on the lower interior surface 63 as positioning indentations 67. A plurality of coupling indentations 68 are also formed on the outside surface of the carrier unit 60 near the top edge 69.

Referring to figure 5, the variable unit 70 comprises an interior wall 71 which is substantially annular and smooth. For a neat product appearance and the comfort of users, the external perimeter of the variable unit 70 is dimensioned to be substantially the same as that of the base 10 and top 20 members and, preferably, receivable by the palms of a user. Near the top edge 72 of the variable unit 70 there are provided a plurality of protrusions 73 which are complementary to the aforementioned coupling indentations 68 on the outside surface of the carrier unit 60. On the outside of the variable unit 70 there are provided a plurality of marks or labels, e.g. numerals, signs, characters, patterns or the like, for use as codes 74. A plurality of slightly concave indentations 75 are formed between the codes which indentations are designed to accommodate the fingers and prevent slippage when the user attempts to actuate the rotation of the slidable member 50 relative to the core member 40. Obviously, the outer surface of the variable unit 70 can also be made into polygonal, circular or other geometrical shapes with textured surfaces to prevent finger slippage when the slidable members are being actuated. The releasing code is set when the key-release 65 on the carrier unit 60 is aligned with the desired code and the carrier is then inserted into the variable unit.

Referring to figure 6, the core member 40 forms the modular framework for the present embodiment and defines the useful storage cavity. It comprises an annular core receiving-wall 41 which is of substantially the same size as the aforementioned base receiving- wall 13. The core receiving-wall 41 is discontinued at a position where a key-guide 42 of the size similar to that of the aforementioned key-receptacle 15 on the base member 10 is formed. A core coupling-wall 43 of similar thickness is formed on the interior surface of the core receiving- wall 41 and extends downwards and beyond, thereby forming a core coupling-wall 43 with an inverted step 44 along its outer perimeter where the coupling- 43 and receiving-wall 41 meet. As the core coupling-wall 43 is formed inside the core receiving-wall 41, its outer perimeter must be marginally smaller than the internal perimeter of the core receiving-wall 41 and therefore just completely receivable therein. On the outside of the core coupling-wall 43, there are also provided a plurality of lugs 46 of the aforementioned type so that the core coupling-wall 43 can be received and retained inside the core receiving-wall 41. Further, it shall be appreciated that, as the base receiving- wall 13 and the core receiving-walls 41 have substantially similar dimensions and configurations, the core coupling-wall 41 can as well be completely received therein.

On the inside and near the top edge of the core receiving- wall 41, there are provided a plurality of elbow-shaped recesses 47 of the aforementioned type. On the outside and near the middle of the core receiving-wall 41 , there is formed a circumferential rib 48 which is dimensioned to be just receivable inside the carrier unit 60 and is discontinued at the position where the aforementioned key-guide 42 is formed. At a position along and below the aforementioned circumferential rib 48, there is further provided a protrusion extending slightly beyond the rib in the radial direction, forming a positioning tenon 49. The positioning tenon 49 is so located that the arc formed by its middle and that of the aforementioned key-guide 42 is equal to an integral number of the distance between each positioning indentation 67, the tenon 49 is preferably located directly opposite the middle of the key-guide.

Near the bottom edge on the outside of the core coupling-wall 43 are provided a plurality of lugs 46 spaced evenly between the positioning tenon 67 and the key-guide 42 such that the core member 40 could be engageable with the base member 10 or another core member 40 via the aforementioned elbow-shaped recesses. We now turn to building up of the safe. Referring to figure 7, after a desired code 74 has been selected ("3" in the present example) and aligned to the key-release 65, the carrier unit 60 is placed inside the variable unit 70, forming a slidable member 50. Since the carrier unit 60 is dimensioned to be just receivable inside the variable unit 70 and because of the complementary recesses 68 and protrusions 73 on the outer surface of the carrier unit 60 and the inner surface of the variable unit 70 the variable unit 70, once fitted onto the carrier, can not be rotated relative to the carrier unit 60 and can only be removed along the upward axial direction.

As shown in figure 8, the core receiving-wall 41 is then inserted into the slidable member 50 from the under-side until further advancement is prevented by a barrier means formed by the circumferential ribs 64 and 48 on the interior surface of the carrier and the exterior surface of the core receiving- wall 41. When the locking module 30 is properly assembled, only the core coupling-wall 43 is exposed beyond the variable unit 70 when viewed horizontally and the slidable member 50 can be freely rotated relative to the core member 40 save for the presence of the aforementioned positioning tenon 49 which is so formed that its tip protrudes slightly into the positioning indentation 67. When the slidable member 50 is rotated relative to the core member 40, the positioning tenon 49 is also moved in and out of the positioning indentations 67, experiencing slight resistance and producing clicking sounds because of the slight deformation of the slightly resilient hollow core member 40 when the positioning tenon 49 is moved out of the positioning indentation 67 to meet the lower interior wall 63 on the carrier unit 60.

Referring to figure 10 and in the combination lock mode, a locking module 30 is coupled with another by inserting the coupling lugs 46 on the core coupling-wall 43 into the elbow- shaped catch recesses 47 of another core member and then rotated counter-clockwise to lock. The resultant combined locking module can again couple in a similar way to another locking module, making a combination lock with a plurality of locking modules possible. The single locking module, or the combined locking module can then be coupled with the base member 10 by firstly inserting the coupling lugs 46 on the last locking module into the elbow-shaped catch recesses 16 on the base member 10 and then rotating the locking module counter¬ clockwise to lock. Referring to figure 11, the top member 20 is coupled with the first locking module in a similar manner by inserting the lugs 27 therein into the elbow-shaped recesses 47 of the core receiving-wall 41 of the first lock member and turning it counter-clockwise to lock.

Referring now to figure 9 showing the key. The key comprises a trunk 81 and a head 82 portion. The trunk 81 comprises an elongated stick with an I-shaped cross-section. A plurality of evenly spaced and straight-line aligned block-shaped key-protrusions 84 corresponding to the number of locking modules are formed on one surface of the center, longer, limb 83 of the stick. The trunk portion 81 is dimensioned so that its width is slightly less than that of the aforementioned key-guide 42 on the core members 40 to allow it to slide in and out of the key-guide 42, unless obstructed depth-wise. There are two requirements on the key thickness which is defined by the depth of the shorter limbs 85 of the stick and that of the key-protrusion 83. Firstly, it is preferably to be just marginally smaller than the maximum radial key-hole dimension defined by the radial space between the key-guide 42 and the interior wall 62 of the carrier unit so that the key 80 is allowed to slide in and out of the key-hole which is formed when the key-guide 42 on the core member 40 is aligned with the key-release 65 on the carrier unit 60 to give a maximum opening. Secondly, the key thickness is substantially more than the radial distance between the key-passage indentation 42 and the rib 64 on the interior wall of the carrier unit 60 so that once the key-release 65 is not aligned with the key-guide 42, the key can not pass through the space formed by the key-guide 42 and the rib 64 on the carrier unit.

After the key has been fully inserted into the key-hole as shown in figure 12 and the slidable member 50 is rotated randomly as shown in figure 13 so that the key-release 65 is positioned out of alignment with the key-guide 42 on the core member 40, the block-shaped protrusions 84 are therefore trapped below the level of the rib 64 on the corresponding carrier unit 60 and prevented from axial movements which would otherwise release the key. Only when all key-releases 65 are aligned with the key-guide 42, forming a complete key-hole, are the key removable from the safe, thereby unlocking the safe.

The head portion 82 is designed to be complementary to the receptacle 24 on the top member 20 so that when the key is fully inserted into the safe, it becomes a substantially integral part of the safe with no portion protruding significantly beyond the surface of the safe to prevent tampering.

Once the safe is assembled according to the manner described above and the key fully inserted, the safe can be locked by rotating the variable unit 70 in a random manner relative to the top or base member as shown in fig. 9. A person without knowledge of the codes will have to try all possible combination of codes before the safe can be non-destructively opened. For a safe with n locking modules and X variables on each variable unit, the maximum attempts can be as many as Xⁿ times. For a storage means with 3 locking modules and ten variables on each variable unit 70, the maximum attempt is therefore 1000 times.

While the present embodiment comprises a core member which has a substantially circular interior configuration, it shall be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a core member of other internal shapes or configuration, for example, polygonal, elliptical or even irregular shapes, can be used as a storage space and for inter-connecting other units as long as an exterior surface is provided which allows the relative movement of the carrier unit thereto.

While the construction of the present preferred embodiment has been described with reference to orientations such as top, bottom, clock-wise or anti-clockwise movements, it will be appreciated such are purely for easy reference and the components can be arranged in other consistent manners. For example, the combined device can simply be turned up-side down and the top member can be modified as a new bottom member by flattening the convex surface and top and bottom members. Also, it would be also obvious that the corresponding coupling lugs and recesses described above can be interchanged according to the configurations. Further, it will also be obvious that the storage space inside the present embodiment will be a total enclosure if the depositing opening is sealed. While the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1) A lockable storage means comprising a top member, a base member and at least one locking module located therebetween, characterised by that said locking modules being adapted to engage with each other and with said top member or said base member so as to form side walls of said storage means, said locking modules being rotatable and in combination comprising a combination lock, the combination of said lock being selectable by a user upon disassembly and reassembly of said modules.

2) A lockable storage means according to claim 1, further comprising a key, wherein:- said locking module comprises a slidable member and a core member, said slidable member being in contiguous contact with said core member and being rotatable relative to said core member and comprising means for identification on the periphery, means for retaining said key, means for releasing said key and means for coupling with said core member, said core member being partially receivable inside said slidable member, partially receivable inside said base member and comprising an interior wall within which storage space is formed, an exterior wall in contact with said slidable member, means for coupling with other core members, or with said top or bottom members, means for guiding said key; said top member is communicable with said locking module and comprises means for coupling with said core member, and means for guiding said key, said base member is communicable with said locking module and comprises means for supporting said core member in an axial position, means for coupling with said core member, and means for guiding said key; and said key comprises protrusion means retainable by said locking module.

3) A storage means according to claim 2 wherein:- said slidable member comprises a carrier unit and a variable unit, said variable unit having an exterior and an interior surface and comprising identification means on said exterior surface and means for coupling with said carrier unit on said interior surface, said carrier unit having an exterior surface and an interior surface and comprising means for coupling with said variable unit on the exterior surface, means for coupling with said core member on the interior surface, means for trapping said key, means for releasing said key.

4) A storage means according to claim 2 wherein :- the exterior of the said core member and the interior of the said carrier unit is substantially cylindrical.

5) A storage means according to claim 2 wherein :- a barrier means is provided on the exterior surface of the said core member for limiting axial advancement in one direction of said core member relative to said slidable member.

6) A storage means according to claim 2 wherein: positioning means are provided on the interior surface of said slidable member and exterior surface of said core member.

7) A storage means according to claim 2 wherein :- said key retaining means comprises a rib, said rib being formed on the interior of the said carrier unit, and said key releasing means comprises a discontinuation, said discontinuation being formed on the said rib.