US3009345A - Combination padlock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1961 M. M. CHECK COMBINATION PADLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1958 K a H m6 WM m s m m w M z 1 M m LEMMA/WWW '0 m m 1 m [w 11 w Z b W6. 3 W

A rroqwsv Nov. 21, 1961 M. M. CHECK COMBINATION PADLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1958 INVENTOR. M4 771/48 M CHECK A rro /vey United States Patent 3,009,345 COMBINATION PADLOCK Mathias M. Check, Valley Forge, Pa., assignor to The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 770,037 9 Claims. (Cl. 7021) This invention relates to a padlock of the kind that is controlled through the operation of combination tumblers, and that also is adapted for key operation.

Many attempts have been made in the prior art to make the locks of this kind as effective as possible. However, to attain the desired operation of the lock mechanism, it has been necessary to utilize a rather considerable number of parts. Some of the locks are relatively simple, but those locks often do not operate efficiently and in some cases are not fully dependable. Naturally, the locks are equipped with a bolt that locks a shackle and with tumblers for controlling the bolt. Generally, the locks require means for holding the bolt in release position so that the shackle can be moved to locking position when it is desired to effect relocking.

Also, to make the relocking effective, it is necessary to equip the lock with parts that will act automatically to rotate the tumblers, so that the tumbler gatings will not be left in aligned position after the tumblers have been set to effect release. The more effective locks are further constructed with means that are intended to prevent rapping of the lock or, in other words, manipulation of the lock in such a way as to move the bolt to release position when it should remain locked. Of course, it must be possible to move the bolt by key action, where the lock is to have key operation as well as tumbler operation. These things make the earlier locks rather complicated, and add considerably to the cost of the lock. Through the exceedingly novel concept of my invention, I am able to achieve very effectively the operations that are desired in a padlock of the particular kind, while utilizing merely a very few simple parts that are low in cost and easily assembled.

As a feature of my invention, I utilize a fence that acts also as a bolt to lock the shackle, and that need to be the only part acting relatively to the combination tumblers and shackle. Actually, the fence and its spring are the only moving parts that are required, aside from the usual tumblers and shackle, and key-actuated cam where such a cam is used. I so mount my fence that it not only will lock the shackle, but Will itself act to move the tumbler gatings away from their aligned position to make relocking effective. Despite the fact that I utilize the fence to move the tumbler gatings, it is possible under the proper circumstances to move the fence on its mounting to a release position when the gatings are not aligned, thus enabling me to achievekey operation of the lock.

As an important feature of my invention, I mount the fence for release movement in a particular path when the tumbler gatings are aligned, with the fence moving in a different path when it returns to normal position. Thereby the fence, upon movement to release position, and before it returns to its full normal position, will act against the tumblers to move their gatings away from aligned position. I prefer so to construct the fence and its mounting that the fence will have a snap movement toward its normal position. That snap movement will spin each tumbler whereby the gatings actually will move to different positions that are indeterminate.

As a more particular feature of my invention, I mount the fence for free movement bodily in the lock casing. That free bodily movement of the fence is limited by surfaces on the casing, shackle, and tumblers, acting in contact with peripheral surfaces of the fence. An outward "ice pull on the shackle will rotate the fence on certain of the limiting surfaces, so that the fence will move in a particular path to enter the tumbler gatings if the gatings are aligned. Upon entry of the fence into the tumbler gatings, the spring will rotate the fence on certain other limiting surfaces, whereby to move the fence rapidly in a second path back toward normal position.

When moved by a key actuated member, the fence will slide on certain limiting surfaces in a linear path, thus enabling the fence to move to a release position when it cannot enter the tumbler gatings. However, I arrange a certain coaction between the fence and shackle whereby an outward pull on the shackle can not be utilized to enable the fence to be rapped to release position. The particular construction will not prevent the shackle from rotating the fence to effect tumbler release, but actually will hold the fence against movement in its linear. path when a pull is applied to the shackle.

Thus, it may be said that I mount the fence for movement of rotation and movement of translation in the lock casing, with the fence merely moving bodily on limiting surfaces in the casing. That in itself is an important feature of my invention, since it enables the fence to be assembled by merely dropping it into place in the casing, the spring then being applied between the fence andcasing. Thereby I do not need to utilize particular pins, pivots or other parts for mounting the fence, and the fence will be held assembled merely through a cover on the casing. I

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims he regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of my novel padlock, with the fence in its normal locking position;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line '22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of my novel fence;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show successive positions of the fence incidental to tumbler release of my lock;

FIG. 7 illustrates the spinning movement of the tumblers incidental to tumbler release;

FIG. 8 illustrates the key release movement of the lock.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I show my padlock equipped with a casing 10 and a U-shaped shackle 11 that is slidable in the casing, with one leg 12 of the shackle adapted to move out wardly from a locking position in the casing 10. A series of combination tumblers 13 having gatings 14 are mounted to rotate in casing 10, and a cover 15 on the casing has a knob 16 that can be manipulated to set the tumblers with their gatings in aligned position. The

particular arrangement is rather conventional and actually may be like that shown in my earlier application, Serial No. 547,406, now Patent No. 2,931,203.

In the extremely novel padlock that I have now conceived, I utilize an integral part 17 to which'I shall refer as a fence, but that acts also as a bolt. In the particular form that I have chosen to illustrate, and that I show in detail in FIG. 4, the part or fence 17 has generally the shape of a block, with a projecting bolt portion 18 that is adapted to enter a notch 19 on the shackle leg 12. I have earlier alluded to the fact that the fence 17 is freely slidable bodily in casing 10, with limiting surfaces that limit its movement, and I shall refer to those limiting surfaces as my description proceeds.

First, it will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the fence 17 will be held for sliding on the opposed inner surfaces of casing and cover 15. For sliding contact with those surfaces I prefer to form the fence 17 with lugs 20, shown also in FIG. 4. I form the fence 17 to accept a coil spring 21, FIG. 1, that acts between fence 17 and casing 10 to press the fence to a normal position, the bolt portion 18 then being in locking relation to the shackle notch 19. I call attention here to the fact that bolt portion 18 and notch 19 coact through inclined surfaces 22, 23, to which I shall refer again. When fence 17 is in normal position, as in FIG. 1, the bolt portion 18 will rest in a casing opening 24, with a forward surface of the fence 17 resting against a casing surface 25 above the opening 24, and a leg 26 on the fence resting against a casing surface 27 below opening 24. The fence 17 has an upper portion 28 that is adapted to slide in a linear path on an upper casing surface 29, and an integral fence part 30 that normally is in opposed relation to the peripheral surfaces 31 on the combination tumblers 13. Of course, it will be realized that the casing opening 24 and surfaces 25, 27, 29, and 31 are included in the limiting surfaces that I have mentioned.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, I form the bolt portion 18 of the fence with an upper cam surface 32 that is in opposed relation to a limiting edge surface 33 on casing 10. Those surfaces 32, 33 are adapted to coact in fulcrum relation to one another. Moreover, it will be observed that the leg 26 on fence 17 is in fulcrum relation to the casing surface 27, the arrangement being such that an outward pull on the shackle 11 will rotate the fence 17 in a particular path toward the tumblers 13, in the manner that is indicated in FIG. 5. If the tumbler gatings 14 have been aligned, the fence part 30 will enter those gatings, as in FIG. 5, enabling fence 17 to rotate toward a release position with its bolt portion 18 out of the shackle notch 19. However, as fence 17 rotates near its release position, I prefer to arrange a further movement that is effected through a coaction between a surface 34 on the lower part of bolt portion 18, and the notch 19 on the shackle. Thus, the notch 19 will act against surface 34 so that the fence 17 will have a short movement at an angle to its path of rotation. That angular movement will be toward the right as viewed in FIG. 5, and will place the fence entirely out of the shackle notch 19 as is indicated in FIG. 6, while moving a side 35 on the fence part 30 against one side of the tumbler gatings 14.

To understand the fence operation that now ensues, it is necessary to realize that FIG. 6 represents merely a transitory position of the fence 17, since the notch 19 no longer holds the fence, and the spring 21 now is rotating the fence 17 very rapidly in a counter-clockwise direction toward normal position. That takes place with the fence surface 32 rotating in contact with the casing surface 33, while the bolt portion 18 Slides downwardly in fulcrum relation to the outer surface of the shackle leg 12. Thereby the fence 17, while rotating toward release position in one path, will rotate in a second path once it reaches release position, so that the fence part 30 will move the tumbler gatings 14 away from their aligned position. Moreover, the movement of the fence 17 in its second path will be a snap movement from the FIG. 6 to the FIG. 7 position, whereby to spin the tumblers 13 to place their gatings in indeterminate positions, as is indicated in FIG. 7. It will be seen, there fore, that the mere outward movement of the shackle 11, when released through setting of the tumblers 13, will be effective to move the tumbler gatings so that the tumblers must be properly reset, before they can again release the shackle.

Of course, by rotating in its second path toward normal position, the fence 17 will move against the casing surface 29, as shown in FIG. 7. Then, upon continued outward movement of the shackle away from the bolt portion 18, the fence 17 will slide in a linear path on surface 29 to its normal position. To effect relocking, it will be necessary merely to press shackle 11 to locking position. That is possible because the tumbler gatings 14 already have been moved away from their aligned position, yet the fence 17 can move in its linear path away from normal position when the end of shackle leg 12 is pressed against the cam surface 32. The particular movement of fence 17 will be understood if it is considered to be the reverse of that which is indicated in FIG. 7. When shackle 11 reaches full locking position, the spring 21 naturally will move fence 17 again to normal position to lock the shackle, as in FIG. 1.

I believe it will be appreciated that the fence 17 cannot rotate to a release position unless the tumbler gatings 14 are aligned, but nevertheless can move in a linear path toward another release position. Therefore, merely by equipping my lock with a key-actuated member 36, FIGS. 1 and 8, I can achieve key release as well as tumbler release. For the particular purpose, I utilize a lock cylinder 37 that is mounted on the casing 10 in much the same manner as in my application Serial No. 547,406, to which I have already referred. The lock cylinder 37 is adapted to move the member 36 against a part of the fence 17, as for example a lug 20 on the bolt portion 18. Thereby the cylinder 37 when rotated by a key will move the fence 17 in its linear path to a release position, as shown in FIG. 8.

I shall now call attention to the fact that the fence 17, while adapted to move in a linear path to a release position, will not move to that release position incidental to rapping of the lock. That is because an outward pull on the shackle 11, as would be applied to make rapping effective, will act through the notch and bolt surfaces 22, 23 to press the leg 26 on fence 17 against the casing surface 27, should the tumbler gatings 14 not be aligned. Thereby the fence 17 will merely be drawn more firmly toward locking position. It will be understood that the surfaces 22, 23, do not prevent release rotation of fence 17 when the gatings are aligned, since in that case the fence leg 26 can have a rotating movement away from the casing surface 27.

I believe that those persons skilled in the art will now understand that I have conceived an extremely novel padlock that is adapted for both combination tumbler release and key release, and that will operate very effectively despite the fact that it utilizes only a few parts. Moreover, the parts that I require are very simple and easy to assemble, enabling me to reduce the cost of the lock. Therefore, I believe that the very considerable value of my invention will be fully appreciated.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, a fence movable in said casing, a spring pressing said fence to a normal position locking said shackle, a key actuated member in said casmg, surfaces on said member and fence whereby the memher when actuated will move the fence to a position releasmg said shackle, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, surfaces on said shackle and fence whereby an outward pull on the shackle presses a part of Said fence toward said tumbler gatings, said casing formed with surfaces on which the outward pull of the shackle moves said fence to a second release position relatively to said shackle when said fence part enters the tumbler gatings, a cam surface on the fence moving toward at least one tumbler as the fence moves toward said second release position, said spring effective upon movement of the fence to its second release position to move said fence back toward normal position, and said cam surface acting when the fence is so moved by the spring to move at least one tumbler gating away from its aligned position.

2. In a lock of theclass described, a casing, a shackle movable relative to said casing, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, a fence freely movable bodily in said casing, limiting surfaces on said casing, shackle, and tumblers acting through contact with peripheral surfaces of the fence to limit the fence movement, a spring pressing said fence to a normal position locking said shackle, a key actuated member in said casing, surfaces on said member and fence whereby the member when actuated will move the fence to a position releasing said shackle, surface portions on said shackle and fence in coacting relation to one another when the fence is in normal position so that an outward pull on the shackle presses a part of said fence toward said tumbler gatings, portions of said limiting surfaces on which the outward pull of the shackle moves said fence to a second release position relatively to the shackle when said fence part enters the tumbler gatings, and further portions of said limiting surfaces whereby the fence upon moving to said second release position will move at an angle to its path of movement to that position, so that the fence will move the tumbler gatings away from their aligned position.

3. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, a fence mounted for movement of rotation and movement of translation in said casing, a spring pressing said fence to a normal position locking said shackle, a key'actuated member in said casing, means whereby the member when actuated will impart to the fence movement of translation to a position releasing the shackle, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, surfaces on said shackle and fence whereby an outward pull on the shackle rotates a part of said fence toward said tumbler gatings, said part of the fence entering the tumbler gatings if the gatings are aligned whereby said fence rotates to a second release position relatively to said shackle, a cam surface on the fence moving toward at least one tumbler as the fence rotates toward said second release position, said spring effective upon rotation of the fence to its second release position to rotate said fence back toward normal position, and said cam surface acting when the fence is so rotated by the spring to move at least one tumbler gating away from its aligned position.

4. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, -a fence freely slidable bodily in said casing, limiting surfaces on said casing, shackle, and tumblers acting through contact with peripheral surfaces of the fence to limit the sliding of the fence, 2. spring pressing said fence to a normal position locking said shackle, a key actuated member in said casing, means whereby said member when actuated will impart to said fence movement of translation on certain of said limiting surfaces, said movement of translation placing the fence in a position releasing the shackle for movement outwardly of the casing, surface portions on said shackle and fence in coacting relation to one another when the fence is in normal position so that an outward pull on the shackle rotates a part of said fence toward said tumbler gatings, said part of the fence entering the tumbler gatings if the gatings are aligned whereby said fence rotates to a second release position relatively to the shackle, and portions of said limiting surfaces whereby the fence upon rotating to said second release position will slide at an angle to its path of movement to that position, so that the fence will move the tumbler gatings away from their aligned position.

5. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing and having a notch, 21 series of combination tumblers having gatings, a fence freely slidable bodily whereby to have movement of rotation and movement of translation in said casing, limiting surfaces on said casing, shackle, and tumblers acting through contact with peripheral surfaces of the fence to limit the fence movement, a spring pressing said fence to a position in said notch to lock said shackle, said notch and fence formed with surfaces coacting so that an outward pull on the shackle rotates a part of said fence toward said tumbler gatings, said part of the fence entering the tumbler gatings if the gatings are aligned whereby said fence rotates to a position releasing the shackle for movement outwardly of said casing, portions of said limiting surfaces whereby the fence upon rotating to release position will move at an angle to its path of movement to that position, so that the fence will move the tumbler gatings away from their aligned position, a key actuated member in said casing, means whereby said member when actuated will impart to said fence movement of translation away from the shackle notch to a further release position relatively to the shackle, and said coacting fence and notch surfaces being inclined whereby an outward pull on the shackle will hold the fence against movement of translation to its further release position.

6. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, a fence freely movable bodily in said casing, limiting surfaces on said casing, shackle, and tumblers acting through contact with said fence to limit the bodily fence movement, a spring pressing said fence to a normal position relatively to the casing, an integral bolt portion on said fence for locking said shackle when the fence is in normal position, an integral part on said fence in opposed relation to the peripheral surfaces of the tumblers, surfaces on said fence so coacting with portions of said limiting surfaces that the fence rotates toward said tumblers when an outward pull of the shackle acts against the bolt portion of the fence, said part of the fence entering the tumbler gatings when aligned whereby the fence rotates to a release position, portions of said limiting surfaces supporting said fence for linear sliding relatively to its normal position, key operated means for so sliding the fence whereby to move the fence to a further release position when the tumbler gatings are not aligned, and said shackle and bolt portion of the fence formed with surfaces so inclined that a pull on the shackle when in locking position will hold the fence against sliding to its further release position.

7. In a padlock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, a series of combination tumblers having gatings, a fence loosely assembled in said casing for bodily movements in various directions therein, with said movements limited through contact between the periphery of the fence and said casing, shackle and tumblers, said fence being formed at one end with a bolt portion engaged in a notch in said shackle when the fence is in a locking position, a peripheral upper portion of said fence adapted to lie in sliding contact with a surface on said casing to support the fence for sliding relatively to locking position, a fulcrum portion so positioned on the lower periphery of the fence as to move toward fulcrum relation to a part of the casing as the fence slides to locking position, said fulcrum portion then being effective to support the fence for rotation so that an outward pull on the shackle will rotate the fence to a release position away from said casing surface and in the tumbler gatings when the gatings are aligned, the bolt portion of the fence leaving the shackle notch and placing the fence in fulcrum relation to an outer surface of the shackle when the fence enters the gatings, a spring pressing said fence toward locking position, and said spring being positioned to act in an upwardly inclined direction against the fence to press said fence also toward said casing surface on which it slides, so that the spring will rotate the fence out of the tumbler gatings while the fence is fulcrumed on the shackle surface, effecting a compound movement of the fence with a snap action that will move the tumbler gatings out of aligned position.

8 In a padlock of the class described, a casing, a shackle movable relatively to said casing, 21 series of combination tumblers having gatings, a fence loosely assembled in said casing for bodily movements in various directions therein, with said movements limited through contact between the periphery of the fence and said casing, shackle and tumblers, a spring pressing said fence to a normal position in said casing, a bolt portion on the periphery of said fence for engaging a notch in the shackle when the fence is in normal position, a fulcrum portion on the periphery of the fence, a part of said casing toward which said fulcrum portion is pressed by the action of said spring to place the fence in fulcrum relation to the casing, said fulcrum portion being so positioned in spaced relation to the bolt portion that an outward pull on the shackle will rotate the fence on said part of the casing to a release position in the tumbler gatings when the gatings are aligned, the bolt portion of the fence leaving the shackle notch and placing the fence in fulcrum relation to an outer surface of the shackle when the fence enters the gatings, and means mounting said spring to act on the fence in a direction to rotate said fence out of the gatings while the fence is fulcrumed on the outer shackle surface, whereby to effect a compound movement of the fence with a snap action that will move the tumbler gatings out of aligned position.

9. A fence for a padlock of the class described, and adapted to be loosely assembled in the padlock for bodily movements in various directions therein, with said movements limited through contact between the periphery of the fence and parts of the padlock, including a bolt portion formed on the periphery of the fence at one end thereof, a portion of said fence adapted to enter tumbler gatings and formed on a lower part of the periphery of the fence at the other end thereof, a fulcrum portion in a medial position between the bolt and gating entering portions on the lower part of the periphery of said fence, said fulcrum portion having a fulcrum surface presented in a direction toward said one end of the fence on which the bolt portion is formed, an upper part of the fence having a spring seat presented in a direction longitudinally away from said bolt end of the fence, so that spring pressure when acting against said seat Will be effective to press both said bolt portion and fulcrum surface toward fulcrum relation to parts of the padlock, said fence being adapted to rotate while its fulcrum surface and bolt portion alternately are in said fulcrum relation whereby to effect movement of its gating entering portion in different paths, and said spring seat being centered on a longitudinal line offset above said bolt portion and said fulcrum surface for accepting spring pressure that will tend to rotate the fence in one direction, whether the gating entering portion moves in one path or another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,054 Snyder Jan. 27, 1903 978,831 Bennett Dec. 20, 1910 1,137,960 Forbes et al. May 4, 1915 1,166,233 McCoach Dec. 28, 1915 1,181,449 Holmes May 2, 1916 1,508,139 Full Sept. 9, 1924 2,487,608 Soref et al Nov. 8, 1949 2,893,231 Soref et al. July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,138 France Dec. 15, 1954

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