US3429154A - Lock plug - Google Patents

Description

J. SCHWARTZ Feb. 25, 1969 LOCK PLUG Sheet F'iled Oct. 18, 1966 INVENTOR.

JEROME SCHWARTZ ATTORNEY J. SCHWAR''Z Feb. 25, 1969 LOCK PLUG Sheet Fi1ed Oct. 18, 1966 INVENTOR. JEROME SCHWARTZ ATTORNEY.

6 Claims ABSIRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock plug of plastic material comprising plural sections in facing relation With each other, their nonfacing surfaces defining a cylinder, with a dise like face piece fixed to one end of one section concentrc with the cylinder, and interfitting locating formations on the face piece and another of the sections.

This invention relates generally to tumbler locks, and is especially concerned with improvements in plug constructions for tumbler looks.

It has been found that plastic materials perform admirably in looks, by reason of their corrosion resistance, long life, low cost and security. In attempting to produce a lock plug of plastic, such as nylon, or the like, considerable diflficulties were encountered in the substitution of a plastic material for conventional brass and zinc die castings. For example, in conventional metal lock plugs, the required drilling and deburring operations are conveniently and satisfactorily accomplished quickly and easily. However, the drilling and particularly the deburring of plastic lock plugs of the same general formation as prior conventional metal lock plugs was found to be extremely difficult and time consuming, and frequently resulted in burrs remaining in the plug to impair operation of the lock. Thus, the inherent advantages of plastic material could not be achieved in the conventional construction of lock plug.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique construction of lock plug which is admirably suited for fabrication of plastic material to achieve the low material cost, corrosion resistance, long life and strength of the material,

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a highly improved lock-plug construction which includes a pair of sections formed with complementary facing surfaces configured to define intersecting passageways in their facing relation.

The instant invention further contemplates the provision of a unique lock-plug construction adapted for use With an improved retainer device for pivotally connecting an operating member or bar.

Other objects of the present invention Will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly cnsists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope Will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded, front perspective view, partly in phantom, illustrating a lock plug of the present invention and the associated parts of a lock;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of one section of the lock plug of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear perspective view of the other section of the lock plug of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the lock plug of FIG- URE 1 with the sections thereof in facing engagement;

FIGURE 5 is a front end view of the instant lock plug; and

FIGURE 6 is a rear end view of the lock plug.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically t0 FIGURES 13, the lock plug includes a pair of sections 10 and 11, each entirely fabricated of plastic material, such as nylon, as by molding. The sections 10 and 11 are each of generally semicylindrical configuration and adapted for facing engagement with each other so that their outer or nonfacing surfaces combine to define a cylinder. That is, the outer surface 12 of section 10, and the outer surface 13 of section 11, are each generally semicylindrical in configuration.

The inner or facing surface 15 of section 10 is provided along its lower longitudinal edge With one or more grooves 16 and 17. The inner or facing surface 18 of section 11 is similarly formed along its lower longitudinal edge with one or more grooves 19, 20 and 21. In the assembled facing condition of sections 10 and 11, the grooves 16 and 17 face toward the grooves 19, 20 and 21 and combine therewith to define a keyway for a specifically configured key.

Of course, the grooves 16 and 17 may be considered as defined adjacent to lands or ribs 22 and 23 formed on the inner surface 15 of section 10; and similarly, the grooves 19, 20 and 21 may be considered as formed adjacent to the lands or ribs 24, 25 and 26 on the inner surface 18 of the section 11.

The inner surface 15 of section 10 is further formed with a plurality of generally parallel, substantially semicylindrical recesses 30, which extend transversely of the grooves 16 and 17, opening through the upper side of the section 10. That is, the recesses 30 extend upwardly from the upper groove 17 through the upper side of the section 10. Similarly, the section 11 is formed With a plurality of generally semicylindrical recesses 31 disposed in parallelism With each other and extending transverse of the grooves 19, 20 and 21, specifically extending upwardly from the upper groove 21 through the upper side of the section 11.

When the sections 10 and 11 are in their facing relation, the recesses 30 and 31 are in respective complementary opposition With each other t0 define a plurality of generally cylindrical passageways extending in parallelism with each other and transversely upwardly from the upper grooves 17 and 21.

Fixedly secured on the front end of section 10, as by integral molding therewith, is a generally circular or disclike frontpiece 32. The frontpiece 32 is formed with a thru slot 33 communicating with the interior keyway defined by facing grooves 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21. Thus, a key is insertable inwardly through the slot 33 into the grooves 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21, with the teeth of the key engaged in the lower regions of complementarv recesses 30 and 31.

In assembly, the complementary recesses 30 and 31 are provided in the conventional manner with tumbler pins, as at 35, and driver pins 36, both of which are yieldably urged downward by springs 37.

Adjacent to but spaced inward from the rear end of each plug section 10 and 11, there is formed on the inner surface thereof a transversely extending, open-ended groove, as at 38 and 39, respectively. The grooves 38 and 39 extend transversely or diametrically of their respective sections 10 and 11, and are located to be in facing relation with each other when the sections are assembled, thereby combining t0 define a transverse thru passageway, for a purpose appearing presently. It will be observed that the grooves 38 and 39 are each of generally rectangular crosssectional configuration.

The frontpiece or disc 32 is fixed to the front end of section and arranged relative thereto so as to be concentnc with the cylinder defined by the combined sections 10 and 11. Thus, the frontpiece 32 overles the front ends of both sections 10 and 11, when the sections are assembled. In order to properly locate the frontpiece 32 and front end of section 11, there are advantageously provided interfitting formations on the frontpiece and latter section. Specifically, the frontpece 32 is provided on its rear side with a radially inwardly extending groove 40. In particular, the groove 40 extends from a location adjacent to and spaced from the slot 33 radially outward generally normal to the inner surface of section 10 and opens at its enter end. A complementary, radially extending lug 41 is formed on the front end of the section 11 for snug conforming engagement in the groove 40.

At the rear ends of the sections 10 and 11 there are provided additional interfitting locating formations, section 10 being formed with tongue means 42 projecting generally normal to the inner surface 15 and formed with a generally radially extending cutout 43 to bifurcate the tongue means 42 into a pair of generally chordally extend ing tongues 44 and 45. The tongue means 42 is located just rearward of the groove 38.

The rearward end of the section 11 is formed with a generally U-shaped cutout 46 which opens forwardly into the adjacent groove 39, and is configured t0 snugly receive the tongues 44 and 45. Further, the inner end of the cutout 46 may be recessed, as at 4'], in alignment with and defining a continuation of the eut-away portion 43 between tongues 44 and 45.

The external, semicylindrical surfaces 12 and 13 et sections 10 and 11 are each provided with an opening or hole, as at 50 and 51, respectively, see FIGURE 4. The holes or openings 50 and 51 are located in diametrical alignment with each other, and with the grooves 38 and 39, being spaced angularly approximately ninety degrees from the grooves.

With the plug sections 10 and 11 in their facing engagement, as illustrated in FIGURES 46, and the tumb- 1er pins properly inserted, the assembly may be engaged rearward into the cylindrical opening of a conventional housing 59. The rearward regions of the sections 10 and 11, including the grooves 38 and 39, and holes 50 and 51, extend rearwardly beyond the housing 52. An operating member -or bar 52, having adjacent to one end a thru hole 53, all of which may be conventional, is inserted forwardly through the diametral opening 43 and into the generally rectangular thru passageway defined by the complementary grooves 38 and 39.

A retainer clip 54 is provided, which may include a generally semicircular portion 55 having radially inwardly projecting tangs 56 and 57 at its opposite ends. Medially of the semicircular portion 55, there may extend therefrom a radially inward extension or tongue 58. The retainer clip 54 may be stamped from suitable sheet material, so that the tongue 58 is of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration. In assembly, the tongue 58 is engaged in the passageway 38, 39, and the arcuate portion 55 engages about both sections 10 and 11 to insert tangs 56 and 57 in respective holes 50 and 51, as by resilient snap engagement theren. By this assembly pro. cedure, the rectangular cross-sectional tongue 58 is conformably received in the rectangular cross-sectional passageway 38, 39, and engages through the circular hole 53 of bar 52, so that the bar is free for limited rotation about the tongue, and is axially rotated upon rotation et the tongue and clip 54 with the assembled sections 10 and 11.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present inventien provides a highly improved lock-plug structure which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock plug molded entirely of plastic material and comprising a pair of sections disposed in facng relation with their nonfacing surfaces combining t0 define a cylinder, a disc-like face piece fixedly secured to one of said sections at one end thereof concentrc with and of a di ameter greater than said cylinder having its inner surface overlying the adjacent end of the other of said sections, interfitting locating formations on said inner surface of said face piece and on said other section, said face piece having a key slot therethrough, and additional interfitting locating formations on said sections remote from said face piece, whereby said cylinder is insertable into a bore with said face piece extending beyond the bore t0 define a stop.

2. A lock plug according to claim I, said sections each being of generally semicylindrical configuration, and the facing surfaces of said sections being formed with complementary recesses com bining to define a keyway communicating with said slot and a plurality of tumb1er re cesses communicating with said keyway.

3. A lock plug according to claim 2, said face piece being integral with said one section.

4. A lock plug fabricated entirely of molded plastic and comprising a pair of semicylindrical sections arranged in facing relation with their outer surfaces defining a cylinder, the inner surfaces being formed along the lower longitudinal edges with longitudinally extending facing grooves combining to define a keyway, the inner surfaces being further formed with a plurality of generally parallel spaced semicylindrical recesses extending transversely from said grooves through the upper edges of said inner surfaces, the recesses of respective inner surfaces being arranged opposite each other t0 define cylindrical pin-and-tumbler-receiving passageways, a disc- 1ike endpiece fixedly secured to one end of one of said sections and overlying one end of the other section concentric with said cylinder, said endpiece having a key slot in alignment with said keyway, and interfitting locations formed on said sections at the other end thereof, said sections each being formed on its inner surface with an open-ended transversely extending groove of generally rectangnlar configuration adjacent to and spaced inward from its other end, said sections each being formed on its outer surface with an opening extending inwardly toward and terminating short of the adjacent transverse groove, whereby a spring clip having a medial extension is adapted to be arranged partially about said sections engaged in said enter-surface openings with its medial extension engaged through said transverse grooves.

5. A lock plug according to claim 4, said interfitting locating formations comprising tongue means on one of said sections, the other of said sections being cut away to conformably receive said tongue means.

6. A lock plug according to claim 5, said tongue means being bifurcated to receive therethrough an operating bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 234,630 11/1880 Towne 70-375 799,666 9/1905 O1eschak 70364 1,095,500 5/1914 Hansen 70-375 X 3,058,336 10/1962 Tocchetto 70364 3,186,199 6/1965 Schwartz 70-375 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

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