GB402058A - Improvements in or relating to permutation locks - Google Patents

Abstract

402,058. Permutation locks. ZUILI, M., 252, Rue du Faubourg St. Martin, Paris. April 16, 1932, No. 10945. [Class 44.] A permutation lock, particularly for portfolios, handbags, satchels, cheque books, and the like but applicable also to padlocks, is of the type having a number of slidable buttons certain of which have to be disaligned to release the lock and is provided with a spring- pressed detent to align the buttons automatically when the lock is opened. The lock casing 1 mounted on one part of the article to be locked contains a plate 15 for retaining the buttons 9 within the casing, a plate 23 to guide the buttons and a locking plate or tumbler 26 having notches 30 for engaging with tails 12 on the buttons for the purpose of locking. Catches 39 having conical projections 40 are carried by a cover 5 which is mounted on the other part of the article to be locked and which fits closely over the lock casing 1, slots 8 for the buttons 9 being provided in the cover 5. The catches 39 engage with a cross bar 29 on the plate 26 and with the other end of the plate 26 respectively. The lock is released by adjusting the buttons 9 so that all their tails 12 lie in a central aperture 27 in the plate 26, thus freeing the plate and permitting withdrawal of the catches 39. The base plate 31 of the lock casing is spaced somewhat from the locking plate 26 to allow the latter to yield against springs 38 when the catches 39 are inserted, thereby temporarily moving the plate 26 out of engagement with the button tails 12 and consequently allowing it to slide sideways. The spring-pressed detent 35 which engages with the tails 12 to hold them in engagement with the keeper notches 30 on the locking plate 26 is carried by the base plate 31 and is rocked so as to be free of the tails 12 (Fig. 16) by the catches 39 engaging with a cam surface 36 on the detent. The buttons are pressed outwards by springs 42 which serve to give an easy action. The keeper notches 30 may have one edge inclined so as to contact with only one corner of the tails 12 if an attempt is made to pick the lock by feel. To change the combination, that is to change the active buttons, the plate 15 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9 by engaging a tool with a hole 22 which is covered when the lock is fastened, so that the wings 10, 11 on the buttons are aligned with slots 17, 18 in the plate 15 ; the buttons may then be withdrawn and reversed. In a padlock, Figs. 22 and 23A, the shorter leg 40 of the sliding shackle 39 is engaged by a latch member 45 which is held against lateral movement by a lug 43 on the locking plate 26. When the shackle is inserted in the casing 1, the latch member 45 is rocked about a lug 44 on the plate 26 and then moves laterally, being returned to locking position by a spring 38. The locking plate 26 has a separate aperture 30 for each button tail 12 instead of a single central aperture 27. The spring-pressed detent 35 for aligning the buttons 9 is rocked so as to be free of wings 11 by the hasp leg 40<a> when this is inserted in the casing. To slide the plate 15 to allow the combination to be changed, the shackle is rotated through 180‹ about its longer leg 40<a>, the end part 40b of that leg engaging with the plate 15. In addition to the means as provided in the other form of lock for preventing picking, the plate 15 is allowed slight lateral movement so as to press evenly against the buttons by the provision of a lug co-operating with a notch in the longer leg 40<a> of the shackle.