US1446760A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

A. E. MILLER Feb, 27, 1923.

LOCK

Filed Dec. '7, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 1 2 swabs-sheet 2 A. E. MILLER LOCK Filed Dec. 7, 1920 Feb. 27,1923.

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zl tm Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

ARTHUR E. MILLER, OF SACEAMENTG, CALIFORNIA. I

LOCK.

Application filed December '7 1920. Serial No. 428,936.

carrying a plurality of pivotallyunounted bits which are designed to co-act with an equal number of rotating tumblers suitably mounted in the lock-case, and which tumblers are provided with means for engaging an appropriate locking-bolt whereby said bolt may be made to secure and release another part.

A leading object of the present invention is to devise a key-operated lock which'is particularly designed for use in locking the steering mechanism of an automobile orior securing an automobile accessory, orotlier part against unlawful appropriation, and where the internal arrangen'ient of the lock may be modified at pleasure, to substantially change the combination by which the-lock can be opened.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists of the parts and the constructions and arrangements and combinations of parts forming the improved lock, which 1' will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lock embodying my invention. r

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view 0 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the operating key provided with a series of pivoted bits.

Fig. l is an end view or" the key showing the key partially turned to spread the bits into substantially fan shape.

Fig. 5 illustrates a series of the key bits detached. 1

Fig.5? shows diagrammatically the positions assumed by various bits when the key is turned in the lock.

Fig. 6 shows the application 01 my lock to the housing of the steering post'ot [an automobile. i

Fig. 7 is an edge view ofvseveral of the rotating tumblers-assembled. v

In carrying out my invention I provide the lock with a case of suitable design and which design will vary according to the particular use to which the lock is put, one of the face plates of said ease beingprovided with a key-hole A, for the insertion of they lock-operatingkey. This keyforms an important portion of the present-invention and. its physical structure includes a head B, and a rigid stem or shank C, said stem or shankhaving fitted to it the bent end of a guide pin or rod, D, the major portion of which extendsparallel with but is spaced from the side of the stem or shank, and has one end rigidlyunited to the head portion of the key, whereby the rod forms substantially an integral part of the key.

Surrounding the shank of the key is a spring E, and between this spring and the bent end o'f the aforesaid rod orpin is confined a series of bits or key tumblers Fand which series may consist, of any. desired number. In the illustrated embodimentof my invention, 4, Ishow four of the foresaid bits, 'cajb, 0, cl, and in Fig. 5, I illustrate these bits substantially diagram. matically, or detached from thefshank. of the key. In order that this: part of in vention may be better-understood, I will state that each of the aforesaid bits is pr'ovided with a hubportion e, and a projecting finger, 7"; one edge of the said hub-portion is cutaway at g' to form a peripheral recess which is concentric with the axis of the bit and {which'portion is designed to ride in contact with the pin or r'od D, and to terminate in a radial abutment or shoulder 7t, adapted to contact the side ofthe pin oi rod D, to limit 'therotation of the bit about its pivotal airis on the keyshank. In order that the bits, eX'c'ept the initial one, a, may have varied axial movement, or may be moved to different distances around the shank of the key'a nd to be spread out into substantially a fan-like 'formation. after the key has been 'ins'erted in the-lo'ck-case, the recesses in tlreedg'es of the hubs of the bits being made of difierent lengths, as shown in Fig; 5. Cooperating V with.

with the aforesaid pivoted bits, which it will be understood are carried permanently by the key, is a like series of rings or rotating tumblers, G, which are appropriately mounted in the lock-casing, said tumblers being each provided with a radial lug, i, on its inner circumference and having an outwardly projecting radial lug j, on its outer circumference, the latter lug having secured to it a spring wire or plate, It, and the lockcasing being provided with a pair of plus or lugs Z, and m, against the former of which the free end of the spring wire or plate is designed to contact to place the said wire or plate under tension when the ring to which it is connected is partially rotated, and the latter lug m, serving as an abutment or stop to limit the rotation of the tumbler by reason of the contact of its radial lug 'i there- It will be understood that there are as many of the aforesaid rings placed side by side, or one upon the other, and appropriately spaced apart to allow them to be independentlyrotated, as there are bits carried by the shank of the key, all of which bits except the initial one, a, which is stationary, being pivotally mounted, as before stated.

Appropriately mounted in the lock casing is the lock bolt, H. This bolt has its inner end adapted for engagementwith the part to be secured, and if this part is the steering post of an automobile or like vehicle, the housing of the post or the post itself or a sleeve thereon will have an appropriate recess into which the inner end of the lockingbolt will be appropriately received, when the bolt is pushed inward or assumes its locked position; In furtherance of this part of my invention, and to control the locking bolt, H, said bolt has its stem or shank provided with a series of annular grooves, 92, or it may be otherwise recessed for the reception of the radial lugs i on the outer circumference of the rotating tumblers or rings before mentioned.

Surrounding theshank of the locking-bolt is aloose washer I, and between this washer and the underside of the head of the bolt is a coiled spring J, which isheld under compression when the bolt is in its locked posiof the locking bolt.

From this description it will be understood that the construction of the key is such that all, of the bits may be assembled in alignment and in perfect register, as indicated infull l nes iii-Fig. 4, to, adapt the key for insertion within the key-hole of the lock-case. When the key is inserted, the bits are designed to be successively moved to variable distances until they assume substantially a fan-formation, as indicated in Figs. 2 and at. The first of the bits is, as before explained, statonary,-the

guide pin,D,engaging the notch of the bit and holding the bit so that it cannot revolve on the axis formed by the stem or shank of the key. The second bit, as the key is turned is to allow the bits which operate the shorter distance, or have the shorter recesses, to pass the projection or radial lugs, i, on the inner circumference of the rings or rotating tumblers, except that ring or tumbler with which a particular bit is designed to engage and actuate. In practice, I prefer to mount. the bits on the stem of the key and to so place the pin or rod, D, that complete rotation of a bit around the stem is impossible, the several bits and of which there'may be any desired number, being held frictionally to gether by the spring E, so that when they are lined up against the pin D from one side they will all be in line orregister and in position for ready insertion in the key-hole of the lock-case. lVhen the key has been inserted, as described, and is turned to the right, all

the bits turn with the key until the bit hav- 7 ing the greatest extent of rotation comes in contact with the lug, i, of the particular disk that it is to co-act with, and which has its lug arranged in the path of movement of said bit. This radial lug will, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art, hold that particular bit yieldingly in contact with its co-acting tumbler, but the guide pin or rod, D, which is rigid with the key, is permitted to continue in rotation until it contacts with the radial shoulder formed in the cut-away edge of the en ved bit. In the meantime the other bitsthave come in contact with the radial lugs,i, of respective rings or tumblers G, the intention being that the bits shall be so selected and placed on the key that they will line up perfectly with the location of the various projections, '5, on the different tumblers, as shown in Fig.2. The bits having asumed the position shown in said Fig. 2, with one bit resting in contact with each of the radial lugs of the respective rings or rotating tumblers, and the guide rod resting against the shoulders, 7L, if the key is now rotated each bit thereof will be caused to forcibly press against and rotate oneof the disks a certaindistance; the rotation of these disks will result in the radial projections, j, on the outer circumference of g 5. A lock V tumblers, and a. key having a series of bits .case, said bits adapted to engage and actuate corresponding tumblers.

4:. A lock, havinga bolt, a series of movable tumblers, and an actuating key havlng a series of bits corresponding to the tumblers and successively movable about a common axis when the key is turned, each of said bits being adapted to one of the tumblers, and said tumblers each having a part disposed in the range of action of its respective bit. 1

having a bolt and a series of movable tumblers, in combination with a key having a series of bits axially mounted thereon and successively turnable relatively to each other andtransversely of the key so that they assume a fan-like formation in the lock during the turning movement of the key, said tumblers having projections positioned in thepath of rotation of the bits adapted to temporarily retard the independent rotation of the successive bits until each bit finally engages its corresponding tumbler.

6. In a lock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series of rotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a series ofbits independently turnable relatively to each other and to said shank, one of the bits of said series being fixed to the key and each of said. bits adapted to engage one of the tumblers and to have its individual turning motion restrained thereby until the full complement of bits is engaged by respective tumblers, said key adapted to actuate the series of tumblers in unison to re lease the locking bolt. t 7. In a lock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series of rotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a series of bits independently turnable relatively to each other and to said shank, one of the bits of said series being fixed to the key and each of said bits adapted to engage one of the tumblers and to have its individual turning motion restrained thereby until the full complement of bits is engaged byrespectivetumblers,-said key adapted to actuate the series of tumblers in unison to release the locking bolt, said tumblers having internal lugs to contact with the bits and having external lugs to releasably engage the locking bolt.

8. In a lock, he combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series of rotating tumactuate the series of tumblers in unison to release the locking bolt, said tumblers having internal lugs to contact with the bits and having external lugs to releasably engage the locking bolt, a spring contact member fixed to said external lugs, a stop member on the lock case with which the spring mem- I bers contactto retard the rotation of the tumblers, and a second stop-member to limit the rotation of the tumblers.

9. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers provided with internal lugs, a key having a shank provided with a series or" independently turnable bits, one for each of the tumblers, and adapted to engage the lug thereof, said bits having recesses or" variable length. and a guide pin fixed to the key adjacent the bits adapted to engage the latter to cause them to actuate the tumblers in unison to release the bolt.

10. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers provided With lugs, a key having a shank,a series of bits mounted'side by side on the shank and movable trans versely thereof one relatively to the other, said bits having means affording a variable degree of rotation thereof, and said lugs adapted to check the independent rotation of successive bits, and a part on the key to contact with the bits to actuate them. and the series of tumblers in unison, to release said bolt.

11. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers, a key having a shank provided with a series of aligned bits independently transversely turnable about a common axis, said bits having hubs with recesses of variable length, and a member on the key for moving the bits of the series in unison and serving as a guide for aligning the bits, said recesses terminating in end shoulders for the engagement of said member.

12. In a lock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series. of rotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a series of bits independently turnable relativelyto each other and to said shank, one of the bits of said series; being fixed to the 'key and each of said bits adapted to engage release the locking bolt, and said tumblers and bits being of variable thicknesses;

13. In a lock, the combination with a case, a series of rotatable tumblers mounted therein, and a locking bolt, of a key having a series of bits adapted to be successively turned about a common center and to assume substantially a fan-like formaiton after insertion in the case, said bits adapted to engage and actuate corresponding tumblers, and said tumblers having peripheral lugs with beveled extremities, said bolt having a recessed side for the extremities of the lugs and having a longitudinal movement in the lock case.

14. An improved lock comprising a case having a keyhole; a locking bolt; a series of annular rotating tumblers assembled in said case, each of said tumblers having a lug on its inner and outer circumference; a key having a shank and a series of independently turnable bits thereon, one bit corresponding to each of the tumblers and each bit having a difi'erent length of axial movement about the key-shank, whereby the bits assume substantially a fan-formation in the lock case, and meanson the key for aligning the several bits and for actuating the bits in unison to cause the tumblers to release the locking bolt, said bolt being spring-actuated and longitudinally movable in said case. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ARTHUR E. MILLER.

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