US2293363A - Lock structure - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1942. c. J. SCHELL 2,293,363-

LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 INVEYNIOR bar/es Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,293,363 Look STRUCTURE Charles J. Schell, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,449

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a lock structure which is elongated and particularly designed for use upon carrying cases, hand bags, and similar equipment requiring a plurality of fastening points along the extent of its closure.

A principal object of the invention is to achieve a high degree of simplification in a lock structure of the character stated, and to thereby reduce the number of differing parts and also the expense of manufacturing the parts and assembling them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and relatively small lock structure of the character referred to, which may beapplied to small as well as large cases or bags, but which will withstand much abuse without requiring frequent servicing or parts replacements.

Another object is to provide a lock structure of the kind referred to, which may be unlocked only by a positive act on the part of the user, so that accidental or unexpected unlocking is impossible, although the locking function may be effected instantaneously and without effort.

The present lock structure, moreover, is so designed as to avoid impairment of its reliability and effectiveness, regardless of any wear resulting from long usage and repeated operation of the lock, since the wearing of the parts is confined to areas' and locations which are not of necessity delicate or sensitive.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a carryingcase or similar article embodying the invention, the case being illustrated in a partly open condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the case.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental top view of the Fig. 2 case, shown on an enlarged scale with the case partly open, and the lock housing cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the lock structure shown at the right end of Fig. 3, with the parts in locked engagement.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing how the lock structure is embodied in a bag or case.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification. i

Fig. '7 is a cross-section on line '|--"I of Fig. 6.

This application is a continuation in part of my issued Patent No.2,242,550, dated May 20, 194.1, and embodies certain improvements over the structure disclosed in the indicated patent. As the structures are closely related, it will appear that the instant lock structure is applicable to cases or bags in much the same manner as is explained in said patent, and also, that the instant structure, if desired, may be furnished with akey lock for the bolt actuating mechanism. It is deemed unnecesssary to illustrate the key lock feature herein, as it forms no substantial part of the present invention and bears no different cooperative relationship to the bolt mechanism than is explained and disclosed in the issued patent.

There are several features embodied in the improved structure of this invention, which distinguish it from the earlier disclosure. For example, it will be shown that the lock structure herein disclosed is assembled using a reduced number of constituent parts, many of which are so designed as to be interchangeable, thereby eliminating the need for right and left side parts. In fact, all parts at the left; end of the lock structure are instantly interchangeable with identical parts at the right end thereof, so that not only is the assembly operation facilitated, but the number of dies needed for manufacture of the parts, is reduced by half. In addition to the advantages just mentioned, there will be evident in the improved structure of this invention, a complete absence of delicate or sensitive parts requiring critical adjustments. The improved lock structure contains no pins or shoulders to round off or wear away, that might result in impairing the reliability or the durability of the device. Accordingly, the improved lock structure of the present invention will give long and uninterrupted service without any attention or servicing whatever, and there will never be reason for dismounting the lock structure from the case or bag for the repair or replacement of parts.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, the characters 2 and 3 indicate the opposite side portions of a carrying case or bag which may be hinged either in the conventional manner, or at points 4 and 5 to a bottom 6. .The' side parts of the case or bag may be furnished with the customary handles I, if desired. The upper portion of side part 2 is indicated by the character 8, whereas the upper portion of side part 3 is indicated at 9. Along the closing edges, the portions 8 and 9 may be furnished with metallic angle members It and I2, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The angle member ll] extends along the top portion 9 of the case or bag, and has fixed thereto a keeper 13 adapted to enter the bolt housing which is carried by the opposed angle member l2. It is immaterial whether the keeper is welded, riveted or otherwise fixed to the angle member l0, so long as it extends generally toward the look housing l4 and is spaced from the leg l5 of the angle member ID. While it is preferred that the lock housing be riveted or pinned to the angle member 2, for convenience, the connection may be effected in any desired manner. The lock housing has an entry aperture located at l 6, for accommodating the keeper I3 and permitting it to assume a latched condition with respect to the bolts constituting the lock structure. The number of entry apertures, of course, corresponds with the number of keepers to be latched, which in the present instance, is two; Upon closing the case or bag of Fig. 1, the keeper I3 is compelled to enter the aperture of the lock housing l4, and to be automatically latched therein. Release of the keeper, or keepers, is efiected by the positive act of rotating a disc or other finger piece ii that extends from the lock housing and is accessible at all times. Approximately a half rotation of the finger piece is all that is required for release of the keepers from the bolt work of the lock mechanism.

To consider the details of the lock structure, reference is made to Fig. 3, wherein the complete lock is shown with its cover plate I8 omitted. The entire bolt work is enclosed within a housing that comprises a plane bottom i9 bounded by upstanding, shallow side walls 2@-2l, and end walls 2223. The lock housing may readily be fabricated from a single sheet of metal cut and formed to furnish sides and ends as integral parts of the stamping. The cover 68 may be a separate part fixed as a closure bounding the opposed sides and ends, and held in place with the use of any appropriate fastening means. Normally the cover I8 will conceal all of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3. By reason of the structure resorted to in building the lock, the thickness of the housing I4 may be considerably less than its width, which is an advantage cut away at lfi-ifi, where the keepers 13 are 1 adapted to enter the housing.

The character 24 indicates a foreshortened slide block which, with the hook member 25, constitutes an articulated or composite bolt. Both the slide block and the hook member preferably are formed of metal or other material having a thickness approximating the depth of the shallow lock housing. The slide block 24 has an elongated slot 23 therein, through which extends an upstanding lug or stop 2'! punched from the material of the housing bottom l9, said lug or stop 2! providing an abutment for a compression spring 23 arranged to constantly urge the slide block toward the middle point of the lock housing. Accordingly, the end of the spring opposite to that which abuts the lug 21 may rest at 29 against an insert 3! which may be utilized, if desired, as a confining element for the spring. The insert Sdshown herein as a U-shaped strip of metal, may be dispensed with if desired, however, its use is preferred in structures wherein the elongated slot 26 is of greater Width than the diameter of the spring.

The hook member 25 will be seen to comprise a hooked end with a return extension 3| arranged in substantial parallelism with, and in the plane of, the shank of the hook member. The opposite or inner end of the hook member preferably is off-set as at 32, to the extent of placing the inner terminus of the hook member in line with the major axis of the slide block 24. By preference, though not of necessity, the inner terminus of the hook member may be formed as a partial cylinder as indicated at 33, for reception in a bored seat 3 5 provided transversely of the slide block near its outer end 35. The result is an articulated or separable bolt structure wherein the hook member 25 is rendered interchangeable with the identical hook member shown at the right hand end of Fig. 3. The slide blocks also are interchangeable.

At the inner end of the slide block, there is furnished a projection or extension having an end face 37 to be engaged by the corner 38 of a rotatable, double-action cam 39 which is fixed to the shaft 40 that carries the finger piece or operator ll. Where the shaft passes through the cam, it may be squared or flattened as indicated at 48, thereby to preclude relative rotation of the parts. The finger piece or operator ll, of course, is likewise fixedly secured to the shaft at its outer end.

By rotating the cam in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3), the slide block and its hook member 25 will be advanced outwardly as shown, to displace the hook part 3?! from alignment with the entry aperture 16 of the lock housing. As the corner 38 of the oath passes the abutment face 31 of the slide block, the block and the hook element will be urged toward the cam by spring 28, provided that the bolt arrestor or pawl 4| is displaced inwardly and out of alignment'w'ith the bolt portion'iil of the hook member. Thus, the bolt work is capable of a spring return movement automatically whenever the keeper I3 is advanced through the entry aperture IG' and against the pawl 4|, to displace the pawl about its pivot 43 against the resistance of a spring 44. It will be noted that the pawl, like the hook member 25 and slide block 24, may be of a thickness approximating the depth of the lock housing, so as to present a substantial face 45 to the angularly turned end 46 of keeper 13 (Fig. 5). When the keeper end contacts face 45 and displaces pawl 4|, the substantial, flattened, transverse nose 41 of the pawl is displaced so' that the extreme end of portion 3| of the hook member will encounter no obstruction in its movement across the'entry aperture l6, under the propelling influence of spring 28. As the projection 3| so advances across the entry aperture 16. its lower face "or edge 48 will ride across the inner fat-e49 of keeper extension 46, thereby to preclude withdrawal of the keeper from the entry aperture. In the resultant latched condition of the keeper, the pawl will be displaced to substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows the latched condition of the keeper. 'It should be noted that the nose 4'! of the pawl has a flat lateral face 50 furnishing a substantial abutment for the extreme end of the hook extension 3 I, so that there is? absent from the structure any liability of wear capable of impairing the latched and unlatched function of the bolt work.

The spring 44 may be of the coiled wire type and may be'mounted upon a pin 5| fixed to the bottom wall IQ of the lock housing. The characters 52 indicate similar pins which may be utilized as supports for the cover l8. The characters 53 indicate apertures in the bottom wall of the lock housing through which rivets or other suitable fasteners may be inserted for securing the lock housing to the leg 54 of angle member l2 (Fig. 5).

The rectangle indicated at 55 indicates an outwardly pressed portion or depression formed in the bottom I9 of the'lock housing, coextensive with the width of the entry aperture I6, and within which the body portion of the keeper I3 may slide as it enters and departs from the interior of the lock housing. By furnishing the depression 55 as stated, the keeper body may rest flush with the bottom of the lock housing when advanced to the Fig. 4 position.

Since it is clearly evident that the bolt work at the left of cam 39 is identical to that at the right thereof, in Fig, 3, it will be unnecessary to duplicate the description of the bolt Work at,

the right-hand end of the lock structure. The similarity of'parts at both ends of the structure is complete, so that the interchangeability of parts is readily in evidence.

It is important to note that the slide block 24 and its cooperative hook member 25 are capable of longitudinal reciprocatory movement only, there being no need for any lateral shifting of the parts within the lock housing. In other words, the slide block and the hook member may be neatly fitted between the side walls 20 and 2| of the housing, so that a smooth and noiseless action is attained. The only laterally moving part in the lock structure is the boltretaining pawl 4|, whose nose 4! normally abuts the inner face of said wall 2| and the extreme end of hook extension 3|. In this connection, it should be observed that the pawl nose and the extension are not delicate parts requiring critical adjustments, wherefore any wearing of these parts will in no way impair the operation of the bolt-work. The bolt arrester or pawl 4| may have its contact edge 45 slightly humped as at 51 (Fig. 4), so that the keeper ledge or foot 46 when advanced against the pawl will displace the pawl nose 41 well out of the way of the bolt extension 3|, permitting the latter to freely snap over the ledge or foot 46 as illustrated. width of keeper ledge or foot .45, may approximate the depth of the housing side walls 2II-2I. The pawl-engaging end of spring 44 may be buried in the back of the pawl, as indicated.

When the parts are disposed to the locked position of Fig. 4, the cam will assume a position at which its rounded heels 58 rest within the curved I recesses 59 of the slide blocks, and the flats of the cam will rest against the projections 36 of the slide blocks in readiness for a projectile movement of the blocks upon rotation of the cam in the clockwise direction indicated. The cam is freely rotatable, so that the blocks when retracted by their springs 28, may be free to move the bolts to the locked position without interference by the cam, as the fingers or extensions 36 may readily rotate the cam with the aid of the springs 28. Accordingly, the keepers may be projected into the lock housing apertures for tripping the pawls and looking with the bolts, irrespective of the position of the cam.

In the modified form of the device as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7, will be found features which may be considered highly desirable in many instances. Here the housing H4 is practically identical to housing I4, having the keeper entry port or aperture H6, and the bottom wall II9 preferably with the depression I55 formed therein. The slide is indicated at I24, and has a connection I33 with the hook member I25 as previously explained, for facilitating assembly The thickness of the pawl, and the aperture IIB of the housing. When the keeper is thus advanced into the aperture, its tapered or wedge-shaped nose must contact the slope I48 of the hook member, to displace the hook member toward, but not to, the dotted line position of retraction (Fig. 6); and as soon as the keeper enters far enough, the slide spring (identical to 28) will pull the hook extremity I3I over the top face or ledge of the keeper nose or head I49 as shown. By this means, the operator is spared the necessity for manually retracting the boltwork through rotation of the double acting cam, for insertion of the keeper. It should be understood that in the Fig. 6 modification, the boltwork will be reproduced at opposite ends of the lock housing, just as explained and illustrated in connection with Fig. 3.

With further reference to Figs. 6 and '7, it will be observed that the pawl I4I has a transversely turned end I41 extending in the general direction of keeper movement, and so located as to be moved by a spring I44 into endwise contact against the inner face of side wall I2I, where it will obstruct travel of the hook end I3I in its movement from the dotted line retracted position, toward the full line locking position, while under the propelling influence of the bolt spring (28 of Fig. 3). When the pawl end I41 is in contact with housing wall IZI, the bolt cannot spring to the locking position, whereas upon movement of the keeper nose fully into the housing aperture, said keeper nose will strike the horizontal portion of the pawl and move the latter about its pivot I43 until the pawl end I4! moves out of the path of movement of the bolt end I3I. Then the bolt spring acts to advance the bolt end to the locking position of Fig. 6. The structure is to be unlocked for release of the keeper, in the precise manner explained in describing Fig. 3, that is, by

rotating the bolt operating cam.

tured as indicated at 63 for attachment to onemovable section of a bag or carrier, opposite to the section that carries the lock housing. Apertures such as I53 may be furnished as a means of mounting the lock housing, using rivets or other suitable fasteners. The parts will assume the relationship shown in Fig. 6 when the bag or carrier is fully closed, it being understood that a substantial portion of the keeper shank will be embedded in the bag section which carries it. Post I62 provides the anchorage for a cover plate, as previously explained.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details of the mechanism may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having a bottom wall and side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between said blocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator being adapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from one another in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of identical hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and an offset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of the housing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer ends of the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of each hook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis of each slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directed toward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures-for the keepers, and in position to move across said apertures under the propelling force of the yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers, located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise the turned end of a hook member, for maintaining a retracted condition of the hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepers into said apertures.

2. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having a bottom wall and side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between said blocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator being adapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from one another in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of hook members each including a shank, a

turned end, and an ofiset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of the housing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer ends of the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of each hook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis of each slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directed toward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures for the keepers, and in position to move across said apertures under the propelling force of the yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers, located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut end- Wise the turned end of a hook member, for maintaining a retracted condition of the hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepers into said apertures, said blocks and hook members and displaceable means all being of a substantially common thickness slightly less than the depth of a side wall of the housing measured interiorly thereof.

3. A hook structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having a bottom Wall and side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall and between the side wallsof the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between said blocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator being adapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from one another in opposition to the force'of the yielding-means, a pair of identical hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and an offset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of the housing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer ends of the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of each hook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis of each slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directed toward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures for the keepers, and in position to move across said apertures under the propelling force of the yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers, located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise the turned end of a hook mem-- ber, for maintaining a retracted condition of the hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepers into said apertures, each displaceable means when displaced being received, along with a keeper, between the turned end and the shank of a hook member.

4. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of a shallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, a rotatable cam located remote from the entry aperture, an elongated'slide block having an elongated way extending longitudinally of the housing, said block having an inner end contacting the cam whereby rotation of the cam projects the block outwardly, an abutment on the housing extending into the way of the block and a spring in the way arranged to abut the block and the abutment for constantly yieldingly urging the block toward the cam, a connecting means at the outer end of the block and located upon the major axis of the block, anv elongated hook member having a shank, an offset anchorage end, and a U- shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the cam, the bolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at least partly across the aperture under the propelling influence of the spring, the offset anchorge end of the hook member being jointed to the axial connecting means of the block for unitary reciprocation of the block and the hook member, a pawl pivoted to the housing adjacent to the entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, an end nose on the pawl subject to end abutment against the bolt for retaining the bolt in a cooked position beyond the entry aperture, yielding means normally urging the pawl toward the entry aperture, and a contact face on the pawl accessible through the entry aperture whereby a keeper may be extended through the aperture to trip the pawl and free the bolt for engagement with the keeper.

5. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of a shallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, a manual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongated slide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said block having an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of the latter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldingly urging the block toward the actuator, a connecting means at the outer end of the block and located upon the major axis of the block, an elongated hook member having a shank, an offset anchorage end, and a U-shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the actuator, the bolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at least partly across the aperture under the propelling influence of the yielding means, the ofiset anchorage end of the hook member being joined to the axial connecting means of the block for unitary reciprocation of the block and the hook member, a pawl shiftable relative to the housing adjacent to the entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, a nose on the pawl subject to end abutment against the bolt end for retaining the bolt in a cooked position beyond the entry aperture, yielding means normally urging the pawl toward the entry aperture, and a contact face on the pawl accessible through the entry aperture whereby a keeper may be extended through the aperture to trip the pawl and free the bolt for movement toward the aperture and into engagement with the keeper.

6. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of a shallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, a manual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongated slide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said block having an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of the latter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldingly urging the block toward the actuator, a connecting means at the outer end of the block and located upon the major axis of the block, an elongated hook member having a shank, an offset anchorage end, and a U-shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the actuator, the bolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at least partly across the aperture under the propelling influence of the yielding means, the offset anchorage end of the hook member being joined to the axial connecting means of the block for unitary reciprocation of the block and the hook member, means including a shiftable stop accessible through the keeper entry aperture, for normally abutting the terminal end of the bolt and maintaining the bolt in a retracted position against the force of the yielding means, said shiftable stop being displaceable by a keeper projected through the aperture to free the end of the bolt for projection toward the aperture, the shiftable stop being received in the U-shaped turn at the end of the hook member when displaced, and yielding means for returning the shiftable stop to bolt-holding position upon retraction of the bolt by the actuator.

'7. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having a bottom Wall and side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed side blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between said blocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator being adapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from one another in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a

pair of hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and an offset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of the housing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer ends of the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of each hook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis of each slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directed toward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures for the keepers, and in position to move across said apertures under the propelling force of the yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers, located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise the turned end of ahook member, for maintaining a retracted condition of the hook member, until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepers into said apertures, said blocks and hook members and displaceable means all being of a substantially common thickness slightly less than the depth of a side wall of the housing measured interiorly thereof, and a tapered face of limited extent on each hook member exposed for contact with a keeper when the hook member is disposed to an extended locking position, whereby the keeper is adapted to partially displace the extended hook member to temporarily make way for entry of the keeper into the housing aperture.

8. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement in opposite directions, and an actuator associated with said blocks to move the latter in opposite directions in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of latch members each including an end portion to traverse the side wall apertures for engagement with the keepers, said latch members being connected one each with a slide block to be movable therewith longitudinally of the housing without lateral displacement, and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers, and located wholly within the housing to substantially span the keeper apertures while aligned with and abutting endwise the end portion of each latch member, for maintaining a retracted condition of the latch members until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepers into said apertures.

9. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement in opposite directions, and an actuator associated with said blocks to move the latter in opposite directions in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of butt-ended latch members each having a short end portion to traverse the side wall apertures for engagement with the keepers, said latch members being connected one each with a slide block and movable therewith longitudinally of the housing without lateral displacement, a pair of pawls each pivoted to the housing adjacent to a keeper entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, an end nose on each pawl subject to end abutment against the butt end of a latch member and in substantial alignment with such latch member, to retain the latch members in a cocked position beyond the keeper entry apertures, yielding means normally urging the pawls toward the entry apertures, and a contact face on each pawl accessible through the entry apertures whereby the keepers may be extended through the apertures to shift the pawls out of alignment with the ends of the latch members and release the latter for engagement with the keepers.

10. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housing having side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for recep tion of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement in opposite directions, and an actuator associated with said blocks to move the latterin opposite directions in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of butt-ended latch members each having a short end portion to traverse the side wall apertures for engagement with the keepers, said latch members being connected one each with a slide block and movable therewith longitudinally of the housing without lateral displacement, a pair of pawls each pivoted to the housing adjacent to a keeper entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, an end nose on each pawl subject to end abutment against the butt end of a latch member and in substantial alignment with such latch member, to retain the latch members in a cooked position beyond the keeper entry apertures, yielding means normally urging the pawls toward the entry apertures and into substantial parallelism with that housing side wall which carries the entry apertures, and a contact face on each pawl accessible through the entry apertures whereby the keepers may be extended through the apertures to shift the pawls out of alignment with the ends of the latch members and release the latter for engagement with the keepers.

11. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of a shallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, a manual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongated slide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said block having an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of the latter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldingly urging the block toward the actuator, an elongated hook member movable with the block and having a U-shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the actuator, the bolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at least partly across the aperture under the propelling influence of the yielding means, a pawl normally in substantial alignment with the bolt and shiftable relative to the housing adjacent to the entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, a nose on the pawl subject to end abutment against the bolt end for retaining the bolt in a cooked position beyond the entry aperture, yielding means normally urging the pawl toward the entry aperture, and a contact face on the pawl accessible through the entry aperture whereby a keeper may be extended through the aperture to trip the pawl out of alignment with the bolt end and free the bolt for movement toward the aperture and into engagement with the keeper.

CHARLES J. SCHELL.

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