US2400229A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

May 114'1946v H. D. FREEMAN l LOCK l Filed May 12, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 May-14, 1946.

Filed May 12, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllmm +6. l

' Z5 fi@ 5- Patented May 14, 1946 i UNITED -sTATEs PATENT oFElcE Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,425

(Cl. 'l0-455) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to cylinder locks adapted for use in the doors of automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved cover member for the end of the cylinder which may readily be turned away from closed position when it is desired to insert a key, and will be held in that position by bearing against the edge of the cylinder which is urged outwardly by a spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beveled front for the cylinder, so that when the cylinder is turned by a key the cover member will automatically swing toward closed position and hold the cylinder in retracted position in the lock body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for an actuating shaft which extends rearwardly and makes a lost-motion connection with the key cylinder, the shaft being arranged so that a single compression spring urges the slidably mounted cylinder member to the front andyieldingly urges the shaft rearwardly in an axial alignment with the cylinder. I

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the lock with the cover member in closed position; Fig. 2, a. view similar to Fig. 1, with the cover member turned to open position to receive a key; Fig. 3, a fragmentary elevational view of the assembly; Fig. 4, a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the v assembly with the cover member in closed position; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4, with the cover member in open position; Fig. 6, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. '7, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 'I--T of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated, the body of the lock 8 is preferably a die casting having a bore 9 which is counterbored at I0 at the front of the lock body to receive the head of the usual lock cylinder Il. v

The lock cylinder is rotatable and has an integrally formed actuatingl stud I2. When a key is inserted in the lock the tumblers permit rotation of the cylinder in the bore. However, the cylinder is also slidably mounted in the bore, and its outward movement toward the front of the lock body is limited by a spring pressed member I3. which is adapted to engage a shoulder I4 provided in the bore 9. The member I3 can be depressed, when it is desired to remove the cylinder from the lock body, by pressing it inwardly through an aperture I5 provided in the body 8.

The rear of the lock body 8 has an opening I6, in which is journalled a hollow coupling member I1. The front end of the coupler has an enlarged head I8 provided with a transverse slot I9, which makes a lost-motion, non-rotatable connection with the stud I2 on the lock cylinder. 'I'he rear end of the coupling I1 provides a seat 20 which preferably has a square aperture to receive the square neck 2| of the actuating shaft 22. The front end of the actuating shaft has a head 23, and a compression spring 24 is provided which constantly urges the lock cylinder outwardly and presses the head 23 of the actuating shaft into the seat 20, so that the shaft is loosely urged into axial alignment with the cylinder. This makes it easier to install the assembly in the door of an automobile, and tends to eliminate any rattling or vibration of the parts.

The cover member 25 is shaped to cover the front of the assembly, as shown in Fig. 1. erably, it is pivotally mounted at 26 on the lock body, and a compression spring 21 constantly urges it to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. However, it may at any time be turned laterally to the position shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate inser tion of a key 28, and when this is done the spring 2l will cause the lock cylinder to pop out'I to the position shown in Fig. 5, and hold the cover in open position. Preferably, the outer end oi the lock cylinder has two beveled portions 29 which taper backwardly from the point 30 which engages the cover member 25 when the cylinder is in locked position and the cover is turned to the open position shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement, slight rotation of the key 28, clockwise or counter-clockwise, will cause the cover member to engage one of the beveled faces 29 and urge the cylinder inwardly until the cover member 25 strikes the key, or the key is removed and permits the cover member to close. It will be understood that the cover member can be released from the position shown in Fig. 2 at any time, by merely pressing the lock cylinder rearwardly into the bore. However, rotation of the lock cylinder by the key will automatically release it.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations sh'ould be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art. y

I claim:

1. In a lock: a. lock body having a bore opening in its front face; a cover member pivotally Prefmounted on the front of said lock body so as to swing over and close said bore; a spring urging said cover member to closed position; a key-operable lock cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in said bore; means for limiting the sliding movement of said cylinder in the bore; an actuating shaft extending rearwardly from the bore and making a non-rotatable connection with said cylinder; and a compression spring urging said cylinder forwardly from the bore so as to automatically hold said cover member in open position when the cover member is turned to that position.

2. A lock as specified in claim 1, in which the front of the cylinder has beveled portions so that when said cylinder is turned by a key in either dil rection from locked position, the cover member will be automatically released and will press the cylinder rearwardly.

3. In a lock: a lock body having a bore opening in its front face; a key operable lock cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in said bore; means for limiting thelongitudinal sliding movement of said cylinder in the bore; a coupling journalled in an opening in the rear of said lock body and making a non-rotatable lost-motion connection with the cylinder; an actuating shaft extending rearwardly and non-rotatably through said coupling and having a head in the coupling; a compression spring urging the head of said shaft rearwardly and said cylinder forwardly; and a cover member pivotally mounted near the front of the lock body and having a torsion spring urging the cover member to swingy laterally into a closed position in front of the cylinder, said cover member adapted -to be held releasably in open position by said cylinder when the cover is swung open and the cylinder is in forwardly extended position.

4. A lock as specified in claim 3, in which the front of the cylinder has beveled portions so that when said cylinder is turned by a key from locked position, the cover member will swing towards its closed position and press the cylinder rearwardly.

HENRY D. FREEMAN.

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