US2487608A - Dual permutation and cylinder padlock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1949 H. E. SOREF ET AL.

DUAL PERMUTATION AND CYLINDER PADLOCK Filed May 24, 1948 Kill:

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 DUAL PERMUTATION AND CYLINDER PADLOCK Harry E. Soref and Daniel J. Foote, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors to Master Lock Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 24, 1948, Serial No. 28,804

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in'dual permutation and cylinder padlocks.

In a permutation or combination padlock of conventional design the need for a key is eliminated because a dial on the face of the lock is turned according to a predetermined plan to successively register certain indicia with a graduation whereby grooves in superimposed discs Within the lock are brought into registration with the result that the locking lever becomes disengaged from the shackle and the latter is released. The objection to a combination or permutation lock is that the lock owner may forget or lose the lock combination and cannot then, through normal means, open the lock. This objection has given rise to a type of padlock wherein a key operated mechanism is incorporated in the dial or knob mechanism of an otherwise conventional combination lock whereby a master key may be employed in said mechanism to release or open the look without dialing the combination. The objection to the last-mentioned type of master keyed combination lock is that the key operated mechanism is usually part of, or immediately associated with the dial and/or disc mechanism of the combination lock and is susceptible of being picked.

As distinguished from permutation or combination locks, a conventional cylinder padlock employs a cylinder into which a properly shaped key is inserted to align the pins or discs for the release of a lever which in turn disengages the shackle to open the lock. In a conventional cylinder padlock picking of the cylinder can accomplish a release of the lever and an unauthorized opening of the lock.

With the above explanations in mind the present invention has as its primary object the provision of a simple and practical dual permutation and cylinder padlock wherein the key controlled cylinder mechanism is incorporated in the lock but is separate and independent of the dial operated combination mechanism whereby, through either of the independent mechanisms (the combination mechanism of the key controlled cylinder mechanism) the lock may be opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

in a padlock construction, a, cylinder mechanism adapted to receive a key for operating the tumblers together with a lever plate which controls a locking lever latch plunger in releasable engagement with the lock shackle, the cylinder construction being such that the insertion of the key, besides operating the tumblers, is eifective to make direct moving contact with the lever plate to operate the same to effect the release of the shackle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dual permutation and cylinder padlock wherein the shackle is releasably engaged by a locking lever latch plunger and the latter is susceptible of being operated either by the dial mechanism or by a key inserted into a, cylinder mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dual permutation and cylinder padlock which has the advantages of master keyed combination locks but eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional padlocks of this type, which is compact and of simple construction, which is strong and durable, which is efficient in operation either through the manipulation of the dial mechanism or through the cylinder mechanism, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved dual permutation and cylinder padlock, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a dual permutation and cylinder padlock constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and in section, and the padlock being shown in locked condition but with the combination correctly dialed and the superimposed discs in registration to effect the opening of the look upon a subsequent rocking of the locking lever;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 only with the dial actuated discs out of mutual registration, but showing the manipulation of the cyilnder and the lever plate through an inserted key effective to engage and move the lever plate and thus actuate the locking lever latch plunger for the release of the shackle;

Fig. 3 is the sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the tumbler mechanism of the cylinder and the discs of the combination mechanism being omitted for clarity;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the key-receiving grooved cylinder, with parts broken away and in section, and with the key projecting through the slotted portion of the cylinder in position to engage the latch plunger actuating lever plate; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the dual permutation and cylinder padlock, and on a smaller scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the case of the improved dual permutation and cylinder padlock is designated generally by the numeral II), which case is preferably of cylindrical form and includes a front wall H and a back plate l2, the front wall H being integral with the cylindrical portion of the case. The case maybe enclosed in a shell l3, preferably of light sheet metal.

A Ushaped shackle is indicated by the numeral I4. The longer leg M of -the shackle fits slidably and rotatably through an opening I through portions of the shell I3 and case 10, While the shorter leg M of the shackle fits slidably through a similar opening IB in the shell and case. Said shorter leg I 4" of the shackle has a bevelled end I! and a locking notch 1'3.

A locking lever I9 is pivotally mounted within the upper portion of the case on a post 20. Within said locking lever, in a suitable recess 2|, there is reciprocatably mounted a spring-urged latch plunger 22.. Said latch plunger is formed with a nose portion having a bevel '23 and a shouldered recess 2!. Said end portion of the latch plunger is engageable in the shackle notch I8 to resist withdrawal of the shackle when the parts are in the locked position, as shown in Fig. 1. An arcuate tongue or 'lip '25 on the locking lever 19 cooperates tumbler means, as will be hereinafter mentioned.

'R'igidly mounted within the case 10 and projecting forwardly through centrally apertured portions of the front wall of the case and the cover plate is a stud 26. As is shown and described in the Soref et al. Patent No. 2,169,907,

the tapered front end portion of the stud 26 fits loosely within the bore of an operating knob 21 (see Fig. 3) which is rotatably mounted in the front wall of the case. A dished dial plate 28 is carried rigidly on the knob '21 for rotation therewith, and, preferably, the front cover plate of the case is embossed with an annular bead 29 surrounding the dial. It should be understood that the bead 29 carries an index mark (not shown) and that the dial 28 carries suitable scale markings and indicia, as is customary in permutation locks generally.

As is conventional in permutation locks, there are operatively associated with the stud 28 a plurality of superimposed tumblers or discs 30. The mounting and details of this portion of the assemblage will not be described in detail. as it is similar to that shown and described in the Soref et a1. Patent No. 2,169,907. The various tumblers, however, are formed with peripheral notches 31 to admit the tongue .25 on the locking lever I 9 when the slots of the various tumblers are in mutual registration and adjacent the path of movement of the tongue 25. It will be appreciated that after the tumblers have been thus registered with their notches 31 in the path of movement of the tongue 25, a pull on the shorter leg I4" of the shackle is efiective to rock the locking lever 29 in a counterclockwise direction (relative to Fig. 1'), whereupon the tongue enters the registering notches 3|. Thereupon, the shackle may be withdrawn to open the lock.

The tumbler disc arrangement, the operations thereof through the knob 21, and the release and engagement of the shackle I4 is all conventional in the type of permutation look under consideration and has been shown and briefly described in order that the relationship of the key operated cylinder to the permutation mechanism may be fully appreciated. A tumbler cylinder assemblage is indicated generally by the numeral 32, and the same is shown in detail in Fig. 4. Said cylinder assemblage 32, save for the slotted inner end thereof, is of the type well known in the art and includes a shell 33 enclosing a plug 34 in a manher so that the plug may turn in the shell, with the shell being anchored against twining movement by a lateral extension 33 suitably anchored within the lock case. In a cylinder assemblage of the type under consideration there are recipnomtably mounted therewithin, against springs (not shown) a series of pins (not shown) which, when the assemblage is locked, enter openings therefor in the plug 3! but which, when a proper key 35 is inserted into a slot 36 (see Fig. 5) therefor in the plug, are disengaged from the plug holes :so as to permit turning movement of the plug 34 relative to the shell 33.

From the drawin s, it will be observed that the cylinder assemblage is positioned within the lock case parallel to the stud 2t and laterally oi the tumblers or discs on and below the shorter case wall H.

M" of the shackle ii. As is shown in Fig. 5, the back plate It of the lock case is formed with a circular opening surrounded by a bea d 31 to expose the outer end of the plug 38 and the key slot 36 therein. The inner end of the cylinder assemblage including the cylinder shell 33 and cylc inder plug 34 is formed with a substantially semi-circular groove or recess 38 which exposes an inner end edge portion of the inserted key 35 and which also receives the notched inner end portion of a lever plate 39, the latter being ply otally mounted on a short pivot pin an against the inner surface of the front wall H of the lock case. Said lever plate 39 is also forwardly of the not'ch'ed 'end portion of the shackle leg 1'! so as not to be obstructed thereby in its movements. From Fig. 3, it will also-be observed that the forward face portion of the lever plate 39 has fast thereon a protuberance M, which spaces the lever plate slightly from the inner face of the The upper end portion of "the lever plate 39 is notched, as at 12, to accommodate the nose portion of the latch plunger 22. When the lever plate 39 is in its normal inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, the upper notched end of said plate 3!! permits full projection of the nose of the latch plunger into the shackle notch l8 to retain the shackle in locked condition. However, when the lever plate 39 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction relative to Figs. 1 and '2, whereby the plate 39 is moved to the position of Fig. "2, the upper end of the lever plate 39 will contact the nose of the latch plunger 22 and force the same inwardly against the tension of the spring engag* ing the latch plunger, and thereby withdrawing the latch plunger from the notched end of the shackle arm It" to perm-it withdrawal of the shackle arm from the opening 16 and consequent release of the'padlock. It will be observed, particularly from Fig. 3, that the nose of the latch plunger 22 projects laterally of the front side of the shackle arm and said laterally projecting portion is susceptible of engagement with the upper end of the lever plate 39.

The lower end portion of the lever plate '39 within the grooved portion of the cylinder assemblage is formed with an eccentrically shaped notch 43 50 thereby receive the exposed edge portion of the key 35 Within the cylinder assemblage. Consequently when the key 35 is turned in the correct direction, the key, in direct engagement with the lever plate 39 causes the same to pivotally move from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 with the consequent retraction of the latch plunger, as previously mentioned, to effect the release of the shackle.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the padlock can be operated in the usual manner by the manipulation of the knob 21 through the proper combination to effect a registration of the tumbler slots 3| whereby an upward or outward pull on the shackle arm M will rock the locking lever 19 and thus release the shackle and open the lock. Should the combination be mislaid or forgotten, the lock may nevertheless be operated through the use of a proper master key 35. The latter is inserted into the key opening 36 of the cylinder assemblage, and through the means previously described the key becomes effective to directly actuate the lever plate 39 for retraction of the latch plunger 22 and release of the shackle I4.

The key-operated cylinder assemblage is entirely independent of the dial or disc mechanism of the combination lock. The insertion of the key 35 is effective, not only to operate the pin mechanism therein, but also to engage and operate the lever plate 39.

While the improved key actuated cylinder mechanism has been shown and described within a lock case housing conventional combination or permutation lock mechanism, it is obvious that the improved cylinder, key and lever plate mechanism is susceptible of more general applications.

The improved dual combination and cylinder padlock is of simple construction, is susceptible of easy and convenient operation, is compact, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A padlock, comprising a case having openings therein, a shackle having legs slidable in said openings, one of said legs having a notch therein, and shackle locking means in said case including a reciprocatable latch plunger engageable and disengageable with the notched portion of said shackle leg within the case, a lever plate pivotally mounted within the case and having one end portion engageable with the latch plunger to cause retraction of the same relative to the shackle leg, the other end portion of said lever plate being recessed, and a cylinder assembly within the case and including a key-receiving turnable plug, a portion of said plug being grooved and movably receiving the recessed end portion of said lever plate whereby a key inserted into said plug will enter said lever plate recess to simultaneously pivotally move the lever plate and turn the plug to operate the cylinder mechanism when said key is turned in a proper direction.

2. A padlock, comprising a case having openings therein, a shackle having legs slidable in said openings, one of said legs being shorter than the other and having a notch therein, and shackle locking means in said case including a springurged, reciprocatable latch plunger engageable and disengageable with the notched portion of said shackle leg within the case, a lever plate pivotally mounted within the case and having one end portion engageable with the latch plunger to cause yielding retraction of the same relative to the shackle leg, the other end portion of said lever plate being recessed, and a cylinder assembly within the case and including a key-receiving turnable plug, a portion of said plug being grooved transverse to its axis and movably receiving the recessed end portion of said lever plate whereby a key inserted into said plug will enter said lever plate recess to simultaneously impart pivotal movement to the lever plate and turn the plug to operate the cylinder mechanism when said key is turned.

3. In a permutation padlock including a shackle, a pivotally mounted locking lever, a latch plunger reciprocatably associated with saidlocking lever and releasably engageable with a leg portion of said shackle, and manually operated discs controlling movement of said locking lever; a lever plate pivotally mounted for engagement with said latch plunger to retract the same relative to the shackle leg irrespective of movement of the locking lever, and means to hold an inserted key in direct contact with said lever plate whereby a turning movement of the key is efiective to pivotally move said lever plate.

4. In a permutation padlock including a shackle, a pivotally mounted locking lever, a latch plunger reciprocatably associated with said locking lever and releasably engageable with a leg portion of said shackle, and manually operated discs controlling movement of said locking lever; an intermediately pivotally mounted lever plate having one end portion engageable with said latch plunger, and a key-receiving cylinder assembly into which the other end portion of said lever plate extends for direct engagement with and pivotal movement by a key inserted into said cylinder assembly.

5. In a dual permutation and cylinder padlock including a case having openings therein, a shackle having legs slidable in said openings, one of said legs having a notch therein, a pivotally mounted locking lever a latch plunger reciprocatably associated with said locking lever and engageable in said shackle leg notch, and knob operated disc controlled means controlling movement of said locking lever; key operated means Within the case for effecting retraction of said latch plunger, said key operated means including a pivotal lever movable to engage and retract the latch plunger relative to said shackle leg recess, and a turnable cylinder plug receiving a portion of said lever in direct operative contact with the inner end portion of a key fitted into said cylinder member whereby turning movement of the key is effective to simultaneously pivotally move said lever and turn said cylinder plug.

HARRY E. SOREF.

DANIEL J. FOOTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 877,931 Katzenberger Feb. 4, 1908 1,520,035 Mitchell Dec. 23, 1924 1,616,449 Horak Feb. 8, 1927 2,049,416 Aldeen Aug. 4, 1936 2,169,907 Soref et a1 Aug. 15, 1939

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