Locking Mechanism and Locks Incorporating Said Mechanism

The present invention concerns a new locking mechanism and locks incorporating said locking mechanism.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism which is of simple construction and is burglar proof, and in which the possibilities of combinations with keys for operating it are substantially unlimited.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a latch bolt lock with the said locking mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a padlock with the locking mechanism according to the invention and to further provide a special construction of said padlock.

It is still a further object of the present invention to incorporate said locking mechanism in a cylindrical member and to permit or prevent the rotation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to utilize said mechanism in said cylinder to actuate a further mechanism, such as, for example, locking bars of the kind extending into different parts of a door frame.

The invention consists in a locking mechanism comprising a bolt adapted for guided linear movement in a housing, characterized in that the bolt is provided on ome longitudinal edge with a plurality of spaced teeth at an angle of 10.degree.-80.degree., a key adapted for guided linear movement through a key-hole perpendicular to said bolt and having matching teeth in its side edge at a matching angle, the movement of the bolt being effected by the meshing of the teeth of the bolt with those of the key.

The invention is illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation of one embodiment of a locking mechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a latch lock incorporating said mechanism in the extended locking position of the bolts, the cover being removed.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof, taken on line III--III of FIG. 2, parts being removed for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in the unlocking position of the bolts.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the lock taken on line V--V of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6a and 6b show a second embodiment of the locking mechanism according to the invention in an axonometric view in the unlocking and locking positions, respectively.

FIG. 7 shows an elevation of a padlock incorporating the mechanism according to the invention, which is shown in section.

FIG. 8 is a section thereof on line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section on line IX--IX of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an exploded axonometric view showing most of the parts of the padlock according to FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a partial detail thereof in cross-section.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the locking mechanism according to the invention incorporated in a rotatable disk.

FIG. 13 is a section thereof on line XIII--XIII of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 14a-14c are perspective views of three different embodiments of locking bolts.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a lock incorporating the locking mechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 17 is a section thereof on line XVII--XVII of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a partial section thereof on line XVIII--XVIII of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a partial rear view of the lock of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a variation of the lock according to FIGS. 16-19.

FIG. 21 is a partial detail of a key adapted to be used with the lock according to the invention.

According to the invention and as illustrated in FIG. 1 a bolt 1 is provided at its side edge with a plurality of spaced parallel teeth 2 at a substantially 45.degree. angle, the teeth having spaces 3 between them. The top surface 4 of the bolt in the region of the teeth 2 is somewhat lowered so that the teeth project above said surface 4, and are flush with the part 1a of the bolt which is without teeth, as described hereinafter. This bolt is destined to be used in a latch lock.

A flat key 5 is provided with teeth 6 and spaces 7 between them on its side edge, likewise substantially at a 45.degree. angle. The width of teeth 6 matches the spaces 3 of bolt 1, while the width of spaces 7 matches the width of teeth 2, so that, as can be seen in FIG. 1, as key 5 is pushed or pulled, as the case may be, in a direction perpendicular to bolt 1, the latter is moved linearly.

The lock shown and described in FIGS. 2-5 is provided with two bolts 1 and 1' guided for longitudinal movement in a housing 8 and being adapted to be shot and to project therefrom at 9. The operating mechanism of bolt 1 only will be described hereinafter, it being understood that the operating mechanism for bolt 1' is the same, but in mirror symmetry to that of bolt 1.

The locking movement of bolt 1 is effected with the aid of a spring 10 provided in a channel 11 in the housing, one end of the spring 10 abutting against the housing while the other abuts against a pin 12 extending from the side of the bolt into the channel 11.

Bolt 1 is provided with a throughgoing longitudinal slot 13 into which extends a pin 14 mounted on a plate-like carriage 15 which is adapted to be moved in a space 17 provided in the housing by means of a handle 16, provided on the outside of the housing. The handle 16 extends through to the inside of the housing 1, its neck 16' being adapted to be moved in a slot 17' therein. A key-hole 18 is provided on the inside of the housing, a similar aligned key-hole 19 surrounded by a guide 20 being provided at the outside of the housing, i.e. preferably integral with a cover 21.

A mechanism for preventing the movement of the bolts in the extended position without the use of the key or the handle 16 is provided according to the invention. This mechanism comprises a lever 22 pivotal on pin 23 and having an arm 24 at its free end, which extends in register with key-hole 18, the free end being turned slightly upwardly at 25. Lever 22 is urged by means of spring 26 held on pin 27 in housing 8 towards key-hole 18 and thus into the path of the upwardly projecting teeth 2. Lever 22 is provided with two abutment faces 28 and 29 for pin 14 in the two extreme positions of handle 16 as will hereinafter be explained.

The lock works as follows:

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, which show the lock in working (locking) position, when key 5 is inserted into key-hole 19 the pointed bottom 5' of the key is inserted between lever ends 25 pushing them aside against the action of spring 26, so that the key can be fully inserted and the bolts 1 and 1' can be withdrawn. In the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 only the key or the handle 16 when operated causes the retraction of bolt 1, 1'. The movement of handle 16 in slot 17' causes pin 14 to push the levers 22 outward against action of spring 26.

The door can now be opened and in this open position when the key is removed the bolts 1, 1' will again be extended by the action of the springs 10. In order to close the door, handle 16 has to be operated from within, whereby pins 14 will be moved from abutment face 29 to abutment face 28 of lever 22 as is shown in FIG. 4.

From the inside, bolts 1, 1' may be extended, either by the operation of handle 16 or by the insertion of key 5 into key-hole 18. From the outside, however, as can be seen, only key 5 can withdraw the bolts.

The teeth 2 and 7 may have any suitable matching shape. Adjacent teeth may be of equal pitch, or the pitch between adjacent teeth may vary along the row of teeth, the teeth 7 of the key matching the spaces 3 of the bolt. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide teeth with different pitch characteristics on bolts 1 and bolts 1', it being understood that the key 5 will have to be provided with teeth on either side, which match the spaces of the corresponding bolt, the teeth on either side of the key not being aligned relative to each other in this case.

It is further within the scope of the present invention to provide teeth 2 at an angle other than 45', i.e. from 10.degree.-80.degree., the teeth on key 5 being at a complimentary angle, if it is desired that the key move perpendicular to the lock. Otherwise, the teeth 7 on key 5 may be inclined at any suitable angle, the key being held at a corresponding angle to the face of housing 8. Furthermore, the height of the teeth and the depth of the spaces between them may vary from tooth to tooth.

In the locking mechanism shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the bolt is constituted by two pairs of superposed bolt parts, the parts 101 and 102 of each pair being identical with each other. In the starting position, i.e. the unlocking position wherein the two parts are exactly superposed, the teeth are not aligned. In order to bring the parts into locking position the key (not shown) is inserted into the lock and first moves part 101 relative to part 102 until their teeth are aligned with each other, so that both parts can be moved together linearly, as shown in FIG. 6b. In this manner, when a burglar tries to pick the lock, by means of any type of wire or blade, the chances of moving first one bolt part and aligning its teeth to those of the other part are minimal. It is, of course, understood that each bolt can be made of more than two superposed parts, if so desired.

The padlock illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 incorporates two parallel bolt pairs, each made of two parts as described in FIGS. 6a, 6b. This padlock comprises a base generally indicated by 103 and a shackle or bow 104 having cut-away portions 104' near each end, which, when engaged by the bolts, are locked tightly in the base. The base 103 may be made in any suitable manner of any suitable number of parts, e.g. it may be cast and milled, if desired. For the sake of ease of manufacture, as described hereinafter, the base is made of twelve superposed plates which may be stamped from sheet metal. As shown in FIG. 10 there are two plates 105, three plates 106, four plates 107, one plate 107', one plate 108 and one plate 108', the plates all having the same profile in plan and those with the same reference numeral being identical to each other. All base plates except plates 105 are provided with a pair of holes 109 adapted to house flanged bushings 110 into which the ends of shackle 104 extend, the bushings 110 having cut-outs 110' aligned with cut-away portions 104' of shackle 104. The bushings are held within holes 109 by means of screws 111, which extend through holes 112 in plates 105 and through a hole 113 in bushing 110, nuts 114 inserted within the bushing 110 being screwed onto the screws 111 for a tight connection of all the plates. In all the plates except in plates 108, 108', a central slot 115 is provided, the slots 115 of all the plates being in vertical register and being destined to receive the flat key (not shown).

Plates 107 and 107' together are of a thickness equal to the thickness of bolt parts 101, 102 and are provided with two parallel cut-outs 116, 117, which constitute the guides for the bolt parts 101, 102 and 101', 102', respectively, the slot 115 merging on either side into said cut-outs. Each bolt part is provided with a through-going axially extending bore 118 for housing a guide bar 119 on which a coil spring 120 is threaded, the springs 120 urging the bolt parts into locking position. The thickness of plates 107, 107' and bolt parts 101 and 102 are such that the bolt parts meet in the median plane of plate 107'. In this plate 107' the cut-outs 116, 117 merge into each other. In their longitudinal center line two circular cut-outs 121 are provided merging into them and each housing one circular end of a locking catch 122. These catches are provided as a further safety means against the picking of the lock. As can be most clearly seen from FIGS. 10, 11 the catches are slightly pivotal within cut-outs 121, i.e. within plate 107'. In either the locked or unlocked position of the bolt parts, each catch 122 is urged sideways by the bolt parts of one side of the lock into the space behind the parallel bolt parts of the other side of the lock, thereby preventing movement of the individual bolts unless they are all moved simultaneously. During movement by the proper key, the catches are pivotted to the oppositely lying space which is being cleared by the moving bolt part. Since the catches are located in plate 107' they extend somewhat above and below into the area of both bolt pairs. Only if a burglar would succeed to move all four bolt parts simultaneously, a feat which without a proper key is practically impossible, could he prevent the catches 122 from interfering with the movement of the bolt parts. However, even if he succeeds by the insertion of a wire or other means into the slots 115 to move one or the other bolt part the catches will interfere with the movement of the remainder of the bolt parts, making the picking of the lock impossible.

As has been described before, the bolts are moved linearly into locking or unlocking position by the key (not shown) moving through slots 115 at right angles to the plates 105-108. In order to close the slots on the top side of base 103 a cap 123 is provided which has flange 124 adapted to be housed in a cut-out 125 of plate 108, the top of the cap 123 extending through a cut-out 126 in plate 108', which cut-out is smaller than cut-out 125, it being understood that cap 123 is inserted into the plates 108, 108', when the base is being assembled.

It is, of course, understood that only one set of superposed bolts may be provided to engage only the end of one leg of the shackle, the other leg of the shackle being adapted to be partially drawn from the base and to be rotated relative thereto in order to open the lock, as is known in many padlock constructions.

The lock shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 comprises two pairs of locking bolts 201, 201', 202, 202', which are housed and guided in cut-outs 204, 205 respectively within a circular disc 206, which is supported and rotatable on a plate support 207, having a peripheral flange 208 surrounding said disc. An aperture 203 is provided for the insertion of a key having matching teeth.

Both bolts are of the construction shown in FIGS. 14a-14c only one bolt being shown therein. In FIG. 14a bolt 201' is longer than bolt 201, the latter having an integral smooth extension 201a, i.e. without teeth. In FIG. 14b the bolt 201b is made only of one part, the integral extension 201b' being smooth and substantially half the height of the part 201b provided with teeth. In FIG. 14c a thin plate 201c' is attached to the bottom of toothed bolt 201c, plate 201c' being narrower but longer than bolt 201c.

The cut-outs 204, 205 in disc 206 are extended to the circumference at one end and slots 209, 210 respectively are made in flange 208, the slots corresponding in shape to the extension of bolt part 201a', 201b' or 201c', as the case may be.

In the position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the rotation of disc 206 in support 207 is prevented by said bolt parts extending into slots 209, 210 when a key is inserted into aperture 203. The bolts are again moved linearly whereby said bolt parts are withdrawn from the corresponding slots so that disc 206 can be rotated.

In FIG. 15, wherein parts similar to those of FIGS. 12-14 are designated by the same reference numerals, the rotation of disc 206 can be locked in two different positions. The support plate 207 is herein replaced by a plate 207' having a depression in which disc 206 is rotatable. In addition to slots 209a, 210a, slots 209b, 210b are provided in plate 207' at an angular distance from slots 209a, 210a, respectively. Thus, when a key is inserted to withdraw bolts 201, 202 from slots 209a, 210a, the disc 206 can be rotated when it reaches an angular position where cut-outs 204, 205 are aligned with slots 209b, 210b and the key is removed, the bolt extension will enter the latter to again lock the rotary movement of the disc 206.

It must be understood, that while in the description of the FIGS. 12-15, two bolts or bolt pairs are shown, the locking mechanism may be provided with one bolt or bolt pair only.

The application of the invention to a door lock is illustrated in FIGS. 16-21, the parts which are the same as those of FIGS. 12-15, being designated by the same reference numerals and thus do not require further description. The disc 206 is here housed and is rotatable within a depression in a plate support 207a being of substantial square shape and having mitered corners. Said disc is provided at its top with four outwardly extending lugs 211 adapted to engage apertures 212 of four locking bars 213. Each of said bars is adapted to slide linearly and is guided in a groove at one side of housing 207a, each locking bar being destined to engage a side of the door (not shown) when said lock is mounted within a door.

To locking bolts 201', 202' respectively, pins 215, 216 are mounted, said pins being adapted to engage in slots 217, 218, 219, 220 respectively, provided in the bottom 221 of housing 207. The areas of merger 217', 219' of stretches 217, 218 and 219, 220, respectively, are enlarged for a purpose which will become clear hereinafter.

In the position shown in FIG. 16 the locking bolts 201, 201', 202, 202' are in a position of rest, i.e. the bars 213 are withdrawn from their locking position. If a key is inserted in opening 203, bolts 201, 201', 202, 202' are moved linearly thereby whereby pins 215, 216 are moved within slot stretches 217, 219 respectively, until they reach the areas of merger 217', 219' of the slot stretches. Since at these areas there is a certain freedom of movement for the pins, the key can rotate disc 206 in this position, whereby simultaneously lugs 211 force bars 213 into extended position, and springs 222, mounted on rods 223, of the locking bolts, as described above with reference to FIGS. 6-11 force locking bolts 201, 201', 202, 202' into slot stretches 218, 220 respectively. The key can be withdrawn and the lock is now in locking position. The top parts of housing 207 are cut away at 224 to permit lugs 211 to move freely from one position to the other, the extremities of said portions providing safety stops for the rotational movement. A rotation by the key in opposite direction until pins 215, 216 reach the inner ends of slot stretches 218, 220 respectively, will cause the unlocking of the lock, whereafter said springs force said pins into the starting position shown in FIG. 16.

As shown in said figures a 45.degree. turning of disc 206 effects the locking or unlocking owing to the shape of slots 217, 218, 219, 220 and merger areas 217', 219'. It is, of course, understood that any other shape of slot, i.e. other than its stretches lying at 45.degree. to each other may be provided whereby the disc can be rotated more than 45.degree.. Instead of lugs 211, the disc 206 may be provided with peripheral gear teeth and bars 213 with matching teeth. Furthermore, links, cams or any other means may be provided to transmit the rotational movement of the disc to a linear movement of the bars.

The bolts may be of any other profile, i.e. round, semi-circular, triangular or the like, than the rectangular profile shown in the drawing, guiding grooves of corresponding suitable shape being provided within disc 206.

It is possible also to provide guiding grooves for the bolts within an insert of any suitably shaped body which may be mounted within disc 206.

In the embodiment of the lock shown in FIG. 20 one of the bars 213 is replaced by the ordinary latch bolt 224 associated with a known door lock, the supporting plate or housing 207b being extended for this purpose. This latch bolt, besides being adapted to be moved by a lug 211' of disc 206 which engages an abutment 224' in said bolt 224 is adapted to be moved independently by means of a handle (not shown) mounted on a square shaft 225 in a lug 226 whose nose 227 engages within a cut-out 228 made in latch bolt 224. It can be seen that a rotation of lug 226 effects the linear movement of latch bolt 221 independently of the locking movement of disc 206.

FIG. 21 shows schematically part of the side edge of a key in which teeth 229, 229' are made in one direction and teeth 230, 230' in the other direction. These teeth match the teeth of bolts 201, 201', 202, 202' so that the said key when inserted from either side of the lock into hole 203 actuates said bolts.

While in the FIGS. 16-20 and the corresponding description a lock having two pairs of parallel locking bolts has been described, it is within the scope of the present invention, to provide a lock with only one bolt or one pair of superposed bolts of the kind described, in one half of the disc and only one slot for the pin of said bolt in the housing.