Combination locks
AssigneePresto Lock Company, Division of Walter Kidde & Company, Inc.
InventorRichard C. Remington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Combination locks employ dial-driven rotary elements that must be turned to predetermined position to open the lock. Each rotary element has a periphery that is circular except for a notch that mates with a ridge portion on cooperable means when the corresponding dial is "on-combination." The cooperable means may comprise a bolt that pivots or slides, for example.
Claims23
A combination lock having a plurality of dials, each coupled to a corresponding rotary camming element having a periphery that is circular except for a peripheral portion that must be turned to a predetermined position relative to cooperable camming means to permit the lock to be opened and wherein movement of the cooperable means to close the lock is effected by mutual camming engagement between a camming element and said cooperable means, characterized in that the peripheral portion has a notch and the cooperable means has a ridge portion for each notch, the ridge portions being received in the notches, respectively, when the notches have said predetermined position.
A combination lock having a bolt and dial-driven cams for moving the bolt between an unlocked position and a locked position by camming engagement between at least one of the cams and the bolt, characterized in that each cam has a notch into which a corresponding ridge portion of the bolt fits when the bolt is in the unlocked position.
A combination lock having a plurality of dials each coupled to a corresponding rotary cam that must be turned by its respective dial to a predetermined position relative to a movable locking member in order for the locking member to assume an unlocked position, characterized in that each cam has a circular periphery formed with a notch and the locking member has a ridge portion for each notch, the locking member being positioned so that the ridge portions engage in the respective notches when the cams each have said predetermined position, the notches and ridge portions defining cooperative camming formations for moving the locking member from the unlocked position to a locked position by mutual camming engagement between a respective notch and ridge portion when any one of said cams is rotated from its predetermined position by an amount sufficient to disengage the ridge portion from the notch.
A combination lock having a plurality of dials each coupled to a corresponding rotary cam that must be turned by its respective dial to a predetermined position relative to a movable locking member in order for the locking member to assume an unlocked position, characterized in that each cam has a circular periphery formed with a notch and the locking member has a ridge portion for each notch, the locking member being positioned so that the ridge portions engage in the respective notches when the cams each have said predetermined position, the notches and ridge portions defining cooperative camming formations for moving the locking member by a camming action from the unlocked position to a locked position when any one of said cams is rotated from its predetermined position by an amount sufficient to disengage the ridge portion from the notch, characterized in that a point of camming contact between said formations moves along one of a pair of substantially planar converging surfaces which, when the ridge portion is in engagement with the notch, are disposed symmetrically with respect to a line passing through the center of the cam and the junction of planes defining the converging surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.