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US 4,359,885 AGranted
Key-operated locks
OwnerIlan Goldmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lock particularly for safe doors, of the multiple rotatable tumbler type, but adapted to be operated by a key, the "combination" of the lock being set by the key proper and being alterable at will by changing the relative arrangement of its bits. A key with changeable bits for use with the said lock is also described.
Claims22
A key-operated lock for safe doors and the like comprising a housing;
- a lock-bolt operable between an unlocked, withdrawn position and a locked, projected position;
- a lever coupled at one end thereof to the lock-bolt and provided at its other end with an extended control member and with engaging means;
- a rotatable lever-operating member;
- a plurality of indexable tumblers mounted in axial alignment with respect to each other, the tumblers being indexable by a key to assume a pre-determined relative position with respect to each other and to said control member;
- said tumblers comprise an axial central portion defining an opening for receiving a shank of said key, and a peripheral portion having a recessed circumference for receiving said lever control member in said pre-determined relative position of the tumblers;
- said central and said peripheral portions of each said tumbler are disengageable from each other for adjusting their relative angular positions;
- each of said central portions of said tumblers is provided with a tumbler projection extending into said opening;
- said tumblers are rotatably supported by flanged projections of a plurality of fixed plates interposed between adjacent tumblers;
- said lever being displaceable between operative and non-operative positions controlled by said control member and said tumblers, the arrangement being such that in said operative position, the said tumblers are in said pre-determined relative position and said engaging means are coupled to said lever operating member.
6 more elements
In combination, a lock and a key for operating the lock;
- the lock comprising a housing;
- a lock-bolt operable between an unlocked, withdrawn position with respect to the housing and a locked, projected position;
- a lever coupled at one end thereof to the lock-bolt and provided at its other end with an extended control member and with engaging means;
- a rotatable lever-operating member;
- a plurality of indexable tumblers mounted in the housing in axial alignment with respect to each other, the tumblers each including an axial central portion with an opening defined therethrough;
- the opening of each tumbler being provided with a radial, inwardly projecting pin adapted to be drivingly engaged by the key, the pins being for indexing the tumblers into predetermined relative positions with respect to each other and to the control member;
- the lever being displaceable between operative and non-operative positions controlled by the control member and the tumblers;
- the key comprising an elongate shank, a first set of radially projecting, axially spaced bit members mounted on the key shank at respective angular positions around the shank for rotatively indexing the tumblers into their predetermined positions by drivingly engaging the pins as the key is rotated, and a second set of radially projecting, axially spaced bit members mounted on the key shank for rotatively returning the tumblers into their initial positions, by drivingly engaging the pins as the key is rotated.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.