Toggle-type safe door locking mechanism

In a safe door operating and locking mechanism for use in a safe door presenting an outer panel and an apertured sidewall, said mechanism comprising:

• at least one reciprocal locking bolt selectively shiftable between an extended locking position wherein the bolt extends through a sidewall aperture, and a retracted locking position;
• means for selectively shifting said bolt between said positions thereof, including toggle means presenting a pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links supporting said bolt, an elongated, upright, axially shiftable operating bar operatively connected to said toggle means for operating the latter to shift said bolt from the locking position to the unlocking position thereof upon upward axial shifting of the bar, said toggle mechanism being over center in a downward direction when said bolt is in its locking position, and external, manually manipulable operating means operatively coupled with said bar for selective upward axial movement thereof to shift said bolt from said locking to said unlocking position,
• said bar being mounted for downward shifting movement thereof under the influence of gravity when said operating means is released, whereby the bolt moves from the unlocking to the locking position thereof in response to said gravity-induced bar movement;
• and
• means for selectively locking said bar against axial shifting thereof when the bar is in its downward position with said bolt in its extended locking position.

In a safe door presenting an inner wall, an opposed, spaced apart outer wall, and sidewalls extending between said inner and outer walls to define therewith a hinge side and a closure side for said door, tamper-resistant structure for preventing unauthorized opening of said door and comprising:

• a lip formed as an integral portion of said outer wall and extending laterally beyond the adjacent sidewall of theclosure side of said door;
• a flange formed as an integral portion of the margin of said closure side sidewall adjacent said outer wall, said flange extending laterally from the closure side sidewall in juxtaposition with said lip;
• an internal reinforcing member located between said inner and outer walls and adjacent said closure side sidewall, said member including a transversely extending first leg between said inner and outer walls, and an integral second leg extending between and facially abutting said lip and flange,
• said lip, flange and second leg being interconnected to cooperatively present a triple laminated door sealing section extending laterally from said closure side sidewall for engaging a complemental door frame.

A safe door operating and locking mechanism for use in a safe door presenting an outer panel and a circumscribing, apertured sidewall, said mechanism comprising:

• at least one reciprocal locking bolt selectively shiftable between an extended locking position wherein the bolt extends through a sidewall aperture, and a retracted unlocking position;
• means for selectively shifting said bolt between said positions thereof, including toggle means presenting a pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links supporting said bolt, and an elongated operating bar operatively connected to said toggle means for operating the latter upon axial shifting of the bar, said toggle mechanism being in an over center position, and said bar being in a corresponding locking position, when said bolt is in the extended locking position thereof;
• means for locking said bar in said corresponding locking position thereof, including
• a rigid element being a portion of said sidewall and located for engagement by said bar in the corresponding locking position of the bar for preventing further axial movement of the bar in one axial direction;
• and
• selectively operable latching means engageable with said bar for preventing axial movement of the bar in the other axial direction, said latching means having a bar-engaging latching member, and handle means coupled with said member and located exteriorly of said outer panel for selective movement of the latching member into and out of a latching position.

An actuator bar for use in a door locking mechanism, said mechanism including a reciprocal locking tongue movable between an extended, locking position and a retracted, unlocking position, and a shiftable operating element spaced from said tongue, said element supporting a connector pin and being operably coupled with extensible door locking means, said bar comprising:

• an elongated body presenting a first element-connecting end and a second tongue-connecting end,
• structure defining a tongue-receiving notch adjacent said second end,
• said body being pivotal between a locking position wherein said notch is aligned for receiving said tongue, and an unlocking position wherein said notch is out of alignment with said tongue;
• an elongated pivotal shaft operably supported by said body and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said body;
• means defining an elongated, connector pin-receiving slot adjacent said first end for slidably receiving said pin;
• means defining a pin-catching concavity in communication with and forming an extension of said slot,
• said concavity being oriented for receiving said pin when said body is in said locking position thereof, whereby upon shifting of said operating element and consequent attempted pivoting of the body to said unlocking position, potentially destructive forces developed as a result of said pivoting are absorbed by said shaft and said tongue is substantially isolated from said forces.