US 4,866,958 A · Push-button lock mechanisms

Abstract

A sequence dependent push-button lock mechanism having compression loaded locking rod assemblies, arcuate segments of which are placed in compression if attempts are made to force the lock open, and unlocking by rotating the arcuate segments out of compression engagement with a sliding block associated with a thumb-actuated reciprocating shackle sleeve, particularly adapted for use in padlocks and deadbolt/cabinet locks. The locks are applicable to use in combination with pivot-only shackles in the padlock form, and thumb-actuated shackle or deadbolt release mechanisms. The thumb latch is of a break-away type to deter plurality of holes in a spaced array for receiving spring biased automatic return push-button assemblies which actuate locking rods that are disposed to rotate upon selective engagement with various combinations of special "T" and "C" shaped flanges on button actuator members. The permutations of T and C flanges, actuating from 2 to 6 locking rods, offers a large number of possible lock combinations. The lock mechanism may optionally include an extra re-lock push-button for actuating a re-lock bar that simultaneously resets all the locking rods to the locked position by acting on the lower canted end. An optional auxiliary master key is also provided that, upon turning, imparts a auxiliary master key is also provided that, upon turning, imparts a rotation to all the locking rods permitting the lock to be opened. Compression loading the locking rods to prevent opening provides a very high strength lock mechanism of simple construction and assembly. Simple modification of the actuators provides a non-sequence dependent lock, if desired.

Claims54

Dependent claims

An improved lock mechanism for engaging a shackle-type securing member actuatable from a first locked mode to a second unlocked mode by actuation means comprising in operative combination:

(a) a plurality of generally elongated cylindrical locking members each having a longitudinal axis;
(b) means for retaining said locking members with their longitudinal axes in generally parallel spaced relationship;
(c) means for selectively engaging a shackle member in a first locked mode and releasing it in a second unlocked mode;
(d) means for blocking said selective shackle locking/unlocking means from releasing said shackle, said blocking means being mounted in association with at least one of said locking members;
(e) at least one means for selectively rotating at least one of said locking members into a first rotated position so that said blocking means is selectively oriented to permit said shackle locking/unlocking means to release said shackle so that said lock may be opened;
and
(f) a plurality of means for actuating said selective rotation means to permit said blocking means to release said shackle upon activating only selected ones of said actuation means and define at least one lock-opening combination.

4 more elements

A padlock having a first locked mode and a second unlocked mode, comprising in operative combination;

(a) a housing having a front face, a back face spaced from said front face, and at least one wall disposed between said faces to form a perimeter wall of said housing, said faces and said wall defining a volume in said housing, said perimeter wall having at least a first hole and a second hole therethrough;
(b) a shackle formed in a generally inverted J-shape, having a generally cylindrical first entrained portion and a second free end portion, said first and said second portions being joined by an intermediate portion;
(i) said shackle being disposed with said first entrained portion mounted through said perimeter wall first hole into said housing volume to only rotate at least partially around the longitudinal axis of said first cylindrical entrained portion,
(ii) said intermediate portion, and said free end portion being disposed external of said housing in both said locked and said unlocked modes;
(c) a reciprocating latching assembly having means for receivingly engaging said free end portion of said shackle external of said perimeter wall;
(i) said latching assembly being disposed mounted in said housing with said shackle free end engaging means reciprocatingly movable in said second hole in said perimeter wall;
(d) means for selectively locking said latching assembly to prevent pivoting release of said shackle free end portion from said reciprocating receivingly engaging means, and to provide said first locked mode and said second unlocked mode, so that upon selective release of said latching assembly said latching assembly may be reciprocatingly actuated to release externally of said perimeter wall said shackle free end and permit pivoting only of said shackle by at least partial rotation of said shackle around said entrained cylindrical axis thereof;
and
(e) said means for selectively locking said latching assembly comprises in operative combination;
(i) a plurality of generally elongated cylindrical locking members each having a longitudinal axis;
(ii) means for retaining said locking members with their longitudinal axes in generally parallel spaced relationship;
(iii) means for selectively engaging a shackle member in a first locked mode and releasing it in a second unlocked mode;
(iv) means for blocking said selective shackle locking/unlocking means from releasing said shackle, said blocking means being mounted in association with at least one of said locking members;
(v) at least one means for selectively rotating at least one of said locking members into a first rotated position so that said blocking means is selectively oriented to permit said shackle locking/unlocking means to release said shackle so that said lock may be opened;
and
(vi) a plurality of means for actuating said selective rotation means to permit said blocking means to release said shackle upon activating only selected ones of said actuation means and define at least one lock-opening combination.

13 more elements

A push-button padlock comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of holes for receiving push-buttons and a single enlarged hole disposed in at least one face of said housing;
(b) a plurality of push-buttons disposed to reciprocate through said push-button holes in said face of said housing;
(c) a manual actuating means which includes a thumb latch member disposed to project through said enlarged hole in said face of said housing, and which is adapted to permit said thumb latch to break away;
(d) a shackle-type securing member having a first entrained end and a second free end, and which includes:
(i) a pivot lock pin mounted in said shackle-type securing member to project from the surface thereof adjacent said shackle-type securing member first entrained end;
and
(ii) a relieved portion defining a slot in said securing member disposed to receive said shackle pivot lock pin to prevent said shackle from swiveling by engagement of said pin in said slot;
(e) an annular groove disposed in said shackle member entrained end;
(f) a shackle retaining pin secured to said housing and disposed to engage said shackle member groove to permit said shackle to pivot only and to prevent said shackle from being withdrawn from said housing;
(g) means for engaging said shackle member free end which includes a hardened sleeve having an annular cross section with an inner diameter sufficient to receive said shackle free end with minimum tolerance;
(h) a lock mechanism comprising in operative
(i) a plurality of generally elongated cylindrical locking members selected from two to six each having a longitudinal axis, wherein each of said locking members has a V-groove disposed medially thereof oriented with the bottom of said groove parallel to said longitudinal axis and with the upper edges intersecting the periphery of each of said locking members to define a pair of generally parallel spaced ridges;
(ii) means for retaining said locking members with their longitudinal axes in generally parallel spaced relationship;
(iii) means for selectively engaging a shackle member in a first locked mode and releasing it in a second unlocked mode, said selective shackle locking/unlocking means being prevented from releasing said shackle by a blocking means, said blocking means being mounted in association with at least one of said locking members;
(iv) means for simultaneously rotating all of said locking members into at least one second position so that said blocking means is selectively oriented to prevent said shackle unlocking/locking means from releasing said shackle-type securing member and to retain said lock in said locked mode, said selective rotating means includes at least one laterally extending member defining a flange which contacts at least one of said ridges;
(v) at least one means for selectively rotating at least one of said locking members into a first rotated position so that said blocking means is selectively oriented to permit said shackle locking/unlocking means to release said shackle so that said lock may be opened;
and
(vi) a plurality of push-button actuators associated with said plurality of push-buttons disposed to actuate said selective rotation means to permit said blocking means to release said shackle upon depressing only selected ones of said push-buttons and define at least one lock-opening combination, said plurality of push-buttons selected from three to twenty-nine being disposed in a spaced array of at least one push-button between adjacent said locking members, each of said push-buttons being spring biased for automatic return to an initial up position after pressure causing said button to be depressed is released comprises a stem secured to said flange, and a button member associated with said stem.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Push-button lock mechanisms

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Push-button lock mechanisms

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Abstract

Claims54