U.S. patent number 3,657,907 [Application Number 05/017,232] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-25 for lock, in particular padlock, with tumblers controlled by a magnetic key.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Firma Carl Sievers. Invention is credited to Egon Boving.
United States Patent |
3,657,907 |
Boving |
April 25, 1972 |
LOCK, IN PARTICULAR PADLOCK, WITH TUMBLERS CONTROLLED BY A MAGNETIC
KEY
Abstract
A lock, particularly a padlock, with tumbler pins controlled by
magnets disposed on the key side and suspended on their middle
section for a pendulum movement, which comprises a plurality of
tumbler pins and a locking plate, whereby the tumbler pins are
directed with one end towards the locking plate. The latter has an
opening for entrance of the ends of the correspondingly aligned
tumbler pins, and is mounted for parallel displacement
perpendicularly to its plane and retained by a spring load in an
abutment position in front of the ends of the tumbler pins.
Inventors: |
Boving; Egon (Tonisheide,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Firma Carl Sievers
(Heiligenhaus/Rhld., DT)
|
Family
ID: |
21781476 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/017,232 |
Filed: |
March 6, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/38C; 70/413;
70/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
47/0041 (20130101); Y10T 70/7057 (20150401); Y10T
70/7904 (20150401); Y10T 70/463 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
47/00 (20060101); E05b 067/22 (); E05b 047/00 ();
E05b 019/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/38R,38B,38A,38C,39,276,413 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilreath; Stanley N.
Assistant Examiner: McCarthy; Edward J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A lock, particularly a padlock, with magnetically operative
tumbler pins disposed on a key side and suspended on their middle
section for a pendulum movement, comprising
a plurality of tumbler pins,
a locking plate, said tumbler pins being directed with first ends,
respectively, towards said locking plate,
said locking plate having openings for entrance of said first ends,
respectively, of the correspondingly aligned tumbler pins, and
said locking plate defining a plane and being mounted transversely
shiftable relative to said plan,
said locking plate being retained in an abutment position in front
of said one end of said tumbler pins,
a U-shackle,
spring means biasing said U-shackle in a closing direction,
a baffle lever having two arms,
one of said arms abutting said U-shackle,
said locking plate having a locking wing, the latter having a
rearward end,
the other arm of said baffle lever being coupled with said locking
wing of said locking plate,
said rearward end of said locking wing adapted to engage boltingly
in said U-shackle,
a spring operatively biasing said locking plate in the direction of
said tumbler pins being coordinated to said baffle lever, and
said spring having a lesser operative force than that of said
spring means which biases said U-shackle in an opposite
direction.
2. The lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said baffle lever is abutted by one end of said U-shackle of said
lock.
3. The lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said locking plate has on its wide side pointing towards said
tumbler pins a guiding pin and opposite to the latter said locking
wing,
the latter is operatively coupled with said other arm of said
baffle lever,
said one arm of said baffle lever is disposed below an end-face of
said U-shackle, which has a ring shoulder,
said spring means supporting itself on said ring shoulder and the
latter has a radially directed projection, and an entrance opening
disposed opposite said projection, upon aligning said U-shackle to
a correct angular position for closing.
4. The lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said locking plate has multi-edged insert pieces with equal edge
lengths and
said insert pieces define openings for entrance of said tumbler
pins.
Description
The present invention relates to a lock, in particular to a
padlock, with tumbler pins controlled by magnets disposed on the
key side, which tumbler pins are preferably suspended on their
center section for a pendulum movement, are directed with their one
end towards a locking plate, which locking plate has openings for
the entrance of the ends of the correspondingly aligned tumbler
pins.
Such locks are known already, in which for the purpose of the
desired opening the closing member must be moved at first inwardly
in closing direction. This inward movement of the closing member is
necessary, in order to obtain a distance between the locking plate
and the ends of the tumbler pins pointing towards the locking
plate, so that the tumbler pins can perform without interference a
pendulum movement corresponding to the magnet arrangement in the
key. Only after aligning of the tumbler pins can the closing member
be moved out of the lock housing into the open position, such
opening is cumbersome. Furthermore, it is of disadvantage that the
locking plate in the closing position finds an abutment in the ends
of the sensitively suspended tumbler pins.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a lock, in
particular a padlock, with tumblers controlled by a magnetic key,
which can be extremely simply operated and which operation can be
performed without difficulty also by a one-hand operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock, in
particular a padlock, with tumblers controlled by a magnetic key,
wherein a locking plate mounted perpendicularly to its plane for
parallel displacement due to a spring load is retained in an
abutment position prior to the ends of the tumbler pins.
It is in accordance with the present invention of advantage, if a
baffle lever engages the locking plate, which baffle lever is
abutted by one end of the shackle of the padlock spring-biased in
closing direction.
In addition, it is preferable in accordance with the present
invention, that the locking plate has a guiding pin on its wide
side pointing towards the tumbler pins and has opposite of the
guide pin, a lock wing, the latter being coupled with one arm of
the baffle lever by engagement of the forces, while the other arm
is disposed below the end-face of the shackle which has an angular
shoulder, on which the spring supports itself and which has a
radially directed projection, opposite which is disposed an
entrance opening upon aligning of the shackle on the proper closing
angular position.
A further advantage resides in accordance with the present
invention with the fact, that the locking plate has multi-edged
insert pieces having equal edge-lengths, in which the openings for
the entrance of the tumbler pins are disposed.
Finally, it is also preferable in accordance with the present
invention, if a spring loading of the locking plate in the
direction of the tumbler pins is coordinated to the baffle lever,
the force of the spring being less than the force of the spring
loading the shackle in opposite direction. Due to this arrangement
a lock, in particular a padlock, of a stabile structure is created,
which permits an extremely simple operation. For the opening of the
lock, it is merely necessary to insert the magnet key into a
corresponding recess of the lock housing. Since the locking plate
is retained in an abutment position in front of the ends of the
tumbler pins, the latter can align themselves without interference
in accordance with the magnet arrangement of the key. By a
following pull on the lock housing the closure can easily be
opened. No additional inward movement of the locking member is
required, in order to remove the locking plate from the ends of the
tumbler pins, so that an undisturbed pendulum movement of the pins
is made possible. The opening can be performed in a favorable
manner also without difficulty by a one-hand operation. In this
connection, it is of advantage that the sensitively mounted tumbler
pins do not form an abutment for the locking plate, whereby the
life of the lock is increased. The safe abutment position of the
locking plate in front of the ends of the tumbler pins during the
closing position is assured by a baffle lever. The latter is
abutted advantageously by one end of the shackle spring-biased in
locking direction. In order to realize a non-objectionable parallel
guidance of the locking plate perpendicularly to its place, the
locking plate is equipped on the wide side pointing towards the
tumbler pins with a guide pin and oppositely to the latter with a
lock wing. The latter stands with one arm of the baffle lever in
engagement of the prevailing forces and in closing position this
lock wing locks the shackle, the front end of which abuts the other
arm of the baffle lever. The closing position of the shackle
secures a spring, which supports itself on a ring shoulder having a
radially directed projection. The projection radially directed and
coordinated to an entrance opening serves, on the one hand, that in
the open position of the closure, the shackle cannot snap back
automatically, since the projection supports itself on the collar
or an inner part. On the other hand, the automatic snapping of the
shackle can take place only, if the U-box is brought into the exact
closing angle position thereof. Since the entrance openings for the
tumbler pins of the locking plate are provided in multi-edged
insert pieces of equal edge-lengths, these insert pieces can be
reached in the mounting corresponding with the arrangement of the
magnets in the key in the locking plate. The use of these insert
pieces is made possible, because due to the free alignment of the
tumbler pins the possibility exists, to vary the closing
combination in smallest steps. Even a slightest displacement of the
entrance openings for a few angular grades suffice, in order to
obtain another closing combination. It is no more necessary to
punch out individually each opening in the locking plate. For each
lock thus the same locking plate can be used, whereby the
production costs are reduced. The automatic snapping in of the
shackle is not impaired, since the spring loading the baffle lever
and thereby the locking plate in the direction towards the tumbler
pins has a lower force than the spring loading the U-bow in
opposite direction.
With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in
the following detailed description, the present invention, which is
disclosed by example only, will be clearly understood in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the padlock in closing
position, designed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a key coordinated to the padlock
disclosed in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a section along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a section along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the padlock in open
position;
FIG. 7 is a section along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is a section along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 6.
Referring now to the drawings, the padlock designed in accordance
with the present invention comprises a housing 1 which receives the
inner structure 2. This inner structure 2 closes with its ground
plate 3 the opening 4 of the housing 1. The inner structure 2 is
secured by means of a screw bolt 5, which enters a threaded bore of
a loop 6 formed on the inner structure 2. A bore 7 is provided
co-axially to the screw bolt 5 in the housing 1 for the end 8 of a
shackle 9. In closing position (FIG. 1) the end 8 of the shackle 9
enters the bore 7 of the housing 1 and covers up thereby the screw
bolt 5. As a further fastening element for the inner structure 2
serves a cross-pin 10.
Between the loop 6 and the base plate 3 of the inner structure 2
extends a guide piece 12 which projects with its collar-shaped
projection 12 through the web 14 of the inner structure. This web
14 has openings 15 disposed on the same axis in which the bores 11
are arranged. Between the web 14 and the guide piece 12 is disposed
the bearing bridge 16, in the openings 17 of which flush with the
bore 11 of the guide piece 12 are mounted the tumbler pins 18 for a
pendulum movement. For this purpose, these tumbler pins 18 are
equipped at about their center with a constriction 19.
A guide pin 20 provided on the wide side of the locking plate 21
pointing towards the tumbler pins 18 enters the bore 22 of the
collar-shaped projection 13 of the guide piece 12, which bore 22 is
coordinated to the locking plate 21. Opposite to this guide pin 20,
the locking plate 21 has a locking wing 23, which is four-edged in
cross-section, such locking wing 23 guides itself in a recess 24 of
the inner structure 2 and which is in coupling engagement with one
arm 25 of the baffle lever 26.
For this purpose the locking wing 23 forms a recess 27. The other
arm 28 of the baffle lever 26, mounted at the inner structure 2
about the axial pin 29, is disposed below the front end 30' of the
arm 30 of the shackle 9. A torsion spring 31 coordinated to the
baffle lever 26 biases the locking plate 21 in the direction
towards the tumbler pins 18.
The arm 30 of the shackle 9 has a ring shoulder 32 in form of a
sliding disc, on which one end of a pressure spring 33 supports
itself, while the other end of the pressure spring 33 finds its
support on the housing 1. The force of this spring 33 biasing the
shackle 9 in closing direction is greater than the force of the
spring 31 biasing the baffle lever 26, so that in closing position
(FIG. 1) the locking plate 21 is retained continuously by means of
the baffle lever 26 in an abutment position in front of the ends
18' of the tumbler pins 18. For this purpose the inner structure 2
forms an abutment shoulder 34 for the locking plate 21.
In closing position, the shackle 9 is blocked by the locking wing
23, which enters a locking recess 35 of the arm 30 of the U-bow
9.
The ring shoulder 32 has a radially directed projection 32', to
which an entrance opening 2' is disposed opposite on the inner
structure 2 upon setting the shackle 9 to the correct angular
position for closing thereof.
Furthermore, the locking plate 21 is equipped with openings 36 for
entrance of the ends 18' of the correspondingly aligned tumbler
pins 18. These openings 36 are preferably provided in multi-edged
insert pieces 37 having equal edge-lengths. The locking plate 21
has recesses 38' adjusted to the insert pieces 37, which assume the
shape of a hexagon. It is thus possible, to insert during the
mounting of the lock the insert pieces 37 in accordance with the
arrangement of the magnets 39 in the key 40. The structural parts
provided within the range of the magnetic force of the magnets as
well as the block of the key 40 comprise insulating or non-magnetic
material in addition to the tumbler pins 18. Since the total
closing parts are disposed in a one-part housing, a good protection
against weather influences and soilings is assured.
The operation of the lock is performed in the following manner:
Starting with FIG. 1, which discloses the closing position of the
lock, the key 40 is brought into the lateral recess 41 of the lock
housing 1. The force of the magnets 39 is effective upon the
tumbler pins 18, which align themselves accordingly. The ends 18'
of the tumbler pins 18 are disposed, therefore, in a flush position
with the openings 36 of the locking plate 21. By a pull on the
shackle 9 in the direction of the arrow or by a pull on the housing
1, the baffle lever 26 is released and the torsion spring 31 swings
over the baffle lever 26, the arm 25 of which moves the locking
plate 21 in direction y. By this movement in the direction y, the
locking wing 23 steps out from the locking recess 35, while the
tumbler pins 18 enter the openings 36 of the locking plate 21. In
open position the radially directed projection 32' of the ring
shoulder 32 engages the collar 42 of the inner structure 2, so that
the open position is secured. The locking plate 21 finds its
abutment by means of the guide pin 20 on the wall 1' of the housing
1. The closing of the closure takes place such, that the shackle 9
swings into the proper angular position for closing, so that the
entrance opening 2' is disposed opposite to the projection 32. The
pre-tensioned pressure spring 33 is relaxed and moves the shackle 9
in closing direction. The end-face 30' of the shackle 9 abuts the
arm 28 of the baffle lever 26, which brings the locking plate 21
into its original position and in which position the locking wing
23 enters the locking recess 35 of the arm 30 of the U-bow 9.
The bore 38' follows co-axially to the recess 38 of the locking
plate. The bore 38' is chosen with such diameter that the locking
plate 21, in case of aligned tumbler pins 18 by the key 40, can be
displaced parallel in the direction towards the tumbler pins 18
without interference. The openings 11 and 15 disposed over the same
axis are likewise sufficiently large, so that the swinging movement
and the pendulum movement of the pins are not impaired.
While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it
is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only
and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *