GB2030208A - Permutation lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The permutation lock has at least two blocking devices each containing a blocking disc 20 provided with an engagement opening 50 cooperating via an indexing device with a selection disc 14. Each engagement opening 50 is engaged by a blocking tongue 48 which is arranged on a blocking slide member 46 spring biased against the blocking disc 20. The blocking slide member 46 has a shoulder 62 which cooperates with an operating slide member 68. When the operating slide member 68 is in the locked position, the shoulder 62, when the blocking tongue 48 is displaced from the engagement position 50 engages a recess 64 of the operating slide member 68. When the operating slide member 68 is in the unlocked position, the shoulder 62 rests against abutment 66 of the operating slide member 68 thereby preventing the blocking tongue 48 from leaving the engagement opening 50, so that the blocking disc 20 is prevented from turning while a new opening code number can be selected by rotating the selection disc 14 relative to the blocking disc 20. The lock is intended primarily for briefcases and suitcases. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Permutation lock The invention relates to a permutation lock.

Permutation locks for briefcases and suitcases are known which are relatively complicated to construct and are such that part of the lock housing has to be in a recess accommodated in the suitcase or other object in which the lock is to be installed. Moreover, it is often necessary to make such permutation locks accessible on the rear side in order to operate for example a coupling member which locks blocking discs in order that a new code can be selected with selection discs.

According to the present invention there is provided a permutation lock having at least two blocking means which each have a blocking disc provided with an engaging opening and cooperating with a selction disc via an indexing device, the respective positions of the engaging openings being adjustable and accepting blocking tongues when the engaging openings are properly adjusted, and having an operating slide member and at least one latch which is spring loaded in the locked position, wherein each blocking tongue is arranged on a blocking slide which is spring-loaded against the blocking disc, the blocking slide member having a shoulder cooperating with the operating slide member in such a way that when the operating slide member is in the locking position the shoulder, during displacement of the blocking tongue from the engaging opening, becomes freely movable and when the operating slide member is in the open position abuts against the operating slide member so as to prevent the blocking tongue from leaving the engaging opening thus locking the blocking disc and enabling the direct selection of a new unlocking code.

Because the operating slide member in the open position prevents the blocking tongues from leaving the engaging opening of the blocking discs, the blocking discs are locked and a new code can be selected by means of the selection discs.

On the other hand the shoulder of the blocking slide members can engage with recesses of the operating slide member when this is situated in the locking position and by manipulating the selection discs the blocking tongues are displaced from the engaging openings of the blocking discs. The operat ing slide member is then locked in the locking position and cannot be opened again. This design of the permutation lock makes obsolete any additional operating member for locking the blocking devices, thus resulting in a particularly simple construction of the permutation lock and which also makes it possible to give the permutation lock a very flat shape. It is therefore not necessary anymore to provide recesses in the objects in which the permutation lock is to be installed. The permutation lock can therefore also be secured to very flat articles, for example briefcases.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in claims 2 to 11.

Through the single piece connection of all block ing tongues with one single common blocking slide member in a preferred embodiment, the unauthorized opening of the permutation lock is made more difficult since it is impossible to find the correct position of a blocking disc by feel and/or acoustic means.

Advantageous features of preferred embodiments include displacing the blocking tongue by engaging openings of the blocking discs which makes it easier to use the selection discs for blocking the permutation lock, a particularly flat and space saving springloaded blocking slide member, and engagement of the locking part of a lock hasp even when the code of the permutation lock has not been selected for the opening position, so that the selection discs can be reset immediately after opening the lock so that the code of the permutation lock remains unknown to third parties.

The invention will now be described in more detail, solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general view of a permutation lock embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the permutation lock of Figure 1 with a sectional view of a lock housing; Figure 3 is the permutation lock of Figure 1 as seen from the rear side with an exposed view of a base plate; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the permutation lock of Figure 1 showing the selection discs; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the permutation lock of Figure 1 at V-V in Figure 2 with the latch in the open position; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the permutation lock of Figure 1 at Vl-VI in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a sectional view of a blocking member of the lock of Figure 1;; Figure 8 is (from left to right) a plan view, a longitudinal section and a perspective view from below of a blocking disc of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a perspective view from below of an operating slide member of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a general view of a further permutation lock; Figure ii is a section taken at Xl-XI in Figure 10 of the lock of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a section taken at XII-XII in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a section taken at XIII-XIII in Figure 11; Figure 14 is a side elevation and a vertical section of a selection disc of the lock of Figure 10; Figure 15 is both side elevations and a vertical section of a blocking disc of the lock of Figure 10; Figure 16 is a perspective view from above of a blocking member with blocking tongues of the lock of Figure 10; and Figure 17 is a perspective view from above of an operating slide member of the lock of Figure 10.

Figure 1 shows a general view of a permutation lock which includes a lock housing 10 from which extends an operating knob 12. From one side of the housing 10 there protrude three selection discs 14 arranged parallel to the plane of the lock. On each disc a code from 0 to 9 can be selected. Furthermore, a lock hasp 16 can be seen which is engaged at its locking part 18.

Details of the permutation lock of Figure 1 are shown in Figures 2 to 9.

The permutation lock of Figure 1 contains three blocking devices each of which contains one of the three selection discs 14 and a blocking disc 20. The blocking disc 20 has an annular recess 22 (Figure 8) on its lower side with which it engages an annular projection 24 formed on a base plate 26. The blocking disc 20 also has a spindle stump 28 on which the selection disc 14 is rotatably mounted. As can be seen from Figure 6 a helical spring 32 mounted between a cover plate 30 of the lock housing 10 and the selection disc 14holdsthe selection disc 14 under pressure against the blocking disc 20 and holds the blocking disc 20 against the baseplate 26.

Between the blocking disc 20 and the base plate 26 there is provided a first indexing arrangement 34. A second indexing arrangement 36 is provided between the selection disc 14 and the blocking disc 20.

The first indexing arrangement 34 consists of a number, corresponding to the number of the code, of recesses 48 in the base plate 26, in which cams 40 provided on the lower side of the blocking disc 20 engage, as can be seen from Figures 3 and 8.

Similarly, the blocking disc 20 has on its upper side a number of recesses 42 (Figure 8) corresponding to the number of codes to be selected and these recesses 42 are engaged by corresponding cams provided on the selection disc 14. The first indexing arrangement 34 serves to set the selection disc 14 and the blocking disc 20, and the second indexing arrangement 36 serves to select the code of the permutation lock, i.e. for resetting the selection disc 14with respect to the blocking disc 20. In order to prevent unintentional selection of the code during the resetting of the selection disc, the latter is provided with a larger number of cams than the blocking disc 20.

Each blocking disc 20 cooperates with a blocking slide member 46 displaceably mounted on the lower side of a lock body 44. The blocking member 46 has a blocking tongue 48 which is ridge-shaped and engages in a correspondingly designed engaging opening 50 in the blocking disc 20, as can be seen particularly from Figures 3 and 6 to 8. The blocking member 46 is provided with a longitudinal slot 52 which serves to receive a helical spring 54 which holds the blocking slide member46 under pressure against the blocking disc 20. The helical spring 54 engages the end 56 of the longitudinal slot 52 nearest the blocking tongue 48 and engages the end 58 of a recess 60 in the lock body 44. The end of the blocking slide member 46 facing away from the blocking tongue 48 has a shoulder 62 which cooperates with either a recess 64 or an abutment 66 of an operating slide member 68.

The operating slide member 68 (Figure 9) is mounted on the upper side of the lock body 44 (Figures 5 and 6) and is displaceable transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the blocking slide member 46. It has a part 70 which is at an angle with respect to the blocking slide member 46 and which provides the recesses 64 and the abutments 66. The operating slide member 68 is provided with an operating knob 12. The operating slide member 68 acts together with a latch slide member 72 which carries the latch 74 which cooperates with the locking part 18. The latch slide member 72 is spring biased to the locking position by means of a spring 76. A coupling of the operating slide member 68 to the latch slide member 72 is provided by a catch 78 on the operating slide member 68 which engages in a longitudinal recess 80 in the latch slide member 72.

The arrangement is such that the latch slide member 72 enables the locking part 18 to be engaged when the operating slide member 68 is in the locking position, as can be seen from Figure 2. This makes it possible to lock the locking part 18 of the lock hasp 16 even when a non opening code has been selected.

The permutation lock operates as follows: For unlocking the permutation lock the selection discs 14 have to be so selected that the code for opening is visible outside the lock housing 10. In Figure 1 for example this would be the code 021. In this case the engaging openings 50 of the blocking discs 20 are positioned opposite blocking tongues 48 so that these can engage under the action of the respective helical springs 54. This causes the shoulders 62 of the blocking slide members 46 to come out of the recesses 64 of the operating slide member 68 where they previously blocked the operating slide member 68. By movement of the operating knob 12, the operating slide member 68 can now be brought into the opening position.The operating slide member 68 via the catch 78 engages the latch slide member 72 and draws back the latch 74, thus releasing the locking part 18 so that the lock hasp 16 can be opened. By releasing the operating knob 12 the operating slide member 68 under the influence of the spring 76 of the latch slide member 72 via the longitudinal recess 80 and the catch 78 is again brought back into the locking position. The selection disc 14 can now be reset so that the code for opening is not visible any more. Locking of the lock hasp 16 is still possible as is already mentioned above.

For selecting a new code the old code, suitable for opening, must first of all be selected and the operating slide member 68 has to be placed in the open position. This brings its abutments 66 into the region of the shoulders 62 of the locking slide member 46 so that these cannot be released from the engaging openings 50 during operation ofthe selection disc 14 and the blocking disc 20 can be held fast during the setting of the selection disc 14. This enables a new code to be selected in a simple manner.

Figure 10 shows a general view of a further permutation lock having a lock housing 82 from which extends an operating knob 84 and from the upper side of which project three selection discs 86, on each of which a number from 0 to 9 can be selected. The selection discs 86 are arranged perpendicular to the face of a lock. The permutation lock further has a locking hasp 88 with a locking part 90 engageable within the housing 82.

Details of the permutation lock of Figure 10 are shown in Figures 11 to 17.

The permutation lock of Figure 10 contains three blocking devices arranged respectively in those chambers 94 formed between transverse walls 92 in the lock housing 82. A common axis 96 holds the three blocking devices in the individual chambers 94.

Each blocking device consists qf a blocking disc 98 and the selection disc 86 which is spring biased against one of the transverse walls 92 by a spring 100.

Between the blocking disc 98 and the transverse wall 92 there is provided a first indexing arrangement 102 which serves to hold the selection disc 86 in the particular position. The indexing arrangement 102 has cams 104 which engage with recesses 106 in the transverse wall 92. The number of recesses 106 corresponds to the number positions or codes that are possible on each selection disc 86. Between the blocking disc 98 and the selection disc 86 there is arranged a second indexing arrangement 108 which is analogous to the index arrangement 102 and is formed by the selection disc 86 having cams 110 which engage recesses 112 in the blocking disc 98 (Figures 14 and 15). The blocking disc 98 has a number of positions or codes corresponding to the recesses 112 which are arranged along a section of the circle.The number of cams 110 on the selection disc 86 is larger than the number of cams 104 on the blocking disc 98 so that the second indexing arrangement 108 has a larger resistance against turning than the first indexing arrangement 102.

While the first indexing arrangement 102 serves to secure the position, the second indexing arrangement 108 is provided for selecting the unlocking code in the blocking device.

Each blocking disc 98 has an engaging opening 114 for a blocking tongue 116 which is arranged on a blocking slide member 118, as can be ssen from Figures 11, 13, and 16. The blocking slide member 118 has a blocking tongue 116 for each blocking device. The blocking slide member 118 also has a pair of arms 120 for each blocking device. Since the blocking slide member 118 is arranged on the lower side of the housing 82 and an operating slide member 122 is arranged on the upper side of the lock housing, the arms 120 point towards the operating slide member 122 on both sides of the blocking disc 98.The arms 120 have outwardly pointing projections 124 which in the open position of the operating slide member 122 engage with hook shaped abutments 126 of the operating slide member 122. Helicai springs 128 hold the locking slide member 118 with its blocking tongues 116 against the blocking discs 98.

As already mentioned, the operating slide member 122 is arranged on the upper side of the lock housing 82 and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, as can be seen from Figures 11 and 17. The operating slide member 122 carries the operating knob 84 and the hook shaped abutments 126. The operating slide member 122 is furthermore provided with catches 130 fixed to is end facing away from the operating knob 84 and cooperating with a latch slide member 132. The latch slide member 132 carries a latch 134 which cooperates with the locking part 90 of the locking hasp 88. A spring 136 holds the latch slide member 132 under pressure in the locking position.The arrangement is such that the latch slide member 132, when the operating slide member 122 is in the locking position, can be moved back by pressing in of the locking part 90 of the lock hasp 88 and engagement is possible without the code of a permutation lock being in the unlock position.

The function of the permutation lock is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 9.

If the operating slide member 122 is in the locking position, as shown in Figure 11, the hook shaped abutments 126 release the abutments 124 of the blocking slide member 118 which move downwardly against the force of the helical springs 128, so that the selection discs 86 together with the blocking discs 98 are freely rotatable, and the blocking tongues 116 are displaced from the engaging openings 114. The hook shaped abutments 126 arethen in contact with the abutments 124 so that the operating slide member 122 cannot be moved into the unlock position. After selecting the code for unlocking the permutation lock, the blocking tongues 116 engage the openings 114 whereby the blocking slide member 118 rises so that the abutments 124 unblock the displacement path of the hook shaped abutment 126 and thus of the operating slide member 122. The operating slide member 122 may be moved in the unlock position whereby the hook shaped abutments 126 engage below the abutments 124 of the blocking slide member 118 so that this can be locked in its position. However, this also locks the blocking discs 98 through the blocking tongues 116 engaging the engaging openings 114. A new code can now be selected with the selection discs 86 by turning the selection discs 86 against the stopping force of the second indexing arrangement with respect to the blocking discs 98. After releasing the operating slide member 122 the locking action is reversed and the selection discs 86 together with the blocking discs 98 may be turned against the action of the stopping force of the first indexing arrangement.

Claims (11)

1. A permutation lock having at least two blocking means which each have a blocking disc provided with an engaging opening and cooperating with a selection disc via and indexing device, the respective positions of the engaging openings being adjustable and accepting blocking tongues when the engaging openings are properly adjusted, and having an operating slide member and at least one latch which is spring loaded in the locked position, wherein each blocking tongue is arranged on a blocking slide which is spring-loaded against the blocking disc, the blocking slide member having a shouldercooperat- ing with the operating slide member in such a way that when the operating slide member is in the locking position the shoulder, during displacement of the blocking tongue from the engaging opening, becomes freely movable and when the operating slide member is in the open position abuts against the operating slide member so as to prevent the blocking tongue from leaving the engaging opening thus locking the blocking disc and enabling the direct selection of a new unlocking code.

2. A permutation lock according to claim 1, wherein each blocking tongue is arranged in one piece with the individual blocking slide member.

3. A permutation lock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking tongues are arranged in one piece with a common blocking member.

4. A permutation lock according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the blocking slide member and the operating slide member are arranged at two different ievels and are transversely movable with respecs to each other, the operating slide member having a partwhich is at an angle relative to the blocking slide member.

5. A permutation lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each blocking tongue is wedge-shaped and the engaging opening of the blocking disc is correspondingly shaped.

6. A permutation lock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the blocking slide member has a slot for receiving a helical spring which abuts against the end of the slot facing the blocking tongue and against one end of a recess in the lock body.

7. A permutation lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the latch is arranged on a freely movable latch slide member which is under tension in the locking position and which is coupled with the operating slide member by means of a coupling member which is effective only in the opening direction.

8. A permutation lock according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the latch slide member or the operating slide member has a longitudinal recess into which engages a catch of the operating slide member or the latch slide member.

9. A permutation lock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein there are at least two blocking devices arranged coaxiaily side by side whose axes extend parallel to the direction of movement of the operating slide member, the blocking slide member is arranged on the side of the blocking discs facing away from the operating slide member and under tension against the blocking discs transverse to the axis, and having at least a pair of arms pointing towards the operating slide member on both sides of the blocking discs, the ends of the arms having abutments which in the open position of the operating slide members engage with hook-shaped shoulders of the operating slide member.

10. A permutation lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each blocking disc is provided with a pair of arms pointing towards the operating slide member.

11. A permutation lock substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 9 orto Figures 10to 17 ofthe accompanying drawings.