US1601905A - Coin-controlled lock - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5 1926.

R. B. BuzzlRD GOIN CONTROLLED LOCK Filed Auguskl l1 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l @le @5g-d,

Oct. 5 1926.

R. B. BUZZAIRD l COIN CONTRO'LLED LOCK Filed August 11, 1921 2 SheetsSheet 2 i I .u d I f @JWM/M430.

Patented Oct. f 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES raises PATENT OFFICE.

RALEIGH B. BUZZAIRD, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO `PARIOC SERV- ICE CORPORATION, OF;V NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

corn-conrnorlrnn Loox.

This invention lrelates generally to coincontrolled locks and more particularly to that well known class of locks adapted for use on doors of lockers or other ,compartments` in railway stations, bath houses, club houses, etc. for the temporary storage of parcels or valuables. I

The general object of the'invention 1s to provide a lock whichV is as nearly iooll0 prooi as can be expected and yet simple and cheap.

A particular object is a lock provided with means for preventing they entrance of a coin into the slot while the lock is in service.

Another special object is alock provided with means 'for avoiding the loss of the coin beforey the lock ismade effective.

The nature of the locking mechanism will appear fully from 'the description and the 20 accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of .a locker showing the location ofthe lock;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lock 0n a larger scale;

Figs. 3v and4 are rear views of the locking mechanism showing the lock in inoperative and operative condition respectively; H0 Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe lock;"-

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the locking mechanism, the front plate or escutcheon being removed;

F ig. 7 is a plan view ofthe lock;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view lof adetail instrumental in closingI the coin entrance;

Fig. 9 is a'plan view of a detail arrangement; j

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective view'sso1 details shown in Figs. 9 and 10; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of themain frame part shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In F ig. 1 the lock is shown as applied to the locker frame 1, the door 2 being provided with a knob 3.0i special construction as will be pointed out later on.

The front plate 4 has a coin entrance 5,

the key cylinder 6 and an opening for exposling the indicia of Veeder meter 7 generally known in the art. l

The arrangement of the locking mechaan opening for exposing the key-slot end ofV nism proper is best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6.?

On the rear face of the front plate 4 is slidably mounted the lock bolt 8vby means of headed studs 9 and 10 projecting from the plate 4 and passing through yslots 11'. The bolt has near its front end, a depending arm 12 and near its rear endV a depending part shown for purposes of illustration as a spring 13.

To the rear wall of the plate 4 is also se cured a coin chute 14 in alignment with the coin slot 5, the attachment being made by means of a flange 15 forming part of the chute structure Vand screws or rivets 16 ex# tending through the flange into the front plate. As clearly shown in Fig. 8 a part of the chute structure is cut away to afford a slide way for af-bolt 17. This bolt has a portion 17a extending upwardly and adapted tov project beyond the vupper edge of the chute, and ra portion 17b extending laterally to one vside face of the chute structure. The portion 17 b has arecess 18 open at its edge for a purpose to be referred to later on. Itr maybe mentioned herethat the part of the portion 17h above the recess 18 in the position shown in Fig. 8 prevents a coin' from entering vthe chute 14 and that the coin may -4. The outward movement oi the locking bolt 8 is limited by the `arm 12 abutting` aga-inst the flange-20bentback from the front plate. i y Y Mounted for sliding movement along the flange 2O is a'detent 21 to which is connected the lower end of a spring 22 the upper end of which is connected to a stationary part, for instance to the stud 10 as indicated.` The study 10 is for this purpose provided with an extension v23 so that the spring l22 operates free ,of the locking bolt 8, arm 12 and spring 19. The detent 21 has an inwardly extending lip 24 adapted to bear against the arm 12 to hold the lock bolt 8 in inoperative position as'shown in' Fig. 3.

Vhen the detent 21 `is pulled downwardly below the lower end of arm 12, spring 19 willforce the lock bolt 8 to locking position. 'l1 he downward movement of the detent 21 must be effected against the tension of spring YVhen the lock bolt is completely retracted from looking position, the detent 21 .is forced upwardly again by spring 22 to he position shown in Fi 3 locking the looking bolt 3.'

ln the space between the arm 12, the detent 21, the spring 19 and the chute structure 14 is disposed the tubular casing 25 containing the key cylinder 6. The casing 25Vis attached to the rear side of the front plate 4 by means of a bracket 26 and screws or rivets 27.V

rThe key cylinder 6 carries three angularly spaced fingers or cams 23, 29 and 30. The cam 28 takes into a recess 31 in the detent 21 while the cam 30 engages the recess 18 in thev portion 17h of the slide bolt- 17.

llhe cam 29 engages parts to be presently described.

VBelow the chute structure 14 and the key cylinder is mounted on the rear face of the front plate 4 a mechanism which constitutes one of the novel features of the invention. This mechanism includes a stationary frame 32 shown in plan view in Fig. 13. This frame is attached to the front plate 4 by means ofrscrews or rivets 33 vand aiords a slide-way for the coin receiver 34 shown in Fig. 12 and also .a slideway for` a plate 35 the function of which will be more fully pointed out.

As seen from Fig. 13, the upper surface 32'-L of the frame 32 constitutes essentially a table for the plate 35. This table has a re-A cess 36' and a recess 37. The recess 36is large enough to allow the detent 21 to pass downwardly when the plate 35 is moved to the left in Fig. 10, a distance equal to the width of the recess 36. The recess 37 has the purpose to allow the cam 29 to` angularly move to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The coin receiver 34 has a coin pocket 38 substantially of the width of the coin chute 14. W hen the receiver is in its eXtreme position to the right as shown in Fig. 3, the coin pocket 38 is directly below the chute 14. A coin dropped into the slot 5 can thus drop clear into the pocket 38. Adjacent the coin pocket 38 the coin receiver has a table 39 substantially flush with the upper edge of the coin pocket 38. For all positions of the coin-receiver except its extreme position to the right indicated in Fig. 3 the coin will drop upon this table 39 .and be held there until the receiver is moved to its extreme position to theright above referredV to. On the inner surface of the wall 40 of the receiver contacting with the rear face of the front plate 4 are provided two pins or other suitable projections 41 and 42 between which. is received the-finger 29 asA clearly indicated in Fig. 6.

The finger 29 will thus cause movement of the receiver 34 to either of the extreme posi tions indicated ,in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively.

The frame V32 has also a lower table or platform 43 over which the coin pocket 38 slides. This table 43 forms a.V bottom for the coin pocket and thus holds the coin therein until the receiver is moved to its extreme position to the left as indicated in F ig.,V 4. Just when this extreme left position is reached the coin pocketis free of the table 43 and the coin can drop out into a chute leading to the main receiver or collector.

The plate 35 has a longitudinal slot 44 and a transverse aperture 45. The slot has the purpose to allow the cam 29 to angularly move independently of the plate 35. The transverse opening` 45 allows the coin to drop upon the table 39 and rest thereon during relative movement between the receiver 34 .and the plateY 35.

The plate 35 is provided upon its bottom surface with a pin or other projection 46 adapted to bear againstthe free edge of table 39. lt is thus clear that coin receiver 34 may slide to the left fromrvthe position indicated in Fig. 10 while the plate 35 remains at rest. However', when the receiver 34 is moved toward the right from the position of the partsl indicated vin Fig. 4, the table 39 will .strike against the piny 46 and take the plate 35 along to the right.

At its front edge/the plate 35 has a de pending lug 47. The plate 35 and the coin receiver 34 are so related that in their extreme position toward the right as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the lug 47 is in alignment with the outer wall of the coin pocket. The depth of the coin pocket is such that the coin 38iL will slightly project above its upper edge as shown in 1T ig. 3. `When, with the coin in position in the pocket 38, the cam 29 is turned to the left in Figs. 9 and 10for in Fig.V 3, the coin will bear against the lug 47 and take the plate 35 to the left. The movement of the receiver 34 is limited toward the left in Fig. 3 by means of a pin or other suitableV stop element 48, the eX- treme position being shown in Fig. 4 and also, as seen from the opposite side in Fig. G. ri'he plate 35, as previously stated, slides upon the table 32a. lt bears at one edge against the rear surface of the front plate 4, and .at the other edge against the flange 49 and is held in sliding contact with the table by means of a spring plate 50 attached to the frame 32 by means of a screw 51. a t is understood, however, that the holding means may be integral with the frame 32.

The shaft of the Voeder meter 7 is connected by means of a link 52 with the detent 21. The link,V 52 is preferably a piece of wire terminating in pintle portions 52E` and 52b respectively. The portion 52a extends loosely through a perforation in the meter crank 53 and the pintle portion 52b extends into a bore in the detent 21. As clearly indicated the length of the portion 52b is suchV that the linkv portion 52 bears against the tumbler case 26L and holds the detent in sliding contact with the side flange 20. The link wire comprises two parallel portions oiiiset relatively to each other.

By this arrangement the lower portion remains in contact with the tumbler casing 26m and avoids interference with .the spring 22. 4

As appears clearly from Figs. 3 and 1l, the upper end of the detent 21 or the lower end oi the arm 12 or preferably both are slightly beveled for a purpose to be more fully explained.

lt should be noted that the key can be taken out only when thecylinder 6 is at the shedding' point, as is well understood. This position is indicated in Figs. t and 6. This position can be obtained only after the coin is dropped and the locking bolt snapped to locking position. While the bolt 8 is in retracted position and held in that position by the detent 21, the detent 21 will prevent the turning ot the cylinder 6 to shedding position because the plate prevents downward movement of the detent. aiiter a person has unlocked the lock, the key can not be withdrawn and remains in position for the next user. i

The operation is as follows:

Assume that a person wants to use the locker. According to the printed instructions urnished for each locker, he first deposits a coin in the coin-slot 5. The coin pocket being normally directly below the chute 1li, the coin falls through the chute l 14: and into the coin pocket 33.

rihe key is now turned in counter-clockwise direction or to the left. By doing this, the cam 29 will bear against pin l2 and move the coin receiver 34 to the left in Fig. 3 or to the right in Fig. 6 until it reaches its limiting position indicated in il. The coin Vbears on the lug 17 as previously mentioned and thus takes the plate with it.

During the turning movement of the key the cam 23 bears against the lower shoulder defined by recess 31 and moves the detent 21 downwardly against the tension of spring 22.

' luring the turning` movement of thekey the cam 30 bears against upper shoulder defined by the recess 13 and moves the bolt 17 upwardly.

TWhen the key is in its normal position before operating, indicated in`Fig. 3, the

' lower end ot detent 21 is an appreciable disand the right in Fig. 6.

rEhe effect ci' the arrangement is that tance above the plate 35. The key can thus be turned an appreciable angle before the detent strikes against the plate 35.

At the same time the cam 30 is still in contact with the lower shoulder defined by recess 18 and the bolt 17 is in its lower position. The key can thus be turned an apreciable angle before the cam 30 strikes against the upper shoulder of the bolt 17 ant` begins to move it upwardly.

On the other hand, the cam 29, almost inimediately afterI the turning movement of the key has begun, will strike against pin 12 and move the coin receiver and the plate 35 through the coin to the left inFig. 3 The plate 35 is thus moved a distance equal to the width ot' the recess 36 before the cam 28 operates to movev the detent 21 downwardly below the upper plane of the plate 35.

The iirst part of the turning movement or the key thus serves the purpose to clear away the plate 35 by means of the coin while the subsequent movement causes the downward withdrawal of the detent 21 and the upward movement of the bolt 17.

As soon as the upper edge of the detentrv 21 passes by ther end of arm 12, the spring 19 projects the locking lbolt 8 into locking position. The arm 12 then holds the detent against upward movement. The projecting portion 17n ot the bolt 17 then intercepting the path. of movement of the spring 13 prevents unauthorized unlocking of the lock.

At the same timey the portion 17b of the bolt 17 Ahas been moved upward and thereby closes a part of the entrance into tne coin chute with the result that no additional coin can be dropped after the key is withdrawn. The key is now in shedding position and can be withdrawn.

To open the locker, the key is inserted and turned to the right. By this movement the bolt 17 is drawn downwardly by the cam 30 and the projecting portion 17a of the bolt 17 thus is moved out of the path of the spring 13. At the same time the coin receiver 34 and the plate 35 are moved to the right in Fig. i.

To retract the locking` bolt 8, 1 preferably use a mechanism shown in detail in Fig. G andto be more fully describedlater on.

Then the locking bolt 8 is approaching its extreme unlocking position the detent 21 is tree to pass by the arm 12 and snaps into the space between the arm 12 and the side ange 2O due to the action of spring` 22 and prevents the operation of the lock until another coin is dropped into the slot.

lVhen the detent 21 is projected upwardly by the spring 22, it presses against cam 23 and takes it along, thereby imparting rotary movement to the-cylinder 6. The cylinder 6, in turn, through-cam lBO 29 acts against pin i2 and retracts shelf 39 which strikes pin i6 ot plate 35 bring fit the saine time the coin pocket 38 has been al eed with the coin-chute il in normal .osuion tor a new operation with another coin.

i door can nimy be ope checked articles lan be remove @ne very material feature ci. he invention is the bevelingf; ot the detent and the arm l2 or either ot them as previously brietly mentioned. it the bevel or bevels were not novided, the cam 28 would remain in contact vvil ned and the n, the detent 21 and the spring would exert pressure upon the cam 2S and through the cam 28 upon the cylinder 6 which would cause a binding; action between the inside locir tumblers and the cylinder after the ley is Withdrawn. rEhe result Would be that the key must be forced into position and alter beine; placed again in position could not be tu ned Without to the right` the bolt ll' could not be moved to inoperative position. "lfhe in anisin in the cylinder 5 would vear out in a relatively short time.

By means of the bevel arrangement the end of the arm l2 Will ride over the bevel on detent 2l or the bevel onthe arm 2 Will act as a cam or both bevels will cooperate to Another feature ot considerable impor-V tance is the mechanism for retractinp; the locking' bolt. @n the door is mounted a bolt or pin 56 and a knob he lniob 3 carries preterably a cam having two cam taces 5'? and the pin has its rear end Within the sphere ot action oit the cam. The knob can bo completely rota only to the lett or in counter-clocl-Wise direction appears clearly from Figc. /ilhen the knob isturned the cam Will bear the end 56a ot the pin 5G and 'torce it to the right against the arm l2 causing the bolt 8 to move to unlocking position. The arrangement is such that When the bolt 8 is completely retracted the-cam Will pass over the end. of the-pin and the latter will snap back under the torce ot the spring' 1 rlie arrangement just described has a double aspect. The primary and more important one is the protective feature. f lhe pin 56 has been intentionally located to bear against arm l2 or in general against any other part of the bolt positioned rearwardly ot the front end ot the bolt 8 so that in case anunauthorized person iny an attempt to retract the belt should succeed in forcing the spring; 13 overthe projecting` part of the bolt 1'?. he cannot open the door. t should be noted that While the key is Withdrawn the cylinder' 6 is loclred and the cam ZS holds the detent in inoperative position although the bolt S may be in retracted position. li novi in the assumed case the person should retract the bolt vS to its'inoperative position, the pin 56 Will at the same timeentend'intoY the loclt and is Vjust as etliective in locking the door as the bolt 8. lt is obvious that there can be no position oi either the bolt 8 or et the pin 56 in which the lock is ineffective when the ley is out. ln fact for all positions ot the bolt 8 except the completely retracted position'aiter the lrey has been inserted both the bolt 8 and the pin 56 constitute a barrier agrinst opening oit the door.

VThe second aspect has to do merely With the peculiar habits of users. lt has been found from enperience that even intelligent persons do not use good judgment in the use of locks oit the character involved. rlhey almost invariably turn the knob and expect the door to open. li it should-not open they pull impatiently and do all sorts ci irrational things rather than to use judgment in locating the difficulty. The door can be opened only it the bolt 8 is retracted to its limit oit iovement. rlhe pin 56 must be moved forwardly to the limit ot its move` ment and then retracted. As simple as this operationl is, people would have no end of diiculty with the locir.

The arrangement shown talres into account the peculiar attitude oi" the users. A user invariably Wiggles the knob in ei'iort to turn it. rEhe lnob can be turned only in one direction. llfhen it is turned in that t irection the pin is moved tar enough to move the bolt 8 to inoperative position and the detent 2l snaps up behind arm l2 and holds the bolt S retracted. As' soon as this is accomplished the pin 56 snaps bacl- With a click. rlhis snappi4 baclt is .so quick that the user has no time to pull. lf

vJhon he hears the click he talres it for l(rranted that the door is open. lllhile the door isV actually open, the clickingy has nothing` to do ufith it. However, it invariably operates to give to the user the signal to pull on the knob to open the door.

lylhile l have described this arrangement with a bolt loclred in operative position, its use is ot broader scope. ln tact it is more useful in cases Where the bolt l? or its equivalent is omitted and the latch bolt may be retracted at Will.

ln the foregoing l have described what l at present consider as the preferred form ot the invention and l am fully aware that various changes may be made Within the scope of theinvention.

I claim l. In a lock, the combination cfa bolt, a detent for holdingthe boltfin inoperative position, means for locking thel detent in holding position, and coin-controlled keyoperated Vmeans tor making the' locking means inoperative and tor withdrawing the detent from holding position.

2. In a lock', the combination of a bolt, spring means tending to move the bolt in one direction, a detent for holding the bolt ininoperative position, means tor locking the -detent inv holding position and coincontrolled key-operated means for making the locking means inoperative and for withdrawing the detent trom holding position.

3. In a locln the combination of a bolt,

spring means tending to move the boltrto locking position, a detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, means for locking the detent in holding position and coincontrolled key-operatedv means for making the locking means inoperative and for withdrawing the detent from holding position.

4. Device according to claim l including spring means tending to move the detent to holding position.

5. Device according to claim l including means on the bolt tor retaining the detent in inoperative position when the bolt is shot.

6. In a lock, the combination with a bolt, a detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, means tor locking the detent'in holding position, key-operated means tor withdrawing the detent from holding posit-ion and coin-control means connected with the key-operated means operative to make the latter edective when a coin is inserted, the arrangement being such that the key can be withdrawn when the bolt is moved to locking position and that the key can not be withdrawn so long as the bolt is in inoperative position.

7. Device according to claim 6 including means tending to move the bolt to locking position.

8. Device according to claim 6 including means tending to move the detent to holding position.

9. Device according to claim 6 including means tending to move the bolt to locking position and means tending to move the detent to holding position.

l0. In a lock, the combination of a bolt and key-operated means including a coincontrolled mechanism for controlling the bolt, the said means including an element operative, when the bolt is moved to locking position, to block the boltand close the coin entrance.

11. In a lock, the combination of a springpressed bolt, and key-operated means including a coin-controlled mechanism for shooting the bolt, the said means including an element operative, when the bolt is in v locking position, to lock the latter and close the coin entrance. i

l2. In alock having a` coin-entrance, the combination ot a. spring-pressed bolt, a spring-pressed detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, an element .tor locking the bolt inlocking position and for closing the coin entrance, 'and key-operated means including a coin-,controlled mechanism tor withdrawing the detent from holding position and for actuating said element.

13. In a lock, the combination of a springpressed bolt, a spring-pressed detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, and means 1for withdrawing the detent Jfrom holding position, said means including a movable member for locking the detent in holding position, a coin receiver movable independently of the said member and means cooperating with a coin in the coin receiver tor moving the member out of locking position when the coin receiver is moved in one direction.

14. In a lock, a spring-pressed bolt, a spring pressed detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, a member for locking the detent in holding position, a coin receiver, means tor slidably supporting the said member and the coin receiver independently of one another, means on the said l member cooperating with a coin in the coin v`receiver to move the member out of locking position when the coin receiver is moved and key operated means for moving the coin receiver and the detent.

15. In a lock, a spring-pressed bolt, a spring-pressed detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position, coin receiver, a plate above the coin receiver positioned to lock the detent in holding position, means tor slidably supporting the coin receiver and the plate independently ot one another and a lug on the plate cooperating with a coin in the receiver to cause movement ot the plate out of locking position when the coin receiver is moved, and key-operated means `for moving the coin receiver and the detent. l

16. In a lock, a spring pressed bolt, a spring pressed detent tor holding the bolt in inoperative position, a plate for locking the detent in holding position, a coin-receiver having a coin pocket and a table adjacent the upper edge of the pocket, the plate having an opening substantially coextensive with the table, means for slidably supporting the plate and the coin receiver independently of one another, the plate being disposed above the coin receiver, a lug on the plate cooperating with a coin in the receiver to cause movement of the plate out 0i locking position when the coin receiver is moved in one direction, and key-operated means or'moving the detent and the coin receiver.

` 17. In a lock, a spring-pressed bolt, a

spring-pressed detent foi1 holding the bolt in inoperative position, ieans for looking the detent in holding position, and key-opeiated coin-controlled means for withdrawing the said looking means and for withdrawing the detent from holding position.

18. In a lock, having a coin enti-ance, a spring-pressed holt, a spring-pressed detent for holding the bolt in inoperative position,

lneans for locking the detent in hoidingV position, an element for looking the boit in operative position and for closing the coin entrance and key-operated coin-controiied ineans for withdrawing the said looking ineans, Ji'oi' Ywithdiawing the Vdeten't and foin actuating the said element. Y

In testimony whereof, affix niy signature.

RALEGH B. BUZZRD.

Images