US2679743A - Combination lock - Google Patents

Description

June l, 1954 Luls E. QUINTERO R. 2,679,743

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 29, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE of D. C

one-half to Ricardo Pacheco, Washington,

Application November 29, 1951, Serial No. 258,899

10 Claims. l

The present invention relates in general to improvements in permutation locks, commonly referred to as combination locks, and more particularly to interlock systems in combination locks for safes which serve to increase the security of such locks and prevent manipulation of the dial when the lock is being actuated to retract the bolt.

Locks of the type commonly referred to as combination locks are, of course, very well-known. Also it is generally known that such locks depend for their operation upon the alignment of a plurality of elements in a preselected manner which permits the operation of a bolt. These elements are usually in the form of discs, commonly called tumblers, each of which is provided with a notch or recess called a gate, the alignment of the gate determining when the bolt can be moved.

t is common for these locks to be provided with three of such tumblers, although more could be used. The security of such locks is dependent upon the fact that the number of orders or permutations of the possible relative positions of each disc before al1 the gates are brought into registry to give the correct combination, is so large that the chance of these recesses or gates being aligned by a person not familiar with the combination is so small as to be negligible.

The tumblers of such combination locks are conventionally operated either by direct coupling with separate dials or indicators associated with each tumbler, or by means of a drive wheel which is driven from a single dial. An element called a fence is provided either on the bolt or is mounted on a pivoted fence lever and extends transversely across the edges of all the tumblers, and is adapted to drop or project into the tumbler gates when all of the gates are in alignment and when the drive wheel is manipulated to permit the fence lever to drop.

Conventionally the fence, whether mounted directly on the bolt or on a lever pvotally coupled to the bolt, is held in such a position that it is slightly spaced from the outer peripheries of all of the tumblers. However, because of the difiiculty and lack of precision incident to mass production, it is almost impossible to manufacture all of the parts, including the tumblers, to such close tolerances that there will be the same slight difference in spacing between the outer edges of the different tumblers and the fence. Accordingly, by very careful manipulation of the drive wheel or of the dials to cause the fence to assume such a position that it contacts the highest tumbler, a skilled person can detect by touch or by very minute sounds or clicks when one of the gates is aligned with the fence. Then by continuing to manipulate the drive wheels or dials, the location of the gate of the next highest tumbler can be detected and aligned with the gate of the first tumbler, and so on until the correct combination is found and the security of the lock is broken. Because of the dilculties generally mentioned above, the security of so-called combination locks against a skilled person has heretofore been somewhat limited.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided between the retractible bolt and the means driving the various tumblers or the tumbler peripheries, to positively lock either the tumbler driving means or the tumblers themselves against further movement during the first portion of movement of the bolt to urge the fence toward the tumber peripheries and eifect retraction of the bolt. This interlocking means therefore insures that the tumblers cannot be vibrated or walked when the fence is brought into contact with the tumbler peripheries by oscillating the drive wheel or other means for adjusting the tumblers over the limited arc of movement normally available.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a combination lock particularly for use with safes, in which means for adjusting the tumblers to set up the combination are immobilized on actuation of the bolt to increase the security of the lock.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combination lock having dial means for adjusting the tumblers and handle means for moving the bolt, in which the means for adjusting the tumblers are locked against movement on actuation of the bolt-retracting handle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in a combination safe lock of means for permitting rotation of the tumblers only when the fence is disposed out of Contact with the peripheries of the tumblers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in a combination safe lock of interlock means for locking the tumblers against movement during the initial portion of movement of the bolt to dispose the same in contact with the tumbler peripheries.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved combination safe lock having a drive Wheel for adjusting the tumblers to set up the combination, wherein interlock means are actuated on the initial portion of movement of the bolt for retracting the 3 same to lock the drive wheel against further rotation.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a combination lock constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken along the lines I--I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the combination lock illustrated in Figure 1 with the rear cover plate of the lock housing removed to illustrate the internal arrangement thereof, showing the device in normal locked condition.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 but showing the interlock components in locked condition on initial retracting movement of the bolt;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of a combination lock constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the preferred form taken along the lines A-fi of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a rear View of the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 with the rear cover plate removed and portions of the keeper illustrated in section, wherein the device is in locked condition.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures and particularly Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, showing a first embodiment of the invention, there is shown a conventional combination lock modified in accordance with the present invention to provide interlocking the tumbler adjusting means during movement of the bolt.

The conventional portions of the combination safe lock comprise a casing l I having a rear cover plate I Ia forming an enclosure for the lock components. The housing or casing II is connected by a press fit to a hollow sleeve I2 which projects through a safe door I3. Within the casing I I are a plurality of tumblers Iii, I5 and IE which are freely journaled or rotatably mounted on a cylindrical boss indicated at I integral with the casing II and substantially coextensive with the sleeve I2. Secured to the outer end of the sleeve I2 is a suitable escutcheon plate I8 which is held in fixed position on the face of the door I3. Inside the sleeve I2 is a shaft I9, the inner end of which is keyed to a drive wheel mounted thereon, and the outer end of which has a dial 2| and a hub 22 integral with the dial xed to the shaft 2I. As will be clearly explained hereinafter, the dial 2| and its hub 22, rigidly connected through the shaft I!! to the drive wheel 20, constitute the means through which the tumblers I4, I5 and I5 of the combination lock are manipulated. Each of the tumblers I4, I5 and i5 is of conventional construction, preferably7 consisting of an inner part serving as a hub and an outer annular part having a suitable recess or gate Ida, Ia and IBa, respectively, it being understood that all of the gates of the tumblers must be in proper alignment in order to operate the bolt of the lock. Conventional means may be provided for changing the relative position between the hub portion and the outer annular portion of each of the tumblers in order to change the lock combination.

Suitable fixed washers having, for example, small detents which engage accommodating recesses in the integral boss I1 of the casing II, are disposed between the hubs of adjacent tumblers I4, I5 and I6, so that from the standpoint of mechanical friction each of the tumblers is completely isolated from the other.

In accordance with conventional construction, between one side of each washer and the next adjacent tumbler is a ier generally indicated at 23, having an annular portion and an outwardly projecting detent, the annular portion of the flier 23 serving as a spacer, while the outwardly projecting detent serves as an element through which one of the tumblers is driven by a laterally projecting stud on the next adjacent tumbler. This construction which is described in general is oonventional and therefore further details are considered unnecessary.

The drive wheel 20 is keyed to the shaft I9 to lock the drive wheel in non-rotatable position on the shaft. The drive wheel 20 is provided with a lateral projection or stud 2li extending toward the tumblers and which is adapted to engage the outwardly extending detent on the flier 23 between the drive wheel and the tumbler I4.

It will be readily understood that when the dail 2I is manipulated to rotate the drive wheel 25, the stud 25x will drive the tumbler i4 to position the gate Ida of the tumbler in the desired position as determined by the relative markings on the dial 2| and escutcheon plate I8. Rotation of the tumbler Id through an appropriatie number of revolutions will likewise drive the tumbler I5 through the intermediate hier 23 disposed therebetween, and such rotation of the tumbler I5 will in turn drive the tumbler I5 in like manner through its intermediate flier. It will also be well understood that the gates Ida, I5a and Ita of the respective tumblers may be brought into registry with each other in the well-known manner when the proper combination is obtained by turning the dial hub 22 rst to the right lining up the gate of the first tumbler, then to the left to line up the gate of the second tumbler, and then again to the right to line up the third tumbler gate.

The lock is further provided with a bolt 25 which is adapted to slide in a suitable guide 26 formed in the casing II and is adapted to be projected outwardly in normal locking position with the bolt fitted in the recess of a suitable keeper 2'1. The bolt 25 is adapted to be actuated independently of the adjustment of the combination determined by the tumblers i4, I5 and I6, and to this end is actuated by a crank mechanism comprising the handle 28 rigidly mounted on a shaft 29 freely journaled for rotation through the door I3, the opposite end of the shaft 29 having an arm 3U xedly mounted thereon and projecting upwardly to a point disposed beside the bolt 25. The arm 30 is provided with a slot Se adapted to receive a pin 3I rigidly formed on and projecting from the bolt 25. It will be seen that counterclockwise rotation of the handle 28 as viewed in Figure 2 will effect slight movement of the bolt 25 through the guide 26 in the direction of the tumblers, which will serve to withdraw the projecting end of the bolt from the keeper 21, while reverse rotation of the handle 28 will move the bolt 25 in the opposite direction.

Integrally formed on the inner face or end of the bolt 25 is a projecting element 32 serving as the fence for the lock. The fence 32 is so related to the recesses Ida, I5a and IBa formed in the tumblers that the tumbler recesses, when properly aligned with each other and with the fence 32, will accommodate the fence to sucient depth to permit the bolt 25 to be fully retracted from the keeper 21 and permit opening of the door. In the event that one or more of the gates I4a, |50. and ISa of the tumblers are out of regstry with the fence 32, then the inner end of the fence will engage the periphery of the misaligned tumbler or tumblers and prevent sufficient retraction of the bolt to withdraw the same from the keeper.

The structure described so far, except insofar as the specic arrangement of the fence in relation to the bolt and the tumbler is concerned, is completely conventional. The present invention resides in the inclusion in the lock of a protective interlock arrangement so that, in this specific embodiment, the drive wheel 2U is locked against further rotation from the moment the handle 28 is actuated to begin moving the bolt 25 inwardly toward the tumblers I4, I5 and I5, and thereby to prevent manual manipulation of the tumblers I4, I5 and I6 through the drive wheel 2B when the end of the fence 32 is in contact with the tumbler periphery, to avoid possible detection of the inaccuracies in the cutting of the tumbler recesses or gates.

To this end, the drive wheel 24 is of a somewhat smaller diameter than the tumblers in order not to interfere with movement of the fence 32 into the tumbler recesses, and the periphery of the drive wheel is formed into a series of notches or serrations 33 extending about the entire circumference of the drive wheel and adapted to receive the tongue or lug 34 of a locking dog 35 pivoted at 35 to the inner wall of the casing I I and overlying the drive wheel. The dog 35 is continuously biased downwardly toward the shaft i3 by means of springs 3B having one end secured to the casingby soldering, welding, or the like, and the other end looped over the upper edge of the dog 35 at a point remote from the pivot pin 35.

The dog 35 is normally held or cammed in an elevated position with the lug 34 out of engagement with the notched periphery of the drive wheel 20, by means of a cam 31 which is preferably in the form of an integral, upwardly extending projection on the bolt 25. The height of the cam 31 in relation to the diameter of the peripherally notched drive wheel and the locking dog 35 is so adjusted that the dog 35 is allowed to be biased downwardly by the spring 36 on the initial portion of movement of the bolt before the fence 32 comes into contact with the tumblers, to seat the dog 35 in the notches 33 of the drive wheel and lock the drive wheel against further rotation until the bolt 25 is again moved outwardly and the cam raises the dog 35 out of Contact with the drive wheel.

By means of this contruction, the dog 35 and its lug 34 are normally held out of contact with the notched periphery of the drive wheel 23 when the bolt 25 is in outermost position, so that the tumblers I4, I5 and I6 can be manually adjusted through the manipulation of the dial 2| and hub 22 and rotation of the drive wheel 2D, to align the tumbler recesses I 4a, I5d and Iw with the fence 32.

The handle 28 is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction as Viewed in Figures 2 and 3 to retract the bolt 25. Due to the particular rew lationship of the cam 31 and the locking dog 35, the dog is allowed to rotate downwardly and lock the drive wheel 20 against further rotation during initial inward movements of the bolt 25 before the fence 32 contacts the tumbler peripheries to prevent any manipulation of the tumblers when the fence 32 is in contact therewith and thereby avoid possible improper detection of the positions of the tumbler recesses and the combination of the lock.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, showing a simpliied modification of the present invention, parts which correspond exactly to parts designated by reference characters in Figures 1 to 3 are identied by the same reference characters.

In this modication, three tumblers, 4I, 42 and 43, located within the casing II, are keyed to shaft 44 and surrounding sleeves 45 and 46, respectively, extending through the door I3. On `the opposite end of the shaft 44, a suitable dial 41 is rigidly fixed, while dials 48 and 4S of progressively greater diameter are xedly mounted tothe ends of the sleeves 45 and 43, respectively. in this manner, adjustment of the individual dials 41, 48 and 49 will eiiect appropriate adjustment of the tumblers 4I, 42 and 43, respectively, to align the tumbler recesses 4Ia, 42a and 43a in accordance with the pre-established combination of the lock.

It will be noted from the drawing that in this embodiment the peripheries of the tumblers 4I, 42 and 43 are each provided with notched or serrated surfaces, indicated at 50, adapted to seat the lug or tongue 34 of the locking dog 35 pivoted to the casing at 35 and biased downwardly toward the centers of the tumblers by means of a spring 35 soldered or otherwise secured to the casing I I. The locking dog mechamsm above-described corresponds exactly to that disclosed in connection with the embodiment in Figures l, 2 and 3, inclusive.

rihe bolt of this embodiment, which correspends to that of the earlier described embodiment, is designated by the reference character 25, and includes an inwardly projecting fence 32 disposed to be received by the tumbler recesses 4m, 42a and 43a on movement of the bolt inwardly toward the tumblers. The bolt is likewise provided with an upwardly projecting cam 31 normally supporting the dog 35 out of engagement with the notched tumbler peripheries and corresponding to the cam 31 in the earlier described embodiment. The bolty as in the earlier embodiment, is supported lfor sliding movement in a guide 26 formed in the casing II and is adapted to cooperate with a keeper 21 to effect locking of the door.

The operating means for manipulating the bolt 25 is slightly simplied over that in the earlier described embodiment and comprises a handle 28' mounted on a shaft 29 extending through the door I3 and having rigidly fixed on the inner end thereof an upwardly extending arm or finger 33 forming with the handle 28 a bell crank. The arm of ringer 30 merely extends upwardly into an accommodating recess, indicated in dotted lines by the reference character 25', formed in the lower surface of the bolt 25, so that rotation of the handle 28 will eiect slight movement of the bolt 25 toward and away from the tumblers 4I, 42 and 43.

By means of this modied construction, the dog 35 and lug 34 are held out of engagement with the notched peripheries 5I! of the tumblers 4I, 42 and 43 by means of the cam 31 when the bolt 25 is disposed in its normal outwardly projecting relation, The three dials 41, 48 and 49 may then be independently adjusted to align certain selected numbers on the dials with a reference index formed on the door I3, in accordance with the established combination of the lock. Movements of the dials 4l, 48 and 49 through the shaft 44 and sleeves 45 and 46, respectively, adjusts the tumblers 4l, 42 and 43 to align the tumbler recesses Ma, 42a and 43a in position to receive the fence 32.

Movement of the handle 28' in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 during the initial portion of such movement, before the fence 32 is brought into contact with the peripheries of the tumblers, moves the contact point between the dog 35 and the cam 31 outwardly from its pivot 35 a sufiicient distance to permit the lug 34 thereof to seat in the peripheral notches 5G of each of the tumblers 4|, 42 and 43, and thereby lock or dog each of these tumblers against further rotation when the fence 32 is brought into position to contact the tumbler peripheries. On reverse movement of the bolt outwardly of the casing Il, the cam 31 is again brought nearer to the pivot 35 of the dog 35 to elevate the lug 34 out of engagement with the tumbler peripheries 5S and again permit unrestricted adjustment of the tumbler by the dials 47, 48 and 49.

It will be apparent in connection with this latter embodiment that the dog 35 need not be a single integral element overlying the peripheries of all three of the tumblers 4l, 42 and 43, but three independently biased dogs, each overlying a separate one of the three tumblers 4l, 42 and 43, may be substituted in its stead, so that the three tumblers are independently dogged when the bolt 25 is moved in the direction of the tumblers.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improvement in combination safe locks which clearly adds to the security thereof and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the inventive concept, such as, for example, making the drive wheel of the first embodiment larger instead of smaller than that of the tumblers and offsetting the bolt to avoid contact with the drive wheel, or by altering the specific form of the cam supporting the locking dog above the tumbler or drive wheel notches. Therefore, while but two specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are hereinafter set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A combination lock for use with safes comprising, a plurality of recessed tumblers, means for manipulating said tumblers, a sliding bolt having a fence movable therewith, :means for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, said fence intertting with the recesses of said tumblers when said recesses are aligned therewith to permit complete retraction of said bolt, a plurality of locking shoulders formed on the peripheries of said tumblers, a locking dog having a lug overlying and adapted to be seated in locking engagement with said shoulders, means resiliently biasing said locking dog toward said tumblers, and cam means formed on said bolt 8 for normally holding said locking dog out of contact with said shoulders when the bolt is in locking position said cam means being moved by said bolt during retracting movement thereof for releasing said locking dog to be biased into seating relation with said tumbler shoulders to lock said tumblers on retracting movement of said bolt before said fence is disposed to contact said tumblers.

2. A combination lock for use with safes comprising, a plurality of peripherally recessed tumblers, a drive wheel for adjusting said tumblers. a sliding bolt, a fence movable under the influence of said bolt adapted to be accommodated by said tumbler recesses when in alignment therewith to permit complete retraction of the bolt, means for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, and interlock means including a pivoted locking member positioned by said bolt when said bolt is in extended position to overlie said drive wheel and actuated responsive to inward movement of said bolt to lock said drive wheel against rotation during retracting movement of the bolt before said fence is disposed to contact the tumbler peripheries.

3. A combination lock for use with safes cornprising, a plurality of recessed tumblers, means for adjusting said tumblers through a drive wheel having a notched periphery, a sliding bolt, a fence movable under the influence of said bolt to be interfitted with said tumbler recesses when in alignment therewith to permit complete retraction of said bolt, means independent of said drive wheel for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, a resiliently biased locking dog, and cam means supporting said locking dog and movable under the inuence of said bolt, said cam means supporting said locking dog in overlying spaced relation with said notched periphery when said bolt is in extended position and being moved by said bolt to permit said locking dog to be shifted under the influence of the resilient bias thereon into locking relation with a notch of said notched periphery during retracting movement of said bolt before the fence is disposed to contact said tumblers.

4. A combination lock for use with safes comprising a plurality of rotatably mounted tumblers each having a recess formed therein, a drive wheel, a shaft fixed to said drive wheel and having dial means thereon, a continuous series of notches on the periphery of said drive wheel and means intercoupling said drive wheel with said tumblers for adjusting the tumblers on rotation of said dial, a sliding bolt having a fence movable therewith which is normally intercepted by the peripheries of said tumblers on retracting movement of said bolt, said tumbler recesses aecommodatng said fence when in alignment therewith to permit complete retraction of said bolt, means independent of said dial for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, cam means formed on said bolt, and a resiliently biased locking dog having a lug normally overlying the notched periphery of said drive wheel and held out of contact therewith by said cam means, said locking dog being lowered under the influence of the'resilient bias thereon in response to movement of said cam means upon retracting movement of said bolt to seat the lug thereof in one of saidnotches when said bolt is retracted toward said tumblers and before the fence is disposed to contact said tumblers, whereby said drive wheel is locked against movement when said bolt is retracted to prevent rotation of said tumblers.

5. A combination lock for use with safes comprising a plurality of recessed tumblers, a drive wheel for adjusting said tumblers, said drive wheel having a notched periphery, a sliding bolt, a movable fence adapted to be intertted with the recesses of said tumblers when said recesses are aligned therewith to permit complete retraction of said bolt, means independent of said drive wheel for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, a pivoted locking dog having a lug overlying the periphery of said drive wheel, means resiliently biasing said locking dog towards said drive wheel, supporting means normally holding said locking dog out of contact with said drive wheel, and means intercoupling said supporting means with said bolt permitting said resilient biasing means to shift said lug into seating relation in a notch of said drive wheel periphery when said bolt is retracted toward said tumblers to lock said drive wheel against movement before said fence is disposed to contact said tumbler peripheries.

6. A combination lock adapted for use in safes comprising a sliding bolt, a plurality of rotatable elements each having peripheral recess means, means for rotating said elements, fence means movable under the inuence of said bolt toward and away from said rotatable elements, said rotatable elements including a plurality of tumblers positioned to intercept movement of said fence means toward said elements and prevent retraction of said bolt and adapted to be aligned with said fence means for accommodating the same in the peripheral recess means thereof to permit retraction of said bolt, means for moving said bolt toward and away from said rotatable elements, pivoted lever means having a locking dog thereon resiliently biased toward one of said rotatable elements for locking interengagement with the recess means thereof, at least one of said tumblers being rendered immovable when said pivoted lever means is in said locking interengagement, and cam means intercoupled with said bolt to be positioned thereby and disposed in supporting relation with said lever when said bolt is in extended position to hold said lever out of locking engagement with said one of said rotary elements, said cam means being moved out of said supporting relation by said bolt during retracting movement of said bolt to permit said lever to be moved under the inuence of the resilient bias thereon into interlocking engagement with the recess means of the rotatable element associated therewith and lock said element against further rotation before said fence is disposed to contact said tumblers.

7. A combination lock adapted for use in safes comprising a sliding bolt, a fence movable under the influence of said bolt, a plurality of rotatable elements having peripheral recesses, at least some of said rotatable elements forming bolt-restraining tumblers normally disposed to intercept movement of said fence toward said elements and prevent retracting movements of said bolt and adapted to have their peripheral recesses aligned with said fence for accommodating the same to permit retraction of said bolt, means for rotating said elements, and interlock means including an interlock element for locking one of said rotatable elements against rotation when the fence is disposed to engage said bolt-restraining tumblers and preventing rotation of at least one of said tumblers by said rotating means when said interlock element is in locking relation with its associated rotatable element, means for urging said interlockvelement into locking relation with the rotatable element associated therewith, and supporting means for said interlock element positioned by said bolt when said bolt is in extended position to hold said interlock element out of contact with its associated rotatable element, said supporting means being moved by said bolt during retracting movement thereof to permit said interlock element to enter into locking engagement with the rotatable element associated therewith before said fence is disposed to engage said tumblers.

8. A combination lock adapted for use in safes comprising a sliding bolt, a fence movable under the influence of said bolt, a plurality of rotatable elements including peripheral recess means, at least some of said rotatable elements forming bolt-restraining tumblers normally disposed to intercept movement of said fence toward said rotatable elements and prevent retracting movement of said bolt and adapted to be positioned with their recess means aligned with said fence for accommodating the same to permit retraction of said bolt, means for rotating said elements, means for moving said bolt toward and away from said elements, interlock means biased toward locking relation with one of said rotatable elements for locking the same against rotation, said interlock means rendering at least one of said tumblers immovable when said interlock means is in said locking relation, and cam means supporting said interlock means and intercoupled with said bolt to be moved by said bolt, said bolt positioning said cam means when said bolt is in extended position to hold said interlock means out of contact with its associated rotatable element and said bolt moving said cam means out of supporting relation with said interlock means on retracting movement of said bolt to permit said biased interlock means to be shifted into interlocking engagement with the rotary element associated therewith to lock the same against further rotation before said fence is disposed to contact said tumblers.

9. A combination lock adapted for use in safes comprising a sliding bolt, fence means movable under the influence of said bolt, a plurality of rotary driven elements each having at least one peripheral recess, said plurality of elements including a plurality of tumblers normally disposed to intercept retracting movement of said fence means and prevent complete retraction of said bolt, and adapted to be aligned with their peripheral recess disposed in registry with said fence for accommodating the same to permit complete retraction of said bolt, means for moving said bolt toward and away from said elements,

pivoted lever means having a locking dog thereon resiliently biased toward one of said rotatable elements for locking interengagement with a peripheral recess thereof when said fence is disposed to engage said tumblers and thereby prevent rotation of at least one of said tumblers while said lever means is in said locking interengagement, and cam means intercoupled with Said bolt to be positioned thereby and disposed in supporting relation with said lever when said bolt is in extended position to hold said lever out of locking engagement with its associated rotary element, said cam means being moved out of said supporting relation by said bolt during retracting movement of said bolt to permit said lever to be moved under the influence of the resilient bias thereon into interlocking engagement with a peripheral recess of the rotatable element 11 associated therewith and lock said element against further rotation before said fence is disposed to contact said tumblers.

10. A combination lock adapted for use in safes comprising a plurality of rotatably mounted peripherally recessed tumblers, means for manipulating said tumblers, a sliding bolt, a fence movable under the inuence or" said bolt, means for moving said bolt toward and away from said tumblers, said tumblers normally being disposed to intercept movement of said fence toward said tumblers and prevent retracting movement of said bolt and adapted to be disposed with their peripheral recesses aligned with said fence for accommodating the same to permit retraction of said bolt, said tumblers having a plurality or locking recesses formed on the peripheries of said tumblers, and interlocking means including a pivoted lever for engaging a locking recess of each of said tumblers and locking said tumblers against rotation when the fence is disposed to 12 engage said tumblers, means for urging said pivoted lever into locking relation with the locking recesses of said tumblers, and supporting means for said pivoted lever positioned by said bolt when said bolt is in extended position to hold said lever out of contact with said tumblers, said supporting means being moved by said bolt during retracting movement thereof to permit said pivoted lever to enter into locking engagement with said tumblers before said fence is disposed to engage said tumblers.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 108,964 Brown Nov. 8, 1870 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,556 Great Britain of 1912 104,305 Australia June 21, 1938

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