US2861667A - Coin and key operated lock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 J. A. SMITH com AND KEY OPERATED Locx 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 Nov. 25, 1958 J. AfsMlTH com AND KEY OPERATED Locx lFiled Aug. 16, 1955 nited States Patent COIN AND KEY OPERATED LOCK Joseph Austin Smith, Loudouville, Ghio Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,673

Claims. (Cl. 194-54) This invention relates to locks for baggage and storage lockers, and, more particularly, is concerned with locks of the indicated type operated by a coin or coins and a key.

Heretofore, various types of coin and key operated locks have been provided for baggage and storage lockers. However, such known locks have been relatively complicated requiring considerable tooling costs and often involving a relatively large number of parts so that manufacturing costs are comparatively high. Additionally, such known locks, so far as I am aware, have not been capable of being operated upon the insertion of a f coin followed by the return of the coin to the user of the storage locker when the key is returned to the locker and the stored article is removed. s

Moreover, existing lock structures are not readily converted to constructions requiring a plurality of coins to be deposited in the lock before it can be operated, and locks of this readily converted type Yhave a distinct'field of use in operations abroad where depreciation of the foreign countries currency require a plurality of coins, such as a -franc coin for example, to be deposited vto equal a reasonable charge for the service of a locker.

It is the general object of my invention to avoid the foregoing and other ditliculties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a relatively simple, inexpesive readily tooled lock of the coin and key operated type having a minimum of parts, but being durable and maintenance free in operation over long periods of time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lock of the character described and capable of use in two distinct manners, namely, (l) of vbeing operated by the'key when a coin is deposited in the lock and followed by the return f of the coin to the user of the locker when the key is returned to the locker, or (2) which operates in accord with the procedure of (l) except that the coin is passed to a coin box associated with the locker and is retained by the proprietor Yof the lockers.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a locker of the-coin and key operated type and operable by a plurality of coins, usually of the same denomination, rather than by a single coin, all with very minor changes in the construction of the lock.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coincontrolled lock which can be operated with one coin, or a selected plurality of co'ins, or which may be operated free of charge as an accommodation service to customers by automatically returning the coin or coins when theA key is returned and the locker is unlocked. l

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should behadto the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. .l is a front elevation of a lock constructed to incorporate the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3'is a back elevation of the lock of Figsl.rl and 2;

' Fig. 4f is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view takeni substantially on line IV--IV of Fig. 2;v

Fig-5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of thepawl astres? Patented Nov. 25, 1958 2 and catch, coin, and coin receiving slot, substantially as taken on line V-V of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially on line VI-VI of Fig. 4, but on enlarged scale, and illustrating the manner of positioning the coin in the coin receiving chute;

Fig. 7 is a view substantially on line VII-VII of Fig. l, but to an enlarged scale, and illustrating the manner of controlling with the locker key, the positioning of the finger means controlling the movement of the coin through the coin chute; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6, but on the scale of Figs.v 1 to 4, and showing the manner of converting the lock to operation by plurality of coins.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a stamped and formed sheet metal channel adapted to mount the entire lock mechanism of the invention, with the channel being adapted to be removably associated with a baggage or storage locker in a readily replaceable or interchangeable manner. This is accomplished by forming an integral tongue 12 at one end of the channel member 10 which is offset, as best seen in Fig. 6 so as to be received in a slot or behind a shoulder in the locker to secure that end of the channel in position. The other end of the channel is lockedV in position by a lock mounted in the opening 14, at the upper end of the channel.

A barrel and tumbler type lock, indicated as a whole by the numeral 16, and having an operating key 18 is secured by a nut 20 (see Fig.y 7) in the channel 10, with the rotating barrel 22 having the usual operating tumblers' 24 which lock between the barrel 22 and the lockcasing 26 when the key 18 is removed; The barrel 22 of the lock 16 is formedwith a squaredshoulder 28 received in a complementary hole in a latch 30, held on the barrel 22 by nut 32. The latch 30, perhaps best seen in Fig. 4, has a laterally directed keeper portion 34, which is adapted to be moved through a slotted opening 36 in the side of the channel 10 and into engagement Awith a complementary keeper or slotv in the locker door (not shown) upon rotation of the key 18, barrel 22, and latch 30. Note that the keeper portion 34 of the latch 30 is positioned closely behind the inside face of the channel 10 with an offset 38 (Fig. 2) connecting the keeper portion 34 with the main latch body 36. Y

The channel 10 is provided on its front face with a slot 40 for receiving a metal coin C, for example, a dime or a quarter, with the coin after being pushed through slot l40 being received in a coin receiving channel or passage 42 dened in part by a plate v44 spot welded or otherwise secured to an edge of the channel 10. A somewhat thinner sheet metall plate 46 forms the other side of the coin receiving passage 42, the plate 46 being spot welded or otherwise secured at 48 to the plate 44. Y

Fig. 6 illustrates a coin C which has been pushed through slot 40 into the coin receiving passage 42, and which has fallen laterally downward in the passage, under the action of gravity, until striking a lug 49 extending into the coin passage 42 and formed on the end of an arm 50 lpivotally secured at 52 to the plates 44 and 46. The plate 46 is formed with a cut out portion 54 to yallowV the movement ofthe arm 50, and the lug 49 from the full line position shown in Fig. 6 to the chain-dotted position likewise shown in Fig. 6, this movement being achieved in the manner hereinafter described. Suiice it to say here that when the parts are in the full line position of Fig. 6, the coin C is retained in the dotted line position shown, but when the arm 50 and lug 49 are moved to their chain-dotted position, then the coin dropsY to the chain-dotted position shown in Fig. 6. 1

The movement of the coin C through the coin receiving passage 42 is stopped when the coin reaches the chain-dotted position for the reason that a finger 58 having a shoulder 60 formed at its lower end. is moved'from the solid line position of Fig. 8 to the chain-dotted position, and in this position, the shoulder 6) engages with 'thelower edge of the coin to stop it-in thecha-indotted Looking now at Figs. 2, 3,4 and 5, it will befnoted that the latch 3) has a pawl 70 pivotallysecured-thereto at '72, the pawl 7tlbeing urged into engagement with catchL 64 by a tension spring 74. extending between one end of the pawl 70 and a post 76 secured tothe latch-member 30. The pawl 70 .isformed with a shoulder 78 which normally engages with .the catch 64 to prevent rotary movement of the latch member 30 without coin C being present in the coin-receiving passage 4.2.

Thus, the latch membertl .cannot-be ,rotated when there is no coin Cpresent in the coin-receiving passage 42. However, when the coin C is present in the coinreceiving passage 42, the endof the pawl 7), as shown in Fig. 5, engages with the coin C through the window or opening 62 upon the initial movementof the latch member 30 with the key 18, and because the end of the pawl 70 strikes the coin, the shoulder 7g of the pawl is moved away from the catch 64 and against .the tension in spring 74, and the latch member 3Q can thenbe rotated so that the keeper. portion 34 extends through the opening 36 in the, channel and into engagement with the keeper von the locker door. It will be understood that positionking of the key 18 in the barrel 22 aligns the tumblers 26 of the lock 16 so that barrel 22 can be rotated by the key in relation to the casing 26 of the lock 16.

The placement of the key 18 in the barrel 22-of the lock 16 causes the end of the key 18 to engage with a rod or pin'S() (see Figs. 6 and'7), the end of which extends into a ybore S2 inthe squared end 28 of the barrel 22 of the lock 16. The rod 80 is connected to a right angle flange 84 formed on the arm Sti, as `by screw S6 extending through` an enlarged hole in the flange S4, so Vthat the rod 80 will have Some freedom to tilt in relation to the flange 84 upon movement of the arm 50. A coiled tension spring S8 (Fig. 6) extends between the finger 5S carried by the arm 50 anda lug Qt) bent up from the plate 46 so that the arm 56, lug 49, finger 5S, and shoulder 60 are all urged towards the chain-dotted position Iby the spring 88. Thus, with the key 13 removed from the lock 16, rod 80 moves inwardly into bore 82 under the action of spring S8 allowing the armvSti and its associated parts to swing to the chain-dotted position. When the key 18 is inserted into the lock 16, ,theend of the key strikes the rod 80 and movesV the arm 5.0 and its associated parts to the full line position shown in Fig. 6.

As previously described, and having reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, with the key 18 in the lock 16, and with a coin C in the coin-receiving.passagedl the key 18 can .be turned to lock the locker, the coin C being at this time positioned in the dotted line position shownin Fig. 6 by the lug 49 of arm 5t).

Once the locker is lockedin the manner described, the user having previously put his baggage orA articles to be stored in the lockers, the key is removed-.by theuser of the locker. Upon removal .of the key; 1S from the lock 16, the rod 8i) moves inwardly in the bore ,SZunder the action of spring 83, to move arm 50 and lugAS to the chain-dotted position of Fig. `6. This allows ,coin- C to drop downwardly by gravity. in .the coin passage 42 until it strikes the shoulder-66 on finger Thus, the coin C is stored in the lock mechanism in the Chain-dotted position shown in Fig. 6 during the time that the user of lthe locker has the key 18 in his possession.

Upon the return to the locker, by the user of the locker, he will reinsert key 18 in the lock 16, the end `of the key engaging rod 80 to move it outwardly in .bore 82 against the tension in spring 88 to return the arm Sti, linger 58, etc., to the full line position of Fig. 6. This allows the coin C to then drop intoa coin receiving box inside the locker, if the locker is of the type for which a charge is made, and if it is of the type where the coin will 4be returned to the user of the locker, then the coin C is directed out to the front yof the locker in a suitable chute (not shown) andreturned to the user.

Some department stores, and other similar businesses, like to provide their customers with storage lockers which are coin-operated but in which the coin is returned to the use of the locker after use of the locker. The lock mechanism of the present invention is particularly adapted to perform this function, all in the manner described.

Once the user of the locker has returned the key 13 to the lock 16, he can turn the barrel 22 in the reverse direction to which it was turned to lock the locker and return the keeper portion 34 of the latch member 39 to the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the locker can be opened.

The lock of the present invention is likewise adapted to operation by means of a plurality of coins, usually of the same denomination. This form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 8 from which it will be seen that it is only necessary to lengthen the arm 50, which in Fig. 8 has been designated as 50a and to lengthen the coin-receiving :chute 42a so that window or opening 62a is spaced a selected plurality of coins, for example, two as shown, from the lug 49a whereby a plurality of -coins Ca are stacked in the coin-receiving chute between the lug 49a which arrests the movement of the coins through the chute and the window 62a.

The apparatus of Fig. 8 operates exactly in the manner heretofore described and includes .a catch 64a associated with the window opening 62a, a rod 80a loosely `carried on flange 84a of the arm 50a, the notch 54a in the plate 46a and through which the lug 49a operates, all in the manner previously described. Thus, it is a relatively simple matter to adapt the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 7 so that in order to have it operate a plurality of coins, usually of the same denominations, must be inserted through the coin-receiving slot.

While several complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it Will .be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may 'be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coinand key operated lock including a channel, a coin receiving chute, mounted on the channel and adapted to receive a coin through a slot in the channel, an arm pivotally associated with the chute, a lug on the arm stopping movement of a coin through the chute, a lock having a rotary barrel mounted on the channel, a key for the lock, a rod on the arm and extending into a bore in the lock and into engagement with the end of the key, spring means tending to move the arm towards the lock so that when the key is removed, the arm swings to move the lug out of the coin chute, a nger carried by the arm and having a shoulder movable to a position to restrict the movement of acoin through the chute near the -bottom thereof when the key is removed, a latch member secured to the lock barrel, a pawl pivotally mounted on the latch member and extending into a window opening in the coin chute opposite the position a coin is stopped by the lug, a catch on the side of the window opening and engaging a notch in the pawl to prevent rotation ofthe latch member when no coin is present fbehind the window, butwith the pawl end striking the over the catch, and a keeper portion on the latch member and extending through an opening in the channel when the lock barrel is turned.

2. A coin and key operated lock including a coin receiving chute adapted to receive a coin through a slot, an arm pivotally associated with the chute, a lug on the arm in the path of movement of a coin through the chute, a lock having a rotatable barrel with a key passage axial thereof and extending entirely therethrough, a key insertable in said key passage for rotating said barrel, a rod mounted on said arm and extending int-o said key passage in the lock lbarrel and into engagement with the end of the key, spring means tending to move the arm towards the lock so that when the key is removed, the arm swings to move the lug out of the coin chute, a nger carried by the arm and having a shoulder movable to a position to restrict the movement of a coin through the chute near the bottom thereof when the key is removed, a latch member secured to the lock barrel and rotatable therewith, a pawl pivotally mounted on the latch member and extending into a Window opening in the coin chute opposite the position a coin is stopped by the lug, a catch on the side of the Window opening and engaging a notch in the pawl to prevent rotation of the latch member when no coin is present behind the window, but with the pawl end striking the coin when one is present and lifting the notch of the pawl over the catch, and a keeper portion on the latch member.

3. A coin and key operated lock including a coin receiving chute adapted to receive a coin through a slot, an arm movably associated with the chute, a lug on the arm in the path of movement of a coin through the chute, a lock having a rotatable barrel with a key passage axial thereof and extending entirely therethrough, a key insertable in said key passage for rotating said barrel, a rod mounted on said arm and extending into said key passage in the lock and into engagement with the end of the key, spring means tending to move the arm towards the lock so that when the key is removed, the arm moves to move the lug out of the coin chute, a finger carried by the arm and having a shoulder movable to a position to restrict the movement of a coin through the chute near the bottom thereof when the key is removed, a latch member secured to the lock barrel and rotatable therewith, a pawl pivotally mounted on the latch member and extending into a window opening in the coin chute opposite the position a coin is stopped by the lug, a catch on the side of the window opening and engaging a notch in the pawl to prevent rotation of the latch member when no coin is present behind the Window, but with the pawl end striking the coin when one is present and lifting the notch of the pawl over the catch, and a keeper portion on the latch member.

4. A coin and key operated lock including a coin receiving chute adapted to receive a coin through a slot, an arm movably associated with the chute, a lug on the arm in the path of movement of a coin through the chute, a lock having a rotatable barrel with a key passage axial thereof and extending entirely therethrough, a key insertable in said key passage for rotating said barrel, a rod mounted on said arm and extending into said key passage in the lock and into engagement with the end of the key, spring means tending to move the arm towards the lock so that when the key is removed, the arm moves to move the lug out of the coin chute, a latch member secured to the lock barrel and rotatable therewith, a pawl pivotally mounted on the latch member and extending into a window opening in the coin chute opposite the position a coin is stopped by the lug, a catch on the side of the window opening and engaging a notch in the pawl to prevent rotation of the latch member when no coin is present behind the window, but with the pawl end striking the coin when one is present and lifting the notch of the pawl over the catch, and a keeper portion on the latch member.

5. In a coin and key operated lock assembly for lockers and the like, the combination of a lock having a rotary barrel, a key for the lock, a latch member secured to the rotary barrel and rotatable therewith, said barrel having a substantially axial opening at the end thereof remote from the end in which the key'is inserted, a rod positioned in the axial opening and movable by said key, a coin receiving chute, an arm pivotally suspended adjacent said chute, a plurality of lugs on said arm in succession along said chute and alternately movable thereby into the path of a coin in said chute, said arm being connected to said rod and movable thereby when a key is inserted in said lock, resilient means tending to move the rod into the .barrel of the lock so that when the key is in the lock the rst of said lugs is positioned in the chute and a second of said lugs is moved out of said chute and, when the key is removed, the rod moves farther into the barrel and the first of said lugs moves out and the second of said lugs moves into the chute, a pawl carried by the latch member, a Window in the coin chute through which the pawl extends, the window being positioned opposite the point a coin is stopped by the rst of said lugs and a catch on said chute engaging a shoulder on said pawl for locking the pawl when no coin is present at the window and said pawl being disengaged from said catch by presence of a coin at said window.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wyckoff Aug. 14, 1917

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