Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
3~
This invention relates generally to permutation locks, and more
particularly it relates to a permutation lock of the type which includes at
least two lock stopping devices each having an arresting disc provided with
an intake recess and cooperating via a multipoint arresting device with a
setting disc to adjust the angular position of the latter to the intake re-
cess, an actuation slider movable between a closing position and an opening
position, and at least one tumbler slider which is spring-biased into a
closing position and cooperates with the actuation slider.
Known permutation locks of this type have the disadvantage in a
relatively complicated structure. As a consequence, such known permutation
locks have usually a large overall height that makes it necessary to provide
the wall of the object to which the permutation lock is to be attached such
as, for example a suitcase, with recesses in which a part of the lock housing
has to be sunk. In addition, it is frequently required that the permutation
locks of this type be accessible from the rear side in order to enable the
operation of a coupling member which arrests the arresting discs so that a
new code might be adjusted on the setting discs.
It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to
overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.
More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved permutation lock arrangement which has a space-saving structure,
and which has a flat configuration.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such an improve-l
permutation lock arrangement which does not contain any additional members
for arresting the lock-stopping devices.
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A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved
permutation lock which is simple in structure and easy to manufacture.
In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent
hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, in a permutation lock of
the aforedescribed type, in a combination which comprises arresting sliders
each being spring-biased against an assigned arresting disc and including
at the end facing the arresting disc, an arresting tongue engageable with
the intake recess in the arresting disc and at the other end a projection,
the actuation slider having openings for receiving the projections of the
lo arresting sliders when the actuation slider is in its closing position and
thus allowing disengagement of the arresting tongues from the intake recesses,
and further including abutments for stopping the projections when the actua-
tion slider is in its opening position and thus preventing the disengagement
of the arresting tongues from the intake recesses. In this manner the
arresting discs are blocked and the setting disc can be adjusted to a dif-
ferent position representing a different code.
On the other hand, when the actuation slider is in its closing
position, the arresting sliders are movable away from the arresting discs
inasmuch as the projections of the arresting sliders can enter the openings
in the actuation slider and by rotating thc setting disc the arresting ton
gues are displaced from the intake recesses in the arresting disc. As a
result, the actuation slider is arrested in -its closing position and cannot
be opened. By virtue of this nove] combination in the permutation lock of
this invention, an additional actuation member for arresting the loclc
stopping devices can be dispensed with and consequently a particularly simple
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construction of the permutation lock will result which makes it also possible
to provide a permutation lock which has a very flat configuration. This
flat structure in turn makes necessary any mounted recesses in the walls of
the object to ~hich the lock is to be applied. The permutation lock of this
invention thus can be mounted on very flat objects such as, for example,
handbags.
In a preferred embodiment, the arresting tongue forms an integral
part of the assigned arresting slider. In a modification, a plurality of
arresting tongues can be provided on a common arresting slider. The latter
arrangement of all arresting tongues on a single common arresting slider
makes an unauthorized opening of the lock more difficult because the detec-
tion of the right position of the arresting discs by touch or acoustically
is prevented.
A particularly simple construction of the permutation lock of this
invention is attained when the arresting slider and the actuation slider are
movable transversely to each other in two different planes, whereby the
actuation member has a bent portion provided with the openings and with the
abutment parts.
In another preferred embodiment of this invention, the arresting
tongues have a tapering shape whereby the intake recess in the arresting
disc has a corresponding wedge-shaped configuration.
In an advantageous modification of this invention, the arresting
slider is provided with an axial slot for receiving a helical biasing spring
which seats in a recess in the lock body and contacts the end facing the
arresting disc.
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The tumbler slidcr with the latch nose is movably supported in the
lock body and is spring-biased into its locking position and is coupled in
the opening direction to the actuation slider. The tumbler slider or the
actuation slider are provided with an elongated slot in which a carrier nose
on one of these sliders is engageable. In this manner it is possible that
the locking member of a locking hasp or hinge can be engaged also in the
case when the code of the permutation lock does not correspond to an opening
position. This arrangement has the advantage that the setting discs can be
misadjusted immediately upon the opening of the lock so that the code of the
permutation lock remains hidden to an unauthorized person.
According to a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided,
in an arrangement of a permutation lock, particularly for use in connection
with handbags and suitcases, including at least two lock stopping devices
each having an arresting disc provided with an intake recess cooperating via
multipoint arresting devices with a setting disc to adjust the angular position
of the latter relative to the intake recess, an equal number oE moveable
arresting sliders each having an arresting tongue engageable with an intake
recess of an arresting disc, each said arresting slider being spring biased
against an arresting disc and having a projection formed opposite said
arresting tongue, said arrangement further comprising an actuation slider
moveable between a closing positioll and an opening position, and at lcast one
tumbler slider spring-biased into a closing position and cooperating with the
actuation slider; said actuation slider being moveable transversely to
movement of said arresting sliders, and having openings for receiving each said
projection when said actuation slider is in its closing position and tllus
allowing disengagement of said arresting tongues from said intake recesses,
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and having abutments for stopping each said projection when said actuation
slider is in its opening position and thus preventing the disengagement of
said arresting tongues from said intake recesses which permits the angular
displacement of said setting discs relative to said arresting discs.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention
itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,
together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best
understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read
in connection with the accompany drawings.
Figure 1 is a top view of a permutation lock assembly of this
invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of a permutation lock of Figure 1 with a
partly cut-away housing;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the permutation lock of Figure 2 with
a partly cut-away bottom plate;
Figure ~ is a front view of the permutation lock assembly of Figure
l;
Figure 5 is a sectional front view of the permutation lock of
Figure 2 taken on line V-V;
Figure 6 is a sectional side view of tlle permutation lock of Figure
2 taken along the line VI-VI;
Figure 7a is a longitudinal section of an arresting slider;
Figure 7b is a top view of the arresting slider of f:igure 7a;
Figure 8a is a top view of an arresting disc;
Figure 8b is a sectional side view of the arresting disc of Figure 8a;
Figure 8c is a bottom view of the arresting disc of Figure 8a;
Figure 9 is a perspective bottom view of an actuation slider;
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Figure 10 is a top view of a modification of a permutation lock
assembly of this inVentioll;
Figure 11 is a sectional front view of the permutation lock of
Figure 10 taken along the line XI-XI;
Figure 12 is a sectional side view of the permutation lock of
Figure 11 taken along the line XII-XII;
Figure 13 is a sectional side view of the permutation lock of
Figure 11 taken along the line XIII-XIII;
Figure 14a is a sectional side view of a setting disc;
Figure 14b is a top view of the setting disc of Figure 14a;
Figure 15a is a bottom view of an arresting disc;
Figure 15b is a sectional side view of the arresting disc of~
Figure 15a;
Figure 15c is a top view of the arresting disc of Figure 15a;
Figure 16 is a perspective top view of integrally joined arresting
sliders with
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358
arresting tongues; and
Figure 17 -is a perspective top view of an actuation slider.
Figure 1 illustrates an overall top view of the permutation lock
assembly which includes a lock housing 10 through the top of which projects
an actuation knob 12 and through one side wall of which project three setti.ng
discs 14 arranged parallel to the top wall of the lock and each being rota-
table to adjust a code from O to 9. The top wall of the lock housing 10 is
further provided with an opening for receiving a locking staple or member 18
of a lock hasp or hinge 16.
Referring now to Figures 2-9, the permutation lock unit in the
illustrated embodiment includes three lock stopping devi.ces each having one
of the aforementioned setting discs 14 and an arresting disc 20. As seen
from Figure 8, the bottom side of the arresting disc 20 is formed with a
central pin 24 surrounded by an annular recess 22 which engages a tubular
support 24~ in the bottom plate 26 of the housing 10. Opposite the central
pin 24 the arresting disc 20 is formed with a stub shaft 28 on which the
setting disc 14 is supported for rotation. As seen from Figure 6, a spiral
spring 32 is arranged between the cover plate 30 of the lock housing ~LO and
the setting disc 14 and biases the latter downwardly against the arresting
disc 20 and thus urges disc 20 agai.nst the bottom p~late 26.
A first multipoint arresting device 34 is prov:ided between eacll
arresting disc 20 and the bottom p~Late 26 and a second multipo~ t arrest:in~T
device 36 is prov:ided between the setting disc 1.4 and the arrest:ing d:isc 20.
The first multipoint arresting device 34 is formed by a plurality of recesses
38 in the bottom plate 26 corresponding in number to the employed code
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characters and cooperating with a corresponding number of cams or protuber-
ances 40 on the lower side of the assigned arresting disc 20 (Figures 3 and
8). Similarly, the upper side of each arresting disc 20 is shaped with a
plurality of recesses 42 corresponding in number to the number of selectable
code characters and being engageable with a corresponding number of cams in
the facing surface of the setting disc 14. The first multipoint arresting
device 34 serves for arresting the setting disc 14 together with the arresting
disc 20 and the second multipoint arresting device 36 serves for an arrest-
able angular displacement of the setting disc 14 relative to the arresting
disc 20. In order to prevent an unintentional change of the code during the
adjustment of the setting disc, the latter is provided with a larger number
of arresting cams than that of the arresting disc 20. Arresting sliders 46
supported for a sliding movement on the lower side of the lock body 44 co-
operate with each arresting disc 20. The arresting slider 46 has an arresting
tongue 48 having a wedge-like configuration and being engageable with a
correspondingly shaped intake recess 50 in the periphery of the arresting
disc 20 as seen particularly from Figures 3,6 and 8. An elongated slot 52
is formed in the body of the arresting slider 46 and serves for receiving
a spiral spring 54 which biases the arresting slider 46 against the periphery
of the arresting disc 20. The biasing sp:ira:L spring 54 engages end portion
56 of the longitudinal slot 52 and its other end 58 s:its in a recess 60 in
the lock body 44. The end of the arresting slider 46 oppos:ite the arresting
tongue 48 is provided with a projection 62 which is shaped to engage an
opening 64 or to abut against a stop portion 66 of the actuation s]ider 68.
The actuation slider 68 is slidably supported on the upper side of
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the lock body 44 and is movable at right angles to the di.rection of movement
of the arresting slider 46. The actuation slider 68 has an angular portion
70 faci.ng the projection 62 of the arresting slider 46 and being provided
with the aforementioned openings 64 and stop surfaces 66 for controlling the
movement of the projection 62. The actuation slider 68 is connected to the
actuation knob 12 which projects through an opening in the top plate of the
lock housing 10. The actuation slider 68 cooperates with a tumbler slider
72, the latter having a projecting latch nose 74 which is engageable with a
locking part or staple 18 of the lock hinge 16. The tumbler slider is biased
in the closing direction by means of a spiral spring 76. The coupling be-
tween the actuation slider 68 and the tumbler slider 72 is established by
means of a coupling member which includes a carrier nose 78 formed on the
longitudinal edge of the actuation slider 68 and an elongated slot 80 in the
tumbler slider 72. The slot 80 is positioned so that at least in the spring-
biased closing position of the tumbler slider 72, the trailing edge of the
elongated slot 80 engages the carrier nose 78 of the actuation slider 68.
This arrangement permits the latch nose 74 of the tumbler 72 to engage the
locking staple 18 even in the locking or closing position of the actuation
slider 68 as illustrated in Figure 2. In this manner the permutation lock of
this invention enables the locking of the lock staple 18 of the lock hasp 16
even in the case when the setting discs are not adjusted to the opening code.
The operation of the above-described embodiment of the permutation
lock of this invention is as follows:
To open the permutation lock, the setting discs 14 have to be
rotated to a position in which a predetermined code for the opening appears
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on the visible parts of the setting d:iscs. In the example of Figure 1, this
opening code is, for instance, 0-2-1. In this opening position the intake
recesses 50 in respective arresting disc 20 face the arresting tongues 48 of
respective arresting sliders 46 and the biasing springs 54 bring the tongues
48 into engagement with the recesses 50. As a result, the projections 62 on
the other end of arresting sliders 46 disengage the openings 64 in the actua-
tion slider 68 and thus unblock the movement of this actuation slider so that
the latter can now be displaced by the actuation knob 12 into its opening posi-
tion. In doing so, the carrier nose 78 of the actuation member 68 moves along
the tumbler slider 72 against the force of the spring 76 and the latch nose
74 disengages the locking staple 18 and the lock hinge 16 can be opened. By
releasing the actuation knob 12 the biasing spring 76 displaces via the
tumbler slider 72 the actuation slider 68 into its closing position in which
the adjusted code on the setting disc 14 can be cancelled so that the right
code for opening the lock is no longer visible. Nonetheless, the engagement
of the locking staple 18 with the latch nose 74 and thus the ]ocking of the
lock hinge 16 is still possib]e as it has been explained above.
For setting a new opening code it is necessary first to reset the
old opening code and setting discs 14 and to bring the actuation s]ider 68
into its opening position in which its abutment parts 66 are moved into the
path of movement of the projection 62 of the arresting sl:ider 46 so that the
latter cannot disengage the intake ~ecesses in the arresting discs 20 when
the setting discs 14 are mani~pulated. In this manner, during the rotation
of the setting discs 14 the arresting discs 20 remain blocked and a new
code can be set in a very simple manner.
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i358
Figure 10 shows in an overall view a modified version of the
permutation lock of this invention having a lock housing 82, an actuation knob
84 projecting from the upper plate of the housing and three setting discs 86
arranged in windows in the upper plate and each carrying code numerals from 0
to 9. The setting discs 86 are arranged at right angles to the major surface
of the permutation lock. Similarly, as in the preceding example, a lock hasp
or hinge 88 is provided with a locking staple 90 which is engageable into an
opening in the top plate of the housing 82~
The details of the permutation lock of Figure 10 will now be
explained with reference to Figures 11-17.
The lock includes three lock stopping devices arranged, respectively,
in the housing 82 in three chambers 94 separated by partitions 92. A common
axle 96 supports all three lock stopping devices in their chambers 94. Each
lock stopping device is assembled of an arresting disc 98 and a setting disc
86, and of a spring 100 which urges the two discs against the transverse
partition 92. The first multipoint arresting device 102 is arranged between the
arresting disc 98 and the partition 92 and serves for holding the setting disc
86 in a selected position. The first arresting device 102 is constituted by a
plurality of bosses or cams 104 which engage corresponding recesses 106 in the
partition 92. There are as many recesses 106 as there are positions Ol code
numerals adjustable by the setting disc 86. A second multipoint arresting
device 108 is disposed between the arresting disc 98 and the setting disc 86 andis constructed similarly as the first arresting device 102; that is the setting
disc 86 is provided with bosses or cams 110 which engage recesses 112 formed
in the arresting disc 98. The arresting disc contains again as many recesses
112 as there are positions or code numbers available. The recesses and cams of
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respective multipoint arresting devices are distribut0d along a circular
section centered on -the axis of rotation of the discs. The number of bosses
or cams 110 on the setting disc 86 is larger than the number of cams 104 on
the arresting disc 28 and consequently the second multipoint arresting device
108 has a larger resistance against rotation than the first multipoint arresting
device 102. The first arresting device 102 serves for releasably holding the
angular position of the arresting disc 98, the second multipoint arresting
device 108 serves for setting the opening code on the setting discs.
Each arresting disc 98 is provided on its periphery with an intake
recess 114 for receiving an arresting tongue 116 which is provided on each
arresting slider 118 as seen in Figures 11, 13 and 16. In this example,
there are as many integrally joined arresting sliders 118, each with an
arresting tongue 116, as there are lock stopping devices employed. In addition,
each arresting slider has a pair of arms 120. Since the arresting sliders
118 are arranged for movement on the lower side of the lock housing 82 at
the peripheries of the arresting discs 98 and the actuation slider 122 is
arranged at the upper side of the lock housing, the arms 120 are situated on
opposite sides of the axle 96, partially encircling an arresting disc 98 and
are opposite the actuation slider 122. The arms 120 are shaped with outwardly
projecting attachments 124 engaging in the open position of the actuation
slider 122 with hook-shaped abutments 126 on the latter slider. Spiral
springs 128 bias the integrally joined arresting sliders 118 together with the
arresting tongues 116 against the arresting discs 98.
As mentioned above, the actuation slider 122 is arranged at the upper
side of the lock housing 82 and slidably supported for movement in its
longitudinal direction as seen particularly in Figures 11 and 17. The actuation
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slider 122 is connected to the actuation knob 84 and on its opposite end is
provided with a carrying nose 130 which cooperates with a tumbler slider 132.
The tumbler slider has a latch nose 134 which is engageable with a lock part
90 of a lock hasp or hinge 88. A spring 136 biases the tumbler slider 132
into its closing position. This arrangement makes it possible that in the
closing position of the actuation slider 122 the locking staple 90 of the
lock hasp or lock hinge 88 can be compressed against the latch nose of the
tumbler slider 132 and displaces the latter against its biasing spring
whereupon the latch nose lockingly engages the lock staple 90 without the
necessity of adjusting the opening code of the lock into its right position.
The function of this embodiment of the permutation lock is similar
to that of the permutation lock of Figures 1-9.
If the actuation slider 122 is in its closing position as illus-
trated in Figure 11, the hook-shaped stops 126 disengage the attachments 124
of the arresting sliders 118 and the latter can slide downwardly against the
force of the spiral spring 128. Consequently, the setting disc 86 together
with the arresting disc 98 are free to rotate whereby the arresting tongues
116 are expelled from the intake recesses 114. The hook-shaped stops 126
rest on the attachments 124 thus preventing the movement of the actuation
slider 122 into its opening position. Upon setting of the opening code of
the permutation lock on the setting discs the arresting tongues 116 reengage
the intake recesses 114 and the arresting sliders 118 are in a position in
which the attachments 124 give way to the hook-shaped stop 126 and thus rc-
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lease the movement of the actuation slider 122. The arresting slider 1].8 canbe moved into its opening position whereby the hook-shaped stops 126 are dis-
placed below the attachments 124 of the arresting slider and the latter be-
comes arrested in this position. At the same time the arresting discs 98
become also arrested by arresting tongues 116 reengaging the intake recesses
114. It is now possible to set a new opening code on the setting discs 86
by overcoming the arresting force of the second multipoint arresting device
while rotating the setting disc 86 relative to the arresting discs 98. Upon
the release of the actuation slider 122 the blocking of the arresting disc
lo iS released and upon overcoming the arresting force of the first multipoint
arresting device the setting disc 86 can be rotated only together with the
arresting discs 98.
It will be understo~d that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of
constructions, differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied
in a permutation lock arrangement, it is not intended to be ].im.ited to the
details shown, since rarious modifications and structural changes may be made
without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invent-ion.
Without further analysis, the forego:ing w:ilL so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can by app.lyi.ng currellt know].edge
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics
of the generic or specific aspects of thi.s invention.
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent
is set forth in the appended claims.
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