Locking device

Claim 2

A combination lock adapted to be unlocked upon entry of the correct combination therein which comprises: an actuating member; combination determining means defining therein apertures representing elements of a preselected combination; a plurality of sensing means individually advanceable against said combination determining means and positioned to enter any aperture aligned therewith; a plurality of manual selection means, each corresponding to one of said sensing means and independently movable to represent elements of a selected combination; linkage means intermediate each of said selection means and its corresponding sensing means and adapted to assume a clearing position upon correspondence of an element of said selected combination to an element of said preselected combination and a blocking position in the absence of such correspondence; and means for normally blocking said actuating member but releasing said actuating member when all of said linkage means are in their clearing positions.

Claim 3

The lock of claim 1 wherein said combination determining means comprises a tape.

Claim 4

The lock of claim 2 wherein said tape defines therein a plurality of sets of apertures, each aperture set determining a different preselected combination.

Claim 5

The lock of claim 3 wherein said combination determining means comprises means for advancing said tape upon each actuation of said actuating member to present a different aperture set to said sensing means.

Claim 6

The lock of claim 1 wherein said combination determining means comprises: a tape defining therein a plurality of sets of apertures, each determining a different preselected combination; means for tensioning said tape for advancement relative to said sensing means; and means for normally restraining such advancement but releasing said tape for an incremental advance upon each actuation of said actuating member to present a different aperture set to said sensing means.

Claim 7

The lock of claim 5 wherein said tensioning means comprises: a shaft; means for driving said shaft upon actuation of said actuating member; a roller secured to said tape and mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto; and resilient means interconnecting said roller and shaft for storing a selected torque value therebetween.

Claim 8

The lock of claim 6 wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring surrounding said shaft having its first end connected to said shaft and its second end connected to said roller, the internal diameter of said spring in its relaxed condition being greater than the outside diameter of said shaft.

Claim 9

The lock of claim 6 wherein said driving means comprises a belt and pulley drive connected to slip when said selected torque value is stored.

Claim 10

The lock of claim 1 wherein each of said manual selection means comprises a key stem longitudinally movable between a first and a second position.

Claim 11

The lock of claim 1 wherein each of said linkage meaNs comprises a tumbler lever having first and second ends, a first pivot point therebetween, and a second pivot point at said first end, one of said pivot points being movable by said manual selection means and the other of said pivot points being movable by said sensing means.

Claim 12

The lock of claim 10 wherein each of said manual selection means comprises a key stem connected to said first pivot point of a respective tumbler lever.

Claim 13

The lock of claim 1 wherein each of said sensing means comprises: a substantially planar member having thereon a sensing finger adapted to enter an aperture aligned therewith; and means for resiliently urging said finger into said aperture about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of said member and spaced from said finger.

Claim 14

The lock of claim 12 wherein said axis of rotation is common to a plurality of said members.

Claim 15

The lock of claim 12 wherein each of said linkage means comprises a tumbler lever having first and second ends, a first pivot point therebetween, and a second pivot point at said first end, one of said pivot points being movable by said manual selection means and the other of said pivot points being movable by said sensing means.

Claim 16

The lock of claim 14 wherein each of said manual selection means comprises a key stem connected to said first pivot point of a respective tumbler lever.

Claim 17

The lock of claim 10 wherein said actuating member is a rotatable shaft and said blocking means comprises: a gate movable between a locking position and an actuating position, said gate being retained in said locking position by any of said tumbler levers in a blocking position but movable to said actuating position when all of said tumbler levers are in their clearing position; and a deadlock cam secured to said shaft positioned to engage said gate in its locking position to prevent rotation of said shaft and to pass said gate in its actuating position to permit rotation of said shaft.

Claim 18

The lock of claim 16 wherein each of said manual selection means comprises a key stem connected to said first pivot point of a respective tumbler lever.

Claim 19

The lock of claim 17 wherein each of said sensing means comprises: a substantially planar member having thereon a sensing finger adapted to enter an aperture aligned therewith; and means for resiliently urging said finger into said aperture about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of said member and spaced from said finger.

Claim 20

A combination lock adapted to be unlocked upon entry of the correct combination therein which comprises: a tape defining therein a plurality of sets of apertures, each determining a different preselected combination; a plurality of sensing means individually advanceable against said tape and positioned to enter any aperture aligned therewith; means for tensioning said tape for advancement relative to said sensing means; a plurality of manual selection means, each corresponding to one of said sensing means and independently movable to represent elements of a selected combination; a plurality of tumbler levers, each having first and second ends, a first pivot point therebetween, and a second pivot point at said first end, one of said pivot points being movable by one of said manual selection means and the other of said pivot points being movable by one of said sensing means, each tumbler lever assuming a clearing position upon correspondence of an element of said selected combination to an element of said preselected combination and a blocking position in the absence of such correspondence; gate means movable between a locking position and an actuating position, said gate means being retained in said locking position by any of said tumbler levers in a blocking position but movable to said actuating position when all of said tumbler levers are in their clearing positions; an actuating member normally restrained by said gate means in a locking position but movable when said gate means is in an actuating position; and means for normally restraining advancement of said tape but releasing said tape for an incremental advance upon movement of said actuating member to present a different aperture set to said sensing means.

Claim 21

A combination lock adapted to be unlocked upon entry of the correct combination therein which comprises: a tape defining therein a plurality of sets of apertures, each determining a different preselected combination; a plurality of sensing means individually advanceable against said tape and positioned to enter any aperture aligned therewith; means for tensioning said tape for advancement relative to said sensing means; a plurality of manual selection means, each corresponding to one of said sensing means and independently movable to represent elements of a selected combination; a plurality of tumbler levers, each having first and second ends, a first pivot point therebetween, and a second pivot point at said first end, one of said pivot points being movable by one of said manual selection means and the other of said pivot points being movable by one of said sensing means, each tumbler lever assuming a clearing position upon correspondence of an element of said selected combination to an element of said preselected combination and a blocking position in the absence of such correspondence; gate means movable between a locking position and an actuating position, said gate means being retained in said locking position by any of said tumbler levers in a blocking position but movable to said actuating position when all of said tumbler levers are in their clearing positions; an actuating member normally restrained by said gate means in a locking position but movable when said gate means is in an actuating position; and means for normally restraining advancement of said tape but releasing said tape for an incremental advance upon movement of said actuating member to present a different aperture set to said sensing means.

Claim 22

The lock of claim 19 wherein each of said manual selection means comprises a key stem connected to said first pivot point of a respective tumbler lever.

Claim 23

The lock of claim 20 wherein each of said sensing means comprises: a substantially planar member connected to said second pivot point of a respective tumbler lever; a sensing finger extending from said planar member and adapted to enter an aperture aligned therewith; and means for resiliently urging said finger into said aperture about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of said member and spaced from said finger.

Claim 24

The lock of claim 21 wherein: each set of apertures in said tape comprises two subsets formed on spaced, parallel lines; said sensing means are arranged in two sets corresponding, respectively, to said subsets, each set being rotatable about a different axis of rotation; said key stems are arranged in two sets corresponding, respectively, to said sets of sensing means; said tumbler levers are arranged in two opposed sets with the second ends of the levers of the two sets in reversed relationship; said gate means comprise first and second planar gates disposed adjacent the respective second ends of said lever sets, each of said gates defining a window therein, said gates being biased for complementary, reversed, inward movement toward the respective lever sets, said windows being aligned to receive the second ends of those tumbler levers in a clearing position.