Pushbutton combination lock

Claim 2

A combination lock for causing the deflection of a control element from a normal position to an off-normal position in response to a first sequence of operative steps comprising 1. a logic ladder comprising a first plate having a plurality of elongated first apertures therein, 2. a plurality of wedge-shaped rungs on one portion of said ladder in registration with said first apertures, 3. an opening scaffold adapted for translation with respect to a first portion of said ladder comprising a. a first member thereon for deflecting said control element after said first sequence of steps is properly completed, b. a plurality of movable wedge-shaped opening steppers responsive to each of said operative steps in said first sequence to extend through said first apertures and engage said rungs to that said opening scaffold is translated with respect to said ladder until said first member deflects said control element.

Claim 3

a plurality of wedge-shaped rungs on one portion of said ladder in registration with said first apertures,

Claim 4

a plurality of wedge-shaped rungs on one portion of said ladder in registration with said first apertures,

Claim 5

a pawl member having one end connected to said opening scaffold and the other end extending through said ladder to engage said ratchet member, said other end of said pawl propagating from one end of said ratchet member to the other in response to the translation of said opening scaffold and thence returning via said second channel to one end of said ratchet member, the force of said pawl against said ratchet member and hence said activator being effective to disengage said activator from said ladder when any one of said first opening steppers is prematurely withdrawn from its corresponding first apertures in ladder.

Claim 6

a pawl member having one end connected to said opening scaffold and the other end extending through said ladder to engage said ratchet member, said other end of said pawl propagating from one end of said ratchet member to the other in response to the translation of said opening scaffold and thence returning via said second channel to one end of said ratchet member, the force of said pawl against said ratchet member and hence said activator being effective to disengage said activator from said ladder when any one of said first opening steppers is prematurely withdrawn from its corresponding first apertures in ladder.

Claim 7

The lock of claim 1 in combination with means for deactivating said lock in response to an improper operative step comprising

Claim 8

a ratchet assembly coupling said activator to said opening scaffold effective to disengage said ladder and said activator when any opening stepper is prematurely withdrawn from its corresponding first apertures in said ladder.

Claim 9

a ratchet assembly coupling said activator to said opening scaffold effective to disengage said ladder and said activator when any opening stepper is prematurely withdrawn from its corresponding first apertures in said ladder.

Claim 10

said first member for deflecting said control element comprises a projection on said base plate,

Claim 11

said first member for deflecting said control element comprises a projection on said base plate,

Claim 12

a second set of wedge-shaped rungs in vertical registration with one of said apertures of said second subset, and wherein

Claim 13

a second set of wedge-shaped rungs in vertical registration with one of said apertures of said second subset, and wherein

Claim 14

said reset member has one end thereof shaped substantially complementary to said beveled end of said reset channel,

Claim 15

said reset member has one end thereof shaped substantially complementary to said beveled end of said reset channel,

Claim 16

a plurality of flexible cables connecting each of said pushbuttons to a separate one of said steppers,

Claim 17

a plurality of flexible cables connecting each of said pushbuttons to a separate one of said steppers,

Claim 18

a reset member having a first portion connected to said second base plate and an inclined second portion extending through said reset aperture into said reset channel,

Claim 19

a reset member having a first portion connected to said second base plate and an inclined second portion extending through said reset aperture into said reset channel,

Claim 20

a first planar surface of said first channel having a first plurality of pairs of elongated first apertures extending parallel to said axes and a corresponding second planar surface of said second channel having a second plurality of elongated second apertures extending parallel to said axes,

Claim 21

a first planar surface of said first channel having a first plurality of pairs of elongated first apertures extending parallel to said axes and a corresponding second planar surface of said second channel having a second plurality of elongated second apertures extending parallel to said axes,

Claim 22

a first plurality of wedge-shaped first rungs, one of said rungs being disposed in registration with each of said first apertures but one, alternate ones of said rungs being oppositely inclined,

Claim 23

a first plurality of wedge-shaped first rungs, one of said rungs being disposed in registration with each of said first apertures but one, alternate ones of said rungs being oppositely inclined,

Claim 24

spring means connecting said frame and said second housing for urging said reactivating scaffold away from said supporting recess,

Claim 25

spring means connecting said frame and said second housing for urging said reactivating scaffold away from said supporting recess,

Claim 26

said ladder includes a supporting recess to engage said activator,

Claim 27

said ladder includes a supporting recess to engage said activator,

Claim 28

said reset member is affixed to said second base plate to extend through said ladder to engage said activator,

Claim 29

said reset member is affixed to said second base plate to extend through said ladder to engage said activator,

Claim 30

each of said wedge-shaped opening steppers is laterally spaced from one another in side-by-side fashion and each comprises a pair of right triangular prongs, means joining said prongs to one another along a common edge so that said prongs lie in spaced, parallel planes, and so that the hypotenuse edges of said prongs are oppositely inclined the spacing of said prongs being equal to the spacing of each of said pairs of third apertures,

Claim 31

each of said wedge-shaped opening steppers is laterally spaced from one another in side-by-side fashion and each comprises a pair of right triangular prongs, means joining said prongs to one another along a common edge so that said prongs lie in spaced, parallel planes, and so that the hypotenuse edges of said prongs are oppositely inclined the spacing of said prongs being equal to the spacing of each of said pairs of third apertures,

Claim 32

The lock of claim 2 in combination with means for reactivating said lock after deactivation has occurred comprising

Claim 33

an opening scaffold adapted for translation with respect to a first portion of said ladder comprising a. a first member thereon for deflecting said control element after said first sequence of steps is properly completed, b. a plurality of movable wedge-shaped opening steppers responsive to each of said operative steps in said first sequence to extend through said first apertures and engage said rungs to that said opening scaffold is translated with respect to said ladder until said first member deflects said control element.

Claim 34

an opening scaffold adapted for translation with respect to a first portion of said ladder comprising a. a first member thereon for deflecting said control element after said first sequence of steps is properly completed, b. a plurality of movable wedge-shaped opening steppers responsive to each of said operative steps in said first sequence to extend through said first apertures and engage said rungs to that said opening scaffold is translated with respect to said ladder until said first member deflects said control element.

Claim 35

a door opening assembly including a. an outer knob assembly rotatable about an axis comprising an outer door knob, a first elongated arm member torsionally coupled to said outer knob for rotation about said axis, a bow-shaped guide member on one end of said first arm member, a first engageable member located on said first arm member intermediate the ends thereof, b. an inner door knob assembly rotatable about said axis comprising an inner door knob, a second arm member coupled to said inner knob for rotation about said axis, a second engageable member on said second arm member at a radial distance thereon from said axis approximately equal to the radial distance of said first engageable member from said axis, c. said control element comprising a first arc-shaped member in radial alignment with said second arm member, an L-shaped resilient member supporting said arc-shaped member, the deflection of said resilient member by said deflecting member of said opening scaffold causing said guide member to ride over said first arc-shaped member so that said engageable members do not engage upon the rotation of said outer door knob in one direction, and d. a second arc-shaped member disposed in the arcuate path of said guide member, e. upon the return of said control element to its normal position, opposite rotation of said outer knob permits said engageable members to engage one another and thereby permit the rotation of said inner knob assembly and the unlatching of said door, and the further rotation of said outer knob causes said guide member to ride over said second arc-shaped member thereby disengaging said engageable members and permitting said inner knob assembly to return to normal.

Claim 36

a door opening assembly including a. an outer knob assembly rotatable about an axis comprising an outer door knob, a first elongated arm member torsionally coupled to said outer knob for rotation about said axis, a bow-shaped guide member on one end of said first arm member, a first engageable member located on said first arm member intermediate the ends thereof, b. an inner door knob assembly rotatable about said axis comprising an inner door knob, a second arm member coupled to said inner knob for rotation about said axis, a second engageable member on said second arm member at a radial distance thereon from said axis approximately equal to the radial distance of said first engageable member from said axis, c. said control element comprising a first arc-shaped member in radial alignment with said second arm member, an L-shaped resilient member supporting said arc-shaped member, the deflection of said resilient member by said deflecting member of said opening scaffold causing said guide member to ride over said first arc-shaped member so that said engageable members do not engage upon the rotation of said outer door knob in one direction, and d. a second arc-shaped member disposed in the arcuate path of said guide member, e. upon the return of said control element to its normal position, opposite rotation of said outer knob permits said engageable members to engage one another and thereby permit the rotation of said inner knob assembly and the unlatching of said door, and the further rotation of said outer knob causes said guide member to ride over said second arc-shaped member thereby disengaging said engageable members and permitting said inner knob assembly to return to normal.

Claim 37

The lock of claim 3 wherein said activator has first and second parallel channels and said ratchet assembly comprises

Claim 38

said wedge-shaped rungs each comprises a substantially right triangular member disposed in selected ones of said first apertures in complementary relationship with said prongs to be extended therethrough,

Claim 39

said wedge-shaped rungs each comprises a substantially right triangular member disposed in selected ones of said first apertures in complementary relationship with said prongs to be extended therethrough,

Claim 40

each of said wedge-shaped reactivating steppers comprises a right triangular member adapted to extend through said apertures in said base plate to engage said second set of rungs on said ladder, and

Claim 41

each of said wedge-shaped reactivating steppers comprises a right triangular member adapted to extend through said apertures in said base plate to engage said second set of rungs on said ladder, and

Claim 42

said activator includes a first projection which normally extends into said recess, and including

Claim 43

said activator includes a first projection which normally extends into said recess, and including

Claim 44

a plurality of wedge-shaped reactivating steppers movably mounted in said second housing and responsive to a second sequence of operative steps to extend through said second apertures to engage said second rungs so that said reset member engages said beveled portion of said reset channel to cause said second projecting member to be reset in said supporting recess, said reactivating steppers each comprising a right triangular member adapted to extend through said second apertures and having its hypotenuse inclined oppositely to said second rungs.

Claim 45

a plurality of wedge-shaped reactivating steppers movably mounted in said second housing and responsive to a second sequence of operative steps to extend through said second apertures to engage said second rungs so that said reset member engages said beveled portion of said reset channel to cause said second projecting member to be reset in said supporting recess, said reactivating steppers each comprising a right triangular member adapted to extend through said second apertures and having its hypotenuse inclined oppositely to said second rungs.

Claim 46

a second plurality of wedge-shaped second rungs all of which are disposed in registration with one of said second apertures,

Claim 47

a second plurality of wedge-shaped second rungs all of which are disposed in registration with one of said second apertures,

Claim 48

an opening scaffold adapted for translation in said first channel and on said first planar surface in response to said first sequence of operative steps comprising a. a first housing including a first base plate having a plurality of pairs of parallel elongated third apertures of substantially equal length, said third apertures being laterally spaced from one another in side-by-siDe fashion in registration with said first apertures, b. said base plate including a first projecting member thereon for deflecting said control element after said first sequence of steps is properly completed, c. a plurality of wedge-shaped opening steppers movably supported in said housing and responsive to each of said operative steps in said first sequence to extend through said first apertures and engage said first rungs so that said opening scaffold is translated with respect to said first planar surface until said first projecting member deflects said control element, each of said opening steppers comprising i. a pair of right triangular prongs, ii. means joining said prongs to one another along a common edge so that said prongs lie in spaced, parallel planes in registration with a pair of said first and third apertures and so that the hypotenuse edges thereof are oppositely inclined, and iii. spring means connecting said opening scaffold to said frame so that said scaffold is urged away from said control element.

Claim 49

an opening scaffold adapted for translation in said first channel and on said first planar surface in response to said first sequence of operative steps comprising a. a first housing including a first base plate having a plurality of pairs of parallel elongated third apertures of substantially equal length, said third apertures being laterally spaced from one another in side-by-siDe fashion in registration with said first apertures, b. said base plate including a first projecting member thereon for deflecting said control element after said first sequence of steps is properly completed, c. a plurality of wedge-shaped opening steppers movably supported in said housing and responsive to each of said operative steps in said first sequence to extend through said first apertures and engage said first rungs so that said opening scaffold is translated with respect to said first planar surface until said first projecting member deflects said control element, each of said opening steppers comprising i. a pair of right triangular prongs, ii. means joining said prongs to one another along a common edge so that said prongs lie in spaced, parallel planes in registration with a pair of said first and third apertures and so that the hypotenuse edges thereof are oppositely inclined, and iii. spring means connecting said opening scaffold to said frame so that said scaffold is urged away from said control element.

Claim 50

a compressive spring connected between said ladder and said activator, and wherein

Claim 51

a compressive spring connected between said ladder and said activator, and wherein

Claim 52

each of said second set of rungs comprises a right triangular member substantially complementary to a corresponding one of said reactivating steppers.

Claim 53

each of said second set of rungs comprises a right triangular member substantially complementary to a corresponding one of said reactivating steppers.

Claim 54

said second apertures of said activator are positioned in pairs, each pair in end-to-end relationship laterally spaced from one another, each of said pairs of second apertures being also in side-by-side relationship and displaced vertically from one another to receive said pairs of prongs sequentially in accordance with said first sequence of operative steps, and

Claim 55

said second apertures of said activator are positioned in pairs, each pair in end-to-end relationship laterally spaced from one another, each of said pairs of second apertures being also in side-by-side relationship and displaced vertically from one another to receive said pairs of prongs sequentially in accordance with said first sequence of operative steps, and

Claim 56

The lock of claim 4 wherein

Claim 57

said one end of said pawl is connected to said base plate.

Claim 58

said one end of said pawl is connected to said base plate.

Claim 59

The lock of claim 5 wherein

Claim 60

said activator includes a second projection against which said control element abuts in its normal position, said second projection member being effective to force said control element to its off-normal position upon the disengagement of said first projection member from said supporting recess.

Claim 61

said activator includes a second projection against which said control element abuts in its normal position, said second projection member being effective to force said control element to its off-normal position upon the disengagement of said first projection member from said supporting recess.

Claim 62

The lock of claim 6 wherein

Claim 63

The lock of claim 7 for use as a pushbutton door lock comprising

Claim 64

A combination lock for causing the deflection of a control element from a normal position to an off-normal position in response to a first sequence of operative steps comprising

Claim 65

A combination lock for causing the deflection of a control element from a normal position to an off-normal position in response to a first sequence of operative steps comprising

Claim 66

The lock of claim 9 in combination with means for deactivating said lock in response to the improper insertion of the prongs of at least one of said opening steppers through said first apertures comprising

Claim 67

The lock of claim 10 in combination with means for deactivating said lock in response to the improper withdrawal of the prongs of at least one of said opening steppers from said first apertures comprising

Claim 68

The lock of claim 11 wherein said activator has a reset channel having one end thereof beveled and in combination with means for reactivating said lock after deactivation has occurred comprising