US3719064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination lock with lineally movable cam followers and nonsequentially acting tumbler holders
Assignee: Mosler Safe Co
•
Filing: 1971-09-20
•
Granted: 1973-03-06
•
Expires: 1991-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A combination lock having lineally movable cam followers that position corresponding tumblers. The tumblers are engageable with corresponding fences when arrested in proper positions. A spring resiliently couples each tumbler to a corresponding cam follower, and tends to cause them to move together lineally. Holders are actuated individually to prevent motion of the corresponding tumblers. The holders make edgewise engagement with the tumblers, and cam them into discrete positions. Randomly oriented holder cams operate in nonsequential order to actuate the holders to arrest the corresponding tumblers. The holder cams are rotated incrementally by a ratchet and pawl. A bolt operating lever is held out of contact with the driver, and in turn holds the fences away from the tumblers, until all the tumblers have been engaged by the respective holders. The fences can be released with a key to permit them to be rearranged to change the combination, only when the bolt is withdrawn. The operating shaft is biased concentrically toward an axially centered position.
Inventors
- 👤 A Potzick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:13
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B37/00; E05B37/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7181; Y10T70/7198; Y10T70/7215; Y10T70/7226; Y10T70/7322; Y10T70/735; Y10T70/7367; Y10T70/739; Y10T70/7401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, and a coupling spring acting at each end on said cam follower and said tumbler, and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, and a coupling spring acting at each end on said cam follower and said tumbler, and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, and a coupling spring acting at each end on said cam follower and said tumbler, and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, and a coupling spring acting at each end on said cam follower and said tumbler, and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said follower and tumbler are mounted side by side in ways for sliding movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the cam follower and tumbler are mounted in a tumbler housing, said housing comprising a unit which can be removed from said lock for replacement without disassembly of the tumbler from the follower.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said follower and said tumbler each have two oppositely facing surfaces, said surfaces being perpendicular to the direction of follower movement, said coupling spring being seated beTween the oppositely facing surfaces of said follower and tumbler, said coupling spring at all times abutting at least two of said surfaces which are opposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said tumbler and follower has two edges which face one another, and wherein said coupling spring is a coil spring having its ends bearing on the said edges of said tumbler and follower.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 5 further wherein said follower has a finger on one of said edges projecting toward its other said edge, and wherein said tumbler has a similar finger but projecting from an opposite edge than the finger of the follower, the fingers overlying one another, said coupling spring encircling said fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said follower has a second finger parallel to its first mentioned finger, and a part of said follower spring encircles said second finger to bias the follower toward the cam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 1 further wherein said tumbler has a projection extending perpendicularly to the direction of tumbler movement but parallel to the plane thereof, and a fence having a gate for receiving said projection therein if said tumbler is held in a predetermined position of alignment with respect to said gate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 8 further including means permitting only abrupt contact of said fence with said tumbler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position of the tumbler, spring means resiliently coupling the tumbler to the cam follower for movement therewith, a holder movable transversely to the tumbler in the plane of movement thereof and interengageable with the tumbler for holding the tumbler in a given position, and a holder cam for moving said holder into interengagement with said tumbler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a combination lock, a cam operating a cam follower, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position of the tumbler, spring means resiliently coupling the tumbler to the cam follower for movement therewith, a holder movable transversely to the tumbler in the plane of movement thereof and interengageable with the tumbler for holding the tumbler in a given position, and a holder cam for moving said holder into interengagement with said tumbler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein one of the holder and the tumbler has a projection thereon which is interengageable with a series of corresponding notches on the other of the holder and tumbler, to hold the tumbler in a given position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said series of notches is formed in an edge of said tumbler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein each of said notches and said projection is V-shaped, and interengagement of said projection in a notch can cam said tumbler into a discrete position corresponding to a whole number position on a lock dial.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 11 further including a holding spring compressible between said holder cam and said holder so that when said spring is compressed by said holder cam it then pushes said holder into engagement with said tumbler.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said cam has a lobe which bears on said holding spring only in a certain range of angular positions of said cam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein a holder release spring biases said holder away from engagement with said tumbler, said holder release spring being weaker than said holding spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said holding spring is a preloaded hairpin-type spring which reacts on itself and which exerts no biasing force on said holder until the holder cam loads it beyond its preload.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein said holding spring is mounted for pivoting movement on a shaft extending perpendicularly to the plane of movement of said holder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a combination lock, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position of the tumbler, a holder movable transversely to the tumbler in the plane of movement thereof and interengageable with the tumbler for holding the tumblers in a given position, a holder actuating spring stressable by a holder cam to exert a biasing force on the holder urging the latter into interengagement with the tumbler to hold the tumbler in a given position, and means for rotating the tumbler cam to stress said Spring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a combination lock, a movable tumbler interengageable with a fence only at a predetermined position of the tumbler, a holder movable transversely to the tumbler in the plane of movement thereof and interengageable with the tumbler for holding the tumblers in a given position, a holder actuating spring stressable by a holder cam to exert a biasing force on the holder urging the latter into interengagement with the tumbler to hold the tumbler in a given position, and means for rotating the tumbler cam to stress said Spring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lock in accordance with claim 19 wherein the spring is a hairpin type spring which reacts on itself.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lock in accordance with claim 20 wherein the spring is rotatable about an axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A lock in accordance with claim 20 which also includes a releasing spring biasing the holder away from interengagement with the tumbler. the releasing spring being weaker than the actuating spring.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a combination lock, cam follower means for positioning a plurality of tumblers with respect to corresponding fences, a plurality of holders for holding the respective tumblers as positioned by said cam follower means, and a plurality of holder cams for actuating the respective holders to hold the respective tumblers, said cams being fixed on a rotatable shaft, each cam having a lobe operating the respective holder at a certain angular position of said shaft, the angular shaft positions at which the cams operate the respective holders varying from cam to cam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a combination lock, cam follower means for positioning a plurality of tumblers with respect to corresponding fences, a plurality of holders for holding the respective tumblers as positioned by said cam follower means, and a plurality of holder cams for actuating the respective holders to hold the respective tumblers, said cams being fixed on a rotatable shaft, each cam having a lobe operating the respective holder at a certain angular position of said shaft, the angular shaft positions at which the cams operate the respective holders varying from cam to cam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 23 wherein said holders are mounted as a deck in parallel overlying relation, and further wherein said tumblers and follower means are mounted as a deck in parallel overlying relation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 24 further including guide means limiting each holder to lineal movement along a fixed path, toward and away from the corresponding tumbler, the path of movement of each holder lying in the plane of movement of the corresponding tumbler.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 23 wherein said cams are stacked on the cam shaft with their lobes randomly arranged such that the cams do not operate the holders in the sequence in which they are stacked on the shaft.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 23 wherein said cam shaft is journalled at opposite ends in a lock case.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 23 further including spring means rotationally biasing said shaft to a starting position in which none of the cam lobes operate the holders.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a combination lock, an operating shaft movable both rotationally and axially, a plurality of sets of mechanisms each comprising, a tumbler positionable by rotation of said operating shaft, a holder movable in a plane of movement of said tumbler, said holder movable toward and away from an edge of said tumbler, interengageable means for holding said tumbler in a given position, said interengageable means provided in part of said holder and in part on said edge of said tumbler, and a holder cam for moving said holder with respect to said edge so that said interengageable means are brought into interengagement to hold said tumbler at said position; the holder cams of said sets being mounted on a common rotatable cam shaft, ratchet and pawl means for rotating said cam shaft in increments, each increment causing at least one holder cam to move the corresponding holder into interengagement with the corresponding tumbler, and actuating means for said ratchet and pawl means, said actuating means responsive to an axial motion of said operating shaft to operate said ratchet and pawl means to rotate said cam shaft incrementally.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a combination lock, an operating shaft movable both rotationally and axially, a plurality of sets of mechanisms each comprising, a tumbler positionable by rotation of said operating shaft, a holder movable in a plane of movement of said tumbler, said holder movable toward and away from an edge of said tumbler, interengageable means for holding said tumbler in a given position, said interengageable means provided in part of said holder and in part on said edge of said tumbler, and a holder cam for moving said holder with respect to said edge so that said interengageable means are brought into interengagement to hold said tumbler at said position; the holder cams of said sets being mounted on a common rotatable cam shaft, ratchet and pawl means for rotating said cam shaft in increments, each increment causing at least one holder cam to move the corresponding holder into interengagement with the corresponding tumbler, and actuating means for said ratchet and pawl means, said actuating means responsive to an axial motion of said operating shaft to operate said ratchet and pawl means to rotate said cam shaft incrementally.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 29 wherein the holder cams are randomly arranged on the cam shaft to move the corresponding holders in nonsequential order.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 29 wherein said actuating means includes a member cammed by axial movement of said operating shaft, said ratchet and pawl means being operated by the camming of said member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 29 further including a bolt and a lever for operating said bolt, a driver engageable with said lever to withdraw the bolt only if a predetermined combination has been set, and a lever cam on said cam shaft holding said lever out of contact with said driver until all of said tumblers are held by the corresponding holders.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a combination lock, a settable tumbler, a holder movable relative to the tumbler to interengage and hold thE latter at a position to which the tumbler has been set, a holder cam turnable to a position at which it causes the holder to interengage the tumbler, a ratchet connected to the holder cam for turning the latter, a pawl for turning the ratchet a spring rotationally biasing the cam toward a home position in which it does not actuate the holder, release means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet to permit the ratchet and cam to return to said home position, said release means being responsive to an axial movement of an operating shaft to disengage the pawl from the ratchet.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a combination lock, a settable tumbler, a holder movable relative to the tumbler to interengage and hold thE latter at a position to which the tumbler has been set, a holder cam turnable to a position at which it causes the holder to interengage the tumbler, a ratchet connected to the holder cam for turning the latter, a pawl for turning the ratchet a spring rotationally biasing the cam toward a home position in which it does not actuate the holder, release means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet to permit the ratchet and cam to return to said home position, said release means being responsive to an axial movement of an operating shaft to disengage the pawl from the ratchet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
61 words
A lock in accordance with claim 33 wherein the release means includes a cam surface on an operating shaft, a member cammed in a transverse direction with respect to said shaft by axial movement of said shaft, said member being connected to said pawl to move the pawl out of operating relation with said ratchet when the shaft is moved axially.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a combination lock, a group of fences, each fence being interengageable with a corresponding tumbler only at a certain tumbler position, means mounting said fences and permitting sliding movement of said fences relative to one another, thereby to change the combination to which the group of fences is set, and clamping means for preventing relative movement between said fences, said clamping means comprising, a fence clamping spring for exerting a clamping force on said group, an element slidable with respect to said spring, in a direction parallel to the direction of fence sliding movement, said element being slidable between a clamping position in which said element stresses said spring to clamp said fences against relative movement and an unclamp position in which stress on said spring is released to permit relative sliding movement between said fences.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a combination lock, a group of fences, each fence being interengageable with a corresponding tumbler only at a certain tumbler position, means mounting said fences and permitting sliding movement of said fences relative to one another, thereby to change the combination to which the group of fences is set, and clamping means for preventing relative movement between said fences, said clamping means comprising, a fence clamping spring for exerting a clamping force on said group, an element slidable with respect to said spring, in a direction parallel to the direction of fence sliding movement, said element being slidable between a clamping position in which said element stresses said spring to clamp said fences against relative movement and an unclamp position in which stress on said spring is released to permit relative sliding movement between said fences.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention of claim 35 further including, a key engageable with said element for sliding said element between the clamping and unclamp positions, a lock case having a limited aperture through which said key must pass to slide said element, said aperture positioned to permit insertion of said key only when said lock is in unlock condition, and to permit withdrawal of said key only when said element is in clamping position.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 35 wherein said fence clamping spring is a leaf spring.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 36 wherein said element coacts with a detent tending to hold it in clamping position.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 35 further including a lock case having mounting means supporting the fence mounting means for movement in said case toward and away from the tumblers.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 39 wherein said mounting means comprise a clevis swingably mounted in said lock case, said clevis supporting the fence mounting means for movement in said case relative to said tumblers.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention of claim 39 further including a pin projecting from the fence mounting means, a bolt and a lever for operating said bolt, said pin extending into an opening in the lever, said opening permitting movement of said lever with respect to said housing in the direction transverse to the direction of fence movement toward the tumblers, but connecting the lever to the housing for movement therewith in the direction toward the tumblers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 41 wherein said pin is connected to move with said element relative to said fences, such that when said element is moved to unclamping position, said pin is disconnected from said lever.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 35 which further includes dummy fences indistinguishable radiographically from the first mentioned fences, the dummy fences being included in the group of fences but not in positions for interengaging the tumblers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 35 wherein at least some of said fences include false gates not interengageable with the tumblers but radiographically appearing like true gates.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a combiNation lock of the push knob type wherein an operating shaft is both rotatable about its axis and shiftable axially, means biasing said shaft toward a centered axial position comprising, a sleeve around said shaft and connected to the shaft for rotational and axial movement with it, said sleeve having a pair of lands separated by an intermediate peripheral groove, a spring under compression in said groove and bearing at each end on a washer in said groove, a connector member splined to each land for rotation with the land but slidable relative to the land, stop means restraining axial movement of each splined member relative to the lock from a centered position each said connector member having a transverse end surface engageable by the respective washer when the shaft and sleeve are moved from centered position and thereby further compressing said spring.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a combiNation lock of the push knob type wherein an operating shaft is both rotatable about its axis and shiftable axially, means biasing said shaft toward a centered axial position comprising, a sleeve around said shaft and connected to the shaft for rotational and axial movement with it, said sleeve having a pair of lands separated by an intermediate peripheral groove, a spring under compression in said groove and bearing at each end on a washer in said groove, a connector member splined to each land for rotation with the land but slidable relative to the land, stop means restraining axial movement of each splined member relative to the lock from a centered position each said connector member having a transverse end surface engageable by the respective washer when the shaft and sleeve are moved from centered position and thereby further compressing said spring.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
43 words
The biasing means of claim 45 wherein tumbler operating cams are mounted on a cam sleeve telescoped over the first mentioned sleeve, said cam sleeve being connected to said shaft through the connector members for rotation but not axial motion with the shaft.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
The biasing means of claim 45 which further includes a lock case presenting an aperture adjacent each end of said sleeve, into which said sleeve can move.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
43 words
The biasing means of claim 47 which further includes means limiting the angular positions at which said shaft can be moved axially, the limiting means being presented in part on the sleeve and in part on the aperture into which said sleeve moves.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
31 words
The biasing means of claim 48 wherein said limiting means include splines and grooves on said aperture and sleeve, said splines and grooves being interfittable only at predetermined angular shaft positions.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
23 words
The biasing means of claim 45 wherein the lock is mounted in a case which includes a journal for each said connector member.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
The biasing means of claim 45 wherein a cam surface is formed on a land and is brought into engagement with lock operating mechanism upon axial movement of said shaft.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a combination lock, a shaft operated rotatable cam operating a cam follower, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, a movable tumbler engageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, the cam follower and the tumbler being mounted side by side for lineal movement in parallel planes toward and away from the cams, and means yieldably coupling the tumbler to the follower and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a combination lock, a shaft operated rotatable cam operating a cam follower, a follower spring biasing the cam follower toward the cam, a movable tumbler engageable with a fence only at a predetermined position, the cam follower and the tumbler being mounted side by side for lineal movement in parallel planes toward and away from the cams, and means yieldably coupling the tumbler to the follower and biasing said tumbler to move with said follower unless movement of said tumbler is prevented.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |