Modular key lock having lever tumblers with bendable portions

Claim 2

In a key lock of the lever tumbler type having spring biased lever tumblers with bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof alignable to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging portion which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement comprising, at least one lever tumbler having a bendable key-engaging portion disposed to be bent by initial rotation of the key in the lock, stop means against which said bendable portion rests under the bias of said spring prior to bending and which positions the tumbler in a predetermined first position with respect to the bolt, and against which said tumbler rests after bending in a different second position dependent upon the shape of the key, in which second position the gate is out of alignment with the bolt, and means for preventing rotation of the tumbler when the key is turned while the tumbler is in the first position.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the bendable key-engaging portion comprises an arm projecting from the tumbler which is connected to the tumbler by a yieldable neck.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the bendable portion is a yieldable web adjacent an aperture in the tumbler and which is deformable by bending relative to said aperture.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the stop means positions the tumbler in the first predetermined position such that the gate is in aLignment to receive the bolt.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the stop means includes discrete first and second stops in the lock case.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first stop is a key post.

Claim 8

In a key lock of the lever tumbler type having spring biased lever tumblers with bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof which are alignable to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging portion which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement comprising, at least one lever tumbler having a bendable key-engaging portion, the bendable portion prior to bending presenting a first stop-engaging surface which is positioned to engage and be arrested by said stop means in a position such that the gate is in alignment to receive the bolt, the bendable portion prior to bending being bendable by the key, if the key is turned with the tumbler held against turning, to a new position corresponding to the shape of the particular key lift which bends it, and a second stop-engaging surface on said tumbler that is active only after said bendable portion has been bent by said key, said second stop-engaging surface than being positioned to be arrested by the stop means in the case under the influence of said spring, in a position in which said gate is disaligned with respect to the bolt.

Claim 9

In a key lock of the lever tumbler type having spring biased lever tumblers with bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof which are alignable to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging portion which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement comprising, at least one lever tumbler having a bendable key-engaging portion, the bendable portion prior to bending presenting a first stop-engaging surface which is positioned to engage and be arrested by said stop means in a position such that the gate is in alignment to receive the bolt, the bendable portion prior to bending being bendable by the key, if the key is turned with the tumbler held against turning, to a new position corresponding to the shape of the particular key lift which bends it, and a second stop-engaging surface on said tumbler that is active only after said bendable portion has been bent by said key, said second stop-engaging surface than being positioned to be arrested by the stop means in the case under the influence of said spring, in a position in which said gate is disaligned with respect to the bolt.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the bendable key-engaging portion comprises an arm projecting from the tumbler which is connected to the tumbler by a neck.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the bendable portion coacts with a first stop in the lock case prior to bending, and wherein the second stop-engaging surface is not on the bendable portion of the tumbler, and is so positioned that after the bendable portion has been bent it is engageable in rest position by a second stop in the case which is spaced from the first stop.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 9 wherein the first stop is the key post of the key which bends the bendable portion.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the bendable portion, after bending, becomes the second stop-engaging surface.

Claim 14

A rotatable lever tumbler for a key lock comprising, an end portion having a gate formed therein for receiving a bolt, means for journalling said tumbler for rotation, a key-engaging portion disposed for engagement with a key, said key-engaging portion being deformably connected to the remainder of the tumbler so as to be bendable to a new position by said key when the tumbler is held against rotation, a first stop-engaging surface associated with said key-engaging portion and bendable therewith, said first stop-engaging surface prior to bending being positioned so that it can be arrested by stop means in the case and when so arrested will position said tumbler in a predetermined first position, means engageable with the tumbler to prevent it from turning when in said first predetermined position, and a second stop-engaging surface on said tumbler, said second stop-engaging surface positioned so that it can be arrested by said stop means to arrest said tumbler in a second position at which the gate is disaligned with respect to a bolt, after said key-engaging portion has been bent.

Claim 15

A rotatable lever tumbler for a key lock comprising, an end portion having a gate formed therein for receiving a bolt, means for journalling said tumbler for rotation, a key-engaging portion disposed for engagement with a key, said key-engaging portion being deformably connected to the remainder of the tumbler so as to be bendable to a new position by said key when the tumbler is held against rotation, a first stop-engaging surface associated with said key-engaging portion and bendable therewith, said first stop-engaging surface prior to bending being positioned so that it can be arrested by stop means in the case and when so arrested will position said tumbler in a predetermined first position, means engageable with the tumbler to prevent it from turning when in said first predetermined position, and a second stop-engaging surface on said tumbler, said second stop-engaging surface positioned so that it can be arrested by said stop means to arrest said tumbler in a second position at which the gate is disaligned with respect to a bolt, after said key-engaging portion has been bent.

Claim 16

In a keylock of the lever tumbler type, a deformable lever tumbler having an end portion with a gate formed therein for receiving a bolt, means for journalling said tumbler for rotation, a key-engaging portion of said tumbler disposed for engagement with a key, said key-engaging portion being deformably connected to the remainder of the tumbler so as to be bendable to a new position by said key when the tumbler is held against rotation, stop means in the case for engaging the tumbler in a rest position under bias of a spring, the key-engaging portion prior to deformation bearing against the stop means and holding the gate in alignment to Receive the bolt, the key-engaging portion prior to deformation being engageable with the key to be deformed by the key if the latter is rotated when the bolt is engaged with the tumbler, the key-engaging portion subsequent to deformation bearing against the stop means after the key is removed and holding the gate in a position of disalignment with the bolt.

Claim 17

In a keylock of the lever tumbler type, a deformable lever tumbler having an end portion with a gate formed therein for receiving a bolt, means for journalling said tumbler for rotation, a key-engaging portion of said tumbler disposed for engagement with a key, said key-engaging portion being deformably connected to the remainder of the tumbler so as to be bendable to a new position by said key when the tumbler is held against rotation, stop means in the case for engaging the tumbler in a rest position under bias of a spring, the key-engaging portion prior to deformation bearing against the stop means and holding the gate in alignment to Receive the bolt, the key-engaging portion prior to deformation being engageable with the key to be deformed by the key if the latter is rotated when the bolt is engaged with the tumbler, the key-engaging portion subsequent to deformation bearing against the stop means after the key is removed and holding the gate in a position of disalignment with the bolt.

Claim 18

In a key lock of the lever tumbler type having spring biased lever tumblers with a bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof alignable to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging surface which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement wherein at least one of the tumblers has a key-engaging portion that is bendable by initial rotation of the key, said key-engaging portion prior to bending resting against a stop in the case and holding the tumbler gate in alignment to receive the bolt, said tumbler also having a portion that, when the key-engaging portion has been bent, rests against a stop in the case and holds the gate in disalignment with the bolt.

Claim 19

In a key lock of the lever tumbler type having spring biased lever tumblers with a bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof alignable to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging surface which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement wherein at least one of the tumblers has a key-engaging portion that is bendable by initial rotation of the key, said key-engaging portion prior to bending resting against a stop in the case and holding the tumbler gate in alignment to receive the bolt, said tumbler also having a portion that, when the key-engaging portion has been bent, rests against a stop in the case and holds the gate in disalignment with the bolt.

Claim 20

In a two key safety deposit box lock of the lever tumbler type having a set of customer tumblers operated by a customer''s key and a set of guard tumblers operated by a guard key, the tumblers having bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof which in ordinary use must be properly aligned by the respective keys to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging portion which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement wherein each guard tumbler has a guard key-engaging portion which is bendable and which is positioned to be bent by the initial rotation of the guard key, said guard key-engaging portion prior to bending resting against a guard key post and holding the tumbler gate in alignment to receive the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, said guard tumbler also having a portion that after bending by said key rests against a customer key post and holds the gate in disalignment with the bolt.

Claim 21

In a two key safety deposit box lock of the lever tumbler type having a set of customer tumblers operated by a customer''s key and a set of guard tumblers operated by a guard key, the tumblers having bolt receiving gates at the ends thereof which in ordinary use must be properly aligned by the respective keys to permit a bolt to be retracted, each tumbler having a key-engaging portion which is acted upon by a key, each tumbler being biased by a spring toward stop means presented in the lock case, the improvement wherein each guard tumbler has a guard key-engaging portion which is bendable and which is positioned to be bent by the initial rotation of the guard key, said guard key-engaging portion prior to bending resting against a guard key post and holding the tumbler gate in alignment to receive the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, said guard tumbler also having a portion that after bending by said key rests against a customer key post and holds the gate in disalignment with the bolt.