Patent US3869885A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3869885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Locking system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-01
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in a locking system of the type having a series of reference combinations arranged serially upon a tape. A combination entered into said system is compared with the reference combination, and if both combinations are complementary, a lock in the system is released. The improvement comprises a positive intermittent drive mechanism for advancing the tape to a new reference combination position.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W Uthenwoldt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:57
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7322; Y10T70/7424
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combinations serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new combination being entered into said locking system for each unlocking operation, which newly entered combination being required to complement a new predetermined reference combination which has been advanced upon said tape in order to unlock a lock of said locking system, the combination locking system comprising: sensing means for sensing the reference combination appearing on the tape adjacent said sensing means and comparing said reference combination with said entered combination; tape driving means associated with said sensing means for positively advancing the tape past said sensing means thereby moving successive reference combinations past said sensing means, said positive tape driving means comprising at least one sprocket wheel, an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said sprocket wheel for positively turning said sprocket wheel, said tape being in contact with said sprocket wheel and aperatured to conform to said sprocket wheel, said tape being advanced by said sprocket wheel when said actuating mechanism turns said sprocket wheel; positioning means operatively connected to said driving means for incrementally positioning a new reference combination adjacent said sensing means with each actuation of said positioning means; and means operatively connected to said positioning means for actuating said positioning means in response to the complementing of the reference combination with the entered combination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combinations serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new combination being entered into said locking system for each unlocking operation, which newly entered combination being required to complement a new predetermined reference combination which has been advanced upon said tape in order to unlock a lock of said locking system, the combination locking system comprising: sensing means for sensing the reference combination appearing on the tape adjacent said sensing means and comparing said reference combination with said entered combination; tape driving means associated with said sensing means for positively advancing the tape past said sensing means thereby moving successive reference combinations past said sensing means, said positive tape driving means comprising at least one sprocket wheel, an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said sprocket wheel for positively turning said sprocket wheel, said tape being in contact with said sprocket wheel and aperatured to conform to said sprocket wheel, said tape being advanced by said sprocket wheel when said actuating mechanism turns said sprocket wheel; positioning means operatively connected to said driving means for incrementally positioning a new reference combination adjacent said sensing means with each actuation of said positioning means; and means operatively connected to said positioning means for actuating said positioning means in response to the complementing of the reference combination with the entered combination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
247 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combinations serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new combination being entered into said locking system for each unlocking operation, which newly entered combination being required to complement a new predetermined reference combination which has been advanced upon said tape in order to unlock a lock of said locking system, the combination locking system comprising: sensing means for sensing the reference combination appearing on the tape adjacent said sensing means and comparing said reference combination with said entered combination; tape driving means associated with said sensing means for positively advancing the tape past said sensing means thereby moving successive reference combinations past said sensing means, said positive tape driving means comprising at least one sprocket wheel, an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said sprocket wheel for positively turning said sprocket wheel, said tape being in contact with said sprocket wheel and aperatured to conform to said sprocket wheel, said tape being advanced by said sprocket wheel when said actuating mechanism turns said sprocket wheel; positioning means operatively connected to said driving means for incrementally positioning a new reference combination adjacent said sensing means with each actuation of said positioning means; and means operatively connected to said positioning means for actuating said positioning means in response to the complementing of the reference combination with the entered combination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
247 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combinations serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new combination being entered into said locking system for each unlocking operation, which newly entered combination being required to complement a new predetermined reference combination which has been advanced upon said tape in order to unlock a lock of said locking system, the combination locking system comprising: sensing means for sensing the reference combination appearing on the tape adjacent said sensing means and comparing said reference combination with said entered combination; tape driving means associated with said sensing means for positively advancing the tape past said sensing means thereby moving successive reference combinations past said sensing means, said positive tape driving means comprising at least one sprocket wheel, an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said sprocket wheel for positively turning said sprocket wheel, said tape being in contact with said sprocket wheel and aperatured to conform to said sprocket wheel, said tape being advanced by said sprocket wheel when said actuating mechanism turns said sprocket wheel; positioning means operatively connected to said driving means for incrementally positioning a new reference combination adjacent said sensing means with each actuation of said positioning means; and means operatively connected to said positioning means for actuating said positioning means in response to the complementing of the reference combination with the entered combination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination locking system of claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a hand-held knob operatively connected to said sprocket wheel for turning said sprocket wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination locking system of claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises an intermittent motion mechanism operatively connected between said sprocket wheel and said actuating mechanism for incrementally advancing said tape one reference combinatiOn for each actuation of said actuating mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3664231A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |