Combination safe

Claim 2

In combination with a closeable door; a door frame for receiving said door; movable latch means including complementary parts on said door and door frames for latching said door in the position in which it is received by said door frame; and means for locking said latching means in latching position comprising said door; a combination lock of the type having a plurality of side-by-side coding wheels, a rotatable cam associated with each coding wheel, means for releasably engaging each of said coding wheels with its associated cam for concomitant rotation, cam follower means operatively engageable with said latching means for preventing movement thereof out of its latching position, said cam follower means being movable by each of said cams to and from said latch movement preventing position and from and to a second position out of operative engagement with said latching means, whereby all of said cams must be in predetermined positions to move said cam follower means out of said latch movement preventing position; the improvement comprising: a key lock including a key receiving member movable between a key receiving position, a second position and a position intermediate said other two positions; means for actuating said means for releasably engaging said cams with said coding wheels to release said cams from said coding wheels when said key receiving means is in said intermediate position, said last mentioned actuating means being ineffective when said key receiving member is in said key receiving position and in said second position; and means for preventing said key receiving member from being moved to said key receiving position unless said coding wheels are each in a preselected position.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said key lock further comprises means for preventing the removal of a key from said key receiving member unless said key receiving member is in said key receiving position.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said key receiving member is rotatably movable, and said means for actuating said means for releasably engaging said cams with said coding wheels comprises a reciprocably shiftable clutch means, a rotatable cam and means for rotating said cam in response to rotation of said key receiving member for moving said clutch means to disengage said wheel from said cam when said key receiving member is in said intermediate position.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for preventing said key receiving member from being moved to said key receiving position comprises an elongated member, means for moving said elongated member longitudinally in response to rotation of said key receiving member, each of said coding wheels having an aperture therein proportioned to receive said elongated member and that is registrable with said elongated member when the coding wheel is in its preselected position, said means for moving said elongated member being arranged to move said elongated member through said registered apertures in said wheels upon said key receiving member being moved into said key receiving position, whereby if all said wheels are not in their preselected position said elongated member will be prevented from moving to thereby prevent said key receiving member from being moved into its key receiving position.

Claim 6

The combinatiOn as defined in claim 4, wherein said key receiving member is rotatable movable, and wherein said means for moving said elongated member comprises a gear drivingly connected to said key receiving member and a rack in meshed relation with said gear and drivingly connected to said elongated member, and wherein said means for actuating said means for releasably engaging said cams with said coding wheels comprises a reciprocably shiftable clutch means, a cam surface portion on said gear movable into engagement with said clutch means when said key receiving means is moved to said intermediate position to shift said clutch means to disengage said coding wheels from said cams.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 2, further comprising door position responsive means for preventing the movement of said latching means to said latching position when said door is out of receiving relation with said door frame.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 5, further comprising door position responsive means for preventing the movement of said latching means to said latching position when said door is out of receiving relation with said door frame.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said combination lock is mounted on a panel of preselected thickness and made of relatively impenatrable material, and further includes manually movable means for moving said cam follower means out of operative engagement with said latching means, said panel having a point of diminished thickness in register with said manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said manually movable means.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said cam follower is movable to a third position out of latch movement preventing position, and said manualy operable means is an elongated member mounted on said panel and engagable with said cam follower, said manually operable elongated member being movable toward and away from said cam follower third position to move said cam follower into said third position.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a second manually movable means movable between a position for blocking movement of said cam follower to said third position, and a second position out of blocking relationship with said cam follower, said panel having a second point of diminished thickness in register with said second manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said second manually movable means.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said second manually movable means comprises a first gear having a blocking member extending radially outward therefrom, and a second gear in meshed relation with said first gear and operatively mounted on said panel with the axis of said second gear in register with said second point of diminished thickness, said second gear having a non-circular axial cavity in register with said second point of diminished thickness, whereby when an aperture is drilled through said second point, a tool complementary to said non-circular axial cavity can be inserted therein to rotate said gears and move said blocking member out of blocking relation with said cam follower.

Claim 13

The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said combination lock is mounted on a panel of preselected thickness and made of relatively impenatrable material, and further includes manually movable means for moving said cam follower means out of operative engagement with said latching means, said panel having a point of diminished thickness in register with said manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said manually movable means, and wherein said cam follower is movable to a third position out of latch movement preventing position, and said manually operable means is an elongated member mounted on said panel and engageable with said cam follower, said manually elongated member being movable toward and away from said cam follower third position to move said cam follower into said third position, and further comprisiNg a second manually movable means movable between a first position for blocking movement of said cam follower to said third position, and a second position out of blocking relationship with said cam follower, said panel having a second point of diminished thickness in register with said second manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said second manually movable means, and wherein said second manually movable means comprises a first gear having a blocking member extending radially outward therefrom, and a second gear in meshed relation with said first gear and operatively mounted on said panel with the axis of said second gear in register with said second point of diminished thickness, said second gear having a non-circular axial cavity in register with said second point of diminished thickness, whereby when an aperture is drilled through said second point, a tool complementary to said non-circular axial cavity can be inserted therein to rotate said gears and move said blocking member out of blocking relation with said cam follower.

Claim 14

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said combination lock is mounted within a door having front and rear panels, each of said coding wheels having a first set of indicia and a laterally offset second set of indicia identical to the first, but shifted 180* with respect to said first and being upside down with respect thereto, said front panel having a plurality of apertures, one for each coding wheel, in register with said coding wheel for providing manual access to said coding wheel and for permitting the reading of said first set of indicia, said rear panel having a plurality of apertures, one for each coding wheel, for providing manual access to said coding wheel and for permitting the reading of said second set of indicia, and wherein said key lock is mounted on said rear panel.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said apertures on said front panel are proportioned and positioned to permit the reading of only said first sets of indicia and the apertures on said rear panel are proportioned and positioned to permit the reading of only said second sets of indicia.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 1, comprising a first switch means for detecting the position of said cam follower means and being closed when said cam follower means is out of operative engagement with said latching means; a second switch means for detecting the position of said key receiving member and being closed when said key receiving member is in said second position; alarm means; and a circuit for energizing said alarm means including in series said first and second switches.

Claim 17

The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising switch means, one for each cam, for sensing the position of said cams and being closed when said cams are in a position to permit said cam follower to move away from its latch movement preventing position, and a switch operatively associated with said latch and closed when said latch is out of latching position, a relay, a circuit for energizing said relay including in series all of said switch means and said switch, a holding circuit for relay including in series only all of said switch means, an alarm, an energizing circuit for said alarm including a front contact of said relay.

Claim 18

In combination with an enclosure having a door opening defined by a door frame, a closeable door movably mounted on said door frame for movement to and from a closing position overlying said door opening; movable latch means including complementary parts on said door and door frames for latching said door in the position in which it is in overlying relation with said door opening; and means for locking said latching means in latching position comprising said door; a combination lock of the type having a plurality of side-by-side coding wheels, a rotatable cam associated with each coding wheel, means for releasably engaging each of said coding wheels with its associated cam for concomitaNt rotation, cam follower means operatively engageable with said latching means for preventing movement thereof out of its latching position, said cam follower means being movable by each of said cams to and from said latch movement preventing position and from and to a second position out of operative engagement with said latching means, whereby all of said cams must be in predetermined positions to move said cam follower means out of said latch movement preventing position; the improvement comprising: a key lock including a key receiving member movable between a key receiving position, a second position and a position intermediate said other two positions; and means for actuating said means for releasably engaging said cams with said coding wheels to release said cams from said coding wheels when said key receiving means is in said intermediate position, said last mentioned actuating means being ineffective when said key receiving member is in said key receiving position and in said second position.

Claim 19

In combination with an enclosure having a door opening defined by a door frame, a closeable door movably mounted on said door frame for movement to and from a closing position overlying said door opening; movable latch means including complementary parts on said door and door frames for latching said door in the position in which it is in overlying relation with said door opening; and means for locking said latching means in latching position comprising said door; a combination lock of the type having a plurality of side-by-side coding wheels, a rotatable cam associated with each coding wheel, means for releasably engaging each of said coding wheels with its associated cam for concomitaNt rotation, cam follower means operatively engageable with said latching means for preventing movement thereof out of its latching position, said cam follower means being movable by each of said cams to and from said latch movement preventing position and from and to a second position out of operative engagement with said latching means, whereby all of said cams must be in predetermined positions to move said cam follower means out of said latch movement preventing position; the improvement comprising: a key lock including a key receiving member movable between a key receiving position, a second position and a position intermediate said other two positions; and means for actuating said means for releasably engaging said cams with said coding wheels to release said cams from said coding wheels when said key receiving means is in said intermediate position, said last mentioned actuating means being ineffective when said key receiving member is in said key receiving position and in said second position.

Claim 20

The combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said key lock is disposed within said enclosure when said door is in overlying relation with said door opening.

Claim 21

The combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said key lock further comprises means for preventing the removal of a key from said key receiving member unless said key receiving member is in said key receiving position.

Claim 22

The combination as defined in claim 19, further comprising door position responsive means for preventing the movement of said latching means to said latching position when said door is out of overlying relation with said door opening.

Claim 23

The combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said combination lock is mounted on a panel of preselected thickness and made of relatively impenatrable material, and further includes manually movable means for moving said cam follower means out of operative engagement with said latching means, said panel having a point of diminished thickness in register with said manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said manually movable means.

Claim 24

The combination as defined in claim 21, wherein said cam follower is movable to a third position out of latch movement preventing position, and said manually operable means is an elongated member mounted on said panel and engagable with said cam follower, said manually operable elongated member being movable toward and away from said cam follower third position to move said cam follower into said third position.

Claim 25

The combination as defined in claim 22, further comprising a second manually movable means movable between a position for blocking movement of said cam follower to said third position, and a second position out of blocking relationship with said cam follower, said panel having a second point of diminished thickness in register with said second manually movable means, whereby to facilitate access to said second manually movable means.

Claim 26

The combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said combination lock, said key lock and said movable latch means are all mounted on said enclosure, said latching means comprises a slide bolt having a portion movable into and out of said door opening, said door has a cavity registrable with said slide bolt when said door is in said closed position, whereby when said door is closed and said slide bolt is extended said door is latched.

Claim 27

The combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said door cavity is a passage extending across said door, said door frame has a cavity on the surface opposite said latching portion, and further comprising a plunger extending across said door and reciprocably movably mounted within said door passage, means for biasing said plunger to a retracted position within said door, whereby when said door is closed and said latch portion is moved into said door cavity, said plunger will be moved into said cavity in the opposite surface of said door frame to latch said door at opposite sides thereof.

Claim 28

The combinAtion as defined in claim 25, wherein said portion of said slide bolt that is movable into and out of said door opening comprises a pair of spaced apart pins, said door has two spaced apart passages extending thereacross and being registrable with said two pins when said door is closed, the surface of said door frame opposite said latching portion has a pair of spaced apart cavities registrable with said pair of door passages when said door is in said closed position, and there are two plungers reciprocably movably mounted in said two door passages, and two means for biasing said plunger to said retracted position.

Claim 29

The combination as defined in claim 26, wherein said door passages are each defined by an elongated sleeve extending across said door, and a pair of vertically spaced tubes disposed within and fixed to said sleeve.

Claim 30

The combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising manually operable means for moving said latch means when said cam follower means is out of said latch movement prevent position, and wherein said manually operable means and said combination lock are mounted on the outside of said enclosure, and said key lock is mounted within said enclosure.

Claim 31

The combination as defined in claim 28, wherein said manually operable means, said combination lock and said key lock are all accessible from the same position when the door is open.

Claim 32

The combination as defined in claim 29, wherein said movable latch means comprises a member movably supported by said enclosure and movable into a complementary recess in said door for latching said door, said recess being a portion of a passage extending across said door, said door frame having a cavity in register with said passage, and further comprising a plunger of a length substantially equal to the length of said passage mounted in said passage for axial movement, means for biasing said plunger to a normal position entirely within said passage, whereby when said door is closed and said latch member is moved into said complementary recess, said latch member will engage said plunger and force it partially out of said passage into said cavity to thereby latch said door at two locations.

Claim 33

The combination as defined in claim 30, wherein said door passage is defined by a pair of spaced apart tubes and said biasing means is a spring operatively engaging said plunger and one of said tubes.

Claim 34

The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising manually operable means for moving said latch means when said cam follower means is out of said latch movement prevent position, and wherein said manually operable means and said combination lock are mounted on the outside of said enclosure, said key lock is mounted within said enclosure, and wherein said manually operable means, said combination lock and said key lock are all accessible from the same position when the door is open.

Claim 35

The combination as defined in claim 32, wherein said movable latch means comprises a member movably supported by said enclosure and movable into a complementary recess in said door for latching said door, said recess being a portion of a passage extending across said door, said door frame having a cavity in register with said passage, and further comprising a plunger of a length substantially equal to the length of said plunger mounted in said passage for axial movement, means for biasing said plunger to a normal position entirely within said passage, whereby when said door is closed and said latch member is moved into said complementary recess, said latch member will engage said plunger and force it partially out of said passage into said cavity to thereby latch said door at two locations.