US3998079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1975-08-22
•
Granted: 1976-12-21
•
Expires: 1995-08-22
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 apparatus for preventing the unlocking of the system when all the reference combination setting fingers are depressed, or alternately when all the reference combination setting fingers are in a non-depressed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W. Uthenwoldt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:14
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B37/00; E05B37/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7181; Y10T70/7186; Y10T70/7322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combination serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new 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: depressible fingers for setting a reference combination into said system, said fingers being movable from a first, non-depressed position to a second, depressed position, said fingers each having an extension member; and a locking bail, said locking bail having spring loaded jaw members that are engageable with said extension members of said fingers, said locking bail being movable between locking positions and a non-locking position in response to the positioning of said extension members of said fingers, said locking bail being in a locking position when all of the fingers are in the first, non-depressed position, and also when all of the fingers are in the second, depressed position, said locking bail being in a non-locking position when said extension members of said fingers are in intermixed positions corresponding to having at least one but not all of the fingers in the second, depressed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A combination locking system of the type having a tape containing a plurality of predetermined reference combination serially disposed thereon, said tape being advanced to a new reference combination position for each unlocking operation performed upon said system, a new 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: depressible fingers for setting a reference combination into said system, said fingers being movable from a first, non-depressed position to a second, depressed position, said fingers each having an extension member; and a locking bail, said locking bail having spring loaded jaw members that are engageable with said extension members of said fingers, said locking bail being movable between locking positions and a non-locking position in response to the positioning of said extension members of said fingers, said locking bail being in a locking position when all of the fingers are in the first, non-depressed position, and also when all of the fingers are in the second, depressed position, said locking bail being in a non-locking position when said extension members of said fingers are in intermixed positions corresponding to having at least one but not all of the fingers in the second, depressed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination locking system of claim 1, wherein all the extension members engage with the first jaw member when the fingers are all in the first, non-depressed position, and alternately engage with the second jaw member when the fingers are all in the second, depressed position, said extension members alternately engaging with the first and second jaw members respectively, when the fingers are in corresponding intermixed positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination locking system of claim 1, further comprising a movable gate that is restrained from movement by said locking bail when said locking bail is in a locking position, and is free to move when said locking bail is in a non-locking position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
232 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: depressible fingers for setting a reference combination into said system, said fingers being movable from a first, non-depressed position to a second, depressed position, said fingers each having an extension member; and a locking means, said locking means having first and second spring loaded jaw members engageable with said extension members of said fingers said locking means being movable between locking positions and a non-locking position in response to the positioning of said extension members of said fingers, said locking means being in a locking position when all of the fingers are in the first, non-depressed position, and also when all of the fingers are in the second, depressed position, said locking means being in a non-locking position when said extension members of said fingers are in intermixed positions corresponding to having at least one but not all of the fingers in the second, depressed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 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: depressible fingers for setting a reference combination into said system, said fingers being movable from a first, non-depressed position to a second, depressed position, said fingers each having an extension member; and a locking means, said locking means having first and second spring loaded jaw members engageable with said extension members of said fingers said locking means being movable between locking positions and a non-locking position in response to the positioning of said extension members of said fingers, said locking means being in a locking position when all of the fingers are in the first, non-depressed position, and also when all of the fingers are in the second, depressed position, said locking means being in a non-locking position when said extension members of said fingers are in intermixed positions corresponding to having at least one but not all of the fingers in the second, depressed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination locking system of claim 4, wherein all the extension members engage with the first jaw member when the fingers are all in the first, non-depressed position, and alternately engage with the second jaw member when the fingers are all in the second, depressed position, said extension members alternately engaging with the first and second jaw members respectively, when the fingers are in corresponding intermixed positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination locking system of claim 4, further comprising a movable gate that is restrained from movement by said locking means when said locking means is in a locking position, and is free to move when said locking means is in a non-locking position.
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) | 1979-12-21 | 1980-06-21 | 1980-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-21 | 1984-06-21 | 1984-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-21 | 1988-06-21 | 1988-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |