Numerical combination replacement for cylinder locks

Claim 1

As a new article of manufacture, a device for replacing a conventional door cylinder lock housing and plug comprising: a cylindrical housing having an outer diameter corresponding to that of the housing it replaces, said housing having a principal longitudinal axis, a through bore parallel to and laterally offset from said axis, and a longitudinally extending channel parallel to and communicating with said through bore; an elongated locking bar normally positioned within said channel, resilient means urging said bar from said channel into said through bore; a permutation plug element including a main shaft supported for rotation within said through bore, an operating knob fixed to a first outer end of said shaft, a plurality of combination tumblers mounted for relative rotation upon said shaft, each tumbler having a peripheral notch therein and pins projecting parallel to said shaft for the transmission of motion from tumbler to tumbler; a lock operating member, one portion of which is mounted upon said shaft and disposed within said through bore, and having a corresponding peripheral notch disposed at an inner end of said through bore, said lock operating member including a portion on an inner end thereof for communicating with an existing latch; whereby, upon the dialing of a correct combination resulting in alignment of the notches in said tumblers and said lock operating member, said locking bar is urged into engagement with said notches to permit the transmission of movement from said knob to said lock operating member for the operation of said existing latch.