COMBINATION CAM LOCK WITH IMPROVED COMBINATION CHANGE MODE

• US 20080110216A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Inventors: Banks, David, Dalton, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/103 Combination lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0058 by axial disengagement between hub and rim of tumbler discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7599 Transverse of plug

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing a resettable manual entry combination and key operated cam lock. Methodologies are provided for enabling changing of the manual entry resettable combination given knowledge of the previous combination and possession of an operable key. In alternative embodiments, provisions are made to prohibit forced opening of the lock by way of the use of foreign objects.

Claims

1. A combination cam lock, comprising:

a manually operable lock portion configured to enable lock operation upon presentation thereto of a predetermined manual entry combination;

a key lock portion configured to enable lock operation upon actuation with a physical key, independently of any presentation of any manually entered combination to said manually operable lock portion; and

a combination change portion configured to permit resetting of said predetermined manual entry combination upon both presentation of said predetermined manual entry combination and actuation of said key lock portion with a physical key.

2. The combination cam lock of claim 1, wherein said key lock portion comprises:

an inner cylinder; and

a keyplug fitted within said inner cylinder, whereby insertion of a physical key into said keyplug and rotation of said keyplug to a first position thereof permits unlocking of said cam lock.

3. The combination cam lock of claim 2, further comprising:

a housing enclosing said manually operable lock portion and said key lock portion;

an opening positioned in a portion of said inner cylinder; and

a protrusion positioned in a portion of said housing, whereby said opening and said protrusion operatively cooperate with tumblers of said keyplug to inhibit access to said combination change portion.

4. The combination cam lock of claim 2, further comprising:

a detent actuator associated with said manually operable lock portion; and

a cam portion associated with said inner cylinder, wherein said detent portion is configured to inhibit rotation of said inner cylinder while said manually operable lock portion is positioned in a locked configuration thereof.

5. The combination cam lock of claim 3, wherein said detent actuator is configured to permit rotation of said inner cylinder to a second position thereof upon presentation to said manually operable lock portion of said predetermined manual entry combination, whereby said predetermined manual entry combination may be reset.

6. The combination cam lock of claim 1, wherein said key lock portion comprises a keyplug fitted within a housing, whereby insertion of a physical key into said keyplug and rotation of said keyplug to a first position thereof permits unlocking of said cam lock.

7. The combination cam lock of claim 6, further comprising:

a detent actuator associated with said manually operable lock portion;

a first through hole positioned in said housing in alignment with said detent actuator; and

a second through hole positioned in said keyplug, whereby rotation of said keyplug to said first position thereof and removal of said physical key from said keyplug permits unimpeded alignment of said first through hole, said second through hole, and said detent actuator, thereby providing external access to said detent actuator.

8. A method of operating a combination cam lock, comprising:

providing a combination cam lock having a manually operable combination entry portion operable to open the cam lock upon manual entry of a predetermined combination, and an independently operable physical key operable portion operable to open the cam lock upon rotation of the physical key to a first position thereof;

manually entering the predetermined combination to the manually operable portion so as to unlock the cam lock;

inserting a physical key into the key operable portion;

rotating the physical key to a position beyond the first position thereof; and

selectively repositioning manual entry components of the manually operable combination entry portion, whereby the predetermined combination may be reset to a new predetermined combination.

9. A method of operating a combination cam lock, comprising:

providing a combination cam lock having a manually operable combination entry portion operable to open the cam lock upon manual entry of a predetermined combination, and an independently operable physical key operable portion operable to open the cam lock upon rotation of the physical key to a first position, with both such portions contained within a housing;

manually entering the predetermined combination to the manually operable portion so as to unlock the cam lock;

inserting a physical key into the key operable portion;

rotating the physical key to the first position thereof;

removing the physical key from the key operable portion; and

selectively repositioning manual entry components of the manually operable combination entry portion, whereby the predetermined combination may be reset to a new predetermined combination.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing the housing with a first through hole;

providing the key operable portion with a second through hole; and

inserting a combination change enabling device through the first and second through holes, whereby the predetermined combination may be reset to a new predetermined combination.