Combination locks
First Claim
1. A combination lock having a locking member movable between locking and unlocking positions, a plurality of rotary elements for controlling the position of the locking member by peripheral cooperation of the respective elements with the locking member, each rotary element having a periphery including a major portion and a minor portion, the major portion holding the locking member in locking position when the element is suitably rotated with any point on the major portion engaging the locking member, the major portion comprising a central section disposed on an arc defining a part of a circle and end sections connecting the major portion to opposite ends respectively of the minor portion, the minor portion being disposed within said circle and when suitably mutually aligned with the minor portions of the other rotary elements, allowing the locking member to assume an unlocking position, the ends of the minor portion being spaced inwardly of said circle and the end sections of the major portion each extending inwardly from a point on the circle to a respective end of the minor portions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Combination locks employ dial-driven rotary elements for controlling the position of a locking member between locking and unlocking positions by peripheral cooperating of the respective elements with the locking member. Each rotary element is formed in a manner whereby no audible sound or difference in feel is produced during rotation of the element when the on-combination setting of the element is reached. This reduces the possibility that the lock may be picked.
16 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A combination lock having a locking member movable between locking and unlocking positions, a plurality of rotary elements for controlling the position of the locking member by peripheral cooperation of the respective elements with the locking member, each rotary element having a periphery including a major portion and a minor portion, the major portion holding the locking member in locking position when the element is suitably rotated with any point on the major portion engaging the locking member, the major portion comprising a central section disposed on an arc defining a part of a circle and end sections connecting the major portion to opposite ends respectively of the minor portion, the minor portion being disposed within said circle and when suitably mutually aligned with the minor portions of the other rotary elements, allowing the locking member to assume an unlocking position, the ends of the minor portion being spaced inwardly of said circle and the end sections of the major portion each extending inwardly from a point on the circle to a respective end of the minor portions.
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9. A combination lock having a locking member movable between locking and unlocking positions, a plurality of rotary elements for controlling the position of the locking member by peripheral cooperation of the respective elements with the locking member, each rotary element having a periphery including a major portion and a minor portion, the major portion holding the locking member in locking position when the element is suitably rotated with any point on the major portion engaging the locking member, the minor portion when suitably mutually aligned with the minor portions of the other rotary elements, allowing the locking member to assume an unlocking position, and the major portion having opposite end sections defining means for providing that an operator may detect substantially no change in feel and substantially no audible sound when a point of contact between the locking member and the rotary element passes between the major and minor portions as the element is rotated.
Specification