Patent ID: 6272889
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
In a pushbutton combination lock, a mechanism for minimizing tactile feedback to a user attempting to determine a combination that unlocks the lock, the mechanism comprising:a bolt movable in a first direction to unlock the lock;a detent member that is coupled to and moves with the bolt, the detent member having a series of spaced notches;a check plate positioned adjacent the detent member; andplural buttons each movable in a second direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction, each button being movable between at least a first normal position and a second depressed position, each button having an attached blocking member that is attached to and moves with the button, the blocking member being shaped to engage one of the notches in the detent member,wherein depressing one of the buttons from the normal position to the depressed position engages the blocking member attached to the button with an adjacent one of the notches in the detent member, thereby limiting movement of the detent member and the coupled bolt in the first direction.