Permutation lock

A combination lock having setting discs which are arranged alongside of each other on a shaft, are turnable independently of each other and extend through slots in a front plate of a lock case, having locking sleeves associated with the setting discs, seated on the shaft, in spring-biased coupling engagement with the setting discs and formed on their periphery with depressions which, when the combination number is correctly set are located in a position opposite projections, and having an actuating handle arranged on the front plate, which handle can be displaced longitudinally from its basic position in order to release a hasp which extends into inside of the lock through an opening in the front plate and cooperates with a latch member, the actuating handle also serving to displace the locking sleeves out of their position of coupling engagement with the setting discs. The actuating handle can be displaced from its basic position in a direction opposite the direction of opening of the lock, and thereby pushes the locking sleeves out of their position of engagement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a permutation lock having setting disks 
which are arranged alongside of each other on a shaft, are turnable 
independently of each other and extend through slots in a front plate of a 
lock case, with which disks there are associated locking sleeves which are 
also seated on the shaft and which are in spring-loaded coupling 
engagement with the setting disks and are provided on their periphery with 
depressions which, when the combination number is correctly set, are 
located opposite projections, the lock having an actuating handle arranged 
on the front plate, which handle can be displaced longitudinally from its 
basic position in order to release a hasp which extends into the inside of 
the lock through an opening in the front plate and cooperates with a latch 
member, the actuating handle also serving to displace the locking sleeves 
out of their position of engagement with the setting disks. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
One construction of this type is known from West German OS No. 28 16 073. 
In that case, to be sure, recoding is effected via the handle which 
effects the opening, but the mechanism employed requires a special stop 
device which separates the normal opening stroke from the recoding stroke 
which adjoins it in the same direction. The structural means are 
relatively extensive. Operation is also inconvenient since the actuating 
lever for the stop device which is arranged within the region of the head 
of the latch lies in a difficultly accessible position in the opening for 
the hasp-lug of the lock. The actual grip surface of the lever is too 
small. This is due to the fact that the lever when struck by the hasp, 
must still enter into a concealed position within the opening in order to 
make unauthorized access difficult. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is in particular--i.e. in addition to 
other purposes obtained from the specification and claims--to remedy this 
situation and to develop a permutation lock of this type in a manner which 
is simple to manufacture and easy to use, in such a way that a separately 
released stop mechanism can be done away with but nevertheless, while 
retaining the normal manner of actuation with respect to the opening, a 
clear separation of the strokes for the different functions (opening 
actuation, coding actuation) is obtained. 
In accordance with the invention the actuating handle (B) can be displaced 
from its basic position in a direction opposite the direction of opening 
of the lock, and thereby pushes the locking sleeves (6) out of their 
position of engagement. 
As a result of this formation, a permutation lock of the above-mentioned 
type which is of increased utilitarian value is created. Recoding is 
simplified. The interposing of a separate stop device is dispensed with 
but the opening and coding strokes are nevertheless clearly separated from 
each other since, for recoding, the actuating handle is moved out of its 
basic position in a direction opposite the lock-opening direction. The 
directions of stroke are opposite to each other. Upon the corresponding 
displacement, the locking sleeves are displaced from their position of 
engagement with the setting disks. When they are disengaged, the setting 
disks can be turned and brought to a new combination. Due to the fact that 
the basic position is present as a detent-determined intermediate 
position, a very definitely intended release is required in a 
corresponding ready position of the lock. The structural means for this 
purpose are also kept very simple: Thus, by means of a finger which 
extends into the inside of the lock the actuating handle passes, with a 
clearance corresponding to the required total stroke, through an opening 
in the latch member, which is formed as a latch slide, the finger forming, 
in the region around the shaft, an abutment surface which comes against 
the locking sleeve located furthermost to the outside. In order to make 
the movement of displacement of the actuating handle dependent on the 
unlocked basic position of the lock, it is also provided that the finger 
is continued, beyond the abutment surface, by a T-shaped extension which 
is disposed in crossing position with respect to a blocking member, the 
projections of the latter sensing the depressions of the locking sleeve, 
said extension also having a blocking shoulder which lies in front of a 
mating shoulder of the blocking member if the combination has been 
incorrectly set. The crosswise arrangement leads to an optimum utilization 
of the space, so that the structural height of the lock can be kept small. 
Advantages are also present from a functional standpoint inasmuch as the 
end of the blocking member which forms the mating shoulder lies in the 
direct vicinity of the inner wall of the lock housing, at least when the 
code has been incorrectly set. In this way a favorable support on the 
housing side can be employed for the locking member when load is acting on 
it. Due to the further structural measure that the finger carries the 
latch slide along in the opening direction and the lock closing spring 
acts on the latch slide, the other end of the spring resting against the 
housing wall of the lock, there is a free passageway between the finger 
and the latch slide, the latter in this way being given a true hasp 
function. The locking sleeves are spring biased in the opposing direction. 
The construction with respect to this is so selected that the housing wall 
of the lock which is opposite the closure spring of the lock is continued 
into a spring finger which acts on the locking sleeves from there. When 
the lock housing is made of plastic the spring finger can be formed at the 
same time thereon so that a reduction in the number of parts is in this 
way also possible. The blocking member is formed as a spring-biased 
single-arm rocker lever with window-shaped openings. It is suitably 
pivoted laterally in the vicinity of the bottom of the box. The further 
formation is such that the rocker lever passes into a T-shaped extension 
lying in the longitudinal direction of the lock, the inner surfaces of the 
T-arm thereof forming the mating shoulders. This T-shaped extension 
engages into the extension of the finger. The latter is for this purpose 
fork-shaped in its region of crossing the blocking member. The fork shape 
also has the advantage that the actuating handle can be simply placed 
transversely on the shaft, in a straddle-like arrangement. The shaft which 
is provided with the locking sleeves and setting disks can therefore be 
previously mounted in the lock housing. The finger forms lateral tongues 
which project beyond the abutment surface. The tongues are guided on the 
corresponding housing walls of the lock. Each of the tongue ends engages 
by a projection nose into a detent-recess on the wall side of the lock. 
The latch slide is limited in the direction of opening by stop lugs which 
terminate in the basic position of the lock at a distance in front of the 
tongues which corresponds to the opening stroke. In this way the latch 
slide, upon operation, pushes the finger back out of the coding position 
even if the finger were held in the coding position via detents. In 
structural respects, finally, there is also the advantageous feature that 
the rocker lever is formed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal 
central plane and acts centrally on the T-shaped extension. The 
corresponding ward can thereby be used for clockwise-closing and 
counterclockwise-closing locks. 
Further advantages and details of the object of the invention are explained 
in further detail below with reference to an illustrative preferred 
embodiment shown in the drawing, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The lock shown consists of the permutation lock part I proper and a staple 
closing part a hasp II. 
The permutation lock part has a lockcase 1 of elongated shape, preferably 
formed as a plastic injection molding, which surrounds a lock ward. The 
lock case at the top adjoins a front plate 2 which is fastened to it and 
protrudes on all sides beyond the edge of the lock case. The inside of the 
lock case 1 is traversed in longitudinal direction by a shaft 3. The 
stepped-down ends 3' of the latter extend into bearing recesses 4 of the 
lock case 1. The bearing recesses 4 are located in the lock housing walls 
5, i.e. the end walls of the lock case 1. The shaft 3 is axially 
non-displaceable after being clipped in place. 
The lock is provided with a blocking and code resetting device. This device 
comprises, inter alia, several locking sleeves 6. The latter are placed, 
one behind another, in a row on the shaft 3 and displaceably supported 
thereon. Each of them has a depression 7 on its periphery, which 
depressions, when the combination is properly set, are located opposite 
feeler projection 8 of a blocking member 9 which is arranged in the 
vicinity of the bottom of the lock case. Reference is had to the 
perspective view given in FIG. 11. The locking sleeve depression 7 is 
formed in the embodiment shown by way of example as a trapezoidal notch 
which is cut somewhat deeper than the height of the locking-sleeve collar 
6'. 
The blocking member 9 which rests under spring force against the periphery 
of the locking sleeve is formed as a single-arm rocker lever. It is 
articulated on a rocker support 10 in the inner side of the lock case. 
This support lies on the longitudinal side of the lock. The side of the 
blocking member 9 there is developed in bar shape of circular cross 
section and is simply clipped into the rocker support 10. The length of 
the support corresponds to the length of the bar, i.e. the rocker support 
is closed at its end so that axial displacement is possible only within 
the customary tolerance range. 
As a rocker spring there is employed a helical compression spring 11 which 
is inserted between lock-housing bottom 5' and the blocking member 9. Both 
end turns are centered by studs formed on the structural parts. The 
further formation of the blocking member 9 comprises in the provision of 
window-shaped openings 12 in the substantially elongated 
rectangular-shaped plate-like member body. Through these window-shaped 
openings 12 there extend setting disks 13 which have a partial section 
seated on the locking sleeves 6. The disks in their basic position are in 
coupling engagement with the locking sleeves. The discs, for their 
accessibility for actuating pass through slots 14 of the front plate, 2 
which lie opposite the blocking member 9. The coupling engagement is 
effected via engagement projections 15 which are formed on the locking 
sleeves 6 and engage into recesses 16 of an inner toothing of the setting 
disks 13. In the embodiment shown by way of example the locking sleeves 
have a total of four such engagement projections. 
The setting disks 13 are provided on their periphery with symbols, for 
instance in the form of numbers, with which an index line on the front 
plate 2 can be associated (not shown). The specific angular positions of 
the locking sleeves 6 and setting disks 13, respectively, are secured in 
position by special springs 17. The detent heads 17' of these springs 
enter into notch-like detent depressions 18 distributed at equal angles on 
the edge surfaces of the setting disks 13 (see FIG. 5). The springs are 
formed in the shape of freely cut arms 19 of the lock case 1. These arms 
comprise a section of the lock-housing bottom 5' and a part of the 
longitudinal wall 20 of the lock case 1 in which they commence. This is 
the opposite longitudinal wall 20 which lies opposite the longitudinal 
wall 20 which forms the rocker bearing 10. 
Not only the springs 17 but also the spring which holds the locking sleeves 
6 and setting disks 13 in engagement with each other are made of the 
material of the lock case. This last-mentioned spring is formed as spring 
finger 21 extending from the lock-housing wall 5 which is on the hasp 
side, namely the end wall. This finger extends from the zone below the 
bearing recess 4 and continues over a bottom-side swept-back section in 
the direction towards the front plate. The end 21' of the spring finger is 
forked and by its tine ends created in this manner engages on both sides 
of the cross section of the shaft to the hasp-side end surface of the 
locking sleeve 6. 
The support of the aligned locking sleeves 6 can be effected at the setting 
disks 13, which is their turn are held in axially non-displaceable manner 
by the slots 14. The recesses in the setting disks 13 are closed in the 
direction of actuation. 
The disengagement of the locking sleeves 6 is effected by means of the 
actuating handle B. The latter thus has a two-fold function since it 
normally serves to release the hasp II which engages through an opening 22 
in the front plate 2 into the inside of the lock, pulling back, against 
spring action, a latch member which is supported for longitudinal 
displacement below the front plate 2 and which is formed as latch slide 
23. The latch slide 23 has a frame-like shape. The arm of the frame on the 
hasp side continues into a latch projection 24. The latter snaps, in the 
manner of a catch, into the eye 25 of a stapel-shaped hasp II formed with 
a hasp bevel 26. The bottom side of the eye has a tranverse rounding 27 
which can be noted in FIG. 3. When this transverse rounding 27 strikes 
against the hasp bevel 26 the latch projection 24 is pushed back against 
the spring force of spring 39 acting on the latch slide 23 without the 
actuating handle B being correspondingly displaced. 
The corresponding free mobility is obtained in the manner that a finger F 
which extends from the actuating handle B towards the inside of the lock 
is not seated rigidly on the frame of the latch slide 23 but rather passes 
through the latter, even with clearance. The frame opening of the latch 
slide is designated /O/ . A transverse arm 28 of the latch slide 23, 
located on the side of the actuating-handle B, lies against the finger F 
under spring biasing. The latch slide 23 itself is supported in its basic 
position on the housing side. For this purpose stop lugs 29 extend from 
the bottom of the longitudinal arms of the frame of the latch slide 23, 
said lugs passing in front of a shoulder 30 in the longitudinal walls 20 
of the lock case 1 (see FIG. 7). 
For the disengagement of the locking sleeves, the finger F forms on the 
said facing toward the hasp in the region around the shaft 3 an abutment 
surface 31 which comes against the outermost locking sleeve 6, i.e. the 
locking sleeve lying on the side of the actuating handle. The 
corresponding basic position (FIG. 3) is formed as a detented intermediate 
position of the actuating handle and finger F, respectively, held between 
the end locking sleeve 6 and the transverse arm 28 of the frame of the 
latch slide 23. From this basic position, a leftward displacement of the 
actuating handle 13, if the code is correctly set, effects an opening of 
the lock with the retraction of the latch projection 24 from the eye 25. 
The corresponding opening stroke path is designated x in FIG. 3. 
A displacement of the actuating handle B and thus of the finger F, i.e. to 
the right from the basic position, effects the elimination of the coupling 
engagement between the locking sleeves 6 and the setting disks 13, so that 
recoding can then be effected. The coding stroke is designated y in FIG. 
3. 
The moving decoupling of the locking sleeves 6 is effected against the 
force of the spring finger 21 which acts upon them. The disengaged 
position is indicated in dash-dot line on the hasp-side end of the lock in 
FIG. 3. 
The displacement motion of the actuating handle B in the direction for the 
opening of the lock takes place against the greater force of the lock 
closure spring 32. This is a U-bent spring leaf, one arm 33 of which rests 
against the lock housing wall 5, i.e. the one end wall of the lock case 1, 
while the other arm 34 acts on the latch slide 23. The U reversal, as can 
be noted from FIG. 3, is of clearly rounded formation, a part of this 
rounding being anchored in a notch 35 on the bottom side of the lock case 
1. The lock closure spring 32 can thus be simply arranged in the manner of 
a plug-in connection. 
The basic position of the detented intermediate position is obtained by 
providing the finger F with lateral tongues 36 which project beyond the 
abutment surface 31. These tongues are formed on the finger. Each of the 
tongue ends continues into a detent projection 37. The detent projections 
project outwardly and engage into a detent recess 38. The detent recess 38 
is formed in the shape of a notch on the inner side of the lock case 1, 
the transverse depth of the notch corresponding to about one-half the wall 
thickness of the lock case. It extends from the edge of the lock case and 
terminates on the bottom side at the same height as the bottom of the 
shaft 3. As can be clearly noted from FIG. 9, the notch is of such a width 
that the detent projections 37 can move freely while performing the 
opening stroke x. Only the starting of the coding stroke y is effected 
against a clear detent resistance on the hasp-side notch edge K of the 
detent recess 38. This and the force of the spring finger 21 prevent the 
coupling engagement between the locking sleeves 6 and setting disks 13 
from being accidentally interrupted by accidental contacts and under the 
assumption of the corresponding coding-readiness position established on 
the lock side. 
The corresponding disengagement can also be developed as a detent position 
so that during recoding it is not necessary to hold the actuating handle 
and thus the finger F fast. If in such case the further formation is such 
that in the closed position of the latch slide 23 its stop lugs 29 
terminate at a distance in front of the tongues 36 which corresponds to 
the opening stroke x (FIG. 7) as a result of which therefore the hasp 
function is not impaired, the coding-readiness position would be 
automatically eliminated when the hasp II snaps into the closing position 
as a result of the catch action of the latch slide 23. The stop lug 29 
would namely push the finger back so that the detent projections 37 are 
again in the detent depression 38. 
Both strokes of the finger F can be effected only as a function of the 
correct opening position of the blocking member 9. The latter has, for 
this purpose, a T-shaped extension 40. 
The T-shaped extension acts centrally of the ladder-shaped base body of the 
rocker lever; see FIG. 11. It extends symmetrically in the longitudinal 
central plane so that the rocker lever, i.e. the blocking member 9, can be 
inserted optionally for clockwise closing or counter-clockwise closing 
locks. The feeler projections 8 are also provided correspondingly on both 
sides. The same applies with respect to the bosses which secure the 
helical compression spring 11. 
The finger F forms a T-shaped extension 41 which extends downwardly beyond 
the abutment surface 31. The extension extends in cross-wise position to 
the blocking member 9, the feeler projections 8 of which sense the 
depressions 7 of the locking sleeves 6 (cf. FIG. 6). The end surface of 
the T-arm of the finger F which faces the lock housing wall 5 there forms 
a blocking shoulder 42. If the combination is incorrectly set, the latter 
cooperates with a mating shoulder 43 of the blocking member. The 
corresponding situation is shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 3 (cf. the 
dot-dash lines in FIG. 6). The tilted position of the blocking member 9 
close to the bottom occurs when at least one of the feeler projections 8 
of the blocking member is prevented, from entering into the depression 7 
of a setting disk 13, thus rests against the further outwardly disposed 
blocking-sleeve collar 6'. In this blocking position which is shown in 
dot-dash lines a displacement of the actuating handle B to perform the 
opening stroke x would be out of the question. Due to the fact that in 
this connection also the end of the blocking member 9 which forms the 
mating shoulder 43 lies, at least when the combination is improperly set, 
in the inner wall of the direct vicinity of the lock-housing there, an 
active lock-case side supporting of the blocking member 9 can be utilized, 
as a result of which the blocking member is maintained free of greater 
loads. However, the coding stroke y can also not be carried out in this 
position since namely the other end surface 42' of the T-arm of the 
T-shaped extension 41, i.e. the end surface facing towards the hasp, would 
come against a second mating shoulder 44 of the blocking member 9, which 
second shoulder, in view of the T shape of the extension 40 selected, is 
present due to the notches obtained thereby. 
As a result of the different lengths of stroke between the opening stroke 
and the coding stroke, the cross arm of the T-shaped extension 41 is not 
seated symmetrically but rather eccentrically (see FIG. 3), so that a 
deeper insertion notch 45 for the opening stroke is present and a 
shallower insertion notch 46 is reserved for the coding stroke. 
The crosswise interengagement of the structural parts which control the 
coding-readiness position is reached in the manner that the extension 41 
of the finger F is of fork shape in its region of crossing with respect to 
the blocking member 9. The fork shape can be clearly noted from FIG. 10. 
The fork slot Sch which is open on the lock-bottom side permits the 
lateral insertion of the formed part shown in this figure onto the shaft 
3. The notches 45 are closed on the lateral outside, particularly for 
reasons of stability and also furthermore for reasons of dependable 
removal from the mold. 
The shaft 3 can also be used as additional means of guidance for the 
stradling finger F. Otherwise the finger which is formed as a slide is 
guided together with the bottom side of the tongues 36 on a slide track 47 
formed by a reduction in cross section of the longitudinal walls 20 (see 
FIG. 6). Lying on these tongues 36, the latch slide 23 is also guided over 
a portion of its length. 
On the side of the front plate the finger F passes into an upwardly 
directed neck 48 which passes through the opening /O/ of the latch slide 
23 and an opening 49 of the front plate. The neck terminates with a split 
support plate, formed thereon, for an actuating cap 51 which is held fast 
in the way of the clip arrangement. The bent, freely extending section of 
the plate 50 is supported by a strut 52 having a reinforcing action which 
is formed thereon in the region of the inner corner. 
The lock case is sufficiently stable in itself but may furthermore be 
provided with a shell-like metal covering 53 which is clipped on at the 
bottom. It would have the advantage of covering the openings present as a 
result of the cutting free of the spring fingers 17.