Door lock combination chambers

The present invention provides new door lock combination chambers for use with door locks, particularly pushbutton door locks. The combination chamber includes rotary keys which are actuated by pressing pushbuttons when entering an unlocking code into the combination chamber. The rotary keys rotate and engage idler gears which are engaged with a timing gear and code gears. The code gears have pockets which become aligned with an unlocking slide when the proper unlocking combination is entered into the combination chamber. The unlocking slide can be slide into the pockets on the code gears, and thus allow a corresponding locking mechanism retract a latch bolt in a door.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to door locks, and more 
specifically, the present invention relates to door lock combination 
chambers for use with pushbutton door locks. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Door locks are commonly used to lock doors and restrict access or passage 
through the doors. Door locks may provide restricted entry through one or 
both sides of the door. Door locks typically lock only one side of the 
door while permitting unrestricted access through the other side of the 
door. However, it may be desirable to lock both sides of the door for some 
door lock applications. Examples of door locks include key entry, 
combination dial locks, electronic locks, pushbutton locks and various 
other locks. 
Pushbutton locks are access control devices which are typically fully 
mechanical locks having mechanical pushbuttons for entering a combination 
to unlock the lock. Pushbutton locks operate when the correct buttons are 
pushed in the proper sequence and a turn knob is rotated. Pressing the 
correct buttons in the proper sequence enters an unlocking code into the 
pushbutton lock to permit the turn knob to open a door latch when the turn 
knob is rotated. The unlocking code or combination of the pushbutton locks 
can be modified as desired. 
Pushbutton locks can provide advantages over other types of locks. For 
example, pushbutton locks do not require a key which can be duplicated or 
lost. Also, mechanical pushbutton locks do not require an electronic 
system to operate the lock or a power source for the electronic system, 
such as a battery. 
Mechanical pushbutton locks have been used in a variety of applications. 
For example, mechanical pushbutton locks have been used to provide access 
control for public buildings, commercial buildings, industrial buildings 
and residential buildings. One type of application for pushbutton locks is 
a glass door having a stile which contains the glass. The pushbutton lock 
is mounted on the stile. However, door stiles for glass doors have become 
narrower. Accordingly, existing pushbutton locks may not be suitable for 
glass doors having a narrow stile. 
Existing pushbutton locks have included a turn knob which is manually 
rotated after the proper code is entered via the pushbuttons to unlatch 
the lock. A turn knob may not be suitable for use as a handle to open the 
door once the latch is unlatched. Also, the latching mechanism requires 
rotational drive from rotational movement of the turn knob to unlatch the 
latch. Rotational drive of the door latch may not be suitable for all door 
lock applications. 
Existing pushbutton door locks have included a rotational handle in place 
of the rotatable turn knob. The rotatable handles rotate similarly to the 
turn knob but may also be used to open the door once the pushbutton lock 
is unlocked. The rotatable door handles require two movements by the 
operator to open the door after the proper unlocking code has been entered 
through the pushbuttons. The door handle is first rotated in a plane 
parallel to the face of the door to retract the door latch into the door 
stile. Subsequently, the person opening the door must pull or push the 
door handle perpendicularly relative to the face of the door. Accordingly, 
pushbutton door locks can be improved. 
It would be advantageous to improve existing pushbutton door locks by 
providing pushbutton door locks having a narrow width suitable for use 
with glass doors having a narrow door stile. It would also be advantageous 
to improve existing pushbutton door locks by eliminating the rotational 
drive of the turn knob or door handle to retract the door latch. Existing 
pushbutton door locks could be further improved by providing mechanisms 
which simplify opening the door, such as retracting the door latch and 
opening the door with a single movement of the door handle after the 
proper unlocking combination has been entered through the pushbuttons. 
Existing pushbutton door locks have included a combination chamber which 
can be set to a specific unlocking code or combination. The unlocking code 
is entered into the combination chamber by pushing the correct buttons in 
proper sequence. However, existing combination chambers have been 
relatively complex and have required numerous parts. Existing combination 
chambers for pushbutton locks have been relatively large which results in 
a relatively large overall size of the pushbutton lock. For example, the 
pushbutton locks may be too wide for doors having narrow door stiles and 
may also extend to far outward from the face of the door. Existing 
pushbutton door locks which extend outward from the door face a relatively 
great distance may be said to have a "high profile." High profile door 
locks may not be suitable for all applications. For example, such high 
profile door locks may interfere with an additional door, such as a storm 
door, which may be positioned relatively close to the door containing the 
pushbutton lock. 
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to improve pushbutton door locks by 
providing new pushbutton door locks having low profiles. It would also be 
advantageous to improve pushbutton door locks by providing new combination 
chambers which are simplified, easier to manufacture, less costly and 
which have relatively smaller sizes. Other advantages for having new 
pushbutton door locks will become apparent in view of the present 
invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides new pushbutton door locks for use in 
providing access control, such as pushbutton paddle door locks controlling 
access through doors. The present invention also provides new door lock 
combination chambers for use with pushbutton door locks. One specific 
application for the new pushbutton door locks is for use with glass doors 
having a narrow stile; however, the new pushbutton locks can be used for 
various types of access control applications. The pushbutton locks of the 
present invention may be used for public buildings, commercial 
applications, residential applications, industrial applications and 
various other types of applications where access control is desired, for 
example. 
The pushbutton door locks of the present invention may have a relatively 
narrow width, which permits the pushbutton door locks to be used with 
doors having narrow stiles such as glass doors with narrow aluminum 
stiles. The pushbutton paddle locks have an outside paddle which moves in 
a single motion to unlatch and open the door after the proper unlocking 
combination is entered through the pushbuttons and a go button is 
depressed. Also, the driving mechanism of the new pushbutton locks which 
retracts the latch bolt has a linear sliding actuation rather than a 
rotational drive. 
The new door lock combination chambers of the present invention have a 
relatively small size which permits the pushbutton locks to have a "low 
profile." In other words, the new door lock combination chambers extend a 
relatively short distance perpendicularly outward from the face of the 
door. The new door lock combination chambers also have a simplified 
structure which reduces the number of components of the combination 
chamber, while maintaining access control, security and reliability of the 
pushbutton door locks. Other advantages of the new door lock combination 
chambers over existing pushbutton combination chambers can be realized 
with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,765 titled Permutation Lock. 
One new door lock combination chamber according to the present invention is 
an improvement because it combines a rotary key and a stem key into one 
rotary key, eliminates a rotary key shaft, realigns gear meshing in order 
to make the unit relatively flat, eliminates a code gear separator, 
eliminates an idler gear separator, redesigns the code gears, redesigns 
the back side of the idler gears, redesigns the timing gear so it will 
serve also as a rotary key shaft, eliminates a detent mechanism for 
indexing the timing gear and uses a standard ball plunger instead, 
eliminates a control shaft unit, redesigns top and bottom end plates to 
make the unit more serviceable, and reduces the projection height of the 
unit, for example to about 3/8". 
The new pushbutton door locks and door combination chambers of the present 
invention may be access control devices which are completely mechanical, 
i.e. include no electrical components. However, it is contemplated that 
the present invention could include electronic components if desired. The 
all-mechanical pushbutton locks and combination chambers of the present 
invention are ruggedly constructed and offer the dependability of keyless 
access control for a wide and continually expanding range of applications. 
Features of the present invention may include no unlocking keys or cards, 
no wiring or electrical components, all mechanical components which are 
not effected by power failures, a high degree of security because the 
locks cannot be picked, rugged, whether-resistant and all-metal 
construction, one handed operation, large easy-to-depress pushbuttons, 
ability to change the unlocking code or combination, and the ability to be 
used in a variety of applications. The new pushbutton door locks and door 
lock combination chambers may have up to five pushbuttons which can 
provide thousands of different unlocking combinations. However, the 
present invention contemplates using more or less than five pushbuttons. 
The pushbutton door locks may include outside and inside paddles for 
opening a door from either side of the door. The outside paddle may 
provide controlled access through the door via the combination chamber 
while the inside paddle may provide uncontrolled access through the door. 
A latch hold back feature may also be provided, such as on the inside 
uncontrolled access of the door, to maintain the door lock in an unlocked 
condition as desired. It is also contemplated to include a key access to 
override the combination chamber if desired. 
One pushbutton door lock according to the present invention has a lock 
combination unit, an operator actuator, a door latch bolt, a latch bolt 
retracting mechanism, and a moveable door handle. The lock combination 
unit has a locked position prior to entry of an unlocking combination, and 
an unlocked position when an unlock combination is entered into the lock 
combination unit. The operator actuator is engaged with the combination 
unit. The latch bolt retracting mechanism has a first portion engaged with 
the operator actuator and a second portion engaged with the door latch 
bolt. The first and second portions of the retracting mechanism are 
alternately disengaged and engaged with each other when the unlocking 
combination is entered into the combination unit and the operator actuator 
is actuated. The moveable door handle is engaged with the first portion of 
the retracting mechanism and is linked to the door latch bolt by the 
engaged first and second portions of the engagement mechanism. The door 
handle has an actuated position which actuates the engaged first and 
second portions of the retracting mechanism to unlock positions. The door 
latch bolt is in the retracted position when the second portion of the 
engagement mechanism is in the unlocked position. 
The first portion of the retracting mechanism may include an actuation 
button engaged with the operator actuator and a rotatable rotor in contact 
with the actuation button and the door handle. The second portion of the 
retracting mechanism may include a driver lever engaged with the rotor 
when the first and second portions of the retracting mechanism are engaged 
and a latch driver engaged with the driver lever and the latch bolt. The 
operator actuator may be a spring loaded button which includes a pivotable 
chamber actuator in contact with an unlocking slide of the combination 
unit and a pivotable rotor actuator in contact with the actuation button. 
The latch driver may slide linearly when actuated by the driver lever. 
An inside door handle linked to the door latch may also be provided to open 
the door without entering the combination into the combination unit. A 
latch open holding pin selectively engageable with the inside lever may 
also be provided to maintain the latch bolt in a retracted position. The 
door lock may also include a reset link in contact with a lock combination 
reset mechanism of the combination unit and the door handle. 
One lock combination chamber according to the present invention includes a 
rotatable timing gear, a plurality of rotary keys, an idler gear shaft, a 
code gear shaft, and an unlocking slide. The rotatable timing gear has a 
plurality of gear sections. The rotary keys are mounted on the timing gear 
and are rotatable relative to the timing gear. Each one of the rotary keys 
is associated with one of the gear sections of the timing gear. The idler 
gear shaft has a plurality of rotatable idler gears in which each one of 
the idler gears is engaged with one of the gear sections of the timing 
gear after rotation of the idler gear by contact with one of the rotary 
keys rotating on the timing gear. The code gear shaft has a plurality of 
rotatable code gears in which each one of the code gears is engaged with 
one of the idler gears and defines a pocket. The unlocking slide has a 
plurality of legs inserted into pockets of the code gears when the pockets 
are located at a predetermined position by rotation of the code gears and 
when the unlocking slide is actuated. A rotatable reset cam connected to 
the timing gear may also be provided such that the reset cam rotates the 
timing gear to a starting position after the timing gear is rotated by the 
idler gears. 
The present invention provides new pushbutton door locks and door lock 
combination chambers to control access, such as to control access through 
doors. The new pushbutton door locks and door lock combination chambers 
provide convenient and cost effective ways of controlling access through 
doors. An advantage of the present invention is to provide new pushbutton 
door locks and door lock combination chambers which overcome deficiencies 
of existing access control devices. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide reliable access 
control security. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide narrow pushbutton 
locks for use with doors having a narrow door stile. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide pushbutton locks 
having a door handle which unlatches the door latch and opens the door 
with a single operator movement. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide pushbutton door 
locks having a linearly actuated door latch driver. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide door lock 
combination chambers having a low profile. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide door locks and 
door lock combination chambers which are simplified, have fewer components 
and are cost effective to manufacture. 
Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading 
this disclosure including the appended claims and with reference to the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Although the present invention can be made in many different forms, the 
presently preferred embodiments are described in this disclosure and shown 
in the attached drawings. This disclosure exemplifies the principles of 
the present invention and does not limit the broad aspects of the 
invention only to the illustrated embodiments. 
A new pushbutton door lock 10 according to the principles of the present 
invention as shown by way of example in FIG. 1. The pushbutton door lock 
10 is mounted on a narrow door stile 12, such as a narrow aluminum stile 
for use with a glass door. The pushbutton door lock 10 has width small 
enough to permit the door lock 10 to be used with the narrow door stile 12 
having a width W. The pushbutton door lock 10 also has a low profile such 
that the door lock 10 extends outward a relatively short distance away 
from the door stile 12. 
The pushbutton door lock 10 has an outside unlatching mechanism contained 
within an outside housing 14 and mounted on an outside surface of the door 
stile 12 and an inside unlatching mechanism contained within an inside 
housing 16 and mounted on an inside surface of the door stile 12. The 
pushbutton door lock 10 provides controlled access on the outside of the 
door (a combination must be entered to unlock the lock) and uncontrolled 
access on the inside of the door (the door can be opened without entering 
a combination). 
The pushbutton door lock 10 includes a combination chamber 18 having a 
plurality of pushbuttons 20 for entering the unlocking combination into 
the combination chamber 18. An operator actuatable go button 22 is 
provided to actuate the outside locking mechanism after the combination is 
entered into the combination chamber 18. An outside paddle 24 can be 
pulled to retract a door latch 26 and open the door after the unlocking 
combination is entered into the combination chamber 18 and the go button 
22 is pressed. An inside paddle 28 can be pushed at any time to retract 
the door latch 26 and open the door whether or not the unlocking 
combination has been entered into the combination chamber 18. The door 
latch 26 is a mortise type latch mechanism and may have a deadlocking 
feature. The pushbutton door lock 10 may be designed for left-hand and 
right-hand doors with a reverse bevel, i.e. doors which are opened to the 
outside. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outside unlocking mechanism of the 
pushbutton door lock 10 is shown. The combination chamber 18 has an 
unlocking slide 30 which is slidable when the unlocking combination has 
been entered into the combination chamber 18 through the pushbuttons 20. 
The unlocking slide 30 cannot be moved unless the proper unlocking 
combination has been entered into the combination chamber 18. 
The spring loaded go button 22 is biased outwardly by a spring 34. A 
chamber actuator 36 and a rotor actuator 38 are pivotally mounted on an 
actuator shaft 40. The chamber actuator 36 pivots upwardly to engage the 
unlocking slide 30 and slide the unlocking slide 30 upward after the 
unlocking combination has been entered into the combination chamber 18 and 
the go button 22 has been actuated. Similarly, the rotor actuator 38 
pivots downwardly about actuator shaft 40 when the unlocking combination 
has been entered into the combination chamber 18 and the go button 22 has 
been actuated. 
If the unlocking combination has not been entered into the combination 
chamber 18 the unlocking slide 30 will be prevented from sliding when the 
chamber actuator 36 engages the unlocking slide 30. Although the go button 
22 can be depressed without entering the unlocking combination into the 
combination chamber 18, neither the chamber actuator 36 nor the rotor 
actuator 38 will pivot about the actuator shaft 40. The chamber and rotor 
actuators 36, 38 are prevented from pivoting about the actuator shaft 40 
because the unlocking slide 30 maintains its position as shown in FIGS. 2 
and 3. 
The pushbutton door lock 10 includes a vertically orientated actuation 
button 42 engaged with the rotor actuator 38. The actuation button 42 has 
a lower rounded surface 44 which contacts a multi-level cam surface 46 on 
a rotor 48. The rotor 48 is pivotally mounted on an outside lever shaft 50 
and can also move vertically along the outside lever shaft 50. Rotation of 
the rotor actuator 38 moves the actuation button 42 downward such that the 
rotor 48 moves downward by engagement of the lower rounded surface 44 and 
the multi-level cam surface 46. 
An outside lever 52 is also rotatably mounted on the outside lever shaft 
50. The outside lever 52 has a key 54 (FIG. 9) which engages a recess in 
the rotor 48 when the rotor 48 is moved vertically downward by the 
actuation button 42. 
The outside paddle 24 is pivotally mounted on a base shaft 54 which is 
approximately parallel to the face of the door. Accordingly, the outside 
paddle 24 pivots perpendicularly relative to the outside face of the door. 
A set screw 56 is provided on the outside panel 24 to engage the rotatable 
rotor 48 when the outside paddle 24 is pulled and pivoted about the base 
shaft 54. The set screw 56 is adjustable to vary the amount of pull 
required on the outside paddle 24 to engage the set screw 56 with the 
rotor 48. A groove pin 58 is also provided on the outside panel 24. The 
groove pin 58 is engageable with a reset blink 60 which is pivotal about a 
reset link pin 62. A spring 64 biases the reset link 60 toward an initial 
position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rotatable reset link 60 engages a 
reset cam 66 on the combination chamber 18 as described further below. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the outside lever 52 is engaged with a latch 
driver 68 by being inserted into an outside lever engagement recess 70. 
The latch driver 68 is linearly slidable and is biased to a forward 
position by a driver spring 72. The linearly slidable latch driver 68 is 
engageable with a latch bolt 74. Specifically, the latch driver 68 is 
engageable with an arm 76 which is pivotally attached to the latch bolt 74 
by a pivot 78. The latch bolt 74 is biased outward toward an extended 
position by a latch bolt spring 80. An auxiliary bolt 82 and an auxiliary 
bolt spring 84 may also be provided as is known in the art. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the pushbutton door lock 10 is shown in the position 
after the outside paddle 24 has been pulled. The set screw 56 on the 
outside paddle 24 engages the rotor 48 and rotates the rotor 48 about the 
outside lever shaft 50. If the rotor 48 is engaged with the outside lever 
52, the outside lever 52 slides the latch driver 68 (FIG. 5) to a rearward 
position which retracts the latch bolt 74. Regardless of whether the rotor 
48 is engaged with the outside lever 52, the multi-level cam surface 46 of 
the rotor 48 pushes the actuation button 42 upward by engagement with the 
lower rounded surface 44. This returns the actuation button 42 to its 
initial, unactuated position. 
The groove pin 58 engages one end of the reset link 60 and rotates the 
reset link 60 about the reset link pin 62. An opposite end of the reset 
link 60 engages and rotates the reset cam 66 of the combination chamber 18 
to reset the combination chamber 18. Continued pulling of the outside 
paddle by an operator 24 will open the door. When the outside paddle 24 is 
released the outside paddle 24 pivots to its unactuated position as does 
the rotor 48, the reset link 60 and the reset cam 66. The outside lever 52 
also returns to its unactuated position if it had been rotated by 
engagement with the rotor 48. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the inside unlocking mechanism of the pushbutton door 
lock 10 is shown. The inside paddle 28 is pivotable about a base shaft 86 
perpendicularly relative to an inside face of the door. An inside lever 88 
is rotatable about an inside lever shaft 90 when engaged by the inside 
paddle 28. An adjustable set screw 92, which is similar to the adjustable 
set screw 56 on the outside paddle 24, is provided on the inside paddle 28 
to engage the inside lever 88 as shown in FIG. 9. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the inside lever 88 is engaged with the latch driver 
68. Specifically, the inside lever 88 is engaged with an inside lever 
engagement recess 94 of the latch driver 68. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the inside portion of the pushbutton door lock 10 is 
shown in an actuated position. The inside paddle 28 is pivoted about the 
base shaft 86 by pushing forward on the inside paddle 28. The set screw 92 
on the inside paddle 28 engages the inside lever 88 and rotates the inside 
lever 88 in a clockwise direction about the inside lever shaft 90 (FIG. 
9). The inside lever 88 is engaged with the latch driver 68 which linearly 
slides the latch driver 68 to a rearward position retracting the latch 
bolt 74. In this manner, the pushbutton door lock 10 provides uncontrolled 
access through the door by actuation of the inside paddle 28. Continued 
pushing of the inside paddle by an operator will open the door. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a hold open mechanism may be included in the 
pushbutton door lock 10. The hold open mechanism includes a rotatable turn 
knob 96 connected to a rotatable holding cam 98. A spring loaded 
vertically movable holding pin 100 can be pushed down into a pin receiving 
hole 102 in the inside lever 88 by rotation of the turn knob 96 and the 
holding cam 98 when the inside lever 88 is rotated to align the pin 
receiving hole 102 with the holding pin 100. In this position, the 
pushbutton door lock 10 remains unlocked and the door remains open. The 
turn knob 96 and the holding cam 98 can be rotated back to their original 
positions to remove the holding pin 100 from the pin receiving hole 102, 
and thus allow the pushbutton door lock 10 to be locked. A slot 104 is 
provided in the turn knob 96 for insertion of a coin to assist in turning 
the turn knob 96. 
Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the combination chamber 18 will be further 
described. The combination chamber 18 includes a rotatable code gear shaft 
106, a rotatable idler gear shaft 108, and a rotatable timing gear 110. 
The code gear shaft 106, the idler gear shaft 108, and the timing gear 110 
are rotatably mounted on top and bottom end plates 112, 114 which are held 
together by a tie bar 116, a rotary key guide 118 and a front plate 120. A 
cover 122 may also be provided to enclose the combination chamber 18. 
Five rotary keys 124 are rotatably mounted on the timing gear 110, and each 
rotary key 124 has a hooked end 126 extending through a key slot 128 in 
the rotary key guide 118. Five homing springs 130 are connected to the 
hooked ends 126 of the rotary keys 124 and to the rotary key guide 118 to 
bias the rotary keys 124 in a home position, as shown in FIG. 10. Each one 
of the rotary keys 124 is associated with one of the pushbuttons 20 of the 
combination chamber 18. When a particular pushbutton 20 is pressed the 
corresponding rotary key 124 moves against the biasing force of the homing 
spring 130 and rotates about the timing gear 110. Five gear sections 132 
are provided on the time gear 110 in which each gear section 132 is 
associated with one rotary key 124. Each of the gear sections 132 are 
fixedly attached to the timing gear 110, while the rotary keys 124 are 
freely rotatable on the timing gear 110. Each rotary key 124 engages an 
idler gear 134 when a pushbutton is depressed as more fully described 
below. 
Five idler gears 134 are secured to the idler gear shaft 108 and engaged 
with corresponding gear sections 132 on the timing gear 110. Referring to 
FIG. 13, each one of the idler gears 134 has an index pocket 136 for 
receiving a fixing leg 138 of the rotary key 124. Each idler gear 134 also 
has a flat area 140 for engagement with a pushing leg 142 on the rotary 
key 124. 
Referring back to FIGS. 10-12, the code gear shaft 106 has five spaced 
apart code gears 144. Each code gear 144 is engaged with a corresponding 
idler gear 134. A pocket 146 is defined in each one the code gears 144 for 
receiving a leg 148 of the unlocking slide 30. The code gears 144 are 
freely rotatable on the code gear shaft 106 except for their engagement 
with the idler gears 134. A code gear shaft button 150 is provided to be 
actuated and axially slide the code gear shaft 106 such that the code 
gears 144 disengage the respective idler gears 134. The code gears 144 are 
disengaged from the idler gears 134 to set the unlocking combination as 
described below. 
The unlocking slide 30 can be pushed (i.e. by actuation of the go button 
22) to axially slide the code gear shaft 106 to reengage the code gears 
144 and the idler gears 144. The reset cam 66 is connected to the timing 
gear 110 such that the rotation of the reset cam 66 by the reset link 60 
rotates the timing gear 110. A spring loaded ball plunger 152 is provided 
in the bottom end plate 114 to engage the teeth in the closest gear 
section 132 of the timing gear 110. The spring loaded ball plunger 152 
maintains the timing gear 110 in desired positions by allowing the timing 
gear 110 to rotationally index as the ball plunger 152 engages the gear 
section 132 between the gear section teeth. 
Rotation of the reset cam 66 by the reset link 60 rotates the timing gear 
110 and resets the combination chamber 18 to the initially programmed 
unlocking code combination after each attempt to operate the pushbutton 
door lock 10, i.e. by pulling on the outside paddle 24. 
Operation of the pushbutton door lock 10 will now be further described. The 
new unlocking combination code can be set for the combination chamber 18 
when the pockets 146 of the code gears 144 are aligned with their 
respective legs 148 of the unlocking slide 30. The code gear shaft button 
150 is pushed downward which axially slides the code gear shaft 106 
downward such that each pocket 146 of the code gears 144 receives one of 
the legs 148 of the unlocking slide 30. In this position, the code gears 
144 are disengaged from their respective idler gears 134. Access to the 
code gear shaft button 150 can be provided by partially disassembling the 
pushbutton door lock 10 or by providing some other controlled access to 
the code gear shaft button 150. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the pushbuttons 20 of the combination chamber 18 are 
pressed in a desired sequence to define the unlocking combination. 
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, pushing a particular pushbutton 20 contacts 
the radial part 131 on a corresponding rotary key 124 and rotates the 
rotary key 124 about the timing gear 110. As the rotary key 124 rotates, 
the fixing leg 138 of the rotary key 124 moves out of the index pocket 136 
on the idler gear 134. Also, the pushing leg 132 of the rotary key 124 
engages the flat area 140 on the idler gear 134 and rotates the idler gear 
134 and the idler gear shaft 108. Because the idler gears 134 are engaged 
with the corresponding gear sections 132 of the timing gear 110, the 
timing gear also rotates, although in the opposite direction from rotation 
of the idler gear shaft 108. For example, the idler gear shaft 108 may 
rotate 40.degree. and the timing gear 110 may rotate 20.degree. in the 
opposite direction of rotation of the idler gear shaft 108. The ball 
plunger 152 maintains rotation of the timing gear 110 in desire locations 
by indexing each rotation of the timing gear 110. The ball plunger 152 
indexes rotation of the timing gear 110 by engaging the closes gear 
section 132 between the teeth of the gear section. Each idler gear 134 can 
be rotated by its respective rotary key 124 only once in any sequence of 
pressing the pushbuttons 20 individually or simultaneously with more than 
one pushbutton 20 depressed at the same time. 
After the unlocking combination is set, the code gears 144 are engaged with 
the idler gears 134 by pushing the unlocking slide 30 upward. The 
unlocking slide 30 can be pushed upward by pressing the go button 22. An 
unlocking slide spring 154 is provided to return the unlocking slide 30 to 
its downward position which is disengaged from the code gears 144. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the outside paddle 24 is pulled which causes the 
groove pin 58 to engage the reset link 60 and rotate the reset link 60 
against the return spring 64 to engage the reset cam 66. Referring to 
FIGS. 10-12, rotation of the reset cam 66 in a counter-clockwise direction 
rotates the timing gear 110 and the idler gears 134 to their original 
positions. Because the idler gears 134 are engaged with their respective 
code gears 144, the code gears 144 are rotated together with the idler 
gears 134. Rotation of the code gears 144 misaligns the pockets 146 in the 
code gears 144 from the legs 148 of the unlocking slide 30. Accordingly, 
when the go button 22 (FIG. 3) is pressed and the chamber actuator 36 
engages the unlocking slide 30, the unlocking slide 30 will not slide 
upward. The unlocking slide 30 is prevented from sliding upward because 
the ends of the legs 148 on the unlocking slide 30 contact the areas of 
the code gears 144 which do not have the pockets 146, i.e. the pockets 146 
are not aligned with the legs 148. 
If an incorrect unlocking code is entered into the combination chamber 18 
or no code is entered, the pushbutton door lock 10 will not open. If any 
of the pushbuttons 20 have been pressed the gear mechanism in the 
combination chamber 18 will be rotated accordingly. In particular the 
idler gears 134, the timing gear 110 and the code gears 144 will all 
rotate. However, the pockets 146 and the code gears 144 will not be 
aligned with the legs 148 on the unlocking slide 30. 
An operator desiring to open the door will press the go button 22 which 
attempts to pivot the chamber actuator 36 and the rotor actuator 38, with 
reference to FIG. 6. The chamber actuator 36 engages the unlocking slide 
30 but will not slide the unlocking slide 30 upward. Because the pivotal 
movement of the chamber actuator 36 is limited by the immobile unlocking 
slide 30, the rotor actuator 38 will be unable to push the actuation 
button 42 downward. Accordingly, the rotor 48 will not be moved into 
engagement with the outside lever 52. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the operator will pull on the outside paddle 24 which 
will rotate the rotor 48 without rotating the outside lever 52. Referring 
to FIG. 2, the latch driver 68 will not be slide by the outside lever 52 
and the latch bolt 74 will be maintained in its extended position. 
Referring to FIG. 7, rotation of the outside paddle 24 causes rotation of 
the reset link 60 due to engagement of the groove pin 58 with the reset 
link 60. The reset link 60 rotates the reset cam 66 which resets the 
combination chamber 18 as described above. The pushbutton door lock 10 is 
now in position for another attempt at unlocking the door lock and opening 
the door. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, if the correct unlocking code is entered into 
the combination chamber 18 the idler gears 134 and the code gears 144 will 
be rotated in the proper sequence. The pockets 146 and the codes gears 144 
will be properly aligned with the legs 148 of the unlocking slide 30. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the go button 22 is pressed and the chamber 
actuator 36 pushes the unlocking slide 30 upward to engage the legs 148 in 
the pockets 146. As the unlocking slide 30 moves upward, the rotor 
actuator 38 pushes the actuation button 42 downward which pushes the rotor 
48 into engagement with the outside lever 52. As the outside paddle 24 is 
pulled the set screw 56 engages the rotor 48 to rotate the rotor 48 and 
the outside lever 52. The outside lever 52 linearly slides the latch 
driver 68 which retracts the latch bolt 74. Concurrently, the reset link 
60 and the reset cam 66 reset the combination chamber 18 as described 
above. Also, as the operator pulls on the outside paddle 24 all in a 
single motion the door will open after the latch bolt 74 is retracted. 
The latch driver 68 slides linearly over the arm 76 of the latch bolt 74 
and rotates the arm 76 downward about the pivot 78. Rotation of the latch 
bolt arm 76 pushes the arm out of corresponding pockets in a housing of 
the door lock 10. Further sliding of the latch driver 68 pulls the arm 76 
together with the latch bolt 74 to a position where the latch bolt 74 is 
fully retracted along with the auxiliary bolt 82. The door is now 
unlocked. Normally, when the auxiliary bolt 82 is depressed by the door's 
edge when the door is closed, the auxiliary bolt 82 allows the arm 76 of 
the latch bolt 74 to deadlock the latch bolt 74 as is known. 
As the outside paddle 24 rotates the rotor 48 by engagement of the set 
screw 56 with the rotor 48, the multi-level cam surface 46 pushes the 
lower rounded surface 44 of the actuation button 42 upward. This 
automatically returns the actuation button 42 to its original position. 
The operator releases the outside paddle 24 and the outside paddle 24 
pivots back to its original at rest position. Referring to FIG. 5, the 
driver spring 72 returns the latch driver 68 to its at rest position and 
the latch bolt spring 80 returns the latch bolt 74 to its extended 
position. Referring to FIG. 2, the outside lever 52 and the rotor 48 
rotate back to their at rest positions. The rotor 48 is spring loaded such 
that the rotor 48 is biased to a position disengaged from the outside 
lever 52. Accordingly, the rotor 48 returns to its at rest position 
disengaged from the outside lever 52. 
The inside part of the pushbutton door lock 10 operates as follows. 
Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the inside paddle 28 is pushed toward the door and 
pivoted around the base shaft 86. The set screw 92 (FIG. 9) applies 
pressure to the inside lever 88 in a direction opposite to the door's 
inside surface. The inside lever 88 is rotated about the inside lever 
shaft 90 and the inside lever 88 engages the latch driver 68. The inside 
lever 88 slides the latch driver 68 and unlatches the latch bolt 74 and 
the auxiliary bolt 82 similarly as described with reference to the outside 
lever 52. 
After the operator releases the inside paddle 28, the inside lever 88, the 
latch driver 68, the latch bolt 74 and the auxiliary bolt 82 return to 
their at rest positions. 
Referring to FIGS. 6-8, the door lock 10 can be held in an unlocked 
position as follows. When the inside paddle 28 is fully depressed and the 
inside lever 88 is fully rotated, a coin can be inserted into the slot 104 
of the turn knob 96. The turn knob 96 can be rotated 180.degree. in either 
direction. Because the turn knob 96 is engaged with the holding cam 98, 
the holding cam 98 rotates and applies pressure to the spring loaded 
holding pin 100. The holding pin 100 sits into the pin receiving hole 102 
of the inside lever 88 underneath the holding cam 98. The holding pin 100 
maintains the inside lever 88 in the unlocked position which maintains the 
latch driver 68 and the latch bolts 74, 82 in the retracted positions. 
Accordingly, the pushbutton door lock remains in an unlocked position. 
The turn knob 96 can be rotated 180.degree. in either direction to rotate 
the holding cam 98 remove the holding pin 100 from the pin receiving hole 
102 in the inside lever 88. This releases the inside lever 88 and allows 
the lock components to return to the locked position including the latch 
bolts extending outward from the door. 
While the presently preferred embodiments have been illustrated and 
described, numerous changes and modifications can be made without 
significantly departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
Therefore, the inventor intends that such changes and modifications are 
covered by the appended claims.