Axial split-pin tumbler-type lock mechanism for a handle lock

An axial split-pin tumbler-type lock mechanism for a handle lock and of the type including a lock cylinder, a forwardly disposed operating part rotatable in the cylinder, a rearwardly disposed stationary sleeve in the cylinder and adjoining the operating part at a transverse interfacial plane, the operating part including a shaft extending axially through the sleeve, the key-operated spring-pressed axially movable split-pin tumblers carried in bores in the operating part and the sleeve and movable into positions alternately serving to secure the operating part and the sleeve against relative rotation and to free the operating part for rotation to operate the lock mechanism, includes a bolt holder integral with the sleeve part and disposed rearwardly thereof, the holder having a bolt race extending transversely therein, and a lock bolt mounted in the race for transverse sliding movement therein between unlocking and locking positions, the bolt having means cooperating with coupling means on the distal end of the shaft for moving the bolt between such positions in response to rotation of the operating part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an axial split-pin tumbler-type lock mechanism 
for a handle lock, including a bolt holder forming part of the lock 
mechanism and a lock bolt mounted in the holder and adapted to project 
laterally outwardly from the lock for locking purposes. 
A handle lock is a type of locking assembly employed frequently on vending 
machine cabinets and the like. It includes a tubular casing which receives 
the cylindrical body of a "pop-out" rotatable handle. A cylinder lock is 
mounted in the handle body, and it operates a lock bolt which projects 
laterally to secure the handle body to the casing. Operation of the 
cylinder lock moves the lock bolt into a retracted unlocking position, 
which releases the handle, so that it pops out of the casing under spring 
pressure and may be turned for opening a cabient door or the like. 
In the past, the axial split-pin tumbler-type lock mechanisms employed in 
the handles of the handle locks have been constructed in four principal 
parts or pieces, namely, an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a forwardly 
disposed operating or spindle part mounted in the inner cylinder, and a 
rearwardly disposed stationary sleeve part mounted in the inner cylinder. 
A lock bolt has been movably mounted in the outer cylinder, adjacent to 
the sleeve part and coupled with the operating part, for transverse 
movement in and out of the outer cylinder in response to rotation of the 
operating part. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an axial split-pin tumbler-type lock 
mechanism for a handle lock which reduces to three the number of principal 
parts. In particular, a bolt holder is made integral with a sleeve, and 
the former outer cylinder is dispensed with. The lesser number of parts 
reduces the number of manufacturing operations required and also reduces 
inventory requirements. Assembly of the lock mechanism is faster and more 
economical. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the integral sleeve and bolt 
holder are constructed of molded plastic. This structure has several 
advantages, including economy of material and lightness in weight. It is 
especially advantageous that holes and recesses are formed therein by 
molding, rather than by metal removing and finishing operations. In 
particular, the tumbler bores which were drilled in the metal sleeve part 
previously used are formed by molding in the new plastic part. 
The invention in its broader aspects provides an axial split-pin 
tumbler-type lock mechanism including a lock cylinder, a forwardly 
disposed operating part rotatable in the cylinder, a rearwardly disposed 
stationary sleeve in the cylinder and adjoining the operating part at a 
transverse interfacial plane, the operating part including a shaft 
extending axially through the sleeve and coupling means on the distal end 
of the shaft, axially movable split-pin tumblers carried in longitudinal 
bores in the operating part and the sleeve and each tumbler having a 
forwardly disposed driver element and a rearwardly disposed follower 
element adjoining each other when in aligned bores, spring means 
yieldingly urging the tumblers forwardly to bridge the interfacial plane 
by the follower elements and thereby secure the parts against relative 
rotation, the driver elements having front ends engageable with a key to 
move the tumblers rearwardly so that the joints between their elements 
coincide with the interfacial plane to free the operating part for 
rotation, a bolt holder integral with the sleeve and disposed rearwardly 
thereof, the holder having a bolt race extending transversely therein, and 
a lock bolt mounted in the race for transverse sliding movement therein 
between a retracted unlocking position and an extended locking position 
wherein the bolt projects laterally outwardly from the holder, the bolt 
having means cooperating with the coupling means for moving the bolt 
between its said positions in response to rotation of the operating part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1-4, an axial split-pin 
tumbler-type lock mechanism or lock 10 is employed with a key 12. The lock 
mechanism and key are of the same general types as illustrated in U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,102,412, but with structure adapting the lock mechanism for use 
in a handle lock, as described hereinafter. 
The lock mechanism 10 includes, as its principal parts, a lock cylinder 14, 
an operating part 16, and a composite sleeve and bolt holder part 18. The 
lock mechanism also includes a plurality of tumblers 20, which are seven 
in number, and a like number of coil compression tumbler springs 22, but 
two sets of tumblers and springs being illustrated in FIG. 4. Each tumbler 
is composed of a driver element or pin 24 and a follower or locking 
element or pin 26. The lock mechanism further includes a lock bolt 28 and 
a coil compression bolt spring 30. The components of the lock mechanism 10 
are secured together by means of a mounting pin 32. 
Referring to FIGS. 4-7, in particular, the lock cylinder 14 includes a 
cylindrical tubular body 34 having a smooth outer surface. The body is 
provided with a radial hole 36 which receives the mounting pin 32. The 
body 34 has a longitudinal cylindrical bore 38 extending forwardly from 
its rear end 40. A second longitudinal cylindrical bore 42 of reduced 
diameter is provided in the body 34 adjacent to its front end 44. An 
annular shoulder 46 is formed at the junction of the bores 38 and 42, and 
it serves for retention of the operating part 16 within the body 34. An 
annular closure flange 48 extends radially inwardly from the body 34 at 
the front end 44 thereof, and it defines a circular key opening 50. A key 
guide notch 52 extends radially outwardly from the inner edge of the 
closure flange 48. 
The operating part 16 in the illustrative embodiment includes a post unit 
54 and a spindle unit 56. The post unit 54 includes a generally 
cylindrical key guide post 58 and an integral coaxial generally 
cylindrical shank 60 of reduced diameter, having a slightly enlarged knurl 
ring 62 therearound, and a pin hole 64 extending diametrically 
therethrough. The post 58 has a longitudinal drive notch 66 along the side 
thereof, and otherwise has a smooth cylindrical outer surface. 
The spindle unit 56 includes a cylindrical lock shift 68 and an integral 
cylindrical head 70 of greater diameter. The diameter of the head is 
approximately the same as but slightly smaller than the diameter of the 
cylinder bore 38. An axial cylindrical blind bore 72 extends through the 
head 70 and into the shaft 68. A radial pin bore 74 is provided in the 
head 70, and it intersects the axial bore 72. A lock pin 75 is integral 
with the distal end of the shaft 68 and extends longitudinally outwardly 
therefrom and eccentrically with respect to its longitudinal axis. 
The operating part 16 is assembled by driving the post unit 54, 
particularly the shank 60 thereof, into the axial bore 72, with the knurl 
ring 62 providing a tight drive fit, so that the post unit 54 and the 
spindle unit 56 are rigidly fixed relative to each other in the resulting 
assembly. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, a friction pin 76 is 
inserted in the radial pin bore 74 in the head 70 and through the pin hole 
64 in the shank 60, to secure the units against relative movement. The pin 
76 preferably is constructed of hard metal, so that it serves an 
additional function in resisting a cutting tool which might be used in an 
attempt to defeat the lock. The post unit 54 also may be constructed of a 
very hard metal, to thwart attempts to drill through the lock in this 
area. Alternatively, the operating part 16 may be constructed in other 
ways, with any of the post 58, the shaft 68 and the head 70 constructed 
separately or integrally with some or all of the remaining components, as 
most desirable for manufacturing and intended use. 
The operating part 16 is rotatable in the cylinder 14 about the 
longitudinal axis 78 of the cylinder, which axis is also the axis of the 
post 58, the head 70, and the shaft 68. The head 70 is provided with a 
planar front face 80 perpendicular to the axis 78 and adjacent to the 
retention shoulder 46 on the lock cylinder 14. An annular series of 
longitudinal cylindrical tumbler bores 82 is provided in the head 70. The 
bores 82 extend through the head 70 and are spaced outwardly from the post 
58. There are seven such bores in the illustrative embodiment spaced at 
angles of 45.degree. from each other, except for a 90.degree. spacing 
between two of the bores. The bores 82 all have the same diameter and are 
disposed at equal radii from the axis 78. The longitudinal axes or centers 
of the bores 82 lie approximately along the inner edge of the closure 
flange 48 when viewed from the front, as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
The composite part 18 includes a sleeve 84 and a bolt holder 86 integral 
therewith. The sleeve 84 is a cylindrical tubular member, having an 
outside diameter approximately the same as but slightly smaller than the 
diameter of the cylinder bore 38. The sleeve 84 is provided with an 
annular series of longitudinal cylindrical tumbler blind bores 88 having 
the same diameters, spacing, and radial distance from the longitudinal 
axis of the sleeve as the head bores 82. A radial mounting bore 90 is 
provided in the sleeve 84. 
The bolt holder 86 includes a cylindrical body 92 of greater diameter than 
the sleeve 84, thereby forming a shoulder 94 at their juncture. The 
diameter of the body 92 is substantially the same as the outside diameter 
of the lock cylinder body 34, and the outer cylindrical surface of the 
body 92 is essentially smooth. 
The composite part 18 is provided with a shaft bore 96, which extends 
axially through the sleeve 84 and into the holder body 92. The shaft bore 
96 has a diameter slightly greater than the lock shaft 68. The shaft bore 
96 terminates at a generally rectangular transverse lock bolt race 98 
formed in the bolt holder 86 and which extends to one side of the holder 
body 92. The elongated lock bolt 28 of like generally rectangular cross 
section is mounted in the race 98, for transverse sliding movement from a 
rectracted unlocking position in the holder body 92, to an extended 
locking position wherein the bolt projects laterally outwardly from the 
holder body. A cylindrical spring-mounting recess 99 is provided in the 
holder body 92 at the inner end 100 of the bolt race 98. The recess 99 
serves to receive the coil compression spring 30, and the outer end of the 
spring is received in a cylindrical socket 101 in the inner end of the 
lock bolt, urging the bolt outwardly. A coupling groove 102 is formed in 
the surface of the lock bolt 28 which faces the shaft bore 96. 
The sleeve 84 is received in the lock cylinder body 34 at the rear end 40 
thereof, and its front face adjoins the rear face of the spindle head 70 
at a transverse interfacial plane 106. The shoulder 94 of the holder body 
92 abuts on the rear end 40 of the cylinder body 34, and the cylindrical 
outer surfaces of the respective bodies are substantially flush with each 
other. The longitudinal axis of the shaft bore 96 coincides with the 
longitudinal axis 78 of the lock cylinder 14. The lock shaft 68 is 
journaled in the shaft bore 96. The lock pin 75 is received in the 
coupling groove 102 in the lock bolt 28, thereby coupling the distal end 
of the shaft 68 to the lock bolt and securing the bolt in the holder 86. 
The composite part 18 is secured to the lock cylinder 14 by insertion of 
the mounting pin 32 in the cylinder mounting hole 36 and the aligned 
sleeve mounting bore 90, with a drive fit therein. The composite part 18 
serves to retain the operating part 16 within the lock cylinder 14 and 
rotatable therein. 
The operating part 16 is rotatable to move the head bores 82 into and out 
of alignment or register with respective sleeve bores 88. The construction 
and mode of operation of the tumblers 20 and the tumbler springs 22 are 
conventional. In general, the driver elements 24 are received in the head 
bores 82, and the follower elements 26 are received in the sleeve bores 88 
and seated on the springs 22. When the tumbler bores 82 and 88 are in 
alignment and in the absence of a key, in an initial condition illustrated 
in FIG. 5, the springs 22 yieldingly urge the tumbler elements 24 and 26 
forwardly into positions wherein the interfacial plane 106 is bridged by 
the follower elements 26 to secure the operating part 16 and the sleeve 84 
against relative rotation. At this time, the front ends of the driver 
elements 24 abut on the inner surface of the closure flange 48 
therearound, with a portion of each driver element accessible to the key 
12 through the key opening 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the key 12 is a conventional structure, which includes 
a body 108 connected to a wing-type torque-applying or manipulating handle 
110. The body 108 includes a cylindrical tubular shank 112. Adjacent to 
the outer end of the shank 112, a longitudinally extending guide lug 114 
extends radially outwardly from the shank, and a longitudinally extending 
drive lug 116 extends radially inwardly from the shank. Grooves 118 are 
formed in the outer surface of the shank 112, and they extend 
longitudinally from the outer end thereof and terminate a bittings or 
shoulders 120. The grooves 118 and corresponding bittings 120 each are 
seven in number and spaced apart at angles of 45.degree., except for two 
of each which are on opposite sides of the lugs and spaced apart 
90.degree., in like manner to the tumbler bores 82 and 88. 
The key 12 is inserted in the lock mechanism 10 by inserting the shank 112 
in the key opening 50 and around the guide post 58. The guide lug 114 on 
the key is inserted in the guide notch 52 in the closure flange 48, and 
the drive lug 116 is inserted in the drive notch 66 in the post. The drive 
elements 24 of the tumblers 20 in part are received in the key grooves 
118, and the front ends of the driver elements abuttingly engage the key 
bittings 120. Rearward movement of the key 12 moves the tumblers 20 in 
aligned tumbler bores 82 and 88 rearwardly, until the shank 112 of the key 
bottoms on the front face 80 of the spindle head 70, as illustrated in 
FIG. 6. At this time, the joints between the tumbler elements 24 and 26 
coincide with the interfacial plane 106, and the guide lug 114 on the key 
is disposed rearwardly of the closure flange 48, so that the operating 
part 16 may be rotated by rotation of the key, to thereby operate the lock 
mechanism 10. 
The lock shaft 68 rotates as the operating part 16 rotates, and the lock 
pin 75 rotates eccentrically in the coupling groove 102 of the lock bolt 
28. The lock pin 75 is maintained in engagement with the inner end wall 
121 of the groove 102, owing to the outward pressure exerted on the lock 
bolt by the bolt spring 30. Consequently, transverse displacement of the 
lock pin 75 caused by rotation of the shaft 68 serves to move the lock 
bolt 28 back and forth in the bolt race 98: as the lock pin 75 moves 
toward the open outer end of the race 98, the pressure of the bolt spring 
30 moves the lock bolt outwardly; as the lock pin 75 moves toward the 
inner end 100 of the race 98, it engages the inner end wall 121 of the 
coupling groove 102, to move the lock bolt 28 inwardly against the 
pressure of the spring 30. In the illustrative embodiment, the lock bolt 
28 is in its extended locking position, at its greatest lateral 
projection, when the lock mechanism 10 is in its locked condition, as 
illustrated in FIG. 5. The lock bolt 28 is in a retracted unlocking 
position when the lock mechanism 10 is in its unlocked condition and the 
operating part 16 is rotated approximately 120.degree. in the clockwise 
direction (viewed from the front end 44), as illustrated in FIG. 6. 
As described above, the lock mechanism 10 is designed to be mounted in a 
cylindrical tubular handle body 122, a wall portion of which is 
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The adjoining flush cylindrical surfaces on 
the lock cylinder body 34 and the holder body 92 fit snugly within the 
handle body 122, and the bolt race 98 is aligned or registers with a 
corresponding opening 124 in the body. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the lock 
bolt 28 when in its retracted unlocking position continues to project a 
short distance beyond the outer surface of the holder body 92, into the 
opening 124 in the handle body 122, to thereby retain the lock mechanism 
10 within the handle body. At the same time, clearance remains between the 
inner end 100 of the bolt race 98 and the inner end of the lock bolt 28, 
which enables the lock bolt to be pushed further into the race 98 and out 
of the handle body opening 124. The lock mechanism 10 then may be 
withdrawn from the handle body 122 in the longitudinal direction. 
With the lock mechanism 10 inserted in the handle body 122, the handle body 
in turn is inserted in the tubular casing 126 of a handle mount, a wall 
portion of which is illustrated in FIG. 5. The casing 126 is provided with 
an opening 128 arranged for registry with the handle body opening 124 and 
the bolt race 98. When the lock bolt 28 is in its outermost extended 
position, illustrated in FIG. 5, the bolt serves to bridge across the 
walls of the handle body 122 and the casing 126, to thereby lock them 
against rotation and longitudinal movement relative to each other. 
Upon withdrawal of the lock bolt 28 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, 
by operation of the lock mechanism 10, the handle body 122 is free to move 
longitudinally outwardly, which may take place in the direction of the 
front end 44 under the pressure of a "pop-out" spring, not shown, and the 
handle body also is free to rotate. The handle of which the body 122 forms 
a part then may be turned to move a cam or other suitable member, for 
opening a cabinet door or the like. The key 12 may be returned to its 
original rotational position and removed, while the lock bolt 28 engages 
the inner surface of the casing 126 to hold it in a retracted position. 
Thereafter, the cabinet door or the like may be closed, the handle rotated 
to secure the door, and the handle pushed inwardly toward the casing 126, 
all in accordance with the usual manner of operation of a handle lock, 
until the lock bolt 28 is aligned with the casing opening 128, and the 
bolt enters the opening under the pressure of the bolt spring 30 to lock 
the unit once more. 
While the lock mechanism 10 may be constructed entirely of metal 
components, as in prior structures, it is preferred in the invention to 
construct the composite part 18 as a one-piece molded part formed of a 
suitable hard plastic composition, such as nylon filled with glass fibers. 
The integration of the sleeve 84 and the bolt holder 86 in the unitary 
part 18 increases the strength of each of the component members. The 
sleeve bores 88, the mounting bore 90, the shaft bore 96, and the bolt 
race 98 all may be formed by molding, to effect considerable economies in 
manufacture, in addition to the lowered cost of the material of 
construction. Thus, no drilling or reaming is required with the plastic 
part 18. Assembly labor also is reduced, and a reduction in parts 
inventory is effected. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and 
described, and reference has been made to certain changes and 
modifications which may be made in the embodiment, it will be apparent 
that further changes and modifications may be made therein within the 
spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such changes 
and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.