Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
хиргоѵещениз ш сощошанов Locks.
I, HENRY CLARKE, of No. 3338 Calumet Avenue, in the City of Chicago, County
of Cook in the State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be.
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-.
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of combination locks.
The object of my invention is to provide a combination lock of a strong, simple,
durable and efficient construction, that may be cheaply manufactured, which at
the same time shall be guarded against picking of the lock and which will be
adapted for use not only as a safe lock but for a variety of other purposes, such
for example as a padlock.
My invention consists primarily in a combination lock comprising two adjacent
lock disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on their common axis, each
furnished with a series of holes for receiving a series of lock pins and two series
of lock pins, the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, all
the pins of the one or the short series (excepting those constituting the particular
combination in use) being mounted in one of the lock disks, and all the pins of the
other or long series (excepting those constituting the particular combination in
use) being mounted in the other disk, so that by depressing the pins of the com-
bination the two disks are left free to turn the one in respect to the other. It
further consists in connection with these parts, in a safety ring or device provided
with a series of humps or projections to prevent the movement of the lock pins
except in a certain position of the lock disks; also in friction springs or equivalent
devices for retaining or holding the lock pius in proper position in respect to their
disks; also in a setting plate or device for returning the lock pins to position;
also in a movable dial or cover plate furnished with a series of push pins for
operating the lock pins also in a suitable device or connecting mechanism for
operating the catch bolt or hasp of the lock by the movement of the moveable lock
disk or of the movable dial or cover late connected therewith: also in arranging
or mounting the setting plate to turn on the same axis as the lock disks and pro
viding it with a series of cams for engaging the lock pins. The invention further
consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel com-
binations of parts and devices herein shown and described and more particularly
specified in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, I have
for convenience illustrated my invention as applied to a padlock, it may however
be used for a safe lock or for any other purpose desired.
In said drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention
as applied to a padlock. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view with the dial plate removed;
Fig. 3 is a similar view with the spring or springs which bear against the push
DQ77

page_text: buttons removed; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the spring for throwing the
lock open or separating the arms of the hasp; Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views show-
ing the meeting faces of the two lock disks; Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the lower
lock disk; Fig. 8 is a top or plan view of the setting plate;, Eig. 9, is a section on
the line 99 of Figure 2 and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating
the operation.
In the several figures of the drawing like parts are designated by like letters of
reference.
In said drawing-A-and A represent the two arms of the has. B and B the
lower and upper lock disks, each furnished' with a series of lock pin holes b,
preferably ten in number. Cand Care the lock pins, the series of longer pins
being lettered C and the series of shorter pins G, all the long pins excepting
those constituting the particular combination being in the upper disk and all the
short pins excepting. those constituting the combination being in the lower disk,
so that when the particular pins of the combination alone are depressed the
meeting ends of all the pins will be flush with the meeting faces of the lock disks,
thus allowing the lock disks to turn and the lock to be opened. The upper lock
disk B has a central hub extending through the lower lock disk to journal the
two together. F F are the spring disks which bear against the lock" pins CC
to hold the saine in whatever rosition they may be pushed or, set. These spring
disks or plates are each furnished with radial tongues f, one for each lock pin.
Instead of these friction springs for holding the lock pins in whatever position
they may be pushed they may be made (as an equivalent means for locking the
lock pins in position) to fit their holes closely so as thus to produce the necessary
friction to hold them in place and prevent their accidental movement, especially
in safe locks or other locks where the pins would naturally be in a horizontal
position and be made of some considerable size. G is, the dial or cover plate,
furnished with a series of index figures g, and with a series of keys or push
pins g', corresponding to and registering with the lock pins. H is a spring disk
or plate interposed between the keys or push pins g' and the lock pins to hold the
push buttons in their normal position. This spring disk or plate H is. furnished
with a series of tongues h, one for each key, or push pin, and with a series of
notches in the periphery between the tongues. It is secured to the dial plate G
by a rivet h² extending through the extra or additional tongue K is the
movable setting plate or disk. It is furnished with a central hub extending
through the lock disks B B', so that the setting plate and lock disks thus turn
all upon the same common axis.. This setting plate K has an external flange ki
to enable it to serve as a case for the lower lock disk to fit in. The setting disk or
plate K is furnished with a series of cams 2, one for each of the lock pins in the
lower lock disk. These cams are in the nature of cavities having one, inclined
side. By the rotary movement of this setting plate in respect to the lower disks,
it will be seen from Figure 10 that the lock pins will all be set or restored to their
locking position. The arm A of. the hasp is preferably formed integral with this
setting plate or, disk K, and the other, arm A² of the hasp is preferably made
integral with the upper lock disk B. The setting plate and the lower lock disk B.
are held in their normal position in relation to each other by a spring K₁ which
fits in an annular cavity or recess B2 in the lower face of the lower lock disk,
one end of which spring bears against the lower lock disk at K2 and the other
end of which bears against the setting plate K A washer K is preferably
interposed between the spring K and the spring disk F Mis a spring
for throwing the lock, or, the two arms of the hasp open. It is preferably, a
Coiled spring and inserted in an annular cavity or recess B3 in the upper face of
the upper lock disk B¹. One end, m, of this spring M bears against the upper
lock disk and the other end. m', is inserted. in a collar m² which is fixed in the
hub of the setting plate .K, the collar m² having a flat side m³ fitting a corre- 5
sponding flattened portion of the hub k to prevent the collar turning on the hub.
It will thus be seen that the spring M tends to turn the upper lock disk B¹ and
1

page_text: the setting plate or disk K in opposite directions and thus to throw open the two..
armis AA of the hasp attached to these two disks.
N is the safety device, the function of which, in combination with the other
Farts, is to prevent the picking of the lock by pushing the pins down and thus
determining which are the short pins or the ones forming the combination. This
safety device N consists, preferably, of a ring furnished with a series of humps or
projections n approximating in height the upper ends of the lock pins in the
upper lock disk, and adapted to be engaged by the keys or push buttons or,
spring H interposed between the keys or push pins and the lock pins, except when
the upper lock disk is turned into the particular position which brings the
humps n into registry with the peripheral notches in the spring plate or disk H.,
And at this particular point or position the locking pins register with one another.
and with the cavities or cams in the setting plate, so that all the lock pins,
those not of the combination as well as those of the combination. And when
alike and with equal freedom, so that it will be impossible to detect any difference
between those of the combination and those not of the combination. And when
the humps 'n are out of registry with the notches the humps or projections n-
prevent the keys, or push pins being depressed so as to detect which are the short
lock pins, or the pins of the combination. The safety device or ring N is fixed to.
the setting plate Kand thus supported in proper relation to the other parts. It
is for this purpose preferably provided with an internal radial arm n', furnished
with an enlargement 2, having a flat sided opening to fit over the flattened
portion of the hub of the setting plate or disk K. The dial plate G is fixed to
the upper lock disk B', and is held in place by a screw or rivet G passed through.
or threaded into the hollow hub k of the setting plate K. A pin or stud b² fixed-
in the upper lock disk B and fitting in a slot in the lower lock disk B.permits.
the necessary limited rotary movement of the two lock disks in respect to each,
other to throw the lock open and the pins out of registry with each other, and.
in the return or closing movement to cause the two lock disks, after their pins.
are brought into registry with each other, to move together in respect to the
setting plate, and thus cause the cams of the setting plate to push the lock pins.
into their locking position.
The two arms A A' of the hasp shut the one within the other, the arm A being
provided with a socket a to receive the end a' of the arm A. This prevents the
two disks, to which the arms of the hasp are secured, from being separated by
removing the screw or rivet G.
The operation of the lock is as follows: The hasps are brought towards each
other and when the locked position is reached the pin 2 on the lock disk B¹
engages the end of the slot in the lock disk B, (at this point the lock pins in.
each disk are in registry, with one another). The two disks B, B now move
together and in relation to the. setting plate K, which causes the cams to push
the pins so that the meeting, ends of all of the pins will be flush with the meeting
faces of the two lock disks, except the pins forming the combination, which will
be pushed through the lower disk B and their ends entered into the holes of the
disk B¹ and the disks locked together. When the pressure of closing the lock: is
removed the spring Mthrows the hasps slightly apart, thus causing the lock.
disks to carry the lock pins over the cavities in the setting plate K and at the
same time exert a lateral tension between the disks. At this point the safety
ring N. has been moved with the setting plate and the projections n out of registry
with the notches h¹ in the spring H, so that the push pins g' cannot act upon the
lock pins CC. In order to open the lock the tension of the spring must be
removed from the disks, and this is done by moving the hasps towards each other
slightly, and by the engagement of the pin 62 with the slot the tension of the
spring is removed and at the same time the projections n on the safety device are
brought into registry with the notches in the spring H, as the safety device N
carrying the projections n rotates with the, setting plate owing to the con-
nections m³ ³ between the two, said setting plate being connected with one of

page_text: At
the hasps, said connection m³, m³ consisting of a flattened side m³ on the hub K,
and a flattened side n³ on the interior central portion of the safety device N.
this point all of the locking pins may be operated by the push pins gl with equal
freedom, and as the lateral tension on the disks is removed it will be impossible
to discover which are the pins forming the combination.
The cavities or cams in the setting plate K should be of such length as to
prevent any of the lock pins engaging the abrupt end walls of the cavities, and
thereby holding the lower disk B from rotating, and-causing the spring M to
exert a tension between the lock disks. It is particularly desirable to prevent
this engagement when the lock pins are not protected by the safety device N, for
the reason that if the lock pins are in a position to be operated while a tension
exists between the lock disks, it is possible by a very delicate manipulation to
discover the pins in the combination, because their resistance to depression would
In the construction
be greater than that of the pins not in the combination.
shown the length of the cavities is slightly greater than the movement of the
lower lock disk.
While I have described the exact form of lock shown in the drawing, it will be
understood that its construction may be greatly varied without departing from my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks, the
pins of one series being longer than those of the other, and part of each series
of pins being in each disk, and means for holding the lock pins in the positions to
which they may be individually pushed to set the combination for unlocking,
substantially as specified.
2nd. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series' being longer than those of the other, and part of each
series of pins being in each disk, and means for holding said locking pins in
position as they are separately and individually moved into position for unlocking,
and a series of push pins or keys for individually moving the lock pins, substantially
as specified.
3rd. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each, furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, and part of each
series of pins being in each disk, and a series of independently movable push pins
or keys for individually moving the lock pins into position for unlocking,
substantially as specified..
4th. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, and part of each
series of pins being in each disk, and a movable setting plate or device for returning
the lock pins to position, substantially as specified.
5th. The combination of two adjacent lock disks one adapted to turn in respect
to the other, and having each a series of holes extending through the same parallel
to its axis to receive the lock pins, of two series of lock pins mounted in said
disks the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, springs for
holding said pins in position, a dial or cover plate, a series of keys or push pins
mounted on said dial or cover plate to operate said locking pins and a setting

page_text: plate for returning said locking pins to position, the short pins being uppermost
under the keys of the combination and the long pins uppermost under the other
key so that a depression of any key other than those of the combination will lock
the disks from turning, until all the lock pins are restored by movement of the
etting plate to position for unlocking and the keys of the combination depressed,
substantially as specified.
6th. The combination of two adjacent lock disks one adapted to turn in respect
to the other, and each having a series of holes extending through the same parallel
to its axis to receive the lock pins, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, springs for holding
said pins in position, a dial or cover plate, keys or push pins to operate said locking
pins, a setting plate for returning said locking pins to position, and springs inter-
posed between said keys or push pins and said lock pins, substantially as specified.
7th. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, part of each series
of pins being in each disk, and a dial or cover plate enclosing said disks and
provided with a series of keys or push pins, substantially as specified.
8th. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, part of each series
of pins being in each disk, a dial or cover plate enclosing said disks and provided
with a series of keys or push pins, and springs interposed between said keys or
push pins and the lock pins, substantially as specified.
9th. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, one
adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, and each furnished
with a series of lock pin holes, of two series of lock pins mounted in said disks,
the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, a movable setting
plate or device for returning the lock pins to position, and means for moving the
setting plate, substantially as specified.
10th. In a combination lock the combination with two adjacent lock disks, of
two series of lock pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push pins, and a safety
ring or device to prevent the lock pins being moved by the keys or push pins
except when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, substantially as
specified.
11th. In a combination lock the combination with two adjacent lock disks, of
two series of lock pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push pins, a safety ring
or device to prevent the lock pins being moved by the keys or push pins except
when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, and furnished with a series
of humps or projections, substantially as specified.
12th. In a combination lock the combination with two adjacent lock disks, of two
series of lock pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push pins, a safety ring
or device to prevent the lock pns being moved by the keys or push pins except
when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, and furnished with a series
of humps or projections, and a spring plate or disk interposed between the lock
pins and push pins, and furnished with a series of notches adapted to be brought
into registry with the humus or projections on the safety ring or device,
substantially as specified.
13th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in one series being longer than those in the other, and a
part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, substantially as specified.
14th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
-

page_text: in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, said setting plate having a series of cams or cavities
with inclined sides, substantially as specified.
15th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, said setting plate having a series of cams or cavities.
with inclined sides, and said setting plate having a central hub extending through
the lock disks, substantially as specified.
16th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, said setting plate having a series of cams or cavities
with inclined sides, and said setting plate having a central hub extending through
the lock disks, and an external flange to form a case to receive the lower lock
disk, substantially as specified.
17th. The combination with two disks turning on a common axis and each
furnished with a hasp arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of
keys or pusli pins, a spring H having notches, and a safety ring or device N
having humps or projections, substantially as specified.
18th. The combination with two disks turning on a common axis and each
furnished with a hasp arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of
keys or push pins, a spring H having notches h, and a safety ring or device N
having humps or projections n, said safety ring N being connected with the setting.
plate and adapted to turn therewith in respect to the lock disks, substantially as
specified.
19th. The combination with two disks turning on a common axis and each
furnished with a hasp arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of
keys or push pins, a spring H having notches, and a safety ring or device N
having humps or projections », said safety ring or device having an internal
arm attached to the hub of the setting plate, substantially as specified.
20th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, and opening and closing hasp arms secured to two of
said disks, substantially as specified.
21st. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and,
part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disks, opening and closing hasp arms secured to two of said
disks, and a spring for opening the lock or the arms of said hasp, substantially
as specified.
1.1
[!
22nd. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins of the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon
the same axis as the lock disk, said setting plate having a series of cams or cavities
with inclined sides, and a spring for opening the lock or turning the setting plate
in respect to the lock disk, substantially as specified.
23rd. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two-series of lock pins mount
mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and

page_text: part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disk, and a spring connection between the setting plate disk
and the lower lock disk, permitting a limited movement of the one in respect to
the other, substantially as specified.
24th. The combination with two adjacent lock disks, one adapted to turn in
respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock pins mounted in holes
in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and
part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the
same axis as the lock disks, said setting plate having a series of cams or cavities
of length adapted to prevent engagement between their abrupt end walls and the
lock pins, substantially as specified.
25th. In a combination lock, the combination with two adjacent lock disks, of
two series of lock pins mounted therein, a safety device preventing the pins being
moved when the safety device is in its acting position, and a setting plate having
& series of cams or cavities adapted to prevent engagement between their abrupt
end walls and the pins, substantially as specified.
26th. The combination with the dial or cover plate G, the two lock disks and
two series of lock pins, of a series of push pins gl mounted in said plate G, and a
spring disk H divided radially into a series of spring tongues and interposed
between the keys or push pins and the lock pins, substantially as specified.
27th. In a combination lock, the combination with a dial or cover plate, of a
series of keys or push pins mounted therein and having heads at their lower ends,
and a ring plate or disk secured near its center to said dial or cover plate and
bearing near its periphery against the heads of said keys or push pins to hold
them in position, substantially as specified.
Cary Deco A.D. 101.
HENRY CLARKE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.