IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING-PADLOCKS AND KEYS FOR USE THERE- WITH."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Lewis Russell, of Bloomington, in the County of
McLean, State of Illinois, United States of North America, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING-PADLOCKS AND KEYS FOR USE THERE-
WITH."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Lewis Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1880.
HENRY LEWIS RUSSELL, of Bloomington, in the County of McLean, State of
Illinois, United States of North America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING
PAD-LOCKS AND KEYS FOR USE THEREWITH.'
"
This Invention relates broadly to the application to padlocks of the principles
embodied in the lock for which I have obtained Letters Patent under date of
January 28, A.D. 1880, No. 383, a communication from me to Alexander Melville
Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, and which
consists in providing such pad locks with locking and registering mechanism
adapted to be operated by different formed and numbered keys that shall indicate
or register the number of the key that unlocks it; and the Invention further
relates to rendering more securo and generally improving said locks as fully
described hereinafter and shown in the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings
forming a part of this Specification.
The first part of this Invention has reference to pad locks having a pivoted
shackle, and the second part of the Invention has reference to pad locks having a
sliding shackle, and for convenience of description and to avoid confusion I will
first describe the Invention as applied to pad locks having a pivoted shackle,
referring to Sheet one of the accompanying Drawings, in which—
Figure 1 is a face view with one section of the lock case removed; Figure 2 is a
like view, the mechanism being shown unlocked and the shackle open; Figure 2 A
is a view similar to that represented by Figuro 2 before removing the key; Figure 3
is a like view, the parts in locked position and a key locked therein after a partial
revolution; Figure 4 is a bottom end view of the lock; Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, are
side views, aud Figures 9 and 10 front views of the registering tumblers; Figures
11 and 12 are detail views of the tumblers for locking the registering tumblers;
Figures 13 and 14 detail views of the locking dogs or detents for engaging the
shackle; Figures 15 and 16 show the locking dog that engages the registering

page_text: tumblers; Figure 17 is a face view with one section of the lock case and most of
the working parts removed to show the springs and a spring tumbler connected
with the inside of the remaining case section; Figure 18 is a view of the shackle
detached; Figure 19 a section through line x, x, of Figure 2, and Figures 20 and 21
represent keys Nos. 8642 and 12 for operating the lock. In the above figures of
Drawings, A represents the lock case made in sections united by suitably located
rivets a. In the upper edge and on the outside of the case is a socket b, in which
is a transverse pin 6, upon and around which is securely fixed a coiled spring or
spiral spring b having a slightly protruding point a¹. Over this spring and
between the upward extending plates of the case A is fitted the socketed end of the
shackle B, the point a' of the spring 63 entering the slot 63 in the socketed end of
said shackle, so that as the shackle is unlocked the tension of the spring throws it
open.
By this arrangement of outside socket for the pivoted end of the shackle rain
and dampness are excluded from the interior of the case or shell except at the key-
hole, and this may be covered by a guard. On the inside of the back plate A' of
the case is a socket c for the reception of a flat-spring tumbler C having one end
secured to the plate almost beneath the key-hole, and this spring tumbler is
provided with a straight and curved upwardly turned flange c³, as shown Fig. 17,
Sheet 1. The straight portion c² of said flange engages a slot or recess d (Fig. 15)
in the bottom or lower side of the pivoted dog or detent D for the purpose of
holding it into engagement with the teeth of the registering tumblers when the
key is withdrawn from the lock. The curved portion of flange c¹ partially
encircles the key stud f, so that when the key is inserted in the lock it will force
the tumbler C down and thus throw it out of engagement with the detent D.
The registering arrangement in the present instance is composed of four like
quadrantal tumblers E pivoted one above the other on the central stud e, and the
curved faces of these tumblers fit against the lower inside face of the rim A² of
the case A, so that as the tumblers are moved by a key F the numbers or other
indicating characters on their curved faces will be shown or seen through the
aperture a² in the bottom of said rim A³, as shown Fig. 4.
The concave edges of these tumblers E are provided with teeth or serrations e¹,
with which the tooth d' of the detent D engages for securing the tumblers in any
position; they may be moved by a key in unlocking the lock. The radial arms e
of the tumblers E are held against the abutment G when in their normal position,
so that each tumbler presents a blank portion of its curved face at tho aperture a²
through the medium of springs g extending from said abutment G and engaging
with the projecting ends e³ of said tumblers, as shown Fig. 3.
The radial arms I of the registering tumblers are provided with inner curved
shoulders (the curve of each shoulder differing slightly in its radius for a purpose
presently explained) against which the keys of the lock engage for operating or
moving said tumblers, as shown in detail Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8. These arms I are
also provided with notches i just beyond the curved shoulders i into which the
key enters after moving the registering tumblers E to indicate or register the number
of the key being used, and thus preventing its being turned any further in that
direction, as hereinafter more fully explained. H, H, represent two irregularly
shaped dogs, also pivoted on stud e, and actuated by springs h, h, having their free
ends bearing against the upper inner face of the rim A*; each of said dogs H is
provided with a hook or lug h¹ that engages a suitable notch or shoulder on the
shackle nose be for securing the shackle B in a locked position. These dogs H, in
connection with other operating parts of the lock, constitute very important
features of the Invention. They are provided at h² with curved notches, and
against the forward part of said notches the key in its partial revolution engages
for throwing said dogs out of engagement with the shackle nose for unlocking the
shackle, while the key then coming in contact with the rear slope of said notches h³
is prevented from turning further in that direction. The rear and lower ends h³ of
the dogs H are brought in contact with the upper edge d³ of the V shaped

page_text: projection d of the detent D, as shown by Fig. 2 A, after the key has moved the
registering tumblers to indicate or register its number, and commences to move
said dogs H for unlocking the shackle, thus holding the said dogs out of engage-
ment with the shackle nose and also throwing the detent D into engagement with
the registering tumblers until the key is turned backwards and removed, when the
locking parts will assume the unlocked positions shown in Fig. 2. The detent D is
provided with a supplemental detent or dog J actuated by a spring j for engaging
with the inner and lower notched ends of dogs H for holding them into engage-
ment with the shackle nose. K, K, are two pivoted tumblers actuated by springs
k, k, and having curved and tapering portions k', h¹, playing against the inner or
concave faces of the registering tumblers E, and which pass between the projecting
portions d of the detent D and the inner faces of the registering tumblers, for also
holding said detent D engaged with the registering tumblers, as shown, Figures 1
and 2. The tumblers K, K, are provided with pivoted dogs or detents L, L,
actuated by springs 1, and with which the key engages in its forward revolution
for throwing said tumblers K out from between the detent D and registering
tumblers, thus permitting the detent D to be disengaged from the registering
tumblers through the actuating spring d³ and permitting them to resume their
normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, and in which position the key is prevented
from being turned backward without first being turned forward to unlock the lock,
which will then register its number.
The backward movement of the key permits it to slip or pass over the inner
faces of the dogs L without interfering with or disturbing the position of the
tumblers K. The registering tumblers E, tumblers K, and dogs H are arranged in
the case A in the following manner :-One of the registering tumblers E is first
mounted on the stud e; next upon said stud is placed one of the dogs H, and over
this is placed one of the tumblers K. Next upon the stud are placed two registering
tumblers, and next above these are placed duplicates of the dog H and tumbler K,
with their faces however reversed to the lower ones, and in both cases the
tumblers K fitting in the recessed face 5 of the dog H, with its eye over a boss h
about the eye of said-dog, and, finally, the fourth registering tumber E is mounted
on the stud e. The object of this arrangement of the registering tumblers, dogs H,
and tumblers K is to equalize or distribute the strain upon the ward or wards of
the keys. In the present instance two keys are shown, one of which is made to
register its number, 86-42, when used for unlocking the lock, as shown, Figures 4
and 20, and the other key its number 12, as shown, Fig. 21. This luck will
register all numbers from 1 to 9999, and for each number of this range there is
provided a separate key whose application to this lock will invariably register a
certain combination of numbers and none other, and each key will have stamped
upon it the number of the combination it will register.
It is obvious that instead of using numbers, or figures, letters, or any other
indicating characters might be substituted therefor. It is also obvious that one of
the dogs H, and one of the tumblers K with its pivoted dog L might be dispensed
with, in which case the remaining dog H and tumbler K with its dog or detent L
should be centrally arranged on the stud e, with two of the registering tumblers
below and two above them; also in case a limited number of keys are desired to
be used the upper and lower registering tumblers may be dispensed with.
The object of having the curved shoulders on the arms 1 of the registering
tumblers of different radius is for the purpose of more securely preventing the
changing of the keys by outside parties to operate the lock. The operation of the
lock may be briefly described as follows:-
The parts being in the locked position shown in Fig. 1, a key introduced and
pushed upon the tumbler C, the flange of the latter is thrown and held out of
engagement with the detent D. The key being then turned to the right engages
the detents L and throws the tumblers K out from between the detent D and the
registering tumblers, and permits of said detent being thrown forward out of
engagement with the registering tumblers through the spring d³, the registering

page_text: tumblers through spring g assuming their normal position, as shown, Fig. 3, with
their radial arms resting against the abutment G, so that each tumbler E presents
a blank portion of its curved face at the aperture a² of the rim of the case of the
lock. When the moving parts are in this position the key cannot be turned back-
ward and withdrawn; being arrested by the detent D, it has to be turned further
forward, and in so doing said key engages the shoulders i of the arms I of the
registering tumblers, and moves them so as to indicate or register the number of the
key being used at the aperture a². The key then comes in contact with the
forward slopes of the notches ³ of the dogs H, which moves them so as to throw
their hooked ends h¹ out of engagement with the shackle nose, thus releasing the
shackle, which is thrown open by the spring 62, as shown, Figure 2. During the
above described movement of the dogs H. their lower ends ³ come in contact with
the edge d³ of the detent D, throwing and securing it into engagement with the
registering tumblers and holding the dogs H in their unlocked position, as shown,
Fig. 2 A, the key being prevented from turning farther forward by the engagement
with the notches and h in the arms of the registering tumblers and dogs H.
The key can now be turned backward and withdraw from the lock, but in so
doing the pivoted dogs H will assume the position shown, Fig. 2, being impelled
by the springs h, in which position they are secured by the supplemental dog J
of the detent D engaging their notched ends 4, thus preventing said dog H being
forced backward either when the shackle is opened or closed except by the insertion
of a key adapted to operate them. It will thus be observed that a key must be
inserted and turned in order to lock or unlock the shackle B, and in so doing it
must always operate the registering mechanism, and thereby indicate or register
its number at the aperture in the rim of the lock case.
I will now proceed to describe the modified construction of devices in the
application of the principle to padlocks, having a sliding shackle, referring
exclusively to Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings forming a part of this
Specification and in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, showing the position of parts when
a key is partially inserted; Figure 2 is a face view with the lock case removed,
showing the parts in a locked position.
Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the parts unlocked, the key inserted, and
the shackle opened.
Figures 4 and 5, side and front views of the registering tumblers; Figures 6, 7,
9, 10, 11, and 14 are detail views.
Figure 8, opposite side views of two of the keys for the lock; Figure 12, a
section on line x, x, of Fig. 3.
Figure 13, bottom end view of the lock with key inserted, and in these Figures
of Drawings,―
A represents the lock case or shell made in sections and united by suitable
rivets a.
In the bottom of the rim A² of the case there are two apertures, that, a',
for the insertion of the thrust key F, and that a, for observing the indicating
characters on the faces of the registering tumblers; B is the sliding shackle, having
an opening b in its free end adapted to fit over a boss b¹ projecting from the
exterior rim of the case when said shackle is closed; the latter has also an
opening be surrounding the shank or spindle C, and which is adapted to fit over a
hollow boss 63 on the exterior rim of the case when the shackle is closed.
The shank or spindle C is rigidly connected to and forms a part of the shackle,
and passes through the hollow boss 63 and an opening a³, through the rim of the
case into the interior thereof, and it is provided on its inner or free end with a
block D, in which the end of the shank is screwed and secured by a set screw d
This block D is provided with an opening through one side thereof, by which it
is adapted to be mounted on a stationary spindle E, having a coiled or spiral spring
surrounding it between said block D and the abutinent G in which said spindle E
is secured; the object of this spring e is to throw or press the shackle open when
unlocked. The abutment G has a projecting vertical side flange g, forming a guide

page_text: for the key when inserted for unlocking the shackle. The registering arrangement
in the present instance is composed of two like quadrantal tumblers H pivoted
on the central stud h, and their curved faces fit against the lower inside face of
the rim A² of the case, so that as said tumblers are moved by a key F the
indicating characters on their curved faces will be shown at the aperture a³
through the bottom of the rim A³, as shown Fig. 2. The inner or concave edges
of these tumblers H are provided with teeth or serrations h³, with which the
toothed end i of an irregularly shaped dog or detent I actuated by a spring i engages
for securing said tumblers H in any position; they may be moved by a key in
opening the lock. The tumblers H are held against a stud J when in their normal
position, so that each tumbler presents a blank portion of its curved face at the
aperture a through the medium of their actuating springs on the stud k, and
engaging with the projecting hooked ends h³ of the arms ³ of the tumblers H,
as shown Fig. 1. The arms h of the tumblers are also provided with angular
shoulders h* against which the keys of the lock engage for operating them.
The dog or detent 1 is thrown out of engagement with the registering tumblers
through the medium of the pivoted lever K, having one end passing through
a slot i² in said dog I, and its opposite end engaging with a pivoted dog L
actuated by a spring 4, and operated through the medium of a key when inserted
in the lock. This dog L is pivoted on a lug , upon which is also pivoted a
locking dog M, the dog L being arranged in a recess m in the dog M, as shown
in Fig. 14. The latter dog has a lug m¹ that engages with the lever K, and a
hooked lug m² that engages with a key when partially inserted in the lock, and
prevents its withdrawal until the shackle is unlocked.
In the present instance five locking tumblers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are used;
these are
mounted on a stud h in chronological order, and interposed between the arms of
the registering tumblers which are cut away for that purpose. These tumblers
are actuated by attached springs n, and are provided with hooked projections n'
that engage with the angular nose d² of the block D of the shackle spindle C for
locking the shackle when closed. Each of these tumblers has also a different
formed shoulder n², corresponding with the notched ends of the keys for operating
them. The shape of these tumblers otherwise are the same, whereby they are
adapted to be interchanged, so that in the loss or abstraction of a key a new
series of keys can be furnished to correspond with the change of the tumblers, thus
preventing effectually the use of any of the original series of keys, and the extent
of the interchange of these locking tumblers can be made in accordance with the
computation of the changes of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Although I have
not described this interchangeable feature of tumblers in either the Patent
heretofore granted to me for registering locks herein before referred to, or in the
description relating to the application of the registering principle to padlocks it
will be evident that said interchangeable tumblers may be readily applied to them
by any mechanic skilled in the art to which this Invention pertains, and I would
therefore have it understood that I claim this feature broadly in connection with
locks of any character or denomination of this class.
O is a pivoted locking dog operated by a lug o on the sliding dog I; this dog O
is thrown and held in engagement with an angular notch ds on the underside of
the block D of the shackle shank C through the medium of said dog I when
thrown out of engagement with the registering mechanism, and in which position
it is held for securing the shackle in a closed position until the registering
mechanism has been moved by a key to register its number, and the locking
tumblers thrown out of engagement with the block D when the sliding or movable
dog I will be thrown into engagement with the registering tumblers by its
actuating spring, thus releasing the dog O and permitting the spring e to throw
open the shackle. r,, are two posts between which the upper end of the dog I
is guided, and which in its upward movement when thrown out of engagement
with the registering tumblers forces or throws the pivoted sentinel tumbler R,
actuated by its attached spring r¹, out of engagement with the notches n³ of the

page_text: locking tumblers, thus permitting them to be unlocked by the key. It will thus,
be observed that when the sliding dog I is out of engagement with the registering
tumblers the sentinel tumbler is out of engagement with the locking tumblers,
while the dog O is thrown and held into engagement with the block D of the
shackle shank C, thus preventing the shackle from being unlocked even if the
locking tumblers were by any means thrown out of engagement with the block D,
while the sentinel tumbler will always bold and prevent the locking tumblers from
being thrown out of engagement with said block D when the dog I is in 'engage-
ment with the registering tumblers.
Figure 8 shows opposite side views of two different formed keys, said keys being
provided with a longitudinal slot f, through which passes the hooked end m² of
the dog M upon a partial insertion of a key in the lock, as shown, Fig. 1, thus
preventing its withdrawal until inserted far enough to operate the registering
mechanism and register its number through the aperture a³, and also unlock the
shackle. Each of the keys for this class of locks is provided on its right hand side
with one or two grooves f¹, in which fit the guide pin or pins fa projecting from
the abutment G just inside the case at the koy hole a', thus insuring the insertion
of the keys in their right position, as shown, Fig, 12, the indicating characters
being stamped or engraved on the keys, so as to come on the left hand side thereof
when inserted in the lock, as shown, Fig. 13. The key here shown will register
its number 98, see Fig. 13, while the key F¹ will register the number 45. This
lock will register all numbers from 1 to 99, and for each of the numbers there is a
separate key which will register a given number or continuation of numbers and
none other that will be stamped or engraved upon it, or in lieu of which, as already
stated hereinbefore, any other indicating characters may be employed. Some of
the locking tumblers may be dispensed with, or more locking & registering
tumblers used if desired. The shackle B covering the hollow boss 63 when closed
excludes rain or dampness from the interior of the case, while the projecting ends
of the side plates of the case in connection with the projecting portions a³ of the
rim A² form a shield around that portion of the rim in which are located the
apertures a, a, thus also protecting the lower interior portion of the case from
rain and dampuess when the lock is suspended.
S are caps or covering plates between the registering tumblers above and below
the lower end of the dog I, lever K, and dogs L, M, for securing said parts in
proper position, both of which plates may be dispensed with if desired. The
operation of this lock may be briefly described as follows:- -The parts being in the
locked position Figure 2, when a key is partially inserted it engages and moves the
dog L, and the latter throws the lug m³ of the dog M into engagement with
the slot of the key, and at the same time moves the lever K to throw the dog I
out of engagement with the registering tumblers, while said dog I disengages tho
sentinal tumbler from the locking tumblers, and also engages the dog with the
block D of the shackle shank, as shown Fig. 1. When the parts are in this
position the key is prevented from being withdrawn by the lug m² of the dog M,
while the shackle is held locked by the dog O, and the sentinel tumbler disengaged
from the locking tumblers, so that a further insertion of the key will move the
registering tumblers to register its number at the aperture a, and disengage the
locking tumblers from the block D, while at the same time the dog I will engage
and lock the registering tumblers under the impulse of its spring, and operating
the lever K so as to release the dog M and the dog O, thus permitting the key to
be withdrawn from the lock and the spring c to throw open the shackle. By again
pressing the shackle down it will be locked by the locking and sentinel tumblers
under the impulse of their respective springs, without thereby disturbing the
registering tumblers, which are always held in a locked position when the shackle
is opened or closed by the dog I, except upon a partial insertion of a key as above
described.
Having now fully described my Invention I would have it understood that I do
not desire to limit myself to the details of construction and arrangement described

page_text: and shown in the application of the method of causing a given characteristic sign
upon a key to be registered and shown when employed for unlocking a pad lock, as
these are only employed as illustrations of this application and may be materially
varied, and in certain classes of locks must necessarily be varied, without however
departing from the peculiar features of this my Invention, but what I do claim
is,-
1st. I claim broadly the method substantially as heroinbefore described for
causing given characteristic signs to be recorded or registered and shown by the
operation of opening a pad lock, either by means of an ordinary key or a thrust
key, said key corresponding with said characteristic signs or combination of signs,
whereby the lock will show by what particular key it had been opened, as herein-
before specified.
2d. I claim broadly the method and means for preventing the withdrawal from
a pad lock or other lock an ordinary key or a thrust key after insertion and
partial rotation of the key without first unlocking the lock, and thereby registering
its number or characteristic mark or sign, as specified.
3d. In an indicator pad lock, the combination with a pivoted or sliding shackle
of locking and registering mechanism adapted to be operated by different formed or
numbered keys, whereby the key used will be indicated or registered.
4th. In an indicator pad lock, the combination with a pivoted or other shackle of
locking and registering mechanism adapted to be operated by different formed keys,
whereby the key used for operating the lock is prevented from being turned
entirely around in the lock, and removed therefrom after a partial revolution
without registering its number and unlocking the shackle.
5th. In an indicator pad lock, the combination of locking and registering
mechanism adapted to be operated by different formed keys, whereby the number
of the key used in operating the lock will bo indicated or registered.
6th. The construction and combination of locking and registering mechanism in
its entirety and in its details, or any modifications or equivalents thereof, with n
pivoted shackle of a padlock, as hereinbefore described and shown in Sheet one of
the accompanying Drawings.
7th. The combination of the caso or shell, constructed as shown and described,
with a pivoted shackle of a pad lock and the operating mechanism thereof,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Sheet one of the accom-
panying Drawings.
8th. The construction and combination of locking and registering mechanism
in its entirety and in its details, or any modification or equivalents thereof, with
a sliding shackle of a pad lock, as hereinbefore described and shown in Sheet two
of the accompanying Drawings.
'
9th. The combination of the case or shell of a padlock having a sliding shackle
with the latter and the operating mechanism, substantially constructed as herein-
before described and shown by Sheet two of the accompanying Drawings.
10th. In a lock or padlock having locking and registering mechanism adapted
to be operated by different formed and designated keys, the application and
construction of tumblers combined with said locking and registering mechanism
adapted to have their arrangement in the lock changed to necessitate a change
in keys without thereby effecting the locking or registering mechanism, substan-
tially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Lewis Russell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
O thousand sight hundred and eighty.