A Permutation-padlock.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Permutation-padlock.
I, JAMES RITCHIE, of 10, Addison Place, Arbroath, N.B., Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to combination-padlocks, and has for its object to provide
a combination-padlock consisting of a number of flanged rings having registering
notches in the Hanges and letters, figures, or symbols on their periphery and arranged
to rotate about a vertical support, and a shackle with double arms, one of which
has locking teeth and is adapted to be projected through the notches of the rings
when they are made to régister by the formation of the combination and to be
engaged with the flanges of the rings to lock the shackle upon upsetting the
combination.
This invention has also for its object to provide a combination-padlock of the
character above referred to, which is so constructed that the shackles may be
engaged and locked in the padlock without adjusting the rings to form the combina-
tion, the means whereby this is effected not being apparent to the ordinary
observer.
The invention consists in a permutation-padlock and in details thereof, constructed
and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a view of the invention in elevation.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line y y Figure 2, with shackle removed.'
Figure 4 is a plan view of the padlock with shackle removed, and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotary rings détached.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of ring.
In the construction of this invention a number of metallic rings 1 are provided
having suitable letters, symbols, or figures arranged on their periphery, such as
the figures shown. The rings 1 are formed with internal horizontal flanges 2
at their top, forming a circular opening 3, and having notches 4 adapted to register
with each other.
A support for the rings 1 consists of a circular metallic base 5, equal in diameter
to the rings, and a central vertical projection or post 6, which, as well as the base 5,
may be made solid or hollow. As here shown, the vertical projection is made solid
with a central vertical slot or passage 7 extending from top to bottom and across
the post or vertical projection. The central vertical projection or post 6 forms
with the base 5 a ledge or shoulder 8 equal in width to the flange of the
rings 1.
The rings are slid over the central projection 6, the circular openings 3 fitting
to turn about the projection 6, and supported upon one another in a vertical column,
with the lowest ring resting on the ledge or shoulder 8 of the base. The rings 1
are held in place by a cap 9 screwing on to the top of the vertical projection 6,
and having slots 10 and 11, which extend in alignment with the slot or passage
in the vertical projection 6. The periphery of cap 9 is provided with symbols or
figures similarly to the rings 1, and the cap may be secured to the projection 6 in
any other suitable manner than by screwing on to the same. The periphery of
base 5-may also be provided with symbols or figures, if desired.

page_text: 12 indicates the shackle for the padlock formed with a plain arm 13 and an
arm 14 having teeth 15.
The slots 10 and 11 are of such length that the teeth 15 are permitted to be
passed through the slot 10, and the upper portion of the arms 13 and 14 may be
vibrated or rocked in the slots 10 and 11.
The notches 4 in flanges 2 of rings 1 will be located in such relative position to
the slot 10 in cap 9, when they register with each other, that they will be in align-
inent with the slot 10. The armis 13 and 14 may then be pushed through the
slots 10 and 11 and into the slot or passage 7, the teeth 15 passing through the
aligning slots 4 and bringing each tooth below an adjacent flange of the rings. Upon
turning the rings 1 and upsetting the combination the teeth 15 will become locked
with the flanges 2.
In order that the shackle may be locked in the padlock, when the slots 4 are not
in alignment without forming the combination, the shackle 12 is formed with vertical
sockets or recesses 16 adjacent to the inner ends of the arms 13 and 14, in which
are located slotted bolts 17, mounted on cross-pins 18, and held outwardly by coiled
springs 19. The outer ends of the bolts 17 are formed with a bevel 20. Within
the slots 7 is mounted a bent vertical spring-strip 21, secured at its lower end in
the bottom of the slot 7, and having its bent or curved portion located in line with
the slot 10.
By means of the foregoing construction, if the rings 1 are so arranged that the
notches 4 do not happen to register and it is desired to lock the padlock, the arms 13
and 14 may be pushed through the slots 10 and 11, the teeth 15 slipping past the
Hanges 2 of the rings, and the arm 14 pushing back the spring 21 until the ends of
the bolts 17 strike against the edge of one end of the slots 10 and 11, when in the
further advance of the arms 13 and 14, the bolts 17 will be pushed up into the
sockets 16, the beveled ends 20 riding over the edge of one end of slots 10 and 11
until the teeth 15 are brought below the flanges 2 of rings 1, when the arms 13
and 14 will be moved laterally by the action of the spring 21 throwing the
teeth 15 into engagement with flanges 2, and permitting the bolts 17 to be
projected into the slots 10 and 11 by the action of springs 19 thereby firmly locking
the padlock.
In order to deceive the sense of touch of a person unacquainted with the
combination and moving the rings on the teeth of the shackle to release the
latter, the flanges 2 are formed on their surfaces with grooves or recesses 22, as
shown in Figure 5. By this means when the shackle 12 is locked, upon the rings
being turned by a person unacquainted with the combination, to find by the sense
of touch the notches 4, the teeth 15, rubbing on the under side of the flanges 2,
will be felt to move in a recess 22 on the under side of the flange 2, deceiving the
person moving the rings in the belief that a tooth 15 is brought opposite a
notch 4, and so on in succession with all the recesses 22. It will be understood, of
course, that only the recesses 22 on the under side of flanges 2 are brought into
play. The recesses 22 on the upper side of the flanges 2 are only employed when
the rings are placed upside down on the post 6, as they may be, if desired.
In lieu of the recesses 22, another form of recess may be employed, as shown in
Figure 6, where a fluted surface 23 is formed in the surface of flange 2, the inner
ends of the flutes 23 serving as deceiving recesses, similarly to recesses 22. In
both instances the recesses may be formed only on one surface of the flanges 2. In
order also to prevent the possibility of the combination being calculated by
person unacquainted therewith, one or more of the notches 4 is located inter-
mediately between the figures or symbols on the periphery of a ring.
a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) A permutation-padlock constructed with a circular base ba

page_text: vertical recessed projection or post containing a vertically-vibrating spring-arm,
a number of rotary rings with internal horizontal flanges mounted in a vertical
column on the vertical post and base and having registering notches in their
flanges and symbols or figures on their periphery, a cap for retaining the rings
on the post having slots aligning with the recess of the post, and a shackle
having double arms, one of which is formed with locking-teeth to engage the
flanges of the rings and is acted upon laterally by the spring in the vertical post,
and spring-actuated vertical bolts with beveled ends projecting into the slots in
the cap between the arms of the shackle and the ends of the slots, substantially as
shown and described.
(2) The combination, in a permutation-padlock, with the base having a pro-
jection provided with a vertical recess, a cap-plate having a registering recess, and
notched rings mounted on the projection between said cap and base, of a shackle
provided with a toothed arm adapted to be passed through said slot into the recess
and laterally into engagement with said rings, and a lock for retaining the
arm against reverse lateral movement away from the rings, substantially as set
forth.
(3) In a permutation-padlock, a circular base and central recessed post, a
number of rotary rings with internal horizontal flanges having registering notches
and mounted in a vertical column on the post and base, a cap secured to the top of
the post with slots opening into the recessed post, and a shackle having two arms
which project through the slots in the cap and into the recessed post, one of the
arms having locking-teeth adapted to pass through the registering notches in the
rings and engage their flanges, and vertical spring-actuated bolts in the shackle
which project into the slots of the cap adjacent to the arms, substantially as shown
and described.
(4) A permutation-padlock constructed with a circular base 5, having a central
vertical post 6, with recess 7 extending across and from top to bottom thereof
and a vertical spring-strip 21 located therein, a vertical column of rotary rings 1,
with horizontal internal flanges 2, having registering notches 4, mounted on the
base 5, and post 6, a cap 9, secured to the top of post 6, and having oblong
slots 10 and 11 opening into recess 7 in post 6, and a shackle 12, with a plain
arn 13, and an arm 14, with teeth 15, adapted to pass through the registering
notches 4 in rings 1 and engage their flanges 2, the arms 13 and 14 projecting
through slots 10 and 11 in cap 9, and the recess 7 in post 6, with the spring 21
bearing against arm 14, and spring actuated bolts 17, with beveled ends 20, pro-
jecting from shackle 12 through slots 10 and 11, and parallel with arms 13 and 14,
substantially as shown and described.
(5) The combination with a base provided with a vertically-recessed projection,
a cap having a slot over the upper end of the recess, and notched rings on the pro-
jection between the base and cap, of the shackle having a toothed arm of less width
than the length of the said slot and width of the said recess, a bolt on the shackle
to fill the space between the inner edge of its arm and the inner end of the slot,
and a spring for pressing the shackle-arm laterally as it enters the recess, sub-
stantially as set forth.
(6) In a permutation-lock as herein described, a shackle 12, formed with the
plain arm 13, the arm 14, with locking-teeth 15, and the vertical recesses 16 at the
inner end of arms 13 and 14, with spring-actuated bolts 17, having beveled ends 20,
the bolts 17 being movable lengthwise upon the arms 13 and 14, substantially as
shown and described.
Dated this 6th day of February 1891
JAMES RITCHIE.