IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINATION LOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMBINATION LOCKS " a communication to me from abroad by William
McMillan Brooke, of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New York,
United States of America to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to combination locks, suitable for trunks, valises, satchels,
and other receptacles or packages and in which internally slotted or notched rings
arranged to rotate about a common axis, and having letters figures or symbols on
their peripheral exteriors are used in connection with a toothed hasp, so that
according as the rings are turned to bring their notches into or out of line with
each other, provision is made for their engagement with and disengagement from
the toothed hasp to close or open the lock as required.
The Invention comprises a certain combination of a toothed hasp with the
permutation rings of peculiar construction, and a circular lock-case, whereby the
hasp is made to directly lock with the rings, a central pivot or bolt is dispensed
with, the case is made to form a bearing for the rings, and other advantages are
obtained, the whole forming a cheap, and simple combination lock, substantially as
hereinafter described. The Invention also includes a certain construction of the
lock-case from a single blank.
The lock-case is cylindrical to form an outside bearing for the rings to turn
in without the support of a central spindle. This case has a slot by which the
number wheels are accessible from outside to turn or adjust them. A simple mode
of constructing this lock-case is to fashion it out of a flat sheet metal blank or strip
having its central main portion of greater width than its ends and notched on
opposite sides, which are afterwards turned over on the rings to form the top and
bottom of the case, and the blank bent in the direction of its length to a cylindrical
shape.
The rings which form the combination parts of the lock are each (excepting, if
desired, the lower one which may be a mere dummy to mislead the uninitiated and

page_text: form a guage or rest for the lower end of the harp) countersunk on their upper or
one face, around the central hole or eye and have a radial or keyhole slot through
them. This construction of the rings not only enables a toothed hasp to be
entered within or through said rings, when the rings are so turned as to have their
slots in line with each other and with the hasp, and the hasp to be subsequently
locked by turning one or more of the rings out of its above specified position;
but the countersinks serve to receive the entered teeth of the hasp, that may be
shaped to correspond within them, and so that each ring when turned will ride
over and lock with the tooth on the next ring beneath, thus doing away with loose
intermediate rings or idlers between the combination rings of the lock.
The lower ring might be similarly constructed and the bottom of the lock-case
form the rest and guage for the lower end of the hasp, to ensure its proper depth.
of insertion to engage with the other rings, but it is preferred to make it a false
combination or permutation ring to deceive the unwary and to form a guage for
the hasp as well as to stiffen the lock.

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBINATION LOCKS," (a communication to me from abroad by William M.Millan
Brooke, of Brooklyn in the County of Kings. and State of New York, United
States of America,) 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 locks suitable for trunks, valises, satchels,
and other receptacles or packages and in which internally slotted or notched rings
arranged to rotate about a common axis and having letters, figures or symbols on
their peripheral exteriors are used in connection with a toothed hasp so that
accordingly as the rings are turned to bring their notches into or out of line with
each other, provision is made for their engagement with and disengagement from
the toothed hasp to close or open the lock as required.
The invention comprises a certain combination of a toothed hasp with the
permutation rings of peculiar construction and a circular lock case, whereby the
hasp is made to directly lock with the rings, a central pivot or bolt is dispensed
with, the case is made to form a bearing for the rings, and other advantages are
obtained, the whole forming a cheap, and simple combination lock, substantially as
hereinafter described. The invention also includes a certain construction of the
lock case from a single blank.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification in which Figure 1 represents a front view of a trunk in part having
the improved lock applied. Figure 2 a top view of the front portion of the body
of the trunk, in part, with the lock attached. Figure 3 a horizontal section of the
same, on the line x-x in figure 4. Figure 4 a vertical section on the line y-y in
figure 1 of the front part of the trunk and lock with its hasp. Figure 5 a view in
perspective of one of the combination of permutation rings of the lock detached.
Figure 6 a face view of a blank, from which the case of the lock may be made and
Figure 7 a longitudinal view of the hasp detached.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
A indicates the lid or top, and B the lower portion or body of a trunk in part.
C is the lock case inserted in and through the upper, front portion of the body
of the trunk and secured thereto by screws, nails or rivets. Said case is of a
cylindrical contour internally, with its axis in a vertical plane, when the lock is
applied as shown, to form an outside bearing or support for any number (that is
two or more) of superposed rings D D¹ to turn in, without the aid or support of a
central spindle. Such case is constructed to present a slot or opening b in front,
outside of which on the exterior of the trunk may be a correspondingly slotted
plate S or said plate may be omitted if desired. The object of this slot b is to
provide for the insertion of the finger to manipulate the rings D D¹. A simple
mode of constructing this lock case is to fashion it out of a flat sheet metal
blank E Figure 6, having its central main portion of greater width than its ends
and notched on opposite sides as shown at cc, which notched portions are after-
wards turned over on the rings D D¹ to form the top and bottom of the case, and
the blank bent in direction of its length to give to it its circular interior shape,
with slot b in front and side wings d d that serve to secure the lock to its place.
The rings D D¹ which form the combination parts of the lock and are of a size
to fit easy within the circular portion of the case, have any number of letters,

page_text: figures or symbols on their peripheral exteriors and are each excepting, if desired,
the lower one D¹ which may be a mere dummy to mislead the uninitiated and
form a gauge or rest for the lower end of the hasp constructed on their upper or
one face with a flaring or other suitably shaped and enlarged recess e around the
central hole or eyes of the rings and with a radial slot f down through them
arranged to open into the eye of the rings This construction of the rings D not
only provides for a toothed hasp G secured to the lid of the trunk being entered
down within or through said rings when the lid is closed and the rings are so
turned as to have their slots fin line with each other and with the hasp, and of
the hasp being subsequently locked by turning one or more of the rings out of its
above specified position; but the recesses e serve to receive the entered teeth g of
the hasp G, that may be shaped to correspond, within them and so that each ring
when turned will ride over and lock with the tooth on the next ring beneath,
thus doing away with loose intermediate rings or idlers between the combination
ones of the lock.
The lower ring D' might be similarly constructed and the bottom of the lock
case form the rest and gauge for the lower end of the hasp, to ensure its proper
depth of insertion to engage with the other rings, but it is preferred to make it a
false combination or permutation ring to deceive the unwary and to form a gauge
for the hasp as well as to stiffen the lock.
By dispensing with a central spindle for the rings to turn on, much com-
plication is avoided. The lock generally is one of extreme simplicity and although
it does not provide for changing the combination excepting by transposing the
permutation rings one for the other it will afford ample security against being
opened by persons not acquainted with the particular combination necessary to
open it.
As here shown and described, the invention is only explained as applied to a
fixed lock, but by suitably varying the exterior shape of its case, and hinging and
properly shaping the hasp it may be applied to a padlock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the toothed hasp G, with the rings D having enlarged or
flaring recesses e around their central eyes 8, also radial slots f and the circular lock
case having a slot b in its one side, all arranged for operation together, sub-
stantially as shown and described, whereby the hasp is made to directly lock with
the rings, a central bolt or pivot is dispensed with and the case is made to form a
bearing for the rings, as herein set forth.
2nd The lock herein described consisting of the sheet metal case provided with a
circular chamber C in turned notched portions c on the upper and lower edges of
said chamber securing flanges d bent from the opening b in the case, in opposite
directions, and a series of permutation rings within said chamber in combination
with a suitable hasp, substantially as set forth.
3rd A lock case formed from a sheet metal blank E, said blank being provided
with a notched central portion c and bent to form the circular chamber C, of which
the notched portion c, form the top and bottom, opening b and flanges & bent in
opposite directions from said opening, essentially as specified.