Improvements in or relating to Combination Looks:
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
ADUN 4 CHABLED 3. LNTURN; or
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Machinists.]
Improvements in or relating to Combination Looks:
:
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, 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:-
The invention consists of a combination lock and refers more particularly to the
mechanism for forming combinations and' for operating the lock by sound.
The invention will he clearly understood from the following description referring to
the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the top portion of our lock.
Figure 1 is a partial similar view shewing the dial plate set at the starting point.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line II. II. of Figure 1 the
dial plates being shown at the starting point.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the under side of the dial plate.
Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal section similar to Figure 2 showing the central
locking plate and pins in a lowered position.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views shewing the click spring in and out of engagement
with the notches of the locking disc.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the under side of Figure 5 detached from the frame.
Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the locking plate in engagement with
the basp plate, the section being taken on the line VIII. VIII. of Figure 4.
Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line IX. IX. of Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a similar sectional view, shewing the parts in position corresponding
to Figure 4, the basp plate being removed.
Figure 11 is a partial plan view of the plate upon which' the rotating dial plates aré
mounted.
Figure 12 is a cross section through Figure 11 on the line XII. XII.
Referring to the drawing, 2, 3, represent the two sides of a satchel or any other
appropriate article, in a closed position, the side 2 having firmly secured to it by
means of bolts 4 the lock oncelosing case 5 and upper plate 6; and the side 3
having secured to it, by any desirable means the hasp plate 7, having therein the
slot 8.
Mounted in the central part of the case 5 is the vertical movable locking plate 10
seoured to a stud 11, the lower end of which, 12, extends through and has a bearing
in the lower plate 13 of the case 5, and the upper end of which, 14, extends through
the plate 6 and constitutes a push button.
Surrounding the lower stud 12 is a coiled spring 15 which normally holds the
plate 10 in an upper or locking position as shewn in Figures 2 and 9, the upward
motion being limited by a shoulder 16 bearing against the edge of a plate 17 forming
part of the case 5. The plate 10 is provided along its front edge with an upturned
lip 18 the outward face of which is rounded to facilitate the entrance of the hasp
plate 7, the face of which is also similarly rounded.

page_text: A slot 19 for the entranco of the hasp plate is made. in the face of the case 5,.
corresponding in dimensious to the size of the hasp so as to permit it to easily ride
over and depress the lip 18.
Located at each side of the center stud I are two vertical studs 20 having reduced
extensions or stems 21 at their lower ends which also have a bearing in the plate 13
and to which are rigidly attached the circular register plates 22, each having therein
a hole 28 which in a certain position of the register plates, is brought into
alignment with one of the pins 24 projecting downwardly from the lower face of
tho plato 10.
A series of blind holes 25 are located around the top surface of the register plates;
as shewn in Figure 9 for the purpose of confusing and preventing the opening of the
lock by one unfamiliar with the combination.
The upper portion of the studs 20 is reduced: so as to leave a shoulder 26 which
nas a bearing against the plate 17, the reduced extension 27 passing there through'
and terminating in a polygonal reduced extension 28 from the centre of which
projects upwardly a screw threaded stud 29, upon which is screwed a button 9
milled around its edge, and upon the polygonal extension 28-is placed the circular
dial plate 30 having a polygonal opening in its centre corresponding to the size, shape,
and dimensions of the extension 28.
The dial plate fits neatly in a circular opening in the plate 6, as shewn, and has on
its face a series of figures or characters, corresponding in number to the sides of the
polygonal opening and to the number of holes in the plate 22.
At any predetermined point on the plate 6 a notch or mark 31 is made so that
when each of the numbers or characters is brought successively into register with
the mark 31 one of the holes in the plate 22 will be brought into alignment with
the pin 24. It will be seen that in only one position of the dial plate will the open
hole 23 be in alignment with the pin 24, and when both holes are so in alignment as
shown in Figures 2 and 4 the push button 14 may be depressed, thus withdrawing
the lip 18 for unlocking as in Figure 10 or allowing the hasp plate to be insorted
for locking.
It is evident that more than one open hole may be made in the plate 22, in
which case the lock will open with more than one combination. Also by removing
the dial plate 30 from the polygonal extension 28, turning it partially and replacing
it in another position, a new combination can be quickly and easily made, thus making
it possible to change the combination at will. We may, if desirable, change the
number of characters on the dial plate, as for instance there may be six, in which
case the extension 28 would be hexagonal and the open hole 23 would register with
the pin 24 in one of the six positions.
In the lock illustrated in the drawings there are eight holes in the register plate 22,
eight 'figures on the dial plate, and the extension 28 is eight sided or octagonal, and
the lock is set to open at 47 reading from the right.
It is obvious that the lock may be further modified by the use of more than two
dials and register plates, as three or more might be employed if desired thus giving
aimore elaborate and complicated combination, although for ordinary purposes we
have found two quite sufficient.
The numbers on the dial plate as has been said correspond to the number of sides
of the polygonal extension 28, whereby changes in the combination may be made.
'The under side of each register plate 22 is provided with a V shaped groove 29
under each hole, so that as each hole passes a given point, its corresponding groove
will also come into register with the correspondingly V shaped ends 32 of a bifur-
cated leaf spring 33 held in position by the stem 12 and exerting a pressure
upwardly so that as the plates 22 are turned the ends 30 will be depressed out of
engagement, as shewn in Figure 6 and will spring into the next succeeding groove
with an audible "click." By turning the stem 20 very slowly, the click may be
obviated and the seating of the spring ends in the grooves determined by the foeling
of the fingers of the operator.
It will be seen, Figuros 2 and 7, that the location of the grooves and spring is

page_text: such, that when in engagement one of the holes in the register plate will be in
register with the pin 24. By any predetermined combination, as 47, shewn in
Figure 1, reading from the right, the holes 23 are made to register with the pins 24.
By counting the number or "clicks" commencing with the click corresponding with
number one, the same combination may be male without seeing the dial plate, and
in order to provide a starting point, I have provided on the under side of the dial
plate 30 a shoulder 34, located about midway of the numbers 1 and 8, as in
Figure 1, so that when the plate is so placed in position, it may be turned for
the same number of clicks corresponding to the combination, and the pins and open
holes will be in register.
For the purpose of providing an interfering stop to engage the shoulder 34, a cut
is made in a plate 35 at 36 and a spring shoulder 37 is forced upwardly, so as to
engage the shoulder 34 when turned to the right but not to the left, and of
sufficient elasticity to be depressed by the dial plate until the slioulders are so in
register.
The operation from the foregoing description is obvious, since when the dials are
set to the proper combination by the, process of counting the "clicks" beginning with
one, the lioles and pins will be in register, allowing the plate 10 to be depressed and
the hasp plato removed.
Changes will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic within the scope of
our invention, and we desire to be understood as including all such changes and
modifications.
Having now particularly described.and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foroign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a lock of the class described, a vertically movable locking plate. engaging a
hasp plate, and register plates provided with openings for pins in the locking plate,
said pins entering the openings in the register plates in a plane parallel with
the vertical axis of said register plates, when the lock is unlocked substantially, as
set forth.
2. In a lock of the class described, a movable locking plate provided with an
upturned lip for engagement with a hasp plate, a stemn supporting the locking plate
having bearings in the case of the lock, one end of such stem constituting a push
button, a coiled spring surrounding the other end bearing against the bottom of the.
case and the locking plate respectively, and register plates provided with openings
for pins in the locking plate, substantially as set forth.
3. A combination lock consisting of a vertically movable locking plate and
a push button for depressing such plate, and revoluble register plates provided with.
openings within the periphery of the plates for pins in the locking plate, substantially
as set forth.
4. A combination lock consisting of a vertically movable spring controlled locking
plate provided with downwardly projecting pins, and revoluble register plates provided
with perforating openings for such pins within the circumference of the register. plates,.
substantially as set forth.
5. A combination lock consisting of a vertically movable spring controlled locking
plate provided with an upturned lip, and downwardly projecting pins, and revoluble
register plates provided with perforating openings for such pins, mounted on stems.
having bearings in the case of the lock and provided with. dial plates secured to the.
upper portion of the stem substantially as set forth.
6. A combination lock consisting of a vertically movable spring controlled locking
plate provided with an upturned lip and downwardly projecting pins, and revoluble
register plates provided with blind and open holes for such pins, mounted on stems
having bearings in the case of the lock provided with dial plates secured to the
upper part of the stem, and a button for turning the stom, substantially as set.
forth.
7. In a lock of the class described, in combination with a vertically movable.

page_text: locking plate provided with a downwardly projecting pin, a revoluble stem provided
with a register plate having a perforating hole near its periphery, a circular dial plate
furnished with characters adjustably secured to the stein, and a mark on the top
plate of the look by which the dial plate is set so as to bring the holes in the register
plate into alignment with the pin on the locking plate, substantially as set forth.
8. In a lock of the class described, in combination with a locking plate
provided with a downwardly projecting pin, a revolable stem provided with
a downwardly projecting pin, a revoluble stem provided with a ciroular register
plate having one opan and a number of bliud holes, a circular dial plate
furnished with an equal number of characters with all of the holes, and having in its
center an equilateral polygonal opening fitting on a correspondingly shaped extension
of the pin, such polygonal opening and stem corresponding in the number of its. sides
to the number of the openings in the register plate and to the number of characters on
the dial plate, substantially as set forth.
9. In a lock of the class described, in combination with a movable locking plate
provided with an upturned lip for engagement with a hasp plate, a stem supporting
the locking plate having bearings in the case of the lock, one end of such stem
constituting a. push button, and register plates provided with openings for pins in the
locking plate mounted on dial stems, a figured dial mounted on the stem provided
with a stop on its under surface and a spring shoulder designed to engage such stop,
substantially as set forth.
1. In a lock of the class described, in combination with a movable locking plate
provided with an upturned lip for engagement with a hasp plate a stem supporting
the locking plate having bearings in the case of the lock, one end of such stem
constituting a push button, and register plates provided with openings for pins in the
locking plate niounted on dial stems; a figured dial mounted on the stem provided
with a stop on its under surface and a spring shoulder designed to engage such stop;
radial grooves on the under sides of the register plates, and a spring designed to
engage such grooves, substantially as set forth.
11. In combination with a movable locking plate engaging a hasp plate, and
register plates provided with openings for pins on the locking plate mounted on dial
stems; a figured dial having a stop on its under surface and a spring shoulder
designed to engage such stop, substantially as set forth.
12. In combination with a movable locking plate engaging a hasp plate, and register
plates provided with openings for pins on the locking plate mounted on dial stems and
provided with radial grooves thereon; a spring designed to engage such grooves,
substantially as set forth.
13. In combinatian with a movable locking plate engaging a hasp plate and register
plates provided with openings for pins in the locking plate mounted on dial stems
and provided with radial grooves thereon; u figured dial having a stop on its
under surface, a spring shoulder designed to engage such stop, and a spring
designed to engage the radial grooves on the register plates, substantially as
set forth.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.