Improvements in Locking Devices for Cycles and other Vehicles,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Devices for Cycles and other Vehicles,
I, ALLEN MCCLELLAND MITCHELL, of 14, Queen Street, Belfast, Ireland, Detective,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in locking devices to be used for
locking cycles and other vehicles so as to prevent their being wheeled away.
The object of the invention is to provide a combination locking device so that
when the vehicle is locked it cannot be unlocked unless the operator knows the
particular combination, and such combination can be varied at any time. The
wheels of the vehicle can be locked lineable one with another, or at an angle,
and the apparatus is simple in its construction and possesses the advantages that
no key is required and the combination necessary for unfastening the lock can be
arranged in the dark by the sense of touch alone.
According to this invention I attach to the frame of the vehiclo and near to
any acting or moveable part of the vehicle, preferably the steering head or bar
of same, a bolt on which are a series of projections or lumps, and such bolt is
carried by and free to slide to and fro in a bracket fixed to the frame. One end of
the bolt terminates in a key or pin and this pin or key can be passed into any
one of a series of holes provided for it in the steering head or bar, but a spiral
spring on the opposite end of the bolt keeps the key out of the holes unless it is
pressed home and locked by the operator. The bolt is carried in a core or tube
in which are recesses for the passage of the projections, and the tube is in turn
covered by a series of concentric discs in which are recesses, the whole being
somewhat similar to the ordinary and well known combination "letter lock,
but the discs are made angular or polygonal instead of round so that they may be
removed and replaced on different sides as required, and thus the combination is
varied. Instead of letters or figures on the surfaces of the several discs there are
knobs, projections, or pins, of different shapes, and it is by moving certain of these
pins or projections into line that the required combination is obtained and the
recesses brought lineable with the projections that the bolt or key can be suided so
as to lock or unlock the vehicle. When the bolt is slided forwards the discs are
moved so that the combination is destroyed and the vehicle is locked. As before
mentioned a spring withdraws the key or bolt from the locking holes, unless
locked, but the amount of movement of the bolt is limited by a pin passing through
a slot therein. In order to prevent the disc moving through the vibration of the
vehicle when in motion, and to more readily enable the operator to bring the discs
into the correct combination, I employ a series of blade springs upon the said
discs.
Instead of the discs being arranged on the bolt as above described, they may
be placed on the same plane, in which case they will be flanged with a recess or saw
gate cut in the flange. Each disc is mounted on a stud protruding outside the case
of the bolt, and on the outside is provided with a head on which is an indicator
or pointer, and by turning the discs until the indicators are in certain positions

page_text: when the saw gates will be lineable with the projections and the bolt can be slided
to and fro to lock or unlock the vehicle.
Dated this 14th day of November 1898.
Improvements in Locking Devices for Cycles and other Vehicles,
I, ALLEN MCCLELLAND MITCHELL, of 14, Queen Street, Belfast, Ireland, Detective,
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 improvements in locking devices to be used for locking
bags, cycles, and other articles and vehicles so as to prevent their being opened or
wheeled away. The object of this invention is to provide a combination locking
device so that when the vehicle is locked it cannot be unlocked unless the operator
knows the particular combination, and such combination can be varied at any time.
The wheels of a vehicle can be locked lineable one with another or at an angle, and
the apparatus is simple in its construction and possesses the advantages that no key
is required and the combination necessary for unfastening the lock can be arranged
in the dark by the sense of touch alone.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a
complete description of same reference being had to the annexed drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved locking device, one of the projections or
thumb pieces being removed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the improved locking device.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the interior of the locking device the cap or cover
being removed and turned over.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bolt detached.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the bolt.
According to this invention the locking device consists of a frame 1 to be
attached to the frame of the bag or vehicle and in the latter case near to any
acting or moveable part of same as for instance when applied to a cycle the case 1
is preferably fixed to the backbone of same and near to the steering head or bar
which can thereby be locked by the bolt of the improved locking device hereinafter
described. Inside the case or frame 1 is carried a bolt 2 which is normally free
to slide to and fro in said frame. One end of the bolt 2 terminates in a key or pin 3
and this pin or key can be passed into anyone of a series of holes provided for it in the
steering head or bar of a cycle or into a staple or like device on a bag or trunk the
bolt being applicable for all similar purposes for which a bolt is ordinarily
employed.
A spiral spring 4 one end of which is fixed to the bolt 2 and the other end to the
interior of the case 1 serves to draw the bolt 2 into the case I when not locked in
the outward or active position. The bolt 2 is carried in a core or chamber of the
case 1 and in such bolt are two, three, or more slots 5, 5 through which pass
studs or projections 6, 6 and on such studs are flanged discs 7, 7 in the flanges of
which are passage ways 8, 8 for the passage of pins or projections 9, 9 on the
underside of the bolt 2. On each stud or projection and outside the case 1 is a
thumb piece or disc 10 on the underside of each of which is a pin 11 which can
engage with anyone of a series of holes 12, 12 formed in the case 1 (see Fig. 1).

page_text: The studs or projections 6, 6, are made angular or polygonal (see Fig. 2) so that
the discs or thumb pieces 10 can be removed therefrom by first taking off the
nuts 13 and small springs 14 and the discs or thumb pieces 10 can then be replaced
on another side or angle of the stud 6 so that the combination is changed and can
be varied at any time.
On the surface of each disc or thumb piece 10 is a knob, projection, or pin 15
and it is by moving the thumb pieces 10 that the knobs or pins 15 are in line or a
certain relative position that the required combination is obtained and the recesses
or passage ways 8, 8 brought lineable with the pins.or projections 9, 9 on the
underside of the bolt 2 that the latter can be slided in or out and unlocked.
The action is as follows:-The holes or passage ways 8 being lineable with the
pins or projections 9, 9 the bolt 2 is shot forward into its staple, recess, or hole
by the operator pressing on the projecting part B. When the bolt 2 is shot home
it is locked by the thumb pieces or discs 10, 10 being slightly raised until their
pins 11 are withdrawn from the hole 12 when a partial turn is given to each thumb
piece 10 and the passage ways 8 are moved out of line with the pins or projections 9
the latter being held by and inside the flanged discs 7, 7. The springs 14
pins 11 and holes 12 serve to lock the thumb pieces 10 in the positions in which
they have been set. As before mentioned the indicators or knobs 15 indicate to
the operator the positions of the passage ways 8 and by moving the thumb pieces 10
until the indicators are in certain relative positions with one another the passage
ways 8 are brought lineable with one another and with the pins 9, and the bolt 2 is
unlocked and the spring 4 withdraws it from its staple, recess, or hole, but as the
positions of the indicators 15 in relation to the passage ways 8 can easily be changed
the operator has control of the combination which constitutes the "lock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
the improved locking device as herein described and substantially as illustrated by
the annexed drawings.
(2) The bolt 2 on which are the pins 9 the studs 6 and flanged disc 7 with
passage ways 8 and the thumb pieces or heads 10 all in combination as and for the
purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 of the
annexed drawings.
(3) The bolt 2 on which are the pins 9 the discs 7 in which are passage ways 8
and flanges or projecting portions which can be moved into line with the said
pins 9 all in combination as and for the purpose herein described and substantially
as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
ALLEN MCCLELLAND MITCHELL.
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.