US2687636A - Combination lock for file cabinets - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1954 H. C. MILLER YCOMBINATION LOCK FOR FILE CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed MarOh 5. 1952 l j?" JNVEN'TOK f bury 6.' Maller o. BY

Aug. 31, 1954 H. c. MILLER 2,687,636

COMBINATION LOCK FOR FILE CABINETS Filed March 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hummmwww 'Illu' 1N V EN TOR.

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Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE COMBINATION LOCK FOR FILE CABINETS Harry C. Miller, Fairfax, Va.

Application March 5, 1952, Serial No. 274,904

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to combination locks of the type having means for preventing the combination of the lock from being detected by unauthorized persons, and more particularly relates to combination locks of this type especially adapted for use with conventional file cabinets and the like.

Locks of the type commonly referred to as combination locks depend generally for their operation upon the alignment of a plurality of rotatable discs, commonly called tumblers, to permit operation of a bolt. Locks are commonly provided with three of such tumblers, each having a recess or gate to be aligned to permit retraction of the bolt. The security of such locks is dependent upon the fact that the number of orders or permutations of the possible relative positions of the tumbler gates before the gates are brought into registry is so large that the chance of these gates being aligned by a person not familiar with the combination is negligibly small.

The tumblers are operated by means of a drive wheel which is directly coupled to the operating knob or dial, and is 'provided with a special gate adapted to receive a finger on the end of a pivoted fence lever having an integral fence which normally extends transversely across the edges of all the tumblers. Conventionally, the fence is held in a position slightly spaced from the outer peripheries of all of the tumblers. However, because of difficulties in manufacturing, it is practically impossible to manufacture the parts of locks to such close tolerances that the same slight diiierence in space will occur between the peripheries of the tumblers and the fence. By very careful manipulation of the drive wheel to position the tumblers so that the fence drops against the edge of the highest turnbler and the progressively lower tumblers, a skilled person can detect by touch or by very minute sounds the alignment of the gates with the fence and thereby break the combination.

Means have therefore been provided in such combination locks for preventing the fence lever from contacting the drive wheel and seating in the gate in the drive wheel during the period when the tumblers are being rotated, and for conditioning the drive wheel to prevent further movement of the tumblers when the fence lever is brought into contact with the drive wheel, to improve the security of these combination locks. Such means are disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,575,674, issued to me November 20, 1951.

Heretofore no arrangement has been suggested for incorporating such additional security provisions in locks which are particularly suitable for use in le cabinets or the like Where space is severely limited.

Locks heretofore available for use in le cabinets and the like where only a portion of the dial need be exposed to view, employed primarily a plurality of exposed, edge indexed tumblers which must be manually rotated to align preselected portions of the tumblers and permit retraction of a bolt, the direct adjustment of the tumblers making it a relatively simple matter for unauthorized persons to detect the combination through careful manipulation of the tumblers when the bolt and fence are placed under stress.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a combination lock of the type in which manipulation of the dial Will not give any indication of the position of the tumbler gates, which is particularly adapted for use in file cabinets and the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combination lock of a novel nested construction adapted to iit in a convenient and novel manner in the relatively limited space available in conventional le cabinets and the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combination lock of compact construction particularly adapted for use in the relatively narrow spaces available in conventional ile cabinets, in which the drive wheel cannot be rotated to manipulate the tumblers when the fence lever is in contact with the drive wheel.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel nested construction whereby the components are arranged to form an elongated lock of minimum thickness adapted to fit in the limited space available above and between drawers of a conventional file cabinet.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a combination lock made in accordance with the present invention mounted in a conventional file cabinet;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section view oi a combination lock embodying the present invention, taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section view of a combination lock shown in Figure 2, taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on lines 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the cover plate taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel and drive wheel gate closing mechamsm.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof, the combination lock embodying the present invention, indicated generally by the reference character I0, is especially adapted to be disposed in the top framing strip I I of the file cabinet, generally indicated at I2, to overlie the upper edge of the movable le cabinet drawer I3 and in alignment with the center thereof. The lock is formed in such a compact shape that it will wholly lie within the space defined between the top I4 of the file cabinet I2 and the upper edge of the drawer I3.

To this end, the lock Il is formed of a lock housing body l5 having elongated panel-like portions I6 and I'I at the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate, upwardly projecting cylindrical housing portion I8 having an upper disc-like wall I9 and a cylindrical bore 20 opening through the lower face of the housing body I5. To facilitate mounting of the housing body in the file cabinet I2, the panel-like terminal portions I5 and I'I of the housing body I5 are provided at the four corners thereof with upstanding mounting blocks 2l adapted to be secured to the framing strip I I and members such as depending brackets I4 depending from the top Ill of the file cabinet I2, by means of suitable screws 2 I The cylindrical portion I3 of the housing body I5 is provided with an integral hollow cylindrical boss 22 coaxially aligned with the cylindrical portion i8 and extending downwardly through the length of the bore 22. The integral boss 22 supports a plurality of tumblers 23, 24 and 25 having washers and winged flyers 23', 24 and 25', respectively, associated therewith in conventional fashion, such for example as illustrated` in U. S. Patent No. 2,575,674. This assembly of tumblers, washers and winged flyers is freely rotatable on the boss 22, but are held against longitudinal movement therein by means of a suitable annular collar 26 extending into an accommodating annular groove adjacent the lower end of the boss 22.

The combination lock is provided with a drive wheel 21 bearing against the lower end of the cylindrical boss 22 and mounted for rotation coaxially therewith. The drive wheel is provided with a projected stud 28 extending upwardly from the inner face thereof and adapted to engage the winged yer 23 associated with the tumbler 23 to rotate the tumbler 23 on rotation of the drive wheel 2l. The tumblers 23 and 24 likewise have studs projecting from the upper faces thereof, in accordance with conventional construction, adapted to engage the flyers 24 and 25 associated with the tumblers 24 and 25 to rotate the same so that rotation of the drive wheel 2l will effect rotary adjustment of any of the tumblers 23, 24 and 25.

The panel-like portion I6 of the lock housing body I5 is provided with an undercut guide slot 29 preferably aligned with the medial longitudinal axis of the lock, in which a bolt 32 having a tongue 3I projecting from each side thereof is intertted for sliding movement toward and away from the boss 22, the outer end of the bolt 30 projecting from one side of the lock housing body I5 fol` cooperation with suitable lock elements on the file cabinet drawer I3. Movement of the bolt 3! is controlled by the drive wheel 21 by means of a fence lever 32, pivotally mounted by means of a screw 33 to the bolt 3i) and resiliently biased toward the axis of the boss 22 by means of a suitable leaf spring 34 secured to the screw 33. The outer end of the fence lever 32 is provided with a downwardly extending finger 35 adapted to be intertted in the recess or gate 21 of the drive wheel 2l to effect retraction of the bolt when the drive wheel 2l' is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3.

The outer end of the fence lever 32 is likewise provided with an integral bar 36 serving as the fence, which extends transversely across the outer periphery of each of the tumblers 23, 24 and 25. The tumblers 23, 24 and 25 are each provided with a peripheral recess or gate 23', 24 and 25', respectively, which, when aligned with the fence 3G, will accommodate the fence and permit the finger 25 of the fence lever 32 to seat in the drive wheel gate 2'1.

The means for manipulating the drive wheel 2 comprise a cylindrical dial 42 of substantial thickness, having a cylindrical bore 4I extending upwardly from the lower end thereof, of a size to substantially completely accommodate the cylindrical projecting portion IS of the housing body I5. The side of the cylindrical dial l is provided with a knurled edge fll' and is beveled as indicated at 42 over a substantial portion thereof, the beveled portion carrying index markings and numbers indicated at 43, corresponding to the arrangement of markings on conventional combination lock dials, and by means of which the operator can adjust the rotary position of the dial 4G relative to a suitable fixed reference index.

The dial 4B is press fitted or otherwise suitably secured, as by means of a square orice intertted with the squared end of a hollow spindle il extending through the hollow bore 22 of the cylindrical boss 22 and having its lower end threadedly intercoupled and keyed with the drive wheel 2I.

The central bore 45 0f the hollow spindle 44 houses an inner spindle 46 extending through the length thereof and secured at its upper end to a disc-shaped interlock operating knob 4l, the inner spindle 4G having a squared upper end adapted to be accommodated in a squared aperture in the center of the interlock operating knob. The interlock operating knob is likewise provided with a knurled edge ill similar to the knurled edge 40 of the dial 4D to facilitate edge manipulation of the knob 4T. Interlock means are provided for preventing interengagement of the finger 35 on the fence lever 32 with the drive wheel gate 2l except when the dial is in a single preselected position, and to prevent substantial adjustment of the tumblers when the finger on the fence lever 32 is disposed to t in the drive wheel gate 2'1 and the fence 36 is thereby disposed in contact with the outer peripheries 0f the tumblers 23, 24 and 25.

To this end, a special drive wheel construction is employed, the drive wheel 27 being provided with laterally disposed undercut guides 5I adapted to receive the sides of a slide 52 having arcuate portions 52a and 52h which have exactly the same radius as the remaining peripheral surface of the drive wheel 21. The slide 52 is adapted to slide on a single radial axis of the drive wheel 21 extending through the leading edge of the drive wheel gate 21. One lateral edge of the slide 52 is provided with an elongated recess 52o which is adapted to permit limited relative movement with respect to the screw 53 in the drive wheel 2l. The drive wheel 21 is provided with a recess 54 which is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed ball 55. A suitable recess 56 in the lower end of the slide 52 is adapted to receive a spring 51 of the ball 55.

It will be apparent from the drawings that when the slide 52 is assembled on the lateral guides 5I of the drive wheel 21, the spring 51 will press the ball 55 into the recess 54 when the slide is in gate-closing position.

It is important that the radii of the arcuate surfaces 52a and 521) of the slide 52 be exactly the same as the radius of the outer surface of the drive wheel 21. This will be apparent from the fact that the primary purpose of the slide 52 is to close the gate 21 of the drive wheel 21 and normally prevent the finger 35 of the fence lever 32 which bears on the periphery of the drive wheel 2l and the arcuate surfaces 52a and 52h of the slide from entering the drive wheel gate 21.

It is important that when the slide 52 is in gate closing position relative tothe drive wheel 21, the arcuate surfaces 52a and 52h be in registry with the periphery of the drive wheel 21 so there will be no unevenness in the surface on which the iinger 35 of the fence lever 32 rides, and so that the position of the drive wheel gate 21 will not be indicated in any manner by any manipulation of the driver wheel 21.

To effect movement of the slide 52, the slide is provided with an opening 60 of the particular shape shown in detail in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawing. This opening 60 is adapted to cooperate with a suitable slide cam 6I having a tang 62 thereon for operating the slide 52, and which cam is fixed to the end of the inner spindle 46 by means of a square aperture 63 intertted with the squared lower end of the inner spindle 46. The opening 60 comprises a rectangular recess 64 of sufficient extent in both dimensions to accommodate the entrance of the tang portion 62 of the cam 6I. The upper and lower sides of the rectangular recess 64 serve as the bearing surfaces for elevating and lowering the slide 52. An arcuate portion 65 joins the corner of the upper side of the rectangular recess 64 and is of the same radius as the outer surface of the tang portion 62, this arcuate portion 65 serving as the bearing surface on which the slide rests in interengagement with the tang 62 when the slide is in elevated position barring access to the drive wheel gate 21. The shape of the remaining portion of the opening 60 is more or less immaterial so long as it is sufliciently large to accommodate the tang portion 62 of the cam 6l when the slide 52 is shifted between its two limits of movement.

A cover plate 10 illustrated in detail in Figures 2, 4 and 5 is provided to t over the open lower end of the bore 26 in the housing body I5, and be secured thereto by means of threaded screws 1I extending through complementary apertures in the cover plate 10 and into threaded recesses in the lock housing body I5. The cover plate 10 is in the general form of a truncated cone hav-l ing a cut-out portion at one edge thereof, indicated by the reference character 12, to permit free movement of the bolt 30 and fence lever 32 into and out of the cover plate. The cover plate is provided with a generally cylindrical hollow portion 13 adapted to receive the drive wheel 21 therein. Additional sectors, indicated at 14 and 15, are hollowed out to permit free movement of the fence lever 32 within the cover plate, and an arcuate sector 16 is likewise hollowed out at a position diametrically opposed to that of the finger 35 on the fence lever 32 to receive the lower end of the slide 52 when the same is displaced downwardly to expose the drive wheel gate 21' to the fence lever finger 35. It will be apparent from Figure 5 that the slide 52 can be withdrawn from its position covering the drive wheel gate 21 only when the drive wheel 21 is oriented in a preselected position, with the drive wheel gate 21 exposed to receive the fence lever finger 35, and that rotation of the drive wheel 21 is thereafter confined to approximately 15 of arc by the ends 11 and 11 of the hollow sector 11 disposed to engage and limit the movement of the lower projecting end of the slide 52.

Operation of the instant combination "lock is as follows: The lock is preferably mounted between the top I4 and the top of the uppermost drawer I3 of the file cabinet I2, with the vertical mounting blocks 2l secured to the framing strip I I and to the depending bracket I4' by means of screws 2 I. In this position, approximately a 45 arc of the cylindrical dial 43 and the interlock operating knob 41 will project forwardly through an opening I I cut in the framing strip l I. The generally nat shape of the lock adapts it to be readily fitted into this confined space in a file cabinet, while the arrangement of the cylindrical dial 43 and interlock operating knob 41 projecting through the opening I I' of the framing strip II affords a convenient and attractive arrangement for operating the lock from the knurled edges 40 and 41 of the dial 40 and knob 41.

The dial 40 is actuated in a conventional manner by rotating the same in one direction for approximately three complete revolutions to the first number of the combination, the tumbler 25 being thereby rotated to a position to dispose the tumbler recess 25 immediately beneath the fence- 36 through the drive wheel 21 directly coupled with the dial 43, the drive stud 28 and the tumblers 23 and 24 and associated winged iiyers 23', 24 and 25'. Rotation of the dial 46 in the reverse direction for two complete revolutions to a position aligning the second number of the combination with the preselected index mark on either the knob 41 or file cabinet, thereby adjusts the gate 24 of the tumbler 24 in alignment with the fence 36 while leaving the tumbler 25 undisturbed. Successive rotation of the dial 40 through one complete revolution in the same direction of rotation as that for adjusting the first number of the combination, to align the number cn the dial with the xed reference mark in accordance with the third number of the combination, adjusts the gate 23 of the tumbler 23 in alignment with the fence 36.

The dial 40 is then returned to zero position, thereby orienting the slide 52 on the drive wheel 21 so that its lower end may be projected into the hollow sector 16 of the cover plate 16, and the interlock operating knob 41 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 through approximately rotating the tang 62 of the interlock cam 6I through a corresponding angle and lowering the slide 52 to expose the drive wheel gate 21 to the fence lever finger 35 through interengagement and camming action of the tang 62 with the lower side of the rectangular recess 64 in the slide. The fence lever nger 35 and the fence 36 will then be seated in the drive wheel gate 21 and the tumbler gates 23', 24' and 25', under the biasing action of the spring 35 so that the clockwise rotation of the dial 40 as viewed in Figure 3 through the degree of arc permitted by the recess 'I6 in the cover plate 'i0 will effect retraction of the bolt through the interaction of the drive wheel gate 21' with the fence lever finger 35, to unlock the drawer I3 of the file cabinet and permit withdrawal of the same.

When the combination lock is in locked position with the bolt 30 projected from the lock housing body I5, the fence lever 32, as will be apparent from Figure 3 of the drawings, is held in an elevated position with its finger riding on the periphery of the drive wheel 21. In this position, an inclined surface 32 on the outer end of the fence lever 32 is in abutment with a correspondingly inclined face of the boss 20 forming a triangular projection inwardly from the cylindrical slide of the bore 20, so that movement of the fence lever 32 to effect retraction of the bolt 3d is prevented by abutment of the inclined face 3G thereon with the boss 2U.

One convenient arrangement for locking the drawer I3 with the bolt 30 in projected position is illustrated in the drawing and comprises a locking plate 88 pivotally mounted to the front of the drawer I3 by means of a horizontal pivot pin Il! and normally biased by the spring 82 to a horizontal position with the upper triangular portion 83 of the plate 80 projecting above the upper edge of the drawer I3, in which position an opening 84 in the plate is disposed to accommodate the bolt 30 projecting from the lock housing body I5. It will be obvious that retraction of the bolt 39 from the recess 84 of the pivoted locking plate 30 will permit the upper portion of the locking plate 80 to be cammed downwardly under the inturned flange at the lower edge of the framing strip I I on withdrawal of the drawer i3 by interengagement of the inclined surface 85 with the inturned flange of the framing strip Ii, and the plate BI] will likewise be cammed down to permit the drawer to be moved into r closed position within the filing cabinet by interengagement of the inclined surface 86 with the lower edge of the framing strip II.

It will be apparent from the above description that a novel combination lock of the type having means preventing manipulation of the tumblers when the drive wheel gate is opened, has been provided which is particularly suited for use in the limited space available in file cabinets and which is uniquely arranged to fit in the narrow framing strip at the top of a file cabinet with only a segment of the cylindrical dial and the interlock actuating knob projecting through the front face of the framing strip, thereby providing a compact and highly desirable lock attachment for conventional le cabinets.

While but one preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described in detail, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination lock for use with file cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position and having a central cylindrical housing projecting vertically therefrom, said body having a downwardly opening bore extending through said panel and into the major portion of said housing, a plurality of rotary tumblers housed within said cylindrical bore, a cover plate for said cylindrical bore, means for selectively orienting said tumblers housed within ccver plate, a cylindrical dial of substantially the thickness of said cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening bore extending upwardly from the base thereof and completely accommodating said cylindrical housing, said dial being mounted for rotation about said cylindrical housing, and means interooupling said dial with said tumblel` orienting means for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial, said dial having the dial markings formed on the peripheral surface thereof for facilitating actuation of said lock from the lateral edge of said dial.

2. A combination lock for use with le cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel having a cylindrical housing projecting perpendicularly from the center thereof, said body having a bore extending through said panel and into said housing for a major portion of the thickness thereof from the lower surface of said panel, a tubular boss integral with said housing and coaxially aligned therewith extending downwardly from the upper end of said bore, a plurality of rotary tumblers and means selectively intercoupling movement of the same loosely journaled on said boss, a thick cylindrical dial having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore extending from the lower base thereof, completely accommodating said cylindrical housing and journaled for rotation about the axis thereof, a drive wheel for selectively rotating said tumblers, and a shaft extending through said tumbler boss and intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel.

3. A combination lock for use with file cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel having a cylindrical housing projecting perpendicularly from the center thereof, said body having a bore extending through said panel from the lower surface thereof and into said housing for a major portion of its thickness, a tubular boss integral with said housing and coaxially aligned therewith extending downwardly from the upper end of said bore, a plurality oi' rotary tumblers and means selectively intercoupling movement of the same loosely journaled on said boss, a thick cylindrical dial having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore extending from the lower base thereof, completely accommodating said cylindrical housing and journaled for rotation about the axis thereof, a drive wheel for selectively rotating said tumblers and a shaft extending through said tumbler boss and intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel, said dial having the dial markings formed on the peripheral surface thereof and being of greater diameter than the width of said panel, whereby said lock is actuated by manipulation of the marked peripheral surface of said dial projecting laterally from said body forming panel.

4. A combination lock for use with le cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel having a cylindrical housing projecting perpendicularly from the center thereof, said body having a downwardly opening bore extending through said panel and into said housing for the major portion of its thickness, a tubular boss integral with said housing and coaxially aligned therewith extending downwardly from the upper end of said bore, a plurality of rotary gated tumblers and means selectively intercoupling movement of the same loosely journaled on said boss, a thick cylindrical dial having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore extending from the lower base thereof, completely accommodating said cylindrical housing and journaled for rotation about the axis thereof, a drive wheel for selectively rotating said tumblers, a shaft extending through said tumbler boss and intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel, a i

bolt slidably mounted for movement longitudinally in said body-forming panel into and out of the bore therein, and a lever having an integral fence thereon pivotally connected to said bolt and engageable with said drive wheel for actuating said bolt when the tumbler gates are aligned with said fence, said dial having the dial markings formed on the peripheral surface thereof and being of greater diameter than the width of said panel, whereby said lock is actuated by manipulation of the marked peripheral surface of said dial projecting laterally from said body forming panel.

5. A combination lock for use in le cabinets and the like comprising a lock casing having a projecting cylindrical housing portion, a locking mechanism housed in said casing and cylindrical portion including rotary tumblers, a drive wheel and drive wheel conditioning means normally conditioning said drive wheel to prevent unlocking of the lock, a cylindrical dial having a bore therein completely accommodating said cylindrical portion in nested relation therewith, dial markings on the peripheral surface of said dial facilitating edge actuation thereof, means intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel for transferring rotary movement of said dial thereto, a rotary disc coaxially mounted relative to said dial and overlying a base thereof, and means intercoupling said disc with said drive wheel conditioning means for conditioning said drive wheel to unlock said lock on rotation of said disc when said dial and tumblers are in a preselected position.

6. A combination lock for use with iile cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel having a central cylindrical projection, said body having a downwardly opening bore extending through said panel and into said projection for the major portion of the thickness thereof, a plurality of rotary tumblers housed within said bore, a drive wheel for selectively orienting said tumblers and actuating the bolt of said lock, interlock means normally conditioning said drive wheel to prevent actuation of said bolt, a cylindrical dial of substantially the thickness of said cylindrical projection having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore extending through a major portion of the thickness thereof, completely accommodating said cylindrical projection and journaled for rotation about the axis thereof, means intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial, a rotatable disc of substantially the diameter of said dial coaxially mounted adjacent the upper base of said cylindrical dial, and means intercoupling said disc with said interlock means to permit said drive wheel to actuate l0 said bolt when said dial and tumblers are in a preselected position.

7. A combination lock for use with le cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position and having a central cylindrical housing projecting vertically therefrom, said body having a downwardly opening bore extending through said panel and into said housing for a major portion of the thickness thereof, a plurality of rotary tumblers disposed in said housing, a bolt, a drive wheel for actuating said tumblers and for retracting the bolt of said lock, interlock means normally decoupling said drive wheel from the bolt of said lock, a cylindrical dial of substantially the thickness of said cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening bore extending from the lower base thereof and completely accommodating said cylindrical housing, means intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial, a rotary disc of substantially the diameter of said dial coaxially journaled relative to said dial in abutment with the upper base thereof, and means intercoupling said disc with said interlock means for disabling said interlock means on rotation of the disc when said dial is in preselected position, said dial and said disc being operable from the lateral edges thereof to effect locking and unlocking of said lock.

8. A combination lock for use with file cabinets and the like comprising a lock body formed of an elongated panel adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position and having a central cylindrical housing projecting vertically therefrom, said body having a downwardly opening bore extending through said panel and into said housing for a major portion of the thickness thereof, a plurality of rotary tumblers disposed in said housing, a bolt, a drive wheel for actuating said tumblers and for retracting the bolt of said lock, interlock means normally decoupling said drive wheel from the bolt of said lock, a cylindrical dial of substantially the thickness of said cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening bore extending from the lower base thereof and completely accommodating said cylindrical housing, means intercoupling said dial with said drive wheel for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial, a rotary disc of substantially the diameter of said dial coaxially journaled relative to said dial in abutment with the upper base thereof, and means intercoupling said disc with said interlock means for disabling said interlock means on rotation of the disc when said dial is in preselected position, said dial and said disc being of a greater diameter than the width of said panel to provide a section projecting laterally beyond a side of said panel, said dial having the dial markings on the lateral surface thereof whereby said dial and disc are readily operable from the lateral edges thereof to effect locking and unlocking of the lock.

9. A combination lock for use with file cabinets and the like comprising a cylindrical dial of substantial thickness having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore and peripheral dial markings, a lock housing having a base panel and a cylindrical projection complementary to said bore extending perpendicularly from said panel and forming a trunnion bearing for said dial, said dial being rotatably supported on said projection with said projection in intimately nested relation within the bore of said dial, said housing having a bore extending through at least a major portion of the thickness of said projection, a plurality of rotary tumblers housed within the bore of said housing, and means intel-coupling said dial With said tumblers for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial.

10. A combination lock for use with file cabinets and the like comprising a cylindrical dial of substantial thickness having a downwardly opening cylindrical bore and peripheral dial markings, a lock housing having a rectangular base panel and a cylindrical projection complementary to said bore extending perpendicularly from said panel and forming a trunnion bearing for said dial, said dial being rotatably supported on said projection With said projection in intimately nested relation Within the bore of said dial, said housing having a bore extending through at least a major portion of the thickness of said projection, a plurality of rotary tumblers housed Within the bore of said housing, means intercoupling said dial with said tumblers for selectively positioning said tumblers on rotation of said dial, and flange means having a face projecting perpendicularly from an edge of said panel and lying in a plane intersecting said dial along a chord thereof to be mounted against a wall of the file cabinet whereby a peripheral segment of said dial may project through the cabinet wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 943,493 Hoevenberg Dec. 14, 1909 1,244,064 Mattice Oct. 23, 1917 2,332,238 Lalonde Oct. 19, 1943

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