Mechanical combination lock
US6904778B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T70/7424
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A combination lock configured to resist surreptitious compromise by radiographic imaging and automatic dialers. In one aspect, the combination lock may include gate wheels having one true gate positioned among a plurality of false gates in which the true gate is configured for disguising its angular position among the false gates. Additional resistance against radiation imaging is provided by the rotational symmetry of the features of the gate wheels. The combination lock may include a combination scrambler that rotates a gate wheel when an incorrect combination is dialed for defeating the operation of automatic dialers. The combination lock may also include a combination change key and the gate wheels may be configured to be selectively disengaged from the combination dial by the combination change key so that the lock combination may be modified.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.