Device for locking and releasing objects

CLAIM OF THE PRiOEÜc of the patent application / of the dutihê model ^In FRANCE

From 7 OCTOBER 1983 and

From SEPTEMBER 7, 1984.

Brief Description filed in support of a request for

PATENT

Luxembourg in the name of: mors pour: Locking and deconsigning device for utility objects, such as baggage carts.

The present invention relates to a deposit and deposit device for utility objects, in particular made available free of charge to the public, such as baggage carts in a station or an airport, carts in a self-service, objects that the public can collect directly from a common storage space and which must be brought back to said storage space.

Such a device comprising a lock making it possible to automatically lock each object to the neighboring object or to a fixed point in the tight storage position, lock in which a coin or a token is introduced to authorize the unlocking of the lock and the release of the object by pulling, said lock being arranged to return said coin or said token when the object is returned to its storage space and locked to a neighboring object or to a fixed point; and the unlocking is performed by said traction, which successively unlocks the lock comprising in particular a slide movable by the aforementioned traction and immobilizable by an internal locking member unlockable by coming into contact with the edge of the aforementioned coin or token, said »—.--- slide serving to lock or unlock the locking bolt of the object to a neighboring object or to a fixed point.

However, a drawback of this device is that it does not allow, by inserting a coin, to unlock an intermediate object of a line of objects locked to each other, because all the front and rear games of the intermediate object are insufficient, or even deleted.

THE

The object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate this drawback by providing a deposit and deposit device for utility objects such as baggage carts, of the type described above, and characterized in that it comprises a suitable means for unlocking the lock. aforementioned object of the neighboring object in particular when it is locked between two neighboring objects.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned slide consists of two parts, a first part serving for the aforementioned locking and unlocking of the connecting bolt; a second part separate from the first part and located towards an end part of the lock housing ; an intermediate part being housed between the first and second parts so as to maintain a separation distance between the first and second parts of the slide substantially equal to the travel of the slide necessary for unlocking the connecting bolt, said intermediate part being partially movable outside from its housing by appropriate means in order to allow the first part of the slide to move by traction ··. above with respect to the second part of the slide over the separation distance, thus unlocking said object from the neighboring object in particular when it is locked — between two neighboring objects. ------ According to another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned intermediate part is a metal plate * -------- substantially rectangular having two of its free sides ---------- ------- respectively contiguous with two corresponding shoulders ~ of the first and second parts of the slide, and held between the first and second parts by a resilient straight element having one of its ends integral with said part and its other end integral with one of said first and second parts of the slide.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned means is in the form of a magnetic key, passing through the lock housing and attracting one of the aforementioned two free sides of the metal plate out of it.

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the aforementioned corresponding shoulder.

According to the invention, the lock-out and lock-out device, of the type where the lock for connecting the object to a neighboring object or to a fixed point consists of first and second means, respectively female and male, integral with the longitudinal end parts of the device. lock housing respectively, the first means consisting of a clamp formed of two dissymmetrical jaws and designed so that only one locking pin constituting the aforementioned second means *, for a neighboring object, and perfectly calibrated, can fit into it; is characterized in that the aforesaid suitable means is constituted by said light locking pin which is mounted on a support shaft removable from the longitudinal end part of the lock housing.

Thus, it is possible by the device according to the present addition to break or cut yarns from locked carriages in order to transfer them to other less loaded station heads.

According to another characteristic of the addition, the lock comprises a means for retaining the coin or the token, in two positions where the coin or the token is captive in the lock, respectively an active position for unlocking the lock and a position inactive retaining, the retaining means, in the form of a lug, being integral with the cover of the lock housing.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, * --- V ~ introduction of the coin or token is effected through a slot located on the outer side wall of the lock housing cover. This feature has the advantage of limiting the penetration of water and humidity, which risks freezing the device on frosty days.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example, illustrating two embodiments of the invention and /! wherein :

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- Figure 1 is a view along line II of Figure 2 showing an embodiment of a lock according to 1'addition;

- Figure 2 is a view along the line II-II of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the part circled in phantom in FIG. 2; and

- Figure 4 is a view along line IV-IV of Figure 5 showing another embodiment of a lock according to the invention;

- Figure 5 is a view along the line VV of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a view along the line VI-VI of Figure 4;

- Figure 7 is a view along line VII-VII of Figure 4; and

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the various elements constituting the lock of the invention.

The device according to the invention allows several baggage carts (not shown) in the tight storage position to be locked to one another.

Referring to the figures, the device comprises a lock 3 making it possible to automatically lock each object to the neighboring object or to a fixed point in the tight storage position, a lock into which a coin or a token 4 is introduced to authorize the unlocking 'the 3' lock and releasing the object by pulling, the lock 3 being arranged to return the coin or the token 4 when the object is returned to its storage space and is locked to a neighboring object or to a fixed point; the unlocking being carried out by pulling on the object; and in particular, the traction successively unlocks the lock 3 and unlocks the object.

It is recalled that the lock 3 comprises a movable slide 5 by the aforementioned traction and immobilized by a releasable internal locking member 6, when sufficient traction is exerted, by coming into contact with the edge of the coin or the token 4, the slide 5 used to lock or unlock the connecting bolt 37 of the object to a neighboring object or to a fixed point.

In the example shown, the locking member consists of a stopper or a stop 6 mounted to pivot about an axis 9 which is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lock 3. The stop 6 can be biased by a leaf spring 10 in the shape of a ü.

The movable slide 5 has a shoulder 11, on its upper face facing the free end of the stop 6. When no part is introduced into the lock, and when a traction is exerted on the object, the 'free end of the free cleat abuts against the shoulder 11, thus preventing the unlocking of the lock. FIG. 1 represents the travel a of the slide during a pulling on the object without introduction of a part into the lock.

The lock 3 further comprises a means 8 for retaining the coin or the token 4, in two positions, where the coin or the token is captive in the lock, respectively, an active unlocking position of the lock 3 and an inactive position of restraint. As shown in the figures and more particularly in Figure 8, the retaining means 8 consists of a lug integrally molded to the internal face of the cover 3a of the lock and occupies a determined position in the housing 12 of the slot 13 passing through the lock, the lug 9 being located substantially at the level of the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lock. Such a lug advantageously replaces the lever and the spring of the retaining means described in Luxembourg patent n ° 84 883 of June 29, 1983 of significant time on the assembly of the lock and a better reliability of the latter (elimination of moving parts) while not altering the operation of the device. Indeed, up to a determined value of the traction, that is to say up to a certain displacement of the movable slide 5 to the left in FIG. 1 with respect to the lug 8, the latter retains the coin or token 4 in an active unlocking position of lock 3 in slot 13. When this predetermined value is exceeded, coin or token 4 descends into slot 13 by gravity and takes an inactive retaining position as shown in phantom lines in Figure 1. The coin or token 4 is held in the inactive position by resting on the one hand on the vertical wall 5a in phantom lines of the slide 5 and on the other hand on an upper curved part of the recovery funnel E. When the object is brought back into its storage space and that it is locked to a neighboring object or a fixed point, the slide 5 moves to the right in FIG. 1 so as to free the room or the token of the slot 13, coin or token which can thus be recovered. FIG. 1 represents the total curve b of the slide during the unlocking of the connecting lock 37, this stroke being defined between a part forming a stop B integral with a fastening piece 42 to which the lock 3 is fixed and an extreme rounded edge d 'an opening made in the slide along the axis XX' and in which the stop B is located, the convex part of this edge being directed towards the lug 8.

The connecting bolt 37 of the object to a neighboring object, the lock 3 'of which is shown in phantom, consists of ------ first 19, 20 and second 38 means, respectively female and male, integral with the Longitudinal end portions 39, 40 of the lock housing 3, respectively. The first aforementioned means, integral with the longitudinal end 39 of the lock 3, that is to say, as in the example shown, the end to the right of: 1a Figure 2, consists in particular of a clamp formed of two dissymmetrical jaws 19, 20, biased by a spring 30 and designed so that only a connecting bar or locking pin 38, constituting the aforementioned second means, for a neighboring object, and whose diameter is perfectly calibrated can come fit into it. In the example shown, in particular in Figures 1 and 2, the connecting bar 38 is integral with the end part 40 of the lock housing 3 (on the left in Figure 2) adjacent to the free end 41 of the slide 5 while being spaced therefrom, in the locked position, by a space sufficient to introduce said bar between the jaws 19, 20 (only the end parts thereof being shown in dotted lines) of the lock of a neighboring object.

Thus, in the unlocked position, the free end 41 of the slide 5, shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines, _ prevents the locking of the carriage to another carriage. Indeed, the space then existing between the connecting bar 38 and the free end 41 of the slide 5 is insufficient to allow the bar 38 to be introduced between the jaws 19, 20 of another carriage. Thus, in the case where a carriage is abandoned, it is no longer possible, by this design of the lock, to use its locking pin to come and lock its carriage. In other words, to lock a cart, it must be done to an already locked cart.

The movable slide; 5 also comprises a lug 23 blocking the jaws 19, 20 of the clamp in the locked position. Indeed, the jaws 19, 20 comprise, at their most internal part to the lock, recesses 26a, 36b arranged so as to be facing each other, in the locked position of the lock, to thus define a space in which the lug 23 is housed in position. locked, so as to block the lock in this position.

. The lock 3 is fixed to a carriage by the part of. fixing 42 by means of suitable fixing means 43, such as screws, bolts or the like.

In addition, an oblong housing 44 can be provided for the calibrated axis 38 so as to compensate for the difference in height between the carriages; and an opening 45 of the part. extreme 40 of the lock 3 dimensioned to allow lateral play between the carriages.

/!

The operation of the lock has already been described in detail in Luxembourg Patent No. 84,883 of June 29, 1983 and therefore does not need to be recalled.

When the lock 3 is on the one hand locked by its jaws 19, 20 to the locking pin 38 'of the lock 3' of a neighboring object and on the other hand by its locking pin 38 to the jaws 19 ” , 20 from another neighboring cart, it is no longer possible, by inserting a coin, to release the object from the neighboring object • located to the right of FIG. 1. In fact, a pulling of the object to the left with respect to FIG. 1 is accompanied by a displacement in this same direction of the slide 5 along a stroke c defined between the free end 41 of the slide and the free ends of the slide. jaws 19 ”, 20. As the stroke c is less than the total stroke b of the slide 5 defined above, the lug 23 keeps the jaws 19, 20 of the clamp locked in the locked position.

The present invention makes it possible to eliminate the above drawback.

For this, and as it emerges from the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the slide 5 is formed in two parts, a first part 5a forming the part of the slide serving to lock or unlock the link lock 37 of the object to a neighboring object and a second part 5b completely separate from the first part and located towards the end part 40 of the lock housing 3.. The first and second parts are separated from each other along the axis XX 'by a distance d by an intermediate piece or wedge 5c having the shape of a substantially rectangular metal plate. The plate 5c is housed in a cavity defined between the first and second parts 5a and 5b and having two side walls perpendicular to the axis XX 'of FIG. 1 defined respectively by two shoulders 5a1 and 5b1 of the first and second parts respectively contiguous to the opposite free sides 5c1 and / 5c2 of the plate 5c; the upper and lower sides 5c3

-L and 5c4 of the plate 5c, parallel to the axis X-X ', being contiguous to the upper walls 5a3; 5b3 and below 5a4; 5b4 of the cavity. As shown in particular in Figure 2, the plate 5c comes to rest in part by its face 5c5, on the one hand, against a face 5a2 of the first part 5a connecting perpendicularly to the shoulder 5a1 and parallel to the axis XX * and, on the other hand, against a face 5b2 of the second part 5b connecting perpendicularly to the shoulder 5b1 and parallel to the axis X-X ', the faces 5a2 and 5b2 forming the bottom of the housing cavity of the plate 5c and respectively connecting to the end edges 5a5 and 5b5 of the first and second parts 5a and 5b and spaced apart by the distance d. The width of the shoulders 5a1 and 5b1 is substantially identical to the thickness of the plate 5c.

A flat face 5b1 is connected to the shoulder 5b6 parallel to the axis XX 'and spaced from the internal wall 3a1 of the cover 3a of the lock 3.

An elastic straight element 5d in the form of a metal blade bears against the face of. hook 5d1 passing through a notch-shaped opening 5c6 made on the free side 5c2 adjacent to the shoulder 5b1. The elastic blade 5d is extended beyond the plate 5c to end with its other free end fixed between a corresponding flat face of the first part 5a and a washer 5e pressed against the blade 5d by means for example of a rivet or the like. It will be understood that the plate 5c is held in position between the shoulders 5a1 and 5b1 by the elastic blade 5d. Of course, provision could be made for the resilient blade 5d to be fixed to the second part 5b of the slide with the part forming a hook located in the vicinity of the shoulder 5a1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also show the presence of a device forming a lock comprising a special service key, in particular a magnetic key 50, engaging in a corresponding keyhole 51 made through the wall of the cover 3a of the lock 3 and opening out. inside thereof in the vicinity of the end side 5c2 of the metal plate 5c, the axis YY 'of the keyhole being perpendicular to the plate 5c and approximately intersecting the longitudinal axis XX' of FIG. 1, the side 5c3 of the plate lying substantially in alignment with the axis XX '.

Figure 3 shows the magnetic key 50 inserted into its corresponding keyhole. Under these conditions, a magnet 50a located at the free end of the key is placed adjacent to the face of the metal plate 5c opposite to the face 5c5 thereof. The magnet then attracts towards itself the end part of the plate 5c comprising the side 5c2 which is therefore outside the shoulder 5b1 and bears against the internal face 3a1 of the side wall of the cover 3a of the lock housing 3 of so that the plate 5c is inclined with respect to the axis X-X '. FIG. 3 also shows the angle of inclination of the upper side 5c3 of the plate 5c with respect to the axis X-X '. By pulling on the object, the first part 5a of the slide 5 moves relative to the second part 5b in a direction going to the left with respect to FIG. 2. Simultaneously with the displacement of the first part 5a, the end part comprising the side 5c2 of the plate 5c enters the space defined between the face 5b6 and the internal face 3a1 of the side wall of the cover 3a. FIG. 3 precisely shows the extreme position of the edge 5a5 of the first part 5a at the end of its travel (d then being substantially zero). At this extreme position of the first part 5a of the slide 5, the lock of the link 37 is unlocked, thus allowing the object to be unlocked from the locking pin 38 'of the neighboring carriage. It is therefore understood that the slide 5 thus designed allows an authorized person equipped with the magnetic key 50 to unlock an object or intermediate carriage from a line of objects locked to one another.

The authorized person can then exert a push on the object resulting in a movement towards the right of the part 5a of the slide 5 to the extreme position of the latter / that is to say until reaching again the separation distance d. The person then removes the magnetic key 50 from its keyhole and the elastic blade recalls and brings back the free side 5c2 in front of the shoulder 5b1, the plate 5c therefore being found between the shoulders 5a1 as shown in FIG. 2.

Of course / the keyhole 51 is obviously complex in order to prevent an unauthorized person from inserting therein a magnetic part allowing the unlocking described above.

Referring more particularly to Figures 4 and 5 / there will be described a second embodiment of a lock delon the invention. It is understood that the identical elements of the two embodiments bear the same references and do not need to be described again. In the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, the locking pin 38 is mounted on a support shaft 46 integral with the end part 40 of the lock housing 3 (left in Figure 2) adjacent to the free end 41 of the slide 5 being spaced therefrom / in the locked position / by a sufficient space to introduce the pin 38 between the jaws of the lock of a neighboring object. As shown in Figure 5, the support shaft 46 passes through the opening 45 of the end part 40 of the lock 3 (this opening being dimensioned to allow lateral play between the carriages) and can be dismantled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX * of the lock housing by an element 47 forming circilps. The possibility of dismantling the support shaft 46 makes it possible to break or cut lines of carriage in order to transfer them to other less loaded station heads.

The locking pin 38 is formed by a first hollow cylindrical part 38a connected at one of its ends to a second cylindrical part closing the shoulder 38b coming laterally in abutment against a corresponding shoulder of the shaft 46. The two cylindrical parts 38a, 38b each have a diameter calibrated so as to fit into the jaws 19, 20.

Figure 4 shows the jaw 19 configured so that the calibrated cylindrical part 38a of the axis 38 fits therein while the jaw 20, of shorter length than that of the jaw 19, has an oblique surface 20a on which bears the circular outer surface of the shoulder 38b in the locking position. Thus, unlocking the lock is made more difficult for fraudsters, the jaw 20 being partially hidden by the plastic cover 3a. This masking applies of course to the lock of Figures 1 and 2.

It should be noted that when removing the support shaft 46 from the lock 3 to cut a line of carriages, the locking pin 38 remains embedded in the jaws 19, 20 of the lock of the neighboring carriage.

Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view

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of the various elements of the lock described above. This figure also shows the existence of a slot 3b located on the outer side wall of the cover 3a of the lock housing 3c and through which the introduction of the coin or token 4 takes place. of this slot compared to that provided for in the main patent has the advantage of limiting the penetration of water and humidity which risks freezing the lock on frosty days.