US PATENT CLASS 70
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 70/
For purposes of this classification, a lock is defined as a securing device or a plurality of devices including mechanism requiring means unknown or inaccessible to or beyond the
control of the public, or secret means, or secret knowledge, or a combination of such means and knowledge for successful normal operation to a releasing condition. Generally, these devices embody fixed or movable blocking elements or impediments hindering or precluding unauthorized or suppertitious manipulation except by the means above noted, or secret knowledge, usually a special, prearranged or predetermined key or combination of movements.
This class is essentially an element class but includes:
Certain special securing contrivances of general utility for application or securement to some conventional structure to prevent normal manipulation of the structure such as hasps and portable securing mechanisms, as fetters, padlocks, etc.
Certain special applications of locks to other conventional structures modified only sufficiently to provide a location therefor.
Certain systemic arrangements of locks wherein the initial, basic or ultimate control is a lock, although portions of the arrangement may be controllable by other alternative means.
Certain specially contrived devices, mechanisms and adjuncts associated with, part of, or ancillary or auxiliary to locks or their operating features.
In its elemental aspects, this class includes the constituent construction of the lock, which may include structure responsive to other operating agents wherein initiation of operation is controllable by the lock either solely or alternatively, but constitutes a securing mechanism as an entity. The features of the elemental structure, both as an assembled entity and in its essential elements, as when combined with features designed to defeat surreptitious or unauthorized manipulation by external force, are also found in this class.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
460, for changeable exhibitors operated by the latching mechanism of doors, and subclass 330 for keys merely carrying indicia.
81, Tools,
15.9, for a tool specially adapted to manipulate a lock or portion thereof.
109, Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device,
59+, for locks of special application to safes, and other
bank protection devices, especially subclass 61, for devices for safes and vaults commonly known as pressure mechanisms (such mechanism operating to cam the closure tight in its jamb and usually serving to crack the door to an ajar position) in combination with lock mechanism.
137, Fluid Handling,
383+, for fluid handling apparatus combined with a lock or seal.
222, Dispensing,
153.01+, for locks combined with dispensing devices. 292, Closure Fasteners, appropriate subclasses, for bolts, seals and keepers, per se.
GLOSSARY:
BOLT
A securing element mounted on one part and having a portion or portions movable to cooperative engagement with a keeper on another part to prevent relative movement between said parts.
CHANGE-KEY
That key designed for operation of an individually distinct lock operating mechanism embodying a specific combination or design.
COMBINATION
The prearranged or predetermined secret or nonpublic succession or order of movement of blocking elements, or the peculiar arrangement or scheme of fixed or movable elements designed to secure against public operation or control.
DEAD-BOLT
An unbiased bolt normally at rest, whether or not so held, and movable only by a positively initiated external force.
DOG
A movable blocking element, other than a tumbler, in the form of a pawl or catch, adapted to releasably detain a movable part. KEEPER
A part to receive the movable portion of a bolt usually a socket, pocket, opening, ledge, abutment, seat, shoulder, etc.
KEY
A specially contrived implement for controlling or operating a lock and (1) having portions designed to pass fixed obstructions or to arrange movable impediments to allow operation of a securing device, or (2) embodying an unconventional design of predetermined secret or nonpublic origin.
LATCH-OR LATCHING-BOLT
One normally yieldably biased or urged by some form of constantly present potential force to seek one position and operable to another position against such force, but automatically returnable to its original position unless restrained.
MASTER-KEY
One designed for control of all of a plurality or series of lock operating mechanisms, each of which has its individually distinct operating means or implement.
NIPPERS
Manually controlled portable devices for grasping, clamping, gripping or grappling an extremity of the human anatomy and by the application of suitable force and consequent imposition of pain placing the individual to whom the device is applied under the influence and control of another, as in the case of an arrested individual.
PERMUTATION Variation or change of a combination to produce a different combination.
SEAL
A device or mechanism designed to so interfere with the normal operation or manipulation of a securing arrangement as to show by rupture, visible external injury, or other disfigurement from its original condition, any unauthorized or surreptitious tampering, attack or manipulation.Included also in exception to the above definition are:
SUB-MASTER-KEY
One designed for control of all of a limited number of a plurality or series of lock operating mechanisms and subordinate to a master key.
TUMBLER
A movable impediment to the movement of a bolt or other movable element which may respond to an operating element of corresponding complemental combination, or to a combination
of movements to be so disposed as to provide an unimpeded path of movement of the bolt or other movable element.
WARD
A fixed impediment in the path of movement of a key in its normal capacity as a lock operator.