Patent 1,156,739 · Backus's Locking Clamp · Page 2

adjacent the pivoted jaw is bent for a purpose similar to the bending of the end of the upper plate 6. A pin 8 has its end portions reduced and supported by the wings 5 and this pin receives dogs 9 which are loosely mounted upon the reduced ends of the pin 8 and are held in proper position between the shoulders near the ends of the pin 8 and the wings 5. Each of the dogs 9 is formed with toothed extensions 10 which are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the segments 4 and hold the jaws against spreading when such jaws are pressed together to grip an article placed between them. The teeth of the dogs 9 are of the ratchet type and ride upon the teeth of the segments 4 when closing the jaws but the teeth interlocking to prevent spreading of the jaws. Each of the dogs 9 is further formed with a lateral extension 11 which projects inward away from the adjacent wing 5 so as to be engaged by the proper key 12 and operated thereby to release the pivoted jaw and admit of the opening of the jaws so as to release the article held between them. A partition 13 has its longitudinal edge portion bent to provide flanges and is secured against the inner face of the front wall of the lock case, said partition being spaced from the inner face of the front wall by means of the flanges at opposite edges thereof so as to form a key-space into which the key 12 is inserted when it is desired to release the locking mechanism and admit of the jaws spreading. The partition 13 is formed with wards which coöperate with properly formed grooves and slots in the key 12, as indicted most clearly in Fig. 2. These wards may be variously positions so that each lock will require a special key to admit of its opening. The partition 13 is formed at its lower end with a lateral tongue 14 which is adapted to engage the middle portion of a flat spring 15 by means of which the dogs 9 are normally held in engagement with the toothed segments 4. The extremities of the spring 15 engage the swinging ends of the dogs 9, the latter being shouldered, as indicated at 16, to engage the edge of the spring 15 and retain the latter in place. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 the spring 15 is disposed in the rear of the partition 13 and out of line with the key space. The lower corners of the partition 13 are cut away to provide clearance for the extremities of the dogs 9 which project across the key space to be engaged by the key 12 when pressed downward to release the locking mechanism and admit of the jaws spreading.     To prevent picking of the lock a guard 17 is disposed upon the rear side of the partition and is attached at its upper end thereto. As shown, a keeper 18 is partly cut from the partition and pressed rearwardly therefrom and receives the upper reduced end of the guard 17.

A tongue 19 is partly cut from the guard 17 and pressed forwardly therefrom and extends through an opening 20 formed in the partition 13. The tongue 19 is forwardly and downwardly inclined and extends across the key-space to be engaged by the lower end of the key when the latter is pressed into the lock case. The guard 17 is formed at its lower end with forward projections 21 which overlap the laterally extending ends 11 of the dogs 9, thereby preventing operation of such dogs by unauthorized means. When the proper key 12 is introduced into the key-space and pressed home there it rides upon the inclined tongue 19 and pressed the lower end of the guard 17 rearward, thereby withdrawing the projections 21 from the path of the key and admitting of the latter engaging the forwardly extending ends 11 of the dogs 9 whereby the latter are actuated to release the pivoted jaw 2 which automatically flies open by the action of a spring 22 which is of the coil type and has opposite end portions projecting and engaging the pivoted jaw and the rear portion of the lower plate 7, as indicted most clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. The guard 17 preferably consists of a spring plate the inherent resiliency of which normally holds the tongue 19 and projections 21 in the path of the key 12 and across the key space. The spring 22 is preferably formed of a length of wire which is doubled upon itself and has its end portions formed into coils which are slipped upon opposite end portions of the pin 3. When the pivoted jaw 2 is closed the tension of the spring 22 is increased and when the jaw 2 is released the spring 22 automatically throws the jaw open, thereby releasing the article clamped between the extremities or lips of the jaws.     Fig. 11 illustrates one application of the locking clamp which secures a cover or robe to the spud or filling tube of a motor vehicle radiator. Fig. 8 shows a hat and robe secured to a rail attached to the back of a seat. Fig. 9 illustrates a control lever clamped to a spoke of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. Fig. 10 shows a hand grip or like device secured to a foot rail the jaws of the clamp embracing the rail and handle of the grip.     Other uses and applications of the invention will readily suggest themselves as occasion may require, it being understood that the jaws of the device are of such a nature as to embrace a rail or other projecting part and at the same time clamp the article between the tips of the jaws in a manner to prevent lateral withdrawal of the article. As the jaws are pressed together to grip the article the ratchet teeth of the segments 4 ride upon the toothed ends 10 of the dogs 9, thereby preventing the spreading of the jaws from any one of the several adjusted positions of such jaws determined by the ratchet teeth of the segments 4.