Rolling bolt lock

Claim 2

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly Means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a first path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable along a second path transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said first path; c. said cylindrical bolt being mounted such that the planar surfaces of the bolt are substantially parallel to the plane which includes said first and second paths.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to prevent said bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to prevent said bolt from being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock means.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween.

Claim 6

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. rattle prevention means, said means mounted in said housing and engaging said bolt to maintain said bolt in smooth rolling engagement with said housing along its path of travel as it is advanced and retracted.

Claim 7

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. rattle prevention means, said means mounted in said housing and engaging said bolt to maintain said bolt in smooth rolling engagement with said housing along its path of travel as it is advanced and retracted.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein said rattle prevention means comprises a pivotally mounted frame having a roller attached thereto rotatable about its axis and supported by the frame for arcuate movement with respect to the pivotal mounting, said roller and frame being spring biased toward said bolt so that said roller continuously engages the cylindrical surface of said bolt.

Claim 9

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; c. said actuating means further comprising a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween, one of said bearings and an additional bearing being mounted to said slide assembly means to cooperate with a ball mounted in said housing and spring biased toward said bearings to provide a means for retaining said slide assembly means in position when said bolt is fully advanced or fully retracted with respect to said housing.

Claim 10

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; c. said actuating means further comprising a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween, one of said bearings and an additional bearing being mounted to said slide assembly means to cooperate with a ball mounted in said housing and spring biased toward said bearings to provide a means for retaining said slide assembly means in position when said bolt is fully advanced or fully retracted with respect to said housing.

Claim 11

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being Movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. said slide assembly means comprising a plurality of members fixedly spaced from one another and having slots therein; and said bolt being mounted for rotation about its axis upon a shaft; and the ends of said shaft extending beyond said bolt and into said slots; said slots having sloping surfaces coating with said ends of said shaft for advancing and retracting said bolt as aforesaid, upon appropriate movement of said slide assembly means.

Claim 12

In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being Movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. said slide assembly means comprising a plurality of members fixedly spaced from one another and having slots therein; and said bolt being mounted for rotation about its axis upon a shaft; and the ends of said shaft extending beyond said bolt and into said slots; said slots having sloping surfaces coating with said ends of said shaft for advancing and retracting said bolt as aforesaid, upon appropriate movement of said slide assembly means.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8 wherein said shaft is mounted in a bearing and said bearing is mounted in said bolt.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein said slots are Z-shaped and the transverse upper and lower termini thereof provide a means for preventing the bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means and being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means.