Lockmasters, Inc.

Peter J Phillips

A method and apparatus for use by a locksmith for ascertaining the combination of a locked safe of a known type without destruction of the lock or safe includes the location of a position beneath the dial or dial ring of the safe at which a repairable access hole can be drilled into the lock at a known angular position relative to the lock's fence and coaxially with an unoccupied, cylindrical region generally normal and tangential to the tumbler wheels of the lock, through which a probe may be inserted to sense the outer circumference of the wheels and to detect the alignment of the gate in each wheel with the probe by manipulation of the spindle of the lock in a predetermined, sequential order. From the known angular position of the axis hole and the angular position of the spindle required to align the gates in the wheels with the probe, the combination of the lock can be computed. The apparatus includes a drill fixture having a plurality of index holes which are coincident with the required access hole position of a number of commercially-available locks, and a unique probe and a derrick for mounting a drill motor and bit to the fixture. The method and apparatus can be alternatively used to drill the fence from the lock's fence lever in the event of lock malfunction.

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Redundo Beach, CA, United States of America

Peter J Phillips