A Time Lock is a part of a locking mechanism normally found in bank vaults and other high security installations and containers. The time lock is a timer designed to prevent the opening of the safe or premises until it reaches 0, even if the correct combinations are known. Most safes or vaults use at least two independent clock mechanisms as a fail safe system to guarantee the unlocking of the safe in case one of the timers fails. Only one needs to reach 0 in order for the safe to be opened. Time locks can normally be set from 15 minutes to 144 hours. They are mounted on the inside of the safes or vaults door and are not visible when the door is closed and locked. They were originally designed to prevent criminals from kidnapping and torturing the person who knew the combination of the safe and then using that information to later open the safe.