US3789638A

US3789638A - Rotary disc tumbler lock construction

Info

Publication number: US3789638A
Application number: US00276146A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Ward; M Roberts; R Cohn
Original assignee: LOCKING SYST Inc
Current assignee: LANCASTER MONEGASQUE STADE LOUIS II ENTREE F MONACO SA; Sanofi Aventis France; LOCKING SYST Inc
Priority date: 1972-07-28
Filing date: 1972-07-28
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05
Also published as: DE2338152A1; JPS49133196A; GB1434386A; AU5862373A; CA1004493A; IT991439B; FR2195246A5

Abstract

A rotary disc tumbler lock construction of the type having a generally cylindrical body includes a core characterized by a tumbler assembly wherein a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements are formed with two sets of gate openings in their outer peripheries so that one or the other of the two sets of gate openings can be aligned to accommodate entry of a side bar in response to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the tumblers. A key formed with bits for operating the tumblers both clockwise and counterclockwise accommodates the maximum removal of key material at any given bit position for both clockwise and counterclockwise operation of the key without substantially weakening the shank of the key and in a manner to avoid telltale ''''footprinting'''' in the lock when operated.

Description

United States Patent 1 Roberts et a].

1 ROTARY DISC TUMBLER LOCK CONSTRUCTION [75 Inventors: Marvin E. Roberts; Reuben J. Cohn, both of Reno, Nev.; James E. Ward, Atherton, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Locking Systems, Inc., Reno, Nev.

[22] Filed: July 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,146

[52] US. Cl 70/366, 70/377, 70/403 [51] Int. Cl E05b 29/02 [58] Field of Search..... 70/366, 365, 362, 377, 376, 70/402-404 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,621,639 11/1971 Koskinen 70/366 2,690,070 9/1954 Spain 70/366 X 2,217,047 10/1940 Fitzgerald 70/366 3,148,526 9/1964 Jacobi 70/366 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 140,988 6/1953 Sweden 70/366 Finland 70/ 3 66 Finland 70/366 [57] ABSTRACT A rotary disc tumbler lock construction of the type having a generally cylindrical body includes a core characterized by a tumbler assembly wherein a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements are formed with two sets of gate openings in their outer peripheries so that one or the other of the two sets of gate openings can be aligned to accommodate entry of a side bar in response to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the tumblers. A key formed with bits for operating the tumblers both clockwise and counterclockwise accommodates the maximum removal of key material at any given bit position for both clockwise and counterclockwise operation of the key without substantially weakening the shank of the key and in a manner to avoid telltale footprinting in the lock when operated.

17 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBFEB SIHH B'JSQGB sum M a TUMBLER NUMBER GATE OPENING CODE (5) Q UNDER LOCKED SIDE BAR 1 ROTARY DISC TUMBLER LOCK CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a rotary disc tumbler lock construction and particularly to one which can be unlocked by clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of a key. More particularly, this invention pertains to a rotary disc tumbler lock construction characterized by SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, there is provided herein a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a cylindrical body and a tumbler assembly within the body characterized by a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements and two sets of gate openings formed in the peripheries of the tumbler elements. The gate openings of one set are disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response to clockwise rotation of the tumblers from a neutral key entry position and the gatings of the other set are disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response to counterclockwise rotation of the tumblers from a neutral key entry position. Each of the gating slots when formed are disposed on a radius including a side bar for engaging the lock body to a tumbler housing and thereby serve to permit the side bar to be moved radially into one or the other of the two gating slots to release the engagement between the housing and body.

The invention also contemplates an improved key for operating a lock construction of the above kind in which the key includes an elongate shank portion, the shank portionincluding pairs of tumbler drive surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the shank portion and in the same transverse plane through the shank. The drive surfaces each have a contact area sufficiently extensive to make contact with the entire surface of an associated one of the tumbler contact surfaces. The key includes that number of pairs of such tumbler drive surfaces as equal the number of tumblers.

OBJECTS It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary disc tumbler lock construction and more particularly to provide an improved rotary disc tumbler lock construction characterized by tumblers formed with two sets of gate openings or notches in their peripheries which, when aligned, serve to define an elongate gating slot adapted to receive a side bar of the type which normally would be inter-engaged between the body of thelock and the tumbler housing. In this manner, the side bar can be urged radially inwardly from its engaging position into the gating slot by rotating the tumblers clockwise'or counterclockwise.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary disc tumbler lock construction ofa type which may be unlocked using a single key by rotating the tumbler-assembly clockwise or counterclockwise to accomplish the unlocking of the core assembly relative to the body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary disc tumbler lock construction of a type wherein the core may be installed from the face of the lock without disruption of the bolt work or hardware previously installed so as to readily permit changing of the locks when installed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved key suitable for operating a rotary disc tumbler lock construction and characterized by tumbler drive surfaces formed on opposite sides of the key shank and in the same transverse plane without affecting the strength of the shank of the key.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved key and lock arrangement for rotary disc tumbler lock constructions in which telltale signs of tumbler operation can be avoided as may be seen by inspection thereof through the keyhole of the lock.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more readily evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an isometric view, with parts broken away, of a lock construction according to the invention and generally disposed in circumstances such as locking a cabinet door to a cabinet wall;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation section view of a lock construction according to the invention taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of a lock construction according to the invention taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an elevation section view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged front elevation view of the upper portion of a tumbler element of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows an elevation section view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows an elevation section view, as viewed from the rear of the lock construction of FIG. 2 taken along the line 77 thereof;

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view in perspective according to the invention;

FIG. 9 shows an elevation section view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 shows a side elevation view of a key construction according to the invention;

FIG. 10A shows a diagrammatic transverse section view of the shank portion of a key of the type shown in FIG. 10 taken along the line 10Al0A before being cut or coded to operate a given lock;

FIG. 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the right hand portion of the construction shown in FIG. 2 and a vertical centerline section ofa lock body in perspective;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show elevation section view taken along the lines 12-12 and 1313 of FIG. 2 and disclosing the unlocking and interlocking of a bayonet coupling for interconnecting the tailpiece of the lock to the tumbler assembly;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective exploded diagrammatic view of a set of disc tumblers employed in the lock construction according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A lock construction according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in a common application as, for example, on a cabinet door disposed to swing in the direction of arrow 11 into and out of engagement with a door jamb 12 formed in a cabinet facing 13.

As shown, the lock construction 14 includes a generally cylindrical body 16. Lock construction 14 is disposed in an opening drilled through cabinet door 10 and nut 17 disposed on the threaded exterior of body 16 engages the inside of cabinet door 10 to draw the lock tightly against a shoulder 18 formed as a portion of body 16.

In operation, a rotatable tailpiece 19 serves to rotate a cam or latch 21 between advanced and retracted positions in response to locking and unlocking operation of the lock construction. Latch 21 is, accordingly, securely attached to tailpiece 19, for example, by means of the nuts 22 which are preferably of a locknut style. In a common situation, as generally shown in FIG. 1, latch 21 engages a latch plate 23 of any suitable style when the lock is in its locked condition. When unlocked, latch 21 is rotated out of the way of latch plate 23 whereby the cabinet door 10, for example, can be freely opened. A key 26 is shown in FIG. 1 in its inserted position in the lock.

Generally, there is shown herein a lock construction characterized by a set of tumblers having two sets of gate openings or gatings disposed in the periphery of the tumblers whereby one or the other of the two sets of gatings can be aligned to define an elongate gating slot disposed radially interiorly of an elongate side bar which otherwise retains the tumbler assembly locked with respect to the body. By aligning the gatings or notches to define one or the other of two gating slots beneath the side bar, the side bar can be moved by means described below radially inwardly into the gating slot thus formed and thereby release its engagement between the body and the tumbler assembly.

In accomplishing the foregoing, key 26 employs its tumbler drive surfaces or bits" 27, 27a lying in planes tangent to the general cylindrical shank portion 28 (FIG. 10A). Further, as will be explained below, the depth of cut taken in forming each of

bits

27, 270 on the key is independent of the depth of cut of any other bit on the key including, particularly, the bit located in the same transverse plane as each of the bits shown. In short, the maximum amount of material can be removed in cutting a bit on one side of shank portion 28 without limiting the amount of material which can be removed from the bit which is disposed on the opposite side of the shank and in the same transverse plane as the first named bit.

In general, and as noted above, the lock tumblers can be disposed in an unlocked state by both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the tumbler elements using the novel key 26 for aligning one or the other of two sets of gatings carried by the tumblers to form a gating slot beneath a side bar 29.

In its locked condition, side bar 29 lies partly in a body groove 31 formed with sloping surfaces at each side so as to cooperate with the rounded upper edge 29a of side bar 29.

The main body of side bar 29 resets in a tumbler housing shell 32 formed from a portion of a cylinder and including a side bar slot 33 disposed on a radius of housing 32.

A core assembly 35 can be axially inserted into body 16 and includes a housing 32, side bar 29 and tumbler assembly 34.

Tumbler assembly 34 includes a unitary monolithic spacer comb 36 comprised of a semi-cylindrical bottom or housing half or shell 37 disposed beneath and containing a series of annular spacers 38. Each of spacers 38 includes a gate opening 39 disposed at a stationary location relative to the bottom housing half 37 and also relative to each of the gate openings 39 in the other spacers 38. An arcuate passage 41 has been formed to extend through the length of spacer comb 36 whereby, as will be explained further below, a Z shaped spring 42 can be inserted through the length of spacer comb 36.

A number of tumbler elements 43 of the rotary disc type are each formed with a number of gatings, notches or gate openings 44 (these terms being used interchangeably herein) disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the tumbler elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot in conjunction with gate openings 39 of spacers 38 so as to receive side bar 29 moving radially inwardly into the gating slot thus formed.

As disclosed herein, the gating slot can be located at either of at least two rotary positions of the tumbler elements displaced clockwise or counterclockwise from a neutral key entry position.

For purposes of security, and as best shown in FIG. 4, a number of false gates 46 are typically formed into the periphery of tumbler elements 43 and are not to be considered herein as gatings, notches or gate openings" formed in the tumbler elements 43. The latter terms refer only to true operable gate openings, gatings or side bar receiving notches 44 which will function to operate the lock construction.

Tumbler elements 43 have an unrestricted central keyhole opening 47 formed to receive a key shank and formed, as will be explained further below, so that when they are aligned with the other tumbler elements at a neutral key entry position, the keyhole presented will be unobstructed for receiving the key without disturbing the rotary positioning of the tumbler elements.

Tumbler elements 43 are not limited to two gate openings 44 but can be coded to have three or more so as to provide greater versatility. Note the coding of the sixth, seventh and eighth tumbler elements 43 in FIG. 14.

Each of tumbler elements 43 includes contact surfaces 48, 49 adapted to engage one or the other of two tumbler drive surfaces or

bits

27, 270 formed on opposite sides of key 26 for engaging the tumbler elements clockwise or counterclockwise in response to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the key. In this manner, one or the other set of gatings 44 becomes ultimately aligned.

An arcuate opening 40 in each tumbler element, when aligned with the passages 41 in spacers 38, forms a curved slot to receive 2 shaped spring 42. Spring 42 serves to maintain the tumblers 43 aligned to a substantially neutral key entry position.

Bits 27 have a contact area sufficiently extensive so as to make contact with the entire surface of each of the tumbler contact surfaces 48, 49 so as to avoid noticeable uneven wear on the tumbler contact surfaces as may compromise the security of the lock by inspection through the keyhole of the lock.

Each of contact surfaces 48, 49 is sharply relieved at its edge, as by means of the shoulders 51 serving to preclude evidence of wear of the tumbler contact surfaces 48, 49 as may develop from repeated contact with the

key bits

27, 27a.

In order to be able to achieve extensive bit areas of the kind described, a key of the type shown in FIGS. and 10A is constructed as now to be described.

Key 26 includes, integral therewith, a bit blank 52 formed to extend along the top of shank 28 as shown. Bit blank 52 includes sufficient metal to permit tumbler drive surfaces or

bits

27, 27a to be formed in a number of planes designated by the phantom lines 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 so as to define a number of bit planes each lying tangent to the cylindrical shank portion 28 so as not to weaken shank portion 28 by removing material from both sides of bit blank 52. It will be readily evident that the function of each of

bits

27, 27a is to make contact with tumbler contact surfaces 48, 49 (FIG. 5) and to rotate its associated tumbler 43 either clockwise or counterclockwise. By virtue of the fact that each of

bits

27, 27a is cut on a plane lying tangent to shank portion 28 whereby the surface of the bits will be sufficiently extensive to be coextensive with tumbler contact surfaces 48, 49 so as to leave no telltale markings on the tumblers indicating the particular angle of the bit cut on the key.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 10A, tumbler contact surfaces 48, 49 (FIG. 5) engaged by the bit in plane 53 will be rotationally displaced a maximum amount whereas contact surfaces 48, 49 engaged by a bit out in plane 58 will be displaced only a minimum amount and is referred to as a five cut", whereas the former would be a zero cut.

The bow 24 of key 26 includes a slight arcuate rib 59 on both sides so as to provide additional strength to the bow and to provide a more readily gripped surface to be engaged between the thumb and forefinger.

The right hand end wall 62 of housing 32 includes (FIG. 2) a side bar groove extension notch 63a serving to receive the end of side bar 29 and the other end wall of housing 32 includes a similar notch 63b to receive the other end of side bar 29.

The left hand face of wall 62 also includes a cylindrical well 64 forming a smooth seat for a drill-resistant spinner cup element 66 of a type to prevent use of an elongate drill bit via the keyhole for drilling away the tailpiece 19. Spinner 66 simply rotates in well 64 under action of adrill. Well 62 further includes an arcuate passage 67 extending therethrough whereby Z spring 42 can be loaded into the lock during final stages of assembly.

Means are provided for yieldingly urging side bar 29 radially outwardly into body groove 31 so as to maintain the lock in a locked state with side bar 29 serving to couple housing 32 via groove 33 to body 16 by entry into body groove 31. Thus, a spring element 68 is formed with a C shaped hook portion 68a at each end of a length of spring wire whereby the hook portions 68a are adapted to encircle the ends of tumbler assembly 34 (FIG. 2) and underlie side bar 29 while the intermediate connecting back portion of spring element 68 engages a retainer groove 69 (FIGS. 4, 8, 9). Side bar 29 remains under spring bias applied by the hook portions 68a inasmuch as the spring element 68 will be carried with rotation of spacer comb 36. In general, to this point, operation of the lock construction proceeds as follows.

. A properly coded key is inserted into the keyhole 71 which is specially formed to accommodate only keys of the type disclosed. Inasmuch as the central opening in each of the tumbler elements 43 is aligned to a common neutral key entry position common to the open central passages defined through the spacer comb unit 36, the keyhole will be considered unobstructed or unrestricted with respect to receiving the shank of a key without disturbing the rotary positioning of the tumbler elements 43. Rotation of the key causes

bits

27, 27a to variously engage

key contact surfaces

48, 49 and to rotate their associated tumbler elements in a degree related to the angle at which the bit has been cut.

Thus, a so-called zero cut appearing in plane 53 (FIG. 10A) will cause the tumbler element to be rotated the farthest whereas a five" cut on plane 58 will cause the tumbler element 43 to be rotated the least from a neutral key entry position.

As noted above, all tumblers will be rotated to some degree since no tumblers are arranged with a gating 44 in radial alignment beneath side bar 29. As the key is turned, ultimately all of the gatings 44 will become aligned so as to define a gating slot radially aligned with side bar slot 33. This occurs so that conjoint rotation of comb unit 36 and tumbler housing shell 32 along with tumblers 43 will cause side bar 29 to be moved clockwise or counterclockwise as selected whereby the sloping surfaces bounding body groove 31 will serve to cam side bar 29 radially inwardly of the lock to a position where it will be disengaged from body 16 to permit full rotation of the core of the lock consisting of tumbler housing shell 32, spacer comb unit 36 and the tumbler elements 43 disposed therebetween, as explained below.

This rotation of the core of the lock will serve to rotate tailpiece 19 so as to rotate latch 21 in a manner to unlatch the cabinet door or other closure which carries the lock.

It is to be understood, obviously, that the particular application for use of this lock is not believed part of the invention nor should it be considered limiting thereto since it is readily evident that all locks have a wide range of uses.

Tailpiece 19 includes a pair of diametrically disposed radially protruding lugs 78 and diametrically opposite flats 79 each defined by a plane lying on a chord taken through the threaded cylindrical stem portion. Lugs 78 are formed to pass through the lug-shaped openings 77 (FIG. ll) of body 16.

When lugs 78 are aligned in the plane of groove 74, tailpiece I9 is manually rotated 90 for purposes as will be later described.

Means for engaging tailpiece 19 for operation may best be explained with respect to FIG. 11. End wall 62 of housing 32 carried on its right side, as shown in FIG. 11, a pair of diametrically disposed, radially outwardly extending bayonet style lugs 72. Lugs 72 are each formed with confronting flat surfaces 73.

Lugs 72 are formed to pass through openings 77. When lugs 72 are aligned in the plane of groove 74, core assembly 35 is rotated to dispose lugs 72 behind body bayonet to retain core assembly 35 in body 16 as shown in FIG. l3.

As thus arranged, it will be readily evident that the confronting flats 73 can be readily disposed to overlap an engagement portion 81 of flats 79 of tailpiece 19 while lugs 72 remain in the lug-shaped openings 77. At that point, housing 32 is rotated 45 to the position shown in FIG. 13 whereby the two components, namely tailpiece 19 and housing 32 become locked together for rotation.

Decoupling of housing 32 from tailpiece 19 can be effected by reversing the procedure.

Finally, means are provided for removing the core of lock construction 14 through the face of the lock without interfering with the bolt work operated by tailpiece 19. In this way, lock cores can be readily changed from the face of the lock simply by removing one core and inserting another.

Accordingly, a front core detent 83 (FIG. 8) including laterally extending arm portions 83a is captured in an arcuate slot 86 in the periphery of housing 32 so that rotation of housing 32 also rotates detent 83. As detent 83 and housing 32 rotate together within body 16, detent 83 rides in a groove 84 formed in the interior of body 16 so that rotation of the core of the lock serves to carry detent 83 along groove 84.

As best shown in FIG. 8, detent 83 is spring loaded radially outwardly by a pair of coil springs 87 disposed upon cylindrical nibs 88 carried beneath the laterally extending arms 83a of detent 83. Springs 87 seat within slot 86 and, accordingly, urge detent 83 radially outwardly as noted.

Front core detent 83 serves to retain tumbler housing 32 and, accordingly, the remainder of the core of the lock within body 16 by engaging groove 84 unless detent 83 is depressed out of groove 84. Accordingly, in order to change the lock core from the front, the core must be rotated clockwise to a detent release body hole 89 whereby detent 83 becomes aligned with body hole 89 (FIG. 3) and, upon inserting a wire or punch or other small tool, detent 83 can be depressed against the biasing force of springs 87 to clear-groove 84 whereby the core can be axially withdrawn from body 16.

Finally, in operation, it is to be understood that Z spring 42 serves to reversely drive tumbler elements 43 to a neutral key entry position wherein from inspection the keyhole presents aligned tumblers forming an unobstructed passageway to a key being inserted.

With the key inserted, the tip end of the key lodges into the cup-shaped drill resistant spinner 66 so as to define a positive axis of rotation within the lock. Then the key can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as desired. Assuming that the key is coded in a manner which permits the look to become unlocked by clockwise and counterclockwise rotation ofthe key, it can be assumed that the key is rotated, for example, clockwise until all of the gatings 44 become aligned with the gating openings 39 in spacer comb unit 36 to define a gating slot disposed beneath side bar 29.

Further rotation of the key in the same direction as served to align the tumbler elements causes engagement between a zero-cut core driving bit 91 of key 26 and surfaces 90 (FIG. 7) of tumbler housing 32 and 92 (FIG. 9) of spacer comb 36. When key 26 is rotated, bit 91 moves in a plane lying immediately behind face plate 93 of housing 32. This engagement between bit 91 and surfaces 90, 92 causes rotation of core assembly 35 and spacer comb unit 36 whereby side bar 29 is rotated against the camming action of the inclined surfaces of body groove 31.

During relocking of the lock, reverse rotation of the key serves to reversely rotate core assembly 35 along with side bar 29 whereby, upon alignment of side bar 29 with body groove 31, the resilience of the hook shaped spring portions 68a will urge side bar 29 radially outwardly into body groove 31 to cause side bar 29 to interlock tumbler housing 32 and body 16. At that point, 2" spring 42 serves to reversely drive tumbler elements 43 to a neutral key entry position as above described.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been provided an improved rotary disc tumbler lock construction. The tumblers are characterized by gating zones located clockwise and counterclockwise of a single neutral key entry position so that in each of the two zones a gating or notch can be formed without restriction at randomly disposed positions therein (FIG. 14). The clockwise and counterclockwise gating zones are spaced from each other so as not to overlap and thereby serve to make gatings in one zone operably independent of the gatings in the other zone on any given tumbler element.

Further, the randomly disposed gating in one such zone on any given tumbler element is independent of the gating in the other zone of said tumbler element which second gating may also be randomly disposed within its zone without restriction.

In addition to the foregoing and for purposes of master keying, submaster keying, etc., the tumbler elements may readily be provided with additional gatings as shown, for example, in FIG. 14 at

tumbler elements

6, 7 and 8.

We claim:

1. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with a plurality of gatings or notches disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein at either of at least two rotary positions of said elements displaced from a single neutral key entry position, an elongate body groove formed along the interior of the lock body, said core assembly including a radially disposed side bar passage therein, an elongate side bar carried in said passage and extending radially outwardly of the passage and into said body groove for engagement between said body and core assembly for retaining said core assembly and body against relative rotation therebetween, said tumbler elements having a central keyhole opening therein formed to receive a key and to form, when aligned with the others of said tumbler elements at said neutral key entry position, an unobstructed keyhole for receiving the key without disturbing the positioning of the tumbler elements, resilient means serving to urge each of said tumbler elements in a direction to align same to form said unobstructed key entry position, said key entry position being common to receive a key for both right hand and left hand rotation thereof while rotating said tumbler elements therewith, each of said tumbler elements having contact surfaces adapted to engage one or the other of two tumbler drive surfaces formed on opposite sides of the key for engaging said contact surfaces and for respectively rotating said tumbler elements clockwise or counterclockwise in response to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the key while disposed in the same key entry position for aligning said gatings.

2. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with a plurality of gatings or notches disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein at either of at least two rotary positions of said elements displaced from a neutral key entry position common to both, an elongate body groove formed along the interior of the lock body, said body groove being formed to include beveled edges disposed along the confronting interior edges thereof, said core assembly including a side bar passage radially therethrough, an elongate side bar carried in said passage and extending radially outwardly of the passage and into said body groove for engagement between said body and core assembly for retaining said core assembly and body against relative rotation therebetween, each of said tumbler elements having contact surfaces adapted to engage one or the other of two tumbler drive surfaces formed on opposite sides of the key for engaging said contact surfaces and for respectively rotating said tumbler elements clockwise or counterclockwise in response to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the key from said neutral entry position to align said gatings, and spring means common to all said tumbler elements for reversely driving said tumbler elements to said neutral key entry position to enable removal of the key.

3. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with at least two gatings or notches disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein, an elongate slot formed along the interior of the lock body and having inclined sides thereto, said core assembly including an elongate side bar passage therein and through the exterior thereof, an elongate side bar carried in said passage and extending radially therefrom into the last named slot for retaining said body and core assembly against relative rotation therebetween, said tumbler elements being disposed within said core assembly for both clockwise and counterclockwise movement relative to said core assembly from a neutral position with a common unobstructed key entry formed therethrough for admitting a key to respectively align one or the other of the two gatings of the tumbler elements to thereby form, by either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said tumbler elements, a gating slot in position to receive the side bar therein upon further clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said core assembly subsequent to alignment of said gatings, means for rotating said core assembly clockwise or counterclockwise following alignment of said gatings for camming said side bar against said inclined sides so as to move the side bar into said gating slot and out of engagement with said body so as to permit rotation between said core assembly and said body, the gatings of the tumbler elements being randomly disposed relative to a plane of symmetry longitudinally of the keyway at various peripheral positions on each tumbler element, each said tumbler element having an unrestricted central opening therein formed to receive a key and to form, when aligned with the others of said elements at said neutral position, an unobstructed keyhole for receiving the key for both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said tumbler elements without disturbing the positioning of the tumbler elements, spring means for urging said tumbler elements to said neutral position to provide said unobstructed keyhole, said tumbler elements having key contact surfaces disposed in confronting relation at the sides of their said openings and adapted to respectively engage one or the other of two tumbler drive surfaces of the same or different radial angles formed on opposite sides of the key for engaging said key contact surfaces and for respectively rotating said tumbler elements clockwise or counterclockwise in response thereto.

4. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, an elongate body groove extending along the interior of the lock body to receive a side bar therein, said core assembly including a side bar passage radially therethrough, and having an elongate side bar carried in said passage to extend radially therefrom into said body groove for engagement between the body and the core assembly for retaining the core assembly from rotating relative to the body, a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements, means common to each tumbler element for urging same to a neutral rotary position to form an unobstructed keyway in the core assembly, two sets of gate openings formed in the peripheries of said tumbler elements, the gate openings of one set being disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response to clockwise rotation of said tumblers from said key entry position, and the gatings of the other set being disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response tocounterclockwise rotation of said tumblers from the same common unobstructed neutral key entry position, each of said gating slots when formed being disposed on a radius including the side bar to permit the side bar to be moved radially into and out of one or the other of the two gating slots to release the engagement between the core assembly and body.

5. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 4 wherein each of said tumbler elements includes a generally disc-like construction having a single key receiving opening centrally thereof, and a plurality of gating slots disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the tumblers, said slots being disposed on both sides of a neutral key entry position, each of said tumbler elements having two key contact surfaces disposed in confronting relation at the sides of said key opening and adapted to engage one or the other of two tumbler drive surfaces of varying area dependent on the angle to which they are formed on opposite sides of the key for engaging said contact surfaces and for respectively rotating said tumbler elements clockwise or counterclockwise in response to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the key to align said gatings, said key contact surfaces on said tumblers being restricted in area to that associated with the least area of said drive surfaces on the key.

6. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with a plurality of gatings or notches randomly disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein at either of at least two rotary positions of said elements displaced respectively clockwise and counterclockwise from the same neutral unobstructed key entry position of said tumbler elements, and means yieldingly urging said elements to return to said common unobstructed key entry position, said unobstructed position serving to receive the key therein without disturbing the positioning of the tumbler elements.

7. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 1 including a key for operating the lock, said key having an elongate shank portion, pairs of tumbler drive surfaces at random angles tangential to the shank portion and disposed on opposite sides of said shank portion in the same transverse plane through the shank and each said drive surface having a contact area sufficiently extensive to make contact with the entire surface of an associated one of the tumblers contact surfaces, and said key having that number of such tumbler drive surfaces as equal the number of said contact surfaces.

8. A key for operating a rotary disc tumbler lock of a type having a plurality of rotary disc-like tumbler elements formed with a single unrestricted central keyhole opening for receiving the key, and where each of said tumbler elements includes two key contact surfaces disposed in confronting relation at the sides of their central openings, said key comprising an elongate shank, a raised bitting blank carried by said shank, said bitting blank having a plurality of pairs of tumbler drive surfaces thereon, each said pair being adapted to be associated with a related one of said tumbler elements, the drive surfaces of each said pair being disposed at angles tangential to the shank and independently of the angle of the other to rotate said tumblers both clockwise and counterclockwise.

9. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly within the body rotatable with respect to the body and an elongate side bar disposed therebetween and movable to couple said body to said core assembly, said core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each having a central key-receiving opening therein, said elements being rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise from the same neutral unobstructed key entry position, resilient means serving to urge said elements to form said neutral entry position, that portion of the periphery of said tumbler elements rotationally disposed to one side of said neutral key entry position providing a first gating zone, at least one operable gating formed in said first gating zone, a second gating zone provided in the periphery of said tumbler elements, said second zone being displaced rotationally to the other side of said neutral key entry position and spaced from said first zone, at least one gating formed in said second zone, said gatings of said first and second zones being disposed and adapted to be aligned with others to form elongate gating slots for receiving the side bar therein, said gatings in each zone being randomly disposed therein on each of said tumbler elements within said core assembly.

10. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said tumbler elements includes a plurality of operable gatings formed in at least one of said zones of said tumbler elements.

II. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with a plurality of gatings or notches disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein at either of at least two rotary positions of said elements displaced respectively clockwise and counterclockwise from a neutral key entry position of said tumbler elements, all of said gatings forming one of said slots are independent of all those gatings forming another of said slots.

12. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 11 wherein all combinations of said gatings forming one of said slots are exclusive of those gatings forming another of said slots.

13. A key for operating a rotary disc tumbler lock of a type having a plurality of rotary disc-like tumbler elements each formed with an unrestricted central keyhole opening for receiving a key shank and its associated raised bitting blank with bittings either cut or uncut thereon, and where said tumbler elements are formed to include key contact surfaces disposed at the side of their central openings, said key comprising an elongate cylindrical shank, tumbler drive surfaces formed at varying angles along said raised bitting blank on the key shank and tangential thereto for engaging said key contact surfaces to rotate said tumblers.

14. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 1 further including means responsive to continued rotation beyond the point of alignment of said gatings and serving to cam said side bar out of the body groove and into said aligned gating slot so as to permit rotation of said core assembly relative to said body.

15. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 2 further comprising means responsive to continued rotation beyond the point of alignment of said gatings serving to cam said side bar out of the body groove and into said aligned gating slot so as to permit rotation of said core assembly relative to said body.

16. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with at least one gating or notch randomly disposed with respect to the others to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein, a neutral unobstructed key entry position centrally located in said tumbler elements, and means yieldingly urging said elements to return to said common unobstructed key entry position, said unobstructed position serving to receive the key therein without disturbing the positioning of the tumbler elements.

17. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction according to claim 16 further including means responsive to continued rotation beyond the point of alignment of said gatings and serving to cam said side bar out of the body groove and into said aligned gating slot so as to permit rotation of said core assembly relative to said body.

Claims

4. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, an elongate body groove extending along the interior of the lock body to receive a side bar therein, said core assembly including a side bar passage radially therethrough, and having an elongate side bar carried in said passage to extend radially therefrom into said body groove for engagement between the body and the core assembly for retaining the core assembly from rotating relative to the body, a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements, means common to each tumbler element for urging same to a neutral rotary position to form an unobstructed keyway in the core assembly, two sets of gate openings formed in the peripheries of said tumbler elements, the gate openings of one set being disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response to clockwise rotation of said tumblers from said key entry position, and the gatings of the other set being disposed to be aligned to form an elongate gating slot in response to counterclockwise rotation of said tumblers from the same common unobstructed neutral key entry position, each of said gating slots when formed being disposed on a radius including the side bar to permit the side bar to be moved radially into and out of one or the other of the two gating slots to release the engagement between the core assembly and body.

7. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construCtion according to claim 1 including a key for operating the lock, said key having an elongate shank portion, pairs of tumbler drive surfaces at random angles tangential to the shank portion and disposed on opposite sides of said shank portion in the same transverse plane through the shank and each said drive surface having a contact area sufficiently extensive to make contact with the entire surface of an associated one of the tumbler''s contact surfaces, and said key having that number of such tumbler drive surfaces as equal the number of said contact surfaces.

11. In a rotary disc tumbler lock construction having a lock body and a generally cylindrical core assembly therein, a tumbler assembly within the core assembly comprising a plurality of rotary disc tumbler elements each formed with a plurality of gatings or notches disposed to extend radially into the periphery of the elements and adapted to be aligned with others to form an elongate gating slot for receiving a side bar therein at either of at least two rotary positions of said elements displaced respectively clockwise and counterclockwise from a neutral key entry position of said tumbler elements, all of said gatings forming one of said slots are independent of all those gatings forming another of said slots.