AU1941600A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

j S&F Ref: 497838

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r r r Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Lok Kam Lam No. 29, Jalan SS2/3 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Lok Kam Lam Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Invention Title: Lock The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c [R:\LIBW]21986.doc:DMB TITLE: LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the invention The present invention is related to a lock, and especially to a structure of lock wherein a plurality of receiving holes and alignment holes are provided in and by the central keyhole of a lock core to receive therein a plurality of juxtaposing and integrally connected pushing pins and alignment pins. When a key enters the keyhole to displace the pushing pins and alignment pins, an engaging hole in each alignment pin is aligned respectively with a longitudinal slit on the lock core to allow insertion of an engaging strip in the longitudinal slit into the aligned engaging holes, hence the lock core can be rotated in the cylinder for unlocking.

2. Description of the Prior Art 15 Locks are widely used at the locations or spots wherein guard against, prevention from and limitation to access of things are required. Thereby, .a limited area can avoid being intruded or destroyed. Locks are very important to the functions of protection and guard. Hence people have many chances to use locks in their life, and locks always keep their important position.

The most necessary structures in locks are the structures of lock cores, cylinders, locking beards, locking pins or bolts. The most widely used locks nowadays have juxtaposing locking pins, wherein the locking pins are vertical ones. With the design of such kind of locks, there must be larger spaces to receive locking pins, and the cylinders will have protruding square portions to receive the locking pins. These render the production quite troublesome, and make mounting of locks by locksmiths quite difficult. Abutment between locking pins may induce friction action and renders the locking pins worn, thereby, inconvenience in opening and locking the locks may be increased.

And more, very large portions of the locking pins are exposed to the keyholes of lock cores, keys extending into the keyholes may collide the locking pins to make them deviated or tilted, and damage the locks indirectly, this also adversely influence opening and locking of the locks.

10 SUM4MARY OF THE INVENTION In view that locks are very important tools for locking, and using of locks intimately relates to safety and guard of articles to be locked, the inventor of the present invention develops the novel lock structure of the present invention for locking, which structure is a design using juxtaposing locking pins cooperating with engaging function of an engaging strip.

0o The present invention has a main object to have juxtaposing and integrally connected pushing pins and alignment pins received in the central keyhole of a lock core, and to insert an engaging strip into a plurality of aligned engaging holes of the alignment pins after the engaging holes in the alignment pins are moved to align with a longitudinal slit on the lock core, hence the lock core can be rotated in a cylinder for unlocking.

The present invention has a secondary object to have the pushing pins and alignment pins limited by the receiving holes and alignment holes provided in the a lock core, thereby, the pushing pins and alignment pins are correctly positioned and not deviated.

The third object of the present invention is to make the positions of the engaging holes on the alignment pins untidy, and the engaging holes can only get tidy after they are all moved to correct positions to allow the engaging strip to enter them, this can effectively prevent an external force from undue damaging.

The fourth object of the present invention is to make the pushing pins and alignment pins be parallelly connected in juxtaposition relationship in the lock core; this can strengthen the structure of the 10 pins.

oeoo o:"i The fifth object of the present invention is to make the pushing pins and alignment pins be integrally combined mutually or connected with a connecting plate, thereby, a plane surface is formed between the pushing pins and alignment pins.

S 15 The sixth object of the present invention is to make each alignment pin a straight board to be parallelly connected in juxtaposition relationship with a corresponding pushing pin.

The seventh object of the present invention is to provide all the .0 o pins and the engaging strip within the lock core; thereby, the cylinder of the lock does not require further space to receive the pins.

The eight object of the present invention is to make the engaging ends of the engaging strip in the formof a straight board engagedirectly in a groove provided on the cylinder; thereby, engaging effect is good.

The ninth object of the present invention is to provide the pushing pins in the shape of rods provided transversely on the upper portion of the alignment pins, the rod shaped pushing pins extend into a guiding way of a key, the guiding way pushes and displaces the alignment pins to suitable positions to make the engaging holes on the alignment pins be aligned with the longitudinal slit on the lock core; thereby the engaging strip engages in the engaging holes to allow the lock core to rotate in the cylinder.

The tenth object of the present invention is to provide the alignment pins each with a protruding portion on the lower portion thereof, an engaging rod and a coil spring are provided on the protruding portion to return the alignment pins to their original positions when they are 10 displaced.

The eleventh object of the present invention is to provide recesses on the bottoms of the protruding portions of the alignment pins to receive springs; the alignment pins can return to their original positions when they are displaced.

The present invention will be apparent in its objects and specific structures after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an analytic view showing a structure of the present invention; Fig. 1A is a schematic view showing the pushing pins and alignment pins of the present invention in juxtaposing state; Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof the lock core of the present invention; Fig. 3 is another sectional view of the lock core of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a side view showing the structure of the lock core of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the lock of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a key is inserted into the lock core to move the pushing pins of the present invention in juxtaposing state; Fig. 7'is another schematic view showing a key is inserted into the lock core to move the pushing pins of the present invention in juxtaposing state; Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a key is inserted into the lock core to align the alignment pins with a longitudinal slit on the lock core of the present invention; i Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing clockwise rotation of the lock core of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing counterclockwise rotation of the lock core of the present invention; o° Fig. 11 is another sectional view showing the structure of the lock of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing the second embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 12A is a top view showing the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs as those of Fig. 12 of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing the third embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 13A is a top view showing the structure of the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs as those of Fig. 13 of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a schematic view showing the fourth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 14A is a partial sectional view of the engaging strip of Fig.

14; Fig. 15 is a schematic view showing the fifth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 15A is a partial sectional view of the engaging strip of Fig.

Fig. 16 is a schematic view showing the sixth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; i Fig. 16A is a top view showing the structure of the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs as those of Fig. 16of the present invention; Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing the structure of the lock core of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is another sectional view showing the structure of the lock core of Fig. 16; *Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing the positions of the lock core and the alignment pins of Fig. 16; Fig. 20 is a sectional view showing a key is inserted into the lock core of Fig. 16; Fig. 21 is another sectional view showing a key is inserted into the lock core of Fig. 16; Fig. 22 is a schematic view showing a key is inserted into the lock core of Fig. 16; Fig. 23 is a sectional view showing the structure of the lock of Fig. 16; Fig. 24 is another sectional view showing the structure of the lock of Fig. 16; Fig. 25 is a schematic view showing the seventh embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 25A is a top view showing the structure of the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs as those of Fig. 25 of the present invention; Fig. 26 is a sectional view showing the structure of Fig. Fig. 27 is another sectional view showing the structure of Fig. Fig. 28 is a schematic view showing the eighth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; o:o. Fig. 28A is a top view showing the structure of the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs as those of Fig. 28 of the present invention; i Fig. 29 is a sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 28; Fig. 30 is another sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 28; Fig. 31 is a schematic view showing the ninth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; oFig. 32 is a sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is another sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 31; .i Fig. 34 is a third sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 31; Fig. 35 is a fourth sectional view showing the structure of Fig.

31; Fig. 36 is a fifth sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 31; Fig. 37 is a schematic view showing the tenth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 38 is a schematic view showing the eleventh embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; 7 Fig. 39 is a schematic view showing the twelfth embodiment of pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention; Fig. 40 is a side view showing the structure of the lock core of Fig. 39.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

Referring toFig.l, the lock lOof the present invention is comprised of a lock core 20, a plurality of pushing pins 25 and alignment pins 26, an engaging strip 27 and a cylinder In the lock core 20: a plurality of receiving holes 22 and alignment holes 23 are provided in and by the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20. The lock core 20 has on the surface thereof a longitudinal slit 24 of which the bottom is in communication with the alignment holes 23 (as i shown in Fig. 3 and 4).

The engaging strip 27 (as shown in Fig. 1 and is elongate and received in the longitudinal slit 24 of the lock core 20; both ends of the engaging strip 27 are elastically supported at the bottoms thereof *by a spring 271 to render the top 274 of the engaging strip 27 exposed to the outside of the lock core o The cylinder 30: is slipping over the lock core 20, the inner wall thereof is provided with an engaging groove 31 mating with the engaging strip 27 for embedding of the top 274 of the engaging strip 27.

The alignment pins 26: are received in the alignment holes 23, the al ignment pins 26 have on the shanks thereof engaging holes 261 located in different levels; The pushing pins 25: are integrally and parallelly connected with the alignment pins 26 (as shown in Fig. 1A and 34A) and are received 8 in the receiving holes 22of the lock core 20, and further are elastically supported by a plurality of second springs 252 respectively to render the alignment pins 26 and the engaging holes 261 thereof located in different levels (as shown in Fig. 3 and 4).

When a key 40 enters the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 1 and it abuts the tops of the pushing pins 25 with its alignment serration 42 to move the alignment pins 26 and to align the engaging holes 261 (as shown in Fig. 7 and 8) with the longitudinal slit 24 of the lock core 20. When the lock core 20 is rotated with the 10 key40 (as shown inFig. 8 and the bottomportions 275of the engaging strip 27 can be embedded in a long groove formed from the aligned engaging holes 261 to thereby release the top 274 of the engaging strip 27 in the longitudinal slit 24 of the lock core 20 from engagement of the engaging groove 31 in the cylinder 30 for unlocking. Hence the lock core 20 can be rotated clockwise (as shown in Fig. 9) or counterclockwise (as shown in Fig. 10) in the cylinder The lock core 20 can push the engaging strip 27 when in rotating, so that the arciform top 274 of the engaging strip 27 will be pressed o.to move along the curvature of the engaging groove 31 toward the interior of the lock core 20. The bottom portions 275 of the engaging strip 27 can be moved gradually into the aligned engaging holes 261 of the alignment pins 26 to be completely released from engagement of the engaging groove 31 of the cylinder 30. When it is to get a locking state, the longitudinal slit 24 of the lock core 20 is rotated back to align with the engaging groove 31 of the cylinder 30, then the engaging strip 27 in the longitudinal slit 24 is pushed by the spring 271 (as shown in Fig. 10) to have the top 274 of the engaging strip 27 engaged again in the engaging groove 31. Thereby, the lock core 20 cannot be rotated in the cylinder 30, and locking state is obtained.

Referring to Fig. 12 and 12A, these drawings show the second embodiment of the pushing pins 25 and alignment pins 26 in pairs of the present invention, wherein, each pair of a pushing pin 25 and an alignment pin 26 are connected with a connecting plate 29. The receiving holes 22 and alignment holes 23 of the lock core 20 have the shape coincident with that of the pairs of the pushing pins 25 and alignment pins 26 (as shown in Fig. 34B). The alignment pins 26 can be in the shape of straight boards connecting in juxtaposing relationship to the corresponding pushing pins 25 (as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 13 e*e.e and 13A), and the receiving holes 22 and alignment holes 23 of the lock core 20 are also in the shape same as the corresponding pushing pins 9**o 15 25 (as shown in Fig. 34C).

Referring to Fig. 14 and 14A show the fourth embodiment of the pushing pins 25 and alignment pins 26 in pairs and the engaging strip 27 of the present invention, wherein, the engaging holes 261 on the surfaces of the alignment pins 26 juxtaposing the pushing pins 25 each can be in a round shape. The engaging strip 27 is provided with round rods 272 to be engaged in the round engaging holes 261 of the alignment pins 26. Referring to Fig. 15 and 15A showing the fifth embodiment of the pushing pins 25 and alignment pins 26 in pairs and the engaging st rip 27 of the present invention, wherein, the engaging strip 27 is provided with an engaging plate portion 273 mating with in the alignment pins 26, the engaging plate portion 273 is adapted to engaging in the engaging holes 261 of the alignment pins 26.

Referring to Fig. 16 and 16A which show the sixth embodiment of the pushing pins and alignment pins in pairs of the present invention, wherein, the pushing pins 25' are in the shape of rods provided transversely on the upper portion of the alignment pins 26'. A key is provided at the position corresponding to the rod shaped pushing pins with a guiding way 41. When the pushing pins 25' and alignment pins 26' are placed in the receiving holes 22' and alignment holes 23' of the lock core 20 to combine with the cylinder 30 (as shown in Fig. 23), the alignment pins 26' are located at the junctions between the alignment ;holes 23' of the lock core 20 and the cylinder 30 (as shown in Fig. 17 1!-and 18) with the engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' at different levels relative to the longitudinal slit 24 of the lock core (as shown in Fig. 19).

When a key 40 is inserted into the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 20), the guiding way 41 of the key 40 guides the pushing pins 25' in the shape of rods to displace the pushing pins •o 25' along with the alignment pins 26' (as shown in Fig. 21), to align So. the engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' with a longitudinal slit 24' of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 22). When the lock core is rotated with the key 40 (as shown in Fig. 23 and 24), the engaging strip 27' in the longitudinal slit 24' is pressed to rotate along the en gaging groove 31 and moved inwardly to engage the bottom portions 275' of the engaging strip 27' into the aligned engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' to allow the lock core 20 to rotate in the cylinder as is an unlock state.

When the pushing pins 25' are provided transversely on the upper portion of the alignment pins 26', the alignment pins 26' are provided on the lower port ions thereof each with a protruding portion 28 (as shown in Fig. 25 and 25A), the protruding portion 28 is provided on the bottom thereof with a recess 284, a coil spring 285 is received in the recess 284. When the alignment pins 26' are placed in the alignment holes 23 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 26) to combine with the cylinder the alignment pins 26' are pushed by the corresponding coil springs 285 to render the aligned engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' to be separated from the longitudinal slit 24' of the lock core 20. When ot.o a key 40 is inserted into the central keyhole 21 of the lock core (as shown in Fig. 27), the guiding way 41 of the key 40 presses the pushing pins 25' downwardly, and also presses down the alignment pins 26' to align the engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' with a longitudinal 15 slit 24' of the lock core 20. When the lock core 20 is rotated, the engaging strip 27' is pressed during rotation of the lock core 20 and is moved inwardly along the curvature of the engaging groove 31 of the cylinder 30 and is engaged in the engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' to get the unlock state.

As shown in Fig. 28 and 28A, when the pushing pins 25' are provided transversely on the upper portion of the alignment pins 26', the alignment pins 26' are provided on the lower portions thereof each with a protruding portion 28. The protruding portion 28 is provided on the bottom thereof with a throughhole 281 for engagement therein an engaging rod 282 having a coil spring 283 slipped thereover to place altogether a corresponding alignment pin 26', a corresponding pushing pin 25' in the shape of a rod and the engaging rod 282 into a corresponding receiving hole 22 and a corresponding alignment hole 23 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 29). And all the members are place in the cylinder When a key 40 is inserted into the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 30), the guiding way 41 of the key 40 pushes the alignment pins 26', the coil spring.283 in the protruding portion 28 on the upper portion of the alignment pins 26' below the corresponding pushing pin 25' is compressed. While the corresponding engaging hole 261' on the surface of the alignment pin 26' is moved to align with a longitudinal slit 24of the lock core 20. When the lock core 20 is rotated,

S..

Geese the engaging strip 27 in the longitudinal slit 24 is pressed during 0 :00 rotation of the lock core 20 and is moved inwardly along the curvature *000 oe s0o 0 of the engaging groove 31 of the cylinder 30 and is engaged with its °0 S bottom portion in the engaging holes 261' of the alignment pins 26' to 0000 oo 15 get the unlock state.

&see ooo o Referring to Fig. 31, the lock core 20 is provided in and by the 0@0 see.

central keyhole 21with two l ines of receiving holes 22, 22' and alignment holes 23, 23' respectively receiving two lines of pushing pins 25, and alignment pins 26, 26'. Wherein, one line of pushing pins 25 are juxtaposed and integrally connected with their corresponding line of alignment pins 26. When a key 40 is inserted into the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 32), the key 40 abuts the tops of the pushing pins 25 with its alignment serration 42; the other line of pushing pins 25' are in the shape of rods and are provided transversely on the upper portion of the alignment pins 26' (as shown in Fig. 31), and the key is provided with a guiding way 41 for cooperating with the pushing pins 25'. When the key 40 is inserted into the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20 (as shown in Fig. 32), the guiding way 41 of the key 40 pushes the alignment pins 26' upwardly. As shown in Fig. 31, the lock core 20 is provided with two longitudinal slits 24, 24' in corresponding to the two l ines of engaging holes 261, 261' on the surfaces of the alignment pins 26, 26'. The two longitudinal slits 24, 24' are placed therein each with an engaging strip 27 abutting a coi 1 spring 271 with the end thereof. The tops 274, 274' of the engaging strips 27, 27' are exposed to the outside of the lock core 20 and engaged respectively in two engaging grooves 31, 31' of the cylinder 30 (as shown in Fig. 34, As shown in Fig. 32, 33, after the key 40 is inserted into the central \keyhole 21 of the lock core 20, the key 40 abuts the tops of the pushing pins 25 with its alignment serration 42; the guiding way 41 of the key o 4 15 40 is provided for insertion of the other line of pushing pins 25' in the shape of rods. That is, the key 40 simultaneously moves the two lines 0 004 of pushing pins 25, 25' and alignment pins 26, 26' to align the engaging hole 261, 261' of the alignment pin 26, 26' respectively with the two o :longitudinal slits 24, 24' of the lock core 20. When the lock core is rotated, the engaging strips 27, 27' in the two longitudinal slits 24, 24' are pressed by the lock core 20. Thereby the engaging strips 27, 27' are moved inwardly along the curvature of the engaging groove 31, 31' and are engaged with their bottom portions 275, 275'in the engaging holes 261, 261' of the alignment pins 26, 26' to allow the lock core to rotate in the cylinder 30 as is an unlock state.

When the two longitudinal slits 24, 24' of the lock core 20 are rotated back to align with the engaging grooves 31, 31', the key 40 can be taken out of the central keyhole 21 of the lock core 20, and the engaging strips 27, 27' in the two longitudinal slits 24, 24' are pushed by the respectively by the two coil springs 271 (as shown in Fig. 36), so that the tops of the engaging strips 27, 27' are engaged again in the engaging grooves 31, 31' of the cylinder 30 to form the locking state.

Referring to Fig. 37, the engaging holes 261, 261' on the surface of the two lines of alignment pins 26, 26' of the lock core 20 are round, two round rods 272, 272' are provided on the engaging strips 27, 27' and can be engaged in the two lines of round engaging holes 261, 261' of the alignment pins 26, 26'.

Referring to Fig. 38, the engaging strips 27, 27' are provided respectively with two engaging plate portions 273, 273' adapted to o engaging in the engaging holes 261, 261'of the two lines of alignment pins 26, 26' by extending through the two longitudinal slits 24, 24' of the lock core :Referring then to Fig. 39 and 40, the two lines of pushing pins and alignment pins 26, 26' in the lock core 20 can be of different shapes. For example, the pushing pins 25 are integrally and parallelly *o.

connected with the alignment pins 26 (as shown in of Fig. 40); or each pair of a pushing pin 25 and an alignment pin 26 are connected with a connecting plate 29 (as shown in of Fig. 40); or the alignment pin 26 can be in the shape of a straight board to integrally connect with pushing pin 25 (as shown in of Fig. 40); or each pushing pin 25' can be in the shape of a rod provided transversely on the upper portion of an alignment pin 26' (as shown in of Fig. 40); or the alignment pins 26' are provided on the lower portions thereof each with a protruding portion 28, the protruding portion 28 is provided on the bottom thereof with a recess 284, and a coil spring 285 is received in the recess 284 (as shown in of Fig. 40); otherwise, the protruding portion 28 can be provided on the bottom thereof with a through hole 281 for engagement therein an engaging rod 282 having a coil spring 283 slipped thereover (as shown in of Fig. 40). The pushing pins 25, 25' and alignment pins 26, 26' with different shapes can be received in the receiving holes 22, 22' and alignment holes 23, 23' respectively with corresponding shapes.

The present invention has novel integral and parallel connecting pins cooperated with the engaging strips and moved in the lock core, o:ooo by engaging of the engaging strips with the engaging groove of the cylinder, locking action can be achieved. The design of integral and parallel connecting renders the cylinder to save the space required for receiving the pins, and saving of volume is obtained.

Having thus described the technical structure of my invention with 'i *practicability and novelty, therefore, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States are:

Claims (7)

1. 2. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said pushing pins each is provided on the bottom thereof with a recess to receive one of said second springs.
2. 3. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said engaging holes in said alignment pins are round holes, said engaging strip is provided on the bottom thereof with round rods mating with said round holes, said round rods are adapted thereby to engaging in said round engaging holes.
3. 4. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said engaging strip is provided on the bottom thereof with an engaging plate portion mating with said engaging holes in said alignment pins, said engaging plate portion is adapted to engaging in said engaging holes for unlocking said lock. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a key entering said central keyhole abuts the tops of said pushing pins with its alignment serration.
4. 6. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said pushing pins and said alignment pins are connected by means of a connecting plate therebetween, said receiving holes and alignment holes are in the shape in conformity with the cross-sectional shape of said pushing pins and said alignment pins together with said connecting plate therebetween.
5. 7. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said pushing pins are in the shape of rods and are provided transversely on the upper portion of said alignment pins, and said key is provided with a guiding way for cooperating with said pushing pins, ;I said key pushes and displaces said pushing pins in the shape of rods when it enters said central keyhole to move in said guiding way to move said alignment pins and unlock said lock.
6. 8. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said alignment pins are provided on the lower portions thereof each with a protruding portion having a through hole, an engaging rod is placed in said through hole and has a coil spring slipped thereover; said coil springs make returning of said alignment pins to their original positions.
7. 9. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said lock core is provided thereon with two lines of receiving holes and alignment holes to receive therein two lines of pushing pins and alignment pins, wherein, one line of said pushing pins and alignment pins are integrally and parallelly connected in pairs, a key abuts the tops of said pushing pins with its alignment serration when it enters said central keyhole; the other line of said pushing pins are in the shape of rods and are provided transversely on the upper portion of said alignment pins, and said key is provided with a guiding way for cooperating with said pushing pins. 1 0. A lock substantially as hereinibefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11; Figs. 12 and I12a; Figs. 1 3 and 13a; Figs. 14 and 14a; Figs. 15 and 15a; Figs. 16 to 24; Figs. 25 to 27; Figs. 28 to 30; Figs. 31 to 36; Fig. 37; Fig. 38; or Figs. 39 and 40 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 22 February, 2000 Lok Kam Lam Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nomninated Personi SPRUSON &FERGUSON R UiiII1.Ij109273 do, NIFF