CN115315562A - Cylinder lock and key thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A cylinder lock (1) and key (2) therefor, the lock (1) comprising a stator (3), a rotor (4) rotatable within the stator (3), the rotor (4) being provided with a longitudinal passage (5), respective kingpins (6, 7) being arranged substantially opposite one another within the longitudinal passage (5). The channel (5) is suitable for inserting a key (2), the key (2) being provided with a receptacle (8), the receptacle (8) being intended to receive a corresponding rod (9), the rod (9) being freely orientable and suitable for actuating the kingpin (6, 7). At least one of the main pins (6) is constituted by a bush (10) and a profiled flat (11), the profile of the flat (11) having at least one section (12 a, 12 b) with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of an internal cavity (13) of the bush (10). Axially acting resilient means (14) are interposed between the bush (10) and the headpiece (11) for correspondingly spacing the bush (10) and the headpiece (11) from each other in the absence of an external force applied to the bush (10) towards the headpiece (11). The stator (3) comprises a recess (15), the shape and dimensions of the recess (15) being complementary to the shape and dimensions of the terminal front portion of the kingpin (6) in the radial direction, to temporarily accommodate the front portion; the recess (15) is aligned with a bore (16) of the rotor (4), and the bushing (10) and the planar head piece (11) are arranged in the bore (16). At least one elastic element (17) is interposed between the stator (3) and the at least one additional kingpin (7) to force the at least one additional kingpin (7) to be located within the longitudinal channel (5). After the key (2) is inserted in the longitudinal channel (5), the end of the master pin (7) and the head (18) of the bush (10) abut against the rod (9), with the result that, in a configuration in which the master pin (6) is free to translate within the hole (16), the rod (9) is partially inclined with respect to the key (2), without the front of the master pin (6) projecting into the groove (15) of the stator (3).

Description

Cylinder lock and key thereof

The present invention relates to cylinder locks and to keys therefor.

There are cylinder locks that can be operated by means of a corresponding key, the characteristics of which are described in IT1235586, 6 th 1989 and EP1728944, 6 th 2005, 1 st priority, both in the name of the same applicant. These documents describe a cylinder lock whose coding cannot be directly deciphered from the outside to prevent its tampering.

Such results are obtained by: at least two primary pins (primary pins) are arranged so that they oppose each other in the rotor of the cylinder with respect to the passage in which the key is inserted, said primary pins having respective ends projecting into said passage.

These main pins are associated with respective complementary pins that can be elastically translated from a configuration entirely housed inside the stator to at least one configuration housed simultaneously in the stator and in the rotor so that these two parts are integrally coupled.

The key has a rod which is housed so that it can rotate within a corresponding receptacle and which, when the key is inserted in the channel, actuates the master pins, arranging them in a configuration in which the complementary pins are all housed within the stator, allowing the rotor to perform a selective movement following the rotation of said key.

The presence of a lever in the key, associated with at least two master pins, ensures greater security of the lock against the action of intrusion, commonly known as picking (mechanical tampering).

In order to prevent that an unsuspecting person can open the cylinder lock using a suitable break-in tool adapted to faithfully reproduce the orientable bar at the master pin, using a mechanical tampering tool and method of the traditional type, the possibility is introduced of coding the portions of the bar against which the mutually opposite pins of the lock abut (by means of the content of EP 1728944).

However, it is necessary to improve the security against intrusion, since the locks described so far in any case still have a risk of tampering (although this risk is minimal).

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above problems, proposing a cylinder lock and a key therefor, having a higher security standard against intrusion than that ensured by the known technical solutions.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a cylinder lock and its key that are compatible with known types of lock and its key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock which is composed of a limited number of components which can be assembled in an assembled configuration in a substantially simple manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock and a key therefor which have low cost, are relatively simple to provide in practice and are safe in application.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a cylinder lock of the type comprising a stator in which a rotor is rotatable, the rotor being provided with a longitudinal channel in which respective master pins are arranged substantially opposite one another, said channel being adapted to be inserted by a key provided with a receptacle for receiving a respective rod that can be freely oriented and adapted to actuate said master pins, and by a key therefor, characterized in that:

at least one of said kingpins is constituted by a bushing (bushing) and a contoured frustum (contoured grub) having at least one section with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the internal cavity of the bushing;

axially acting resilient means are interposed between the bushing and the grub member for correspondingly spacing the bushing and the grub member from each other in the absence of an external force applied to the bushing towards the grub member;

the stator comprises a recess of complementary shape and dimensions to the shape and dimensions of the terminal front portion of the king pin in the radial direction to temporarily house the front portion, the recess being aligned with a bore of the rotor in which the bushing and the bluff piece are arranged;

at least one elastic element is interposed between the stator and the at least one additional kingpin to force the at least one additional kingpin to be located within the longitudinal channel;

after the key is inserted in the longitudinal channel, the end of the master pin and the head of the bush abut against the rod, with the result that, in the configuration in which the master pin is free to translate inside the hole of the rotor, the rod is partially tilted with respect to the key, without the front part of the master pin projecting into the groove of the stator.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a cylinder lock and its key, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a cylinder lock according to the invention with a key inserted therein;

FIG. 2 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 1 and its key taken along plane A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 1 and its key inbase:Sub>A first opening step, taken along plane A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 1 and its key inbase:Sub>A second opening step, taken along plane A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a cylinder lock according to the present invention with a perforated counterfeit key inserted therein;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder lock according to the present invention taken along the plane B-B outlined in FIG. 5, with a perforated counterfeit key inserted therein;

figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock according to the invention, taken along the plane B-B of figure 5, with a perforated forged key inserted, in a locking configuration as a result of a forced opening attempt;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 7;

fig. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view of a cylinder lock according to the present invention with a solid counterfeit key inserted therein;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock according to the present invention taken along plane C-C of FIG. 9 with a solid counterfeit key inserted into the cylinder lock;

figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock according to the invention, taken along the plane C-C of figure 9, inserted in a solid forged key in a locking configuration as a result of a forced opening attempt;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a first cylinder lock according to the invention with a coded king pin and a corresponding first key according to the invention with a coded shank taken along a transverse plane passing through the axis of the king pin;

figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a second cylinder lock according to the invention with a coded master pin and a corresponding second key according to the invention with a coded rod, taken along a transverse plane passing through the axis of the master pin;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a third cylinder lock according to the present invention with a coded king pin and a corresponding third key according to the present invention with a coded shank taken along a transverse plane passing through the axes of the king pins;

FIG. 15 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view of a cylinder lock into which a key having an incorrect rod code is inserted in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 15 taken along plane D-D in which a key with an incorrect rod code is inserted in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder lock according to the present invention taken along plane D-D of FIG. 15, the cylinder lock being inserted into a key with an incorrect rod code, in a locked configuration as a result of a forced opening attempt;

fig. 18 is an enlarged view of a detail of fig. 17.

With particular reference to the figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylinder lock as a whole and reference numeral 2 denotes its key.

The cylinder lock 1 comprises a stator 3, a rotor 4 rotatable within the stator 3, the rotor 4 being provided with a longitudinal channel 5, the respective kingpins 6, 7 being substantially opposed to each other within the longitudinal channel 5.

Both kingpins 6, 7 may slide laterally with respect to the channel 5 between respective configurations of different interference with said channel 5, even until the interference thereof is eliminated.

The channel 5 is adapted to receive the key 2 (inserted from the outside), the key 2 being provided with a housing 8 for housing a respective freely orientable rod 9.

The rod 9 is designed for the correct alignment of the master pins 6, 7, since these pins are actuated by the rod 9 (which abuts against the rod 9 when the key 2 is correctly inserted in the channel 5), and are arranged in a specific coding configuration by the rod 9.

With particular reference to the more innovative aspects of the invention, it is specified that at least one of the master pins 6 may conveniently be constituted by a bush 10 and a profiled flattened piece 11, the profile of the flattened piece 11 having at least one segment 12a, 12b, the shape and dimensions of said at least one segment 12a, 12b being complementary to the shape and dimensions of the internal cavity 13 of the bush 10. Due to the presence of the sectors 12a, 12b, which constitute a zone having a larger diameter than the head 11, the head 11 and the bush 10 can present a cylindrical pairing in which the head 11 can slide freely inside the cavity 13 along a direction defined by a common axis of symmetry.

In order to ensure the best mechanical performance of the lock 1 according to the invention, it is particularly pointed out that it is advantageously possible to insert between the bush 10 and the headpiece 11 axially acting elastic means 14 for mutual spacing without an external force being applied to the bush 10 towards the headpiece 11.

The stator 3 in turn comprises a recess 15, the shape and dimensions of the recess 15 being complementary to those of the terminal front portion of the king pin 6 in the radial direction to temporarily accommodate said front portion. The recess 15 is advantageously aligned with a hole 16 of the rotor 4, inside which hole 16 the bush 10 and the flat head piece 11 are arranged.

At least one elastic element 17 is effectively interposed between the stator 3 and the at least one additional king pin 7 so as to force the at least one additional king pin 7 inside the longitudinal channel 5.

When the key 2 is not inserted in the channel 5, the elastic means 14 and the elastic element 17 exert such an elastic action as to force the end ends of the master pins 6 and 7 to protrude into the longitudinal channel 5.

After the key 2 has been inserted in the longitudinal channel 5, the end of the master pin 7 and the head 18 of the bush 10 abut against the rod 9, with the result that, in the configuration in which the master pin 6 is free to translate in the hole 16 of the rotor 4, the rod 9 is partially inclined with respect to the key 2, without the front part of the master pin 6 (constituted by the end face of the flat head 11 opposite the bush 10) projecting into the groove 15 of the stator 3.

Within the scope of embodiments of no doubt of interest in practice and application, it is specified that the hole 16 of the rotor 4 designed to receive the king pin 6 may conveniently comprise successive portions having different diameters. In particular, it is possible to provide at least one first portion 19, the first portion 19 having a width greater than the maximum diameter of the bush 10; at least one second portion 20, the shape and dimensions of the second portion 20 being substantially complementary to those of the region of the bush 10 having the largest diameter; and at least one third portion 21, the shape and dimensions of the third portion 21 being substantially complementary to those of the head 18 of the bush 10 so as to form a cylindrical pairing therewith.

The bluff piece 11 may effectively comprise a head section 12b, the head section 12b having a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the internal cavity 13 of the liner 10 (as already shown); at least one intermediate recessed portion 22, the diameter of the at least one intermediate recessed portion 22 being smaller than the diameter of the inner cavity 13 of the liner 10; at least one intermediate section 12a, the diameter of the at least one intermediate section 12a being substantially similar to the diameter of the inner cavity 13 of the liner 10 (also previously shown); and at least one end portion 23, the at least one end portion 23 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the inner cavity 13 of the liner 10.

A region of smaller diameter may be formed between the segments 12a and 12 b.

In this context, it is also specified that the bush 10 may in turn usefully comprise a terminal annular portion 24 of substantially frustum shape, the diameter of the terminal annular portion 24 being complementary to the diameter of the at least one second extension 20 of the hole 16; a central cylindrical portion 25 having a smaller diameter; and a tip head 18, the tip head 18 in turn being provided with a cylindrical portion 26 and a tapered end tongue 27.

The region of smaller diameter formed between the sections 12a and 12b of the grub 11 and the central cylindrical portion 25 of smaller diameter of the bush 10 have the function of helping to retain the king pin 6 (part of the king pin 6) in the event of an attempt to penetrate the lock 1.

In fact, as can be seen in fig. 7, 8, 11, 17 and 18, the reduction in diameter allows the flat piece 11 to tilt with respect to the bush 10 and the bush 10 to tilt with respect to the hole 16, which defines a configuration for locking the rotation if it is applied from the outside without using a suitable key 2 according to the invention.

Furthermore, it is specified that the elastic means 14 are usefully interposed between the bottom of the cavity 13 of the bush 10 and at least one intermediate section 12a, the at least one intermediate section 12a having a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the inner cavity 13, so as to form an abutment shoulder (abutment shoulder) for said elastic means 14.

In addition, the groove 15 of the stator 3 is delimited between two intersecting inclined planes 28 and 29, these two inclined planes 28 and 29 meeting each other at the bottom of said groove 15 and meeting the surface of the duct 30 of the stator 3 designed for rotatably housing the rotor 4, by which correct and normal operation of the lock 1 according to the invention is ensured. From a constructional standpoint, the groove 15 can be provided by milling (or generally by chip forming machining) the inner surface of the duct 30 of the stator 3: the milling may be limited to only the region in the assembly aligned with the bore 16 of the rotor 4 or, more likely, extend from the end face of the stator 3 up to said region.

It is specifically pointed out that, in particular embodiments allowing to obtain the best safety against intrusion, the bar 9 may advantageously have a variable thickness, even locally variable and discontinuously variable, according to a basic coding shape depending on the geometry and arrangement of the kingpins 6 and 7 substantially aligned with the bar 9 and abutting against the ends of the bar 9.

The particular configuration of the lever 9, conveniently defined by the particular shape, is used to rest the ends of the master pins 6 and 7 on the surface of the lever 9: in fact, the ends of the master pins 6, 7 may be suitably shaped so as to engage with respective complementary shaped areas provided on the bar 9, allowing the overall arrangement of the lock 1 and its key 2 to be in the open configuration only when each shaped area is correctly abutted in the respective complementary shaped area.

In this case, the bush 10 of the king pin 6 may have a particular shape at its head 18, so as to allow correct coupling with the shaped area (coding) provided on the rod 9.

In particular, it is possible (as shown only by way of non-limiting example in fig. 12 to 18) to employ specific bushes provided with different heads 18a, 18b and 18c, each of which is specifically shaped to cooperate with a shaped zone (coding) of the corresponding stem 9 of the key 2 associated with a specific lock 1.

Furthermore, it is specified that the kingpin 7 may advantageously slide within a profiled channel 31 present in the rotor 4 and in the stator 3 (i.e. the channel 31 extends in a radial direction from the stator 3 into the rotor 4 until the channel 31 opens into the longitudinal channel 5).

The channel 31 comprises an outer rotor portion 32 and an outer stator portion 33; the two portions 32, 33 have a diameter suitable for slidingly receiving the base plate 34 of the master pin 7.

The channel 31 further comprises an internal portion 35 (belonging to the rotor 4 and formed between the portion 32 and the longitudinal channel 5), which internal portion 35 has a smaller diameter and is adapted to slidingly receive an elongated shank 36 of the king pin 7.

At least one elastic element 17 may conveniently be interposed between the bottom of the channel 31 and the base plate 33.

The elastic means 14 and the elastic element 17 can be constituted by helical springs, the shape, size and elastic constant of which depend on the specific mechanical properties one tries to assign to the lock 1.

From a functional standpoint, it is specified that the plate 33 in fact constitutes an abutment complementary pin for the main pin 7.

Finally, it is specified that the lever 9 may have a substantially flat shape and may pivot inside the receptacle 8, the receptacle 8 being complementary to the profile of the lever 9 at the peripheral edge of the lever 9.

The opposite edge of the lever 9 is the edge that is free to swing between extreme configurations projecting from the profile of the key 2.

The operation of the present invention is as follows. When the key 2 is correctly and completely inserted in the longitudinal channel 5 of the lock 1, the master pins 6 and 7 can assume the correct arrangement, uncoupling the rotor 3 from the stator 4 and allowing opening (as shown in the attached figures 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 and 14).

On the contrary, if a key X not corresponding to the invention is inserted in the channel 5 (in particular provided with a housing 8 but without the rod 9), an attempt to rotate the rotor 4 with respect to the stator 3 locks the flat head 11 in the bush 10 (according to what is shown by way of example in fig. 5, 6, 7 and 8), thus preventing the completion of the rotation.

Likewise, if one tries to start the rotation of the rotor 4 by using a key X not corresponding to the invention (in particular without the receptacle 8, i.e. solid), the flat head 11 gets stuck in the bush 10 (according to what has been shown by way of example in fig. 9, 10 and 11), thus preventing the completion of this rotation.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the aforementioned problems, proposing a cylinder lock 1 and a key 2 therefor having a higher security standard against intrusion than that ensured by the solutions of the known art.

Conveniently, the cylinder lock 1 and its key 2 are compatible with known types of lock and associated key belonging to the same product category.

Positively, the cylinder lock 1 is constituted by a limited number of components which can be assembled in an assembled configuration in a substantially simple manner.

Effectively, the cylinder lock 1 and its key 2 are relatively simple to provide in practice and are substantially modest in cost: these features make the lock 1 and the key 2 according to the invention an innovative guaranteed application.

Thus, many modifications and variations of the present invention are contemplated, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims (10)

1. A cylinder lock and its key, of the type comprising a stator (3), within which stator (3) a rotor (4) is rotatable, said rotor (4) being provided with a longitudinal channel (5), inside which longitudinal channel (5) respective master pins (6, 7) are arranged substantially opposite each other, said channel (5) being adapted to insert a key (2), said key (2) being provided with a receptacle (8), said receptacle (8) being intended to receive a respective rod (9), said rod (9) being freely orientable and adapted to actuate said master pins (6, 7), characterized in that,

at least one of said master pins (6) is constituted by a bushing (10) and by a profiled flattened piece (11), the profile of said flattened piece (11) having at least one section (12 a, 12 b), the shape and dimensions of said at least one section (12 a, 12 b) being complementary to the shape and dimensions of an internal cavity (13) of said bushing (10);

axially acting elastic means (14) are interposed between the bush (10) and the blunting member (11) for causing the bush (10) and the blunting member (11) to be respectively spaced apart from each other in the absence of an external force applied to the bush (10) towards the blunting member (11);

the stator (3) comprises a recess (15), the shape and dimensions of the recess (15) being complementary to the shape and dimensions of the terminal front portion of the kingpin (6) in the radial direction to temporarily house the front portion, the recess (15) being aligned with a bore (16) of the rotor (4), the bushing (10) and the bluff piece (11) being arranged within the bore (16);

at least one elastic element (17) is interposed between the stator (3) and at least one additional kingpin (7) to force the at least one additional kingpin (7) inside the longitudinal channel (5);

after the key (2) is inserted in the longitudinal channel (5), the end of the master pin (7) and the head (18) of the bush (10) abut against the rod (9), with the result that, in a configuration in which the master pin (6) is free to translate within the hole (16) of the rotor (4), the rod (9) is partially inclined with respect to the key (2), without the front portion of the master pin (6) projecting into the groove (15) of the stator (3).

2. A cylinder lock and its key according to claim 1, characterized in that said hole (16) of the rotor (4) housing the king pin (6) comprises successive portions of different diameters: at least one first portion (19), said at least one first portion (19) having a width greater than the maximum diameter of the bushing (10); at least one second portion (20), said at least one second portion (20) having a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the region of maximum diameter of the bush (10); and at least one third portion (21), said at least one third portion (21) having a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the head (18) of the bushing (10) to define, with the head (18), a cylindrical pairing.

3. A cylinder lock and its key according to claim 1, characterized in that said flat head piece (11) comprises a head section (12 b) having a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of said inner cavity (13) of said bush (10); at least one intermediate recessed portion (22), the diameter of said intermediate recessed portion (22) being smaller than the diameter of said inner cavity (13) of said bushing (10); at least one intermediate section (12 a), the diameter of said at least one intermediate section (12 a) being substantially similar to the diameter of the inner cavity (13) of the liner (10); and at least one end portion (23), the diameter of said at least one end portion (23) being smaller than the diameter of said inner cavity (13) of said liner (10).

4. A cylinder lock and its key according to claim 3, characterized in that said bush (10) comprises a terminal annular portion (24) of substantially frustum shape, the diameter of said terminal annular portion (24) being complementary to the diameter of said at least one second extension (20) of said hole (16); a central cylindrical extension (25) having a smaller diameter; and said end head (18), said end head (18) being in turn provided with a cylindrical portion (26) and a conical end tongue (27).

5. Cylinder lock and key therefor according to claim 4, characterized in that said elastic means (14) are inserted between the bottom of said cavity (13) of said bush (10) and said at least one intermediate section (12 a), said at least one intermediate section (12 a) having a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of said internal cavity (13) of said bush (10), said at least one intermediate section (12 a) forming an abutment shoulder for said elastic means (14).

6. Cylinder lock and its key according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (15) of the stator is delimited between two intersecting inclined planes (28, 29), which intersect each other at the bottom of the groove (15) and intersect the surface of a duct (30) of the stator (3) designed to rotatably house the rotor (4).

7. Cylinder lock and key thereof according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bar (9) has a variable thickness, even locally variable and discontinuous, according to a basic coded shape depending on the geometry and arrangement of the ends of said master pins (6, 7) substantially aligned with said bar (9) and abutting against said bar (9), defining a specific resting configuration of said ends of said master pins (6, 7) on the surface of said bar (9).

8. A cylinder lock and its key according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said master pin (7) is slidable inside a profiled channel (31) of said rotor (4) and of said stator (3), said channel (31) comprising: an outer rotor extension (32) and an outer stator extension (33), the outer rotor extension (32) and the outer stator extension (33) having a base plate (34) of a diameter suitable for slidingly receiving the kingpin (7); and an inner extension (35), said inner extension (35) having a smaller diameter and being adapted to slidingly house an elongated shank (36) of said kingpin (7), said at least one elastic element (17) being interposed between the bottom of said channel (31) and said base plate (33).

9. Cylinder lock and key therefor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (33) constitutes an abutment complementary pin for said master pin (7).

10. Cylinder lock and key therefor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bar (9) has a substantially flat shape and pivots within a receptacle (8), said receptacle (8) being complementary to the profile of said bar (9) at the peripheral edge of said bar (9), the opposite edge of said bar (9) being free to oscillate between extreme configurations projecting from the profile of said key (2).

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