EP0106397B1 - Safety lock of the tumblers type with a profiled stop pin - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety lock with gorge levers, intended to be operated by a web-type key, in which the consent stud, connected to the plate with latches and traversing the windows with opposite teeth of the gorge levers, instead of being prismatic as usual, has an outline with projections and recesses depending on the shape of the key web and on the configuration of the windows of the gorge levers, while these latter are identical for locks intended to be operated by different keys, whereby the shaped consent stud is the only element differentiating each specific lock. Preferably the shaped consent stud is interchangeably mounted on the plate with latches, whereby the lock can be easily adapted to be operated by a different key, by simply replacing the interchangeable shaped consent stud.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a lock of the type to be actuated by a bit key, comprising a plate with locks actuated by said key and having a consent stud and a series of grooves actuated by the key and having windows with teeth, traversed by said consent stud of the lock plate, to allow movement of the stud and locks only by means of a key having in its bit a prefixed succession of projections and notches see FR-A-2 110 096.

In known constructions, said bolt plate consent stud has a prismatic shape with constant section and the teeth of the windows of the different grooves have a length defined as a function of the radius, relative to the axis of rotation of the key, of the corresponding projection or notch of the bit so that, under the action of the key, the free spaces between the teeth of the windows of all the grooves are aligned to allow the passage between them of the bolt consent stud . In locks with a key with two non-symmetrical opposite bits, the even position teeth of each groove are not equal to the odd position teeth of the same groove, since this makes unauthorized opening of the lock more difficult. However, these constructions have certain drawbacks.

A first drawback of known locks of the type under consideration consists in the high construction and assembly costs, due to the fact that it is necessary to predispose numerous grooves, each corresponding, as regards the lengths of the teeth of its window, to a couple specific for measuring the protrusions and opposite notches of the key and, once the key intended for actuating a specific lock has been produced, the latter must be mounted by choosing, in the correct order, the various grooves corresponding to the successive couples of protrusions and key cuts. This includes, for the manufacture of the various grooves, the use of many different cookie cutters or very expensive cookie cutters with elements movable in different positions exactly prefixed; for the assembly of locks is required the careful intervention of specialist operators.

Another drawback of the locks considered is that it is not possible to successively modify a lock manufactured to be actuated by a certain key, to have it actuated by a different key, as it would be desirable each time the key originates had to be entrusted to a person who, we think, could have made a copy of it, as it is systematically checked during the installation of the lock if it is not installed personally by the user, and is repeated often during work in rooms protected by the lock as well as on other occasions. Such a modification is on the contrary possible, even if with a relatively difficult operation and the substitution of a complicated component, in certain types of cylinder locks, which on the other hand have a lower degree of security than that of grooved locks.

The first object of the present invention is to remedy the first indicated drawback of known groove locks, by producing a lock of the type to be actuated by a bit key in which the whole series of grooves is identical in the locks intended to be actuated. by different keys, thus allowing a complete unification of the assembly operations of the series of grooves, and consequently the use of unskilled labor or the automation of the operations.

This object is achieved by providing a lock according to the preamble or claim 1 which, according to the invention, is characterized in that the grooves constituting said series of grooves _' have in their windows teeth of predetermined measures independently of the conformation of the keys of the key intended to actuate the lock, and that said consent stud of the plate with latches is shaped according to a profile having projections and notches cooperating with the windows of the different grooves, each projection or notch of the consent stud having a measurement established as a function of the radius of the corresponding projection or notch of the key and the measurement of the teeth of the corresponding groove, so that the consent stud passes freely between the teeth of the windows of the grooves when these have been moved by the preset key.

With these provisions, the grooves moved by the correct key do not have the free spaces aligned between the teeth of their windows but, despite this, they allow the passage of the consent stud because it has a profile corresponding to that of the free space between the teeth of the windows of the grooves thus displaced. Locks with these characteristics have series of undifferentiated grooves which can be predisposed with non-intelligent or automated operations, without taking into account the conformation of the key which will have to actuate the lock, and this makes it possible to reduce the price of assembly operations. The differentiation of each lock is achieved by the application of a single element predisposed according to the conformation of the key, that is to say of the profiled consent stud, and therefore represents the inevitable minimum cost of charge for the differentiation of locks. Also the costs of manufacturing the grooves result greatly reduced by the fact that, even if all the grooves in the series are different from each other, the number of different grooves to be produced corresponds to the number of grooves which constitute the series of grooves of the lock, which is good lower than the number of different grooves which must be predisposed for the differentiation of known locks, even when they belong to the so-called fixed constant types. The higher production price of the streamlined consent stud, compared to a simple traditional prismatic stud, absorbs only a small portion of the economic and organizational benefits thus realized.

Preferably, the series of grooves is composed by grooves of odd position all equal to each other and by grooves of even position also all equal to each other but not equal to the grooves of odd position.

Thanks to this characteristic, the number of different grooves that must be manufactured is reduced to only two, which represents the minimum compatible with the conservation, with keys with two opposite bits, of the degree of security depending on the fact that the position of the grooves results different in the odd turns and in the even turns, that is to say that the key does not have the two opposite symmetrical bits between them. The manufacturing price of the lock grooves is thus reduced to the minimum possible.

A second object of the invention is to remedy even the second drawback reported of known groove locks, by producing a lock which, although having the degree of security of locks with a bit key, can be modified at any time to be actuated by a key different from the previous one, with an operation that can be done by the same user without intervention from a third party.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, by the fact that the profiled consent stud is applied to the lock plate in a removable and interchangeable manner, and that the windows of the grooves have, between the successive teeth, a height at least equal. at the height of the highest projections of the consent stud.

Thanks to this characteristic, the adaptation of the lock to a new key is obtained simply by replacing the previous profiled consent stud by a new differently profiled consent stud, corresponding to the new key, without having to modify the series of grooves, which do not constitute an individualizing element of the lock. The operation of replacing the profiled consent stud is made possible by the timely sizing of the groove windows, which ensures that the consent stud can be unthreaded and threaded through said windows without being prevented by the grooves when these are in place in the rest position. In order to make it easy and safe to adapt the lock to a new key, a series of keys can be put on the market, accompanied by a corresponding consent stud, enclosed in sealed packages which cannot be distinguished and which do not allow the observation of the profiles of the keys and the stud of consent contained, before opening the confections.

Preferably, said interchangeable consent stud is accessible through an opening on the inside of the lock casing, arranged in correspondence with a specific position of the lock plate with which the consent stud moves.

Thanks to this feature, it can be avoided that the substitution of the consent stud is carried out without actuating the lock, by an unauthorized person. In particular, by choosing said specific position of accessibility different from that of opening the lock, it is avoided that the consent stud can, for example, be disassembled by play by children, while by choosing it also different from the completely closed position, it is avoided that the substitution is made to facilitate the exit from a room, by an unauthorized person who entered by other passage. This specific accessibility position is chosen preferably in correspondence with an intermediate key turn, position in. which you don't normally leave the lock on.

• la figure 1 montre en perspective explodée une partie des composants d'une serrure réalisée selon l'invention;
• les figures 2 et 3 montrent en détail la forme des fenêtres des gorges d'ordre impair et respectivement pair de la serrure;
• la figure 4 montre un exemple de profil en escalier régulier du goujon de consentement de la serrure, et
• la figure 5 montre le profil de la clef correspondante au goujon de consentement selon la figure 4 quand on adopte des gorges avec fenêtres selon les figures 2 et 3;
• la figure 6 montre, en vue frontale, un exemple de goujon de consentement profilé monté de manière interchangeable sur la plaque à verrous;
• la figure 7 montre le profil de la clef qui correspond au goujon de consentement selon la figure 6 quand on adopte des gorgés avec fenêtres selon les figures 2 et 3;
• la figure 8 montre le goujon de consentement interchangeable de la figure 6 vu de profil avec les moyens, partiellement sectionnés, pour le retenir;
• la figure 9 montre en plan un petit ressort de retenue pour le goujon de consentement interchangeable;
• la figure 10 montre une plaquette de fixation pour le petit ressort selon la figure 9;
• la figure 11 montre en perspective une autre forme de réalisation de goujon de consentement interchangeable; et
• la figure 12 montre en perspective une serrure avec ouverture pour le montage interchangeable du goujon de consentement profilé.

The above and other characteristics and advantages of the subject of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention, set out by way of non-limiting examples, and schematically represented in the accompanying drawings. , wherein:

• Figure 1 shows in exploded perspective part of the components of a lock produced according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 show in detail the shape of the windows of the odd and respectively even order grooves of the lock;
• FIG. 4 shows an example of a regular staircase profile of the lock consent stud, and
• Figure 5 shows the profile of the key corresponding to the consent stud according to Figure 4 when adopting grooves with windows according to Figures 2 and 3;
• FIG. 6 shows, in front view, an example of a profiled consent stud mounted interchangeably on the lock plate;
• FIG. 7 shows the profile of the key which corresponds to the consent stud according to FIG. 6 when sips with windows are adopted according to FIGS. 2 and 3;
• Figure 8 shows the interchangeable consent stud of Figure 6 seen in profile with the means, partially sectioned, to retain it;
• Figure 9 shows in plan a small retaining spring for the interchangeable consent stud;
• Figure 10 shows a mounting plate for the small spring according to Figure 9;
• Figure 11 shows in perspective another embodiment of interchangeable consent stud; and
• Figure 12 shows in perspective a lock with opening for interchangeable mounting of the profiled consent stud.

In Figure 1 is shown the lock system of a grooved lock, which is constituted by a plate 1 with a folded part 2 which carries the locks 3 intended to engage in the chin. In the plate 1 is formed a window 4, one edge of which forms teeth 5 intended to be engaged by a central part of the bit of a key to advance by successive turns the system of locks according to arrow A, by engaging it in the chin.

To allow the actuation of the lock by the only key predisposed for this purpose, on the plate 1 are stacked grooves 6 in variable number, five in this example, provided with slots 7 by means of which they are guided by pivots (not shown) integral with the envelope of the lock (also not shown), so that the grooves can slide in the direction of arrow B perpendicular to the direction A of movement of the lock. The grooves 6 have an opening 8 into which the key is introduced when it is threaded into the lock and one side 9 of this opening cooperates with a corresponding projection or notch in the key when it turns, causing the groove 6 to move according to arrow B against the action of return springs not shown, up to a position which depends on the radius, with respect to the axis of rotation of the key (axis of the keyhole), of the projection or of the 'notch of the bit which cooperated with the groove considered. Each groove 6 also has a window 10 which extends perpendicular to the direction B of movement of the grooves, and in the window 10 protrude pairs of opposite teeth 11 and 12. For locks actuated by keys with two opposite bits, the length is normally different for the even teeth and the odd teeth, which implies that the two keys of the key are not symmetrical between them and which is connected to a higher degree of security. In known locks, the teeth 11 and 12 are chosen so that, when the grooves 6 have been moved by the right key, the spaces between the opposite teeth 11 and 12 of the different grooves corresponding to the current turn are aligned and allow the passage between the teeth of a prismatic consent stud fixed to the plate 1, thus allowing the latter to advance in the direction A under the effect of the rotation of the key. This implies that the lengths of the odd and even teeth 11 and 12 of each groove 6 correspond to the radii of the corresponding opposite projections or notches of the key bit, with the constructive and mounting consequences illustrated in the premise. On the contrary, in the application of the invention, the measurements of the pairs of odd and even teeth of each groove 6 are chosen without any relation to the conformation of the key. It follows that the spaces between the opposite teeth 11 and 12 corresponding to the current turn are not aligned between the various grooves 6, even when the key which actuates the lock is right. The possibility of displacement of the plate 1 with locks is however restored by the fact that to the plate 1 is applied a consent stud 13 which, instead of being prismatic, is profiled so as to present its section, in correspondence with each groove 6, exactly where is the free space between the opposite teeth 11 and 12, if the key which actuates the lock is right. The consent stud 13 therefore has a number of superimposed sections, each of which forms on one side and on the other of the stud 13 a projection or notch whose position depends on the radius of the corresponding projection or notch of the key. , and the conformation of the corresponding groove 6 of the lock. It is clear that, being defined and constant the conformation of each groove 6 of the series of grooves of the lock, it is possible to choose a profile of consent stud 13 and to deduce therefrom the profile of a corresponding key, or vice conversely, whatever the conformation of the windows 10 of the grooves 6. The construction of the latter is simplified if we make all the grooves 6 of odd position equal to each other and all the grooves 6 of even position equal to each other but not to odd ones, a condition which gives the lock the maximum degree of security. The windows of the odd grooves can therefore be, for example, configured according to FIG. 2, and those of the even grooves according to FIG. 3. They differ for a displacement in opposite directions of the teeth of the successive turns. Indicated by D this displacement, it corresponds to a similar displacement D applied, alternately in opposite directions, to the projections and the notches of the bits 14 and 15 of a key 16 relative to the corresponding projections and notches of the profiled consent stud 13 ', as is particularly observed by the comparison of Figures 5 and 4; in the latter, for the sake of comparison, there is shown a profiled stud 13 'having the shape of a regular staircase.

An important consequence of using a profiled consent stud, instead of different series of grooves, to individualize the lock, is that the number of combinations achievable in a lock (and therefore the number of different keys that one can foresee) becomes practically unlimited.

Since the series of grooves of a lock according to the invention is not linked to the conformation of the key, and the element which differentiates each lock to recognize the respective key is the consent stud of plate 1 with locks, this profiled stud only must match the keys in the construction of the lock. Therefore it follows, as a further development of the invention, that the same lock can be adapted to operation with different keys if the profiled stud 13 is made interchangeable and there are provided groups of keys matched with their studs respective consent.

In the embodiment, some details of which are illustrated in Figures da 6 to 10, the bolt system comprises, in addition to its base plate 1, a counter plate 17, the series of grooves 6 of the lock being intended to be placed between the plates 1 and 17. In this case, the profiled stud 23 has a tail 18 inserted in a seat 1 'of the plate 1 and a shoulder 19 inserted in a seat 17' of the plate 17, as well as preferably a means 20 for grasping it; in addition, the profiled stud also has a projection 21 which prevents it from being mounted in the inverted position and which is provided with connection ramps 22. With these latter parts cooperates a small profiled spring 24 fixed to the plate 17, for example by means of 'a fixing plate 25 as shown in Figures 8 to 10. Thus, the profiled stud 18-23 can be interchanged on the plates 1, 17 with a very easy operation which immediately follows the adaptation of the lock to the operation with a new type of key. The means 20 for gripping the profiled stud 23 is accessible through an appropriate opening in the envelope of the lock, disposed on the inside of the door to which it is applied.

For this purpose, for the reasons already indicated, it is judicious to avoid that the profiled stud 23 can be substituted in a normal position of the lock, that is to say with a lock completely open or completely closed. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 12, the envelope 26 of the lock, in which the keyhole 27 is formed, has an opening 28 for access to the profiled stud, which has a limited width and which corresponds to a intermediate position (for example, on the second closing turn) of the lock. Thus, it is normally necessary to have the old key to carry the lock in this intermediate position, before being able to access the profiled stud and replace it to adapt the lock to a new key. The opening 28 of the casing 26 can be normally opened by a simple oscillating plate 29 of the same kind often used to cover the hole 27 of the lock.

The fact that the lock consent stud is mounted, as in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 8, between a base plate and a counterplate, has a certain increase in the security of the lock compared to forcible attempts. The arrangement of a consent stud supported at its two ends between two plates of the lock system can therefore be advantageously adopted even when it is not intended to replace the consent stud. However, for constructive reasons it may in certain cases be preferable to use a single plate 1 (disposed under the grooves 6) or 17 (disposed above them).

Another embodiment of the profiled consent stud is shown in FIG. 11. In this case the stud comprises a small profiled block 33 terminating above by a mounting and gripping head 31 having wings 32. The block 33 can be fixed to a plate 1 or 17 by means of screws 34 passing through holes in the wings 32 and possibly mounted on these wings so as not to be able to come off. With this embodiment, the mounting and replacement of the profiled stud requires the use of a tool such as a screwdriver.

If a lock according to the invention is provided with a spring lock (so-called "half-turn"), it will be actuated by means of a subsequent displacement of the lock system beyond the fully open position, in a manner known per se, not being applicable in this case the more usual system of making on the grooves separate slots for controlling the U-turn, because by applying the invention there is no position preset grooves operated by the right key.

A lock according to the invention makes it possible to change the key which is coordinated with it, each time that the occasion arises, because of the loss of a key or because it has been entrusted to a person suspect or for any other reason, by a simple and economical operation. In addition, the lock according to the invention can be used systematically, for example, at the time of construction of a building, by initially providing all the apartments with locks with equal keys, so that the persons carrying out the work can enter in all apartments with the same key, and by personalizing each lock as and when the corresponding apartment is occupied. Analogously, we can differentiate the lock when changing the tenant in hotels with apartments and the like. It must however be realized that the lock according to the invention is not only indicated for premises doors (surface-mounted or concealed) but that it can also be used on safes, curtains and other movable closures to protect.

Naturally, the particular provisions indicated may vary in the different practical applications; thus one can vary the number of turns and / or the number of grooves which constitute the series, and the lock can be provided with control means and references for vertical and horizontal locks or any other known accessory. In cases where the profiled consent stud is replaceable, the means for its insertion and its retention in position in the bolt system can even be varied widely. One can finally conceive embodiments with semi-fixed consent stud, in which the profiled stud which individualizes the lock, although not being immediately accessible and changeable as in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 12, can be substituted in the lock system after detaching the lock casing or after detaching the lock from the door or other support.

Claims (10)

1. A lock of the type intended to be actuated by a bit key (16), comprising a plaque (1, 17) provided with sliding bars (3), operated by said key (16) and having a consent stud (13, 23, 33) and a series of tumblers (6) actuated by the key (16) and each having windows (10) with teeth (11, 12), traversed by said consent stud of the plaque with sliding bars in order to allow the displacement of the stud and the sliding bars only by means of the key having in its bit (14, 15) a predetermined sequence of projections and notches, characterized in that the tumblers (6) forming said series of tumblers are provided, within their windows (10), with teeth (11, 12) whose dimensions are predetermined irrespective of the configuration of the bits (14,15) of the key (16) intended to operate the lock, and that said consent stud (13, 23, 33) of the plaque (1, 17) provided with sliding bars (3) is shaped according to a profile having projections and notches cooperating with the windows (10) of the various tumblers (6), the dimensions of each projection or notch of the consent stud being determined as a function of the radius of the corresponding projection or notch of the key (16), and of the dimensions of the teeth (11, 12) of the corresponding tumbler (6), whereby the consent stud freely passes between the teeth of the windows of the tumblers when these latter have been displaced by the predetermined key.

2. A lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the series of tumblers (6) is composed of odd tumblers (6) equal to each other and even tumblers (6) also equal to each other but not equal to the odd tumblers (6).

3. A lock according to Claim 2, characterized in that the odd tumblers (6) and the even tumblers (6) differ by a reversal of the difference (D) in length of the teeth (11, 12) of the successive turns, provision being made for a similar length difference (0), alternately in opposite directions, in the projections and the notches of the key (16) relative to the corresponding projections and notches of the profiled consent stud (13,23, 33) corresponding to the key (16).

4. A lock according to Claim 1 and eventually Claim 2 and/or 3, characterized in that the profiled consent stud (23,33) is disposed on and connected to the plaque (1, 17) having the sliding rods (3), in a removable and interchangeable manner, and that the windows (10) of the tumblers (6) have, between the successive teeth (11, 12), a height at least equal to that of the highest projections of the consent stud (23,33).

5. A lock according to Claim 4, characterized in that said interchangeable consent stud (23,33) is accessible through an opening (28) on the inner side of the casing (26) of the lock, disposed in register with a specific position of the plaque (1, 17) with sliding rods (3), with which the consent stud (23,33) displaces.

6. A lock according to Claim 5, characterized in that said specific position of the plaque (1, 17) provided with sliding rods (3) corresponds to a turn of the lock comprised between the completely opened and the completely closed positions.

7. A lock according to Claim 4 and eventually Claim 5 and/or 6, characterized in that said interchangeable consent stud (23) is mounted between seatings (1', 17') disposed, respectively, on the base plate (1) of the system of sliding rods (3) and on a counterplate (17) connected to the system of sliding rods (3) and situated, relative to the base plate (1), at the side opposite the series of tumblers (6) of the lock.

8. A lock according to Claim 7, characterized in that said consent stud (23) is retained in the operative position by a small elastically latching spring (24) which allows the extraction thereof by a voluntary action.

9. A lock according to Claim 8, characterized in that the small spring (24) acts onto a projection (21) of the consent stud (23), which is disposed asymmetrically in order to prevent mounting the consent stud (23) in a reversed position.

10. A lock according to Claim 4 and eventually Claim 5 and/or 6, characterized in that said interchangeable consent stud (33) comprises a small profiled block terminating at its upper portion with a mounting and grasping head (31) provided with tongues (32) traversed by screws (34) serving to assemble the block on a plaque (1 or 17) which carries sliding rods (3).

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