EP0553900B1 - Reinforced shank plastic key - Google Patents

Reinforced shank plastic key Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0553900B1
EP0553900B1 EP93106063A EP93106063A EP0553900B1 EP 0553900 B1 EP0553900 B1 EP 0553900B1 EP 93106063 A EP93106063 A EP 93106063A EP 93106063 A EP93106063 A EP 93106063A EP 0553900 B1 EP0553900 B1 EP 0553900B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
key
lock
shank
thickness
head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93106063A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0553900A2 (en
EP0553900A3 (en
Inventor
Robert E. Almblad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Axxess Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Axxess Entry Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Axxess Entry Technologies Inc filed Critical Axxess Entry Technologies Inc
Publication of EP0553900A2 publication Critical patent/EP0553900A2/en
Publication of EP0553900A3 publication Critical patent/EP0553900A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0553900B1 publication Critical patent/EP0553900B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B19/00—Keys; Accessories therefor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B19/00—Keys; Accessories therefor
    • E05B19/26—Use of special materials for keys
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
    • A45C11/32—Bags or wallets for holding keys
    • A45C11/325—Spare-key holders
    • A45C11/326—Card-like holders
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B15/00—Other details of locks; Parts for engagement by bolts of fastening devices
    • E05B15/16—Use of special materials for parts of locks
    • E05B15/1635—Use of special materials for parts of locks of plastics materials

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to molded plastic keys, whether individual keys, or plastic card/key combinations on the order of the disclosure in my U.S. Patent No. 4,677,835 dated July 7, 1987, and is more particularly concerned with reinforcing such keys against breaking at their shanks due to extraordinary twisting stress applied through the handles of the keys.
  • Conventional metal keys for operating tumbler locks such as in automobiles, building doors, apparatus controls, and the like, have heretofore been generally constructed throughout the shank and bit portions, and generally the handles, or head portion of a uniform thickness common with the bit thickness. Molded plastic keys have also heretofore been constructed of substantially uniform thickness throughout their length similar to comparable metal keys.
  • the key bit must be fairly snuggly fitted in the key slot in the cylinder plug. Looseness of the bit in the key slot might defeat proper engagement of the lock tumblers in the key notches.
  • the general practice has been to provide enlarged entrance dimensions. This results in the key shank often having little if any torque support when subjected to the considerable twisting stress which may occur if for any reason there is resistance to turning of the key in the lock. Such resistance may be variously caused such as by faulty cutting of the key notches, binding due to corrosion or icing, and the like.
  • the general tendency of the user, where there is any such resistance to turning of the key in the lock is to apply additional torque or twisting force to the key through its handle. Metal keys will generally withstand such extraordinary twisting stress.
  • German Patent No. 1,031,677 discloses at FIGS. 3 and 4 a plastic key including a laminate consisting of first and second plastic layers 4 with an intervening, reinforcing metal layer 3.
  • the area of the metal layer 3 is equal to the area of plastic laminate layers 4.
  • the present invention provides an improved plastics material key.
  • the plastics material key of the present invention can be used alone, or it can be used in combination with means for holding the key, such as a card-like holder.
  • the improved plastics material key of the present invention includes means for substantially lessening the likelihood that the plastics material key will break or fail when unusual resistance or torque is encountered when the plastics material key is utilized in a lock or the like.
  • the plastics material key includes means for reinforcing the key.
  • the means for reinforcing the key increases the strength of the key over that of a key which is essentially only a plastic duplicate of a standard metal key.
  • the means for reinforcing the plastics material key is so constructed and arranged that it does not interfere or hinder the cutting of notches or slots in the key that are necessary along at least one side of the bit to actuate the tumblers of a lock.
  • the present invention also provides a plastics material key having reinforcing means that can be used with a variety of different keys. There are a variety of different key blanks having different shank and bit constructions with varying groove configurations. The present invention provides means for reinforcing plastics material key that can utilized with a majority of the known typical key structures.
  • An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved molded key constructed from a plastics material which is strengthened against torque induced breakage of the shank portion of the key.
  • the present invention provides a flat plastic key according to claim 1.
  • a modified shorter molded plastic key 27 having a handle 28, a short shank 29 and a bit 30 of a suitable length for the intended purpose.
  • the bit 30 has a rabbet groove 31 along only one side providing a thin longitudinal side area for receiving tumbler pin notches 32.
  • the key 27 is especially adaptable for operating a tumbler lock 33 of the kind having an escutcheon 34 providing an entrance with lead-in surfaces 35 and 37 of wider dimensions than a key slot 38 within the plug of the lock and into which the bit 30 fits fairly snuggly.
  • a thickening 39 of shank 29 which stops short of the notch 32 located in the bit 30 nearest to the shank.
  • the thickening 39 tapers toward the handle substantially as shown.
  • the thickening 39 on each face of the key extends from side-to-side of the key as is clearly evident in Fig. 2.
  • the groove g that runs along a portion of the length of the blade of the key 27, for indexing with internal configurations of a slot of a tumbler, does not extend all the way to a head end of the shank 29. This functions to reinforce the shank 29 and make it stiffer.
  • the shank of the plastic key can be reinforced merely by shortening the length of the groove without the necessity of making the shank thicker than remaining portions of the key.

Landscapes

  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
EP93106063A 1987-09-03 1988-08-29 Reinforced shank plastic key Expired - Lifetime EP0553900B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9149287A 1987-09-03 1987-09-03
US91492 1987-09-03
US15588488A 1988-02-16 1988-02-16
US155884 1988-02-16
US21676388A 1988-07-08 1988-07-08
US216763 1988-07-08
EP88114070A EP0305953B1 (en) 1987-09-03 1988-08-29 Reinforced shank plastic key

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88114070.1 Division 1988-08-29

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0553900A2 EP0553900A2 (en) 1993-08-04
EP0553900A3 EP0553900A3 (en) 1993-09-01
EP0553900B1 true EP0553900B1 (en) 1997-10-15

Family

ID=27376915

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88114070A Expired - Lifetime EP0305953B1 (en) 1987-09-03 1988-08-29 Reinforced shank plastic key
EP93106063A Expired - Lifetime EP0553900B1 (en) 1987-09-03 1988-08-29 Reinforced shank plastic key

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88114070A Expired - Lifetime EP0305953B1 (en) 1987-09-03 1988-08-29 Reinforced shank plastic key

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0305953B1 (es)
JP (1) JPH01146086A (es)
KR (1) KR890005363A (es)
AU (1) AU603250B2 (es)
BR (1) BR8804530A (es)
CA (1) CA1334797C (es)
DE (2) DE3856046T2 (es)
MX (1) MX172828B (es)
NZ (1) NZ225897A (es)
PL (1) PL274407A1 (es)
PT (1) PT88419A (es)
YU (1) YU168788A (es)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5136869A (en) * 1991-03-29 1992-08-11 Best Lock Corporation High security key and cylinder lock assembly
US5272895A (en) * 1991-03-29 1993-12-28 Best Lock Corporation High security key and cylinder lock assembly
KR101103079B1 (ko) * 2009-04-08 2012-01-06 이문태 못 제조기의 펀칭 장치

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2653492A (en) * 1951-08-10 1953-09-29 Curtis Ind Inc Bimetallic key blank
DE1669387U (de) * 1953-04-22 1953-12-31 Heinz Roesinger Schluessel fuer tuerschloesser od. dgl.
DE1031677B (de) * 1953-04-22 1958-06-04 Heinz Roesinger Schluessel fuer Tuerschloesser od. dgl.
DE1789132U (de) * 1959-02-20 1959-05-21 Hermann Weis Kunststoffschluessel.
DE1901655U (de) * 1964-06-23 1964-10-01 Krause Kg Robert Schluessel aus kunststoff, insbesondere fuer moebelschloesser.
CH495488A (de) * 1967-08-15 1970-08-31 Dana Eugene Schlüssel sowie Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
DE2037071A1 (de) * 1970-07-27 1972-02-03 Strohschnitter & Co, 2000 Hamburg Schlüssel
US4637236A (en) * 1984-06-12 1987-01-20 Almblad Donald F Key and retainer card combination
DE3518354A1 (de) * 1985-05-22 1986-11-27 Heinrich Winkelhard GmbH & Co KG Plastik- u. Metallwarenfabrik, 4708 Kamen Verfahren zur herstellung von schluesseln oder von schluesselrohlingen fuer schloesser
US4677835A (en) * 1986-04-10 1987-07-07 Donald Almblad Plastic card/key combination and hinge structure
US4737236A (en) * 1986-09-08 1988-04-12 M/A-Com, Inc. Method of making microwave integrated circuits

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT88419A (pt) 1989-07-31
DE3856046T2 (de) 1998-02-12
AU603250B2 (en) 1990-11-08
EP0553900A2 (en) 1993-08-04
PL274407A1 (en) 1989-05-02
CA1334797C (en) 1995-03-21
YU168788A (en) 1990-10-31
DE3889266D1 (de) 1994-06-01
EP0305953B1 (en) 1994-04-27
NZ225897A (en) 1991-02-26
DE3856046D1 (de) 1997-11-20
KR890005363A (ko) 1989-05-13
AU2154788A (en) 1989-03-09
DE3889266T2 (de) 1994-09-22
MX172828B (es) 1994-01-17
BR8804530A (pt) 1989-04-04
EP0305953A2 (en) 1989-03-08
EP0305953A3 (en) 1990-06-13
EP0553900A3 (en) 1993-09-01
JPH01146086A (ja) 1989-06-08

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