Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B27/00—Cylinder locks or other locks with tumbler pins or balls that are set by pushing the key in
  • E05B27/0078—Asymmetrical tumbler pins, e.g. with a key operating on a radial protrusion of a tumbler pin
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B27/00—Cylinder locks or other locks with tumbler pins or balls that are set by pushing the key in
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/0038—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means using permanent magnets
  • E05B47/0044—Cylinder locks with magnetic tumblers
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B19/00—Keys; Accessories therefor
  • E05B19/0017—Key profiles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cylinder locks.
• the invention provides a combined mechanical-magnetic cylinder lock which can be manufactured in many different configurations.
• a lock can be arranged for operation by mechanical (key or combination), electric, magnetic, electronic, audible, optical, radio or other means.
• mechanical key or combination
• Electric locks are also in use, and radio controlled locks are common on recent-mode! automobiles.
• Other locks are provided for special purposes.
• a magnetic key carries a magnetic locking element moves in aligned longitudinal grooves in inner and outer members of the lock.
• a further fully magnetic lock depending on rotating wheels is disclosed by Sedley in US Patent No. 5,388,437. The long-term reliability of this arrangement appears doubtful as it depends on retaining free wheel movement.
• a combined magnetic-mechanical lock wherein a magnetic insert is carried by the key, said insert being located adjacent to an edge of the key.
• a magnetic insert is carried by the key, said insert being located adjacent to an edge of the key.
• Such configuration allows the key to be inserted in one position only, and the number of different magnetic locking configurations is also limited.
• the magnetic insert must be inserted into both sides of the key. At any rate such insert is not an integral part of the locking mechanism or the key.
• an object and advantage of the invention is that the tumblers which are urged from the rotor center prevent the rotation of the rotor and eliminate the possibility of picking the pin as usually done during attempts to pick the lock, which can be done when the tumblers are urged by a spring to the center of the rotor.
• the present invention achieves the above objects by providing a combined mechanical and magnetic cylinder lock and key, comprising: a rotor revolvable when the key is inserted, the rotor supporting a first plurality of axially movable mechanical tumbler pins and at least part of a magnetically-operated locking element; a stator body revolvably supporting the rotor, and supporting a second plurality of axially movable mechanical tumbler pins, and further supporting the remaining elements of the magnetically-operated locking element; a locking cam which projects from the lock body when the lock is in its locked position; and the key insertable in the rotor, the key being provided with recesses for positioning the mechanical tumbler pins along a shear line, and carrying an inserted profiled magnet for opening the magnetically-operated locking element, characterized in that the magnet is located substantially at the key center line, along the key profile.
• a key and lock wherein the magnetically-operated locking element comprises a pair of axially-aligned tumbler pins.
• a key and lock wherein the magnetically-operated locking element supported by the rotor comprises an element movable in a direction radially spaced apart from the plurality of mechanically-operated tumbler pins, and when no key is inserted the locking element is urged by a spring means to engage a recess in the stator body thereby preventing rotor rotation, and after insertion of the key the locking element is magnetically withdrawn by the key magnet from the recess to allow revolution of the rotor relative to the stator body.
• stator recess which locks the stator to the rotor by partially inserting therein a magnetically actuated body
• a recess for magnetic locking can be positioned anywhere else around the stator circumference.
• the magnetic locking position can be disposed anywhere along the rotor axis.
• FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the magnetic-mechanical lock and key according to the invention.
• FIG. 1b is a partially-sectioned elevational view taken across the length of the lock provided with mechanical and magnetic oprated tumbler pins
• FIG. 1c is a section taken at AA, the rotor being locked and no key being inserted;
• FIG. 1d is a section taken at AA, the rotor being unlocked due to the insertion of a correct key;
• FIG. 1e is the same as 1d, showing the rotor being rotated;
• FIG. 2a is an elevational view of the key
• FIGS. 2b - 2e are sectional views of various keys showing the magnetic insert and the different key profiles cross-section;
• FIGS. 2f - 21 are perspective views of keys wherein the magnetic element is assembled at different longitudinal positions
• FIG. 3a is a partially-sectioned elevational view taken across the length of the lock provided with a magnetic oprated component and a stator tumbler pins and wherein a magnetic locking recess is disposed diametrically opposite to the mechanical tumbler pins;
• FIG. 3b is a section taken at AA, the rotor being locked and no key being inserted;
• FIG. 3c is a section taken at AA, the rotor being unlocked due to the insertion of a correct key
• FIG. 3d is the same as 3c, showing the rotor being rotated;
• FIG. 4a is a partially-sectioned elevational view taken across the length of the lock, provided with a Z-shaped magnetic oprated component and wherein a magnetic locking recess is disposed at right angles to the mechanical tumbler pins;
• FIG. 4b is a section taken at AA, the rotor being locked and no key being inserted;
• FIG. 4c is a section taken at AA, the rotor being unlocked due to the insertion of a correct key
• FIG. 4d is the same as 4c, showing the rotor being rotated.
• FIG. 1a Full description of the invention There is seen in FIG. 1a a combined mechanical and magnetic cylinder lock 10 and key 12.
• the outer dimensions and outward appearance of the stator 14 and rotor 16 is the same as the well-known all-mechanical lock cylinder. However the insertion of any key unprovided with an appropriate magnet at a correct location will fail to open the lock.
• FIG 1b shows the stator 14 and rotor 16 supporting a first plurality of axially movable mechanical tumbler pins 18. Additionally, there is seen a magnetically-operated assembly 25.
• the magnetically-operated locking element comprises a pair of axially-aligned tumbler pins 20a, 20b, resting on cylindrical member 26. The upper tumbler pin 20a is urged by spring means 22 away from the center 23 of the rotor 16.
• the figures show a key 12, containing a profiled magnetic element 24 inserted into the rotor 16.
• the tumbler pin 20a nearest the key and tumbler pin 20b have moved towards the key 12 to the shear line CC seen in FIG. 1b due to magnetic attraction, and against a spring 22.
• the key 12 thus aligns both the tumblers 20a, 20b, and the mechanical tumbler pins 18 along the shear line CC.
• the shear line CC is common to all the tumbler pins.
• FIG. 1 c also shows the cylinder lock 10 in its locked position, as due to the absence of an inserted key the spring 22 has pushed the upper tumbler pin 20a to block the rotor 16 and stator 18 across the shear line CC.
• the key 12 of the present invention is provided with recesses 30 for positioning the mechanical tumbler pins 18 along the shear line
• the key 12 also carries an inserted profiled magnet 24 for opening the magnetically-operated locking element which in the present embodiment comprises the pair of axially-aligned tumbler pins 20a, 20b.
• the magnet 24 is located substantially at the key center line BB. It will be realized that either the key carries a magnet 24 and the pin 20a is made of a soft ferrous material, or the reverse situation prevails. Furthermore, both components can be magnets if the key 12 is configured to be insertable in one direction only so that the magnets are arranged to face each other by opposite poles.
• FIG. 2a shows a key 12, typically made of a high-strength brass alloy with a magnetic insert 24.
• a key 12 typically made of a high-strength brass alloy with a magnetic insert 24.
• FIGS. 2b - 2e many different profiles formations 24, a, b, and c can be provided. However all are symmetrical about the key axis, so that the key 12 can be inserted either side up.
• the magnetic insert 24 forms part of the key profile being fixedly held in the key as an integral part thereof.
• the magnetic insert 24 can be positioned at any station along the length of the key 12, and of course the magnetic mechanism in the cylinder lock is positioned accordingly. Different possible magnetic insert positions are illustrated in FIGS. 2f - 2i.
• FIG. 3b illustrates an embodiment of the lock 30 wherein the magnetically-operated locking element 32 is shaped somewhat similarly to a step or letter Z.
• the locking element 32 is supported by the rotor 34 to comprise an element movable in a direction radially spaced apart from the plurality of mechanically-operated tumbler pins 18.
• the locking element 32 is urged by spring 36 to enter a recess 38 in the stator body 40.
• the recess 38 is radially spaced 180° from the stator
• the recess 38 is radially spaced 180° from the stator housings 42 of the mechanically-operated tumbler pins 18 seen in FIG. 3a.
• the magnetically-operated locking element 32 has engaged the recess 38, rotor rotation is prevented.
• FIGS. 3a, 3c and 3d show the same lock embodiment 30, it is seen that a key 44 has been inserted in the rotor 34.
• the locking element 32 is consequently magnetically pulled towards and contacts the key magnet 46, thus causing withdrawal of the locking element 32 from the recess 38 to allow revolution of the rotor 34 relative to the stator body 40, as seen in FIG. 3d.
• FIG. 4b Seen in FIG. 4b is a lock embodiment 48 similar to 30 seen in FIGS. 3a - d.
• the magnetically-operated locking element 50 is provided with a longer guide section 52, made possible by the positioning of the stator locking recess 54 at 90° from the mechanically-operated tumbler pins 42 seen in FIG. 4a. As the magnetically-operated locking element 50 has engaged the recess 54, rotation of the rotor 58 is prevented.
• FIGS. 4a, 4c and 4d it is seen that a key 56 has been inserted in the rotor 58.
• the locking element 50 is consequently magnetically pulled towards the key magnet 64.
• the magnetic field passes through and around a portion of the non-magnetic section of the key 56, thus causing withdrawal of the locking element 50 from the recess 54 to allow revolution of the rotor 58 relative to the stator body 62 .

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• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=11075905

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2001
  • 2001-12-20 IL IL14721901A patent/IL147219A0/xx unknown
• 2002
  • 2002-12-16 EP EP02795409A patent/EP1497517A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-12-16 WO PCT/IL2002/001011 patent/WO2003054330A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-12-16 AU AU2002360200A patent/AU2002360200A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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