EP2388413B1 - Profile cylinder key - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a profile cylinder key and a combination of a profile cylinder key and an associated profile cylinder.

Profile cylinder keys are well known. They have a key crayon and a key shaft emanating from the key crayon. Usually located on the key shank recesses for the mechanical alignment of tumblers, which are provided on an associated profile cylinder or lock cylinder. These tumblers consist according to the prior art of core pins and housing pins and are spring-loaded towards the lock core of such a profile cylinder. By aligning the tumblers, which is done with fully inserted profile cylinder key, the parting planes of the core and housing pins are shifted so that ultimately all lie together in the rotational surface of the lock cylinder in the housing of the profile cylinder, so that the lock cylinder core is then freely rotatable.

Such profile cylinder key have proven to be excellent, since they provide a high level of security for the honest consumer. All well-known manufacturers have committed themselves namely to copy high-quality profile cylinder key only after presentation of a corresponding security card itself or copy. The problem arises, however, when milled with the currently available Kopierfräsverfahren such key blanks, to then simply take over the corresponding recesses on the key shank.

This can not be reconciled with the business principles of a well-known manufacturer of such profile cylinder keys and associated profile cylinders, if the manufacturer wants to stick to the corresponding promises, which he insures with the transfer of the security card, third parties, however, can deliver an inadmissibly copied duplicate key on demand ,

From the WO 2008/074171 A1 is a locking system with security reversible keys known. At the front end of the shaft angled abutment surfaces and a concave recess are formed, which must engage for a complete insertion of the key into the lock cylinder with a convex configuration arranged there.

In the JP S56 127 258 U a profile cylinder key is disclosed with an end piece arranged at the free end of the key shank. The DE 29 09 894 A1 shows a key with a plastic lug for wear reduction when inserting the key into a lock US 5,109,685 is a kind of master key with a separately formed and removable extension element is known, which can be assembled with a profile cylinder key to release an insert lock from its anchorage. US 3,656,328 shows a profile cylinder key with an extension with protrusions, which fits into a fitting in the keyway of a lock cylinder.

It is an object of the present invention, from the WO 2008/074171 A1 educate known profile cylinder key so that the copy security is further increased without additional electronic identifiers, etc. are necessary.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.
From the invention there is the advantage that when making an inadmissible copy for the imitator, the function of the extension piece is not clearly recognizable because it is without knowledge of the structure of the profile cylinder. The function of the extension piece he could possibly recognize, if it is known whether the associated profile cylinder has a corresponding fitting part for the extension piece or not. The particular effect of the invention is therefore that with the features of the invention, a profile cylinder key is placed under protection whose exact function is not readily apparent and can not be reconstructed by simple means, without examining the associated profile cylinder accurately.

The extension piece can thus serve the coding of the profile cylinder key or not. It serves in each case the coding of the profile cylinder key, if the associated profile cylinder has a correspondingly coded counterpart. If this is not the case, an inadmissibly copied key would only be able to be produced with an effort that is significant, without the copier being able to guarantee the fault-free operation of such a profile cylinder key.

In this case, the extension piece can be formed integrally with the key shank or two-piece.

In the case of one-piece design, it is sufficient to give the manufacturer the impression that the key tip is offset from the key grain by a certain angle of rotation.

In any case, since the outer contour of the end piece extends completely within the cross-sectional edge of the remaining key shank, it is ensured that the profile cylinder key fits into each key channel for which it has access authorization.

On the other hand, the extension piece may also be a component separate from the key shank, which is attached to the front end of the key shank at the front end and is held therewith at the predetermined angle of rotation, for example by means of a rotation lock.

In this way, different profile cylinder key with different hierarchy for a locking system can be manufactured and stored in the manner of a modular system with simple means, because only by the extension piece already a certain hierarchy can be specified.

In this case, the extension piece with the highest hierarchy will have the slenderest cross section, so that it fits into each profile cylinder lower ranks, but not vice versa.

Furthermore, it is recommended that the end piece assigned a coded outer contour, so that profile cylinder key, which are used for example for locking systems, each have matching coding of the outer contour and are then divided again within the hierarchy. The extension may also be magnetic and / or is electrically conductive or non-conductive and / or generates a voltage when it is inserted into the profile cylinder. These features have the advantage that they are not detected by copying machines, so that even a perfectly copied key nevertheless is incapable of functioning. This is achieved through the use of special materials that differ from the material of the key shank.

According to the invention, the extension piece consists of a high-strength material. Preferably, the extension piece is produced by means of a powder pressing process (MIM). Not only does this reduce wear, but it can also produce a wide variety of material compositions, e.g. are magnetically and / or electrically conductive, or can induce a voltage.

Further according to the invention it is provided that the extension has undercuts and the cross section of the key shaft superior protrusions. These undercuts and protrusions are designed such that they can be generated only when removed from the key shank lug and are not scannable in attached to the key shaft extension piece and thus not copied.

In a development according to the invention, it is provided that the key shank has a unit profile. This leads to greatly reduced storage costs, as fewer variants must be kept for the key shank. In addition, the profile cylinder for such keys on a higher security, since less spring-actuated locking pins are required for the same secure coding.

For a higher level of security, different angles of rotation can also be used with which differently coded lugs are attached to the corresponding profile cylinder keys.

Of particular advantage is a development of the invention, wherein the profile cylinder key according to the invention have lugs that cooperate with corresponding fitting parts, which are provided on the closing cylinder side.

For this purpose, it is proposed that fitting parts are provided at the end of the key channel of the profile cylinder, which have respective, the keyway facing recesses, the outer contour of the key tip, ie ultimately the endpiece, must correspond to the exact inner contour of the fitting to the possibility Offer to be able to fully insert the profile cylinder key into the keyway of a profile cylinder. Only then is it also ensured that the profile cylinder key can actually align the sprung tumblers, which it is intended to align with the usual recesses, in the sense of the rotational release of the lock core.

The fitting part may advantageously be a separate component from the lock core, which end is to attach to the lock core. In this case, the fitting part on the one hand be rotatably mounted relative to the lock core and on the other hand also torsionally rigidly twisted around the angle of rotation of the extension piece to the key shank to be firmly connected to the lock core.

The profile cylinder key according to the invention can also be provided with conventional recesses beyond the attachment piece according to the invention in order, for example, to align tumblers provided on the closing cylinder side so that the rotational release of the lock core is achieved. However, this is only possible if, a profile cylinder with a corresponding fitting part provided that the profile cylinder key can also be inserted as far as the stop in the keyway. Since this question for the copier of a key can not be solved without knowledge of the lock cylinder, it must be assumed that the profile cylinder key according to the invention provides increased protection against counterfeiting.

Further advantages, features and details will become apparent from the subclaims and the following description in which preferred embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing.

Figur 1

eine Stirnansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Profilzylinderschlüsselschafts mit verdrehtem Ansatzstück;

Figur 2

das Zusammenwirken eines erfindungsgemäßen Profilzylinderschlüssels mit einem Schließzylinder mit Passteil;

Figur 3

die Erfindung in Darstellung zusätzlicher federbelasteter Zuhaltungen;

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Profilzylinderschlüssels;

Figur 5

eine Frontansicht auf den Profilzylinderschlüssel in Richtung des Pfeils V gemäß Figur 4;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf den Profilzylinderschlüssel in Richtung des Pfeils VI gemäß Figur 4;

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Profilzylinderschlüssels gemäß Figur 4;

Figur 8

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 4 ohne Ansatzstück;

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Profilzylinderschlüssels ohne Ansatzstück gemäß Figur 8;

Figur 10

eine Seiteansicht des Ansatzstückes gemäß Figur 4;

Figur 11

eine Ansicht auf das Ansatzstück in Richtung des Pfeils XI gemäß Figur 10;

Figur 12

eine Ansicht auf das Ansatzstück in Richtung des Pfeils XII gemäß Figur 10; und

Figur 13

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ansatzstückes gemäß Figur 10.

In the drawing show:

FIG. 1

an end view of a profile cylinder key shaft according to the invention with a twisted end piece;

FIG. 2

the interaction of a profile cylinder key according to the invention with a lock cylinder with fitting part;

FIG. 3

the invention in representation of additional spring-loaded tumblers;

FIG. 4

a side view of a second embodiment of the profile cylinder key according to the invention;

FIG. 5

a front view of the profile cylinder key in the direction of arrow V according to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6

a plan view of the profile cylinder key in the direction of arrow VI according to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7

a perspective view of the profile cylinder key according to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 8

a view accordingly FIG. 4 without extension;

FIG. 9

a perspective view of the profile cylinder key without extension according to FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10

a side view of the extension according to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 11

a view of the extension in the direction of arrow XI according to FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12

a view of the extension in the direction of arrow XII according to FIG. 10 ; and

FIG. 13

a perspective view of the extension piece according to FIG. 10 ,

The drawing shows a profile cylinder key 1 with a key crop 2 and a key shaft 3 extending from the key crop 2. The cross section of the key shaft 3, viewed from the key grain 2, is initially constant over the length of the key shaft 3. On the key shank 3 recesses 4 are provided, which are arranged according to position and depth so that they tumblers 5, the closing cylinder side provided and out FIG. 3 are visible, so can align that a rotational release of the lock core 13 is achieved. For this purpose, the tumblers 5 consist in known manner of core pins 6 and housing pins 7, which in the direction of Keyway 23 are loaded by compression springs 8, so that the core pins 6 protrude slightly into the keyway 23 and aligned over the recesses 4 on the key shank 2, so that the separation planes between core pins 6 and housing pins 7 exactly with the rotation surface 14 between the lock core 13 and the housing 10 of the profile cylinder 9 coincide. However, this requires that the profile cylinder key 1 is pushed into the keyway 23 correspondingly far.

To prevent this if necessary, the profile cylinder key 1 has at its tip an extension piece 15, which is rotated about a longitudinal axis 22 which is parallel to the longitudinal center line of the key shank 3, and its outer contour over its own length 16, starting at the Ansetzstelle 17th extends to the key tip 18 exclusively within the cross-sectional edge 19 of the key shaft 3.

In front view accordingly FIG. 1 This results in an already recognizable from the outside deviation from normal key profiles, which might make it much more difficult for a copycat to give the copied key in a simple way a corresponding longitudinal profile.

It is just the view from the front of the key tip 18, which is necessary for copying a profile cylinder key to select the appropriate profile or milling with today's means simply by copying. However, since the function of the angle of rotation 21 is not readily apparent, the profile cylinder key according to the invention should certainly be attributed an increased imitation security.

In this case, the extension piece 15 may readily be formed integrally with the key shank 3 and be milled out of the base material of the profile cylinder key 1. On the other hand, the extension piece 15 can also be a separate component from the key shank 3, which is attached to the front end of the key shank 3 at the front end and, for example, via an anti-twist device 20, e.g. in the form of a gap bridging pin to be connected to the key shaft 3.

This situation is in FIG. 2 shown where the rotation 20 is a bridging pin that holds the key shank 3 with the extension piece 15 against rotation. The extension 15 may, for example, with a grooved pin accordingly FIG. 2 be connected to the key shaft 3.

How the particular FIG. 1 can recognize the extension piece 15 may also have a coded outer contour. This is to be understood that certain surfaces are provided on the extension piece 15, which, provided appropriate equipment of an associated profile cylinder 9, cooperate with counter-coded contour surfaces at the end of the keyway 23.

As can easily be understood, such extensions 15 can also be coded via different angles of rotation 21, so that the invention provides the possibility of further variations according to coded combinations of profile cylinder keys 1 and associated profile cylinders 9.

In particular, this shows FIG. 3 the combination of a profile cylinder key 1 according to the invention and an associated profile cylinder 9, the lock core 13 in the circular cylindrical housing part 11 of the housing 10 of the profile cylinder 9 is housed. To the circular cylindrical housing part 11, a web-like housing part 12 connects, in which, depending on the version, also tumblers 5 can sit. The tumblers 5 consist of core pins 6 and housing pins 7, which are spring loaded in the direction of the key channel 23 and aligned by the inserted profile cylinder key 1 so that the dividing planes between core pins 6 and housing pins 7 are exactly in the rotational surface 14, which between the lock core 13th and the associated housing part 12 is arranged.

It is essential that this orientation of the tumblers 5 is only possible if a fitting part 25 is provided at the inner end of the key channel 23, which has a keyway 23 facing recess 26 whose contour corresponds to the contour of the extension piece 15 so precisely that only when the contours match the full insertion depth of the profile cylinder key 1 is achieved. It depends on the fitting part 25 only if this is user-desired. By omitting the fitting part 25, although each profile cylinder key 1 not having the measures of the invention would also be insertable into the keyway 23. Nevertheless, he would have to have the corresponding recesses 4 to align the tumblers 5 so that a rotational release of the lock core 13 is achieved. However, the invention goes far beyond the minimum requirements that an authorized key must have without it being apparent to a key copy service whether or not the hub 15 has a function.

This is important, because only by retrofitting the corresponding profile cylinder key 1 in the context of the invention, a desired counterfeit prevention effect occurs, which provides additional security for the user. In this case, the fitting part 25 may be a separate component from the lock core 13, which end is attached to the lock core 13. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the fitting part 25 is rotationally rigidly connected to the lock core 13.

However, this assumes that the twist angle 21, which is present between the extension piece 15 and the key bit 2 and the key shank 3, is just as large as the angle of rotation of the fitting part 25 relative to the lock core 13. On the other hand, the fitting part 25 can also rotate on the shooting core 13 sit, so first of all once with the insertion of the profile cylinder key 1 in the keyway 23 with increasing approach of the key tip 18 to the fitting part 25 latter must be aligned first to verify the access authorization of the profile cylinder key.

Since the fitting part 25 is seated at the inner end 24 of the keyway 23, there is also the advantage that a manipulation of the fitting part 25 is practically impossible. For this reason, a further development of the invention is advantageous in which extension piece 15 and fitting part 25 in the sense of locking technology have a hierarchical coding. The profile cylinder key 1 of the highest hierarchy should fit into a profile cylinder 9 of lower hierarchies, but not vice versa.

This assumes that the extensions 15 in the profile cylinder keys 1 highest hierarchy in each Trap slimmer than the extensions 15 to profile cylinder keys 1 lower hierarchies.

A particularly preferred variant of the profile cylinder key 1 provides that its cross-section is substantially 8-shaped and it has a widened waist region 3c, at which the two thick regions 3a and 3b adjoin. Since such a profile cylinder key 1 offers significant advantages in terms of variation and imitation security, the imitation security is even increased by the invention, because the manufacturing requirements for imitation of this profile cylinder key 1 for the above considerations are no longer accessible to any standard locksmiths.

The FIGS. 4 to 13 show a further variant of the invention, in which the profile cylinder key 1 has an attached to the key shank 3 lug 15, which consists of an additional component, which is made of a different material. The key shaft 3 points, such as in the FIGS. 4 and 7 recognizably a unit profile, wherein the profile difference of the key tip 18 forming extension piece 15 is determined. Like from the FIGS. 5 and 6 clearly visible, the contour of the extension piece 15 projects beyond the cross section of the key shaft 3.

In the FIGS. 8 and 9 the profile cylinder key 1 is shown without extension 15, as it is kept in stock. The individualization learns the profile cylinder key 1 through the extension piece 15, which is pressed after its completion on the key shank 3, glued or permanently attached in any other way. This is done in Embodiment by means of a grooved pin 27 which is anchored in a corresponding receiving opening in the key shaft 3.

The FIGS. 10 to 13 show the extension piece 15, which is made for example by means of a powder molding process, and is mixed with materials, so that it is magnetic and electrically conductive. In addition, the extension piece 15 protrusions 28 which protrude beyond the usual contour and which also protrude beyond the cross section of the key shaft 3, when the extension piece 15 is attached thereto. The extension piece 15 also has a foot 29 with which it bears against the key shank 3. This foot 29 is provided with undercuts 30 which are scanned radially from the outside only incomplete. The undercuts 30 can be produced only when not mounted on the key shank 3 extension piece 15. Thus, a profile cylinder key 1 as a whole can not be completely scanned, ie scanned optically or mechanically. For this purpose, the profile cylinder key 1 would have to be disassembled, but this is not possible without the extension piece 15 being destroyed.

Claims (13)

1. A profile cylinder key (1) with a key bow (2) and a key shaft (3) extending from said key bow (2), the cross-section of which, viewed from said key bow (2), is initially constant over the length of said key shaft (3), and with an extension (15) firmly provided on the key tip, said extension (15) consisting of a different material or the same material as said key shaft (3), said extension (15) consisting of a high strength material and having undercuts (30) and protrusions (28) projecting beyond the cross-section of said key shaft (3), wherein said undercuts (30) and protrusions (28) are formed such that they can be generated only when said extension (15) is detached from said key shaft (3).
2. The profile cylinder key according to claim 1, characterized in that said extension (15) is twisted around a longitudinal axis of said key shaft (3) by a predetermined twist angle (21) and, throughout its length (16) from the insertion point (17) to said key tip (18), extends solely within the cross-section edge (19) of said key shaft (3).
3. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension (15) and said key shaft (3) are integrally formed and that said extension (15) is milled out from the base material of said profile cylinder key (1), or that said extension (15) is a separate component from said key shaft (3) which is attached to the face of the front end (17) of said key shaft (3).
4. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension (15) comprises a coded outer contour and/or is magnetic and/or is electrically conductive or non-conductive and/or generates a voltage.
5. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for different profile cylinder keys (1) different twist angles (21) are stipulated for the positions of the respective extensions (15) with respect to said key bow (2).
6. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension (15) is made by means of a press-powder process (MIM).
7. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusions (28) project beyond the cross-section of said key shaft (3).
8. The profile cylinder key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said key shaft (3) has a standardized profile.
9. A combination of a profile cylinder key (1) as per one of the preceding claims and a corresponding profile cylinder lock (9), a lock core (13) of which comprises a key way (23) corresponding to the cross-section of said key shaft (3), characterized in that, at the interior end (24) of said key way (23), a matching part (25) is provided that has a recess (26) facing said key way (23), the contour of which matches the contour of said extension (15) so precisely that only when the contours match the full insertion depth of said profile cylinder key (1) in said key way (23) is achieved.
10. The combination according to claim 9, characterized in that said matching part (25) is a separate component from said lock core (13) and is attached to the end of said lock core (13).
11. The combination according to claim 10, characterized in that said matching part (25) is attached to said lock core (13) in a torsionally rigid manner and is twisted by said twist angle (21) of said extension (15) with respect to said key bow (2).
12. The combination according to claim 10, characterized in that said matching part (25) is attached such that it is rotatable relative to said lock core (13).
13. The combination according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said extension (15) and said matching part (25) have a hierarchical coding in terms of locking technology.

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