EP3623549A1

EP3623549A1 - Lock system with a key and a lock cylinder

Info

Publication number: EP3623549A1
Application number: EP18194349.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jose Alcelay Bea; Sergio Sanchez Hernandez
Original assignee: Talleres de Escoriaza SA
Current assignee: Talleres de Escoriaza SA
Priority date: 2018-09-13
Filing date: 2018-09-13
Publication date: 2020-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-13
Also published as: AR116308A1; PT3623549T; ES2753597A1; CN112673143B; ES2753597B2; SA521421401B1; WO2020053461A1; LT3623549T; EP3623549B1; MX2021002300A; PL3623549T3; UY38372A; CL2021000407A1; CN112673143A; CO2021002026A2; HUE057292T2

Abstract

Lock system (100) comprising a key (1) comprising a control recess (12) on at least one of the faces of the key blade (11), and a lock cylinder (2) comprising a validation element (231) configured for being housed in the control recess (12) when the key (1) is inserted. The control recess (12) partially overlaps at least one stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2) and rotated to a position in which the control recess (12) is facing said stator pin (26).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lock system with a key and a lock cylinder.

PRIOR ART

The use of lock systems comprising a key and a lock cylinder is known.
A lock system of this type comprises a key with a key blade which has a plurality of code surfaces arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade, and is inserted into a key housing existing in a lock cylinder. The lock cylinder comprises a stator and a rotor rotating inside the stator, the cylinder being provided with a plurality of housings, such that in each of said housings there is housed a rotor pin and a stator pin that are displaceable in the radial direction of the lock cylinder, such that when a valid key blade is fully inserted into the lock cylinder, said rotor and stator pins are positioned in code, enabling the rotor to rotate, which causes the lock to open.
EP2360334B1 describes a lock system wherein the lock cylinder comprises a validation element which at least partially extends into the key channel, and wherein the key comprises a control recess configured so that it corresponds with the locking element such that the locking element is housed in the recess when the key is inserted into the key channel. In the lock system described in document EP2360334B1 , the recess is longer than the length along which the locking element is inserted into the recess.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a lock system, as defined in the claims.
The lock system of the invention comprises a lock key comprising a key blade, a control recess on at least one of the faces of the key blade, and a plurality of code surfaces arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade.
The lock system of the invention further comprises a lock cylinder. Said lock cylinder comprises a stator and a rotor configured for rotating in an opening of the stator, the rotor comprising a key housing configured for receiving the key. The lock cylinder further comprises a plurality of housings, each housing containing at least one rotor pin and one stator pin that are displaceable in the radial direction of the lock cylinder, the rotor pins and code surfaces of the key being configured to cooperate with one another when the key has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder further comprises a validation element in the key housing configured for being housed in the control recess when the key is inserted.
In the lock system of the invention, the control recess partially overlaps at least one stator pin when the key has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder and rotated to a position in which the control recess is facing said stator pin, the stator pin acting as an additional locking element in the event that a fraudulent key with a control recess completely overlapping said stator pin is used. Said stator pin thereby has a dual function, with the security provided by the lock system being improved without increasing the number of elements of the lock system.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a side view of a key of a first embodiment of the lock system according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the key of Figure 1 in which the code surfaces have not yet been made, and a detail thereof.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal-section view of the lock cylinder of the first embodiment of the lock system according to the invention with the key of Figure 1 fully inserted.
Figure 4 shows the lock system of Figure 3 with the key rotated 180°.
Figure 5 shows a cross-section view of the lock cylinder of Figure 4 with a fraudulent key and a detail of both.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the rotor of the lock cylinder of Figure 3.
Figure 7 shows a side view of a key of a second embodiment of the lock system in which the code surfaces have not yet been made.
Figure 8 shows a longitudinal-section view of the lock cylinder of the second embodiment of the lock system according to the invention with the key of Figure 7 fully inserted and rotated 90°.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the lock system 100 according to the invention.
The lock system 100 of the invention comprises a lock key 1 comprising a key blade 11. The key blade 11 comprises a front face 115, two larger side faces 113, 114, and two smaller side faces 111, 112.
The lock key 1 further comprises a control recess 12 on at least one of the faces 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 of the key blade 11, and a plurality of code surfaces 14 arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade 11.
The lock system 100 of the invention further comprises a lock cylinder 2. The lock cylinder 2 comprises a stator 21 and a rotor 22. The rotor 22 is configured for rotating in an opening of the stator 21 and comprises a key housing 23 configured for receiving the key blade 11. The key housing 23 extends longitudinally along the rotor 22 and comprises an inlet opening on the front face 220 of the rotor 22.
The lock cylinder 2 further comprises a plurality of housings 24, each housing 24 containing at least one rotor pin 25 and one stator pin 26 that are displaceable in the radial direction of the lock cylinder 2, the rotor pins 25 and code surfaces 14 being configured to cooperate with one another when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2. The rotor pins 25 and the stator pins 26 are pushed towards the key housing 23 in this embodiment by the action of a spring 27 housed in each of the housings 24, as shown in Figure 3. However, lock cylinders in which the rotor pins 25 and the stator pins 26 are pushed towards the key housing 23 using other means such as magnets, discs, etc., are known in the prior art.
The lock cylinder 2 further comprises a validation element 231 in the key housing 23 configured for being housed in the control recess 12 when the key 1 is inserted.
The position in which the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 can be determined by the validation element 231, such that when said validation element 231 abuts with the control recess 12 it defines said position. However, it is not necessary for the validation element 231 to abut with the control recess 12 to define said position of the key 1 in the invention. The position in which the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 can also be determined by a stop element 19, the stop surface 190 of which abuts with the front face 220 of the rotor 22, as shown in Figure 3. Once the key 1 has been fully inserted into the rotor 22, the code surfaces 14 are arranged each aligned and in contact with the corresponding rotor pin 25, given that each rotor pin 25 and stator pin 26 are pushed towards the key housing 23 by the corresponding spring 27. In said position, the contact surface between each of the rotor pins 25 and each of the stator pins 26 coincides with the outer surface 28 of the rotor 22, allowing the rotor 22 to rotate inside the stator 21.
In the lock system 100 of the invention, the control recess 12 partially overlaps at least one stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 and rotated to a position in which the control recess 12 is facing said stator pin 26, the stator pin 26 acting as an additional locking element in the event that a fraudulent key with a control recess 12 completely overlapping said stator pin 26 is used. The stator pin 26 therefore has a dual function: on one hand, it cooperates with the code surfaces 14, and on the other it acts as an additional locking element. A more secure lock system is thereby obtained without increasing the number of elements of the lock system.
Figure 4 shows a part of the lock system 100 of this embodiment, where the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 and rotated until the control recess 12 is arranged facing the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22. Furthermore, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, such that the key blade 11 prevents the insertion of said stator pin 26 into the control recess 12.
In contrast, if a fraudulent key with a control recess 12 completely overlapping the stator pin 16 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22 is used, said stator pin 26 slides into the control recess 12, being housed therein, and prevents the rotor 22 from rotating, as shown in Figure 5.
However, in the event of using a fraudulent key in which the control recess 12 is not sized sufficiently for the validation element 231 to be housed in the control recess 12 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2, the validation element 231 abuts with the control recess 12, preventing the key 1 from being fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2, such that the plurality of code surfaces 14 do not cooperate with the plurality of rotor pins 25, preventing the rotor 22 from rotating.
In this embodiment, the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on one of the smaller side faces 111, and on the larger side faces 113 and 114 of the key blade 11.
In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26 in the transverse direction of the key 1, as shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, when the control recess 12 overlaps the stator pin 26 in the transverse direction of the key 1, the control recess 12 partially overlaps a single stator pin 26, the one farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22. In the key 1 of this embodiment, the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on the smaller side face 111, and on both larger side faces 113 and 114.
In another embodiment of the lock system 100, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26 in the longitudinal direction of the key 1. In this other embodiment, the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on the smaller side face 111, and on one of the larger side faces 113 or 114, where the control recess 12 may be prolonged in the longitudinal direction of the key 1. In this other embodiment, the control recess 12 overlaps at least the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, or the last stator pin, where it may overlap more stator pins 26 depending on how much the control recess 12 is prolonged in the longitudinal direction of the key 1. Therefore, depending on how much the control recess 12 is prolonged, said control recess 12 would go from only overlapping the last stator pin 26 or stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, to overlapping one or several additional stator pins 26, said overlap being progressive depending on the length of said control recess 12, starting with the last stator pin 26 and ending with the first stator pin 26 or stator pin 26 closest to the front face 220 of the rotor 22.
In the lock system 100 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the validation element 231 is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key housing 23, the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key 1, as shown in Figure 6.
In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the lock cylinder 2 comprises an additional validation element 232 after validation element 231 in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key 1, and the key 1 comprises a respective recess 13 configured for housing the additional validation element 232.
In the event of using a fraudulent key in which the respective recess 13 is not sized sufficiently for the additional validation element 232 to be housed in the respective recess 13 when the key 1 has been fully inserted, the additional validation element 232 abuts with the respective recess 13, preventing the key 1 from being fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2, such that the plurality of code surfaces 14 do not cooperate with the plurality of rotor pins 25, preventing the rotor 22 from rotating.
In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the respective recess 13 of the key 1 is a longitudinal groove 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In another embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention, the respective recess 13 of the key 1 is a prolongation of the control recess 12.
As shown in Figure 6, in the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the additional validation element 232 is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key housing 23, the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key 1.
In this embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention, the code surfaces 14 of the lock key 1 are located on the smaller side face 112 of the key blade 11 opposite the smaller side face 111 of the key blade 11 on which the control recess 12 is located.
In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 and rotated 180°, as shown in Figure 4.
Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention. In this second embodiment, the code surfaces 14 of the lock key 1 are located on at least one larger side face 113 or 114 of the lock key 1.
In the lock system 100 of this second embodiment, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 and rotated 90° or 270°, the key 1 being arranged in the position shown in Figure 8.
In the lock system 100 of the invention, the rotor 22 comprises an unlocking bevel 221, as shown in Figure 5. In the event of using a fraudulent key with a control recess 12 completely overlapping at least the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, said stator pin 26 slides into the control recess 12, being housed therein, and prevents the rotor 22 from rotating, as shown in Figure 5. The unlocking bevel 221 of the rotor 22 allows rotating the key 1 in the opposite direction, allowing the rotor 22 to be rotated in the direction opposite the opening direction and the key 1 to be recovered from the lock cylinder 2.
In the event that the control recess 12 completely overlaps several stator pins 16, said stator pins 16 slide into the control recess 12, being housed therein, and prevent the rotor 22 from rotating, the unlocking bevel 221 allowing the key 1 to be recovered.

Claims

Lock system, comprising
- a lock key (1) comprising a key blade (11), a control recess (12) on at least one of the faces (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) of the key blade (11), and a plurality of code surfaces (14) arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade (11), and

- a lock cylinder (2) comprising
∘ a stator (21),

∘ a rotor (22) configured for rotating in an opening of the stator (21), comprising a key housing (23) configured for receiving the key blade (11),

∘ a plurality of housings (24), each housing (24) containing at least one rotor pin (25) and one stator pin (26) that are displaceable in the radial direction of the lock cylinder (2), the rotor pins (25) and code surfaces (14) being configured to cooperate with one another when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2), and

∘ a validation element (231) in the key housing (23) configured for being housed in the control recess (12) when the key (1) is inserted,

characterized in that the control recess (12) partially overlaps at least one stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2) and rotated to a position in which the control recess (12) is facing said stator pin (26), the stator pin (26) acting as an additional locking element in the event that a fraudulent key with a control recess (12) completely overlapping said stator pin (26) is used.
Lock system according to claim 1, wherein the key blade (11) comprises a front face (115), two larger side faces (113, 114), and two smaller side faces (111, 112), the control recess (12) being arranged on the front face (115), on one of the smaller side faces (111), and on at least one of the larger side faces (113, 114).
Lock system according to claim 2, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps the stator pin (26) in the transverse direction of the key (1).
Lock system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps the stator pin (26) in the longitudinal direction of the key (1).
Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the validation element (231) is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key housing (23), the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key (1).
Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lock cylinder (2) comprises an additional validation element (232) after validation element (231) in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key (1), and the key (1) comprises a respective recess (13) configured for housing the additional validation element (232).
Lock system according to claim 6, wherein the respective recess (13) of the key (1) is a prolongation of the control recess (12).
Lock system according to claim 6, wherein the respective recess (13) of the key (1) is a longitudinal groove (15).
Lock system according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the additional validation element (232) is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key housing (23), the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key (1).
Lock system according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the code surfaces (14) of the lock key (1) are located on the smaller side face (112) of the key blade (11) opposite the smaller side face (111) of the key blade (11) on which the control recess (12) is located.
Lock system according to claim 10, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps the stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2) and rotated 180°.
Lock system according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the code surfaces (14) of the lock key (1) are located on at least one larger side face (113, 114) of the lock key (1).
Lock system according to claim 12, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps the stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2) and rotated 90° or 270°.
Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotor (22) comprises an unlocking bevel (221).