EP3872283B1

EP3872283B1 - Security system and lock

Info

Publication number: EP3872283B1
Application number: EP21157695.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco MALIGHETTI
Original assignee: Securemme Srl
Current assignee: Securemme Srl
Priority date: 2020-02-25
Filing date: 2021-02-17
Publication date: 2022-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-17
Also published as: HUE061023T2; HRP20230100T1; EP3872283A1; ES2938041T3; IT202000003844A1

Description

The present invention relates to a security system and a lock.
In particular, the lock referred to herein is of the cylinder type comprising a stator (defining the body of the lock) and a rotor (defining the cylinder of the lock).
The cylinder is rotatably mounted in the lock body and has an inlet for inserting the actuating key.
Typically, the lock further comprises locking pins mounted in the cylinder and configured to engage with a corresponding shaped profile of the key.
If the key inserted into the inlet is authorized, i.e., it has a shaped profile such as to allow correct engagement with the locking pins, the lock can be unlocked, that is, the cylinder can rotate inside the lock body to allow rotation of the bolt which opens the door on which the lock is mounted. However, the Applicant realized that nowadays it is increasingly easier for ill-intentioned people to copy the shaped profile of an actuating key in order to access the corresponding lock.
In particular, the Applicant found that the use of 3D printing techniques can allow a cloned key to be created in a short time, simply starting from a photograph or a three-dimensional acquisition of an unattended key. FR2492872A1 discloses a locking system and a lock in accordance with the preamble of claims 1 and 6. Furthermore, WO2019/211740A1 , WO2012/125512A1 and EP3483365A1 disclose examples of know lock assemblies and keys for operating the same.
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a security system and a lock which overcome one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a security system which allows the level of efficiency and security of the lock to be increased by preventing the unlocking of the lock by means of cloned keys.
The specified technical task and objects are substantially achieved by means of a security system comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the accompanying claims.
In particular, the present invention provides a security system comprising a lock and a key for actuating the lock.
The lock comprises a lock body and a cylinder.
The lock body has an inlet inside which the cylinder is rotatably mounted. Advantageously, the cylinder has:

a channel for inserting the actuating key,
a first cavity leading into the insertion channel, inside which a first movable pin, which is movable towards and away from the insertion channel, is slidably mounted,
a second cavity leading, on a first side, into the insertion channel, and on a second side opposite to the first one, towards the lock body, inside which a second movable pin, which is movable towards and away from the insertion channel, is slidably mounted.

Furthermore, the lock body has a slot leading into the inlet, inside which a counter-pin is slidably mounted, said counter-pin being designed to cooperate with the second pin in a neutral position of the cylinder in which the second cavity of the cylinder is aligned with the slot of the lock body.
Advantageously, the counter-pin is configured to be arranged at least partially inside the second cavity when the cylinder is in the neutral position, so as to prevent the rotation of the cylinder.
The actuating key comprises an elongated shaped body insertable into said insertion channel.
Advantageously, a spherical element, which has a diameter "D" and is movable along a movement direction "X" that is transversal to a main extension direction "Y" of the elongated shaped body, is mounted on said elongated shaped body.
The first and the second pin are therefore configured to be arranged at a first distance "h" when the elongated shaped body is removed from the insertion channel and the cylinder is in the neutral position, whereas the spherical element is configured to engage with the first and the second pin in order to arrange them at a second distance "H" that is greater than the first distance "h" and equal to the diameter "D" when the elongated shaped body is inserted into the insertion channel, such that the counter-pin is completely moved into the slot and the cylinder is free to rotate inside the lock body.
The presence of the two movable pins therefore allows the rotation of the cylinder, hence the release of the counter-pin from the second cavity, solely and exclusively by inserting an actuating key provided with the corresponding movable spherical element.
The spherical element is advantageously configured to be interposed between the two pins and to be pressed by the first pin so that the spherical element pushes against the second pin, thereby causing the cooperating counter-pin to be displaced so that it is completely arranged inside the slot, leaving the cylinder free to rotate.
Copying a key provided with a dynamic element such as the movable spherical element is therefore impossible to do by simply taking a picture, which effectively makes the lock impenetrable to unauthorized actuating keys of the type object of the present invention.
Advantageously, the presence of a spherical element on the key and of two movable pins in the lock allows the level of security and reliability of the security systems known heretofore to be increased.
A lock comprising a cylinder and a lock body in accordance with the above, and an actuating key comprising an elongated shaped body on which the previously described spherical element is mounted, also form part of the present invention.
The dependent claims, hereby incorporated by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a security system, a lock and a related actuating key, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a security system in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an actuating key according to the present invention,
Figure 2A is a cross-section in the area of the spherical element of the key in Figure 2,
Figure 3 is a cross-section of a lock according to the present invention, and
Figure 4 is a cross-section of the lock in Figure 3 when the key in Figure 2 is inserted in the cylinder of the lock.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 100 indicates, as a whole, a security system, from now on simply indicated as the system 100.
The system 100 comprises a lock 1 and an actuating key 10 for actuating the lock 1.
According to the present invention, the lock 1 comprises a lock body 2 and a cylinder 3, wherein the lock body 2 has an inlet 2a inside which the cylinder 3 is rotatably mounted.
The cylinder 3 has an insertion channel 3a for inserting the actuating key 10, preferably along an insertion direction A parallel to an axis of rotation R of the cylinder 3.
In other words, the insertion channel 3a extends axially through the cylinder 3 and is shaped so as to receive a key 10 authorized to open the lock 1.
The cylinder 3 has at least a first cavity 4 leading into the insertion channel 3a, inside which a first movable pin 5, which is movable towards and away from the insertion channel 3a, is slidably mounted.
The cylinder 3 has a second cavity 6 leading, on a first side, into the insertion channel 3a, and on a second side opposite to the first one, towards the lock body 2, inside which a second movable pin 7, which is movable towards and away from the insertion channel 3a, is slidably mounted.
In particular, the first and the second pin 5, 7 face each other and lead onto opposite sides of the insertion channel 3a.
With particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, preferably, the first pin 5 is movable along a first movement axis 5a and the second pin 7 is movable along a second movement axis 7a, wherein said movement axes 5a, 7a are parallel to each other, and even more preferably coincident with each other.
The lock body 2 has a slot 8 leading into the inlet 2a, inside which a counter-pin 9 is slidably mounted, said counter-pin 9 being designed to cooperate with the second pin 7 in a neutral position of the cylinder 3 in which the second cavity 6 of the cylinder 3 is aligned with the slot 8 of the lock body 2.
In particular, the second pin 7 is configured to be kept in contact with the counter-pin 9.
With particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the counter-pin 9 is preferably movable along a third movement axis 9a. Advantageously, the counter-pin 9 is configured to be arranged at least partially inside the second cavity 8 when the cylinder 3 is in the neutral position, so as to prevent the rotation of the cylinder 3.
In other words, when the cylinder 3 is in the neutral position and the counter-pin 8 is arranged astride the second cavity 8 and the slot 9, any rotation of the cylinder 3 inside the lock body 2 is prevented.
Preferably, the second pin 7 has a first portion 7' aligned with the first pin 5, along the first movement axis 5a coincident with the second movement axis 7a, and an eccentric second portion 7" aligned with the counter-pin 9, along the third movement axis 9a.
According to the present invention, the actuating key 10 comprises an elongated shaped body 11 insertable into the insertion channel 3a of the cylinder 3.
Preferably, moreover, the key 10 comprises a grip portion 12 connected to the elongated shaped body 11, which is configured to allow the key 10 to be gripped.
Advantageously, a spherical element 13, which has a diameter D and is movable along a movement direction X that is transversal, preferably perpendicular, to a main extension direction Y of the elongated shaped body 11, is mounted on said elongated shaped body 11.
Preferably, the spherical element 13 is inserted inside a housing 14 of the elongated shaped body 11 leading onto opposite faces 11a, 11b of the elongated shaped body 11 at respective apertures 15a, 15b shaped so as to prevent the spherical element 12 from completely exiting the housing 14.
In other words, the spherical element 13 is constrained inside the housing 14.
With reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, preferably, the apertures 15a, 15b have a circular section and have a diameter d smaller than the diameter D of the spherical element.
The housing 14 is preferably obtained at a tip portion of the elongated shaped body 11.
Advantageously, the spherical element is free to slide inside the housing 14 along the movement direction X, between a first operating position (shown in dashed lines in Figure 2A), in which the spherical element obstructs the first aperture 15a by partially protruding from the first face 11a, and a second position (shown in Figure 2A), in which the spherical element 13 obstructs the second aperture 15b by partially protruding from the second face 11b.
In other words, in the first and the second operating position, a portion of the spherical element 13 defining a spherical cap protrudes out of the housing 14.
Advantageously, the first and the second pin 5, 7 are configured to be arranged at a first distance "h" when the elongated shaped body 11 is removed from the insertion channel 3a and the cylinder is in the neutral position, whereas, when the elongated shaped body 11 is inserted into the insertion channel 3a, the spherical element 13 is configured to engage with the first and the second pin 5, 7, interposing itself between them and arranging them at a second distance "H".
In particular, the second distance H is greater than the first distance h and is equal to the diameter D so that the counter-pin 9 is completely moved into the slot 8 and the cylinder 3 is free to rotate inside the lock body 2.
In other words, the spherical element 13 pushes the second pin 7 into the second cavity 6 so that, as it moves along the second movement axis 7a, said second pin 7 pushes the counter-pin 9 completely into the slot 8, releasing the counter-pin 9 from the cylinder 3.
Preferably, the first portion 7' of the second pin 7 is configured to engage with the spherical element 13 and extends along a respective extension axis that is coincident with the first movement axis 5a of the first pin 5, whereas the second portion 7" of the second pin 7 is configured to engage with the counter-pin 9 and extends along a respective extension axis, which is eccentric with respect to the first movement axis 5a of the first pin 5 and coincident with the third movement axis 9a.
Advantageously, the eccentricity of the second pin 7 allows the counter-pin 9 to be made in a slot 8 which is axially central with respect to the lock body 2, thereby simplifying the structure of the piece and the manufacturing process.
It should be noted that a key without the spherical element 13 would therefore not allow the cylinder 3 to be released from the lock body 2.
In fact, if the spherical element 13 is not present, the elongated shaped body 11, when it is inserted into the insertion channel 3a, would push the second pin 7 backward into the second cavity 6, thus completely moving the counter-pin 9 into the slot 8 but also moving the second pin 7 at least partially into the slot 8, thereby preventing the cylinder 3 from rotating freely inside the lock body 2.
Similarly, if the key 10 is provided with a housing 14 but not with the spherical element 13 (which cannot be replicated by 3D printing), the second pin 7 would not be pushed onto the counter-pin 9 and therefore the counter-pin 9 would not be pushed completely backward into the slot 8, thereby preventing the cylinder 3 from rotating.
Advantageously, therefore, the elongated shaped body 11 allows the authorized key 10 to axially move the pins 5, 7 and the counter-pin 9 into the respective positions shown in Figure 4, in which the counter-pin 9 does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylinder 3, so that it does not prevent the cylinder 3 from rotating relative to the lock body 2.
The cylinder 3 comprises a first elastic element 4a, preferably a spring, mounted inside the first cavity 4 and associated with the first pin 5. Advantageously, the first elastic element 4a is configured to:

keep the first pin 5 at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel 3a when the elongated shaped body 11 is removed from the insertion channel 3a,
allow the first pin 5 to move back inside the first cavity 4 when the elongated shaped body 11 is pushed into the insertion channel 3a against the first pin 5, and
allow the first pin 5 to move towards the insertion channel 3a when the first pin 5 engages with the spherical element 13.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, therefore:

the first elastic element 4a is at rest when the elongated shaped body 11 is not inserted in the insertion channel 3a, or is inserted but has not yet intercepted the section of the cylinder 3 where the pins 5, 7 are arranged (Figure 3), and the first pin 5 protrudes inside the insertion channel 3a,
the first elastic element 4a undergoes a temporary shortening when the first pin 5 is intercepted by the first face 11a of the elongated shaped body 11, while the latter is being inserted into the insertion channel 3a, and
the first elastic element 4a returns to the rest configuration, releasing its elastic force, and translates the first pin 5 inside the first cavity 4 towards the insertion channel 3a, pushing the spherical element 13 onto the second pin 7, when the first pin 5 is inserted through the first aperture 15a partially into the housing 14, thus pushing the spherical element towards the second aperture 15b.

Preferably, the lock body 2 further comprises a second elastic element 8a, preferably a spring, mounted inside the slot 8 and associated with the counter-pin 9.
Advantageously, the second elastic element 8a is configured to:

keep the counter-pin 9 at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel 3a when the elongated shaped body 11 is removed from the insertion channel 3a,
allow the counter-pin 9 to move back inside the second cavity 6 when the elongated shaped body 11 is pushed into the insertion channel 3a against the first pin 5, and
allow the counter-pin 9 to retract such that it is completely arranged inside the slot 8 when the second pin 7 engages with the spherical element 13.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, therefore:

the second elastic element 8a is at rest when the elongated shaped body 11 is not inserted in the insertion channel 3a, or is inserted but has not yet intercepted the section of the cylinder 3 where the pins 5, 7 are arranged (Figure 3), and the second pin 7 protrudes inside the insertion channel 3a,
the second elastic element 8a undergoes a first shortening when the second pin 7 is intercepted by the second face 11b of the elongated shaped body 11, while the latter is being inserted into the insertion channel 3a, thereby translating the second pin 7 inside the second cavity 6 away from the insertion channel 3a, and
the second elastic element 8a undergoes a further shortening when the spherical element 13 partially removed from the housing 14 through the second aperture 15b, pushed by the first pin 5, engages the second pin 7 moving it away from the insertion channel 3a and pushing it (preferably completely) into the second cavity 6, so that the counter-pin 9 is completely inserted into the slot 8.

Advantageously, therefore, the key 10 and the lock 1 according to the present invention make it possible to provide an efficient and secure security system 100 which prevents the unlocking of the lock 1 with unauthorized cloned keys 10.
The presence of the spherical element 13 which is free to move inside the housing 14 of the key allows the system of the pins 5, 7 and the counter-pin 9 to be moved in a unique and non-replicable manner in order to provide a secure access.
The present invention achieves the intended objects, overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art and providing a security system 100, a lock 1 and a key 10, which are innovative and allow the security conditions against unauthorized access to be improved.

Claims

A security system (100) comprising a lock (1) and an actuating key (10) for actuating said lock (1),
wherein said lock (1) comprises a lock body (2) and a cylinder (3), wherein said lock body (2) has an inlet (2a) within which said cylinder (3) is rotatably mounted, said cylinder (3) having an insertion channel (3a) for inserting the actuating key (10);

wherein said cylinder (3) has a first cavity (4) leading into said insertion channel (3a); a first movable pin (5), which is movable towards and away from said insertion channel (3a), being slidably mounted inside said first cavity (4);

wherein said cylinder (3) has a second cavity (6) leading, on a first side, into said insertion channel (3a), and on a second side opposite to the first one, towards the lock body (2); a second movable pin (7), which is movable towards and away from said insertion channel (3a), being slidably mounted inside said second cavity (6);

wherein said lock body (2) has a slot (8) leading into said inlet (2a); a counter-pin (9) being slidably mounted inside said slot (8), said counter-pin (9) being designed to cooperate with said second pin (7) in a neutral position of the cylinder (3) in which said second cavity (6) of the cylinder (3) is aligned with the slot (8) of the lock body (2),

said counter-pin (9) being configured to be arranged at least partially inside said second cavity (6) when the cylinder (3) is in the neutral position, so as to prevent the rotation of the cylinder (3);

wherein said actuating key (10) comprises an elongated shaped body (11) insertable into said insertion channel (3a),

wherein a spherical element (13), which has a diameter (D) and is movable along a movement direction (X) that is transversal to a main extension direction (Y) of the elongated shaped body (11), is mounted on said elongated shaped body (11),

wherein said first and said second pin (5, 7) are configured to be arranged at a first distance (h) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a) and the cylinder (3) is in the neutral position,

and wherein said spherical element (13) is configured to engage with said first and said second pin (5, 7) in order to arrange them at a second distance (H) that is greater than the first distance (h) and equal to the diameter (D) when the elongated shaped body (11) is inserted into the insertion channel (3a), such that the counter-pin (9) is completely moved into the slot (8) and the cylinder (3) is free to rotate inside the lock body (2);

characterised in that said cylinder (3) comprises a first elastic element (4a) mounted inside said first cavity (4) and associated with said first pin (5), said first elastic element (4a) being configured to:
- keep the first pin (5) at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel (3a) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a),

- allow the first pin (5) to move back inside the first cavity (4) when the elongated shaped body (11) is pushed into the insertion channel (3a) against the first pin (5), and

- allow the first pin (5) to move towards the insertion channel (3a) when the first pin (5) engages with the spherical element (13).
The security system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said lock body (2) comprises a second elastic element (8a) mounted inside said slot (8) and associated with said counter-pin (9), said second elastic element (8a) being configured to:
- keep the counter-pin (9) at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel (3a) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a),

- allow the counter-pin (9) to move back inside the second cavity (6) when the elongated shaped body (11) is pushed into the insertion channel (3a) against the first pin (5), and

- allow the counter-pin (9) to retract such that it is completely arranged inside the slot (8) when the second pin (7) engages with the spherical element (13).
The security system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and said second pin (5, 7) are movable along respective parallel movement axes (5a, 7a).
The security system (100) according to claim 3, wherein said second pin (7) comprises a first portion (7a') configured to engage with the spherical element (13) and extending along a respective extension axis that is coincident with the movement axis (5a) of the first pin (5), and a second portion (7") configured to engage with the counter-pin (9) and extending along a respective extension axis that is eccentric with respect to the movement axis (5a) of the first pin (5).
The security system (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said spherical element (13) is inserted inside a housing (14) of the elongated shaped body (11) leading onto opposite faces (11a, 11b) of said elongated shaped body (11) at respective apertures (15a, 15b) shaped so as to prevent the spherical element (13) from completely exiting said housing (14); said spherical element (13) being free to slide inside said housing (14) along the movement direction (X), between a first operating position, in which the spherical element (13) obstructs a first aperture (15a) of said apertures (15a, 15b) by partially protruding from a first face (11a) of said faces (11a, 11b), and a second position, in which the spherical element (13) obstructs a second aperture (15b) of said apertures (15a, 15b) by partially protruding from a second face (11b) of said faces (11a, 11b).
A lock (1) comprising:
- a cylinder (3) having an insertion channel (3a) for the insertion of an actuating key (10),

- a lock body (2) having an inlet (2a) inside which said cylinder (3) is rotatably mounted;

wherein said cylinder (3) has a first cavity (4) leading into said insertion channel (3a); a first movable pin (5), which is movable towards and away from said insertion channel (3a), being slidably mounted inside said first cavity (4); and

wherein said cylinder (3) has a second cavity (6) leading, on a first side, into said insertion channel (3a), and on a second side opposite to the first one, towards the lock body (2); a second movable pin (7), which is movable towards and away from said insertion channel (3a), being slidably mounted inside said second cavity (6);

wherein said lock body (2) has a slot (8) leading into said inlet (2a); a counter-pin (9) being slidably mounted inside said slot (8), said counter-pin (9) being designed to cooperate with said second pin (7) in a neutral position of the cylinder (3) in which said second cavity (6) of the cylinder (3) is aligned with the slot (8) of the lock body (2),

said counter-pin (9) being configured to be arranged at least partially inside said second cavity (6) when the cylinder (3) is in the neutral position, so as to prevent the rotation of the cylinder (3);

said lock (1) being arranged so as to be actuated by an actuating key (10) comprising an elongated shaped body (11) insertable into said insertion channel (3a), wherein a spherical element (13), which has a diameter (D) and is movable along a movement direction (X) that is transversal to a main extension direction (Y) of the elongated shaped body (11), is mounted on said elongated shaped body (11);

said first and said second pin (5, 7) being configured to be arranged at a first distance (h) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a) and the cylinder (3) is in the neutral position, said first and said second pin (5, 7) being engageable with said spherical element (13) in order to be arranged at a second distance (H) that is greater than the first distance (h) and equal to the diameter (D) when the elongated shaped body (11) is inserted into the insertion channel (3a), such that the counter-pin (9) can be completely moved into the slot (8) and the cylinder (3) is free to rotate inside the lock body (2);

characterised in that said cylinder (3) comprises a first elastic element (4a) mounted inside said first cavity (4) and associated with said first pin (5), said first elastic element (4a) being configured to:
- keep the first pin (5) at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel (3a) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a),

- allow the first pin (5) to move back inside the first cavity (4) when the elongated shaped body (11) is pushed into the insertion channel (3a) against the first pin (5), and

- allow the first pin (5) to move towards the insertion channel (3a) when the first pin (5) engages with the spherical element (13).
The lock (1) according to claim 6, wherein said lock body (2) comprises a second elastic element (8a) mounted inside said slot (8) and associated with said counter-pin (9), said second elastic element (8a) being configured to:
- keep the counter-pin (9) at least partially arranged inside the insertion channel (3a) when the elongated shaped body (11) is removed from the insertion channel (3a),

- allow the counter-pin (9) to move back inside the second cavity (6) when the elongated shaped body (11) is pushed into the insertion channel (3a) against the first pin (5), and

- allow the counter-pin (9) to retract such that it is completely arranged inside the slot (8) when the second pin (7) engages with the spherical element (13).
The lock (1) according to one or more of claims 7, wherein said first and said second pin (5, 7) are movable along respective parallel movement axes (5a, 7a).
The lock (1) according to claim 8, wherein said second pin (7) comprises:
- a first engagement portion (7') configured to engage with the spherical element (13) and extending along a respective extension axis, which is coincident with the movement axis (5a) of the first pin (5), and

- a second engagement portion (7") configured to engage with the counter-pin (9) and extending along a respective extension axis, which is coincident with a movement axis (9a) of the counter-pin (9) and eccentric with respect to the movement axis (5a) of the first pin (5).