EP4148212B1 - Key, locking system, locking cylinder and method for producing same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a flat key, as well as a locking system and a method for producing a flat key.

Locking cylinders have a stator that can be attached to a lock in a non-rotatable manner (sometimes called a “cylinder housing”) and a rotor that can be rotated about the axis of the locking cylinder when a suitable key is inserted (sometimes called a “cylinder core”). By rotating the rotor, output means are moved, which are used to actuate a bolt or other means related to the desired function of the locking cylinder.

Many mechanical locking cylinders for reversible flat keys or other flat keys have tumbler-counter-tumbler pairs that query the mechanical coding of the keys. The mechanical codings are designed as holes with different depths depending on the coding on the flat side of the key. The number of possible locking lengths, together with the number of holes, determines the number of possible permutations, which should be as large as possible. So-called profile pins or locking pins are also known. Such profile pins are slidably mounted in pin bores, which open into the key channel on the radial inside and extend to the surface of the rotor on the radial outside. In addition, the stator has a radially inner recess per pin hole, which in the basic state is aligned with the pin hole. The profile pin is overall longer than the pin hole. Rotating the rotor in the stator is therefore only possible if the profile pin can be pressed so far into a corresponding coding groove or other coding hole in the key that it no longer protrudes from the pin hole on the radial outside. For this purpose, the profile pin has a corresponding, for example rounded, shape at the radially outer end.

A further development of the profile pins are the profile wobble pins or pendulum pins. These are also movably mounted in a pin hole. However, they are in two parts with a radially inner part and a radially outer part, with a spring between the radially inner part and the radially outer part pressing the two parts apart and against an inner or outer stop, so that they take up the entire length available to them. Depending on the total length of the profile wobble pin (i.e. depending on how far the two parts are pushed apart), the radially outer part is guided relative to the radially inner part because corresponding parts of the two parts engage with one another or not. When the rotor in the stator is turned away, the profile wobble pin can only be pressed radially inwards as a whole if the parts are guided relative to one another. If this is not the case, the outer part tilts away when turning and can no longer enter the pin hole and thus blocks the rotor.

Another possible security feature of locking systems is profiling: when viewed perpendicular to the key axis, the key shaft has a profile that deviates from a rectangular cross-section, for example due to the presence of axially extending grooves or ribs. The key channel of the lock cylinder then has a corresponding profile, at least in sections, so that keys that do not fit cannot be inserted at all.

All of these codings for mechanical locking systems have in common that the available space on the key limits the number of possible codings through permutations - i.e. for secure and variable locking systems (e.g. for "master key systems" (MKS) - it is favorable, if you have as many coding positions available as possible. Secondly, these codings have in common that copying is relatively easy using mechanical devices that scan an existing matching key in order to drill or mill coding holes or grooves in a blank, for example. Remedy through sophisticated measures on the key, for example moving parts, or additional electronic coding, is possible, but also very complex.

The font AT 368 795 B (Ewa works ) shows, among other things, a key with so-called chamfer cuts, which can be arranged on one edge of the key, among other things. These bevel incisions interact with balls of the locking cylinder to create a type of coding.

It is an object of the present invention to create a locking system, having a corresponding cylinder and key, and a corresponding key, which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and which in particular combine good protection against unauthorized key copying with efficient manufacturability. This object is achieved by the invention as defined in the patent claims.

The invention relates to a flat key with a key blade and a key shaft extending along a key axis from the key blade to a front key tip with two mutually parallel flat sides and two opposing narrow sides, with an edge parallel to the key axis running between the flat sides and the narrow sides. As is known per se, a row of coding holes parallel to the key axis is formed on at least one of the flat sides. In addition, at least one coding recess is present in at least one of the edges. The Coding recess forms a flank that extends from the flat side to the narrow side and which has a monotonous slope. The coding recess comprises a first, flat or truncated cone-like surface section, which merges forwards and backwards into a second and third surface section, each of which is designed like a truncated cone section.

In this text, “coding hole” refers to a recess in the key, the dimension of which is chosen based on a desired coding. Coding holes can be created by drilling; But corresponding depressions made using other methods are also referred to here as “coding holes”.

Firstly, the procedure according to the invention has the advantage that the positioning on the edge creates an additional position for the coding compared to conventional flat keys.

Secondly, there is the following advantage: In contrast to a coding hole in a series of coding holes, the coding recess is less well defined and less easy to copy for the unauthorized key copier. With a coding hole arranged in a row, the position of the row of holes on the flat side (y position) is precisely defined. For copying, only a drilling tool with an approximately matching diameter is required, and the copying machine scans the hole depth as a function of the position along the key axis (x position). This is a standard procedure and easy for the unauthorized key copier. In contrast, with an edge/ramp sloping towards the narrow side, neither the y position nor a hole depth can be easily read. A key copier must either find a process that accurately records and copies the 3D shape in the area of the coding recess, or he must know information about the manufacturing process, namely the tool and its position and path.

The coding recess can in particular extend over a certain axial length, i.e. have an extent in the axial direction that is larger than that of an average coding hole. This can be expressed in the fact that a first transition between the coding recess and the flat side (i.e. a transition that is arranged between the coding recess and the flat side; such a transition can in particular be an edge that forms this transition) forms a (first) section which extends essentially parallel to the key axis.. Additionally or alternatively, a second transition between the coding recess and the narrow side (i.e. a transition that is arranged between the coding recess and the flat side; in particular an edge that forms this transition) can have a (first) section which extends essentially parallel to the key axis. The latter property can be expressed in the fact that the area where the coding recess has the greatest depth (extension perpendicular to the flat side) is expanded in the axial direction, i.e. forms an area of constant depth.

In this case, the said first section of the first transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, and the first section of the second transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, can be essentially the same length, i.e. they can be at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95 %, for example even at least 98% match in length.

Additionally or alternatively, the said first section of the first transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, and the first section of the second transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, can be located at essentially the same axial distance from the key tip, that is, their axial positions can be essentially to match.

The first transition can merge into the edge in a continuous curve or at a flat angle - with the continuous curve or the flat angle being on the flat side (i.e. the first transition runs in particular in a line in the plane defined by the flat side and merges into the edge at this level).

Additionally or alternatively, the second transition, i.e. the transition between the coding recess and the narrow side, can merge into the edge at a flat angle or in a continuous curve, with the flat angle or the continuous curve being on the narrow side (i.e. the second In particular, the transition runs in a line in the plane defined by the narrow side and merges into the edge in this plane).

According to a first group of embodiments, the flank can form an inclined, step-free surface from the flat side to the narrow side, i.e. the slope can be strictly monotonic in the mathematical sense. This group of embodiments has the particular advantage that an unauthorized copier does not have any stop at his disposal that would enable him to scan the dimensions of the coding hole.

According to a second group of embodiments, the coding recess has a (for example small) flat section toward the narrow side, that is, approximately parallel to the flat side or at least less sloping than the rest of the flank ("bottom") - then the slope does not have to be strictly monotonous be. However, in the embodiments of the second group, as in other embodiments, there is no undercut neither in the direction perpendicular to the key axis and parallel to the flat side (y-direction) nor in the direction perpendicular to the key axis and perpendicular to the flat side (z-direction).

In particular, the at least one coding recess can be formed by a milling on the edge.

For example, the coding recess can be produced by a removal tool (drilling and/or milling tool) which rotates about a tool axis perpendicular to the flat side. This results in a substantial advantage in terms of the manufacturing process: The coding recess can be produced in the same operation and possibly with the same tool as the coding holes on the flat side. The key does not need to be changed between creating the coding holes and creating the coding recess(s).

• ein Abschluss der Codierungsausnehmung nach vorne und nach hinten hin wird je durch eine mindestens bereichsweise gekrümmte Fläche gebildet. Diese kann bspw. konkav sein, oder auch im Horizontalschnitt (Schnitt in einer Ebene parallel zur Schlüsselachse) s-förmig. Im zweiten Fall kann die Codierungsausnehmung von einem ersten, zentralen mittleren Abschnitt aus nach vorne und nach hinten je über einen kegelstumpfartigen konkaven Flächenabschnitt über einen flacheren Flächenabschnitt und einen konvexen gekrümmten Abschluss auslaufen.
• Ein sich parallel zur Schlüsselachse erstreckender Bereich weist eine konstante Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite) auf.
• Eine Normale auf mindestens einen Bereich der Flanke ist in einer Ebene, die zur Schlüsselachse senkrecht ist.
• Die Codierungsausnehmung ist spiegelsymmetrisch bezüglich einer auf die Schlüsselachse senkrechten Ebene.
• Die Stelle der Codierungsausnehmung mit der grössten Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite; z-Ausdehnung) befindet sich in y-Richtung beim Übergang zur Schmalseite.
• Insbesondere an der Stelle der Codierungsausnehmung mit der grössten Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite) kann die Codierungsausnehmung einen im Wesentlichen ebenen ersten Flächenabschnitt aufweisen, der insbesondere von parallelen Geraden begrenzt sein kann. Der im Wesentlichen ebene erste Flächenabschnitt kann eben sein, indem er durch ein parallel zur Schlüsselachse bewegtes abtragendes Werkzeug hergestellt ist, oder er kann die Form eines Abschnitts eines Kegelstumpfs haben, wobei die Ausdehnung entlang der Schlüsselachse im Vergleich zum Durchmesser des Kegelstumpfs derart gering ist, dass er im Wesentlichen eben wirkt. In diesem zweiten Fall kann die Herstellung durch ein abtragendes Werkzeug erfolgen, dessen Position entlang der Schlüsselachse (nachfolgend: x-Position) während der Herstellung des ersten Abschnitts konstant ist.

Through this design of the coding recess as a tool acting from the flat side or more generally, one or more of the following features can be realized:

• A termination of the coding recess to the front and to the rear is each formed by a surface that is curved at least in some areas. This can be concave, for example, or s-shaped in horizontal section (section in a plane parallel to the key axis). In the second case, the coding recess can extend from a first, central middle section forwards and backwards via a truncated cone-like concave surface section, a flatter surface section and a convex curved end.
• An area that extends parallel to the key axis has a constant depth (extent perpendicular to the flat side).
• A normal to at least one area of the flank is in a plane that is perpendicular to the key axis.
• The coding recess is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the key axis.
• The location of the coding recess with the greatest depth (extension perpendicular to the flat side; z-extension) is located in the y-direction at the transition to the narrow side.
• In particular, at the location of the coding recess with the greatest depth (extension perpendicular to the flat side), the coding recess can have a substantially flat first surface section, which can in particular be delimited by parallel straight lines. The essentially flat first surface section can be flat by being produced by an abrasive tool moved parallel to the key axis, or it can have the shape of a section of a truncated cone, the extent along the key axis being so small compared to the diameter of the truncated cone, that it essentially works. In this second case, production can be carried out using a removal tool whose position along the key axis (hereinafter: x position) is constant during the production of the first section.

The present invention also relates to a locking system with a flat key of the type described and a lock cylinder. Such a device has, in a manner known per se, a stator and a rotor with a key channel. The rotor can be rotated in the stator when the shaft of a suitable key is inserted into the key channel. The lock cylinder has a pin whose position is such that its radially inner end engages in the coding recess when the flat key is inserted (or hits the key where the coding recess would be if it were present if the key is coded in such a way that it does not have the coding recess). The pen therefore scans the coding recess. Depending on the coding it gives a rotation of the rotor in the stator is free or not depending on the presence and dimensioning of the coding recess.

The pin can be, for example, a profile pin, a tumbler of a spring-loaded tumbler-counter-tumbler pair or a profile wobble pin.

In particular, as is known per se, the pin is mounted in the rotor so as to be displaceable along a pin axis. The pin (or its pin axis) can be at an angle to the key that is different from a perpendicular to the flat side and, for example, also from a normal to the flank. In this way, it can be ensured that the pin does not hit the surface of the key it scans centrally (the edge formed by the coding recess), but rather acentrically. The shape of the radially inner end of the pin, in addition to the coding recess and its dimensions, also affects the position of the pin. This makes the task more difficult for the unauthorized key copier, as it is not enough for him to correctly copy one parameter (the depth of the hole), as is the case with coding holes - rather, he has to copy the exact shape of the coding recess to be sure that the copied key fits the lock cylinder can unlock. This generally cannot be accomplished using standard key cutting tools.

The pin axis can in particular be at an angle of at least 5°, for example at least 10°, to the normal to the flank.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a flat key of the type described in this text. The coding holes are created on a key blank with the key blade and the key shaft using a tool in a removal process. Before or after or in In the same operation, the at least one coding recess is also created with an abrasive tool. This happens in particular with a tool that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the flat side, ie the process takes place from the flat side, with the manufacturing technology advantage discussed above.

The method is carried out in particular in such a way that the coding recess is extended in the direction of the key axis, i.e. the tool is moved relative to the key shaft during the (milling) process, for example, at least in a direction parallel to the key axis (x direction), wherein the tool can be moved along a three-dimensional path to create a recess with parts tapering to the front and back. Alternatively, the tool can only be moved during the process in the direction perpendicular to the flat side (z direction) and can be positioned several times in succession in immediately adjacent axial positions (x positions).

It can be provided in each case that the tool attacks the side of the key shaft, in the sense that the tool axis is always guided next to the key shaft throughout the entire removal process, i.e. the (extended) tool axis does not penetrate the key shaft but is not attached to it Timing closer to the key axis than the narrow side.

In this text, the orientation terms "radial", "radial-inner", "axial", etc. generally refer, unless otherwise stated, to the key axis, which also corresponds to the lock cylinder axis in the locking system when the key is inserted. “Front” refers to the position towards the tip of the key, and “back” is the position towards the edge of the key.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Schlüssels;

Fig. 2

eine vergrösserte ausschnittweise Ansicht des Schlüssels gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht eines Schlüssels von vorne (von der Schlüsselspitze) her, mit schematisch eingezeichneten Werkzeugen für die Herstellung des Schlüssels;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines weiteren Schlüssels;

Fig. 5

eine vergrösserte ausschnittweise Ansicht des Schlüssels gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht eines Schliesszylinders mit eingestecktem Schlüssel von hinten (von der Schlüsselreide) her, mit einem Detail aus dem Innern des Schliesszylinders in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 7

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Schliesszylinders mit eingestecktem Schlüssel;

Fig. 8

ein Detail zu Fig. 2; und

Fig. 9

ein Detail zu Fig. 5.

The subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or analogous elements. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a key;

Fig. 2

an enlarged partial view of the key according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a view of a key from the front (from the key tip), with tools for making the key shown schematically;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of another key;

Fig. 5

an enlarged partial view of the key according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6

a view of a locking cylinder with an inserted key from behind (from the key blade), with a detail from the inside of the locking cylinder in a sectional view;

Fig. 7

a schematic sectional view of a lock cylinder with an inserted key;

Fig. 8

a detail too Fig. 2 ; and

Fig. 9

a detail too Fig. 5 .

Figure 1 shows an example of a key 1 with a key blade 11 and a key shaft 12. The key 1 is a flat key in which the key shaft is essentially non-square rectangular in cross section perpendicular to a key axis 10, which means that it has two mutually parallel flat sides 21 and two narrow sides 22 smaller area than the flat sides 21 are defined. An edge 25 is formed between the flat sides 21 and the narrow sides 22.

Figure 1 also shows the Cartesian coordinate system used in this text, with the x-direction running parallel to the key axis and the z-direction perpendicular to the flat sides 21.

On the key shaft 12 there are rows of coding holes 31 (coding holes) running parallel to the key axis 10.

In addition to the coding holes, the key in the embodiment shown also has a profiling in the form of grooves 32 running parallel to the key axis. For example, basic profile grooves (which are always the same in the locking system and only exclude keys from other locking systems) and/or variation profile grooves (which form a coding) can be present.

The key shown is a reversible key, i.e. the key shaft is symmetrical with respect to a rotation of 180° around the key axis 10, and the codings on the front and rear flat sides 21 are correspondingly identical.

In contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the key can also have a different number of rows of coding holes on the flat sides, for example 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6, instead of or in addition to the profiling, and / or it can also have coding holes on the narrow sides 22 have.

Towards the key tip 23, the key has an inlet ramp 24 that slopes obliquely forward, which enables the locking cylinder to have pins (e.g. tumblers) that scan the coding holes and which protrude further into the key channel than to the central plane, so that the coding holes potentially can have a depth greater than half the thickness of the key. This has a positive effect on the number of possible permutations.

In addition to coding holes in the flat side, the prior art also knows those in the narrow side and even holes that were made at an oblique angle (ie neither perpendicular nor parallel to the flat sides). In contrast to keys according to the prior art, the key according to Fig. 1 In addition to the coding holes, there are also coding recesses 35, one of which is in Figure 8 is shown enlarged. These are formed by removing material along the edge 25, so that there is a flank 43 which slopes monotonically from the flat side 21 to the narrow side 22, and there is no undercut, neither when viewed from the narrow side nor when viewed from the flat side.

The transition 41 between the coding recess and the flat side 21 as well as the transition 42 between the coding recess and the narrow side 22 each have a substantially straight section 201 or 202 in the middle that extends parallel to the key axis, i.e. the coding recess 35 is in relation to the x- Direction elongated. The coding recess extends to the front and back.

In the embodiment shown, the coding recess is also symmetrical with respect to a central plane perpendicular to the key axis 10.

In the exemplary embodiment Figures 1, 2 and 8th the flank 43 is essentially flat in the area between the straight sections 201 and 202 extending parallel to the key axis. In addition, as in Fig. 2 and 8th Particularly clearly visible, such a flat first section 206 has a substantially constant extension along the depth in the x direction, that is, it can be delimited by two approximately parallel straight lines 203, 204. These straight lines can adjoin the first transition 41 at right angles at the ends of the first section 201 of the first transition 41, in particular in a projection onto the flat side 21. The flat section 206 merges in the axial directions into a second and third section 207, 208, which is in the shape of a truncated cone section (in the example shown with a truncated cone tip towards the narrow side 22). The second and third sections merge into a curved end 211, 212 of the coding recess 35 via a flatter surface section 209, 210.

A property of coding recesses 35 of the type described here is that they can be produced by a removal (in particular cutting) process from a flat side (or possibly a narrow side) using a rotating tool (drill, milling machine). It is therefore possible to produce the coding recesses 35, even though they are on the edge 25 and neither in the flat side nor in the narrow side, in the same operation and, for example, with the same tool as the coding holes 31. This is in Figure 3 illustrated, which shows the key 1 clamped between two symbolically represented clamping jaws 51. A drilling and/or milling tool 52, which rotates about a tool axis 53 perpendicular to the flat sides, can produce the coding recesses by removing them. Therefore, the key does not have to be changed between attaching the coding holes 31 and attaching the coding recess(s). In particular, it is also possible to use the same drilling and/or milling tool that is used to create the coding holes.

When creating the coding recess(es), the tool axis 53 can be as in Fig. 3 shown lying laterally next to the key shaft, ie it is offset outwards in the y direction with respect to the corresponding narrow side 22, in the direction away from the key axis. The coding recess is essentially milled, which has the advantages described in this text.

Creating a coding recess as in Fig. 1 and 2 shown is effected by moving the drilling and/or milling tool rotating about its tool axis from above and/or laterally to the key until an initial recess of sufficient depth is created, and then relative to the key shaft in the x direction or -x -Direction and, for example, also in the y-direction is moved until the coding recess has its final size.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative key 1, which is different from the one from Fig. 1 and 2 distinguished by the shape of the coding recesses 35. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the coding recesses 35 each have a small flat section 45 (“bottom”; see also) towards the narrow side 22, ie approximately parallel to the flat side Figure 9 , which shows one of the coding recesses enlarged). In addition, the coding recesses 35 are in contrast to the embodiment Figures 1 and 2 concave towards the front and rear, ie the frustoconical section-shaped second and third sections 207, 208 each extend to the front and rear ends of the recess. The intermediate first section 206 is in contrast to the embodiment Figures 1,2 and 8th not completely flat, but only approximately flat. Accordingly, the middle section 201 of the first transition 41 is only approximately parallel to the key axis. Strictly speaking, the middle section 206, like the second and third sections 207, 208, is in the shape of a truncated cone, but can be viewed as approximately flat due to its small extent in the x direction.

Such a form as in Fig. 4.5 and 9 The coding recess is shown when the distance between the drilling and/or milling tool when creating the coding recess has a fixed y-position in relation to the key shank and makes a drilling movement (from above) several times at slightly different x-positions or after a Approaching from above is shifted in the x direction, with the y position fixed. In the example shown according to Figures 4, 5 and 9 The creation takes place by moving a drilling and/or milling tool three times to correspondingly different x positions with an identical y position, to create the second section 207, the first section (middle section) 206 and the third section 208. It would also be possible to create the approximately flat middle section of several adjacent subsections, each with a different x position of the drilling and / or milling tool, so that it would be approximately flat even if compared to Fig. 4, 5 and 9 would still be elongated in the x direction.

Also in the embodiments of Figures 4.5 and 9 applies as with the coding recesses that gently taper to the front and back Fig. 1 and 2 and as generally with a group of embodiments of the invention: also at both transitions from the coding recess to the edge 25, in the area in Fig. 5 In the case of one of the coding recesses, the recess is open to the outside in relation to the key axis and not inwards, ie a tangential plane to the surface delimiting the coding recess at these points points radially outwards in relation to the key axis or is at most parallel to the key axis, but it does not point radially inwards. Accordingly, a tangent 221 ( Fig. 9 ) at the transition 41 in the flat side plane at the point of contact with the edge at an angle δ of at least 90 ° to the edge 25. Therefore, in contrast to a coding hole, the coding recess is not limited to the outside, which is why it is not possible for an unauthorized key copier, at least not without great effort, to determine at which y position the tool axis was, i.e. the coding recess was created.

This feature, according to which the coding recess is open to the outside, can - and is - in the embodiments according to Figures 1,2 and 8th or 4, 5 and 9 - are also reflected in the fact that the first transition 41 is at a flat angle ( Fig. 4.5 and 9 ; the angle δ of the tangent in the flat side plane at the point of contact with the edge 25 is at least the same, in particular greater than 90 °) or in a continuous curve ( Fig. 1, 2 and 8th ; the curve is S-shaped and therefore includes a turning point 222) which merges into the edge 25.

The same applies in the illustrated exemplary embodiments to the second transition 42. This also extends - in the plane of the narrow side 22 - at a flat angle γ ( Fig. 4, 5 and 9 , please refer Fig. 9 ) or in a continuous curve with turning point 223 ( Fig. 1, 2 and 8th ) into the edge 25 over.

In Fig. 5 The depth t of the recess (extent in the z direction, ie perpendicular to the flat side) is also shown, which is approximately constant over an area b extending in the x direction, just like in Fig. 2 the case is.

Figures 6 and 7 show, in addition to the key, a lock cylinder 101. The lock cylinder 101 has, in a manner known per se, a stator 103 and a rotor 104 mounted therein. A key channel for inserting a flat key, for example a reversible key, is formed on the rotor 104. If the key is appropriately coded, the rotor 104 can be rotated relative to the stator 103 (around a lock cylinder axis parallel to the key axis). The output unit, which is not essential to the invention here and with which a bolt or other element is driven by the rotational movement of the rotor, is in Fig. 6 only partially shown.

As in Figs. 6 and 7 Illustrated can be a lock cylinder 100 with the key 1 in Fig. 1/2 or 4/5 illustrated type have at least one pin 111 which is mounted radially displaceably in the rotor 103 of the locking cylinder and which scans the coding recess. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin 111 is a profile pin (locking pin), which blocks rotation of the rotor 103 of the locking cylinder relative to its stator 104 if the coding recess is not present or is not in the right place or is not sufficiently large or sufficiently wide. However, as mentioned, the principle of the invention can also be applied to other pins, for example tumblers of spring-loaded tumbler-counter-tumbler pairs or profile wobble pins, which also block if the coding recess is too deep, for example (or can block if a coding recess is present where no such coding recess should be present).

A special feature of the locking system can be that the pin 111 is at an angle to the key 1, which is both different from a perpendicular to the flat side 21 and different from a normal to the flank 43. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the angle α between the pin axis 121 and the flat side 21 is approximately 25°, while the normal to the flank 43 is at an angle of approximately 45° to it. In this way, the result is that the pin 111 does not hit the surface of the key 1 that it scans centrally, but rather acentrically. The shape of the radially inner end of the pin 111 therefore has just as much of an effect on the radial (with respect to the key axis=lock cylinder axis) position of the pin 111 in its scanning position as the shape of the coding recess itself.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiments of a key, two coding recesses of the same axial length are shown. The invention is suitable for coding through a suitable choice of the number of coding recesses and of their dimensions. In addition to varying the number of coding recesses from key to key - even between coding recesses of the same key - the length (extension in the x direction) and/or the depth (extension in the y and z directions) can be varied Circumstances, when using different tools, also the flank angle - even if in many embodiments it is preferred that the flank angle is always the same.

The key can in particular - this applies to all embodiments - be a reversible key. In this case, the mechanical coding of each edge 25 corresponds to that of the edge that is diametrically opposite.

Claims (14)

1. A flat key (1), having a key bow (11) and a key shaft (12) extending along a key axis (10) from the key bow (11) to a front key tip (23) with two parallel flat sides (21) and two opposing narrow sides (22), wherein an edge (25) parallel to the key axis (10) extends between the flat sides and the narrow sides, wherein a row of coding bores (31) parallel to the key axis is formed on at least one of the flat sides, and wherein the flat key has at least one coding recess (35) in at least one of the edges (25), which forms a flank (43) which extends from the flat side to the narrow side and which has a monotonous gradient, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises a first, flat or truncated section-like surface section (206), characterized in that the coding recess (35) merges forward and backward into a second and third surface section (207, 208), each of which is designed in the manner of a truncated cone section.
2. The flat key according to claim 1, wherein a first transition (41) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side and/or a second transition (42) between the coding recess (35) and the narrow side has a section (201; 202) extending substantially parallel to the key axis (10).
3. The flat key according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one first and one second parallel straight line (203, 204) extend in the flank (43) of the coding recess (35), wherein, for example, the first and second parallel straight lines (203, 204) join at the ends of said section (201, 202), in particular at right angles in a projection onto the flat side (21).
4. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises a first surface section (206) which is flat or has the shape of a truncated cone section up to the flat side (21).
5. The flat key according to claim 4 with reference to claim 3, wherein the first surface section (106) is delimited by the parallel straight lines (103, 104).
6. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises at least one concave, truncated cone-like surface section (207, 208) which merges via a flatter surface portion (209, 210) into a convexly curved closure (211, 212) of the coding recess (35).
7. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first transition (41) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side merges into the edge (25) at a flat angle or in a continuous curve, and/or wherein a second transition (42) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side merges into the edge (25) at a flat angle or in a continuous curve.
8. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess can be produced by a removing tool (52) which rotates about a tool axis (53) perpendicular to the flat side (21).
9. The flat key according to claim 8, wherein the tool axis leads past the key shank.
10. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a closure of the coding recess towards the front and towards the rear is formed by a surface which is curved at least in some areas, and/or wherein there is a region which extends parallel to the key axis (10) in which the coding recess has a constant depth.
11. The flat key according to any one of the preceding claims, having an inlet ramp (24) which slopes down towards the tip of the key and the depth of which is greater than half the thickness of the key shank.
12. A locking system, having a flat key (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a locking cylinder (100) having a locking cylinder stator (104) and a locking cylinder rotor (103) with a key channel into which the key shank (12) of the flat key can be inserted, wherein the lock cylinder has a pin (111) which scans the coding recess (35) and enables or does not enable the rotation of the locking cylinder rotor depending on its presence or absence, wherein the pin (111) is, for example, at an angle to the key (1) which is both different from a perpendicular to the flat side (21) and different from a normal to the flank (43).
13. A method for producing a flat key according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein a key blank having the key bow (11) and the key shank (12) is provided and the coding bores (31) are produced with a tool in a machining process, and wherein the at least one coding recess (35) is also produced in a machining process, in particular by producing the coding recess (35) with a tool (52) which rotates about a tool axis (53) perpendicular to the flat side (21).
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tool (52) is moved relative to the key shank at least in the direction (x) of the key axis (10) during the production of the coding recess (35) while it removes material from the key shank, and/or wherein the tool (52) is applied at different axial positions relative to the key shank (12) in order to produce one and the same coding recess (35), and/or wherein the tool axis (53) is not closer to the key axis (10) than the narrow side (22) at any time that material of the key shank is removed to create the coding recess (35).

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