ES2372184T3 - REPROGRAMABLE LOCK. - Google Patents

Abstract

A reprogrammable lock comprises a rotor (2) mounted rotatably inside a stator (1). In the rotor (2) are mounted key reading plates (3) to read the coding profile (8b, 9b) of a user/programming key (8, 9), locking plates (4) that can couple with the key reading plates (3) and are adapted to block rotation of the rotor (2) with respect to the stator (1), two lateral inserts (6) integral with the locking plates (4) and provided with an arched surface (6b) adapted to slide on the inner surface of the stator (1), and a rotation stopping plate (10) free from the locking plates (4) to block rotation of the rotor (2) with respect to the stator (1).

Description

Reprogrammable lock

The present invention relates to a reprogrammable lock that makes it possible, through the rotation of the rotor by means of special reprogrammable keys, to modify the key reading mechanism, thus allowing the lock to be operated with keys that have different codes than previously used and thus preventing the latter from activating the lock.

Reprogrammable locks are known in the art that in any case present some drawbacks, such as for example structural complexity, difficult industrial production, complicated reprogramming operations, and poor safety and reliability.

Reprogrammable locks are disclosed, for example, in WO 98/40589, US 1 917 302, GB 1 554 877 and US 4 069 694; in particular:

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 WO 98/40589 discloses a cylinder lock according to the preamble of claim 1 programmable through master keys;

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 US 1 917 302 discloses a lock for multiple keys, preferably arranged for operation with a master key;

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 GB 1 554 877 discloses a resettable lock assembly; Y

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 US 4 069 694 discloses a cylindrical lock of double cylinder and double shutter, in which a first shutter is operated by a user key and the other shutter is operated by a program key to adjust the first shutter to actuate by a different user key.

The object of this invention is to produce a reprogrammable lock that can be produced in an industrial manner, which has particular characteristics of mechanical resistance and resistance to attempts at opening with a pick, which can be reprogrammed with fast and safe operations by the user, and which can programmed only by those who have special programming keys.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the characteristics listed in the attached independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.

The reprogrammable lock according to the invention comprises:

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 a stator in the form of a hollow cylinder,

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 a rotor in the form of a cylindrical block rotatably mounted inside the stator, and

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 a locking and programming mechanism arranged inside the rotor.

The locking and programming mechanism comprises:

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 a plurality of key reading plates disposed transversely inside the rotor and provided with grooves arranged aligned with each other to allow the passage of a user or programming key whose coding profile defines the movement of said key reading plates,

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 a plurality of locking plates mounted transversely on said rotor and provided with an end protruding outwardly from the rotor to engage in a defined cavity inside said stator so that the rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator is blocked, being able to coupling said locking plates with said key reading plates so that they can move towards an unlocked position to allow rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator,

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 at least two lateral insertion pieces intended to be disposed transversely in said rotor, in solidarity with the locking plates and provided with an arcuate surface adapted to slide on the internal surface of the stator acting as a cam, said lateral insertion parts being able to move radially for coupling between said locking plates and said key reading plates, and

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 a rotation stop plate disposed transversely inside said rotor and provided with a slot arranged aligned with the slots of said key reading plates to allow the passage of the user key or the programming key, and having a end that, in the state in which the lock is supplied to the customer,

protrudes outward from the rotor to engage in a defined cavity inside said stator so that the rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator is locked, and being adapted to be operated only by the programming key to unlock the rotation of the rotor with Regarding the stator.

5 More clear features of the invention will become clearer by the following detailed description, which refers to an embodiment merely by way of example and therefore not limiting thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating all the elements of the reprogrammable lock according to an exploded embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2 and 2A are two cross-sectional views of the lock assembled according to an embodiment of the invention, taken respectively along the plane of a rotation stop plate and a key reading plate, in which the lock It is in the initial state as supplied;

Figures 3 and 3A are two views like Figures 2 and 2A, in which the programming key has been inserted into the lock;

Figures 4 and 4A are two views like Figures 2 and 2A, in which the rotor has been rotated 45 ° to carry out the programming of the lock;

Figures 5 and 5A are two views like Figures 2 and 2A, in which the programming key has been removed once the programming has been carried out;

Figures 6 and 6A are two views like Figures 2 and 2A, in which the user key has been inserted into the lock;

Figures 7 and 7A are two views like Figures 2 and 2A, in which the rotor has been rotated 180 ° with respect to the situation illustrated in Figures 6 and 6A.

A reprogrammable lock according to an embodiment of the invention is described with the help of the figures. Figure 1 shows the reprogrammable lock according to an embodiment of the invention, with all its exploded details.

The lock comprises a stator 1, with a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, provided with an axial hole 1a to contain a rotor 2 in the form of a small cylinder that can rotate inside the stator 1.

On the inside surface of the stator 1, inside the hole 1a, cavities 1c (four similar opposite cavities) and 1b are defined, adapted to be used to accommodate the elements of the lock mounted on the rotor 2, such

40 as will be described hereinafter.

The rotor 2 is composed of a cylindrical body in which cavities are formed containing the various elements of the mechanism of reprogramming the lock. For this purpose, transverse cavities 2b are formed on the lateral surface of the rotor 2, adapted to receive respective key reading plates 3 and

45 respective springs 12 that deflect the key reading plates 3 radially outward. To be precise, a first group of four key reading plates 3 is inserted into a first row of transverse grooves 2b and a second group of five key reading plates 3 is inserted into a second row of transverse grooves 2a arranged in a opposite position to the first row.

50 Again on the lateral surface of the rotor 2, near the ends thereof, two transverse seats 2f are formed, adapted to accommodate lateral insertion pieces 6 with respective springs 13 that deflect the lateral insertion pieces 6 radially outward.

Again on the side surface of the rotor 2, between the two rows of seats 2b, there is a row of seats 2a

55 transverse adapted to receive respective locking plates 4. To be precise, nine locking plates 4 are provided, that is to say a number equal to the number of key reading plates 3. Each lock plate 4 receives a respective programming plate 5 adapted to engage with a respective key reading plate 3, as will be described hereinafter.

60 On the lateral surface of the rotor 2, near the front end thereof, a final transverse cavity 2c is provided, which serves to contain a rotation stop plate 10 and the spring 12 thereof which radially deflects it outwards.

On the front of the rotor 2 there is a first longitudinal cavity 2d which serves to receive a user key 8 or a programming key 9, as will be described hereinafter.

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Again in the front part of the rotor 2 there is a second longitudinal cavity 2e which serves to insert a pin 7 which is used to join the locking plates 4, the programming plates 5, the side insertions 6 and the springs 13 respective in a single body.

The key reading plates 3 have a cavity 3a formed with an protruding tooth 3c which serves for the passage and reading of the coding profile 8b, 9b present in the keys 8, 9.

The outer part of each key reading plate 3 has teeth 3b which are coupled with matching teeth 5a provided on the outside of each programming plate 5. In this way, the key reading plates 3 and the programming plates 5 form a single group, thus determining the coding. The key reading plates 3 never protrude beyond the edge of the outer diameter of the rotor 2, and their function is only to adapt to the coding profile 8b, 9b produced in the key 8, 9, without interfering with the rotation of the rotor 2 with respect to the stator

one.

The lower part of each key reading plate 3 has a recessed seat 3d in which the respective spring 12 is housed.

The locking plates 4 have a seat 4a which serves to contain the programming plates 5. In the blocking plates 4 there is also a groove or hole 4b that serves to pass the pin 7. The blocking plates 4 have an end protruding outward from the rotor 2 that enters the cavity 1c of the stator 1 to block the Rotation of the rotor 2 if an unauthorized person tries to open the lock with a key with different coding than the programming or use.

The programming plates 5 have teeth 5a that engage with the teeth 3b of the key reading plates 3 that determine the coding of the user key during programming. The programming plates 5 have a slot or hole 5b to receive the pin 7 so that a single integral body is formed with the locking plates 4 and the side insertions 6.

The side insert pieces 6 have an arcuate surface 6b adapted to slide over the inner surface of the stator 1. The inner surface of the stator acts as a cam, while the arched surface 6b of the side insert pieces 6 acts as a follower of cam.

The lateral insertion pieces 6 further comprise a hole 6a for the insertion of the pin 7 and another blind hole (not shown) containing the respective springs 13. The lateral insertion pieces 6 thus serve to move the programming plates 5 in solidarity with the locking plates 4.

The front rotation stop plates 10 have a seat 10a adapted to allow the user key 8 or the programming key 9 to pass thereto. The end of the rotation stop plate 10 protrudes from the rotor 2 to partially engage in the cavity 1b of the stator 1 and block the rotation of the rotor. The rotation stop plate 10 is also used as an anti-hook plate, being composed of a material that resists drilling or forced attempts with blunt instruments. On the outside of the rotation stop plate 10 there is a relief cut 10b which provides a housing for the spring 12.

A rotation limiter 11 consisting of a circular plate having a square hole 11a and a tooth 11b is arranged at the rear of the rotor 2. The rotation limiter 11 is applied at the rear of the rotor 2 to limit the rotation of the rotor during the 90º opening of the lock.

In the front part of the rotor 2 there is a cover 14 which has a cavity 14a in its front part intended to be aligned with the cavity 2d for the passage of the user key 8 or the programming key 9.

The lock according to the invention is supplied with two keys 8 and 9, with coding profiles 8b and 9b identical to each other. These are reversible keys with an internal profile of two tracks. One is the programming key 9 and the other is the user key 8.

The programming key 9 differs from the user key 8 in that it has two teeth 9a and relative relief cuts formed at the end of the rod of the coding plane 9b, on the projection of the key. The teeth 9a of the programming key serve to actuate the rotation stop plate 10, which is the first plate in the rotor 2, in the direction of insertion of the key.

The actuation of the lock according to the invention, which takes place by means of a sequence of operations, is described hereinbelow with reference to Figures 2-7A.

The assembled lock, in the state in which it is supplied to the customer, is as illustrated in Figures 2 and 2A. As shown in Figure 2, the rotation stop plate 10 is locked in the cavity 1b of the stator 1, preventing the rotation of the rotor 2 with respect to the stator 1 both clockwise and counterclockwise. The

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Side insert 6 is arranged in the cavity 1c of the stator 1 and prevents the rotation of the rotor only in an anti-clockwise direction. As shown in Figure 2A, the teeth 3b of the key reading plates 3 are opposite to the teeth 5a of the programming plates 5, that is to say they are misaligned with respect to the grooves defined by the teeth 5a of the plates 5 programming.

This condition is called the programming condition because in this position the lock must be programmed, providing the lock with an absent feature, specifically the ability to read only one key coding, so that it is used uniquely by the key owner. of programming. From this position, the special programming key 9 must be inserted into the slot 2d of the rotor 2 in order to program the lock.

As shown in Figure 3, once the programming key 9 has been inserted into the lock, the teeth 9a of the programming key 9 move the rotation stop plate 10 from the cavity 1b of the stator 1, of so that the entire rotor assembly 2 can subsequently rotate to the position in which the programming has been carried out, that is, 45 ° clockwise with reference to the figures. Before proceeding with the rotation of the rotor 2, it should be noted that the rotor 2 cannot rotate counterclockwise due to the side insert 6 that stops against a plane of the cavity 1c of the stator 1, as shown in figures 2 and

3.

Furthermore, with the insertion of the programming key 9, figure 3A, the key reading plates 3, thanks to the deviation of the relative springs 12, come to rest on the coding profile 9b of the programming key 9, thus having place a correct alignment between the teeth 3b of key reading plates 3 and the grooves defined between the teeth 5a of the programming plates 5.

As shown in Fig. 4, during programming (45 ° rotation of the rotor 2) the curved surfaces 6b of the lateral insert pieces 6 slide along a curve 1d defined in the internal surface of the stator 1 which is eccentric with respect to the axis of the lock. Consequently, the lateral insertion pieces 6 move towards the center of the rotor 2.

During this operation, the lateral insertion pieces 6, by means of the pin 7, pull the programming plates 5 (figure 4A) inserted in the seat 4a formed in the locking plates 4, until they are coupled with the plates 3 of key reading In this way, through the engagement of the teeth 3b and 5a of the key reading plates 3 and the programming plates 5, a solidarity assembly is created between the key reading plates 3, the locking plates 4 and the 5 programming boards.

Once the programming of the lock is completed, the rotor 2 cannot continue its rotation beyond 45 °, in which, as shown in Figure 4, the rotation stop plate 10 stops against a plane of the cavity 1c present in the stator 1.

The next phase will be to remove the programming key 9 and insert the user key 8 with coding 8b identical to the previous one 9b.

As shown in Figures 5 and 5A, in the situation where the lock is closed without the key inserted, it is impossible for the rotor to make any rotation. In fact, the rotation stop plate 10 and the lock plate 4, which are part of the solidarity assembly of the plates 3, 4 and 5 described above, through the deflection of their springs 12, are themselves placed in the cavity 1c of stator 1.

Figures 6 and 6A show the situation in which the user key 8 is inserted into the slot 2d of the rotor. With reference to FIG. 6A, during this operation the key reading plates 3 rest on the coding profile 8b of the key 8. As a result, the assembly of the plates 3, 4 and 5 moves in a solidary manner, aligning by itself externally to the outer diameter of the rotor 2, so as to allow 180 ° rotation thereof, as shown in Figure 7A.

With reference to Figure 6, in the same situation, the rotation stop plate 10, through the spring 12 that deflects it, comes to rest on the user key 8, which is lower in its working section than the programming key 9. Because of this, the rotation stop plate 10 is made to move towards the center of the rotor

2.

This causes the alignment of the rotation stop plate 10 with the rotor 2 at the top, while at the bottom the rotation stop plate 10 will butt against an external wall 1e of one of the cavities 1c present in the stator 1.

In this condition, the rotor can rotate freely 180º clockwise, as shown in figure 7.

The 180 ° rotation stop is formed in the projection of the rotor 2 which stops against a wall 1f of the cavity 1c.

In this position, called the "open lock" position, the key 8 can be removed.

It must be specified that the removal and insertion of the keys 8, 9 are determined by the condition that provides the blocking plates 4 with the possibility of being able to protrude from the line of the outer diameter of the rotor

2. In fact, codes 8b and 9b produced on the keys are of different heights, and are read by the key reading plates 3, in solidarity with the locking plates 4 and the programming plates 5. Thus, during the linear movement of the key 8, 9, there is a movement of the solidarity group of the plates 3, 4 and 5 that is possible only in the 0 ° and 180 ° positions, coinciding with the cavities 1c formed in the stator 1 .

10 In addition, when the inserted user key 8 does not have the same coding as the programming key 9 (typical in forced attempts with the use of counterfeit keys) the keyless situation described with reference to Figures 5 and 5A is reproduced. The differences in the coding between the two keys 8 and 9 mean that a part of the locking plates 4 is located inside the cavity 1c of the stator 1, thus preventing the normal operation of the

15 lock

Numerous variations and modifications of details can be made, within the scope of one skilled in the art, to the present embodiment of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. Reprogrammable lock comprising: 5 - a stator (1) in the form of a hollow cylinder,

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 a rotor (2) in the form of a cylindrical block rotatably mounted inside the stator (1),

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 a plurality of key reading plates (3) arranged transversely inside the rotor (2), 10

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 a plurality of locking plates (4) transversely mounted on said rotor (2) and provided with an end protruding outwardly from the rotor (2) to engage in a cavity (1c) defined inside said stator (1) so that the rotation of the rotor (2) with respect to the stator (1) is blocked, said locking plates (4) being able to be coupled with said key reading plates (3) so that

15 can move towards an unlocked position to allow rotation of the rotor (2) with respect to the stator (1); characterized in that said key reading plates (3) are provided with slots (3a) arranged aligned with each other to allow the passage of a user key or a programming key (8, 9) whose profile (8b, 9b) of coding defines the movement of said key reading plates (3), and because it also includes:

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 at least two lateral insertion pieces (6) intended to be disposed transversely in said rotor (2) in solidarity with the locking plates (4), said lateral insertion parts (6) being provided with a

25 arched surface (6b) adapted to slide on the internal surface of the stator (1) that acts as a cam, said lateral insertion pieces (6) being able to move radially to engage between said locking plates (4) and said plates (3) key reading, and

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 a rotation stop plate (10) disposed transversely inside said rotor (2) and

30 provided with a slot (10a) arranged aligned with the slots (3a) of said key reading plates to allow the passage of the user key or the programming key (8, 9), said plate being provided (10) for stopping rotation of one end which, in the state in which the lock is supplied to the customer, protrudes outwardly from the rotor (2) to engage in a cavity (1b) defined inside said stator ( 1) so that the rotation of the rotor (2) with respect to the stator (1) is blocked and being 35 adapted to be operated only by means of the programming key (9) to unlock the rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator. 2. Reprogrammable lock according to claim 1, characterized in that each locking plate (4) has a seat (4a) adapted to receive a programming plate (5) that can be coupled with plate (3) of respective key reading. 3. The reprogrammable plate according to claim 2, characterized in that said blocking plates (4), said programming plates (5) and said lateral insert pieces (6) have respective holes or slots (4b, 5b, 6a) aligned to receive a pin (7) so that a solidarity assembly is formed. 4. A reprogrammable lock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said key reading plates (3) have external teeth (3b) adapted to engage in a clamping relationship with matching external teeth (5a) formed in said plates (5) of programming. A reprogrammable lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each key reading plate (3) has a recessed seat (3d) adapted to receive a spring (12) that interposes between the reading plate (3) of key and rotor (2). 6. A reprogrammable lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotation stop plate (10) has a relief cut (10b) adapted to receive a spring (12) that intervenes between the rotation stop plate (10) and the rotor (2). 7. Reprogrammable lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Each side insert (6) has a hole in the wall opposite its curved wall (6b) to receive a spring (13) that is interposed between the side insert (6) and the rotor (2). 8. Reprogrammable lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotor (2) comprises: 65 - two opposite rows of transverse seats (2b) for receiving said key reading plates (3),

- a row of transverse seats (2a) for receiving said locking plates (4),

- two transverse seats (2f) arranged near the side ends to receive said parts (6) of

side insertion,

5

- a transverse seat (2c) for receiving said rotation stop plate (10), and

- a longitudinal slot (2d) to allow the insertion of the user key or the key (8, 9) of

programming.

10

9.

Reprogrammable lock according to claim 8, when it depends on claim 3, characterized

because said rotor (2) comprises a longitudinal hole or groove (2e) adapted to allow the passage of

said pin (7) that retains the locking plates (4), the programming plates (5) and the parts (6) of

lateral insertion.

fifteen

10.

Reprogrammable lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

said stator (1) has on its inner surface four seats (1c) diametrically opposed to receive the

end of said locking plates (4) and said rotation stop plate (10) and a seat (1b)

to receive said arcuate surface (6b) of said lateral insert pieces (6).

twenty