GB1563400A - Lock mechanism - Google Patents

Description

(54) LOCK MECHANISM (71) We, KABUSHIKI-KAISHA TOKAI RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO, a corporation organized under the laws of Japan, of 1, Aza-Kamisuiri, Ohaza-Shimootai, Nishibiwajimacho, Nishikasugai, Oichi, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to the field of lock mechanisms, and more specifically, to a rotatable lock mechanism having a cylinder-type lock which can be unlocked from either side thereof.

In recent times, two-way locks have come into wide use. Such locks are locks in which an associated key may be inserted from either the front or back side of the lock mechanism, i.e., from either side of the door. Such locks usually have a key opening which extends therethrough permitting the lock to be unlocked by an associated key being inserted into the lock from either side. In order to achieve this twoway operation, the key is formed so as to have a symmetrical key pattern thereby engaging the tumbler configuration which extends into the key opening regardless of the direction of the key insertion.

In the development of this type of cylinder lock, much effort has been made in connection with the manner of how the user will know how far into the door the key should be inserted in order to achieve the desired unlocking position. That is, to what extent the key should be inserted into the lock in order to properly engage the key pattern formed by the tumbler mechanism (pick pins) disposed in the locks. Unless the keyhead is to be prevented from moving entirely through the key opening, the user in the past generally depended upon his ability to "feel" the proper location of the key so as to catch the unlocking point of the lock mechanism. This resulted in substantial time being lost and otherwise troublesome operation.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a lock mechanism in which the lock has a stopper system extending from the edge of the rotor so that the stopper will prevent the key from going beyond the unlocking point by engaging a shoulder formed on the key.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lock mechanism comprising a rotor case; a rotor disposed in said case, said rotor having a key opening disposed therethrough, said opening permitting an associated key to be inserted therein from either side of said rotor, and slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position in which said rotor is locked in place. to a retracted position in which said rotor is moveable by operation of the associated key when inserted frim either side of the lock mechanism; and stopper means disposed on said rotor for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key such that said key inserted into said key opening from either side proceeds therein a predetermined distance to a position in which the pin members are moved into their retracted position by the associated key.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in lock system there is provided a rotor case having a rotor rotatably disposed therein, said rotor having (i) a key opening diposed therethrdugh, said opening permitling an associated key to tbe inserted therein from either side of said rotor in order to operate the lock system; (ii) slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position to a retracted position, when in said extended position said rotor is locked in place, and when in said retracted position said rotor is moveable; (iii) stopper means for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key disposed on said rotor such that a key inserted into said key opening from either side proveeds therein a predetermined distance; and (iv) an associated key, said key having a general circular in sertion end for inserting into said key opening, said insertion end formed from intersecting planar surfaces and a ledge member adjacent said insertion end, said ledge member configured to engage said stopper means upon insertion into said key opening.

Thus, the present invention achieves the above object by introducing stoppers which are disposed on both sides of the rotor such that an associated key is engaged by one or other of said stoppers when the key is inserted from one or other side of the rotor and has reached the unlocking point Thus, the user will know the unlocking point without depending upon his ability to "feel" to locate said unlocking point.

An example of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the lock mechanism of the present invention, showing the associated key being inserted from the left side of the lock mechanism.

FIGURE 2 is a second sectional view of the lock mechanism of the present invention showing the associated key being inserted from the right side of the lock mechanism and extending therethrough to the left side thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the associated key in connection with the lock mechanism of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines IV--IV of the key shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there are shown, as a presently preferred embodiment, the lock mechanism comprising a rotor case 1 in which a rotatable pin-containing rotor 2 is disposed. The rotor 2 is arranged and configured in the rotor case 1 so as to be rotatable within predetermined limits.

Axially disposed at the center of the rotor 2 is a key opening 3 which is arranged and configured to select an associated key 4.

By insertion of the associated key 4, the rotor 2 may be circumferentially rotated by the rotation of the key. A stopper member 5 is integrally formed on the the rotor 2 so as to extend into the path of the key 4 when it is inserted into the key opening 3.

Another stopper member 6 is formed on the opposite side of the rotor 2 such that stoppers 5 and 6 are in a parallel and spaced-apart configuration with the remaining elements of the lock mechanism sandwiched thereinbetween. While the stopper 5 is made of the same material as that of the rotor 2, and formed integrally, the stopper 6 is a separate unit which has a flange at one end thereof which is coupled to the rotor 2 with screws 6a. Thus, the associated key 4 which has a shoulder or ledge 7 formed along the length thereof, can be inserted into the key opening 3 by a predetermined distance until it engages the stopper 5 or stopper 6, depending upon the direction of the key insertion. Accordingly, the unlocking point may be selectively pre-set by adjusting the dimensions of the stoppers 5 and 6.

In the rotor case 1, the radially disposed holes 8 and holes 9 are extended through the rotor case 1 and the rotor 2 respectively. In this embodiment, these holes 8 and 9 are divided into two key phases in parallel in the axial direction of the key opening 3, each key phase comprising two pairs of holes 8 and 9. The inside diameter of the holes 8 is substantially identical to that of the larger diameter part 9A of the holes 9. The holes 9 also have a smaller diameter part 9B adjacent the key opening 3. Between those larger and smaller diameter parts 9A and 9B respectively, there is formed a shoulder portion 10. Pick pins 11A and 11B are slidably disposed in the holes 9 with pick pins 11A and 11B being different in length.Pick Pins 11A and 11B have a large diameter section 12A and a smaller diameter section 12B where the large diameter section 12A slidably fits into the larger diameter part 9A of the hole 9, while the smaller section 12B slidably fits into the smaller diameter part 9B. Behind pick pins 11A and 11B are slidably disposed lock pins 13. These lock pins 13 extend from the holes 8 of the rotor case 1 into the holes 9 of the rotor 2 across the abutment of the case 1 with the rotor 2 thereby preventing the rotor 2 from being rotatable.

To perform the locking function, a spring member 15 is mounted in engagement with a stopper plate 14 so as to extend into a concave area 13A of the lock pins 13. By this manner the lock pins 13 are springloaded so as to be forced in a radially inward direction. The lock pins 13 abuts the pick pins 11 and push the pick pins forward until the larger diameter section 12A is engaged by the shoulder 10. The smaller diameter section 12B of the pick pins 11A and 11B, however, extends into the key opening 3. The pick pins 11A and 11B are so designed that the extended portions of each of pick pins lIA and 11B into the key opening are varied in length.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the associated key of the present invention is clearly shown. The key 4 has a predetermined key pattern 16 longitudinally disposed on the elongated key which is configured to engage the pins 1 1A and 1 1B when the key 4 is inserted into the opening 3. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 1, the key pattern 16 has a symmetrical configuration formed of interesecting planar surfaces which has its symmetric center upon a notch 16A into which the pick pin 11A fits.The key match 4 has the notch 16A for accepting the pick pin 11A and a pair of notches 16B and 16C having the identical configuration on both sides of the notch 1 6A because the notches 1 6B and 16C are symmetrical and are thus able to accept the pick pin I 1 B alternatively depending upon the direction of insertion of the key 54.

The dimensions of notches 16A, 1 6B and 16C are so determined as to correspond to the degree of extension of the pick pins 11A and llB respectively, thereby permitting the pick pins 11A and 11B, when the key is engaged, to move into a retracted position where the bottom of the pick pins llA and 11B abuts the border between the rotor 2 and the rotor case 1. FIGURE 1 shows the lock with the associated key 4 inserted into the key opening 3 from the left side thereof. Note in this FIGURE that the bottom of the pick pins 11A and 11B are retracted up to the outer edge of the rotor 2 thus achieving the "unlocked" position.When the key is removed, the smaller diameter section 12B is pushed forward by the spring member 15 and further extends into the key opening 3 until the larger dia- meter section 12A abuts the shoulder 10 which holds the larger diameter section 12A in place. The lock pins 13 extend from the holes 8 of the rotor case 1 into the holes 9 thereby preventing the rotor 2 from rotating thus causing the lock to move into the "locked" position.

As discussed hereinabove, when the key 4 is inserted from the left side of the mechanism as shown in FIGURE 1, the shoulder 7 of the key 4 will abut the stopper 5 of the rotor 2 resulting in the key being positioned in the correct unlocking point. This enables the pick pins 11A and 11B to engage the notches 1 6A and 16B, whereby the pick pins 11A and 11B are reacted against the spring 15 so that the bottom of the pick pins 1 IA and 11B align with the edge of the rotor 2. The rotor 2 may now be rotated about upon the rotaiton of the key 4 to the unlocked position.

The key 4 may also be inserted into the key opening 3 from the right side as shown with reference to FIGURE 2. In this embodiment, the shoulder 7 of the key 4 abuts the stopper 6 placing the key 4 again in the unlocking point. In this case, the pick pins 11A and 11B engage the notches 1 6A and 16C resulting in the unlocked4 position as described with reference to FIGURE 1.

The distances from the abutment of the stopper 5 to the axis of the pick pin 11B and from the abutment of the stopper 6 to the axis of the pick pin 11A are not a mere matter of choice. These abutments are the positions which hold the shoulder 7 of the key 4. The key pattern 16 is originally determined by the number of the pick pins in their positions, according to which the position and the configuration of the notches of the key 4 will be set. Then the distance between the axis of the pick pin 11B and the abutment of the stopper 5 as well as the position of the shoulder 7 of the key 4 will be determined following the other dimensions.The distance between the abutment of the stopper 6 and the axis of the pick pin 11A may thus be measured by setting the key 4 in the unlocking point and measuring the distance between the shoulder 7 of the key way to the axis of the notch 16A which distance substantially represents the distance between the abutment of the stopper 6 and the axis of the pick pin 11A.

Accordingly, the distance between the abutment of the stopper 6 and the axis of the pick pin 1 lA may be represented by the following formula, if there are more than one pick pin: D= (n - 1) X P + t D: distance from the abutment of the stopper 6 to the axis of the nearest pick pin n : number of the pick pins p : distance between the axis of each pick pin t : distance from the abutment of the stopper 5 to the axis of the nearest pick pin Referring again to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is shown a two-way key used in the preferred embodiment of this invention. In FIGURE 3, the key 4 has as haft 40, a hold section 41 formed at one end of the shaft 40, and a key pattern area 42 at the other end of the shaft 40.The key pattern area 42 is formed from intersecting planar surfaces and is so designed as to have a larger diameter than the shaft 40. The tip portion of the pattern area 42 has a cone shape and forms a shoulder 7 behind the pattern area 42. Around the key pattern area 42 there are also provided key phases 42A which constitute a polygonal barrel. These key phases 42A may be formed by cutting the key pattern area toward the tip thereof. In this embodiment the key phases 42A are so designed as to form an octagon. By this cutting the key pattern area 42, the shoulder 7 is formed as indicated in FIGURE 4.

In the key phases 42A there should be formed a predetermined key pattern as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. According to this embodiment, the shoulder 7 of the key 4 may be formed in the process of cutting the key phases 42A which improves the construction costs.

As described hereinabove, the stopper 5 is formed as part of the rotor 2 and has a generally annular configuration. The stopper 6 has a flat base with an outwardly extending tube axially disposed thereon which is coupled to the rotor 2. Of course, other shapes for the rotor and stopper are within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims appcnded hereto, and other vari- ous spring members and sizes for the pick pins and lock pins can be used depending upon the degree of sophistication associated with the key 4.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A lock mechanism comprising: (a) a rotor case; (b) a rotor disposed in said case, said rotor having (i) a key opening disposed therethrough, said opening permitting an associated key to be inserted therein from either side of said rotor, and (ii) slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position in which said rotor is locked in place, to a retracted position in which said rotor is moveable by operation of the associated key when inserted from either side of the lock mechanism; and (c) stopper means disposed on said rotor for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key such that said key inserted into said key opening from either side proceeds therein a predetermined to a position in which the pin members are moved into their retracted position by the associated key.

2. The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein each said pin member is comprised of a pick pin and a lock pin, said pick pins extending radially outward from said key opening.

3. The lock mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said rotor has an annular configuration and is rotatably disposed in said case.

4. The lock mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said stopper means comprises a tube-like member coupled to each side of said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom.

5. In a lock system, a rotor case having a rotor rotatably disposed therein, said rotor having (i) a key opening disposed therethrough, said opening permitting an associated key to be inserted therein from either side of said rotor in order to operate the lock system; (ii) slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position to a retracted position, when in said extended position said rotor is locked in place, and when in said retracted position said rotor is moveable; (iii) stopper means for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key into said key opening from either side proceeds therein a predetermined distance; and (iv) an associated key, said key having a general circular insertion end for inserting into said key opening, said insertion end formed from intersecting planar surfaces and a ledge member adjacent said insertion end, said ledge member configured to engage said stopper means upon insertion into said key opening.

6. A lock mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   6 has a flat base with an outwardly extending tube axially disposed thereon which is coupled to the rotor 2. Of course, other shapes for the rotor and stopper are within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims appcnded hereto, and other vari- ous spring members and sizes for the pick pins and lock pins can be used depending upon the degree of sophistication associated with the key 4.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A lock mechanism comprising: (a) a rotor case; (b) a rotor disposed in said case, said rotor having (i) a key opening disposed therethrough, said opening permitting an associated key to be inserted therein from either side of said rotor, and (ii) slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position in which said rotor is locked in place, to a retracted position in which said rotor is moveable by operation of the associated key when inserted from either side of the lock mechanism; and (c) stopper means disposed on said rotor for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key such that said key inserted into said key opening from either side proceeds therein a predetermined to a position in which the pin members are moved into their retracted position by the associated key.

   2. The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein each said pin member is comprised of a pick pin and a lock pin, said pick pins extending radially outward from said key opening.

   3. The lock mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said rotor has an annular configuration and is rotatably disposed in said case.

   4. The lock mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said stopper means comprises a tube-like member coupled to each side of said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom.

   5. In a lock system, a rotor case having a rotor rotatably disposed therein, said rotor having (i) a key opening disposed therethrough, said opening permitting an associated key to be inserted therein from either side of said rotor in order to operate the lock system; (ii) slidable pin members disposed in holes located circumferentially about said opening, said pin members being moveable from an extended position to a retracted position, when in said extended position said rotor is locked in place, and when in said retracted position said rotor is moveable; (iii) stopper means for regulating the insertion distance of the associated key into said key opening from either side proceeds therein a predetermined distance; and (iv) an associated key, said key having a general circular insertion end for inserting into said key opening, said insertion end formed from intersecting planar surfaces and a ledge member adjacent said insertion end, said ledge member configured to engage said stopper means upon insertion into said key opening.

   6. A lock mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.