GB2166485A

GB2166485A - Improvements relating to keys

Info

Publication number: GB2166485A
Application number: GB08524562A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Victor Herriott
Original assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Current assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Priority date: 1984-10-06
Filing date: 1985-10-04
Publication date: 1986-05-08
Also published as: GB8425325D0; GB8524562D0; GB2166485B

Abstract

A key comprises a metal body (10,11) defining a window and a piece (16) of sheet material mounted in the window. Marks which are apaque to infra-red radiation are carried on the sheet to present information which can be read by an appropriate reader. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to keys From one aspect, the present invention relates to a key for operating a lock. From a second aspect, the invention relates to an information carrier. The invention also relates to a method of making keys and information carriers.

A key is required to transmit mechanical drive from a user to a lock and is required also to present to the lock information which identifies the key. This information may be presented mechanically, the shape of a bit of the key distinguishing the key from other keys which are intended to be incapable of operating the lock with which a particular key is intended to be used. There have also been proposals of keys which present information magnetically, there being associated with the key a permanent magnetic field and different keys having different fields.

Locks intended to read from a key information presented mechanically are usually designed to read that information mechanically, the key being adapted to control the position of tumblers of the lock. For reading information presented magnetically by a key, there have been proposed locks comprising locking elements which can be moved by the magnetic field of the key and locks having electronic devices which are not moved by the key but provide an electrical output signal when subjected to the magnetic field of the key.

Similar arrangements of electronic devices have been proposed for reading information from information carriers which are not intended to impart drive but which present information magnetically.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key wherein the information to be presented to a lock is borne by a piece of sheet material and is in the form of an interrupted layer of different material on a face of the sheet material and/or in the form of interruptions in the piece of sheet material.

The interrupted layer may be of magnetic material, in which case the supporting sheet material would be non-magnetic. The magnetic material may be applied to selected areas of the face of the supporting sheet material in a plastic or substantially liquid condition and caused or permitted to set to a substantially solid condition.

Alternatively, the interrupted layer may be of a material which is opaque to or is a reflector of radiation, for example visible light and/or infrared radiation. With this alternative also, the material of the interrupted layer may be applied to selected areas of the face of the supporting sheet material in a plastic or substantially liquid condition and thereafter be caused or permitted to set to a substantially solid condition.

The key preferably incorporates a cover which covers the interrupted layer on the supporting sheet material or covers the interrupted sheet material, as the case may be.

The cover may be adapted to protect the interrupted layer from mechanical damage and /or to conceal the interrupted layer from view.

Thus, in a case where the interrupted layer is of a magnetic material, the cover is preferably non-magnetic and in a case where the interrupted layer is of a material opaque to infrared light, the cover is preferably substantially transparent to infra-red light, in each case being opaque to visible light, so that the information cannot be read from the key by inspection with the unaided eye.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an information carrier wherein the information is borne by a piece of sheet material and is in the form of an interrupted layer of different material on a face of the sheet material and/or in the form of interruptions in the piece of sheet material.

The information carrier preferably has a smooth profile, in contradistinction to the profile of known keys intended to act mechani cally on the tumblers of a lock, which keys generally have a profile which includes serrations.

The information borne by the carrier is preferably spaced from the periphery of the carrier and may be presented in a window defined by the carrier.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making a key or other information carrier wherein a marking medium is applied to a piece of sheet material to form an interrupted layer of the marking medium on the sheet material, there is formed a key shank or carrier defining a window and the piece of sheet material is mounted on the key shank or carrier to span the window. The marking medium may be opaque to visible light but is not essentially capable of making a mark which is visible to the unaided eye. The marking medium may, for example, be adapted to absorb infra-red radiation whilst transmitting visible light substantially unchanged.It will be understood that reference to mounting of the piece of sheet material on the key shank embraces an arrangement in which the piece of sheet material lies at an outer face of the key shank and embraces arrangements in which the piece of sheet material lies inwardly of the outer face of the key shank.

A cover is preferably applied to the piece of sheet material, when the latter has been mounted on the key shank.

The cover may be comprised by a component which is or is approximately a duplicate of a component to which the piece of sheet material is applied.

The interrupted layer may comprise a plural ity of discrete groups of marks, which groups are applied in succession. A group may consist of a single mark or a plurality of marks.

The groups are preferably arranged in a row. A group at one end of the row may be applied first, successive groups along the row being applied subsequently and a group at the opposite end of the row being applied last.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making a plurality of keys wherein there is formed for each key a shank defining a window, is applied to successive portions of a piece of sheet material, hereinafter called a web, successive groups of marks, the web is severed into separate pieces, each of which pieces bears respective one of said groups of marks and each piece of the web is mounted in a shank of a respective one of the keys, each group of marks applied to the web being so selected from a predetermined set of groups that at least some of said pieces differ from each other in respect of the marks present on the pieces.

It will be appreciated that several keys which are identical may be required, in which case the same groups of marks may be applied in the same order to each of a plurality of the pieces of the strip. However, keys which are intended to present different information will differ from one another in respect of the marks present A method in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention may be applied to the manufacture of information carriers, other than keys. In this case, each carrier would be formed to define a window and the strip prepared, severed and mounted as in a method in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention.

Whilst the strip is preferably marked by the application of marking medium to the strip, it is within the scope of the invention for the strip to be marked by piercing the strip to form discrete apertures therein.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a store for storing a plurality of predetermined sets of information, each set comprising a number of sub-sets, an applicator having a plurality of marking elements, one for each sub-set, each marking element being adapted to pierce strip material, transport means for moving an elongated piece of sheet material through a marking position and means for effecting piercing of the sheet mateial by the marking elements at the marking position so that the marking elements collectively form two rows of piercings on the sheet material, the piercings being substantially uniform with regard to the size and shape and the spacing of successive piercings being determined by the information in the store.

An example of a key in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and of apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is used in a method according to the invention, will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a plan view of certain parts of a key; Figure 2 shows a partial underneath plan view of the key; Figure 3 shows a section on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a further part of the key, isolated from the parts of Fig. 1; Figure 5 shows a side view of the part of Fig. 4; Figure 6 shows an end view of the part of Fig. 4; and Figure 7 shows a side view of the completed key, those parts which are shown in Fig. 1 being shown in Fig. 7 in cross-section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1.

The key shown in Fig. 1 comprises a shank 10 with a handle 11 at one end of the shank.

The transverse cross-sectional shape of the shank 10 in a plane perpendicular to the length of the shank is non-circular, the shank thereby being adapted to transmit mechanical drive to a lock (not shown). The handle and the shank are formed of materials which provide sufficient strength for the transmission of drive from a user who grasps the handle to a driven element of a lock which is engaged by the shank 10, when the key is applied to the lock. In the particular example illustrated, the shank 10 has a rectanguiar transverse crosssection and therefore has a pair of opposed major faces 12, 13 and a pair of opposed minor faces, all extending longitudinally of the shank.

The shank defines a window 14 in the major faces at a position spaced from the minor faces. A piece of sheet material 16 occupies the window.

The window 14 is elongated, its length extending in the direction of the length of the key-shank. Opposite end portions 17 and 18 of the window have the same width. The width of an intermediate portion of the window varies from place-to-place. Immediately adjacent to the face 12 of the shank and adjacent to the end portion 17, the width of the intermediate portion is the same as that of the end portion 17. Immediately adjacent to the face 12 and adjacent to the end portion 18, the width is somewhat less. As shown in Fig.

2, immediately adjacent to the face 13, and adjacent to the end portion 17, the width of the intermediate portion is somewhat less than that of the end portion 17. Accordingly, there are at opposite sides of the window shoulders positioned half-way through the thickness of the shank and facing towards the major face 12. Immediately adjacent to the face 13 and adjacent to the end portion 18, the intermediate portion of the window has the same width as does the end portion 18.

Thus, the key-shank defines a further pair of shoulders 21, 22 at opposite sides of the window and facing towards the major face 13 of the shank.

As shown in Fig. 4, the piece 16 of sheet material is elongated, having a length substantially equal to that of the window 14. Along one half of the length of the piece 16, its width is substantially equa! to the width of the narrower part of the window 14. Along the remainder of its length, the piece 16 has a width substantially equal to that of the wider part of the window. Near to the wider end of the piece 16, there are formed a pair of flanges 23, 24 which project from one face of the piece of sheet material for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of that piece and which are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the narrower part of the piece. The length of each of the flanges 23 and 24 does not exceed the length of the end portions 17 and 18 of the window.

As shown in Fig. 7, the assembled key comprises a further piece 25 of sheet material, which may be identical with the piece 16, and is arranged in face-to-face relation thereto. The wider end of the piece 16 is adjacent to the narrower end of the piece 25 so that the piece 16 rests on the shoulders 19 and 20 and the piece 25 rests against the shoulders 21 and 22. The pieces 16 and 25 are secured together so that they are trapped in the shank of the key.

The marks which represent the information borne by the key may be in the form of an interrupted layer of a marking medium on that face of the piece 16 of sheet material which is presented towards the piece 25. Alternatively, the marks may be provided on a third piece of sheet material which is trapped between the pieces 16 and 25. The pieces of sheet material are formed of one or more plastics compositions and may be adhered or welded together.

At least the shank 10 and, preferably, the handle 11 also is formed of a metal. The pieces of sheet material 16 and 25 may be opaque to visible light and may be transparent to other radiation, for example infra-red radiation.

The preparation of a number of pieces of sheet material 16 is illustrated in Fig. 8. A computer 25 is provided with a programme which controls operation of a printer 26 connected with the computer. The programme causes the printer to print on a web 27 a number of sets of marks, one set for each of a corresponding number of keys. The marks are copied from the web by a photocopier 28 onto a plastics film or sheet. This film or sheet is then cut up into pieces by a set of cutting tools 29 which may, for example, be mounted in a press. Each of the pieces of film or sheet formed by the cutting tools 29 bears on one of its faces an interrupted layer of marking medium which has been applied by the photocopier and which represents the information to be borne by the corresponding key.In a case where plastics sheet is used, the pieces constitute the pieces 16 of the key shown in Fig. 7 and the cutting tools may be adapted to form the flanges 23 and 24 on each piece, during the cutting operation. In a case where plastics film is used, each piece of film would be trapped between the pieces 16 and 25 of sheet material in a key as shown in Fig. 7.

In an alternative procedure, a printer controlled by a computer may apply to a web a magnetic marking medium, for example a medium containing a powdered ferrite. Information would be read magnetically from a key produced in this way.

Generally, a marking medium which is opaque to at least infra-red radiation will be applied by the photocopier 28 to one face of the plastics film or sheet. If the marking medium is also opaque to visible light, the pieces 16 and 25 of sheet material also are preferably opaque to visible light. These pieces would, however, be transparent to infra-red radiation. Alternatively, all of the pieces of sheet material and the marking medium may be transparent to visible light, the marking medium alone being opaque to other radiation, for example infra-red radiation.

The piece 16 of sheet material is applied to the upper face of the key whilst the piece 25 of sheet material is applied to the lower face of the key. The pieces of sheet material are then secured together.

The set of marks provided in each key may be arranged in two or three rows extending along the window. One of these rows constitutes a ciocktrack and, in use, is interrogated by reading means to ascertain the times at which the or each other track should be interrogated.

Three beams of radiation may be directed through the window for interrogating respective ones of the rows of marks.

Whilst we prefer to form the marks by applying a marking medium to a piece of sheet material, the marks may alternatively be made by punching material from a piece of sheet material which is subsequently trapped between further pieces of sheet material in the key. In this case, the piece of sheet material which is pierced to form the marks may itself be opaque to infra-red radiation.

It will be appreciated that the key illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be used merely as an information carrier, to present information to a reader which is not driven mechanically. The reader would provide an electrical output signal dependent upon the information presented by the key and that signal would be used for controiling associated apparatus, for example a data processor or an electrical latch release. In a case where the key is not required to transmit mechaical drive to a lock, the shank 10 may be formed of a material which does not have the degree of rigidity necessary in a key.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed functon, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A key for transmitting mechanical drive from a user to a lock and for presenting to the lock information which identifies the key, wherein the information is borne by a piece of sheet material.

2. A key according to Claim 1 wherein the information is in the form of an interrupted layer of different material on a face of the sheet material.

3. A key according to Claim 1 wherein the information is in the form of discrete interruptions in said piece of sheet material.

4. A key according to Claim 2 further comprising a cover for said layer.

5. A key according to any preceding Claim comprising a shank defining a window, wherein said piece of sheet material is disposed in the window.

6. A key according to any preceding Claim wherein said piece of sheet material bears all of the information to be presented non-mechanically to the lock.

7. A method of making a key wherein marking medium is applied to a piece of sheet material to form an interrupted layer of the marking medium on the sheet material, there is formed a shank of the key defining a window and the piece of sheet material is mounted on the key shank to span the window.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein a cover is applied over the piece of sheet material, after the latter has been mounted on the key shank.

9. A method according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein said interrupted layer comprises a plurality of discrete groups of marks and said groups are applied in succession.

10. A method of making a plurality of keys wherein there is formed for each key a shank defining a window, there is applied to successive portions of a piece of sheet material, herein called a web, successive groups of marks, the web is severed into separate pieces, each of which pieces bears a respective one of said groups of marks and each piece of the web is mounted in a shank of a respective one of the keys, each group of marks applied to the web being so selected from a predetermined set of groups that at least some of said pieces differ from each other in respect of the marks present on the pieces.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the selection of groups of marks is made in accordance with a predetermined programme,

12. A method of making an information carrier wherein the carrier is formed to define a window, marking medium is applied to a piece of sheet material to form an interrupted layer of the marking medium on the sheet material or the piece of sheet material is pierced to form interruptions in the sheet and the piece of material is then mounted on the carrier to span the window.

13. A key substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawing.