GB2354037A - Key with a cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A key 5 for use in a high security situation, eg a prison, is provided with a visual shroud 4 which obscures either completely or partially the operating portions 3 of the key whilst it is being carried. When the key is about to be inserted into the lock 1, 2, the shroud is withdrawn. Upon completion of the lock manipulating operation, the shroud arrangement is replaced, impairing the ability of the visual inspector to glean information relating to the internal mechanism of the lock.

Description

2354037 Increasing the resilience of yhysical keys to subversion.

A number of alleged security breaches at high security installations has highlighted the possibility for an individual to memorise the geometry of a physical key for a lock, and use this information in the possible manufacture of a duplicate key or other subversion of the lock or locks. The individual gains access to the authorised key by a simple cursory inspection, either once, or repeatedly over a prolonged period of time, affording the opportunity to gain a detailed knowledge of the type of key, the type of lock, the ease with which it may be subverted and ultimately how the lock may be compromised. The vulnerability is relevant in purely mechanical locks, where the number of levers et al may be deduced from the key configurations; it is equally applicable to electronic locks where the electrical (serial/parallel) or optical nature of the interface may be deduced to some extent by a cursory visual inspection.

This key vulnerability is of particular significance in prisons, where keys are quite often carried about in an overt manner, albeit attached securely to the authorised carrier (typically a prison officer), and there are an abundance of people (typically the prison inmates) with a high interest in subverting the prison locks. Another application where this threat exists is in banking applications for high security locks securing high value goods in relatively insecure areas - automatic cash machines for example.

Any suggestion that this type of subversion mechanism exists will result in the costly countermeasure of changing or at least reconfiguring the locks and their respective keys to invalidate the association between the key which has been memorised in the manner described, and the lock of interest.

The present invention seeks to reduce the threat posed by the opportunist inspector.

A first aspect of the invention provides a method of visually shrouding the lock mating portions of the key, such that the internal geometry and construction of the lock, or the way in which the key and lock interface, may not be deduced by visual inspection.

Page I of 8 A second aspect of the invention provides a mechanism for retracting the shroud, either automatically or manually prior to key insertion into the lock. The shroud is then retained in the retracted position whilst the key is being operated within the lock.

A third aspect of the invention provides a mechanism for replacing the shroud after key use, thereby maintaining the integrity of the countermeasure.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to drawings in which, Fig I shows an example of a key with a shroud applied. Fig 2 shows the same with the shroud partially retracted. Fig 3 shows a key equipped with a shroud engaged fully in a lock.

Referring to Figure 1, a physical shroud (2) is mounted on the main key axis (1), surrounding the main interface between the key and the lock. In the arrangement shown, the shroud itself is free to move along the axis of the key (2), towards the key ring, but may be spring loaded such that the rest state of the shroud is as shown in Figure 1, fully obscuring the lock mating portions of the key. A portion of the main axis of the key is shown exposed (3) for lock alignment purposes during key insertion.

Referring to Figure 2, this shows the shroud (2) partially retracted along the main axis of the key (1), partially exposing the interface of the key and the lock (3). Of note is the fact that the shroud has moved along the main axis of the key towards the key ring. This can be done manually, but a spring loaded arrangement would yield automatic operation. A lock aperture is shown (4), whose size is commensurate with the key/lock interface. The shroud is intentionally implemented slightly larger than the aperture, the difference shown (5). As the key is inserted, a spring loaded variant of the shroud (2) would be retracted automatically by virtue of this difference (5), and thereafter replaced as the key is removed from the lock.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a key (5) equipped with a shroud (4). The key is fully engaged in the lock, the front face of the lock being depicted by (1). The internal detail of the lock is left sparse for clarity, but the key interface with the lock is shown (3). The shroud is fully retracted, in this case by the lock aperture intentionally fouling the key (2), allowing the key to be used in the normal way. It should be noted that an alignment interlock may be included between the shroud, key and lock such Page 2 of 8 that the shroud may automatically be replaced without intervention after the key has been rotated in the lock, upon removal of the key.

It will be evident to the skilled person that there are a number of ways in which this form of visual physical barrier may be implemented on a key of interest. A possible variant would be to have a hinged shroud as opposed to a shroud able to move along the main axis of the key. Notably, this invention is ideally suited to the retrofit of this form of countermeasure to existing keys, with little or no modification to the lock itself. Most of the effort is expended in the modification of the key in respect of adding this mechanism.

It will also be evident to the skilled person that this invention is suitable for use with a number of key configurations, including but not limited to:

Conventional lock keys which have a main axis manufactured as a cylinder or rod.

Conventional lock keys which have a receptacle in the end of the key designed to mate with a locating pin on the lock itself.

High security co-axial keys, where the lock mating portions of the key are configured around the base of a cylinder.

Cylinder lock keys.

Electronic memory or processor based keys.

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Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of implementing a visual physical barrier, obscuring some or all of the main areas of a physical key such that the key or lock is not rendered less secure by visual inspection.

2. A method as claimed in claim I in which the visual barrier is retracted manually prior to insertion of the lock into the key

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the visual barrier is retracted automatically either before insertion into the lock, or by the action of inserting the key into the lock.

4. A method as claimed in claim I of retaining the visual shroud in the retracted position whilst the lock is being operated by the key.

5. A method as claimed in the preceding claims in which the retracted physical barrier is interlocked with the main axis of the key, such that as the key is rotated, the physical barrier rotates also, synchronised with the movement of the key.

6. A method as described in claims 1,2 & 3 in which the visual barrier is replaced over the portions of interest of the key manually.

7. A method as described in claims 1,2 & 3 in which the visual barrier is replaced automatically as the key is withdrawn from the lock.

8. A method as described in claim 6 in which a new visual barrier is replaced on a disposable basis.

9. A method of as described in any of the preceding claims of operating a physical key electronic lock combination in which the visual shroud would obscure the number of electrical or other contacts needed between the key and the lock in order for the lock to operate. The interface between the key and lock may be electrical, light based or other.

10. A key integrating methods described in the preceding claims, constructed and packaged as an integrated assembly at the point of key manufacture.

11. A key integrating methods described in the preceding claims 1- 9, where the invention is retrofitted to an existing key.

12. A method of configuring and using a key substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

13. Apparatus for visually obscuring a portion or portions of a key as described with reference to, or as illustrated in, the drawings.

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