IE20050099A1

IE20050099A1 - Keys

Info

Publication number: IE20050099A1
Application number: IE20050099A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Robert Almblad; Robert Blin
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-04
Filing date: 2005-02-23
Publication date: 2005-09-21
Also published as: GB0404913D0; WO2005085567A1

Abstract

A key blank includes a grippable portion (1) at a first end and a lock engaging portion (3) at a second opposite end. The key blank includes a middle portion (4) intermediate its ends and provided with a pair of upstanding flat faces (6) disposed opposite one another for allowing the key blank to be clamped between a pair of jaws engaging the flat faces while the key blank is being cut to form a key. A key formed from such a key blank is also described.

Description

This invention relates to keys and more particularly to a key blank that can be cut to form a key, to a key cut from such a key blank and to a method of cutting keys.

Conventionally, when a key is cut from a key blank, the blank has to be gripped. It is difficult to apply an adequate gripping force to the key blank to hold it securely without leaving marks on the key.

It is an object of the invention to provide a key blank, a key and a method of cutting keys in which this problem is mitigated.

According to the invention there is provided a key blank including a grippable portion at a first end and a lock engaging portion at a second opposite end, wherein the key blank includes a middle portion intermediate its ends provided with a pair of upstanding flat faces disposed opposite one another for allowing the key blank to be clamped between a pair of jaws engaging the flat faces while the key blank is being cut to form a key.

By providing a pair of upstanding flat faces disposed opposite to one another it becomes a simple matter to clamp the key blank firmly and securely during cutting, without ieaving marks on the key.

Preferably the grippable portion and the lock engaging ﬁortion are disposed substantially in a common plane and gtbe pair of upstanding flat faces are disposed in planes Eﬁbstantially parallel to the common plane on opposite sides thereof. Such an arrangement is generally more convenient from the point of View of design of the key cutting machine.

The middle portion may comprise a rod—like member extending between the grippable portion and the lock engaging portion, the pair of upstanding flat faces being disposed on the rod—like member. Preferably, the pair of upstanding flat faces are formed on a portion of the rod- like member that is of an enlarged cross—section; in that case the cross-sectional area of the rod-like member in the region of the flat faces is no less than the cross- sectional area elsewhere and the key blank is therefore not weakened. The portion of enlarged cross—section is preferably towards the end of the rod-like member that is connected to the lock engaging portion; it is preferred that the key blank is gripped close to the part of the blank that is cut. Preferably, the portion of enlarged cross-section is adjacent to the lock engaging portion.

The flat faces are preferably formed along most, but not all, of the length of the portion of enlarged cross- section; that facilitates axial location of the key blank in a key cutting machine. The flat faces may extend to the end of the portion of enlarged cross—section that is closest to the grippable portion, and may not extend to the end of the portion of enlarged cross—section that is closest to the lock engaging portion. The portion of enlarged cross—section is preferably of circular cross- The flat faces are section, apart from the flat faces.

IE 05 00 99 preferably disposed within the cylindrical volume defined by the circular cross—section of the portion of enlarged cross—section. The flat faces may be formed by machining of the portion of enlarged cross—section which may be of circular cross—section throughout prior to machining. The rod—like member may be of generally circular cross—section and may be concentric with the portion of enlarged cross- section.

The grippable portion may be in the form of a loop.

The lock engaging portion may include a plate—like member, which may be cut by the key cutting machine to form a part suitable for operating a lever lock. The provision of a loop and a plate—like member is a conventional feature of key blanks for lever locks.

The grippable portion may be formed by a generally lamellar part having first and second opposite faces, the upstanding flat faces projecting outwardly from the first and second faces of the grippable portion. The upstanding flat faces may be substantially parallel to the first and second opposite faces of the grippable portion. The upstanding flat faces may be adjacent to, and/or formed as an extension of, the grippable portion. The middle portion may include a rod—like member which may be of generally circular cross—section. In an embodiment of the invention described below, the upstanding flat faces extend over a region that includes one end of the rod—like member and an extension of the grippable portion to which the rod—like member is connected.

IEo5o09g The lock engaging portion may comprise members projecting outwardly in opposite directions from a longitudinal axis extending through the grippable portion, the middle portion and the lock engaging portion. Thus members may be cut during cutting of the blank to form the desired key configuration, as is known per se. The outwardly projecting members may be disposed substantially in a plane coplanar with the grippable portion.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a key including a grippable portion at a first end and a lock engaging portion at a second opposite end, wherein the key includes a middle portion intermediate its ends provided with a pair of upstanding flat faces disposed opposite one another for allowing the key to be clamped between a pair of jaws engaging the flat faces while the key was being formed by cutting from a key blank.

The key may incorporate any of the feature of the key blank referred to above, and may have been cut from the key blank defined above.

According to the present invention there is further provided a method of cutting a key from a key blank in which the key blank includes a grippable portion at a first end and a lock engaging portion at a second opposite end, wherein the key blank includes a middle portion intermediate its ends provided with a pair of upstanding flat faces disposed opposite one another and the key blank is clamped by a pair of jaws engaging the flat faces while it is being cut to form a key.

E05 0099 The jaws preferably have flat faces for bearing against the flat faces of the key blank, and the flat faces of the jaws are preferably smooth. That reduces the risk of leaving marks on the key.

The key blank and the key may be as defined above.

By way of example embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a first form of key blank embodying the invention: Fig. la is a sectional View through the key blank of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second form of key blank embodying the invention; and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the key blank of Figs. 1 and la being cut to form a key.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and la, there is shown a key blank which in most respects is entirely conventional.

As is conventional the key blank includes a grippable portion 1, usually referred to as the bow, in the form of a loop. A rod-like member 2 of generally circular cross- section extends from the grippable portion 1 and at its other end carries a plate—like member 3 which is cut in a machine to a particular predetermined shape to enable it to operate a particular lever lock. The bow 1 and the plate- like member 3 are coplanar.

The key blank differs from a conventional blank in that the rod—like member 2 is formed with a portion 4 of |E050099 enlarged cross—section adjacent to the locking portion formed by the member 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and la (Fig. 1a being a sectional View through the rod-like member, viewing in the direction of the portion 4 of enlarged cross-section), the portion 4 can be regarded as a portion of circular cross—section which has been cut away along most of its length to form a short portion 5 of circular cross—section next to the member 3 and a pair of upstanding flat faces 6 in planes parallel to, and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of, the central plane of the bow 1 and the plate-like member 3.

Fig. 2 shows a second form of key blank for operating In this case there a different form of lock, known per se. is a grippable portion 11 of generally lamellar form connected to one end of a rod—like member 12 of circular cross—section. The other end of the rod—like member carries a pair of members 13 which project radially outwardly in opposite directions from the rod—like member 12 and which may be cut in a machine to particular shapes to enable it to operate a particular lock. The members 13 are disposed in a plane coplanar with the grippable portion 11. A pair of upstanding flat faces 16 (only one is visible in Fig. 2 but it will be understood that the other side of the key blank is substantially the same) are formed by protuberances 17 (only one visible in Fig. 2) which are disposed on adjoining portions of the grippable portion 11 and the rod—like member 12, and mostly on the grippable portion 11. The faces 16 are disposed in |E050099 planes parallel to, and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of, the central plane of the grippable portion 11 and the members 13.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown schematically the gripping of a key blank according to Figs. 1 and la while the blank is being cut in a key cutting machine.

Thus Fig. 3 shows jaws 21 of the machine bearing against the opposite faces 6 of the key to clamp the key in position while a cutting disk 22 cuts the required formations in the plate-like member 3. The jaws 21 are flat and smooth. As a result the risk of leaving marks on the key is greatly reduced. Details of the machine are not relevant to the present invention but the machine may for example be as described and illustrated in WO O2/101180.

It will be understood that the key of Fig. 2 can be mounted in the jaws of the cutting machine in substantially the same way.

Whilst two particular forms of key blank have been described and illustrated, it will be understood that other forms of key blank may be employed in the invention by providing suitable flat faces similar to those on the key blanks shown in the drawings.

Claims

Claims:

1. A key blank including a grippable portion at a first end and a lock engaging portion at a second opposite end, wherein the key blank includes a middle portion intermediate its ends provided with a pair of upstanding flat faces disposed opposite one another for allowing the key blank to be clamped between a pair of jaws engaging the flat faces while the key blank is being cut to form a key.

2. A key blank according to claim 1, in which the grippable portion and the lock engaging portion are disposed substantially in a common plane and the pair of upstanding flat faces are disposed in planes substantially parallel to the common plane on opposite sides thereof.

3. A key blank according to claim 1 or 2, in which the middle portion comprises a rod—like member extending between the grippable portion and the lock engaging portion, the pair of upstanding flat faces being disposed on the rod—like member.

4. A key blank according to claim 3, in which the pair of upstanding flat faces are formed on a portion of the rod- like member that is of an enlarged cross—section.

5. A key blank according to claim 4, in which the portion of enlarged cross—section is towards the end of the rod- like member that is connected to the lock engaging portion.

6. A key blank according to claim 5, in which the portion of enlarged cross—section is adjacent to the lock engaging portion. |E050099

7. A key blank according to any of claims 4 to 6, in which the flat faces are formed along most, but not all, of the length of the portion of enlarged cross-section.

8. A key blank according to any of claims 4 to 7, in which the flat faces extend to the end of the portion of enlarged cross—section that is closest to the grippable portion.

9. A key blank according to any of claims 4 to 8, in which the flat faces do not extend to the end of the portion of enlarged cross—section that is closest to the lock engaging portion.

10. A key blank according to any of claims 4 to 9, in which the portion of enlarged cross-section is of circular cross-section apart from the flat faces.

11. A key blank according to claim 10, in which the flat faces are disposed within the cylindrical volume defined by the circular cross-section of the portion of enlarged cross—section.

12. A key blank according to any of claims 3 to 11, in which the rod—like member is of generally circular cross- section.

13. A key blank according to any preceding claim, in which the grippable portion is in the form of a loop.

14. A key blank according to any preceding claim, in which the lock engaging portion includes a plate—like member.

15. A key blank according to claim 1 or 2, in which the grippable portion is formed by a generally lamellar part having first and second opposite faces and two upstanding |E050099 _lO_. flat faces project outwardly from the first and second faces of the grippable portion.

16. A key blank according to claim 15, in which the upstanding flat faces are substantially parallel to the first and second opposite faces of the grippable portion.

17. A key blank according to claim 15 or 16, in which the upstanding flat faces are adjacent to, and/or formed as an extension of, the grippable portion.

18. A key blank according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the middle portion includes a rod—like member.

19. A key blank according to claim 18, in which the rod- like member is of generally circular cross—section.

20. A key blank according to claim 18 or 19, in which the upstanding flat faces extend over a region that includes one end of the rod—like member and an extension of the grippable portion to which the rod—like member is connected.

21. A key blank according to any preceding claim, in which the lock engaging portion comprises members projecting outwardly in opposite directions from a longitudinal axis extending through the grippable portion, the middle portion and the lock engaging portion.

22. A key blank according to claim 21 when dependent upon claim 15, in which the outwardly projecting members are disposed substantially in a plane coplanar with the grippable portion.

23. A key blank substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by