IES20010344A2 - A cylinder lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A cylinder lock has a cylinder housing (1) and a cylinder core (2) which can rotate therein, the core having a key channel (4) for a flat key (5) and probing elements (25) for control surfaces of the key (4), as well as blocking elements which block the cylinder core (2) against rotation, or release same. In a plane of the cylinder core (2) which is transverse to the middle longitudinal plane (7) of the cylinder lock, a displaceable catch bow (26) is arranged which, with a latching arm (27), reaches over a small face of the key channel. The latching arm is moveable between blocking and release positions by means of control surfaces of the key (5) and of spring force (35). With a flat key fully inserted, the latching arm is disposed opposite a release recess (29) of the key, and with the key not fully inserted it is held by a blocking flank (30) of the key in a blocking position in a latching recess (28) of the cylinder housing. <Figure 2>

Description

A CYLINDER LOCK IE010344 LODGED TRUE to a cylinder lock having a cylinder housing and a cylinder core which can rotate therein, the core having a key channel for a flat key and probing elements for control surfaces of the key, as well as blocking elements which block the cylinder core against rotation, or release same.

In.regard to cylinder locks, the inserted key ought only be capable . of withdrawal in a so-called neutral position. It must be arranged that the key is prevented from being withdrawn in any other rotational position, in particular in the 180° position of the cylinder core. The prior design measures do not work in all cases.

When the cylinder core is disposed in the neutral position, the key ought also be capable of withdrawal, however, if pulling force is exerted on the key on its being rotated. This occurs, for example, when the door is pulled closed with the key rotated, and it is then attempted, with pulling being maintained, to withdraw the key. In regard to locks, it may arise that by virtue of the pulling force exerted, on rotation, the blocking elements disposed inside the lock become jammed, so that they do not enter into a release position, or do so only when the key is briefly let loose and then withdrawn. This is often perceived by the consumer to be a defect in the lock design.

The present invention is intended to solve the problem of the key being capable of being withdrawn only in the precisely defined neutral position, and when in a rotated position, the blocking elements arranged in the lock are to be relieved of pull, even when a pulling load is acting upon the key.

The problem is solved according to the present invention in that, in the cylinder core in a plane tr^hSVSrse1 ol the middle longitudinal - M^LIC INSPECTION ist a 3.

£ OSi Q Qifob 1 ; UNDhr ! JNL No28 AND RULE 23 IE010344 plane of the cylinder lock, a displaceable catch bow is arranged which, with a latching arm, reaches over a small face of the key channel, the latching arm being moveable between blocking and release positions by means of control surfaces of the key and. of spring force, and with a flat key fully inserted, being disposed opposite a release recess of the key. When the key is not fully inserted the arm is held by a blocking flank of the key in a blocking position in a latching recess of the cylinder housing.

The flat key for the aforementioned cylinder lock is characterised in that the key has a release recess on its back and adjoining thereto, a blocking flank facing in the direction of the tip of the key.

Further advantageous, features are to be taken from the claims:,: the specification, and the drawings.

The invention will now be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment given by way of example. The features according to the invention can be provided for any design of lock, so. that there are no restrictions in that respect. The advantage of the pull relief for the blocking elements in the lock applies to all lock designs of the kind.

In the drawings : Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a cylinder lock of a particular design type, which is given solely by way of example; Fig. 2 is/ diagrammatically, a longitudinal section through a portion of the cylinder core with a key inserted in a neutral position; Fig. 3 shows a rotated position of the cylinder core; Fig. 4 is a section through the line IV-IV in Fig. 2; IE010344 Fig. 5 is a top view of the cylinder core with the cylinder housing cut open; portions of the lock which are not essential have been omitted for clarity; Fig. 6 is a top view of a variant; and 5 Fig. 7 is a top view of the back of a key in a variant.

According to Fig. 1, the cylinder core 2 is mounted for rotation in the cylinder housing 1. The rotation is effected along the cylindrical plane of rotation 3. The key 5 is in the form of a flat .10 key, the key bit 6 of which has the known key notches. The key is . : .1 : seated .in the key channel 4. Both the key channel .4 with the key 5 and the core pin bore hole 8 are disposed in the. middle longitudinal ;. -plane; 7.cof the lock. The core pin 9, which ; is λ guided: into its .- fizz position:toy the. key notches of the key.bit 6; is /disposediinrthe core 15 pin bore hole 8.

Parallel to the core pin bore hole 8, a guide channel 10 is arranged .. in the cylinder core 2, which guide channel penetrates through the ::. : cylinder ..core. In the guide channel 10, a guide, body./11 .is. arranged. 20 which is disposed to the side of the core. pin 9. On its flank 12 facing away from the key channel, the guide body 11 has a release groove 13. Furthermore, a receiving tongue 14, which engages with a compression spring 15, is disposed at the top end of the guide body 11.

To the side of the guide channel 10, a displaceable blocking element 17 is disposed in a recess 16, which blocking element is biased by the spring 18 in the direction of a latching recess 19 of the cylinder housing. In the non-rotated position of the cylinder core represented in Fig. 1, the latching nose 20 of the blocking element 17 is latched into the latching recess 19.

IE010344 At its inside end, opposite each guide body 11, the blocking element 17 has a probing pin 21 which is dimensioned so that it may be pushed into the release groove 13.

The mode of operation of the cylinder lock is as follows: On insertion of the key 5 the key bit 6 presses the core pin 9 downwards against the pressure of the spring 15 into the associated position. The guide body 11 is displaced jointly so that for the correct key, the release groove 13 enters into the position represented, so that said groove is disposed opposite the latching nose 20 of the blocking element 17. On rotation of the cylinder core, the blocking element with its latching nose 20 may thus be pressed out of the latching recess 19, the probing pin 21 being pushed into the release groove 13. The cylinder core may thus be rotated freely.

In regard to multiple arrangement of core pins 9 and guide bodies 11, all of these must assume the aforementioned position so that the blocking element 17 may arrive at the release position.

Where use is made of an incorrect key, the core pin 9 and the guide body 11 associated with it assumes a different position, so that the probing pin 21 stops at the flank 12 of the guide body, by virtue of which the lock is blocked.

In the plane of rotation of the guide body 11, the cylinder housing 1 has an annular groove 22 which in each case is open towards the cylinder core 2. The width of the annular groove 22 corresponds to the width of the guide body or is larger. The respective ends of the guide body 11 and of the core pin 9 are released by means of the annular groove 22, by virtue of which, on the one hand, tbe stroke is enlarged, and on the other hand, both components may be constructed in greater length so that guidance in the guide channel and in the core pin bore hole 8 is improved. Moreover, the top end of the guide ΙΕΟ10344 body 11 latches into the annular groove 22 when there is no key inserted, by which means a restriction against withdrawal is provided for the core. The cylinder core cannot therefore be broken open by the known method of pulling. In respect of the lock features .5 mentioned so far, the key 5 may correspond to any suitable conventional flat key, such as is customary for divided tumbler pins. In the present embodiment given by way of example, the key has longitudinal sectional grooves 23 and lateral sectional recesses 24 which, in known manner, can be probed by additional probing elements and provide additional possibilities of variation.

In Fig. 1, the cylinder housing has the conventional housing shape with the bar 32. As is evident however, there are no lock elements whatsoever disposed in this bar 32. Thus, bar 32 may either be left out, as is necessary for round cylinders, or this space may be used for additional lock elements and fastening elements. The arrangement of the ring grooves 22 is merely given by way of example, and these grooves may also be omitted.

Fig. 2 shows a truncated section in accordance with the middle longitudinal plane 7 through a portion of the inside (coupling-end) end of the cylinder core and cylinder housing. The key 5 is fully inserted, so that all core pins (not represented here) which are associated with the individual key notches are placed in such a way that the cylinder core 2 may be rotated in relation to the cylinder housing 1. In a plane transverse to the middle longitudinal plane of the cylinder lock, a catch bow 26 is arranged in displaceable manner, which, with a latching arm 27, reaches over the small face of the key channel 4.

As can be seen with particular reference to Fig. 4, the top end of the catch bow 26 is disposed by its latching arm 27 in a latching recess 28 of the cylinder housing 1. The key 5 has a release recess IE010344 disposed opposite the latching arm 27. In consequence of this release recess 29, the cylinder core may be rotated freely, because on rotation, the latching arm 27 is pushed out of the latching recess 28 and released downwards into the release recess 29. However, this possibility of movement of the catch bow is available only when the key is inserted in its entirety. When the key is not completely inserted, the blocking flank 3 0 of the key comes to rest under the latching arm 27, so that the latching arm 27 cannot be pushed downwards and the cylinder core cannot be rotated.

The dimensions are selected such that the total depth of the release recess 29 (Y) is equal to the total height of the latching arm 27. The depth X of the latching recess 28 corresponds approximately to the depth of the release recess 29 in relation to the blocking flank 1.5 30 extending towards the tip of the key.

Referring to Fig. 2, the position of the blocking flank 30 defines a depression in relation to the back 3 8 of the key. This depression enables the tip of the key to be pushed through under the latching arm 27. The depression also provides a further security feature of the key, since conventional flat keys not having a depression of this kind cannot be inserted in their entirety into the key channel.

The effect of the apparatus is that the blocking flank 3 0 reaches under the latching arm 27 shortly before the complete insertion of the key into the key channel, and prevents the cylinder core from being rotated prematurely. Thus, lateral stress on the core pins is also eliminated, these pins therefore being relieved of any rotational movement because rotation is not enabled until the key is completely inserted.

IE010344 In the rotated position in accordance with Fig. 3, the key is completely inserted and the latching arm 27 holds the key firmly in its position, so that it cannot be withdrawn.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, the catch bow 26 comprises a guide arm 33, which is mounted in a receiving bore hole 34 under pressure of the spring 35.

The outer surface 39 of the latching arm 27, which surface engages the latching recess 28, is constructed in such a width that the latching arm 27 cannot latch into any of the other latching recesses 19. This avoids stoppages on rotation of the cylinder core.

As is furthermore to be seen from Fig. 2, the location of the catch bow 26 is disposed preferably before the first key notch 36 as viewed from the tip of the key. The spacing Z is variable however, so that the catch bow may also be located further away from the tip of the key.

A further advantage of the invention is that the spacing Z from the tip of the key may be varied, by which means the number of variations is increased.

In Figs. 2 to 5, the latching arm 27 in the lock and the release recess 29 on the back 38 of the key, are constructed transversely in such a way that they are disposed perpendicular to the middle longitudinal axis 7. In an advantageous manner however, the arrangement may also be oblique, as can be seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of the catch bow 26 when the cylinder core is viewed from above. The core pin bore holes 8 are drawn diagrammatically, without the core pins disposed therein. The required room for movement for the latching arm 27 in the cylinder IE010344 core is guaranteed by the slot 37, as is also to he taken from Fig.

. The arrangement of the catch bow and the construction of the key are to a large extent independent of the remaining lock design.

According to Fig. 6, the cylinder lock may be varied in that the latching arm 27 of the catch bow 26 is disposed oblique to the middle longitudinal plane 7 of the lock. Consequently, the slot 37 of the cylinder core is also arranged obliquely here. The angle from the perpendicular is drawn somewhat exaggerated and will be disposed at about 30° in practice. Accordingly, the release recess 29 on the back 38 of the key is also arranged obliquely as shown in Fig. 7, which serves to increase the number of variations and to increase security against forcing.

Alternatively in the lock, the perpendicular arrangement of the latching arm 27 according to Fig. 2 may also be combined with the oblique arrangement of the release recess 2 9 on the back of the key, in that an oblique rib is arranged on the latching arm 27, which rib probes the oblique release recess.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A cylinder lock having a cylinder housing and a cylinder core which can rotate therein, the core having a key channel for a flat key and probing elements for control surfaces of the key, as well as blocking elements which block the cylinder core against rotation, or release same, characterised in that, in the cylinder core, in a plane transverse of the middle longitudinal plane of the cylinder lock, a displaceable catch bow is arranged which, with a latching arm, reaches over a small face of a key channel, the latching arm being moveable between blocking and release positions by means of control surfaces of the key and of force exerted by a spring and, with a flat key fully inserted, being disposed opposite a release recess of the key, and with the key not fully inserted, being held by a blocking flank of the key in a blocking position in a latching recess of the cylinder housing.

2. A cylinder lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the catch bow has a guide arm which is arranged so as to be capable of displacement in a receiving bore hole of the cylinder core and which has protruding laterally on the guide arm, the said latching arm.

3. A cylinder lock according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the catch bow is arranged in a plane whose spacing (Z) from the inside end of the cylinder lock is variable, the plane being disposed preferably in front of the first core pin; optionally wherein a slot is arranged in the cylinder core for guidance and travel of the catch bow; optionally wherein the latching arm is arranged at an angle to the perpendicular in relation to the middle longitudinal plane (Fig. 6); optionally wherein the angle amounts to about 30°; and IE010344 optionally wherein the latching arm is disposed perpendicular to the middle longitudinal plane and has a rib oblique thereto which engages in an oblique release recess of the key.

4. A flat key for a cylinder lock according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, the key having variation elements, such as key notches and/or longitudinal sectional grooves, characterised in that the key has a release recess on its back and adjoining thereto, a blocking flank facing in the direction of the tip of the key; optionally wherein the depth (Y) of the release recess extending from the back of the key, corresponds to the height of the latching arm and in that the height (X) of the release recess extending from the blocking flank is less than (Y) ; optionally wherein, the position of the release recess viewed from the tip of the key is variable, preferably being in front of the first key notch; and optionally wherein the release recess is arranged obliquely on the back of the key .

5. A cylinder lock having a cylinder housing and a cylinder core or a flat key therefor, substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.