IL169371A

IL169371A - Slanted key combination element in key blank and key

Info

Publication number: IL169371A
Application number: IL16937105A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Shlomo Avital
Original assignee: Mul T Lock Technologies Ltd; Shlomo Avital
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2005-06-23
Publication date: 2009-09-22
Also published as: WO2006137070A1

Description

SLANTED KEY COMBINATION ELEMENT IN KEY BLANK AND KEY 1426MUL-IL 1426mul.doc 2-May-05 SLANTED KEY COMBINATION ELEMENT IN KEY BLANK AND KEY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to locking apparatus generally and more particularly to a key combination element movably disposed in a key blank or key, and to locks actuated thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known in the art, cylinder locks generally include a plug (also called tumbler) arranged for rotation in a lock cylinder housing. Plug pins are slidingly disposed in the plug and are arranged to move against driver pins, which are disposed in bores formed in the cylinder housing and are spring biased toward the axis of the plug rotation. Insertion of a properly cut key in a keyway provided in the plug moves the plug pins against the driver pins and aligns all the pins along a shear line defined by the plug outer circumference, thereby permitting rotation of the plug to cause operation of a latch or locking mechanism.

Cylinders locks are also known that are equipped with a movable element (e.g., pin) disposed in the key blade. An auxiliary locking pin is spring-loaded in the cylinder housing. Upon insertion of the key in the keyway, the movable element aligns with the auxiliary locking pin and interacts therewith to align with the shear line and permit rotation of the plug. Even if a would-be thief were to pick the key-cut combination of the key, he still would not defeat the lock without additionally aligning the movable element with the auxiliary locking pin. The latter action is very difficult without an authorized key, and thus the lock provides high security. Such locks are described, for example, in US Patents 5520035, 5784910 and 5839308 to Eizen et al., assigned to the assignee of the present application. These patents describe a key blank that includes a generally elongate shaft portion defining a key combination surface adapted to have formed thereon key cuts which define a key combination. The key blank includes a movable pin element retained within the elongate shaft portion. The movable pin element may be displaced in a single direction, outwardly from the key combination surface.

Other designs have been published with movable pin elements. For example, PCT Published Patent Application WO 00/57006 to Weinberger describes a key blank that has a body and a head. The body includes key combination elements that facilitate Vthe operation of a lock When inserted in a keyway of the lock. At least one resiliently protruding pin element is provided on the body, mounted inside a cavity. \he resiliently protruding pin element partially protrudes from the cavity when no external force is exerted on it, and retracts inwardly into the cavity, when a predetermined force is exerted on it, whereby the resiliently protruding pin may actuate an internal mechanism provided within the lock.

US Patent 5437176_to Keller describes an additional tumbler that is disposed in a rotary lock cylinder, which is aligned by means of a control element disposed in the key. A blocking element is provided in a stator at a distance from this tumbler which, in a set rotational position of the rotor, radially displaces the control element with the core*pin of the additional tumbler against a restoring force.

US Patent 6508091, to Donatini describes a cylinder lock with a key, the lock having a plug with at least one hole intersecting the keyway. The hole is provided with two shoulders, one whereof lies further outward, the other one lying further inward with respect to the surface of the plug. An auxiliaryj:umbler is accommodated in the hole and comprises an auxiliary pin, an auxiliary complementary pin and a spring acting by expansion between the auxiliary pin and complementary pin. The tumbler can assume an elongated configuration, wherein the pin and the complementary pin are mutually spaced and axially offset angularly with respect to each other, or a shortened configuration, wherein they are aligned in mutual abutment without-axially offset. The key has an elastic element adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary tumbler to allow, with the key inserted, compression thereof to the shortened configuration and disengagement from the notch and rotation of the plug. j ' · British Patent GB2161204 to Gallego describes pair of aligned moving bodies that are formed in opposite edges of a shank of a key. Each moving body comprises an operating part and a rear part which is located in a blind hole. ΑΛ spring acts on the moving body so as to cause the head of the operating part to protrude beyond the shank, the moving body being retained in the hole by an annular rim. The key is used .with a lock which is provided with additional locking pins which are engaged by the moving bodies ' and driven thereby into an unlocking position. In an alternative arrangement, a pair of moving bodies are provided in the straight edge of the shank of a key, the other edge of which is provided with teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved key blank, key and lock, as is described more in detail hereinbelow.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a key blank (and/or key made therefrom, and lock provided therefor) including a generally elongate shaft portion defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces, joined by edge surfaces, at least one of the first and second side surfaces cuttable to form key cuts that define a key combination surface, the shaft portion having a longitudinal axis that extends along a length thereof and a transverse axis that extends along a width thereof, and at least one key combination element movably disposed in the elongate shaft portion and adapted for touching a lock combination element disposed in a cylinder lock plug, characterized by the at least one key combination element including a resilient arm'aisposed in a recess formed in the elongate shaft portion, the resilient arm and recess being slanted at a non=zero angle with respectto both longitudinal and transverse axes of the shaft portion.

The key blank (and/or key made therefrom, and lock provided therefor) may include one or more of the following features. For example, the one or more key combination elements may have inherent energy for applying an urging force against the lock combination element. The key combination element may resiliently protrude outwards from the recess beyond the first or second side surfaces or both of them. The key combination element may have a chamfered portion that protrudes outwards from the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are respective front and side view illustrations of a key blank with a key combination element movably disposed therein, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional illustration of a cylinder lock, constructed and v. operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the orientation of the key combination element when the lock elements of the cylinder lock are aligned along the shear line, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate a key blank 10 constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present 'invention. Key blank 10 may have a generally elongate shaft portion 12 extending along a 4 longitudinal axis 13 and defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces 14 and 16, joined by edge surfaces 18. Either one or both of first and second side surfaces 14 and 16 may have key cuts 20 formed thereon that define a key combination surface, thereby forming a key 22. The key cuts 20 may be cut for interfacing any kind of lock pins, such as telescoping . lock pins, as is well known in the art. The key blank 10 (which became key 22) may have a key head 24. The longitudinal axis 13 extends along a length of shaft portion 12 and a transverse axis 15 extends along a width thereof.

The key 22/key blank 10 (herein simply "key 22") may define a reversible key, wherein both planar surfaces 14 and 16 constitute key combination surfaces.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, one or more key combination elements 26 are movably disposed in key 22. By "key combination" it is meant that key combination element 26 is capable of touching a lock combination element disposed in a cylinder lock tumbler to bring about alignment with a shear line, as is described hereinbelow.

Key combination element 26 may include one or more resilient arms 28, for example, made of spring metal. In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, key combination element 26 includes a pair of resilient arms 28, one for each of side surfaces 14 and 16. The resilient arm 28 may be disposed in a recess 30 formed in the elongate shaft portion 12. The resilient arm 28 and recess 30 are slanted at a non-zero angle with' respect to both longitudinal and transverse axes 13 and 15 of shaft portion 12: The key combination elements 26 may have inherent potential energy or inherent energy (meaning that it has innate material properties for storing potential energy) for applying an urging force against a lock combination element, as is described further below. The key combination element 26 may apply the urging force against the lock combination element without help from any other force (such as from some spring) being applied to key combination element 26. The key combination element 26 may resiliently protrude outwards from the recess 30 beyond the first 14 or second 16 side surfaces or both of them. The key combination element 26 may have a chamfered portion 32 that protrudes outwards from the recess 30 (Fig. 2).

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which illustrates a cylinder lock 40, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Cylinder lock 40 may comprise a cylinder lock housing 44 and a plug 46, which is arranged for rotation in housing 44 and has a key way 42. 169371/2 Cylinder lock 40 may comprise elements common in any conventional cylinder lock. Briefly, as is well known in the art, plug pins 48 (Fig. 3) may be slidingly disposed in plug 46 and arranged to move against driver pins 50, which are disposed in bores formed in the cylinder lock housing 44 and may be spring biased, e.g., toward the axis of the plug rotation. Plug pins 48 and driver pins 50 may be, but do not have to be, telescopic. Insertion of key 22 in keyway 42 moves the plug pins 48 against the driver pins 50 and aligns all the pins along a shear line 52 defined by the plug outer circumference, thereby permitting rotation of the plug 46 to cause operation of a locking mechanism, e.g., a cam (not shown). _ In the present invention, the key combination element 26 is adapted for touching a lock combination element 54 disposed in plug 46. Lock combination element 54 may have any configuration, size and shape. In the non-limiting illustration, the lock combination element 54 and plug pin 48 act on opposite sides of key 22, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. The combination of the key combination element 26 pushing against the lock combination element 54 and one of the plug pins 48 and/or driver pins 50, causes alignment along the shear line 52. That is, alignment along the shear line 52 may be obtained by the combination of lock combination element 54 and one of the driver pins 50, or by the combination of lock combination element 54 and one of the plug pins 48 or by the combination of lock combination element 54, one of the plug pins 48 and one of the driver pins 50. ^ The scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. ! A key blank comprising: a generally elongate shaft portion defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces, joined by edge surfaces, at least one of said first and second side surfaces cuttable to form key cuts that define a key combination surface, said shaft portion having a longitudinal axis that extends along a length thereof and a transverse axis that extends along a width thereof; and at least one key combination element movably disposed in the elongate shaft portion and adapted for touching a lock combination element disposed in a cylinder lock Plug, characterized by said at least one key combination element comprising a resilient arm disposed in a recess formed in said elongate shaft portion, said resilient arm and r. i · ί f recess being slanted at a non-zero angle with respect to both longitudinal and transverse axes of said shaft portion.

2. The key blank according to claim 1, wherein said at least one key combination element has inherent energy for applying an urging force against the lock combination element.

3. The key blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at lea^t c e key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said first side surface.

4. The key blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said second side surface.

5. The key blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one key combination element has a chamfered portion that protrudes outwards from the recess.

A key comprising: ( , a generally elongate shaft portion defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces, joined by edge surfaces, at least one of said first and second side surfaces being formed with key cuts that define a key combination surface said shaft portion having a longitudinal axis that extends along a length thereof and a transverse axis that extends along a width thereof; and at least one key combination element movably disposed in the elongate shaft portion and adapted for touching a lock combination element disposed in a cylinder lock Plug, characterized by said at least one key combination element comprising a resilient arm disposed in a recess formed in said elongate shaft portion, said resilient arm and recess being slanted at a non-zero angle with respect to both longitudinal and transverse axes of said shaft portion.

7. The key according to claim 6, wherein said at least one key combination element has inherent energy for applying an urging force against the lock combination element.

8. The key according to any of the preceding claims 6-7, wherein said at least one key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said first side surface.

9. The key according to any of the preceding claims 6-8, wherein said at least one key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said second side surface.

10. The key according to any of the preceding claims 6-9, wherein said at least 'one key combination element has a chamfered portion that protrudes outwards from the recess. ^

1 1. / A lock comprising: a cylinder lock housing; ^ ( ^ a plug disposed in the cylinder lock housing, arranged for rotation relative thereto and having a keyway; and a key comprising a generally elongate shaft portion defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces, joined by edge surfaces, at least one of said first and second side surfaces being formed with key cuts that define a key combination surface, said shaft portion having a longitudinal axis that extends along a length thereof and a transverse axis that extends along a width thereof; and at least one key combination element movably disposed in the elongate shaft portion and adapted for touching a lock combination element disposed in said plug, characterized by said at least one key combination element comprising a resilient arm disposed in a recess formed in said elongate shaft portion, said resilient arm and recess being slanted at a non-zero angle with respect to both longitudinal and transverse axes of said shaft portion.

12. The lock according to claim 11, wherein said at least one key combination element has inherent energy for applying an urging force against the lock combination element.

13. The lock according to any of the preceding claims 11-12, wherein said at least one key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said first side surface.

14. The lock according to any of the preceding claims 11-13, wherein said at least one key combination element resiliently protrudes outwards from the recess beyond said second side surface.

15. The lock according to any of the preceding claims 1 1-14, wherein said at least one key combination element has a chamfered portion that protrudes outwards from the recess. Attorney Dekel Patent Ltd.