IL259865A

IL259865A - Key device with magnetic interactive element

Info

Publication number: IL259865A
Application number: IL259865A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Ben-Aharon Effi; Frenkel Zvi; Markbreit Dani; Kaiser Izhak
Original assignee: Mul T Lock Technologies Ltd; Effi Ben Aharon; Frenkel Zvi; Markbreit Dani; Kaiser Izhak
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2018-06-07
Publication date: 2018-07-31
Also published as: IL259865B

Description

KEY DEVICE WITH MAGNETIC INTERACTIVE ELEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to keys and locking apparatus generally and more particularly to a key with a dual-purpose magnetic interactive element for moving a movable key element and for moving a movable plug element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many magnetically actuated locks in the prior art. Such locks typically mimic conventional key operated tumbler locks in their design and operation, wherein magnetic elements in a key cooperate with corresponding magnetic pins or other elements in the lock body to bring the magnetic pins to a shear line. Such magnetic locks suffer from similar drawbacks as conventional key operated tumbler locks; i.e., they may be picked by burglars using only moderately sophisticated techniques, and they may be disabled by an object inserted into the key slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a novel key device with a dual-purpose magnetic interactive element: the magnetic interactive element moves a movable element disposed in the key device and simultaneously moves a movable element in the plug of the cylinder lock or other lock assembly into which the key is inserted. The term “key device” encompasses both a key blank (with no key cuts formed thereon) and a key with key cuts formed thereon. The lock assembly of the invention increases the difficulty of picking and thus provides a high level of security.

The magnetic interactive element is fixed in the key device as opposed to the movable element which is not fixed but rather movable. This solves two problems. If the magnetic interactive element were floating or movable, then mutual limiting structure would have to be provided that ensures the magnetic interactive element and the movable element do not move away from each other beyond a magnetic limit. If they moved too much from each other, the repelling magnetic effect would be lost. The mutual limiting structure increases complexity and cost of the design and is something prone to seizure or other failure. Another disadvantage is if the magnetic interactive element were floating or movable, then it is difficult if not impossible to move the movable element disposed in the key device to the shear line and to simultaneously move another movable element in the plug of the cylinder lock to the shear line. The reason is in real life the movable element disposed in the key device is moved to the shear line within a tolerance and the other movable element in the plug of the cylinder lock is moved to the shear line within2 another, unequal tolerance. In real life, it is difficult to achieve both tolerances if the magnetic interactive element is floating or movable because there is too much uncertainty as to the positon of a floating magnetic interactive element. In contrast, in the present invention, by making the magnetic interactive element fixed, these problems are solved.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a lock assembly including a key device including a generally elongate shaft extending along a shaft axis and defining first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces, and a magnetic interactive element fixedly mounted in the shaft and a movable key element movably disposed in the shaft aligned with the magnetic interactive element, the magnetic interactive element having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole opposite to that of the first magnetic pole, wherein the movable key element has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled by the magnetic interactive element and wherein the magnetic interactive element is magnetically exposed at one of the key combination surfaces.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the magnetic interactive element and the movable key element are disposed in a bore formed in the shaft, wherein the magnetic interactive element is fixedly mounted in the bore and the movable key element is arranged to move in a direction not parallel to the shaft axis.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the shaft includes a limiter arranged to prevent the movable key element from moving completely out of the shaft.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a surface of the limiter is formed with a key combination feature.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the magnetic interactive element is physically exposed at the one of the key combination surfaces In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the magnetic interactive element includes more than one magnetic interactive element and the movable key element includes more than one movable key element.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the magnetic interactive elements and the movable key elements are arranged in rows.

There is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a lock and key combination including a key device including a generally elongate shaft extending along a shaft axis and defining first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces, and a magnetic interactive element fixedly mounted in the shaft3 and a movable key element movably disposed in the shaft aligned with the magnetic interactive element, the magnetic interactive element having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole opposite to that of the first magnetic pole, wherein the movable key element has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled by the magnetic interactive element and wherein the magnetic interactive element is magnetically exposed at one of the key combination surfaces, and a lock assembly including a body and a bolt thrower operated by the key device, a rotatable plug having a keyway for inserting therein the key device, and in which is disposed a plug element aligned with a driver element disposed in the body, the plug including an auxiliary plug element that includes a locking portion, which in a locked orientation is received in an aperture formed in the body, the auxiliary plug element having a magnetic polarity that interacts with the magnetic interactive element, such that after insertion of the key device into the keyway, the magnetic interactive element moves and urges the movable key elements by magnetic repulsion against the pin element, causing the pin element to move the driver element further into the body and bring the pin element and the driver element into alignment with a shear line, and the magnetic interactive element magnetically interacts with the auxiliary plug element so that the auxiliary plug element is aligned with the shear line.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the auxiliary plug element is attracted by the magnetic interactive element with an attractive force that moves the auxiliary plug element away from the body so that the auxiliary plug element is aligned with the shear line.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the auxiliary plug element and the driver element are located at opposite sides of the plug element.

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: Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of a key device, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 1A and 1B are enlarged perspective and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a magnetic interactive element and a movable key element disposed in the key device of Fig. 1, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified plan-view illustration of the key device;4 Figs. 2A and 2B are sectional illustrations, taken along lines 2A-2A and 2B-2B, respectively, in Fig. 2, showing two different rows of magnetic interactive elements and movable key elements disposed in the key device; Fig. 3 is a simplified perspective illustration of a lock assembly (e.g., cylinder lock) constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, before insertion of the key device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is a sectional illustration, taken along lines 3A-3A in Fig. 3, of the lock assembly; Figs. 3B and 3C are enlarged portions of Fig. 3A, showing one of the plug elements and driver elements of the lock assembly, and an auxiliary plug element, all of which are not at the shear line (the lock assembly is in a locked orientation); Fig. 4 is a simplified perspective illustration of the lock assembly after insertion of the key device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4A is a sectional illustration, taken along lines 4A-4A in Fig. 4, of the lock assembly; Figs. 4B and 4C are enlarged portions of Fig. 4A, showing one of the plug elements and driver elements of the lock assembly, and an auxiliary plug element, all of which are aligned with the shear line to enable opening the lock assembly (the lock assembly is in an unlocked orientation).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1-2B, which illustrate a key device 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Key device 10 may include a generally elongate shaft 12 extending along a shaft axis 14 and defining first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces 16 and 18. Key device 10 can be provided as a key blank with no or substantially no key cuts formed thereon (the key cuts being formed later by a locksmith and the like).

Alternatively, key device 10 may be include a row of key cuts 20 which define a key combination formed along the first key combination surface 16 and/or along the second key combination surface 18. Accordingly, key device 10 may define a reversible key, with symmetric key combination surfaces 16 and 18. Alternatively, key device 10 may have a single key combination surface or different key combination surfaces.

One or more magnetic interactive elements 22 are fixedly mounted in shaft 12 and one or more movable key elements 24 are movably disposed in shaft 12, each aligned5 with one of the magnetic interactive elements 22. The magnetic interactive element 22 may include a magnetic disc or other object (e.g., square-shaped object, rectangular shaped object, trigonal-shaped object, irregular-shaped object, etc.) with a first magnetic pole 21 and a second magnetic pole 23 opposite to that of pole 21 (e.g., pole 21 may be north and pole 23 south or vice versa).

The magnetic interactive element 22 and the movable key element 24 may be disposed in a bore 26 formed in shaft 12. The magnetic interactive element 22 may be fixedly mounted directly in bore 26 (e.g., press fit) or may be fixedly held in bore 26 with a fastener 28, such as a ring. It can be seen in Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B that the first magnetic pole 21 of magnetic interactive element 22 is exposed and flush with one of the key combination surfaces 16 or 18. Alternatively, the first magnetic pole 21 of magnetic interactive element 22 may be exposed but recessed below one of the key combination surfaces 16 or 18. As another alternative, the first magnetic pole 21 of magnetic interactive element 22 may be covered with a covering (not shown) which is thin enough and non-magnetic so as not to interfere with the interaction between the magnetic interactive element 22 and an auxiliary plug element described below. All of these alternatives (flush, recessed, covered) do not interfere with the interaction between the magnetic interactive element 22 and an auxiliary plug element and are referred to as the magnetic interactive element 22 being “magnetically exposed” at one of the key combination surfaces 16 or 18. If there is no cover (as in the illustrated embodiment), then magnetic interactive element 22 is also called “physically exposed” at one of the key combination surfaces 16 or 18.

The movable key element 24 is arranged to move in a direction not parallel to the shaft axis 14; in the illustrated embodiment, movable key element 24 is arranged to move perpendicular to the shaft axis 14. A limiter 30, such as a cap member, may be disposed or fixed in bore 26 so as to prevent movable key element 24 from moving completely out of shaft 12.

The movable key element 24 has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled by magnetic interactive element 22. For example, movable key element 24 has a north pole which faces the north pole of magnetic interactive element 22; alternatively, movable key element 24 has a south pole which faces the south pole of magnetic interactive element 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, there is a first row on the shaft 12 that includes a pair of magnetic interactive elements 22 and movable key elements 24 (transversely6 spaced from each other perpendicular to shaft axis 14) so that key device 10 defines a reversible key. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, a second row axially spaced from the first row (along shaft axis 14) is provided that includes another pair of magnetic interactive elements 22 and movable key elements 24. Alternatively, just the first row may be provided or just one magnetic interactive element 22 and one movable key element 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface of limiter 30 in the first row is formed with a first key combination feature 31 (Fig. 1A), such as a nib or other protrusion or other shapes, whereas the top surface of limiter 30 in the second row is formed with a second key combination feature 32 (Fig. 1A), such as a dimple or other recess or other shapes, each of which can interface with a differently shaped plug element for bringing that plug element to the shear line, so as to increase the key combination possibilities.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which illustrates a lock assembly (e.g., cylinder lock) 36 or simply lock 36, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Although the invention is not limited to the illustrated configuration, for illustrative purposes, lock 36 is illustrated as a Euro-profile double cylinder lock with a lock body 38 and a bolt thrower 40 (e.g., gear wheel) which may be operated by a key from either the left or right cylinder lock. Without limitation, lock 36 may have a groove formed in body 38 (to the right of bolt thrower 40) for anti-snapping protection.

Referring to Figs. 3A-3C, it is seen that lock 36 includes a rotatable plug 42 having a keyway 44, and in which are disposed plug elements 46 which are aligned with spring-loaded driver elements 48 disposed in bores formed in body 38, as is well-known in the art. Plug elements 46 and driver elements 48 may be telescopic pins, as shown in the figures, but the invention is not limited to such a configuration. Plug 42 further includes at least one auxiliary plug element 50 disposed on a side of plug element 46 opposite to the side aligned with the driver element 48. The auxiliary plug element 50 comprises a locking portion 52, which in the locked orientation of Figs. 3-3C is received in an aperture 54 (Fig. 3B) formed in body 38. The auxiliary plug element 50 is preferably spring-loaded by a biasing device 56 (e.g., a coil spring). The auxiliary plug element 50 has a magnetic polarity that it is attracted by magnetic interactive element 22.

As will be explained below, the attractive force moves auxiliary plug element 50 away from body 38 so that auxiliary plug element 50 is aligned with the shear line 58. In an alternate embodiment, auxiliary plug element 50 has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled7 by magnetic interactive element 22; in such an embodiment the repelling force moves auxiliary plug element 50 further into body 38 so that auxiliary plug element 50 is aligned with the shear line 58.

In the locked orientation of Figs. 3-3C, the driver element 48 crosses over the shear line 58, as well as auxiliary plug element 50, so that rotation of plug 42 is impossible.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4-4C, which illustrate the lock assembly 36 after insertion of the key device 10 of Fig. 1. The magnetic interactive element 22 serves two purposes as is now explained. The magnetic interactive element 22 moves and urges movable key elements 24 by magnetic repulsion against pin element 46, causing pin element 46 to push driver element 48 against its spring further into body 38 and bringing pin element 46 and driver element 48 into alignment with shear line 58. Simultaneously, magnetic interactive element 22 magnetically interacts with auxiliary plug element 50 so that auxiliary plug element 50 is aligned with the shear line 58. In the illustrated embodiment, this means auxiliary plug element 50 is attracted by magnetic interactive element 22 and the attractive force moves auxiliary plug element 50 away from body 38 so that auxiliary plug element 50 is aligned with the shear line 58. Lock assembly 36 is now in an unlocked orientation.8

Claims

CLAIMS CLAIMED IS:

1. A key device (10) comprising: a generally elongate shaft (12) extending along a shaft axis (14) and defining first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces (16, 18); and a magnetic interactive element (22) fixedly mounted in said shaft (12) and a movable key element (24) movably disposed in said shaft (12) aligned with said magnetic interactive element (22), said magnetic interactive element (22) having a first magnetic pole (21) and a second magnetic pole (23) opposite to that of said first magnetic pole (21), wherein said movable key element (24) has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled by said magnetic interactive element (22) and wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) is magnetically exposed at one of the key combination surfaces (16, 18).

2. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) and said movable key element (24) are disposed in a bore (26) formed in said shaft (12), wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) is fixedly mounted in said bore (26) and said movable key element (24) is arranged to move in a direction not parallel to said shaft axis (14).

3. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said shaft (12) comprises a limiter (30) arranged to prevent said movable key element (24) from moving completely out of said shaft (12).

4. The key device (10) according to claim 3, wherein a surface of said limiter (30) is formed with a key combination feature (31, 32).

5. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) is physically exposed at the one of the key combination surfaces (16, 18)

6. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) comprises more than one magnetic interactive element (22) and said movable key element (24) comprises more than one movable key element (24).

7. The key device (10) according to claim 6, wherein said magnetic interactive elements (22) and said movable key elements (24) are arranged in rows.

8. A lock and key combination comprising: a key device (10) comprising: a generally elongate shaft (12) extending along a shaft axis (14) and defining first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces (16, 18); and9 a magnetic interactive element (22) fixedly mounted in said shaft (12) and a movable key element (24) movably disposed in said shaft (12) aligned with said magnetic interactive element (22), said magnetic interactive element (22) having a first magnetic pole (21) and a second magnetic pole (23) opposite to that of said first magnetic pole (21), wherein said movable key element (24) has a magnetic polarity that it is repelled by said magnetic interactive element (22) and wherein said magnetic interactive element (22) is magnetically exposed at one of the key combination surfaces (16, 18); and a lock assembly (36) comprising: a body (38) and a bolt thrower (40) operated by said key device (10); a rotatable plug (42) having a keyway (44) for inserting therein said key device (10), and in which is disposed a plug element (46) aligned with a driver element (48) disposed in said body (38), said plug (42) comprising an auxiliary plug element (50) that comprises a locking portion (52), which in a locked orientation is received in an aperture (54) formed in said body (38), said auxiliary plug element (50) having a magnetic polarity that interacts with said magnetic interactive element (22), such that after insertion of said key device (10) into said keyway (44), said magnetic interactive element (22) moves and urges said movable key elements (24) by magnetic repulsion against said pin element (46), causing said pin element (46) to move said driver element (48) further into said body (38) and bring said pin element (46) and said driver element (48) into alignment with a shear line (58), and said magnetic interactive element (22) magnetically interacts with said auxiliary plug element (50) so that said auxiliary plug element (50) is aligned with the shear line (58).

9. The lock and key combination according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary plug element (50) is attracted by said magnetic interactive element (22) with an attractive force that moves said auxiliary plug element (50) away from said body (38) so that said auxiliary plug element (50) is aligned with the shear line (58).

10. The lock and key combination according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary plug element (50) and said driver element (48) are located at opposite sides of said plug element (46). For the Applicant, Dekel Patent Ltd.