IL268743B2 - Movable key combination elements for shear line activation - Google Patents

Description

1MOVABLE KEY COMBINATION ELEMENTS FOR SHEAR LINE ACTIVATIONFIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to locking apparatus generally and more particularly to a key combination element movably disposed in a key blank or key that interacts with a lock assembly.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are prior art keys in which a movable key combination element can protrude linearly from both sides of the key, for example, as shown in PCT Published Patent Applications WO 2008/015672 and WO 2016/161530, and European Patent EP 3354826. However, none of the prior art keys has a side-by-side pair of movable key combination elements that bring a pin or pins located in a cylinder lock plug to the shear line on the same side of the movable key combination elements and the key device. In other words, none of the prior art keys has a side-by-side pair of movable key combination elements for shear line activation on the same side of the key device.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide laterally offset movable key combination elements for shear line activation on the same side of the key device, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. (Laterally offset means offset along the width of the key device.) The movable key combination elements can protrude linearly from both sides of the key device. The side-by-side movable key combination elements are configured for shear line activation on the same side of the key device. A novel cylinder lock for use with this novel key device is also described.It is noted that throughout the specification and claims the term "key device" refers to a key blank or a key made from a key blank with key cuts formed thereon.The key device of the present invention not only opens the cylinder lock of the present invention, but is also compatible with the cylinder lock associated with the key device of US Patent 8387425, which cylinder lock is described in US Patent 9140034. In contrast, the key device of US Patent 8387425, in which the movable key combination elements cannot protrude from both sides of the key device, cannot operate the cylinder lock of the present invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 2Figs. 1A and 1B are simplified enlarged pictorial and sectional view illustrations, respectively, of a key device (showing apertures for receiving a movable key combination element, not shown here), constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 1B being taken along lines 1B-1B in Fig. 1A;Fig. 1C is a simplified pictorial illustration of the key device showing the movable key combination element (two such elements are shown), constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the movable key combination element;Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are simplified sectional illustrations of the key device of Fig. 1C, taken along lines III-III in Fig. 1C, wherein in Fig. 3A the key device is shown as initially inserted in the keyway of a cylinder lock, in Fig. 3B two side-by-side movable key combination elements both protrude from the same key combination surface, and in Fig. 3C one of the movable key combination elements protrudes from a first key combination surface and the other movable key combination element protrudes from a second key combination surface;Fig. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of a cylinder lock, constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, with no key device inserted in the keyway of the cylinder lock;Fig. 5 is a simplified sectional illustration of the cylinder lock with the key device of Fig. 1C inserted in the keyway; andFig. 6 is a simplified sectional illustration of initial movement (e.g., rotation) of the plug, wherein a first movable plug element on one side of the key starts to move out of a recess formed in the lock body and a second movable plug element on the other side of the key depresses a driver pin to the shear line.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSReference is now made to Figs. 1A and 1B, which illustrate a key device 50, constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The key device 50 is shown without key cuts but may have key cuts formed therein.Key device 50 has a shaft portion 52 extending along a shaft axis 54 and may include first and second key combination surfaces 56 and 58 (for a reversible key device; although the invention can be carried out for non-reversible key devices).Fig. 1C illustrates key device 50 with at least one movable key combination element 60 (two are shown here) retained within elongate shaft portion 52. Figs. 1A and 31B show key device 50 without the movable key combination element in order to better show the apertures that are used to receive the movable key combination element.As seen in Figs. 2A and 2B, each movable key combination element 60 may include first and second portions 62 and 64 adjacent one another. The first portion 62 is narrower than the second portion 64, thereby creating a shoulder 59 which, as explained further below, is useful in preventing element 60 from falling out of key device 50. In one example, the first portion 62 may be circular and the second portion 64 may be elongate, oblong or oval. The movable key combination element 60 may be manufactured in any suitable manner, such as by press-fitting first portion 62 into second portion 64.In a preferred embodiment, as seen in Fig. 1C, the key device is reversible and includes two side-by-side movable key combination elements 60, both of which can be used to bring pins in a cylinder lock to a shear line from either one or both of key combination surfaces 56 and 58. The elements are side-by-side in the lateral direction; lateral means perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 54 of the shaft portion 52. It is noted that "side-by-side" encompasses not only exactly side-by-side but also where one of them is slightly more advanced longitudinally than the other so that the elements are at least partially overlapped longitudinally.Reference is now made to Fig. 3A, which illustrates the position of the movable key combination elements 60 when the key device is inserted in the keyway of the cylinder lock. On each of key combination surfaces 56 and 58, the first portion 62 of one of the elements 60 is adjacent the second portion 64 of the other of the elements 60. The first and second portions 62 and 64 of each element 60 extend from each other along the width of the key device 50, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction and to the longitudinal axis (perpendicular to the drawing sheet of Fig. 3A) of shaft portion 52.Reference is additionally made to Figs. 3B and 3C. The two side-by-side movable key combination elements 60 are capable of protruding from first key combination surface 56 (Fig. 3B), and are each individually capable of protruding from second key combination surface 58 (Fig. 3C). Accordingly, the two side-by-side movable key combination elements 60 are movable independently of each other. Any combination of movements is possible, such as only one of the elements 60 protruding from first key combination surface 56, or both protruding from first key combination surface 56, or only one of the elements 60 protruding from second key combination surface 58, or both protruding from second key combination surface 58. 4As seen in Fig. 3A, the first portion 62 may be movably mounted in a first guide aperture 66 (e.g., circular hole) formed in shaft portion 52, which may be formed with a shoulder 67 (e.g., a counterbore). The second portion 64 may be movably mounted in a second guide aperture 68 formed in shaft portion 52. Retaining structure is provided for preventing the elements 60 from falling out of key device 50. For example, second guide aperture 68 may be formed with a shoulder 69 (e.g., a counterbore). Displacement of the second portion 64 is constrained by the body of second portion 64 abutting against the shoulder 69. As mentioned before with reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, first portion 62 is wider than second portion 64 and this creates the shoulder 59 which can abut against the narrower second guide aperture 68 to prevent element 60 from falling out of key device 50.The second portion 64 of one of the elements 60 does not extend over the second portion 64 of the other of the elements 60. In addition, a central axis 61 of first portion is not collinear with a central axis 63 of second portion 64, but instead is offset from the central axis 61 of the first portion 62.As another option (shown in broken lines in Fig. 3B), the central axis 63 of second portion 64 is collinear with the central axis 61 of the first portion 62. (This is the configuration shown in Figs. 2A and 2B.)In contradistinction to the prior art, the second guide aperture 68 formed on first key combination surface 56 does not extend into the first guide aperture 66 on first key combination surface 56 and does not extend to the second guide aperture 68 formed on second key combination surface 58. Instead a wall 65 separates the apertures 66 and 68 of each movable key combination element from each other. This provides seizure-free guiding paths for each movable key combination element to protrude from both key combination surfaces 56 and 58.Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which illustrates a cylinder lock 70, constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.Cylinder lock 70 includes a plug 72 having a keyway 74 for inserting therein the key device. Plug 72 is arranged for movement (rotation) about a shear line 76 in a lock body 78. In the illustrated embodiment, lock body 78 is a European profile cylinder lock body, but the invention is not limited to such a lock body. Plug 72 can turn a cam 73, as is known in the art.One or more movable elements are slidingly disposed in openings formed in plug 72. In the illustrated embodiment, there is a first movable element 80 and a second 5movable element 82. The first movable element 80 includes first and second portions 80A and 80B. In the illustrated embodiment, first and second portions 80A and 80B are connected to each other by a connecting member 83. Alternatively, first and second portions 80A and 80B do not need to be connected to each other.Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which illustrates key device 50 inserted in the keyway. The first and second portions 80A and 80B both face the first key combination surface 56 and move in openings 85 and 87, respectively, formed in plug 72. The first portion 80A is aligned with the second portion 64 of one of the movable key combination elements 60, and the second portion 80B is aligned with the first portion 62 of the other of the movable key combination elements 60 on first key combination surface 56.The first movable element 80 includes a protrusion 88 which is initially received (that is, in the locked orientation of Fig. 5) in a recess 89 formed in the lock body 78. Recess 89 may be relatively wide as it opens towards plug 72 and may taper to a narrower width in a direction away from plug 72. The protrusion 88 has a complementary-tapered shape to fit in recess 89.Reference is now made again to Fig. 4. The second movable element 82 may be a multiple pin or telescoping pin element, having an inner pin 90 and an outer pin 92. An opening 94, in which second movable element 82 is disposed, is formed with a counterbore 96 facing the shear line 76 and opposite to recess 89.Cylinder lock 70 may include one or more driver pins 98 slidingly disposed in lock body 78. Driver pin 98 applies a biasing force towards second movable element 82, such as by means of a spring 100 (or magnet or other biasing device). Driver pin 98 may be a multiple pin or telescoping pin element, having an inner pin 102 and an outer pin 104.As seen in Fig. 4, with no key inserted in the keyway, driver pin 98 pushes against second movable element 82, which in turn pushes against first movable element 80, thereby forcing protrusion 88 into recess 89 and prevent rotation of plug 72. (Of course, driver pin 98 also prevents rotation of plug 72, since it crosses over shear line 76.)As seen in Fig. 5, insertion of key 50 in the keyway without movement of plug in lock body 78 does not align the movable elements 80 and 82 with the shear line 76. The driver pin 98 extends into counterbore 96 when key 50 is inserted in keyway before plug 72 moves in lock body 78.Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which illustrates initial movement (e.g., rotation) of plug 72. Protrusion 88 of first movable element 80 starts to move out of recess 89, 6thereby causing first portion 80A to push against the second portion 64 of one of the movable key combination elements 60, and the second portion 80B to push against the first portion 62 of the other of the movable key combination elements 60. This causes the first portion 62 that extends from that second portion 64 of one of the movable key combination elements 60 to push against the second movable element 82, which in turn depresses driver pin 98 to the shear line 76. Accordingly, upon movement of plug 72 in lock body 78, first movable element 80 moves against movable key combination element 60, which moves against second movable element 82, which moves against driver pin 98, overcoming the biasing force of spring 100 and causing driver pin 98 to move out of counterbore 96 to the shear line 76 and permit rotation of plug 72.It is noted that the chamfered shape of protrusion 88 allows it to move out of the tapered shape of recess 89. It is further noted that if there were no counterbore 96, driver pin 98 would abut against the wall of opening 94 and it would not be possible to rotate plug 72.The second portion 80B pushes against the first portion 62 of the other of the movable key combination elements 60 on first key combination surface 56. This causes the second portion 64 to protrude out of second key combination surface 58.It is noted that the key device of US Patent 8387425 cannot operate the cylinder lock 70 because its movable key combination elements cannot protrude from both sides of the key device. Although one of the movable key combination elements of US Patent 8387425 could be moved by first portion 80A, the other movable key combination element would block movement of second portion 80B and the plug 72 cannot be rotated.

Claims (13)

1./3 CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A key device comprising: a shaft portion comprising two key combination surfaces, each of the key combination surfaces being formed with first and second apertures arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction on said shaft portion, wherein said first aperture is aligned with one of the apertures of said other one of the key combination surfaces; and at least two movable key combination elements, one of which is movably mounted in the first aperture and the other of which is movably mounted in the second aperture, wherein said at least two movable key combination elements are movable above and below said one of the key combination surfaces, and are configured for shear line activation on the same side of the key device.

2. The key device according to claim 1, wherein each of said movable key combination elements comprises first and second portions, and wherein for each of said key combination surfaces, said first portion of one of said movable key combination elements is adjacent said second portion of said other of said movable key combination elements.

3. The key device according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein said at least one movable key combination element comprises differently shaped first and second portions that extend from one another.

4. The key device according to claim 2, wherein said first portion is movably mounted in a first guide aperture formed in said shaft portion and said second portion is movably mounted in a second guide aperture formed in said shaft portion, and said second guide aperture formed on said first key combination surface does not extend into said first guide aperture on said first key combination surface and does not extend to said second guide aperture formed on said second key combination surface and a wall separates said first and second guide apertures of each movable key combination element from each other.

5. A key device comprising: a shaft portion comprising at least one key combination surface; at least one movable key combination element movably mounted in said shaft portion; and a first aperture located side-by-side relative to a second aperture in a lateral direction on said at least one key combination surface; 268743/3 wherein said key device has an operative position in cooperation with a cylinder lock that comprises a plug having a keyway for inserting therein said key device, said plug being arranged for movement about a shear line in a lock body, wherein a first movable element and a second movable element are movingly disposed in openings formed in said plug that face said at least one key combination surface, and wherein movement about said shear line is possible only if said first movable element moves into said second aperture and said second movable element moves into said first aperture and said at least one movable key combination element is moved towards said shear line.

6. The key device according to claim 5, wherein first aperture and said second aperture together form one continuous aperture.

7. The key device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one key combination surface comprises one key combination surface opposite to another key combination surface, and wherein said at least one movable key combination element is protrudable from said other key combination surface.

8. The key device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one key combination surface comprises two said key combination surfaces and said at least one movable key combination element comprises two movable key combination elements, and each of said key combination surfaces has one of the movable key combination elements mounted therein.

9. The key device according to claim 8, wherein each of said movable key combination elements comprises first and second portions, and wherein for each of said key combination surfaces, said first portion of one of said movable key combination elements is adjacent said second portion of said other of said movable key combination elements.

10. The key device according to claim 9, wherein a central axis of said second portion is collinear with a central axis of said first portion.

11. The key device according to claim 9, wherein a central axis of said second portion is not collinear with a central axis of said first portion.

12. A lock assembly of a cylinder lock and a key device comprising the key device of claim 5, and wherein said cylinder lock comprises: a plug having a keyway for inserting therein said key device, said plug being arranged for movement about a shear line in a lock body, wherein a first movable element and a second movable element are movingly disposed in openings formed in said plug that face said at least one key combination surface, and wherein movement about said 268743/3 shear line is possible only if said first movable element moves into said second aperture and said second movable element moves into said first aperture and said at least one movable key combination element is moved to said shear line.

13. The lock assembly according to claim 12, wherein said first and second portions are connected to each other by a connecting member.