NZ506439A - A locking system with key abutment elements inside the cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking system comprising a lock cylinder having a key way and a plurality of tumblers and a key by means of which the tumblers are acted on when the key is inserted in to the key way, with stop elements being provided both on the lock cylinder side and the key side to define the maximum insertion depth of the key into the key way, wherein all stop elements are arranged at a distance from the key tip such that when the key is fully inserted into the key way, they are located inside the key way and thus also come to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder. A key blank and a key made thereform, for use in the locking system with at least one stop element to cooperate with a stop element of a lock cylinder, with the stop element of the key blank being arranged at such a distance from the tip of the key blank that when the key made from the key blank is fully inserted into the key way of a lock cylinder, it is located inside the key way and thus comes to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder.

Description

Patents Form No. 5 OurFtef: JB214069 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A LOCKING SYSTEM We, ABUS AUGUST BREMICKER SOHNE KG, a body corporate organised under the laws of Germany of Altenhofer Weg 25, D-58300, Wetter-Volmarstein, Federal Republic Of Germany, hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: followed by Page 1a PT05B27534 - la - A 4066 A locking system The invention relates to a locking system comprising a lock cylinder 5 having a key way and a plurality of tumblers and a key by means of which the tumblers are acted on when the key is inserted into the key way, with stop elements being provided both on the lock cylinder side and the key side to define the maximum insertion depth of the key into the key way.

Such locking systems are sufficiently known; however, there is a general need to secure the keys of such locking systems against unauthorised copying to the highest possible degree and to increase the number of possible permutations for the different keys of a locking system.

For this purpose, it is proposed in accordance with the invention for all stop elements to be arranged at a distance from the key tip such that when the key is fully inserted into the key way, they are located inside the key way and thus also come to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder.

This feature represents a substantial difference to locking systems in accordance with the prior art, as with known locking systems, there is usually only one stop element provided on the key, which is located between the key head and the key shank and which cooperates with an end of the lock cylinder when the key is inserted. In accordance with the invention, such a cooperation is actually avoided in the region of an end of the lock cylinder, as when the key is inserted into the key way, all stop elements are located inside the key way, at a distance from the key tip, on (followed by page 2) 2 the one hand, and also at a distance from the ends of the lock cylinder, on the other. This advantageously has the result that commercial key blanks cannot be used to make unauthorised copies as these key blanks do not have stop elements positioned in accordance with the invention.

In addition, it is possible with the stop elements in accordance with the invention to create additional permutation possibilities with regard to the number of different keys available when the shape and/or arrangement of the stop elements differ from locking system to locking system.

It is preferred if keys and/or lock cylinders have precisely one stop element. It is, however, alternatively possible to provide two or more stop elements on keys and/or lock cylinders.

The stop surfaces of the stop elements, which cooperate with one another, can extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder; however, a slanted alignment of the longitudinal axis to the locking cylinder is generally also possible.

The stop element of the key can be arranged on the back of the key, on one or on both broad sides of the key or in the region of the key bit. When a plurality of stop elements are provided on one key, it is possible to arrange these stop elements on a single one of the regions named above or on different ones thereof.

The stop element(s) can be formed as integral components of the key in a particularly economic embodiment of an arrangement in accordance with the invention. 3 When symmetrical, flat keys are used, it is preferred to have one stop element each on both broad sides of the key, with both stop elements being arranged symmetrically to one another. In this case, the key can be 5 inserted into the associated lock cylinder in two orientations offset to one another by 180°.

The stop element of the key is preferably formed by a recess or an elevation. It can furthermore be arranged at different positions on different 10 keys with regard to the longitudinal axis of the key, whereby - as already mentioned - an increase in the permutation possibilities is achieved.

Additional permutation possibilities can also be created by the stop element of the key formed as a recess or an elevation respectively having 15 different depths or heights respectively on different keys.

A reference element can be provided in the region between the key head and the key shank in addition to the stop element described and can be used to make a key which fits a certain locking system. Such a reference 20 element is helpful for the cutting of keys to allow a correction positioning relative to the key's longitudinal axis of the notches and recesses introduced into a key blank in the cutting procedure.

It is advantageous if this reference element is made as a stop so that the 25 key actually has a first stop, which is used as the reference element for the cutting procedure, and furthermore at least one further stop, which, in accordance with the invention, comes to lie inside the key way and 4 restricts the insertion depth of the key when the key is fully inserted into the key way.

The mentioned reference element is preferably arranged in such a way 5 that it is located at a distance from the ends of the lock cylinder when the key is fully inserted into the key way This means that the reference element does not actually represent an additional stop for the limitation of the insertion depth of the key, as when the key is fully inserted, it does not have any contact to the lock cylinder or its ends due to the distance 10 mentioned. The only function of the reference element is thus, in fact, the creation of a reference point for the cutting procedure in the making of the key.

The reference element can preferably be made as a conventional key 15 shoulder, which makes the manufacturing procedure more economical as no previously non-usual working steps are required with regard to the manufacture of the reference element.

It is of special advantage if the reference element of the key is arranged at 20 different positions on different keys with regard to the longitudinal axis of the key. Additional permutation possibilities are created in this way.

The stop element of the lock cylinder is preferably made to be stationaiy. Such a stationaiy stop element can be used, for example, in a recess of a 25 lock cylinder core so that a lock cylinder in accordance with the invention can be made economically at a favourable price.

It is, however, also possible to make the stop element of the lock cylinder as a moving tumbler. This tumbler then represents the stop element for a corresponding stop element of the key, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, is moved by a fitting key into such a position that allows a turning 5 of the cylinder core in the lock cylinder, which creates a further permutation possibility. In this case, the tumbler thus fulfils a dual function.

Not only the locking system is protected with the invention, but also a key 10 to be used within the frame of the invention and a key blank to be used within the frame of the invention. The key can, in this case, have one or more of the above-mentioned features.

The same applies to a key blank in accordance with the invention. Such a 15 key blank can have a reference element in accordance with the features described above in connection with the locking system in accordance with the invention, with this reference element preferably being in the region between the key head and the key shank.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention is described below with respect to different embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which are shown: Fig. 1 a partially cut-away lock cylinder with an inserted key in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 6 Figs. 2a - d schematic views of four different lock cylinders in accordance with the invention; Fig. 3 a key of a locking system in accordance with the invention in accordance with a further embodiment; and Figs. 4a, b schematic views of two further lock cylinders in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a partially cut-away lock cylinder 1 having a key way 2 into which a key 3 is inserted. In the representation of Fig. 1, the key 3 is inserted up to its maximum insertion depth, that is fully, into the key way 2.

The key cylinder 1 in the embodiment shown is provided with four pin tumblers, with each tumbler comprising two pin elements 4, 5 adjoining one another and one spring 6 each. The pin elements 4, 5 and the spring 6 are arranged in respective bores 7 of the lock cylinder 1.

Multiple notches 9 are provided on the bottom side of the key shank 8 to push the pin elements 4 of different lengths inside the bores 7 in such a way, when the key 3 is fully inserted into the lock cylinder 1, that the ends of the pin elements 4 remote from the key shank 8 are in a straight line or in one plane so that it becomes possible to rotate a cylinder core 1' in the 25 lock cylinder 1. 7 Any other number of tumblers can be used instead of the four shown in Fig. 1. Other types of tumblers, for example disc tumblers, can also be used instead of the pin tumblers shown.

A reference element 11 formed as a stop is provided between the key head 10 and the key shank 8 and serves exclusively as a reference point for a cutting procedure, to create the notches 9. The reference element 11 is arranged at a distance from the end 12 of the lock cylinder 1 and at a distance from the key tip 10' when the key is fully inserted into the key 10 way 2, i.e. there is a space between the reference element 11 and the end 12; in particular, the reference element 11 does not form a stop cooperating with the end 12 and restricting the maximum insertion depth of the key 3. The distance between the reference element 11 and the end 12 is variable from locking system to locking system or from key to key 15 respectively.

A recess 14 is provided on the end of the key back 13 remote from the key head 10, with the key back 13 being opposite the notches 9 in the region of the key shank 8. This recess 14 forms a stop element which cooperates 20 with a stop element 15 provided in the lock cylinder core 1'. Like the recess 14, the stop element 15 has a stop surface extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the key shank 8, with the two mentioned stop surfaces abutting one another when the key is fully inserted into the key way 2 and so restricting the maximum insertion 25 depth of the key 3. The maximum insertion depth of the key 3 into the key way 2 is thus only restricted by the cooperation of the stop element 15 with the recess 14 in the embodiment of Fig. 1. 8 Fig. 2a shows a schematic section through a lock cylinder 1 in the region of the stop element 15 in accordance with Fig. 1. The representation made illustrates how a notch was introduced from above into the lock cylinder core 1' which is pivoted in the lock cylinder 1, with the circle segment-5 shaped stop element 15 being inserted into this notch. The stop element 15 can, for example, be fitted into the lock cylinder 1 in a force fit, fixed in place by a suitable adhesive or even be held only loosely in the notch.

The notch introduced into the lock cylinder core 1' and the stop element 10 15 are sized so that the stop element 15 extends up into the upper region of the key way 2 so that a reciprocal action, which restricts the insertion depth of the key 3, can be achieved between the stop element 15 and the key 3.

The stop element 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 2a is a stationaiy stop element which does not fulfil the function of a tumbler. However, it is also possible to increase the number of permutations of a key by means of the stop element 15 by, for example, arranging the stop element 15 at different locations for different lock cylinders with respect to the longitudinal axis of 20 the lock cylinder or the key shank respectively or by varying the dimension by which the stop element 15 protrudes into the key way 2 transversely to its longitudinal axis.

Stationary stop elements can also be realised differently from Figs. 1 and 2a in any other embodiments, two examples of which are illustrated in Figs. 2b and 2c. 9 Fig. 2b shows a pin or wire 16 which is introduced into a horizontally-extending bore of the lock cylinder core 1' and is fixed in place there. The bore accepting the pin/wire 16 thus penetrates the key way 2 so that the mentioned reciprocation between the pm/wire 16 and the stop surface of 5 the key 3 can be achieved.

Fig. 2c shows wire element 17 bent into a U shape whose two arms are fixed in vertically extending bores of the lock cylinder core 1'. The base element 19 of the wire element 17 connecting the two arms 18 here forms the stop surface for the key 3 protruding into the key way 2.

Fig. 2d essentially corresponds to Fig. 2c, with the difference that two short pin elements 20 also connect to the lower side of the two arms 18 of the wire element 17 and are subject to the action of respective springs 21. The wire element 17 of Fig. 2d can thus be acted on in a vertical direction by inserting the key 3 into the key way 2 and m this way represents an additional tumbler. When the key 3 is fully inserted into the key way 2, the interfaces between the arms 18 and the pin elements 20 are in a position such that allows a turning of the cylinder core 1' in the lock cylinder 1.

As already mentioned, instead of the wire element 17, any other tumbler can also be used as a stop limiting the maximum insertion depth of the key 3, in particular also a correspondingly designed pin tumbler, which 25 protrudes into the region of the notches 9 of the key 3 from below(Fig. 1) and whose upper end has, for example, a stop surface extending essentially vertically to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder 1.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment version different from Fig. 1 of a key usable in accordance with the invention. This key m accordance with Fig. 3 has a recess 22 on one of its broad sides whose end 23 facing the key head 10 represents the only stop element to limit the insertion depth of the key 5 into a key way. This stop element 23 is arranged at a distance from the key tip 10'.

Fig. 3 is intended merely to illustrate that the recess 22 does not necessarily have to be arranged on the key back 13, as shown in Fig. 1, 10 but that it is also possible without difficulty to provide the recess 22 in the region of one or both broad sides of the key.

The number of possible permutations can also be increased for a key m accordance with Fig. 3 by arranging the stop element 23 at different 15 locations for different lock cylinders with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder and/or by varying the depth of the recess 22 transversely to the longitudinal axis of the key shank.

In addition - as already mentioned - the possibility also exists of providing 20 the recess 22 in the region of the key bit, that is m the region of the notches 9. It is further possible to provide a plurality of recesses, which act as stop surfaces, at different locations on the key on one single key.

Figs. 4a, b show schematic sectional views of a lock cylinder 1 which is 25 suitable for a key in accordance with Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a shows a pin 24 which is introduced laterally, horizontally into the lock cylinder core 1' and whose one end protrudes into the key way 2 of 11 the lock cylinder 1 so that this end region of the pin 24 serves as a stop surface on the lock cylinder side for the stop surface 23 provided on the broad side of the key in accordance with Fig. 3. Pin 24 thus in turn represents a stationaiy stop element, with the permutations already 5 explained also being able to be achieved with this stop element by arranging the pin 24 at different positions of the lock cylinder 1 and/or by the pin 24 protruding at different lengths into the key way 2 for different lock cylinders.

Fig. 4b corresponds essentially to Fig. 4a, with the difference that here it is a stop element 25 which cooperates with a tumbler and which is pre-biased by a spring 26. The pin 25 has a notch on its lower side into which a pin tumbler 27 engages when the key is fully inserted and which, in this case, allows a rotational movement of the cylinder core 1'. An increase in 15 the permutation possibilities can also be achieved with this embodiment by correspondingly different arrangements of the pm 25. 12 Reference numeral list 1 Lock cylinder 1' Lock cylinder core 2 Key channel 3 Key 4 Pin elements Pin elements. 6 Spring 7 Bore 8 Key shank 9 Notches Key head ' Key tip 11 Reference element 12 End 13 Key back 14 Recess Stop element 16 Pin /Wire 17 Wire element < 18 Arm 19 Base element Pin element 21 Spring 22 Recess 23 Stop surface 24 Pin Pin 26 Spring 27 Pin tumbler

Claims (12)

Claims k

1. A locking system comprising a lock cylinder having a key way and a plurality of tumblers and a key by means of which the tumblers are acted on when the key is inserted into the key way, with stop elements being provided both on the lock cylinder side and the key side to define the maximum insertion depth of the key into the key way, wherein all stop elements are arranged at a distance from the key tip such that when the key is fully inserted into the key way, they are located inside the key way and thus also come to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder.

2. A locking system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the key and/or the lock cylinder have precisely one stop element and wherein the stop surfaces of the stop elements co-operating with one another extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder.

3. A locking system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop element of the key is arranged on the key back, on a broad side of the key or in the region of the key bit and is, in particular, formed as an integral part of the key, and/or wherein, with a symmetrical flat key, one stop element is provided on both broad sides of the key, with both stop elements being arranged symmetrically to one another. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 0 2 MJG 2001 received -14-

A locking system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop element of the key is formed by a recess or an elevation and/or wherein the stop element of the key is arranged at different locations on different keys with respect to the longitudinal axis of the key.

A locking system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop element of the key formed as a recess or elevation respectively has different depths or heights respectively with different keys and/or wherein a reference element formed particularly as a stop and/or a key shoulder is provided in the region between the key head and the key shank to make a key fitting a certain locking system.

A locking system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the reference element is arranged such that it comes to lie outside the key way and spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder when the key is fully inserted into the key way and/or wherein the reference element of the key is arranged at different locations on different keys with respect to the longitudinal axis of the key.

A locking system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the stop element of the lock cylinder is made stationaiy or as a moving tumbler and/or wherein the stop element of the lock cylinder is fitted into a recess of the lock cylinder core. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 0 2 AUG 2001 received -15- OS 438

8. A key for use in a locking system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein all stop elements are arranged at a distance from the key tip to cooperate with stop elements or stop surfaces of a lock cylinder in such a way that when the key is fully inserted into the key way of the' lock cylinder, they are located inside the key way and thus also come to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder.

9 A key in accordance with claim 8, wherein precisely one stop element is provided and/or wherein the stop element is made in accordance with one of claims 2 and 5.

10. A key in accordance with claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the reference element is made in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6.

11. A key blank for the manufacture of a key in accordance with one of claims 8 to 10, provided with at least one stop element to cooperate with a stop element of a lock cylinder, with the stop element of the key blank being arranged at such a distance from the tip of the key blank that when the key made from the key blank is fully inserted into the key way of a lock cylinder, it is located inside the key way and thus comes to lie spaced from the ends of the lock cylinder.

12. A key blank in accordance with claim 11, wherein a reference element is provided in the region between the key head and the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 0 2 AUG 2001 RECEIVED -16- 50 k key shank to make a key fitting a certain locking system, with, in particular, the reference element 11 being made in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6. A locking system substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 1, 2a-2d, 4a or 4b. A key substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3. A key blank according to claim 11 or claim 12, substantially as herein described. ABUS August Bremicker Sohne KG By Its Attorneys BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 0 2 AUG 2001 RECEIVED