US1707642A

US1707642A - Key blank

Info

Publication number: US1707642A
Application number: US71063A
Authority: US
Inventors: Segal Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-11-24
Filing date: 1925-11-24
Publication date: 1929-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1946-04-02

Description

S. SEGAL KEY BLANK A ril 2, 1929.

Filed Nov. 24, 1925 INVEN TOR.

BY I 7 '7 A TmkNEYs.

Patented Apr, 2,1929.

. UNITED STATES SAMUEL SEGAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KEY BLANK Application filed November 24, 1925. Serial No. 71,063.

This invention relates to an improved type of key blank.

It is an object to provide an article of this character which may be produced at less expense than similar articles as heretofore manufactured and which may be cut more expeditiously to provide a cheaper finished key.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a blank in which the percentage of faulty cuts will be reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is that of furnishing a blank which may be utilized to advantage in testing the accuracy of a key-cutting machine so that the correctness of the gauge thereof maybe readily proved. i

{An additional object is that of providing an article which will efiiciently perform the purposes for which it is intended. 7

Other objects of the invention will in part. be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

With these and further objects in mind the invention comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and, the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of whieh will be indicated in the claims. i For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed. description taken in conneetionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a key blank embodying the improved construction of the present inventionand shows the same applied to a cylinder lock, the latter being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of said blank; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a different form of theinvention from that shown in the preceding figures; l This invention is particularly directed to blanks for keys to be used in cylinder locks. In locks of this character the housing is formed with a bore within which a plug is rotatable. This plug is formed with a longitudinally-extending key slot into which one or more ribs usually extend; A; number of openings havetheir inner ends in communication with this key slot and extend through to the outer face of the plug, and pins are positioned within these openings. 7 The hous ing is ordinarily formed with openings corresponding in number to the plug openings.

Pinsare positioned one within each of the housing openings and are usually urged into the bore thereof by springs. Normally, the openlngs of these two elements align, and the tumbler pins of the housing extend into the openings of the plug and thus prevent a turning thereof.v

Any suitable number of openings and pins are employed, and they are usually spaced equidistant from each other. Ordinarily, the plug pins vary in length in order to provide What may be termed the permutation of the lock, and the key which operates the lock s cut to have bittings which vary in length inversely to the pin lengths of the plug. Thus, when the key is disposed within the key slot of the cylinder plug the outer ends of the pins will all lie flush with the outer plug face and move the housing pins into retracted position so that the plug may be turned within I the housing to operate the lock. Key blanks are of course furnished in varying lengths corresponding to'the length bf the key cylinder and in order to permit of the forming of bittings corresponding in number to the number oftumbler pins which are to'be operated. Different types of blanks are furthermore furnished which have an inherently different arrangement of grooves extending longitudinally of their bodies and corresponding to the arrangement of longitudinally-extending ribs forming a part of the key slot of the plug. It has been usual in referring to the cuttingof the longest practicable hitting-i. e., the projection of the key which has its apex at a maximum distance from the key axisas necessitating a zero cut of the blank, and progressively shorter bittings have been referred to by corresponding numbers or symbols.

WVith the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a key blank preferably of the cylinder lock type in which that edge of the blank in which the bittings are to be cutinay be provided-With a series of notches at points in line with the points at which the tumbler pins will engage the key when the plug is turned. Thus, in the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the body of the blank key, and 6 the grooves, which extend longitudinally thereof; the reference number 7 indicatingthat edge of the key in Which the bittings are to be formed, and'8 the notches in this edge. These notches, in the present instance, extend to a depth equal to a zero-cut hitting but it will be appreciated that, if i desirable, they might extend to a less depth. However, according to the illustrated form of the invention, by having the notchesoi' just a zero-cut depth, no cutting on the part of the key-cutting machine will be necessary to form the apex of a zero-cut hitting wheir the same is ecountered. In other words, that part of the cutting of the key blank has been" accomplished at the time the blank was died out.

Accordingly, when an operator has a key blank which is to be cut to provide a finished key, it will be obvious that less cutting has to be done in order to provide such key than has heretofore been necessary where a con ventional blank was being utilized. It is furthermore apparent that due to a blank being furnished which has a roughened upper edge (i. e., notches in such edge) the thumb or fingers of an operator will engage the key so that the blank will be rammedv home in the cutting machine, and consequently, the bittings in the key being formed will correspend in location, with respectto the key body, to the bittings of the guide key. In dieing out blanks of the type embraced in the present invention more scrap metal will be vailablev incident to the forming of the notches, so that aside from the fact that the dieing-out operation will be no more expensive than in the case of the conventional key blank, the blank of the present invention may i be manufactured more cheaply, and it will also be obvious that if an operator is desirous of checking the gauge of the cutting machine this may be readily accomplished by simply utilizing two of these blanks and placing one of them in the guide-holder, and the other in the blank-holder. Under these conditions, and with the. cutting machine not operating, the cutter of the latter should ride intothe notches of the blank at exactly those moments When the guide of the machine enters the notches of a corresponding blank held by the guide clamp. In addition to this advantage, an operator when utilizing a blank constructed within the terms of the present invention will always present the hitting edge to the cutting or milling tool, in that this edge will be plainly indicated. A

It will be appreciated that in lieu of the gaugema'rks provided by the notches other au e marks mi ht be furnished as for exgeneric and specific accomplished, and since certain changes may be madein the above article, and different embodiments of the invention could be made, without departingirom the scope thereof it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative'and not in a limiting sense. i

It is also to be understood that the followirg claims are intended'to cover allot the 2. As an article of manufacture, a key features of the invention blank, including a body having an edge in which bittings are to be formed by akeycutting machine and a series of-notches in said edge andot a depth not in excess of a zerocut. 3. As an article of manufactur a'key blank, including a body having an edge in which bittings are to be formed by a keycutting machine and a series of notches in said edge and at points in line with the tumbler pins of alock which said key is to operate] lfAs an article of manufacture, a key blank, including a body having an edge in which bittings are to be formed bya keycutting machine and a series of notches in said edge and at'equi-spaced' points in said edge and in line with the tumbler pins of a lock which said key is to operate, the depth of said notches being not in excess of a 'zero cut. i

' 5. As an article of manufacture, a key blank, in one e dge of which bittings of different heights are to be formed by a key cutting machine, such edge of the blank being partially cut L cutting machine.

6. 'As an article of manufacture, a key blank, including a body having an edge in which the finished bittings are to be formed by a key-cutting'machine, said edge presenting partly formed bitt-ings. i

7 an article of manufacture; a key blank having groove in one of its side faces extending longitudinallyof its body and preorior toits application to'the senting an edge inwhich bittings are to be formed by a key-cutting machine and a series of notches in saidedge. f i i I 8. As an article of manufacture, a. key blank having a groove in one of its side faces extending longitudinally of its body and presenting an edge in which bittings are to be formed by a key-cutting machine and a series of notches in said edge and of a depth not. in excess of a zero cut.

9. As an article of manufacture, a key blank to be rotated and including a body having an edge in which a permutation of bittings of various heights are to be cut by a ke cutting machine, and a series of gauge mar s associated with such edge.

10. As an article of manufacture, a key blank for use in the rotatable plug of a cylinder lock and including a body having an edge in which a permutation of bittings of various heights are to be cut by a key-cutting machine, and a series of gauge marks for such machine and associated with such edge and at equi-spaced points in said edge in line with the tumbler pins of a lock which said key is to operate.

11. As an article of manufacture, a key blank to be rotated to operate a lock and in eluding a body having an edge in which a permutation of bittings of various heights are to be cut a key-cutting machine, such edge being substantially continuous and of a height substantially equal to the highest bitting which is to be cut in said edge.

12. As an article of manufacture, a keyblank for use in connection with the rotatable plug of a cylinder lock and including a body having an edge in which bittings are to be formed by a key-cutting machine, portions of such edge being of a height substantially equal to the highest bitting which is to be cut in such edge.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL SEGAL.