US3895508A - Flat key - Google Patents

Flat key Download PDF

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Publication number
US3895508A
US3895508A US41822373A US3895508A US 3895508 A US3895508 A US 3895508A US 41822373 A US41822373 A US 41822373A US 3895508 A US3895508 A US 3895508A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
head
key
shank
blank
heads
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
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English (en)
Inventor
Serge Crasnianski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CRASNIANSKI FRANCE SA
Original Assignee
CRASNIANSKI FRANCE SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR7314753A external-priority patent/FR2227757A5/fr
Application filed by CRASNIANSKI FRANCE SA filed Critical CRASNIANSKI FRANCE SA
Priority to US05/546,759 priority Critical patent/US3950973A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3895508A publication Critical patent/US3895508A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B19/00—Keys; Accessories therefor
    • E05B19/04—Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
    • B21D53/38—Making other particular articles locksmith's goods, e.g. handles
    • B21D53/42—Making other particular articles locksmith's goods, e.g. handles keys
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T70/00—Locks
    • Y10T70/70—Operating mechanism
    • Y10T70/7441—Key
    • Y10T70/778—Operating elements
    • Y10T70/7791—Keys
    • Y10T70/7802—Multi-part structures
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T70/00—Locks
    • Y10T70/70—Operating mechanism
    • Y10T70/7441—Key
    • Y10T70/778—Operating elements
    • Y10T70/7791—Keys
    • Y10T70/7876—Bow or head

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A flat key and a process for the production thereof in which a blank is cut on a copying machine to form a shank having a head with a width at most slightly exceeding the width of the shank proper, and a separate head is formed with a slot in which the head of the shank is detachably received with wedge action between separate head and the head of the shank.
  • This invention relates to a flat key and to a process for its production.
  • Known flat keys are cut on copying machines from a blank consisting of a shank or core which is milled on the machine in accordance with the profile of a specimen key, and of a head whose shape varies according to the lock manufacturer and which can be round, triangular. octogonal, rectangular, etc., this head comprising a hole for fastening the key to a ring, a key board or a hook.
  • lock manufacturers make their keys for one and the same type of lock with the same blank for the shank, although keys differing in the shape of their heads can be used for one and the same type of lock.
  • manufacturers concerned with the production of replacement keys and specialising in copying keys from specimens presented to them are faced with the need to stock a large number of blanks in order to be able to reproduce the flat keys for every type of lock, this stock being further multiplied for commerical reasons by a certain number of decorative finishes for one and the same type of blank, namely nickel finishes, gold finishes or various coloured finishes.
  • a certain number of decorative finishes for one and the same type of blank namely nickel finishes, gold finishes or various coloured finishes.
  • the locksmith has to keep a stock of N types of key to meet the requirements of his customers, he has to multiply this stock by n different decorative finishes.
  • Flat keys are already known which consist of two rigidly assembled parts, namely a shank having a head substantially equal in width to the shank, and an operating head which can assume any one of a number of external forms.
  • the main advantage of manufacturing flat keys in this way is that it is possible for the operating heads to be made of an optionally castable material or of a material sufficiently soft to be able readily to receive impressions corresponding to the necessary references and marks or even decorative patterns (key heads in the form of medals, old or new coins, etc.), which gives rise to difficulties in the case ofa key blank cut in one piece from sheet steel.
  • the keys have separate metal heads welded or crimped on to the shank, or plastics heads mounted on the end of the key blank, the shank or blank can only be assembled with the head in a factory and not by the locksmith or the key cutter who does not have the special machinery or equipment required. Accordingly, locksmiths and key cutters have to keep a large variety of blanks in stock.
  • An object of this invention is to obviate this disadvantage.
  • the flat key according to the invention consisting of two rigidly assembled parts, is distinguished by the fact that the head of the key shank is wedge-shaped with a very gradual taper, and by the fact that the separate head comprises a slot of corresponding shape into which the head of the shank is fitted.
  • the key according to the invention can readily be assembled by the locksmith or key cutter without any need for special equipment.
  • the key assembly although perfectly rigid, can also be readily taken apart so that it is possible for example to change the shank of the key without changing the head which can be of advantage in cases where locks are changed, when moving house or when changing vehicles.
  • the blank manufacturer can limit the number of specimens in stock to that of the types of key available on the market without having to make any allowances for the shape of the key heads.
  • key manfucature can be standardized even further through the production of separate operating heads which can be adapted to fit any flat key blanks irrespective in particular of their width.
  • the wedge-shaped head of the key shank is itself in the form of a separate intermediate component which externally is wedge-shaped and which, in at least one of its faces, comprises a groove with parallel edges in which is engaged the end of a shank of uniform width.
  • this intermediate wedge-shaped component has an end which projects beyond the separate head and which forms the stop of the key.
  • FIGS. 1 to 5 are plan views showingvarious specimen blanks with standardized heads
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a key finished in accordance withthe invention with its separate head, whilst FIG. 7 is a view of the top edge of this head;
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another variant of the key with a separate head.
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 are, respectively, a side elevation of and a cross-section through another embodiment of the invention.
  • the lateral edges 7, 7' of these heads 6 converge slightly upwards so as to form a wedge with a gradual taper.
  • these standard heads 6 comprise a hole 8 designed to fasten the finished key to a key ring or key board.
  • FIG. 6 shows a finished key whose shank 9 has been milled to the required profile along its edge 10 and fitted with a separate operating head 11.
  • FIG. 6 shows in dotted lines the wedge-shaped slot 12 which is formed inside the head and into which the standard head 13 of the shank with its hole 14 is fitted near its end projecting slightly beyond the head 11.
  • the upper edge of the separate head 11 com prises two semi-circular notches 15, (FIG. 7) coinciding with the inner semi-circumference of the hole 14.
  • the integral head of the shank 9 of the blank does not project beyond the upper edge of the separate head 11 which itself has a hole 16 coinciding in the fully fitted position of the shank 9 with the hole 14 in the shank 9.
  • a hollow rivet 19 of anodised aluminium or brass is used to assemble the separate head and the blank.
  • the separate heads of the lays shown in the drawings can be cast with their slot although as shown in FIG. 7.they can also be made of two identical parts 17, 17' each formed in their inner face with a groove 18, 18 which by superposition, form the slot 12, the two identical parts l7, 17 of the separate head being assembled either by bonding or by means of a hollow rivet, ie by means that can readily be used by unskilled personnel.
  • the required profile of the shank of the blank can of course be reproduced by milling on a suitable copying machine both before and after the shank of the blank has been assembled with the separate head.
  • the key according to the invention consists of a shank 20 which is obtained by drawing or extrusion and, which has parallel edges.
  • the rear end 21 of this shank is engaged in a groove 22 with parallel edges formed in a part 23 which externally is wedge-shaped and at whose end a hole 24 is drilled.
  • At least one of the edges of the groove 22 is formed with aprojection 25 engaging in a notch 26 formed in the corresponding edge of the shank 20 so as to lock the shank in the longitudinal direction.
  • the part wedged with the end 21 of the shank 20 engaged therein is itself fitted in a slot 27 formed as described earlier on in the separate operating head 28 which itself can be made in one piece, for example, cast from ZAMAK or from a plastics material, or in two parts joined together by bonding.
  • the front edge 29 of the intermediate part 23 which projects beyond the separate head 28 forms the stop for positioning the key in the lock.
  • the groove 22 in the intermediate component 23 can be open on the two faces of the component 23 or, as shown in FIG. 10, it can have a base whose shape, as seen in cross-section, is complementary to the profile of the cross-section of the shank 20.
  • the separate head 28 is formed in its upper edge with a semi-circular notch 30 coinciding with the inner semi-circumference of the hole 24 of the shank 20.
  • the improvement which has just been described enables a standard separate head to be used for any type of flat key irrespective of its width and profile, because it is sufficient to produce the intermediate components identical in shape and external dimensions which fit the slot in the separate head and in which only the groove is different according to the type of shank.
  • a flat key comprising;
  • a shank which comprises, a flat and narrow profile section, and a substantially similarly flat and narrow shank head, said shank head slightly tapering toward an end thereof remove from the profile section;
  • a key head surrounding the shank head, the key head being thicker and wider than the shank head, with an aperture extending through the key head and slightly tapering to fit the slightly tapering shank head with wedge action between said heads;
  • a stock of materials for flat keys comprising;
  • each blank having a profile section for incorporation of a distinctive key profile therein.each blank having a blank head at one end of its profile section, and each blank head having a slight taper, uniform with a taper of the other blank heads of the supply, toward an end of the respective blank remote from the respective profile section; and
  • a supply of key heads each being thicker and wider than the key blanks, each having generally flat side surfaces, and each having an aperture extending through the key head between said side surfaces thereof, said aperture of each key head having a slight taper uniform with the taper of the blank heads;

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Forging (AREA)
  • Punching Or Piercing (AREA)
  • Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)
US05418223 1973-04-24 1973-11-23 Flat key Expired - Lifetime US3895508A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/546,759 US3950973A (en) 1973-04-24 1975-02-03 Flat key

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7314753A FR2227757A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-24 1973-04-24
FR7322467A FR2234789A6 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-24 1973-06-20

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/546,759 Division US3950973A (en) 1973-04-24 1975-02-03 Flat key

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3895508A true US3895508A (en) 1975-07-22

Family

ID=26217698

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05418223 Expired - Lifetime US3895508A (en) 1973-04-24 1973-11-23 Flat key

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3895508A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS501896A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU469728B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE806265A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA976776A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2362164C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2234789A6 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1401104A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
HK (1) HK42580A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1001014B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7316184A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4235087A (en) * 1978-11-20 1980-11-25 Silca S.P.A. Key structure having a coated grip
USD293549S (en) 1986-11-03 1988-01-05 Amerock Corporation Key bow cover
US5099665A (en) * 1989-12-30 1992-03-31 Masaji Terada Key having a gripping portion made of synthetic resin
US5592839A (en) * 1993-03-24 1997-01-14 Hasan; Noam Assembly for retaining of keys of similar objects
US5887468A (en) * 1994-03-22 1999-03-30 Hasan; Noam Assembly for retaining of keys or similar objects
USD454052S1 (en) 2000-04-25 2002-03-05 Antonio Frias Frias Key
ES2168177A1 (es) * 1999-07-07 2002-06-01 Valeo Sist S De Seguridad S A Llave para cerradura, en especial para cerraduras de vehiculos o similares, y procedimiento para la fabricacion de dicha llave.
US20040148988A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2004-08-05 Taylor Mark Raymond Lock key with head and blade
US20060090528A1 (en) * 2004-11-01 2006-05-04 Moening Paul F Interchangeable ornamented key system
US20060260370A1 (en) * 2005-05-19 2006-11-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Mechanical Key
US20070006622A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2007-01-11 Dan Luo Portable key assembly
US20080134730A1 (en) * 2006-12-07 2008-06-12 Abus August Bremicker Sohne Kg Combination lock
US20090241622A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2009-10-01 Daniel Luo Handle-less key assembly
US20100313618A1 (en) * 2009-06-15 2010-12-16 Nirmel Chittaranjan N Minimalized keys and blanks for same
US20150047399A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 The Hillman Group Inc. Multi-piece key assembly
US20150047398A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 The Hillman Group Inc. Two-piece key assembly
USD741685S1 (en) * 2014-10-15 2015-10-27 David W. Rand Light weapon key
USD741686S1 (en) * 2014-10-15 2015-10-27 David W. Rand Light sword key
WO2020157522A1 (en) * 2019-01-31 2020-08-06 Sferopoulos Haralambos Detachable identification key head
GR1010003B (el) * 2019-01-31 2021-05-12 Χαραλαμπος Σταυρου Σφαιροπουλος Αποσπωμενο αναγνωριστικο κεφαλι κλειδιων
US20210238885A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-08-05 Ildar lbragimovich SALIMOV Key having a catch and a replaceable blade, lock, and operating method thereof (variants)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52146397A (en) * 1976-05-27 1977-12-06 Hatsuo Nakai Key blank and its producing method
JPS5929124A (ja) * 1982-08-09 1984-02-16 Showa Denko Kk 熱可塑性樹脂フイルムの成形装置
JPS5929125A (ja) * 1982-08-09 1984-02-16 Showa Denko Kk 熱可塑性樹脂フイルムの成形方法
JPS6014067U (ja) * 1984-05-28 1985-01-30 株式会社　クロ−バ− 鍵
US5147595A (en) * 1991-07-23 1992-09-15 James River Ii, Inc. Apparatus and method for reducing plastic film neck-in
DE4429999C1 (de) * 1994-08-25 1996-03-21 Peter Roehsl Schlüssel
JP5570860B2 (ja) * 2010-04-01 2014-08-13 朝日電装株式会社 車両用キー
CN101954717B (zh) * 2010-09-13 2013-02-27 凡嘉科技（无锡）有限公司 制作尾部为塑料件、前端为金属件的钥匙支承结构

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US28466A (en) * 1860-05-29 Attaching bows to keys
US2653492A (en) * 1951-08-10 1953-09-29 Curtis Ind Inc Bimetallic key blank
US3587260A (en) * 1969-04-24 1971-06-28 Akira Tajiri Two-piece key

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4859996A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-11-30 1973-08-22

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US28466A (en) * 1860-05-29 Attaching bows to keys
US2653492A (en) * 1951-08-10 1953-09-29 Curtis Ind Inc Bimetallic key blank
US3587260A (en) * 1969-04-24 1971-06-28 Akira Tajiri Two-piece key

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4235087A (en) * 1978-11-20 1980-11-25 Silca S.P.A. Key structure having a coated grip
USD293549S (en) 1986-11-03 1988-01-05 Amerock Corporation Key bow cover
US5099665A (en) * 1989-12-30 1992-03-31 Masaji Terada Key having a gripping portion made of synthetic resin
US5592839A (en) * 1993-03-24 1997-01-14 Hasan; Noam Assembly for retaining of keys of similar objects
US5887468A (en) * 1994-03-22 1999-03-30 Hasan; Noam Assembly for retaining of keys or similar objects
ES2168177A1 (es) * 1999-07-07 2002-06-01 Valeo Sist S De Seguridad S A Llave para cerradura, en especial para cerraduras de vehiculos o similares, y procedimiento para la fabricacion de dicha llave.
USD454052S1 (en) 2000-04-25 2002-03-05 Antonio Frias Frias Key
US20040148988A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2004-08-05 Taylor Mark Raymond Lock key with head and blade
US20060090528A1 (en) * 2004-11-01 2006-05-04 Moening Paul F Interchangeable ornamented key system
US8695388B2 (en) * 2005-05-19 2014-04-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Denki Seisakusho Mechanical key
US20060260370A1 (en) * 2005-05-19 2006-11-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Mechanical Key
US20090241622A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2009-10-01 Daniel Luo Handle-less key assembly
US20070006622A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2007-01-11 Dan Luo Portable key assembly
US20080134730A1 (en) * 2006-12-07 2008-06-12 Abus August Bremicker Sohne Kg Combination lock
US9376836B2 (en) * 2009-06-15 2016-06-28 Chittaranjan N. Nirmel Minimalized keys and blanks for same
US20100313618A1 (en) * 2009-06-15 2010-12-16 Nirmel Chittaranjan N Minimalized keys and blanks for same
US20150047399A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 The Hillman Group Inc. Multi-piece key assembly
US20150047398A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 The Hillman Group Inc. Two-piece key assembly
US9506272B2 (en) * 2013-08-16 2016-11-29 The Hillman Group, Inc. Two-piece key assembly
US9243426B2 (en) * 2013-08-16 2016-01-26 The Hillman Group, Inc. Multi-piece key assembly
USD741686S1 (en) * 2014-10-15 2015-10-27 David W. Rand Light sword key
USD741685S1 (en) * 2014-10-15 2015-10-27 David W. Rand Light weapon key
US20210238885A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-08-05 Ildar lbragimovich SALIMOV Key having a catch and a replaceable blade, lock, and operating method thereof (variants)
US11840863B2 (en) * 2018-05-03 2023-12-12 Ildar Ibragimovich Salimov Key having a catch and a replaceable blade, lock, and operating method thereof (variants)
WO2020157522A1 (en) * 2019-01-31 2020-08-06 Sferopoulos Haralambos Detachable identification key head
GR1010003B (el) * 2019-01-31 2021-05-12 Χαραλαμπος Σταυρου Σφαιροπουλος Αποσπωμενο αναγνωριστικο κεφαλι κλειδιων
US20220235577A1 (en) * 2019-01-31 2022-07-28 Haralambos Sferopoulos Detachable Identification Key Head
US12276133B2 (en) * 2019-01-31 2025-04-15 Haralambos Sferopoulos Detachable identification key head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE806265A (fr) 1974-02-15
NL7316184A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-10-28
JPS501896A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-01-09
AU469728B2 (en) 1976-02-19
HK42580A (en) 1980-08-22
IT1001014B (it) 1976-04-20
DE2362164C3 (de) 1979-04-26
DE2362164A1 (de) 1974-11-21
GB1401104A (en) 1975-07-16
DE2362164B2 (de) 1978-08-17
AU6326873A (en) 1975-06-05
FR2234789A6 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-01-17
CA976776A (en) 1975-10-28

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