US3908417A

US3908417A - Lock

Info

Publication number: US3908417A
Application number: US447954A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ande Emile Beudat
Original assignee: Beauside Patentverwertungs AG
Current assignee: Beauside Patentverwertungs AG
Priority date: 1973-03-09
Filing date: 1974-03-04
Publication date: 1975-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-30
Also published as: JPS50998A; DE2311811A1; FR2220651B3; FR2220651A1; DE2311811B2; CH570527A5; CA996367A

Abstract

A reciprocable locking bolt is housed in an axially extending groove formed in the bore of a casing rotatably housing a cylindrical lock body. A first set of cylindrical tumblers are mounted in spaced openings in the bolt and project at opposite ends into registering openings in the casing and lock body, respectively, normally to lock the bolt against reciprocation. A second set of tumblers extend directly between the casing and lock body to prevent rotation of the lock body. Each tumbler comprises separate, coaxially disposed sections spring-loaded radially inwardly toward their locking positions. When a properly shaped key is inserted into the lock body, it forces the tumblers outwardly to cause sections of the first set to register exactly with the locking bolt openings, and the spaces between sections of the second set to register with the periphery of the lock body, so that the bolt can be shifted to a released position and the lock body can be rotated in the casing.

Description

United States Patent Beudat 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 LOCK [75] Inventor: Andr Emile Beudat, Thann, France pmwry Wolfe Assistant Examiner-Alex Grosz [73] ASSigrlee: Beallsid Pat n ltungs Attorney, Agent or Firm-Shlesinger, Fitzsimmons &

Zurich, Switzerland ShIesingel' 22 Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 447,954 [57] ABSTRACT A reciprocable locking bolt is housed in an axially extending groove formed in the bore of a casing rotat- [30] Forelgn Apphcatlon Priority Dam ably housing a cylindrical lock body. A first set of cy- Mar 9, 1973 Germany 2311811 lindrica] turnblel.S are mounted in Spaced openings in the bolt and project at opposite ends into registering [52] [1.8. CI 70/100; 70/364 A Openings in the Casing and lock body respectively [51 Int. C1.2 E02B 65/08; E0213 27/08; normally to lock the bolt against reciprocation A E02B 33/00 ond set of tumblers extend directly between the casing [58] Field of Search 1. 70/364 A, 181, 358. 360, and lock body to prevent rotation of the lock body 70/241 100 Each tumbler comprises separate, coaxially disposed [56] References Cited sections spring-loaded radially inwardly toward their UNITED STATE PATENT locking positions. When a properly shaped key is in- 1 020.20s 3/1912 Laughlin 70/364 A Serted n h l body, it forces the l r 1.060,769 5/1913 Koh]berger...i 70/364 A wardly to cause sections of the first set to register ex- 2.038.677 4/1936 Rccht 6! 0/358 actly with the locking bolt openings, and the spaces LCISCI' between ections ofthe econd set to register the 1462.983 8/1969 Evan ish 70/364 A periphery of the lock body, so than the b0;v a be 3-777-520 12/1973 creplflsek 70/364 A shifted to :1 released position and the lock bodycan be R26 272 9/1967 Schrclbcr et a1 70/358 rotated in the Casing.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2l3735 3 Claims, 3 Drawing F lgures 10/1958 Austria 70/364 A US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,908,417

Fig. 7 v

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,908,417

LOCK

This invention relates to a lock, especially'for entrance doors of buildings, motor cars and the like. The lock is of the type comprising a cylinder mounted rotatably within a casing formed with an internal, longitudinally extending bore or key-hole adapted to the shape of the web of a key, and housing transver'sally movable tumblers arranged and shaped so as to correspond to recesses formed in the key web.

The invention has for its main object to provide a lock of the type under consideration which is safe against picking and, is impossible to be opened from any side if the key has been removed from the cylinder. In case that a person has penetrated into the interior of, e. g., a car, he nevertheless cannot open the door, which is of great importance for rendering car theft more difficult.

The invention is substantially characterized by the feature that a locking bolt inserted in a longitudinally extending groove in the casing is displaceable between a locking position and an inoperative position, and is formed with transversally extending holes which register with correspondingly shaped holes formed in both said cylinder and said casing, and which are adapted to house tumblers that are subdivided each into several elements in such a manner that upon insertion of the key into the key-hole of the cylinder, the key causes release of the locking bolt and the cylinder from said tumblers to permit axial displacement of said bolt, and the rotation of said cylinder, respectively.

Due to the feature that the locking bolt is axially displaceable only when a key having a correctly formed web occupies the key-hole of the cylinder, the locking bolt is locked in one or the other of its two end positions when the key is drawn out of-the lock, so that said bolt either can not be brought into locking position. or when it is in said locking position, cannot be brought out of said position.

The safety against picking the lock with a pick key or a pass-key is particularly high for an especially important embodiment, wherein a group'of tumblers, subdivided in longitudinal extension, are disposed in transversally extending holes formed in the cylinder and the casing, respectively, while being distributed in both axially and radially staggered relationship to one another over the external peripheral surface of the cylinder,v

said tumblers with their inner parts being disposed to cooperate with cuts or depressions formed with varying depth in the key web in such a manner that these tumQ blers also prevent the cylinder from being rotated unless the proper key with its web is in correct position within the longitudinal bore of the cylinder.

The two groups of tumblers render possible so great a number of combinations of their relative positions and longitudinal dimensions that opening of the lock by means of a pass-key must be regarded as completely out of question.

The invention shall hereinafter be described in more bodiment of theinvention and illustrating the lock in two different positions, viz, with the associated key in- .se'rted and removed, respectively; and

detail with reference to certain embodiments shown by IN THE DRAWINGS I, FIGS. 1 and 2 are fragmentary 'vertical se ctional views through a lock madein accordancewit hon e em FIG; 3 is a perspective view of a-second embodiment of the invention with main parts of the lock being shown in exploded form;

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the l'o ck has its casing 10 mounted in a door post 12 in a known manner, and therefore not illustrated here, so as to be .lockedagainst axial displacement relative to said post in both directions. The casing has a cylindrical bore 14 for a *lock cylinder 16, which is mounted r'otatably withinthe bore 14, but by means of a-projec'tingportion 18'and a bolt nab 20 is locked against axial movement in'thebore. Formed in the bore 14 is an axial'gro'ove 22 preferably having a rectangular cross-sectional profile and intended to receive a locking bolt 24 having a cross-sectional profile of a configuration similar to the profile of the groove. A number of mutually parallel, radial holes 26 in the illustrated embodiment six such holes are formed in axial alignment in the lock cylinder 16; A corresponding number of radial holes 28 are formedin the stationary casing 10 for registry with holes ,26. The locking bolt 24 also has six radial holes 30, which, when the parts take the positions according to FIGS. 1 and 2, are coaxially aligned with the

holes

26 and 28.

Located in each set of these holes, which thus extends as a bore through the

parts

10, 16,-and 24, is'a tumbler generally denoted 32. Each of these tumblers 32 comprises three cylindrical'elements 34, 38 and 42 having the same diameter and being arranged-l'ongitudinallyin coaxial sequence in each set of

holes

26, 28, 30. Each tumbler element 34, whichis located innermost in the lock, has an inwardly directed tip portion 36 of reduced diameter which projec'tsthrougli -'areduced diameter portion 37 ofeach bore 26 into the internal key-hole or bore 44 iri'th'e cylinder 16. The portion'37 of reduced diameter constitutes a stop which limits the inwardly directed movement of each tumbler The outermost element 38 of the three elements of each tumbler 32 is preferably formed as a sleeve closed at its inner end or bottom, and contains a screw spring 40 which at its free end bears against a plug 41'clo'sing each bore 28.

Located between each pair of elements 34 and 38' is the third element 42, which in alltumblers 32 has the same length as the registering bore 30 in the locking bolt 24."Thus, when both end faces'of an element 42 are flush with the two opposed surfaces of the locking bolt 24, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible to displace the locking bolt 24 axially within its groove 22.- However, when the inner elements 32 assume their'ra-' dially innermost positions, i.e., bear against'the stops 37, as is shown in FIG. 2, the tumblers 32 are displaced by the springs 40 in such manner that their intermediate elements 42 are partly in thebores26 of lock cylinder l6 and the outermost elements 38 project'into the bores 30 of the locking bolt 24. As is easily understood,

- the locking bolt 24 is in this way locked against axialmovement; and furthermore, at this time the lock cylinder 1'6 cannotbe rotated within'the casing 10.

'The lock cylinder bore 44 presents a rounded, preferably circular, cross sectio'nal profile 'over at least 'a great portionof its circumference. In the embodiment cal and has a diameter of, e.g., 5 to 8 mms., and has an end wall 46 at its inner end,fand a guide knob or key 48 at its outer end. As to its form, the cylinder bore 44 is adapted to conform to the shape of the web 50 of a key 52. The cylindrical web 50 has a conically tapering end portion 54 intended to facilitate insertion of the key into the key-hole 44. Formed in the web of the key is a number of cuts or depressions 56, located in axial alignment one behind the other, and having depths predetermined according to a system, a so-called combination, variable for each individual lock, and thus varying more or less completely as to the depth of the individual cuts in every lock. The axial dimension or length of the innermost elements 34 varies for each of the tumblers 32 in accordance with the depth of the associated cut 56, whereas the tip portions 36 preferably are of equal length. Whereas the lengths of the elements 34 differ from one another, all tips 36 nevertheless project into the key-hole 44 to the same depth when the key has been withdrawn from the hole, as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

The key 52 has a longitudinally extending groove or way 58 fitting the guide knob or key 48, so that the web 50- can be introduced into the bore or key-hole 44 only when the row of cuts 56 take positions opposite the row of tumbler tips 36. When the key 52 with the web 50 is pushed into the key-hole 44 the pins are forced radially outwardly from their initial positions according to FIG. 2 as soon as their tips 36 are contacted by the conically tapered end 54 of the web 50. As soon as the key has been inserted completely, each tip 36 has entered itsassociated cut 56, and consequently the tumbler elements take their positions shown in FIG. 1, which means that the intermediate tumbler elements 42 are located completely inside the bores 40 in the locking bolt 24 so as to allow axial displacement of said locking bolt. The cuts 56 have gentle transitions so that the ends of the tumblers easily can slide into and out of them until the key has reached its final position in the key-hole.

The locking bolt is displaceable in an axial direction between two end positions which are determined by its slot 60 and a stopper 62 fixed on the casing 10. The bolt 24 is engaged by a spring member 64 which tends to force the bolt into its outer end position shown in FIG. 1. This position is the inoperative or released position of the bolt, which thus is drawn out from a locking recess 66 formed, for example, in a blocking element 67.

Also formed in the lock cylinder 16 is a further. group of holes or bores 68, which extend in a radial direction, but which are offset in both axial and angularly staggered relationship to one another according to a predetermined pattern. Tumblers generally denoted at 69, and each comprising an inner element 70 and an outer element 78, are mounted in the holes or bores 68. The elements 70 have, in the same manner as the elements 34 described hereinbefore, tip portions 72 having smaller diameters, and projecting through narrow stops or reduced diameter portions 73 of bores 68 into the key hole 44. FIG. 2 shows a number of such pin tip portions 72 distributed in mutually differing positions over the circumferential surface of the cylindrical key-hole 44. The number of these tumblers 69 may be varied within wide limits; and in the illustrated embodiment their number isten, of which five are shown in the one half exposed by the section of the wall of the key-hole in FIG. 2. A corresponding number of radial holes or bores are formed in the stationary casing and have their ends closed by plugs 76. The tumblers 69 are loaded by springs 80 located between the outer elements 78 and the plubs 76 in the bores 74 in casing 10.

In the positions of the individual parts of the lock relative to one another as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the

bores

68 and 74 are coaxially aligned opposite one another. When the key is drawn out of the key-hole the outer tumbler elements 78 project partially into the bores 68 of the lock cylinder 16 and thus lock said cylinder against rotation in casing 10. In the same manner as described above regarding the tumblers 32, the tumblers 70 also have mutually differing longitudinal dimensions, but their tip portions 72 all have the same length. Moreover, tumblers 70 are positioned to register with corresponding cuts or depressions 82 (FIG. 1) that are formed with varying depths in the web 50 of the key 52 in accordance to a predetermined pattern. When the key has been withdrawn from cylinder 16, all tips 72 project for the same, or approximately the same, distance into the key-hole. The cuts 82 as well as the associated tumblers 69 are distributed alike in both axial and in angularly staggered relationship over the cylindrical external surface of the web 50. If the key 52 is inserted into the key-hole according to FIG. 1, the tumblers 69 of this second group are pushed radially outwardly until all individual tips 72 have entered the associated cuts 82. At this time the space between the elements and 78 of each tumbler 69 will be located exactly flush with the contact surface common to the casing 10 and the lock cylinder 16. Thereby the lock cylinder is relieved from the locking action of the tumbler elements 78 and is adapted to be turned by the key 52.

In order that the locking bolt 24 can be displaced in an axial direction it must have one radial bore 30 more than the number of corresponding holes or bores in the lock cylinder and the casing. Located within said additional bore is a tumbler element 42 of the same structure as the tumbler elements 42. This additional pin element 42 is necessary to allow the locking bolt to be displaced in the right-hand direction according to FIG. 1 into its locking position, since otherwise the extreme left-hand locking element 38 would become inoperative. .As soon as the intermediate element 42 located between the extreme left hand tumbler elements 38 and 34 has left its intermediate position, the correct cooperation between these elements 38 and 34 is instead maintained by the element 42. When the locking bolt 24 has reached its locking position shown in FIG. 2, it will be noted that the extreme right hand intermediate pin element 42 has been pushed out of the region of the extreme right-hand tumbler 32.

In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 the locking element 67 to be blocked is a bar-shaped locking device for a door of the type described more in detail in applicants copending West-German Pat. application No. P 23 22 965.4, filed May 7, 1973. When, as is illustrated in the FIG. 2, the locking bolt 24 has been pushed into the recess 66 of the bar element 67 of the locking device, it is secured against rotational movement and therethrough the door is locked in closed position. Upon insertion of the key into the lock, whereby the locking bolt is returned into its inoperative position shown in FIG. 1, the locking bar 67 can be released by turning of the key 52 together with the locking cylinder 16 about its vertical axis. During this movement a peg 83 projecting from the lock cylinder engages a recess inthe locking bar 67, as is explained in more detail in the patent application referred to hereinbefore,

As is easily understood from the preceding description, the locking bolt 24 cannot be displaced from its one end position into' its other end position unless the key 52 correctly occupies the keyhole. It is thus'impossible without application of the key either to lock or to unlock the door. Due to the cooperation of the key with tumblers of the predescribed structure, and especially if these pins are provided in two groups, the number of possible combinations-can practically be varied infinitely many times. In addition -it is impossible to actuate the tumbler tips 36 and-72 by means of a tool such as a skeleton key so as to cause them to take a position rendering possible to effect a turning movement of the lock cylinder 16 or/and an axial displacement of the locking bolt 24. Since the door in closed position is blocked completely, the possibility is also excluded of opening the door of a motor car, for example, from inside by forcing in or smashing a window and penetrating into the car through the opening left by the broken window.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 illustrates application of the inventive idea to a conventional lock mounted onto a door with a lock box 84 and a door handle 86 actuating an eye-bolt 88. The lock according to the invention generally denoted 90 is mounted on the door and projects with a coupling portion 92 into an opening 94 in the lock box 84 and actuates the latch bolt 96 in conventional manner by partial rotation of the key 52. Formed in the box is a hole 98 for passage of the locking bolt 24 of the lock 90. After the locking bolt 96, by partial rotation of the key 52, has been pushed into an associated lock plate of fitting mounted on, e.g., a door post, the locking bolt 24 can be pushed manually into the hole 98. Upon Withdrawal of the key the door is positively secured against any opening both from outside and from inside.

According to the drawing figures the key should be rotatable about 90. To this end the flange 18 of the lock cylinder 16 is formed with an overrun groove 99 for the locking bolt 24, as is illustrated in the FIG. 3, which groove extends in peripheral direction over a corresponding portion (90) of the circumference of the cylinder 16.

The tumbler elements in the two groups may have the same diameter. All of the tumbler elements 38 and 42 as well as those denoted 69 may have the same total length. To obtain lock combinations differing from one another it is sufficient to vary only the longitudinal dimensions of the

elements

34 and 78. I

From the interior of the building or car the door is locked by means of members which may be of known kind and are not affected by the present invention.

The annular position of the knob 48 and the groove 58 relative the pins can be changed, which further increases the number of possible combinations for the lock. Furthermore, two or more knobs with associated grooves may be provided which involves a further increase of the possible variations. A further step in this direction consists in a change of the axial position of the knob 48 and therewith the length of the groove 58.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. A lock, comprising a casing,

a cylinder rotatably mounted in a bore in said casing I each of said tumblers being subdivided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of separate elements at least certain of which normally project from said bolt into said registering holes in said cylinder and said casing to lock said bolt and said cylinder against movement in said casing, and

means operative upon introduction of a key into the bore of said cylinder to cause release of said locking bolt and said cylinder from said tumblers to permit axial displacement of said bolt and rotation of said cylinder, respectively,

one of said elements of each of said tumblers having the same axial length as the associated hole in said locking bolt, and

said last-named means being operative upon introduction of the key in the bore in said cylinder to shift said one element of each tumbler wholly into the associated hole in said locking bolt, whereby said locking bolt remains in the position, locking or inoperative, respectively, which it has been occupying until the key is introduced into said bore.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said tumblers comprises three substantially coaxially disposed, cylinder-shaped elements of which the intermediate element is positionable within the associated hole of the locking bolt,.and has the same axial length as the last-named hole,

a spring member is mounted in the casing to engage the outermost element of each tumbler to urge the tumbler inwardly toward said cylinder,

the innermost element of each tumbler projectsat its inner end into the bore in said lock cylinder and has an axial dimension determined by the configuration of said' key, and

said means comprises a plurality of depressions formed in said key and engageable with said inner ends of said innermost tumbler elements to shift said tumblers to place the intermediate elements thereof in said holes in said locking bolt to release the latter.

3. A lock, comprising a casing,

a cylinder rotatably mounted in a-bore in said casing and having an internal longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive a key,

a reciprocable locking bolt mounted in an axially extending groove formed in the wall of said bore in said casing, and axially displaceable in said groove between a locking position and an inoperative position, and having therethrough a plurality of spaced, transversally extending holes, and

a plurality of movable tumblers mounted in said holes and projecting at opposite ends into registering holes formed, respectively, in said cylinder and said casing,

each of said tumblers being subdivided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of separate elements at least certain of which normally project from said bolt into said registering holes in said cylinder and said casing to lock said bolt and said cylinder against movement in said casing, and

said last-named means being operative upon introduction of the key in the bore in said cylinder to shift said one element of each tumbler wholly into the associated hole in said locking bolt,

said locking bolt having therein one additional hole more than the number of registering holes in the cylinder and the casing, respectively, and

an additional tumbler element being disposed in said additional hole in such a manner as to insure in both limit positions of the locking bolt that each set of registering holes in said casing, locking bolt and cylinder will contain a full tumbler.

Claims

1. A lock, comprising a casing, a cylinder rotatably mounted in a bore in said casing and having an internal longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive a key, a reciprocable locking bolt mounted in an axially extending groove formed in the wall of said bore in said casing, and axially displaceable in said groove between a locking position and an inoperative position, and having therethrough a plurality of spaced, transversally extending holes, spring means normally urging said locking bolt to inoperative position, and a plurality of movable tumblers mounted in said holes and projecting at opposite ends into registering holes formed, respectively, in said cylinder and said casing, each of said tumblers being subdivided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of separate elements at least certain of which normally project from said bolt into said registering holes in Said cylinder and said casing to lock said bolt and said cylinder against movement in said casing, and means operative upon introduction of a key into the bore of said cylinder to cause release of said locking bolt and said cylinder from said tumblers to permit axial displacement of said bolt and rotation of said cylinder, respectively, one of said elements of each of said tumblers having the same axial length as the associated hole in said locking bolt, and said last-named means being operative upon introduction of the key in the bore in said cylinder to shift said one element of each tumbler wholly into the associated hole in said locking bolt, whereby said locking bolt remains in the position, locking or inoperative, respectively, which it has been occupying until the key is introduced into said bore.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said tumblers comprises three substantially coaxially disposed, cylinder-shaped elements of which the intermediate element is positionable within the associated hole of the locking bolt, and has the same axial length as the last-named hole, a spring member is mounted in the casing to engage the outermost element of each tumbler to urge the tumbler inwardly toward said cylinder, the innermost element of each tumbler projects at its inner end into the bore in said lock cylinder and has an axial dimension determined by the configuration of said key, and said means comprises a plurality of depressions formed in said key and engageable with said inner ends of said innermost tumbler elements to shift said tumblers to place the intermediate elements thereof in said holes in said locking bolt to release the latter.

3. A lock, comprising a casing, a cylinder rotatably mounted in a bore in said casing and having an internal longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive a key, a reciprocable locking bolt mounted in an axially extending groove formed in the wall of said bore in said casing, and axially displaceable in said groove between a locking position and an inoperative position, and having therethrough a plurality of spaced, transversally extending holes, and a plurality of movable tumblers mounted in said holes and projecting at opposite ends into registering holes formed, respectively, in said cylinder and said casing, each of said tumblers being subdivided in its longitudinal direction into a plurality of separate elements at least certain of which normally project from said bolt into said registering holes in said cylinder and said casing to lock said bolt and said cylinder against movement in said casing, and means operative upon introduction of a key into the bore of said cylinder to cause release of said locking bolt and said cylinder from said tumblers to permit axial displacement of said bolt and rotation of said cylinder, respectively, one of said elements of each of said tumblers having the same axial length as the associated hole in said locking bolt, and said last-named means being operative upon introduction of the key in the bore in said cylinder to shift said one element of each tumbler wholly into the associated hole in said locking bolt, said locking bolt having therein one additional hole more than the number of registering holes in the cylinder and the casing, respectively, and an additional tumbler element being disposed in said additional hole in such a manner as to insure in both limit positions of the locking bolt that each set of registering holes in said casing, locking bolt and cylinder will contain a full tumbler.