WO1993014290A1

WO1993014290A1 - Universal lock and key

Info

Publication number: WO1993014290A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/000300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwon Woo Kim
Original assignee: Kwon Woo Kim
Priority date: 1992-01-14
Filing date: 1993-01-13
Publication date: 1993-07-22
Also published as: BR9305728A; EP0623184B1; JPH07504468A; CA2127811A1; EP0623184A4; US5211044A; CA2127811C; ES2104126T3; EP0623184A1; ATE155199T1; DE69312054D1; DE69312054T2

Abstract

A universal lock and key assembly in which the lock (24) is rekeyable and the key is also changeable. The key (36) has a shank portion (38) having a longitudinally extending tooth slot (40) in its top surface. A plurality of teeth (50) have their bottom ends inserted into the tooth slot (40) in any desired sequence to give a predetermined profile to the teeth of the key. The bottom pin cylinder (94) of the lock has mating bottom pins (100) for each of the respective teeth. They are then arranged in a coordinated sequence in the bottom pin cylinder (94) of the lock. The structure of the system allows an individual to change both the configuration of the key (36) and also the mating structure within the lock (24) so it will be operable.

Description

DESCRIPTION UNIVERSAL LOCK AND KEY Technical Field

The invention relates to locks and more particularly a pin tumbler cylinder lock tha t can be re-keyed to be opened by a ke whose teeth can be arranged in a ma ti ng longi tudinal sequence t open the lock. BACKGROUND ART

In the past mos t pin tumbler cylinder locks were not capable of being re-keyed. As a consequence, if a person lost his key, i t was often necessary to replace the entire lock or require the services of a locksmi th .

The Hori U.S. patent 3 , 432 , 757 is directed to a multiple key lock having a change key mechanism. It is a conven tional pin- type key operated lock having a blocking needle originally posi tioned in a cavi ty in the shell adjacent the rotatable core locking certain inoperable pins , wi th the shell parts thereof inoperable in the shell and free of blocking a remaining operable pin . An original master key properly posi tions the operable pi n and the core pins parts in the inoperable pins for rota tion of the core while a back key surface prevents the blocking needle from moving radial l y into the key slot during rotation . A change key is functionally identical to the master key, except for a recess on its back surface recei ving the blocking needle therei n for removal from the core wi th the change key . This frees all of the pins for subsequent rotation of the core only by a properly formed final key.

In more recent years, improved pin tumbler cylinder locks have been designed which allow a combination to be changed. The Burlingame U. S. patent 3 , 910 , 083 discloses a combination changing cylinder lock that allows the service key to be changed externally wi thout access to the lock interior. His cylinder lock has tumbler pins comprising a plurali ty of interlocking segments , the interfaces of adjacent pairs of segments being such that the adjacent segments may be placed in shear, blocking, or passover orientations dependent upon their relative rotations. To change the combination of the service key, a master key is used to place each pair of adjacent pin segments in the shear orientation. A service key having the desired new combination is then used to operate the lock and the adjacent pin segment pairs are selectively placed in the locking or passover orientations depending upon the requirements of the new combination.

The Monahan U.S. patent 4, 712, 401 relates to a method of re- keying a pin tumbler cylinder lock having tumbler pins, driver pins and at least one master pin without disassembly of the lock apparatus or removal or replacement of any master pins therefrom.

The Shen U. S. patent 4 , 732 , 023 is directed to a modifiable cylinder. The primary object of the invention is to provide a modifiable cylinder in which the combination of pin tumblers in disks of the cylinder are changed by a designated key so that the original cylinder will become useless and a lock can be operated only by this designated key.

The Silvern U.S. patent 3 ,243 ,979 relates to an improved key that can be varied into configurations to fit different lock arrangements.

The Urrestarazu-Borda U.S. patent 4 ,545 ,226 is directed to a combination key that permits the opening of various locks with a single key.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel lock and key assembly that has a key whose teeth are removable and rearrangeable in various sequences.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel universal lock and key assembly that has structure for temporarily locking its top pins in its top pin housing portion while its bottom pins are being removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel universal lock and key assembly that has structure for removing its bottom pins from its tubular sleeve without disassembling these two members from each other.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel lock and key assembly that is economical to manufacture and market.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel lock and key assembly that is can have the teeth of its key and the bottom pins of its bottom pin cylinder rearranged by an untrained do-it-yourselfer. Disclosure of Invention

The universal lock and key system has been designed to have a key structure that is re-keyable and a lock structure that is re-keyable. The re-keying operation for the lock can be accomplished without removing the bottom pin cylinder from the tubular sleeve portion of the lock.

The key is formed from two primary components , an elongated shank porti on and a key handle. The shank portion has an elongated tooth slot formed in its top surface that extends all the way to its rear end and the tooth slot has a predetermined cross sectional configuration to accommodate flanges on the key tooth members that are inser table.

These key tooth members have predetermined heights and they are assigned a numerical that is read in sequence from left to right to give the combination of the Jey and lock.

The basic components of the universal lock structure are the combination top pin housing and tubular sleeve assembly and the bottom pin cylinder. The top pin housing portion has a plurality of vertical top pin bore holes formed therein that extend from its bottom end to its top end. These top pin bore holes are aligned along a longitudinal axis and a top pin and spring are removeably received in all but one of the bore holes . A controller pin along wi th a spring is removeably received in the last bore hole.

The top pin housing portion has an elongated control sheet slot extending horizontally inwardly from one of its sides all the wa y into the respecti ve top pin bore holes . A control sheet having a grooved bot tom gear surface is movable inwardly and outwardly in the control sheet slot by a control screw gear tha t extends through a longi tudinally extending horizontal bore hole in the top pin housing porti on. A control screw on one end of the control screw gear can be turned wi th a screwdri ver to cause the front edge of the control sheet to be moved into a locking posi tion in the annular grooves of the top pins . When this occurs the top pins all have their bottom ends aligned in a hori zontal plane and they are not allowed to extend downwardly into the tubular sleeve portion. Except for the time when the combinati on of the lock i s being changed, the control sheet would be retracted away from contact wi th the annular grooves of the respective top pins.

The keyway cylinder has a plurali ty of vertical bore holes aligned along its longi tudinal axis . These ma te wi th the respec¬ tive bottom ends of the vertical bore holes of the top pin housing portion. A key slot extends longitudinally in to the bottom pin cylinder and i ts forward progress i s restricted by a key stop. The top edges of the teeth of the key align wi th the bottom ends of the vertical bore holes in the bottom pin cylinder. Bottom pins having various heights are removably inserted in these bore holes in a pattern according to the teeth of the key. If the proper key i s inserted into the bottom pin cylinder, all the bottom pins in the bottom pin cylinder wi ll have their top ends flush wi th the top surface of the bottom pin cylinder thus allowing i t to be rotated. A shoulder formed on the rear end of the bottom pin cylinder can then engage actuating structure for unlatching a locking mechanism.

When i t is desired to change the combination of the lock, the control sheet is actuated transversely unti l i t engages the respective annular grooves of the top pins. Next the bottom pin cylinder can be rotated until i ts vertically oriented bore holes are in alignment wi th the bottom pin apertures of the tubular sleeve portion. The bottom pins then drop outwardly and since they are of different heights and have a different number assigned to them, they can be arranged in a new combination after which the key has i ts teeth removed and reassembled with the numbers of the teeth in the same sequence as the numbers of the bottom pins.

Once the re-keying operation has been completed the newly configured key is inserted into the bottom pin cylinder, and then it is rotated until its vertical bore holes are aligned wi th the vertical bore holes of the top pin housing. Next the control sheet is actuated to unlock the top pins and the universal lock and key system is operational again.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the novel universal lock showing i t mounted in a padlock housing;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the novel key assembly; Fi gure 3 is a front eleva ti on view of the key handle as di sassembled from the key illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 i s a side elevati on view of the differen individual key teeth;

Figure 5 i s an end eleva ti on view of the key pane illustrated in Figure 4 ;

Figure 6 i s a side elevation view of the shank of the key;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view taken along lines 7- of Figure 6 ;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8-8 o Figure 6;

Figure 9 i s a top plan view of the shank of the key;

Figure 10 is a front elevation view of the universal lock assembly;

Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the universal lock assembly;

Figure 12 is a rear elevation view of the universal lock assembly;

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the universal lock assembly;

Fi gure 14 is a cross ssectional view of the combinati on top pin housing and tubular sleeve taken along lines 14-14 of Figure 15;

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of the combination top pin housing and tubular sleeve taken along lines 15-15 of Figure 14 ; Figure 16 is a rear perspective view of the control sheet ; Figure 17 is a rear perspective view of the bottom pin cylinder; and

Figure 18 is a bottom plan view of the bottom pin cylinder.

Best Mode For C rrying Out The Invention

The novel universal lock and key system will now be described by referring to Figures 1-18 of the drawings.

In Figure 1, the universal lock and key system is shown in use wi th a padlock housing 20. It has a cavity 22 that removably receives the combination top housing and tubular -sleeve assembly 24. Once inserted in i ts proper position in cavity 22, a cap 26 is posi tioned over the top of cavity 22 and secured therein by internally threaded cap pin 27 and bolt 28. Cap 26 has a hole 29 for giving access to the key slot of the bottom pin cylinder 94. A separate hole 30 provides access to the control screw 92.

The structure of the key 36 is illustrated in Figures 2-9. It has an elongated shank portion 38 having a tooth slot 40 formed in its top surface that extends from its rear end all the way up to stationary front tooth 41. The cross section of the tooth slot 40 is best illustrated in Figure 8 which shows that i t has laterally extending grooves 44 and 45 that mate wi th flanges 47 and 48 (see Figure 5) that are on each of the iey teeth 50 and key panel 52. An aperture 54 aligns wi th an aperture in key handle 56. Key handle 56 has a cavity 58 that receives the rear end of key panel 52 and shank portion 38. A bolt 60 passes through aligned apertures in key handle 56 and then throug aperture 54 of key panel 52 and is secured by nut 61. Key teet 50 have various predetermined heights and have been assigned number only for identification purposes only. When the teeth ar in their predetermined assigned sequence in the key, the number on the teeth determine the combination number of the key an lock. Figure 7 shows a front elevational view of shank portion 3 indicating that their are lateral side slots 64 and 65 in the- forward end of shank portion 38.

Combination top pin housing and sleeve assembly 70 is bes illustrated in Figures 10-18. It- has a top pin housing portio 72 and a tubular sleeve portion 73. A plurality of vertical bor holes 75 extend from the top end of top pin housing 72 to it bottom end. Springs 76 and top pins 77 are received within thes vertical bore holes. Each top pin has an annular groove 78. controller pin 80 is received in the rear vertical bore hole an it has a horizontal aperture 81 with a beveled surface 79 that removably receives locking finger 82 of control sheet 83. To pin housing portion 72 has a knob portion 85 formed along its on lateral side and a horizontal control sheet slot 86 passes there through all the way to the respective bore holes 75. Contro sheet 83 is mounted within control sheet slot 86. A contro screw gear 88 passes through a horizontal bore hole 89 and it teeth mesh with gear surface 90 of control sheet 83. A contro screw 92 is mounted on one end of control screw gear 88 and an C-clamp spring 93 locks its other end. As locking finger 8 travels into horizontal aperture 81 it engages beveled surface 79 causing controller pin 80 to be lifted upwardly to remove i ts protrusion 71 on i ts bottom end to be lifted out of annular groove 91 of bottom pin cylinder 94 thus releasing i t so that i t can be removed from tubular sleeve portion 73.

Bottom pin cylinder 94 has key slot 95 formed in i ts bottom surface . A key stop 96 limi ts the amount that the key can be inserted . A plurali ty of bottom pin apertures 98 extend from the top surface of bottom pin cylinder 94 to key slot 95. A plurali ty of bottom pins 100 have different heigh ts and they are assigned numbers that coordinate with the numbers of the key teeth 50. A shoulder 102 i s formed on the rear end of botom pin cylinder 94 and this actuates the locking mechanism when bottom pin cylinder 94 is turned. Longitudinally extending slots 106 are formed in tubular sleeve portion 73 and they mate wi th radially extending pins 108 on the outer surface of bottom pin cylinder 94. A plurality of bore holes 110 are also formed in the bottom surface of tubular sleeve portion 73 and it is through these apertures that the bottom pins 100 pass when the combination of the lock assembly is being changed.

The combination of the lock assembly can also be changed by not having to remove the combination top housing and tubular sleeve assembly 24 from padlock assembly 20. In this instance only the bottom pin cylinder 94 is removed and the combination or sequence of the bottom pins 100 is changed and the bottom pin cylinder is then re-inserted back into the combination top housing and tubular sleeve assembly 24.

Claims

1. A universal lock and key system in which the lock is re- keyable and the key is re-keyable comprising: a combination top pin housing and tubular sleeve assembly having a top pin housing porti on and a tubular sleeve portion and they each have a front end and a rear end; said top pin housing portion having a longi tudinal axis , a top end and a bottom end, a plurality of top pin bore holes are formed in said top pin housing portion and they extend upwardly from i ts bottom end, said top pin bore holes being aligned wi th said longi tudinal axis, a top pin and spring removably received in most of said bore holes; said tubular sleeve portion being formed on the bottom end of said top pin housing portion and they have aligned longitudinal axes, said bore holes of said top pin housing portion being in communication with the interior of said tubular sleeve portion; a bottom pin cylinder having a longitudinal axis, a front end_r a rear end, a top surface and a bottom surface; a key slot extends longitudinally a predetermined distance into said bottom pin cylinder from its front end_r a plurality of longitudinally aligned bottom pin bore holes extend from said top surface into said key slot, a plurali ty of bottom pins are removably mounted in said bottom pin bore holes; and said bottom pin cylinder being removably mounted in said tubular sleeve portion.

2. A universal lock and key system as reci ted in claim further compri sing means for locking said top pins i n said to pin housing portion.

3. A uni versal lock and key system as reci ted in claim wherein said means for locking said top pins comprises a longi tudinally extending control sheet slot tha t extends hori zontally into sai d top pin housing from i ts outer surface to said top pin bore holes and a control sheet that is movable in and out of sai d con trol sheet slot from a posi ti on where i t engages said top pins to a position where said top pins are completely disengaged.

4. A universal lock and key system as recited in claim 3 further comprising gear means for driving said sheet in and out of its top pin engagement posi tion.

^■ 5. A universal lock and key system as reci ted, in claim 3 further comprising a control pin in one of the top pin bore holes.

6. A universal lock and key system as reci ted in claim 1 further comprising means to limi t longi tudinal insertion of a key in said key slot.

■ 7. A universal lock and key system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for locking said bottom pin cylinder in said tubular sleeve portion.

8. A universal lock and key system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a shoulder on the rear end of said bottom pin cylinder for actuating means for unlatching a locking mechanism.

9. A universal lock and key system as reci ted in claim 1 wherein said vertical top pin bore holes extend upwardly to the top end of said top pin housing portion and a removable cover is secured thereto.

10. A universal lock and key system as recited in claim 1 further comprising said tubular sleeve portion having means for removing said bottom pins from said bottom pin cylinder while said bottom pin cylinder remains in said tubular sleeve portion.

11. A univeral lock and key system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a key having removable teeth that can be arranged in di fferent sequences to conform to mating bottom pins having different heights.

12. A key comprising : an elongated shank portion having a front end, a rear end, and a top surface having a longitudinally extending tooth slot; a plurality of key teeth having various predetermined heights; means for securing said teeth in said tooth slot; a key handle; and means for removably securing said key handle to the rear end of said shank portion.