US3837197A - Key-operated locks - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock adapted to be operated by a bitted key and including dual locking features which must be both operated to cause the unlocking. A key-operated lock including a cylinder, a plug rotatable into the cylinder, tumblers carried by the plug and arranged to be displaced radially of the plug to lock and unlock the latter to the cylinder, at least one indentation into each tumbler, a locking side bar extending longitudinally of the plug and arranged to releasably lock the latter to the cylinder, and movable releasing members adapted to respond to predetermined positioning of the tumblers to release the locking side bar.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,837,197

Lopez 1 Sept. 24, 1974 KEY-OPERATED LOCKS 3,479,849 11/1969 Check 70/364 A 3,507,133 4/1970 B2 h 70/42l [76] Inventor? Pea) Lopez 2295 de Londres 3,722,240 3/1973 70/364 A St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed; Mar, 19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe A lock adapted to be operated by a bitted key and in- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data cluding dual locking features which must be both op- Apr. 27, 1972 Canada 140775 erated to aus t l king. A key-operated lock including a cylinder, a plug rotatable into the cylinder, [52] US. Cl 70/364 A, 70/378, 70/419 l r rri by the pl g and arranged to be dis- [51] Int.Cl E05b 15/14, EOSb 27/02 placed radially of the plug to lock and unlock the lat- [58] Field of Search 70/364 A, 364 R, 365, 366, ter to the cylinder, at least one indentation into each 70/378, 377, 419, 416, 421 tumbler, a locking side bar extending longitudinally of the plug and arranged to releasably lock the latter to [56] Referen Cit d the cylinder, and movable releasing members adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS to respond to predetermined positioning of the tum- 2,524,339 10/1950 Young 70/366 blers to release the lockmg 2,648,973 8/1953 Spain 70/366 6 Claims, 30 Drawing Figures KEY-OPERATED LOCKS This invention relates to a lock of the type adapted to be operated by a key.

In the above-mentioned type of locks, unlocking is basically produced by predetermined radial displacements of tumblers into a core, commonly called a plug. A large number of different embodiments of this basic principle of operation have been conceived with the object to minimize the possibility of picking the resulting locks.

The Applicant proposes locks of the above type which are adapted to operate under a different basic principle involving dual locking features requiring a precise positioning of all the tumblers to allow release of the second locking feature.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a key-operated lock including dual locking features arranged to minimize the possibility of successfully picking the resulting locks.

It is another general object of the invention to provide key-operated locks which require precise positioning of all the tumblers to allow release of the second locking feature.

It is another general object of the invention to provide a key-operated lock including rotatable lock pins which must be rotated to predetermined angular positions to allow release of the second locking feature.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a key-operated lock including axially and angularly displaceable lock pins adapted to cooperate with a suitably bitted key to be precisely displaced by the latter to predetermined axial and angular positions to release both locking features.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide 1 a key-operated lock including axially and angularly displaceable lock pins which affords a selection of angular positions for each lock pin, thereby affording an increased number of possible codes or bittings.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood in the light of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a key-operated lock according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 of a first embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is. a side view of a plunger used in the keyoperated locks according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view ofa lock pin according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lock pin as seen alongline 55 in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 8 are partial views ofa key according to the present invention illustrating the action of the key bits;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the key shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 in operative association with lock pins according to the invention;

FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 are sequential views as seen along line 9-9 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the action of the appropriate key;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of the plug alone according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a side bar according to the invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are sequential views illustrating the operative displacement of the side bar.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention as seen along line 16-l6 in FIG. 17;

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are sequential cross-sectional views as seen along line l717 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the lock of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a front view of a tumbler plate according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 22-22 in FIG. 21; FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a key-operated lock according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 are cross-sectional views of the cylinder plus as seen along lines 24-24, 25-25, and 26-26 in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25a is a cross-sectional view of the complete lock as seen along line 25-25 in FIG. 23;

FIG. 27 is a partial view of a key adapted for use with the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 29 is a partial view ofa key adapted for use with" the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 28.

The same reference numerals identify the same elements throughout the different views.

The key-operated lock of the first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15 inclusive, includes acylinder 1 having aninternal bore 2 into which is rotatably mounted aplug 3 which is axially restrained by a pair ofrings 4 at opposite ends thereof. Thecylinder body 1 is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner into an aperture through adoor 5 which is desired to be locked.

Theplug 3 has akeyway 6 extending axially therethrough and formingwards 7 adapted to receive a complementarily wardedkey 8. Theplug 3 also has a row of radial tumbler bores 9 registering one to one with a similar row of radial tumbler bores 10 into thecylinder 1, as is well known in the art. Thebores 9 extend only part way into thekeyway 6 to allow operative engagement ofthe key with the tumblers which are hereinafter defined in detail.

A tumbler is mounted into each pair of alignedbores 9 and 10 and includes alock pin 11 and aplunger 12 Iockingly abutting end to end under the action of acompression spring 13. Eachlock pin 11 andplunger 12 is formed with circumferential grooves to defineannular shoulders 14 arranged to complicate the picking action on the lock. Eachlock pin 11 has a pointed key engaging end formed with a pair of diametrically oppositeplanar faces 15 which are inclined outwardly to wards each other, thereby forming the pointed end. Abore 16 extends diametrically through eachlock pin 11 in a predetermined angular direction R,R' relative to theplanar faces 15. Thebores 16 of the row ofpins 11 are differently angularly arranged relative one to another according to a selected code, and as is well known, thelock pins 11 are also of different lengths according to a selected code.

Theappropriate key 8 to operate the tumblers is bitted according to the two selected codes, as will now be explained.

Thekey 8 includes aforemost face 17 which is inclined to form a ramp causing the lock pins 1]. to move upwardly upon insertion of the key. The dual code is imparted to the key by making notches of different depths into one edge thereof and by forming the said notches withside faces 18 which extend transversely at different angles R,R' according to the code defined by the different angles of thebores 16. There results that upon proper insertion of the properly bittedkey 8, thelock pins 11 will engage into the afore-mentioned notches and will be rotated by engagement with the angular faces thereof to cause all thebores 16 to extend parallel to each other transversely of theplug 3.

It should be appreciated later in the light of the following description that thebore 16 may be replaced by a pair of blind bores arranged at diametrically opposite positions of the generallycylindrical lock pins 11 or may even be replaced by a single blind bore or indentation. The use of athrough bore 16 or two diametrically opposite indentations and twoplanar faces 15, instead of only one indentation and one planar face, is preferred to ensure response of thelock pins 11 to the rotary action produced by thefaces 18.

Theplug 3, as best shown in FIG. 12, has acircumferential groove 19 arranged to receive onering 4, anelongated cavity 20 extending lengthwise thereof and formed to receive thelocking side bar 21 and a series of circumferential slots orgrooves 22 aligned each with abore 9 and intersecting theelongated cavity 20. A

.blind bore 23 is formed at each end of theelongated cavity 20 and arranged to mount acompression spring 24 to bias thelocking side bar 21 radially outwardly. The latter has outwardly converginginclined faces 25 and 26 andtransverse cutouts 27, equal in number to theslots 22 and arranged to be transversely aligned therewith. Anelongated recess 28 is formed into the periphery of the'bore 2 and extends lengthwise thereof. Therecess 28 has a generally V-shaped cross-section defining a pair ofinclined faces 29 and 30 adapted to be engaged by theinclined faces 25 and 26 respectively.

An arcuated releasing blade orplate 31 is engaged edgewise into eachslot 22 and adapted to slide therein around theplug 3 and relative to the latter and thecylinder 1. The arcuated releasingplate 31 includes aprojection 32 adapted to engage into one end of thebore 16 when the latter is precisely positioned in alignment therewith, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Each arcuated releasing plate orblade 31 is formed with a notch or cutout adapted to receive the lockingside bar 21 and having oppositeinclined sides 33 and 34 forming a guideway for thebar 21.

When one or more lock pins 11 has itsbore 16 misaligned with the correspondingprojection 32, the latter abuts against the lateral side of the corresponding lock pin and through theinclined side 33, against the lockingside bar 21 holding the latter against radially inward displacement. The lockingbar 21 then engages into both thecavity 20 and therecess 25 and locks theplug 3 against rotation.

When theappropriate key 8 has been inserted into thekeyway 6 and the lock pins 11 have all been thence displaced axially and angularly to align thebores 16 with the correspondingprojections 32, the rotation of the key in the direction of thearrow 35 in FIG. 11 may be effected, since the arcuated releasingplates 31 are allowed to be displaced around theplug 3. The rotary effort on the latter is then transmitted through the inclined faces 25 and 30 into a radially inward displacement of theside bar 21. The latter then acts against theinclined side 33 to urge the arcuated releasingplates 31 towards thepins 11 until theprojections 32 have entered into thebores 16. Then, the lockingslide bar 21 has been displaced sufficiently radially inwardly to escape theelongated recess 28 and to travel with theplug 3, as shown in FlG. 11.

The locking of the lock of FIGS. 1 to 15 inclusive is done by counterrotating thekey 8 and theplug 3 until the lockingside bar 21 aligns radially with theelongated recess 20. Then thesprings 24 urge theside bar 21 into therecess 20, causing theinclined face 26 to act on theinclined sides 34 and a resulting retraction of theprojections 32 from thebores 16. The key 8 may then be withdrawn, which causes the lock pins 11 to be lowered with odd alignments of theirbores 16 by the action of theramp face 17 of the key on the lowering lock pins. I

The lock according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 22 inclusive includes acylinder 36 into which is rotatably mounted aplug 37 supported at one end by a ring '38 and having abolt actuating member 39 secured at its other end by means ofscrews 40 or the like. Theplug 37 has akeyway 41 extending longitudinally therethrough and a series oftransverse slots 42, into which are slidably mounted slidingblades 43 forming the tumblers.

Thecylinder 36 is provided withlongitudinal spaces 44 and 45 constructed and arranged for the extension of the slidingblades 43 therein, thereby locking theplug 37 to thecylinder 36. Each sliding blade has aslot 46 generally aligned with thekeyway 41 for the insertion of asuitable key 37. Each slidingblade 43 is formed with an offsetlug 49 adapted to be engaged by aspring 49 urging the corresponding blade radially outwardly for engagement into thespace 44 or 45. Notches orindentations 50 are formed into one edge of each slidingblade 43.

Asvin the first embodiment, the plug of the lock is formed with anelongated cavity 20 adapted to receive the lockingside bar 21, withcircumferential slots 22, and withblind bores 23 lodging springs 24. Thecylinder 36 is provided with anelongated recess 28 which is arranged as in the first embodiment. An arcuated releasingplate 51 is associated to each slidingblade 43 and includes a pair of projections arranged to engage into a pair of notches orindentations 50 of the corresponding blade. Otherwise, the releasingplates 51 are constructed and operate like the releasingplates 31 of the embodiment of FlGS. 1 to 15 inclusive.

When theappropriate key 47 is inserted into thekeyway 41 of the lock of FIGS. 16 to 22 inclusive, theblades 43 are displaced radially inwardly as shown in FIG. 18, in which case theprojections 52 are allowed to engage into theindentations 50 and to release the lockingside bar 21. The latter can then be caused to travel with theplug 37.

Additional indentations 53 are formed along the edge of eachblade 43 to complicate and make substantially impossible the successful picking of the lock, since, as soon as oneprojection 52 will engage anyfalse indentation 53, the whole picking operation has to be started over to release theblade 43 which had been wrongly engaged; otherwise that blade still extends into onespace 44 or 45 and locks theplug 37 against rotation.

The lock according to the third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 27 inclusive, includes acylinder 54 having thelongitudinal space 44 and 45, theelongated recess 28 and an additionalelongated recess 55 parallel to the other and similarly formed with a V-notch cross-section and inclined faces. Aplug 56 is rotatably mounted into the bore of thecylinder 54 and has akeyway 57 extending longitudinally therethrough. Theplug 56 also hastransverse slots 42 having slidingblades 43 therein and other transverse slots 58 having slidingblades 59 therein alternatively arranged with theblades 42 and urged outwardly in diametrically opposite direction relative to the latter bysprings 49 engaging offsetlugs 48 formed into each slidingblade 43 and 59. Each slidingblade 59 also includes thesets ofnotches 50 and 53 and theslot 46 for the key 47.

Theplug 56 includes the elongated cavity and a secondelongated cavity 60, generally similar to thecavity 20. Theplug 56 also includes thearcuated slots 22 and generallysimilar slots 61 intersecting theelongated cavity 60. A movable releasingplate 62 havingprojections 63 is mounted into eachslot 61 for actuate displacement towards and away from the corresponding slidingblade 59. A lockingside bar 21 is mounted into theelongated cavity 20 and a similarlocking side bar 64 is mounted into the secondelongated cavity 60. The movable releasingplates 62 are also provided with a notch or guideway having opposite inclined sides arranged to be engaged by theside bar 64 to actuate the same. A key 65 having opposite edges suitably bitted, as shown in FIG. 27, is inserted into thekeyway 57, causing radially inward displacement of the two sets of slidingblades 43 and 59 and the alignment of thenotches 50 of both sets of blades with theprojections 52 and 63 of the corresponding releasingplates 51 and 62. Theplug 56 may then be rotated either way, as all the releasingplates 51 and 62 allow both side bars 21 and 64 to retract radially inwardly to disengage thecylinder 54.

It will be readily appreciated that when any slidingblade 43 or 59 is improperly displaced, whether a projection engages into afalse notch 53 or not, theplug 56 will remain locked against rotation. It therefore results that improper pickingof even only one sliding blade will counter the opening of the lock.

The fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29 defines the basic concept of the first embodiment applied to a lock which includes two rows of tumblers diametrically opposed, instead of only one row. Eachlock pin 11 must therefore become aligned with the correspondingprojection 32 before the plug can be rotated by rotation of theappropriate key 66.

In FIGS. 24 and 27, P indicates the pitch or spacing between any two adjacent slidingblades 43 and P between two adjacent slidingblades 59. In FIG. 29, P" and P' indicate the pitches for the two rows of lock pins 12. It should be noted that to produce correct alignment of all thebores 16, the pitches P" and P must be equal and in phase.

Each slidingblade 43, 59 is formed with otherfalse indentations 67 at corners thereof, which is adapted to engage one of thelips 68 defined by thespaces 44 or 45 upon an attempt to pick the lock. There results added confusion to perform the picking action.

Referring to FIG. 20, it will be noted thatring 38 has aninternal notch 28 to receive the end ofside bar 21.Ring 38 does not rotate and its inside cylindrical surface preventsside bar 21 from enteringspace 44 whenplug 37 is rotated to the position of FIG. 19.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 12, 20, 23, 24, tempered steel pins 69 are press fitted transversely into the front end portion ofplug 3, 37 or 56 to prevent breaking the lock by drilling through the plug and theplungers 12 or slidingblades 43.

Referring to FIGs. 6 to 8, it is obvious that angle R, R could be negative. One could thus provide key side faces 18 extending transversely with alternate inclinations.

I claim:

l. A key-operated lock comprising a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in said cylinder, a locking side bar carried by said key plug longitudinally thereof in a cavity of the key plug for rotation therewith and movable be tween a retracted position in which said side bar is totally within said cavity and a locking position in which a part of said side bar extends outwardly of said key plug and engages into a longitudinal recess in said cylinder, at least one of said side bar and cavity having an inclined surface engageable by the other of said cavity and side bar to cause retraction of said side bar from said cavity into said retracted position upon rotation of said key plug, spring means urging said side bar into said locking position, tumblers for locking said key plug to said cylinder, spaced-apart releasing members car ried by said plug around the latter for rotation therewith and in respective transverse alignment with said tumblers, the latter having indentations, said releasing members movable relative to said plug between a retracted position clearing said tumblers and an advanced position engaging said indentations, said releasing members each having a notch with an inclined side, said notches being in register longitudinally of said plug and receiving said side bar, movement of said bar from its locking position to its retracted position causing movement of said releasing members relative to said plug from their retracted position to their advanced position due to coaction between said notch inclined side and said side bar, the latter preventing rotation of said plug in said cylinder, when said releasing members are prevented from moving to their advanced position by said tumblers when their indentations are not all in register with the respective releasing members.

2. A key-operated lock as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said recess has a pair of inclined surfaces and said locking side bar includes a pair of inclined faces arranged to selectively co-operate with said inclined surfaces and cause retracting movement of said side bar upon rotation of said key plug in any of two directions in said cylinder.

3. A key-operated lock as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said plug includes circumferential slots intersecting said tumblers respectively and each of said releasing members forms an arcuate plate slidably mounted into one of said circumferential slots and intersecting said cavity.

4. A key-operated lock as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of said tumblers includes a generally cylindrical lock pin rotatable in a radial bore of said plug and having said indentation formed at a predetermined angular position and level at the lateral face thereof. a rotation transmitting and key-engaging means is provided on said locking pin and arranged to be operatively engaged by a key having a predetermined rotation producing bitting to rotate said locking pin and to cause alignment of all of said indentations with said releasing members, respectively. thereby allowing said engagement of said releasing members, retracting movement of said side bar and rotation of said plug within said cylinder.

5. A keyoperated lock as claimed inclaim 3, wherein each of said tumblers includes a lock pin, a plunger and a biasing spring extending into a pair of aligned radial bores in said cylinder and plug respectively, and each said lock pin is provided with at least one annular shoulder arranged to be engaged by a picking tool to deceive picking action on the lock.

6. A key-operated lock as defined inclaim 1, wherein sliding blades are mounted in a row into said plug and arranged in spaced-apart relationship lengthwise of the latter and form a first set of tumblers constituting said tumblers operatively associated to said locking side bar and to said releasing means, and said sliding blades form a second set of tumblers and are constructed and arranged to slide outwardly of said plug in opposite direction relative to the sliding blades of said first set of tumblers, each of said sliding blades includes a hole therethrough for the insertion of a suitable key, each of said sliding blades has an indentation into one edge thereof, the indentations of the sliding blades of said first set and of said second set are arranged at the diametrically opposite ends respectively of said blades, and along the same edge thereof, said releasing members and said locking side bars are operatively associated to the sliding blades of said first set, and other movable releasing members and another locking side bar are similarly operatively associated to the sliding blades of said second set, whereby to allow rotation of said plug in either direction upon engagement of all said releasing members into all said indentations respectively.

Claims (6)

1. A key-operated lock comprising a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in said cylinder, a locking side bar carried by said key plug longitudinally thereof in a cavity of the key plug for rotation therewith and movable between a retracted position in which said side bar is totally within said cavity and a locking position in which a part of said side bar extends outwardly of said key plug and engages into a longitudinal recess in said cylinder, at least one of said side bar and cavity having an inclined surface engageable by the other of said cavity and side bar to cause retraction of said side bar from said cavity into said retracted position upon rotation of said key plug, spring means urging said side bar into said locking position, tumblers for locking said key plug to said cylinder, spaced-apart releasing members carried by said plug around the latter for rotation therewith and in respective transverse alignment with said tumblers, the latter having indentations, said releasing members movable relative to said plug between a retracted position clearing said tumblers and an advanced position engaging said indentations, said releasing members each having a notch with an inclined side, said notches being in register longitudinally of said plug and receiving said side bar, movement of said bar from its locking position to its retracted position causing movement of said releasing members relaTive to said plug from their retracted position to their advanced position due to coaction between said notch inclined side and said side bar, the latter preventing rotation of said plug in said cylinder, when said releasing members are prevented from moving to their advanced position by said tumblers when their indentations are not all in register with the respective releasing members.

2. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recess has a pair of inclined surfaces and said locking side bar includes a pair of inclined faces arranged to selectively co-operate with said inclined surfaces and cause retracting movement of said side bar upon rotation of said key plug in any of two directions in said cylinder.

3. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plug includes circumferential slots intersecting said tumblers respectively and each of said releasing members forms an arcuate plate slidably mounted into one of said circumferential slots and intersecting said cavity.

4. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tumblers includes a generally cylindrical lock pin rotatable in a radial bore of said plug and having said indentation formed at a predetermined angular position and level at the lateral face thereof, a rotation transmitting and key-engaging means is provided on said locking pin and arranged to be operatively engaged by a key having a predetermined rotation producing bitting to rotate said locking pin and to cause alignment of all of said indentations with said releasing members, respectively, thereby allowing said engagement of said releasing members, retracting movement of said side bar and rotation of said plug within said cylinder.

5. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said tumblers includes a lock pin, a plunger and a biasing spring extending into a pair of aligned radial bores in said cylinder and plug respectively, and each said lock pin is provided with at least one annular shoulder arranged to be engaged by a picking tool to deceive picking action on the lock.

6. A key-operated lock as defined in claim 1, wherein sliding blades are mounted in a row into said plug and arranged in spaced-apart relationship lengthwise of the latter and form a first set of tumblers constituting said tumblers operatively associated to said locking side bar and to said releasing means, and said sliding blades form a second set of tumblers and are constructed and arranged to slide outwardly of said plug in opposite direction relative to the sliding blades of said first set of tumblers, each of said sliding blades includes a hole therethrough for the insertion of a suitable key, each of said sliding blades has an indentation into one edge thereof, the indentations of the sliding blades of said first set and of said second set are arranged at the diametrically opposite ends respectively of said blades, and along the same edge thereof, said releasing members and said locking side bars are operatively associated to the sliding blades of said first set, and other movable releasing members and another locking side bar are similarly operatively associated to the sliding blades of said second set, whereby to allow rotation of said plug in either direction upon engagement of all said releasing members into all said indentations respectively.

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