EP4158140A1

EP4158140A1 - Lock and related key

Info

Publication number: EP4158140A1
Application number: EP20744143.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Fabbri; Giovanni Ferri; Enzo Talamonti
Original assignee: CISA SpA
Current assignee: CISA SpA
Priority date: 2020-05-28
Filing date: 2020-05-28
Publication date: 2023-04-05
Also published as: WO2021240556A1; TW202210702A; TWI881131B; ZA202213161B; CN115698453A; UA129308C2

Abstract

A lock (1) and related key (2) which comprise a stator (3) within which a rotor (4) can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot (5) within which respective pins (6, 7) are substantially mutually opposite. The slot (5) is adapted for the insertion of the key (2) which is provided with a seat (8) for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever (9), which is adapted to actuate the pins (6, 7). The freely orientable lever (9) of the key (2) comprises a substantially flattened free end (10) the thickness of which is less than that of the key (2): the free end (10) is provided with at least one contoured protruding band (13) at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces. The longitudinal slot (5) of the rotor (4) comprises, at its end portion, a pit (14) for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band (13) of the key (2). The stator (2) and the rotor (3) comprise radial holes (15, 16) which define, in a configuration of mutual alignment, a conduit that faces the side surface of the longitudinal slot (5): the conduit accommodates elastic means (17), a respective counterpin (18), and a pin (19) which is adapted to abut against a side edge (20) of the key (2).

Description

LOCK AND RELATED KEY

The present invention relates to a lock and the related key.

Currently a cylinder lock exists which can be actuated by way of a respective key, the characteristics of which are described in Italian patent no. 1235586 of 06 September 1989 and EP1728944 with priority date of 1 June 2005, both in the name of this same applicant. In such documents a cylinder lock is described the encoding of which cannot be immediately deciphered from outside, for the purpose of hindering tampering therewith.

Such result is obtained by having at least two pins, mutually opposite with respect to the slot for introducing the key, in the rotor of the cylinder, such pins having one respective end protruding into the slot itself.

The pins are associated with respective counterpins which can translate elastically from a configuration of total accommodation inside the stator to at least one configuration of simultaneous accommodation in the stator and in the rotor, consequently rigidly coupling these two parts.

The key is provided with a lever, which is accommodated so that it can rotate within a respective seat and which, when the key is inserted in the slot, actuates the pins, arranging them so that the counterpins are in the configuration in which they are fully accommodated in the stator, thus allowing a movement of the rotor following an action of turning the key.

The presence of the lever in the key, associated with the at least two pins, ensures higher security of the lock against forcing actions generically defined as "picking" (mechanical tampering).

The requirement to increase the security of this type of lock leads to increasing the number of pins accommodated in the rotor and in the stator which can be engaged in adapted encodings of the key.

Unfortunately, however, the pivoted lever generally protrudes with respect to the profile (contour) of the key.

For this reason, it should be noted that the adoption of the pivoted lever on the key implies the need to widen the slot for the key which is present on the rotor of the lock at the lever.

The spaces of the rotor within which to provide the slots for accommodating any encoding pins are extremely limited, owing to the small dimensions of the rotor itself.

The widening of the key accommodation slot described previously (which is necessary in order to allow the passage of the lever) further reduces the available space, thus preventing the insertion of auxiliary encoding pins.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a lock and related key that offer high security against forcing.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a lock and related key that allow the adoption of a high number of encoding pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock and related key that allow the use of any surface of the key as an encoded surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock and related key that are of low cost, easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a lock and related key of the type that comprises a stator within which a rotor can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot within which respective pins are substantially mutually opposite, said slot being adapted for the insertion of said key which is provided with a seat for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever, which is adapted to actuate the said pins, characterized in that:

- said freely orientable lever of said key comprises a substantially flattened free end the thickness of which is less than that of the said key, said free end being provided with at least one contoured protruding band at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces; - said longitudinal slot of said rotor comprises, at its end portion, a pit for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band of said key;

- said stator and said rotor comprise radial holes which define, in a configuration of mutual alignment, a conduit that faces the side surface of said longitudinal slot, said conduit accommodating elastic means, a respective counterpin, and a pin which is adapted to abut against a side edge of said key.

Such aim and such objects are also achieved by a cylinder lock of the type that comprises a stator within which a rotor can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot within which respective pins are substantially mutually opposite, said slot being adapted for the insertion of a key which is provided with a seat for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever, which is adapted to actuate the said pins, characterized in that:

- said longitudinal slot of said rotor comprises, at its end portion, a pit for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band of said freely orientable lever of said key which is defined on a respective substantially flattened free end the thickness of which is less than that of the said key;

Such aim and such objects are further achieved by a key for cylinder locks of the type comprising a seat for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever, which is adapted to actuate pins of the respective lock, characterized in that said freely orientable lever of said key comprises a substantially flattened free end the thickness of which is less than that of the said key, said free end being provided with at least one contoured protruding band at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the lock and of the related key according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a key according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a key according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic view from above of a cylinder and a respective key according to the prior art;

Figure 4 is a detail of the cross-section taken along the line IV-IV traced in Figure 3 of the cylinder and of the key according to the prior art;

Figure 5 is a detail of Figure 3 of the cylinder according to the prior art;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI- VI traced in Figure 3 of the cylinder and of the key according to the prior art in a step of operation;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII- VII traced in Figure 3 of the cylinder and of the key according to the prior art in a further step of operation;

Figure 8 is a schematic view from above of a cylinder and a respective key according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a detail of the cross-section taken along the line IX-IX traced in Figure 8 of the cylinder and of the key according to the invention;

Figure 10 is a detail of Figure 8 of the cylinder according to the invention;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI traced in Figure 8 of the cylinder and of the key according to the invention in a step of operation;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII traced in Figure 8 of the cylinder and of the key according to the invention in a further step of operation;

Figure 13 is a partially cross-sectional side view of a key according to the prior art;

Figure 14 is a front elevation view of a key according to the prior art;

Figure 15 is a partially cross-sectional side view of a key according to the invention;

Figure 16 is a front elevation view of a key according to the invention;

Figure 17 is a partially cross-sectional schematic perspective view of a lock and a related key according to the invention.

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a lock and the reference numeral 2 generally designates the related key.

The lock 1 comprises a stator 3 within which a rotor 4 can rotate, such rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot 5 within which respective pins 6, 7 are substantially mutually opposite. The slot 5 is adapted to accommodate the key 2, following the insertion thereof at a front of the lock 1.

The key 2 is provided with a hand-grip 2a and with an encoded shank 2b which is intended to be inserted into the slot 5 of the lock 1.

At the end of the encoded shank 2a, the key 2 comprises a seat 8 for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever 9: the lever 9 is pivoted within the seat 8 by way of a transverse peg 2c. The orientable lever 9 is designed to actuate the pins 6 and 7 of the lock 1.

It should be noted that, according to the invention, the freely orientable lever 9 of the key 2 conveniently comprises a substantially flattened free end 10 the thickness of which is less than that of the key 2. It can be seen from Figures 2 and 15 that such flattened free end 10 can be defined between two flat surfaces 11 and 12 which delimit an acute angle; such surfaces 11 and 12 are defined by straight generatrices parallel to the axis of the peg 2c for pivoting in the seat 8.

It should furthermore be noted that the free end 10 will advantageously be provided with at least one contoured protruding band 13 at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces, i.e. of one of the two flat surfaces 11 and 12.

According to the invention, the longitudinal slot 5 of the rotor 4 profitably will comprise, at its end portion, a pit 14 for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band 13 of the key 2.

Furthermore, the stator 2 and the rotor 3 will positively comprise radial holes 15 and 16 which define, in a configuration of mutual alignment, a conduit that faces the side surface of the longitudinal slot 5.

The conduit (which is constituted by the aligned holes 15 and 16) will conveniently accommodate elastic means 17, a respective counterpin 18 and a pin 19 which is adapted to abut against a side edge 20 of the key 2.

With particular reference to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the pit 14 adapted for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band 13 of the lever 9 can advantageously have an overall length that is less than the length of the lever 9 and a depth that is less than the height of the protruding band 13.

It is to be noted that the dimensional parameters of the pit 14 can be better identified when the key 2 is completely inserted into the longitudinal slot 5, in relation to the specific parts thereof.

The pit 14 in fact, with respect to the key 2 when completely accommodated in the slot 5, presents an initial front 21 proximate to the pivoting axis of the lever 9 and a terminal front 22 facing toward the surface of the key 2 that is arranged upstream of the seat 8.

A central portion 23 of the pit 14 has constant depth, while the two mutually opposite end portions 24 and 25 are conveniently blended by way of curved surfaces to the longitudinal slot 5.

Such curved blending surfaces allow the lever 9 to slide on continuous surfaces, free from steps or sudden variations in dimensions or shape, thus ensuring that the access and extraction of the key 2 in the slot 5 take place without unwanted jamming or sticking.

It should furthermore be noted that the radial holes 15 and 16, which define the conduit which is adapted to accommodate the elastic means 17, the counterpin 18 and the pin 19, have a diameter of an extent proximate to the depth of the pit 14.

By virtue of these dimensional parameters, it is possible to ensure that the counterpin 18 does not become jammed, becoming stuck in the pit 14, during the rotation of the key 2, as would happen with conventional locks A and keys B (the situation shown in the accompanying Figure 6).

It should furthermore be noted that the radial hole 16 of the rotor 4 can conveniently comprise at least two segments 26, 26a of different diameter.

The pin 19, in turn, will profitably have at least one first zone 27 with shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the segment 26 and at least one second zone 28 with shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the segment 26a. The presence of segments 26 and 26a and of zones 27 and 28 with differentiated diameters will cause the sticking of the pin 19 if forcing is attempted using a key 2 with the wrong coding on its side surface 20, thus preventing the lock 1 from being opened.

It should furthermore be noted that the pins 6 and 7 can conveniently present contoured fronts which are adapted for encoded abutment against respective complementary contoured portions that are present on at least one part of the lever 9 chosen from either the at least one contoured protruding band 13 and the flat face constituted by one of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 which delimit an acute angle. This coding of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 or of the protruding bands 13 and of the fronts of the pins 6 and 7 will make it possible to further increase the security of the lock 1 against forcing.

It should furthermore be noted that the side edge 20 of the encoded shank 2b of the key 2 can conveniently comprise an encoded profile which is provided with at least one encoded recess 29 for the temporary accommodation of the head 30 of the pin 19, which will advantageously have a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the recess 29.

This encoded coupling of the head 30 with the respective recess 29 will also contribute to increasing the security of the lock 1 and of the key 2 with respect to the performance levels that can be obtained with locks A according to the prior art.

It should be noted that the lock 1 according to the invention is an innovative component by virtue of its implementation structure, even independently of its pairing with the key 2.

In the same way the key 2 is a highly innovative component and extremely versatile in that it can also be used in conventional locks A.

It can be seen from the accompanying figures that the key 2 advantageously has many parts that are similar to those of conventional keys B: such characteristics render the new key 2 very versatile in that it will work on conventional locks A as well. This versatility is particularly useful in cases where only some of the locks are replaced in a building administered using coordinated encodings: in this case, only a few authorized persons will need to have a passkey 2 that can open all the locks 1 and A that are present.

By comparing Figures 3, 4 and 5 (which show the prior art in the sector) with Figures 8, 9 and 10, it can be seen that the notch (created by milling) that defines the pit 14 in the lock 1 is a great deal smaller than the one necessary in locks A in the prior art, and this is by virtue of the fact that the lever 9 of the key 2 has a much smaller space occupation than that of the levers C of conventional keys.

In addition, with respect to the levers C of conventional keys, the protruding band 13 is contoured to at least partially enter the slot for accommodating the pin 6, thus making it possible to minimize the dimensions of the recess 14.

By comparing Figures 6 and 7 (which show the prior art in the sector) with Figures 11 and 12, it can be seen that the hole 15 (and therefore also the counterpin 18) are wider than the portion of slot 5 (spanned by the pit 14): this prevents the accidental entry of the counterpin 18 into the slot 5 (into the pit 14), differently from what would happen in the conventional lock A (as shown in Figure 6).

Advantageously the present invention solves the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing a lock 1 and related key 2 that offer high security against forcing.

Conveniently the lock 1 and the related key 2 according to the invention allow the adoption of a high number of encoding pins.

Advantageously the lock 1 and the related key 2 according to the invention allow the use of any surface of the key 2 as an encoded surface.

Positively the key 2 according to the invention is compatible with locks A according to the prior art and therefore it can be integrated in buildings where there are conventional locks A and locks 1 according to the invention, including as a passkey 2.

Positively the lock 1 and the related key 2 are easily and practically implemented and of low cost: such characteristics make the lock 1 and the key 2 of the innovations certain to be safe in use.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements. In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

1. A lock and related key of the type that comprises a stator (3) within which a rotor (4) can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot (5) within which respective pins (6, 7) are substantially mutually opposite, said slot (5) being adapted for the insertion of said key (2) which is provided with a seat (8) for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever (9), which is adapted to actuate the said pins (6, 7), characterized in that:

- said freely orientable lever (9) of said key (2) comprises a substantially flattened free end (10) the thickness of which is less than that of the said key (2), said free end (10) being provided with at least one contoured protruding band (13) at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces;

- said longitudinal slot (5) of said rotor (4) comprises, at its end portion, a pit (14) for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band (13) of said key (2);

- said stator (2) and said rotor (3) comprise radial holes (15, 16) which define, in a configuration of mutual alignment, a conduit that faces the side surface of said longitudinal slot (5), said conduit accommodating elastic means (17), a respective counterpin (18), and a pin (19) which is adapted to abut against a side edge (20) of said key (2).

2. The lock and related key according to claim 1, characterized in that said pit (14) adapted for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band (13) of said lever (9) has an overall length that is less than the length of the said lever (9) and a depth that is less than the height of the said protruding band (13).

3. The lock and related key according to claim 2, characterized in that, when said key (2) is completely inserted into said longitudinal slot (5), said pit (14) presents an initial front (21) proximate to the pivoting axis of said lever (9) and a terminal front (22) facing toward the surface of said key (2) that is arranged upstream of the said seat (8).

4. The lock and related key according to claim 3, characterized in that a central portion (23) of said pit (14) has constant depth, while the two mutually opposite end portions (24, 25) are blended by way of curved surfaces to the said longitudinal slot (5).

5. The lock and related key according to claim 1 , characterized in that said radial holes (15, 16), which define said conduit which is adapted to accommodate said elastic means (17), said counterpin (18) and said pin (19), have a diameter that is proximate to the depth of said pit (14).

6. The lock and related key according to claim 1, characterized in that said radial hole (16) of said rotor (4) comprises at least two segments (26, 26a) which have different diameters, said pin (19) having at least one first zone (27) with shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the said segment (26) and at least one second zone (28) with shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the said segment (26a).

7. The lock and related key according to claim 1 , characterized in that said pins (6, 7) have contoured fronts that are adapted for encoded abutment against respective complementary contoured portions that are present on at least one part of said lever (9) chosen from either said at least one contoured protruding band (13) and said flat face.

8. The lock and related key according to claim 1, characterized in that said side edge (20) of said key (2) comprises an encoded profile which is provided with at least one encoded recess (29) for the temporary accommodation of the head (30) of said pin (19) having a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of said recess (29).

9. A cylinder lock of the type that comprises a stator (3) within which a rotor (4) can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot (5) within which respective pins (6, 7) are substantially mutually opposite, said slot (5) being adapted for the insertion of a key (2) which is provided with a seat (8) for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever (9), which is adapted to actuate the said pins (6, 7), characterized in that:

- said longitudinal slot (5) of said rotor (4) comprises, at its end portion, a pit (14) for the temporary accommodation of a respective contoured protruding band (13) of said freely orientable lever (9) of said key (2) which is defined on a respective substantially flattened free end (10) the thickness of which is less than that of the said key (2);

10. A key for cylinder locks of the type comprising a seat (8) for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever (9), which is adapted to actuate pins (6, 7) of the respective lock (1), characterized in that said freely orientable lever (9) of said key (2) comprises a substantially flattened free end (10) the thickness of which is less than that of the said key (2), said free end (10) being provided with at least one contoured protruding band (13) at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces.

11. The key for cylinder locks according to claim 10, characterized in that said contoured protruding band (13) has a shape and dimensions that are substantially complementary to those of the end segment of the slot of the rotor (4) which is adapted to accommodate the pin (6) for its at least partial accommodation in the end segment of that slot.