TWI881131B - Lock and related key - Google Patents

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

Locks and related keys

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

There are currently cylinder locks that can be activated by individual keys, the features of which are described in Italian Patent No. 1235586 of September 6, 1989 and EP1728944 with a priority date of June 1, 2005 in the name of the same applicant. In these documents, a cylinder lock is described whose code cannot be immediately deciphered from the outside in order to prevent tampering.

This result is obtained by providing the rotor of the drum with at least two pins located opposite one another relative to the slot for introducing the key, these pins having one of their respective ends projecting into the slot itself.

The pins are associated with respective countersunk pins which can be elastically converted from a configuration in which they are completely accommodated in the stator to at least one configuration in which they are accommodated simultaneously in the stator and the rotor, thereby rigidly coupling these two parts.

The key is provided with a lever which is received so that it can rotate within a respective seat and actuates the pin when the key is inserted into the slot, the pin being arranged so that the countersunk pin is in a configuration in which the countersunk pin is fully received in the stator, thus allowing the rotor to move following one action of turning the key.

The presence of a lever in the key associated with at least two pins ensures a higher security of the lock against forced actions usually defined as "prying" (mechanical tampering).

The need to increase the security of this type of lock has led to an increase in the number of pins housed in the rotor and stator which can engage in a key-adapted code.

Unfortunately, however, the hinge lever usually protrudes relative to the outline (shape) of the key.

For this purpose, it should be noted that the use of a pivot lever on the key implies the need to widen the key slot present in the rotor of the lock at the lever.

Due to the small size of the rotor itself, there is very limited space in the rotor to provide a slot to accommodate any coding pins.

The previously described widening of the key receiving slot (which is necessary to allow the lever to pass through) further reduces the available space, thus preventing the insertion of the auxiliary coding pin.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above shortcomings by providing a lock and related key that provides high security to prevent forced access.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock and associated key that allows the use of a large number of coded pins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock and associated key which allow any surface of the key to be used as an encoding surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock and related key that is low in cost, easy to use and safe to use.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a lock and associated key of the type comprising: a stator in which a rotor is rotatable, the rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot in which respective pins are substantially mutually opposite, the slot being adapted to insert the key, the key being provided with a seat for receiving a respective freely orientable lever, the lever being adapted to actuate the pins, characterised in that: - the freely orientable lever of the key comprises a substantially flat free end having a thickness less than the thickness of the key, the free end being provided with at least one shaped protruding section at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces; - The longitudinal slot of the rotor comprises, at its end portion, a recess for temporarily accommodating a respective shaped protruding section of the key; - the stator and the rotor comprise radial holes defining a guide tube in a mutually aligned configuration facing the lateral surface of the longitudinal slot, the guide tube accommodating the elastic member, a respective countersunk pin and a pin adapted to abut against a lateral edge of the key.

These aims and objects are also achieved by a cylinder lock comprising: a stator in which a rotor is rotatable, the rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot in which respective pins are substantially opposite each other, the slot being adapted to insert a key provided with a seat for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever adapted to actuate the pins, characterised in that: - the longitudinal slot of the rotor comprises at its end portion a recess of a respective shaped protruding section of the freely orientable lever for temporarily accommodating the key, the protruding section being defined on a respective substantially flat free end having a thickness less than the thickness of the key; - The stator and the rotor comprise radial holes defining a guide tube facing the side surface of the longitudinal slot in a mutually aligned configuration, the guide tube accommodating the elastic member, a respective countersunk pin and a pin adapted to abut against a side edge of the key.

These aims and objects are further achieved by a key for a cylinder lock of the type comprising a seat for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever adapted to actuate the pin of the respective lock, characterised in that the freely orientable lever of the key comprises a substantially flat free end of a thickness less than the thickness of the key, the free end being provided with at least one shaped projection at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces.

1: Lock

2:Key

2a: Grip

2b: Encoding handle

2c: Horizontal bolt

3: Stator

4: Rotor

5: Longitudinal groove

6: Sales

7: Sales

8: Seat

9: Freely directional lever

10: Substantially flat free end

11: Flat surface

12: Flat surface

13: Each formed protruding section

14: pits

15: Radial hole

16: Radial hole

17: Elastic components

18: Countersunk pin

19: Sales

20: Side edge

21: Initial front end

22: Terminate the front end

23: Central part

24: End part

25: End part

26: Section

26a: Section

27: First Area

28: Second area

29: Coding groove

30: Head

A: Lock

B:Key

C: Leverage

Further features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a lock and an associated key according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a key according to the prior art; FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a key according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a cylinder and a key according to the prior art; FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a cylinder and a key according to the prior art FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a cross section obtained by tracing the key along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a cross section obtained by tracing the key along the line VI-VI in FIG. 3 in an operation step according to the prior art cylinder and key; FIG. 7 is a cross section obtained by tracing the key along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3 in a further operation step according to the prior art cylinder and key; FIG. 8 is a cross section obtained by tracing the key along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3 according to the present invention; FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a cross section of the cylinder and the key according to the present invention taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a detailed view of FIG. 8 of the cylinder according to the present invention; FIG. 11 is a cross section of the cylinder and the key according to the present invention taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 8 in an operation step; FIG. 12 is a cross section of the cylinder according to the present invention in a further operation step. and a key along the line XII-XII in FIG8 A cross-sectional view; FIG13 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a key according to the prior art; FIG14 is a front view of a key according to the prior art; FIG15 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a key according to the present invention; FIG16 is a front view of a key according to the present invention; FIG17 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a lock and a related key according to the present invention.

With particular reference to the accompanying drawings, component symbol 1 generally indicates a lock and component symbol 2 generally indicates the associated key.

The lock 1 comprises a stator 3 in which a rotor 4 can rotate, the rotor being provided with a longitudinal slot 5 with respective pins 6, 7 substantially opposite one another.

After the key 2 is inserted into a front portion of the lock 1, the slot 5 is adapted to accommodate the key 2.

The key 2 is provided with a grip 2a and a coding handle 2b intended to be inserted into the slot 5 of the lock 1.

At the end of the coding handle 2b, the key 2 comprises a seat 8 for accommodating a lever 9 which can be freely orientated in each case: the lever 9 pivots in the seat 8 by means of a transverse bolt 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 present invention, the freely orientable lever 9 of the key 2 preferably comprises a substantially flat free end 10 whose thickness is less than the thickness of the key 2.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 15 , this flat free end 10 can be defined between two flat surfaces 11 and 12 delimiting an acute angle; these surfaces 11 and 12 are defined by straight generatrixes parallel to the axis of the pin 2c for pivoting in the seat 8 .

It should further be noted that the free end 10 will advantageously be provided with at least one shaped protruding section 13 at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces (i.e. one of the two flat surfaces 11 and 12).

According to the invention, the longitudinal groove 5 of the rotor 4 advantageously comprises at its end portion a recess 14 for temporarily accommodating a respective shaped protruding section 13 of the key 2.

Furthermore, the stator 3 and the rotor 4 will reliably comprise radial holes 15 and 16 which define a duct facing the side surface of the longitudinal slot 5 in a mutually aligned configuration.

The guide tube (formed by aligned holes 15 and 16) will suitably receive the resilient member 17, a respective countersunk pin 18 and a pin 19 adapted to abut against a side edge 20 of the key 2.

With particular reference to an embodiment of undoubted practical and application benefit, the recess 14 adapted to temporarily accommodate a respective shaped projection 13 of the lever 9 may advantageously have a total length less than the length of the lever 9 and a depth less than the height of the projection 13.

It should be noted that the dimensional parameters of the recess 14 can be better identified when the key 2 is fully inserted into the longitudinal groove 5, relative to a specific portion thereof.

In fact, relative to the key 2, when it is completely housed in the groove 5, the recess 14 presents an initial front end 21 close to the pivot axis of the lever 9 and a terminal front end 22 arranged upstream of the seat 8 on the surface facing the key 2.

A central portion 23 of the recess 14 has a constant depth, while two opposite end portions 24 and 25 are preferably fused to the longitudinal groove 5 by means of curved surfaces.

These curved fusion surfaces allow the lever 9 to slide on a continuous surface without steps or abrupt changes in size or shape, thereby ensuring that the key 2 can be inserted and removed from the slot 5 without unwanted jamming or sticking.

It should further be noted that the radial holes 15 and 16 defining the guide tube adapted to accommodate the elastic member 17, the countersunk pin 18 and the pin 19 have a diameter in a range close to the depth of the recess 14.

These dimensional parameters ensure that during the rotation of the key 2, the countersunk pin 18 will not get stuck or stick in the recess 14 as is usually the case with the known lock A and key B (as shown in FIG. 6 ).

It should be further noted that the radial hole 16 of the rotor 4 may preferably include at least two sections 26, 26a having different diameters.

The pin 19 then advantageously has at least one first area 27 of a shape and size substantially complementary to that of the section 26 and at least one second area 28 of a shape and size substantially complementary to that of the section 26a. If an attempt is made to force a key 2 having an erroneous coding on its side surface 20, the presence of the sections 26 and 26a and of the areas 27 and 28 of different diameters will cause the pin 19 to stick, thus preventing the lock 1 from being opened.

It should further be noted that the pins 6 and 7 may advantageously present a shaped front end adapted to encode a respective complementary shaped portion present on at least a portion of the lever 9 close to any one of the flat surfaces selected from at least one shaped protrusion 13 and one of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 delimiting an acute angle.

This coding of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 or the protruding section 13 and the front ends of the pins 6 and 7 will be able to further increase the security of the resistance of the lock 1.

It should be further noted that the side edge 20 of the coding handle 2b of the key 2 may advantageously include a coding profile providing at least one coding recess 29 for temporarily accommodating the head 30 of the pin 19, the head 30 advantageously having a shape and size complementary to that of the recess 29.

This coded coupling of the head 30 and the respective grooves 99 will also help to improve the security of the lock 1 and key 2 relative to the performance level obtainable with the lock A according to the prior art.

It should be noted that the lock 1 according to the present invention is a novel component by its implementation structure, even irrelevant to its pairing with the key 2.

Likewise, Key 2 is a highly innovative component and extremely versatile, as it can also be used to learn Lock A.

As can be seen from the attached figure, key 2 advantageously has components similar to those of learned key B: these features make the new key 2 very versatile, since it can also be used for learned locks A. This versatility is particularly useful in the case of replacing only some of the locks in a building with coordinated coding management: in this case, only a few authorized persons need to have a master key 2 that can open all the locks 1 and A present.

By comparing Figures 3, 4 and 5 (which show the prior art in this area) with Figures 8, 9 and 10, it can be seen that the recess defining the pocket 14 in lock 1 (produced by milling) is much smaller than the recess required in lock A in the prior art, due to the fact that the lever 9 of key 2 occupies much less space than the lever C of the known key.

In addition, compared to the lever C of the known key, the protruding section 13 is designed to at least partially enter the groove for accommodating the pin 6, thereby minimizing the size of the recess 14.

By comparing Figures 6 and 7 (which show the prior art in this area) with Figures 11 and 12, it can be seen that the hole 15 (and therefore the countersunk pin 18) is wider than the portion of the slot 5 (spanned by the recess 14): this prevents the countersunk pin 18 from accidentally entering the slot 5 (into the recess 14), unlike what would happen in the known lock A (as shown in Figure 6).

Advantageously, the present invention solves the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing a lock 1 and an associated key 2 that provide high security against brute force.

The lock 1 and the associated key 2 according to the present invention preferably allow the use of a large number of coding pins.

Advantageously, the lock 1 and the associated key 2 according to the invention allow the use of any surface of the key 2 as a coding surface.

Positively, the key 2 according to the invention is compatible with the lock A according to the prior art, and therefore it can be integrated into a building having the known lock A and the lock 1 according to the invention, including as a master key 2.

Positively, the lock 1 and the associated key 2 are easy and practical to implement and have low costs: these characteristics make the lock 1 and key 2 of the invention definitely safe in use.

The present invention thus conceived is susceptible to various modifications and variations within the scope of the accompanying patent applications. Furthermore, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In the illustrated embodiments, individual features shown relative to a specific embodiment may actually be interchangeable with other different features present in other embodiments.

In practice, any material and size can be used depending on the requirements and the current state of the art.

2:Key

2a: Grip

2b: Encoding handle

2c: Horizontal bolt

8: Seat

9: Freely directional lever

10: Substantially flat free end

11: Flat surface

13: Each formed protruding section

20: Side edge

Claims (8)

A lock and associated key, comprising a stator (3) in which a rotor (4) is rotatable, the rotor (4) being provided with a longitudinal slot (5) in which respective pins (6, 7) are substantially mutually opposed, the slot (5) being adapted to be inserted into the key (2) provided with a seat (8) for receiving a respective freely orientable lever (9) adapted to actuate the pins (6, 7), the longitudinal slot (5) of the rotor (4) comprising a recess (14) at its end portion for temporarily receiving a portion (13) of the key (2), and the stator (3) and the rotor (4) comprising radial holes (15, 16) which are arranged at a relative position. A guide tube is defined in a mutually aligned configuration on the side surface facing the longitudinal groove (5), the guide tube accommodating a resilient member (17), a respective countersunk pin (18), and a pin (19) adapted to abut against a side edge (20) of the key (2), characterized in that: the freely orientable lever (9) of the key (2) comprises a substantially flat free end (10) whose thickness is less than the thickness of the key (2), the free end (10) being provided with at least one shaped protruding section (13) at one of the side edges of at least one of its faces; the recess (14) temporarily accommodates a respective shaped protruding section (13) of the key (2). A lock and associated key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess (14) adapted to temporarily accommodate a respective shaped protruding section (13) of the lever (9) has a total length less than the length of the lever (9) and a depth less than the height of the protruding section (13). A lock and a related key as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the key (2) is fully inserted into the longitudinal groove (5), the recess (14) presents an initial front end (21) close to the pivot axis of the lever (9) and a terminal front end (22) disposed upstream of the seat (8) and facing the surface of the key (2). A lock and a related key as claimed in claim 3, wherein a central portion (23) of the recess (14) has a constant depth, and two opposite end portions (24, 25) are fused to the longitudinal groove (5) by means of a curved surface. A lock and associated key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial holes (15, 16) defining the conduit adapted to accommodate the resilient member (17), the countersunk pin (18) and the pin (19) have a diameter close to the depth of the recess (14). A lock and a related key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial hole (16) of the rotor (4) comprises at least two sections (26, 26a) having different diameters, and the pin (19) has at least one first area (27) having a shape and size complementary to that of the section (26) and at least one second area (28) having a shape and size complementary to that of the section (26a). A lock and associated key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pins (6, 7) have shaped front ends adapted to encode respective complementary shaped portions present on at least a portion of the lever (9) close to any one of the at least one shaped protrusion (13) and a flat surface. A lock and a related key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side edge (20) of the key (2) includes a coding profile providing at least one coding groove (29) for temporarily accommodating the head (30) of the pin (19), the head having a shape and size complementary to the shape and size of the groove (29).