UA129308C2 - LOCK AND CORRESPONDING KEY - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock (1) and a corresponding key (2) comprising a stator (3) inside which a rotor (4) can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal groove (5) inside which corresponding pins (6, 7) are arranged, which are essentially mutually opposite. The groove (5) is adapted to receive a key (2) in which a seat (8) is provided for accommodating a corresponding freely orientable lever (9) adapted to actuate the pins (6, 7). The freely orientable lever (9) of the key (2) has an essentially flattened free end (10) whose thickness is less than that of the key (2), the free end (10) being provided with at least one contoured protruding strip (13) on one of the lateral edges of at least one of its faces. The longitudinal groove (5) of the rotor (4) has a recess (14) at its end portion for temporarily accommodating a corresponding contoured protruding strip (13) of the key (2). The stator (3) and the rotor (4) have radial holes (15, 16) which form, in a mutually aligned configuration, a channel facing the lateral surface of the longitudinal groove (5), the channel including a resilient means (17), a corresponding counter pin (18) and a pin (19) adapted to fit against the lateral edge (20) of the key (2).

Description

This invention relates to a lock and a corresponding key.

There is currently a cylinder lock that can be operated with a suitable key, the characteristics of which are described in Italian patent No. 1235586 of 6 September 1989 and EP1728944 with priority date of 1 June 2005, both in the name of the same applicant. These documents describe a cylinder lock whose coding cannot be immediately deciphered from the outside, which is intended to prevent tampering with it.

This result is achieved due to the presence in the cylinder rotor of at least two pins, mutually opposite relative to the key insertion groove, and such pins have one corresponding end protruding into the groove itself.

The pins interact with corresponding counterpins that can be moved elastically from a configuration of complete placement within the stator to at least one configuration of simultaneous placement in the stator and in the rotor, thus rigidly connecting these two parts.

The key is equipped with a lever which is positioned so that it can rotate in a corresponding slot and which, when the key is inserted into the slot, actuates the pins, positioning them so that the counterpins are in a configuration in which they are fully located in the stator, thus allowing movement of the rotor upon turning the key.

The presence of a lever in the key that interacts with at least two pins provides the lock with higher resistance to force actions, which are usually defined as "picking" (mechanical interference).

The requirement to increase the reliability of this type of lock leads to an increase in the number of pins placed in the rotor and stator, which can be used with a corresponding modified key coding.

However, unfortunately, the rotary lever usually protrudes beyond the profile (contour) of the key.

In this regard, it should be noted that the use of a hinged lever on a key requires the expansion of the key groove present in the lock rotor on the lever.

Due to the small size of the rotor itself, the rotor space within which grooves can be made to accommodate any coding pins is extremely limited.

The previously described widening of the key slot (necessary to allow the lever to pass through) further reduces the available space, thus making it impossible to insert auxiliary coding pins.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages by creating a lock and a corresponding key that provide high protection against lock breaking.

Within this aim, the object of the present invention is to create a lock and a corresponding key that allow the use of a large number of coding pins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock and corresponding key that allow any surface of the key to be used as a coded surface.

It is also an object of the present invention to create a lock and corresponding key that are low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe to use.

This aim, as well as the aforementioned and other objectives that will become more apparent below, are achieved by providing a lock and a corresponding key of the type comprising a stator inside which a rotor can rotate, said rotor being provided with a longitudinal groove inside which corresponding pins are arranged which are essentially mutually opposite, said groove being adapted to receive said key, in which a seat is provided for accommodating a corresponding freely orientable lever adapted to actuate said pins, characterised in that: - said freely orientable lever of said key has a substantially flattened free end, the thickness of which is less than that of said key, said free end being provided with at least one contoured protruding strip on one of the lateral edges of at least one of its faces; - said longitudinal groove of said rotor has, at its end part, a recess for temporarily accommodating a corresponding contoured protruding strip of said key; - said stator and said rotor have radial holes which form, in a mutually aligned configuration, a channel facing the lateral surface of said longitudinal groove, said channel comprising a resilient means, a corresponding counter pin and a pin adapted to fit against the lateral edge of said key.

Such aim and objects are also achieved by providing a cylinder lock of the type comprising a stator within which a rotor can rotate, said rotor having a longitudinal groove within which respective pins are substantially mutually opposite, said groove being intended for the insertion of a key in which a seat is provided for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever intended for actuating said pins, characterised in that: - said longitudinal groove of said rotor has at its end part a recess for temporarily accommodating a respective contoured protruding strip of said freely orientable lever of said key, which is formed on a respective essentially flattened free end, the thickness of which is less than the thickness of said key; - said stator and said rotor have radial holes which form, in a mutually aligned configuration, a channel facing the lateral surface of said longitudinal groove, said channel comprising a resilient means, a corresponding counter pin and a pin adapted to fit against the lateral edge of said key.

Such aim and objects are also achieved by providing a key for cylinder locks of the type which includes a slot for accommodating a corresponding freely orientable lever which is intended to actuate the pins of the corresponding lock, characterised in that said freely orientable lever of said key has a substantially flattened free end, the thickness of which is less than the thickness of said key, said free end having at least one contoured protruding strip on one of the lateral edges of at least one of its faces.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a lock and corresponding key according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, 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 present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of a cylinder and a corresponding key according to the prior art;

Fig. 4 is a fragment of a cross-section taken along the line IM-IM shown in Fig. C of a cylinder and key according to the prior art;

Fig. 5 is a fragment of the cylinder shown in Fig. 3 according to the prior art;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line MI-MI shown in Fig. 3 of a cylinder and key according to the prior art at a certain stage of use;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken along line MII-MII shown in Fig. C of a cylinder and key according to the prior art in a further stage of use;

Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of a cylinder and corresponding key according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragment of a cross-section taken along line IX-III shown in Fig. 8 of a cylinder and key according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragment of the cylinder shown in Fig. 8 according to the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of Fig. 8 of a cylinder and key according to the present invention at a certain stage of use;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII shown in Fig. 8 of a cylinder and key according to the present invention in a further stage of use;

Fig. 13 is a side view in partial cross-section of a key according to the prior art;

Fig. 14 is a front view of a key according to the prior art;

Fig. 15 is a side view in partial cross-section of a key according to the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a front view of a key according to the present invention;

Fig. 17 is a schematic perspective view in partial cross-section of a lock and corresponding key according to the present invention.

In general, with reference to the figures, position 1 is usually designated as a lock, and position 2 is usually designated as a corresponding key.

The lock 1 includes a stator 3, inside which a rotor 4 can rotate, and in said rotor a longitudinal groove 5 is made, inside which the corresponding pins 6, 7 are essentially opposite to each other.

Slot 5 is designed to accommodate key 2 after it is inserted into the front part of lock 1.

The key 2 is equipped with a handle 2a and a coded shank 25, designed to be inserted into the groove 5 of the lock 1.

At the end of the coded shank 2a of the key 2, a slot 8 is made for accommodating a corresponding freely orientable lever 9: the lever 9 rotates in the slot 8 by means of a transverse key 2c. The orientable lever 9 is intended for actuating 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 very suitably has a substantially flattened free end 10, the thickness of which is less than the thickness of the key 2.

In Fig. 2 and Fig. 15 it is seen that such a flattened free end 10 can be defined between two flat surfaces 11 and 12 which define an acute angle; such surfaces 11 and 12 are defined by straight lines parallel to the axis of the pin 2c for rotation in the socket 8.

It should also be noted that the free end 10 is preferably provided with at least one contoured protruding strip 13 on one of the lateral edges of at least one of its faces, i.e. one of the two flat surfaces 11 and 12.

According to the present invention, the longitudinal groove 5 of the rotor 4 preferably includes at its end part a recess 14 for temporarily accommodating a corresponding contoured protruding strip 13 of the key 2.

Furthermore, the stator 2 and the rotor C certainly have radial holes 15 and 16 which form, in a mutually aligned configuration, a channel facing the lateral surface of the longitudinal groove 5.

The channel (formed by aligned holes 15 and 16) will conveniently accommodate a resilient means 17, a corresponding counter pin 18 and a pin 19 adapted to fit against a lateral edge 20 of the key 2.

As regards a specific embodiment, which is undoubtedly of practical and applied interest, the recess 14 adapted to temporarily accommodate the corresponding contoured protruding strip 13 of the lever 9 may preferably have an overall length less than the length of the lever 9 and a depth less than the height of the protruding strip 13.

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

In fact, the recess 14 with respect to the key 2, when it is fully inserted into the groove 5, represents an initial front part 21 located near the axis of rotation of said lever 9, and an end front part 22 facing the surface of said key 2 located in front of said socket 8.

The central part 23 of the recess 14 has a constant depth, while the two mutually opposite end parts 24 and 25 are conveniently aligned by curved surfaces with said longitudinal groove 5.

Such curved mating surfaces allow the lever 9 to slide over solid surfaces, without ridges or abrupt changes in size or shape, thus ensuring that access and extraction of the key 2 in the slot 5 occurs without unwanted jamming or sticking.

It should also be noted that the radial holes 15 and 16, which define a channel adapted to accommodate the resilient means 17, the counter pin 18 and the pin 19, have a diameter close to the depth of the recess 14.

Thanks to these dimensional parameters, it is possible to ensure that the counter pin 18 will not jam, will not get stuck in the recess 14 during the rotation of the key 2, as would happen with conventional locks A and keys B (situation shown in the attached Fig. b).

Furthermore, it should be noted that the radial opening 16 of the rotor 4 can conveniently accommodate at least two segments 26, 26b of different diameters.

In turn, the pin 19 will advantageously have at least one first zone 27 with a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to the shape and dimensions of the segment 26, and at least one second zone 28 with a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to the shape and dimensions of the segment 26a. The presence of segments 26 and 26ba and zones 27 and 28 with different diameters will cause the pin 19 to jam if an attempt is made to apply force using a key 2 with an incorrect coding on its side surface 20, thus preventing the lock 1 from being opened.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the pins 6 and 7 may conveniently be contoured front parts adapted to fit in a coded manner to the corresponding complementary contoured parts present on at least one part of the lever 9 selected from at least one contoured projection strip 13 and said flat surface formed by one of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 which define the acute angle.

Such coding of the flat surfaces 11 and 12 or the protruding strips 13 and the front sides of the pins 6 and 7 will further increase the protection of the lock 1 against breaking.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the lateral edge 20 of the coded shank 265 of the key 2 can conveniently accommodate a coded profile on which at least one coded recess 29 is made for temporarily accommodating the head 30 of said pin 19, which will preferably have a shape and dimensions that are complementary to the shape and dimensions of the recess 29.

Such a coded connection of the head 30 with the corresponding recess 29 will also contribute to increasing the security of the lock 1 and the key 2 compared to the levels of efficiency that can be obtained with locks A according to the prior art.

It should be noted that the lock 1 according to the present invention is an innovative component due to its design, even independently of its combination with the key 2.

Likewise, key 2 is a very innovative component and extremely versatile, as it can also be used in conventional A locks.

From the accompanying figures it can be seen that the key 2 has many parts similar to those of ordinary keys.

A: These characteristics make the new key 2 very versatile, as it will also work with conventional A locks. This versatility is particularly useful in cases where only certain locks need to be replaced in a building that is managed using agreed-upon codings: in this case, access key 2, capable of opening all existing 1 and A locks, only needs to be in the possession of a few authorized persons.

Comparing Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 (which show the prior art in this field) with Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, it can be seen that the recess (created by milling) which defines the recess 14 in the lock 1 is much smaller than the recess required in the prior art locks A, and this is due to the fact that the lever 9 of the key 2 takes up much less space than the levers C of conventional keys.

Furthermore, as regards the levers C of conventional keys, the protruding strip 13 has a contour that provides at least partial entry into the groove for accommodating the pin 6, which allows to minimize the dimensions of the recess 14.

Comparing Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 (which reflect the prior art in the art) with Fig. 11 and

Fig. 12, it can be seen that the hole 15 (and therefore also the counter pin 18) is wider than the area of the groove 5 (covered by the recess 14): this prevents the counter pin 18 from accidentally entering the groove 5 (into the recess 14), unlike what would happen in a conventional lock A (as shown in Fig. 6).

Preferably, this invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages by creating a lock 1 and a corresponding key 2 that provide a high degree of protection against burglary.

For convenience, the lock 1 and the corresponding key 2 according to the present invention allow the use of a large number of coding pins.

Preferably, the lock 1 and the corresponding key 2 according to the present invention allow any surface of the key 2 to be used as a coded surface.

Of course, the key 2 according to the present invention is compatible with locks A according to the prior art and can therefore be integrated into buildings with conventional locks A and locks 1 according to the present invention, including as access key 2.

Certainly, the lock 1 and the corresponding key 2 are easily and practically implemented and have a low cost: such characteristics make the lock 1 and the key 2 of the claimed invention reliable in operation.

This invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, all parts may be replaced by other, technically equivalent, elements.

In the embodiments described, the individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in fact be replaced by other, different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

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

If the technical features specified in any claim are accompanied by positions and/or signs, these positions or signs have been included solely for the purpose of improving the clarity of the claims, and accordingly such positions and/or signs do not have any restrictive effect on the interpretation of each element identified by such positions and/or signs.

Claims (8)

FORMULA OF THE INVENTION 5O0 1. A lock (1) and a corresponding key (2) of the type comprising a stator (3) inside which a rotor (4) can rotate, said rotor (4) being provided with a longitudinal groove (5) inside which respective pins (b, 7) are arranged which are mutually opposite, said groove (5) being adapted to receive said key (2) in which a seat (8) is provided for accommodating a respective freely orientable lever (9) adapted to actuate said pins (6, 7), said longitudinal groove (5) of said rotor (4) having at its end a recess (14) for temporarily accommodating a portion (13) of said key (2), and said stator (3) and said rotor (4) having radial holes (15, 16) which form, in a mutually aligned configuration, a channel facing the lateral surface of said longitudinal groove (5), said channel comprising a resilient means (17), a corresponding counter pin (18) and a pin (19) adapted to fit against a lateral edge (20) of said key (2), characterized in that: said freely orientable lever (9) of said key (2) has a flattened free end (10) whose thickness is less than that of said key (2), said free end (10) being provided with at least one contoured protruding strip (13) on one of the lateral edges of at least one of its faces; said recess (14) temporarily contains a corresponding contoured protruding strip (13) of said key (2). 2. The lock and corresponding key according to claim 1, characterized in that said recess (14) intended for temporary placement of a corresponding contoured protruding strip (13) of said lever (9) has a total length less than the length of said lever (9) and a depth less than the height of said protruding strip (13). 3. A lock and corresponding key according to claim 2, characterized in that, when said key (2) is fully inserted into said longitudinal groove (5), said recess (14) comprises an initial front portion (21) located near the axis of rotation of said lever (9) and an end front portion (22) facing the surface of said key (2) located in front of said socket (8). 4. The lock and corresponding key according to claim 3, characterized in that the central part (23) of said recess (14) has a constant depth, and the two mutually opposite end parts (24, 25) are aligned with the curved surfaces of said longitudinal groove (5). 5. A lock and corresponding key according to claim 1, characterized in that said radial holes (15, 16) defining said channel adapted to accommodate said resilient means (17), said counter pin (18) and said pin (19) have a diameter close to the depth of said recess (14). 6. The lock and corresponding key according to claim 1, characterized in that said radial opening (16) of said rotor (4) includes at least two segments (26, 26ba) having different diameters, said pin (19) having at least one first zone (27) with a shape and dimensions complementary to the shape and dimensions of said segment (26), and at least one second zone (28) with a shape and dimensions complementary to the shape and dimensions of said segment (26a). 7. A lock and corresponding key according to claim 1, characterized in that said pins (6, 7) have contoured surfaces adapted for coded engagement with corresponding complementary contoured parts present on at least one part of said lever (9) selected from said at least one contoured protruding strip (13) and said flat surface. 8. The lock and corresponding key according to claim 1, characterized in that said lateral edge (20) of said key (2) comprises a coded profile on which at least one coded recess (29) is formed for temporarily accommodating the head (30) of said pin (19), which has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to the shape and dimensions of said recess (29). s Ku hu i KE di it tatto z My ooo tyadyan y y cho i za DK y vo r a shk y y s vash z ay I z t, i b oo em, - t i t what sh- . i Shch nn TK r Level of technology ko - podkkazhzhttnn , Fig. 1 73 70 5 and 820250 koh " Shi od prya ): Kry vyy h dl shto zhoro V : En o Vuki pov 77 de ya, A i «VK ki I " ennya SHCHE. x Ekh zhi oshya 2 t v aa ! y do dn ANYA u : y zh vc z vo ya scho Yasya she che o ki SK ki ya o V ku s 7 b y z Zh nya ShK tk OT zhi i o re shk U ya «V Fig. 2 b Э 3 ; и 3 : и 3 и и 3 и и 3 и Н и Н и Н ; 5 и рллллллААААТЯ Еї М ! 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