Security key for lock barrels

Abstract

 A security key for lock barrels, featuring at least one longitudinally-orientated security groove (2) whose longitudinal dimension shall be considerably less than the length of the habitual insertion grooves (3), its profile and longitudinal dimension being such that they correspond to complementary means existing within the plug (5) of the barrel (4), which shall be at least one security insertion pin (7) and another complementary means which shall be the length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] This invention relates to a security key for lock barrels.

Prior state of the art

[0002] In this field, the so-called "toothed" keys are well-known; said keys feature the main cut-out combinations on the thin face of the blade.

[0003] So-called "flat" keys are equally well-known; in these the key cut-outs consist of small drilled impressions executed in the wide face of the key.

[0004] In both of these key formats it is usual to add other machining in the form of points, steps or protuberances in order to include an additional provision for the greater anti-fraudulent copying security of the key.

[0005] Among these anti-copy solutions patent EP 1523603 may be mentioned, which consists of a milled section at the area of the key which meets the plug of the barrel when said key is inserted into said plug in such a way that this milled section fits into a housing featured in the plug, in such a way that if both items, male and female, do not coincide in their format, the key cannot be inserted into the plug sufficiently to reach its correct position.

[0006] A second example of this type of anti-copy solution might be patent CZ 303220, wherein a recess at the extremity of the key enables it to be inserted into its correct position in the plug where it meets a free-moving ring which is accommodated in said recess at the extremity.

[0007] Another method of hindering copying is the inclusion in the blade of additional components, either fixed or movable, which add the condition of recognising a particular type of key to those conditions imposed by the cut-outs in the known fixed positions of the blade, in such a way that if said components are not recognised, it will not be possible to validate the opening combination cut into the blade; the known and patented solutions in this respect are difficult to execute, costly and are liable to cause faults and malfunctions.

[0008] An example of this patent might be patent ES 2322744, wherein the movable component embedded in the key interlinks with key pins arranged in the plug in such a way that if the key features said movable component, in addition to coinciding with the traditional cut-outs of the key, said barrel may be opened with said key.

[0009] On the other hand, there exist on the market key blanks, which are keys identical to the various existing types and where it is only necessary to equip them with the combination cut-outs; due to the fact that, as has been stated above, the cut-outs occupy known fixed positions on the blade of each type of key belonging to a mass-produced range of keys, it is feasible to make fraudulent copies of the keys. These known fixed positions of the cut-outs in the blade also make possible the practice of fraudulent opening procedures based on the preparation of false keys which eventually achieve the opening of the barrel by means of techniques such as "bumping", which consists of repeatedly striking the false key when inserted into the barrel while simultaneously exerting a rotational force on said key in such a way that eventually the moment arrives when all the pins are simultaneously raised against their springs above the rotation plane of the plug of the barrel, allowing it to turn in the opening direction of the barrel.

Explanation of the invention and advantages

[0010] In the face of this state of affairs, the present invention relates to a security key for lock barrels which, independently of the habitual insertion grooves existing in the blade of the key, features at least one longitudinally-orientated security groove, whose longitudinal dimension is considerably less than the length of the habitual insertion grooves; its profile and longitudinal dimension being such that they correspond to the complementary means existing in the plug of the barrel, which shall be at least one security insertion pin and another complementary means which shall be the security groove length limit measuring pin.

[0011] Thanks to this arrangement of key and barrel, greater security regarding attempted fraudulent key copying is obtained in a simple manner. The milling of the security groove in combination with the security insertion pin prevents keys which do not feature said groove from being inserted into the barrel. Additionally, if the fraudulent key copy overcomes the aforementioned security measure by featuring a false security groove, the security groove length limit measuring pin will block the rotation of the plug of the barrel, thus preventing the opening of the lock.

[0012] Another particularity of the invention is that in a preferred embodiment, the security groove length limit measuring pin consists of a lower length limit measuring pin housed in the plug of the barrel and an upper blocking pin housed in the barrel stator and elastically loaded against a spring.

[0013] Thanks to this arrangement, when the lower length limit measuring pin verifies the correct length of the security groove it is radially displaced against the upper blocking pin which compresses the spring and releases the block on the plug, allowing rotation in the opening direction. In the event that the security groove is not correct, the lower length limit measuring pin will not bring about the displacement of the upper blocking pin, which will remain lodged between the stator and the plug of the barrel, thus causing it to block and preventing the fraudulent copy of the key from acting on the barrel.

[0014] Another outstanding feature of the invention is that in a preferred embodiment, the security insertion pin is a sliding pin housed in the through-hole in the plug of the barrel.

[0015] The use of a sliding pin permits in a simple manner the verification of the existence of the security groove; when the blade of the key does not feature said security groove the extremity of the key will meet the extremity of the sliding pin, preventing the key from entering completely into the stator of the barrel. Thus, additional security is obtained when compared with fraudulent copies.

[0016] Another characteristic of the invention is that in another embodiment, the security groove length limit measuring pin consists of a single pin housed in the plug of the barrel, which blocks the angular displacement of the plug on reaching at least one of the habitual key pins, these two becoming mutually opposed.

[0017] This arrangement simplifies the assembly of the length limit measuring pin as only one item is required for the verification of length and the blocking of the opening rotation. Thus, the setting-up and manufacture of the barrel is also simplified, as it is only required to cut one hole in the stator to accommodate the same. In this type of execution the blocking action on the opening rotation of the plug is obtained by means of the habitual key pins; when the length limit measuring pin verifies that the length of the security groove is correct it is radially displaced, pushed by the blade of the key, its upper section remaining in tangential contact with the stator; when opening movement is applied to the barrel the plug reaches the location of the habitual key pins without any blocking action taking place. However, when the security groove does not feature the correct length, the length measuring pin drops into the false security groove, the result being that on reaching the location of the habitual key pins, one of said pins will drop into the hole where the length limit measuring pin is housed, causing the blocking of the opening movement and preventing the key from being returned to its initial position, thus blocking the same.

[0018] Finally, another particularity of the invention is that in another embodiment the plug features at least one unblocking bevel in the housing of the length limit measuring pin.

[0019] The arrangement of the unblocking bevel, in the event of blocking by means of the habitual key pins, allows the plug to return to its initial position, releasing the blocking, exclusively rotating in the direction of locking the barrel.

[0020] These and other particularities of the invention shall be revealed in the detailed explanation below, supported by the attached graphic portrayals.

Drawings and references

[0021] For the better understanding of the nature of the invention, the attached drawings portray a form of industrial embodiment, this example being of a merely illustrative and not limitative nature.

Figure 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view portraying the key (1) with the security groove (2) inserted into the plug (5) of the barrel (4) and in which it may be seen in the enlarged detail how the security insertion pin (7) does not interfere with the key, and how the length limit measuring pin (8) verifies that the length of the security groove (2) is correct. An enlargement of the key (1) is included in this figure 1, wherein the security groove (2) cut into the extremity of the blade (1 a) may be seen.

Figure 2 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) inserted into the barrel (4).

Figure 3 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlargement of the cross-section B-B labelled in figure 2.

Figure 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view portraying the key (1) with the habitual insertion groove (3) inserted into the plug (5) of the barrel (4) and in which it may be seen in the enlarged detail how the security insertion pin (7) does not interfere with the key, and how the lower length limit measuring pin (8b) does not validate the length of the security groove (2), the upper blocking pin (8a) causing the blocking of the stator (5). An enlargement of the key (1) is included in this figure 5, wherein the habitual insertion groove (3) cut into the entire length of the blade (1 a) may be seen.

Figure 6 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) inserted into the barrel (4).

Figure 7 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view portraying the key (1) without the security groove (2) inserted into the plug (5) of the barrel (4) and in which it may be seen in the enlarged detail how the security insertion pin (7) interferes with the key. An enlargement of the key (1) without the security groove (2) is included in this figure 8.

Figure 9 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) without the security groove (2) inserted into the barrel (4).

Figure 10 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 9.

Figure 11 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) with the security groove (2) inserted into the barrel (4) in the initial position, in accordance with the optional embodiment.

Figure 12 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 11.

Figure 13 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) with the security groove (2) inserted into the barrel (4) in the rotated position on passing the habitual key pins (9), in accordance with the optional embodiment.

Figure 14 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 13. In this case, the length limit measuring pin (8) completely covers the housing of the lower pin (5b), preventing the habitual key pin (9) from interfering with said housing, allowing the correct rotation of the barrel.

Figure 15 portrays a lateral view of the key (1) with the habitual insertion groove (3) inserted into the barrel (4) in the rotated position on passing the habitual key pins (9), in accordance with the optional embodiment. In this case, the length limit measuring pin (8) does not completely cover the housing of the lower pin (5b), on dropping to the base of the security groove (2), which has been incorrectly copied, extending beyond the location defined by this length limit measuring pin (8), allowing the habitual key pin (9) to interfere with said housing, preventing the correct rotation of the barrel (4).

Figure 16 is an enlargement of the cross-section A-A labelled in figure 15.

1. Key.

1 a. Blade.

2. Security groove.

3. Habitual insertion groove.

4. Barrel.

5. Plug.

5a. Through-hole.

5b. Lower pin housing.

6. Stator.

6a. Upper pin housing.

7. Security insertion pin.

8. Length limit measuring pin.

8a. Lower length limit measuring pin.

8b. Upper blocking pin.

9. Habitual key pins.

10. Spring.

11. Unblocking bevel.

Exposition of a preferred embodiment

[0022] With regard to the drawings and references listed above, the attached drawings portray a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, concerning a security key for lock barrels which, independently of the habitual insertion grooves (3) existing on the blade (1 a) of the key (1), features at least one longitudinally-orientated security groove (2) whose longitudinal dimension is considerably less than the length of the habitual insertion grooves (3); its profile and longitudinal dimension being such that they correspond to the complementary means existing in the plug (5) of the barrel (4), which shall be at least one security insertion pin (7) and another complementary means which shall be the length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2).

[0023] The simplicity of manufacture and assembly may be verified by observing the preferred embodiment portrayed in figure 1, wherein the milling of the security groove (2) in the blade (1 a) of the key (1) may be observed; likewise how in combination with the security insertion pin (7) and the length limit measuring pin (8) the correct dimension of the groove is verified. As can be observed in figures 8, 9 and 10, the security groove (2) in combination with the security insertion pin (7) prevents the insertion into the barrel (4) of keys (1) which do not feature said groove. Additionally, as can be observed in figures 5, 6 and 7, if the fraudulent copy overcomes the aforementioned security measure due to featuring a habitual groove (3), the security groove length limit measuring pin (8) will block the rotation of the plug (5) of the barrel (4), thus preventing the opening of the lock.

[0024] Another characteristic of the invention, which can be observed in figures 1 and 4, is that in a preferred embodiment the length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2) is comprised of a lower length limit measuring pin (8a) housed in the plug (5) of the barrel (4), and an upper blocking pin (8b) housed in the stator (6) of the barrel (4), elastically loaded against a spring (10).

[0025] Figure 4 portrays how the lower length limit measuring pin (8a) verifies the correct length of the security groove and is radially displaced against the upper blocking pin (8b), which compresses the spring (10) and releases the blocking effect on the plug (5), permitting rotation of the barrel in the opening direction.

[0026] As can be observed in figures 5 and 7, when the security groove (2) is not correct, the lower length limit measuring pin (8a) will not cause the displacement of the upper blocking pin (8b), which will remain lodged between the stator (6) and the plug (5) of the barrel (4), thus blocking the same and preventing the fraudulent copy of the key (1) from acting on the barrel (4).

[0027] Another characteristic of the invention, which may be observed in figures 1 and 3, is that in a preferred embodiment the security insertion pin (7) is a sliding pin housed in the through-hole (5a) in the plug (5) of the barrel (4).

[0028] As is portrayed in figures 8 and 10, when the blade (1 a) of the key (1) does not feature the security groove (2), the extremity of the key (1) will meet the extremity of the sliding pin, preventing the key (1) from entering completely into the plug (5) of the barrel (4).

[0029] Another characteristic of the invention, which may be observed in figures 12 and 14, is that in another embodiment the length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2) is comprised of a single pin, housed in the plug (5) of the barrel (4), and which blocks the angular displacement of the plug (5) on reaching the location of at least one of the habitual key pins (9), these two becoming mutually opposed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the blocking of the opening rotation of the plug (5) is achieved by the habitual key pins (9); when the length limit measuring pin (8) verifies that the length of the security groove (2) is correct, it moves radially, pushed by the blade (1 a) of the key (1), the upper part of said pin entering into tangential contact with the stator (6) (figure 12). As is portrayed in figures 13 and 14, when the barrel (4) undergoes opening movement, the plug (5) reaches the location of the habitual key pins (9) without any blocking effect being produced.

[0031] However, as is portrayed in figures 15 and 16, when the security groove (2) is not of the correct length, the length limit measuring pin (8) drops into the habitual groove (3), the result of which being that when it reaches the location of the habitual key pins (9), one of these will drop into the hole where the length limit measuring pin (8) is housed, causing the blocking of the opening movement and preventing the key (1) from returning to its initial position, thus remaining blocked.

[0032] Finally, another particularity of the invention, as may be observed in figure 16, is that in another embodiment the plug (5) features at least one unblocking bevel (11) in the housing (5b) of the length limit measuring pin (8).

[0033] Variations in materials, shape, size, and arrangement of the components, described in a non-limitative manner, do not alter the essentiality of this invention, this being sufficient for the undertaking of its reproduction by a person skilled in the art; nor is said essentiality altered by the application of this invention to keys of the so-called flat type.

Claims

1. Security key for lock barrels, characterised in that independently of the habitual insertion grooves (3) existing in the blade (1 a) of the key (1), it features at least one longitudinally-orientated security groove (2) whose longitudinal dimension are considerably less than the length of the habitual insertion grooves (3), its profile and longitudinal dimension being such that they correspond to complementary means existing within the plug (5) of the barrel (4), said complementary means being at least one security insertion pin (7) and another complementary means which is a length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2).

2. Security key for lock barrels according to claim 1, characterised in that said length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2) is constituted by a lower length limit measuring pin (8a) housed in the plug (5) of the barrel (4) and an upper blocking pin (8b) housed in the stator (6) of the barrel (4) elastically loaded against a spring (10).

3. Security key for lock barrels according to claim 1, characterised in that security insertion pin (7) is a sliding pin housed in a through-hole (5a) in the plug (5) of the barrel (4).

4. Security key for lock barrels according to claim 1, characterised in that in the length limit measuring pin (8) of the security groove (2) is comprised of a single pin housed in the plug (5) of the barrel (4) and which blocks the angular displacement of the plug (5) on reaching the position of at least one of the habitual key pins (9), these two becoming mutually opposed.

5. Security key for lock barrels according to claims 1 and 4, characterised in the plug (5) features at least one unblocking bevel (11) in a housing (5b) of the length limit measuring pin (8) when turned in the opposite direction to that of locking.

Drawing