TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a lock system with a key and a lock cylinder.
PRIOR ART
[0002] The use of lock systems comprising a key and a lock cylinder is known.
[0003] A lock system of this type comprises a key with a key blade which has a plurality
of code surfaces arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the
key blade, and is inserted into a key housing existing in a lock cylinder. The lock
cylinder comprises a stator and a rotor rotating inside the stator, the cylinder being
provided with a plurality of housings, such that in each of said housings there is
housed a rotor pin and a stator pin that are displaceable in the radial direction
of the lock cylinder, such that when a valid key blade is fully inserted into the
lock cylinder, said rotor and stator pins are positioned in code, enabling the rotor
to rotate, which causes the lock to open.
[0004] EP2360334B1 describes a lock system wherein the lock cylinder comprises a validation element
which at least partially extends into the key channel, and wherein the key comprises
a control recess configured so that it corresponds with the locking element such that
the locking element is housed in the recess when the key is inserted into the key
channel. In the lock system described in document
EP2360334B1, the recess is longer than the length along which the locking element is inserted
into the recess.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a lock system, as defined in the claims.
[0006] The lock system of the invention comprises a lock key comprising a key blade, a control
recess on at least one of the faces of the key blade, and a plurality of code surfaces
arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade.
[0007] The lock system of the invention further comprises a lock cylinder. Said lock cylinder
comprises a stator and a rotor configured for rotating in an opening of the stator,
the rotor comprising a key housing configured for receiving the key. The lock cylinder
further comprises a plurality of housings, each housing containing at least one rotor
pin and one stator pin that are displaceable in the radial direction of the lock cylinder,
the rotor pins and code surfaces of the key being configured to cooperate with one
another when the key has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder
further comprises a validation element in the key housing configured for being housed
in the control recess when the key is inserted.
[0008] In the lock system of the invention, the control recess partially overlaps at least
one stator pin when the key has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder and rotated
to a position in which the control recess is facing said stator pin, the stator pin
acting as an additional locking element in the event that a fraudulent key with a
control recess completely overlapping said stator pin is used. Said stator pin thereby
has a dual function, with the security provided by the lock system being improved
without increasing the number of elements of the lock system.
[0009] These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view
of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
Figure 1 shows a side view of a key of a first embodiment of the lock system according
to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the key of Figure 1 in which the code surfaces
have not yet been made, and a detail thereof.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal-section view of the lock cylinder of the first embodiment
of the lock system according to the invention with the key of Figure 1 fully inserted.
Figure 4 shows the lock system of Figure 3 with the key rotated 180°.
Figure 5 shows a cross-section view of the lock cylinder of Figure 4 with a fraudulent
key and a detail of both.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the rotor of the lock cylinder of Figure 3.
Figure 7 shows a side view of a key of a second embodiment of the lock system in which
the code surfaces have not yet been made.
Figure 8 shows a longitudinal-section view of the lock cylinder of the second embodiment
of the lock system according to the invention with the key of Figure 7 fully inserted
and rotated 90°.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Figures 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the lock system 100 according to the
invention.
[0012] The lock system 100 of the invention comprises a lock key 1 comprising a key blade
11. The key blade 11 comprises a front face 115, two larger side faces 113, 114, and
two smaller side faces 111, 112.
[0013] The lock key 1 further comprises a control recess 12 on at least one of the faces
111, 112, 113, 114, 115 of the key blade 11, and a plurality of code surfaces 14 arranged
one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key blade 11.
[0014] The lock system 100 of the invention further comprises a lock cylinder 2. The lock
cylinder 2 comprises a stator 21 and a rotor 22. The rotor 22 is configured for rotating
in an opening of the stator 21 and comprises a key housing 23 configured for receiving
the key blade 11. The key housing 23 extends longitudinally along the rotor 22 and
comprises an inlet opening on the front face 220 of the rotor 22.
[0015] The lock cylinder 2 further comprises a plurality of housings 24, each housing 24
containing at least one rotor pin 25 and one stator pin 26 that are displaceable in
the radial direction of the lock cylinder 2, the rotor pins 25 and code surfaces 14
being configured to cooperate with one another when the key 1 has been fully inserted
into the lock cylinder 2. The rotor pins 25 and the stator pins 26 are pushed towards
the key housing 23 in this embodiment by the action of a spring 27 housed in each
of the housings 24, as shown in Figure 3. However, lock cylinders in which the rotor
pins 25 and the stator pins 26 are pushed towards the key housing 23 using other means
such as magnets, discs, etc., are known in the prior art.
[0016] The lock cylinder 2 further comprises a validation element 231 in the key housing
23 configured for being housed in the control recess 12 when the key 1 is inserted.
[0017] The position in which the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2
can be determined by the validation element 231, such that when said validation element
231 abuts with the control recess 12 it defines said position. However, it is not
necessary for the validation element 231 to abut with the control recess 12 to define
said position of the key 1 in the invention. The position in which the key 1 has been
fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 can also be determined by a stop element 19,
the stop surface 190 of which abuts with the front face 220 of the rotor 22, as shown
in Figure 3. Once the key 1 has been fully inserted into the rotor 22, the code surfaces
14 are arranged each aligned and in contact with the corresponding rotor pin 25, given
that each rotor pin 25 and stator pin 26 are pushed towards the key housing 23 by
the corresponding spring 27. In said position, the contact surface between each of
the rotor pins 25 and each of the stator pins 26 coincides with the outer surface
28 of the rotor 22, allowing the rotor 22 to rotate inside the stator 21.
[0018] In the lock system 100 of the invention, the control recess 12 partially overlaps
at least one stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder
2 and rotated to a position in which the control recess 12 is facing said stator pin
26, the stator pin 26 acting as an additional locking element in the event that a
fraudulent key with a control recess 12 completely overlapping said stator pin 26
is used. The stator pin 26 therefore has a dual function: on one hand, it cooperates
with the code surfaces 14, and on the other it acts as an additional locking element.
A more secure lock system is thereby obtained without increasing the number of elements
of the lock system.
[0019] Figure 4 shows a part of the lock system 100 of this embodiment, where the key 1
has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2 and rotated until the control recess
12 is arranged facing the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the
rotor 22. Furthermore, the control recess 12 partially overlaps the stator pin 26
farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, such that the key blade 11
prevents the insertion of said stator pin 26 into the control recess 12.
[0020] In contrast, if a fraudulent key with a control recess 12 completely overlapping
the stator pin 16 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22 is used, said
stator pin 26 slides into the control recess 12, being housed therein, and prevents
the rotor 22 from rotating, as shown in Figure 5.
[0021] However, in the event of using a fraudulent key in which the control recess 12 is
not sized sufficiently for the validation element 231 to be housed in the control
recess 12 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2, the validation
element 231 abuts with the control recess 12, preventing the key 1 from being fully
inserted into the lock cylinder 2, such that the plurality of code surfaces 14 do
not cooperate with the plurality of rotor pins 25, preventing the rotor 22 from rotating.
[0022] In this embodiment, the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on one
of the smaller side faces 111, and on the larger side faces 113 and 114 of the key
blade 11.
[0023] In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the control recess 12 partially overlaps
the stator pin 26 in the transverse direction of the key 1, as shown in Figure 4.
In this embodiment, when the control recess 12 overlaps the stator pin 26 in the transverse
direction of the key 1, the control recess 12 partially overlaps a single stator pin
26, the one farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22. In the key 1 of
this embodiment, the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on the smaller
side face 111, and on both larger side faces 113 and 114.
[0024] In another embodiment of the lock system 100, the control recess 12 partially overlaps
the stator pin 26 in the longitudinal direction of the key 1. In this other embodiment,
the control recess 12 is arranged on the front face 115, on the smaller side face
111, and on one of the larger side faces 113 or 114, where the control recess 12 may
be prolonged in the longitudinal direction of the key 1. In this other embodiment,
the control recess 12 overlaps at least the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front
face 220 of the rotor 22, or the last stator pin, where it may overlap more stator
pins 26 depending on how much the control recess 12 is prolonged in the longitudinal
direction of the key 1. Therefore, depending on how much the control recess 12 is
prolonged, said control recess 12 would go from only overlapping the last stator pin
26 or stator pin 26 farthest away from the front face 220 of the rotor 22, to overlapping
one or several additional stator pins 26, said overlap being progressive depending
on the length of said control recess 12, starting with the last stator pin 26 and
ending with the first stator pin 26 or stator pin 26 closest to the front face 220
of the rotor 22.
[0025] In the lock system 100 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the validation
element 231 is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the
key housing 23, the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction
of inserting the key 1, as shown in Figure 6.
[0026] In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the lock cylinder 2 comprises an additional
validation element 232 after validation element 231 in the direction opposite the
direction of inserting the key 1, and the key 1 comprises a respective recess 13 configured
for housing the additional validation element 232.
[0027] In the event of using a fraudulent key in which the respective recess 13 is not sized
sufficiently for the additional validation element 232 to be housed in the respective
recess 13 when the key 1 has been fully inserted, the additional validation element
232 abuts with the respective recess 13, preventing the key 1 from being fully inserted
into the lock cylinder 2, such that the plurality of code surfaces 14 do not cooperate
with the plurality of rotor pins 25, preventing the rotor 22 from rotating.
[0028] In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the respective recess 13 of the key 1
is a longitudinal groove 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0029] In another embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention, the respective recess
13 of the key 1 is a prolongation of the control recess 12.
[0030] As shown in Figure 6, in the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the additional validation
element 232 is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the
key housing 23, the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction
of inserting the key 1.
[0031] In this embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention, the code surfaces 14
of the lock key 1 are located on the smaller side face 112 of the key blade 11 opposite
the smaller side face 111 of the key blade 11 on which the control recess 12 is located.
[0032] In the lock system 100 of this embodiment, the control recess 12 partially overlaps
the stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder 2
and rotated 180°, as shown in Figure 4.
[0033] Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the lock system 100 of the invention.
In this second embodiment, the code surfaces 14 of the lock key 1 are located on at
least one larger side face 113 or 114 of the lock key 1.
[0034] In the lock system 100 of this second embodiment, the control recess 12 partially
overlaps the stator pin 26 when the key 1 has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder
2 and rotated 90° or 270°, the key 1 being arranged in the position shown in Figure
8.
[0035] In the lock system 100 of the invention, the rotor 22 comprises an unlocking bevel
221, as shown in Figure 5. In the event of using a fraudulent key with a control recess
12 completely overlapping at least the stator pin 26 farthest away from the front
face 220 of the rotor 22, said stator pin 26 slides into the control recess 12, being
housed therein, and prevents the rotor 22 from rotating, as shown in Figure 5. The
unlocking bevel 221 of the rotor 22 allows rotating the key 1 in the opposite direction,
allowing the rotor 22 to be rotated in the direction opposite the opening direction
and the key 1 to be recovered from the lock cylinder 2.
[0036] In the event that the control recess 12 completely overlaps several stator pins 16,
said stator pins 16 slide into the control recess 12, being housed therein, and prevent
the rotor 22 from rotating, the unlocking bevel 221 allowing the key 1 to be recovered.
1. Lock system, comprising
- a lock key (1) comprising a key blade (11), a control recess (12) on at least one
of the faces (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) of the key blade (11), and a plurality of code
surfaces (14) arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the key
blade (11), and
- a lock cylinder (2) comprising
∘ a stator (21),
∘ a rotor (22) configured for rotating in an opening of the stator (21), comprising
a key housing (23) configured for receiving the key blade (11),
∘ a plurality of housings (24), each housing (24) containing at least one rotor pin
(25) and one stator pin (26) that are displaceable in the radial direction of the
lock cylinder (2), the rotor pins (25) and code surfaces (14) being configured to
cooperate with one another when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock
cylinder (2), and
∘ a validation element (231) in the key housing (23) configured for being housed in
the control recess (12) when the key (1) is inserted,
characterized in that the control recess (12) partially overlaps at least one stator pin (26) when the
key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder (2) and rotated to a position
in which the control recess (12) is facing said stator pin (26), the stator pin (26)
acting as an additional locking element in the event that a fraudulent key with a
control recess (12) completely overlapping said stator pin (26) is used.
2. Lock system according to claim 1, wherein the key blade (11) comprises a front face
(115), two larger side faces (113, 114), and two smaller side faces (111, 112), the
control recess (12) being arranged on the front face (115), on one of the smaller
side faces (111), and on at least one of the larger side faces (113, 114).
3. Lock system according to claim 2, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps
the stator pin (26) in the transverse direction of the key (1).
4. Lock system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps
the stator pin (26) in the longitudinal direction of the key (1).
5. Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the validation element
(231) is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key
housing (23), the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction
of inserting the key (1).
6. Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lock cylinder (2)
comprises an additional validation element (232) after validation element (231) in
the direction opposite the direction of inserting the key (1), and the key (1) comprises
a respective recess (13) configured for housing the additional validation element
(232).
7. Lock system according to claim 6, wherein the respective recess (13) of the key (1)
is a prolongation of the control recess (12).
8. Lock system according to claim 6, wherein the respective recess (13) of the key (1)
is a longitudinal groove (15).
9. Lock system according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the additional validation element
(232) is in the form of a slope and extends longitudinally in a section of the key
housing (23), the height thereof decreasing in the direction opposite the direction
of inserting the key (1).
10. Lock system according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the code surfaces (14) of the
lock key (1) are located on the smaller side face (112) of the key blade (11) opposite
the smaller side face (111) of the key blade (11) on which the control recess (12)
is located.
11. Lock system according to claim 10, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps
the stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder
(2) and rotated 180°.
12. Lock system according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the code surfaces (14) of the
lock key (1) are located on at least one larger side face (113, 114) of the lock key
(1).
13. Lock system according to claim 12, wherein the control recess (12) partially overlaps
the stator pin (26) when the key (1) has been fully inserted into the lock cylinder
(2) and rotated 90° or 270°.
14. Lock system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotor (22) comprises
an unlocking bevel (221).