Double-bit key and lock with mechanical and magnetic security system

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a double bit key and a double-bit lock.

[0002] Locks of this kind are well known and are increasingly used in fields in which the greatest possible resistance to attempted break-in is required. E.g. EP-A-0 778 382 discloses a security lock provided with mechanical means for blocking the rotation of a rotating member unless complementary means are carried by the key which operates the lock.

[0003] However, these locks, while having high intrinsic security, are obviously not capable of providing any protection if a criminal succeeds in fraudulently obtaining a duplicate of the corresponding key. Unfortunately, the risk of such an occurrence is increasing, owing to the proliferation of businesses, such as locksmiths and the like, which can rapidly carry out the duplication, and which can be approached by persons who have temporarily and fraudulently removed the original key from the proprietor or who have legitimately received it from him, such persons including, for example, those responsible for cleaning houses and offices.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a lock free from, or at least less subject to, the risks due to unauthorized duplication of the key and at the same time provide an alternative pin and stop pin arrangement as blocking means.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a lock having the characteristics defined in claim 1. In particular, the first blocking means comprise a pin of magnetic material mounted slidably in a first portion of a radial passage and a first stop pin adjacent to the pin of magnetic material and mounted slidably in a second portion of the radial passage, whereby the first and second portions of the radial passage are offset. Furthermore, the corresponding operating means comprise a magnet fixed in a cavity of the actuating end of the key.

[0006] The lock according to the invention has a key which carries, in addition to the normal double bit, both magnetic and mechanical means causing the disengagement of corresponding blocking means of the lock. Consequently, this lock cannot be opened by using a duplicate key produced by copying the profile of a given bit on one of the usual key blanks currently available on the market, or on one of those provided only with magnetic, or alternatively mechanical, means for operating corresponding means for blocking the lock.

[0007] Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made clear by the following detailed description, provided by way of example and without restrictive intent, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lock according to the invention, in which, for the sake of simplicity, some components have been omitted and the casing is shown as open,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a fixed element of the lock of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in section along the line III-III of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a rotating member of the lock of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a view in section along the line V-V of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a key of the lock according to the invention,

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a detail of the key of Figure 6, and

Figures 8 and 9 show, respectively, the inoperative and operative configuration of the lock according to the invention.

[0008] A security lock comprises (Fig. 1) a boxlike body 10 within which is mounted a slidable carriage 12 associated with closing means 14 and a plurality of combination levers or plates (not shown in the figures) which can be actuated by means of a double-bit key 16 (Fig. 6). All these characteristics and their operation are conventional and well known to those skilled in the art, making it unnecessary to provide any more detailed description.

[0009] The lock also comprises a member 18 of cylindrical shape which has a flange 20 which protrudes radially from one of its ends, is mounted rotatably about its own longitudinal axis 22 within a housing formed in a fixed element 24 shaped in the form of a plate, and has a keyhole for the insertion of the actuating end of the key 16.

[0010] The lock also comprises first and second means for selectively blocking the rotation of the member 18 within the fixed element 24.

[0011] The first blocking means comprise (Fig. 8) a pin 28 of magnetic material mounted slidably in a first portion 30, formed in the rotating member 18, of a first radial passage 32, and a first stop pin 34 adjacent to the magnetic pin 28 and mounted slidably in a second portion 36, formed in the fixed element 24, of the first radial passage 32. The first and second portions 30, 36 of the first passage 32 are slightly offset with respect to each other and the proximal end portion 38 of the second portion 36 of the first passage 32 has a cross section which is smaller than that of the remaining part. The first stop pin 34 comprises a median portion having a greater cross section 40 and distal and proximal end portions 42, 44 having a smaller cross section.

[0012] A spring 46 is mounted within the distal end of the second portion 36 of the first passage 32 and tends to make the end 44 of the first stop pin 34 adjacent to the magnetic pin 28 project into the first portion 30 of the first passage 32, when the actuating end of the key 16 is not inserted into the keyhole 26.

[0013] The second blocking means comprise a feeler pin 48 mounted slidably in a first portion 50, formed in the rotating member 18, of a second radial passage 52, and a second stop pin 54, adjacent to the feeler pin 48 and mounted slidably in a second portion 56, formed in the fixed element 24, of the second radial passage 52 which is positioned on the diametrically opposite side of the longitudinal axis 22 from the first passage 32. The first and second portions 50, 56 of the second passage 52 are offset and the proximal end portion 58 of the second portion 56 of the second passage 52 has a cross section which is smaller than that of the remaining part. The second stop pin 54 comprises a median portion 60 having a greater cross section and distal and proximal end portions 62, 64 having a smaller cross section. The feeler pin 48 has a proximal end portion 66 which has a smaller cross section than the remaining part and which is housed in a correspondingly narrowed section of the first portion 50 of the second radial passage 52. The point of the proximal end 66 of the feeler pin 48 has a convex curved profile.

[0014] A spring 68 is mounted within the distal end of the second portion 56 of the second passage 52 and tends to make the end 64 of the second stop pin 64 adjacent to the feeler pin 48 project into the first portion 50 of the second passage 52, when the actuating end of the key 16 is not inserted into the keyhole 26.

[0015] The actuating end of the key 16 carries (Figs. 6 and 7) means for operating the first and second blocking means. These operating means are double, and are thus present on each side of the key 16. Therefore, when the key has been inserted into the keyhole 26 in each of the two possible directions, an element of each pair of magnetic and mechanical means for operating the blocking means can interact with the latter.

[0016] Each of the means for operating the first blocking means comprises a magnet 70 fixed in a cavity 72.

[0017] Each of the means for operating the second blocking means comprises an element mounted resiliently in a further cavity 74 - in particular, a ball 76 fixed to a spring 78 - and capable of interacting such as a cam with the proximal end 66 of the feeler pin 48.

[0018] Figure 8 shows the lock in an inoperative configuration, in other words without the key 16 inserted into the keyhole 26. The springs 46, 68 tend to make the corresponding stop pins 34, 54 move into the radially innermost possible position, in such a way that their proximal ends 44, 64 protrude into the first portions 30, 50 of the first and second passages 32, 52, pushing the adjacent ends of the magnetic pin 28 and the feeler pin 48. Because of this protrusion of the proximal ends 44, 64 of the stop pins 34, 54, the rotation of the cylindrical member 18 about the axis 22 is impeded.

[0019] On the other hand, when the key 16 is inserted into the keyhole 26 (Figure 9), one of the magnets 70 faces the magnetic pin 28 and, since their identical poles face each other, repels the magnetic pin 28 in a radially outward direction. The magnetic pin 28 bears on the entry of the second portion 36 of the first passage 32, where it pushes the first stop pin 34 fully in against the resistance of the spring 46. The pin 34 is thus fully retracted into the fixed element 24 and can no longer impede the rotation of the cylindrical member 18.

[0020] At the same time, one of the balls 76 comes into contact with the convex curved profile of the proximal end 66 of the feeler pin 48 which is pushed radially outwards. The magnetic pin 48 bears on the entry of the second portion 56 of the second passage 52, where it pushes the second stop pin 54 fully in against the resistance of the spring 68. The pin 54 is thus fully retracted into the fixed element 24 and can no longer impede the rotation of the cylindrical member 18.

[0021] Consequently, the rotation of the cylindrical member 18 within the fixed element 24 is no longer impeded by anything, and thus the key 16 inserted into the keyhole 26 can rotate freely and cause the actuation of the lock in a known way. Conversely, the use of a key having correctly profiled bits, but without the magnetic and mechanical means of operating the blocking means, or having only one of these means, would not enable the lock to be actuated.

[0022] Clearly, provided that the principle of the invention is retained, the details of construction and the forms of embodiment can be varied widely from what has been described purely by way of example, without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Double-bit key and Security lock comprising a boxlike body (10) within which is mounted a slidable carriage (12) associated with closing means (14) and a plurality of combination levers or plates which can be actuated by means of the double-bit key (16), the said lock comprising a member (18) mounted rotatably within a housing formed in a fixed element (24) and having a keyhole (26) for the insertion of the actuating end of the key (16), and first and second means for selectively blocking the rotation of the said member (18) within the fixed element (24), these first and second blocking means being operated by operating means, magnetic and mechanical respectively, carried by the actuating end of the said key (16), wherein
the said first blocking means comprise a pin (28) of magnetic material mounted slidably in a first portion (30), formed in the rotating member (18), of a first radial passage (32) and a first stop pin (34) adjacent to the pin of magnetic material (28) and mounted slidably in a second portion (36), formed in the fixed element (24), of the first radial passage (32), and the corresponding operating means comprise a magnet (70) fixed in a cavity (72) of the actuating end of the key (16), the said first and second portions (30, 36) of the first passage (32) being offset.

2. Double-bit key and Lock according to Claim 1, in which a spring (46) mounted within the distal end of the second portion (36) of the first passage (32) tends to make the end (44) of the first stop pin (34) adjacent to the magnetic pin (28) project into the first portion (30) of the first passage (32), when the actuating end of the key (16) is not inserted into the keyhole (26).

3. Double-bit key and Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said second blocking means comprise a feeler pin (48) mounted slidably in a first portion (50), formed in the rotating member (18), of a second radial passage (52) and a second stop pin (54) adjacent to the said feeler pin (48) and mounted slidably in a second portion (56), formed in the fixed element (24), of the second radial passage (52), and the corresponding operating means comprise an element mounted resiliently in a further cavity (74) of the actuating end of the key (16) and capable of interacting such as a cam with the proximal end (66) of the feeler pin (48).

4. Double-bit key and Lock according to Claim 3, in which the said cam element is a ball (76) and is fixed to a spring (78) mounted in the said further cavity (74).

5. Double-bit key and Lock according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the proximal end portion (66) of the feeler pin (48) has a cross section smaller than that of the remaining part of the pin (48) and is housed in a correspondingly narrowed section of the first portion (50) of the second radial passage (52).

6. Double-bit key and Lock according to Claim 5, in which the point of the proximal end (66) of the feeler pin (48) has a convex curved profile.

7. Double-bit key and Lock according to any one of the preceding Claims 3 to 6, in which a spring (68) mounted within the distal end of the second portion (56) of the second passage (52) tends to make the end (64) of the second stop pin (54) adjacent to the feeler pin (48) project into the first portion (50) of the second passage (52), when the actuating end of the key (16) is not inserted into the keyhole (26).

8. Double-bit key and Lock according to any one of the preceding Claims 3 to 7, in which the said first and second portions (50, 56) of the second passage (52) are offset.

9. Double-bit key and Lock according to any one of the preceding Claims 3 to 8, in which each of the said first and second stop pins (34, 54) comprises a median portion (40, 60) having a larger cross section and distal end (42, 62) and proximal end (44, 64) portions having a smaller cross section.

10. Double-bit key and Lock according to any one of the preceding Claims 3 to 9, in which the proximal end portions (38, 58) of the second portion (36, 56) of the first and second passage (32, 52) have a cross section which is smaller than that of the corresponding remaining portions.

Ansprüche

1. Doppelbartschlüssel und Sicherheitsschloss mit einem kastenförmigen Körper (10), in welchem ein gleitbarer Schlitten (12) eingebaut ist, der mit einer Schließeinrichtung (14) und mehreren Kombinationshebeln oder -platten gekoppelt ist, die mit Hilfe des Doppelbartschlüssels (16) betätigt werden können, wobei das Schloss aufweist: ein Element (18), das drehbar in einem in einem stationären Element (24) gebildeten Gehäuse eingebaut ist und ein Schlüsselloch (26) zum Einführen des Betätigungsendes des Schlüssels (16) aufweist, und erste und zweite Einrichtungen zum selektiven Blockieren der Drehung des Elements (18) in dem stationären Element (24), wobei diese ersten und zweiten Blockierungseinrichtungen von magnetischen bzw. mechanischen Betätigungseinrichtungen betätigt werden, die an dem Betätigungsende des Schlüssel (16) angebracht sind, wobei die erste Blockierungseinrichtung aufweist: einen Stift (28) aus magnetischem Material, der gleitbar in einem in dem drehbaren Element (18) gebildeten ersten Abschnitt (30) eines ersten radialen Kanals (32) eingesetzt ist, und einen ersten Anschlagstift (34), der angrenzend an den Stift (28) aus magnetischem Material angeordnet ist und gleitbar in einem in dem stationären Element (24) gebildeten zweiten Abschnitt (36) des ersten radialen Kanals (32) eingesetzt ist, und wobei die entsprechende Betätigungseinrichtung einen Magnet (70) aufweist, der in einem Hohlraum (72) des Betätigungsendes des Schlüssels (16) angebracht ist, wobei der erste und zweite Abschnitt (30,36) des ersten Kanals (32) versetzt zueinander angeordnet sind.

2. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine Feder (46), die in dem distalen Ende des zweiten Abschnitts (36) des ersten Kanals (32) eingesetzt ist, dahingehend wirkt, um das an den Magnetstift (28) angrenzende Ende (44) des ersten Anschlagstifts (34) in den ersten Abschnitt (30) des ersten Kanals (32) hineinragen zu lassen, wenn das Betätigungsende des Schlüssels (16) nicht in das Schlüsselloch (26) eingeführt ist.

3. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die zweite Blockierungseinrichtung aufweist: einen Fühlerstift (48), der gleitbar in einem in dem drehbaren Element (18) gebildeten ersten Abschnitt (50) eines zweiten radialen Kanals (52) eingesetzt ist, und einen zweiten Anschlagstift (54), der angrenzend an den Fühlerstift (48) angeordnet ist und gleitbar in einem in dem stationären Element (24) gebildeten zweiten Abschnitt (56) des zweiten radialen Kanals (52) eingesetzt ist, und wobei die entsprechende Betätigungseinrichtung ein Element aufweist, das gefedert in einem zusätzlichen Hohlraum (74) des Betätigungsendes des Schlüssels (16) eingesetzt ist und fähig ist, wie ein Nocken mit dem proximalen Ende (66) des Fühlerstifts (48) zusammenzuwirken.

4. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach Anspruch 3, wobei das Nockenelement eine Kugel (76) ist und an einer Feder (78) angebracht ist, die in dem zusätzlichen Hohlraum (74) eingesetzt ist.

5. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei der proximale Endabschnitt (66) des Fühlerstifts (48) einen kleineren Querschnitt als der restliche Teil des Stifts (48) hat und in einem entsprechend verschmälerten Querschnitt des ersten Abschnitts (50) des zweiten radialen Kanals (52) aufgenommen ist.

6. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Spitze des proximalen Endes (66) des Fühlerstifts (48) ein konvex gekrümmtes Profil hat.

7. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche 3 bis 6, wobei eine Feder (68), die in dem distalen Ende des zweiten Abschnitts (56) des zweiten Kanals (52) eingesetzt ist, dahingehend wirkt, um das an den Fühlerstift (48) angrenzende Ende (64) des zweiten Anschlagstifts (54) in den ersten Abschnitt (50) des zweiten Kanals (52) hineinragen zu lassen, wenn das Betätigungsende des Schlüssels (16) nicht in das Schlüsselloch (26) eingeführt ist.

8. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche 3 bis 7, wobei der erste und zweite Abschnitt (50,56) des zweiten Kanals (52) versetzt zueinander angeordnet sind.

9. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche 3 bis 8, wobei sowohl der erste wie auch der zweite Anschlagstift (34,54) einen mittleren Abschnitt (40,60) mit einem größeren Querschnitt und einen distalen (42,62) und proximalen (44,64) Endabschnitt mit einem kleineren Querschnitt aufweisen.

10. Doppelbartschlüssel und Schloss nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche 3 bis 9, wobei die proximalen Endabschnitte (38,58) des zweiten Abschnitts (36,56) des ersten und zweiten Kanals (32,52) einen Querschnitt haben, der kleiner ist als derjenige der entsprechenden restlichen Abschnitte.

Revendications

1. Clé à panneton double et serrure de sécurité comprenant un corps en forme de boîte (10) à l'intérieur duquel est monté un chariot coulissant (12) associé à un moyen de fermeture (14) et à une pluralité de leviers ou plaques de combinaison qui peuvent être actionné(e)s au moyen de la clé à panneton double (16), ladite serrure comprenant une pièce (18) montée à rotation dans un logement formé dans un élément fixe (24) et comportant un trou de serrure (26) pour l'insertion de l'extrémité d'actionnement de la clé (16), et un premier et un deuxième moyen pour bloquer sélectivement la rotation de ladite pièce (18) dans l'élément fixe (24), ces premier et deuxième moyens de blocage étant actionnés par des moyens d'actionnement, respectivement magnétique et mécanique, portés par l'extrémité d'actionnement de ladite clé (16),
dans lesquelles ledit premier moyen de blocage comprend un axe (28) en matériau magnétique monté de façon glissante dans une première partie (30), formée dans la pièce rotative (18), d'un premier passage radial (32) et un premier axe d'arrêt (34) adjacent à l'axe en matériau magnétique (28) et monté de façon glissante dans une deuxième partie (36), formée dans l'élément fixe (24), du premier passage radial (32), et le moyen d'actionnement correspondant comprend un aimant (70) fixé dans une cavité (72) de l'extrémité d'actionnement de la clé (16), lesdites première et deuxième parties (30, 36) du premier passage (32) étant décalées.

2. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon la revendication 1, dans lesquelles un ressort (46) monté dans l'extrémité distale de la deuxième partie (36) du premier passage (32) tend à faire saillir l'extrémité (44) du premier axe d'arrêt (34) adjacent à l'axe magnétique (28) dans la première partie (30) du premier passage (32), quand l'extrémité d'actionnement de la clé (16) n'est pas insérée dans le trou de serrure (26).

3. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lesquelles ledit deuxième moyen de blocage comprend un axe palpeur (48) monté de façon glissante dans une première partie (50), formée dans la pièce rotative (18), d'un deuxième passage radial (52) et un deuxième axe d'arrêt (54) adjacent audit axe palpeur (48) et monté de façon glissante dans une deuxième partie (56), formée dans l'élément fixe (24), du deuxième passage radial (52), et le moyen d'actionnement correspondant comprend un élément monté de façon résiliente dans une autre cavité (74) de l'extrémité d'actionnement de la clé (16) et apte à interagir comme une came avec l'extrémité proximale (66) de l'axe palpeur (48).

4. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon la revendication 3, dans lesquelles ledit élément formant came est une bille (76) et est fixé à un ressort (78) monté dans ladite autre cavité (74).

5. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon la revendication 3 ou 4, dans lesquelles la partie d'extrémité proximale (66) de l'axe palpeur (48) est de section plus petite que la partie restante de l'axe (48) et est logée dans une section rétrécie de façon correspondante de la première partie (50) du deuxième passage radial (52).

6. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon la revendication 5, dans lesquelles le bout de l'extrémité proximale (66) de l'axe palpeur (48) a un profil courbé convexe.

7. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon l'une quelconque des précédents revendications 3 à 6, dans lesquelles un ressort (68) monté dans l'extrémité distale de la deuxième partie (56) du deuxième passage (52) tend à faire saillir l'extrémité (64) du deuxième axe d'arrêt (54) adjacent à l'axe palpeur (48) dans la première partie (50) du deuxième passage (52), quand l'extrémité d'actionnement de la clé (16) n'est pas insérée dans le trou de serrure (26).

8. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon l'une quelconque des précédents revendications 3 à 7, dans lesquelles lesdites première et deuxième parties (50, 56) du deuxième passage (52) sont décalées.

9. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon l'une quelconque des précédents revendications 3 à 8, dans lesquelles chacun desdits premier et deuxième axes d'arrêt (34, 54) comprend une partie médiane (40, 60) de plus grosse section et des parties d'extrémité distale (42, 62) et d'extrémité proximale (44, 64) de plus petite section.

10. Clé à panneton double et serrure selon l'une quelconque des précédents revendications 3 à 9, dans lesquelles les parties d'extrémité proximale (38, 58) de la deuxième partie (36, 56) des premier et deuxième passages (32, 52) sont de plus petite section que les parties restantes correspondantes.

Drawing