U.S. patent number RE46,878 [Application Number 14/677,496] was granted by the patent office on 2018-05-29 for profiled key for cylinder locks.
This patent grant is currently assigned to WINLOC AG. The grantee listed for this patent is WINLOC AG. Invention is credited to Bo Widen.
United States Patent |
RE46,878 |
Widen |
May 29, 2018 |
Profiled key for cylinder locks
Abstract
A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug
having a profiled keyway. The key comprises an elongated,
substantially flay key blade (120; 120') having a longitudinal
profile groove (122; 122') extending along at least a portion of
the length of the key blade. The groove has an undercut portion
(129) adjacent to a ridge portion (128, 128'), the outside of which
forms part of a side surface (123; 123') of the key blade. The
undercut portion (129; 129') of the groove is expanded, at its
innermost part adjacent to and inside said ridge portion, into a
longitudinally extending pocket (135; 135').
Inventors: |
Widen; Bo (Torshalla,
SE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WINLOC AG |
Zug Schweiz |
N/A |
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
WINLOC AG (Zug Schweiz,
CH)
|
Family
ID: |
42608104 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/677,496 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 18, 2010 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/SE2010/050189 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 04, 2010 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2010/096009 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
August 26, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
12866204 |
Feb 18, 2010 |
8210009 |
Jul 3, 2012 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 18, 2009 [SE] |
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0900207 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
27/0078 (20130101); E05B 27/0082 (20130101); E05B
19/0029 (20130101); E05B 19/0029 (20130101); E05B
27/0082 (20130101); E05B 27/0078 (20130101); Y10T
70/7605 (20150401); Y10T 70/7881 (20150401); Y10T
70/7881 (20150401); Y10T 70/7588 (20150401); Y10T
70/7864 (20150401); Y10T 70/7859 (20150401); Y10T
70/787 (20150401); Y10T 70/7616 (20150401); Y10T
70/7627 (20150401); Y10T 70/7864 (20150401); Y10T
70/7605 (20150401); Y10T 70/787 (20150401); Y10T
70/7859 (20150401); Y10T 70/7616 (20150401); Y10T
70/7588 (20150401); Y10T 70/7627 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
19/06 (20060101); E05B 19/00 (20060101); E05B
27/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;70/493,405,406,409 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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44 22 093 |
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Jan 1996 |
|
DE |
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44 32 571 |
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Jul 2005 |
|
DE |
|
1 835 096 |
|
Sep 2007 |
|
EP |
|
WO 01/96696 |
|
Dec 2001 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2005/028789 |
|
Mar 2005 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Machine translation of WO 01/96696, Description and Claims, 7 pgs.
combined. cited by examiner .
United States Patent and Trademark Office, "Non-Final Office
Action," issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 14/677,452, dated
Apr. 3, 2017. cited by applicant .
U.S. Office Action dated Nov. 9, 2017 for U.S. Appl. No.
14/677,452. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Fetsuga; Robert M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.key for use in a cylinder lock with a
rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key comprising:
an elongated, substantially flat .Iadd.one piece .Iaddend.key blade
(120) having a longitudinal profile groove (122) extending along at
least a portion of the length of the .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., with an inner wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said groove being substantially
parallel to .[.a.]. .Iadd.an external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) .[.of said flat key blade.]., said
longitudinal profile groove (122) having, at a lower part thereof,
an undercut portion (129) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion
(128) of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., the outside of said ridge portion .Iadd.(128)
.Iaddend.forming a part of said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of the .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said .Iadd.external
.Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface .Iadd.(123) .Iaddend.at
.[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.lower part of said .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120) .Iaddend.lying substantially in the
same plane as .[.a.]. .Iadd.an upper .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface .Iadd.(1123') .Iaddend.of the .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120) .Iaddend.at an upper part thereof,
above said longitudinal .Iadd.profile .Iaddend.groove
.Iadd.(122).Iaddend., said longitudinal profile groove (122)
defining, at an upper part thereof, a .Iadd.smallest opening
.Iaddend.width (w).Iadd., as seen .Iaddend.perpendicularly to said
.Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of
said lower portion of said .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., between an upper wall .Iadd.surface (160)
.Iaddend.and said ridge portion (128), and .[.the inside of.]. said
ridge portion .[.facing.]. .Iadd.(128) being opposite .Iaddend.said
inner wall .Iadd.surface (124) .Iaddend.of said .Iadd.longitudinal
profile .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122).Iaddend., wherein.Iadd.: said
undercut portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove extends
downwardly substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel
to the upper side wall surface (1123') and the external side wall
surface (123) of the flat one piece key blade (120), .Iaddend. said
undercut portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove (122),
at .[.its.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.innermost part .[.inside said ridge
portion (128).]., is extended .Iadd.further.Iaddend., substantially
in .[.a.]. .Iadd.the same direction as said vertical
.Iaddend.direction .[.in parallel to said upper and lower side
surfaces (123) of the key blade (120),.]. .Iadd.(VD) .Iaddend.into
a longitudinal, substantially uniformly wide pocket (135) having a
uniform width with opposite .Iadd.inner and outer
.Iaddend.substantially parallel lateral wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.portions (132, 133) .[.and.]. .Iadd.wherein said inner
wall surface (124) of said longitudinal profile groove (122)
adjoins the inner lateral wall surface portion (132) of said pocket
(135) and said inner lateral wall surface (132) of said pocket
(135) extends downwardly to .Iaddend.a lowermost transverse end
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134), which is substantially flat or
slightly curved, and which is substantially parallel to a
.[.lower.]. .Iadd.lowermost .Iaddend.edge .[.portion.]. .Iadd.wall
surface .Iaddend.(127) of the key blade and .Iadd.which
.Iaddend.faces upwardly in a direction .[.in a central plane (A) of
the key blade.]. .Iadd.opposite to said vertical direction (VD)
.Iaddend.towards said upper wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said
longitudinal profile groove (122) with said opposite lateral wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.portions (132, 133) of said pocket (135)
being substantially parallel to said upper .Iadd.side wall surface
(1123'') .Iaddend.and .[.lower.]. .Iadd.the external .Iaddend.side
.[.surfaces.]. .Iadd.wall surface .Iaddend.(123) of the flat
.Iadd.one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120).
2. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128) is
greater than the distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134) and said .[.lower.].
.Iadd.lowermost .Iaddend.edge .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (127) of
the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend..
.[.3. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein said pocket (135) has
a substantially rectangular cross-section..].
4. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner wall
.[.(124).]. .Iadd.surface (124') .Iaddend.of said longitudinal
profile groove .[.(122).]. .Iadd.(122') .Iaddend.merges with one of
said opposite lateral .[.walls.]. .Iadd.wall surface
.Iaddend.portions .[.(132, 133).]. .Iadd.(132') .Iaddend.of said
pocket.
5. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128),
measured in said plane of said .[.lower.]. .Iadd.external side wall
surface (123) .Iaddend.and upper side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface
.[.(123).]. .Iadd.(1123') .Iaddend.of the .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade (120), is more than half of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w) of said
longitudinal profile groove (122) adjacent to said .Iadd.external
.Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123), said smallest
.Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w) being measured as a perpendicular
projection onto said inner wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of
said longitudinal profile groove (122).
6. The key as defined in claim 5, wherein said vertical dimension
(h) of said ridge portion (128) is equal to or greater than said
smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w).
7. The key as defined in claim 1, .[.constituting.]. .Iadd.wherein
the flat one piece key blade (120) is formed from .Iaddend.a key
blank with a continuous upper edge portion configured so as to
permit coded recesses to be cut therein.
8. The key as defined in claim 1, having coded recesses (102a . . .
102e) cut into said ridge portion (128), so as to form a side code
on the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said side code recesses being configured to
cooperate with at least one side tumbler (105) in an associated
lock.
9. The key as defined in claim 8, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like,
longitudinal code pattern.
10. The key as defined in claim 8, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said
ridge portion (128), so that the side code recesses reach all the
way from the .[.outside.]. .Iadd.external side wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) of said ridge portion (128) into said
longitudinal pocket (135) of the undercut profile groove (122).
11. The key as defined in claim 8, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion
(128) down to various levels between said upper edge and .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.lowermost part of said longitudinally extending
pocket (135).
12. The key as defined in claim 8, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) form concavities with lower bottom portions
located at a number of different levels, each representing a
code.
13. The key as defined in claim 11, wherein said different levels
also include an uppermost level at the upper edge (1021) of said
ridge portion (128).
14. The key as defined in claim 11, wherein the number of different
levels is at least three.
15. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said longitudinal profile groove
.[.and the adjoining longitudinal pocket (135) are.]. .Iadd.is
.Iaddend.located at a .[.depth.]. .Iadd.distance .Iaddend.from said
.Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of
the flat one piece key blade (120) which is greater than half the
thickness of said flat one piece key blade (120).
16. The key as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially flat
.Iadd.one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120'') has .Iadd.an
.Iaddend.upper .[.and lower portions (151'', 150''), each.].
.Iadd.portion (151'') .Iaddend.having an undercut groove (122'')
.Iadd.portion .Iaddend.with .[.said.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.innermost
longitudinal pocket .[.(135'').]. .Iadd.(1354).Iaddend., such that
the key is symmetrical and can be inserted either way into an
associated keyway of said cylinder lock.
17. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.key for use in a cylinder lock with
a rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key
comprising: an elongated, substantially flat .Iadd.one piece
.Iaddend.key blade (120) having a longitudinal profile groove (122)
extending along at least a portion of the length of the .Iadd.flat
one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., with an inner
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said .Iadd.longitudinal
profile .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122) .Iaddend.being substantially
parallel .[.to a.]. .Iadd.to an external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) .[.of said flat key blade.]., said
longitudinal profile groove (122) having, at a lower part thereof,
an undercut portion (129) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion
(128) of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., the outside of said ridge portion forming a
part of said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key
blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface .Iadd.(123) .Iaddend.at .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.lower part of said .Iadd.flat one piece
.Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120) .Iaddend.lying substantially in the
same plane as .[.a side.]. .Iadd.an upper sidewall .Iaddend.surface
.Iadd.(1123') .Iaddend.of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key
blade .Iadd.(120) .Iaddend.at an upper part thereof, above said
longitudinal .Iadd.profile .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122).Iaddend.,
said longitudinal profile groove (122) defining, at an upper part
thereof, a .Iadd.smallest opening .Iaddend.width (w) .Iadd.as seen
.Iaddend.perpendicularly to said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of said lower portion of said
.Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend.,
between an upper wall .Iadd.surface (160) .Iaddend.and said ridge
portion (128), and .[.the inside of.]. said ridge portion
.[.facing.]. .Iadd.(128) being opposite .Iaddend.said inner wall
.Iadd.surface (124) .Iaddend.of said .Iadd.longitudinal profile
.Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122).Iaddend., wherein.Iadd.: said undercut
portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove extends
downwardly substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel
to the upper side wall surface (1123') and the external side wall
surface (123) of the flat one piece key blade (120), .Iaddend. said
undercut portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove (122),
at .[.its.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.innermost part .[.inside said ridge
portion (128).]., is extended .Iadd.further.Iaddend., substantially
in .[.a.]. .Iadd.the same direction as said vertical
.Iaddend.direction .[.in parallel to said upper and lower side
surfaces (123) of the key blade (120),.]. .Iadd.(VD) .Iaddend.into
a .[.longitudinal, substantially bulbous wide.]. .Iadd.longitudinal
widened .Iaddend.pocket (135) having a larger .Iadd.lateral
.Iaddend.width .[.relative to.]. .Iadd.than a narrowest part of
.Iaddend.the .[.longitudinal.]. .Iadd.undercut portion (129) of the
.Iaddend.profile groove (122), said .[.bulbous wide.].
.Iadd.widened .Iaddend.pocket (135) being formed by opposite
.Iadd.inner and outer .Iaddend.lateral wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.portions (132, 133).Iadd., and said inner wall surface
(124) of said longitudinal profile groove (122) adjoins, by way of
a continuously downwardly extending wall surface portion (136),
said inner lateral wall surface portion (132) of the pocket (135)
and the inner lateral wall surface portion (132) of the pocket
(135) extends continuously further downwardly to a lowermost
transverse end wall surface (134), wherein the highest point of
said inner lateral wall surface portion (132) is located below the
lowest point of said inner wall surface (124) of said
longitudinally profile groove (122), .Iaddend.and .[.a.]. .Iadd.the
.Iaddend.lowermost transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134)
.[.which is slightly curved and.]. faces upwardly in a direction
.[.in a central plane (A) of the key blade.]. .Iadd.opposite to
said vertical direction (VD) .Iaddend.towards said upper wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said longitudinal profile groove
(122).
18. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128) is
greater than the distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134) and .[.said lower.]. .Iadd.a
lowermost .Iaddend.edge .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (127) of the
.Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend..
19. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein at least one of said
opposite lateral wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.portions (132, 133) is
curved.
.[.20. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein said lowermost
transverse end wall (134', 134'') of said pocket (135) is curved
with a radius being more than half of the width of said pocket,
said width being measured transversely to said side surface (123)
of said key blade (120)..].
21. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein said inner wall
.[.(124).]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said longitudinal profile
groove .[.(122).]. merges with one of said opposite lateral
.[.walls.]. .Iadd.wall surface .Iaddend.portions .[.(132, 133).].
.Iadd.(1323) .Iaddend.of said pocket.
22. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128),
measured in said plane of said .[.lower.]. .Iadd.external side wall
surface (123) .Iaddend.and .Iadd.said .Iaddend.upper side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface .[.(123).]. .Iadd.(1123') .Iaddend.of
the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120), is more than
half of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.smallest .Iadd.opening
.Iaddend.width (w) of said longitudinal profile groove (122)
adjacent to said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123), said smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width
(w) being measured as a perpendicular projection onto said inner
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said longitudinal profile
groove (122).
23. The key as defined in claim .[.15.]. .Iadd.17.Iaddend., wherein
.[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge
portion (128) is equal to or greater than said smallest
.Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w).
24. The key as defined in claim 17, .[.constituting.].
.Iadd.wherein the flat one piece key blade (120) is formed from
.Iaddend.a key blank with a continuous upper edge portion
configured so as to permit coded recesses to be cut therein.
25. The key as defined in claim 17, having coded recesses (102a . .
. 102e) cut into said ridge portion (128), so as to form a side
code on the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said side code recesses being configured to
cooperate with at least one side tumbler (105) in an associated
lock.
26. The key as defined in claim 25, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like,
longitudinal code pattern.
27. The key as defined in claim 25, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said
ridge portion (128), so that the side code recesses reach all the
way from the .[.outside.]. .Iadd.external side wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) of said ridge portion (128) into said
longitudinal pocket (135) of the undercut profile groove (122).
28. The key as defined in claim 25, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion
(128) down to various levels between said upper edge and .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.lowermost part of said longitudinally extending
pocket (135).
29. The key as defined in claim 25, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) form concavities with lower bottom portions
located at a number of different levels, each representing a
code.
30. The key as defined in claim 28, wherein said different levels
also include an uppermost level at the upper edge (102f) of said
ridge portion (128).
31. The key as defined in claim 28, wherein the number of different
levels is at least three.
32. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein the inner wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said longitudinal profile groove
.[.and the adjoining longitudinal pocket (135) are.]. .Iadd.is
.Iaddend.located at a .[.depth.]. .Iadd.distance .Iaddend.from said
.Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of
the flat one piece key blade (120) which is greater than half the
thickness of said flat one piece key blade (120).
33. The key as defined in claim 17, wherein said substantially flat
.Iadd.one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120'') has .Iadd.an
.Iaddend.upper .[.and lower portions (151'', 150''), each.].
.Iadd.portion (151'') .Iaddend.having an undercut groove (122'')
with said innermost longitudinal pocket .[.(135'').].
.Iadd.(1354).Iaddend., such that the key is symmetrical and can be
inserted either way into an associated keyway of said cylinder
lock.
34. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.key for use in a cylinder lock with
a rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key
comprising: an elongated, substantially flat .Iadd.one piece
.Iaddend.key blade (120) having a longitudinal profile groove (122)
extending along at least a portion of the length of the .Iadd.flat
one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., with an inner
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said groove being
substantially parallel to a .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) .[.of said flat key blade.]., said
longitudinal profile groove (122) having, at a lower part thereof,
an undercut portion (129) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion
(128) of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., the outside of said ridge portion forming a
part of said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key
blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface .Iadd.(123) .Iaddend.at the lower part
of said .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120)
.Iaddend.lying substantially in the same plane as .[.a.]. .Iadd.an
upper .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface .Iadd.(1123')
.Iaddend.of the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120)
.Iaddend.at an upper part thereof, above said longitudinal
.Iadd.profile .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122).Iaddend., said
longitudinal profile groove (122) defining, at an upper part
thereof, a .Iadd.smallest opening .Iaddend.width (w).Iadd., as seen
.Iaddend.perpendicularly to said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of said lower portion of said
.Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade .Iadd.(120).Iaddend.,
between an upper wall .Iadd.surface (160) .Iaddend.and said ridge
portion (128), and .[.the inside of.]. said ridge portion
.[.facing.]. .Iadd.(128) being opposite .Iaddend.said inner wall
.Iadd.surface (124) .Iaddend.of said .Iadd.longitudinal profile
.Iaddend.groove .Iadd.(122).Iaddend., wherein.Iadd.: said undercut
portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove extends
downwardly substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel
to the upper side wall surface (1123') and the external side wall
surface (123) of the flat one piece key blade (120), .Iaddend. said
undercut portion (129) of said longitudinal profile groove (122),
at .[.its.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.innermost part .[.inside said ridge
portion (128).]., is extended .Iadd.further.Iaddend., substantially
in .[.a.]. .Iadd.the same direction as said vertical
.Iaddend.direction .[.in parallel to said upper and lower side
surfaces (123) of the key blade (120),.]. .Iadd.(VD) .Iaddend.into
a longitudinal.[., substantially uniformly wide.]. pocket .[.(135)
having.]. .Iadd.being interrupted by .Iaddend.at least one
longitudinal recess .Iadd.(132a) .Iaddend.formed in at least one of
opposite .Iadd.inner and outer .Iaddend.lateral wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.portions (132, 133) .[.and.]. .Iadd.wherein said inner
wall surface (1243) of said longitudinal profile groove (122)
adjoins the inner lateral wall surface portion (1324), located
opposite to said ridge portion and said inner lateral wall surface
portion (1324) extends downwardly to .Iaddend.a lowermost
transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134), said lowermost
transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134) being
substantially flat or slightly .Iadd.curved .Iaddend.and being
substantially parallel to a .[.lower.]. .Iadd.lowermost
.Iaddend.edge .[.portion.]. .Iadd.wall surface .Iaddend.(127) of
the key blade and .Iadd.which .Iaddend.faces upwardly in a
direction .[.being parallel to a central plane (A) of the key
blade.]. .Iadd.opposite to said vertical direction (VD)
.Iaddend.towards said upper wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said
longitudinal profile groove (122) with said opposite lateral wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.portions (132, 133) of said pocket (135)
being substantially parallel to said upper .Iadd.side wall surface
(1123'') .Iaddend.and .[.lower.]. .Iadd.the external .Iaddend.side
.Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surfaces (123) of the flat .Iadd.one piece
.Iaddend.key blade (120).
35. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128) is
greater than the distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end
wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134) and said .[.lower.].
.Iadd.lowermost .Iaddend.edge .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (127) of
the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend..
.[.36. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein at least one of said
opposite lateral wall portions (132, 133) is curved..].
37. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein said lowermost
transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134', 134'') of said
pocket (135) is curved with a radius being more than half of the
width of said pocket, said width being measured transversely to
said .Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123)
of said .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120).
38. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein at least one of said
longitudinal .[.recess.]. .Iadd.recesses .Iaddend.formed in at
least one of the opposite lateral wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.portions (132) and said lowermost transverse end wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(134) is provided with an irregular surface
portion (132c, 134c).
39. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein said inner wall
.[.(124).]. .Iadd.surface (1243) .Iaddend.of said longitudinal
profile groove .[.(122).]. merges with one of said opposite lateral
.[.walls.]. .Iadd.wall surface .Iaddend.portions .[.(132, 133).].
.Iadd.(1324) .Iaddend.of said pocket.
40. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion (128),
measured in said plane of said .[.lower.]. .Iadd.external side wall
surface (123) .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.upper side .Iadd.wall
.Iaddend.surface .[.(123).]. .Iadd.(1123') .Iaddend.of the
.Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120), is more than half of
.[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width
(w) of said longitudinal profile groove (122) adjacent to said
.Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123),
said smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w) being measured as a
perpendicular projection onto said inner wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.(124) of said longitudinal profile groove (122).
41. The key as defined in claim 40, wherein said vertical dimension
(h) of said ridge portion (128) is equal to or greater than said
smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width (w).
42. The key as defined in claim 34, .[.constituting.].
.Iadd.wherein the flat one piece key blade (120) is formed from
.Iaddend.a key blank with a continuous upper edge portion
configured so as to permit coded recesses to be cut therein.
43. The key as defined in claim 34, having coded recesses (102a . .
. 102e) cut into said ridge portion (128), so as to form a side
code on the .Iadd.flat one piece .Iaddend.key blade
.Iadd.(120).Iaddend., said side code recesses being configured to
cooperate with at least one side tumbler (105) in an associated
lock.
44. The key as defined in claim 43, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like,
longitudinal code pattern.
45. The key as defined in claim 43, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said
ridge portion (128), so that the side code recesses reach all the
way from the .[.outside.]. .Iadd.external side wall
.Iaddend.surface (123) of said ridge portion (128) into said
longitudinal pocket (135) of the undercut profile groove (122).
46. The key as defined in claim 43, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion
(128) down to various levels between said upper edge and .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.lowermost part of said longitudinally extending
pocket (135).
47. The key as defined in claim 43, wherein said side code recesses
(102a . . . 102e) form concavities with lower bottom portions
located at a number of different levels, each representing a
code.
48. The key as defined in claim 46, wherein said different levels
also include an uppermost level at the upper edge (102f) of said
ridge portion (128).
49. The key as defined in claim 46, wherein the number of different
levels is at least three.
50. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein the inner wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.(124) of said longitudinal profile groove
.[.and the adjoining longitudinal pocket (135) are.]. .Iadd.is
.Iaddend.located at a .[.depth.]. .Iadd.distance .Iaddend.from said
.Iadd.external .Iaddend.side .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.surface (123) of
the flat one piece key blade (120) which is greater than half the
thickness of said flat one piece key blade (120).
51. The key as defined in claim 34, wherein said substantially flat
.Iadd.one piece .Iaddend.key blade (120'') has .Iadd.an
.Iaddend.upper .[.and lower portions (151'', 150''), each.].
.Iadd.portion (151'') .Iaddend.having an undercut groove (122'')
with said innermost longitudinal pocket .[.(135'').].
.Iadd.(1354).Iaddend., such that the key is symmetrical and can be
inserted either way into an associated keyway of said cylinder
lock.
Description
.Iadd.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS .Iaddend.
.Iadd.The present application is a reissue of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/866,204 filed on Aug. 4, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,009 B2
issued on Jul. 3, 2012, which is a National Phase of PCT Patent
Application No. PCT/SE2010/050189 filed on Feb. 18, 2010, which
claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 0900207-2 filed
on Feb. 18, 2009 and PCT Patent Application No. PCT/SE2010/050006
filed on Jan. 4, 2010. .Iaddend.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a key for use in a cylinder lock
with a rotatable key plug having a profiled key hole or keyway,
said key comprising: an elongated, substantially flat key blade
having a longitudinal profile groove extending along at least a
portion of the length of the key blade, with an inner wall of said
groove being substantially parallel to a side surface of said flat
key blade, said longitudinal profile groove having an undercut
portion adjacent to and inside a ridge portion of the key blade,
the outside of said ridge portion forming a lower side surface of
the key blade, at a lower part thereof, said side surface at the
lower part of said key blade lying substantially in the same plane
as an upper side surface of the key blade at an upper part thereof,
above said longitudinal profile groove, and the inside of said
ridge portion facing said inner wall of said groove.
Such a key with an undercut groove is previously known, e.g. from
U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,717 (Widen) or U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,865 (Widen).
Such keys have proven to be very useful in that they provide an
improved security. The key profile is quite distinguished from
conventional keys, and it is rather difficult to copy such keys.
Moreover, they permit a great variation of the cross-sectional
profile, which is a great advantage.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
However, over time, there is a constant need for further
distinguishing profiles and many more possible variations
thereof.
A further object of the invention is to make it even more difficult
to copy such profiled keys with ordinary lock smith tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve these objects, the undercut longitudinal
profile groove, at its innermost part inside said ridge portion, is
expanded into a longitudinal pocket having opposite lateral walls
and a lowermost transverse end wall, which is substantially flat or
slightly curved, and one of said opposite lateral wall portions of
said pocket forms an inside wall of said ridge portion, wherein the
vertical dimension of said ridge portion, measured in a plane of
said side surface of the key blade, is more than half of the
smallest width of said undercut groove adjacent to said side
surface, said smallest width being measured as a perpendicular
projection onto said inner wall of said longitudinal groove. The
inside wall of the ridge portion may be substantially parallel to a
side surface of the key blade, so that the ridge portion forms a
massive and strong material portion extending in parallel to the
side surface of the key blade. The pocket inside the ridge portion
may have a substantially rectangular cross-section, a substantially
circular cross-section, with a relatively large curvature, or some
other configuration.
In this way, the material of the key blade is used in an optimum
way, and a new kind of profile is obtained, and it will be very
difficult to copy such keys, especially if they are produced by
stamping and milling. A cutting disc is normally not enough.
Rather, it will be necessary to use broaching tools and a
well-controlled use of such tools in order to secure exact
dimensions of the pocket-like extension of the groove. This is of
great importance for key control and high security to the end user
of the key.
With such a configuration of the undercut groove, many advantages
are obtained at the same time, as will be explained further
below.
Other preferable features are stated in the dependent claims and
will appear from the detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described more fully below with reference to
the appended drawings.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art lock and key
combination;
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the key illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the prior art lock with an
inserted key;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art key blade;
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a profiled key according to the present
invention for an embodiment with a wave-like code pattern;
FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the key of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-section through an associated lock with a key
plug and a side tumbler;
FIG. 9 is a similar view of a lock and an inventive key inserted
into the lock;
FIGS. 10-18 are cross-sectional views of some additional
embodiments of the profiled key according to the invention, and
FIGS. 19-28 are similar cross-sectional views of some further
modified embodiments of the profiled key according to the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 through 5 show a prior art lock and key system with a key
blade having an undercut profile groove in a side surface thereof,
such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,717 (Widen).
The lock 10 is of the kind having a housing 11 with .Iadd.locking
pins 14 in an upper portion thereof and .Iaddend.a rotatable key
plug 12 accommodated in a cylindrical bore of the housing. In the
key plug 12, there is a central longitudinal keyway or key hole 13
having a sectional profile corresponding to an associated key 20
provided with conventional recesses 21 at the upper edge thereof
and a profile groove 22 at a side surface 23 of the key blade. As
appears from FIG. 3, the key also has a grip portion 24.
The operation of the lock is more readily understood from the
cross-sectional view in FIG. 4. The key plug 12 is rotatable within
the housing 11 and can be locked against rotation by means of a
longitudinal row of upper and lower locking pins 14a, 14b. Each
pair of such locking pins can be positioned with their abutting end
surfaces at the shear line between the key plug 12 and the housing
11. In this position, as shown in FIG. 4, the key plug 12 is
rotatable. Here, as is well-known in the art, the locking pins are
positioned so as to release the lock by means of a properly cut key
20.
The full profile of the key 20 (of prior art design) is illustrated
in FIG. 5, as disclosed e.g. in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No.
5,715,717 (Widen). Accordingly, this prior art key has a
longitudinal profile groove 22 extending longitudinally along the
key blade at a depth which is slightly greater than half the
thickness of the key blade. In FIG. 5, .[.the central.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.plane of the key blade is denoted .Iadd.by the letter
.Iaddend."A". The longitudinal groove 22 has an inner wall .[.24.].
.Iadd.surface 241 .Iaddend.and .[.opposite walls.]. .Iadd.upper
wall surface .Iaddend.25 and .Iadd.lower side wall surface
.Iaddend.26. .Iadd.An inclined portion 25a extends upwardly from
the upper wall surface 25. .Iaddend.One of .[.these opposite
walls.]. .Iadd.the wall surfaces.Iaddend., in particular the
.Iadd.lower side .Iaddend.wall .[.or.]. surface 26 located closest
to the base edge 27 of the key blade is undercut and extends in a
plane being inclined so as to face inwardly towards .[.the
bottom.]. .Iadd.inner .Iaddend.wall .[.or.]. surface .[.24.].
.Iadd.241.Iaddend.. This lower side wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.26
of the undercut groove 22 forms an inside wall .Iadd.surface
.Iaddend.of a ridge portion 28, the outside of which forms part of
the above mentioned side surface 23 of the key blade.
The prior art key blade shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 also has two
further longitudinal grooves 30 and 31 on the other side of the key
(to the left in FIG. 5).
The undercut portion 29 of the longitudinal groove 22 has many
advantages, as explained in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No.
5,715,717 (Widen), especially with regard to increasing the number
of possible profile variations, improved resistance against picking
the lock and high security against unauthorized key copying.
According to the present invention and as illustrated in FIGS. 6
through 9, a further improvement resides in a modification of the
undercut groove. This modification comprises an expansion or
extension of the innermost part of the undercut portion of the
groove 122 (FIG. 7) so as to form a longitudinal pocket-like
configuration 135. .[.In these Figures, all reference numerals
relating to the key correspond to those shown in FIG. 5, although
they have been supplemented with the digit "1" before the number
given in FIG. 5..].
.[.The.]. .Iadd.As illustrated in FIG. 7, the .Iaddend.downwardly
extended pocket-like configuration 135 of the modified undercut
groove 122, is (in this particular embodiment) substantially
rectangular in cross-section, with opposite lateral walls 132 and
133 being parallel to each other, and a lowermost transverse end
wall 134, being parallel to the lower edge surface 127 of the key
blade and facing upwardly in the direction of the .[.central.].
plane A of the key blade. .Iadd.The flat key blade 120 has an
external side wall surface 123 at the lower part of the flat one
piece key blade 120 lying substantially in the same plane as an
upper side surface 1123' of the flat one piece key blade 120 at an
upper part thereof, above said longitudinal profile groove
122..Iaddend.
The innermost lateral wall 132 of the pocket-like extension 135
adjoins with the inner wall 124 of the undercut groove, but is
slightly displaced inwardly (away from the groove opening) so as to
form a step 136, whereas the opposite lateral wall 133 forms the
inside wall of the ridge portion 128, in parallel to the external
side surface 123 of the key blade.
Thus, the surfaces 123, 133 and 132 are substantially parallel to
each other. .Iadd.The key blade 120 is a flat one piece key blade
with an undercut portion 129 of the longitudinal profile groove 122
which, at an innermost part, is extended further substantially in
the same direction as the vertical direction (VD) into a
longitudinal, substantially uniformly wide pocket (135) having a
uniform width with opposite inner and outer substantially parallel
lateral wall surface portions (132, 133). The undercut portion or
longitudinal profile groove 122 is defined at an upper part thereof
by a smallest opening width (w), as seen perpendicularly to the
external side wall surface 123 of the lower portion of said flat
one piece key blade 120 between an upper wall 160 and the ridge
portion 128. The vertical dimension (h) of the ridge portion 128 is
equal to or greater than half of said smallest opening width (w).
The inner wall surface 124 of said longitudinal profile groove 122
is located at a distance from the external side wall surface 123 of
the flat one piece key blade 120 which is greater than half the
thickness of the flat one piece key blade 120. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.According to a first aspect of the invention, the undercut
portion 129 of the longitudinal profile groove extends downwardly
substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel to the upper
side wall surface 1123' and the external side wall surface 123 of
the flat one piece key blade 120. The undercut portion 129 of the
longitudinal profile groove 122, at an innermost part, is extended
further, substantially in the same direction as the vertical
direction (VD) into a longitudinal, substantially uniformly wide
pocket 135 having a uniform width with opposite inner and outer
substantially parallel lateral wall surface portions 132, 133
wherein the inner wall surface 124 of the longitudinal profile
groove 122 adjoins the inner lateral wall surface portion 132 of
the pocket 135 and the inner lateral wall surface 132 of the pocket
135 extends downwardly to a lowermost transverse end wall surface
134, which is substantially flat or slightly curved, and which is
substantially parallel to a lowermost edge wall surface 127 of the
key blade and which faces upwardly in a direction opposite to the
vertical direction (VD) towards the upper wall surface of the
longitudinal profile groove 122 with the opposite lateral wall
surface portions 132, 133 of the pocket 135 being substantially
parallel to the upper side wall surface 1123'' and the external
side wall surface 123 of the flat one piece key blade 120.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.According to a second aspect of the invention, the undercut
portion 129 of the longitudinal profile groove extends downwardly
substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel to the upper
side wall surface 1123' and the external side wall surface 123 of
the flat one piece key blade 120. The undercut portion 129 of the
longitudinal profile groove 122, at an innermost part, is extended
further, substantially in the same direction as the vertical
direction (VD) into a longitudinal, widened pocket 135 having a
larger lateral width than the narrowest part of the undercut
portion 129 of the longitudinal profile groove 122, said widened
pocket 135 being formed by opposite inner and outer lateral wall
surface portions 132, 133, and said inner wall surface 124 of said
longitudinal profile groove 122 adjoins, by way of a continuously
downwardly extending wall surface portion 136, said inner lateral
wall surface portion 132 of the pocket 135 and the inner lateral
wall surface portion 132 of the pocket 135 extends continuously
further downwardly to a lowermost transverse end wall surface 134,
wherein the highest point of said inner lateral wall surface
portion 132 is located below the lowest point of said inner wall
surface 124 of said longitudinal profile groove 122, and the
lowermost transverse end wall surface 134 which faces upwardly in a
direction opposite to the vertical direction (VD) towards the upper
wall surface of the longitudinal profile groove 122. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.According to a third aspect of the invention, the undercut
portion 129 of the longitudinal profile groove extends downwardly
substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel to the upper
side wall surface 1123' and the external side wall surface 123 of
the flat one piece key blade 120. The undercut portion 129 of the
longitudinal profile groove 122, at an innermost part, is extended
further, substantially in the same direction as the vertical
direction (VD) into a longitudinal pocket being interrupted by at
least one longitudinal recess 132a formed in at least one of
opposite inner and outer lateral wall surface portions 132, 133
wherein the inner wall surface 1243 of the longitudinal profile
groove 122 adjoins the inner lateral wall surface portion 1324,
located opposite to the ridge portion and the inner lateral wall
surface portion 1324 extends downwardly to a lowermost transverse
end wall surface 134, the lowermost transverse end wall surface 134
being substantially flat or slightly curved and being substantially
parallel to a lowermost edge wall surface 127 of the key blade and
which faces upwardly in a direction opposite to the vertical
direction (VD) towards the upper wall surface of the longitudinal
profile groove 122 with the opposite lateral wall surface portions
132, 133 of the pocket 135 being substantially parallel to the
upper side wall surface 1123'' and the external side wall surfaces
123 of the flat one piece key blade 120. .Iaddend.
The ridge portion 128 is somewhat longer, measured in parallel to
the .[.central.]. plane A of the key blade, than the prior art
structure (FIG. 5). More particularly, the ridge portion 128 has a
vertical dimension h, which is more than half of the smallest
.Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width w of the undercut groove 122, this
smallest .Iadd.opening .Iaddend.width w being measured as a
perpendicular projection onto the .[.bottom.]. .Iadd.inner
.Iaddend.wall 124 of the longitudinal groove 122. Also,
.Iadd.preferably, .Iaddend.the vertical dimension h of the ridge
portion 128 is greater than the distance d between the lowermost
transverse end wall 134 and the lower edge surface 127 of the key
blade. .Iadd.In this embodiment, the vertical dimension h of the
ridge portion 128 is equal to or greater than the smallest opening
width w. .Iaddend.This structure is advantageous for several
reasons: by varying the width, depth (in the plane A) and
longitudinal extension of the pocket-like configuration, the
profile shape can be varied considerably; because of the opposite
lateral wall portions 132, 133 the total width of the undercut
portion of the profile groove 122 can be accommodated in a limited
region laterally, so that the total width of the key blade can be
kept rather small. It appears from FIGS. 5 and 7 that the total
width of the new key blade is about the same; the corresponding
tongue portion, which may form a part of a longitudinal rib 150 at
a side wall of the key way (see FIGS. 8 and 9), will be stronger
and does not have to have a pointed or sharp end portion, as in the
prior art structure (compare FIG. 4); the pocket-like extension 135
of the undercut portion of the groove 122 will make it much more
difficult to make copies of such keys, since it is not sufficient
to use only a cutter disk. Normally, other tools also have to be
used. Accordingly it will be difficult for others than specialized
manufacturers to produce such key blanks; the relatively long
vertical extension of the ridge portion 128, in parallel to the
.[.central.]. plane A of the key blade, will make it possible to
cut rather deep recesses in the ridge portion. Accordingly, just
like in the prior art embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, it is possible to
provide many vertical levels of code recesses in this material
region, see FIG. 6. Of course, this will also facilitate lock and
key systems having a very high number of code combinations.
In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown an embodiment with a side locking
tumbler 105, which is guided in a cylindrical cavity 106 in the
rotatable key plug 112. In principle, the arrangement is similar to
those disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,756,177 (Widen) and
5,715,717 (Widen).
The parts that correspond to the previous, prior art embodiment
(.[.FIG. 5.]. .Iadd.FIGS. 1-5.Iaddend.) have been given the same
reference numerals, with the digit "1" added before the numbers
shown in FIG. .[.5.]. .Iadd.4.Iaddend..
Accordingly, the side tumbler 105 is rotatable around its
cylindrical axis, so that a transversally projecting finger 105a
will pivot back and forth when the projecting finger 105a follows a
wave-like coded surface on the side of the key blade (see FIG. 6),
in this case in the ridge portion 128 (see FIG. 7). When the side
tumbler 105 is correctly positioned, a recess 105b in its
cylindrical surface will register with corresponding projections
108a on a side bar 108 (FIG. 9). In this way, the side bar may move
radially inwards so as to permit rotation of the key plug 112.
The projecting finger 105a on the side tumbler 105 will contact the
wave-like code pattern on the side of the key blade 120, as shown
in FIG. 6, while pivoting back and forth and also moving vertically
up and down. When the key blade is fully inserted, the various side
tumbler projections 105a will be located in the concavities 102a,
102b, 102c, 102d, 102e and possibly also (or alternatively) onto an
upper code surface portion 102f at an uppermost extra code level.
Such an upper, extra code level is disclosed in the published
international patent application WO2005/028789 (Winloc et al).
It would be possible to provide an even deeper pocket-like
extension 135 of the undercut portion of the profile groove, in
parallel to the .[.central.]. vertical plane A of the key blade.
Then, the number of possible code levels in the ridge portion
.[.133.]. .Iadd.128 .Iaddend.(see FIGS. 6 and 7) would be larger
than in prior art structures.
It should be noted that the new configuration of the undercut
groove 122, with the pocket-like extension 135, is useful even
without having a side tumbler 105. Then, the ridge portion is
basically continuous and does not have any cuts or codes.
Also, if at least one side tumbler is used, it does not have to be
rotatable, but can be guided for elevational movement only.
Furthermore, the side tumbler does not have to operate as a locking
means for locking the key plug against rotation. Alternatively, it
may serve only as a blocking element, which prevents incorrectly
cut keys from being fully inserted into the key way 13 of the lock
10. Such a blocking element is disclosed in a patent application
being filed by the same applicant on the same day as the earliest
priority date of this application.
The exact configuration or shape of the longitudinally extending
pocket may be modified in various ways within the scope of the
present invention. In FIG. 10, there is shown an embodiment where
the inner wall .[.124.]. .Iadd.surface 124' .Iaddend.of the
longitudinal profile groove .[.122.]. .Iadd.122' of the key blade
120' .Iaddend.merges smoothly with the adjoining .Iadd.inner
.Iaddend.lateral wall .[.132.]. .Iadd.surface 132' .Iaddend.of the
.Iadd.vertically oriented .Iaddend.pocket-like configuration
.[.135.]. .Iadd.135' which is uniformly wide.Iaddend., without any
.Iadd.lateral .Iaddend.step (136 in FIG. 7).
In FIG. 11, the pocket-like configuration .[.135.]. .Iadd.135''
.Iaddend.is similar to the one in FIG. 7, but the lowermost
transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.134' is rounded or
curved. .Iadd.In addition, FIG. 11 illustrates the undercut portion
129'. .Iaddend.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 .Iadd.includes a lower side wall
126' and .Iaddend.is similar to the .[.one.]. .Iadd.embodiment
.Iaddend.in FIG. 11, but the lowermost transverse end wall
.Iadd.surface .Iaddend.134'' is shorter (but still curved), and the
inner wall .[.124.]. .Iadd.surface 124'' .Iaddend.of the groove
merges smoothly with the adjoining .Iadd.inner .Iaddend.lateral
wall .[.132.]. .Iadd.surface 132'' .Iaddend.(as in FIG. 10).
.Iadd.In FIGS. 11 and 12 the lowermost transverse end wall surfaces
134', 134'' of the pocket 135 are curved. .Iaddend.
In FIG. 13, the pocket-like configuration .[.135'.]. .Iadd.1353
.Iaddend.is modified into a circular cross-section. Accordingly, in
this embodiment, the lateral .[.walls 132, 133.]. .Iadd.wall
surfaces 1323, 133' .Iaddend.and the lowermost end wall .[.134.].
.Iadd.surface 1343 .Iaddend.are all formed as circular arcs merging
with each other.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is like the one shown in FIG. 10,
but the .Iadd.inner .Iaddend.lateral wall .[.132.]. .Iadd.surface
1324 .Iaddend.adjoining the inner wall .[.124.]. .Iadd.surface 1243
.Iaddend.is provided with a longitudinal recess 132a, which is
rectangular in cross-section.
The embodiment of FIG. 15 is similar to the one of FIG. 14, but
there is also a longitudinal recess 133a in the .Iadd.outer
.Iaddend.lateral wall .[.133.]. .Iadd.133'' .Iaddend.opposite to
the longitudinal recess .[.132a.]. .Iadd.132a' in the lateral wall
1325.Iaddend..
The embodiment in FIG. 16 is similar to the one in FIG. 15, but
there is a longitudinal rib 133b (instead of a recess 133a)
opposite to the longitudinal recess .[.132a.].
.Iadd.132a''.Iaddend..
The modified embodiment shown in FIG. 17 comprises relatively small
longitudinal recesses 132c, 133c, 134c with .[.part cylindrical.].
.Iadd.part-cylindrical .Iaddend.cross-sections in the lateral
.[.walls 133.]. .Iadd.wall surfaces 1333 .Iaddend.and .[.132.].
.Iadd.1326 .Iaddend.and the lowermost end wall .[.134.].
.Iadd.surface 1344.Iaddend., respectively. Except for these
part-circular recesses, this embodiment corresponds to the one
shown in FIG. 7.
The embodiments of FIGS. 14 through 17 are included to illustrate
that the opposite lateral wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.portions and
the lowermost transverse end wall .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of the
longitudinal pocket may be provided with irregular surface
portions.
The key blade 120'' shown in FIG. 18 is composed of a lower part
150'', which is identical or similar to the lower parts of the key
blades shown in FIGS. 10-17, and an upper part 151'', which is
identical to the lower part 150'', but turned upside down. In this
way the key blade 150'', 151'' can be inserted either way into an
associated key hole, either as shown in FIG. 18 or turned upside
down (the profile is then exactly the same because of the symmetry
of the lower and upper parts). .Iadd.The key blade 120'' includes a
wall surface 140 and an upper and lower pocket-like extension 1354.
.Iaddend.
Finally, FIGS. 19 through .[.27.]. .Iadd.26 .Iaddend.show modified
embodiments similar to those shown in FIGS. 10 through 17. Thus,
the keys 321 through .[.329.]. .Iadd.328 .Iaddend.each have a
cross-sectional profile corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 10
through 17, respectively, except that the upper part of the ridge
.[.portion 228 is.]. .Iadd.portions 228', 228'', 2283, 2284, 2285,
2286, 2287 and 2288 are .Iaddend.uniformly thick, and the inside
.[.226.]. .Iadd.226', 226'', 2263, 2264, 2265, 2266, 2267 and 2268
.Iaddend.thereof .[.is.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.parallel to the
.[.central.]. plane of the key blade.
FIG. 27 .Iadd.includes a key 330 and .Iaddend.corresponds to FIG.
18, and FIG. 28 .Iadd.includes a key 331 and .Iaddend.corresponds
to FIGS. 11 and 20, except that the lowermost transverse end wall
.[.234.]. .Iadd.surface 1234 .Iaddend.is flat. .Iadd.In addition,
in FIG. 27 the ridge portion is identified by 2289 and the inside
by 2269. Further, in FIG. 28, the ridge portion is identified by
1228 and the inside by 1226. .Iaddend.
In all embodiments described above, and in the appended claims, it
is assumed that the inner wall 124 of the longitudinal undercut
groove 122, 122', 122'' is substantially parallel to the
.[.central.]. plane A of the key blade and .[.a side surface.].
.Iadd.the external side wall surfaces .Iaddend.123, 123', 123''
thereof. Within this definition, the inner wall may be oriented at
a small angle to said .[.central.]. plane A, this angle being
normally no more than .[.15.]. .Iadd.15.degree., in some cases
(such as a relatively thick key blade) somewhat larger.
.Iaddend.
The longitudinally extending pocket may be shorter than the length
of key blade and extend along only a portion thereof.
Also, the longitudinal profile rib at the key plug may be
interrupted or formed as one or more separate elements mounted in
the key plug.
* * * * *