Abstract: A lock system includes keys, key blanks, keyways, and lock cylinders, and the keys or key blanks have opposite sides formed with grooves for cooperating with a conforming keyway. More particularly, the sides of the key or key blank have a portion grooved for registration, another portion grooved for top-level hierarchical master keying, and two other portions, one on each side of the blade, for further master key variations and different combinations. One of the two further sections being curvilinear and the other rectangular or angular cuts. The conforming keyway of the lock includes ridges and grooves corresponding to the grooves and ridges, respectively, of the key or key blank. Instruments other than keys or key blanks may be used to enter the grooves and ridges of the keyway to operate the lock without the use of a precisely configured key.

Abstract: A tumbler pin lock includes an auxiliary locking mechanism including an auxiliary locking pin to provide enhance locking in addition to the locking provided by the tumbler pins so that the lock remains locked even if the tumblers are picked or bumped into their unlocked positions.

Abstract: A lock system includes keys, key blanks, keyways, and lock cylinders, and the keys or key blanks have opposite sides formed with grooves for cooperating with a conforming keyway. More particularly, the sides of the key or key blank have a portion grooved for registration, another portion grooved for top-level hierarchical master keying, and two other portions, one on each side of the blade, for further master key variations and different combinations. One of the two further sections being curvilinear and the other rectangular or angular cuts. The conforming keyway of the lock includes ridges and grooves corresponding to the grooves and ridges, respectively, of the key or key blank. Instruments other than keys or key blanks may be used to enter the grooves and ridges of the keyway to operate the lock without the use of a precisely configured key.

Abstract: The present application relates to lock assemblies that provide a secondary coupling point, utilizing an anti-rotation pin or extended tailpiece leg or other method, which rotationally couples the tailpiece to the cylinder plug, thereby preventing rotation of the tailpiece independently of the cylinder plug. Therefore, a tailpiece within a bolt cam or other actuator used to withdraw a bolt or unlock a lockset cannot be rotated after the primary means for connecting the tail piece to the cylinder plug has been forcibly removed, severed, or destroyed.

Abstract: A lock system includes keys, key blanks, keyways, and lock cylinders, and the keys or key blanks have opposite sides formed with grooves for cooperating with a conforming keyway. More particularly, the sides of the key or key blank have a portion grooved for registration, another portion grooved for top-level hierarchical master keying, and two other portions, one on each side of the blade, for further master key variations and different combinations. One of the two further sections being curvilinear and the other rectangular or angular cuts. The conforming keyway of the lock includes ridges and grooves corresponding to the grooves and ridges, respectively, of the key or key blank. Instruments other than keys or key blanks may be used to enter the grooves and ridges of the keyway to operate the lock without the use of a precisely configured key.

Abstract: A hierarchical lock system includes a first cylinder lock having a cylindrical plug, rotatable, reciprocating tumbler pins, a slider disposed within the plug and a side bar that cooperates with the cylinder plug, the slider, and the tumbler pins to control rotation of the lock. A second cylindrical lock includes a cylindrical plug, reciprocating tumbler pins, a slider, and a side bar that cooperates with the cylindrical plug and the slider. A first key is configured to open both the first and second locks by elevating and rotating the tumbler pins, and moving the slider to an unlocked position with respect to the side bar. A second key is able to open only the second cylindrical locks by elevating but not rotating the tumbler pins and by moving the slider to an unlocked position with respect to the side bar.

Abstract: A key blank or key has a rectangular parallel metal shaped blade which has side edges formed with grooves for cooperating with a complementary shaped keyway; the sides of the blank having a portion grooved for registration, another portion grooved for top-level hierarchical master keying, and two other portions, one on each side of the blade, for further master key variations and different combinations. One of the two further sections being curvilinear and the other rectangular or angular cuts.

Abstract: A key blank, key and master keying system for a twisting tumbler sidebar lock of the type where the sidebar is blocked or unblocked by a selectively positioned longitudinally extending slider, has a key blank with a slider contacting surface on a rib on the blank below the bitting area at one of a plurality of selected predetermined locations. A key with skew cut bittings can be cut on the blank and the blank can be configured with the slider contacting surface at different predetermined locations. The slider contact area on the rib of the key blank can be divided into two horizontal portions at different predetermined locations and the slider itself can have contact surfaces also positioned at different predetermined locations so that a number of different master keying variations are possible.

Abstract: A shell and core interchangeable lock assembly for use in a shell housing. The core includes a rotatable pin plug and the shell includes a substantially cylindrical body with a pin chest therein. A mechanism which captures the shell and core within the shell housing includes an integral retainer ring and lug which is attached to the core. The mechanism allows rapid insertion and removal of the shell and core by the use of a correctly bitted control key. The mechanism additionally has a sub-mechanism for preventing its operation by accident or by tampering without the appropriate control key.

Abstract: A twisting tumbler lock with a side bar is provided with additional levels of security by a axially reciprocable slider which is normally positioned to block operation of the side bar but is moved by a specially configured key to free operation of the side bar. This provides a third level of locking security, it also allows master keying. The unique key has a portion of a rib formed to cooperate with the slider to further allow key control.

Abstract: An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.

Abstract: An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.

Abstract: A shell and core interchangeable lock assembly for use in a shell housing. The core includes a rotatable pin plug and the shell includes a substantially cylindrical body with a pin chest therein. A mechanism which captures the shell and core within the shell housing includes an integral retainer ring and lug which is attached to the core. The mechanism allows rapid insertion and removal of the shell and core by the use of a correctly bitted control key. The mechanism additionally has a sub-mechanism for preventing its operation by accident or by tampering without the appropriate control key.

Abstract: An electronic security system includes an electronic lock mechanism and an electronic key, each of which is provided with a microprocessor controller and a memory storing data including an ID code and encryption key codes. The electronic lock security system preferably includes an electronic lock including a hollow cylinder, an opening into the cylinder, a bolt movable through the opening between an extended position and a retracted position, a cam member within the cylinder, the cam member contacting the bolt to move the bolt to an unlocked position, a solenoid within the hollow cylinder, the solenoid being engageable with the cam member, an electronic lock circuit within the hollow cylinder, a plug connected to the solenoid for rotating the solenoid, the plug having a keyway for insertion of a key for rotating the plug. In addition, the system also includes an electronic key insertable within the keyway for communicating with the electronic lock circuit to operate the lock.

Abstract: An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.

Abstract: Improved squiggle keys and cylinder locks include a squiggle key groove formed along a first broad surface of the squiggle key and a plurality of bittings formed along a second opposite broad surface of the squiggle key. The cylinder lock includes a plurality of rotatable discs that have groove-following elements that are rotated via the groove on the key. The rotatable discs operate to prevent a plug of the cylinder lock from rotating unless a correct squiggle key is inserted into a keyway in the plug. The bittings formed along the second opposite broad surface of the squiggle key are generally circular and have inner regions with a different depth than outer regions of the bittings. As a result, tumbler pins can be located along the inner and/or outer regions of the bittings which enables increased keying capabilities and variations and which enables a common lock to be operated by keys for different cylinder locks.

Abstract: An anti-tamper locking assembly for locking a position of a block, such as a locking bolt in an electronic lock, electrically moves a pin to engage or dis-engage the block. When dis-engaged, the block can be moved and access or the like can be made. The pin is selectively moved electronically in order to allow access, entry or the like. The pin can be moved with, e.g., a solenoid. The pin has an overhanging portion, or a head portion. In order to prevent an individual from forcing the pin into an un-locked position, the head portion operates in conjunction with at least one spring-arm member and a blocker which are fixed to the block to prevent a user from being able to strike the device with a hammer or the like to "temporarily" move the pin to a position allowing the block to be moved and access or the like to be made.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting angled or chevron-shaped keys or key blanks during cutting of bit surfaces in the blade portions thereof. The angled key blank is supported at the intermediate horizontal ledge portion thereof such that the upper portion of the key which is to be cut is oriented in a horizontal manner so as to be properly engaged by the cutting mechanism. The apparatus may include a plurality of lower vice jaws each of which is configured to support a particular angled key blank, or it may include a plurality of detachable inserts that form part of a modular system which allows a single lower vice jaw to detachably receive any of various inserts, thereby permitting the jaw to support various angled key blanks. A support member also is provided which may be utilized on preexisting vice jaws of a key cutting machine to permit the machine to be modified so as to properly support and cut bit surfaces into the upper portion of an angled key blank.

Abstract: A Key with a blade portion which is bitted for actuating the tumbler pins of a cylinder lock has improved cross-sectional strength despite deep cut bittings which extend well into the thickness of the blade. The key is generally flat with upper and lower surfaces and opposite short side edges. The bittings are cut across at least one of the surfaces so as to extend arcuately through the thickness of the blade and one of the side edges. The volume of key blank material which is adjacent the deep cut bittings after the key is cut is substantially more than conventional keys and provides the key blade with increased strength to prevent breakage. The bittings are cut into the key blade by a rotary cutter wheel which is dimensioned to form an arcuate bitting surface rather than a flat surface.

Abstract: A cylindrical "shell and plug" assembly has the plug rotatably received within the shell. The plug has a central rear shaft and an engagement portion thereon. The engagement portion has a pie-shaped stop member and a pie-shaped engagement member. A connecting member rotatably held within the shell has an inner engagement that can engage the pie-shaped engagement member and an operation key slot capable of receiving an end of an operation key. The plug can be rotated until the engagement member is positioned behind the flange to retain the plug with the connecting member, and the plus can be rotated so that the engagement member can be positioned away from the flange, thereby permitting the plug to become disengaged from the connecting member.