Abstract: The invention relates to a cross-sectional profile (1) for a flat key or the keyway of a cylinder lock, comprising a back surface (2), a first lateral surface (4) and a second lateral surface (4?), wherein the lateral surfaces (4, 4?) extend in the vertical direction to the back surface (2), the lateral surfaces (4, 4?) are arranged offset to one another by a distance (5), which varies along their extension, and the outline of the cross-sectional profile (1) defines a preferably substantially rectangular base profile (6), and wherein the lateral surfaces (4, 4?) each extend at least in sections along sinusoidal profiling lines (7, 7?), wherein the centerlines (8, 8?) of the profiling lines (7, 7?) lie within the base profile (6). Further, the invention relates to a flat key (16) with such a cross-sectional profile (1) and a cylinder lock with a keyway (13) for receiving such a flat key (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat key profile for a lock and key system in which a key channel corresponding to the key profile is provided in the lock cylinder.

Abstract: A key and a lock cylinder (10) combination including a key and a lock cylinder having a housing and a plug. The key (25) includes a blade that has a first pin groove (210) on a first lateral side defining a first pin surface, and a second pin groove (215) on the first lateral side defining—a second pin surface. The lock cylinder also includes an auxiliary pin (115) with a first projection (135) defining a first engagement surface engageable by the first pin surface when the key is inserted into the key slot to move the auxiliary pin to a withdrawn position to allow rotation of the plug relative to the housing, and a second projection (140) defining a second engagement surface engageable by the second pin surface when the key is removed from the key slot to move the auxiliary pin to a projecting position to prevent rotation of the plug relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method for profiling the broad sides of a flat key, a key blank being clamped in a clamping device so that the broad side of the key blank is exposed. Guide grooves and variation grooves which are complementary to the longitudinal sectional profile of the cutter teeth are milled into the broad side by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key, in one work operation, using a milling cutter that has cutter teeth on its peripheral surface and rotates about a cutter shaft. To produce undercut grooves, the axis of the cutter shaft is inclined at an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal center plane of the key, ribs of the cutter teeth producing an undercut guide wall using at least one rib.

Abstract: A method for profiling broad sides of a flat reversible key. A key blank is clamped to expose the first broad side of the key blank and complementary grooves and ribs are milled using a milling cutter with cutter teeth by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key relative to the longitudinal section profile of the cutter teeth. The key blank is then clamped in a position turned by 180° about the longitudinal center axis of the key so that the second broad side of the blank is exposed, and complementary grooves and ribs are milled into the broad side with milling cutter, by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key. The cutter shaft axes is inclined at an angle of inclination (?) relative to the longitudinal center plane of the key, at least one cutter tooth rib of the cutter teeth producing an undercut guide wall.

Abstract: A locking system is set forth having a key and a lock cylinder. The lock cylinder has a cylinder core journalled in a housing and having a keyway for inserting the key. A plurality of tumblers actuable by the key and an additional blocking element movably arranged in a guide passage of the cylinder core project into the keyway, said additional blocking element being displaceable obliquely or transversely to the direction of insertion of the key. The additional blocking element is made for cooperation with a counter-element arranged at the key blade with a key introduced up to the maximum insertion depth. The counter-element is in this respect arranged in a groove or recess starting from the key tip and extending in the longitudinal direction of the key blade.

Abstract: A lock and key combination that uses a key device which includes a shaft portion, and at least one movable key combination element which is retained within the shaft portion and which includes first and second portions adjacent one another, the first portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located along on the shaft portion and the second portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located offset to the first portion.

Abstract: A key blank comprises a shaft and a head connected to the shaft, the shaft including first and second surface that are oppositely facing, wherein the surfaces are configured to include combination elements to operate a lock and a pair of coaxial operating elements, wherein one element of the pair is operative from the first surface of the shaft and the other element of the pair is operative from the second surface of the shaft, and wherein at least one of the operative elements is a resilient element mounted inside a bore provided in the shaft, wherein the resilient element is operative to exert a compressive force on a pin mechanism of the lock in response to the operative engagement and thereby release the pin mechanism from a lock position, without requiring any pressure on the coaxial element on the other side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a key (10) and a lock cylinder (30), having a cylinder core (32), which is mounted in a rotatable manner in a cylinder housing (31) and has a key channel (33) into which the key (10) can be introduced, having spring-loaded tumbler elements (41, 42), which are mounted such that, when the key (10) is inserted into the key channel (33), they can be displaced radially in relation to the axis (34) of the lock cylinder (30), and having a plurality of outer surfaces (13, 14, 15), which are provided on the key (10), have control tracks (11, 12) and act on the tumbler elements (41, 42) when the key (10) is introduced.

Abstract: A thin key that is thin but includes serrations on each of two opposite sides of a blade (42, 72). The key is associated with a cylinder lock including a rotor (13) with tumblers (21-28) retained in the rotor. The blade, which is for insertion into the rotor of the cylinder lock, includes opposite first and second wide sides (F1, F3; F2, F4) and opposite first and second narrow sides (51, 74; 52, 75). A first notch (54, 76) is formed in the first wide side and a second notch (64, 86) is formed in the second wide side. The first and second notches each have a serrated wall (54a, 76a; 64a, 86a) engageable with the tumblers. The first notch and the second notch are spaced apart so that they do not overlap each other. The sum of the depths of the first and second notches (L1, D1; L2, D2) is greater than or equal to the thickness of the blade (L3, D3).

Abstract: A locking arrangement with a lock cylinder and matching key. The key has a flat key bit with a narrow spine, two broad sides, and coding notches at coding positions on the key bit. The cylinder has a housing, core, tumblers, and a sensing member located in a supplementary core hole. Spacing from the spine of the sensing point is greater than spacing from the spine of the apex of the notch is cut the deepest. The sensing point is near a peripheral edge of a notch cut less such that deepening the notch to a depth of the notch cut the deepest leads to disappearance of the sensing point. For protection against unlocking, the supplementary core hole is located between adjacent core holes and the sensing member has a tip which the sensing point on a broad side of the key situated between adjacent coding positions is sensed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to key assemblies and their mating locks, and more particularly, to keys with mutually compressible, actuating elements capable of being continuously positioned axially within apertures in a key blade.

Abstract: An illustrative key includes outer blades connected to at an inner blade through a crossbar, with channels formed between adjacent blades. The inner blade is configured to engage a tumbling mechanism of a lock. The outer blades may obscure the bitting profile of the inner blade from view such that unauthorized duplication of the key is inhibited.

Abstract: An illustrative key includes first and second substantially vertical blades being connected by a substantially horizontal connecting member such that an axial channel is formed between the two blades. Members may be slidingly coupled to the connecting member such that the members are moveable into the channel.

Abstract: A key device including a shaft including a key-cut surface for forming inward key cuts thereon, a key head mounted on the shaft; and a fixed key pin protruding outwards from the key-cut surface.

Abstract: A key device for use with more than one lock, the key device including a shaft portion, and at least one movable key combination element retained within the shaft portion and including first and second portions adjacent one another, the first portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located along on the shaft portion and the second portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located offset to the first portion.

Abstract: A lock and key combination is disclosed, offering a large number of codes. The combination includes a lock (200) of the kind comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical key plug (202) and a number of locking pins (205a-205g) in a row along a key plug axis for locking the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore, and a key (100) of the kind comprising a longitudinally extending, substantially flat key blade (102), with at least two longitudinally extending formations. The key blade comprises an upper edge portion having a first code pattern (103) and a lower, massive portion having a second code pattern (104).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to key assemblies and their mating locks, and more particularly, to keys with mutually compressible, actuating elements capable of being continuously positioned axially within apertures in a key blade.

Abstract: A lock-key system includes a key that can be inserted into a keyway of a lock cylinder, wherein said key is traceable by core pins or by locking elements which are movable in the cylinder core, wherein if there is a match, the cylinder core can be rotated by means of the inserted key. Lettering in the form of an impression and/or an embossment, serving as an identifier and including letters and/or numbers and/or symbols, is introduced into at least one lateral surface of the key shank—if a lateral profiling is present, into said lateral profiling. The lettering or individual letters, numbers, or the symbol or sub-areas thereof are traceable by core pins or locking elements having a correspondingly formed contact surface.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed include keys, lock cylinders, and key and lock cylinder combinations. The keys include a bow and a blade extending from the bow, where the blade includes at least one undercut groove in a lateral side thereof that receives at least one projection defining a keyway passage of a lock cylinder in which the key is positioned.

Abstract: A profiled key for use in an associated cylinder lock provided with a rotatable key plug having a longitudinal keyway. The key has a substantially flat key blade with a longitudinally extending profile groove at a side surface thereof and at least one local recess adjacent to the profile groove. The local recess constitutes a locally expanded portion of the profile groove, and the locally expanded portion of the profile groove has a cross-section with two opposite, non-symmetrical side walls. The local recess will accommodate a blocking element in the lock, and permit full insertion of the key blade into the keyway.

Abstract: A key and a lock cylinder (10) combination including a key and a lock cylinder having a housing and a plug. The key (25) includes a blade that has a first pin groove (210) on a first lateral side defining a first pin surface, and a second pin groove (215) on the first lateral side defining—a second pin surface. The lock cylinder also includes an auxiliary pin (115) with a first projection (135) defining a first engagement surface engageable by the first pin surface when the key is inserted into the key slot to move the auxiliary pin to a withdrawn position to allow rotation of the plug relative to the housing, and a second projection (140) defining a second engagement surface engageable by the second pin surface when the key is removed from the key slot to move the auxiliary pin to a projecting position to prevent rotation of the plug relative to the housing.

Abstract: A cylinder lock comprising a cylinder housing (2), a cylinder core (4) having a key channel (5) arranged in the cylinder housing (2), at least one side bar (6, 7) arranged between the cylinder housing (2) and the cylinder core (4) and a plurality of side pins (20) arranged on at least one side of the key channel (5) and arranged to be lifted by insertion of a key (8) and in cooperation with the side bar (6, 7) allow or prevent relative rotation of the cylinder housing (2) and the cylinder core (4), wherein each side pin (20) comprises a foot (26, 29) adapted to be lifted by means of a code groove (10) in the side surface (12) of the key. The cylinder lock is characterized in that the foot (26) of at least one of the side pins (20) is tapered. A key (8) for the cylinder lock having a groove for side pins having tapered foot is also described.

Abstract: A cylinder lock and key combination is disclosed. The lock comprises a housing (30) having a cylindrical bore and a cylindrical key plug (33) being rotatably journalled in said cylindrical bore. The key plug has a longitudinal, profiled keyway (34) and means (1, 2) for locking the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore unless a correctly cut key is fully inserted into the keyway. The key blade (60) has a cross-sectional profile fitting into said keyway, and a profile groove (61) extending longitudinally along the key blade. The lock comprises a blocking mechanism with at least one blocking element (20), which is movable from a first blocking position, in which first projecting portion (21) of the cross-sectional profile of the blocking element extends outside the cross-sectional contour of said profile rib, into a second blocking position, in which a second projecting portion (22) extends outside the contour of the rib and is accommodated in a recess (70) in the key blade.

Abstract: A key includes a body that is plate-shaped to be inserted into a locking device, and a groove that is formed in the body and engages with a plurality of tumblers of the locking device to allow locking and unlocking operations. The groove includes, at a location corresponding to one tumbler of the locking device, a non-engagement part that does not engage with the one tumbler. The groove may include an inside groove, and the non-engagement part may include a notch portion that the inside groove is cut to reach an edge portion of the body.

Abstract: A method for profiling the broad sides of a flat key, a key blank being clamped in a clamping device so that the broad side of the key blank is exposed. Guide grooves and variation grooves which are complementary to the longitudinal sectional profile of the cutter teeth are milled into the broad side by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key, in one work operation, using a milling cutter that has cutter teeth on its peripheral surface and rotates about a cutter shaft. To produce undercut grooves, the axis of the cutter shaft is inclined at an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal center plane of the key, ribs of the cutter teeth producing an undercut guide wall using at least one rib.

Abstract: A method for profiling broad sides of a flat reversible key. A key blank is clamped to expose the first broad side of the key blank and complementary grooves and ribs are milled using a milling cutter with cutter teeth by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key relative to the longitudinal section profile of the cutter teeth. The key blank is then clamped in a position turned by 180° about the longitudinal center axis of the key so that the second broad side of the blank is exposed, and complementary grooves and ribs are milled into the broad side with milling cutter, by advance in the longitudinal direction of the key. The cutter shaft axes is inclined at an angle of inclination (?) relative to the longitudinal center plane of the key, at least one cutter tooth rib of the cutter teeth producing an undercut guide wall.

Abstract: A locking system is set forth having a key and a lock cylinder. The lock cylinder has a cylinder core journalled in a housing and having a keyway for inserting the key. A plurality of tumblers actuable by the key and an additional blocking element movably arranged in a guide passage of the cylinder core project into the keyway, said additional blocking element being displaceable obliquely or transversely to the direction of insertion of the key. The additional blocking element is made for cooperation with a counter-element arranged at the key blade with a key introduced up to the maximum insertion depth. The counter-element is in this respect arranged in a groove or recess starting from the key tip and extending in the longitudinal direction of the key blade.

Abstract: A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having an elongated key blade with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion. A step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion. The key blade includes a longitudinal profile groove located adjacent to the step-like transition region that extends along at least a portion of the length of the blade. An inner wall of groove is substantially parallel to a side surface of the lower portion of the key blade. The longitudinal profile groove includes an undercut portion adjacent to and inside a ridge portion of the key blade. The outside of ridge portion forms a part of the side surface of the blade in the relatively wide lower portion up to the step-like transition region and the inside of ridge portion facing inner wall of the groove.

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?).

Abstract: A switch for urging a driver to perform an operation that is required when the smart ignition function is invalid. The switch is used by a driver to start the engine of a vehicle when the vehicle communicates with a portable device to verify the portable device. The portable device has an end portion. The switch includes a push button pushed by the driver. The push button includes a guide portion engaged with the end portion of the portable device.

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 cylinder and key combination including a pin operated cylinder including a cylinder body, a plug rotatable within the cylinder body and defining a keyway and first pin assemblies and at least one second pin assembly communicating with the keyway and being selectably positionable by key cuts on a key inserted into the keyway for positioning the pin assemblies with respect to a shear line between the cylinder body and the plug to permit rotation of the plug with respect to the cylinder body and a key, including a shank defining at least one planar surface configured to define a longitudinally extending key-cut region thereon, the longitudinally extending region having formed thereon a plurality of first key cuts configured to position a plurality of first pins at a desired shear line position and having pre-formed thereon at least one second key cut configured to position a corresponding at least one second pin assembly at a desired shear line position.

Abstract: In order to enable a turning of a key of a lock cylinder onto a driven member (shaft 36) in the lock cylinder only when a proper key is inserted, yet to prohibit the turning in case of an overload, an overload lock is arranged therebetween. The driven member (shaft 36) should specifically actuate functions in the vehicle only if the correct key is used. A threshold rotation torque determines the change between the normal and the overload state. In order to improve the lock cylinder, it is furnished that a disengaging lever (40) is mounted in the cylinder housing (30) in a pivotable manner (42) and can be displaced between two pivot positions in a radial plane defined by the longitudinal axis (13) of the lock cylinder. A locking cam (41) belonging to the overload lock is arranged on the free end of the disengaging lever (40).

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 cylinder lock provided with a thick key including an elongated base having two surfaces. A serrated wall extends from one surface of the base. A key groove is formed by the serrated wall. A rib is formed on the other surface of the base. The cylinder lock is further provided with a rotatable rotor including a keyway into which the thick key is inserted. A first cavity is formed in the keyway and shaped to enable insertion of the base of the thick key. A second cavity is formed in the keyway and shaped to enable insertion of the serrated wall of the thick key. A third cavity is formed in the keyway and shaped to enable insertion of the rib of the thick key. The keyway enables insertion of a thin key in lieu of the thick key.

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 biometric key having a key body incorporating a biometric sensor. There is also provided a receptor body for engagement with the biometric key, wherein the reader has a slot for retention of the key. When the key engages with the receptor body, a signal representing a biocode of data generated by the biometric sensor is forwarded to processing means for granting access to an authorised user to a facility accessible by the biometric key.

Abstract: The security reversible key with an assigned cylinder (Z) has a blocking groove (BN) with a coded blocking depth (B1, B2, B3), which runs parallel to the axis of the key (x) from the tip of the key to at least the first position (P1) of a row of tumbler pins (A2) on the key. In the assigned cylinder, at least at the rearmost coding position (P1), a pair of tumbler pins corresponding to the blocking groove (BN) with a blocking tumbler pin (BZ) and an extended blocking counter pin (BG) are foreseen, whereby the blocking counter pin (BG) impinges on the cylinder housing (10), if the blocking groove is insufficiently deep and, with this, the complete insertion of a key with an insufficiently deep blocking groove is blocked by the pair of blocking tumbler pins. Simultaneously, the blocking tumbler pin (BZ) with the counter pin (BG) at the position (P1) also serves as coding tumbler pin.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the lock cylinder of a rekeyable padlock. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rekeyable padlock is provided with a lock cylinder formed within. The lock cylinder includes a cylindrical core formed to receive a key and an outer casing formed around the core. A viewing opening is formed within the casing wall, the viewing opening allowing access to pin openings formed within the core to receive selected pins. The viewing opening is shaped such that it provides a viewing area larger than the pin openings, thereby allowing greater visibility when the pins are placed within the pin openings. The advantages of this viewing opening include greater ease in placing the pins into the pin openings and easier detection when a selected pin is the wrong length and does not sit flush within the lock cylinder core.

Abstract: A key plate includes a key plate body that extends longitudinally and has a grip portion and a keyhole insertion portion connected to the grip portion. The keyhole insertion portion includes a flat surface with a generally U-shaped groove formed into the flat surface. The generally U-shaped groove has a longitudinally-extending first cord groove, a longitudinally-extending second cord groove and a transversely-extending connecting groove that is disposed adjacent the grip portion and interconnects the first cord groove and the second cord groove. A method for manufacturing the key plate is also described.

Abstract: A lock system has a housing, a barrel rotatable in the housing, tumblers radially displaceable in the barrel and housing between an unlocked position permitting the barrel to rotate in the housing out of a center position and a locked position blocking rotation of the barrel in the housing and retaining the barrel in the center position, and an actuating element rotatable in the housing about the axis and juxtaposed with an inner end of the barrel. Lock members are operable by the element and a switch in the housing is operable by the barrel on displacement out of the center position to energize an electric motor that can rotate the element and thereby mechanically operate the lock members. A key fittable in the barrel is displaceable axially therein through an axial stroke between an outer position and an inner position.

Abstract: A flat key for a tumbler-containing locking cylinder of a locking apparatus, with a key grip and, attached thereto, a key shank for locking grooves cut into the shank towards the end surface, the shank having a basic profile exhibiting an essentially T-shaped cross-sectional configuration, of which the T-bar forms a guide bar with guiding surfaces, and of which the T-stem extending in the longitudinal mid-plane provides the end surface and has wide side surfaces for the provision of profile ribs that have curvilinear cross-sectional contours.

Abstract: A cylinder lock and key combination, wherein the lock comprises a side profile ridge (60) disposed in the key slot (53) and having a relatively shallow recess (61), in which a projection (55) on a side tumbler (54) is vertically movable, and a continuously extending edge portion (62). The key has a relatively shallow coded groove (17), which cooperates with the side tumbler projections (55) of the lock, and a rectilinear, deeper profile groove (16), into which the edge portion (62) of the side profile ridge fits. This unitary edge portion secures a good guidance of the key when the latter is inserted into the lock.

Abstract: A blank for use in fabricating a key for a cylinder lock having a camming projection extending outwardly from a first side of the blade portion of the blank and a recess in the opposite side of the blade portion. The projection and recess are simultaneously formed in a punching operation and have at least one different geometrical parameter whereby the camming projection is not complementary to the recess and/or has a different orientation than the recess.

Abstract: A dual cam, reversible key includes first and second patterns of notches in first and second edges of the shank of the key on a common side of the key shank of the key, providing a dual cam key. The patterns of notches are formed to have complementary symmetry and to make the width of the shank constant along at least the portion of the shank that includes the notches. The first pattern of notches is identical with the second pattern of notches insomuch as they are "parallels" to each other. The key operates tumblers each of which has an opening defining a pair of staggered generally rectangular windows, each of the windows defining cam surfaces for accommodating the dual cam, reversible key. Also disclosed is a method for making the dual cam, reversible key.

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: A dual cam, reversible key includes first and second patterns of notches in first and second edges of the shank of the key on a common side of the key shank of the key, providing a dual cam key. The patterns of notches are formed to have complementary symmetry and to make the width of the shank constant along at least the portion of the shank that includes the notches. The first pattern of notches is identical with the second pattern of notches insomuch as they are "parallel" to each other. The key operates tumblers each of which has an opening defining a pair of staggered generally rectangular windows, each of the windows defining cam surfaces for accommodating the dual cam, reversible key. Also disclosed is a method for making the dual cam, reversible key.

Abstract: A key and insert assembly is designed for the identification of keys or key blanks. The key is provided with a slot through the key head which is oriented in a plane parallel with the face of the key head. A window through the key head intersects the slot. The slot is designed to receive a thin insert made of synthetic resin and the window area allows a portion of the insert to be displayed. Information regarding the key or other codes may be printed on the insert region which is displayed. In a preferred embodiment, the insert is retained in the slot by a snap-fit arrangement.

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.