Abstract: A retaining ring includes: a resilient material forming a loop comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the loop has a notch through a portion of a thickness of the material; a removable extension at the second end extending from the notch, wherein the removable extension is configured to break away from the first end at the notch with an applied force to the removable extension.

Abstract: An unlocking device includes a casing mounted to a side of a lock. A movable body is movably received in the casing along a first axis and has an opening. The lock has a keyhole in an extent of the opening. A key receiving seat is movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a first position received in the movable body and a second position at least partially outside of the movable body. A linking rod is extended into the movable seat. A key can be placed into a key receiving hole of the key receiving seat in the second position and then moved into the movable body to engage with the linking rod when the key receiving seat moves to the first position. The key is movable into the keyhole by moving the linking rod along the first axis and is rotatable for a locking or unlocking operation.

Abstract: A lock and key mechanism reduces exposure to lock picking by including an extension into a key slot to receive and conceal tapered end portions of key pins. The only portions of key pins exposed in a key slot are cylindrical portions that are difficult to move from a resting position. A key includes a beveled leading edge and a spring-loaded pin activation element at the leading edge of the key. As the key is inserted into the key slot, the spring-loaded pin activation element is compressed to permit entry into the key slot. As the pin activation element reaches a pin, an aperture in the extension allows the spring-loaded pin activation element to move toward the key pin and move the key pin from its resting position. In this activated position, the tapered end portion of the key pin is exposed for further activation by the beveled leading edge of the key. The process is repeated until the pin activation element engages and activates each successive key pin and allows full insertion of the key.

Abstract: The invention relates to a secured device for locking and unlocking a plug on a frame with a wrench. The device has an obstructing component that is mobile with respect to a plug and can be brought from an obstructing position to an unobstructing position in which the wrench can engage a rotor of a bolt when an identification code of the wrench, read by a reader, is in agreement with the code stored in an electronic module that is associated with the plug.

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 system, apparatus and method are described for an electronic article surveillance security tag having a magnetically releasable tack retaining system, and a magnetic detaching device for use with the electronic article surveillance tag. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

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 includes a sleeve having a plurality of locking holes, a key plug housed in the sleeve and having an output portion to output an interrupted motion of a clutch device by moving in an insertion and extraction direction by an insertion and extraction of a matching key, and a plurality of key matching members movably supported to the key plug, arranged to be insertable and removable in the plurality of locking holes respectively, and withdrawn from the plurality of locking holes respectively by an insertion of the matching key into the key plug.

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: An electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag 20 having a metal attaching member 34 located therein and adapted to securely and releasably receive a shaft 52 of a pin therein, whereby a predetermined arcuate probe is inserted through an opening and applies a requisite force to the attaching member 34 to release the shaft 52. There are no channels leading the authorized arcuate probe to the attaching member 34. A plurality of partitions 58 and pillars 62 are interspersed within tag 20 to deflect any unauthorized probes from engaging and detaching attaching member 34.

Abstract: The rotary locking cylinder comprises a housing (5) and at least one rotor (8) provided with a key channel (27). Tumblers are provided to rotationally release the armature (8) with a key (17) associated therewith. A driver (6) is provided with at least one extension element (3) on the active part (2) of the rotary cylinder. Said extension element comprises a housing (24) and a rotatable insert (9). At least one extension element (3) is arranged on an outer side on the active part (2) at a distance from the driver (6). The key shank is extended in a manner which corresponds substantially to the length (A) of the extension element (3). Preferably, the rotatable insert (9) of the extension element (3) is profiled.

Abstract: A lock includes a body defining a first bore having a lock core mounted therein, and a second bore having an engaging element inserted thereinto; and a front barrier shield fixedly mounted in the body in front of the lock core. A communicating hole is formed in the body behind the lock core to communicate the two bores. A locking pin is disposed in the communicating hole to move into or out of a locking hole formed on the engaging element under control of the lock core, so as to lock or release the engaging element to or from the body, respectively. The front barrier shield includes a plurality of axially spaced and staggered barrier sheets to define a zigzag keyway, preventing a thief from peeping through the first bore and destructing the lock core.

Abstract: A picklock-proof key slot for a lock device and a key thereof, which comprises a rotary cylinder and a lock casing, between which plural upper tumblers and lower tumblers are furnished; the center of the rotary cylinder is provided with a key slot; under lock up condition, the lower tumblers are pushed into the key slot; the center of the tumbler groove is furnished with a salient plate, of which both sides are furnished with symmetrical guide slots; a guide slot is furnished between the two symmetrical guide plates on the key plate; a plurality of unlock-tumbler holes is furnished on the guide slot between the two guide plates; the hole has a curved surface to fit with the curve surfaces on both sides of the lower tumbler so as to reduce the pushing-up space of the lower tumbler, and also to reduce the possibility of unlocking the lock device with a master key to push the lower tumbler.

Abstract: Locking arrangement having a lock cylinder with an associated key (1), in particular a flat turning key, wherein a core (2) of the lock cylinder has a keyway (3) which is open in the direction of an end side of the cylinder, is provided with profile ribs/grooves and in the center thereof the vertex of a conical opening (4), which opens in the direction of the end side of the cylinder, is located. At an insertion end, the key (1) forms a tip (5) with flanks (6) in the form of arcuate lines. The tip (5) is formed by two arcuate lines (6), of which a point of intersection is located in a broad-side center (7) of the key, and a tangent angle (delta) at the point of intersection (5) is greater than the vertex angle (&mgr;) of the cone opening (4), wherein the arcuate lines (6) have bevels (9), in the direction of the mutually opposite broad sides (8), having a bevel angle (omega) which is smaller than the vertex angle (&mgr;) of the cone opening (4).

Abstract: A locking device including at least one key and a lock cylinder having at least one cylinder core pivotally mounted in a cylinder housing and having a keyway is provided with a blocking element which in its blocked position prevents rotation of the cylinder core with the key, and in its release position permits rotation of the cylinder core with the key. Further provided are an actuator which blocks the blocking element in the blocked position and releases it in the release position, and an electronic code transmitter in the key and an electronic code evaluator which controls the actuator. The lock cylinder is provided with a cylinder armor having an armor housing covering the cylinder housing and an armor disk pivotally mounted therein with a key insertion slot flush with the keyway of the cylinder core. The blocking element and the actuator are disposed in the armor housing. In its blocked position the blocking element acts on the armor disk so as to prevent rotation, releasing it in the release position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved cylinder construction for use with a lock system. The cylinder services to frustrate the use of lock picking tools, such as a tensioning device. Specifically, a pair of opposing flat regions are formed at the lower end of the cylinder. Furthermore, the key way formed within the cylinder has an opened lower end. These features make a system which is completely resistant to picking by way of traditional pick tools. Furthermore, the cylinder cannot be broken by way of a screwdriver or drill.

Abstract: An electromechanical cylinder lock includes a lock body and a turnable lock cylinder and a locking mechanism inside the lock body. The locking mechanism normally prevents turning of the lock cylinder relative to the lock body and can be moved by a key of the lock to a releasing position allowing turning of the lock cylinder. The key for the lock includes a transmitter for transmitting an electronic code and the lock correspondingly includes a receiver for receiving and identifying the code of the key. When the receiver detects the correct code the receiver enables mechanical opening of the lock by the key. The lock includes a locking disc with a key opening which is so designed that the turning of the key does not directly act mechanically on the locking disc. The lock also includes a coupling element for coupling the locking disc to the turning movement of the key.

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 pick-resistant lock system including an essentially cylindrical housing with an axial cylindrical bore and a plurality of radial bores spaced along the cylindrical bore and constituting a pin chamber, the radial bores having open ends in communication with the axial bore; a rotatable main cylinder rotatably located within the axial bore, the man cylinder having radial bores alienable with the radial bores of the housing and a planar key way alienable with the radial bores when in the locked orientation; a plurality of pins formed of plural segments positionable within the radial bores of the housing and main cylinder and with springs urging the pins toward the key way, the segments of the pins having interfaces which are alienable with the interface between the bores of the main cylinder and housing; a generally cylindrical facing cylinder axially alienable with the main cylinder and freely rotatable with respect thereto, the facing cylinder having an enlargement matable with a complementary recess in the h

Abstract: A pick-resistant lock system including an essentially cylindrical housing with an axial cylindrical bore and a plurality of radial bores spaced along the cylindrical bore and constituting a pin chamber, the radial bores having open ends in communication with the axial bore; a rotatable main cylinder rotatably located within the axial bore, the man cylinder having radial bores alignable with the radial bores of the housing and a planar key way alignable with the radial bores when in the locked orientations; a plurality of pins formed of plural segments positionable within the radial bores of the housing and main cylinder and with springs urging the pins toward the key way, the segments of the pins having interfaces which are alignable with the interface between the bores of the main cylinder and housing; a generally cylindrical facing cylinder axially alignable with the main cylinder and freely rotatable with respect thereto, the facing cylinder having an enlargement matable with a complementary recess in the

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 cylinder lock and key combination, where the key (20) has an undercut profile groove (24) at one side surface (22) thereof and, in the key slot (13), the lock key plug has a corresponding profile tongue (15) with a downwardly projecting end portion (15a), which fills up the undercut portion (29) of the key profile groove (24) upon insertion of the key into the lock.

Abstract: A cylinder lock/key combination includes a lock cylinder (2), a plug (3) rotatably mounted in the cylinder (2) and having a key slot (4), and a number of tumbler pins (6) that are activatable by the code (5a) on the key (5). The key slot carries or houses an element (7) which extends axially along a substantial part of the slot. The key (5) has a blade part (5c) which includes an axially extending portion (5d) in which there is provided a hole (8) for receiving the slot-carried element (7) as the key is inserted into the lock. The slot-carried element (7) and the hole (8) provided in the key (5) are located eccentrically in relation to the center of the plug (3) and accompany rotation of the plug while aided by the key (5). The profile shape of the slot-carried element (7) and the hole (8) in the key may vary within wide limits. The invention also relates to a key belonging to a combination of the aforementioned kind, and to a key blank from which such a key can be produced.

Abstract: A cylinder lock and key combination, where the key (20) has an undercut profile groove (24) at one side surface (22) thereof and, in the key slot (13), the lock key plug has a corresponding profile tongue (15) with a downwardly projecting end portion (15a), which fills up the undercut portion (29) of the key profile groove (24) upon insertion of the key into the lock.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes a lock and a flexible key. The lock includes a lock and an elongated plug unit having a longitudinal curved keyway that is accessible by the key. The keyway has several turns and several branch slots, each of which extends from one of the turns of the curved keyway in a direction different from that of a portion of the curved keyway succeeding the turn so as to mislead an undesirable flexible stick into the slot.

Abstract: The lock cylinder comprises a cylinder body wherein a cylinder plug (1) comprising a slot (2) for the key (18) of the lock is rotatable arranged. The profile of the key slot and therefore also of the key is determined by profile forming elements in the form of rotation bodies (6,7) which are inserted in bores (4,5) extending through the cylinder plug (1) parallel to and adjacent to the middle plane (10) of the key slot (2). The profile elements (6,7) may be made of hardenable steel, for instance by turning, and may comprise a number of portions of different diameters so that the total number of key profiles obtainable becomes high while permitting the key profile to be made very thin and correspondingly difficult to copy.

Abstract: A key switch assembly, which can reliably eliminate swinging of the key end and erroneous operation due to incomplete insertion of a key. A guide extends rearward of a lock cylinder received in a lock body and parallel to a switch juxtaposition. One side of the guide is aligned to an extension of a key groove surface and is provided with an axial positioning ridge for engagement with an axial positioning groove formed in a side of the key. A restricting front face of a guide disk secured to the lock body is held in contact with the rear face of the lock cylinder. The guide disk is provided with a restricting notch, the radius of curvature of an arcuate edge of which is made smaller than the radius of rotation of the key. The key has an edge provided with an escapement groove, into which the arcuate edge escapes when the key inserted to a predetermined depth is turned, and the guide has its stem provided with an escapement groove, which is engaged by the arcuate edge.

Abstract: A lock assembly has a lock body and a flexible key. The lock body includes at least two plug pieces having confronting faces with longitudinal curved grooves. The plug pieces cooperatively form a cylindrical plug. The curved grooves are complementary so as to form a longitudinal curved keyway with a cross-section that is shaped to have an upright first portion and a cross-wise second portion. A first set of tumbler members is provided on the cylindrical plug and extends in the direction of the upright first portion. A second set of tumbler members is provided on the cylindrical plug and extends in the direction of the cross-wise second portion. The flexible key is adapted to be received in the curved keyway and is useful for actuating the tumbler members. The flexible key includes a chain of successively hinged knuckles.

Abstract: A cylinder lock is capable of providing a changeable keyway by means of elongated warding members which are insertable into a keyway access slot which has a cross-sectional configuration larger than for a desired key. There may be one or more warding members which are insertable into the plug and extend the length of the keyway access lot to define the cross-sectional area of a desired key.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes a lock body having tumbler members and a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in the curved keyway and having key bit projections for actuating the tumbler members. The flexible key has a degree of stiffness sufficient enough to allow said key to be inserted into said curved keyway.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is mounted in a housing and is actuatable by a solenoid carried in the housing. The housing also includes, integral therewith, a card reading arrangement.

Abstract: A lock has an outer casing and a lock cylinder rotatably mounted therein and having a coaxial keyway of round cross section plus several rows of radial bores to accommodate the tumblers and their springs, and also has a key which has notches on its outside profile for the engagement with the tumbler. The key has an equilateral polygonal bit cross section which matches the cross section of the keyhole in the front wall of the lock casing as well as a coaxial opening in the lock cylinder bottom, these cross sections of the keyhole and bottom opening being angularly offset from one another. The tip of the key bit has ramp surfaces corresponding to the rows of the tumblers, ascending toward the handle of the key and terminating each at one polygon face for the purpose of raising the tumblers, and the rows of notches are disposed between the polygon faces.

Abstract: The invention relates to disc cylinder lock-key-combination, including a cylinder housing (1), and inside thereof, a turnable inner cylinder (2), which encloses a set of discs comprising a number of locking discs (3,4) provided with peripheral notches (8) and separated from one another by means of intermediate discs (5), and a locking bar (10), which in the locked position of the lock is located partly in a groove in the cylinder housing and partly in a slot (9) in the inner cylinder thereby preventing the inner cylinder to be turned with regard to the cylinder housing. The locking discs (3,4) are turnable by means of the key (12) of the lock into a position, in which the peripheral notches (8) form a uniform channel at the position of said slot (9) of the inner cylinder, into which channel the locking bar (10) can enter from the groove of the cylinder housing thereby releasing the inner cylinder to turn with regard to the cylinder housing.

Abstract: A cylinder lock includes a rotor rotatably mounted in a bore of a stationary casing. A key passage in the rotor is blocked by a biased shutter which is caused to pivot against the action of a spring when a key is introduced into the key passage. The rotor includes a plurality of separated, spring-urged tumblers which engage with the key in the key passage. A soft-elastic wiper for removing water from the key is positioned in a lateral slot between the entrance of the key passage and a first tumbler. Flaps of the wiper form a normally closed slit which is openable by the force of the key when the key is advanced towards an operational position.

Abstract: A tumbler lock having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder rotatably mounted therein with springless plate-shaped tumblers which move freely in guide slots. Tumbler locks of known construction can be opened by unauthorized persons because an object can be inserted through the windows in the plate-shaped tumblers required for the insertion of the key, wedged against the side faces of the windows and the tumblers lifted from their locked state. This is foreclosed in the invention because the side flanks of the windows in the area of the key guide which are parallel to the direction of the motion of the tumblers are covered by protective strips connected with the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder lock assembly includes a tubular housing rotatably receiving therein an elongated unitary barrel having a configuration suitable for single step diecast fabrication without the extremely complex coring and secondary operations heretofore required. The barrel contains a plurality of easily diecast and assembled, open sided tumblers in face to face sliding engagement, each of which is individually engaged by a finger of a unitary, multi-fingered resilient member for urging the respective tumbler into a locked position until displaced by a key moved transversely through a slot formed in each tumbler. Modified forms include a dust door receiving cavity which has a dust cover integral with the barrel and a dust door closing spring integral with the tumbler contacting resilient member. Also, simplified structures are provided to retain the barrel in the housing.