Pin Tumblers Patents (Class 70/493)
  • Patent number: 8561444
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor, mounted therein for rotation around its own axis and having a keyhole, a number of key followers movable along their own longitudinal and transversal directions, intended to cooperate with a key inserted into the keyhole, a number of locking pins movable along their own longitudinal direction, the key followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and having projections cooperating with notches of the locking pins to immobilize them when the stop bar engages them, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the key followers to normally keep them engaged with the locking pins and to disengage them therefrom when the change bar provides a lock programming position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Rielda Serrature s.r.l.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 8539803
    Abstract: A cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug (112) having a profiled keyway (113,116), the keyway being configured to accommodate an elongated, substantially flat key blade (120) with a longitudinal groove (122). The keyway in the key plug has two opposite lateral sides and a profile rib (150) located at a substantially flat lateral side. The profile rib has a downwardly projecting tongue portion (161) configured to extend inside the profile groove (122) upon inserting the key (120) into the key plug (112) of the lock, and the tongue portion of the profile rib is extended downwardly into a lowermost, massive end portion (162) which has two opposite side surfaces (163,164) and a lowermost transverse end surface (165) which is substantially flat or slightly curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Patent number: 8505347
    Abstract: A locking device which has a lock cylinder and a matching key. The key has a key bit with at least one coding notch and a blocking rib with at least one indentation. The lock cylinder has a housing with a bearing bore and a cylinder core that is mounted in the bearing bore and a blocking member. The blocking member is engagable in a blocking recess of the bearing bore and prevents rotation of the cylinder core. A pivot lever is mounted in the cylinder core and has a bearing end about which the pivot lever pivots, and a sensing end which senses the blocking rib The pivot lever closes off a capturing opening for the housing pin when the blocking rib is the proper height and opens the capturing opening after a partial rotation of the cylinder core when the blocking rib is missing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: C. Ed. Schulte Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Zylinderschlossfabrik
    Inventors: Theo Piotrowski, Michael Reine
  • Patent number: 8448484
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder comprises a plurality of first rack components, a plurality of second rack components and a guide bar having a first surface engaged with the first rack components. The second rack components are movable via contacting against a first matched key which is inserted in a first direction. The guide bar has a second surface, a first side, a second side, and a tool-receiving portion recessed into the first side. The tool-receiving portion is parallel to the first direction, and the first rack components are actuated by the guide bar via acting force applied by the rekeying tool accommodated in the tool-receiving portion therefore enabling the first rack components to move in a transverse direction relative to the first direction and disengaging the first rack components from the second rack components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8438889
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pin and tumbler cylinder lock and a retrofitted cylinder lock which minimizes unauthorized openings of the lock by bumping. The cylinder lock utilizes specially designed driver pins which are correlated in size to the largest possible stack height of the tumbler pins with a bump key inserted in the plug portion of the lock and the shear line height of the lock. All the driver pins are about the same height and preferably symmetrical with a lip on each end. The invention also provides a method for retrofitting existing locks by removing at least one of the driver pins and replacing the removed driver pin or pins with the driver pins of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sargent Maufacturing Company
    Inventors: Darren C Eller, Ryan Piantek, Evaldas Malinauskas, James Galarneau, David Steele, Christopher Hill
  • Patent number: 8438890
    Abstract: A cylinder lock includes elongated elliptical-shaped accommodation holes for accommodating auxiliary tumblers formed on an inner cylinder, and a set/reset member which is capable of freely sliding in the inner cylinder and which is pushed by two control members each having a respective stroke length, so that the auxiliary tumblers are interposed between upper tumblers and lower tumbler and moved aside from between the upper and lower tumblers, thereby enabling changing of keys for locking and unlocking the cylinder lock. Minutely, for the setting operation, the set/reset member is pushed into by a short stroke to cause the auxiliary tumblers to be accommodated into the accommodation holes and moved along the accommodation holes and held there. For the reset operation, the set/reset member is pushed into by along stroke to move the auxiliary tumblers to the side of the upper tumbler bores of the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Goal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsunori Miyake
  • Publication number: 20130091911
    Abstract: A cylinder lock assembly including a plug rotatable in a cylinder lock body and including a plurality of chambers, each of the chambers having a chamber depth axis, and a plurality of plug locking elements received in the chambers, each of the plug locking elements including a key cut interface probe for interfacing with a key cut formed on a key, and wherein each of the plug locking elements is arranged to move along the chamber depth axis and not rotate about the chamber depth axis, and each of the key cut interface probes has a predetermined orientation with respect to the chamber depth axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Moshe Dolev
  • Publication number: 20130047688
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor mounted therein, having a keyhole and including inside the rotor key followers movable along the longitudinal and transversal directions, and locking pins movable along the longitudinal direction, the followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings for mutually cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and cooperating with the locking pins, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the followers to keep them engaged with the pins and disengage them therefrom when the bar provides a lock programming position. The bar has projections facing the keyhole, and the use key has corresponding recesses to face the projections when correctly inserted in the lock, whereas the change key has a longitudinal groove extending in a position corresponding to the use key recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: RIELDA SERRATURE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Publication number: 20130036782
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor, mounted therein for rotation around its own axis, has a keyhole, and comprising inside the rotor key followers movable along the longitudinal and transversal directions, and locking pins movable along the longitudinal direction, the followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings for mutually cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and cooperating with the pins to immobilize them, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the followers to keep them engaged with the pins and to disengage them therefrom when the bar provides a lock programming position. The followers have a projection which engages a side surface of the key and, at the contact of a normal use key, prevents the transversal displacement of the key and the change bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: RIELDA SERRATURE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 8347680
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Patent number: 8347678
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder assembly includes at least one lock cylinder and a mortise lock adapter. Each lock cylinder includes a cylinder body with a longitudinal axis. A locking bar is disposed in the cylinder body for movement transverse to, and rotationally about, the longitudinal axis. A plug assembly having a tool receiving aperture is disposed in the cylinder body and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A plurality of pins and a corresponding plurality of racks are disposed in the plug assembly. A first member is moveable in response to application of a force by a tool received through the aperture to simultaneously disengage all of the plurality of racks from the plurality of pins. The mortise lock adapter includes a housing configured for receiving the cylinder body of the lock cylinder. A mortise lock actuator is coupled to the plug assembly of the lock cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Newfrey, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald B. Chong
  • Patent number: 8336346
    Abstract: A lock includes a stationary key mass having a first key mass bore and a keyway, and a movable spring mass including a first spring mass bore. A first spring mass pin is mounted in the first spring mass bore, and a first key mass pin is mounted in the first key mass bore for reciprocation between a locked position immobilizing the spring mass and an unlocked position unconstraining motion in at least one direction. The unlocked position is a function of the presence of a matching key in the keyway. Multiple key mass and spring mass pins can be used, some or all of which can have stepped configurations, and corresponding single-bladed or multi-bladed keys, or multiple keys, can be used. The keys can be straight or curved in any of various planes, or they can be straight but flexible to match curved keyways. Curves can be unidirectional or compound. Relative motion between the key mass and spring mass can be in a plane or along straight line or circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Gordon B. J. Mah and Yu-Chen Mah Family Trust
    Inventor: Gordon B. J. Mah
  • Patent number: 8336349
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lock assembly for enabling use of a key-in-knob lock cylinder assembly in different types of lock assemblies. The method includes providing a key-in-knob lock assembly having a key-in-knob housing and a plug rotatably engaged within the key-in-knob housing, providing an interchangeable core lock assembly having an interchangeable core housing, and inserting the key-in-knob housing into the interchangeable core housing such that the key-in-knob housing is universally exchangeable between the key-in-knob lock assembly and the interchangeable core lock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Lohithaswa Thimmappa, Evan E. Evans, Vinod Kumar Rajan, Aravinda Mahabaleshwara, Ravindra K. Pandey, Roger Kanaan
  • Publication number: 20120304717
    Abstract: A lock with a programming device, includes a stator, a rotor rotatably inserted therein, a keyhole, a longitudinal groove, a set of key followers and a set of locking pins which, under control of a change bar, can be mutually engaged for normal operation and disengaged in a change condition, and can be moved or blocked under control of a stop bar provided with springs which stress the stop bar outwards. The change bar is arranged to keep or assume, even in the change condition, a position in which it retains the engagement among at least some of the key followers and locking pins. A change element displaces the change bar to the position in which it disengages all the key followers from the locking pins, when the user intends to proceed with the change of the key. A device for preventing a faulty programming is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Rielda Serrature s.r.l.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Publication number: 20120291505
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor, mounted therein for rotation around its own axis and having a keyhole, a number of key followers movable along their own longitudinal and transversal directions, intended to cooperate with a key inserted into the keyhole, a number of locking pins movable along their own longitudinal direction, the key followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and having projections cooperating with notches of the locking pins to immobilize them when the stop bar engages them, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the key followers to normally keep them engaged with the locking pins and to disengage them therefrom when the change bar provides a lock programming position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: RIELDA SERRATURE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 8312749
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: GMS Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Yueh-Ming Tong
  • Publication number: 20120266640
    Abstract: A lock is disclosed having a set of pin tumblers in the lock cylinder in addition to the lever tumblers to prevent rotation of the cylinder without a key to release the driver pins that engage the cylinder and prevent rotation. The key has pin tumbler cuts on the edge of the key. Because the pin tumblers and the related pin tumbler cuts on the edge of key can be spaced randomly along the length of the key and because the lengths of the pin tumblers and the depths of the pin tumbler cuts in the key can be random, the ability to create a duplicate key rendered substantially more difficult then a key with only lever tumbler cuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Eugene F. DAUGHERTY
  • Patent number: 8281628
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Patent number: 8266937
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a locking cylinder (1) and a matching key (2), wherein the locking cylinder comprises tumbler pins (6) with a head (7) and a tip. (8). The tip (8) engages in a coding recess (10) of the key (2) and, by withdrawing the key from the locking cylinder, slides along two sliding flanks (2), which follow on one another. The dimensions of the conical surface (9) following on from the rounding of the tip (8) and the sliding flank (12) are made to match one another in such a way that the transitional region (13) between the two sliding flanks is covered by the conical surface in the abutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: C. Ed. Schulte Gesellschaft MIT Beschränkter Haftung Zylinderschlossfabrik
    Inventors: Jürgen Lienau, Thomas Wallberg
  • Patent number: 8266934
    Abstract: A keyed cylinder assembly (10) includes a keyed cylinder (3) mounted in a door lock (1) and including a hollow body (31) and a cylinder plug (32) rotatably received in the hollow body (31). The cylinder plug (32) includes an annular groove (327) formed in an outer periphery (320) thereof. The keyed cylinder (3) further includes an arresting member (37) received in the hollow body (31) and having an inner end (371) received in the annular groove (327). The keyed cylinder assembly further includes a first key (4) insertable into a keyway (323) of the cylinder plug (32) to operate both a latch bolt (12) and a deadbolt (13) of the door lock (1). The keyed cylinder assembly (10) further includes a second key (5) insertable into the keyway (323) of the cylinder plug (32) to operate the latch bolt (12) only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: I-Tek Metal Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 8261587
    Abstract: A substantially burglary-proof lock, comprises a housing formed with a cylindrical bore defining an inner cylindrical surface, and a cylinder within said bore carrying locking elements movable to locking and unlocking positions with respect to said housing, said cylinder having an outer diameter equal to the diameter of said bore so as to be rotatable when the locking elements are in unlocking position with respect to said housing, said cylinder being formed with a keyway for receiving a proper key in order to move said locking elements to their locking and unlocking positions with respect to said housing, characterized in that said cylinder carries at least one insert of a hard material configured, dimensioned and located such as to prevent pull-out of the cylinder from the housing by a pull-out force applied to the cylinder, and/or by drilling through the locking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Asher Haviv, Eric Torgeman
  • Patent number: 8250887
    Abstract: A tamper resistant lock is provided. The tamper resistant lock comprises a primary locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the tamper resistant lock with an appropriate key. A secondary locking mechanism is engaged and prevents unlocking when a sufficient force is applied to the tamper resistant lock. The force may be the result of driving a screwdriver into a keyway of the lock in an attempt to forcefully unlock the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: J.J. Mackay Canada Limited
    Inventors: George Allan MacKay, Michael Glenn Fievet
  • Patent number: 8230708
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Publication number: 20120180537
    Abstract: A pin tumbler cylinder lock includes a shell, a plug, and at least first and second tumbler pins and first and second driver pins. At least the first driver pin extends into a corresponding plug channel when the plug is in a locked condition, such that rotation of the plug with respect to the shell is blocked. The lock is configured such that at least the first driver pin is separated from the first tumbler pin by a gap when the plug is in the locked condition. When the first and second tumbler pins are raised without the proper key and the gap between the first tumbler pin and the first driver pin is eliminated, the second tumbler pin extends across the shear line and into the corresponding shell channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: MASTER LOCK COMPANY LLP
    Inventors: Gary BURMESCH, Jesse MARCELLE, Glenn MEEKMA
  • Patent number: 8220300
    Abstract: A thin lock has a housing, a core assembly mounted in the housing, multiple pin assemblies arranged longitudinally in the core assembly, and a latch assembly mounted through the housing and selectively activates the core assembly and the pin assemblies. Thus, when the thin lock is mounted on a door panel, numbers of the pin assemblies does not relate to a thickness of the door panel. Therefore, the numbers of the pin assemblies are able to be added to increase the complexity and enhance the safety of the thin lock according to user's need.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ABA UFO International Corp.
    Inventor: Miko Lee
  • Patent number: 8210009
    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?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Patent number: 8210010
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Reiji Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8205473
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widén
  • Patent number: 8186194
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Medeco Security Locks, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter H. Field, David P. Sutherland, Glenn Hartman, Mark Benzie, Walt Dannhardt, Kevin Galliher, Dan Boadwine, Clyde T. Roberson
  • Patent number: 8186193
    Abstract: A lock cylinder structure comprises a cylinder body, a plug disposed within the cylinder body, a pin assembly and a key positioning assembly. The cylinder body has a plurality of upper pin holes and an accommodating hole. The plug has an outside wall, a keyhole, a plurality of lower pin holes and a through hole in communication with the outside wall and the keyhole. The pin assembly comprises a plurality of upper pins disposed within the upper pin holes and a plurality of lower pins disposed within the lower pin holes. The key positioning assembly comprises a first movable member disposed at the accommodating hole of the cylinder body and a second movable member disposed at the through hole of the plug. The second movable member contacts against the first movable member and has a push-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8166784
    Abstract: A lock mechanism includes a cover plate positionable over a plurality of pin chambers in a cylinder housing wherein one or more of the pin chambers include an internal threaded portion. The lock mechanism includes one or more pin assembly caps that are operative to secure the cover plate to the cylinder housing of the lock by threadably engaging with threaded pin chambers. The pin assembly caps include an internal cavity sized to receive at least a portion of a pin assembly, such that threaded pin chambers and unthreaded pin chambers have substantially the same dimensions without substantially increasing the dimensions required for the lock mechanism. The pin assembly caps include a socket (e.g., a hex socket, a Phillips-type socket, or the like) that allow users to selectively remove and secure the cover plate to the cylinder housing common tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: GMS Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Yueh-Ming Tong
  • Patent number: 8166783
    Abstract: A pin tumbler cylinder lock includes a shell, a plug, and at least first and second tumbler pins and first and second driver pins. At least the first driver pin extends into a corresponding plug channel when the plug is in a locked condition, such that rotation of the plug with respect to the shell is blocked. The lock is configured such that at least the first driver pin is separated from the first tumbler pin by a gap when the plug is in the locked condition. When the first and second tumbler pins are raised without the proper key and the gap between the first tumbler pin and the first driver pin is eliminated, the second tumbler pin extends across the shear line and into the corresponding shell channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Gary Burmesch, Jesse Marcelle, Glenn Meekma
  • Patent number: 8161783
    Abstract: A quickly rekeyable lock cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed within the cylinder body. The plug assembly comprises a plug body, a position block disposed at the plug body, a first rack group and a second rack group. The plug body has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis vertical to the longitudinal axis and a rekeying tool opening. The first rack group has a plurality of first rack components. The second rack group may push the position block to move and has a plurality of second rack components in engagement with the first rack components and at least one tool-receiving portion pushed by the rekeying tool. The second rack components can move along transverse axis of the plug body to release engagement with the first rack components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8151611
    Abstract: A key-removable lock core that is retained in a core receptacle by a retaining lug, and which can operated by an operating key to align the pins of the pin chambers for shear at the operating shear line, and to allow the key plug to be rotated, and which employs a control tool with the operating key for manipulating the pins into alignment for shear at the control shear line, to allow the sleeve and the key plug together to be rotated, to move the retaining lug on the sleeve between a projected position in which the lug is engaged behind a rearward-facing shoulder in the core receptacle to retain the core in the receptacle, and a retracted position within the profile of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: JaNaKa Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Rodrick A. Herdman
  • Publication number: 20120055215
    Abstract: A method of re-keying a lock cylinder. The method includes providing a housing including outer pins, a plug rotatably engaged within the housing and having a key slot and inner pins configured to align with the outer pins, and an engagement member inserted into the plug as a separate piece such that the engagement member engages one or more originally engaged inner pins to space each of the engaged inner pins a distance from a pin resting surface defined by the key slot. The method also includes modifying the engagement member, and inserting the modified engagement member into the plug so that the engagement member engages one or more newly engaged inner pins different from the originally engaged inner pins to space each of the newly engaged inner pins a distance from the pin resting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Paul O. Gardner, Misty G. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8127579
    Abstract: A lock assembly includes a universal core assembly, which provides multiple engagement features to permit the core assembly to be mounted into various lock housings. A torque blade or a spindle assembly is received within a rear segment of the lock core to engage one of the engagement members depending upon the desire lock within which the core is to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Eugenio Mannella
  • Patent number: 8117876
    Abstract: A programmable lock cylinder assembly comprising a lock housing and a cylinder plug mounted for rotation within the housing. A set of rack pins are positioned in the cylinder plug and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A set of tongue pins are positioned in the cylinder plug and extend across the keyway. Each tongue pin is selectively engagable with a respective rack pin. A re-combinating member is engaged with the tongue pins and moveable between a first position wherein the tongue pins are engaged with the rack pins and a second position wherein the tongue pins are disengaged from the rack pins. A reset actuator is positioned within the cylinder plug and moveable between an engaged position wherein the re-combinating member position is locked relative to the cylinder plug and a non-engaged position wherein the re-combinating member position is moveable relative to the cylinder plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Sajil John Mathachan
  • Patent number: 8109122
    Abstract: A key-operated cylinder lock for operating a bolt or a latch, that can be programmed for use with one of a plurality of user keys without disassembling the lock or replacing the tumblers, with reduction or elimination of incidental or accidental re-keying of the lock. The lock has a rotating plug having one or more retainer cavities formed into the periphery, and lock configuration change balls, movable within the lock between a first position within a driver chamber and a second position within a corresponding retainer cavity when the plug is in a programming position. The positioning of the change balls within either the pin chambers or the retainer cavities determines the key configuration that can operate the lock. The lock employs a means for isolating selectively the retainer cavities from the corresponding driver chambers when the plug is in the programming position, to prevent incidental or accidental movement of the change members from the driver chamber into the retainer cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: JaNaKa Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Rodrick A. Herdman
  • Patent number: 8099988
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a plug assembly and a lock cylinder. The plug assembly includes a plug body, a plurality of key followers, a plurality of racks, and a rack carrier that carriers the plurality of racks. The rack carrier is moveable relative to the plug body between a proximal end and a distal end. A cam follower extends outwardly from the rack carrier. The lock cylinder body includes a cylinder wall with the plug assembly rotatably disposed therein, and has a cam track configured on the cylinder wall at an interior surface to guide the cam follower of the plug assembly. The cam track has a ramp portion configured to longitudinally displace the cam follower and the rack carrier as the plug assembly is rotated relative to the lock cylinder body to facilitate selective disengagement of the plurality of racks from the plurality of key followers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Newfrey, LLC
    Inventor: Graham J. Wheatland
  • Patent number: 8096155
    Abstract: A lock cylinder is provided and includes an outer cylinder having a bore, an inner cylinder rotatably disposed within the bore, and a pin assembly disposed within the inner and outer cylinders. The pin assembly is operable to selectively lock the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder. The pin assembly includes an upper shear cylinder positionable relative to the outer cylinder and a lower shear cylinder positionable relative to the inner cylinder. The upper and lower shear cylinders are movable to define a first shear line therebetween. In addition, the pin assembly includes an upper pin slidable within the upper shear cylinder and a lower pin slidable within the lower shear cylinder, whereby the upper and lower pins define a second shear line therebetween. The lock cylinder is positionable from a locked position to an unlocked position when the first shear line is aligned with the second shear line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Alston E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8074480
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder with fool-proof function at least comprises a cylinder body, a plug, a limit member, a sliding block and a drive member. The plug disposed within the cylinder body has a trench, a plurality of first rack component runners communicating with the trench and a first through hole also communicating with the trench. The limit member is disposed within the first through hole and the sliding block is disposed within the trench. The sliding block has a plurality of second rack component runners respectively corresponding to each of the first rack component runners, a keyhole communicating with the second rack component runners and a second through hole communicating with the keyhole. The second through hole corresponds to the first through hole of the plug. The drive member is disposed within the second through hole and one end of the limit member contacts against the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lien-Hsi Huang, Ping-Hung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8056379
    Abstract: A lock cylinder that includes a housing and a plug. The housing includes a wall that defines a hollow portion and a pin portion that defines a first pin chamber that is configured to receive a first pin. The plug includes a body rotatably housed within the hollow portion of the housing. A key slot is defined in the body in part by a pin resting surface 90, and a second pin chamber is disposed in communication with the key slot. A second pin is disposed within the second pin chamber and is configured to engage the pin resting surface 90. An engagement member is disposed within the body as a separate piece, and engaged with the second pin to space the second pin a distance from the pin resting surface 90 in the absence of a key in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Paul O. Gardner, Misty G. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8056380
    Abstract: A cylinder lock unit is disclosed, with an elongate housing portion (2?) extending outside and along a cylindrical bore, and the elongate housing being dimensioned for being accommodated in a structural part (S) to form a lock device, with a fixed external longitudinal configuration (L) fitting into the structural part. The elongate housing portion has a linear row of cylindrical holes (22?), registering with cylindrical chambers in a key plug having a key slot. The cylindrical holes are closely packed with mutual distances dimensioned in accordance with prescribed minimum standards, and at least one of the cylindrical holes (22?), located adjacent to one longitudinal end of the elongate housing portion (2?), has an inclined cylinder axis, so that, as compared to a lock unit with only mutually parallel cylinder hole axes in the linear row in the elongate housing portion, an extra cylindrical hole is accommodated in the linear row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Winloc AG
    Inventor: Bo Widen
  • Patent number: 8056378
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder comprises a cylinder body, a plug, an adjusting block and a plurality of rack component assemblies. The plug disposed within the cylinder body has a trench and a plurality of rack component runners communicating with the trench. The adjusting block disposed at the trench has an arc sidewall, a plurality of leading slots corresponding to the rack component runners one by one and a position groove recessed from the arc sidewall. The position groove has a notch portion and a groove inner portion, wherein a depth of the groove inner portion is larger than a depth of the notch portion. Each of the rack component assemblies comprises a first rack component disposed at the rack component runner and a second rack component capable of engaging with the first rack component. Each of the first rack components has a rib portion located at the leading slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20110271724
    Abstract: A lock cylinder assembly comprises a cylinder body, a plug, a plurality of pin sets and a position block, wherein the plug comprising a keyhole is rotatable within the cylinder body between a locked position and an unlocked position, the pin sets enable the plug disposed relative to the cylinder body to change state between a non-interference state and an interference state, the position block enables the plug disposed relative to the cylinder body to change state between the non-interference state and the interference state, and at least one of the pin sets and the position block is situated in the interference state to disable the lock cylinder from the locked position without a matched key in the keyhole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: TAIWAN FU HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20110252846
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ABUS PFAFFENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Hertel, Thomas Pechmann
  • Patent number: 8033150
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a cylinder body with a longitudinal axis. A plug assembly is disposed in the cylinder body and is rotatable between a first position and a second position, the plug assembly having a lock face with a tool receiving aperture. A plurality of key followers and a corresponding plurality of racks are disposed in the plug assembly. The plurality of racks is selectively engageable with the plurality of key followers. A first member is coupled to the plurality of racks. The first member is moveable in response to application of a force against the first member by a tool received through the tool receiving aperture. The first member is configured to simultaneously disengage all of the plurality of racks from the plurality of key followers in response to the movement of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Newfrey, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Armstrong, Gerald B. Chong
  • Patent number: 8028554
    Abstract: A cylinder lock device including: a body housing having a bore, with a direction of elongation defining an axial direction for the device; a rotatable cylindrical plug in the bore, the plug having an axially extending key slot from at least one end of the plug; a plurality of driver pins configurable substantially perpendicular to the key slot and located within the body housing and substantially outside of the plug; a plurality of tumbler pins corresponding to and positionable substantially collinear with each one of the plurality of driver pins and substantially inside the plug, the tumbler pins displaceable by a key to bias the driver pins to enable rotation of the plug, the driver pins adapted to displace the respective tumbler pins; and a displacement mechanism being deployed within the body housing and adapted to displace the plurality of driver pins thereby selectively enabling rotation of the plug when no key is present in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Essence Security International Ltd.
    Inventor: Haim Amir
  • Publication number: 20110226027
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder which inserted a first matched key for unlock in a first direction and utilized a rekeying tool for rekeying includes a plurality of first rack components, a plurality of second rack components and a guide bar having a first surface engaged with the first rack components. The second rack components are movable via contacting against the first matched key. The guide bar has a second surface, a first side, a second side, and a tool-receiving portion recessed into the first side. The tool-receiving portion is parallel to the first direction, and the first rack components are actuated by mentioned guide bar via acting force applied by the rekeying tool accommodated in the tool-receiving portion therefore enabling the first rack components to move in a transverse direction relative to the first direction and disengaging the first rack components from the second rack components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20110214462
    Abstract: A pin tumbler lock is key bump resistant by applying a top pin that has an at least partially walled tubular hollow structure. The hollow top pin is reduced in weight compared to a standard top pin. In one embodiment of the present invention the top pin is made longer than a top pin in a pin tumbler lock of standard construction. In a further embodiment of the present invention the pin tumbler lock has a compound spring in a common chamber of the pin tumbler lock. A top pin in one embodiment of the present invention is made of titanium. The top pin in a further embodiment of the present invention is part of a kit. The kit may have installation instructions. The kit may also have packaging. The pin tumbler lock in one embodiment of the present invention has a combination pin that is substantially heavier than a pin tumbler lock in a known embodiment. The pin tumbler lock may be a door lock, a container lock, a padlock or a car lock or any other lock that is subject to bumping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Stanton Concepts Inc.
    Inventors: John Loughlin, Robert Loughlin, Arthur L. Arledge