Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a key-actuated pin tumbler lock of the type having: a cylindrical core rotatable in a lock housing via a rotational path, a plurality of pin tumblers received in bores journalled in the core and lock housing, each bore containing a set of pin tumblers comprising one core pin and one housing pin, biassed towards the core, and having a pin junction therebetween, and a key slot in the core, whereby insertion in the key slot of a key having thereon suitable bits is adapted to align the pin junctions with the rotational path of the core in the lock housing, and to permit the core to rotate within the housing.

Abstract: A mechanical lock is provided which prevents forced rotation of the cylinder when a mated key is not present in the key slot. The lock includes a cylinder rotatably supported within a sleeve. The cylinder defines a longitudinal axis and a keyway disposed along the axis for slidably receiving a key therein. A cylinder head extends circumferentially about a first end of the cylinder and includes a frangible ring portion which fractures in response to a predetermined rotational force. A tab extends from the cylinder head and includes a frangible base which also fragments in response to a predetermined rotational force. The mechanical lock further includes a sidebar for preventing rotation of the cylinder when a mated key is not present therein. The sidebar includes a rib extending therefrom which prevents the longitudinal sliding of the sidebar out of the mechanical lock when the cylinder head has been broken away from the cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder lock-key-combination includes a lock cylinder, a cylinder housing (2) and a cylinder plug (3) provided with a key slot (3a) and a row of tumblers (5). The tumblers (5) and associated key (4) present mutually adapted engaging and receiving members which function to forcibly guide movement of the tumblers in two opposite axial directions as the key is inserted into the lock. For instance, the pin tumblers (5) include a circular flange (5a) and a side surface of the key (4) includes a groove (4b) which extends along the length of the key and whose width varies so as to accommodate the flanges of the rotatable or twistable tumblers. Alternatively, the tumblers are provided with a groove or a waisted portion and the key is provided on a side surface thereof with a rail which engages in the groove or waisted portion.

Abstract: A cylinder lock (1) comprises a lock cylinder (2) and a key-operated cylinder plug (3). A latching element (10) is located in the region of the boundary surface between the lock cylinder and the plug and is activated by an electrically actuable blocking element (11) which is movable between a release position and a blocking position. The plug cannot be turned by means of the key when the blocking element is in its blocking position. The latching element (10) has a length which is slightly shorter than the axial length of the plug (3).

Abstract: A lock cylinder includes a cylindrical body with first and second ends and a curved surface between those ends. A keyway extends from the first end into the cylindrical body for receiving a key that operates the lock. A slot extends from the curved surface to the keyway and has a separate pair of spaced apart lips spaced from opposite ends of the slot. A locking bar is within the slot and has a recess spaced from each end within which a pair of lips are received. Separate springs in each recess act against the pairs of lips to bias the locking bar into the cylindrical body. A plurality of tumblers are slideably located within the cylindrical body at a junction between the keyway and the slot. When the key is removed from the keyway, the tumblers push the locking bar to project from the curved surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cylinder lock-key combination includes a cylinder housing (2) and a plug (3) provided with a key slot (3a). A row of pin tumblers (5) coact with a side bar (6) in a manner to prevent the side bar moving to its release position unless the correct key (4) is inserted into its operative position in the plug (3). The side bar (6) is activated at the ends of the side bar by one or more driving pins (7) which coact with the key side surface and which are guided in the plug for movement at right angles to the plane of the key slot (3a) and which function to press the side bar to its locking position as the key is withdrawn from its operative position.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes a cylindrical key plug with a key slot and a shell surrounding the plug. A first locking mechanism is provided by split top pins projecting across the shear surface interface between the plug and the shell and are positioned to align the split with the shear surface by notches of varying height located along the top of a key. Second and preferably third locking mechanisms are also located in the plug and include a locking bar that projects into a locking groove in the shell when in the locked position. The locking bar has an offset ridge along an upper edge that prevents the locking bar from moving to an unlocked position unless side pins having recesses adapted to receive the ridge are properly positioned by depressions of the correct depth along the side of the key to align the recesses with the ridge. The lock can be easily rekeyed by simply reversing the locking bar.

Abstract: A sidebar is provided for a mechanical lock. The lock includes a cylinder rotatable within a sleeve when a mated key is inserted in the cylinder and the key and the cylinder are rotated within the sleeve. The sidebar prevents rotation of the key and the cylinder when the mated key is not present in the cylinder. The sidebar includes a base portion and a body portion extending therefrom. The body portion has first and second opposed surfaces and at least one end. A pair of diverging chamfer surfaces extend from the end of the body portion of the sidebar. Each diverging chamfer surface intersects a distinct opposed surface on the body portion. The chamfer surfaces causes an increase in the shear strength of the sidebar so as to make forced rotation of the cylinder more difficult.

Abstract: A cylinder lock can be manipulated by a control key (7) and a system key (8), each of which has a system code (7a , 8a) and a side code (7b , 8b). With the aid of the control key (7), the lock-cylinder (2) of the lock can be removed from the casing (3) for replacement with another cylinder. The cylinder plug (6) is surrounded by a lock-part (5) having a latching element (5a) which is moveable through an angle of about 20.degree. between a latching and a releasing position. When replacing the lock-cylinder, the cylinder is released through the action of the side code (7b) on the control key (7) and a side-bar (20) which is manipulated by side pins (19) mounted in the plug (6). To this end, grooves (26, 25) provided respectively in the lock-cylinder (2) and the lock-part (5) for accommodation of the side-bar (20) may be provided with peripheral extensions which enable the side-bar to move idly.

Abstract: A hierarchical lock and key system includes a plurality of locks and keys wherein each key is provided with at least one unique bitting surface that engages a complementarily shaped tumbler pin tip to cause the tumbler pin to rotate and be positioned at a predetermined location. In one system, one key is provided with bittings to rotate the tumbler pins in a lock that is able to determine the rotational position of the tumbler pins. The one key may also operate a lock which does not determine the rotational position of the tumbler pins by positioning a tumbler pin at its proper elevation in the cylinder. Another key which has at least one different bitting from the one key will operate the latter lock (in which the tumblers do not have to be rotated). However, the other key will not operate the former lock because the bitting does not, properly rotate the tumbler pin to its unlocking location.

Abstract: A tool to start ignition side bar type lock cylinders in all Ford vehicles is provided and consists of using a tool which has a guide key to hold the tool in place, two tabs to cut into the face of the cylinder, a hexagonal shape at rear of tool to accept a wrench for turning the cylinder to the ON position and thus start the vehicle.

Abstract: A core lock assembly which is operable by two differently bitted keys is disclosed. The core lock assembly includes a shell defining a hollow portion for receiving a core which is capable of rotating to a first position under the control of a first key and to a second position under the control of a second, differently bitted key. The core lock assembly also includes a core rotation mechanism housed in the core for changing from a locked state to a first core rotatable state when the core rotation mechanism is engaged by the first key and for changing from the locked state to a second core rotatable state when the core rotation mechanism is engaged by the second key. The inner surface of the shell defines locking, first and second surface areas for cooperating with the core rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A safety lock for house doors and the like, adapted to be operated by a key having a front active profile (3), comprises an outer drum member (4), a cylindrical body (9) rotatably mounted with respect to the drum member and arranged within the latter and a number of safety plates (29) having notches (29a), housed internally to a cavity (13) of the cylindrical body and pivotally mounted around a pin (30). A tab (27) prevents, when the lock is locked, the rotation of the cylindrical body (9) with respect to the drum member (4). By inserting the key in the keyhole, the safety plates reach a reciprocal position which is such that the notches (29a) define a seat which receives the tab (27) thereby unlocking the lock. A cam member (33), which is tiltalble around the pin (30) and is urged by a spring (24), brings the tab back in the locking position when the key is withdrawn. By the oscillating arrangement of the safety plates (29) and the cam member (33), a lock of reduced axial bulk is obtained.

Abstract: A side bar lock decoder has a pair of guide plates laminarly arranged between a pair of side plates. Key portions of the plates have notches spaced for alignment with the lock wafers. Narrow passages between the guide plates extend from each of the notches to the edges of the base portions of the plates at approximately normal fingertip positions when the base portions are hand held. Wires slidably disposed in each of the passages extend from an outer end of each of the notches beyond the grip edges. One end of the wires abuts one of the wafers when the wafers and the notches are aligned. Springs, bias each of the wires toward a threshold reference position within the notches. Plungers, one connected to each of the wires, extend beyond the grip edges, are independently biased away from their respective edges by the springs. One or more housings secured to the laminar plates have at least one chamber therein for guiding the movement of each of the plungers during manipulation.

Abstract: A removable core cylinder lock having separate key-operated tumbler controlled fences is disclosed. The separately keyed fences permit differentiation between a locking/unlocking operational mode and a core insertion/removal mode to enhance security and applicability of the lock. The lock comprises a core received by a housing. The core has a longitudinal fence retractable by alignment of one group of tumblers and a transverse retainer retractable by alignment of a second group of tumblers wherein both fence and retainer engage the housing to lock the core therein. Insertion of a proper unlocking key permits retraction of the fence without retraction of the retainer so that the core can be rotated in the housing but not removed therefrom. Insertion of a proper removal key permits retraction of the fence and retainer for removal of the core from the housing. In such manner, one core can be rapidly substituted for another to change the keying for the unlocking mode.

Abstract: A cylindrical lock and key set with an electronic interlock circuit includes a self-destruct circuit portion which is intercepted, engaged and destructed by an intercept member when the cylinder is forcibly, axially removed from the lock sleeve. A second intercept member may engage the circuit and destruct it when the cylinder is forcibly rotated. Either or both of the intercept members may be located on the cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary type cylinder lock, a lock and key blade combination system and a locking tumbler are disclosed. The lock includes a row of locking tumblers (15a, 15b, 15c) being non-rotatably guided for elevational movement so as to cooperate with a side bar (19) for releasing the lock. The locking tumblers are provided with fingers (18a, 18b, 18c) located in specific positions, so that the free end portions (24a, 24b, 24c) of the fingers, which make contact with a wave-like code pattern of a key blade, form a specific, irregular longitudinal distribution pattern being different from the longitudinal distribution of the tumbler body parts.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a locking cylinder and a key therefor. The locking cylinder has a flat slide plate and at least one pin tumbler for selectively engaging a corresponding recess in a key inserted into the lock. Insertion of the proper key which results in displacement of the pin tumbler allows longitudinal sliding movement of the flat slide plate within the cylinder lock. Sliding movement of the flat plate aligns the side edges of the flat plate with side bar pins so that, following such longitudinal displacement, the body of the cylinder can be rotated relative to its housing to effect a locking or unlocking of the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A pick-resistant lock having a housing and a keyway cylinder rotatably mounted within the housing includes a plurality of tumblers and a lock bar associated with the cylinder to render picking of the lock difficult by conventional techniques. The housing has a cylinder-accepting bore provided with a pair of locking grooves arranged so as to face one another. The tumblers and lock bar are movable into and out of locking relationship with a corresponding one of the locking grooves and along parallel paths when the cylinder is positioned in a lock mode position. Springs mounted within the cylinder urge the lock bar and tumblers against one another and toward positions out of the locking grooves while maintaining the lock bar in a locked relationship within its corresponding locking groove so that the cylinder is prevented from rotating.

Abstract: A flat key has a blade formed with bitting along at least one of its edges, with a pair of relatively shallow, outwardly open, and generally parallel but spaced grooves formed in at least one of its faces extending generally longitudinally in a nonstraight path from the tip, and with a relatively deep and outwardly open groove formed in the one face and extending generally longitudinally in a nonstraight path from the tip generally nonparallel to the shallow grooves. This key is used with a lock that has a relatively stationary lock housing containing a rotatable lock cylinder formed with an axially outwardly open flat passage shaped to snugly receive the key blade, and independent first and second slides displaceable in the cylinder generally of the axis and parallel to the one face of a key in the passage and provided with respective long and short formations engageable generally radially of the axis with the deep and shallow grooves.

Abstract: This specification describes an improved lock of the type described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,447, granted Jan. 10, 1989. In locks of that type, a key is inserted into a key-cylinder and then the key sets a series of transfer tumblers that, in turn, set a series of lock opening elements. As the key-cylinder is rotated, the transfer tumblers are moved out of contact with the elements. Only at this time can the lock be opened, provided that the elements had been set correctly. The improvement in this specification permits the lock to be opened by more than one key. In other words, this lock permits "master-keying".

Abstract: This invention describes a lock where each of several tumblers is shaped as a disc and each has gear teeth along parts of its periphery. The teeth mesh with two partial racks that are formed on two side bars. These side bar operate in a manner similar to side bars in many popular locks of to-day. These tumblers are set or re-set into positions by a double bitted key that passes thru a central opening in each tumbler. By rolling the tumblers along the racks on the side bars the lock can be opened or closed. The key can be changed by merely opening the lock with one key and closing it with another.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lock where a key or a dial sets a set of elements into a unique configuration. The elements do not contain any information relating to the key. They are preferably all alike and, preferably, each of them terminates in a pointed end. Co-operating with these elements, the lock contains a perforated or indented reference plate where the perforation, or indentations, are so located that when the proper key or combination is fed into the lock the ends of the elements can all enter the plate and the lock can be opened. The lock has the additional feature that when it is desired to change the key, or the combination, only the plate needs to be changed. The key-set or the dial-set elements remain the same.

Abstract: This specification describes a lock where a key is inserted into a key cylinder and where the key sets a series of transfer tumblers. The tumblers project from the key cylinder, and the tumblers, in turn, set a series of lock opening elements into their prescribed positions. As the key-cylinder is rotated the transfer tumblers are moved out of contact with the elements. Only at this time can the lock be opened, provided that the elements had been correctly set.