Electric lock and key assembly

Abstract

An electrical lock assembly which includes within a lock housing a set of flexible electrical key contacts and a set of electrical unlock contacts mounted in the lock housing and located proximate to the key contacts. A key directly engages the flexible key contacts and presses them directly against the unlock contacts thereby completing an electrical circuit between the key contacts and the unlock contacts. An unlock circuit means electrically connected to the unlock contacts is responsive to the completion of a circuit between the key contacts and the unlock contacts. In another embodiment the lock assembly includes flexible alarm contacts which are pressed against a second set of alarm contacts to activate an alarm circuit when an improper key is employed.

Description

Claims

1. An electric lock comprising:

a. a lock housing;

b. a set of flexible electrical, key contacts mounted in said housing, said key contacts being insulated from each other;

c. a set of electrical unlock contacts, mounted in said housing and located proximate to said key contacts, said unlock contacts being insulated from each other;

d. an easily duplicated key having protrusions thereon for directly engaging said flexible key contacts and pressing them directly against said unlock contacts, thereby completing an electrical circuit between said key contacts and said unlock contacts;

e. a rotatable key guide located within said housing and adapted to receive said key;

f. an unlock circuit means electrically connected to each of said unlock contacts and responsive thereto for producing an unlock electrical signal upon insertion of said key into said key guide so as to directly engage each of said flexible key contacts and upon rotation of said key guide to press said key contacts directly against said unlock contacts.

2. The electric lock assembly of claim 1 which includes mounted within said housing electrical alarm contacts which activate an alarm system when an improper key is employed.

3. The electric lock assembly of claim 2 wherein said electrical alarm contacts, mounted in said housing include a first set of flexible alarm contacts, each being insulated from the other, a second set of alarm contacts located proximate to said first set of flexible alarm contacts, and alarm circuit means electrically connected to said second set of alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm signal upon insertion of an improper key into said key guide so as to directly engage at least one of said flexible alarm contacts in said first set and press said flexible alarm contact into direct engagement with at least one of said alarm contacts in said second set.

4. A lock assembly comprising:

a. a lock housing;

b. a rotatable key guide within said housing, said key guide being movable from a first position to a second position;

c. a set of flexible electrical key contacts, mounted in said housing, said key contacts being insulated from each other;

d. a set of electrical unlock contacts, mounted in said housing proximate to said key contacts to form a switching circuit, said unlock contacts being insulated from each other;

e. a locking solenoid which is energized upon closing said unlock contacts in said switching circuit;

f. a locking means which is moved from one position to another position when said locking solenoid is energized;

g. the contacts of said switching circuit being closed when an easily duplicated key having prearranged protrusions moves said key guide from said first position to said second position and said protrusions directly engage said key contacts and press said key contacts directly into engagement with said unlock contacts of said switching circuit, completing an electrical circuit between said key contacts and said electrical contacts of said switching circuit, whereby said locking solenoid is energized and said locking means is moved from said one position to said other position.

5. The electric lock assembly of claim 4 which includes mounted within said housing electrical alarm contacts which activate an alarm system when an improper key is employed.

6. The electric lock assembly of claim 5 wherein said electrical alarm contacts, mounted in said housing include a first set of flexible alarm contacts, each being insulated from the other, a second set of alarm contacts located proximate to said first set of flexible alarm contacts, and alarm circuit means electrically connected to said second set of alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm signal upon insertion of an improper key into said key guide so as to directly engage at least one of said flexible alarm contacts in said first set and press said flexible alarm contact into direct engagement with at least one of said alarm contacts in said second set.