Patent Application
20160265247
The present invention generally relates to locks, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a plug assembly for locks that hinders or prevents unauthorized access, such as through the use of lock picks and bump keys.
Lock cylinders operate by placement of a key into the keyway of the cylinder. The key aligns pins so the cylinder can be turned to open the lock. Bump keys, pick tools, or other devices that can be used to provide the required pin alignment to rotate the lock cylinder may be able to defeat the lock in some cases to provide unauthorized access. In order to prevent unauthorized access by defeating the lock of a lock cylinder, there is a need for the unique and inventive apparatuses, systems, and methods disclosed herein.
In certain embodiments, a plug assembly for a lock includes a plug body that defines a key way and a plug housing that rotatably receives the plug body. The plug body defines a plurality of slots that receive respective ones of a plurality of blocking members. The blocking members each include an outer side that includes a cam member that engages an inner surface of the plug housing, and an inner side that defines a blocking portion. In a first position of the plug body relative to the plug housing, the cam members are received in detents of the plug housing so that the blocking portions are positioned out of the path of the keyway. When the plug body is rotated relative to the plug housing, the cam members slide out of the detents and into contact with the inner surface of the plug housing, which results in a radially inward displacement, or movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the keyway, of the blocking members relative to the plug body so the blocking portions enter and obstruct the keyway.
In another aspect, a key is provided that includes a blade with at least first and second receptacles on opposite sides thereof to receive the blocking portions of respective ones of the blocking members. Since the blocking members are received in the receptacles as the plug body is rotated, the key can be positioned in the keyway without interference from the blocking member and used to open the lock. However, in the event an unauthorized key or pick tool without the required number, size and positioning of receptacles to receive the blocking members is used to rotate the lock, the blocking members either enter the keyway and contact or jam the key or pick tool, or are prevented from disengaging the detents by the key or pick tool. This jams the key or tool between the blocking members in the keyway and prevents the plug body from rotating further relative to the plug housing.
While it contemplated at least two blocking members are provided with one blocking member on each side of the keyway, more than two blocking members are also possible. The associated key would have a corresponding number of receptacles in an appropriate size, spacing and alignment to receive the blocking members. The blocking members can be employed in plug assemblies that employ either sidebar locking members that extend along the keyway, or in pin arrangements.
Still other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for the same. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
As used herein, a reference to the length, height, or width of an element of a plug assembly for a lock is to be interpreted in light of the following characterization of the dimensions and definitions unless specifically noted otherwise. The geometry of the plug assembly is cylindrical and defines three mutually orthogonal axes; each dimension is measured along one of the axes, Length is measured along a longitudinal axis defined as the axial direction of the cylinder and is the direction in which the keyway extends from its opening. Height is measured along a vertical axis, the direction in which the bittings are formed on a corresponding key, which will also be referred to as the vertical direction. The center of the key is bisected by a central vertical axis. Width is measured along the horizontal axis, which will be referred to as the horizontal direction. These terms are used for ease and convenience of description, and are without regard to the orientation of a system with respect to the environment. For example, descriptions that reference a vertical direction are equally applicable when the system is in a horizontal orientation or an off-axis orientation. Therefore the terms are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter herein.
With reference to
With additional reference to
Blocking members 68a, 68b are movable in their respective slot 66a, 66b between a first position, shown in
Key 14 includes a blade 16 and a bow 18. Blade 16 can include any suitable configuration for a key blade. Blade 16 has opposite sides 22a, 22b extending along the length of blade 16. In addition, blade 16 includes a number of receptacles 20a, 20b opening at respective ones of the opposite sides 22a, 22b of blade 16. Receptacles 20a, 20b are sized and spaced to receive respective ones of the blocking members 68a, 68b when plug body 60 is rotated from the home position to the second position indicated in
Blocking members 68a, 68b will now be further described with reference to blocking member 68a, it being understood that blocking member 68b can be configured similarly, and blocking members 68a, 68b are referred to collectively as blocking member 68. It should be understood that more, than two blocking members 68, slots 66a, 66b, and receptacles 20a, 20b in blade 16 are contemplated. Furthermore, each of the blocking member 68 need not be identically configured to one another, and the respective slot and receptacle that receives the respective blocking member can be sized and configured accordingly to match the size and shape of the blocking member to be received therein.
In the illustrated embodiment, blocking member 68 includes a plate body 74. In one embodiment, plate body 74 defines a shape that is a sector, such as a section of a circle or oval, Plate body 74 includes a curved outer edge 76 positioned along an inner surface 34 of chamber 32 of plug housing 30. Plate body 74 further includes a first inner edge 78 and a second inner edge 80 that are linear and extend toward one another from opposite ends of curved outer edge 76, Inner edges 78, 80 extend radially inwardly to intersect at an intersection 82. Plate body 74 may also include a flange 84 to support biasing member 90a against plug body 60 to normally bias blocking member 68 radially outwardly against inner surface 34.
Inner surface 34 of plug housing 30 defines first and second detents 36a, 36b on opposite sides of the inner surface of plug housing 30, First and second detents 36a, 36b receive respective ones of the cam portions 72a, 72b (collectively cam portions 72) extending radially outwardly from the curved outer edge 76 of a respective one of the blocking members 68a, 68b when the blocking members 68 are in the home or first position of
When plug body 60 is in the first or home position relative to plug housing 30 as shown in
Although blocking members 68 can be employed with a pin-type tumbler arrangement, the illustrated embodiment includes a locking sidebar 100 housed in an axial groove 92 of plug body 60. The sidebar 100 is biased radially outwardly with, for example, one or more biasing members 102, and includes a radially inwardly facing interference portion 104 that communicates with keyway 64 and an opposite radially outwardly facing tapered portion 106. Tapered portion 106 can be rectilinear or curvilinear in configuration. Upon insertion of key 14, the key 14 engages the sidebar 100 and a number of rack pins (not shown) to allow operation of the lock. Further examples of various embodiments of cylinder and sidebar arrangement can be found in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/194,546 filed on Feb. 28, 2014, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/176,037 filed on Feb. 7, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
As further shown in
Various aspects of the present disclosure are contemplated. For example, according to one aspect a plug assembly for a lock is provided. The plug assembly includes a substantially cylindrical plug body with a key way extending along a longitudinal axis of the plug body and at least two slots extending from an outer surface of the plug body to the key way. At least one of the slots is positioned on a first side of the keyway and at least one of the slots is positioned on a second side of the keyway. The apparatus also includes at least two blocking members in respective ones of the at least two slots. Each blocking member includes a blocking portion on a radially inward side of the blocking member and a cam portion on a radially outer side of the blocking member. The apparatus also includes a substantially cylindrical plug housing for receiving the plug body. The plug housing includes an inner surface with at least one detent on each of opposite sides of the plug housing to receive the cam portion of a respective one of the blocking members. The at least two blocking members are biased to position the cam portion thereof in the respective detent so the blocking portions are not located in the keyway when the plug body is in a first position relative to the plug housing. Rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing from the first position displaces the cam portions from the respective detent to move the at least two blocking members radially inwardly relative to the plug body and position the blocking portion of each blocking member in the keyway.
In one embodiment, the plug assembly includes an axial channel extending in the plug body opening in the keyway and at the outer surface. A locking sidebar is positioned in the axial channel. The sidebar includes an interference portion on a radially inner side of the sidebar, and a tapered portion on a radially outer side of the sidebar. The plug housing includes a groove. The tapered portion of the sidebar is biased into the groove with the plug body in the first position. The groove is sized so that rotation of the plug body positions the blocking portions of the blocking members in the keyway before the tapered portion of the sidebar is displaced from the groove to move the sidebar into the keyway. In a refinement of this embodiment, in a circumferential direction around the inner surface of the plug housing, the groove defines a first width and each of the detents defines a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width.
In another embodiment, each of the cam portions is tapered. In yet another embodiment, the blocking portions extend along a majority of a height of the key way when in positioned in the keyway. In another embodiment, the blocking portions of the at least two blocking members overlap one another across a center vertical axis of the keyway when the plug body is rotated from the first position. In still another embodiment, the blocking portions of the at least two blocking members do not overlap a center vertical axis of the keyway when the plug body is rotated from the first position.
In another embodiment, each of the at least two blocking members includes a plate body. The plate body includes a curved outer edge extending along the inner surface of the plug housing and the cam portion projects outwardly from the curved outer edge. In a refinement of this embodiment, the plate body includes two linear inner edges extending radially inwardly from opposite ends of the curved outer edge. In a further refinement of this embodiment, the two linear edges intersect one another so the plate body defines a sector.
According to another aspect, a method of obstructing a keyway of a lock is provided. The method includes positioning a first blocking member and a second blocking member outside of the keyway when a plug body defining the keyway is in a first position relative a plug housing receiving the plug body. The first blocking member and the second blocking member are located within the plug body on opposite sides of the keyway. The method also includes rotating the plug body relative to the plug housing to displace the first blocking member and the second blocking member radially inwardly into the keyway so that the first and second blocking members obstruct the keyway.
In one embodiment of the method, positioning the first blocking member and the second blocking member includes biasing the first blocking member and the second blocking member radially outwardly into contact with an inner surface of the plug housing, in a refinement of this embodiment, the first blocking member includes a first cam portion and the second blocking member includes a second cam portion, and the first and second cam portions are received in respective ones of a first detent and a second detent in the inner surface of the plug housing when the plug body is in the first position. In still another embodiment, rotating the plug body includes displacing the first cam portion and the second cam portion out of respective ones of the first detent and the second detent and into contact with the inner surface of the plug housing.
In another embodiment of the method, rotating the plug body includes turning a key inserted in the keyway and the radially inwardly displaced first blocking member and second blocking member are received in respective ones of a first receptacle and a second receptacle defined by the key. In yet another embodiment, the radially inwardly displaced first and second blocking members overlap one another in the keyway when viewed in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the plug body that extends along the keyway.
According to another aspect a system includes a plug assembly for a lock. The plug assembly includes a substantially cylindrical plug body with a keyway extending along a longitudinal axis of the plug body and at least first and second blocking members housed in the plug body on opposite sides of the keyway. Each blocking member including a blocking portion on a radially inward side of the blocking member and a cam portion on a radially outer side of the blocking member. A substantially cylindrical plug housing receives the plug body. The plug housing includes an inner surface with at least one detent on each of opposite sides of the plug housing to receive the cam portion of a respective one of the blocking members. Each of the first and second blocking members is biased to position the cam portion thereof in the respective detent so the blocking portions are not located in the keyway when the plug body is in a first position relative to the plug housing. Rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing from the first position displaces the cam portions of the first and second blocking members from the respective detents and displaces the blocking members radially inwardly relative to the plug body to position the blocking portion of each blocking member in the keyway. The system also includes a key for the lock. The key includes a blade positionable in the keyway, and the key includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle along the blade that are sized and positioned relative to one another to receive respective ones of the blocking portions of the first and second blocking members when the blade is positioned in the keyway and the plug body is rotated relative to the plug housing from the first position.
In one embodiment of the system, the first and second blocking members are positioned in respective ones of first and second slots defined by the plug body, and the slots extend between an outer surface of the plug body and the keyway. In another embodiment, the blocking portions overlap one another across a center vertical axis of the key when the blocking members are positioned in the key way. In still another embodiment, the blocking portion of each blocking member extends along a majority of a height of the keyway when the blocking portion is positioned in the keyway.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit, of the inventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
