Patent Application
20160115711
The present invention generally relates to modular locking cartridges, and more particularly but not exclusively to lock cylinders including such cartridges.
Lock cylinders, particularly those of the interchangeable core variety, have complex part tolerances and pinning to allow the cylinder to function properly. The complexities can also make the pinning process difficult and laborious. If pinning is off, the entire assembly may need to be emptied and reset. Furthermore, many traditional interchangeable core assemblies suffer from a tendency to “explode” when the plug is removed from the shell. That is to say, the springs eject the internal components out of the assembly, thereby losing the pinning placement and running the risk of damaging, destroying, or losing one or more components. Therefore, a need remains for further improvements in lock cylinder assemblies.
An exemplary locking cartridge includes a housing, first and second plates rotatably mounted in the housing, a blocking member, and a movable member. The cartridge also includes a cam interface which urges the first plate toward the second plate when the plates are rotated. The blocking member is configured to move among a blocking position and an unblocking position in response to engagement with a first cut on a key. When in the blocking position, the blocking member prevents the first plate from moving toward the second plate. When in the unblocking position, the blocking member does not prevent the first plate from moving toward the second plate. With the second plate blocked from moving toward the first plate, the cam interface prevents rotation of the first plate in the first rotational direction. The movable member is configured to move among a first position and a second position in response to engagement with a second cut on the key. In certain embodiments, the movable member may be a control pin or a second blocking member. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects 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, the terms “longitudinal”, “lateral”, and “transverse” are used to denote motion or spacing along or substantially along three mutually perpendicular axes. In the coordinate plane illustrated in
With reference to
The shell 110 includes a body portion 111 defining a chamber 112 in which the plug 120 is positioned, and may further include a tower 114 configured to allow the cylinder 100 to be installed into an existing cylinder housing (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the tower 114 is configured such that the cylinder 100 is a key-in-lever type lock cylinder. However, it is also contemplated that the shell 110 may be configured such that the cylinder 100 is of another configuration or format, such as, for example, small format interchangeable core, full size, large format, mortise, and/or rim. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the tower 114 may be omitted.
The plug 120 is disposed within the chamber 112 and comprises a plug body 122 and a plurality of cartridges 140. The plug body 122 comprises a faceplate 124 including a passage 125 and a pair of posts 126. The posts 126 extend distally from the faceplate 124 and through the passages 142 formed in the cartridges 140. The plug 120 may be formed by stacking the cartridges 140 on the plug body 122 such that passages 144 formed in the cartridges 140 are aligned with the faceplate passage 125, thereby defining a keyway configured to receive the key 130. The plug 120 may further comprise a tailpiece (not illustrated) rotationally coupled to the plug body 122 so as to transfer rotation of the plug body 122 to a deadbolt or another form of a locking element. One or more of the cartridges 140 may be a cartridge 200 of the type described below, while others may be another type of cartridge 200′.
The key 130 includes a shank 131 having a tip 132, an edge 133, and a side surface 134. The key 130 includes a first cut 136 comprising a plurality of first bitting features 137, and may further comprise a second cut 138 comprising a plurality of second bitting features 139. Each of the cuts 136, 138 comprises a key code defined by the size and position of the bitting features 137, 139. In the illustrated form, the first cut 136 is formed along the edge 133, and the second cut 138 is formed along the side surface 134. The illustrated first cut 136 is of the type commonly known as an “edge cut”, and the first bitting features 137 are edge-cut bittings. Additionally, the illustrated second cut 138 is of the type commonly known as a “side-milling”, and the second bitting features 139 are side-milled bittings.
While the exemplary key 130 includes an edge cut 136 and a side-milling 138, it is also contemplated that additional or alternative types of cuts may be utilized. For example, the side surface 134 may instead include a dimple cut comprising a key code defined by the lateral depth (i.e., along the illustrated Y-axis) of a plurality of dimple bitting features. In other embodiments, the second side surface and/or the second edge of the key 130 may include a key cut. Additionally, the key 130 need not necessarily include a cut formed along the edge 133 or a cut formed along the first side surface 134.
With additional reference to
The illustrative housing 210 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 211 and a pair of ridges 212 which provide the housing 210 with a non-circular outer perimeter. The shell 110 includes a pair of correspondingly-shaped channels 113 (
The stop plate 220 and the cam plate 240 are rotatably mounted in the housing 210, and a retaining ring 204 may be included to retain the plates 220, 240 within the housing 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining ring 204 is releasably coupled to the housing 210 by a pair of collars 205 which engage protrusions 215 formed on the housing 210. It is also contemplated that the retaining ring 204 may be releasably coupled to the housing 210 in another manner, and/or that the retaining ring 204 may be fixedly coupled to the housing 210. In certain embodiments, the retaining ring 204 may be considered to form a portion of the housing 210.
While the illustrated housings 210 are rotationally coupled with the shell 110 by engagement of the ridges 212 with the channels 113, other forms of rotational coupling are also contemplated. In certain forms, the housing 210 may be rotationally coupled to the shell 110 via engagement between the collars 205 and grooves 116 formed in the shell 110, and the ridges 212 and channels 113 may be omitted. Additionally, other non-circular geometries may be utilized to rotationally couple the housing 210 to the shell 110. For example, the housing 210 may include more or fewer ridges 212, and/or the periphery of the housing 210 may have a polygonal geometry. Furthermore, while the illustrated chamber 112 has a geometry corresponding to that of the housing 210, it is also contemplated that other forms of engagement features may be utilized. For example, both the housing 210 and the shell 110 may include a channel, and the housing 210 may be coupled to the shell 110 by a spline seated in the channels. Furthermore, the housings 210 may be rotationally coupled with one another. For example, the housings 210 may include sets of mating protrusions and recesses which, when the cartridges 200 are stacked, rotationally couple each housing 210 to that of an adjacent cartridge 200.
The stop plate 220 is rotatably mounted in the housing 210 and includes a pair of openings 222 configured to receive the posts 126. Similarly, the cam plate 240 is rotatably mounted in the housing 210 and includes a pair of openings 242 aligned with the openings 222, thereby forming the passages 142. With the cartridges 200 stacked on the plug body 122, the posts 126 extend longitudinally through the passages 142, thereby rotationally coupling the plates 220, 240 with one another and with the plug body 122. The stop plate 220 and the cam plate 240 also include slots 224, 244, each of which is configured to receive the blocking member 230.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the plates 220, 240 includes two openings 222, 242 corresponding to the two posts 126 of the plug body 122. However, it is also contemplated that more or fewer posts 126 may be utilized, and that the plates 220, 240 may include a corresponding number of openings. It is further contemplated that the plates 220, 240 may be coupled to the plug body 122 in another manner and/or to one another in another manner. In certain embodiments, the plates 220, 240 of the cartridges need not be rotationally coupled with one another. In such embodiments, the cartridges 200 may simply be stacked in the chamber 112.
The blocking member 230 is slidingly mounted on the stop plate 220 and is disposed partially within the slot 224. The blocking member 230 includes a pair of legs 232 and an engagement surface 233. The legs 232 are laterally offset from one another by a distance corresponding to the width of the key 130 such that a passage 234 is formed therebetween. While the illustrated blocking member 230 includes two legs 232, in other forms the blocking member 230 include only one leg 232 which may be slidingly coupled to an edge 225 of the slot 224. The cartridge 200 may also include a spring 202 urging the blocking member 230 toward the blocking position. When no key is inserted into the keyway, the legs 232 may be urged into contact with a surface of the cartridge 200 opposite the spring 202. The passage 234 is configured to receive the shank 131 of the key 130, and the engagement surface 233 is configured to travel along the edge cut 136 as the shank 131 is inserted. The engagement surface 233 may be tapered or curved to facilitate such travel. The opposing forces provided by the spring 202 and the shank 131 ensure that the position of the blocking member 230 corresponds to the root depth of the shank 131 at the point of contact.
In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement surface 233 is configured to engage the edge-cut bitting features 137. In other embodiments, the blocking member 230 may be configured to engage another type of key cut, such as the side-milling 138. For example, one of the legs 232 may include a lateral protrusion extending into the passage 234 and configured to travel along the side-milled bitting features 139.
With specific reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the cam surfaces on the housing 210 are tapered protrusions 213, and the cam surfaces on the cam plate 240 are tapered recesses 243. However, in other embodiments, the cam plate 240 may include one or more tapered protrusions, and the housing 210 may include correspondingly-shaped recesses. Furthermore, while the illustrated cam surfaces are both tapered in a substantially rectilinear manner, it is also contemplated that one or more of the cam surfaces may have a different geometry so long as the interaction of the cam surfaces urges the cam plate 240 toward the stop plate 220 when the cam plate 240 is rotated. By way of non-limiting example, one or more of the cam surfaces may include a curvilinear geometry. It is also contemplated that the cam surfaces may be formed on the retaining ring 204 in addition to or in lieu of cam surfaces formed on the housing 210. In such embodiments, the retaining ring 204 may be positioned on the same side of the cartridge 200 as the cam plate 240.
While the illustrated cartridge 200 includes one stop plate 220 and one cam plate 240, it is also contemplated that the cartridge 200 may include two cam plates 240. In such embodiments, both the retaining ring 204 and the housing 210 may include cam surfaces such as the tapered protrusions 213. The cam surfaces formed by the retaining ring 204 may interact with the first cam plate, and the cam surfaces formed by the housing 210 may interact with the second cam plate, whereby the cam plates cam axially inward toward one another when rotated.
With specific reference to
If the plates 220, 240 are rotated while the blocking member 230 is in the blocking position, the cam plate 240 comes into contact with the interference protrusion 235, which in turn prevents further longitudinal displacement of the cam plate 240. With longitudinal displacement of the cam plate 240 prevented, interference between the tapered protrusions 213 and the tapered recesses 243 prevents further rotation of the cam plate 240, thereby defining a blocked state of the cartridge 200. If the plates 220, 240 are rotated while the blocking member 230 is in the unblocking position, the cam plate 240 is free to move toward the stop plate 220 as the interference protrusion 235 enters the recess 245. The cam plate 240 is thus free to continue rotating, thereby defining an unblocked state of the cartridge 200.
In the exemplary cartridge 200, the cam plate 240 includes a single recess 245, and the cam plate 240 is rotatable with respect to the housing 210 at a single position of the blocking member 230. However, it is also contemplated that the cam plate 240 may include two or more of the recesses 245. In such cartridges 200, the cam plate 240 is rotatable with respect to the housing 210 at a number of positions of the blocking member 230 corresponding to the number of recesses 245.
In the illustrated embodiment, the interference protrusion 235 is formed on the blocking member 230, and the recess 245 is formed on the cam plate 240. However, in other embodiments, the cam plate 240 may include the protrusion, and the blocking member 230 may include the correspondingly-shaped recess. Furthermore, while the blocking member 230 is slidingly coupled to the stop plate 220, it is also contemplated that the blocking member 230 may be slidingly coupled to the cam plate 240. In such embodiments, the interference protrusion 235 may be formed on one of the blocking member 230 and the stop plate 220, and the correspondingly-shaped recess 245 may be formed on the other of the blocking member 230 and the stop plate 220.
As noted above, when the key 130 is inserted into the cartridge 200, the engagement surfaces 233 travel along the edge cut 136. When the shank 131 is fully inserted, the position of each blocking member 230 corresponds to the root depth of the bitting feature 137 with which the blocking member 230 is engaged. As the key 130 is rotated, engagement between the cam surfaces 213, 243 urges each cam plate 240 toward the corresponding stop plate 220. If the proper key 130 has been inserted, each blocking member 230 is in the unblocked position, and each of the interference protrusions 235 is aligned with a corresponding recess 245. In such a case, each cam plate 240 is free to move toward the corresponding stop plate 220, and further rotation of the key 130 is not prevented. If one or more of the blocking members 230 are in the blocked position, the interference protrusion 235 of that blocking member 230 prevents further longitudinal movement of the corresponding cam plate 240. With the cam plate 240 blocked from further longitudinal movement, interference between the cam surfaces 213, 243 prevents further rotation of the cam plate 240 and the key 130.
It should be appreciated that various features of the cartridge 200 may be selected such that the blocking member 230 moves to the unblocking position when engaged with a predetermined form of bitting feature 137. For example, the positions of the interference protrusion 235 and/or the recess 245 may be selected to correspond to an edge-cut bitting feature 137 of a particular root depth. In certain forms, the cartridge 200 may be labeled with a code corresponding to the root depth (or depths if the cartridge 200 includes multiple recesses 245) of a bitting feature 137 which will cause the interference protrusion 235 to align with the recess 245. Given the bitting code of a particular key 130, a user can easily select and install the cartridges 200, which will in turn enable the cylinder 100 to be operated by the key 130.
While the plug 120 is illustrated with the above-described cartridges 200, the cartridges 140 which form the plug 120 may take a variety of other forms and configuration, such as those described below. In certain forms, each of the cartridges 140 may include a first blocking member which engages the edge cut 136, and a second blocking member which engages the side milling 138. Because the cartridges 140 are interchangeable and self-contained, they may be used across a variety of cylinder formats by selecting an appropriate configuration of the shell 110.
With reference to
When in the unblocking position (
With specific reference to
Various features of the cartridge 300 may be selected such that the blocking member 330 moves to the unblocking position when engaged with a predetermined form of the dimple 159. For example, the diameter of the blocking member 330 may be selected to conform to dimples 159 of a predetermined depth. Additionally or in the alternative, the transverse position of the cavity 350 may be may be selected such that the blocking member 330 engages only dimples 159 formed at a corresponding location on the key 150.
While the illustrated blocking member 330 is configured as a ball or sphere, it is also contemplated that a laterally-movable blocking member may have a non-spherical shape or configuration. For example, a blocking member may be configured as a pin that is laterally slidable along a channel formed in one of the plates 320, 340, and the other of the plates 320, 340 may include an interference protrusion aligned with the channel. In such embodiments, the pin may be aligned with the interference protrusion when in a blocking position, thereby preventing the protrusion from entering the channel and blocking longitudinal movement of the cam plate 340. When engaged with an appropriate bitting feature, the pin may move out of alignment with the interference protrusion wherein the cam plate 340 is free to move toward the stop plate 320.
With reference to
As best seen in
In the illustrated form, the bitting feature 139 which corresponds to the cartridge 400 has such a root depth that it does not engage the peg 436. As such, when the key 130 is inserted, the wide end 432 may rest on the base 452. In other forms, the bitting feature 139 may be configured to engage the peg 436, in which case the blocking member 430 need not be in contact with the base 452. When the proper key 130 is inserted, the blocking member 430 is in an unblocking position (
With specific reference to
Various features of the cartridge 400 may be selected such that the blocking member 430 moves to the unblocking position when engaged with a predetermined form of the bitting feature 139. For example, the position of the peg 436 on the body 431 and the transverse position of the cavity 450 may be selected to correspond to a side-milled bitting feature 139 of a particular root depth. In other embodiments, the peg 436 may instead be configured to engage the edge cut 136.
With reference to
The control ring 550 generally includes an annular portion 552 and a control lug 554 which extends radially outward from the annular portion 552. The annular portion 552 may include a pair of channels 553 which receive the ridges 612. Each of the channels 553 extends about a portion of the inner circumference of the annular portion 552 such that the control ring 550 can be rotated about the control cartridge 600. The longitudinal width (in the illustrated X-direction) of the annular portion 552 may be less than that of the housing 610 such that the proximal and distal ends of the ridges 612 remain engaged with the groove 513. In certain embodiments, the annular portion 552 need not define a complete circle, and may be configured to only partially surround the control cartridge 600.
While other forms are contemplated, the illustrated lock cylinder 500 is a small format interchangeable core (SFIC) cylinder including an SFIC tower 514. The tower 514 includes a slot 515 sized and configured to receive the control lug 554. As shown in
When the cylinder 500 is installed in the housing 590, the control ring 550 is operable to selectively retain the cylinder 500 in the housing 590. As described in further detail below, the control ring 550 is rotatable among a holding position and a releasing position, and the control cartridge 600 is operable to rotate the control ring 550 upon insertion of a proper key 530. In the holding position (
While the illustrated tower 514 includes a slot 515 which receives the control lug 554 when the control ring 550 is in the releasing position, other forms are also contemplated. For example, the tower 514 may be longitudinally shortened, as depicted by the phantom tower 514′. In either case, a portion of the control lug 554 is not aligned with the tower 514 in the holding position such that the control lug 554 is positioned at least partially in the housing slot 594. In the releasing position, the portion is aligned with the tower 514, and is not positioned in the housing slot 594.
The control cartridge 600 includes a control pin 660 and may also include a blocking member 630. While the illustrated blocking member 630 is configured substantially similar to the above-described blocking member 230, it is also contemplated that the blocking member 630 may be of another form such as, for example, those described above with reference to
When a proper key 530 is inserted, each of the cartridges 540 transitions from the blocked state to the unblocked state, thereby enabling rotation of the key 530. In the illustrated form, the key 530 is a control key, and one of the side-milled bitting features 539 is a control bitting 539′. When the key 530 is inserted, the control bitting 539′ engages the arm 662, thereby urging the tip 664 into the opening 556. Additionally, one of the edge-cut bittings 537 engages the blocking member 630, thereby moving the interference protrusion 635 into alignment with a recess 625 formed in the stop plate 620. If the key 530 is subsequently rotated, the control pin 660 causes the control ring 550 to rotate from the holding position (
It is to be appreciated that if the key 530 does not include a control bitting 539′ of the appropriate configuration, the key 530 may still operate the lock cylinder 500 in a normal fashion. In other words, if a key includes the appropriate cuts 536, 538, but the bitting feature 539 corresponding to the control cartridge 600 is not capable of moving the tip 664 into the opening 556, such a key may still be capable of transitioning the cylinder 500 between its locked and unlocked states.
In the illustrated control cartridge 600, the blocking member 630 is configured to engage the edge cut 536, and the control pin 660 configured to engage a side-milling 538. It is also contemplated that the control pin 660 may instead be configured to engage another form of cut, such as the edge cut 536. In such forms, the blocking member 630 may be configured to engage the side-milling 538 or a dimple cut. In certain embodiments, the control cartridge 600 need not include a blocking member.
With reference to
The shell 710 includes a tower 714 which defines a slot 715 configured to receive the control lug 754 of the control ring 750, and a plurality of shell tumbler shafts 717 configured to receive the driving pins 771. The cylinder 700 also includes a plurality of springs 774 which are seated in the shell tumbler shafts 717 and bias the driving pins 771 toward the plug 720.
The illustrated plug 720 includes a body 722 having a pair of posts 726 which extend from the distal end of the body 722 and engage a tailpiece 729. The plug body 722 defines a plurality of plug tumbler shafts 727 configured to receive the driven pins 772. When the proper key 730 is inserted, the driving pins 771 are positioned in the shell tumbler shafts 717, and the driven pins 772 are positioned in the plug tumbler shafts 727. In this state, interfaces between the pins are aligned with a shear line 776 defined between the plug body 722 and the shell 710, and the tumbler set 770 does not prevent rotation of the plug 720 with respect to the shell 710.
The plug 720 also includes the above-described control cartridge 600 mounted on the posts 726 such that the plates 620, 640 are rotationally coupled to the plug body 722. Thus, when the control cartridge 600 is in the blocked state, rotation of the key 730 is prevented. Additionally, when the key 730 includes an appropriate bitting feature 739, the control pin 660 (not visible) engages the control ring 750, enabling rotation of the control lug 754 in the manner described above.
With reference to
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.
