The present disclosure is directed in general to an improved cylinder lock. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to a locking pin assembly operable to increase security against burglary, such as by key bumping.
Cylinder locks typically include a cylinder casing and a barrel rotatable in the casing. A plurality of barrel pins typically sit in the barrel and a plurality of pins are spring biased in registration therewith in the cylinder casing. When an appropriate key is inserted in the lock, the barrel pins are urged into height alignment inside the barrel and the casing pins are urged against the springs into a column portion extending radially from the casing, such that the shear line is not blocked (by any pin(s)) and the barrel can be turned inside the cylinder casing to lock or unlock the lock.
Locks to an entry must, in addition to allowing authorized individuals to enter, have specific key profiles that prevent unauthorized key duplication, either by an unauthorized entrant or an unauthorized professional assembling the duplicate key. Additionally, a variety of top-secret circumstances may require keys with more combinations that are difficult to duplicate in order to avoid unauthorized entry.
This key typically has flared punchings, or depressions, which, following insertion of the key in the lock's keyway, abut against control heads of pins housed in the lock. The depth and position of the punchings constitute the cuts of the key that corresponds to the position of barrel pins adapted to allow the rotation of the barrel. In fact, when the key corresponding to the lock is inserted into the keyway and the barrel pins abut in their respective punching, the opposite ends of the barrel pins align on the sliding surface between the barrel and cylindrical housing, allowing the rotation of the barrel itself.
One known method of opening this type of lock is called “key bumping”, which consists in preparing a “bumping key” provided with punchings having the maximum depth obtainable in the thickness of the key itself. The bumping key can be inserted in the keyway of the lock at a length greater than the control key. In general, the bumping key is made starting from a blank or untreated key, adapted to create a duplicate of the control key of the lock, providing thereon maximum-depth punchings (depressions, e.g.), and filing the typical stop abutments of the control key. By inserting the bumping key in the keyway, all the barrel pins arrange at their maximum height. By hitting the key to push it further into the keyway, the pistons are subjected to an impact in a radial direction, making the rotation of the rotor possible.
The disclosure provided herein addresses these issues.
Provided herein are exemplary implementations of an improved cylinder lock. More specifically, provided, are exemplary implementation of a locking pin assembly operable to increase security against burglary, such as by key bumping.
In an exemplary implementation, provided herein is a locking pin assembly comprising: a barrel pin assembly comprising a barrel pin having a predetermined length with an apical end and a distal end, the barrel pin defining a longitudinal axis; and an extender, having an apical end, slidably, coupled to the barrel pin, operable to slidably translate along the barrel pin in parallel with the barrel pin's longitudinal axis a column pin assembly comprising: a cylindrical sheath having an apical end, a basal end, an internal diameter and an external diameter; and a column pin having an apical end and a basal end, the column pin being nested in and concentric with the sheath, the column pin being slidably coupled to the cylindrical sheath; a stopper; and a biaser disposed beneath the stopper and coupled to the column pin, operable to bias the column pin and cylindrical sheath away from the stopper.
In another exemplary implementation, provided herein is a key comprising a key blade for use with the locking pin assemblies disclosed, defining at least one planar surface with a longitudinal axis, the key blade defining: at least one depression (e.g., flared punchings), operable to reversibly engage the basal end of the barrel pin; and an elongated engagement area abutting the at least one depression, the elongated engagement area defining a longitudinal axis and having a complementary surface to the predetermined surface topology of the engagement member of the extender forming a portion of the locking pin assembly.
In yet another exemplary implementation, provided herein is a cylinder lock comprising: a rotatable barrel defining an external, circumferential surface, having a proximal end and a distal end with an axial keyway and a plurality of barrel bores extending radially from, and in communication with the keyway, the barrel being selectably, rotatably movable within a cylindrical housing portion; the cylindrical housing portion having a column portion with a plurality of column bores, each column bore being in registration with a barrel bore, the each column bore extending radially from the cylindrical housing portion, wherein at least one column bore and at least one barrel bore in registration therewith, in combination, comprise, or contains the locking pin assemblies disclosed herein.
In an exemplary implementation, further provided herein is a method of preventing an unauthorized entry to an enclosed space having an opening with a door having a cylinder lock therein by key bumping, the cylinder lock configured to transition between a locked position preventing entry to the enclosed space, and an open position allowing entry to the enclosed space, the method comprises: providing a door wherein the cylinder lock comprises: a rotatable barrel defining an external surface, having a proximal end and a distal end with an axial keyway and a plurality of barrel bores extending radially from, and in communication with the keyway, the barrel being selectably, rotatably movable within a cylindrical housing portion; the cylindrical housing portion having a column portion with a plurality of column bores in registration with the plurality of column bores, extending radially from the cylindrical housing portion, wherein at least one column bore and barrel bore in registration therewith, both—in combination comprise a locking pin assembly, wherein the locking pin assembly comprises a barrel pin assembly disposed within the barrel bore, the barrel pin assembly comprising a barrel pin having a predetermined length with an apical end and a distal end, the barrel pin defining a longitudinal axis; and an extender, having an apical end, slidably, coupled to the barrel pin, operable to slidably translate along the barrel pin in parallel with the barrel pin's longitudinal axis; a column pin assembly disposed within the column bore, the column pin assembly comprising: a cylindrical sheath having an apical end, a basal end, an internal diameter and an external diameter; and a column pin having an apical end and a basal end, the column pin being nested in and concentric with the cylindrical sheath, the column pin being slidably coupled to the cylindrical sheath; a stopper engaged within the column bore; and a biaser disposed in the column bore beneath the stopper and coupled to the column pin, operable to bias the column pin and cylindrical sheath away from the stopper toward the axial keyway.
In a further implementation, provided herein is a key assembly comprising: an elongated key blade, the elongated key blade being substantially flat and having a first surface and a symmetric second surface defining a longitudinal axis; an ovoid depression defined on the first surface with a major axis and a minor axis, having side walls and a floor, wherein the major axis of the ovoid depression extends from the center of the elongated key blade—transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated key blade; an through aperture, defined in the ovoid depression spanning the width of the elongated key blade, the through aperture having a diameter smaller than the minor axis of the ovoid depression and is bored in the center of the key blade, wherein the floor of the ovoid depression form a shelf extending radially to the aperture; an ovoid male cap accommodated in the depression comprising: an outer surface and an inner surface; a double flanged cylindrical fitting having an internal diameter extending inward from the inner surface, the fitting having a basal resilient interrupted flange, operable to frictionally engage a portion of an ovoid female base, wherein the; the ovoid female base accommodated in the depression comprising: an outer surface identical to the outer surface of the ovoid male cap, and an inner surface; a cylindrical well defined in the inner surface; an annulus extending inward on the periphery of the well, the annulus having an outer diameter sized to abut the minor axis of the ovoid depression, and be larger than the through aperture, the annulus defining an internal rim operable to engage the basal resilient interrupted flange of the ovoid male cap; and a first biasing element, disposed within the double flanged cylindrical fitting and abutting the inner surface at the cylindrical well of the ovoid female base and is operable to bias the ovoid male cap from the ovoid female base, wherein the outer surface of the ovoid male cap defines at least two different topologies.
For a better understanding of the locking pin assembly described herein and their use in a cylinder lock, with regard to the exemplary implementations thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections throughout and in which:
Provided herein are exemplary implementations of a locking pin assembly described herein and their use in a cylinder lock, and in methods for preventing, or inhibiting unauthorized opening using key bumping.
The term “coupled”, including its various forms such as “operably coupling”, “coupling” or “couplable”, refers to and comprises any direct or indirect, structural coupling, connection or attachment, or adaptation or capability for such a direct or indirect structural or operational coupling, connection or attachment, including integrally formed components and components which are coupled via or through another component or by the forming process. Indirect coupling may involve coupling through an intermediary member or adhesive, or abutting and otherwise resting against, whether frictionally or by separate means without any physical connection.
In addition, the term “slidably” or “slidably coupled” refers to movement of one surface (for example the latching assembly) over a second surface (for example, the housing) while maintaining smooth continuous contact between the two surfaces. In another exemplary implementation, the term “slidably coupled” means a state in which two or more components are coupled to one another such that at least one of the components (e.g., the nested column pin assembly) at least slides with respect to another component (e.g., column bores). Likewise; the terms “slide,” “slid” or “sliding” are defined as moving, gliding or passing along or through a surface, although continuous contact at each point along the path is not necessarily required.
The term “engage” and various forms thereof, when used, refer to the application of any forces that tend to hold the engaged components together against inadvertent or undesired separating forces (e.g., such as may be introduced during use of the lock). It is to be understood, however, that engagement does not in all cases require an interlocking connection that is maintained against every conceivable type or magnitude of separating force.
The term “abut”, or “abuts” should not be understood to strictly mean that the respective parts must be touching. Rather, “abuts” means that any remaining space between an abutting portion will not cancel or nullify the intended operation of the abutting components.
In the context of the disclosure, the term “operable” means the system and/or the device and/or the program, or a certain element or step is fully functional, sized, adapted and calibrated, comprises elements for, and meets applicable operability requirements to perform a recited function when activated, coupled, implemented, actuated, effected, or implemented.
In the context of the disclosure, “biaser”, interchangeable with “biasing element” means any device that provides a biasing force. Representative biasing elements include but are not limited to springs (e.g., elastomeric or metal springs, torsion springs, coil springs, leaf springs, tension springs, compression springs, extension springs, spiral springs, volute springs, flat springs, and the like), detents (e.g., spring-loaded detent balls, cones, wedges, cylinders, and the like), pneumatic devices, hydraulic devices, magnets, and the like, and combinations thereof. Likewise, “biasing member” as used herein refers to one or more members that applies an urging force between two elements.
In addition, for the purposes of the present disclosure, directional or positional terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “basal”, “upper,” “apical”, “lower,” “side,” “front,” “frontal,” “forward,” “rear,” “rearward,” “back,” “trailing,” “above,” “below,” “left,” “right,” “radial,” “vertical,” “upward,” “downward,” “outer,” “inner,” “exterior,” “interior,” “intermediate,” etc., are merely used for convenience in describing the various implementations of the present disclosure.
In the context of the disclosure, the term “accommodate” refers to the ability of an accommodating element (e.g., cylindrical hinging member 8031) to allow passage or retention of another element (e.g., barrel pin 802) at close tolerance, without substantial space for other elements or components. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “accommodate” need only mean that at least a portion of something is inside the interior space of the accommodating element (e.g., cylindrical hinging member 8031), and there is not necessarily a requirement for all portions (e.g., of barrel pin 802, or column pin 801) to be inside the interior space of the accommodating element.
A more complete understanding of the components, and devices disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures (also referred to herein as “FIG.”) are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof, their relative size relationship and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary implementations. Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the exemplary implementations selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function. Likewise, cross sections are referred to on normal orthogonal coordinate system having XYZ axis, such that Y axis refers to front-to-back, X axis refers to side-to-side, and Z axis refers to up-and-down.
Turning now to
As further illustrated in
In addition, column pin 801 is a cylindrical rod, defining top portion 8013 having first diameter D1 and length, mid-portion 8014 having second diameter D2 and length and basal portion 8015 having third diameter D3 and length. Likewise, biaser, or biasing element 805 is likewise a dual frustoconical (base-to-base) cylindrical (e.g., compression) spring having apical end 8052 and basal end 8051, both defining end diameter D8, with mid-portion 8053 defining mid-diameter D7; the end diameter D8 of biaser 805 (compression e.g.,) spring being larger than first diameter D1 of top portion 8013 of column pin 801 and smaller than second diameter D2; and wherein internal diameter D6 of cylindrical sheath 804 is larger than mid-portion 8053 diameter D7 of the biasing element 805 (compression e.g.,) spring.
Moving on to barrel pin 802, which, in an exemplary implementation is a cylindrical rod and wherein flanged apical end 8022 defines diameter D3 that is identical to third diameter D3 of basal portion 8015 of column pin 801, and wherein the external D5 and internal diameter D6 of cylindrical sheath 804 are each identical to the respective external and internal diameters D5, D6, of cylindrical hinging member 8031 of extender 803.
Accordingly, and in another exemplary implementation, locking pin assembly 800, is operable to transition between: a configuration, whereby when incorporated in a cylindrical lock will allow the barrel to freely rotate within the cylindrical housing (e.g., drum) and allow opening of the lock, whereby basal end 8012 of column pin 801, nested within cylindrical sheath 804 (configured to telescopically move therein) and while being coplanar (in other words, substantially all points on both elements portions exist on a single geometric continuous plane) with basal end 8041 thereof, are abutting apical end 8022 of barrel pin 802 nested (and configured to telescopically move therein) within cylindrical hinging member 8031 and being coplanar with apical end 8038 thereof. Conversely in a locking configuration, at least one of: basal end 8012 of column pin 801, basal end 8041 of cylindrical sheath 804, apical end 8022 of barrel pin 802, and apical end 8038 of cylindrical hinging member 8031—are not coplanar.
As indicated, typically key has flared punchings, or depressions, which, following insertion of the key in the lock's keyway (see e.g.,
As illustrated in
In certain exemplary implementations, locking pin assembly 800, and key blade 100, are sized adapted and configured to operate a cylinder lock. Accordingly, provided and illustrated in
As illustrated e.g., in
As further illustrated in
Turning now to
As illustrated, for example, in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
In another exemplary implementation, key assembly 90 further comprising; in ovoid male cap 910: first circular opening 9102 being coaxial with double flanged cylindrical fitting 9104; first ring 9101 disposed on outer surface 9100 of ovoid male cap 910, first ring 9101 being coaxial with first circular opening 9102 and having internal diameter smaller than internal diameter of double flanged cylindrical fitting 9104; and first ball bearing 9103, sized and configures to partially extend from outer surface 9100 outward from first ring 9101, first ball bearing 9103 being biased outward by first biasing element 912 (see e.g.,
Additionally, or alternatively, in yet another exemplary implementation illustrated n
Turning now to
As illustrated in conjunction with
As indicated, key blade 900 with flared punchings, or depressions 904i, which, following insertion of key blade 900 in keyway 205, abut against barrel pins assemblies 8101, 8102 and 8101, 8202 (see e.g.,
To reiterate, preparing a “bumping key” comprises provided with punchings having the maximum depth obtainable in the thickness of the key itself. The bumping key can be inserted in the keyway of the lock at a length greater than the key blade 900. In general, the bumping key is made by providing thereon maximum-depth depressions. By inserting the bumping key in the keyway, all the barrel pins arrange at their maximum height. By hitting the key to push it further into the keyway, the pistons are subjected to an impact in a radial direction, making the rotation of the rotor possible. However, using the anti-bumping pin assemblies disclosed herein, the presence of barrel pins assemblies 8101, 8102 and 8101, 8202 (see e.g.,
In an exemplary implementation, the locking pin assembly, incorporated in cylinder lock 200, operable to transition between a locked position where at least one of: basal end 8012 of column pin 801, basal end 8041 of cylindrical sheath 804, apical end 8022 of barrel pin 802, and apical end 8038 of cylindrical hinging member 8031—are not coplanar (see e.g.,
Accordingly, provided herein is a method of preventing an unauthorized entry to an enclosed space having an opening with a door having cylinder lock 200 therein by key bumping, cylinder lock 200 configured to transition between locked position preventing entry to enclosed space, and an open position allowing entry to enclosed space, the method comprises: providing a door (not shown) wherein cylinder lock 200 comprises: rotatable barrel 210 defining external surface 211, having proximal 212 end and distal end 213 with an axial keyway 205 and plurality of barrel bores 215k extending radially from, and in communication with axial keyway 205, barrel 210 being selectably, rotatably movable within cylindrical housing portion 201; cylindrical housing portion 201 having column portion 202 with plurality of column bores 203j in registration with plurality of column bores 215k, extending radially from cylindrical housing portion 201, wherein one jth column bore 203j and at least one kth barrel bore 215k in registration with that jth column bore 203j, both—in combination comprise locking pin assembly 800, wherein locking pin assembly 800 comprises barrel pin assembly disposed within kth barrel bore 215k, barrel pin assembly comprising barrel pin 802 having predetermined length with apical end 8022 and distal end 8021, barrel pin 802 defining longitudinal axis XL802; and extender 403, 404, 803 (see e.g.,
The term “about”, when used in the description of the technology and/or claims means that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, an amount, size, formulation, parameter or other quantity or characteristic is “about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such and may include the end points of any range provided including, for example ±25%, or ±20%, specifically, ±15%, or ±10%, more specifically, ±5% of the indicated value of the disclosed amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics.
All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. “Combination” is inclusive of blends, mixtures, alloys, reaction products, and the like. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to denote one element from another. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, and are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The suffix “(s)” as used herein is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the term that it modifies, thereby including one or more of that term (e.g., the bore(s) includes one or more bore). Reference throughout the specification to “one exemplary implementation”, “another exemplary implementation”, “an exemplary implementation”, and so forth, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the exemplary implementation is included in at least one exemplary implementation described herein, and may or may not be present in other exemplary implementations. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various exemplary implementations.
As used herein, the language referring in certain exemplary implementations to “sized, shaped and configured” refer to complimentary surfaces that facilitate the interaction indicated, for example, engaging the basal end 8033 of engagement member 8031 in extender 803 on complimentary surface 1040 (or 1041, 1042 for basal ends 4033, 4043, see e.g.,
While particular exemplary implementations have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they may be amended, are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.