LOCK CYLINDER WITH LOCKING MEMBER

• US 20080307842A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company (Allegion PLC), Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Villani, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/493
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0064 whereby the rotor is irreversibly blocked or can only be moved back with an authorized tool or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7605 Pin tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7616 Including sidebar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7932 Anti-pick

Abstract

A lock cylinder that includes a housing and a plug. The housing defines a cylindrical cavity, and an outer pin chamber in communication with the cavity. The plug is rotatable within the cavity, and includes a key slot, a cylindrical outer surface, and an inner pin chamber aligned with the outer pin chamber when the plug is in a locked position. An outer pin is housed in the outer pin chamber, and an inner pin is housed in the inner pin chamber. The inner pin is engageable with a key inserted into the key slot, and further engageable with the outer pin. The lock cylinder also includes a lock member in communication with the housing and the plug that selectively disables the lock cylinder in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position without an appropriate key in the key slot.

Claims

1. A lock cylinder comprising:

a housing including a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical cavity, and an outer pin chamber communicating with the cavity;

an outer pin slidably housed in the outer pin chamber;

a plug disposed in the cavity and being rotatable within the cavity between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plug having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having an inner pin chamber that is aligned with the outer pin chamber when the plug is in the locked position;

a key slot disposed at least partially through the plug, the key slot communicating with the inner pin chamber;

an inner pin slidably housed in the inner pin chamber, the inner pin being engageable with a key inserted into the key slot, and the inner pin being engageable with the outer pin when the plug is in the locked position; and

a lock member in communication with the housing and the plug, the lock member configured to selectively disable the lock cylinder in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position without an appropriate key in the key slot.

2. The lock cylinder of claim 1, wherein the lock member is positioned between the housing and the plug, the lock member movable between a first position and a second position.

3. The lock cylinder of claim 2, wherein the plug defines a groove disposed in the cylindrical outer surface, the lock member slidable between the first position and the second position within the groove.

4. The lock cylinder of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical outer surface defines a circular cross-section, wherein the groove is defined by parallel opposed side walls and a bottom Wall extending between the side walls, and wherein the bottom wall defines a chord of the circular cross section.

5. The lock cylinder of claim 4, wherein the bottom wall of the groove is defined by a substantially planar surface.

6. The lock cylinder of claim 4, wherein the lock member includes a first surface in communication with the bottom wall, and a second surface defining a cylindrical surface coextensive with the cylindrical outer surface of the plug when the lock member is in the first position.

7. The lock cylinder of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical wall further defines a recess in communication with the cavity, and wherein the second surface meets the first surface to define a tapered end of the lock member that is smaller than an opening to the recess.

8. The lock cylinder of claim 4, wherein the lock member includes substantially parallel side surfaces, and wherein each of the side surfaces is slidable along a respective side wall of the groove.

9. The lock cylinder of claim 8, wherein at least one side surface defines an arcuate recess aligned with the inner pin chamber when the lock member is in the first position such that the inner pin can be engaged with the lock member within the arcuate recess.

10. The lock cylinder of claim 9, wherein the plug defines a plurality of inner pin chambers, and wherein the lock member is positioned between two of the plurality of inner pin chambers such that an arcuate recess defined in each side surface is aligned with a respective one of the two inner pin chambers when the lock member is in the first position such that the inner pins can be engaged with the lock member within the respective arcuate recesses.

11. The lock cylinder of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical wall further defines a recess in communication with the cavity, and wherein the lock member is movable into engagement with the recess to inhibit rotation of the plug to the unlocked position in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position without an appropriate key in the key slot.

12. The lock cylinder of claim 11, wherein the recess extends partially through the cylindrical wall from inside the cavity.

13. The lock cylinder of claim 11, wherein the outer pin chamber defines a vertical axis, and wherein the recess is angularly spaced between about 30 degrees and 90 degrees from the vertical axis along a circumference of the housing.

14. The lock cylinder of claim 13, wherein the lock member is positioned adjacent a top of the plug when the lock member is in a first position, and wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess.

15. The lock cylinder of claim 14, wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess under the force of gravity.

16. The lock cylinder of claim 11, wherein the cavity includes a horizontal axis generally defining a horizontal plane bisecting the cavity, and wherein the recess intersects the cylindrical wall generally above the plane.

17. The lock cylinder of claim 11, wherein the recess is defined by a wall sloping generally downward away from the cavity.

18. The lock cylinder of claim 17, wherein the cylindrical outer surface includes a groove defined by a bottom wall, and wherein the bottom wall defining the groove is coplanar with and aligned with the wall defining the recess in response to partial rotation of the plug toward the unlocked position.

19. The lock cylinder of claim 18, wherein, without an appropriate key in the key slot, the lock member is slidable from along the bottom wall to along the wall defining the recess such that the lock member is partially engaged with the cylindrical wall of the housing.

20. The lock cylinder of claim 19, wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess in a generally downward direction.

21. The lock cylinder of claim 1, wherein the inner pin is engaged with the lock member in response to insertion of an appropriate key into the key slot such that the lock member is substantially immovable, and such that the plug is rotatable to the unlocked position in response to the lock member being substantially immovable.

22. The lock cylinder of claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to disable the lock cylinder in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position when neither the outer pin nor the inner pin is engaged with the lock member.

23. A lock cylinder comprising:

a housing including a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical cavity, an outer pin chamber communicating with the cavity and defining a vertical axis, and a recess communicating With the cavity, the recess being angularly spaced from the vertical axis of the outer pin chamber;

an outer pin slidably housed in the outer pin chamber;

a plug disposed in the cavity and being rotatable within the cavity between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plug having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having an inner pin chamber that is aligned with the outer pin chamber when the plug is in the locked position;

a key slot disposed at least partially through the plug, the key slot communicating with the inner pin chamber;

an inner pin slidably housed in the inner pin chamber, the inner pin being engageable with a key inserted into the key slot, and the inner pin being engageable with the outer pin when the plug is in the locked position; and

a lock member movably mounted on the plug, the lock member being movable into the recess in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position without an appropriate key in the key slot.

24. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the lock member is positioned between the housing and the plug.

25. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the lock member includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second surface meets the first surface to define a tapered end of the lock member that is smaller than an opening to the recess.

26. The lock cylinder of claim 25, wherein the lock member is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the second surface defines a cylindrical surface coextensive with the cylindrical outer surface of the plug when the lock member is in the first position.

27. The lock cylinder of claim 25, wherein the lock member further includes substantially parallel side surfaces, mid wherein at least one side surface defines an arcuate recess aligned with the inner pin chamber when the lock member is in the first position such that the inner pin can be engaged with the lock member within the arcuate recess.

28. The lock cylinder of claim 27, wherein the plug defines a plurality of inner pin chambers, and wherein the lock member is positioned between two of the plurality of inner pin chambers such that each side surface of the lock member includes an arcuate recess aligned with a respective one of the two inner pin chambers when the lock member is in the first position such that the inner pins can be engaged with the lock member within the respective arcuate recesses.

29. The lock cylinder of claim 27, wherein the cylindrical outer surface includes a groove defined by a bottom wall.

30. The lock cylinder of claim 29, wherein the lock member is slidable within the groove along the bottom wall.

31. The lock cylinder of claim 29, wherein the groove is defined by parallel opposed side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls, and wherein each of the side surfaces of the lock member is slidable along a respective side wall of the groove.

32. The lock cylinder of claim 29, wherein the bottom wall of the groove is defined by a substantially planar surface.

33. The lock cylinder of claim 32, wherein the recess is defined by a wall sloping generally downward away from the cavity.

34. The lock cylinder of claim 33, wherein the bottom wall defining the groove is coplanar with and aligned with the wall defining the recess in response to partial rotation of the plug toward the unlocked position.

35. The lock cylinder of claim 34, wherein, without an appropriate key in the key slot, the lock member is slidable from along the bottom wall to along the wall defining the recess such that the lock member is partially engaged with the cylindrical wall of the housing.

36. The lock cylinder of claim 35, wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess in a generally downward direction.

37. The lock cylinder of claim 36, wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess assisted by gravity.

38. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the recess extends partially through the cylindrical wall from inside the cavity.

39. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the recess is angularly spaced between about 30 degrees and 90 degrees from the vertical axis along a circumference of the housing.

40. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the lock member is movable into the recess under the force of at least one of a spring, a magnet, and gravity.

41. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the cavity includes a horizontal axis generally defining a horizontal plane bisecting the cavity, and wherein the recess intersects the cylindrical wall generally above the plane.

42. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the inner pin is engaged with the lock member in response to insertion of an appropriate key into the key slot such that the lock member is substantially immovable, and such that the plug is rotatable to the unlocked position in response to the lock member being substantially immovable.

43. The lock cylinder of claim 23, wherein the lock member is configured to disable the lock cylinder in response to partial rotation of the plug from the locked position when neither the outer pin nor the inner pin is engaged with the lock member.

44. A lock cylinder comprising:

a housing including a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical cavity and an outer pin chamber communicating with the cavity;

an outer pin slidably housed in the outer pin chamber;

a plug disposed in the cavity and being rotatable within the cavity between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plug having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having an inner pin chamber that is aligned with the outer pin chamber when the plug is in the locked position;

a key slot disposed at least partially through the plug, the key slot communicating with the inner pin chamber;

an inner pin slidably housed in the inner pin chamber, the inner pin being engageable with a key inserted into the key slot, and the inner pin being engageable with the outer pin when the plug is in the locked position; and

a lock member mounted on the plug for movement between a blocking position and a withdrawn position, the lock member being engageable with the inner pin such that the lock member is held in the withdrawn position by the inner pin during rotation of the plug to the unlocked position with an appropriate key in the key slot.

45. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein the lock member is positioned between the housing and the plug.

46. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein the lock member includes a first surface in communication with the bottom wall, and a second surface defining a cylindrical surface coextensive with the cylindrical outer surface of the plug when the lock member is in the withdrawn position.

47. The lock cylinder of claim 46, wherein the cylindrical wall further defines a recess in communication with the cavity, and wherein the second surface meets the first surface to define a tapered end of the lock member that is smaller than an opening to the recess.

48. The lock cylinder of claim 47, wherein the lock member further includes substantially parallel side surfaces, and wherein at least one side surface defines an arcuate recess that is aligned with the inner pin chamber when the lock member is in the withdrawn position such that the inner pin can be engaged with the lock member within the arcuate recess.

49. The lock cylinder of claim 48, wherein each side surface defines an arcuate recess, and wherein each arcuate recess is aligned with a respective inner pin chamber when the lock member is in the withdrawn position such that an inner pin of the respective inner pin chamber can be engaged with the lock member within each arcuate recess.

50. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein the cylindrical outer surface includes a groove defined by a bottom wall, and wherein the lock member is slidable within the groove along the bottom wall between the withdrawn position and the blocking position.

51. The lock cylinder of claim 50, wherein the groove is further defined by parallel opposed side walls, and wherein the lock member is slidable along the side walls of the groove.

52. The lock cylinder of claim 50, wherein the cylindrical wall further defines a recess in communication with the cavity, and wherein the lock member is movable into the recess when the lock member is moved to the blocking position.

53. The lock cylinder of claim 52, wherein the bottom wall defining the groove is coplanar with and aligned with the wall defining the recess in response to partial rotation of the plug toward the unlocked position.

54. The lock cylinder of claim 53, wherein, without an appropriate key in the key slot, the lock member is slidable from along the bottom wall to along the wall defining the recess such that the lock member is partially engaged with the cylindrical wall of the housing.

55. The lock cylinder of claim 53, wherein the recess is defined by a wall sloping generally downward away from the cavity.

56. The lock cylinder of claim 52, wherein the outer pin chamber defines a vertical axis, and wherein the recess is angularly spaced from between about 30 degrees and 90 degrees from the vertical axis along a circumference of the housing.

57. The lock cylinder of claim 52, wherein the recess extends partially through the wall from inside the cavity.

58. The lock cylinder of claim 52, wherein the lock member is positioned adjacent a top of the plug when the lock member is in the withdrawn position, and wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess.

59. The lock cylinder of claim 58, wherein the lock member is slidable into the recess under the force of gravity.

60. The lock cylinder of claim 52, wherein the cavity includes a horizontal axis generally defining a horizontal plane bisecting the cavity, and wherein the recess intersects the cylindrical wall generally above the plane.

61. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein the lock member is slidable to the blocking position in a generally downward direction.

62. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein the inner pin is engaged with the lock member in response to insertion of an appropriate key into the key slot such that the lock member is substantially immovable, and such that the plug is rotatable to the unlocked position in response to the lock member being substantially immovable.

63. The lock cylinder of claim 44, wherein, when neither the Outer pin nor the inner pin is engaged with the lock member, the lock member is movable into the blocking position and is configured to disable the lock cylinder.

64. A method of operating a lock cylinder including a housing including a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical cavity, and an outer pin chamber communicating with the cavity, an outer pin slidably housed in the outer pin chamber, a plug disposed in the cavity and being rotatable within the cavity between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plug having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having an inner pin chamber aligned with the outer pin chamber when the plug is in the locked position, a key slot disposed at least partially through the plug, the key slot communicating with the inner pin chamber, and an inner pin slidably housed in the inner pin chamber, the inner pin being engageable with a key inserted into the key slot, and the inner pin being engageable with the outer pin when the plug is in the locked position, the method comprising:

permitting rotation of the plug from the locked position to the unlocked position when an appropriate key is inserted into the key slot; and

resisting further rotation of the plug to the unlocked position after partial rotation of the plug from the locked position when an inappropriate key is inserted into the key slot.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising

providing a lock member positioned between the housing and the plug, the lock member movable between a first position and a second position;

permitting engagement of the inner pin with the lock member; and

retaining the lock member in the first position when an appropriate key is inserted into the key slot.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein permitting rotation of the plug includes

aligning an arcuate recess of the lock member with the inner pin chamber;

engaging the outer pin with the lock member within the arcuate recess;

permitting insertion of an appropriate key into the key slot;

engaging the inner pin with the outer pin in response to insertion of the appropriate key;

moving the outer pin out of engagement with the lock member;

engaging the inner pin with the lock member within the arcuate recess; and

inhibiting movement of the lock member relative to the plug.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein resisting further rotation of the plug includes

bumping the inner pin with an inappropriate key;

sliding the lock member from the first position to the second position;

engaging the lock member with a recess defined by the housing in response to movement of the lock member to the second position; and

inhibiting further rotation of the plug relative to the housing.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein engaging the lock member with the recess includes

engaging the outer pin with the lock member;

moving the outer pin out of engagement with the lock member in response to bumping the inner pin with the inappropriate key;

forming a gap between the outer pin and the inner pin in response to the outer pin moving out of engagement with the lock member such that the lock member is not engaged by either the outer pin or by the inner pin; and

sliding the lock member within a groove of the plug to the second position.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein sliding the lock member to the second position includes engaging a tapered end of the lock member with the recess.