Rotating pin tumbler side bar lock with side bar control

• US 6,477,875 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy High Security Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medeco Security Locks Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Perkins, Andy E., Field, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US09/981,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 704/09, 704/91, 704/93, 704/94, 704/95, 704/96
• US Class Current: 70/491
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0032 with both axially and radially arranged tumbler pins or balls
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0039 with pins which slide and rotate about their axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0042 with additional key identifying function, e.g. with use of additional key operated rotor-blocking elements, not of split pin tumbler type E05B27/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0053 for use with more than one key, e.g. master-slave key master key systems in general E05B35/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0082 Side bar locking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7593 Sliding tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/761 Rotatable pins [e.g., MEDECO lock]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7616 Including sidebar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7621 Including sidebar

Abstract

A twisting tumbler lock with a side bar is provided with additional levels of security by a axially reciprocable slider which is normally positioned to block operation of the side bar but is moved by a specially configured key to free operation of the side bar. This provides a third level of locking security, it also allows master keying. The unique key has a portion of a rib formed to cooperate with the slider to further allow key control.

Claims

1. A cylinder lock of the type having a rotatable cylinder with an axis and a keyway, the lock being controlled by rotatable reciprocating tumblers which are selectively contacted by a side bar under control of a key, with the improvements comprising;

a moveable member separate from the tumblers and operable by contact with the key and cooperating with the side bar to control locking movement of the side bar and control operation of the lock,

wherein the moveable member is a slider which slides in the cylinder parallel to the axis of the cylinder.

2. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 1, wherein the slider is biased in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder.

3. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 2, wherein the bias is provided by a spring in the cylinder to force the slider in a direction toward an entrance of the keyway.

4. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 2, wherein the slider has an extension which extends into the keyway for contacting the key.

5. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 4, wherein the extension is a projection shaped to cooperate with a portion of a key when inserted into the keyway.

6. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 2 wherein the slider is insertable into the lock through a keyway opening therein.

7. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 2 wherein the slider is insertable longitudinally into the end of the cylinder.

8. A key in combination with a cylinder lock as defined in claim 1, the key fitting into a keyway of the cylinder, a rib on the key, a portion of the rib positioned to contact and control locking movement of the movable member when the key is inserted into the keyway.

9. A master keying system comprising a cylinder lock as defined in claim 1 and keys as defined in claim 8, the keys having different configurations on the key and slider so that one key will operate to control and another key will not control operation of the slider.

10. A cylinder lock combination, including a rotatable cylinder with an axis and a keyway therein, the cylinder being controlled by rotatable reciprocating tumblers which contact and further control a side bar with the improvements comprising,

a slider carried by the cylinder,

a spring for biasing the slider to a position toward entrance of the keyway,

the slider having spaced tangs,

the side bar having spaced projections, the tangs on the slider and the projections on the side bar interfering with each other to prevent operation of the side bar unless the slider is moved against the bias of the spring until the tangs of the slider are within spaces between the side bar projections,

the slider having a projection with a contact surface which extends into the keyway, and

a key configured for insertion into the keyway, the key having a contact surface for contacting the contact surface of the projection on the slider and moving the slider against the bias of the spring to a position where the tangs on the slider clear the projections on the side bar.

11. A cylinder lock combination as in claim 10 wherein the slider is insertable into the lock through a bottom of the keyway.

12. A cylinder lock combination as in claim 10, wherein the slider is insertable longitudinally into the lock through an opening in the end of the cylinder.

13. A key and a cylinder lock having a rotatable cylinder with an axis and a keyway, rotatable reciprocating tumblers, a movable side bar for contacting the tumblers and a slider for controlling operation of the side bar, a projection on the slider extending into the keyway;

the key comprising a key bow, a key blade with a profile complementary to the configuration of the profile of the keyway, at least one rib on the key, and a contact surface on the rib for cooperating with the projection and moving the slider in the cylinder parallel to the axis of the cylinder to unblock the side bar.

14. A cylinder lock having a rotatable cylinder with an axis and a keyway therein, the lock being controlled by rotatable reciprocating tumblers which contact and control a side bar, with the improvement comprising,

a slider carried by the cylinder,

a spring for biasing the slider toward the entrance to the keyway,

the slider having spaced tangs,

the side bar having spaced projections,

the tangs on the slider and the projections on the side bar interfering with each other to prevent operation of the side bar unless the slider is moved against the bias of the spring until the tangs of the slider are within spaces between the side bar projections, and

the slider having a projection with a contact surface which extends into the keyway for cooperation and activation by a proper key insertable into the keyway.

15. A cylinder lock as defined in claim 14 wherein the contact surface on the slider projection is shaped to cooperate with various shaped contact surfaces on keys for the lock to provide master keying.