System for obstructing movement of lock pins

• US 7,775,074 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marc W. Tobias, Tobias Bluzmanis
• Original Assignee: Marc W. Tobias, Tobias Bluzmanis
• Inventors: Tobias, Marc W., Bluzmanis, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US12/074,656
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 704/19, 70494-496, 70376-378, 703/92, 704/09, 70491-493
• US Class Current: 70/493
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0023 characterized by variation of the contact surface between the key and the tumbler pins or plates
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0035 characterized by longitudinal bit variations
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/20 Skeleton keys; Devices for picking locks; Other devices for similar purposes ; Means to open locks not otherwise provided for, e.g. lock pullers forcing doors open A62B3/005
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0017 Tumblers or pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0039 with pins which slide and rotate about their axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 27/0082 Side bar locking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7605 Pin 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 70/7797 Picking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7881 Bitting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7932 Anti-pick

Abstract

A system for obstructing movement of a pin in a pin tumbler lock is disclosed. The system includes a pin movable in a bore in a plug of a pin tumbler lock, and the pin has a channel formed thereon for receiving a portion of a sidebar of the lock. The system further includes a blocking member mounted on the pin and configured to obstruct movement of the portion of the sidebar along the channel of the pin.

Claims

1. A system for obstructing movement of a pin in a pin tumbler lock, comprising:

an elongated pin movable in a bore in a plug of a pin tumbler lock, the pin having a channel formed thereon and configured to receive a portion of a sidebar of the lock, the channel being elongated in a longitudinal direction of the pin; and

a blocking member mounted on the pin and configured to obstruct movement of the portion of the sidebar along the channel of the pin;

wherein the blocking member comprises a protrusion of the surface of the pin into the channel of the pin.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the blocking member extends into and is positioned in the channel of the pin to block sliding movement of the portion of the sidebar along the channel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the blocking member is removably mounted on the pin.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the blocking member extends across a width of the channel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and at least a portion of the perimeter edge having serrations for engaging serrations formed on the channel of the pin.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and the perimeter edge having at least one tab extending therefrom for engaging at least one tab engaging recess in the pin adjacent to the channel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the channel is defined by sides extending in a longitudinal direction of the pin, and the blocking member is positioned between the sides of the channel.

8. A pin tumbler lock comprising:

a shell;

a plug rotatably positioned in the shell, the plug defining a keyway and at least one bore positioned along and extending away from the keyway; and

a sidebar mounted on the plug, the sidebar engaging the shell to prevent rotation of the plug in the shell and being movable into the plug to permit the plug to be rotated in the shell;

a bottom pin positioned in the bore and being slidable with respect to the bore, the bottom pin having a contact surface oriented toward the keyway for contacting a key inserted into the keyway, the bottom pin having a channel formed thereon for receiving a portion of the sidebar to permit movement of the sidebar out of engagement with the shell to permit rotation of the plug in the shell; and

means on the bottom pin for obstructing movement of the pin along the bore when a portion of the sidebar is extended into the channel of the pin prior to insertion of a key into the keyway to raise the pin in the bore;

wherein the channel is defined by sides extending in a longitudinal direction of the pin, and the means for obstructing movement is positioned between the sides of the channel.

9. The pin tumbler lock of claim 8 wherein the means for obstructing comprises a blocking member extending into the channel of the pin to block sliding movement of the portion of the sidebar along the channel.

10. The pin tumbler lock of claim 9 wherein the blocking member is positioned in the channel of the pin.

11. The pin tumbler lock of claim 9 wherein the blocking member is removably mounted on the pin.

12. The pin tumbler lock of claim 9 wherein the blocking member extends across a width of the channel.

13. The pin tumbler lock of claim 9 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and at least a portion of the perimeter edge having serrations for engaging serrations formed on the channel of the pin.

14. The pin tumbler lock of claim 9 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and the perimeter edge having at least one tab extending therefrom for engaging at least one tab engaging recess in the pin adjacent to the channel.

15. The pin tumbler lock of claim 8 wherein the means for obstructing comprises a protrusion of the surface of the pin into the channel of the pin.

16. In a pin tumbler lock having a shell, a plug rotatably positioned in the shell, and a sidebar mounted on the plug, the sidebar engaging the shell to prevent rotation of the plug in the shell and being movable into the plug to permit the plug to be rotated in the shell, the plug defining a keyway and at least one bore positioned along and extending away from the keyway, the lock including a bottom pin positioned in the bore and being slidable with respect to the bore, the bottom pin having a contact surface oriented toward the keyway for contacting a key inserted into the keyway, the bottom pin having a channel formed thereon for receiving a portion of the sidebar to permit movement of the sidebar out of engagement with the shell to permit rotation of the plug in the shell, comprising:

a blocking member configured to at least partially block free longitudinal movement of the bottom pin along the bore when a portion of the sidebar is extended into the channel of the pin prior to insertion of a key into the keyway to raise the pin in the bore, the blocking member being located on the pin and extending into the channel to occupy at least a portion of the channel.

17. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the channel is defined by sides extending in a longitudinal direction of the pin, and the blocking member is positioned between the sides of the channel.

18. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the blocking member is removably mounted on the pin.

19. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the blocking member extends across a width of the channel.

20. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and at least a portion of the perimeter edge having serrations for engaging serrations formed on the channel of the pin.

21. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the blocking member has a perimeter edge, and the perimeter edge having at least one tab extending therefrom for engaging at least one tab engaging recess in the pin adjacent to the channel.

22. The pin tumbler lock of claim 16 wherein the blocking member comprises a protrusion of the surface of the pin into the channel of the pin.