Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relates to a new type of pin
tumbler lock and is par-ticularly characterized by the unusual
operating features of being pick-proof and key changeable.
That is, the keying of the lock may be changed simply by
inserting the new key under specified conditions. No lock
disassembly is required.
Conventional pin tumbler locks can be picked because
the pins may be aligned one at a time in a serial fashion,
although the intention is that all pins must be aligned
simultaneously to open the lock.
It is an important object of the invention to pro-
vide a pick-proof lock.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
user key change capability without disassembly consistent
with the preceding object.
It is a further object of the invention that serial
pin setting cannot be accomplished consistent with one or
both of the preceding objects~
A construction in accordance with the present
invention includes a key settable, pick-proof lock comprising
means forming a movable key plug with a locking channel, and
means defining at least one array of a plurality of key chips
movably mounted within the locking channel for resting on a
land of a key inserted into the channel~ A movable lock plug
is provided with a channel therein, and means define a lock
body structure containing the key plug and the lock plug~
~ Means are also provided for forming a lock pin movably
; arranged within the lock plug channel and being movable
between a first position extending partly out of the lock
plug channel and engaging the body to lock the lock plug and
a second position wholly within the channel to unlock the
lock plug. l'here are also first means for interconnecting
the key chips with the locking channel such that when t'ne
array of chips is moved to predetermined height by a predeter-
mined key land height, then the chips in turn act thro~gh
the first means for interconnecting to allow movement of the
lock pin from locking to unlocking posi-tion. 'rhen means for
interconnecting the lock plug to a latch are provided so that
unlocking the lock plug and moving it in turn releases the
latch and means for moving the lock plug when unlocked. Lost
motion interconnection means are provided between the plugs
allowing initial key plug movement to separate chips in the
body channel from chips in the key plug channel before lock
plug movement can be attempted to test the control key image
of chips stacked in the body channel. The chips have a con-
trol key image that works in response to correct service key
insertion in the key plug. Means are provided in the lock
body structure for storing chips, and second means for inter-
connecting the storage means and key plug channel are provided
for chip transfer to change the lock setting, and the second
means for interconnecting are operable by a present correct
service key and acco~nodatable to a new service key to effect
the chip transfer.
In accordance with the invention, a lock is provided
with the following operating mode, contrasted with prior art,
for pick-proof protection and key change capability without
disassembly. A key is inserted and the configuration of the
key is "memorized". 'rhe memorized configuration is then
"tested". ~t the time the key con-figuration is tested, there
is no access to the lock pins, or memory and hence, they
cannot be manipulated in a trial and error fashion.
~rhe lock memory is provided in the following way:
- First, consider a prior art master keyed pin tumbler lock
Two keys can open the lock because there are two sets of
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cleavage lines. (Actually, 2n different keys, where n is
the number of split pins, can be made which will open the
lock). Now introduce another set of cleavage lines so that
the lock is keyed for two
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master keys and a service key~ This locX could be opened ~y 3n
keys. In accordance with the present invention, continue this
subdivision process until all properly cut keys ~ill open tne
lock. The lock pins have now been replaced by stacks of pins.
~hen any key is inserted and rotated, the number of pins trapped
in the plug in each column is a negative representation of the
key, while the number of pins remaining behind in the cylinder
is a positive representation of the key. Thus a representation
of the key is stored in the cylinder when the key and pluy are
rotated and access to the pins in the cylinder is not available
from the outside.
In the present invention, the stored representation of
the key configuration i5 tested by a separate lock plug inter-
connected to the key plug. In one preferred embodiment the key
plug and lock plug have parallel or slightly converging axes and
the pin tumbler holes extend from the key plug through the
cylinder to the lock plug (and through the lock plug into the
cylinder again where the pin springs are located). ~n interlock
prevents the lock plug from being turned unless the ]cey plug is
first rotated. Alternatively, the lock plug may be turned by an
interconnecting means from the key plug. In another preferred
embodiment, the lock plug is concentric with the key plug,
i.e., the lock "plugl' is a sleeve. In all cases, the "memorized"
configuration acts like a "key", which sets the pins in the lock
plug.
The key change ~eature is as follows: Assume the proper
key has been inserted in the lock described above and the ]cey
plug rotated. The cleavage lines for the lock plug are properly
- aligned so that the lock plug may be rotated. Each column in
the key plug contains a sufficient number of split pins so that
the key plus the split pins fill up the columns in the plug.
A different key would require, in general, a different n~ber
of pin segrnents to fill up each column in the plug. To chang2
the keying, there is provided in accordance with the invention,
a set of key relief holes, pin segments, and sp-rings. The key
plug, is further rotated so as to align the pin holes in the
plug with the key relief holes in the cylinder. The key may
-then be removed. The springs in the key relief holes force
columns of pin segments into the plug. Then a new key is
inserted forcing back into the ]cey relief holes, in general, a
different number of split pins. The key and plug are now rotated
back to the operating position. The lock is now keyed to the
new key.
Access to the key change position may be controlled
by a master key or by other means. For instance, in the extreme,
the ability to change keys may exist only at the factory. The
lock, as far as the user is concerned, is an ordinary, although
pick-proof, lock. An advantage of this approach i5 that all
locks could be made part-for-part identical and keyed by merely
inserting a key. The lock sets itself to the first key
; inserted.
In a hotel application, lock changing ability may be
under control of a master key used by the bellhop who rese-ts
the lock for each new room occupant. Since the number of times
a lock will be used by an average room occupant is small, dis-
posable plastic ]ceys might be used. The keys could be picked
at random from a large collection of pre-cut keys.
Some advantages of the invention include use of standard
lock parts and keys. The keys may be standard and may be
reproduced on standard key copying equipment~ The key plug,
driver pins, split pins-, and springs, may all ~e standard. The
cylinder or main frame has standard tolerance requirements.
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The lock may be "hy~rid", that is, some of the pin
channels may work according to the principles of the present
invention, while the other channels operate in the other manner.
Ordinary master keying may be used in lieu o~ key changing as
indicated above.
Other objects, ~eatures and advantages of the invention
will be apparent from the ~ollowing detailed description of
preferred embodiments thereof, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawing, in which:
Lo Figures 1-10 are diagrammatic, cross section views of
lock apparatus, with Figures lA-lOA being
diagrams of related gearing, in accordance
with a first preferred embodiment of the
invention and Fiyures lB-lC show a second
pre~erred embodiment.
Figures 1-4, together with Figures 1~-4A, show a prefer-
red embodiment o~ the lock of the invention at di~ferent stages
o~ locking and Figures S-10, together with Figures 5A-8A, show
lock changing there~or. The structure of this embodiment com-
prises a loc]c body 10, key plug 12, key plug channel 13, lock
plug 14, lock plug channel 15, key pin 16, chips 18, body channel
19, connecting pin 20, lock pin 22, driver pin 2~, spring 26,
stored chips 28, storage channel 30, storage driver pin 32,
spring 34.
: Additionally, a gear 12~ is interconnected to key plug
12 to rotate with it and a gear l~A is interconnected to lock plug
14 to rotate with i~. .Gears 12A and l~A have partial toothing
for som2 degree o~ relative lost motion. A master latch 36
engages a stop 38 on gear 14A to limit motion thereof. A master pin
6~-~
type key or other means (not shown) ca~ push master latcn 36 aside
to allow key changing action. An arrow V show3 relative rota-
tional position from figure to ~igure.
Figures l-lA show the apparatus locked position. Eight
chips 18 are in channel 13/19 and two chips 28 (Eor lock change
purposes) are in channel 30. Figures 2-2A show the same position
with insertion of a key K raising chips 18 to transfer more of
them from channel 13 to 19 and, if the key is correct, raising
connecting pin 19 and lock pin 15 to the point that the cleavage
line therebetween coincides with the circumference of the lock
plug so that the latter can rotate.
Figures 3-3A show that the user rotates key plug 12
using key K and taking advantage of the relative lost motion
between gears 12A and 14A. The chips 18 stored in channel 19
constitute a positive remembered image of the key bond which
raised them there.
Figures 4-4A show that further counterclockwise motion
of gear 12A past the last motion portion rotates gear 14A so
that stop portion 38 of gear 14A engages stop lever 36, a door
latch (not shown) is connected to gear 14A and rotates therewith
so ~hat in the Figures 4-4A position of the gear, the latch
unlocks the door. The key is then removed. To lock the door,
the sequence is reversed.
Referring now to Figures 5-5A, the key change operation
is enabled by lifting lever 36 and turning the existing key
~for which the lock is set) from the Figures 4-4A position to
rotate key plug 12 further counterclockwise to align key channel
13 with storage channel 30 (Figures 6-6A). Key K is then removed
(Figures 7-7A) and new key K' is inserted (Figures 8-8A) reset-
ting the lock for key K'. Key K' is operated to rotate plug 12clockwise to the position of E'igures 9-9A and key Kl is then
removed (Figures 10-lOA) and the lock is reset with 9iX chips
in channel 13/lg and four chips in storage channel 30.
Figure lB shows a concentric variant frorn the ~igures
1-10 and lA-lOA embodiment comprising a key plug 12B, with ke~
channel 13B therein; an annular lock plug 14B with channel 15B,
chips 18B residing in the channels or being storable in a channel
36B of fixed structure los. A spring 34B is provided in the
storage channel. A lock pin 22B, a reaction force drives pin
24B and a spring 26B complete the structure.
Figure lC is a cross section view of the lug relevant
to both Fi~ures 1-8 (including lA-8A) and Figure lB species and
shows the multiple lands L-l, L-2, L-3, etc., of a key K, each
driving chips 18 (or 18B) arrays in accordance with the approach
of either species defined above or equivalents. CL indicates
a key plug of rotation which usually (though not necessarily)
coincides with a geometric outer of the key plug and P indicates
the parting line between key plug and lock plug (See Figure lB)
or between-key plug and fixed structure (Figures 1-8).
It is evident that those skilled in the art, once given
the benefit of the foregoing disclosure, may now make numerous
other uses and modifications of, and departures from the specific
embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive
concepts. Consequentl~, the invention is to be construed as
embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of
features present in, or possessed by, the apparatus and techniques
; herein disclosed and limited solely by the scope and spirit of
the appended claims.
