Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3 1
1 The in~ention relates to a cylinder lock co~posed of
a housing and a cylinder rotatably supported therein and having
a key passage for the insertable flat key which has a front part
with locking notches associated with cylindrical pins arranged
in openings of the cylinder for retaining the pins, and the flat
key has at its both lateral faces longit~dinal grooYes for receiv-
ing longitudinal ribs provided on the lateral faces of the key
passage for lateral profile ~ariation, wherein the longitudinal
grooves at both lat~ral faces of the flat key lie on parallel
lQ lines e-xtending at a distance from one another. In such a con-
struction of the flat key the corresponding longitudinal ribs on
both lateral faces of the aboYe mentioned key passage also lie
with their free ends on parallel lines extending at a distance
from one another and formed by straight lines. A free space is
thereby formed in the key passage between the longitudinal ribs,
in which a picking pistol can be inserted, whereby the cylinder
lock can be opened without the proper key.
~ cylinder lock was also proposed in which the longi-
tudinal ribs on both lateral faces of the key passage protrude
so far that they extend close to the longitudinal centerline of
the key passa~e or cross the longitudinal centerline. Thereby
a free space in the key passage is avoided so that`a picking pistol
cannot be inserted. The longitudinal grooves provided in the
flat key for receiving the longitudinal ri~s of the key passage
engage however so deep into the flat key that its cross section
is considerably weakened or the variation is limited.
The invention has the object to provide a cylinder lock
of the above mentioned type, in which these disadYantages are
eliminated, wherein the flat key has a sufficientiy great cross
3~ section and thereby a sufficient strength and an actuation of
the cylinder lock with a picking pistol is prevented.
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~'
~3~S~31
1 This object is solve~ in accordance with the present
invention in that the both parallel lines extending at a distance
from one another r against which the longitudinal grooves of the
flat key lie with their bottom faces, extend at least in a partial
region arcuately and the convexly protruding central part of one
arcuate line extends at least close to a s.traight line which
connects the end poi.nts of the second arcuate line. Thereby it
is attained in a simple manner that the longitudinal grooves of
the flat key do not e~tend too deep into the key cross section,
inasmuch.as the lines. ~hich.extend parallel to one another and
against which the longitudinal grooves of the flat key lie with
their bottom faces, are arranged at a distance from one another.
Thereby the key obtains a sufficient strength. The proper key
passage has because of this a free space which however is curved
as a result of the arcuate .running of the lines, so that the
actuation of the cylinder lock with a picking pistol is impossible
inasmuch as for this actuation a rectilinearly extending free
space is necess.ary.
The lines against which the longitudinal grooves of the
flat key kie with.their bottom faces can at least in a partial
region run ~n circularly arcuate mannex. ~ecause of this it is
attained in a simple ~anner that the longitudinal grooves of the
flat key extend with their bottom faces along a line having the
shape of a circular arc.
The partial region in which the lines run in an arcuate
manner can embrace the variation region of the lockin~ notches of
the flat key. Thereby the arcuate running of the lines is provided
in a simple manner exactly in the region which embraces the varia-
tion region of the locking notches of the flat key, so that directly
3Q in this region the picking pi.stol cannot operate to actuate the
cylindrical pins.
~3--
~5~3~
1 The partial region in which the lines run in an
arcuate manner can be arranged with its arc heigKt substantially
symmetrical to the longitudinal centerline of the cylinder pins.
secause of the arcuate shape of the lines against which the lon~i~
tudinal grooYes of the flat key with their bottom faces lie,
engages the part of the key section t~e ends of the cylinder pins
facing towards the front part of the key, substantially in the
region of their longitudinal centerline, so t~at the arrangement
of the cyIinder pins are not affected.
lQ The partial region in which the lines extend in an
arcuate manner, can extend from the end forming the front part to
the part of the key section forming the key back with its guide.
With the exception of the part forming the key back with its guide,
the lines against which the longitudinal grooves of the fla-t key
lie with their bottom faces are thereby formed arcuate.
The bottom faces of the longitudinal grooves of the flat
key which lie against the lines can extend in correspondence with
the arcuate lines also in an arcuate manner. Thereby the bottom
~aces o~ the longitudinal grooves of the flat key are formed in a
simple manner arcuate.
The lateral faces of the flat key can extend parallel
to both lines which are spaced from one another and are curved
in an arcuate manner. Thereby the entire cross section of the
Elat key can be curved arcuately in a simple manner. The longi-
tudinal grooves can in this case be provided in the key section
with an identical depth.
The ~ateral faces of the Elat key can also extend
rectilinearly. Thereby the key is formed flat in a simple manner
even though the lines against which the longitudinal grooves of
3Q the flat key lie with their bottom faces extend in an arcuate
manner.
4--
~ 3 ~$~3~
1 The part of the key section forming the key back with
its guide can be bent and laterally offset to extend parallel to
the iongitudinal centerline of the cylinder pin.
Thereby the thickness of the curved flat key is reduced
in a simple manner. Moreover, the end of the key passage section
which opens at the outer surface of the cylinder extends substan-
tially perpendlcular to the outer surface.
The key passage provided in the cylinder may have a
cross section corresponding to the cross section of the flat key.
Thereby the key passage has a cross section which allows the inser-
tion of the flat key.
The invention is shown in two embodiments in the drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is located on the first sheet of the drawing and
shows the inventive cylinder lock in a longitudinal section,
FIG. 2 is located on the second sheet of the drawing and
shows a section along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, through the rotary
cylinder, on a greater scale,
FIG. 3 is located on the first sheet of the drawing and
shows a section corresponding to the section of FIG. 2 through the
flat ke~v, which is inserted in the key passage of the cylinder,
FIG. 4 is located on the third sheet of the drawing and
shows a second em~odiment in a section co~esponding ~o ~he
section of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 5 is l~cated ~n the third sheet ~f the drawing and
shows a section of the key, corresponding to the section of FIG. 4.
The cylinder lock shown in the drawing is composed of
a housing 10 and a cylinder 11 rotatably supported therein and
having a key passage 12. The cylinder 11 is actuated by a key 13
insertable into the key passage 12, inasmuch as the front part is
arranged to cooperate with cylinder pins inserted into openings 14
of the cylinder 11, whereby the cylinder pins coincide with the
outer face 16 of the cylinder 11. This position is shown in FIG. 1.
~65~3~
1 Housin~ pins l9 inserted into openings 17 of the housing 10 and
arranged under the actlon of helical pres.sure springs 18 extend
in the event of the removed key 13 with their front ends into
the openlngs. 14 of the cylinder ll so that the cylinder ll is
locked against rotation.
For actuatlng the cylinder lock, the key 13 must have
a shape corresponding to t~e shape. of the key passage 12 to allow
the insertion of the key 13 into the key p.as.sa~e 12. Moreover~
a front part 20 of the key 13 must haYe lockin~ notches 21 corres-
ponding to the length of the cylindex pins 15, so that the cylinderpins 14 coincide with the outer face 16 of the cylinder ll and
thereby a rotation of the cylinder ll is poss.ible.
FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a part of the key 13,
insertable into the key passage 12 o~ the cylinder 11. The key
cros.s section is so cut throu~h that it has a lateral profile
variation formed by longitudinal ribs 22-27~ Thereby, a simul-
taneous lateral profile variation because of longitudinal grooves
28-34 forming gaps between the ribs is provided. The general
main key has all longitudinal grooves 28-34, but does not have
~Q longitudinal ribs 22-27,
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the key passage 12 in the
cylinder ll is de~igned correspondingly. The key passage 12 of
t~e cylinder 11 has longitudinal grooves 35-4n corresponding to
the longltudinal ribs 22-27 which serye for the lateral profile
variati.on. The key passage 12 also has longitudinal ribs 41-4'7
which correspond to the longitudinal groo~es 28~34 of the key 13
also ser~ing for the lateral profile variation.
As can be seen from FIG. 3, the longitudinal
ribs 22~27 and the longitudinal grooves 28~34 extend approximately
over the entire longitudinal faces of the key 1~ and up to the
back 14 which.with its guide groove 49 does not serve for the
I ~ 65 ~
1 longltudinal pro~ile variation. The key pas~age 12 is provided
with a corres,ponding ~uide rib ~. The key back 48 extends to
the outer face 16 o~ the cylinder 11 and coincides with the latter.
~his means that the key passage 12 of the cylinder 11 also extends
to the outer face 16 of the cylinder 11.
The longitudinal grooves ~8-34 on both lateral faces
of the ~lat Icey lie with their botto~ faces 51 57 on para~lel
lines 58 and 59~e~tending at a distance from one another. These
lines 58 and 5q are shown in FIG. 3 in dash dot lines. Both
p~rallel lines, 58~ 59 extending at a distance from one another,
against which the longitudinal grooves 28-34 of the flat key 18
lie with their bottom faces 51-57, extend in an arcuate manner, and
particularly as circular arcs. The convexly protruding central
part of one arcuate line 58 extends at least close to a not shown
straight line which connects the end points of the second arcuate
line 59. In the sho~n embodiment the conve~ly protruding centraL
part of the arcuate line 58 crosses the not shown straight line by
a considerable piece. The key passage 12 in the cylinder 11 is
Eorme~ correspondingly. The longitudinal ribs 41-47 engaying into
the longitudinal grooves 28-34 of the key 13 lie with their free
end faces 5~-66 on t~o lines 67, 68 which e~tend parallel to one
another in an arcuate manner! as shown in dash dot lines in ~IG. 2.
Both lines 67, 68 are arranged at a distance from one another so
that the key passage 12 between the longitudinal ribs 41-47~has
a free space 69 which howe~er extends in an arcuate manner so that
an actuation of the cylinder pin 15 with a picking pistol is not
possible. On the other hand, the key 13 obtains a relatively
~reat cross section face because the distance between the lines 58,
59 so that the key can withstand all loads.
A strip 7~ of the key 13 extending between ~oth arcuate
lines 58, 59 is with its arc height in the variation region of
--7--
-
~ 1 ~5~
1 the locking notches 21 arran~ed substantially symmetrical to the
longitudinal centerline 71 of the cylinder pin 1~. Thereby ihe
strip 7~ is always Ln operative connection with the flattened tips
of the cylinder pins 15, regardless of the variation region of the
locking notches 21, so that despite the arcuate construction of
the strip 70 the actuation of the cylinder pins 15 is not affected
The ~ariation region of the locking notches 21 is shown in ~'IG. 2
in dotted lines.
I'he bottom faces 5I~5i' o~ the longitudinal grooves 28-34
of the flat key 13~ which lie against the lines 58, 59, extend in
correspondence with the arcuate lines 58, 59, also in an arcuate
manner. The end faces 60-66 of the longitudinal ribs 41-4~ of the
key passage 12 also extend correspondingly in an arcuate manner.
The lateral faces ~2 of the flat key 13 formed by the
longitudinal ribs 22-27 also e~tend parallel to the lines 58, 59
which are spaced from one another and curved in an arcuate manner.
Correspondingly, the lateral faces 73 of the key passage 12 formed
by the longitudinal grooves ~5-40 are also curved in an arcuate
manner and extend parallel to the arcuate lines 67, 68.
The part of the key section fo,rming the`key back 48 with
its guides 49, 50 is bent and e,xtends in a laterally offset manner
parallel to the Longitudinal centerline 71 of the cylinder pins 51
Thereby the thickness of the key 13, despite the arcuate construc-
tion, is held as small as possible.
In the second embo~iment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
section of the part of the key 13 which is insertable into the
key passage 12 of the cylinder 11 is shown in FIG. 5. The key
cross section is cut through so that it has a lateral profile
variation by the longitudinal ribs 22~27. A simultaneous lateral
profile variation is provided by the longitu~inal grooves 28-34
forming the gaps between the ribs. The general main key has al,l
t ~ ~5 ~ 3 ~
1 longitudinal grooves 28~34, but does not have the longitudinal
ribs 22-27.
As can be seen from FIG~ 4, the key passage 12 in the
cylinder 11 is desi~ned corres~ondingly The key passage 12 o~
the cylinder 11 h.as the longi.tudinal grooyes 35~40 corresponding
to the longitudinal ribs 22~27 ~hicb serve for lateral profile
variation~ The key pas~sage 12 also has the longitudinal ribs
41-47 which.correspond to the longituain~l grooves 28-.34 of the
key 13, also serYing for the lateral profile variation.
lQ As. can be seen ~rom FIG. 5, the longitudinal rib~ 22-2
and tbe longitudinal grooyes 28-34 extend approximately over the
entire lateral faces of the key 13 and to tbe ~ack 48 with its
gulding groove 49 which.does not ser~e for the lateral profile
variation~ The key passage 12 is provided with a corresponding
guide rib 50. T~e key back 48 extends to the outer surface 16 of
the cylinder 11 and coincides with.the sa~e. This means that the
key pass.age 12 of the cylinder 11 also extends to thè outer surface
16 of the cylinder 11.
The longitudinal grooves ~8--34 on both lateral faces of
the flat key lie with their b.ottom faces 51-57 on parallel lines
58, 59 arranged at a distance from one another. These lines 58
and 59 are shown in FIG. 5 in dash dot li.nes. The parallel lines
58, 59 e.xtending at a distance from one another, against which the
longitudinal grooves 28~34 of the flat key 13 lie with their bottom
faces 51-57~ extend in an arcuate manner, and particu].arly as
circular arcs. The convexly protruding central part of one
arcuate line 58 e~tends at least close to a not shown straight line
which connects the end points of the second arcuate line 59.
In the show.n e~bodiment, the conYexly protruding central
part of the arcuate line 58 cros.ses the not shown straight line
by a considerable piece.
1~6'~ 31
1 The key passage 12 in the cylinder 11 is formed corres-
pondingly. The longitudinal ribs ~1-47 engaging in the longitudi-
nal grooves 28-34 of t~e key 13 lie with their free end faces
60-6~ on lines 67, 6~ which are parallel to one another and arcuate,
as shown in FIG. 4 in dash dot lines. Both lines 67, 68 are !
arranged at a distance f~rom one another, so tnat a free space 69
i5 produced in the key passage 12 bet~een the longitudinal ribs
41-47, the free space 60 also extending in an arcuate manner so
th~t the cylinde~ pins 15 cannot be actuated by a picking pistol.
On the other hand, the key 13 has a great cross section face
because of the distance between the lines 58, 59, so that the key
can withstand all loads
The strip 70 of the key 13 produced between both arcuately
extending lines 58, 59 is with its arc height in the variation
region of the locking notches 21 arranged substantially'symmetrical
to the longitudinal centerline 71 of the cylinder pins 15. Thereby
the strip 70 is always in operative connection with the flattened
tips of the cylinder pins 15, regardl~ss of the variation region
of the locking notches 21, so that despite the arcuate construction
2~ of the strip 70 the actuation of the cylinder pin 15 is not affected.
The variation region of the locking notches is shown in FIG. 4 in
dotted lines.
The bottom faces 51-57 of the longitudinal grooves 28-34
of the'flat key 13 which lie against the lines 58, S9, extend also
arcuately in correspondence with the arcuate lines 58, 59. Corres-
pondingly~ the end faces 60-66 of the longitudinal ribs 41-47 of
the key passage 12 also extend arcuately in a similar manner.
The lateral faces 72 of the key 13/ formed by the longi-
tudinal ribs 22-27~ extend in this embodiment rectilinearly and
3Q p~rallel to the movement path of the cylinder pins 15. The lateral
faces 73 of the locking passage 12 formed by the longltudinal
groo~es 35-40 also extend rectilinearly. Thereby the thickness of
the flat key 13 is reduced in a simple manner.
As mentioned abo~e, only exemplary implementations of
-10
S~31
1 the inve.ntion are illustrated by the above presented embodiments,
and the invention is not limited thereby. Moreover, other emboai-
ments and variation~ are possible. Thus, it is possible to curve
the lateral faces 72 of the flat key 13 also in an arcuate manner,
~hereas the radius thereof de.yiates fro.m the radi~s of the arcuate
lines 58, 59. The lateral profile variation of the flat key 13
can, .instead of the longi,tudinal ribs 22-27 and longitudinal grooves
28-34, also have only longitudinal ri.bs. or only longitudinal
grooves.
11
