Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
LOCK AND KEY ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lock and key assembly having improved
unlocking
difficulty. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lock and key
assembly having
improved unlocking difficulty which is configured to greatly increase the
difficulty of
unlocking the lock.
BACKGROUND
As is known, locks are categorized into digital locks and mechanical locks.
Whereas the
use of digital locks has been increasing in recent times, the preference for
mechanical
locks is higher, as digital locks are lacking in security.
Most of such mechanical locks are configured with locking pins in a
cylindrical cylinder
and a rotating body, so that the rotating body may be rotated within the
cylindrical cylinder
by a key to unlock the lock.
Such locks are configured so that locking pins and locking pin supporting
springs are
installed in holes formed on the cylindrical cylinder and the rotating body,
and the keys for
unlocking such locks are configured to allow them to be inserted into the
keyhole, have
encrypted v-cut key teeth. When the key is inserted into the lock, the
encrypted v-cut key
teeth raise or lower the locking pins, aligning the positions of the locking
pins and thereby
unlocking the lock.
Locks wherein encrypted v-cut key teeth have the disadvantage that, due to
their
extremely simple structure, inserting a different unlocking tool into the
keyhole and
manipulating the same easily unlocks the lock.
A prior art of the present applicant addresses such disadvantage by providing
a side bar
between the cylindrical cylinder and the rotating body so that the side bar is
recessed into
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a side bar recess groove formed on the cylindrical cylinder and is released
from the side
grooves when the lock is unlocked by a key.
However, in the case of a lock embodying the prior art of the present
application, whereas
the unlocking difficulty can be somewhat improved over a generic lock
comprised of a
cylindrical cylinder and rotating body, such difficulty fails to meet consumer
expectations,
and as a result confidence in mechanical locks is lost. Known to the
Application are US
6,477,876 and Korean Registered Utility Model : No. 20-0329219 (Registered
Sep. 8,
2003).
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention, intended to address the problems described
in the
above, is to provide a lock and key assembly having greatly enhanced unlocking
difficulty
by providing a lock and key assembly with two side bars without increasing the
respective
sizes of the cylindrical cylinder and rotating body comprising the lock. The
side bars can
be unlocked without increasing the thickness of the key that is inserted into
the key hole
provided on the rotating body, and the side bars are configured to be recessed
into recess
grooves formed on the cylindrical cylinder.
The lock comprises a cylindrical cylinder into which a rotating body is
inserted. Slide pin
holes and locking pin holes in which slide pins and locking pins are
installed, and extend
radially relative to the cylindrical cylinder and the rotating body. Side bar
recess grooves
are provided on either side of the inner face of the cylindrical cylinder in
the longitudinal
direction. Side bar holes are provided on either side of the rotating body,
and first and
second side bars installed together with springs in the side bar recess holes
to allow the
first and second side bars to enter the recess grooves. Protruding pieces or
projections
on the second side bar are sized and configured to enter the unlocking grooves
formed
on the side faces of the encrypted v-cut key teeth. The key preferably
comprises encrypted
v-cut teeth to allow for unlocking of corresponding unlocking pins, provided
in the lock.
The key also includes a keyway having an encrypted curved section to align
with the slide
pins, for unlocking the first side bar. The side faces of the encrypted v-cut
key teeth have
unlocking grooves to receive the projections formed on the second side bar so
that the
second side bar may be unlocked.
According to the present invention, it is possible to install two side bars
without increasing
the size/dimension of the cylindrical cylinder and rotating body of a lock,
and without
increasing the thickness of the key inserted into the key hole provided on the
rotating body.
This has the benefit of providing a simple lock and key assembly. More
particularly, as the
locking pins and two side bars of the lock are locked inside side bar recess
grooves, and
the lock is configured so that it can be unlocked only if the locking pins and
the two side
bars are released at the same time, the security of the lock is improved,
greatly improving
confidence in mechanical locks.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, advantages, and features will become more apparent upon reading
the
following non-restrictive description of the embodiments thereof, given for
the purpose of
exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lock and key assembly according a
possible
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure
of the lock
according a possible embodiment of the present invention. The key is also
shown from a different side than the one illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the lock and key inserted
therein, according a
possible embodiment of the present invention when locked. FIG.3A is a
cross-sectional side view a portion of the lock and key assembly shown in
FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view showing the lock being unlocked by
the key,
according a possible embodiment of the present invention. FIG.4A is a
cross-sectional side view of a portion of the lock and key assembly shown
in FIG.4.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. The
embodiments described in the present description are preferred embodiments
only; they
are given solely for exemplification purposes. Furthermore, for the sake of
simplicity and
clarity, namely to not unduly burden the figures with several references
numbers, not all
figures contain references to all the components and features, and references
to some
components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and
features
of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily
inferred
therefrom.
In addition, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as
"top", "side", "lower",
and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of
the figures and
should not be considered as limiting or as implying a required orientation
during use.
Numeral references used in the Figures:
1: Cylindrical cylinder 2: Rotating body
4: Slide pin 5: Locking pin
10, 10': Side bar recess groove 11, 11': Side bar hole
12, 12': Side bar 15: Lock
14: projections/protruding pieces 20: Key
22: Unlocking groove
The lock and key assembly having improved unlocking difficulty according to
the present
invention will be described in further detail, with reference to the attached
FIGs. 1, 2, 3,
3A, 4 and 4A.
.. The lock (15) according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical
cylinder (1) into
which a rotating body (2) is inserted. The cylinder and body comprise slide
pin holes (3)
and locking pin holes (3') in which slide pins (4) and locking pins (5) are
installed. The
slide pins (4) and locking pins (5) are provided in the radial direction of
the cylindrical
cylinder (1) and the rotating body (2). Side bar recess grooves (10) (10') are
provided on
either side of the inner face of the cylindrical cylinder (1), longitudinally
in the cylinder (1),
i.e. in the longitudinal direction. Side bar recess grooves (11) (11') are
provided on either
side of the rotating body (2), also in the longitudinal direction, and first
and second side
bars (12) (12') are installed together with springs (13) in the side bar
recess grooves (11)
=
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(11') to allow the first and second side bars to enter the recess grooves.
Protruding pieces
or projections (14) are provided/extend on the second side bar (12') to allow
for entry into
the unlocking grooves (22) provided on the side faces of the encrypted v-cut
key teeth
(23).
The key (20) has encrypted v-cut teeth (23) to allow for unlocking of
unlocking pins (5)
provided in the lock (15). The key (20) is provided with a keyway (21) having
an encrypted
curved section (21') to align the slide pins (4) for unlocking the first side
bar (12), and
unlocking grooves (22) on the side faces of the encrypted v-cut key teeth (23)
to couple
with the protruding pieces/projections (14) provided on the second side bar
(12') to unlock
the second side bar (12').
The numeral 50 in the drawings denotes the key hole provided on the rotating
body.
In the following, the action of the lock and key assembly having improved
unlocking
difficulty will be explained in more detail.
To unlock the lock (15) according to the present invention, the key (20) is
inserted into a
key hole (50) provided on the rotating body (2) inserted into the cylindrical
cylinder (1).
When this is done, encrypted v-cut key teeth (23) formed on the key (20) align
the locking
pins (5), and the keyway (21) having an encrypted curved section (21') to
unlock the first
side bar (12) aligns the slide pins (4). Also, the unlocking grooves/holes
(22) formed on
the side faces of the encrypted v-cut key teeth (23) are aligned with the
protruding
parts/projections (14) formed on the side bar (12'), so that the second side
bar (12') may
be unlocked. Of course, a different number of unlocking grooves
(22)/projections (14) may
be used.
When the key (20) is rotated in this state, the rotating body (20) inserted
into the cylindrical
cylinder (1) rotates. Here, the second side bar (12') is coupled to the side
bar hole (11'),
and part thereof enters the side bar recess groove (10'). Rotation of the
rotating body
pushes the same inwards, causing the protruding parts (14) formed on the
second side
bar (12') to enter the unlocking grooves (22) formed on the side face of the
encrypted v-
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cut key teeth (23), causing the second side bar (12') to enter the side bar
hole (11') formed
on the rotating body (2) completely, at which point the lock is unlocked.
In order to lock the lock (15), the key (20) is rotated in a direction
opposite the direction
.. when unlocking. When it is returned to its initial position, the key is
removed from the key
hole (50).
When this happens, the first and second side bars (12) (12') are pushed out by
action of
springs (13) from the side bar holes (11) (11'), and part of the side bars
enter the side bar
recess grooves (10) (10'). The slide pin (4), by its own weight, moves to the
bottom of the
slide pin hole (3), and the locking pins (5) are also restored by spring
action to their initial
positions within the locking pins holes (3'), locking in place between the
cylindrical cylinder
(1) and rotating body (2) and thereby locking the lock.
As can be appreciated, it is possible to install two side bars without
increasing the size of
the cylindrical cylinder and rotating body of a lock, and without increasing
the thickness of
the key designed for insertion in the key hole provided on the rotating body.
The present
invention thereby provides a simple lock and key assembly.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in
the examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with
the
description as a whole.
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