Field of the invention

The invention concerns a lock and key combination, offering a large number of codes, the combination including a lock of the kind comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical key plug being rotatably journalled in said cylindrical bore, said key plug having a longitudinal key slot and a number of locking pins in a row along a key plug axis for locking the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore, each locking pin in said row comprising a body part being guided for elevational movement in a cylindrical chamber, and a key sensing part projecting downwards from said body part for contacting one or more code patterns on a key, and a key of the kind comprising a longitudinally extending, substantially flat key blade, which is insertable into said key slot in the key plug of said lock, wherein at least two longitudinally extending formations on said key blade form said code patterns.

Such lock and key combinations are well-known, e.g. from the international patent application published under number WO 2005/028789 Al (Winloc et al) . In the previously known lock and key combination, the locking pins cooperating with a code pattern on the lower portion of the key blade, are constituted by side locking tumblers being accommodated in associated chambers displaced sideways in relation to a row of locking pins cooperating with a code pattern at an upper edge portion of the key blade. Background of the invention

Accordingly, in the prior art lock and key system referred to above, there are in fact two adjacent rows of locking tumblers, each cooperating with an associated code pattern on the key blade. Of course, the structure and production of such locks and keys are rather complex and expensive.

Object of the invention

Against this background, a main object of the present inven- tion is to provide a lock and key combination which is relatively simple to manufacture and, nevertheless, offers a very large number of code combinations by using virtually the full vertical extension of the key blade for the code patterns, including an upper edge portion and a lower, massive portion thereof. Still, the aim is to utilize a housing and a key plug having a single, preferably linear row of holes or chambers accommodating the tumbler pins.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, this object is met for a lock and key combination where the key blade comprises an upper portion, preferably at an upper half of the key blade, e.g. an edge portion, having a first code pattern and a lower, preferably massive portion at a lower half of the key blade, having a second code pattern, at least one of said locking pins in said row being a short pin comprising a first, relatively short key sensing part cooperating with the first code pattern, and at least another one of said locking pins in said row being a long pin comprising a second, relatively long key sensing part cooperating with the second code pattern.

In this way, it will be possible to utilize virtually the whole vertical extension of the key blade for various code formations, virtually all the way from the lower bottom edge of the key blade up to the upper longitudinal edge. The short pin or pins will cooperate with the first code pattern at the upper part of the key blade, whereas the long pin or pins will engage with the code pattern at the lower, massive portion of the key blade.

According to one aspect of the invention, the code formations in the first code pattern, at the upper edge portion of the key blade, are cut through the whole thickness of the key blade. According to a further aspect of the invention, the code formations of the second code pattern, at the lower, massive portion of the key blade, reach only partially through the thickness of the key blade.

In any case, it will be understood that the number of vertical code levels will be the sum of the code levels of the first code pattern and the code levels of the second code pattern, so in case there are two to ten levels in each of the two code patterns, there will be four to twenty code levels in the combined code pattern arrangement. Of course, this will open up for a very large number of code combinations even for a single row of tumbler pins in a cylinder lock.

A number of essential features of the invention are stated in the claims .

These essential features as well as still further features according to other aspects of the invention, are mentioned below in a detailed description of the invention, reference being made to the drawings . Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows schematically, in a perspective view, a cylinder lock with a key. plug and a number of locking pins, and an associated key, the lock being cut through to show the inside thereof;

Figure 2 shows s side view of the lock and key combination, the housing of the lock being left out for clarity;

Figure 3 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade located outside the key plug, shown also in figures 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4 shows, in a perspective view, the same key and key plug as in figure 3, with the row of locking pins being sepa- rated from the key plug for clarity;

Figure 5 shows, in a perspective view, the same key blade and locking pins as in figure 4, without the key plug;

Figure 5a shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins which are accommodated in the key plug (the key plug is not shown in this figure) ;

Figure 6 shows, in a perspective view, the same key blade and locking pins as in figure 5, seen from the opposite side;

Figure 6a shows the locking pins accommodated in the key plug, in a larger scale (the key plug is not shown in this figure) ;

Figure 7 shows, in a perspective view, a lock and key combination according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the second embodiment; Figure 9 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade, the key- plug and the locking pins of the second embodiment, the housing of the lock being left out for clarity;

Figure 10 shows the same key blade and key plug and locking pins as in figure 9, the locking pins being shown separately for clarity;

Figure 11 shows, in a perspective view, the same key and locking pins as in figure 10, the key plug being left out for clarity;

Figure 11a shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins accommo- dated in the key plug (the key plug itself being left out) ;

Figure 12 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade and the locking pins of figure 11, from the opposite side,-

Figure 12a shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins in the key plug and the end portion of the key blade (the key plug being left out) ;

Figure 13 illustrates, as an example, a number of short pins (a through e) and long pins (f through j) according to the first embodiment shown in figures 1 through 6;

Figure 13k shows, in a view from the left in figure 13, all the short and long pins in figure 13a through j ;

Figure 14, 15 and 16 show similar views of three modified embodiments of the short and long pins of figure 13; Figure 17 shows, in a similar view, various short and long pins according to the second embodiment shown in figures 7 through 12;

Figure 18a through 18i show schematic side views of a number of possible configurations of short and long pins; €t&ύ

Figures 19 through 22 illustrate a lock and key system including keys operating only one specific lock and other keys ope- rating two or more different locks,-

Figures 23 and 24 show schematically two different keys cooperating with a lock having a long pin provided with two key sensing parts,- and

Figure 25 shows, in a perspective view, the long pin having two key sensing parts.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments In the drawings, figures 1-3 show a cylinder lock 200 and a key 100 in a combination according to the present invention. The key 100 has a grip portion 101 and a key blade 102, which comprises at least two longitudinally extending formations on said key blade, forming said code patterns. The key is insert - able into a key slot 201 of the lock 200. The key slot 201 extends longitudinally in a key plug 202, which is journalled for rotation in a cylindrical bore 203 in a housing 204.

The key blade 102 (see figure 3) has a first code pattern with top code formations 103 cut out at the upper edge portion of the key blade, through the whole thickness thereof, e.g. of a conventional type cooperating with relatively short locking pins 205a, 205b and 205c (see also figures 2, 4, 5, 5a, 6, 6a and 13a through 13c) . The key blade 102 also has a second code pattern 104 with code formations cut only partially through the thickness of the key blade, at the lower massive portion thereof, and cooperating with longer pins in the same row, viz. pins 205f, 205g and 205h (see also figures 4, 5, 5a, 6, 6a and 13f through 13h) .

All these pins 205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h are arranged in a linear row in equidistant cylindrical holes or chambers in the key plug 202. These holes or chambers are constituted by bores 250a, 250b, 250c, 25Of, 25Og, 25Oh in the key plug 202 and are aligned with corresponding holes 220a, 220b, 220c, 22Of, 22Og, 220h in the housing 204. The latter holes accommodate upper pins 230a, 230b, 230c, 23Of, 23Og, 23Oh and com- pression springs 240a, 240b, 240c, 24Of, 24Og, 24Oh, as is well-known in the art. In the position shown in figures 1 and 2, where the various locking pins engage with the first and second code patterns 103, 104 of the key blade, the upper substantially flat end portions 206 (see also fig. 5a) of the locking pins 205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h are flush with the outer surface of the key plug, so that the key plug can be rotated in the cylindrical bore of the housing 204.

It should be observed that the reference numerals of the pins 205a through 205h do not correspond exactly to the upper pins 230a through 23Oh in respect of the letters a through h. Rather, the pins are associated to each other as follows: 205a-230a, 205b-230c, 205c-230g, 205f-230b, 205g-230f, and 205h-230h, as can be seen clearly in fig. 2.

An advantage with the present invention is that it is possible to use a regular, linear row of cylindrical bores 250a, 250b, 250c, 25Of, 25Og, 25Oh in the key plug 202 (see fig. 4) and holes aligned thereto 220a, 220b, 220c, 22Of, 22Og, 22Oh in the housing 204 for the various long and short locking pins 205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h and yet have the locking pins cooperating with code patterns extending over the entire vertical extension of the key blade. This is made possible by the fact that the short pins 205a, 205b, 205c cooperate with the first code pattern 103 at the upper edge portion, at the upper half of the key blade, and the longer pins 205f , 205g, 205h cooperate with the second code pattern 104 at the lower, massive portion at the lower half of the key. blade 102.

As will be seen from figures 5a, 6a and figures 13a, 13b, 13c, 13f, 13g, 13h, the short pins 205a, 205b, 205c have a cylindrical body portion 209 extending substantially along the whole length (or height) of the pin from the substantially flat upper end portion 206 to the lower, tapered end portion 207, which serves as a key sensing portion. In this embodiment, the key sensing end portions 207 of the short pins 205a, 205b, 205c are substantially frustro-conical with a flat or rounded tip 208, which is smooth and has a shape substantially as a segment of a sphere in this case.

The longer locking pins 205f, 205g, 205h, on the other hand (see figure 6a) , have a cylindrical upper body portion 209 and a downwardly extended portion 210. At the lower end thereof, the extended portion 210 has a tapering key sensing portion 207, the lowermost portion 208 of which is rounded so as to provide a smooth contact with the second code pattern 104 of the key blade. From figures 6a and figures 13f, 13g, 13h, 13i, 13j it can be clearly seen that the extended portion 210 and the key sensing portion 207 of the longer pins are longitudinally cut in half in this embodiment, as compared to a full cylindrical shape. In this way the upper edge portion of the key blade can be easily accommodated in the recess formed by the cut away portion of the longer pins. The lowermost smooth end portion 208 of the longer pins will make contact with the second code pattern 104 of the key blade when the key blade is inserted into the key slot of the lock.

Normally, with six pins in the row, there will be three short pins 205a, 205b, 205c alternating with three long pins 205f, 205g and 205h. In the shown embodiment, these pins have dif- ferent lengths. Accordingly, the first code pattern includes three different vertical code levels, whereas the second code pattern includes three further vertical code levels, all in all six vertical code levels for the pins in the row. Of course, it is possible to have e.g. four of five code levels in each code pattern and a corresponding number of short and long pins having different lengths, as illustrated in figures 13 through 17.

The key sensing portions of each pin may vary in shape. In figure 14, the key sensing portion 207' of each pin is chisel- shaped with a symmetrically located lowermost portion 208' (compare figure 14 k.) . In figure 15, the key sensing portion 207'' is also chisel-shaped, but the lowermost portion 208'' is asymmetrically located as illustrated in figure 15k.

In figure 16, there are shown various pins having a lower end portion 207''' with two different key sensing parts 208' ''m, 208' ''n of the kind described in the international patent application published under number WO2007/018456.

It is not necessary that the longer pins have end portions being shaped exactly like those of the short pins. An example is shown in figure 17, where the short pins are exactly like the ones shown in figures 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e. On the other hand, the long pins are provided with transversal projections 211 cooperating with a code pattern formed on the lower wall of a longitudinal groove 105' on one side of the key blade. These projections 211 are shown to be cylindrical. However, they may, alternatively, have a key contacting surface similar those illustrated in figures 13k, 14k, 15k, and 16k, extending along the projection.

In case the projections has a key contacting surface as illustrated in fig. 16k, the code pattern on the key blade may be configured as disclosed in the international patent application published under No. WO2007/018456.

The embodiment with a transverse projection is shown in more detail in figures 7 through 12a. Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 correspond to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, the only difference being the configuration of the second code pattern 104' (on the back of the key in figures 7-10) and the end portion of the longer pins 205' f, 205 'g and 205 'h which are all provided with transverse projections 211 cooperating with the modified second code pattern 104' illustrated in figures 12 and 12a. The short and long pins (205 'a, 205'b, 205'c and 205' f, 205 'g, 205 'h) in this second embodiment are shown clearly in figure 11a. It will be understood that the transverse projections 211 will project into the groove 105' of the key blade on the side thereof. See figure 12 and 12a. So, the projection 211 and the associated long pin 205' f, 205'g, 205'h will therefore move upwards and downwards when the key 100 is inserted into the key slot 201 in response to the second code pattern 104' . The latter is, in this embodiment, wave-like as described in detail e.g. in the international patent application published under number WO 89/06733. In the two embodiments shown on the drawings, the long and short pins alternate along the row. However, it is of course possible to place the long and short pins in a different or- der, with two, three or four short or long pins located next to each other. Examples of various combinations of this kind are shown in figures 18a through 18i. There should be at least one short pin (fig. 18i) and at least one long pin (fig. 18g) in the row.

As illustrated in figures 19, 20, 21, 22, it is quite possible to design locks and keys as a master-key system. For clarity all short pins and long pins are shown to have the same length, respectively. Of course, in practice, different coded lengths are being used.

The lock according to fig. 19 corresponds to the one shown in fig. 18a, whereas the lock according to fig. 20 corresponds to the one shown in fig. 18b. The key blades 102a and 102b will open the associated lock 200a and 200b, respectively, but not the other. However, as will be apparent from figures 21 and 22, a master key blade 102ab will open both of the locks 200a, 200b, since it is provided with a code pattern having code portions corresponding to all of the pins in both locks. In fact, such a master key will also open locks having pin combinations as illustrated in figures 18c through 18i (provided that all pins have a length corresponding to each code portion of the key blade) .

Those skilled in the art can modify the embodiments disclosed above in a number of ways within the scope of the appended claims. The row may be located in the central vertical plane of the key slot or be displaced somewhat sideways relative to such a plane. The number of pins in the row may be different. Also, as illustrated in figures 18a through 18i, it is possible to have more long pins than short pins, or the other way round .

It would also be possible to have key sensing parts in the form of transverse projections (211) in figures 11a, 12a and 17g through 17j on the short pins as well as on the long pins. Then, the code pattern at the upper edge portion of the key does not have to be cut through the whole thickness of the key blade. If necessary, the pins may be provided with guiding means, e.g. in the form of wings, such as those disclosed in the international patent application No. PCT/SE2006/000913 that will ensure that they are rotationally controlled always oriented correctly for proper cooperation with the key blade.

Furthermore, at least one of the long pins may be provided with two key contacting parts, as illustrated in figs. 23 through 25. Here, the row of locking pins includes two short pins 205a, 205b and four long pins 205f, 205g, 205h, 205i. The long pin 205i located near the tip of the key blade (see fig. 25) has a first key sensing part 2081 located at the lowermost end of the pin, at the end of the downwardly projecting, relatively narrow portion 210, and a second key sensing part 208u located at an upper part of the pin, at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 209 thereof.

The first key contacting part or surface portion 2081 cooperates with the second, lower code pattern 104 (at a code portion 104i) of a first associated key IOOA (fig. 24), in the same way as in the embodiments described above, whereas the second, upper key contacting part or surface portion 208u (fig. 23) cooperates with the upper code pattern 103 of a second associated key 10OB, where the upper code pattern has a relatively shallow cut 103i near the upper edge of the key blade. Thus, the first and second key contacting parts 2081, 208u cooperate with different code patterns 103,104 of different associated keys 100B,100A.

By this feature, the code combinations can be increased even more, and keys with key blades having shallow and deep upper cuts can be used in master key systems. It is also possible to differentiate between the lower and upper key sensing parts by allocating keys having a key blade with a small height (from the lower edge to the upper edge) for contacting the lower key sensing part 2081 with the second, lower code pattern 104 and keys having a key blade with a greater height (from the lower edge to the upper edge) for contacting the upper key sensing part 208u with the first, upper code pattern 103.

However, according to the invention, there should always be at least one short pin cooperating with a first, upper code pattern and at least one long pin cooperating with a second, lower code pattern of an associated key.

It is also conceivable to make two code patterns on each side of the key blade, in such a way that the key is turnable upside down and can still operate a lock. In such a case, the massive part of the blade may be located at half the height of the key blade, with a first code pattern situated on each longitudinal edge of the key blade. Alternatively, the key blade may have a substantially uniform thickness all the way between the longitudinal edges.