KEY FOR SUCH A LOCK

Technical Field

The invention relates to cylinder locks comprising a blocking bar arranged between the cylinder core and the cylinder housing, and especially to recodeable cylinder locks having a blocking bar positioned beside the key channel.

Background and Prior Art

The invention relates to a cylinder lock comprising a blocking bar or side bar. Such a lock cylinder normally comprises a cylinder housing, a core arranged inside the cylinder housing and a side bar arranged for alternately allow and block relative rotational movement between the core and the housing. The rotational movement is blocked by the side bar until correct key is used that lifts the code pins beside the key channel and thereby allow for the side bar to move from its blocked position between the cylinder core and the cylinder housing so that the cylinder core can rotate in the cylinder housing when the key is turned. The cylinder lock may also be provided with divided code pins above the key channel or key-way.

Locks having a side bar between cylinder core and cylinder housing have been described earlier, which comprises code pins arranged to be lifted by the side surface of the key, so called side pins. The side pins are lifted by the key (code carrier) to a level that is determined by the groove in the key, and at the "correct" level grooves of the pins arrives inside the side bar so that the side bar can be inserted into the grooves and thereby leave its locking position between core and cylinder, i.e. let the cylinder core and the cylinder housing rotate in relation to each other so that the lock is manoeuvred (i.e. opened or closed). Such a lock is described in the Swedish patent document SE469565.

A combination of cylinder lock and key is shown in SE469565 (see figures) wherein the key (4) is provided with a groove in each side surface intended for engaging against pins (5) arranged at each sides of the key-way (3a) of the cylinder core. The grooves run along the side surfaces of the key and varies in height level and when the key is inserted in the lock the pins are forced to move vertically, perpendicular in relation to the direction of insertion of the key, upwards and downwards inside the cylinder core. The pins are essentially cylindrical and show a thinner waist portion for receiving a blocking bar (blocking bar 6) when they are positioned at the correct code level lifted by the key.

In SE522880 a lock and key combination is described that comprises a replaceable cylinder core. The lock can be seen as a further development of the earlier lock, which is presented in SE469565. The lock does not need be entirely replaced when, for example, a key to the lock is lost, instead such a lock can be reset through replacement of the core of the lock, where after the lock can be used again. Even if recoding the lock is simplified in SE522880, it still needs replacing parts of the lock, i.e. the core is replaced, when a new key shall replace a lost key.

Summary of the Invention

It is an aim of the invention to provide a simple way to re-code (or reset) a cylinder lock comprising a blocking bar. The invention presents a cylinder lock comprising a cylinder core arranged in a cylinder housing, comprising code pins or side pins arranged in the cylinder core for cooperation with a key, and a blocking bar arranged to prevent movement between the cylinder housing and the cylinder core, in cooperation with the code pins, when the lock is locked, and to allow movement between the cylinder housing and the cylinder core when the lock is opened. Preferably, the code pins are provided with stops, for preventing movement of the blocking pin from engagement with the cylinder housing, and openings, that allow move- ment of the blocking bar from engagement with the cylinder housing.

Thus, the cylinder lock comprises a cylinder housing, a cylinder core provided with a key- way and at least one blocking bar, which blocking bar is arranged in a space between cylinder core and cylinder housing. The cylinder lock further comprises a plurality of code pins adapted for cooperating with the blocking bar and arranged to be lifted to code levels by means of a side groove in a key when the key is inserted into the key-way. The code pins presents, in at least one level, a portion that prevents movement of the blocking bar out of engagement with the cylinder housing, so that the cylinder core is prevented from rotating in relation to the cylinder housing, and at least one code level having an open portion that allows movement of the blocking bar from engagement with the cylinder housing, so that the cylinder core is allowed to rotate in relation to the cylinder housing. The cylinder lock is characterized in that at least one of the code pins further includes at least one recoding level or resetting level, having a portion adapted to, in cooperation with the blocking bar, change over the code pin so that the cylinder lock is recoded.

Thus, the cylinder lock comprises at least one side pin that can be set or changed over and has one side adapted to cooperate with the blocking bar to be changed over. In this way the side pin that can be changed over can be changed over from presenting an opening for the blocking bar at one level into presenting a stop for the blocking bar at the same level. Preferably, the adjustable side pin is provided with at least one open side, one closed side providing a stop for the blocking bar, and one side having a recoding surface at each level of its circumference, and is provided to change over by means of being rotated by the blocking bar.

During normal use a key is used to manoeuvre the lock. If this key is lost, the lock needs to be recoded. Then, a second key is inserted into the lock and recodes the lock by changing over, or resetting, the pin that can be changed over. After this, the second key is used to manoeuvre the lock. After the recoding, the first key may no longer be used to manoeuvre the lock.

In an embodiment, each code level of the re-coding pin comprises preventing portions, at least one open portion and at least one recoding portion arranged along the circumference of the recoding pin and the cylinder lock is recoded by rotating the re-coding pin. Each changeable code pin preferably comprises a foot being arranged to be lifted by one or more side grooves in a key when the key enters the lock and this foot is in a preferred embodiment an integrated portion of the code pin, which sees to a simple manufacturing of the lock. In another preferred embodiment, the foot is mounted by means of a bearing or free to rotate at the code pin in relation to the body, which provides less friction and wear. The foot is pref- erably cylindrical.

In a preferred embodiment, the usual, non-changeable, side pins are provided with an integrated foot. In an embodiment, the recoding pin comprises a body having a plurality of sides and the preventing portions constitute portions of the body, and the open portions is made by grooves in the body. Preferably the body comprises a regular multi-sided cross-section, wherein the number of sides is larger than four. Preferably, the number of these sides is eight.

Each adjustable code pin of the cylinder lock preferably comprises a multi-sided cross section having more than four sides, such as a regular polygon, for example an octagon.

In an embodiment, the re-coding portion is adjacent an open portion.

In an embodiment, the open portion ends with a projection or shoulder and the blocking bar comprises a groove for the shoulder.

In an embodiment, the blocking bar comprises at least one tongue or latch for cooperating with the code pins. In an embodiment, the blocking bar comprises at least one tongue for each recoding pin, which tongue is arranged for preventing rotation of the recoding pin when the movement of the blocking bar is prevented by at least one code pin.

Moreover, the blocking bar is in a preferred embodiment provided with a plurality of guiding knobs arranged to prevent rotation of the recoding pin, except during recoding of the cylinder lock.

Preferably, the blocking bar is biased in the direction towards the cylinder housing, by means of a spring biasing device.

The cylinder lock is suitably provided with a combination including a plurality of ordinary code pins and at least one, but suitably also more than one, adjustable code pin.

The invention also provides a set of keys for the cylinder lock and thereby a combination of keys and a cylinder lock, which lock can be recoded for use with one key at a time, one after the other. The cylinder lock can be adapted for a set of three or more keys that can be used one after the other, one at a time for recoding and subsequent normal use. When the lock is recoded by the next key of the set, the previous key will no longer fit. In such a set, one key at a time can be used and when all keys have been used, the first key can be used to recode the lock to use by the first key again, or the cylinder core or the complete cylinder lock can be exchanged. According to the invention the set of keys for the cylinder lock, in which cylinder lock the recoding pin is capable of different orientation or rotational position, comprises at least three keys, and for every rotational position of the recoding pin one of the at least three keys is adapted to change over the recoding pin, another one of the at least three keys is adapted to manoeuvre the lock without changing over or adjusting the recoding pin, and a further one of the three keys is not capable of manoeuvring the lock.

In a preferred set of keys the keys are adapted for the lock so that each one of the three keys recodes the cylinder lock when the recoding pin takes a recoding position for the key, manoeuvre the lock when the recoding pin takes an open position for the key and is prevented by the lock when the recoding pin has reached a preventing position for the key.

Preferably each one of the keys recodes the cylinder lock from its respective recoding position into its respective manoeuvring position.

Preferably the preventing position for a (first) respective key is taken when the recoding pin is adjusted by another one of the keys from the manoeuvring position of the (first) respective key.

Thereby the invention provides a set of keys that each one is a recoding key for the lock, one key is recoding key for every respective coding state of the lock. In each coding state one key can be used for manoeuvring the lock without recoding it, and one key cannot manoeuvre the lock.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will in the following be described in greater detail with reference being made to the drawings where constructional features are illustrated for facilitating carrying out the in- vention.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a cylinder lock in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates an adjustable coding pin.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section of an adjustable coding pin. Figure 4 illustrates a blocking bar adapted for an adjustable code pin.

Figure 5 illustrates blocking bar for conventional code pins.

Figure 6 illustrates a cylinder lock in sectional view having a blown up view of recoding and coding pins.

Figure 7 illustrates changing over a coding pin.

Figure 8 illustrates different embodiments of the cylinder lock in a sectional view.

Description of Embodiments

A first embodiment is illustrated in figure 1 showing a recodeable cylinder lock, which cylin- der lock comprises a cylinder housing 2, a cylinder core 4 provided with a key- way 5 and two blocking bars 6, 7 arranged at opposite sides of the key-way 5. The blocking bars 6, 7 is further arranged in recesses or spaces in the cylinder core 4 as well as in the cylinder housing 2 for blocking their relative motion when the lock is locked. The blocking bars 6, 7 are arranged to be pushed into the cylinder core 4 out of the engagement with the side bar or blocking bar groove 15 of the cylinder housing during opening of the lock, so that the cylinder core 4 can rotate in relation to the cylinder housing 2.

Figure 1 also shows a key or code carrier 8 provided for insertion into the key- way 5 and provided with code grooves 10 in its respective side surfaces 12. When the key is inserted in the cylinder core 4, the side surfaces comprising the code grooves 10 are facing outwards from opposing sides of the key- way or key channel. These side-oriented code grooves 10 are designed to cooperate under engagement with code pins 16, 17 positioned inside cylindrical recesses inside the cylinder core 4 on opposing sides of the key channel, and move the code pins 16, 17 vertically when the key 8 is inserted into the key channel 5. When the side or code pins 6, 7 are lifted to correct level, they allow that the blocking bars 6, 7 are pushed into the cylinder core 4 and thereby comes out of engagement with the cylinder housing 2 so that the cylinder core 4 can rotate within the cylinder housing 2. Two types of side-arranged code pins 16, 17 are illustrated in figure 1, first side pins 16 that are rotation symmetric, and secondly recodeable side pins 17 that in the following will be called recoding pins. Each blocking bar 6, 7 is biased outwards towards the cylinder housing 2 by means of a spring arrangement consisting of a piston 18 and a spring 19.

Figure 2 illustrates a recoding pin 17. The recoding pin 17 is provided with a foot 21, a head 22 and a body 23, which body 23 is provided between the foot 21 and the head 22. During manoeuvring of the lock, the foot 21 cooperates with the key. The body 23 is that portion that during manoeuvring of the lock cooperates with the blocking bar 6. The head 22 guides the pin when it is lifted by the key. The foot 21 and the head 22 may have the same design as cor- responding foot and head of a rotation symmetric code pin 16, and the recoding pin 17 is illustrated as having an essentially cylindrical foot 21 and an essentially cylindrical head 22. The body 23 of the recoding pin differs from a rotation symmetric side pin 16 in that it presents different contact surfaces towards the blocking bar when it is rotated around its longitudinal axis. By rotating the recoding pin 17, the blocking bar 7 can selectively be prevented from entering and allowed to enter by the recoding pin 17, so that the blocking bar 7 can be blocked or, respectively, leave the engagement with the cylinder housing (the blocking bar groove). The body 23 is preferably provided with a multi-sided cross-section, such as the eight sided cross-section profile illustrated in figure 2. The cross-section of this eight sided profile is illustrated in greater detail in figure 3. The body

23 is provided with a plurality of stop sides 31, 32, 33, 34 along its circumference that are designed to prevent movement of the blocking bar 7 from engagement with the cylinder housing. In this eight sided profile the stop sides 31, 32, 33, 34 constitute four of the eight sides of the cross section. The body is also provided with open sides 35, 36 that allow movement of the blocking bar out of engagement with the cylinder housing 2, such as grooves 35, 36 in two of the eight sides of the cross section. Each opening or groove 35, 36 ends in a stop 35a, 36a, and the blocking bar 7, which enters the opening 35, 36 presents in a corresponding position hereto a groove (45 in figure 4). These stops 35a, 36a and groove (45 of figure 4) guarantee that the lock cannot be opened by means of the earlier key after a recoding operation. The body 23 is also provided with recoding sides provided with recoding surfaces 37, 38 arranged to meet the blocking bar 7. These recoding surfaces 37, 38 are adjacent sides 35, 36 having openings for the blocking bar. The recoding surfaces 37, 38 are arranged ex-centrically or off set in relation to the centre of the pin, in relation to the direction of movement of the blocking bar when the cylinder core is rotated in the cylinder housing, so that they, the recoding surfac- es, create a turning moment/torque around the longitudinal/centre axis of the pin when they are pushed by the blocking bar 7. This turning torque is employed to rotate the recoding pin 17 to a new orientation with the, to the recoding surface 37, 38 adjacent, groove 35, 36 facing the blocking bar. A rotation symmetric side pin 16 presents an opening for the blocking bar 6, 7 at a first level, so called code level, and prevents the blocking bar at another level. These levels are the same all the time and can only be changed upon replacing the side pin, for example by replacing the cylinder core. On the other hand, the recoding pins can, by means of being rotated, change between an open side that allow access of the blocking bar and a stop side that prevent access of the blocking bar, and this change is provided at two different levels at the same time, from open side to stop side in one level, and from stop to open side at the other level. Thereby the code level can be moved by means of rotation of the recoding pins 17. Thus, the cylinder lock can be recoded without replacing the cylinder core.

The recoding pin 17 of figure 2 comprises four code levels. The side facing the onlooker/observer is provided with an opening for the side bar in the second lowest level. The lowest level 24 presents a recoding surface facing the observer. In the two highest levels, the recod- ing pin 17 is provided with stops facing the observer. A key that lifts the recoding pin 17 so that the second lowest level with the opening is positioned facing the side bar, thus, lifts the recoding pin into a code level that allow access for the side bar and therefore relative rotation between the cylinder core and the cylinder housing, so that the lock is opened. A key that lifts the recoding pin 17 so that one of the highest levels having stops arrives in front of the side bar thus lifts the recoding pin into a code level that prevents access of the side bar and thereby prevents relative rotational motion between the cylinder core and cylinder housing, so that the lock remains locked. The recoding side further adjoin to an open side. A key that lifts the recoding key 17 so that the lowest level 24 that is provided with the recoding surface/face is positioned in front of the side bar thus lifts the recoding pin to a code level wherein the recoding pin is turned by the side bar, into a new open orientation that allow access for the side bar and thereby relative rotational movement between the cylinder core and the cylinder housing, so that the lock is recoded and can be opened.

Thus, the recoding pin presents different code levels for each side facing the blocking bar, one side that has a first level that allows access for the blocking bar, a second that prevents access for the blocking bar and a third level that in cooperation with the blocking bar rotates the recoding pin. In that way a key that lifts the pin to the first level (an open level) can open the lock, a key that lifts the pin to a second level (a locked level) cannot open the lock while a key that lifts the pin to a third level (a recoding level) can recode the lock. Each level of the recod- ing pin 17 presents along/around its circumference different sides, which sides comprises at least one side 31-34 that allow access for the side bar, at least one side 35, 36 that prevents access for the side bar and at least one side that cooperates 37, 38 with the side bar in a re- coding operation. Each level of the recoding pin 17 is therefore capable to change between constituting an open level, closed level and recoding level, respectively.

The eight sided recoding pin has been exemplified as comprising four code levels, in figures 1 and 2. More complex code pins can be created in a similar way, for example code pins having seven code levels. In such a lock, having such pins, it is possible to for example choose to use four code levels, and following the fourth key to return to the first level. Another suitable way is to use all of the seven code levels and, after seven recoding operations, not return to the starting orientation, instead to a side having no grooves, i.e. a stop side. After which such a lock cannot be recoded any more.

The recoding pin of figure 2 and figure 3 is adapted for use together with a set of keys consisting of four keys. In a first rotational orientation or state of the recoding pin a first key, comprising a side groove, designed to lift the pin into an open level. A second key is in this first state designed to lift the recoding pin to a recoding level, whereas a third and a fourth key in this state will lift the recoding pin to closed/locked respective levels. The first key is therefore provided for use to lock and unlock the cylinder lock in this first state. The second key is, in this first state, adapted to recode the cylinder lock by rotating the recoding pin into a second orientation. In this second orientation, the second key can lock and unlock the lock. Whereas the first key will lift the pin to a locked level in the second orientation, since every open level (illustrated by groove 35) ends in a stop 35a, which prevents that the recoding pin is rotated back to the first orientation. In this second rotational position or orientation, the third key lifts the recoding pin into a recoding level, and the fourth key lifts the recoding pin to a locked level. In each rotational state or orientation of the recoding pin, there is a first key that opens and closes the cylinder lock, a second key that recodes the cylinder lock and one or more keys of the set of keys cannot manoeuvre the lock.

Figure 4 illustrates a blocking bar 7 adapted for two recoding pins 17. The blocking bar 7 comprises tongues or latches 40, 41 , 42 and the blocking bar is positioned with the tongues 40-42 directed inwardly towards the side pins 16, 17. On the opposite side the bar has a projecting and tapered portion 48 that is positioned outwards inside the blocking groove (15 of figure 1) in the cylinder housing 2. The blocking bar is provided with a space 47 for a biasing device comprising for example a spring (18 in figure 1), which is arranged so that the side bar 7 is biased outwards against the cylinder housing 2, having the tapered and projecting side or portion 48 extending into the groove 15 of the cylinder housing. The blocking bar 7 is adapted for conventional code pins as well as for recoding pins and presents a conventional tongue 40 for the usual code pins. At each tongue 41, 42 for recoding pins, the tongue is adjacent to a respective groove 45, 46. These grooves are provided in a position corresponding to the posi- tion of a stop 35a, 36a (see figure 3) of the respective recoding pin 17. The blocking bar 7 is also provided with guiding knobs 43, 44 arranged to prevent rotation of the recoding pin when it is not recoded, by cooperating with the sides of the coding pin (17). The figure exemplifies two designs on how the recoding pin cooperates with the guiding knobs. One of the recoding pins (17) is surrounded and cooperates with two guiding knobs 43, 44, whereas the other one of the recoding pins is adjacent to and cooperates with one of the guiding knobs 43.

The blocking bar 7 is suitably equipped with at least one guiding knob 43, 44 for each recoding pin 17. The guiding knobs 43, 44 extend into the cylinder core 4 besides the recoding pins, and when the blocking pin is brought into the cylinder core 4, out of engagement with the cylinder housing 2, the guiding knobs 43, 44 are simultaneously brought into the cylinder core 4 beyond the side of the recoding pin 17 so that it no longer prevents rotation of the recoding pin 17.

Figure 5 illustrates a blocking bar adapted for the non-adjustable code pins 16. It presents a tongue 50, 51 adapted for facing the code pins 16 and on the opposite side comprises a projecting and tapered portion 53 that is arranged facing the cylinder housing (2 in figure 1). A groove is created in the tongue 50, 51, which groove is adapted for a biasing device, such as a spring, which is arranged so that the side bar is biased out towards the cylinder housing, having the projecting portion 51 extending into the groove 15 of the cylinder housing.

Figure 6 shows a section through a cylinder lock comprising conventional code pins 16 and adjustable code pins 17. In more detail, a section is shown through a code pin 16 and a adjustable code pin 17. The cylinder lock comprises a blocking bar 7 having a tongue 41 for the code pin 16 and a tongue 42 for the recoding pin 17. The recoding pin 17 is provided with a groove 35 facing the tongue 42 of the blocking bar 7. The tongue of the blocking bar 7 is provided with a groove 45 and in the corresponding position the recoding pin 7 provides a stop 35a adjacent to the groove 35. The blocking bar 7 also comprises projections having guiding knobs 43, 44 arranged on opposite sides of the recoding pin 17, which guiding knobs prevent rotational movement of the recoding pin when the blocking bar 7 is engaging the cylinder housing. When the blocking bar 7 is allowed access into the opening, the groove 35, of the recoding pin 17, the knobs are moved beyond the side of the recoding pin 17 and allow rotation of the recoding pin. This happens simultaneously as the blocking bar 7 by means of its tongue 42 meets the recoding surface 38 of the recoding pin 17 in the recoding orientation and subjects the recoding pin for a turning torque and recodes the lock.

The recoding of the cylinder lock is illustrated in greater detail in figure 7. Figure 7 illustrates a recoding sequence in three sequential figures from left to right, wherein a recoding pin 17 is rotated by a blocking bar 7 when it meets a recoding surface 38 of the pin 17. The stop knobs 43, 44 of the blocking bar leaves the pin 17 when the tongue 7 of the blocking bar meets the recoding side with recoding surface 38 of the pin 17. The recoding surface 38 and the tongue 42 meets off-set, displaced sideways, in relation to the centre of the pin 17, so that a turning moment is created around the centre of the pin. The pin 17 starts to rotate and rotates (see middle view) so that the open side of the pin is turned to face the blocking bar 7, wherein the tongue 42 of the blocking bar 7 meets the open side of the pin and the tongue 42 moves into the groove 35 in the open side. The rotation ends when the open side 35 of the pin 17 faces the blocking bar 7 in full. The stop 35a besides the opening 35 in the open side of the pin will then have moved totally into the groove 45 in the tongue 42 (the view to the right).

Figure 8 illustrates four different embodiments of the cylinder lock according to the invention by means of a cross-section through the code pins. A cylinder lock is shown in figure 8A having seven conventional side/code pins 16 and one eight-sided recoding pin 17. This cylinder lock is provided with a conventional blocking bar 6 for four conventional code pins 16 and one recoding blocking bar 7A for three conventional code pins and one recoding pin. A cylinder lock is shown in figure 8B comprising a conventional blocking bar 6 for four conventional code pins 16 and one recoding blocking bar 7B for two conventional code pins and two recoding pins. A cylinder lock is shown in figure 8C having two recoding blocking bars 7 each bar adapted for three conventional code pins 16 and one recoding pin 17. A cylinder lock is shown in figure 8D comprising two recoding blocking bars 7 each bar for two conventional code pins 16 and two recoding pins 17 each. Each one of the cylinder locks of figure 8 A and 8B comprises one conventional blocking bar and one recoding blocking bar. Each one of the cylinder locks of figures 8C and 8D comprises one blocking bar for recoding pins on each side of the key-way. In the cylinder locks that comprises a plurality of recoding pins (figure 8B-8D) one recoding pin may be recode at a time. Alternatively both are recoded simultaneously, which rises the level of security compared to a cylinder lock having only one recoding pin. The cylinder lock can of course be varied even further, for example by a key that turns over one recoding pin, while another one turns over a plurality of recoding pins.

The invention is not limited to these embodiments, instead it is apparent that the number of pins, the number of conventional and adjustable code pins, respectively, and their mutual arrangement can be varied in a large number of ways, and thereby make large variations of re- codeable cylinder locks possible so that a high level of security is guaranteed. A part from the code pins that are arranged on the sides, the cylinder lock can also be provided with other codes such as divided code pins arranged above the key- way, which divided code pins are arranged to be lifted by the upper side of the key. The keys and/or the cylinder lock may also comprise electronic coding components, for example wireless reading, such as RFID technology-