The present invention relates to a cylinder lock and key that offer high security, respectively, against tampering and against attempts at cloning.

Cylinder locks are known which entail the presence of pins that act on recesses and notches arranged on a face of the key associated therewith.

Only when the pins are all accommodated in the respective recesses and notches of the corresponding key (inserted in the opening of the rotor of the cylinder) is it possible to rotate the rotor of the lock with respect to the stator (with consequent change of state of the lock, from open to closed and vice versa).

The most widely used breaking and entering techniques entail the insertion of utensils and lockpicks in the opening of the rotor of the cylinder in order to lower the pins, until each one of these is brought to the configuration of disconnection of the rotor with respect to the stator (the same configuration that they would assume if the correct key were inserted).

The conventional size of the rotor opening allows easy access via lockpicks, substantially rendering conventional cylinder locks potentially non-secure.

But it is not possible to adopt an opening of smaller size, since it is necessary for it to be able to accommodate the key, which, in turn, must be dimensioned to have sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity.

Other possible attempts at tampering can be perpetrated through cloning the key: it is in fact possible, in some cases, to take a cast of the key by way of materials such as Plasticine© and the like in a few seconds (without the owner even noticing it).

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cylinder lock that is particularly secure against attempts at tampering, and in particular which is secure against attempts at tampering perpetrated by way of lockpicks and similar utensils.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a cylinder lock that is difficult to tamper with or break.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key for a cylinder lock which is difficult to clone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock and key which is low cost, easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

This aim and these objects are achieved by a cylinder lock of the type comprising a fixed stator and a rotor, which is accommodated in a respective cavity of said stator and can rotate with respect to said stator, said rotor comprising a substantially longitudinal space for the functional accommodation of a respective key, between said rotor and said stator there being respective accommodation channels for translating encoding elements, said channels being open onto said substantially longitudinal space, characterized in that said substantially longitudinal space comprises at least one protruding ridge which is arranged substantially transversely with respect to said space and divides the two far side portions of said space, in at least one section of said stator and said rotor there being at least one secondary conduit for the slideable accommodation of at least one pin the end tip of which protrudes into one of the two far side portions of said space and the base end of which is aligned with the discontinuity surface between stator and rotor, said at least one pin translating, during the insertion of said key into the space, within said at least one secondary conduit toward said stator, and the end tip of said pin being accommodated, when said key is fully inserted in the space, in a respective recess of said key with consequent alignment of its base end with the discontinuity surface between stator and rotor.

Such aim and such objects are also achieved by a key of the type comprising a hand-grip from which extends an elongated body which is provided with encoding hollows and projections on its outer surface, characterized in that it comprises: - an inclined front plane which is intended to abut, when inserting said elongated body into a said substantially longitudinal space of a lock, on at least one pin in order to move said pin,

- at least one recess for accommodating a respective end tip of said pin, when said elongated body is in the configuration of total insertion of said elongated body into the said substantially longitudinal space,

- at least one longitudinal groove arranged along said elongated body for accommodating a protruding ridge which is arranged substantially transversely with respect to said space, when said elongated body is in the configuration of total insertion of said elongated body into the said substantially longitudinal space.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the cylinder lock and of the key according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of a cylinder lock according to the invention, in which a key according to the invention is inserted;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of a variation of embodiment of the cylinder lock according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a key according to the invention; Figure 4 is a side view, cross-sectioned along a sagittal plane, of a cylinder lock according to the invention in which a key according to the invention is inserted;

Figure 5 is a side view, cross-sectioned along a sagittal plane, of a cylinder lock according to the invention in which a key according to the invention is inserted, during an attempt at tampering perpetrated using a lockpick. With reference to such figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a cylinder lock and the reference numeral 2 a related key.

The key 2 will preferably be of the flat and symmetric type, although the application is not ruled out of the inventive concepts of the present invention on different types of keys as well.

The cylinder lock 1 comprises a fixed stator 3 and a rotor 4, which is accommodated in a respective cavity 5 of the stator 3.

The rotor 4 can rotate with respect to the stator 3 and comprises a substantially longitudinal space 6 for the functional accommodation of a respective key 2.

Between the rotor 4 and the stator 3 there are respective accommodation channels for translating encoding elements.

Such channels are open onto the substantially longitudinal space 6 in order to allow the translating encoding elements to abut against a contoured surface of the key 2.

According to the invention, the substantially longitudinal space 6 comprises at least one protruding ridge 7 which is arranged substantially transversely with respect to the space 6 and divides the two far side portions of the space 6.

In at least one section of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 there is at least one secondary conduit 8 for the slideable accommodation of at least one pin 9 the end tip 10 of which protrudes into one of the two far side portions of the space 6.

The at least one pin 9 will undergo a translation, when the key 2 is inserted in the space 6, along (and inside) the at least one secondary conduit 8 from the rotor 4 toward the stator 3.

The end tip 10 of the pin 9 will be accommodated, when the key 2 is completely inserted in the space 6, in a respective recess 1 1 of the key 2.

According to an embodiment of undoubted applicative interest, the substantially longitudinal space 6 can preferably comprise at least a pair of ridges 7 that protrude from mutually opposite faces of the space 6.

In such case the ridges 7 will be mutually facing and mutually proximate and will define at least one intermediate tortuous slot 12 for connection between the two far side portions of the space 6.

It should further be noted that at least one of the ridges 7 which protrude is substantially aligned with the at least one secondary conduit 8.

When the pin 9 is in the configuration of total protrusion into the substantially longitudinal space 6, and thus in the absence of the key 2 or when the key 2 is completely inserted in the space 6 and the end 10 of the pin 9 is completely accommodated in the recess 1 1 , its end tip 10 is at least partially facing and proximate to such ridge 7 that is aligned with the secondary conduit 8.

The total protrusion of the pin 9 into the substantially longitudinal space 6 implies the alignment of its base end with the discontinuity surface between the stator 3 and the rotor 4 and thus the possibility for the rotor 4 to move (rotate) with respect to the stator 3; when the pin 9 is instead lowered with respect to the total protrusion into the rotor space 6, its base end is interposed between the stator 3 and the rotor 4, making them integral and thus preventing any rotation of the rotor 4. This condition whereby the rotation of the rotor 4 is impossible owing to the interposition of the base end of the pin 9 arises if a key is inserted which does not have a through recess 1 1 or if the pin 9 is lowered by way of a lockpick A (this possibility is shown in the accompanying Figure 5).

According to a further specific variation of embodiment of optimal efficiency, the end tip 10 of the pin 9 can preferably comprise a tapered rod 13.

When the pin 9 is in the configuration of total protrusion into the substantially longitudinal space 6, and thus in the absence of the key 2, the area of connection of the tapered rod 13 with the end tip 10 is rendered inaccessible by the ridge 7 (a malicious individual using a lockpick A to try to act on the pin 9 laterally will find the ridge 7 an insurmountable obstacle that prevents the lockpick A from reaching the end tip 10 of the pin 9).

It should further be noted that the secondary conduit 8 accommodates the pin 9, a counterpin 14 and an axially acting spring 15.

The spring 1 5 is arranged on the bottom of the stator portion of the channel 8, the counterpin 14 is resting on the spring 15 and the pin 9 is resting on the counterpin 14.

Such alignment, inside the channel 8, defines a kinematic chain designed to rigidly mate the stator 3 and the rotor 4, decoupling them only at a specific configuration of the pin 9 which is only assumed when the key 2 is completely inserted in the space 6.

According to a particular embodiment, the rotor 4 can comprise at least one longitudinal groove 16 that is open onto the substantially longitudinal space 6.

Such groove 1 6 accommodates a retention tab 1 7 of a respective protruding ridge 7.

Since the particular inner shape structure of the space 6 is usually provided by way of broaching, it should be noted that the provision of the protruding ridges 7, by way of such mechanical machining, can be complex and subjects the utensil (the broach) to high stresses that could rapidly result in the malfunction thereof.

The presence of the groove 16, which is provided simply by way of a process of broaching, thus makes it possible to carry out a mechanical machining that is faster and cheaper and, especially, less subject to malfunctions and outages.

Each groove 16 can then easily accommodate a respective retention tab 17 of a ridge 7, which will be inserted therein subsequently (using rigid coupling methods like coupling by thermal interference, use of adhesives, pins, interlocks, undercuts, shape couplings and the like).

In such case the protruding ridge 7 can conveniently be made of material of high hardness, of the type of steel, tempered steel, casehardened steel, stainless steel, martensitic steel, austenitic steel, ferritic steel, alloy steel and the like.

The possibility is not ruled out however of providing the ridge 7 in the same material as that used for the rotor 4, since in any case it will be advantageous to provide it as a detachable component for the reasons of mechanical machining listed above.

This choice assures the end user of the substantial impossibility of tampering with the rotor 3.

In fact a possible breaking-and-entering strategy could involve, using specific utensils created especially for the purpose, breaking the at least one ridge 7 in order to then be able to easily access the pin 9 using a traditional lockpick.

If the ridges 7 are made of a material of high hardness, which optionally has a low brittleness (it will tend to deform and not shatter if subjected to a high load), then it will not be possible to remove it and thus a breaking-and-entering attack cannot be carried out using a traditional lockpick.

With particular reference to an embodiment intended to obstruct any attempt at tampering, the counterpin 14 is provided with two end heads 1 8 which have a diameter that is smaller than and proximate to the inside diameter of the channel 8 and a central portion 19 which has a smaller diameter.

When the head 1 8 arranged above in the counterpin 14 (in the installation configuration) is accommodated in the rotor 4, an attempt to force the rotation of the rotor 4 (in contrast with the action of the translating encoding elements) will determine the inclination of the counterpin 14 thus preventing it from being able to freely reenter the stator portion of the channel 8 (basically the head 1 8 will jam against the edge of the stator portion of the channel 6 if an attempt is made to push the pin 9 downwardly with a lockpick).

It is thus evident that the many constructional, geometric and dimensional contrivances render the cylinder lock 1 particularly resistant to attempts at tampering perpetrated with conventional methods.

The present invention further defines a key 2 that comprises a handgrip 20 from which extends an elongated body 21 , which is provided with encoding hollows and projections 22 on its outer surface.

The particular key 2 according to the invention comprises an inclined front plane 23 which is intended to abut, when inserting the elongated body 21 into the substantially longitudinal space 6 of the cylinder lock 1 , on at least one pin 9 in order to move that pin 9 downwardly.

It is important to emphasize that the key 2 will comprise at least one recess 1 1 for accommodating a respective end tip 10 of the pin 9, when the key 2 is in the configuration of total insertion of the elongated body 2 1 into the substantially longitudinal space 6.

The recess 1 1 can advantageously be constituted by a through hole for the purpose of allowing the pin 9 (or rather its end tip 10) to completely pass through the key 2 in order to be able to assume the configuration in which it decouples the rotor 4 from the stator 3.

In such case the shape and the dimensions of the recess 1 1 (which will in any case be complementary to those of the end 10 of the pin 9) are also essential in order to allow the pin 9 to assume the correct configuration when the key 2 is inserted in the cavity 6: thus it can be seen that the shape and the dimensions of the recess 1 1 (and of the end 10 of the pin 9) can constitute valid encoding elements in order to ensure a high level of security of the cylinder lock 1 against attempts at tampering.

Turning to specifically analyze the geometric shape structure of the key 2, thus, it is possible to see that the recess 1 1 is a through hole provided with a perimetric flaring of shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the end tip 10 of the pin 9. It should further be noted that at least one longitudinal groove 24, arranged along the elongated body 21 for accommodating a ridge 7 protruding from the space 6, is arranged substantially transversely with respect to the space 6, when the key 2 is in the configuration of total insertion of the elongated body 21 into the substantially longitudinal space 6.

It is important to note that in the key 2 according to the invention the longitudinal grooves 24 can preferably be at least two in number, are arranged substantially mutually parallel and are provided on mutually opposite sides of the elongated body 21 .

In such case, when the elongated body 21 of the key 2 is completely inserted into the space 6, each groove 24 will accommodate a respective protruding ridge 7 of the space 6: a central ridge 25 will be delimited between the longitudinal grooves 24 and connect the two lateral edges 26 of the elongated body 21 .

Effectively the present invention solves the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cylinder lock 1 that is particularly secure against attempts at tampering, and in particular which is secure against attempts at tampering perpetrated by way of lockpicks and similar utensils.

The presence of the tortuous slot 12 is such that it prevents access to the end 10 of the pin 9 with a lockpick A, since it will not be possible to laterally locate the end of the lockpick A on the end 10 of the pin 9 for the purpose of lowering it by exerting a sufficient force: the only possibility remaining for the person trying to tamper with the lock 1 is to act on the pin 9 frontal ly with the lockpick A, but with this approach it will not be possible to act effectively and with the necessary force by way of the lockpick A on all the pins present in the cylinder lock 1 since at least one pin 9 will have a length that is such as to jam any movement of the rotor 4 with respect to the stator 3 if it is made to perform a translational motion by way of the lockpick A (as illustrated in Figure 5), thus defeating the attempt at tampering.

Advantageously the cylinder lock 1 according to the invention is also difficult to tamper with or break, in that the ridges 7 can be made of material with high strength and mechanical rigidity (i.e. in material that is different from the material with which the rotor 4 is made).

Conveniently the key 2 for a cylinder lock 1 according to the invention is difficult to clone, in that the two grooves 24 define shaped regions and undercuts with respect to the encoding 22 which imply the use of special machines for its production. Such shaped regions and undercuts greatly impede the cloning of the key 2 by way of simply making a cast (a cast that will not record all the geometrical features of the profile of the key 2).

Positively the cylinder lock 1 and the related key 2 can be produced at low cost, being easily and practically implemented (on an industrial scale) and safe in use.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.