TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a key with an integrated movable element and an-associated cylinder lock, which can be implemented for the configuration of locking systems with an increased security for living houses, public etc. buildings, as well for cabinets, safes, padlocks etc.

BACKGROUND ART

A flat key with an additional security movable element is known [EP1662077B1]. where the key blade is defined by two wide surfaces and two narrow surfaces with longitudinal grooves formed on at least the one wide key blade surface and transversal notches of different heights and shapes formed on the one narrow key blade surface. A rectangular through hole with constant cross-section is made through the both wide key blade surfaces where is inserted the additional mo-vable element by means of a key pin. The movable element is a ro-tating cylinder with a central borehole and the key pin is a long narrow cylinder fixed in a second borehole made on the other narrow key blade surface, as both the second borehole and respectively the key pin mounted therein are perpendicular to the rectangular through hole and both pass therethrough. The key pin forms a loose fit with the central borehole of the movable element to allow its free rotation in the rectangular through hole, while its movement in direction of the key pin is impossible. The diameter of the movable element is smaller than the longer side of the rectangular through hole wherein it is integrated. Furthermore, the diameter of the movable element is bigger than the key blade thickness.

The cylinder lock associated to the said key. usually has certain number of vertical pins, axially disposed under the springs pressure into coaxial bores in the housing and core. which is rotatably mounted in the housing and has a longitudinal channel formed therein for the key insertion.

Moreover, in order to accept the key with the additional integrated movable element, except the housing and core pins corresponding to the transversal notches made on the one narrow key blade surface, the cylinder lock has a pair of side pins additionally disposed in the core, symmetrically to the central plane, and blocking in the housing elements interacting with the side pins, thus to identify the said integrated in the key movable element. Furthermore, in the longitudinal channel for the key insertion in the core there are formed symmetri-cally to the central plane additional side longitudinal guide channels for the key insertion because the diameter of the movable element is bigger than the key blade thickness. This respectively results in widening of the keyway in the corresponding positions which is externally visible and makes the cylinder lock recognizable and easy accessible for manipulation and unlocking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to provide a high security key and an associated cylinder lock with possibility to control over the additional keys production, as the key is provided with an additional element disposed on a selected location of the key blade that makes the key difficult for manufacturing with simple machinery by unauthorized persons and contributes to higher locking security.

There is thus provided a key and an associated cylinder lock, as the said key has a key blade defined by two wide surfaces and two narrow surfaces with longitudinal grooves formed on the both wide key blade surfaces and transversal notches of different heights and shapes formed on the one narrow key blade surface. A rectangular through hole with constant cross-section is made through the both wide key blade surfaces where is inserted a movable cylindrical element with a central borehole, loosely fitted on a key pin fixed itself in a second borehole made on the other narrow key blade surface, as both the second borehole and respectively the key pin mounted therein are perpendicular to the rectangular through hole and both pass there- through. In accordance with the invention the rectangular through hole and the movable cylindrical element inserted therein are arranged in an additional longitudinal guide groove made on one of the wide key blade surfaces, as the outer diameter of the movable cylindrical element is equal to the key blade thickness. Moreover, between the 5 movable cylindrical element and the key pin there is provided a radial clearance to allow radial displacement of the movable cylindrical element towards the key pin, whereat the outer circumferential surface of the movable cylindrical element is displaced outside the key blade surface.

The cylinder lock associated to the key comprises a housing and a core rotatably

I o mounted therein, having a longitudinal channel for the key insertion. On one side of the key channel respectively in the core and in the housing there are formed coaxial bores, wherein there are axially disposed respectively basic core pins and housing pins loaded by springs. Furthermore, additional blocking elements are mounted in the core, as in accordance with the invention symmetrically to the central plane, on the outer surface of

! 5 the core, there are additionally formed longitudinal first and second core slots which are opened into the key channel, whereat a pushing element is stationary mounted in the first or in the second core slot by a pin through a bore made on the outer surface of the core. A part of the said pushing element is protruded into the key channel and corresponds to the location of the additional longitudinal guide groove on the key and to 0 the movable cylindrical element inserted therein. Moreover, opposite to the pushing element but on the other side of the key channel in the second core slot, there is mounted a locking element with possibility for rotation around an axis passing therethrough, and having its one end engaged under a spring pressure into respective slot formed in the housing.

25 The advantage of the proposed key with an integrated movable cylindrical element and the associated cylinder lock, in accordance with the invention, consists in the fact that the said key does not require making additional longitudinal guide grooves in the longitudinal channel for the key insertion in the core, since the movable element's diameter is equal to the key thickness.

0 Thus, although the key has got an additional security element inserted therein, the keyway profile in the core is externally indistinguishable from the ordinary cylinder locks profile, which makes the cylinder lock unrecognizable and difficult for unauthorized manipulation and unlocking. Furthermore, the proposed cylinder lock has got less mo-vable elements which increases its reliability. Another advantage, in accordance with the invention, is that the additional elements in the key, core and housing can be disposed also in a mirror image, which introduces another level of diversity and security against manipulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1 and fig. l a represent axonometric images of the key with its elements in left and right exploded view.

Fig.2 and fig.2a represent transverse and longitudinal section of a cylinder lock with not fully inserted key. Fig.3 and fig.3a represent transverse and longitudinal section of a cylinder lock with fully inserted key

Fig.4 and fig.4a represent transverse and longitudinal section of a cylinder lock with fully inserted key in a mirror performance.

Fig.5 and fig.5a represent axonometric images of the key with its elements in exploded view in a mirror performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the invention, one preferable embodiment of the key 1 and the associated cylinder lock 10 is shown on Figs. l and l , Figs.2 and 2a and Figs.3 and 3a. The key 1 for a cylinder lock 10 has a key blade 1 1 , defined by wide surfaces 12 and 1 8 and narrow surfaces 16 and 30 with longitudinal grooves 13 formed on the wide key blade surfaces 12 and 1 8 and transversal notches 14 of different heights and shapes formed on the narrow key blade surface 30. A rectangular through hole 4 with constant cross-section is made through the wide key blade surfaces 12 and 1 where is inserted a movable cylindrical element in the shape of a ring 2 with a central borehole 2a, loosely fitted on a key pin 3 fixed itself in a second borehole 17 made on the narrow key blade surface 16. as both the second borehole 17 and respectively the key pin 3 mounted therein are perpendicular to the rectangular through hole 4 and both pass therethrough. In accordance s with the invention, the rectangular through hole 4 and the ring 2 inserted therein are arranged in an additional longitudinal guide groove 15 made on the wide key blade surface 12, as the outer diameter of the ring 2 is equal to the key blade 1 1 thickness. Moreover, between the ring 2 and the key pin 3 there is provided a radial clearance to allow radial displacement of the ring 2 towards the key pin 3 whereat the outer circumferential surface

! o of the ring 2 is displaced outside the key blade surface 1 1.

The associated to the key 1 cylinder lock 10 comprises a housing 19 and a core 20 rotatably mounted therein, having a longitudinal channel 21 for a key 1 insertion. On one side of the key channel 21 respectively in the core 20 and in the housing 19, there are formed coaxial bores 22 and 23, wherein there are axially disposed respectively basic core pins 24 and

1 5 housing pins 25 loaded by springs 26. Furthermore, additional blocking elements are mounted in the core 20 to identify the ring 2 inserted in the key 1 , as in accordance with the invention, symmetrically to the central plane, on the outer surface of the core 20. there are additionally formed longitudinal first 9 and second 9a core slots which are opened into the key channel 21. In the first core slot 9 there is stationary mounted a pushing element in the

20 shape of a disc 5 by means of a pin 8 through a bore 27 made on the outer surface of the core 20. A part of the said disc 5 is protruded into the key channel 21 and corresponds to the location of the additional longitudinal guide groove 15 on the key 1 and to the ring 2 inserted therein. Moreover, opposite to the disc 5, but on the other side of the key channel 21. in the second core slot 9a, there is mounted a locking element 6 with possibility for

25 rotation around an axis 29 passing therethrough, and having its one end 6a engaged under a spring 7 pressure into a slot 28 formed in the housing 1 .

In accordance with the invention, it is possible the additional elements in the key, core and housing to be disposed also in a mirror image. Figs.4 and 4a, and figs.5 and 5a 30 represent another embodiment mirrored to the first embodiment of a key 1 ' and an associated cylinder lock 10', whereat the additional guide longitudinal groove 15" is mirrored realized on the other wide blade surface 18 of the key 1 '. Respectively in the core 20 of the cylinder lock 10', the pushing disc 5 is mirrored mounted in the second core slot 9a by means of a pin 8 through a bore 27' mirrored made to the first embodiment on the outer surface of the core 20, and opposite to it but on the other side of the key channel 21 , in the first core slot 9, there is mounted a locking element 6 as for its one end 6a engaging into the housing 1 there is a housing slot 28' mirrored formed.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention the cylinder lock using an associated key with integrated therein movable element, operates as follows.

When the associated to the cylinder lock 10 key 1 is inserted in the key channel 21 , in accordance to the figs. l and l a, figs.2 and 2a, figs.3 and 3a, the basic core pins 24 with their engagement in the transversal notches 14 on the key 1 , fall in the core 20, but until the key 1 is not fully inserted into the key channel 21 , the core 20 rotation is not possible because the said key remains blocked by the engaged end 6a of the locking element 6 in the housing slot 28. When the key 1 is fully inserted, the disk 5 moves radially the ring 2 outside the key blade surface 1 , whereat the ring 2 pushes the locking element 6 causing its rotation around the axis 29 and its one end 6a disengaging from the housing slot 28, thus making possible the core 20 rotation and the cylinder lock 10 unlocking. If in the cylinder lock 10 is inserted a key with the same profile but without an additional guide longitudinal groove 15 and without a ring 2 inserted therein, the unlock operation is not possible because the part of the disk 5 which is protruded into the key channel 21 changes its profile in the respective area and prevents the key movement, as thereby the end 6a of the locking element 6 remains engaged in the housing slot 28. thus making impossible the core 20 rotation and the lock cylinder 1 0 unlocking.

The operation of the cylinder lock using an associated key with an integrated therein movable element, in a mirrored performance, is similar.