GB2183717A

GB2183717A - Keys for locks

Info

Publication number: GB2183717A
Application number: GB08627750A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter John Aston
Original assignee: Yale Security Products Ltd
Current assignee: Security Products UK Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-27
Filing date: 1986-11-20
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB2183717B; GB8529222D0; GB8627750D0

Abstract

The key has a grip portion 10 and an elongated portion 11 and is provided on the edge of the elongated portion opposite the conventional notched edge for operating a mechanical lock, an array of code elements readable by a reading device of an electronic lock. The code elements may comprise optically readable markings e.g. on a strip 13 with bar coding set in a recess 12 in the key edge and covered by a layer of material which is transparent to infra-red radiation, but opaque to visible light. In Figure 2 the optical coding is a provided by notches (15) read using a narrow beam light (or infra-red source) which is reflected towards a detector. In Figure 3 a strip (16) has a magnetic code and in Figure 4 the key has a row of blind bores (17) containing slugs (18) of magnetisable ferromagnetic material. Figures shows an electronic system of an electronic lock with optical or magnetic reader 20, logic unit 21, electromagnetic release unit 23 etc. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Keys for locks This invention relates to keys for locks.

Onewell known form of key comprises a flat grip portion and an elongated portion having a cross-section shaped such that it can be received by thekeywayofa lock. One edge of the elongated portion ofthe key is formed with a series of notches, the edge profile thus formed serving to actuate a pin-tumbler arrangement in the lock.

There is a growing requirement for electronic locking systems. Many of the systems already proposed make use of magnetically or optically coded "keys" intheformofflatcardsresembling conventional credit cards. Such card keys are acceptableforoccasional use, such as in hotel door locking systems, but it is undesirable for a userto have to carry a large numbersf different keysfor different mechanical locks as well as several card keys for different electronic locks.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a key which permits this problem to be overcome.

A key in accordance with the invention comprises a flat grip portion having an elongated portion projecting therefrom, said elongated portion having a cross-sectional shapeto permit its insertion into the keyway of a conventional mechanical lockand one edge ofthe elongated portion having an edge profile enabling the key to operate a matching conventional mechanical lock, the elongated portion being provided adjacent its other edge with an array of code elements arranged along said other edge and capable of being read buy a non-contact reading device incorporating in an electronic lock.

In one preferred form ofthe key, the code elements are in the form of optically readable markings. Such markings may be printed (or otherwise depicted) on a strip of material mounted in a recess in said other edge ofthe elongated portion. For security, the markings may be covered by a layer of a material which is transparent to infra-red radiation, but substantially opaque to visible light A conventional optical bar code is preferred.

In alternative forms ofthe invention, the code elements may be magnetic, formed, for example by a strip of ferromagnetic material in which the code elements are formed as magnetised zones.

Alterantively the code elements may consist of separate pieces offerromagnetic material set in separate holes in the edge of the elongated portion.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first example of a key in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a similarviewof a second example; Figure3is a simiiarviewof a third example; Figure4isasimilarviewofafourth example; and Figure 5is a block diagram of the electronic system of an electronic lock for use with any ofthe examples described.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the key shown therein has a flat grip portion 10 and a projecting elongated portion 11 having a constant grooved cross-section and one edge notched spa that itcan be used with a conventional mechanical pin-tumbler cylinder lock.

In the opposite edge of the elongated portion 11 there is a recess 12 in which a flat strip 13 printed with an optical bar coding is mounted. The strip 13 extends longitudinally ofthe elongated portion 11 and the bars forming the code elements ofthe printed bar coding extend transversely of the strip. A cover 14 of a synthetic resin material which is transparent to infrared radiation but opaque to visible light is mounted in the recess overlying the strip 13, so as both to protectthestrip 13from mechanical damage and to renderthecoding printed thereon visibleto the naked eye.

The key of Figure 1 can be used in an electronic lock which incorporates a passage into which the elongated portion ofthe key is inserted and with an infra-red source/detector arranged to read the code on the strip 13 serially as the elongated portion 11 is inserted.

Turning nowto Figure 2the coding provided on the other edge of the elongated portion 11 is again optical and is provided by means of notches cut in said other edge. The code elements are in the form of facets 15 provided as a result of such notching, which facets are all inclined to the length of portion 11 atthe same angle.

The key of Figure 2 can be used in an electronic lock in which reading ofthe coding is obtained using a narrow beam light (or infra-red) source for illuminating the edge of the elongated portion 11 as it is inserted, and a detector having a narrow acceptance angle and with its axis inclined to the axis ofthesourceattwicetheangleofinclination ofthe facets 1 5tothe length ofthe elongation portion 11.

The detector is positioned to receive light from the source only when one ofthefacets 15 is illuminated by the source and reflects light towards the detector.

The keyshown in Figure 3, likethe oneshown in Figure 1, has a recess 12 in its edge. This receives a strip 16 of magnetisable ferromagnetic material, the key itself being formed from non-ferrous metal. The strip 16 has a magnetic code written on it in known manner.

The key shown in Figure 4 has a row of blind bores 17 in its edge instead of a recess, and each bore contains a separate slug 18 of magnetisable ferromagnetic material. These slugs are selectively magnetised to provide a magnetic N pole ora magnetic S pole or some may be left unmagnetised.

Athree level code is thus achieved simply.

In every case the keys may be provided to locksmiths in blank form, i.e. with the notched edge uncut, so that the locksmith can cut any desired pattern of notches to suit any given lock having the correctly shaped keyway, but with the key already coded for electronic lock use.

The electronic locks with which the keys are usable include a suitable optical or magnetic reader 20 for the type of key in question and the series of output signals generated by this as the key is inserted is fed to a logic unit 21. The logic unit is connected to a memory 22 which contains data identifying acceptable codes and if the code read from the key matches any of these the logic unit supplies a pulse to an electromagnetic release unit 23 enabling the doorto be opened. The circuit also includes a clock/calender unit 24 which provides data via the logic unit 21 enabling a record to be made in the memory 22 ofwhen any particular key is used in the lock. Such record can be accessed using a programming and retrieval unit 25 (not a partofthe lock circuit but a separate plug in unit), which is also used for enabling existing stored codes to be deleted and/or new codes added. When a new code is to be added,the unit 25 is connected and the new key is inserted so that the code read from it is written into the memory.

Claims

1. A key comprising a flat grip portion having an elongated portion projecting therefrom, said elongated portion having a cross-sectional shapeto permit its insertion into the keyway of a conventional mechanical lock and one edge of the elongated portion having an edge profile enabling the key to operate a matching conventional mechanical lock, the elongated portion being provided adjacent its other edge with an array of code elements arranged along said other edge and capable of being read by a non-contact reading device incorporated in an electronic lock.

2. A key as claimed in claim 1 in which said code elements comprise optically readable markings.

3. A key as claimed in claim 2 furthercomprising a strip of material mounted in a recess in said other edge of said elongated portion, said optically readable markings being depicted on said strip.

4. Akeyasclaimedin claim3furthercomprising a layer of material overlying said strip and formed of a material which is transparent to infra-red radiation, but opaque to visible light.

5. A key as claimed in claim 1 in which said code elements comprise magnetically readable elements.

6. A key as ciaimed in claim further comprising a strip of magnetisable material mounted in a recess in said other edge of said elongated portion, said magnetically readable elements comprising selectiveiy magnetised zones of said strip.

7. A key as claimed in claim 5 in which said magnetically readable elements comprise a plurality of separate pieces of magnetisable material mounted in separate holes in said other edge of said elongated portion.

8. A key substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 ofthe accompanying drawings.

9. A key substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.

10. A key substantially as herein before described with referenceto and as shown in Figure 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.

11. A keysubstantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.