IL149876A

IL149876A - Lock

Info

Publication number: IL149876A
Application number: IL149876A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Mul T Lock Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-27
Filing date: 2002-05-27
Publication date: 2009-09-22
Also published as: IL149876A0; AU2003231346A1; WO2003100199A1

Description

149876/3 *>ΌΆΌ 1W>3 ^OD >y ^iyMO LOCK HAVING MAGNETIC COUPLING ASSEMBLY 1753MUL-IL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to locks generally and more particularly to cylinder locks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The following patent publications are believed to be representative of the current state of the art: Published PCT Patent Applications: WO 00/68536, WO 01/66887 and WO 01/66888.

U.S. Patents: 6,374,653; 6, 155,089; 6,000,609; 5,933,086 5,839,305; 5,628,217; 5,552,777 & 4,939,915.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide improved locks.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a lock including a body, a locking assembly arranged for selectable locking engagement with respect to the body and a magnetic coupling assembly for retaining the locking assembly in a locked orientation notwithstanding at least one of vibration thereof and application of mechanical shocks thereto.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the body includes a cylinder body and the locking assembly includes a cylinder plug rotatable with respect to the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a lockable assembly including first and second lockable parts and the magnetic coupling assembly includes first and second magnetic materials, at least one of the first and second magnetic materials being a magnet, the first and second lockable parts respectively including the first and second magnetic materials.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a lock including a body, a locking assembly arranged for selectable locking engagement with respect to the body and a magnetic coupling assembly cooperative with at least one of the body and the locking assembly for retaining the locking assembly in a locked orientation notwithstanding at least one of vibration thereof and application of mechanical shocks thereto, and the body includes a cylinder body having a reinforced insert mounted thereonto and the locking assembly includes a cylinder plug rotatable with respect to the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a lockable assembly arranged for selectable locking engagement with the reinforced insert.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the lockable assembly includes a first lockable part and a second lockable part.

Preferably, the lockable assembly includes an actuator operative to selectably position the first lockable part with respect to the second lockable part. Additionally, the actuator is operated by electronic circuitry which is responsive to a code supplied thereto. Additionally, the code is supplied by electronic circuitry formed onto a key which is insertable into a keyway formed in the cylinder plug.

Preferably, the lock includes a plurality of mechanically operated elements which are operated by the key.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock also includes a reinforced insert mounted onto the cylinder body, and the lockable assemb ly is arranged for selectable locking engagement with the reinforced insert.

Alternatively, the first lockable part includes a partially cut away cylinder and the second lockable part includes a housing in which the partially cut away cylinder is at least partially disposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a lock and key constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified assembled view illustration of the lock and key of Fig. 1 in a locked orientation; Fig. 3 is a sectional illustration of the lock of Figs. 1 & 2, in the locked orientation of Fig. 2, taken along the lines III - ΙΠ of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional illustration of the lock of Figs. 1 - 3, in the locked orientation of Figs. 2 & 3 , taken along the lines IV - IV of Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 is an enlarged partially cut away illustration of part of the lock of Figs. 1 - 4, in the locked orientation of Figs. 2 - 4; Fig. 6 is a simplified assembled view illustration of the lock and key of Figs. 1 - 5 in an unlocked orientation; Fig. 7 is a sectional illustration of the lock of Figs. 1 - 5, in the locked orientation of Fig. 6, taken along the lines VII - VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional illustration of the lock of Figs. 1 - 7, in the locked orientation of Figs. 6 & 7, taken along the lines VIII - VIII of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged partially cut away illustration of part of the lock of Figs. 1 - 8, in the unlocked orientation of Figs. 6 - 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a lock and key constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in Fig. 1 , there is provided a lock comprising a body 10 and a locking assembly 12 arranged for selectable locking engagement with respect to the body 10, The illustrated embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig. 1 , is a cylinder lock, it being appreciated that the present invention may be embodied in any other suitable type of lock, such as a padlock or mortise lock. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention body 10 is shown in the form of a conventional cylinder body which is preferably formed with a cut-out 14 in a wall thereof.

Cylinder body 10 is typically formed of brass, although any other suitable material may be employed. A reinforced insert 16, preferably formed of stainless steel, but alternatively formed of any other suitable material and which is stronger than the material from which cylinder body 10 is formed, is preferably mounted within cylinder body .10 at cut-out 14. The mounting may be any suitable mounting and need not be a fixed mounting.

Locking assembly 12, preferably, includes a plug 18, typically formed of brass, defining a keyway 20, which is rotatably mounted within a bore 22 formed in cylinder body 10, preferably in a conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment keyway 20 communicates with locking pins in the plug 18, which in turn cooperate with locking pins in the cylinder body 10, to provide conventional key-operated locking of the plug 18 relative to the cylinder body 10.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that a portion 24 of the plug 1 8 alongside, but not interfering with, the locking pins in the plug 18 is, cut away, as shown, inter alia to accommodate an electric.al_citgu.it. 26, preferably in the form of an electrical circuit board, which is covered by a partial enclosure 28.

A key 30, preferably bearing conventional key cuts (not shown in Fig. 1) is arranged for engagement with keyway 20 such that electrical circuitry 32 located within key 30 communicates with electrical circuit 26 and transmits thereto a code, which is preferably operative for unlocking the lock. The electrical circuit 26 and the corresponding electrical circuitry 32 in key 30 may be any suitable electrical circuitry. Preferred forms of electrical circuitry are described, inter alia in Published PCT Patent Applications: WO 00/68536, WO 01/66887 and WO 01/66888, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. ~ Also disposed in cut away portion 24 of plug 18 there is preferably provided a lockable assembly 34, which is operative for selectable locking of plug 18 within cylinder body 10. Locking assembly 34 preferably comprises a housing 36 fixed within plug 1 8, and an actuator 38, preferably a miniature electric motor, disposed within housing 36 and which is operated by electrical circuit 26. Actuator 38 selectably rotatably positions a partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40.

Also mounted on housing 36 is a selectably positionable locking element 42 which is normally urged by a pair of compression springs 44 into engagement with a corresponding socket 46 defined by insert 16. Selectably positionable locking element 42 may be lockingly retained in engagement with socket 46 by suitable positioning of cylindrical locking element 40 by the actuator.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a magnetic coupling assembly for retaining the locking assembly in a locked orientation notwithstanding at least one of vibration thereof and application of mechanical shocks thereto.

Preferably, the magnetic coupling assembly comprises first and second magnetic materials, at least one of the first and second magnetic materials being a magnet, the first and second lockable parts respectively including the first and second magnetic materials.

Preferably, the first lockable part comprises partially cut away cylindrical locking element. 40 and the second lockable part comprises housing 36 in which the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 is at least partially disposed for rotation relative thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, magnetic material 54 is located within the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 and a magnet 56 is located in housing 36 in a location relative to magnetic material 54 such that attraction between magnetic material 54 and magnet 56 tends to retain the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 in an orientation wherein selectably positionable locking element 42 is lockingly retained in engagement with socket 46 thereby, as seen in Figs. 2 - 5.

Turning to Figs. 2 - 5, it is seen that preferably when key 30 is not present in keyway 20, the conventional mechanical pins are urged into positions which bridge the shear line separating the plug 18 and the cylinder body 10, as in conventional cylinder locks. In addition, actuator 38, in the absence of receipt of a code at electric circuit 26, positions the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 as shown in Fig. '4, preventing retraction of selectably positionable locking element 42.

It is a particular feature of the present invention, that in order to prevent defeating the lock by vibration or application of mechanical shocks thereto, magnetic material 54 and magnet 56, which are in relative propinquity and are preferably not separated by the material of partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40, operate preferably through magnetic attraction to retain the locked relative orientation of the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 relative to housing 36, as shown in Fig. 4, thus preventing undesired retraction of selectably positionable locking element 42.

It may be seen from a consideration of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, that actuator 38 drives the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 for rotation relative to housing 36 by means of a cam shaft 58 fixed to or integrally formed with a drive shaft of actuator 38, which engages a corresponding socket 60 formed in an adjacent partially cut away end of partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40. A limited amount of play preferably is provided for rotation between shaft 58 and socket 60 for limiting the strain on the actuator 38.

Preferably a pin 64 (Fig. 1 ) fixed to housing 36 engages a slot 66 formed in partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 for retaining the cylindrical locking element 40 in housing 36 and restricting its rotational motion.

Reference is now made to Figs. 6 - 9, which are simplified illustrations of the lock and key of Figs. 1 - 5 in an unlocked orientation.

Turning to Figs. 6 - 9, it is seen that preferably when key 30 is present in keyway 20, the conventional mechanical pins are forced by their engagement with the key cuts therein into positions which do not bridge the shear line separating the plug 18 and the cylinder body 10, as in conventional cylinder locks. In addition, actuator 38, in the absence of receipt of a code at electric circuit 26, positions the partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40, with its cut away surface in spaced facing relationship with selectably positionable locking element 42 as shown in Fig. 8, allowing retraction of selectably positionable locking element 42 when the plug 18 is rotated relative to the cylinder body 10. This retraction occurs with minimum resistance due to suitable selection of the slopes of the sides of cylindrical locking element, here designated by reference numerals 70 and 72 and the corresponding slopes of the sides 74 and 76 of socket 46. ' In this orientation magnetic material 54 is separated from magnet 56 by the material of partially cut away cylindrical locking element 40 and preferably by a greater distance than the separation distance therebetween in the orientation shown in Fig. 5 and does not prevent retraction of selectably positionable locking element 42.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specification and which are not in the prior art. 149876/2

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising: a body; a locking assembly arranged for selectable locking engagement with respect to said body; a magnetic coupling assembly for retaining said locking assembly in a locked orientation notwithstanding at least one of vibration thereof and application of mechanical shocks thereto; wherein said locking assembly comprises a plug, defining a keyway, which is rotatably mounted within a bore formed in said body, wherein said keyway communicates with locking pins in the plug, which in turn cooperate with locking pins in said body, to provide conventional key-operated locking of the plug relative to said body; a lockable assembly disposed in a portion of said plug, which is operative for selectable looking of said plug within said body, wherein said locking assembly comprises a housing fixed within said plug and an actuator disposed within said housing, said locking assembly being operated by an electrical circuit, and wherein said actuator selectably rotatably positions a partially cut away cylindrical locking element; and a selectably positionable locking element mounted on said housing which is normally urged into engagement with a corresponding socket, and wherein said selectably positionable locking element is lockingly retained in engagement with said socket by suitable positioning of said cylindrical locking element by said actuator.

2. A lock according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic coupling assembly comprises first and second magnetic materials, at least one of said first and second magnetic materials being a magnet, said first and second lockable parts respectively including said first and second magnetic materials.

3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said circuit is responsive to a code supplied thereto.

4. A lock according to claim 3, wherein said code is supplied by electronic circuitry formed onto a key which is insertable into said keyway.

5. A lock according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a reinforced insert mounted onto said cylinder body and wherein said lockable assembly is arranged for selectable locking engagement with said reinforced insert. 149876/2

6. A lock according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said lockable assembly comprises first and second lockable parts, and wherein said first lockable part comprises a partially cut away cylinder and said second lockable part comprises a housing in which said partially cut away cylinder is at least partially disposed for rotation relative thereto.

7. A lock according to claim 6, wherein magnetic material is located within the partially cut away cylinder and a magnet is located in said housing in a location relative to said magnetic material such that attraction between said magnetic material and said magnet tends to retain the partially cut away cylinder in an orientation wherein said selectably positionable locking element is lockingly retained in engagement with said socket.

8. A lock according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as shown and described hereinabove. For the Applicant, David Klein, Patent Attorney Dekel Patent Ltd. 10 0