US3870842A

US3870842A - Locking device

Info

Publication number: US3870842A
Application number: US418062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Paul Bergsman
Original assignee: LEONARD LEBOWITZ
Current assignee: LEONARD LEBOWITZ
Priority date: 1973-11-21
Filing date: 1973-11-21
Publication date: 1975-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-11

Abstract

A locking device is provided, which may be of the cylinder-type, and includes a lock body adapted to be mounted on a door or other surface, said body having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers therein, a key barrel rotatably carried by said lock body, having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers formed therein which are in alignment with respective bores of said lock body. The barrel also includes a key passage for inserting a key therein for rotating the barrel between open and closed positions. The locking device also includes key operable means comprising a first set of lock pins carried in the bores of the barrel and adapted to be movable between the bores of the lock body and the barrel; a second set of lock pins disposed in the bores of the lock body and barrel, in alignment with respective lock pins of the first set of lock pins; means for normally biasing the lock pins of said second set so that a portion of said pins extend from the lock body into the aligned bores of the barrel to prohibit relative movement of the barrel in the lock body. The locking device also includes first switch means, preferably in the form of a micro-limit switch, operatively and selectively connected to at least one lock pin of said second set, the first switch means being adapted to be activated upon insertion of a key or similarly shaped means in the key passage of the barrel. The locking device may also include second switch means, preferably in the form of a microswitch, operatively and selectively connected to the barrel and adapted to be activated upon rotation of the barrel in the lock body. Both the first and second switch means may be connected to a monitoring or signal device, such as an alarm device. In addition, there is provided a lock pin which is in the shape of an hour glass cam and is adapted to be linked to the first switch means to activate or deactivate the same depending on the position of said cam. Furthermore, there is provided a barrel for use in the locking device of the invention, which barrel is preferably cylindrical in form and includes a cam surface thereon. The locking device as disclosed herein employed with the first and second switch means described above allows for the monitoring of the disposition of the locking device, that is monitoring a key or other device being inserted in the key passage, monitoring the key or other means turning in the key passage and monitoring the key or other means being withdrawn from the key passage. In addition, the locking device of the invention is adapted to be connected to signal means so that when an improper key or other means is inserted in the lock, the signal means, which may be in the form of an alarm system, is activated.

Description

United States Patent [191 Bergsman LOCKING DEVICE [75] lnventor: Robert Paul Bergsman,

Philadelphia, Pa. [73] Assignee: Leonard Lebowitz, Philadelphia, Pa.

; a part interest [22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 418,062

[52] US. Cl. 200/44 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 27/00 [58] Field of Search 200/44, 42 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,301 l0/l936 Golokow et al. 200/44 X 3,348,220 10/1967 Luna et al 200/44 X Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lerner, David, Littenberg & Samuel [57] ABSTRACT A locking device is provided, which may be of the cylinder-type, and includes a lock body adapted to be mounted on a door or other surface, said body having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers therein, a key barrel rotatably carriedby said lock body, having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers formed therein which are in alignment with respective bores of said lock body. The barrel also includes a key passage for inserting a key therein for rotating the barrel between open and closed positions. The locking device also includes key operable means comprising a first set of lock pins carried in the bores of the barrel and adapted to be movable between the bores of the lock body and the barrel; a second set of lock pins disposed in the bores of the lock body and barrel, in alignment with respective lock pins of the first set of Mar. 11, 1975 barrel. The locking device may also include second switch means, preferably in the form of a microswitch, operatively and selectively connected to the barrel and adapted to be activated upon rotation of the barrel in the lock body. Both the first and second switch means may be connected to a monitoring or signal device, such as an alarm device.

In addition, there is provided a lock pin which is in the shape of an hour glass cam and is adapted to be linked to the first switch means to activate or deactivate the same depending on the position of said cam.

Furthermore, there is provided a barrel for use in the locking device of the invention, which barrel is preferably cylindrical in form and includes a cam surface thereon.

The locking device as disclosed herein employed with the first and second switch means described above allows for the monitoring of the disposition of the locking device, that is monitoring a key or other device being inserted in the key passage, monitoring the key or other means turning in the key passage and monitoring the key or other means being withdrawn from the key passage. In addition, the locking device of the invention is adapted to be connected to signal means so that when an improper key or other means is inserted in the lock, the signal means, which may be in the form of an alarm system, is activated.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures iii 1 LOCKING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking device and particularly to a locking device which includes one or more switch means and is adapted to detect or monitor a key being inserted in the locking device, turning of such key and removal of such key from the locking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, burglaries of residential and business establishments, especially those in urban areas, have been increasing at an alarming rate. So far, it appears that local police have been unable to successfully com bat this trend. In order to protect against burglars, it has become necessary for home owners, apartment dwellers and businessmen to install expensive antiburglary equipment such as alarm devices and several locks to lock a single door. However, for the most part, suchequipment has not been successful in stopping the professional burglar from completing his hideous task. When a series of locks stand between the burglar and the premises to be burglarized, the burglar has been known to pick each of the locks open to gain entrance.

Even the use of alarm devices in conjunction with locking device have only enjoyed limited success. Such devices are usually of expensive complex design and prone to mal-function. Furthermore, the burglar may even be able to deactivate the alarm device depending upon its design.

Conventional locking devices employed in conjunction with alarm devices are designed so that the alarm system is activated only after the locking device is opened. This, however, in many situations may be too late to stop the burglar, as he can gain entrance to the premises, loot the same and leave before it is possible to apprehend him.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a locking device which is designed to activate- Signal means, such as an alarm system, merely upon insertion of a key in the locking device, and before the locking device is ever opened. If the first signal means should fail, the locking device includes means for activating signal means or other means upon turning of the key in the locking device. In addition, the locking device of the invention is designed to signal when the key is removed therefrom.

The locking device of the invention comprises a lock body having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers therein. A key barrel is rotatably carried by the lock body, the barrel having a plurality of aligned bores or pin chambers formed therein which are in substantial alignment with respective bores of the lock body. The space or meeting points of the bores of the barrel and lock body comprise a shear line, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter. A key passage or keyway is provided in the barrel and is adapted to receive a key for operating the locking device and rotating the barrel between at least first and second predetermined positions.

Key operable means are provided in the lock body which means comprise a first set of lock pins carried in the bores of the barrel and adapted to be movable in the bores of the lock body and the barrel. A second set of lock pins are disposed in the bores of the lock body and are adapted to be moveable in the bores of the lock body and barrel. The lock pins of said second set are disposed substantially in alignment with respective lock pins of the first set thereof.

The bores of the lock body are provided with biasing means for normally biasing the lock pins of said second set so that a portion of such lock pins extend from the lock body into the aligned bores of the barrel to prohibit relative movement of the barrel in the lock body.

First switch means, preferably in the form of a microswitch, is operatively and selectively connected to at least one lock pin of said second set of lock pins. The first switch means is adapted to be activated upon insertion of a key or similarly shaped means in the key passage of the barrel. In addition, second switch means, preferably in the form of a microswitch, may be operatively and selectively connected to the barrel and is adapted to be activated upon rotation of the barrel in the lock body.

In the above-described locking device, the first and second switch means preferably comprise first and second microswitches. The first microswitch is operatively and selectively linked to at least one lock pin of the second set of lock pins. The said at least one lock pin preferably comprises an hour-glass-shaped cam. In fact, such a cam is unique as a lock pin and thus comprises one of the aspects of the present invention.

There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a barrel for use in the locking device described above, which barrel includes a cam or substantially flat surface adapted to be linked to the second switch means described above.

The switch means employed in the locking device of the invention will be connected to a monitoring device and/or signal device. Thus, as will be described in detail hereinafter, when a key is inserted in the key passage of the barrel, the lock pin linked to the first switch means will be raised to thereby activate said first switch means which in turn will activate monitoring means and/or signal means to indicate, in fact, that a key has been inserted in the lock. Furthermore, when the key is turned so as to rotate the barrel in the lock body, the second switch means will be activated which in turn will activate monitoring means and/or signal means. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the locking device is designed so that if an improper key or picking device and the like is inserted in the key passage, switch means, such as the first switch means, will be activated which in turn will activate a signal device, such as an alarm system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the locking device of the present invention, including a barrel portion and lock body, and showing the lock pin arrangement when the device is in its locked position;-

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a portion of the locking device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the barrel portion of the locking device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking device shown in FIG. 1 showing the lock pin arrangement when the proper key is inserted therein;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a portion of the lock ing device as shown in FIG. 3;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the accompanying Figures wherein like numerals represent like parts in the several views,

a locking-device is shown generally referred to be the numeral 10. The locking device comprises a lock body 12 which is attached to a door or other surface,

I such as on the fender of a vehicle for use in conjunction with an alarm system, by any suitable fastening means,

, such as by bolts running through the lock body. The

lock body 12' includes a barrel passaway 14 running from end to end of the lock body in which barrel 16 is rotatably carried- As shown in FIG. 2, the barrel 16 is of elongated cylindrical shape and includes a keyway or key passage 18 for receiving a key. The barrel 16 also includes a series of aligned

boresor pin chambers

20, 22, 24, 26, and 28. Also included in the barrel 16 is a cam surface 30 which, as shown, comprises a flat recessed portion, the purpose of which will be described below. I g

The lock body 12 includes a plurality of aligned bores or pin

chambers

32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 which are adapted to line up with the bores through 28, respectively, of the barrel, when said barrel is disposed in the lock body, as shown in FIG. 1.

Disposed in each of the bores of the barrel 16 is a lock pin or lower pin generally referred to by the

numerals

42, 44, 46, 48, and 50, The lower pins are adapted to move in the bores of the barrel 16 up into the bores of the lock body 12, as will be described below.

A second set of lock pins, referred to as upper pins, and designated by the

numerals

52, 54, 56, 58, and 60, are disposed in the bores of the lock body 12, one upper pin in each bore, and in substantial alignment with respective lower pins 42 through 50, disposed in the bores of the barrel 16.

Each of the upper pins 52 through 60 are springloaded or biased away from the surface 62 of the lock body towards the lower pins 42through 50 by means of the springs generally designated by the

numerals

64, 66, 68, 70, and 72, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the upper pin 60, in accordance with the present invention, is in the form of an hour-glasscam, the purpose of which will be described below.

First switch means, in the form of a microswitch 74 is linked to the hour-glass cam 60 by means of follower pin 76. The microswitch 74 can comprise any conventional microswitch which is adapted to be moved from an open position to one or two or more different closed positions.

The locking device shown in FIG. 1 is in its normal locked position wherein the

upper pins

52, 54, 56, 58, and 60, are spring biased so as to be disposed partially in the respective bores of the lock body 12 and in the respective bores of the barrel 16 to prohibit relative movement of the barrel in the lock body. In this situation, the microswitch 74 is in an open or deactivated position, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A.

In FIG. 1A, the microswitch 74 is shown as including a housing 80 in which microswitch arm 82 is spring biased via spring 84 so as to extend between a first pair of

contacts

86a and 86b and a second pair of

contacts

88a and 88b. The microswitch arm 82 is linked by means of follower pin 76 to the hour-glass cam 60, as shown. The

pairof contacts

86a and 86b are linked via

wires

86a and 86b, respectively, to monitoring means or signalingmeans (not shown for purposes of clarity) and the pair of the contacts 88a and.88b are linked'by the

wires

88a and 88b, respectively, as shown, to a monitoring device or signaling device, such as an alarm system, not shown for purposes of clarity.

As will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 1A, the follower pin 76 is in contact with a middle portion 90 of the hour-glass cam to maintain the microswitch arm 82 out of contact with the

contacts

86a, 86b and 88a,88b.

When, as shown in FIG. 3, the proper key 200 is inserted into the key passage of the barrel 16, the lower pins 42 through 50 are lifted by-the key 200 so that the upper ends of said lower pins are just below. or at the shear line defined by the upper surface of the barrel 202 and the surface of the lock body defined by the lower edge of the bores therein, as shown.

The lower pins 42 to 50, lifted by the key 200, cause the upper pins 52 through 60 to move upwardly into the bores of the lock body so that the lower edge or end of said upper pins are maintained at or just above the shear line, as shown in FIG.'3. Movement of the hourglasscam 60 causes the follower pin 76 to move to the inclined portion below the juncture between the upper and lower halves of the cam 60 which in turn causes the microswitch arm 82 to move into contact with

contacts

86a and 86b. In this case, inasmuch as theproper key is inserted in the locking device 10, a corresponding monitoringmeans or signal means is activated to indicate that the proper key has been inserted in the locking device.

Where an improper key, such as a key blank is'inserted in the locking device 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower pins 42 through 50 are caused to move up in the bores of the barrel ]6 past-the shear line thereby causing corresponding movement of upper pins 52 through 60, as shown. Movement of the hour-glass cam 60 up into bore 40 of the lock body 12-, as shown, causes follower pin 76 to move the microswitch arm 82 to the right and in contact with the

contacts

88a, 88b as shown in FIG. 4A. This action activates a monitoring device or signaling device such as an alarm circuit.

Also shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is second switch means in the form of microswitch which is adapted to be activated when a key is inserted in the locking device l0 and rotated so as to cause the barrel 16 to rotate.

The microswitch 100 is activated by means of follower pin 102 as follows. As shown in the FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, before the barrel 16 is rotated, the follower pin 102 rests in contact with the cam surface 30 of barrel 16. However, when the barrel 16 is rotated, the cam surface 30 is moved out of contact with the follower pin 102 and the larger diametered surface 104 of barrel 16 (shown in FIG. 2) is moved into contact with the follower pin 102 which causes corresponding movement of a microswitch arm in the microswitch 100 in contact with a pair of contacts which are hooked up to a monitoring means or signaling device, not shown for purposes of clarity.

It will be appreciated that the second microswitch 100 may take the form of any conventional microswitch which can be moved from its open position so that the microswitch arm portion thereof moves into contact with a pair of contacts similar to

contacts

88a and 88b as shown in FIG. 1A. It will also be appreciated that the first'microswitch 74 can be replaced by a microswitch which is adapted to move from an open position to only one closed position as opposed to two closed positions as shown in FIG. IA.

The locking device of the invention can also comprise a round key lock wherein the two sets of pin members are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lock body as opposed to being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis as shown in the Figures. In this situation, the barrel would be replaced by a substantially flat ring portion which includes a plurality of bores disposed around the circumference thereof. One portion of the periphery of such ring can be flattened so as to act as a cam surface for the second microswitch 100 as described above.

The embodiment shown in the Figures of three keys is cut to a different depth and will move the hour glass cam 60 a different amount. In this embodiment can be modified so that it can be operated by a master key system wherein each of the lower or bottompins' 50 is replaced with a smaller pin and at least two wafers to provide plug operation for each key as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The electro-mechanical locking device described herein, including the various embodiments thereof, is adapted to replace'substantially any existing mechanical cylinder lock and will occupy the same space as such mechanical cylinder lock.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking device comprising a lock body having a plurality of aligned bores therein; a key barrel having a key passage therein and a plurality of aligned bores formed therein, which are in alignment with respective bores of said lock body, the space between said bores of said barrel and said bores of said lock body comprising a shear line, said barrel being rotatably carried by said lock body and adapted to rotate between at least first and second predetermined positions key operable means comprising a first set of lock pins movably carried in the bores of said barrel; a second set of lock pins movably carried in the bores of said lock body, and disposed substantially in alignment with respective lock pins of said first set; biasing means for normally biasing said lock pins of said second set so that a portion of each of said lock pins extend from the bores of said lock body into the aligned bores of said barrel to prohibit relative movement of said barrel in said lock body; first switch means comprising a first microswitch including a follower pin operatively and selectively linked through said follower pin to at least one lock pin of said second set of lock pins, said one lock pin comprising an hour glass-shaped cam, said first switch means being adapted to be activated upon insertion of a key or like means in said key passage of said barrel, said key or like means causing movement of said hour glass-shaped cam and corresponding movement of said follower pin; and second switch means operatively and selectively linked to said barrel, and adapted to be activated upon rotation of said barrel in said lock body.

2. The locking device as defined in claim 1 further including monitoring means connected to said first microswitch for monitoring the position of said first microswitch.

3. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first microswitch is a three position limit switch and comprises a housing; a microswitch arm disposed in said housing; biasing means linking said microswitch arm to said housing, said follower pin linking said microswitch arm to said hour glass cam causing movement of said microswitch arm corresponding to movement of said cam; a first pair of contacts disposed in said housing; and a second pair of contacts disposed in said housing, said microswitch arm being adapted to remain in an open position spaced from each of said pairs of contacts when said locking device is in its normal closed position, said microswitch arm being adapted to move into contact with said first pair of contacts when a proper key is inserted in said barrel to cause said hour glass cam to move completely into said lock body, and said microswitch arm being adapted to move into contact with said second pair of contacts when an improper key or other device is inserted in said barrel to cause said hour glass cam to move into said lock body.

4. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first microswitch is a two position limit switch and comprises a housing; a microswitch arm disposed in said housing; biasing means linking said microswitch arm to said housing, said follower pin linking said microswitch arm to said hour glass cam causing movement of said microswitch arm corresponding to movement of said cam; and a pair of contacts disposed in said housing, said microswitch arm being adapted to remain in an open position spaced from said contacts when said locking device is in its normal closed position, and said microswitch being adapted to move into contact with said pair of contacts when a key is inserted in said barrel to cause said hour glass cam to move out of said barrel.

5. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said barrel is in the form of a cylinder and said bores therein are disposed in alignment along a surface portion of said cylinder perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder.

6. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said barrel is in the form of a ring and said bores therein are longitudinally disposed about the circumference of said ring parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ring.

7. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second switch means comprises a second microswitch.

8. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said barrel includes a cam surface adapted to contact said second switch means upon rotation of said barrel in said lock body.

9. The locking device as defined in claim 8 wherein said cam surface is disposed between two of said bores in said barrel.

10. The locking device as defined in claim 7 including monitoring means operatively connected to said second switch means for monitoring the position of said barrel.

11. The locking device as defined in claim 7 further including alarm means connected to said first microswitch and/or said second microswitch.

12. The locking device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two or more of said lock pins of said second set are in the form of an hour-glass cam and are operatively and selectively connected to said first switch means.

13. The locking device as defined in claim 1 including a ball bearing disposed in said bores of said barrel,

one ball bearing beneath each lock pin of said first set. l l