GB2632568A - Lock cylinder and key - Google Patents

Abstract

A key for use with a lock cylinder, the key 4 comprising a handle and a shank; the shank having first and second major surfaces along its length on opposite sides, a row of recesses along its length on the first and second major surface so that the recesses are aligned in pairs to accommodate a pair of locking pins 16 20 of the lock cylinder; wherein each pair of recesses is interconnected at an interface 38 so when a correct key is inserted, a pin with a stronger biasing 16 locates in the recess on one side and is pushed back by the key, and the other pin 20, with a weaker biasing is located in an oversize recess 36 on the other side is preventing from moving by abutment 22a with the strongly biased pin; wherein for each pair of recesses, another pair of recesses is provided to accommodate a second pair of the same combination of locking pins of the lock cylinder in which the biasing means is reversed. The pairs of pair of recesses are offset along the longitudinal direction of shank and the interface between the pair of recesses is offset to one or the other side of the abutment position.

Description

LOCK CYLINDER AND KEY

This invention relates to an improvement in the design of locks. More specifically the present invention relates to improvements to pin-tumbler locks. The invention also relates to keys for use with such locks A key-operable cylinder lock is known from EP-A-0892130 comprising a rotor rotatably mounted within a stator and a plurality of pairs of locking pins located in transverse passages extending through the rotor and the stator. Each pin pair is biased to abut in a keyway in the rotor so that one of the pins projects across an interface between the rotor and stator when the key is removed to prevent rotation of the rotor. Preferably six pin pairs are provided with pins selected from five different pin lengths so that the combined length of the pins of each pin pair is substantially the same as the diameter of the rotor and the pins can be positioned entirely within the rotor when the matching key is inserted to allow the rotor to turn relative to the stator. With this arrangement the shorter pin of any pin pair is biased more strongly and the total number of combinations is 56 = 15625.

A desired aim of the present invention is to provide a key-operable lock cylinder in which the number of combinations may be increased without increasing the number of pin pairs employed.

Another desired aim of the present invention is to provide a key-operable lock cylinder in which the number of combinations may be increased employing a reduced number of pin lengths.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a key operable lock cylinder comprising a stator, a rotor, the rotor being mounted within the stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stator, a keyway extending axially into the rotor, a plurality of transverse passages extending through the rotor and stator and intersecting the keyway, each passage being provided with a pair of locking pins slidably mounted in the passage and biased by respective biasing means to abut within the keyway, the biasing means of one pin of each pair being stronger than the biasing means of the other pin and urging the other pin to project across an interface between the rotor and stator to prevent rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, the pins of each pair being movable in response to insertion of a complementary key in the keyway to become located entirely within the rotor to permit rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, wherein, for each pair of locking pins, another pair of the same locking pins is provided in which the biasing means is reversed.

By providing more than one pair of locking pins with the same locking pins and reversing the biasing means, the number of available combinations may be increased with a reduction in the number of different pin lengths. Thus, in a lock cylinder in accordance with the invention, each pin of a pin pair may be used with a strong spring or a relatively weaker spring so providing two alternative combinations for each pin pair combination. As a result manufacture of the lock is simplified.

In one preferred form, each pin pair comprises a pair of pins selected from three different lengths of pins. For convenience and by way of non-limiting example, the three different lengths of pins may be designated a No.1 pin, a No.2, and a No.3 where a No.1 pin is the shortest pin length, a No.3 pin is the longest pin length and a No.2 pin is an intermediate pin length between the No.1 pin and the No.3 pin.

Preferably, the pin lengths are chosen so that the total length of a pin pair comprising a No.1 pin and a No.3 pin does not exceed the diameter of the rotor and is preferably substantially the same as the diameter of the rotor. Similarly, the total length of a pin pair comprising a No.2 pin and a No.2 pin does not exceed the diameter of the rotor and is preferably substantially the same as the diameter of the rotor.

With three pin lengths and reversing the biasing, six combinations can be obtained and can be conveniently referred to as 1(st.):3, I:3(st); 2(st):2, 2:2(st). 3(st): I, 3:1(st) where "st" indicates that the biasing means for the designated pin length of a given pin pair is relatively stronger than the biasing means for the other pin length of the pin pair.

The biasing means for each pin may comprise a spring, for example a compression spring. The spring may act to urge the pin towards the keyway. A stop may be provided to limit movement of the pin under the biasing of the spring. The pin may have a tapered head that can assist insertion of a key in the keyway.

Preferably, in a locked position, each pair of locking pins arc in mutual abutment within the keyway with a distal end of one of the locking pins of each pair projecting across the interface between the rotor and the stator so as to prevent rotation of the rotor within the stator whereas in use, when a complementary key is inserted in the keyway, the locking pins are moveable so that all the locking pins become located entirely within the rotor permitting rotation of the rotor within the stator.

Preferably, at least two pairs of locking pins are provided having the same combination of locking pins of different length with the resilient biasing means for the locking pins of one of the two pairs reversed for the locking pins of the other of the two pairs. In this way, the same combination of locking pins can produce two different pin pairs where the longer pin of one pin pair is more strongly biased and the shorter pin of the other pair is more strongly biased. This has the surprising advantage that, in a key operated lock cylinder in accordance with the invention, the number of pin lengths can be reduced while retaining a large number of combinations and in some cases the number of combinations may be larger than in a conventional arrangement having a greater number of different pin lengths.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a key for use with the lock cylinder of the first aspect of the invention, the key comprising a handle and a shank, the shank being received, in use, within a keyway of the lock cylinder, the shank having first and second major surfaces along its length on opposite sides, a row of recesses along its length on the first major surface and a row of recesses along its length on the second major surface so that the recesses on the first and second major surfaces are aligned in pairs such that, in use, each pair of aligned recesses can accommodate a pair of locking pins of the lock cylinder, wherein each pair of recesses is interconnected and configured so that, in use, when a correct key is inserted into the keyway, the pin biased by the stronger biasing means locates in the recess on one side of the shank and is pushed back against the biasing of the stronger biasing means by the key, and the other pin, biased by the weaker biasing means is located in an oversize recess on the other side of the shank by abutment with the more strongly biased pin so that both pins are located entirely within the rotor and do not project across the interface between the rotor and stator so that the rotor can be rotated relative to the stator, wherein for each pair of recesses, another pair of recesses is provided to accommodate a pair of the same locking pins of the lock cylinder in which the biasing means is reversed.

In use, if an incorrect key is inserted, then the pin biased by the stronger biasing means is either pushed back too far by the key when it scats in the recess and projects across the interface with the stator or is not pushed back far enough so that the other pin is prevented from moving completely into the rotor and projects across the interface with the stator. in either situation one of the pins extends across the interface and the rotor is prevented from rotating relative to the stator.

A particular advantage has been found in using the key with the lock cylinder in accordance with the first aspect of the invention wherein reducing the number of pin lengths enables the spacing between drops to be increased for a given thickness of key shank with the result that the extent to which the pin of any pin pair that projects across the interface to block rotation of the rotor in the locked condition may be increased and thereby improve security. For example, in a lock cylinder having five different pin lengths and a key shank thickness of 2.0 mm, the spacing between each drop is 0.33 mm, whereas in a lock cylinder in accordance with the first aspect of the invention having three different pin lengths, the spacing between each drop for the same key shank can be increased from 0.33 mm to 0.5 mm. As a result, we can configure the recesses to control the extent to which one of the pins of each pin pair projects across the interface between the rotor and stator when, for a given pin pair, the pin biased by the stronger spring is received in a non-matching recess of the key, i.e. when the recess does not have an accurate depth of cut to position the pin in the correct position. In this way, the overlap to block rotation of the rotor may be increased both when the Hocking pin is the pin biased by the weaker biasing means so as to be located by abutment with the more strongly biased pin and when the blocking pin is the pin biased by the stronger biasing means.

Preferably, the recesses of an aligned pair are of different depths and the position of the restriction relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank varies from one pair to another pair. Preferably, for a given drop corresponding to a radial abutment position of a pin pair, two pairs of recesses arc provided in which the position of the restriction of one pair relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank is to one side of the drop and the position of the restriction of the other pair relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank is to the other side of the drop. In this way, two cuts arc provided for each drop.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided in combination a lock cylinder comprising a stator having a rotor mounted within the stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stator, the rotor having a keyway extending axially into the rotor, a series of transverse passages extending through the rotor and stator and intersecting in the keyway, a pair of locking pins being slidably mounted in each passage and being resiliently biased by a respective biasing means such that in a locked position each pair of locking pins are in mutual abutment within the keyway with a distal end of one of the locking pins of each pair projecting across an interface between the rotor and the stator so as to prevent rotation of the rotor within the stator whereas in use, when a complementary key is inserted in the keyway the locking pins are positioned such that all the locking pins become located entirely within the rotor permitting rotation of the rotor within the stator and wherein the key operable lock cylinder comprises at least a first pair of locking pins and a second pair of locking pins in which in each pair comprises a first pin having a first length and a second pin having a second length, the first length being the same in both pairs and the second length being the same in both pairs and longer than the first length, wherein the first pin of the first pair of pins is more strongly biased than the second pin and the second pin of the second pair of pins is more strongly biased than the first pin, and a key comprising a handle and a shank, the shank being arranged to fit in use within the keyway of the lock cylinder, the shank having first and second major faces, the first face having at least one row of recesses along its length and the second face having at least one row of recesses along its length aligned with the row of recesses on the first face, the aligned recesses on the first and second faces being interconnected such that locking pins of the lock cylinder can be accommodated in the recesses in use and wherein one of each pair of aligned recesses is oversized relative to the locking pin to be received in the recess.

Preferably, when the matching key is inserted in the keyway, the more strongly biased pin of each pin pair seats in a matching recess in the key shank and the less strongly biased pin is received in the oversize recess and located by abutment with the more strongly biased pin.

The key can have two cuts for two pin pairs having the same combination of locking pins by reversing the biasing of the locking pins and providing an oversize recess for the less strongly biased pin.

Preferably, each pin pair is selected from three different pin lengths and the number of combinations is 66 (46656).

Preferably, in the locked position, the locking pin projecting across the interface is provided with a formation co-operable with a formation on one of the stator and rotor to retain the pin in the locked position if a non-matching key inserted in the key-way is turned to rotate the rotor.

Any suitable formations may be employed. The co-operating formations preferably interlock to retain a distal end of the locking pin in the stator when a non-matching key inserted in the keyway is turned to rotate the rotor. The interlock feature may be employed in the lock cylinder according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lock cylinder n accordance with the invention Figure 2 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of a key for operating the lock cylinder of Figure 1; Figures 3a to 3f are part sectional views of six pin pairs of the lock cylinder shown in Figure 1 with the matching key inserted depicting the release positions of all the pin pairs; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the passage in the rotor and stator with the pin pair shown in Figure 3a and the key removed depicting a rest position of the pin pair; Figure 5 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 4, with the matching key inserted depicting a release position of the pin pair; Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a non-matching key and pin pair arrangement; Figure 7 is a sectional view showing another non-matching key and pin pair arrangement; Figure 8 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, showing the spacing of drops in the key shank for different pin pairs; and Figure 9 is a sectional view showing a modification to a pin pair and stator of the lock cylinder of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a lock cylinder 2 and Figure 2 shows a key 4 for operating the lock cylinder 2 in accordance with the invention. The lock cylinder 2 comprises a stator 6 of annular cross-section and a cylindrical rotor 8 that is received by and is a close sliding fit in the stator 6. A locking cam 10 is coupled to the rotor 8. The rotor 8 has an axially extending keyway 12 located eccentrically along a diameter of the rotor 8 for receiving the key 4. A row of six transverse passages 14 pass through the rotor 8 and stator 6 intersecting the keyway 12.

Figures 3a to 3f show six pairs of locking pins, one for each of the passages 14 of the stator 6 and rotor 8 located in a release position by insertion of the matching key 4 in the keyway. Each pair comprises two pins selected from three different lengths of pins, nominally designated a No.1 pin, a No.2 pin and a No.3 pin. The No.1 pin is shorter than the No.2 pin which in turn is shorter than the No.3 pin. The six pin pairs consist of the following combinations of pins as viewed in Figures 3a to 3f: The reference to left side and right side pins are used for convenience to describe the pins as shown in the drawings and it will be understood the invention is not limited to such designation of the pins.

Left Side Pin Right Side Pin Figure No. 1 pin No. 3 pin Figure 3a No. 1 pin No. 3 pin Figure 3b No. 2 pin No. 2 pin Figure 3c No. 2 pin No. 2 pin Figure 3d No. 3 pin No. 1 pin Figure 3e No. 3 pin No. 1 pin Figure 3f The lengths of the pins are chosen so that the combined length of each pair is the same and is slightly less than the diameter of the rotor 8 so that, when the pin pair is located in the release position, both pins are located wholly within the rotor 8 so that the rotor 8 can rotate relative to the stator 6 to operate the lock cylinder 2. This may not be essential and combined pin lengths may not be the same provided that, in the release position, the pins are received within the rotor 8 and do not project across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6. For convenience, in the following description No. 1 pins are indicated by reference numeral 16, No. 2 pins by reference numeral 18 and No. 3 pins by reference numeral 20.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the passage 14 of the stator 6 and rotor 8 showing a rest position of the No. 1 pin 16 and the No. 3 pin 20 of Figure 3a with the key 4 removed. The passage 14 has an abutment shoulder 14a at each interface with the keyway 12. Each pin 16, 20 has a tapered inner end portion 22 leading to an annular collar 24 slidably received in the passage 14 and is biased towards the keyway 12 by a spring 26, 28 that surrounds the pin 16, 20 and acts between the collar 24 and an annular ring 30 that slidably receives and supports an outer end portion 32 of the pin 16, 20. With the key removed, the springs 26, 28 bias the pins 16, 20 so that inner end faces 22a of the pins abut in the keyway 12. The spring 26 acting on the shorter pin 16 is stronger than the spring 28 acting on the longer pin 20 and exerts an extra force that overcomes the biasing of the weaker spring 28. As a result, the pair of pins 16, 20 is located at the rest position shown in Figure 4, in which the outer end of the shorter pin 16 is located within the rotor 8 with the collar 24 seated against the abutment shoulder I4a and the outer end of the longer pin 20 projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and the stator 6 and is received in the stator 6 blocking rotation of the rotor 8 relative to the stator 6. As a result, the rotor 8 is unable to rotate relative to the stator 6 in the rest position of the pins 16, 20 with the key removed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the passage 14 of the stator 6 and rotor 8 showing the release position of the No. 1 pin 16 and No. 3 pin 20 of Figure 3a with the correct key 4 inserted. The key 4 has a pair of opposed, interconnected tapered recesses 34, 36 and comprises a first recess 34 and a second recess 36 connected at an interface 38. The first recess 34 receives the tapered inner end portion 22 of the shorter pin 16 and is configured so that the shorter pin 16 is pushed back from its rest position in Figure 4 (from right to left as viewed in Figure 4) against the biasing of the spring 26 to the release position shown in Figure 5 in which the inner end portion 22 of the pin 16 is seated in the recess 34 and projects across the interface 38 between the recesses 34, 36. At the same time, the longer pin 20 is allowed to advance from its rest position in Figure 4 (from right to left as viewed in Figure 4) under the biasing of the spring 28 to the release position shown in Figure 5 in which the inner end face 22a abuts the inner end face 22a of the shorter pin 16 without seating in the recess 36. In the release position, the outer ends of both pins 16, 20 are received in the rotor 8 allowing rotation of the rotor 8 relative to the stator 6. As a result, the rotor 8 is free to rotate relative to the stator 6 in the release position of the pins 16, 20 with the correct key 4 inserted in the keyway 12.

As will be appreciated, in the release position of Figure 5, the radial position of the pin 16 biased by the stronger spring 26 is determined by the depth of cut of the recess 34 in the key and the radial position of the pin 20 biased by the weaker spring 28 is determined by the position of the pin 16. As a result, the depth of the recess 34 has to be an accurate match to position the pin 16 in the release position but the depth of the recess 36 does not have to be an accurate match to position the pin 20 in the release position allowing the recess 36 to be cut oversize for a reason explained later.

Figure 3b shows the release position for a No. 1 and a No. 3 pin pair similar to Figure 3a but with the biasing of the pins reversed so that now the longer, No. 3 pin 20 is biased by the stronger spring 26 and is seated in the matching recess 34 of the key 4 so as to locate the pin 20 in the release position with the shorter No. 1 pin 16 biased by the weaker spring 28 received in the oversize recess 36 of the key and located in the release position by the longer pin 20. With this pin pair, when the key is removed, the shorter pin 16 is displaced by the longer pin 20 so that the outer end of the shorter pin 16 projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

Figure 3c shows the release position for a pair of No. 2 pins of equal length with the left hand pin 18 as viewed in the Figure biased by the stronger pin 26 and seated in the matching recess 34 of the key 4 so as to locate the left hand pin 18 in the release position with the right hand pin 18 as viewed in the Figure biased by the weaker spring 28 received in the oversize recess 36 of the key and located in the release position by the left hand pin 18. With this pin pair, when the key is removed, the right hand pin 18 is displaced by the left hand pin 18 so that the outer end of the right hand pin projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

Figure 3d shows the release position for a pair of No. 2 pins similar to Figure 3c but with the biasing of the pins reversed so that now the right hand pin 18 is biased by the stronger spring 26 and is seated in the matching recess 34 of the key 4 so as to locate the pin 18 in the release position with the left hand pin 18 biased by the weaker spring 28 received in the oversize recess 36 and located in the release position by the right hand pin 18. With this pin pair, when the key is removed, the left hand pin 18 is displaced by the right hand pin 18 so that the outer end of the left hand pin projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

Figure 3e shows the release position for a No. 3 and No. 1 pin pair similar to Figure 3b but with the position of the pins reversed. As in Figure 3b the longer pin 20 is biased by the stronger spring 26 and is seated in the matching recess 34 of the key 4 so as to locate the pin 20 in the release position with the shorter pin 16 biased by the weaker spring 28 received in the oversize recess 36 and located in the release position by the longer pin 20. With this pin pair, when the key is removed, the shorter pin 16 is displaced by the longer pin 20 so that the outer end of the shorter pin projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

Figure 3f shows the release position for a No. 3 and No. 1 pin pair similar to Figure 3e but with the biasing of the pins reversed so that now the shorter pin 16 is biased by the stronger spring 26 and is seated in the matching recess 34 of the key 4 so as to locate the pin 16 in the release position with the longer pin 20 biased by the weaker spring 28 received in the oversize recess and located in the release position by the shorter pin 16. With this pin pair, when the key is removed, the longer pin 20 is displaced by the shorter pin 16 so that the outer end of the longer pin 20 projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

As will be appreciated, for each of the six pin pairs shown in Figures 3a to 3f, the pin biased by the stronger spring 26 is radially located in the release position by the key and the pin biased by the weaker spring 28 is radially located in the release position by the pin biased by the stronger spring 26. Figure 2 shows the key 4 with a shank 4a having two rows 40, 42 of recesses 34, 36 configured to match the pin pairs of Figures 3a to 3f. For each recess in the upper row 40 as seen in Figure 2 the recess on the opposite side of the shank 4a is the same as the recess at the same position in the lower row 42 and vice versa. in this way, the key shank 4a can be inserted into the key-way 12 either way up. This may not be essential however and we may provide a key shank with one row of recesses.

By reversing the biasing of the pin pairs for the same arrangement of pins in Figures 3a and 3b, Figures 3c and 3d, and Figures 3e and 3f, and cutting an oversize recess for the pin biased by the weaker spring we can achieve a different depth of cut for the recesses of each pin pair using only three different pin lengths. More specifically, with reference to Figures 3a and 3b, although the same arrangement of pins is employed and the pins of both pairs abut at the same radial position in the release position, by reversing the biasing and cutting an oversize recess for the pin biased by the weaker spring, the interface 38 between the recesses 34, 36 in Figure 3a is offset to one side of the radial abutment position of the pins and the interface 38 between the recesses 34. 36 in Figure 3b is offset to the other side of the radial abutment position producing two key cuts for the same arrangement of pins.

Similarly, the interfaces 38 between the recesses 34, 36 in Figures 3c and 3d are on either side of the radial abutment position of the pins in the release position and the interfaces between the recesses in Figures 3c and 3f are on either side of the radial abutment position of the pins in the release position. Moreover, the interfaces between the recesses for all six pairs of pins are offset relative to each other. in this way we can achieve 66 (46656) combinations with only three different pin lengths. Reducing the number of pin lengths in this way has advantages for manufacture and assembly of the lock cylinder 2 and can also lead to improved security as now explained.

Figure 6 shows a non-matching key and pin arrangement. The key has a recess arrangement to match the pin arrangement shown in Figure 3a with a recess 34 having an accurate depth of cut to locate the shorter No. 1 pin 16 biased by the stronger spring 26 in the release position and an oversize recess 36 for the longer No. 3 pin biased by the weaker spring 28 which is located in the release position by abutment with the pin 16. As shown in Figure 6, the pin arrangement is that shown in Figure 3b with the springs 26. 28 reversed so that now the longer No. 3 pin is biased by the stronger spring 26 and the shorter No. 1 pin 16 is biased by the weaker spring 28. As a result, when the key is inserted, the longer No. 3 pin now seats in the oversize recess 36 and the shorter No. 1 pin 16 is located by abutment with the pin 20.

However as the recess 36 does not have an accurate depth of cut for a No. 3 pin, the pin 20 is not located at the correct position and the shorter No. 1 pin 16 is prevented from reaching the release position determined by the accurate depth of cut of the recess 34. As a result, the outer end of the shorter No. I pin projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

Figure 7 shows another non-matching key and pin arrangement. The key has a recess arrangement to match the pin arrangement shown in Figure 3c with a recess 34 having an accurate depth of cut to locate the loft hand No. 2 pin 18 biased by the stronger spring 26 in the release position and an oversize recess 36 for the right hand No. 2 pin biased by the weaker spring 28 which is located in the release position by abutment with the loft hand pin. As shown in Figure 7, the pin arrangement is that shown in Figure 3b with the longer No. 3 pin 20 biased by the stronger spring 26 and the shorter No. 1 pin 16 biased by the weaker spring 28. As a result, when the key is inserted, the longer No. 3 pin 20 now seats in the oversize recess 36 and the shorter No. 1 pin 16 is located by abutment with the pin 20. However as the recess 36 does not have an accurate depth of cut for a No. 3 pin, the pin 20 is prevented from reaching the release position. As a result, the outer end of the longer No. 3 pin projects across the interface between the rotor 8 and stator 6 to block rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

As previously explained, we can achieve a large number of combinations (66 = 46656) with three different pin lengths. As a result, we can increase the drop between different pin pairs (1:3; 2:2; 3:1) for a given thickness (T) of key shank. For example, with a key shank 4a having a typical thickness (T) of 2mm shown in Figure 8 and pin pairs selected from three pin lengths, we can space the release positions indicated (a), (b) and (c) for different pin pairs (1:3;2:2;3:1) by T14 or 0.5 mm. As a result, we can configure the recesses to control the extent to which one of the pins of each pin pair projects across the interface between the rotor and stator when, for a given pin pair, the pin biased by the stronger spring is received in a non-matching recess of the key, i.e. when the recess does not have an accurate depth of cut to position the pin in the correct position. For example, cutting the oversize recess 36 in Figure 6 so that the longer No. 3 pin 20 can advance by 0.3 mm beyond the release position causes the shorter No. 1 pin 16 to be pushed back and project into the stator by the same distance. As a result, a significant overlap can be achieved to block rotation of the rotor and reduce the risk of the pin 16 being displaced to allow the rotor to turn despite only being held in the blocking position by the biasing of the spring 26 acting on the pin 20. Similarly, cutting the oversize recess 36 in Figure 7 so that the longer No. 3 is prevented by the key from reaching the release position by 0.2 mm causes the longer No. 3 pin to project into the stator by the same distance. Although the overlap is slightly less than in Figure 6, because the pin providing the overlap is now located by the key as opposed to spring force as in Figure 6, an overlap of 0.2 mm is sufficient to block rotation of the rotor with the key preventing displacement of the pin 20 to allow the rotor to turn. It will be understood that the above dimensions are provided by way of non-limiting example only and that variations from these dimensions are envisaged and within the scope of the invention while still providing the benefits and advantages discussed herein.

it will be understood the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described. For example in a modification shown in Figure 9 in which like reference numerals are used to indicate parts corresponding to the previous embodiment, we may provide the stator 6 and the outer end portion of a pin received in the stator 6 in the blocking position when a non-matching key is inserted in the keyway with formations that co-operate to provide mechanical interlock if an attempt is made to turn the rotor that prevents the pin being displaced from its blocking position into the rotor. As shown in Figure 9, we may provide an annular groove 44 in the outer end portion of the pin that receives an internal lip 46 at the outer end of the passage in the stator 6 when an attempt is made to turn the rotor that resists axial movement of the pin. The groove 44 and lip 46 may have angled faces that increase the interlock to retain the pin in the blocking position if an attempt is made to turn the rotor with a non-matching key. Any suitable co-operating formations may be employed and it will be understood the arrangement is not limited to the lock cylinder of the present invention and may be employed in pin tumbler lock cylinders generally.

Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention can also be described by the following numbered clauses: 1. A key operable lock cylinder comprising: a stator, a rotor, the rotor being mounted within the stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stator, a keyway extending axially into the rotor, a plurality of transverse passages extending through the rotor and stator and intersecting the keyway, each passage being provided with a pair of locking pins slidably mounted in the passage and biased by respective biasing means to abut within the keyway, the biasing means of one pin of each pair being stronger than the biasing means of the other pin and urging the other pin to project across an interface between the rotor and stator to prevent rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, IS the pins of each pair being movable in response to insertion of a complementary key in the keyway to become located entirely within the rotor to permit rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, wherein, for each pair of locking pins, another pair of the same locking pins is provided in which the biasing means is reversed.

2. The lock cylinder of clause 1 wherein each pair of locking pins comprises two pins selected from three different lengths of pins.

3. The lock cylinder of clause 2 wherein a first pair of locking pins is provided having two locking pins of different length and a second pair of locking pins is provided having the same two locking pins as the first pair and the resilient biasing means for the locking pins of one of said two pairs is reversed for the locking pins of the other of said two pairs.

4. The lock cylinder of clause 2 or clause 3 wherein six pairs of locking pins are provided.

5. The lock cylinder of any preceding clause wherein the biasing means for each pin comprises a compression spring.

6 The lock cylinder of clause 5 wherein each spring acts to urge the associated pins towards the keyway and a stop is provided to limit movement of the pin under the biasing of the spring.

7. A key for use with the lock cylinder of clause 1, the key comprising a handle and a shank, the shank being received, in use, within a keyway of the lock cylinder, the shank having first and second major surfaces along its length on opposite sides, a row of recesses along its length on the first major surface and a row of recesses along its length on the second major surface so that the recesses on the first and second major surfaces are aligned in pairs such that, in use, each pair of aligned recesses can accommodate a pair of locking pins of the lock cylinder, wherein each pair of recesses is interconnected and configured so that, in use, when a correct key is inserted into the keyway, the pin biased by the stronger biasing means locates in the recess on one side of the shank and is pushed back against the biasing of the stronger biasing means by the key, and the other pin, biased by the weaker biasing means is located in an oversize recess on the other side of the shank by abutment with the more strongly biased pin so that both pins are located entirely within the rotor and do not project across the interface between the rotor and stator so that the rotor can be rotated relative to the stator, wherein for each pair of recesses, another pair of recesses is provided to accommodate a pair of the same locking pins of the lock cylinder in which the biasing means is reversed.

8. A key according to clause 7 wherein for a given thickness (T) of the key shank, the spacing between drops between the first and second major surfaces for three different pin lengths is T/4 9. A key according to clause 7 or clause 8 wherein, the recesses of an aligned pair are of different depths and the position of the restriction relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank varies from one pair to another pair.

10. A key according to clause 9 wherein, for a given drop corresponding to a radial abutment position of a pin pair, two pairs of recesses are provided in which the position of the restriction of one pair relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank is to one side of the drop and the position of the restriction of the other pair he first and second major surfaces of the shank is to the other side of the drop.

11. The combination of a lock cylinder and a key, the lock cylinder comprising a stator having a rotor mounted within the stator for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stator, the rotor having a keyway extending axially into the rotor, a series of transverse passages extending through the rotor and stator and intersecting in the keyway, a pair of locking pins being slidably mounted in each passage and being resiliently biased by a respective biasing means such that in a locked position each pair of locking pins are in mutual abutment within the keyway with a distal end of one of the locking pins of each pair projecting across an interface between the rotor and the stator so as to prevent rotation of the rotor within the stator whereas in use, when a complementary key is inserted in the keyway the locking pins are positioned such that all the locking pins become located entirely within the rotor permitting rotation of the rotor within the stator and wherein the key operable lock cylinder comprises at least a first pair of locking pins and a second pair of locking pins in which each pair comprises a first pin having a first length and a second pin having a second length, the first length being the same in both pairs and the second length being the same in both pairs and longer than the first length, wherein the first pin of the first pair of pins is more strongly biased than the second pin and the second pin of the second pair of pins is more strongly biased than the first pin, and the key comprising a handle and a shank, the shank being arranged to fit in use within the keyway of the lock cylinder, the shank having first and second major faces, the first face having at least one row of recesses along its length and the second face having at least one row of recesses along its length aligned with the row of recesses on the first face, the aligned recesses on the first and second faces being interconnected such that locking pins of the lock cylinder can be accommodated in the recesses in use and wherein one of each pair of aligned recesses is oversized relative to the locking pin to be received in the recess.

12. The combination of clause 11 wherein, when the matching key is inserted in the keyway, the more strongly biased pin of each pin pair seats in a matching recess in the key shank and the less strongly biased pin is received in the oversize recess and located by abutment with the more strongly biased pin. rclat

VC

13. The combination of clause 12 wherein the key has two cuts for the same pair of pins by reversing the biasing of the first and second pairs of locking pins and providing an oversize recess for the less strongly biased pin.

14. The combination of clause 12 or clause 13 wherein each pin pair s selected from three different pin lengths and the number of combinations is 66.

15. The combination of any of clauses 11 to 14 wherein, if an incorrect key is inserted, then the pin biased by the stronger biasing means is either pushed back too far by the key when it seats in the recess and projects across the interface with the stator or is not pushed back far enough so that the other pin is prevented from moving completely into the rotor and projects across the interface with the stator.

I5 16. The combination of any of clauses II to 15 wherein, in the locked position, the locking pin projecting across the interface is provided with a formation co-operable with a formation on one of the stator and rotor to retain the pin in the locked position if a non-matching key inserted in the key-way is turned to rotate the rotor.

17. The combination of clause 16 wherein, the co-operating formations interlock to retain a distal end of the locking pin in the stator when a non-matching key inserted in the keyway is turned to rotate the rotor.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. A key for use with a lock cylinder, the key comprising: a handle and a shank; the shank being received, in use, within a keyway of the lock cylinder; the shank having first and second major surfaces along its length on opposite sides, a row of recesses along its length on the first major surface and a row of recesses along its length on the second major surface so that the recesses on the first and second major surfaces are aligned in pairs such that, in use, each pair of aligned recesses can accommodate a pair of locking pins of the lock cylinder; wherein each pair of recesses is interconnected at an interface and configured so that, in use, when a correct key is inserted into the keyway, a pin biased by a stronger biasing means locates in the recess on one side of the shank and is pushed back against the biasing of the stronger biasing means by the key, and the other pin, biased by the weaker biasing means is located in an oversize recess on the other side of the shank by abutment with the more strongly biased pin; wherein for each pair of recesses, another pair of recesses is provided to accommodate a second pair of the same combination of locking pins of the lock cylinder in which the biasing means is reversed, and wherein the weaker biasing means is located in an oversize recess; wherein the first pair of recesses and the another pair of recesses are offset with respect to each other along the longitudinal direction of shank; wherein the interface between the pair of recesses is offset to one side of the abutment position of the pair of pins and the interface between the other pair of recesses is offset to the other side of the abutment position of the pair of pins.
2. 2. A key according to claim 1, wherein for a given thickness (T) of the key shank, the depths of the recesses are multiples of T14, plus or minus the depth of said offset
3. 3. A key according to claim 1 or 2 wherein two interconnected recesses of an aligned pair of recesses are of different depths and the position of the interface relative to the first and second major surfaces of the shank varies from one aligned pair of recesses to another aligned pair of recesses.
4. 4. A key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the row of recesses along its length is offset laterally from the longitudinal axis of the key.
5. 5. A key according to claim 4, further comprising a second row of recesses along its length on both major surfaces, wherein the second row of recesses arc offset laterally from the longitudinal axis by the same amount in the opposite direction to the first row of recesses, and wherein the second row of recesses on one of the major surfaces is identical to the first row of recesses on the opposite major surface, thereby providing rotational symmetry around the longitudinal axis of the key.
6. 6. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the interface of the pair of recesses and the position of the interface the another pair of recesses arc selected from three sets of positions.IS
7. 7. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, avherein the shape of the recesses is a frustoconical shape.