Patent · US Expired

Cylinder lock with permissible service entry

US4631941A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
8References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1984
Grant dateDec 30, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T70/7944
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A cylinder lock (1) has a normal locking mode (12 o'clock position) and a service locking mode (10 o'clock position). When the cylinder plug (3) is left in the service mode of the lock, with the aid of a standard key, the lock can be turned with the aid of a service key (9). The service key is latched against withdrawal in the normal mode of the lock, by means of an intermediate pin (7') of larger diameter than a corresponding upper pin (4) in the normal mode of the lock. The intermediate pin can be received in a widened part (3b') of a corresponding pin-channel (3a') in the cylinder plug, but is unable to enter the pin channel (2a) of the cylinder housing of smaller diameter, hence latching the service key (9). Subsequent to using the service key (9), the cylinder is returned to the normal locking mode (12 o'clock position) with the aid of the standard key, whereafter the lock can only be opened with the aid of the standard key. Each of the two modes can be defined by a spring-biased ball disposed in a suitable pin-channel and arranged to snap-in a corresponding empty pin-channel in the plug.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.