Patent US3754422A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3754422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cylinder lock and u-shaped key and method of forming same
Assignee: American Locker Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-26
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A cylinder type lock is designed to receive a U-shaped key having tumbler manipulating grooves formed in facing surfaces of its essentially parallel side portions. The key is formed by providing V-shaped slots in a key blank to bound the inwardly facing surfaces of the side portions and a connecting bridge portion, cutting the manipulating grooves in the inwardly facing surfaces of the side portions in a predetermined relationship to the slots and then folding the side portions relative to the bridge portion.
Inventors
- 👤 W Stackhouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:16
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B29/00; E05B19/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7486; Y10T70/7508; Y10T70/7559; Y10T70/7588; Y10T70/7593; Y10T70/7599; Y10T70/7667; Y10T70/7689; Y10T70/7695; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7836; Y10T70/7842; Y10T70/787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
In a cylinder lock, the combination comprising: a generally U-shaped key having a pair of facing side portion and a bridge portion connecting said side portions, at least one of said side portions having tumble manipulating surfaces on a surface thereof facing the other of said side portion; a key plug having a key slot extending through one end thereof for receiving said key and at least one row of spaced tumbler receiving openings extending transversely of said key slot and in communication therewith; tumblers positioned within said tumbler receiving openings, said tumblers having portions thereof arranged to be received between said side portions of said key for engagement with said tumbler manipulating surfaces when said key is inserted into said key slot, and a casing for rotatably receiving said plug and having tumbler receiving openings therein arranged to register with said tumbler receiving openings of said plug.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a cylinder lock, the combination comprising: a generally U-shaped key having a pair of facing side portion and a bridge portion connecting said side portions, at least one of said side portions having tumble manipulating surfaces on a surface thereof facing the other of said side portion; a key plug having a key slot extending through one end thereof for receiving said key and at least one row of spaced tumbler receiving openings extending transversely of said key slot and in communication therewith; tumblers positioned within said tumbler receiving openings, said tumblers having portions thereof arranged to be received between said side portions of said key for engagement with said tumbler manipulating surfaces when said key is inserted into said key slot, and a casing for rotatably receiving said plug and having tumbler receiving openings therein arranged to register with said tumbler receiving openings of said plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lock according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating surfaces of said one side portion is defined by an undulating groove extending lengthwise of said side portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A lock according to claim 1, wherein manipulating surfaces are formed on each of said side portions, said key plug is formed with two rows of tumbler receiving openings, and the openings of one of said rows are staggered relative to the openings of the other of said rows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lock according to claim 3, wherein said manipulating surfaces are defined by undulating grooves extending lengthwise of said side portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A lock according to claim 3, wherein each said tumbler is in the form of a plate lying within a plane disposed transversely of said key receiving slot, and the tumblers received within one of said rows of openings are notched to straddle one of said key side portions and the tumblers received within the other of said rows of openings are notched to straddle the other of said key side portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lock according to claim 5, wherein said manipulating surfaces of each said side portion is defined by an undulating groove extending lengthwise thereof, and said tumblers engage with an undulating groove of a side portion other than that which they straddlE.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A lock according to claim 1, wherein manipulating surfaces are formed on each of said side portions, said key plug is formed with two rows of tumbler receiving openings, and the openings of one of said rows are staggered relative to the openings of the other of said rows, said plug slot is of rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said plug carries a face plate adjacent its one end, said face plate having a U-shaped key receiving opening therethrough, and said tumblers cooperate with said plug slot to define a generally U-shpaed key receiving passageway arranged in alignment with said face plate when said key is inserted through said face plate into said plug slot for lock opening engagement with said tumblers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A lock according to claim 1, wherein said key plug is supported for rotation in spaced relationship concentrically inwardly of said casing by front and rear bearing devices, said front and rear bearing devices transferring rearwardly and forwardly directed axial thrust, respectfully, from said key plug to said cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A U-shaped key for a cylinder lock comprising in combination: a pair of side portions having parallel facing surfaces, at least one of said facing surfaces being formed with surface portions for manipulating tumblers of a cylinder lock; and a bridge portion formed integrally with and connecting said side portions, said bridge portion having an inwardly facing surface thereof disposed at right angles to said facing surfaces of said side portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A U-shaped key for a cylinder lock comprising in combination: a pair of side portions having parallel facing surfaces, at least one of said facing surfaces being formed with surface portions for manipulating tumblers of a cylinder lock; and a bridge portion formed integrally with and connecting said side portions, said bridge portion having an inwardly facing surface thereof disposed at right angles to said facing surfaces of said side portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A key according to claim 9, wherein each of said facing surfaces is formed with surface portions for manipulating tumblers of a cylinder lock and said surface portions are defined by undulating grooves extending lengthwise of said side portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A key according to claim 10, wherein said side and bridge portions are formed by deforming a single flat metal key blank into a U-shaped configuration, and characterized in that the metal of said blank forming said facing surfaces and said inner surface of said bridge portion is unstressed by deforming of said blank.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of forming a key of U-shaped configuration having facing side portions and a bridge portion connecting said side portions for use in combination with a key actuated cylindrical lock of the reciprocating tumbler type, wherein key engaging heads of tumblers are arranged to engage with tumbler operating surface portions formed on the facing surface of at least one of said facing side portions, which includes the steps of: providing a key blank formed with a pair of parallel essentially V-shaped grooves in one surface thereof, said grooves cooperating with each other to bound an inner surface of said bridge portion and cooperating with spaced marginal edges of said blank to bound facing surfaces of said side portions; forming said operating surface portions in said one surface intermediate one of said grooves and a corresponding one of said marginal edges of said blank; and constraining substantially the whole of said inner surface of said bridge member while folding said blank along said grooves to produce said U-shaped key configuration while preventing stress deformation of said inner surface and said facing surfaces, whereby the distance between said operating surface portions and said associated marginal edge remains essentially unchanged as said blank is folded to form said key and the distance between said operating surface portions and an outwardly facing surface of said bridge portion of the formed key corresponds to the thickness of said bridge portion and the distance between said operating surface portions and said one groove of the unfolded blank.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of forming a key of U-shaped configuration having facing side portions and a bridge portion connecting said side portions for use in combination with a key actuated cylindrical lock of the reciprocating tumbler type, wherein key engaging heads of tumblers are arranged to engage with tumbler operating surface portions formed on the facing surface of at least one of said facing side portions, which includes the steps of: providing a key blank formed with a pair of parallel essentially V-shaped grooves in one surface thereof, said grooves cooperating with each other to bound an inner surface of said bridge portion and cooperating with spaced marginal edges of said blank to bound facing surfaces of said side portions; forming said operating surface portions in said one surface intermediate one of said grooves and a corresponding one of said marginal edges of said blank; and constraining substantially the whole of said inner surface of said bridge member while folding said blank along said grooves to produce said U-shaped key configuration while preventing stress deformation of said inner surface and said facing surfaces, whereby the distance between said operating surface portions and said associated marginal edge remains essentially unchanged as said blank is folded to form said key and the distance between said operating surface portions and an outwardly facing surface of said bridge portion of the formed key corresponds to the thickness of said bridge portion and the distance between said operating surface portions and said one groove of the unfolded blank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said operating surface portions are formed in each of said facing surfaces and are in the form of undulating grooves extending lengthwise of said facing surfaces, and said blank is folded by placing a pair of folding members in engagement with outwardly facing surfaces of said side portions and pivoting said folding members about associated ones of a pair of axes, said axes being arranged in an equally spaced parallel relationship to said outwardly facing of said bridge member and lying within a pair of parallel planes lengthwise bisecting said V-shaped grooves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |