Electric lock and key assembly

Claim 2

A lock assembly comprising: a rotatable key guide within a housing, said key guide being movable from a first position to a second position; electrical contacts mounted within said housing to form a switching circuit; a locking solenoid which is energized upon closing said contacts in said switching circuit; a locking means which is moved from one position to another when said solenoid is energized; the contacts of said switching circuit being closed when an easily duplicated conductive key having prearranged protrusions moves said key guide from said first position to said second position and said protrusions directly engage said contacts of said switching circuit completing an electrical circuit between said protrusions and said contacts of said switching circuit, whereby said locking solenoid is energized and said locking means is moved without use of a conventional pin-tumbler mechanism.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes therewithin contacts which activate an alarm system when an improper key is employed.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said switching circuit consists of a plurality of transistors arranged in series so that the circuit will be completed and the lock means moved to an unlocked position only if a key having prearranged fitting protrusions engages said contacts and closes said circuit.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said housing includes contacts which activate an alarm system when an improper key is employed.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a mechanical stop to prevent unlimited rotation of said key Guide and thereby prevent damage to said contacts.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said contacts are made of flexible material.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said key guide is yieldably urged to return to a predetermined first position after rotation thereof.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 2 wherein the alarm system is an audible alarm system.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing includes therein a plurality of spaced apart downwardly extending alarm contacts which, when an improper key is employed, are directly engaged by said key and activate an alarm system.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 9 wherein the alarm system is an audible alarm system.

Claim 12

The lock assembly of claim 1 wherein said key is electrically conductive.

Claim 13

The lock assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical contacts are of varying lengths.

Claim 14

The lock assembly of claim 1 wherein said protrusions of said key are of varying lengths.

Claim 15

The lock assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical contacts are of varying lengths and said protrusions of said key are of varying lengths to matingly match said contacts.

Claim 16

An electric lock comprising: a. a lock housing; b. a set of flexible, electrical unlock contacts mounted in said housing, said contacts being insulated from each other; c. a set of flexible electrical alarm contacts mounted in said housing and located proximate to said unlock contacts; d. an easily duplicated conductive key having protrusions thereon for directly engaging each of said unlock contacts and engaging none of said alarm contacts, thereby completing an electrical circuit between said protrusions and said unlock contacts; e. A rotatable key guide located within said housing and adapted to receive said key; f. unlock circuit means electrically connected to each of said unlock contacts and responsive thereto for producing an unlock electrical signal upon insertion of said key into said key guide and rotation of said key guide so as to directly engage each of said unlock contacts by said protrusions; and g. alarm circuit means electrically connected to said alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm electrical signal upon engagement of one of said alarm contacts.

Claim 17

An electric lock comprising: a. a lock housing; b. a set of flexible, electrical unlock contacts mounted in said housing, said contacts being insulated from each other; c. a set of flexible electrical alarm contacts mounted in said housing and located proximate to said unlock contacts; d. an easily duplicated conductive key having protrusions thereon for directly engaging each of said unlock contacts and engaging none of said alarm contacts, thereby completing an electrical circuit between said protrusions and said unlock contacts; e. A rotatable key guide located within said housing and adapted to receive said key; f. unlock circuit means electrically connected to each of said unlock contacts and responsive thereto for producing an unlock electrical signal upon insertion of said key into said key guide and rotation of said key guide so as to directly engage each of said unlock contacts by said protrusions; and g. alarm circuit means electrically connected to said alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm electrical signal upon engagement of one of said alarm contacts.

Claim 18

The lock of claim 1 wherein said unlock contacts and said alarm electrical contacts form a planar array.

Claim 19

The lock of claim 1 wherein said unlock contacts and said alarm electrical contacts form, respectively, parallel, planar arrays.

Claim 20

The lock of claim 17 wherein said unlock contacts extend beyond said alarm contacts.

Claim 21

An electric lock comprising: a. a lock housing; b. a set of flexible, electrical unlock contacts mounted in said housing, said contacts being insulated from each other; c. a set of flexible electrical alarm contacts mounted in said housing and located proximate to said unlock contacts, said unlock and alarm contacts substantially overlapping and forming, respectively, planar parallel arrays; d. an easily duplicated conductive key having protrusions thereon for directly engaging each of said unlock contacts, and engaging none of said alarm contacts thereby completing an electrical circuit between said protrusions and said unlock contacts; e. a rotatable key guide located within said housing and adapted to receive said key; f. unlock circuit means electrically connected to each of said unlock contacts and responsive thereto for producing an unlock electrical signal upon insertion of said key into said key guide and rotation of said key guide so as to directly engage each of said unlock contacts by said protrusions; and g. alarm circuit means electrically connected to said alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm electrical signal upon engagement of one of said alarm contacts.

Claim 22

An electric lock comprising: a. a lock housing; b. a set of flexible, electrical unlock contacts mounted in said housing, said contacts being insulated from each other; c. a set of flexible electrical alarm contacts mounted in said housing and located proximate to said unlock contacts, said unlock and alarm contacts substantially overlapping and forming, respectively, planar parallel arrays; d. an easily duplicated conductive key having protrusions thereon for directly engaging each of said unlock contacts, and engaging none of said alarm contacts thereby completing an electrical circuit between said protrusions and said unlock contacts; e. a rotatable key guide located within said housing and adapted to receive said key; f. unlock circuit means electrically connected to each of said unlock contacts and responsive thereto for producing an unlock electrical signal upon insertion of said key into said key guide and rotation of said key guide so as to directly engage each of said unlock contacts by said protrusions; and g. alarm circuit means electrically connected to said alarm contacts and responsive thereto for producing an alarm electrical signal upon engagement of one of said alarm contacts.