Magnetically operated locking device and key

Claim 1

A lock assembly, comprising a generally cylindrical lock body, a lock shaft extending through said lock body coaxially in freely rotating fashion and extending beyond one face of said body, a plurality of fixed magnets disposed within said body and oriented parallel to the axis thereof, a plurality of holes disposed in said body and opening to the other face of said body, each of said holes aligned with one of said fixed magnets, the outer portion of each of said holes including a sleeve extending flush with said outer face, a plurality of movable magnets, each translatably disposed within one of said holes and operatively associated with the respectively aligned fixed magnet, each of said movable magnets including a jacket thereabout, each jacket including a flange extending from the inner end thereof and adapted to engage the inner end of said sleeve of the respective hole to limit extension of said magnet from said hole, a disc-like rotor secured to said shaft adjacent to said other face of said body, detent means on said rotor for engaging at least one of said movable magnets as it extends from its associated hole, and key means for disengaging said movable magnets and said detent means and rotating said rotor.