Nonrotating, flexible key lock

Claim 2

A lock for use with a nonrotating, flexible sheet key having a body with a plurality of holes therethrough positioned in accordance with a predetermined pattern, comprising: a case with a slot for insertion of the key therethrough to place the key body in a stationary position within said case; a plurality of juxtapositioned plates disposed within said case in independently slidable, fact-to-face relative relation to each other for movement along a path generally transverse to the key, each of said plates having a pin fixedly positioned at a selected location along an edge of said plate toward the key and extending therefrom toward the key for engagement therewith, said pins being aligned according to the predetermined hole pattern to have selective ones of said pins enter into the holes and other ones of said pins contact the body upon movement of said plates along said path toward the key for placing each of said plates in a consent position, each of said plates having an aperture sized and positioned for coincidence with said aperture of each other of said plates when moved into their respective consent positions to form an elongated lateral opening, at least one of said plates having a body portion extending transverse to said lateral opening and being positionable to block and limit the length of said lateral opening if said at least one plate is not in said consent position as a result of insertion of a key without the predetermined hole pattern, said plates being positionable away from the key to maintain said pins disengaged from the key for unrestricted insertion of the key into said slot and being movable toward the key for engagement therewith after the key is inserted into said slot; and a lug extending generally transversely through said plate apertures and being laterally movable within said lateral opening formed when said plates are in said consent position to indicate an unlocked condition, lateral movement of said lug being inhibited by said transverse body portion of said at least one plate when not in said consent position to indicate a locked condition.

Claim 3

The lock of claim 1 wherein said plates each have a second body portion defining said aperture and located to a side of said aperture away from the key, said lug being engageable with said second body portion of each of said plates and movable in a direction away from the key to hold said pins clear of the key to permit unrestricted insertion of the key into said slot, said lug being further movable in a direction toward the key to permit said pins to engage the key.

Claim 4

The lock of claim 2 wherein said lug is attached to a movable member having a cam follower operatively engaging a rotatable cam, said cam having a first portion initially positioning said lug away from the key in engagement with said second body portions to hold said pins clear of the key to permit unrestricted insertion of the key into said slot, said cam having a second portion next moving said lug toward the key upon rotation of said cam to permit said plates to move freely along said path toward the key to bring said pins into engagement therewith, and said cam having a third portion next moving said lug laterally in said lateral opening upon further rotation of said cam when said plates are in said consent position, said third portion permitting continued rotation of said cam without moving said lug laterally when said at least one of said plates is not in said consent position.

Claim 5

The lock of claim 3, further including bias means for resiliently biasing said plates toward the key.

Claim 6

The lock of claim 4 wherein said bias means includes a spring independently biasing each of said plates.

Claim 7

The lock of claim 3 wherein said plates are oriented vertically, with said pins extending downwardly toward the key positionable therebelow, said plates being movable downward along said path toward the key at least partially by the gravitational force on said plates.

Claim 8

The lock of claim 3 wherein said cam follower is resiliently biased against said cam.

Claim 9

The lock of claim 3 wherein said movable member has a guide pin slidably and rotatably disposed in a laterally extending guide slot, said guide pin being initially positioned toward one end of said guide slot and said guide slot being sized to permit lateral sliding movement of said guide pin therein in response to said third cam portion upon rotation of said cam to move said lug laterally in said lateral opening, said guide pin permitting rotational movement of said movable member thereabout as said cam rotates.

Claim 10

The lock of claim 1, further including a pair of spaced-apart guide plates positioned within said case to receive the key therebetween from said slot and maintain the key in a flat condition during insertion and operation of the lock, said guide plates having a plurality of openings therein to permit uninhibited passage of said pins for engaging the key.

Claim 11

The lock of claim 1 wherein said plates each have a second pin fixedly positioned at a selected location along an edge of said plate away from the key and extending therefrom, said plates being selectively reversible in said case to position said plates for engagement of said second pins with the key.

Claim 12

The lock of claim 1 wherein said case has means for selective removal and replacement of said plates.

Claim 13

The lock of claim 1 wherein at least one of said pins is a substantially flat, elongated member.

Claim 14

a lock for use with a nonrotating, flexible sheet key having a body with a plurality of holes therethrough positioned in accordance with a predetermined pattern, comprising: a plurality of plates oriented generally transverse to a key-receiving space wherein the key body can be inserted and retained in a stationary position during operation of the lock, said plates being independently slidable for movement along a path generally transverse to the key, each of said plates having an engagement member fixedly positioned at a selected location along an edge of said plate toward the key and extending therefrom toward the key for engagement therewith, said engagement members being aligned according to the predetermined hole pattern to have selective ones of said engagement members enter into the holes and other ones of said engagement members contact the body upon movement of said plates along said path toward the key for placing each of said plates in a consent position, each of said plates having an aperture sized and positioned for coincidence with said aperture of each other of said plates when moved into their respective consent positions to form a lateral opening, said plates each having a first body portion extending transverse to said lateral opening and being positionable to block and limit the length of said lateral opening if not in said consent position as a result of insertion of a key without the predetermined hole pattern, said plates being positionable away from the key to maintain said engagement members disengaged from the key for unrestricted insertion of the key into said key-receiving space and being movable toward the key for engagement therewith after the key is inserted, said plates each having a second body portion defining said aperture and located to a side of said aperture away from the key; and an arm extending generally transversely through said plate apertures and being laterally movable within said lateral opening formed when said plates are in said consent position to indicate an unlocked condition, lateral movement of said arm being inhibited by said transverse body portions of said plates when not in said consent position to indicate a locked condition, said arm being engageable with said second body portion of each of said plates and movable in a direction away from the key to hold said engagement members clear of the key to permit unrestricted insertion of the key into said key-receiving space, said arm being further movable in a direction toward the key to permit said engagement members to engage the key.

Claim 15

a lock for use with a nonrotating, flexible sheet key having a body with a plurality of holes therethrough positioned in accordance with a predetermined pattern, comprising: a plurality of plates oriented generally transverse to a key-receiving space wherein the key body can be inserted and retained in a stationary position during operation of the lock, said plates being independently slidable for movement along a path generally transverse to the key, each of said plates having an engagement member fixedly positioned at a selected location along an edge of said plate toward the key and extending therefrom toward the key for engagement therewith, said engagement members being aligned according to the predetermined hole pattern to have selective ones of said engagement members enter into the holes and other ones of said engagement members contact the body upon movement of said plates along said path toward the key for placing each of said plates in a consent position, each of said plates having an aperture sized and positioned for coincidence with said aperture of each other of said plates when moved into their respective consent positions to form a lateral opening, said plates each having a first body portion extending transverse to said lateral opening and being positionable to block and limit the length of said lateral opening if not in said consent position as a result of insertion of a key without the predetermined hole pattern, said plates being positionable away from the key to maintain said engagement members disengaged from the key for unrestricted insertion of the key into said key-receiving space and being movable toward the key for engagement therewith after the key is inserted, said plates each having a second body portion defining said aperture and located to a side of said aperture away from the key; and an arm extending generally transversely through said plate apertures and being laterally movable within said lateral opening formed when said plates are in said consent position to indicate an unlocked condition, lateral movement of said arm being inhibited by said transverse body portions of said plates when not in said consent position to indicate a locked condition, said arm being engageable with said second body portion of each of said plates and movable in a direction away from the key to hold said engagement members clear of the key to permit unrestricted insertion of the key into said key-receiving space, said arm being further movable in a direction toward the key to permit said engagement members to engage the key.

Claim 16

The lock of claim 13 wherein said arm is attached to a movable member having a cam follower operatively engaging a rotatable cam, said cam having a first portion initially positioning said arm away from the key in engagement with said second body portions to hold said engagement members clear of the key to permit unrestricted insertion of the key into said key-receiving space, said cam having a second portion next moving said arm toward the key upon rotation of said cam to permit said plates to move freely along said path toward the key to bring said engagement members into engagement therewith, and said cam having a third portion next moving said arm laterally in said lateral opening upon further rotation of said cam when said plates are in said consent position, said third portion permitting continued rotation of said cam without moving said lug laterally when said plates are not in said consent position.

Claim 17

The lock of claim 14 wherein said movable member has a guide pin slidably and rotatably disposed in a laterally extending guide slot, said guide pin being initially positioned toward one end of said guide slot and said guide slot being sized to permit lateral sliding movement of said guide pin therein in response to said third cam portion upon rotation of said cam to move said arm laterally in said lateral opening, said guide pin permitting rotational movement of said movable member thereabout as said cam rotates.

Claim 18

The lock of claim 13 wherein said engagement members are elongated pins.

Claim 19

The lock of claim 16 wherein said pins are substantially flat.

Claim 20

The lock of claim 13, further including a pair of spaced-apart guides defining said key-receiving space therebetween and maintaining the key in a flat condition during insertion and operation of the lock, said guide plates having a plurality of openings therein to permit uninhibited passage of said engagement members for engaging the key.

Claim 21

The lock of claim 13 wherein said plates each have a second engagement member fixedly positioned at a selected location along an edge of said plate away from the key and extending therefrom, said plates being selectively reversible to position said plates for engagement of said second engagement members with the key.