阅读说明：本技术 可旋转磁性钥匙组合元件 (Rotatable magnetic key combination element ) 是由 埃菲·本-阿哈龙 阿萨夫·波特曼 于 2020-04-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种钥匙设备(10),包括：大致伸长的轴部(12)；和至少一个磁性钥匙组合元件(20),其被设置在所述轴部(12)中,所述至少一个磁性钥匙组合元件能够绕旋转轴线(22)旋转。(A key device (10) comprising: a substantially elongated shaft portion (12); and at least one magnetic key combination element (20) arranged in the shaft portion (12), the at least one magnetic key combination element being rotatable about an axis of rotation (22).)

1. A key device (10) comprising:

a substantially elongated shaft portion (12); and

at least one magnetic key combination element (20) arranged in the shaft portion (12), the at least one magnetic key combination element being rotatable about an axis of rotation (22).

2. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetization direction of said at least one magnetic key combination element (20) is non-collinear with said rotation axis (22).

3. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetization direction of the at least one magnetic key combination element (20) is perpendicular to the rotation axis (22).

4. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic key-combination element (20) comprises at least one diameter magnetic key-combination element (20) having north and south magnetic portions (20N, 20S).

5. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation (22) is non-parallel to said elongated shaft portion (12).

6. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation (72) is coplanar or parallel with the elongated shaft portion (12).

7. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic key combination element (20) is not linearly movable along said axis of rotation (22).

8. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic key combination element (20) is linearly movable along said axis of rotation (22).

9. The key device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic key combination element (20) is projectable from at least one side of said key device (10).

10. A lock and key combination comprising:

a key device (10) comprising a substantially elongate shaft portion (12), and at least one magnetic key combination element (20) arranged in the shaft portion (12) rotatable about a rotational axis (22); and

a cylinder lock (30) including a cylinder lock housing (32) having a plug (34) mounted therein for rotation along a shear line (36), the plug (34) including a keyway (38) and being operatively coupled to a cam (40),

wherein the plug (34) comprises at least one magnetic plug element (42), and wherein after insertion of the key device (10) into the keyway (38), the at least one magnetic key pack element (20) is rotated and aligned with the at least one magnetic plug element (42) such that the at least one magnetic key pack element (20) magnetically interacts with the at least one magnetic plug element (42) against the force of a biasing device (46) and brings the at least one magnetic plug element (42) to the shear line (36).

11. A lock and key combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one magnetic plug element (42) does not enter said key slot (38).

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to keys and locking devices, and more particularly to a key having a rotatable magnetic key combination element.

Background

There are many magnetically actuated locks in the prior art. Typically, keys used to actuate locks have a fixed magnet on the key blade or key shaft. These fixed magnets cooperate with the magnetic elements located in the lock to bring the magnetic elements to the shear line, i.e., the unlocked position. For example, in prior art magnetic cylinder locks, the magnetic element in the key is fixed and the magnetic element in the plug of the cylinder lock is movable.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a novel key apparatus having a rotatable magnetic key combination element, as described in detail below. Unlike the prior art, the magnetic key combination elements of the key are able to rotate while the magnetic elements in the plug of the cylinder lock do not rotate.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a key apparatus, including: a substantially elongate shaft portion; and at least one magnetic key combination element arranged in the shaft portion and rotatable about an axis of rotation.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the magnetization direction of the at least one magnetic key pack element is non-collinear with (e.g., perpendicular to or parallel to) the axis of rotation.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the at least one magnetic key combination element comprises a diameter magnetic key combination element having north and south magnetic portions. The axis of rotation may be perpendicular to, coplanar with or parallel to the elongated shaft portion.

The at least one magnetic key combination element may or may not be linearly movable along the rotational axis.

The at least one magnetic key combination element can protrude from at least one side of the key device.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a lock and key combination, including: a key apparatus comprising a substantially elongate shaft portion, and at least one magnetic key combination element disposed in the shaft portion, rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a cylinder lock comprising a cylinder lock housing in which a plug is mounted for rotation along a shear line, the plug comprising a keyway and being operatively coupled to the cam, wherein the plug comprises at least one magnetic plug element, and wherein upon insertion of a key device into the keyway, the at least one magnetic key pack element is rotated and aligned with the at least one magnetic plug element such that the at least one magnetic key pack element magnetically interacts with the at least one magnetic plug element against the force of the biasing device and brings the at least one magnetic plug element to the shear line.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the at least one magnetic plug element does not enter the keyway.

Drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a key apparatus with a rotatable magnetic key combination element, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

1A-1C are simplified cross-sectional views of the rotatable magnetic key combination element of FIG. 1 taken along line 1A-1A in FIG. 1;

fig. 2A to 2C are simplified side edge views of a key device in which a magnetic key combination element can protrude from one side of the key device (fig. 2A), or in which a magnetic key combination element can protrude from both sides of the key device, or in which there are two such magnetic key combination elements and can each protrude from one side of the key device (fig. 2B), or in which a magnetic key combination element can be flush with or below a key combination surface of the key device (fig. 2C);

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of the key device of FIG. 1 before and after insertion into a cylinder lock, respectively, wherein in FIG. 3B the key device moves a magnetic plug element in a plug of the cylinder lock to an unlocked position in which the magnetic plug element is at a shear line;

FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view of a key apparatus with a rotatable magnetic key combination element, constructed and operative in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a simplified cross-sectional view of the rotatable magnetic key combination element of FIG. 4 taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 4;

fig. 5A and 5B are simplified views of a rotatable magnetic key combination element before and after rotational alignment with a magnetic plug element in a plug of a cylinder lock, respectively.

Detailed Description

Reference is now made to fig. 1 and 1A, which illustrate a key apparatus 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The term "key device" encompasses both key blanks (without key cuts formed therein) and keys having key cuts formed therein.

The key device 10 may include a generally elongated shaft portion 12, a head portion 13, and may or may not include first and second oppositely directed key combination surfaces 14 and 16 (fig. 1A). The key apparatus 10 may be provided as a key blank (key cuts later formed by locksmiths or the like) having no or substantially no key cuts formed thereon. Alternatively, the key apparatus 10 may include a row of key cuts 18 defining a key combination formed along the first key combination surface 14 and/or along the second key combination surface 16. Thus, the key device 10 may define a reversible key having symmetrical key combination surfaces 14 and 16. Alternatively, the key device 10 may have a single key combination surface or different key combination surfaces.

At least one magnetic key combination element 20 is disposed in the shaft portion 12 and the element 20 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 22 (fig. 1A). In one embodiment, the magnetic key combination element 20 may have any magnetization direction (magnetization direction refers to the direction between the north and south poles of the magnet), and the magnetization direction may be oriented in any orientation with respect to the axis of rotation 22. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetization direction of the magnetic key combination element 20 is not collinear with the axis of rotation 22, but is, for example, perpendicular to the axis of rotation 22. For example, the magnetic key combination element 20 may be a diameter magnet having north and south magnetic portions 20N and 20S. Other possibilities include, but are not limited to, the magnetization direction of the element 20 being parallel to the axis of rotation 22.

The magnetic key combination element may have more than one north pole portion 20N and more than one south pole magnetic portion 20S.

The magnetic key combination element 20 may be a one-piece magnet or may comprise several separate magnets that rotate together about an axis of rotation 22.

Magnetic key combination element 20 may be made of any suitable magnetic material, such as, but not limited to, rare earth materials, e.g., neodymium iron boron or samarium cobalt, or non-rare earth materials, e.g., different iron alloys.

In the illustrated embodiment of fig. 1 and 1A, the axis of rotation 22 is perpendicular to the first and second key combination surfaces 14, 16.

Alternatively, in the illustrated embodiment of fig. 4 and 4A, the magnetic key combination element 70 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 72 (fig. 4A) that is coplanar or parallel with the first and second key combination surfaces 14, 16. Similar to the embodiment of fig. 1 and 1A, in the embodiment of fig. 4 and 4A, the magnetic key combination element 70 may have at least one pair of north and south magnetic portions 70N and 70S. Other rotational orientations and configurations of the magnetic key combination elements are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, the magnetic key combination element may be a ball that rotates (e.g., rolls or swings) in a recess or socket in the shaft portion of the key device. The rotation of the sphere is always around a certain rotation axis; the axis of rotation may be arbitrary and varies depending on the orientation of the sphere as it rotates or oscillates.

Referring again to fig. 1A, it can be seen that the magnetic key combination element 20 may be retained in the shaft portion 12 by one or more collars or shoulders 24. In this case, the magnetic key combination element 20 cannot move linearly or hardly so along the rotational axis 22, and as seen in fig. 2C, the magnetic key combination element 20 is flush with or below the key combination surface of the key apparatus 10. In such embodiments, the magnetic key combination element 20 remains flush or below the key combination surface of the key device 10 even after the key device is inserted and operated in the cylinder lock.

Alternatively, as seen in fig. 1B, the magnetic key combination element 20 may be retained in the shaft portion 12 by one or more shoulders 26. The magnetic key combination element 20 may have an annular ridge 28 capable of abutting the one or more shoulders 26 (alternatively, the ridge may be a radial ridge in the bore of the shaft and the shoulders may be formed on the element 20). In this way, the magnetic key combination element 20 is linearly movable along the rotation axis 22. The magnetic key combination element 20 may thus protrude from one side of the key device 10 (fig. 2A) or from both sides of the key device 10 (fig. 2B).

Alternatively, as seen in fig. 1C, two coaxial magnetic key combination elements 20 may be in the key device and each may protrude from one side of the key device (fig. 2B).

Referring now to FIG. 3A, a cylinder lock 30 for use with the key apparatus 10 is shown. The cylinder lock 30 includes a cylinder lock housing 32 in which a plug 34 is mounted for rotation along a shear line 36. The plug 34 includes a keyway 38 and is operatively coupled to a cam 40 to bring a locking member (not shown) into a locked or unlocked position.

The plug 34 includes plug pins (not shown) that mate with drive pins (not shown) in the cylinder lock housing 32; upon insertion of a properly coded key, the plug pins and driver pins move to the shear line 36, as is well known in the art.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the plug 34 includes a magnetic plug element 42. The magnetization direction of the plug member 42 may be selected to correspond to the magnetization direction of the magnetic key combination element 20 of fig. 1. Thus, for example, if the magnetic key combination element 20 is a diameter magnet, the plug element 42 may also be a diameter magnet. The plug member 42 includes a body 44 that is nominally urged by a biasing device 46, such as a coil spring, to traverse the shear line 36. It should be noted that unlike conventional plug pins, the magnetic plug element 42 does not enter the keyway 38, but instead is mounted in a recess 48 formed in the plug 34. The biasing mechanism 46 presses against one of the inner surfaces of the recess 48. The magnetic plug element 42 may be mechanically inaccessible from the keyway 38 (meaning that the magnetic plug element 42 cannot be contacted using a tool), but magnetically interacts with the magnetic key combination element 20 (by attraction or repulsion) such that the plug element 42 is brought to the shear line.

Fig. 3B shows the cylinder lock 30 after the key device 10 is inserted therein (into the key slot). The magnetic key combination element 20 rotates and aligns with the magnetic plug element 42 such that the magnetic key combination element 20 magnetically interacts with (attracts or repels) the magnetic plug element 42 against the force of the biasing device 46 (which compresses, stretches, twists or otherwise reacts due to the magnetic interaction force) and brings the magnetic plug element 42 to the shear line 36, thereby enabling rotation of the plug 34 to operate the cylinder lock 30.

The magnetic rotational alignment of the rotatable magnetic key combination element 20 with the magnetic plug element 42 is now explained with reference to fig. 5A and 5B.

Initially, as seen in fig. 5A, the north pole of the element 20 may be aligned with the north pole portion of the plug element 42, and the south pole of the element 20 may be aligned with the south pole portion of the plug element 42. The partial alignment of like poles creates a combination of attractive and repulsive forces that rotates the element 20 such that the south pole of the element 20 is fully aligned with the north pole of the plug element 42 and the north pole of the element 20 is fully aligned with the south pole of the plug element 42, as seen in fig. 5B. The perfect alignment of the opposing poles creates an attractive force that moves the plug element 42 to the shear line, as seen in fig. 3B.

If an unauthorized key without a rotatable magnetic key combination element is used, the unauthorized magnetic element will remain in the position of fig. 5A and will not create the attractive force necessary to move the plug element 42 to the shear line.