Patent ID: 6705139
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetic lock mechanism, comprising:a magnetic lock cylinder for actuating a latch assembly, wherein said magnetic lock cylinder comprises a lock sleeve, made of non-magnetic material, having an axial rotor hole and a plurality of tumbler sockets radially distributed on an inner surface of said lock sleeve; a plurality of magnet tumblers, each of which has a north pole and a south pole at two ends respectively, being coaxially placed in said tumbler sockets respectively, wherein each of said magnet tumblers must equal to or shorter than said respective tumbler socket of said lock sleeve; a tubular lock rotor, made of non-magnetic material, being rotatably and coaxially fitted in said axial hole of said lock sleeve, said lock rotor having an axial through hole and a plurality of locking holes distributed radially through a rotor wall thereof, wherein said locking holes are adapted for being coaxially aligned with said tumbler sockets respectively and each of said locking holes has a depth shorter than a length of said respective magnet tumbler; and a locker tube having a plurality of through slots axially provided thereon, made of magnetic conducting material such as iron and steel, being fittedly disposed inside said axial through hole of said lock rotor to define a keyway therethrough, wherein said locker tube is adapted for attracting said magnet tumblers inside said rotor hole to move inwardly towards said locking hole until an inner portion of each of said magnet tumblers is disposed in said respective locking hole and an outer portion of each of said magnet tumblers is disposed in said respective tumbler socket so as to lock up said rotatable movement between said lock rotor and said lock sleeve; and a magnetic key comprising a key body having a plurality of magnet sockets provided around said key body corresponding to said axial and radial positions of said magnet tumblers in said magnetic lock cylinder respectively, and a plurality of pill shaped magnets affixed in said magnet sockets respectively, wherein an outer end of each of said magnets has a magnetic pole equal to said magnet pole of said respective magnet tumbler, so that when said magnetic key is inserted into said keyway, said magnet tumblers are repelled radially outward into said tumbler sockets correspondingly, so as to unlock said magnetic lock cylinder to enable said lock rotor freely rotating to control said locking and unlocking of said latch assembly.