Patent ID: 6134929
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A cylinder lock and key blank combination, wherein the lock (50) comprises:a shell (51);a cylinder key plug (52) rotatably mounted in said shell and including at least one cavity (58) therein;a key slot (53) extending longitudinally in said cylinder key plug for receiving a key, said key being manufactured by cutting an elongated, longitudinally extending key code groove (17) into one planar side surface of said key blank;at least one side profile ridge (60) disposed in said cylinder key plug and projecting transversely into said key slot; andat least one side tumbler (54) which is movably mounted in an associated cavity (58) in said cylinder key plug and having a laterally extending projection (55) which cooperates with said key code groove (17), when said key is inserted into said key slot;wherein said key blank comprises:an elongated, substantially flat key blade (10), extending substantially in a central plane (A) between said one planar side surface and an opposite planar side surface, said planar side surfaces being mutually parallel to each other and to said central plane (A) so as to define a thickness, said key blade having at least one rectilinear side profile groove (16) dimensioned to receive said side profile ridge of said lock and extending along an entire length of said key blade in said one planar side surface, andtwo solid material regions adjacent to opposite sides of said side profile groove (16) and for cutting in said elongated, longitudinally extending key code groove (17) adapted to cooperate with said projection (55) of said side tumbler (54) in the lock, said two solid material regions having planar outside surfaces which coincide with said one planar side surface of said key blade, said solid material regions each having a depth which is less than half the thickness of said key blade,wherein said side profile groove (16) is substantially deeper than said adjacent solid material regions, the depth of said side profile groove being substantially greater than half the thickness of said key blade, the depth being calculated in a direction being perpendicular to said central plane (A), said side profile groove extending substantially in said perpendicular direction from said one planar side surface, the deepest portion thereof including a guiding bottom portion defined by two planar side walls and a flat bottom wall (16a), said flat bottom wall (16a) being parallel to said central plane (A), for guiding the key blade while engaging with a continuously extending, unitary edge portion (62) of said side profile ridge while permitting movement of said projection (55) of said side tumbler in cooperation with said key code groove (17).