Patent ID: 6041628
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetic key lock assembly, comprising:a magnetic lock cylinder for actuating a latch assembly, wherein said magnetic lock cylinder comprisinga 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 poll at two ends respectively, being coaxially placed in said tumbler sockets respectively, wherein each of said magnet tumblers must be 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 rotor hole of said lock sleeve, said lock rotor having an axial through hole and a plurality of locking holes radially distributed through a rotor wall thereof, wherein said locking holes are able to be 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; anda locker tube, made of magnetic conducting material, 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 the rotatable movement between said lock rotor and said lock sleeve; anda magnetic key comprising a key body having a plurality of magnet sockets provided around said key body corresponding to 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 a magnet pole of said respective magnet tumbler,wherein when said magnetic key is insert 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 to freely rotate to control the locking and unlocking of said latch assembly.