Abstract:
A device and method to sort high security lock pins to characterize their length, wedge direction, and slot position comprises a lock pin decoding body containing lock pin cavities that receive high security lock pins and orient them in a uniform way by fitting a tab on the upper end of the lock pins in a notch, thereby revealing whether the lock pins have a slot positioned in the “left”, “center” or “right” positions, which can be read from indicia on the lock pin decoding body, and further revealing if the lock pins have a “fore” or “aft” facing wedge, which can also be read from indicia on the lock pin decoding body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lock security pins, and, more particularly, to identifying and sorting security pins. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     High security locks that are designed to be pick proof and drill proof utilize specialized lock pins.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a high security lock  002  of the type sold by Medeco Security Locks, Inc. and which is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,499,302; 3,722,240; and 4,635,455; the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Lock  002  is composed of a case  008 , a cylinder  002 , and tumbler components  010 . Cylinder  002  fits into case  008  and comprises key hole  004 , tumbler holes  018  and latch bar  006 . Case  008  receives cylinder  002  into cylinder hole  017  and receives tumbler components  010  into tumbler holes  016 . Tumbler components  010  may comprise of spring  012 , top pin  014 , and security pin  020 . Security pins  020  can utilize three distinctive features to inhibit a lock from being picked. These aspects are pin length, wedge orientation, and slot position. 
       FIGS. 2A-2E ;  3 A and  4 A- 4 B show alternative embodiments of security pins used in lock  002 . Security pin  020  in  FIGS. 2A-2E  has a top part  024 , a bottom part  021 , a long side  025  and a short side  026 . Tab  029  is located at the top end of the security pin extending from top part  024 . The distance from the top part  024  to the bottom part  021  is considered the pin length. Security pins typically come in six different lengths and are identified as being size 1-6. As the security pin  020  transitions from short side  026  to long side  025  through top part  024 , a wedge  022  is formed. Wedge  022  has a long wedge face  027  and a short wedge face  028 . Wedge  022  can be oriented in the fore direction or the aft direction, depending on whether bottom part  021  forms a point to the left or right of tab  029 . Generally, a wedge  022  which has a bottom part  021  forming a point to the right of tab  029  is considered an “aft” wedge or “aft facing” wedge because the wedge is facing to the left (rear); a wedge  022  which has a bottom part  021  forming a point to the left of tab  029  is considered an “fore” wedge or “fore facing” wedge because the wedge is facing to the right (front). 
     Formed within security pin  020  and transitioning from the top part  024  end to the bottom part  022  end is a slot  023 . Slot  023  can be positioned to the left, the center, or the right. Slot  023  is positioned to the left when slot  023  lies in a position greater than 180 degrees from the tab  029  in a clockwise direction. Slot  023  is positioned to the right when slot  023  lies in a position less than 180 degrees from the tab  029  in a clockwise direction. Slot  023  is positioned to the center when slot  023  lies in a position approximately 180 degrees from the tab  029 . 
     Security pin  020  in  FIGS. 2A-2E  is a high security pin of length 6, with an aft facing wedge and a right slot. In contrast, security pin  020 ′ in  FIG. 3A  is a high security pin of length 6, with an aft wedge and a center slot. Security pin  20 ″ in  FIGS. 4A-4B  is a shorter pin, of length 3, with a fore wedge and a left slot. 
     Security pins  020  thus can have six different lengths; two different wedge directions, and three different slot positions, yielding a total of 36 different combinations of characteristics, i.e. 36 different security pins. Since the pins are small, it is difficult to consistently and accurately discern all the characteristics with the naked eye. If such security pins are dropped on the floor or mixed together on a workbench they require a high degree of concentration by a skilled locksmith to sort them into their correct categories and correctly put them away with other pins of the same size. If they are not correctly sorted then they will cause problems. An inoperative lock (if a lock is inadvertently assembled with the wrong lock pin) is at minimum a problem for the locksmith who will have to disassemble and re-pin the lock, and potentially could be a security problem for the structure which now has an ineffective lock. 
     Furthermore, security pins of this type are not inexpensive, currently costing about $27 per 100 pins. A locksmith who drops a tray containing many bins of differently sized security pins cannot afford to throw them away, but also may not be able to afford the time needed to carefully to sort them out back into their proper bins. 
     What is needed is a device or method to discern the characteristics of a security pin, to decode them and/or to sort them. It would also be beneficial if the device or method could identify master pins, top pins, and security pins attributable to an individual key. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects are achieved by providing a pin sorter that discerns at least two characteristics of a security pin. 
     In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the pin sorter comprises a security pin cavity that is capable of providing a length measurement and a surface capable of providing a slot measurement. The surface can also be used to provide a wedge measurement. 
     The pin decoder can also incorporate pin cavities shaped to provide a wedge measurement on the surface and markings on the surface to indicate the orientation of the slot. 
     It is another aspect of this invention for the pin sorter to comprise up to 6 security pin cavities, sized to correspond to each possible security pin length, each shaped to support a security pin tab to aid in the orientation of the pin within the cavity. 
     The pin sorter can also provide cavities to measure master pins and top pins, and a key gauge. 
     It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for sorting security pins comprising placing a security pin in a cavity, identifying that the cavity corresponds to the security pin length, reading the wedge orientation within the cavity, and reading the slot orientation within the cavity. 
     Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the components to a high security lock. 
         FIG. 2A  is a top and front perspective view of a first embodiment of a high security pin. 
         FIG. 2B  is a front elevation view of the high security pin of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a right side elevation view of the high security pin of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  is a bottom plan view of the high security pin of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2E  is a top plan view of the high security pin of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a top and front perspective view of a second embodiment of a high security pin. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top and front perspective view of a third embodiment of a high security pin. 
         FIG. 4B  is a front elevation of the high security pin of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a front, top and right side perspective view of an embodiment of a Lock Pin Decoding Apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top and front perspective partial view of a security pin being inserted into a security pin cavity in the Lock Pin Decoding Apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a front elevation partial view of security pins of different sizes inserted into security pin cavities in the Lock Pin Decoding Apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective partial view of master pins and top pins in their respective cavities, and a key inserted into a key gauge cavity, in the Lock Pin Decoding Apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of a pin decoder  100  is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . Pin decoder  100  comprises a decoder body  101  with a first or front measurement surface  104 , a second or top measurement surface  105 , a left side  106  and a right side  107 . Formed within the first measurement surface  104  and left side  106  is a first holder  102  which is a depression that helps a user to grip pin decoder  100  by the user&#39;s hand and fingers. Formed in the first measurement surface  104  and right side  107  is a second holder  103  which is a depression that enables the user to grip pin decoder  100 . The finger grip depressions  102  and  103  are provided to reduce the chances of the user dropping the pin decoder  100  through sliding of the pin decoder  100  in the user&#39;s fingers. 
     A security pin is decoded and its characteristics determined using security pin cavities  200 - 700 . Pin decoder  100  comprises a first security pin cavity  200 , a second security pin cavity  300 , a third security pin cavity  400 , a fourth security pin cavity  500 , a fifth security pin cavity  600 , and a sixth security pin cavity  700 . Each security pin cavity corresponds to a size 1-6 security pin length respectively. Each security pin cavity is open at its top and front ends. 
     Some of the aspects of each pin cavity will be discussed by way of example with third security pin cavity  400  shown in  FIG. 6A . The third security pin cavity  400  is formed within both the first measurement surface  104  and second measurement surface  105 . The formation of third security pin cavity  400  with second measurement surface  105  forms a first length measurement surface  470  and a second length measurement surface  475 . The third security pin cavity  400  comprises a first cavity side  410 , a second cavity side  420 , a third cavity side  430 , and a fourth cavity side  440 . The first  410  and second  420  cavity sides form surfaces which intersect with and extend away from first measurement surface  104  and second measurement surface  105 . The third cavity side  430  forms a surface that intersects and extends away from first measurement surface  104 . The fourth cavity side  440  forms a surface that intersects and extends away from second measurement surface  105 . The first  410 , second  420 , and third  430  cavity sides are surfaces that are not parallel to first measurement surface  104 . The fourth cavity side  440  forms a surface, a portion of which is parallel to first measurement surface  104 . Fourth cavity side  440  has a notch  450  that is located at the rear upper end of cavity  400  and which is adapted to receive a security pin tab such as tab  029  of security pin  020 . 
     The aspects of a third cavity side will be discussed further by way of example with a third side  330  to security pin cavity  300  shown in  FIG. 6B . The third side  330  can be shaped to correspond to an appropriate wedge orientation. This shape incorporates a first aft wedge side  334 , a second aft wedge side  335 , a first fore wedge side  336 , and a second fore wedge side  337 . The intersection of first aft wedge side  334  and second aft wedge side  335  forms an aft wedge cavity  338 , which is capable of receiving a security pin with an aft wedge. The intersection of first fore wedge side  336  and second fore wedge side  337  form a fore wedge cavity  339 , which is capable of receiving a security pin with a fore wedge. Adjacent to each wedge cavity are indicia or markings that indicates if the wedge is a fore or aft wedge. The wedge direction is indicated by the letters “A” (for “aft”) or “F” (for “fore”) adjacent the side of the pin cavity. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , adjacent to the fourth cavity side of each security pin cavity are slot markings  260 ,  360 ,  460 ,  560 ,  660  and  760 . The nature of these slot markings will be discussed further by way of example with security pin cavity  200  and slot markings  260 . Slot markings  260  comprise “L” as a left slot marking  262 , “C” as a center slot marking  264 , and “R” as a right slot marking  266 . When a pin is properly inserted a slot marking should approximately correspond to the orientation of the slot formed in the security pin. 
     Pin decoder  100  can also be used to decode and characterize other types of lock pins besides high security lock pins. Pin decoder  100  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  as providing measurement cavities for master pins. Master pins are an extra lock pin sometimes used in locks to permit entrance using a master key in addition to the lock-specific key. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , pin decoder  100  comprises a first master pin cavity  805 , a second master pin cavity  810 , a third master pin cavity  815 , a fourth master pin cavity  820 , and a fifth master pin cavity  825 . As described with the security pins above, each cavity is sized to correspond to a particular master pin length. 
     Pin decoder  100  is also shown as providing measurement cavities to decode and characterize top pins. Top pins mechanically inhibit a lock from being turned unless they are displaced by a proper key. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , pin decoder  100  comprises a first top pin cavity  830 , a second top pin cavity  835 , a third top pin cavity  840 , a fourth top pin cavity  845 , a fifth top pin cavity  850 , and a sixth top pin cavity  855 . As described with the master pins above, each cavity is sized to correspond to a particular top pin length. 
     Finally, pin decoder  100  is shown as providing a key gauge. The key gauge is used to identify the pins that are housed in a particular lock by taking measurements from a particular key. Here the key gauge provides cavity  950 , in which a key is inserted, to make pin length and slot orientation measurements. The key gauge further comprises markings  950  to provide a wedge measurement. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  demonstrate the method in which pin decoder  200  is used to characterize a security pin and to identify each of its variables. In  FIG. 6A  security pin  020 ′″ is placed into security pin cavity  400 . If the pin  020 ′″ is of appropriate length for the pin cavity, the tab  029  will be received by notch  450 . Further, the top part  024  will be approximately planar with second measurement surface  105 . By these indications, the user determines that pin  020 ′″ has a length that corresponds to the length of pin cavity  400  and is sized as pin length 4. The pin length is determined by reading the size indication “4” applied to the first measurement surface  104  below pin cavity  400 , as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6B . 
     Tab  029  is seated in notch  450  such that slot  023  is on the forward facing half of the security pin  020 . Top part  024  faces in the same direction as second measurement face  105 . Bottom part  021  should come into contact with third cavity surface  430 . In the example in  FIG. 6A , long wedge face  027  becomes flush with second aft wedge side  435  and short wedge face  028  becomes flush with first aft wedge side  434 . By these indications, the user determines that pin  020 ′″ has an aft wedge  022 . The wedge direction is determined by reading the letter “A” (for “aft”) or “F” (for “fore”) adjacent the side of the pin cavity which receives both the short and long wedge faces  028  and  027 . In  FIG. 6A , the letter “A” is applied to the first measurement surface  104  adjacent the aft wedge cavity  438  on the side of the pin cavity  400  which receives both the short and long wedge faces  028  and  027 . Thus, pin  020 ′″ is decoded and characterized as having an “aft” wedge (e.g. an aft facing wedge surface). 
     Further, the position of slot  023  is characterized when the pin  020 ′″ is positioned in pin cavity  400  with tab  029  seated in notch  450 . The slot  023  is aligned with one of three position indicators, the letters “L”, “C” or “R” applied to the first measurement surface  104  below the pin cavity  400 . The slot position is determined by reading the letter “L” (for “left”) or “C” (for “center”) or “R” (for “right”) located below the slot  023 . Thus, pin  020 ′″ is decoded and characterized as having a left slot. 
       FIG. 6B  shows additional examples in which security pins  050 - 080  are measured using pin decoder  100 . As described above, the security pins are inserted into security pin cavities in pin decoder  100 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows security pin  050  being inserted into pin cavity  400 . Wedge  052  is received by fore wedge cavity  439  adjacent the letter “F” showing that this pin has a fore wedge. Slot  053  of pin  050  aligns with center slot marking “C” shown at  464  showing that this pin has a center slot orientation. However, top part  054  of pin  050  protrudes beyond second measurement surface  105 . This demonstrates that pin  050  is not a size three pin and must be inserted into another measurement cavity in order to determine the pin length. 
       FIG. 6B  also shows three pins  060 ,  070  and  080  that are correctly identified for length, wedge orientation and slot orientation. Pin  60  is shown to be a size 4 pin with a fore wedge and a left slot. Pin  70  is shown to be a size 5 pin with an aft wedge and a center slot. Finally, Pin  80  is shown to be a size 6 pin with an aft wedge and a right slot. 
     Once a security lock pin is decoded as “fore” or “aft” and “left”, “center” or “right”, a further bin coding or O.E.M. part or size coding may be provided as in the indicia  920  shown in  FIG. 5 , indicating that “fore” “left” is coded as size “K”; “fore” “center” is size “B”; “fore” right” is size “Q”, “aft” “left” is size “M”; “aft” “center” is size “D”; “aft” right” is size “S”. 
     Other components of pin decoder  300  are utilized in a much simpler fashion. As shown in  FIG. 7 , master pins and top pins are identified by matching each pin with the correctly sized cavities  805 - 825  and  830 - 855  respectively. Cavities  805 - 825  correspond to size 1-5 master pins respectively. Cavities  830 - 855  correspond to size 1-6 top pins respectively. The size markings are applied to the first measurement surface  104  adjacent the size cavity to which the size marking applies. A master pin or top pin should fit into the appropriate master pin or top pin cavity without any looseness or play.  FIG. 7  shows master pin  816  being identified as a size 3 master pin because the length of master pin  816  corresponds to the length of master pin cavity  815 .  FIG. 7  also shows top pin  831  being inserted into top pin cavity  830 . As shown, top pin cavity  830  has a length greater than top pin  831 . Since top pin  831  does not fit correctly within top pin cavity  830 , then it is known that top pin  831  is not a size 1 top pin. Top pin  846  is shown inserted into top pin cavity  845  with a proper fit. Thus, top pin  846  is a size 4 top pin. 
     Finally, key gauge  900  is utilized to identity the pins housed in a particular lock by measuring a key  999 . A pin that corresponds to a particular position on key  999  is identified by first inserting the key into cavity  900 . When key  999  cannot be advanced any further to the left, then a pin length is identified for that particular position. The angle of the cut on the key can also be measured at that position to determine slot orientation. The wedge orientation is determined by aligning and comparing the key with markings  950 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, pin decoder  100  is fabricated from steel and the various marking are made by engraving or etching the markings on the steel components. However, the pin decoder  100  could also be made of any other relatively low friction durable materials, including other metals such as aluminum or titanium, or various alloys, or polymeric materials such as ABS plastics, polyurethane, or other polymer materials. The indicia such as the illustrated lines and letters “L”, “C”, and “R” and “F” and :A” may be engraved in the surface of the pin decoder body  100 , or printed, molded or applied by label. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features, and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.