Abstract:
A locking device having a locking cylinder and a key. The locking cylinder includes a cylinder core with tumblers in a cylinder core, which is rotatably mounted in a cylinder housing. Standard coding for the key is produced by a step with longitudinal profiling on at least one flat side of the edge profile of the key, said step being associated with a counter step on the tumbler. In addition to the standard coding produced by step and counter step, the key has at least one set of beveled edge coding in a corner section of the edge profile. The beveled edged coding consists of recesses in the form of beveled cuts in the corresponding corner sections of the edge profile, relative to which are provided counter touching points in the corresponding tumbler. In a section of the key shaft, either the standard coding or beveled edge coding can optionally be used, thereby considerably increasing the diversity of the locking device while retaining the space-saving design.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns a lock device. On a flat side of the edge profile, a profiled shoulder extends in the longitudinal direction of the key. This profiled shoulder produces a family of scanning points for a standard coding on the key by virtue of the course of its profile. At least some individual tumblers are provided with a cooperating shoulder, which, when the key is inserted, is supported on a well-defined location of this shoulder. These cooperating shoulders function as cooperating scanning points for the standard coding of the key, and for this reason they are to be called “standard tumblers”. The family of all standard tumblers located in a cylinder core produces with its cooperating shoulders the complementary standard countercoding to the associated key. 
   A lock device of this type is disclosed by DE 199 44 070 C2. In that lock device, the coding of the key consists of a coding groove that extends in the longitudinal direction of the key. The corresponding tumblers have projections that serve as scanning points, and, when the key is inserted, these projections fit into a certain cross section of the coding groove. The range of variation for the coding of the key and countercoding in the associated package of tumblers can be increased with a given height of the increments between successive code points only by increasing the length or the width of the key. With a longer key, a larger number of tumblers can be positioned in the cylinder core. With a wider key, the number of increments for coding the key can be increased. Both of these measures have the disadvantage that they increase the overall height or overall length of the lock device as a whole. An increase in the dimensions of the lock device is undesirable. Furthermore, the previously known lock device has the disadvantage that it can be forced open relatively easily with picking tools. 
   EP 0 267 316 A1 describes a lock device of a different type, in which the bit of the key has a polygonal cross section. In isolated positions that are circumferentially and axially separated from each other, notches of different depths are located on the edges of the key bit and are used for the coding of tumbler pins. In the area of a cross section of the key bit, the only pin tumbler that can engage in this area is one which is oriented in a certain direction and is associated with the notch located in that area and cannot be replaced by other pin tumblers that are oriented in a different direction and are spring-loaded. At the tip of the key shaft, bevels are provided in the lateral surfaces between the edges, but these only serve the purpose of raising the tumbler pins when the key is inserted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objective of the invention is to develop a space-saving lock device, which has a high degree of safety with respect to being forced open. 
   In the invention, at least one corner region of the edge profile of the key is used to produce an additional beveled coding in the key by means of bevel cuts. Unauthorized persons who want to force open the lock cylinder do not know whether the usual standard coding or the beveled coding mentioned in the claim is present in a certain section of the key and in which direction this beveled coding acts. In each tumbler of a family of tumblers that is located in a cylinder core, a standard tumbler can be optionally located at a certain scanning point, and this standard tumbler can then cooperate with the standard coding of the key, or a beveled tumbler can be positioned there, and this beveled tumbler is supported on the beveled coding. This alone makes it possible to increase the range of variation of the lock device of the invention. If we consider that there are many corner regions in the edge profile of the key that have different beveled coding, the range of variation can be further increased by variable selection of the beveled tumblers in each axial section of the key bit. In this regard, neither the size of the key nor the size of the lock device needs to be increased. On the contrary, the bevel cuts in the corner regions reduce the cross section of the key bit. 
   The standard coding and the beveled coding in the various corner regions of the key extend side by side in the longitudinal direction of the key, which is why the aforementioned multiple scanning points in a cross section of the key can be used as desired. In accordance with another variant, at the scanning point of a specific beveled coding, the scanning direction of the associated beveled tumbler can be positioned differently. The scanning direction can be positioned at any desired angle, e.g., parallel to the scanning direction of the standard tumbler, perpendicular to it, or at any desired inclination to it. 
   This makes the lock cylinder of the lock device of the invention impenetrable to unauthorized persons and thus more difficult to force open. The beveled scanning points of the beveled coding on the beveled tumblers conceal in the keyway the other standard or beveled tumblers located behind them. As a result, it is practically impossible to force open the key with picking tools. 
   The invention is explained with reference to the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the key of the invention. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows a cross section through the bit of the key of  FIG. 1   a , as viewed in the direction of the sectional plane Ib—•—Ib of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show two perspective views of a second embodiment of the key of the invention in two different viewing directions. 
       FIG. 2   c  shows a perspective drawing, which is analogous to  FIG. 2   a , of the key, which is acted upon by two different types of tumblers of a lock cylinder, which is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a prior-art key cross section similar to that described in DE 199 44 070 C2, which was cited earlier. 
       FIG. 4  shows a lock cylinder that belongs to the key of  FIG. 3 , with the key inserted. The design principle of the lock cylinder of the invention is apparent in this lock cylinder. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross section through the bit of the key shown in  FIG. 2   a , along sectional plane V—•—V in  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 6  shows the same cross section as  FIG. 5  to illustrate different variants of the coding. 
       FIGS. 7 to 9  show three different possibilities for arranging the beveled tumblers of the invention, in the same cross section as  FIG. 5 . All three tumblers always act on the same beveled coding. 
       FIGS. 7   a - 7   c  show three variants of  FIG. 7 . The three drawings show three tumblers, each of which acts in an analogous way on one of the three beveled codings. 
       FIG. 10  again shows the same cross section as  FIG. 5  but in this case with the arrangement of a standard tumbler in this cross section of the key bit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The previously known lock device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  shows the design that can be found analogously in the lock device of the invention but differs from it in certain important aspects, which will be explained in detail below. First of all, we shall concern ourselves with the basic design of a lock device of this type, which also applies to the invention. 
   A cylinder core  12  is rotatably supported in a stationary cylinder housing  11 . The previously known key  20 . 0  has an edge profile  25 . 0  in the form of a rectangle and can be inserted into an axial keyway  15  of the cylinder core  12 . The cylinder core  12  has diametrical chambers  19 , in which tumblers  13  are located, which can move transversely to the axis of the cylinder. In the example illustrated here, the tumblers  13  are spring-loaded in the direction of the arrow  41  by a spring  45  and, when the key  20 . 0  is not inserted, enter one of several blocking channels  18  of the cylinder housing  11 . The spring loading  41  acts on a lateral projection  37  of the tumbler  13 . Rotation of the cylinder core  12  is then blocked. 
   With the proper key  20 . 0  inserted, on the other hand, the tumblers  13  are sorted onto the cross section of the cylinder core, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The cylinder core  12  can then be turned by the key  20 . 0  in the direction of the arrow  46 . In the present case, a longitudinally profiled groove  28  is located in each of the two broad sides  38 ,  39  of the key  20 . 0  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the key. The course of the profiling produces scanning points on the key  20 . 0 , which produce a “standard coding”. Instead of a groove  28 , it is also possible to use a longitudinally profiled shoulder. Each of the numerous tumblers  13  in the cylinder core  12  is provided with a projection  30 , whose position and/or width produces a complementary “standard countercoding  16 ” for the key  20 . 0 . The tumbler  13  has a window  40 . 0  in which the projection  30  is formed as an integral part of the tumbler. Instead of a projection  30 , the tumbler  13  could have a cooperating shoulder, which rests against the previously mentioned shoulder of the cylinder core when the key is inserted. The family of tumblers  13  producing the standard countercoding will be referred to hereinafter as “standard tumblers”. The aforesaid sorting of the tumblers  13  occurs when the projections  30  fit into one of the grooves  28 . 
   A significant difference to be found in the lock cylinder of the invention is that first the key illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is provided with additional coding in the same cross section, as will be explained in greater detail above all with reference to the key shown in  FIGS. 2   a  to  2   c.    
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the key  20 . 2  has an edge profile  25 . 2 , which is a rectangular profile and thus has four corner regions. In the invention, these corner regions are provided with bevel cuts  29 . 1  to  29 . 4  with varying depth of the bevel cut, which produce continuous profiled corner strips  21  to  24 . At the two opposite narrow sides of the rectangular profile  25 . 1 , there is a lateral distance  17  between the two adjacent beveled codings  27 . 1  and  27 . 2  at one end, and  27 . 3  and  27 . 4  at the other end. These corner strips  21  to  24 , which extend in the longitudinal direction of the key, produce four beveled codings, which from case to case are formed differently from one another. This results in a very great number of possible variations. 
   A first possible variation for the interrogation of a predetermined cross section, e.g., the one shown in  FIG. 5 , yields six alternative possibilities. As  FIG. 2   c  shows, the standard tumbler  13  described above can optionally act on the left or the right groove  28 ; in  FIG. 10 , it is shown fitting into a right groove of the edge profile  25 . 2 . Due to its spring loading  41 , the standard tumbler  13  has a scanning direction illustrated by the motion arrow  35  in  FIGS. 4 ,  2   c ,  5 , and  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2   c , however, a differently designed tumbler  14 . 1  is also present. The tumbler  14 . 1  is shown in a top view in  FIG. 7 , from which the following special design is apparent. 
   The tumbler also has a window  40 . 1 , which has an oblique cooperating scanning point  47 . 1 , which, when the key is inserted, acts on the first corner strip  21  in the illustrated cross section of  FIGS. 5 and 7 . The corner strip produces the aforementioned first beveled coding  27 . 1 . Therefore, this tumbler  14 . 1  can be called a “beveled tumbler”. Due to the direction of the spring loading  41  indicated by the arrow  41 , which here, too, acts on a lateral projection  37  of the tumbler  14 . 1 , a scanning direction of the tumbler  14 . 1  is obtained, which is indicated by the motion arrow  31  and in this case runs parallel to the scanning direction  35  of the standard tumbler  13 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . 
   Alternatively, similar beveled tumblers could also act on the three other coded corner strips  22  to  24  of the edge profile  25 . 2  of the key  20 . 2  as shown in the cross section of  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c  show three beveled tumblers  14 . 12  to  14 . 14 , which differ from  FIG. 7  only in that the oblique cooperating scanning points  47 . 2  to  47 . 4  in their windows  40 . 12  to  40 . 14  are in different positions. In this regard, in  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c , it is sufficient to reverse the direction of spring loading  41 ′ from that shown in  FIG. 7 , so that parallel but oppositely directed scanning directions  31 ′ are obtained in  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c.    
   As has already been noted,  FIG. 10  shows a standard tumbler  13 , which interacts in the usual way with the groove  28  of the key  20 . 2  and produces a cooperating scanning point of the standard countercoding  16  in the same key profile. As will be explained in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 1   b , the profiled course of the groove  28  for its part comprises several increments, and this produces the standard coding  53  that is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 6 . If we disregard the possible variation of different increments of the standard coding  53  and the variation of the depths of cut of the beveled coding  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  of  FIG. 6  and we do not take into consideration the variants of the scanning possibilities, which will be explained in greater detail below, the following tumblers can act at one and the same place in the cross section of the key  20 . 2 , namely,  13 ,  14 . 1 ,  14 . 12 ,  14 . 13 , and  14 . 14 . These tumblers are optionally located in one of the chambers  19  of the cylinder core  12  that is positioned in this location of the inserted key  20 . 2 . 
   Another variant consists in the aforementioned variation of the depth of cut  36 . 1  to  36 . 3  of the beveled coding  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  at each of the four beveled codings  47 . 1  to  47 . 4  in a predetermined cross section of the key  20 . 2  apparent from  FIG. 6 . According to  FIG. 6 , the bevel cut  29 . 2  of the second beveled coding  27 . 2 , for example, can optionally assume different depths of cut  36 . 1  to  36 . 3 , thereby resulting in variation of the coding. It goes without saying that it would also be possible to use more than three depths of cut in the illustrated beveled coding  27 . 1  to  27 . 4 . Naturally, the coding can be varied in this way not only in the corner strip  22  of  FIG. 5  but also in the other three corner strips  21 ,  23 , and  24 . 
   Another variation in the design of the lock device of the invention is obtained if the scanning direction  31  to  33  of the beveled tumblers  14 . 1  to  14 . 3  according to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9  is oriented in different ways with respect to the scanning direction  35  of the standard tumbler  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In each of  FIGS. 7 to 9 , only the first bevel cut coding  29 . 1  is considered and not the other three beveled codings  27 . 2  to  27 . 4 . 
   In  FIG. 7 , the scanning direction  31  of the beveled tumbler  14 . 1  is parallel to the scanning direction  35  of the standard tumbler  13 ; the second scanning direction  32  of the second beveled tumbler  14 . 2  is perpendicular to the scanning direction  35  of the standard tumbler  13 ; and the third scanning direction  33  of the third beveled tumbler  14 . 3  is at an oblique angle  48  to the scanning direction  35  of the standard tumbler  13 . It goes without saying that the angle  48  itself could be chosen with a variety of values, which further increases the range of angular variation. The different scanning directions  31  to  33  arise from the different relative positions of the spring loadings (indicated by arrows  41  to  43 ) of the beveled tumblers  14 . 1  to  14 . 3 . The scanning direction  31  to  34  according to  FIGS. 6 to 9  also determines the direction of the longitudinal movement of the given beveled tumblers  14 . 1  to  14 . 3  in the cylinder core  12  of  FIG. 4 . 
   Apart from the given different increments in the depth of cut  36 . 1  to  36 . 3  of the beveled codings  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  and the increments of the groove  28  of the standard coding  53  relative to the projections  30  of the associated standard tumblers  13 , a range of variation for the key  20 . 2  of the lock device of the invention is also obtained by virtue of the fact that the tumblers can be arranged in alternating order along the bit. At each cross section of the key  20 . 2 , the five scanning directions  31  to  35  described above are obtained, as are the opposite scanning directions running in the opposite direction from  31  to  35 . Except for  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c  at  31 ′ for the beveled tumbler  14 . 1 , the opposite scanning directions of the three other possibilities of tumblers  14 . 2 ,  14 . 3 , and  13  are not shown. The axial sequence of these different tumblers  13  and  14 . 1  to  14 . 3  in the direction of the axis of the key can be selected in any desired way. 
   As was mentioned earlier, according to  FIGS. 2   a  to  2   c , all four corner regions  21  to  24  (see  FIG. 5 ) are provided with a beveled coding  27 . 1  to  27 . 4 . These four beveled codings can be designed differently from one another. In the present case, however, the diametrically opposed beveled codings, namely,  27 . 1  and  27 . 3 , on the one hand, and  27 . 2  and  27 . 4 , on the other hand, have the same design, so that the corresponding key  20 . 2  is a so-called “either-way key”. An either-way key  20 . 2  of this type is distinguished by the fact that it can be successfully inserted in the keyway  15  of the cylinder core  12  in two positions that are 180° apart. This makes it easier to use the key. 
   In the present case, the standard tumbler  13  fits into the standard coding of the key with positive engagement due to the longitudinally profiled groove  28 . As a result, positive guidance  44  is provided between the tumbler  13  and the key  20 . 2 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 10 . The positive guidance  44  makes it possible, if necessary, to use the standard tumblers  13  without spring loading  41 . Something analogous could occur with a pair of bevel cuts that enclose the edge profile  25 . 2  between them. This could be, for example, the beveled codings  27 . 1  and  27 . 3  or  27 . 2  and  27 . 4 . These then form a matching pair of beveled codings, which could serve for the positive guidance of a common beveled tumbler. A common beveled tumbler of this type (not shown) then has a corresponding pair of cooperating scanning points, which result, for example, from the oppositely inclined cooperating scanning points  47 . 1  and  47 . 4  of  FIGS. 7 and 7   c , on the one hand, and  47 . 2  and  47 . 3  of  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , on the other hand. 
   The first embodiment of the key  20 . 1  of the invention in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  has an edge profile  25 . 1 , which, to be sure, also originates from a rectangular profile, where, however, a pair of diametrically opposed corner regions are each provided with an angular axial guide  51 ,  52  that extends the full length of the key. Vertical and horizontal guide surfaces in the correspondingly shaped keyway (not shown) of the associated cylinder core are assigned to each of these axial guides  51 ,  52 . In the present case, only the other pair of corner regions then remains available for the previously described beveled coding  27 . 1  and  27 . 3 . The different possible depths of cut  36 . 1  to  36 . 3  are also indicated in  FIG. 1   b , in the same way as in  FIG. 6 . 
     FIG. 1   b  also shows different possible increments  54 . 1  to  54 . 3  of the longitudinally profiled groove  28 , similar to the aforementioned depths of cut  36 . 1  to  36 . 3  of the beveled codings  27 . 1 ,  27 . 3 . These increments  54 . 1  to  54 . 3  produce the standard coding  53  that has already been mentioned several times and is also shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
   
       
         10  lock cylinder 
         11  cylinder housing of  10   
         12  cylinder core of  10   
         13  standard tumbler of  10  ( FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 4 ) 
         14 . 1  first beveled tumbler ( FIGS. 2   c ,  7 ) 
         14 . 2  second beveled tumbler ( FIG. 8 ) 
         14 . 3  third beveled tumbler ( FIG. 9 ) 
         15  keyway in  12   
         16  standard countercoding of  13  ( FIGS. 4 ,  10 ) 
         17  distance between  27 . 1  and  27 . 2  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         18  blocking channel in  11  for  13  ( FIG. 4 ) 
         19  chamber for  13  in  12  ( FIG. 4 ) 
         20 . 0  key according to the prior art ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ) 
         20 . 1  first embodiment of the key of the invention ( FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ) 
         20 . 2  second embodiment of the key of the invention ( FIGS. 2   a  to  9 ) 
         21  first corner strip of  20 . 0  or  20 . 2  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         22  second corner strip of  20 . 0  or  20 . 2  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         23  third corner strip of  20 . 0  or  20 . 2  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         24  fourth corner strip of  20 . 0  or  20 . 2  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         25 . 0  edge profile of  20 . 0 , rectangular profile ( FIG. 3 ) 
         25 . 1  edge profile of  20 . 1 , rectangular profile ( FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ) 
         25 . 2  edge profile of  20 . 2  ( FIGS. 6 to 10 ) 
         26  standard coding of  20 . 0 ,  20 . 1  ( FIG. 2   a ) 
         27 . 1  first beveled coding of  29 . 1  ( FIGS. 6 ,  1   b ) 
         27 . 2  second beveled coding of  29 . 2  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         27 . 3  third beveled coding of  29 . 3  ( FIGS. 6 ,  1   b ) 
         27 . 4  fourth beveled coding of  29 . 4  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         28  coding groove in  20 . 0  or  20 . 1   
         29 . 1  first bevel cut of  25 . 1  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         29 . 2  second bevel cut of  25 . 1  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         29 . 3  third bevel cut of  25 . 1  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         29 . 4  fourth bevel cut of  25 . 1  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         30  projection on  13  ( FIG. 4 ) 
         31  first scanning direction of  21  to  24  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         31 ′ opposite direction of scanning of  14 . 13 ,  14 . 14  ( FIGS. 7   b ,  7   c ) 
         32  second scanning direction of  21  to  24  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         33  third scanning direction of  21  to  24  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         34  fourth scanning direction of  21  to  24  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         35  scanning direction of  13  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  9 ,  10 ) 
         36 . 1  first depth of cut of  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         36 . 2  second depth of cut of  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         36 . 3  third depth of cut of  27 . 1  to  27 . 4  ( FIG. 6 ) 
         37  lateral projection on  13 ,  14 . 1  ( FIGS. 4 ,  7 ) 
         38  first broad side of  20 . 2 , flat side ( FIG. 6 ) 
         39  second broad side of  20 . 2 , flat side ( FIG. 6 ) 
         40 . 0  window in  13  ( FIG. 10 ) 
         40 . 1  window in  14 . 1  ( FIGS. 2   c ,  7 ) 
         40 . 12  window in  14 . 12  ( FIG. 7   a ) 
         40 . 13  window in  14 . 13  ( FIG. 7   b ) 
         40 . 14  window in  14 . 14  ( FIG. 7   c ) 
         40 . 2  window in  14 . 2  ( FIG. 8 ) 
         40 . 3  window in  14 . 3  ( FIG. 9 ) 
         41  spring loading of  14 . 1  ( FIG. 7 ) 
         41 ′ spring loading of  14 . 13 ,  14 . 14  ( FIGS. 7   b ,  7   c ) 
         42  spring loading of  14 . 2  ( FIG. 8 ) 
         43  spring loading of  14 . 3  ( FIG. 9 ) 
         44  positive guidance of  13  in  28  ( FIGS. 5 ,  10 ) 
         45  spring at  13  ( FIG. 4 ) 
         46  arrow of rotational movement of  12  ( FIG. 4 ) 
         47 . 1  cooperating scanning point on  14 . 1  for  21  ( FIG. 7 ) 
         47 . 2  cooperating scanning point on  14 . 1  for  22  ( FIG. 7   a ) 
         47 . 3  cooperating scanning point on  14 . 1  for  23  ( FIG. 7   b ) 
         47 . 4  cooperating scanning point on  14 . 1  for  24  ( FIG. 7   c ) 
         48  angle between  33 ,  35  ( FIG. 9 ) 
         49  vertical guide surface for  51 ,  52  ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         50  horizontal guide surface for  51 ,  52  ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         51  first angular axial guide ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         52  second angular axial guide ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         53  standard coding of  28  ( FIGS. 1   b ,  6 ) 
         54 . 1  first increment in  53  ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         54 . 2  second increment in  53  ( FIG. 1   b ) 
         54 . 3  third increment in  53  ( FIG. 1   b )