Security locking system

The present invention relates to a security locking system of the type comprising a cylinder (3) provided with a set of pistons (8) that are able to be positioned by elastic means on the impression formed in the edge (7b, 7c) of a control key (7) perpendicularly to the direction in which said key (7) is introduced into the cylinder (3), these pistons (8) being able to take up two positions, namely a position retracted into the cylinder (3) when the key (7) is introduced into the latter and an extended position when the key (7) is withdrawn there from. This system is characterized in that:—the cylinder is made up of a locking block (3) of parallelepipedal shape that is able to be received in a receiving block (5),—it comprises locking means which are activated when the locking block (3) is introduced into the receiving block (5).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 national phase application of PCT/IB2018/052330 filed Apr. 4, 2018 entitled “SECURITY LOCKING SYSTEM,” which claims the benefit of and priority to France Patent Application No. 1770357 filed Apr. 7, 2017, published as France Patent Application No. FR3056243, the contents of which being incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

BACKGROUND

Many cylinder lock designs are known which essentially comprise a removable barrel or rotor, which is rotatably mounted in a stator. A bit is secured to the rotor and its rotation controls the opening/closing mechanism of the lock. The rotor has a series of pistons, each of which is solicited by a spring that applies them, when a key is inserted into the lock, against the edge of the key, which, for this purpose, has a profile specific to each lock.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cylinder-type security locking system, which is of particularly simple construction and does not require the locking thereof to make use of a rotation of the control key.

Many cylinder lock designs are known which essentially comprise a removable barrel, or rotor, which is rotatably mounted in a stator. A bit is secured to the rotor and its rotation controls the opening/closing mechanism of the lock. The rotor has a series of pistons, each of which is solicited by a spring that applies them, when a key is inserted into the lock, against the edge of the key, which, for this purpose, has a profile specific to each lock.

The keys of this type have barrels which are cylindrical in shape so that, for a given piston arrangement, they are usually of a relatively large thickness which is sometimes incompatible with certain applications. The present invention proposes to reduce the thickness of such locks. Furthermore, usually the two lateral faces of the admission light of the key are of a shape that is complementary to the imprint of the lateral surface of the two sides of the key so as to exert a first control of the correct shape thereof. However, this zone does not have a sufficient depth so that it is able to prevent the introduction of tools into the lock making it possible to realize the lock picking. The present invention also proposes to solve this difficulty.

Finally, in security systems of the prior art which, for example, ensure the locking of a series of lockers, which are available to multiple users, each of which is constrained to use the assigned locker and which corresponds to the key/barrel adequacy. Therefore, the user does not have the option of selecting the appropriate locker. The object of the present invention is also to provide a security locking system that allows the user to choose from a series of free boxes that he wishes to use and change according to its needs.

The present invention thus concerns a security locking system of the type comprising a cylinder provided with a set of pistons that are able to be positioned by elastic means on the impression formed in the edge of a control key, perpendicularly to the direction in which said key into the cylinder, said pistons being able to occupy two positions, namely a retracted position inside the cylinder when the key is inserted therein and an extended position when the key is extracted therefrom. This locking system is characterized in that the cylinder is made up of a locking block of parallelepipedal shape that is able to be received in a receiving block, and it comprises locking means, which are activated when the locking block is introduced into the receiving block. Preferably, the locking block comprises means capable of blocking it in the receiving block when the pistons are in the retracted position.

According to the invention, the receiving block will preferably be of parallelepipedal shape.

Furthermore, the locking block can comprise a guide and control block comprising an intake duct for the key, at least one of the lateral walls of which will be of a shape complementary to that of one of the lateral flanks of the key. Preferably, the intake duct will have a length which will be at least equal to half the height of the lateral flanks of the key. The means for maintaining can consist of a spring blades, one end of which will be fixed on the receiving block and the other end of which will comprise a hook capable of cooperating with a notch of the locking block in order to maintain the latter with the receiving block.

The key may be provided with means capable, by slight rotation, to releasing the locking block from the means for maintaining. The key can thus be provided with a stud able, during said slight rotation, to push the hook so as to release the locking block.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking means can be constituted by the locking block itself.

Furthermore, the receiving block may be constituted by the body of a padlock, and may also be integral with the body of a computer.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the lateral faces of the locking block will comprise a profile of specific shape and the internal face of the receiving block will comprise a profile of complementary shape.

Finally, the key may be provided with a head inside which a slide will be slidably mounted, one part of which will project from the head on its front so as to be able to be supported on the locking block when the key will be engaged in the latter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1to4show a security lock1implementing the operating principle of the security locking system according to the invention and which comprises a locking block3of parallelepipedal shape, a receiving block5of complementary shape, and a flat control key7of the conventional type for this type of lock.

The locking block3is provided with a mechanism that will be described in detail below, and which comprises a series of12pistons8which, when the key7is not introduced into said locking block, as shown inFIG.1, are in the extended position and, when the key7is inserted therein, as shown inFIGS.2and3, are in the retracted position. The receiving block5comprises an inlet face28provided with an orifice6of the same shape and dimensions as the cross section of the locking block3, so that when the key7is inserted into the locking block3and, accordingly, the pistons8are retracted, it is able to receive the locking block3as well as shown inFIG.3.

The key7is of the flat type, that is to say that, in a conventional manner and as shown inFIG.1, it comprises two lateral flanks7aand7b,and two upper and lower edges7cand7d.The lateral flanks7aand7band the edges7cand7dare machined or molded into profiles, which are specific to each key.

The receiving block5comprises a means for maintaining capable of securing the locking block3once it has been placed in the latter. In the present embodiment, these means for maintaining are constituted, as shown inFIGS.1and2, by a spring blades11which is fixed at one of its ends to the receiving block5and which, at its other end is folded so as to form a hook11awhich is placed in a notch15of the locking block3and which thus ensures the retaining of the latter and prevents its removal from the receiving block5.

When the key7of the locking block3is removed, the hook11a,prevents the output of the latter from the receiving block5once the key has been removed, the pistons8pass into the extended position and ensure the locking of the locking block3in the receiving block5.

It can be seen, as shown inFIG.3, that when the locking block3takes place in the receiving block5it actuates a mechanism, referred to as the locking mechanism which, in the present embodiment, consists of a rotary bolt9which, is pushed back by the locking block3when it is installed, pivots under this action about an axis9aagainst the action of a bending spring17to lock, for example, locker19.

The locking being carried out; the user can then remove its key7from the locking block3, as shown inFIG.4, which has the effect of releasing the pistons8which, under the action of elastic means, come into an extended position.

FIGS.5aand5bshow an example of an internal mechanism to the locking block3which allows the pistons8, as well as specified above, to be in the extended position when the key7is not in place in the locking block3and to be in the retracted position when this key is in place therein.

In the present embodiment, the locking block3of parallelepipedal shape is made as two rectangular cuvettes3aand3bthat are attached by means (not shown in the drawing). When the rectangular cuvettes are assembled, one of the vertical faces on the drawing forms an entry face3cwhich is pierced with a window15awhich allows the reception of the hook11aand an admission window3dwhich gives access to a guide block27and for controlling the key7comprising an inlet conduit29, two opposite faces27aand27bhaving cavities respectively complementary to those of the two lateral flanks7aand7bof the key, as shown inFIGS.5band6.

Downstream of the guide block and control27are arranged two rows of pistons8which are provided with sensors for engaging the respective profiles upper7cand lower7dof the key7. A row8comprises sensor8bcapable of coming into contact with the upper profile7cof the key and the other row comprises sensors8acapable of coming into contact with the lower profile7dthereof.

The upper and lower parts of each of the pistons8respectively take place in recesses32aand32bmade in upper and lower guide plates30aand lower30bwhich are respectively arranged in the upper and lower part of the locking block3. Openings3eare provided in the upper and lower parts of the rectangular cuvettes3aand3bso as to allow the ends of the pistons8to leave the locking block3when the key7is not engaged therein.

Each of the pistons8is solicited by a spring10which, in the absence of the key7, brings it into the extended position as shown inFIGS.1,4, and5b.

The present invention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to produce a guide and control block27which is of a considerable length L for this type of lock, that is at least equal to half the height H of the lateral imprint of the key, which is of a nature to increase the security of the latter by preventing the introduction of instruments intended to intervene on the pistons8.

The operation of the lock according to the invention is thus effected as described below.

Initially the user has a key7which is inserted into a locking block3and wishes for example realizing locking a locker19in which it desires to safety effects. Unlike prior art locking devices, the user has the option of choosing the locker which is suitable for it from the free boxes of a set of lockers since the latter will then be free of any locking block.

The key7of the user being inserted into the locking block3, as well as shown inFIG.2, the pistons8of the latter are therefore in the retracted position and the user can then insert the locking block3into the receiving block5of the locker it will have chosen. In doing so, the locking block3pushes the bolt9against the force exerted by the bolt spring17and the bolt then locks the locker19, as shown inFIG.3.

The user then removes his key7and, during this withdrawal movement, the locking block3is restraint in the receiving block5by the hook11a,and the pistons8move to the extended position as the key is extracted, which locks the locking block3inside the receiving block5and, consequently, ensures the locking of the locker19, as shown inFIG.4

When the user wishes to recover its effects and release its locker, he introduces his key7into the locking block3, which has the effect of passing the pistons8from the extended position to the retracted position, then it rotates slightly the means comprising the stud21the key7in the direction of the hands of a watch (arrow a), as well as shown inFIG.7, which has the effect of allowing the stud21of the key7to push the hook11aand the user when it exerts a tensile force on the key, to extract the locking block3from the receiving block5, under the effect of the pressure of the springs10which push the pistons8to take place on the reliefs7dand7cof the key.

When the locking block3is removed, the locking mechanism returns to its initial position and the bolt9thereof, under the action of the spring17, returns to its initial position thus freeing the rack19.

Of course, the security locking system according to the invention can be used with any other security device than a lock and can be used for example on a padlock, as shown inFIGS.8aand8b.

In these figures, a padlock40of the conventional type is shown in section, comprising a body42in which a locking ring44has a first end44awhich, in a known manner, is mounted both in rotation and sliding in the body42. Thus, the locking ring is able to occupy two positions, namely an unlocking position in which its second end44bis output from the body42, as shown inFIG.8a, and a locking position in which this second end44bis locked in the body42, as shown inFIG.8b.

The locking of this padlock is obtained by means of a security locking system according to the invention.

For this purpose, the bottom46of this padlock is hollowed out with a parallelepipedal cavity48making it possible to receive a locking block3, so that it thus constitutes a receiving block, for example of the type described above.

Furthermore, a locking lever50having a free end forms a hook50ais rotatably mounted in the body42about an axis51, at its other end in such a way, than in the absence of the locking block3therein, it extends into the cavity48under the action of a compression spring52and that, in the presence of the locking block3, this lever is pushed back against the spring52and that its hook50ais housed in a notch54made at the second end44bof the locking ring44. The part of the cavity48opposite the spring52is hollowed out of mini-cavities56each intended to receive one end of the pistons8of the locking block3.

In order to lock the padlock40, the control key7is introduced into the locking block3, which has the effect of eclipsing the output part of the pistons8, as shown inFIG.8a. Then, the subassembly formed of the key7and the locking block3is introduced into the cavity48of the padlock, and thereby, the locking lever50is pushed back so that, if, at this moment, the locking ring has been pushed back in the direction of the arrow F , the hook5apenetrates into the notch54of the locking ring44. When the user removes the key7from the locking block3the ends of the pistons8then come to be housed in the mini-cavities56, which ensures the locking of the padlock.

In order to unlock the latter, the user inserts his key7into the locking block3, which has the effect of eclipsing the ends of the pistons8, which releases the latter and the user can then withdraw the lock body from the padlock body, the assembly consisting of the key7and the locking block3. The locking Lever50, under the action of the spring52then emerges from the notch54, thus freeing the locking ring44from the padlock.

The locking system according to the invention can be used for locking multiple security devices. It can thus, for example, be used for locking sliding leaves of a display case.

FIGS.9aand9bshow such an alternative embodiment of the invention. In these figures, a display case60is schematically represented which is closed by two glass panels61aand61bwhich are respectively mounted so as to slide in two parallel slides63aand63b.The closure of this display case is provided by a security locking system according to the invention. For this purpose, the panel61bis secured by any suitable means such as screwing and/or gluing, a receiving block5which has recesses32awhich are arranged in such a way that they face the pistons8of a locking block3when the latter, as well as previously, will be introduced into the receiving block5. The receiving block5has a thickness such that it can slide between the space existing between the two panels61aand61bso as not to interfere with their displacement, and the locking block3for its part is of a thickness such that when it is in place in the bollard receiving block5it abuts against the panel61a,as well as shown inFIG.9a.

When removing the key7of the locking block3, the locking block is maintained in place under the pressure of a finger and the pistons8thereof penetrate the notches32aand thus provide the securing of the locking block3with the receiving block5. In this position, the locking block forms a stop which prevents the movement of the panel61ato the left inFIG.9aand that of the panel61bto the right, so that the locking of the display case is ensured. The unlocking is, of course, as explained above.

It has been shown schematically inFIG.10, another alternative implementation of the present invention in which a sash70, for example supporting a glazed window, is slidably mounted relative to an embrasure72. The sash70is equipped with a closure device consisting of a slide74perpendicular to its direction of movement in which a flat bolt76is mounted so as to slide so that it is able to occupy two positions, namely, a closed position in which one of its ends is engaged in a trigger guard78and an open position in which said end is disengaged from this trigger guard. The slider74is pierced with an opening which gives access to the inlet orifice of a receiving block5. Furthermore, the bolt7is also pierced with an opening75of the same dimensions as those of the preceding one and is arranged in such a way that, in the closed position, as shown inFIG.10, these two openings face each other. Thus, when the window is in the closed position and therefore the bolt7is inside the trigger guard78, the user can enter through the openings a locking block3equipped with its control key7.

Thus, once the locking block3has been inserted into the receiving block5and the key7removed, the bolt76is blocked against any translational movement by the simple presence of the locking block3, so that the sash70is then in the locked position and that in this embodiment it is the locking block3itself which constitutes the locking means of the security locking system according to the invention. Of course, the unlocking operation is carried out as described above.

The locking system according to the invention can also be used in the field of computing to ensure, for example, the security of a portable computer and prevent third parties from gaining access to the contents thereof and, on the other hand, to ensure the security of the computer itself.

FIGS.11ato11dshow an example of such an application of the present invention. A receiving block5is produced which takes place in a computer77of the portable type and which opens on the outside by an opening81of the same dimensions as the sockets referred to as USB Sockets and which is intended to receive a locking block3of appropriate dimensions. The receiving block5comprises a window79on one of its lateral faces which passes a locking member comprising a pivoting latch80in the form of a hook which is able to occupy two main positions, namely an open position as well as shown inFIG.11band a closed position as shown inFIG.11e.The mechanism of the lock80is such that when the locking block3is not inserted into the receiving block5the lock is open (FIG.11b). When the locking block3is inserted into the receiving block5, the locking block3pushes the mechanism of the lock80, which causes the latter to pass in the closed position (FIG.11e). The upper plate77aof the computer comprises a window77bwhich is located at the right of the lock80and by which a hook82of the cover77cis admitted when the latter passes into the closed position. This hook82cooperates with the lock80which ensures its retaining when it passes into the closed position.

The receiving block5being secured to the computer, the establishment of the locking block3in the receiving block5maintains the cover77c,and the removal of the key7of the locking block3ensures the output of the pistons8and maintaining the locking block3.

Such an arrangement prevents unauthorized use of the computer. Furthermore, as shown inFIG.11d, if the locking block3is provided with a flexible connecting element84made of a mechanically strong material, the locking block3can be fixed, by any suitable means, the free end thereof to a fixed part86ensuring the security of the computer itself

As shown onFIG.12, the security locking system according to the invention can also be used for locking a conventional type door lock, which comprises a sliding bolt88which is biased by a spring89for into a striker, not shown in the drawing. The removal of the bolt88is achieved by a mechanism actuated by a shaft90controlled by a handle not shown in the drawing.

The sliding bolt88is pierced with two rectangular openings92and93, the cross-section of which is of the same shape and dimensions as that of a locking block3. The casing91of the lock is closed which is pierced with two windows94which are arranged respectively opposite the lights92and93of the bolt88, these lights being arranged on either side of the lock, allowing users to lock the lock on either side of the door on which it is mounted, as well as shown inFIG.12.

When an user wishes to lock the lock, he introduces through one of the windows94a locking block3in one of the lights92or93, depending on the side of the door where it is located, thus blocking any movement of the sliding bolt88and ensures its locking by removing its key7as well as in the previous example it is the locking block3itself which constitutes the locking means of the security locking system according to the invention.

Unlocking is carried out as described above. In a variant embodiment of the invention, and as shown inFIG.13, the locking system can be customized by giving one or both lateral faces of the locking block3a specific profile100and to the internal face or faces opposite the receiving block5a complementary profile101. Such mode of implementation thus allows the receiving block to receive only locking blocks that are consistent therewith.

Of course, according to the invention, in order to remove the key from the locking block while the pistons are in the retracted position, it is possible to use different means from those described above. Thus, as shown inFIGS.11and12, the head102of the key7can admit a slide element103, the front part of which is provided with a tongue, the end104of which protrudes from the head. Thus, when it is desired to extract the key7from the locking block3in order to disengage the pistons8and ensure locking, the slide103is pushed towards the front of the key and the end104thereof then bears on the locking block3, thereby pushing the key in the direction of the arrow G and allowing it to be removed. Then, as explained above, the pistons are in the extended position and block the removal of the locking block with the receiving block.