Patent EA-003487-B1 (EA)
Title: Improvements in key operable locks
Inventor: KOOPMAN JACOB
IPC: E05B29/10
Filed: 2000-11-07
Abstract: 1. A keyway profile plug for a lock barrel assembly operable by a key, the assembly being adapted to be received within and rotatable in a hollow lock body when the lock barrel assembly is an unlocked configuration, the lock barrel assembly further having a plurality of disks, each disk having an aperture for passage of the key and a key engaging means adjacent to the aperture and adapted to engage the key so that the key is capable of locating each disk at a predetermined position without rotation of the key, the lock barrel assembly further including a locking bar operatively associated with each disk and adapted to move radially from an outer position to an inner unlocked position only after each disk is located in its predetermined position by the key, each disk including a projection or pin adapted to be received in a slot, groove, hole or the like in the locking bar to enable the locking bar to move radially to the inner unlocked position whereby the lock barrel assembly is capable of rotating within the hollow lock body, characterised in that the keyway profile plug has: a longitudinal axis; a partially arcuate circumference transverse to the longitudinal access, the circumference being adapted to support the plurality of disks; and a plurality of grooves in the circumference, each groove adapted to receive spacer means. 2. The keyway profile plug of claim 1, wherein the spacer means is a spacer clip. 3. A lock barrel assembly including the keyway profile plug of claim 2. 4. The lock barrel assembly of claim 3, wherein the disks are identical. 5. The lock barrel assembly of claim 4, wherein at least one of the disks is reversed compared to at least one other of the disks or the other disk. 6. The lock barrel assembly of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the key engaging means includes one or more projections extending into the disk aperture. 7. The lock barrel assembly of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein between one of the spacer clips mounted on the circumference of the keyway profile plug and another or the other spacer clip mounted on the circumference of the keyway profile plug is one of the disks, a spacer washer and another or the other of the disks. 8. In combination, the lock barrel assembly of any one of claims 3 to 7, and a key for operating the lock barrel assembly, the key bearing at least one longitudinal angled track cut into a curved surface, the track being adapted to receive the key engaging means of each disk. 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the key includes two of the tracks. 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the two tracks of the key communicate. 11. The combination of any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein, when the key is inserted in the keyway profile plug, the curved surface of the key and the partially arcuate circumference of the keyway profile plug lie on the circumference of a circle. 12. An end cap for a lock barrel assembly, the assembly being operable by a first key, the cap being adapted to be released from the lock barrel assembly by use of a second key but not by the first key. 13. A lock barrel assembly including the end cap of claim 12. 14. A lock barrel assembly of any one of claims 3 to 7, including the end cap of claim 12. 15. A first key for operating the lock barrel assembly of claim 13 or 14, wherein the first key is convertable into the second key. 16. The first key of claim 15 when dependent on claim 14, wherein the key bears a plurality of angled tracks cut into a curved surface, the tracks being adapted to receive the key engaging means of each disk. 17. The first key of claim 16, wherein there are two of the tracks and they communicate. 18. The first key of claim 16 or 17 wherein, when the first key is inserted in the keyway profile plug, the curved surface of the key and the partially arcuate circumference of the keyway profile plug lie on the circumference of a circle. 19. The first key of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first key is converted to the second key by removing part of the curved surface. 20. The first key of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first key has means movable between a first position in which the key fulfills the function of the first key and a second position in which the key fulfills the function of the second key. 21. The first key of claim 20, wherein the means is a sleeve mounted on a shank for the first key. 22. A second key for operating the lock barrel assembly of claim 13 or 14, which has been converted from the first key. 23. A second key for releasing the end cap of claim 12 from the lock barrel assembly, the second key having a movable element and being adapted to release the end cap only when the movable element is in a chosen position. 24. The second key of claim 23, wherein the movable element is a sleeve mounted on a shank of the key and movable from the chosen position to another position in which the end cap cannot be released.