Patent ID: 8746025

Claim:
A key blank comprising: a shaft and a head connected to the shaft, the shaft including first and second surfaces that are oppositely facing, wherein the surfaces are configured to include operating elements to operate a lock; and a pair of coaxial operating elements mounted inside a bore provided in the shaft, wherein the first operating element of the pair is a resilient element that protrudes from the first surface of the shaft to its full extent whenever no force is exerted on the first operating element and retracts toward the first surface responsive to force exerted on the first operating element and the second operating element of the pair is a resilient element that protrudes from the second surface of the shaft to its full extent whenever no force is exerted on the second operating element and retracts toward the second surface responsive to force exerted on it, and wherein each of the coaxial operating elements is adapted to assume one of the protruding and retracting positions independently from the corresponding position assumed by the other coaxial operating element.