Anti-intrusion cylinder lock

Abstract

An anti-intrusion cylinder lock (1) comprising a main body (2) provided with a fixed unit (3) that accommodates, inside a cavity (4) thereof, at least one respective rotatable element (5) provided with a housing seat (6) for a corresponding coded key (7) configured for the alignment of encoding means (8), interposed between the fixed unit (3) and the rotatable element (5), and the consequent mutual disengagement, with consequent transfer of any rotation of the rotatable element (5) to at least one rotatable bit (9) which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf. The fixed unit (3) comprises a radial expansion (10) configured for the housing of the encoding means (8). The lock (1) comprises: - a respective longitudinal housing (11) defined in the radial expansion (10) of the fixed unit (3); - at least one main bar (12), made of a material such as tempered steel, and at least one lamina (13), made of a material such as stainless steel, which are configured to be coupled and inserted into the longitudinal housing (11) and at least one respective fixing insert (14) configured to be inserted transversely into respective holes (15, 16) of the fixed unit (3) and of the bar (12) to reinforce the fixed unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an anti-intrusion cylinder lock that is particularly secure against attempts at forced entry.

[0002] As is known, a cylinder lock is used to actuate the spring latch and / or the sliding latch of the lock itself. To this end, the cylinder lock is inserted in a housing that passes through the door and through the lock itself and is fixed so that the bit can actuate, either directly or through dedicated lever mechanisms, the spring latch and / or the sliding latch.

[0003] The lock is fixed in the housing by way of a screw that engages a threaded hole provided in the radial expansion of the body of the cylinder lock, at the bit, and which is driven through the front edge of the door.

[0004] Since this hole is in a part of the bridge-shaped radial expansion which is already intrinsically weakened by the milling necessary to apply the bit, there is the drawback that, by gripping the lock with a suitable forced-entry tool and applying flexural and twisting forces, it is possible to break the lock in two and take out the corresponding stump. In this manner it is possible to access the spring latch and sliding latch and therefore open the door fraudulently.

[0005] In order to overcome this drawback, this same applicant devised a technical solution described in EP1583878: the inventive concept disclosed in that document relates to the reinforcement of the radial expansions and particularly of the bridge-like portion that rigidly connects the two half bodies in which a hole 16 is provided for fixing to the door.

[0006] The reinforcement is obtained by way of a plurality of laminations arranged in a pack. The plurality of laminations has a flattened rectangular shape and is made of a material resistant to the mechanical stresses (twisting and / or traction) that could occur in the event of attempts at forced entry. More precisely, the laminations can be made of different materials with different mechanical properties: very strong and non-deformable materials (which therefore break above the limit stress) and materials that are not so strong but which are plastically deformable (which deform when subjected to stresses but do not break under the stresses they may be subjected to inside the lock).

[0007] Using different types of laminations to make up a single lamination pack results in an extremely effective reinforcement because it combines the properties of the different materials, making it an extremely complex matter to break such a lamination pack and consequently extract the half body on which the burglar is working.

[0008] Preferably the pack-like arrangement of the plurality of laminations occurs by combining some laminations made of tempered steel, which are adapted to react effectively to traction stresses, with other laminations made of stainless steel, which are adapted to react in an optimal manner to torsional and flexural stresses. The plurality of laminations arranged in a pack is inserted into a rectangular-shaped seat which is provided at the radial expansions and has its longitudinal central plane coplanar with the longitudinal radial plane of the bushings.

[0009] However, use of the lamination pack is complex during assembly and therefore requires longer times and greater skill from the designated operators.

[0010] Furthermore, the increasingly frequent use of locks of the modular type (which make it possible to reduce the number of components necessary to cover the entire range of existing formats, since each format can be made up by joining a predefined combination of modules) means that the assembly operations can be performed by persons without special training and therefore the problems mentioned above are exacerbated.

[0011] It should also be noted that the performance of the lock is respectively different in terms of resistance to tearing, to bending and to twisting and therefore, generally, it is necessary to make use of lamination packs that are mainly constituted by steel with high mechanical strength, so reducing the laminations in stainless steel (which is subject to plastic deformations when stressed). It is therefore necessary to make lamination packs constituted by a predefined number of laminas of steel with high mechanical strength (or other equivalent material) and of steel that can be plastically deformed (or other equivalent material), so as to supply them, already correctly combined, to the operator who is to carry out the assembly. This preliminary combination operation constitutes an additional step in the process of assembly of the lock, which increases its cost and execution time.

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing an anti-intrusion cylinder lock that is adapted to withstand forced-entry attacks.

[0013] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock adapted to withstand forced-entry attacks, which is simple to assemble.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock of the modular type that is simple to assemble.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock that is optimized against attempts at forced entry by tearing out the lock.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock of the modular type that is rapidly assembled.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock that is modular and reconfigurable.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-intrusion cylinder lock that is of low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.

[0019] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an anti-intrusion cylinder lock of the type comprising a main body comprising a fixed unit that accommodates, inside a cavity thereof, at least one respective rotatable element provided with a housing seat for a corresponding coded key configured for the alignment of encoding means, interposed between said fixed unit and said at least one rotatable element, and the consequent mutual disengagement of said rotatable element with respect to said fixed unit, with consequent transfer of any rotation of said rotatable element to at least one rotatable bit which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf, said fixed unit comprising a radial expansion configured to accommodate said encoding means, characterized in that it comprises: a respective longitudinal housing defined in said radial expansion of said fixed unit, at least one main bar, made of a material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, and at least one lamina, made of a material such as stainless steel, harmonic steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, which are configured to be coupled and inserted into said longitudinal housing and at least one respective fixing insert configured to be inserted transversely into respective holes of said fixed unit and of said bar to reinforce said fixed unit.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the anti-intrusion cylinder lock, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an anti-intrusion cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the lock of Figure 1, seen from a different observation point; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side view, taken along a plane of longitudinal symmetry, of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic partially exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the anti-intrusion cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the lock of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view, taken along a plane of longitudinal symmetry, of the lock of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a schematic partially exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the anti-intrusion cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional side view, taken along a plane of longitudinal symmetry, of the lock of Figure 7.

[0021] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an anti-intrusion cylinder lock according to the invention.

[0022] The lock 1 comprises a main body 2 comprising a fixed unit 3 which accommodates, in a cavity 4 thereof, at least one respective rotatable element 5 provided with a housing seat 6 for a corresponding coded key 7 configured for the alignment of encoding means 8, interposed between the fixed unit 3 and the at least one rotatable element 5.

[0023] The presence of the coded key 7 in the seat 6 determines the above-mentioned alignment of the encoding means (for example conveniently-shaped pins and counterpins inserted in respective channels of a radial expansion 10 (integral with the fixed unit 3) with a respective spring designed to force them into a predefined arrangement) with the consequent mutual release of the rotatable element 5 with respect to the fixed unit 3: the free rotation of the rotatable element 5 thus achieved enables the transfer of any rotation of the rotatable element 5 to at least one rotatable bit 9 which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf.

[0024] The lock 1 according to the invention comprises a respective longitudinal housing 11 defined in the radial expansion 10 of the fixed unit 3.

[0025] The lock 1 further comprises at least one main bar 12 made of a material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel and metal alloys and / or composite materials with similar mechanical characteristics.

[0026] These materials are generally defined as high-strength materials: among these, all steels that are described as "high-strength" or "ultra high-strength" are to be noted, i.e. alloy steels with a yield strength above 1370 MPa (140 kgf / mm 2< ) and a pull resistance above 1620 MPa (165 kgf / mm 2< ). The concept of ultra high-strength steel has been developed to distinguish ultra high-strength steel from high-strength steel and has been widely used, in recent years, in the aerospace sectors.

[0027] These materials mainly include traditional tempered steel Ni-Cr-Mo 434 (40CrNiMo), Nickel-Cr-Mo-V D6AC steel (45CrNiMoV) with a carbon content of 0.45%, Cr-Mn-Si-Ni steel (30CrMnSiNi2A) with a carbon content of 0.30%, and 300M steel (43CrNiSiMoV) which is developed by adding silicon (1.6%) and vanadium (0.1%) based on 4340 steel and Si-Mn-Mo-V or Si-Mn-Cr-V without nickel. The vacuum melting process can reduce the content of impurities in steel and improve the transverse plasticity and toughness of steel, which is widely used in beams of aircraft, in landing gear, in engine wells, in high-strength bolts, in projectiles of solid-fuel rocket engines and in pressure containers.

[0028] This category of materials also includes several kinds of medium carbon alloy steel, some high carbon alloy steels and some very low carbon steels, as well as some semi-austenitic steels.

[0029] Basically the bar 12, when subjected to traction, will tend to undergo only elastic deformations, because it will undergo plastic deformations only if a mechanical tension higher than an extremely high threshold value is exceeded. Therefore the bar 12 will ensure that the lock 1 cannot be torn out unless an extremely high traction force is applied (at which the bar 12 will break).

[0030] The lock 1 further comprises at least one lamina 13, made of material such as stainless steel, harmonic steel and metal alloys and / or composite materials with equivalent mechanical properties. Such at least one lamina 13 will be configured to be coupled with the main body 2 (directly or indirectly, for example by coupling it to the bar 1 which in turn will be held in the housing 11 of the fixed unit 3): in fact the lamina 13 will be inserted in the longitudinal housing 11.

[0031] Through at least one respective fixing insert 14 it will be possible to couple the bar 12 and the lamina 13 to the fixed body 2: this insert 14 will be constituted by a peg that can be inserted transversely into respective transverse holes 15, 16 in the expansion 10 and in the bar 12.

[0032] According to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the lock 1 according to the invention can advantageously comprise a plurality of distinct modules A, B, C, D, all of which can be mutually coupled and which define the main body 2.

[0033] Each module A, B, C, D is provided with a respective modular fixed unit fitted with a respective modular radial expansion and a respective modular rotatable element in a cavity of the modular fixed unit. Each modular radial expansion comprises a respective housing configured to contain a mutual connection element of the modules A, B, C, D, which comprises the at least one main bar 12, the at least one lamina 13, and the at least one respective fixing insert 14 configured to be inserted transversely into the holes 15 and 16.

[0034] For the sake of simplicity, the fixed unit 3 comprising the radial expansion 10 and the rotatable element 5 should be considered components of the modules A and C.

[0035] In the module B, the fixed unit is constituted by a shell 17 configured to accommodate the bar 12 and the lamina 13 with minimum mechanical play, while the rotatable element coincides with the rotary support 18 of the bit 9.

[0036] The module D, which is just an extension component through which it is possible to vary the overall length of the lock 1, is constituted by a fixed unit 19, inside which an idle tube 20 can rotate which is designed to transfer the motion originating from the rotatable element 5 of a module A or C to the sleeve 18 of the bit 9.

[0037] At least one first module A, C will therefore be constituted by a stator, defining the respective modular fixed unit 3, provided with a first radial expansion 10, and a rotor 5, defining the respective modular rotatable element, between which encoding means 8 are interposed, which are configured for mutual locking together and corresponding release following the insertion, into a respective seat 6 of the rotor 5, of a corresponding coded key 7.

[0038] At least one second module B will instead be provided with a second radial expansion, comprising an outer casing (constituted by the shell 17), defining the respective modular fixed unit, and a bit 9 integral with a sleeve 18, defining the respective rotatable element, which can rotate inside a seat of that casing and configured to transfer the rotary motion, transmitted to the bit by the rotor 5 of a first module A, C, to lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf.

[0039] The module D is instead be understood as a third extension module, provided with a third radial expansion, comprising a fixed shell 19, defining the respective modular fixed unit, and an idle tube 20, defining the respective rotatable element, which can rotate inside a cavity of the shell 19, and configured to be interposed, optionally in series with additional third modules D, between a first module A, C and a second module B, mechanically connecting at least one rotor 3 of at least one first module A, C to the sleeve 18 integral with the bit 9 of the second module B.

[0040] The lock 1 comprises respective housings 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d (which together constitute the housing 11) provided in the first, second and third radial expansions, which have the longitudinal central plane coplanar with the radial plane.

[0041] A mutual connection element of at least one first module A, C, at least one second module B and at least one third module D, is provided with at least one main bar 12, made of a material such as tempered steel, at least one lamina 13, made of a material such as stainless steel (or other plastically-deformable materials), and respective fixing pegs 14 which are configured to be inserted transversely in respective holes 15 and 16 in the modules A, C and in the bar 12.

[0042] The at least one lamina 13 can be arranged juxtaposed with a face of the at least one bar 12 chosen among either the face directed toward the bottom of the housing 11 substantially proximate to the rotatable element 5 (as in the embodiments shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figures 7 and 8) or the face directed outward (as in the embodiments shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figures 1 to 6).

[0043] The lock 1 can optionally comprise at least two laminas 13, each one of which is in juxtaposition with a face of the at least one bar 12 chosen among either the face directed toward the bottom of the housing 11 or the face directed outward. The laminas 13, in this case, can be mutually superimposed or mutually opposite with respect to the bar 12, it being possible therefore to provide a plurality of different embodiments.

[0044] It should further be noted that the at least one bar 12 can be provided with a sunken recess 21 with shape and dimensions complementary to those of at least one corresponding lamina 13 for the housing thereof.

[0045] The lamina 13 will preferably be contoured, for the purpose of ensuring that its insertion in the sunken recess 21 of the bar 12 results in a relative locking (at least partial) thereof inside the sunken recess 21.

[0046] It should further be noted that the housing 11 of the radial expansion 10 can profitably be open onto the front of the fixed unit 3, so being visible from outside when the lock 1 is installed in a door leaf.

[0047] This presents a useful deterrent against ill-intentioned individuals who are evaluating whether to force the lock 1: in fact, in the installation configuration, a head 22, 23 of at least one component chosen among the bar 12 and the at least one lamina 13 will be substantially aligned with the front of the fixed unit 3, thus being consequently visible from outside and giving the ill-intentioned individual clear technical information about the impossibility of forcing the lock 1 using techniques to tear out the lock.

[0048] At a region thereof not proximate to its respective heads 22, the at least one bar 12 comprises at least one transverse hole 24 configured for the housing of a screw for fixing to an installation door leaf.

[0049] It should be noted that the lock 1 can comprise at least one plug 25 provided with a substantially flat plate 26 from which at least one pin 27, perpendicular thereto, extends which has shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the holes 28, 29 in the bar 12 and in the lamina 13.

[0050] In the assembled configuration, the plate 26 will be juxtaposed with the lower face of the bar 12, i.e. the face that in the assembled configuration is directed outward, with respect to the longitudinal housing 11 defined in the radial expansion 10 of the fixed unit 3 inside which such bar 12 is accommodated.

[0051] The at least one pin 26, on the other hand, will be accommodated in the at least one hole 28 in the bar 12 and in the at least one hole 29 in the lamina 13 (which are aligned and coaxial in the assembled configuration), so as to keep the lamina 13 inside the recess 21 of the bar 12.

[0052] The pin 27 is further provided with a contouring 30 that can accommodate a portion of the insert 14 when all the components are in the assembled configuration.

[0053] In order to ensure an optimal seating of the bar 12 in the housing 11 it is possible to also have an additional insert 31, in respective dedicated transverse holes in the radial expansion 10 and in the bar 12.

[0054] Advantageously, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, by providing an anti-intrusion cylinder lock 1 that is adapted to withstand forced-entry attacks.

[0055] In fact, if an attempt is made to force the lock 1 by tearing it out from the installation door leaf, a first obstacle will be presented in the form of the extremely high resistance to traction of the bar 12 (made of material with high mechanical strength) which therefore will be extremely difficult to break. Even if the burglar successfully applies a sufficient force to break the bar 12, the presence of the lamina 13 (made of plastically-deformable material) will not allow the segment of lock 1 to be taken out of the door leaf, because it will maintain the cohesion of its parts, thus defeating the attempt at forced entry.

[0056] Advantageously the lock 1 according to the invention, in addition to being adapted to withstand forced-entry attacks, is simple to install in the intended door leaf.

[0057] Profitably the lock 1 according to the invention is of the modular type, where the components can be assembled together in a simple manner.

[0058] Positively the lock 1 according to the invention is optimized to withstand attempts at forced entry using the method of tearing out the lock.

[0059] Usefully the lock 1 of the modular type according to the invention is rapid to assemble, by virtue of the use of the bar 12 and of the lamina 13 as connecting components between the various modules A, B, C, D.

[0060] Conveniently the lock 1 according to the invention is modular and reconfigurable. In fact it is possible to remove the lock 1 from the installation door leaf and add or remove or substitute a module A, B, C, D, if necessary using a bar 12 and a lamina 13 of different dimensions.

[0061] Positively the lock 1 according to the invention is easily and practically implemented and is of low cost: such characteristics make the lock 1 according to the invention an innovation that is safe in use.

[0062] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0063] In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

[0064] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0065] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and / or signs, those reference numerals and / or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and / or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and / or signs.

Claims

1. An anti-intrusion cylinder lock of the type comprising a main body (2) comprising a fixed unit (3) that accommodates, inside a cavity (4) thereof, at least one respective rotatable element (5) provided with a housing seat (6) for a corresponding coded key (7) configured for the alignment of encoding means (8), interposed between said fixed unit (3) and said at least one rotatable element (5), and the consequent mutual disengagement of said rotatable element (5) with respect to said fixed unit (3), with consequent transfer of any rotation of said rotatable element (5) to at least one rotatable bit (9) which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf, said fixed unit (3) comprising a radial expansion (10) configured to accommodate said encoding means (8), characterized in that it comprises: - a respective longitudinal housing (11) defined in said radial expansion (10) of said fixed unit (3), - at least one main bar (12), made of a material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, and at least one lamina (13), made of a material such as stainless steel, harmonic steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, which are configured to be coupled and inserted into said longitudinal housing (11) and at least one respective fixing insert (14) configured to be inserted transversely into respective holes (15, 16) of said fixed unit (3) and of said bar (12) to reinforce said fixed unit (3).

2. The lock according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of separate modules (A, B, C, D) configured to be coupled together and which define said main unit (2), each module (A, B, C, D) being provided with a respective modular fixed unit provided with a respective modular radial expansion and a respective modular rotatable element inside a cavity of said modular fixed unit, each modular radial expansion comprising a respective housing (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) configured to contain a mutual connection element for said modules (A, B, C, D) which comprises said at least one main bar (12), said at least one lamina (13) and at least one fixing insert (14) which is configured to be inserted transversely into at least one respective hole (15, 16) in at least one of said modules (A, B, C, D) and in said bar (12).

3. The lock according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one first module (A, C) constituted by a stator, defining said respective modular fixed unit (3), provided with a first radial expansion (10), and a rotor, defining said respective modular rotatable element (5), between which encoding means (8) are interposed, which are configured for mutual locking together and corresponding release following the insertion, into a respective seat (6) of the rotor, of a corresponding coded key (7), - at least one second module (B) provided with a second radial expansion, comprising an outer casing (17), defining said respective modular fixed unit, and a bit (9) integral with a sleeve (18), defining the respective rotatable element, which can rotate inside a seat of said casing (17), said second module (B) being configured to transfer the rotary motion, transmitted to said bit (9) by said rotor of a said first module (A, C), to lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf.

4. The lock according to at least one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one third module for extension (D), provided with a third radial expansion (19), comprising a fixed shell, defining said respective modular fixed unit, and an idle tube (20), defining said respective rotatable element, which can rotate inside a cavity of said shell, said third module (D) being configured to be interposed, optionally in series with additional third modules (D), between said first module (A, C) and said second module (B), mechanically connecting at least one rotor (3) of at least one first module (A, C) to said sleeve (18) integral with said bit (9) of said second module (B).

5. The lock according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises: - respective housings provided in said first, second and third radial expansions, which have the longitudinal central plane coplanar with said radial plane, - a mutual connection element for at least one first module (A, C), at least one second module (B) and at least one third module (D), which is provided with at least one main bar (12), at least one lamina (13), and respective fixing pegs (14, 31) configured to be inserted transversely into respective holes (15) in said modules (A, B, C, D) and in said bar (12).

6. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lamina (13) is arranged in juxtaposition with a face of said at least one bar (12) chosen among either the face directed toward the bottom of said housing (11) substantially proximate to said rotatable element (3) or a respective face directed outward.

7. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two said laminas (13), each one of which is in juxtaposition with a face of said at least one bar (12) chosen among either the face directed toward the bottom of said housing (11) or a respective face directed outward.

8. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one bar (12) is provided with a recess (21) with shape and dimensions complementary to those of at least one corresponding lamina (13) for the housing thereof.

9. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (11) of said radial expansion (10) is open onto the front of said fixed unit (3), so being visible from outside when said lock (1) is installed in a door leaf; in the installation configuration a head (22, 23), of at least one component chosen among said bar (12) and said at least one lamina (13), is substantially aligned with said front of said fixed unit (3) and as a consequence being visible from outside.

10. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at a region thereof that is not proximate to its respective heads (22), said at least one bar (12) comprises at least one transverse hole (24) configured for the housing of a screw for fixing to an installation door leaf.

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