Anti-intrusion cylinder lock

Abstract

An anti-intrusion cylinder lock (1) 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). Each fixed unit (3) comprises at least one radial expansion (10) configured for the housing of 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 having shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the housing (11) and provided with at least one hole (13) with an axis perpendicular to its lower face (14), with reference to the assembled configuration in which the at least one bar (12) is inserted inside the housing (11). The lock (1) further comprises at least one rod (15) made of a plastically deformable material and provided with at least one head (16) which is configured to be accommodated inside the hole (13) and at least one insert (17) which is configured to lock the bar (12) inside the housing (11); the insert (17) is insertable in a respective transverse channel (18) of the at least one radial expansion (10) and a transverse aperture (19) of the bar (12).

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, the same applicant devised a technical solution described in EP1583878: the inventive concept herein disclosed 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 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 halfbody 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 at least one 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 material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel and metal alloys, and / or other materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, having shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of said housing, and provided with at least one hole with an axis perpendicular to its lower face, with reference to the assembled configuration in which said at least one bar is inserted inside said housing, at least one rod made of plastically deformable material, chosen among harmonic steel, stainless steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said cited steels and composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, and provided with at least one head configured to be accommodated inside said hole, at least one insert configured for locking said bar inside said housing, said insert being insertable in a respective transverse channel of said at least one radial expansion and a transverse aperture in said bar.

[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, seen from a first observation point; Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the lock of Figure 1, seen from a second observation point; Figure 3 is a schematic front elevation view of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

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

[0022] The cylinder lock 1 according to the invention comprises 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 the fixed unit 3 and the at least one rotatable element 5, and the consequent mutual release of the rotatable element 5 with respect to the fixed unit 3 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.

[0023] The fixed unit 3 comprises at least one radial expansion 10 configured for the housing of the encoding means 8.

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

[0025] Such lock 1 further comprises advantageously at least one main bar 12 made of material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel and metal alloys (or even composite materials) with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels. Such main bar 12 (or set of main bars 12) will have a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the housing 11.

[0026] The main bar 12 (or the set of main bars 12) will also be profitably provided with at least one hole 13 with an axis perpendicular to its lower face 14, with reference to the assembled configuration in which the at least one bar 12 is inserted inside the housing 11.

[0027] The lock according to the invention further comprises conveniently at least one rod 15 made of a plastically deformable material chosen among harmonic steel, stainless steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels and composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels.

[0028] The at least one rod 15 will advantageously have at least one head 16 configured to be accommodated inside the hole 13.

[0029] Lastly, at least one insert 17 is provided that is configured to lock the bar 12 inside the housing 11.

[0030] The insert 17 will be insertable in a respective transverse channel 18 of the at least one radial expansion 10 and a transverse aperture 19 of the bar 12.

[0031] With the lock 1 according to the invention fully mounted, this embodiment makes it possible to have the bar 12 and the rod 15 inside the housing 11.

[0032] This set of components ensures that, if in the course of an attempt to force the lock 1 the ill-intentioned individual should seize the seat 6 and apply a strong traction force for the purpose of tearing out (and breaking) the lock 1, the lock 1 will offer a high resistance to traction force because the bar 12 is made of material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel and metal alloys (or even composite materials) with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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).

[0037] The rod 15, on the other hand, is made of a plastically deformable material which, when subjected to mechanical stresses, will tend to deform without breaking: this ensures that, even if a traction force is applied that is sufficiently great to break the bar 12, the ill-intentioned individual will not succeed in extracting the segment of lock 1, because the rod 15 will retain it, so impeding the forced entry and, therefore, the opening of the lock 1.

[0038] With reference to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, represented by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, the transverse aperture 19 is partially superimposed on the hole 13.

[0039] By virtue of this partial superimposition, in the assembled configuration, with the insert 17 accommodated in the transverse channel 18 and the transverse aperture 19, the head 16 of the at least one rod 15, which is accommodated in the hole 13, profitably will be facing and proximate to the insert 17 and will be locked in that arrangement by the insert 17 itself.

[0040] In particular the at least one rod 15 comprises a substantially straight central portion 20, which is provided, at the terminal ends, with two arms 21, which are arranged in a direction at right angles to the central portion 20: such arms 21 are configured for insertion into respective holes 13 in the bar 12. Each arm 21 comprises a respective terminal head 16.

[0041] The at least one head 16 of each rod 15 can be advantageously constituted by a curved end segment, folded onto itself so that the very front of such segment of rod 15 is substantially facing and proximate to a region of the lateral surface of that rod 15. Basically the head 16 is contoured so that the end segment of the rod 15 is curled back onto itself, so determining a considerable increase in the transverse space occupation with respect to the cross-section of the rod 15.

[0042] In order to ensure greater mechanical stability and a better aesthetic appearance (by making the lock 1 suitably compact), it should be noted that the lock 1 can comprise at least one plug 22 provided with a substantially flat plate 23 from which at least one pin 24 extends, perpendicular thereto, which has a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the at least one hole 13 in the bar 12.

[0043] In the assembled configuration, the plate 23 will be juxtaposed with the face 14 of the bar 12 that 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.

[0044] The at least one pin 24 will be accommodated in the at least one hole 13 in the bar 12, together with an arm 21 of the rod 15 (the arm 21 comprising a respective head 16 at its end).

[0045] The substantially flat plate 23 comprises a groove 25 and the pin 24 comprises a recess 26. The pin 24 is further provided with a contouring 27 that can accommodate a portion of the insert 17 when all the components are in the assembled configuration.

[0046] In the assembled configuration, the central portion 20 of the rod 15 is at least partially accommodated in the groove 25, and an arm 21 of the rod 15 is accommodated in the recess 26.

[0047] However, the possibility is not ruled out that the face 14 of the bar 12 can also comprise a contoured superficial incision in order to accommodate at least some of the rod 15 (in particular the central portion 20 thereof).

[0048] In a particularly functional embodiment, the at least one rod 15 made of plastically deformable material is constituted by a wire made of material chosen among harmonic steel, stainless steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels and composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels. This wire can have a cross-section chosen among circular, elliptical, polygonal and combinations thereof.

[0049] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the main body 3 can comprise a plurality of mutually aligned modules A, B, C, D, each module A, B, C, D being advantageously provided with a respective modular fixed unit and a respective modular rotatable element: the latter will be rotatably accommodated in a cavity of the respective modular fixed unit.

[0050] Each module, at a respective modular radial expansion, will usefully comprise a portion of longitudinal housing.

[0051] If the lock 1 is constituted by a plurality of modules A, B, C, D, the longitudinal housing 11 of the fixed unit 3 is at least partially constituted by a plurality of housing portions for distinct modules A, B, C, D. The at least one bar 12 and the at least one rod 15, in the assembled configuration, i.e. when they are inserted in the housing 15, mutually connect and align all the modules A, B, C, D, in so doing conferring solidity on the lock 1 thus provided.

[0052] It should further be noted that the at least one rotatable element of a respective module A, C comprises a housing seat 6 for a corresponding coded key 7 configured for the alignment of encoding means 8, interposed between such modular rotatable element and the respective modular fixed unit.

[0053] By virtue of the alignment of the encoding means 8 obtained by inserting the coded key 7, the mutual release will be obtained of the modular rotatable element with respect to the modular fixed unit (of the module A, C) with consequent transfer of any rotation of the modular rotatable element to at least one additional modular rotatable element (of a module B or of a module D) operatively associated with a rotatable bit 9 which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf.

[0054] It should be noted that it is also possible to adopt at least one optional module B, which constitutes an extension, through which it will be possible to vary the length of the lock 1 of the modular type: use of a module B of greater length or at least two separate modules B will in fact make it possible to increase the overall length of the lock 1.

[0055] In addition to the inserts 17, further pegs 28 can also be adopted in order to ensure an optimal seating of the bar 12 in the radial expansions 10.

[0056] In the modular version, the modules of type B (which are extension components) and the modules of type D (which comprise the bit 16) will comprise a channel 29, 30 within which the bar 12 and the rod 15 can be at least partially accommodated: these channels 29, 30 will be conveniently contoured to accommodate the bar 12 and the rod 15 with minimal play, in this manner conferring greater rigidity once all the components are fully assembled.

[0057] 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.

[0058] Advantageously the lock 1 according to the invention is simple to assemble.

[0059] Profitably the lock 1 according to the invention, in its modular or non-modular version, is simple to mount.

[0060] Positively the lock 1 according to the invention is optimized to withstand attempts at forced entry using the method of tearing out the lock.

[0061] Usefully the lock 1 according to the invention of the modular type can also be assembled on-site, by an operator with no special training, so as to be able to adapt the length to the dimensions of the installation door leaf.

[0062] Conveniently the lock 1 according to the invention is modular and reconfigurable.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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 at least one 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 material such as tempered steel, high-strength steel and metal alloys, and / or other materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, of shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of said housing (11), and provided with at least one hole (13) with an axis perpendicular to its lower face (14), with reference to the assembled configuration in which said at least one bar (12) is inserted inside said housing (11), - at least one rod (15) made of plastically deformable material, chosen among harmonic steel, stainless steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels and composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, and provided with at least one head (16) configured to be accommodated inside said hole (13), - at least one insert (17) configured for locking said bar (12) inside said housing (11), said insert (17) being insertable in a respective transverse channel (18) of said at least one radial expansion (10) and a transverse aperture (19) in said bar (12).

2. The lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said transverse aperture (19) is partially superimposed on said hole (13), in the assembled configuration, with said insert (17) accommodated in said transverse channel (18) and said transverse aperture (19), said head (16) of said at least one rod (15), accommodated in said hole (13), being facing and proximate to said insert (17) and locked in that arrangement by said insert (17).

3. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one rod (15) comprises a substantially straight central portion (20), which is provided, at the terminal ends, with two arms (21), which are arranged in a direction at right angles to said portion (20) and configured for the insertion into respective holes (13) in said bar (12), each arm (20) comprising a respective terminal head (16).

4. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one head (16) of said at least one rod (15) is constituted by a curved end segment, folded onto itself so that the very front of said segment of said rod (15) is substantially facing and proximate to a region of the lateral surface of said rod (15).

5. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one plug (22) provided with a substantially flat plate (23) from which at least one pin (24) extends, perpendicular thereto, having shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of said at least one hole (13) in said bar (12), said plate (23) in the assembled configuration being juxtaposed with the outward-directed lower face (14) of said bar (12), with respect to said longitudinal housing (15) defined in said radial expansion (10) of said fixed unit (3) inside which said bar (12) is accommodated, and said at least one pin (24) being accommodated in said at least one hole (13) of said band (12) together with an arm (21) of said rod (15).

6. The lock according to claim 5, characterized in that said substantially flat plate (23) comprises a groove (25) and said pin (24) comprises a recess (26), in the assembled configuration said central portion (20) of said rod (15) being accommodated in said groove (25) and an arm (21) of said rod (15) being accommodated in said recess (26).

7. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one rod (15) made of plastically deformable material is a wire made of a material chosen among harmonic steel, stainless steel, metal alloys with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels and composite materials with mechanical characteristics similar to said steels, the cross-section of said wire being chosen among circular, elliptical, polygonal and combinations thereof.

8. The lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (2) comprises a plurality of mutually aligned modules (A, B, C, D), each module (A, B, C, D) being provided with a respective modular fixed unit and a respective modular rotatable element, which is accommodated rotatably in a cavity of the respective modular fixed unit, each module (A, B, C, D), at a respective modular radial expansion, comprising a portion of longitudinal housing.

9. The lock according to claim 8, characterized in that said longitudinal housing (11) of said fixed unit (3) is at least partially constituted by a plurality of housing portions for distinct modules (A, B, C, D), said at least one bar (12) and said at least one rod (15), in the assembled configuration when they are inserted in said housing (11), connecting and aligning said modules (A, B, C, D) with each other.

10. The lock according to one or more of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that at least one rotatable element of a respective module (A, C) comprises a housing seat for a corresponding coded key (7) configured for the alignment of encoding means (8), interposed between said modular rotatable element and the respective modular fixed unit, and the consequent mutual disengagement of said modular rotatable element with respect to said modular fixed unit with consequent transfer of any rotation of said modular rotatable element to at least one additional modular rotatable element which is operatively associated with a rotatable bit (9) which controls lever mechanisms associated with the spring latch and sliding latches of an installation door leaf.

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