Key Blade Rib Stop Arrangement for Flexible Cylinder Lock Coding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key blanks and coded keys have limited flexibility in selecting the length and location of the lateral extension of the key blade, restricting the variability of key combinations and making it difficult to create new or backwards-compatible lock and key systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a longitudinal rib portion on the key blade, located at the lateral side of the upper narrow part, allows for variable length and location selection, enhancing flexibility and strength without expanding the key width, enabling new or backwards-compatible lock and key systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a key blank with a groove for receiving a stop is used, then the cylinder lock system achieves improved security and reliability, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stop is nested within the groove of the key blank, with the groove receiving and containing the stop. This nesting arrangement integrates the stop into the key blank structure without requiring separate mounting operations, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through spatial integration rather than additive assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is pre-formed in the key blank during key blank manufacturing, preparing the structure in advance to receive the stop. This preliminary action ensures proper positioning and fit of the stop without requiring complex assembly operations later, thus improving reliability while keeping manufacturing processes manageable.
2Reliability
If a groove is added to the key blank for stop reception, then the cylinder lock system achieves improved security, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is designed with dimensions that provide sufficient tolerance for stop reception without requiring excessive precision. The groove dimensions are specified to be slightly larger than the stop, allowing for reasonable manufacturing tolerances while still achieving secure fit and proper function, thus balancing security requirements with manufacturing capability.
3Reliability
If the stop arrangement is modified to improve security, then the cylinder lock system achieves better reliability, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The key blank is segmented into functional zones: the groove portion for stop reception and the blade portion for cutting codes. This segmentation allows the groove to be formed as a distinct feature using standard manufacturing processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling the security-enhancing stop arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3e
Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
A substantially flat key blade extends from a grip portion along a longitudinal axis and includes a connecting portion adjoining to the grip portion, a major longitudinal bitting portion provided with a row of coded cuts, and a free tip portion. The connecting portion of the key blade is provided with a first selectable abutment surface facing in the forward direction. The first abutment surface is formed as a forward end surface of a longitudinal rib portion located at a lateral side of the upper relatively narrow part of the key blade at a vertical level lying within a vertical range of the bitting portion of the key blade and extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the key blade and being confined longitudinally to the connecting portion of the key blade and confined also within the contour of or slightly laterally outside a rectangle of the key blank.