Lock Key With Movable Element And Broken Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock systems with flat keys, particularly those with combination key means cut into the major sides of the shank, are vulnerable to fraudulent reproduction and break-ins due to low amplitude movements of security elements, making it difficult to maintain effective locking conditions.
Innovation Solution
The key features at least two zones of different thickness, with a movable element in the reduced thickness zone that protrudes more, allowing a greater operational stroke and increased locking effect, and a broken longitudinal profile groove that interacts with the movable element for enhanced security, making it harder to detect and access the security means externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pin or ball is installed through the nominal thickness of the rod with low amplitude movement, then the structure is simple, but the locking conditions become critical and vulnerable to fraudulent reproduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the rod into two zones with different thicknesses: a first zone with nominal thickness and a second zone with reduced thickness. The movable element is specifically positioned in the reduced thickness zone, creating local structural differentiation. This allows the movable element to protrude beyond the nominal thickness face, increasing its operational stroke and improving locking reliability without significantly complicating the overall structure.
2Device complexity
If the movable element has low amplitude movement within nominal thickness, then the device complexity is low, but the locking effect is weak and facilitates burglar action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the movable element's operational dimension by positioning it in a reduced thickness zone that protrudes beyond the nominal thickness face of the rod. This creates an additional dimensional space for the movable element to travel, increasing its stroke from minimal movement within the nominal thickness to significant protrusion beyond the face, thereby enhancing the locking effect.
3Volume of moving object
If safety pins are positioned at the tip of the rod with minimal movement, then the structure is compact, but the conditions for locking are critical and easy to replicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a local reduced thickness zone within the rod structure where the movable element is positioned. This local modification allows the movable element to protrude beyond the nominal thickness face, increasing its operational stroke and creating more complex locking conditions that are harder to replicate, while maintaining overall structural compactness.
4Ease of manufacture
If the groove for key insertion is straight and uniform, then manufacturing is simple, but the movable element cannot achieve greater operational stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is segmented into different sections: an initial straight portion for key insertion and a subsequent broken profile portion that interacts with the protruding movable element. This segmentation allows the groove to maintain manufacturing simplicity in the initial section while providing the complex broken profile needed in the interaction zone to enable greater operational stroke of the movable element.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~7
AI summary
A slot of a rotating piece for insertion of the blade (2) has a recessed longitudinal profile where the size of the recesses is equal to excess dimension of the displaceable piece (5) with respect to the thickness of the zone of reduced thickness (2b). The rotating piece has a radial pivot that is diametrally aligned with the security pin capable of ensuring locking and releasing rotation of the rotating piece. A radial pivot (8) protrudes inside the slot at an amount equal to excess dimension of the displaceable piece with respect to the reduced zone. The displaceable piece remains situated between the radial pivot and the security pin keyed with the security counter pin (10) when the key is fully inserted inside the slot.