Reversible Flat Key Asymmetric Walls Cylinder Lock Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional locks and keys have limitations such as easy duplication of key blanks, limited combinations, and potential incorrect unlocking due to passive lock structure, leading to increased complexity and security risks.
Innovation Solution
A reversible flat key and cylinder lock design featuring a cylindrical stator with movable counter pins, a rotor with axial slit, and a key with a longitudinal lance having specific encryption craters and a tapered end, which interacts with pins and counter pins to enable secure rotation and insertion, making key duplication difficult and increasing combinations without adding complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional key blanks are used with simple encryption, then key duplication is easy, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The key features asymmetric stepped walls (first wall higher than second wall) with encryption craters positioned specifically on the first wall. This asymmetric structure prevents simple duplication because copying apparatus must replicate the exact height differential and crater positioning, which is not achievable with traditional single-level key blanks
Solution Approach 2:
The key's encryption structure is segmented into multiple functional elements: the first flat longitudinal wall with encryption craters, the second lowered flat longitudinal wall, and the connecting oblique wall. This segmentation creates a multi-level encryption system that increases duplication complexity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
2Reliability
If the number of pins is increased to increase combinations, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the number of pins (adding more elements in the same dimension), the invention adds a vertical dimension to the key structure with stepped walls at different heights. The first wall extends higher than the second wall, creating elevation differences that interact with pins to generate additional combination possibilities without adding more pins to the lock mechanism
3Ease of operation
If passive type lock structure is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to incorrect unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting oblique wall is designed to preliminarily raise the pins during key insertion before the key reaches its final position. This preliminary action ensures that pins are properly positioned and engaged with the rotor's encryption features before rotation can occur, preventing incorrect unlocking while maintaining the passive lock's operational simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
Reversible flat key for a cylinder lock (2), where the lock (2) comprises a cylindrical stator (3) that has a plurality of counter pins (7), a cylindrical rotor (4) that has a plurality of pins (6), each pin (6) being configured and arranged to interact with a corresponding counter pin (7) to enable the rotation of the rotor (4), where the lance (11) of the key (1) has in each primary face thereof (14) a first flat longitudinal wall (16) and a second flat longitudinal wall (17) that is parallel and lowered with respect to the first wall (16), the first wall (16) having a series of encryption elements (19) that follow in the longitudinal direction of the lance (11), the encryption elements (19) being configured and arranged to interact with corresponding pins (6) of the rotor (4) to enable the rotation of the rotor (4), the second wall (17) being configured and arranged to cooperate with a corresponding special pin (20) of the rotor (4) to enable the rotation of the rotor (4) or to enable the complete insertion of the key (1) into the slit (8) of the rotor (4).