Programmable cylinder lock not requiring a specific change key
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorAlberto Loreti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reprogrammable lock cylinder including a stator, a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator, a tumbler assembly mounted in the rotor and operable to permit rotation of the rotor when a first key is inserted into the rotor, the tumbler assembly having a reprogramming state in which the tumbler assembly is operable to be reprogrammed by a second key to match the second key, and an insert configured to cause the tumbler assembly to adopt the reprogramming state in response to presentation of a magnetic tool to the rotor, and to prevent the tumbler assembly from adopting the reprogramming position in absence of the magnetic tool.
Claims24
A reprogrammable cylinder lock, comprising:
- a stator;
- a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator and comprising a keyhole configured to receive a key;
- a plurality of key followers movable in corresponding seats in the rotor so as to adapt to a key profile;
- a plurality of toothed pins carried by the rotor and movable between a first position in which the rotor rotates inside the stator and a second position in which rotation of the rotor is prevented, wherein the key followers and the toothed pins are movable between:
- a disengaged position in which the key followers move linearly in the seats with respect to the toothed pins to adapt to a different key profile, the disengaged position associated with a reprogramming configuration of the lock;
- and
- an engaged position with the toothed pins and the key followers coupled to move together along the seats;
- a change bar coupled with the key followers and movable to a reprogramming position to disengage the key followers from the toothed pins in the reprogramming configuration of the lock;
- and
- a stop movable between an advanced position in which the change bar is locked so that the key followers and the toothed pins are engaged, and a retracted position in which the change bar is transitioned into the reprogramming position;
- and
- wherein the stop comprises a first magnetic material and is configured to adopt the retracted position in response to approach of a second magnetic material.
A reprogrammable lock cylinder, comprising:
- a stator;
- a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator;
- a tumbler pair comprising a key follower and a toothed pin, the tumbler pair having:
- an engaged state in which the key follower and the toothed pin are engaged with one another;
- and
- a disengaged state in which the key follower and the toothed pin are disengaged from one another;
- and
- an insert having a first position and a second position;
- wherein, with the insert in the first position, the tumbler pair is retained in the engaged state;
- wherein, with the insert in the second position, the tumbler pair is operable to move to the disengaged state;
- and
- wherein the insert is configured to move from the first position to the second position in response to approach of a magnetic material toward the insert.
A reprogrammable lock cylinder, comprising:
- a stator;
- a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator;
- a tumbler assembly mounted in the rotor, the tumbler assembly operable to permit rotation of the rotor when a first key is inserted into the rotor, the tumbler assembly having a reprogramming state in which the tumbler assembly is operable to be reprogrammed by a second key to match the second key;
- and
- an insert configured to cause the tumbler assembly to adopt the reprogramming state in response to presentation of a magnetic material to the rotor, and to prevent the tumbler assembly from adopting the reprogramming state in absence of the magnetic-tool material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.