Key and lock assemblies

A key is positioned in a lock assembly,

• the key assembly, comprising:
• a key blade, the key blade having a first surface and a second surface, the key blade configured to be inserted into the lock;
• an aperture in the key blade, the aperture having an axis;
• a cap having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the first surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture;
• and
• a base having an outer surface captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the second surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture;
• wherein the base is biased away from the cap;
• the lock assembly having a barrel, a column extending from the barrel, and a cylinder configured to rotate within the barrel, the cylinder including a guide way;
• the column having an aperture configured to receive the sliding movement of a first pin housing, the first pin housing configured to receive the sliding movement of a first pin;
• the cylinder including a cylinder aperture configured to receive the sliding movement of a second pin housing, the second pin housing configured to receive the sliding movement of a second pin, the first pin being inwardly biased against the second pin so as to place the first pin in the cylinder aperture when the key assembly is not positioned in the lock assembly;
• the key assembly configured to outwardly bias and move the cap or the base against the first pin when the key assembly is positioned in the lock assembly so that the second pin and the second pin housing are located inside the cylinder and the first pin and first pin housing are located outside of the cylinder.

In combination;

• a key assembly comprising:
• a key blade, the key blade having a first surface and a second surface, the key blade configured to be inserted into a mating lock;
• an aperture in the key blade, the aperture having an axis;
• a cap having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the first surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture;
• and
• a base having an outer surface captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the second surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture;
• wherein the base is biased away from the cap;
• and
• a mating lock assembly, the lock assembly having a barrel, a column extending from the barrel, and a cylinder configured to rotate within the barrel, the cylinder including a guide way;
• the column having an aperture configured to receive the sliding movement of a first pin housing, the first pin housing configured to receive the sliding movement of a first pin;
• the cylinder including a cylinder aperture configured to receive the sliding movement of a second pin housing, the second pin housing configured to receive the sliding movement of a second pin, the first pin being inwardly biased against the second pin so as to place the first pin in the cylinder aperture when the key assembly is not positioned in the lock assembly;
• the key configured to outwardly bias and move the cap or the base against the first pin when the key assembly is positioned in the lock assembly so that the second pin and the second pin housing are located inside the cylinder and the first pin and first pin housing are located outside of the cylinder.

A key assembly comprising:

• a key blade, the key blade having a first surface and a second surface, the key blade configured to be inserted into a mating lock;
• two apertures in the key blade, each aperture having an axis;
• captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the first surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture:
• a cap having an outer surface having a ball partially protruding through, wherein the ball is outwardly, axially biased;
• and
• a base having an outer surface captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the second surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture and in which the cap includes at least one lower protrusion having at least one tab and the base having at least one lip, the at least one tab configured to engage the at least one lip to limit the distance the cap and the base may be biased away from each other and wherein the lip and the tab define a circumferential channel configured to engage the aperture in the key blade, thereby limiting the axial motion of the cap, the base or both with respect to the key blade,
• wherein the base is biased away from the cap.