Rotatable magnetic tumbler and magnetic lock containing same

In a rotatable magnetic tumbler system for a magnetic lock, comprising:

• at least one rotatable magnetic tumbler whose rotary orientation about an axis of the tumbler is adjustable by a magnetic key corresponding to a preselected magnetic code, and
• a contacting element engageable with said tumbler upon rotation by said tumbler in response to said code to enable manipulation of the lock by the key,
• the improvement which comprises:
• means for mounting said rotatable magnetic tumbler to permit axial displacement of said tumbler along said axis and in the direction of said axis;
• means for mounting said element in the lock for movement in a direction transverse to said axis and radial of said tumbler upon insertion of a correct key into said lock and proper magnetic alignment of said key with said tumbler in accordance with said code, said tumbler having an axial end juxtaposed with and adapted to bear against said element;
• a projection on said element extending therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement by a distance a;
• and
• means on said tumbler for blocking radial displacement of said element in the event of magnetic action of a key on said tumbler when said key is a wrong key and does not correspond to said code, by magnetic displacement of said tumbler in the direction of said axis toward bearing contact with said element, said means on said tumbler including an edge thereof spaced at a distance b from said axial end adapted to bear upon said element, where b is smaller than a by an amount which is less than a distance c equal to the axial displacement of said tumbler between axial positions thereof when said correct and wrong keys are respectively inserted in said lock.