Flexible key and lock assembly
OwnerYun-Tung Hsuinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lock assembly includes a lock body having tumbler members and a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in the curved keyway and having key bit projections for actuating the tumbler members. The flexible key has a degree of stiffness sufficient enough to allow said key to be inserted into said curved keyway.
Claims19
A key for use with a lock assembly comprising a lock body having tumbler members and a keyway curved along its longitudinal extent said key being flexible to be received in said keyway and useful for actuating said tumbler members, wherein said key has:
- an inner end;
- an outer end;
- and
- a plurality of one piece knuckles being hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, with adjacent knuckles being turnable relative to one another about individual axes, said individual axes being parallel to each other, some of said knuckles incorporating key bit projections for actuating said tumbler members.
A lock assembly comprising a lock body having tumbler members, a keyway curved along its longitudinal extent, and a flexible key to be received in said keyway useful for actuating said tumbler member, wherein said key has:
- an inner end;
- an outer end;
- and
- a plurality of one piece knuckles being hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, with adjacent knuckles being turnable relative to one another about individual axes, said individual axes being parallel to each other, some of said knuckles incorporating key bit projections.
A lock assembly comprising a lock body having tumbler members, a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in said keyway useful for actuating said tumbler members, wherein said key has:
- an inner end;
- an outer end;
- and
- a plurality of knuckles being hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, with adjacent knuckles being turnable relative to one another about individual axes, said individual axes being parallel to each other, some of said knuckles incorporating key bit projections;
- a hollow head portion;
- and
- a plurality of hollow sections telescopically connected to said hollow head portion to serve as housing for said hinged knuckles, said hollow head portion having an elongated slide groove, one of said knuckles adjacent said inner end having a protruding button slidably engaged in said elongated groove.
A lock assembly comprising a lock body having tumbler members and a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in said keyway and useful for actuating said tumbler members, wherein:
- an inner end and an outer end,
- a plurality of knuckles movably interconnected to one another to give said key a degree of stiffness sufficient to allow said key to be inserted into said keyway, said plurality of knuckles being hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, some of said knuckles being formed with key bit projections,
- a hollow head portion, and
- a plurality of hollow sections telescopically connected to said hollow head portion to serve as housing for said hinged knuckles when said key is not in use, said hollow head portion having an elongated slide groove, one of said knuckles adjacent said inner end having a protruding button slidably engaged in said elongated slide groove.
A lock assembly comprising a lock body having tumbler members and a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in said keyway and useful for actuating said tumbler members, said key having an inner end, an outer end, and a plurality of knuckles hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, some of said knuckles being formed with key bit projections, said knuckles giving said key a degree of stiffness sufficient to allow said key to be inserted into said keyway, said key further comprising a hollow head portion and a plurality of hollow sections telescopically connected to said hollow head portion to serve as a housing for said hinged knuckles when said key is not in use, said hollow head portion having an elongated slide groove, one of said knuckles adjacent to said inner end having a protruding button slidably engaged in said elongated groove.
A key for use in a lock assembly with a curved keyway, wherein said key has
- an inner end and an outer end,
- a plurality of knuckles movably interconnected to one another to give said key a degree of stiffness sufficient to allow said key to be inserted into said keyway, said plurality of knuckles being hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, some of said knuckles being formed with key bit projections.
- a hollow head portion, and
- a plurality of hollow sections telescopically connected to said hollow head portion to serve as housing for said hinged knuckles when said key is not in use, said hollow head portion having an elongated slide groove, one of said knuckles adjacent said inner end having a protruding button slidably engaged in said elongated slide groove.
A key for use with a lock assembly having a curved keyway, said key having an inner end, an outer end, and a plurality of knuckles hinged to one another between said inner and said outer ends, some of said knuckles being formed with key bit projections, said knuckles giving said key a degree of stiffness sufficient to allow said key to be inserted into said keyway, said key further comprising a hollow head portion and a plurality of hollow sections telescopically connected to said hollow head portion to serve as a housing for said hinged knuckles when said key is not in use, said hollow head portion having an elongated slide groove, one of said knuckles adjacent to said inner end having a protruding button slidably engaged in said elongated groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.