Lock picking apparatus

#1) Field of the Invention

#The field of this invention relates to all types of pin tumbler and waffle tumbler locks, including but not limited to vertically spring biased pins and wafers, horizontally spring biased pins and wafers, including single sided and double sided spring biased pins within a lock housing. This also includes locks with and without a shear line, as well as locks that use a locking sidebar. This invention is specifically directed to a specific type of cylindrical lock which utilizes pins within a chamber with those pins to be moved lineally. But also the pins could be pivoted to a shear line position in order to permit opening of a lock. This invention also pertains to a lock of similar construction where the pins within the separate chambers are to not only be moved lineally to a shear line, but also must be pivoted to a shear line in order to permit a sidebar to engage before successfully operating the lock. The latter lock is much more complicated than prior locks and is known as a far more secure type of lock as it has literally thousands of additional combinations available.

#2) Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the motorized version of lock pick of the present invention depicting the interconnection with a lock that is to be picked showing double blades with the alternative use of a single blade not being shown.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through both the lock pick and the lock taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the lock of the present invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

#Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a cylindrical lock 10 which has a cylindrical housing 12. The housing 12 includes a through opening 14. Connecting with the through opening 14 are six in number of cross openings 16. The cross openings 16 are located in an in-line relationship and connect between the exterior sidewall of the cylindrical housing 12 and the through opening 14. The cross openings 16 are radially disposed relative to the longitudinal center axis of the cylindrical housing 12. The cross openings 16 are all of the same size and are also of the same length.

#Mounted within each cross opening 16 is a set screw or plug 18. Interiorly of each plug 18 there is mounted a coil spring 20. Each coil spring 20 is to exert a continuous bias against a lock pin 22. Lock pin 22 is in line with top pin 25 and coil spring 20. It is to be understood that there are six in number of the lock pins 22 with there being an individual lock pin 22 for each coil spring 20. Lock pins 22 are basically identical with the exception that such may, in all probability, vary in length.

#Each lock pin 22 has a flat upper end 24. The upper end 24 of each lock pin 22 is to be in contact with a top pin 25. The abutting surfaces of top pin 25 in conjunction with its respective lock pin 22 establishes a shear line which must be aligned with the interior surface of housing 12 and the exterior surface of plug 30 to permit the lock to open. A coil spring 20 connects with each top pin 25. Formed within the sidewall of each lock pin 22 is a longitudinal groove 26. Each lock pin 22 is to rest within a hole 28 formed within the plug 30. The chambers 28 are located in an in-line arrangement within the plug 30. The chambers 28 are of the same cross sectional size as the cross openings 16. Also, the spacing between the chambers 28 is the same as the spacing between the cross openings 16. Each hole 28 connects with a keyway 32 formed within the plug 30. The bottom end of each lock pin 22 may include beveled surfaces which may form into a chisel tip 34. Each groove 26 is oriented in a specific manner relative to its respective chisel tip 34.