Cylinder lock

Abstract

A cylinder lock with a key plug rotatably mounted in the cylinder shell is described. The key plug has a plurality of tumblers that are set by the V bits of a key inserted in the key plug. The key is cut at three different levels and cut at three different angles. Each tumbler in the key plug may be positioned by the properly bitted key reciprocally to clear the shear line and also positioned rotationally to allow the fence to be cammed out of engagement with the cylinder shell. The key plug may then be rotated. A side bar cylinder lock is also described with the same key cut at three different levels and cut at three different angles. The tumblers are positioned reciprocally and rotationally by the properly bitted key to allow the fence to be cammed out of engagement with the cylinder shell. The key plug may then be rotated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a cylinder lock operated by a proper angularly bitted key, a cylinder shell, a key plug rotationally mounted in said cylinder shell to provide a shear line between said cylinder shell and said key plug, at least one tumbler mounted in said key plug to reciprocate and rotate therein as a whole, at least one driver associated with said tumbler positioned by the reciprocal movement of said tumbler upon engagement with the proper bitted key to clear the shear line, and a fence member blockingly associated with said tumbler and shaped so that the rotational positioning of said tumbler upon engagement with the proper bitted key allows said fence to clear the shear line. 
     
     
       2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tumbler has a true gate parallel to the axis of said tumbler, and said fence member is blockingly associated with said true gate of said tumbler and shaped so that the rotational positioning of said tumbler with the proper angularly bitted key allows said fence member to clear the shear line. 
     
     
       3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein means are provided for urging said fence member towards said cylinder shell, and a .[.cammed.]. .Iadd.cam .Iaddend.surface on said fence member normally urged into engagement with said cylinder shell so that upon the proper rotational positioning of said true gates of said tumblers the fence member may be cammed out of engagement with said cylinder shell allowing said fence member to clear the shear line. 
     
     
       4. A cylinder lock and properly angularly bitted key comprising, a cylinder shell, a key plug rotationally mounted in said cylinder shell to form a shear line, a proper angularly bitted key, at least one tumbler reciprocally mounted in said key plug and rotatable therein about an axis, a true gate on said tumbler parallel to the axis of said tumbler, said tumbler and associated driver reciprocally positioned upon engagement with a properly bitted key to clear the shear line, a fence member, said fence member having a first cam surface thereon, a second cam surface on said cylinder shell adapted to cooperate with said first cam surface, means normally urging said fence member towards said cylinder shell so that said first cam surface normally engages said second cam surface, said tumbler shaped to be rotationally positioned upon engagement with said properly angularly bitted key to present said true gate to said fence member so that torque applied to said key plug will cam said fence out of engagement with said cylinder shell. 
     
     
       5. A cylinder lock having a cylinder shell, a key plug rotationally mounted in said cylinder shell, a key with bits formed so that it raises and lowers tumblers and causes rotation of tumblers, at least one tumbler as a whole capable of rotation and .[.rseciprocal.]. .Iadd.reciprocal .Iaddend.movement in said key plug, and a fence member, said tumbler shaped in its rotatable position to either block or free said fence. 
     
     
       6. A cylinder lock, a cylinder shell, a key plug rotatably mounted in said cylinder shell to provide a shear line between said cylinder shell and said key plug, a key shaped with bits formed so that its raises and lowers tumblers and causes rotation of tumblers, at least one tumbler reciprocally mounted in said key plug and rotatably mounted therein about an axis, said tumbler having a first true gates thereof parallel to the axis of said tumbler, a second true gate perpendicular to the axis of said tumbler, and a fence member blockingly associated with said tumbler and shaped so that the rotation and reciprocal positioning of said tumbler upon engagement with the proper shaped key allows said fence to clear the shear line. 
     
     
       7. A key blade having a longitudinal axis of insertion, said key .Iadd.blade .Iaddend.having a plurality of V-shaped cuts, at least one V-shaped cut .[.perpendicular.]. .Iadd.perpendicularly .Iaddend.cut across the longitudinal axis of said key blade, and at least one V-shaped cut skew cut across the longitudinal axis of said key blade. 
     
     
       8. A lock, a key having a longitudinal axis of insertion, said key having a plurality of V-shaped cuts of variable depths, said V-shaped cuts .[.perpendicular.]. .Iadd.perpendicularly .Iaddend.and skew cut across the longitudinal axis of said key, .[.primary.]. said lock including a .Iadd.primary .Iaddend.locking means activated by the perpendicular and skew cuts of said V-shaped cuts. 
     
     
       9. A tumbler, said tumbler having a cylindrical body, a chisel shaped lower portion, and a true gate thereon parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tumbler, said true gate oriented to said chisel shaped lower portion. 
     
     
       10. The tumbler claimed in claim 9 wherein there is a second true gate thereon .[.perpendicular.]. .Iadd.perpendicular .Iaddend.to the longitudinal axis of said tumbler. .Iadd. 11. A cylinder lock having a cylinder shell, a key plug rotationally mounted in said cylinder shell, a key with a plurality of bits including at least one skew cut bit formed so that it raises and lowers pin tumblers and causes rotation of said pin tumblers, at least one said pin tumbler as a whole capable of rotation and reciprocal movement about its own longitudinal axis in said key plug, and a fence member, said tumbler shaped in its rotational position to either block or free said fence. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A key blade as defined in claim 7 wherein there are a plurality of skew cuts. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A cylinder lock as in claim 5 wherein the key bits include skew cut bits. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A cylinder lock as in claim 5 wherein the tumblers are pin tumblers and their rotation and reciprocal movement is about their longitudinal axis. .Iaddend.