Profiled key for cylinder locks

Abstract

A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having an elongated key blade with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion. A step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion. The key blade includes a longitudinal profile groove located adjacent to the step-like transition region that extends along at least a portion of the length of the blade. An inner wall of groove is substantially parallel to a side surface of the lower portion of the key blade. The longitudinal profile groove includes an undercut portion adjacent to and inside a ridge portion of the key blade. The outside of ridge portion forms a part of the side surface of the blade in the relatively wide lower portion up to the step-like transition region and the inside of ridge portion facing inner wall of the groove.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key comprising:
 an elongated key blade ( 120 ) with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion, there being a step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion,   said key blade ( 120 ) having a longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) located adjacent to said step-like transition region and extending along at least a portion of the length of the key blade, with an inner wall ( 124 ) of said groove being oriented substantially in parallel to or at a small angle, no more than 15°, to a side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said key blade,   said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) having, at a lower part thereof, an undercut portion ( 129 ) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion ( 128 ) of the key blade, the outside of said ridge portion forming a part of said side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of the key blade, in said relatively wide lower portion up to said step-like transition region ( 142 ), and the inside of said ridge portion facing said inner wall of said groove,   said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) defining, at an upper part thereof, a width (w), perpendicularly to said side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said key blade, between an upper wall ( 144 ) and said ridge portion ( 128 ),   wherein   said undercut portion ( 129 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ), at its innermost part inside said ridge portion ( 128 ), is extended or expanded downwardly, in a direction which is substantially parallel to said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade, into a longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) having a uniform width with opposite substantially parallel lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) and a lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ), which is substantially flat or slightly curved, and which is substantially parallel to a lower edge portion ( 127 ) of the key blade and faces upwardly in a direction being parallel to central plane (A) of the key blade towards said upper wall ( 144 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) with said opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) of said pocket ( 135 ) being substantially parallel to said side surface ( 123 ) of the flat key blade ( 120 ).   
     
     
       2. The key as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is greater than the distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) of said groove and said lower edge surface ( 127 ) of the key blade. 
     
     
       3. The key as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pocket ( 135 ) has a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The key as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) merges with one of said opposite lateral walls portions ( 132 ,  133 ) of said pocket. 
     
     
       5. The key as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ), measured in a plane of said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade ( 120 ), is more than half of the smallest width (w) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) adjacent to said side surface ( 123 ), said smallest width (w) being measured as a perpendicular projection onto said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       6. The key as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is equal to or greater than said smallest width (w). 
     
     
       7. The key as defined in  claim 1 , constituting a key blank with a continuous upper edge portion configured so as to permit coded recesses to be cut therein. 
     
     
       8. The key as defined in  claim 1 , having coded recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) cut into said ridge portion ( 128 ), so as to form a side code on the key blade, said side code recesses being configured to cooperate with at least one side tumbler ( 105 ) in an associated lock. 
     
     
       9. The key as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like, longitudinal code pattern. 
     
     
       10. The key as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said ridge portion ( 128 ), so that the side code recesses reach all the way from the outside surface ( 123 ) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) into said longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) of the undercut profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       11. The key as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion ( 128 ) down to various levels between said upper edge and the lowermost part of said longitudinally extending pocket ( 135 ). 
     
     
       12. The key as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) form concavities with lower bottom portions located at a number of different levels, each representing a code. 
     
     
       13. The key as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said different levels also include an uppermost level at the upper edge ( 102 f) of said ridge portion ( 128 ). 
     
     
       14. The key as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the number of different levels is at least three. 
     
     
       15. The key as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove and the adjoining longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) are located at a depth from said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade ( 120 ) which is greater than half the thickness of said key blade. 
     
     
       16. A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key comprising:
 an elongated one piece key blade ( 120 ) with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion, there being a step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion, wherein the wide lower portion extends farther in a lateral direction relative to the upper portion to form the step-like transition,  
 said one piece key blade ( 120 ) having a longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) located adjacent to said step-like transition region and extending along at least a portion of the length of the one piece key blade, with an inner wall ( 124 ) surface of said longitudinal profile groove being oriented substantially in parallel to or at a small angle, no more than 15°, to a to an external side wall surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said one piece key blade, 
 said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) having, at a lower part thereof, an undercut portion ( 129 ) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion ( 128 ) of the one piece key blade, the outside of said ridge portion forming a part of said external side wall surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of the one piece key blade, in said relatively wide lower portion up to said step-like transitionregion ( 142 ), and the inside of said ridge portion facing being opposite said inner wall surface of said longitudinal profile groove, 
 said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) defining, at an upper part thereof, a defines, above said lower part with said undercut portion, an opening vertical width (w), perpendicularly as measured along a vertical direction (VD) in parallel to said external side wall surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said one piece key blade, between an upper wall ( 144 ) surface of said longitudinal profile groove and said ridge portion( 128 ), 
 wherein 
 said undercut portion of said longitudinal profile groove extends downwardly substantially in a vertical direction (VD) in parallel to said external side wall surface of said one piece key blade, 
 said undercut portion ( 129 ) of said longitudinal profile groove( 122 ), at its innermost part the inside of said ridge portion ( 128 ), is extended or and expanded downwardly, in a direction which is substantially parallel to said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade, substantially in said vertical direction (VD) into a longitudinal substantially bulbous widened pocket ( 135 ) having a larger width relative to the longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ), than a narrower part of said undercut portion, 
 said bulbous longitudinal widened pocket ( 135 ) being is formed by opposite inner and outer lateral wall surface portions ( 132 ,  133 ) and a lowermost transverse end wall surface, 
 said inner lateral wall surface portion is connected to said inner wall surface of the longitudinal profile groove, 
 the lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) which is slightly curved and surface faces upwardly in a vertical direction of a central plane (A) of the key blade towards said upper wall ( 144 ) surface of said longitudinal profile groove( 122 ), and 
 at least a part of one said opposite lateral wall surface portions of the longitudinal widened pocket is a circular arc. 
 
     
     
       17. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the a vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is greater than the a distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) surface of said groove and said lower a lowermost edge wall surface ( 127 ) of the one piece key blade. 
     
     
       18. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein at least one a part of both of said opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) is curved are circular arcs. 
     
     
       19. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ′,  134 ″) of said pocket ( 135 ) is curved with a radius being more than half of the width of said pocket, said width being measured transversely to said side surface ( 123 ) of said key blade ( 120 ). 
     
     
       20. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) merges with one of said opposite lateral walls portions ( 132 ,  133 ) of said pocket. 
     
     
       21. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ), measured in a plane of said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade ( 120 ), is more than half of the smallest width (w) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) adjacent to said side surface ( 123 ), said smallest width (w) being measured as a perpendicular projection onto said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       22. The key as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is equal to or greater than said smallest width (w). 
     
     
       23. The key as defined in  claim 16 , constituting wherein the one piece key blade is formed from a key blank with a continuous upper edge portion configured so as to permit coded recesses to be cut therein. 
     
     
       24. The key as defined in  claim 16 , having coded recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) cut into said ridge portion( 128 ), so as to form a side code on the one piece key blade, said side code recesses being configured to cooperate with at least one side tumbler ( 105 ) in an associated lock. 
     
     
       25. The key as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like, longitudinal code pattern. 
     
     
       26. The key as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said ridge portion( 128 ), so that the side code recesses reach all the way from the outside external side wall surface ( 123 ) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) into said longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) of the undercut profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       27. The key as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion ( 128 ) down to various levels between said upper edge and the lowermost part of said longitudinally extending pocket( 135 ). 
     
     
       28. The key as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) form concavities with lower bottom portions located at a number of different levels, each representing a code. 
     
     
       29. The key as defined in claim  28  27, wherein said different various levels also include an uppermost level at the upper edge ( 1020  of said ridge portion( 128 ). 
     
     
       30. The key as defined in claim  28  27, wherein the number of different various levels is at least three. 
     
     
       31. The key as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the inner wall ( 124 ) surface of said longitudinal profile groove and the adjoining longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) are is located at a depth from said side distance from said external side wall surface ( 123 ) of the lower portion of said one piece key blade ( 120 ) which is greater than half the a thickness of said one piece key blade. 
     
     
       32. A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having a profiled key way, said key comprising:
 an elongated key blade ( 120 ) with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion, there being a step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion,   said key blade ( 120 ) having a longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) located adjacent to said step-like transition region and extending along at least a portion of the length of the key blade, with an inner wall ( 124 ) of said groove being oriented substantially in parallel to or at a small angle, no more than 15°, to a side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said key blade,   said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) having, at a lower part thereof, an undercut portion ( 129 ) adjacent to and inside a ridge portion ( 128 ) of the key blade, the outside of said ridge portion forming a part of said side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of the key blade, in said relatively wide lower portion up to said step-like transition region ( 142 ), and the inside of said ridge portion facing said inner wall of said groove,   said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) defining, at an upper part thereof, a width (w), perpendicularly to said side surface ( 123 ) of said lower portion of said key blade, between an upper wall ( 144 ) and said ridge portion ( 128 ),   wherein   said undercut portion ( 129 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ), at its innermost part inside said ridge portion ( 128 ), is extended or expanded downwardly, in a direction which is substantially parallel to said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade, into a longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) having at least one longitudinal recess formed in at least one of the opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) and a lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ), said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) being substantially flat or slightly curved, and being substantially parallel to a lower edge portion ( 127 ) of the key blade and faces upwardly in a direction being parallel to central plane (A) of the key blade towards said upper wall ( 144 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) with said opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) of said pocket ( 135 ) being substantially parallel to said side surface ( 123 ) of the flat key blade ( 120 ).   
     
     
       33. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is greater than the distance (d) between said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) of said groove and said lower edge surface ( 127 ) of the key blade. 
     
     
       34. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ,  133 ) is curved. 
     
     
       35. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ′,  134 ″) of said pocket ( 135 ) is curved with a radius being more than half of the width of said pocket, said width being measured transversely to said side surface ( 123 ) of said key blade ( 120 ). 
     
     
       36. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said at least one longitudinal recess formed in at least one of the opposite lateral wall portions ( 132 ) and said lowermost transverse end wall ( 134 ) is provided with an irregular surface portion ( 132 c,  134 c). 
     
     
       37. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) merges with one of said opposite lateral walls portions ( 132 ,  133 ) of said pocket. 
     
     
       38. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ), measured in a plane of said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade ( 120 ), is more than half of the smallest width (w) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ) adjacent to said side surface ( 123 ), said smallest width (w) being measured as a perpendicular projection onto said inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       39. The key as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said vertical dimension (h) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) is equal to or greater than said smallest width (w). 
     
     
       40. The key as defined in  claim 32 , constituting a key blank with a continuous upper edge portion configured so as to permit coded recesses to be cut therein. 
     
     
       41. The key as defined in  claim 32 , having coded recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) cut into said ridge portion ( 128 ), so as to form a side code on the key blade, said side code recesses being configured to cooperate with at least one side tumbler ( 105 ) in an associated lock. 
     
     
       42. The key as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) forming a side code constitute a wave-like, longitudinal code pattern. 
     
     
       43. The key as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut into the whole material thickness of said ridge portion ( 128 ), so that the side code recesses reach all the way from the outside surface ( 123 ) of said ridge portion ( 128 ) into said longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) of the undercut profile groove ( 122 ). 
     
     
       44. The key as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) are cut from an upper edge of the ridge portion ( 128 ) down to various levels between said upper edge and the lowermost part of said longitudinally extending pocket ( 135 ). 
     
     
       45. The key as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said side code recesses ( 102 a . . .  102 e) form concavities with lower bottom portions located at a number of different levels, each representing a code. 
     
     
       46. The key as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said different levels also include an uppermost level at the upper edge ( 102 f) of said ridge portion ( 128 ). 
     
     
       47. The key as defined in  claim 45 , wherein the number of different levels is at least three. 
     
     
       48. The key as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the inner wall ( 124 ) of said longitudinal profile groove and the adjoining longitudinal pocket ( 135 ) are located at a depth from said side surface ( 123 ) of the key blade ( 120 ) which is greater than half the thickness of said key blade.