Locks – Portable – Padlocks
Patent
1981-07-09
1984-01-24
Wolfe, Robert L.
Locks
Portable
Padlocks
70404, 70408, E05B 6736
Patent
active
044268602
ABSTRACT:
A lock and key combination in which the lock is of the plunger operated type and the key has elongated resilient fingers with a mandrel for expanding the ends of the fingers in an engagable portion of the lock plunger. The head of the lock is provided with a central recess, and the head of the key is provided with a forwardly extending spacer at the base of the fingers for entering the recess and axially positioning the ends of the fingers in relation to the engagable portion of the plunger. The structure of the interface between the lock and key allows the manufacture of locks and keys of various combinations, determined by the cross-sectional shape of the spacer and recess, and of various "levels" determined by the length of the spacer and the depth of the recess. In a lock and key of a higher "level" the spacer is longer, the recess is deeper, the resilient fingers are longer, and the engagable portion of the lock plunger is deeper in the lock housing. This structure insures that a key of one "level" cannot operate a lock of a higher "level" even if the spacer of the key and the recess of the lock have the same cross-sectional configuration. In one modification of the invention, the key is provided with a head which is axially adjustable to enable the key to open locks of a lower level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2525344 (1950-10-01), Garniss
patent: 4252006 (1981-02-01), Swisher
Ross Robert E.
Wolfe Robert L.
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