Locks – Operating mechanism – Key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-05-15
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Key
C070S398000, C070S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230529
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tools for opening locks without the use of a key and more particularly to a locksmith tool for tubular locks, wherein the tool provides a plurality of probes that are biased by the tumblers and selectively securable in a given position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to locksmith tools, and more particularly, to a picking tool for tubular locks of the type wherein the front end portion of a cylinder is rotatable within a casing and cooperates with the casing to define an annular keyway in which a tubular key is receivable, the key having a series of recesses on its front end that cooperates with spring biased tumblers in the lock which move parallel to the lock axis.
Tubular key locks are frequently used to gain access to coin boxes of vending machines, on switches that control electrical circuits of automobile burglar alarms systems, on coin boxes of gambling instruments, plus numerous other types of equipment. The tubular key that is accepted by the lock of this type is not as readily duplicated as a more conventional flat key intended for a cylinder lock having a slot-like key receiving aperture. Tubular key locks also have the further advantage that they cannot readily be picked by means of conventional picking tools.
Upon occasion, however, there are legitimate reasons for having a tubular key type of lock picked by a locksmith. Traditional picking devices for the tubular type of lock are not efficient, and generally, even the most skilled locksmith will take a substantial period of time to open a tubular type of lock with such a device.
Previously, such picking devices have been designed to fit only one particular type of lock. In actual practice, there are several different sizes of locks with center pin sequences, offset left and offset right pin sequences. Therefore, the picking tools of the prior art are not adaptable to the nonconventional size of tubular lock, or the offset pin sequences.
Almost all tubular cylinder locks at the present time, include seven (7) in number of tumblers. However, there is currently being manufactured a tubular cylinder lock which includes eight (8), or more tumblers.
Tubular key locks, such as those sold under the trademark “ACE” and “GEM”, are frequently used on coin boxes of vending machines and on switches that control the electrical circuits for audible burglar alarm systems.
However, the need still exists for a tool for assisting locksmiths in opening tubular locks. The need also exists for a tool that provides sufficient feedback to an operator to assist in locating the shear points of the tumblers in the lock. A further need exists for a tool that can retain a tumbler in a given position, wherein the shear point is located in an opening position of the lock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a locksmith tool for the selectively opening a tubular key type, wherein the lock can be opened relatively quickly and without extensive training.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool whereby torsional force can be applied to the cylinder of a tubular key type of lock simultaneous with the application of axial force to each of the tumbler drivers of the lock, so that the tumblers can be individually depressed against the bias of the respective springs, until each tumbler driver and its tumbler are brought to a position in which their adjacent ends are in the line of shear of the lock. It is a further object of the present invention to maintain a tumbler driver in an openable position with respect to the shear line, while the shear line of the remaining tumblers is determined.
The present invention provides a plurality of probes that can be individually manipulated, wherein the individual motion includes a coarse and a fine adjustment, such that the shear point of each tumbler can be easily, individually and efficiently determined. Once the shear point is determined, the probe may be fixed in the desired position.
The present invention includes a tool for picking a lock, including a main housing having a lock end, a manipulator end and a plurality of pathways having a first opening at the manipulator end and a second opening at the lock end; and a plurality of throw controls connected to the housing, each throw control including; (i) a threaded barrel sized to engage a corresponding threaded section on the housing; (ii) an elongate flexible probe sized to be slideably received through the pathway and a length of the barrel; (iii) a plunger connected to the probe; (iv) a retaining cap threadingly engaged to the barrel to capture a portion of the plunger therebetween, the retaining cap movable with respect to the barrel to locate the plunger relative to the barrel, and hence, probe relative to a corresponding tumbler. The throw control thus provides a limited amount of longitudinal displacement of the probe, as well as longitudinally shifting the location of the throw.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2059376 (1936-11-01), Lombardo
patent: 2070342 (1937-02-01), Tarrie
patent: 2595267 (1952-05-01), Julliard
patent: 2655808 (1953-10-01), Wilson
patent: 3149487 (1964-09-01), Martin
patent: 3251206 (1966-05-01), Gruber
patent: 3270538 (1966-09-01), Kerr
patent: 3330141 (1967-07-01), Greenwald
patent: 3808853 (1974-05-01), Helenurm
patent: 4094176 (1978-06-01), Hughes
patent: 4185482 (1980-01-01), Nail
patent: 4229959 (1980-10-01), Easley
patent: 4517746 (1985-05-01), Easley
patent: 4535546 (1985-08-01), Smith
patent: 4617813 (1986-10-01), Christopher et al.
patent: 4667494 (1987-05-01), Joosten
patent: 5172578 (1992-12-01), Bitzios
patent: 5224365 (1993-07-01), Dobbs
patent: 5325691 (1994-07-01), Embry
Gall Lloyd A.
Harter Secrest & Emery
Salai Esq. Stephen B.
Shaw Esq. Brian B.
LandOfFree
Tool for tubular key locks does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tool for tubular key locks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tool for tubular key locks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2474770