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An improved disk-tumbler lock and key for use with a gun-lock device includes a key specifically adapted to be ring-mounted so that it may be worn by and is thus available for the user at all times. The particular shape of the key includes those characteristics which would be desirable for such a ke

An improved disk-tumbler lock and key for use with a gun-lock device includes a key specifically adapted to be ring-mounted so that it may be worn by and is thus available for the user at all times. The particular shape of the key includes those characteristics which would be desirable for such a key which will function as a ring for the most part, including a sufficient strength to endure physical abuse resulting from common use as a ring, attractive appearance so that the user would be willing to wear it for extended periods, and an inconspicuous jewelry-like appearance to avoid unwarranted attention. In addition, the particular shape of the key and the mating keyway in the lock assembly are aimed at further improving the speed and reliability at which the key may be inserted into the lock assembly aided only by the user's tactile senses. The physical shape also lends itself to be easily and inexpensively manufactured using various fabrication processes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An axial-pin disk-tumbler lock device in combination with a key comprising:a lock body having a first end, a second end, a bore thru the entire length and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the lock body, a flat face at said first end perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lock body, an

1. An axial-pin disk-tumbler lock device in combination with a key comprising:a lock body having a first end, a second end, a bore thru the entire length and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the lock body, a flat face at said first end perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lock body, and a plurality of at least two recesses disposed in a circular formation about the longitudinal axis of the lock body extending from said flat face a finite depth toward said second end with the longitudinal axes thereof parallel to that of the lock body;a tumbler cylinder adapted to be coaxially rotatable about the longitudinal axis of and with respect to said lock body a partial turn while the correct key is inserted and having a flat distal surface so arranged to abut said flat face of the lock body, a front face on the end opposite that of the flat distal surface, and a plurality of at least two recesses disposed in a circular formation about the longitudinal axis of the tumbler cylinder extending from said flat distal surface a finite depth toward said front face with their longitudinal axes parallel to that of the tumbler cylinder, and the tumbler cylinder defining a first position wherein each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder are individually in axial alignment with each of said plurality of recesses in the lock body;a plurality of at least two pairs of cylindrical members each consisting of a first member and a second member, wherein the first members are of varying lengths and each of the first members are axially disposed within each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder and each of the second members are axially disposed within each of said plurality of recesses in the lock body;a spring behind each of said second members within each of the plurality of recesses in the lock body;a keyway within said tumbler cylinder extending from said front face a finite depth toward said flat distal surface, wherein the cross sectional shape of the keyway comprising a center hole coaxially within the tumbler cylinder and a plurality of radial-outwardly projecting slots individually connecting between said center hole with each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder and physically so proportioned and arranged that it allows the key access into said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder to cooperate with said plurality of pairs of cylindrical members while confining said cylindrical members to within their respective recesses while the key is removed; andan improved key member having a body portion with a substantially flat face so arranged to abut said front face of the tumbler cylinder when the key is fully inserted into said keyway and a key portion projecting outward from and perpendicular to said flat face, wherein the key portion having a cross section shape defining a center pillar part and a plurality of at least two blade parts radial-outwardly projecting therefrom and said blade parts are individually trimmed to predetermined heights above said flat face and are inserted through said slots in said keyway into said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder to cooperate with said plurality of cylindrical members.2. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein:said pairs of cylindrical members and said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder are arranged in such physical proportions that while the tumbler cylinder is at said first position, each of said pairs of cylindrical members are preloaded by each of said springs toward said front face of the tumbler cylinder and result in each of said second members of the pairs of cylindrical members being partially received into each of the plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder while the remaining portions of the second members remain within the plurality of recesses in the lock body, thus, the second members obstruct the tumbler cylinder rotation; andsaid first members of said varying lengths of the pairs of cylindrical members are individually so assigned to each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder, such that when a correct key is correctly inserted through said keyway into the tumbler cylinder each of the pairs of the cylindrical members are displaced toward said second end of the lock body by a precise amount such that the entire portion of each of said first members remain within each of the plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder and the entire portion of each of said second members remain within each of the plurality of recesses in the lock body, thus, none of the first members nor second members obstruct the tumbler cylinder rotation.3. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein:said front face of said tumbler cylinder having a concave feature thereon coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said keyway and said center pillar part of said key portion of said key member having a convex feature at the free-end thereof; andsaid concave and said convex features provide a means for the key member to be quickly guided into axial alignment with the keyway while the key is being inserted into the keyway.4. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1 further including an outer sleeve with a hollow interior for partially shrouding said tumbler cylinder and said lock body, wherein outer sleeve having at its proximal end portion a radial-inwardly stepped rim physically proportioned to contain said tumbler cylinder to within said hollow interior while allowing said flat face of said body portion of said key member access to fully abut said front face of the tumbler cylinder and at its distal end portion an internal groove so arranged for the outer sleeve to be mechanically secured to the lock body using a retaining ring fastener such that the outer sleeve is allowed to be rotated coaxially about the longitudinal axis of the lock body while prevented from being axially moved with respect to or disassembled from the lock body.5. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pairs of cylindrical members consist of five pairs, said plurality of recesses in said tumbler cylinder are five recesses, said plurality of recesses in said lock body are five recesses, said varying lengths of said first members are four lengths in equally divisible increments, said plurality of radially projecting slots of said keyway are five slots, and said plurality of blade parts of said key portion are five blade parts.6. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion and said key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by machining from a one-piece billet material.7. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion and said key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by a metal casting process.8. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion and said key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by an injection molding process using a thermo-plastic material.9. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 1, wherein said key member is arranged to allow it to be mounted onto various substrate bodies for ease of handling, wherein various substrate bodies including a ring member which may be worn on a finger of the user.10. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 9, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into a one-piece unit fabricated by machining from a one-piece billet material.11. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 9, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into a one-piece unit fabricated by a metal casting process.12. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 9, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into a one-piece unit fabricated by an injection molding process using a thermo-plastic material.13. An axial-pin disk-tumbler lock device in combination with a key comprising:a lock body having a first end, a second end, a bore thru the entire length and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the lock body, a flat face at said first end perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lock body, and a plurality of at least two recesses disposed in a circular formation about the longitudinal axis of the lock body extending from said flat face a finite depth toward said second end with the longitudinal axes thereof parallel to that of the lock body;a tumbler cylinder adapted to be coaxially rotatable about the longitudinal axis of and with respect to said lock body a partial turn while the correct key is inserted and having a flat distal surface so arranged to abut said flat face of the lock body, a flat proximal surface on the end opposite that of the flat distal surface, a plurality of at least two recesses disposed in a circular formation about the longitudinal axis of the tumbler cylinder and extending through the entire length of and with their longitudinal axes parallel to that of the tumbler cylinder, and a center recess of substantially circular cross section extending from said flat proximal surface a finite depth toward said flat distal surface and physically proportioned such that its outer periphery breaks into said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder forming rectangular windows each connecting between the center recess and each of said plurality of recesses, and the tumbler cylinder defining a first position wherein each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder are individually in axial alignment with each of said plurality of recesses in the lock body;a plurality of at least two pairs of cylindrical members each consisting of a first member and a second member, wherein the first members are of varying lengths and each of the first members are axially disposed within each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder and each of the second members are axially disposed within each of said plurality of recesses in the lock body;a spring behind each of said second members within each of the plurality of recesses in the lock body;a substantially thin face plate having a front face, a rear surface, and an outer diameter similar to that of the tumbler cylinder, wherein the rear surface is made to abut said flat proximal surface of the tumbler cylinder and said face plate mechanically fastened to the tumbler cylinder for operation in unison therewith;a keyway through the entire thickness and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the face plate wherein the cross sectional shape of the keyway comprising a center hole coaxially within the face plate and a plurality of radial-outwardly projecting slots physically so proportioned and arranged that it allows the key member to be inserted through the keyway to access said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder to cooperate with said plurality of pairs of cylindrical members while confining said cylindrical members to within their respective recesses while the key is removed; andan improved key member having a body portion with a substantially flat face so arranged to abut said front face of said face plate when the key is fully inserted into said keyway and a key portion projecting outward from and perpendicular to said flat face, wherein the key portion having a cross section shape defining a center pillar part and a plurality of at least two blade parts radial-outwardly projecting therefrom and said blade parts are individually trimmed to predetermined heights above said flat face and are inserted through said slots in said keyway into said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder to cooperate with said plurality of cylindrical members.14. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein:said pairs of cylindrical members and said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder are arranged in such physical proportions that while the tumbler cylinder is at said first position, each of said pairs of cylindrical members are preloaded by each of said springs toward said flat proximal surface of the tumbler cylinder and result in each of said second members of the pairs of cylindrical members being partially received into each of the plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder while the remaining portions of the second members remain within the plurality of recesses in the lock body, thus, the second members obstruct the tumbler cylinder rotation; andsaid first members of said varying lengths of the pairs of cylindrical members are individually so assigned to each of said plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder, such that when a correct key is correctly inserted through said keyway into the tumbler cylinder each of the pairs of the cylindrical members are displaced toward said second end of the lock body by a precise amount such that the entire portion of each of said first members remain within each of the plurality of recesses in the tumbler cylinder and the entire portion of each of said second members remain within each of the plurality of recesses in the lock body, thus, none of the first members nor second members obstruct the tumbler cylinder rotation.15. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein:said front face of said face plate having a concave feature thereon coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said keyway and said center pillar part of said key portion of said key member having a convex feature at the free-end thereof; andsaid concave and said convex features provide a means for the key member to be quickly guided into axial alignment with the keyway while the key is being inserted into the keyway.16. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13 further including an outer sleeve with a hollow interior for partially shrouding said tumbler cylinder, said face plate, and said lock body, wherein outer sleeve having at its proximal end portion a radial-inwardly stepped rim physically proportioned to contain said tumbler cylinder to within said hollow interior while allowing said flat face of said body portion of said key member access to fully abut said front face of said face plate and at its distal end portion an internal groove so arranged for the outer sleeve to be mechanically secured to the lock body using a retaining ring fastener such that the outer sleeve is allowed to be rotated coaxially about the longitudinal axis of the lock body while prevented from being axially moved with respect to or disassembled from the lock body.17. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein said plurality of pairs of cylindrical members consist of five pairs, said plurality of recesses in said tumbler cylinder are five recesses, said plurality of recesses in said lock body are five recesses, said varying lengths of said first members are four lengths in equally divisible increments, said plurality of radially projecting slots of said keyway are five slots, and said plurality of blade parts of said key portion are five blade parts.18. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein said body portion and the key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by machining from a one-piece billet material.19. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein said body portion and the key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by a metal casting process.20. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein said body portion and the key portion of said key member are integrated into a one-piece member fabricated by an injection molding process using a thermo-plastic material.21. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 13, wherein said key member is arranged to allow it to be mounted onto various substrate bodies for ease of handling, wherein various substrate bodies including a ring member which may be worn on a finger of the user.22. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 21, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into a one-piece unit fabricated by machining from a one-piece billet material.23. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 21, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into a one-piece unit fabricated by a metal casting process.24. A lock device in combination with a key as recited in claim 21, wherein said key member and said ring member are integrated into one-piece unit fabricated by an injection molding process using a thermo-plastic material.