US3801755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key cylinder and electrical switch
Assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
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Filing: 1973-05-03
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1993-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A key cylinder housing has an upper pin therein. A cylinder plug is rotatable in the housing and contains an adjacent pin which may be a master pin or a lower pin arranged to align with the upper pin in one rotated position of the plug in the housing. A key inserted in a keyway in the plug displaces the adjacent pin so that the upper and adjacent pins abut at the rotary surfaces of the plug and the cylinder. The plug can then be key rotated in the cylinder, thus moving the abutting pins out of alignment. The plug and the upper pin are electrically conducting while the housing and the adjacent pin are electrically insulating. An electric circuit is completed through the upper pin and the plug when the plug is rotated in order to control an external mechanism in accordance with the operation of the key.
Inventors
- 👤 E Schlage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:32
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B35/00; E05B35/001; H; H01; H01H; H01H27/00; H01H27/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder body of electrically insulating material and formed with a passage therein symmetrical about an axis, a cylinder plug of electrically conducting material disposed in said passage and rotatable about said axis, means defining an upper pin chamber in said body and a lower pin chamber in said plug adapted to align in one rotated position of said plug in said body, an upper pin of electrically conducting material in said upper pin chamber, means for urging said upper pin towards said plug, means in one of said pin chambers and effective in said one position for separating said upper pin from said plug, a source of electrical power, and means for connecting said plug through said source to said upper pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder body of electrically insulating material and formed with a passage therein symmetrical about an axis, a cylinder plug of electrically conducting material disposed in said passage and rotatable about said axis, means defining an upper pin chamber in said body and a lower pin chamber in said plug adapted to align in one rotated position of said plug in said body, an upper pin of electrically conducting material in said upper pin chamber, means for urging said upper pin towards said plug, means in one of said pin chambers and effective in said one position for separating said upper pin from said plug, a source of electrical power, and means for connecting said plug through said source to said upper pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said separating means includes a pin of electrically insulating material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 2 including a lower pin in said lower chamber and in which said pin of electrically insulating material is a master pin disposed between said upper pin and said lower pin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said connecting means includes a brush abutting said plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said plug includes a keyway open to said lower pin chamber and adapted to receive a key engageable with said lower pin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder body formed with a paSsage therein symmetrical about a main axis and having an upper pin chamber therein normal to said main axis, a cylinder plug rotatable in said passage about said main axis and formed with a keyway extending axially therein and with a lower pin chamber therein opening to said keyway and adapted in one rotated position of said plug in said body to align with said upper pin chamber, an upper pin in said upper pin chamber, a lower pin in said lower pin chamber, at least one of said pins being of electrically conducting material and one of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug being of electrically insulating material and containing said electrically conducting pin and the other of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug being of electrically conducting material, an electrical insulator disposed between said upper pin and said lower pin in said one rotated position, a source of electrical power, and means for connecting said source to said other of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug and to said electrically conducting pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder body formed with a paSsage therein symmetrical about a main axis and having an upper pin chamber therein normal to said main axis, a cylinder plug rotatable in said passage about said main axis and formed with a keyway extending axially therein and with a lower pin chamber therein opening to said keyway and adapted in one rotated position of said plug in said body to align with said upper pin chamber, an upper pin in said upper pin chamber, a lower pin in said lower pin chamber, at least one of said pins being of electrically conducting material and one of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug being of electrically insulating material and containing said electrically conducting pin and the other of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug being of electrically conducting material, an electrical insulator disposed between said upper pin and said lower pin in said one rotated position, a source of electrical power, and means for connecting said source to said other of said cylinder body and said cylinder plug and to said electrically conducting pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder housing, an upper pin in said housing, a cylinder plug rotatable in said housing, a lower pin in said plug adapted to be positioned out of and in alignment with said upper pin, a key receivable in said plug for displacing said pins to abut at the rotary surfaces of said plug and said cylinder and for rotating said plug to move said pins into and out of alignment, an electric circuit, and means including said upper pin and said plug for opening and closing said circuit by said rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A key cylinder and electrical switch comprising a cylinder housing, an upper pin in said housing, a cylinder plug rotatable in said housing, a lower pin in said plug adapted to be positioned out of and in alignment with said upper pin, a key receivable in said plug for displacing said pins to abut at the rotary surfaces of said plug and said cylinder and for rotating said plug to move said pins into and out of alignment, an electric circuit, and means including said upper pin and said plug for opening and closing said circuit by said rotation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3742161A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |