Barrel lock with baffle washer and key therefor

Abstract

A barrel lock and a key for locking and unlocking the barrel lock. The lock has a hollow barrel with a spring loaded plunger that reciprocates within the bore of the barrel. A recess is provided in an axial blind bore formed in the rear end of the plunger, the recess defining a gripping surface for unlocking the barrel lock. A spring loaded baffle washer having a key central aperture is positioned within the barrel bore rearwardly of the plunger. The baffle washer limits access to the plunger and prevents unauthorized unlocking of the barrel lock. The key has elongated outer expanding fingers and an inner coaxially arranged expander rod. The expanding fingers are sized and shaped so that they can pass entirely through the key central aperture of the baffle washer. When the key is fully inserted into the lock and the key handle is operated, the expanding fingers radially expand and press against the gripping surface in the blind bore. As the handle is operated further, the expanding fingers longitudinally retract to draw the plunger rearwardly permitting the lock to unlock. If an unauthorized key or nail is inserted into the barrel lock, the plunger spring holds the plunger in its forward locking position as the unauthorized key or nail pulls the baffle washer rearwardly, preventing the lock from unlocking.