The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1998
Peter W Field, Salem, VA (US);
Andrew E Perkins, Lafayette, VA (US);
Medeco Security Locks, Inc., Salem, VA (US);
Abstract
Improved squiggle keys and cylinder locks include a squiggle key groove formed along a first broad surface of the squiggle key and a plurality of bittings formed along a second opposite broad surface of the squiggle key. The cylinder lock includes a plurality of rotatable discs that have groove-following elements that are rotated via the groove on the key. The rotatable discs operate to prevent a plug of the cylinder lock from rotating unless a correct squiggle key is inserted into a keyway in the plug. The bittings formed along the second opposite broad surface of the squiggle key are generally circular and have inner regions with a different depth than outer regions of the bittings. As a result, tumbler pins can be located along the inner and/or outer regions of the bittings which enables increased keying capabilities and variations and which enables a common lock to be operated by keys for different cylinder locks.