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:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2000
Alan J. Ritz, Brookfield, WI (US);
Kenneth R. Hall, Manitowoc, WI (US);
Strattec Security Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A sidebar for use for automotive locks and all sidebar locks includes an interruption in an edge along the surface to interrupt the inclined plane that is formed when the sidebar becomes canted relative to the longitudinal axis of the lock barrel as the result of the insertion of an incorrectly coded key, in particular a cousin key, into the lock barrel. In one embodiment, the interruption is provided by a gap at or near the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar. The gap is of sufficient size to accommodate the sidebar biasing spring. In another embodiment, the interruption is provided by indenting the sides of the sidebar at the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar. In a further embodiment, the sidebar groove in the sleeve is widened at a location corresponding to the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar.