Idea to improve locks

[jedidove]

Hey, sorry if this has been posted before but I couldn't find it. I just had this idea.

What if around the cylinder of a lock instead of one housing with drivers and springs there was a whole bunch. That way every few degrees of a turn the pins would have to be re-aligned with the shear line. If the correct key was inserted this wouldn't be a problem, it could smoothly turn. However, if you were to attempt to pick it, you would have to pick it numerous times to turn it all the way around.

I modified one of Deviant Ollam's illustrations to show a rough example of this idea. Obviously there could be more or less additional pin stacks and they could be at different angles.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4139/mplockov7.jpg

To ensure that the key isn't removed in other positions there could be a path in the back of the keyway for a ward at the end of the key that would let it slide out only in the normal position.

Now add security pins to these stacks. Then add some form of sidebar. And so on.

Use your imagination. There's plenty to be done but the point is this is a single level of security that when developed could be annoying as !@#$ and very time consuming for pickers.

Elaborate!

[PickPick]

Your picture shows a cross of a normal pin tumbler with a multi-level dimple lock. So if you imagine this with several rows of core pins instead of just one, it's already being manufactured. Also some cruciform locks employ additional "alarm pins" that work this way, if you turn the lock without a key being present it's blocked at ~45° and an alarm is activated. And the "boobytrapped" cylinders designed by Klaus Noch work this way, too, although he employs very strong springs in the additional chambers to prevent the lock from functioning any further.

That's why you use impressioning

[Schuyler]

...that way every few degrees of a turn the pins would have to be re-aligned with the shear line. If the correct key was inserted this wouldn't be a problem, it could smoothly turn. However, if you were to attempt to pick it, you would have to pick it numerous times to turn it all the way around.

This is exactly what happens with tubular locks.

[jedidove]

Yea, I already considered how impressioning would work.

I guess its been done though.

This is probably the result of reminisces of similar locks floating through my head when I posted this (a little after I woke up). Sorry, the idea wasn't thought through as much as it should have been

[Schuyler]

Yea, I already considered how impressioning would work.

I guess its been done though.

This is probably the result of reminisces of similar locks floating through my head when I posted this (a little after I woke up). Sorry, the idea wasn't thought through as much as it should have been

Nah, I bounced ideas off of Zeke79 for weeks before I came up with one that was new and somewhat reasonable (which Mul-T-Lok now seems to be developing something extraordinarily close to, which is both validating and frustrating) It's good to shout your ideas to the world, even if they get shouted back at you. You'll eventually stumble on one that's unique and useful.

[PickPick]

Sorry, the idea wasn't thought through as much as it should have been

It's a good idea and you even put some thought into it, so there's no need to apologize. And just because some regulars already know about it doesn't mean that it's not a new idea and food for thought for the majority.

One of the main reasons your exact design isn't used is probably that it's rather difficult to machine and assemble, so the effort isn't justified for a regular pin tumbler.

[Schuyler]

One of the main reasons your exact design isn't used is probably that it's rather difficult to machine and assemble, so the effort isn't justified for a regular pin tumbler.

Additionally, one of the big considerations for new lock design is "will it fit into the footprint of today's commercial locks?" As solid an idea is for security, when it comes time to market it to someone, they'll want an infrastructure already there for installation, if your lock is oversized, it can make it less desirable from a marketing and practicality standpoint.