Incorporating multiple security features

[Davis]

This is an idea that has floated around in my head a little bit, and I know there would be stuff like patents and idea ownership and whatnot involved in any actual implementation, but maybe this will get some mental wheels turning.

Basically, my thought is that a high security lock like ASSA or Medeco has 2 main locking features: the pin stack, and a single side-bar (operated by side pins for ASSA, and gates in key pins for Medeco). How likely is it to be feasible that both concepts could be combined into a single lock?

On a typical North American installation, the driver pins are coming into the plug from 12 o'clock on the plug face. What if the lock had one ASSA-like sidebar (operated by side pins) at 9 o'clock, and a second Medeco-like sidebar at 3 o'clock (operated by angled cuts and gates in chisel-tip key pins)?

This is just the example that occurred to me. My basic thought is, how could a lock be designed to be as secure and pick-resistant as possible? One consideration would be, how much benefit would any customer actually see compared to the types of high security already out there?

Discuss and enjoy.

[Joshua904]

With the pins meeting the key at an angle; would this cause issues? Like if the key had a pretty jagged biting, would it snag worst than with the typical 12/6oclock set up?

[MBI]

Yeah, the idea has been discussed before. A combined lock like that would probably be a challenge even for some of the best pickers out there, but still pickable. I know that combination in particular which you mention, is one that xeo is just about dying to try out if they ever decide to make it. Assuming there aren't technical/design issues preventing the manufacture of that sort of Frankenlock.

[Davis]

Joshua904, I don't think you quite understand my first post. My concept was to have 3 locking elements: ASSA-style sidebar at 9 o'clock, plus Medeco-style sidebar at 3 o'clock which is operated by the rotation of pins in a pin tumbler stack at 12 o'clock.

Here's another idea. Mul-T-Lock (AFAIK) uses a dimple-style pin-tumbler lock, using pin-within-a-pin design for added complexity and security. The keys are reversible, meaning that if you lay the key flat, half the longitudinal section of the key does not have the dimple cuts in it. Possibly the key could be made thick enough to accommodate, in this non-dimple-cut portion, a laser-milled groove to operate finger-pins and a sidebar (like the sidebar in Scorpion CX-5 locks).

As I think of these things I'm trying to keep them the sort of design that could still be implemented in something as small as a KIK design.

[mh]

Regarding the Mul-T-Lock proposal, that's feasible - see e.g. http://www.mul-t-lock.com/en/site/mul-t ... /mt5--mt5/ or similar locks.