Padlock

Simple three-disc locking mechanism
from a wooden box recovered from
the Swedish ship Vasa, sunk in 1628

Medieval lock in Kathmandu

A lock is a mechanical fastening device which may be used on a door, vehicle, or container, restricting access to the area or property enclosed. History During the 17th century Sweden went from being a small poor and peripheral northern European kingdom of little influence to one of the major players in continental politics A door is a panel or barrier usually hinged or sliding that is used to cover an opening in a Wall or partition going into a building or space Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. Property is any physical or virtual entity that is owned by an individual Commonly, it can be released by using a key or combination. A key is a device which is used to open a lock. A typical key consist of two parts the blade, which slides into the Keyway of the lock and distinguishes In combinatorial mathematics, a combination is an un-ordered collection of distinct elements usually of a prescribed size and taken from a given set

History of locks

Securing one's property has long been a concern of people throughout the world. Security is the condition of being protected against danger loss and criminals Beyond hiding the objects or constantly guarding them the most frequently used option is to secure them with a device. Early solutions included knots to either detect, like the Thief knot, or hamper, like the Gordian knot. KNOT (1450 AM) is a commercial Classic Country music Radio station in Prescott Arizona, broadcasting to the Flagstaff - Prescott The Thief knot resembles the Reef knot except that the free or working ends are on opposite sides The Gordian Knot is a Legend associated with Alexander the Great.

Wooden locks and keys were in use as early as 4,000 years ago in Egypt [1]. The first known lock with a key is a pin lock. The lock is strung on a rope hanging out of a hole in a door. A cylinder of wood with a hole drilled through its axis is the key, the length of the cylinder being the critical factor. Then the key is inserted into the hole and the bolt is pushed the correct distance. To lock the door,they just pulled on the rope to extract the key cylinder and simultaneously pulling the bolt closed. This type of lock is still in use in certain parts of the world. A danger of this lock is a vandal can push the rope into the hole — an ancient equivalent of putting glue into a lock.

Early improvements in pin locks included increasing the number of pins to increase security, and changing the orientation of the pins to allow the key to provide the unlocking force instead of a rope. Thus establishing the principles of the modern pin tumbler lock. The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses Pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key.

Next was developed a warded lock that is still used in modern times when the security required is not high and cost is a significant factor. History The warded lock is one of the most ancient lock designs still in modern use It is the first lock design to have a key recognizable to a modern western person. Lock puzzles were used to obscure the locking mechanism or even provide a nonfunctioning lock for the thief to waste time on. A lock puzzle is a type of Mechanical puzzle. It consists of a lock with unusual or hidden mechanics

Famous locksmiths

• Robert Barrion patented a double-acting tumbler lock in 1778, the first reasonable improvement in lock security. A cylinder lock is a lock in constructed with a cylinder that a Locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate rekeying
• Joseph Bramah patented the safety lock in 1784. Joseph Bramah ( 13 April 1748 – 9 December 1814) born Stainborough Lane Farm Wentworth, Yorkshire, England It was considered unpickable for many years.
• Jeremiah Chubb patented his detector lock in 1818. A Chubb detector lock is a type of Lever tumbler lock that when picked or opened with the wrong key will stop working until either a special regulator key or the original A Chubb detector lock is a type of Lever tumbler lock that when picked or opened with the wrong key will stop working until either a special regulator key or the original It won him the reward offered by the Government for a lock which could not be opened by any but its own key.
• James Sargent invented the world's first successful key-changeable combination lock in 1857. A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock His lock became popular with safe manufacturers and the United States Treasury Department. The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the Treasury of the United States government. In 1873, he patented a time lock mechanism, the prototype for those used in contemporary bank vaults. Time Lock is a 1957 British Thriller film directed by Gerald Thomas.
• Samuel Segal invented the first jimmy proof locks in 1916. Samuel Segal Baron Segal MRCS, LRCP, MA (Oxon ( 2 April 1902 &ndash 4 June 1985) was a British doctor and
• Harry Soref founded the Master Lock Company in 1921 and patented an improved padlock in 1924 with a patent lock casing constructed out of laminated steel. Padlocks are portable locks used to protect against Theft, Vandalism, Sabotage, Espionage, unauthorized use and harm
• Linus Yale, Sr. invented a pin tumbler lock in 1848. See also Yale (company Linus Yale Sr ( 27 April 1797 — 8 August 1858) was an American inventor and manufacturer The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses Pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key.
• Linus Yale, Jr. improved upon his father's lock in 1861, using a smaller, flat key with serrated edges that is the basis of modern pin-tumbler locks. Linus Yale Jr ( 4 April 1821 - 25 December 1868) was an American Mechanical engineer and manufacturer best known for Yale invented the modern combination lock in 1862. A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock

Types of locks

A type of padlock side view.

Door with two locks, one in the doorknob and a separate deadbolt.

Locks may be entirely mechanical, or electromechanical. In Engineering, electromechanics combines the Sciences of Electromagnetism of Electrical engineering and mechanics. They may be operated by turning some form of removable key, by keying or dialing in a combination which directly or via electromechanical means operates the lock, with some form of magnetic or other card reader, or by moving a part on a safety lock intended to prevent accidental operation rather than to prevent unauthorised access. A key is a device which is used to open a lock. A typical key consist of two parts the blade, which slides into the Keyway of the lock and distinguishes In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. A memory card reader is a device used for communication with a Smart card or a flash Memory card.

• Bicycle lock
• Child safety lock
• Combination lock
• Cruciform (or Zeiss) lock
• Cylinder lock
• Deadbolt
• Disc tumbler lock
• Door chain
• Electronic lock
  • Magnetic lock
  • Electric strike
• Lever tumbler lock
  • Chubb detector lock
  • Protector lock
• Padlock
• Pin tumbler lock
  • Tubular pin tumbler lock
• Turner lock
• Wafer tumbler lock
• Warded lock
• 5 Lever Lock
• Keycard lock
• Rim lock
• Magnetic keyed lock
• Cam lock

References

See also

• Lock picking
• Locksmithing
• Physical security
• Bored cylindrical lock and Mortice lock, two different approaches to locking mechanisms

External links

• History of Locks from the Chubb website
• Locksmithing Throughout the Ages
• The History of Locks
• General Information
• West Coast Lock Collectors Association
• American Lock Collectors Association

Further reading

• Phillips, Bill. A bicycle lock is a Physical security device used on a bicycle to prevent Theft. A child safety lock is a special-purpose lock for cabinets drawers Bottles etc A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock A cylinder lock is a lock in constructed with a cylinder that a Locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate rekeying A deadbolt or deadlock, is a locking mechanism, providing more security than an ordinary key -operated lock because the Weight of the The Abloy Disklock or Disc tumbler lock is a lock composed of slotted rotating detainer discs A door chain, security chain, or security door chain is a small Chain on a door for Security purposes An electronic lock (more precisely an electric lock is a locking device which operates by means of electric current A magnetic lock is a simple locking device that consists of an Electromagnet and armature plate An electric strike is an Access control device used for Doors It replaces the fixed strike faceplate often used with a Latchbar (aka a keeper A lever tumbler lock is a type of lock that uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock A Chubb detector lock is a type of Lever tumbler lock that when picked or opened with the wrong key will stop working until either a special regulator key or the original The Protector lock (also called the " moveable lock " was an early 1850s lock design by renowned American Locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs Padlocks are portable locks used to protect against Theft, Vandalism, Sabotage, Espionage, unauthorized use and harm The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses Pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. A tubular pin tumbler lock, also known as Ace lock or "axial pin tumbler lock" or "radial lock" is a variety of Pin tumbler lock in which 6-8 pins A wafer tumbler lock is a type of lock that utilizes a set of flat wafers to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted History The warded lock is one of the most ancient lock designs still in modern use The 5 lever lock is a type of lock often required for Home insurance and are generally recommended by the police for home security A keycard lock is a lock operated by a keycard with identical dimensions to that of a credit card or drivers license A Magnetic Keyed Lock is a locking mechanism whereby the key utilizes magnets as part of the locking and unlocking mechanism Lock picking is the act of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key Locksmithing began as the science and art of making and defeating locks Physical security describes measures that prevent or deter Attackers from accessing a facility resource or information stored on physical media A bored cylindrical lock is one in which two holes are bored perpendicular to one another into the Door. A mortise lock (also mortice lock in British English) is one that requires a pocket—the Mortise —to be cut into the Door or piece of (2005). The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071448292.