The present invention, in a non-limiting example embodiment provides a locking apparatus and method for securing locking hardware without the use of a key. In an example embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least a keyless insertion rotatable disk-style, barrel locking apparatus that, in a locked state can be inserted into a securing device without first unlocking, and then, thereafter, locking after insertion. In a nonlimiting example embodiment, unlocking and re-locking requires a key. The present invention, in an example embodiment, also provides features that allow the locking apparatus to enter and exit multiple apertures without requiring a key.

The present invention, in a non-limiting example embodiment provides a locking apparatus and method for securing locking hardware without the use of a key. In an example embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least a keyless insertion rotatable disk-style, barrel locking apparatus that, in a locked state can be inserted into a securing device without first unlocking, and then, thereafter, locking after insertion. In a nonlimiting example embodiment, unlocking and re-locking requires a key. The present invention, in an example embodiment, also provides features that allow the locking apparatus to enter and exit multiple apertures without requiring a key.

A lock core structure composed of a lock core seat, a lock core shell, a push plate, lock plates, washers, a positioning plate, a latch lever, a brake bolt plate pushed by a compression spring, a positioning baffle, and a retaining ring. An accommodating chamber of the seat is provided with an accommodating groove, a ring groove, a shaft hole and a groove, an inner bottom surface of the shell is provided with a slide groove for disposing the push plate, the brake bolt plate is provided in the accommodating groove, and provided with a pivot shaft disposed in the shaft hole, the positioning baffle is provided in the chamber and provided with a first baffle corresponding to an embedding groove of the seat, and a second baffle corresponding to the accommodating groove and the groove, and the retaining ring is embedded in the ring groove.

Locking devices that may be used with product display hooks, cabinets, and drawers are provided. A locking device according to one implementation comprising a housing and a shell. The housing includes an outer wall that defines an interior. The housing further includes a channel extending at least partially through the interior of the housing. The shell includes a projection. The shell is at least partially disposed within the interior of the housing and is moveable in a longitudinal direction within the interior of the housing. In an unlocked position, the projection is biased away from the first channel. In a locked position, the projection is maintained in the first channel.

Locking devices that may be used with product display hooks, cabinets, and drawers are provided. A locking device according to one implementation comprising a housing and a shell. The housing includes an outer wall that defines an interior. The housing further includes a channel extending at least partially through the interior of the housing. The shell includes a projection. The shell is at least partially disposed within the interior of the housing and is moveable in a longitudinal direction within the interior of the housing. In an unlocked position, the projection is biased away from the first channel. In a locked position, the projection is maintained in the first channel.

Some embodiments include a lock cylinder comprising: a plug assembly having a front portion and a back portion; a housing shell within which the plug assembly is rotatably disposed, wherein the housing shell includes a notch; wherein the back portion of the plug assembly comprises: a locking pin that is movably disposed, and wherein the locking pin is configured to prevent a rotation of the plug assembly when the locking pin is engaged in the notch and prevented from retracting by a multi-stable mechanism; and the multi-stable mechanism having at least two stable configurations corresponding to respectively to a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the multi-stable mechanism can maintain the stable configurations without consuming energy; wherein, at a first stable configuration, the multi-stable mechanism prevents the locking pin from retracting, and, at a second stable configuration, the multi-stable mechanism enables the locking pin to retract.

A lock cylinder comprises a cylinder housing, a disk housing rotatably supported about a cylinder axis in the cylinder housing and a plurality of rotatably supported disk tumblers arranged along the cylinder axis in the disk housing, wherein each disk tumbler has a reception opening for a key, a blocking cut-out at the outer periphery for an at least partial reception of a blocking pin aligned in parallel with the cylinder axis and a fixing cut-out provided offset from the blocking cut-out at the outer periphery for an at least partial reception of a core pin aligned in parallel with the cylinder axis. The disk tumblers are rotatable from a starting position with a removed key into an end sorting position by a rotation of the introduced key in the latching direction, in which end sorting position the blocking cut-outs of all the disk tumblers are oriented in alignment with one another, viewed in the direction of the cylinder axis. The fixing cut-outs of all the disk tumblers are oriented in alignment with one another in the end sorting position, viewed in the direction of the cylinder axis. The lock cylinder is adapted such that, on a further rotation of the disk tumblers out of the end sorting position in the unlatching direction, the core pin first engages into the fixing cut-outs and the blocking pin only then engages into the blocking cut-outs.

Some embodiments include a lock cylinder comprising: a plug assembly having a front portion and a back portion; a housing shell within which the plug assembly is rotatably disposed, wherein the housing shell includes a notch; wherein the back portion of the plug assembly comprises: a locking pin that is movably disposed, and wherein the locking pin is configured to prevent a rotation of the plug assembly when the locking pin is engaged in the notch and prevented from retracting by a multi-stable mechanism; and the multi-stable mechanism having at least two stable configurations corresponding to respectively to a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the multi-stable mechanism can maintain the stable configurations without consuming energy; wherein, at a first stable configuration, the multi-stable mechanism prevents the locking pin from retracting, and, at a second stable configuration, the multi-stable mechanism enables the locking pin to retract.

The present invention provides a key blank and a key set. The key blank includes one or more telescopic members inserted through corresponding one or more channels of the key shank for fitting to release a security mechanism of a lock unit. The lock set has one or more fitting keys and a lock unit including: a stator; a rotor; a first locking mechanism; and an additional security mechanism including one or more wafer units. The key shank has one or more telescopic members each inserted in a channel perforated in the key shank. The wafer unit of the security mechanism is located and configured for engaging an edge of the telescopic member when the fitting key is used, such that each telescopic member will move the respective wafer unit it engages for releasing the additional security mechanism for allowing the rotor to rotate in the stator.