The field of this invention relates to a locksmithing tool and more particularly to a tool which permits the accurate manufacture of a tubular key.
The use of tubular keys is well known. A tubular key provides an alternative form of locking device as opposed to the conventional straight key. Basically, a tubular key is of a cylindrical shape which has a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal grooves formed upon the periphery of the cylinder. It is through the cooperation of these grooves with a movable pin assembly of a tubular lock that results in operation of the lock.
At times it is necessary to duplicate a tubular key either due to the fact that the tubular key is damaged or lost or a duplicate key is just desired. Therefore, some type of device must be employed to duplicate the key.
Previously, there have been machines constructed which are to duplicate a tubular key. The primary disadvantage of the machines of the prior art have been their failure to be sufficiently accurate. Tubular keys must be manufactured to a reasonably high degree of accuracy. There has not been a relatively low cost tubular key cutting machine which could be available to every locksmith, which could be employed to accurately reproduce tubular keys. The structure of this invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage.