Tubular pin tumbler lock
A tubular pin tumbler lock, also known as a circle pin tumbler lock, radial lock, or the trademark Ace lock popularized by manufacturer
Design
The design of a tubular lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock, in that there are several stacks of pins. The key is a cylinder shape with notches cut around the outer or (rarely) inner edge. Each of these notches depresses a single pin inside the lock to a specific height allowing the lock cylinder to turn freely.
Uses
Tubular locks are commonly seen on bicycle locks (such as the Kryptonite lock), Kensington computer locks, elevators, and a variety of coin-operated devices such as vending machines, and coin-operated washing machines.
Tubular pin tumbler locks are often considered to be safer and more resistant to picking than standard locks. This is primarily because they are often seen on coin boxes for vending machines and coin-operated machines, such as those used in a laundromat. However, the primary reason this type of lock is used in these applications is that it can be made physically shorter than other locks.[1]
Vulnerabilities
Such locks can be
Some tubular locks, such as those used on older models of Kryptonite-brand bike locks, can be opened with the back end of a ball-point pen.[3][4]
See also
- Pin tumbler lock
- Tubular lock pick
- Wafer tumbler lock
References
- ^ "A Beginner's Guide to Tubular Lock Picking". 4 April 2013.
- ^ "Tubular Lock Saws". hpcworld. HPC. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
- ^ "Twist a Pen, Open a Lock". WIRED. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-15.