The
idea of a cylinder lock is that a flat key with serrated edges is
pushed into the keyhole, which is located in the plug in the center
of the cylinder. Pins protruding through holes into the plug glide up
and down as the key is inserted. Springs above the pins put
continuous pressure on the the top and bottom pins. The right key
will make the pins line up in the right spot, and the lock turns,
unlocking the dead bolt or lockset.
Yale,
who was born in New York on this date in 1821, followed in his
father's footsteps. Linus Yale, Sr., ran a lock shop and specialized
in bank locks. Yale, Jr., came up with fresh new ideas and opened
Yale Lock Manufacturing Company. In his life, he applied for and
received many patents for his innovative lock designs.
When
was the first lock invented?
 |
| Old-fashioned keys weren't flat, as modern keys are. |
Locks
of various sorts were invented several time independently, all over
the world. We have no idea when or where the first lock was invented,
but I can tell you that the oldest known lock was found in the ruins
of the Khorsabad Palace, near Nineveh, in the ancient Assyrian
empire. (This empire was located in what we now call the Middle East,
in parts of Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey.) The lock is about 4,000
years old!
Learn
more about the history of locks here.
We
may soon be able to use an app to open our doors! I would
love, love, love this!
Also
on this date:
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