Electric lock having spaced apart conductive areas adapted to be electrically connected with spaced conductive areas on an insertable key

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTRIC LOCK: A KEY PLATE HAVING A SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH AN EDGE THEREFOR FOR THE RECEIPT OF A KEY; NONCONDUCTIVE CIRCUIT PLATE MEANS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID KEY PLATE AND SECURED THERETO; EACH CIRCUIT PLATE MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED CONDUCTIVE AREAS THEREON; ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID CONDUCTIVE AREAS AND HAVING CONTACT PORTIONS PROJECTING INTO SAID SLOT; THE CONTACT PORTION OF EACH CONDUCTOR CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CIRCUIT PLATE MEANS BEING IN ALIGNED AND OPPOSED BUT IN SPACED RELATION TO A CONTACT PORTION OF A CONDUCTOR CONNECTED TO THE OTHER CIRCUIT PLATE MEANS; AND A KEY OF NONCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID SLOT, SAID KEY HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE INSERTS EXTENDING TRANSVERRSELY THERETHROUGH AND SO POSITIONED THEREON THAT SAID INSERTS EACH ENGAGE PREDETERMINED OPPOSED CONTACT PORTIONS AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING THE SAME, SAID PREDETERMINED OPPOSED CONTACT PORTIONS INCLUDING PORTIONS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID CONDUCTIVE AREAS SO THAT SAID INSERTS ELECTRICALLY CONNECT ALL SAID CONDUCTIVE AREAS IN SERIES.