Skeleton key - Wikipedia

A skeleton key is a type of master key in which the serrated edge has been removed in such a way that it can open numerous locks, most commonly the warded ... Skeletonkey FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch Keyabletounlockmultiplelocks Forotheruses,seeSkeletonKey(disambiguation). Apadlockskeletonkeywithalloftheteethfileddown(right)andanormalkey(left)forthesamelock.Thenormalkeyontheleftwillopenonlythelockthatitgoesto,buttheskeletonkeyontherightwillopenanylockwiththisparticularkeyhole. Twowardedlockkeysandahomemadeskeletonkey. Askeletonkey(alsoknowninNorthAmericaasapasskey)isatypeofmasterkeyinwhichtheserratededgehasbeenremovedinsuchawaythatitcanopennumerouslocks,[1]mostcommonlythewardedlock.Thetermderivesfromthefactthatthekeyhasbeenreducedtoitsessentialparts.[1] Inabroadersensethetermcanbeusedsynonymouslywithmasterkeytorefertoanykey,keycardorotherdevicecapableofopeningavarietyoflocks. Thetermskeletonkeyisoftenincorrectlyusedforabitkeyorabarrelkey. Masterkeys[edit] Acommonsetofskeletonkeysusedtoopenmosttypesofwardedpadlocks. Askeletonkeyisakeythathasbeenfiledorcuttocreateonethatcanbeusedtounlockavarietyofwardedlockseachwithadifferentconfigurationofwards.Thiscanusuallybedonebyremovingmostofthecentreofthekey,allowingittopassbythewardswithoutinterference,operatingthelock.Tocounteracttheillicitcreationofsuchkeys,locksmithscanputwardsnotjustinthecentrebutontheoutsideaswell,makingthecreationofaskeletonkeymoredifficult. Leverlockskeletonkeysareusedinalockwithusuallythreeorfiveleversandasetofwardsthatcomeintocontactwiththebitofthekeyonlyonthesides—thetopisforpushingtheleverstotheircorrectheightswhilethewardedsectionofthekeyjusthastopassuninterruptedtoallowthekeytorotatefully.Amasterkeysystemofleverlockshasthesameleverheightsinalllocks.Eachdoorwillhavedifferentwardsandcanonlybeopenedbythecorrectlywardedkeyorthemasterkey.Askeletonkeyhasthewardedsectionofthekeyremovedsothatitopensallthedoorsofasystem.Someapplications,suchasabuildingwithmultipleentrancedoors,havenumerouslocksthatarekeyedalike;onekeywillopeneverydoor.Akeyed-alikesystemisdifferentfromamasterkeysystemasnoneofthelockshaveakeythatcanopenonlythatlock. Skeletonkeyshaveoftenbeenassociatedwithattemptstodefeatlocksforillicitpurposes,toreleasehandcuffsforexample,andstandardkeyshavebeenfileddownforthatpurpose.Legitimateskeletonormasterkeysareusedinmanymoderncontextswherelockoperationisrequiredandtheoriginalkeyhasbeenlostorisnotavailable.Inhotelswithoutelectroniclocks,skeletonkeysareusedbyhousekeepingservicestoentertherooms. Seealso[edit] Masterkeying Lockbumping,atechniqueforopeningpintumblerlocks. References[edit] ^abCollinsEnglishDictionary(10th ed.).Glasgow:Collins.2009.ISBN 978-0-00-729846-4. vteLocks,locksmithing&lockpickingTopics Keycontrol Keyduplication Keyrelevance Masterkeying Rekeying Componentsandhardware Bitting Interchangeablecore Keyblank Keycode Keyretainer Lockrod Lockset Boredcylindricallock Mortiselock Rimlock Single-pointlocking Three-pointlocking Keytypes Berlinkey Carkey Skeletonkey Smartkey Mechanicallocks Wardedlock Pintumblerlock Disctumblerlock Levertumblerlock Magnetickeyedlock Padlock Combinationlock Rotarycombinationlock Time-delaycombinationlocks Timelock Tubularpintumblerlock Wafertumblerlock Electroniclocks Electromagneticlock Electroniclock Electricstrike Keycardlock Otherlocktypes Bicyclelock Bramahlock Chubbdetectorlock Childsafetylock Deadbolt KensingtonSecuritySlot Luggagelock Nightlatch Powerdoorlocks Protectorlock TheClub Lockpicking Lockbumping Locksport SlimJim Snapgun Related Glossaryoflocksmithingterms Doorchain Exitcontrollock Keychain MuséedelaSerrure Puzzlelock Category:Locksmithing Keys Locks Book Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skeleton_key&oldid=1055959377" Categories:LocksmithingHiddencategories:ArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionisdifferentfromWikidataUsedmydatesfromFebruary2019EngvarBfromFebruary2019 Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk Variants expanded collapsed Views ReadEditViewhistory More expanded collapsed Search Navigation MainpageContentsCurrenteventsRandomarticleAboutWikipediaContactusDonate Contribute HelpLearntoeditCommunityportalRecentchangesUploadfile Tools WhatlinkshereRelatedchangesUploadfileSpecialpagesPermanentlinkPageinformationCitethispageWikidataitem Print/export DownloadasPDFPrintableversion Inotherprojects WikimediaCommons Languages DeutschFrançaisItalianoKaszëbscziNederlandsPolskiSimpleEnglishTürkçe粵語 Editlinks