Dictionary

Access control system: a device that allows the entrance to an area to authorized persons while excluding others by means of credentials, readers, locking devices or controllers/panels. For locking devises see our Tover electronic automatic lock which has an access control systems with  an electronic system operated by a microprocessor. 

Anti-friction bearing: a bearing  having the capability of reducing friction.

Anti-panic handle:  a special handle which allows to open the lock always from inside. See our Tover electronic automatic lock which is equipped with this device. 

Anti-Pick 10-Pin security system /Anti-Pick 6-Pin security system:  a mechanism incorporated in the cylinder  consisting of a series of brass or steel pins and drive spring-loaded pins which  protect the lock from picking. Also  the protruding ledges of the keyway will protect the lock. See Tover security cylinder Mod. 2F30 or Mod. 2F15 with 10 anti-pick pins and also see Tover security cylinder  Mod. 2F10 and 2F8 with 6 anti-pick security pins. 

Anti-theft lock system for car: a device consisting of a lock or padlock which is locked to some  of the inner part of the car such as the  driver’s seat,  the steering wheel, gearbox or brakes to prevent or deter  car theft. Please, check Tover anti-theft lock for cars mod. 1001 which is made in casehardened steel and is equipped with an armored cable and a high security cylinder. 

Anti-theft lock system for motorcycle disk brakes: A device which is locked to the motorcycle disk brakes  to prevent or deter the motorcycle theft. Please, see Tover motorcycle anti-theft disc brakes lock mod.1002 which is made in casehardened steel.

Automatic bolt: A bolt  which  is  automatically locked when the door is closed as it is ended as an angled-edged latch.  See our patented model Tover digital lock which is equipped with 3 automatic bolts. 

Automatic dead latch: A dead latch  the main bolt of which  is  automatically locked when the door is closed.

Backset of a lock : The horizontal distance from the edge of the door  to the center of the keyhole, knob  or cylinder.  On doors with a beveled edge the distance is measured form the center of the door edge.

Backset of a hinge: The distance from the edge of the door to the hinge. See Tover hinge different backset measures in our catalogue.

Ball-bearing hinge: A hinge which is equipped with one or several ball bearings placed between the hinge knuckles to reduce friction. See our Tover hinge models mod. 108 L and 108 C which are equipped with ball-bearings. 

Bar: Security device consisting of a metal long and thin piece which is adjusted vertically from the lock  to the upper or down part of the inside door . Sometimes the bar can also be adjusted from the lateral part of the lock horizontally to the lateral end the door. It is a security device to avoid  opening when the door is forced violently from outside. Please, check Tover high security lock 5120 series which is equipped with 10 telescopic bars.

Bathroom lock: A mortise lock which is used with thumb turn handles to allow the occupant of the bathroom to lock the door from inside.

Bed & bathroom privacy lockset: A knob lock which can be closed from inside with thumb turn. The lock is equipped with an emergency devise to release it from outside if necessary. The locking is disconnected when the door is closed. See Tover lockset Mod. Meteor Ref. 74. 

Biometrics: Refers to metrics related to human characteristics. Biometrics authentication is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. Biometric identifiers are often categorized as Physiological  and Behavioral. Physiological   are related to the shape of the body. Examples include  fingerprint, palm veins, face recognitionDNApalm printhand geometryiris recognitionretina and odor/scent. Behavioral  are related to the pattern of behavior of a person, including  typing rhythm, gait, and voice.

Bypass: it occurs when a lock is compromised without affecting the integrity of the lock cylinder. Generally, the bolt or actuator are targeted, though in some methods a knob or handle on the rear of a door is manipulated to allow entry. Bypass takes many forms, and can be either non-destructive or destructive depending on the technique used.

Bypass may also be used as a generic term for any technique used to compromise a lock.

Blank keys: A partly made key, which has been shaped to enter the keyhole of a certain lock or latch, but of which the blade has not been finally notched to operate any individual lock.  See Tover blank keys.

Bolt: The part of a lock or latch which provides the fastening by protruding from the case or forend to engage in the staple, striking plate or other member.  See Tover lock model S2 which is equipped with 3 bolts. 

Bore: The large hole that is drilled through your door to allow for installation of hardware such as lock, latch, lockset or others.

Bow of a key: The part of the key which is held in the fingers when operating the lock or latch.

Cam: A rotating peace or tongue which is attached to the end of a cylinder plug to engage the locking mechanism.

Cap of the lock: The removable cover to a lock mechanism.

Case of a lock:The box containing the lock mechanism.

Clockwise closing: Closing in the same direction as the movement of the hands of an analogue clock.

Combination: The cuts on a key usually presented in the form of a sequence of lifts, starting at the pin end of the key.

Cylinder: The cylinder component of the lock containing  co-axial plug which houses the pin tumbler mechanism of pins, top pins (drivers) or disc tumblers and springs in the cylinder body. See our Tover cylinder mod. 2F35-S1. 

Cylinder lock : A lock in which the locking mechanism is controlled by a cylinder. See our Tover mod. 430N which operates using a cylinder.

Deadbolt of a lock: A lock bolt having no spring action nor bevel which is moved in both the locking and unlocking directions by the key or a turn piece or thumb turn.

Dead latch: a latch the spring bolt of which can be locked by key or other means.

Deadlock: a lock that does not have a latch and is equipped with only a deadbolt operable from one or both sides by key, and occasionally from outside only by key, inside by thumb turn.

Decoding: Decoding is the process of determining the correct position of components in a lock through manipulation, disassembly, measurement, and observation of keys or lock components. While it does not necessarily open the lock, decoding provides the information necessary to create a working key. In this respect, decoding is the middle ground between lockpicking and impressioning techniques.

Door closer: A device for closing a door gate automatically  after opening.

Door swing: The direction the door opens while standing on the outside. If you stand on the outside of the door and you push it away from yourself to open, it is in-swing or normal swing. It will be right or left hand depending on the place of the lock from inside. If the lock is placed on the right it will be right-handed. If the lock is placed on the left from inside the door, the lock will be left-handed. The other door swing option is when you stand on the outside from  the door and you pull it towards you to open, then it is out-swing or reversed swing and the lock will be right or left hand as the abovementioned.

Double-handed lock: A lock designed for use either as a right or left hand installation without alteration, generally by turning upside down. The keyhole has a circular formation at each end of the slot to accept the shank of the key.

Drivers: The upper set of pins in a pin tumbler cylinder, which, activated by the springs, project into the plug until raised by insertion of the key.

Double cylinder: Door locks which require a key to lock/unlock from both the outside and inside. The double cylinder function is an option for door locks like deadbolts and entry sets. Double cylinder locks are usually not recommended because they make it more difficult to exit your home in case of an emergency.

Electric strike: An electrical device that permits releasing of the door from a remote control.

Entrance/Hotel lockset without button: A lockset function which makes necessary always a key to open from outside. From inside the knob or lever opens freely. Please check, Tover entrance lockset without button mod. Siroco ref. 61 hotel-entrance. 

Entrance lockset with button: A lockset function which makes necessary always a key to open from outside. From inside it is open with button. The lock is released automatically when opened from any of both sides. Please see Tover entrance lock with button mod. Meteor ref. 72. 

Escutcheon: The cover of the keyhole of a mortise lock. Used to protect the door leaf from abrasion damage caused by key insertion. It is also used for decorative purposes or to increase the security of the locking device. Please, check Tover security mortise lock escutcheon mod. E1000. 

Euro profile cylinder: A cylinder with a specific shape that is compatible with euro profile mortise locks. This type of cylinder design is predominately used in Europe. Unlike traditional mortise and rim cylinders, the Euro profile uses a single piece of metal to connect both sides of the lock. A single cam component is placed between the two sides of the lock and is directly connected to both plugs. Please, see Tover Euro profile cylinder mod. 2F15. 

Fingerprint reader: A scanner used to identify a person’s fingerprint for security purposes. After a sample is taken, access to a computer or other system is granted if the fingerprint matches the stored sample. A PIN may also be used with the fingerprint sample.

Finish: The color of the metal of the door hardware.

Front/ Forend of a lock: The plate through which the latch or locking bolts project.

Grand Master key: A key that operates locks in several groups, each of which has its own master key.

Handed: A term used to indicate that the article is for use only on doors of the designated hand.

Handing: To determine the handing you just must see  where the hinges  are placed standing from outside the door. If the hinges are place on the right side the lock will be right. On the contrary, if the hinges are placed on the left side from outside the door then the  lock will be left handed. Ignore the door swing  to determine the handing.

Handle (of a door): A door handle is an attached mechanism used to open or close a door. Door handle generally can refer to any fixed or lever-operated doorlatch device, including on car doors. The term door knob  tends to refer to round operating mechanisms. Please, check Tover stainless steel set of handles  Janeiro series mod. 1250  for principal entrances, bathroom, passage and privacy.  

Handles set: The door hardware which encompasses a set of handles together with a mortise lock. Usually other devices such as rosettes or plates may be included in the set. Please, see Tover handles set with mortise lock Sidney series mod. 1150 made of solid brass. 

High-security locks: High security locks are locks that provide increased resistance using certain designs or characteristics that improve their ability to resist manipulation and forced entry for a given amount of time. Please, check Tover high-security lock mod. Toverbloc equipped with 10 steel bolts and Tover T1 high security cylinder. 

Hinge: A hinge is a type of bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation. Please, check Tover security hinge  mod. 102. 

Hinge jamb: A vertical piece of a door frame prepared for installation of hinges.

Hook bolt: A pivoted springbolt, the head of which is shaped in the form of a hook. Such locks or latches are usually fixed on sliding doors. Please, check Tover mortise lock with hook for metal frames  recommended for sliding doors mod. M10. 

Impressioning: Impressioning is a non-destructivecovert method of creating a working key for a lock without picking or disassembly. Impressioning is one of the most useful skills in locksmithing, and is divided between copying and manipulation techniques. Copying focuses on making negative-image molds of a source key, while manipulation uses various techniques to determine the proper heights of internal components. Impressioning via manipulation is closely related to decoding.

Inactive door: The door in a double-door set that does not contain a latch-set, but instead is bolted at the top and bottom to hold it stationary when shut. This door received the latch or bolt of the active door.

Indicator button: A device used in connection with a hotel lock to indicate whether or not the room is occupied.

Invisible hinge: A hinge so constructed that no parts are exposed when the door is closed.

Jamb: A vertical piece of a door or window frame assembly, adjacent to wall.

Jamb depth: The overall width of frame profile.

Keeper: Synonymous with strike.

Key:  A small removable device for operating the mechanism of its own lock, locking latch or night latch. Keys can be used to lock or unlock from inside and outside and extend or retract the deadbolt or retract the latch. The key has 3 parts: 1) The bow where the fingers grip the key. 2) The shank that goes through the wood. 3) The bit which goes into the lock to operate it. Please, check Tover keys included in Mod. 570 rim lock. 

Key collar: Flange on shank of pin key to prevent key bit entering too far.

Key guide: channel for guiding key into lock.

Keyhole:  The hole into which the key enters to operate the lock or latch it is often referred to as the keyway, particularly in a cylinder mechanism.

Keyed alike: A keying option indicating that you want all the cylinders to operate by the same key.

Keyed differently: A keying option indicating that you want the cylinder for one particular door lock to operate by its own unique key.

Keying: An option for door locks such as deadbolts or entry door handle sets used to specify how the cylinder in the lock should be keyed. Keying options are keyed alike or keyed differently.

Key pin: Cylindrical part of a pin key adjacent to the key bit and projecting beyond it.

Key registration: Control of key combinations to prevent unauthorized duplication of keys.

Key steps or key depths: This term usually means the bolt step and lever steps of a key for a lever lock.

Kick plate: plate attached to the bottom of a door leaf to protect it from damage.

Knob: A projecting handle for operating a lock. Please, check knob Mod. Mistral residential range.

Knobset: A door set consisting of inside and outside knobs. Please check Tover knobset Mod. Garbí. 

Knob shank: The projecting stem of a knob into which the spindle is fastened.

Knob top: That part of the knob that the hand grasps.

Knuckle: The enlarged part of a hinge into which the pin is inserted.

Latch: Device with only one bolt, the bevelled springbolt or roller bolt, which fastens the door but is not capable of being locked. Certain types of latches, nightlatches or deadlatches can however be locked by key or other means.

Latch protector : A piece of hardware attached to the door that completely covers the latch area protecting the latch bolt from prying and shimming.

Leaf: One of the 2 doors forming a pair of doors.

Left hand door: Door which opens in a clockwise direction when viewed from above.

Left hand sliding door: sliding door of a single sliding door assembly which moves left to open when viewed from the sliding door side.

Left hand swing door : Swing door which opens in a clockwise direction when viewed from above.

Lever: A flat shaped movable detainer in a lock, usually for the purpose of providing security. The levers in a lock have to be actually moved by the key to operate the lock.The belly of the lever is cut away to various depths to provide different combinations.

Lever action bolt: Bolt in which the movement of the shoot is controlled by a lever.

Lever mechanism: Lock mechanism comprising one or more levers.

Lever handle: A horizontal handle for operating the bolts of a lock.

Lever Tumbler: Flat tumbler having a pivoted motion actuated by the turning of the key and controlling the locking function.

Lip of a strike: The projecting part on which the latch bolt rides.

Lock: A device operated, usually, but not always, by a key, having one or more bolts or other members to fasten and secure a door, lid, drawer or other member.

Lock case: part of a lock that houses the locking mechanism.

Lockable bolt: A bolt that can be shot and locked in position by the use of a removable key.

Locking latch: A latch with a bevelled springbolt or roller bolt which is capable of being locked or secured, usually by key.

Lockpicking:  Is the art of opening a lock through the analysis and manipulation of its components without using a key intended to open the lock. The process is generally non-destructive and covert, and is contrasted with various forms of destructive entry. When dealing with the opening of safes or vaults, it is referred to as safecracking. A bypass is technically different than picking the lock, though there are many similarities between the two techniques.

Lockpicking is made possible by small irregularities during the manufacturing of locks. Small variations in the size, shape, and alignment of components allows for picking tools to be used to pick the lock. Depending on the type of lock, different methods of picking may be available.

The practice of recreational or competitive lockpicking is known as locksport.

Lockset: A lock complete with necessary furniture including a spindle, ready for fixing to the door.

Lockset  furniture: A lockset minus the lock.

Loose pin hinge: A hinge having a removable pin to permit the two parts of the hinge to be separated.

Master Key: key which will open every lock in a master keyed suite.

Master keyed suite: set of locks or padlocks related by a common key or keys.

Master keying/suiting: adaptation of locks to oerate with keys of more than one combination.

Master keyed (locks or latches): A lock or latch capable of being operated by a master key as well as its own change or servant key.

Mechanical digital lock: lock having a keypad with buttons which are operated in a pre-determined sequence to enable the bolts to be withdrawn. Please, see Tover Digital lock Mod. DGT.

Mortice: A hole cut into the thickness of one edge of a door to receive a mortice lock or latch, also the act of making such a cavity. Please, check Tover mortice lock 430N series.

Mortice cylinder: Cylinder to be used with a mortice lock- Please, check Tover mortice high security cylinder mod. 2F30.

Mortice key: A key to operate a lever lock, consisting of a bow, shank and bit. Please, check Tover mortice cylinders blank keys C2F10.

Mortice lock: A lock or latch which is morticed or led into the thickness of the door from the meeting edge and held in position by screws through the forend. Lock designed to be installed in a mortise rather than applied to the door’s surface. Please, see  Tover mortice lock with 3 locking points mod. 400N.

Mortice lock prep: Cutout in the edge of a door for mortice lock.

Motorised lock: lock using an electric motor to enable locking or unlocking.

Multipoint lock: lock comprising more than one locking point, anti-separation point or clenching point, interlinked and centrally controlled. Please, check Tover multipoint lock mod. 440N with 7 locking points.

Nightlatch: A rim or mortice latch with a bevelled springbolt or roller bolt which shoots when the door is closed, but can be withdrawn by key from outside and by knob or lever handle from inside. Usually provided with a stop knob to hold the bolt retracted and to deadlock the bolt when shot in the closed position, even against the action of the key.

Nickel plated: An electro plated finish applied to the keys to give a bright finish and help against corrosion.

One-sided lock: A lock which has a keyhole on one side only, so that it can be operated by key from one side only, usually outside, but not from both. Nearly all cabinet locks and all padlocks are examples. Some high quality cylinder mortice locks are one sided. Please, check Tover padlocks 560 series.

Outside: Side of a door or window that faces towards the exterior of the building, or away from a protected are within a building.

Oval cylinder: An oval cylinder has an oval shape and is used in conjunction with an oval mortice lock case. The cylinder fits through your door, passing through the lock case which is mortised into the edge of the door. When using door handles with these types of locks and cylinders, you must ensure that they too have the oval or euro cut out on the back plate to allow the cylinder to pass through.

Padlock: portable locks with a shackle that may be passed through an opening (such as a chain link, or hasp staple) to protect against unauthorized use, theftvandalism, or harm. A padlock is composed of a body, shackle,  and locking mechanism. The typical shackle is a “U” shaped loop of metal (round or square in cross-section) that encompasses what is being secured by the padlock (e.g., chain link or hasp). Generally, most padlock shackles either swing away (typical of older padlocks) or slide out of the padlock body when in the unlocked position. Less common designs include a straight, circular, or flexible (cable) shackle. Some shackles split apart and come together to lock and unlock.

Pick: attempt to open a door by manipulative means.

Pin (tumblers): Small cylindrical-shaped sliding detaining element in a lock cylinder generally made of brass or steel, working against coil springs and preventing the cylinder plug from rotating until the pins are raised to the proper alignment.

Pin tumbler mechanism:  Currently the most popular lock design worldwide. Is a lock mechanism that uses pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. Pin tumblers are most commonly employed in cylinder locks, but may also be found in tubular pin tumbler locks (also known as radial locks).The mechanism offers high security against key interchangeability and anti-pick mushroom drivers are usually included in every cylinder.

The pin tumbler is commonly used in cylinder locks. In this type of lock, an outer casing has a cylindrical hole in which the plug is housed. To open the lock, the plug must rotate.

The plug has a straight-shaped slot known as the keyway at one end to allow the key to enter the plug; the other end may have a cam or lever, which activates a mechanism to retract a locking bolt. The keyway often has protruding ledges that serve to prevent the key pins from falling into the plug, and to make the lock more resistant to picking. A series of holes, typically five or six of them, are drilled vertically into the plug. These holes contain key pins of various lengths, which are rounded to permit the key to slide over them easily.

Above each key pin is a corresponding set of driver pins, which are spring-loaded. Simpler locks typically have only one driver pin for each key pin, but locks requiring multi-keyed entry, such as a group of locks having a master key, may have extra driver pins known as spacer pins. The outer casing has several vertical shafts, which hold the spring-loaded pins.

When the plug and outer casing are assembled, the pins are pushed down into the plug by the springs. The point where the plug and cylinder meet is called the shear point. With a key properly cut and inserted into the groove on the end of the plug, the pins will rise causing them to align exactly at the shear point. This allows the plug to rotate, thus opening the lock. When the key is not in the lock, the pins straddle the shear point, preventing the plug from rotating.

Pin-tumbler locks range from low to high security. Dimple and tubular locks are simply pin-tumblers with modified designs.

Plug: The part of the pin-tumbler cylinder mechanism or disc tumbler cylinder mechanism into which the key enters and which the key turns. It houses the pins of a pin tumbler cylinder mechanism or the discs and springs of a disc tumbler cylinder mechanism.

Privacy lock: Lock that is lockable from the inside only.

Pull handle: Fixed handle used to open or close a door by providing a means to pull on the door leaf by hand. Please check, Tover mortice locks and solid brass pull handle mod. 1360T (link mod. 1360T).

Rim lock or latch: A lock or latch that is fitted by screwing on to the inside face of the door. Please, check Tover Serie S and rim lock S1 with 2F35 high security double cylinder (link mod. S1).

Rose: A cylinder rose or ring in cylinder locks or latches. It is a shape metal disc which surrounds the outer face of the cylinder. In door furniture it is the small plate to which the lever handle or knob is affixed and which is screwed to the door surface. Please, check Tover brass solid rosette with mortice lock Grecia series mod. 1420.

Reversible lock: A lock which, by reversing the latch bolt, may be used by any hand. On certain types of locks, other parts must also be changed. Please, check Tover S series 3 point reversible rim lock mod. S 2  with 2F35 high security double cylinder (link S series mod. S2 3 p).

Reversible latch(bolt): latch or bolt for which the closing direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise) can be altered without dismantling. Please, check Tover mortice locks 430 series mod. 430N with reversible latch and security cylinder.

Right hand door: Door which opens anti-clockwise direction when viewed from above.   

Roller latch: A friction door latch employing a roller latch head under spring tension, which engages a strike having a recess formed to receive the roller.

Roller strike: A strike having a rolling member at the point of latch bolt contact to minimize friction.

Rounded front: A lock or bolt front conforming to the rounded edge of a door.

Safe lock: A general term for the many varieties of key operated and other locks for safes.

Sash lock: An upright mortice lock, consisting of a latch bolt and a key operated lock.

Security cylinder: Cylinder with a high level of resistance.

Security pin:  A security pin is a modified version of a  driver pin in a pin-tumbler lock that makes manipulation more difficult. Security pins are commonly designed to prevent lockpicking. Security pins are designed so that use of a tool other than a key will trigger the pins and lock one or more pins at the shear line. This can be due to individual manipulation of components or tension on the cylinder. When triggered, security pins bind between the plug and cylinder, blocking the rotation of the plug until tension on the cylinder is released and pins are dropped back to their resting position.

These are many  types of security pins. Mushroom is a top or bottom pin with a beveled cut around their circumference, resembling a mushroom shape. Spool is a top pin with a portion of the center removed, resembling a spool or barbell shape and it triggers when the center of the spool is caught at the shear line. Serrated is a top or bottom pin with light serrations around the circumference of the pin and it triggers when a serration is caught at the shear line.

Shackle: The hinged, sliding or swiveling loop shaped member of a padlock. The heel of the shackle remains always in the padlock body and the toe of the shackle comes out when unlocked.  Please, check Tover padlocks 540 series.

Shear line: The term is used to denote the line of the circumference of the plug in the bore of a pin tumbler cylinder.

Spindle: That part of the door furniture usually of square section which passes through the follower hole and is fitted to the knob or lever handle to operate the springbolt.

Spring shackle padlock: A padlock, the shackle of which springs open when unlocked, and is locked by snapping to.

Springbolt:  Sometimes called  the latchbolt. A bolt having the outer edge shaped by beveling of the vertical face. It is a bolt which may be pushed back into the lock case and will return to the extended position without mechanical assistance.

Staple: Part of a hasp and staple for use with a padlock. The padlock shackle passes through the eye or hole in the staple.

Stop knob: A device incorporated in some latches and locking latches to hold the bolt retracted or deadlock the bolt when the door is closed.

Striking plate: Sometimes referred to as a “striker”. It is a shaped flat metal plate fixed to the door fame or jamb with one or more bolt holes into which the bolt or bolts shoot. There is a shape projecting lip on one side to guide the springbolt. It is used with all mortice locks or latches and rim locks. Pleas, check Tover high security rim lock mod. 1500  maximum security long striking plate. (link mod. 1500 series).

Strong key: Key made fom stronger and/or harder materials than those used for standard keys.

Swing door: Hinged door with axis of rotation of leaf  at one vertical edge.

Swinging latch blot: A bolt that is hinged to a lock front and is retracted with a swinging rather than a sliding action.

Swivel spindle: A spindle having a joint midway in its length to permit the knob at one end to be made rigid by the stop works while the other end is free to operate.

Suite of locks: A group or collection of locks and locking latches and padlocks of different types incorporated together under a master key or grand master key.

Thumb turn: A small fitting, on the inside of a mortice lock, which is gripped between thumb and finger to operate the deadbolt.

Tie bars: The horizontal members of a vertical bar grille.

Twist handle: Another category of hand-operated device which requires grasping (but not pulling) rotating the hand and either the lower arm or the whole arm, about their axis.

Universal: A term used to describe a lock, a door closer or other device that can be used on doors of any hand without change.

Vault (of a bank): A bank vault (or strongroom) is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents can be stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, just like a safe. But unlike safes, vaults are an integral part of the building within which they are built, using armored walls and a tightly fashioned door closed with a complex lockHistorically, strongrooms were built in the basement of a bank where the ceilings were vaulted, hence the name. Modern bank vaults typically contain many safe deposit boxes, as well as places for teller cash drawers, and other valuable assets of the bank or its customers. They are also common in other buildings where valuables are kept such as post offices, grand hotels, rare book libraries and certain government ministries.

Ward: Fixed obstruction inside a  lock case to prelude the use of wrong key, as the key is cut to pass over the wards and operate the lock.

Warded lock: A Warded lock  is a lock design that uses obstructions  on or inside the keyway to prevent incorrect keys from being inserted and rotated in the lock. Warded locks have no active components other than a spring or lever that is used to actuate the lockingbolt when the correct key is used.