Door Lock technology through the years

by: Lorenzo Briggs

The protection and security of our family members are always the first thing that we look into. Our concern to secure things extends even to our properties and valuables. We make sure that no harm or danger can touch them. We look for a relatively safe place in which to stay and even go to the extent of relocating around until we feel that we found it. As an added comfort and safety measure we place child proof and alarm systems. The door lock is the most primitive and yet helpful security device available.

The rope was the primary locking device used. The thief knot got it's name because it was implemented to discover thieves and the Gordian knot was used to discourage them. Even to this day the first thing we do to secure a door is almost always to tie a rope to it. History is questionable as to when the lock started. Archeological findings report that wooden locks and keys were used some 4,000 years ago by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. The earliest known door lock with a key is termed as a pin lock or pin tumbler lock. This design is the frequently used lock to this day. The old pin tumbler lock was made of wood and rope and to this day this type of wooden lock mechanism is still in use in Puerto Rico.

To enhance the security level of the old design of the pin lock the orientation of the pins had to be changed and the number of pins is increased. The development that was made to the ancient design had become the established concepts of pin locks in the present. Another development came for the pin lock; the wooden pins with bronze or iron. It was this metal design that got patented in 1805. The patented design was further refined by the father and son locksmith with the name of Linus Yale Sr. and Linus Yale Jr. The pin lock that we see today is the design that the Yale's produced. Wafer tumbler locks are yet another kind of door lock. This sort of lock is usually used in vehicles and cabinets. Yet another commonly used type of lock is the lever lock. These locks are popularly utilized in safes and prisons.

Additionally, there are mechanical and electromechanical locks. Presently there are countless of variations of the different types of locks. A number of variations we have the panic bars, lock sets, lock boxes, deadbolts, mortise locks, bump-proof locks to name a few These variations are what are presently used in structures and houses. With today’s technology used in lock for the doors we have state of the art security features. Examples of which are the alarmed panic bars which are installed in the emergency exit doors. This is also already being used in our car door alarms.

With the enhancements in our technology and the tireless work of our inventors we can be confident that the advancement of the current door lock will continue and our security and safety will be much better allowing us to rest well at night time. We should all remember that.