Locksmith & Key Oak Park
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Grab any primary school book that shows pictures of locks and keys and… surprise; they all look very similar! The classic image of a lock or a key shows the traditional key hole or slot and a key with a handle and jagged edged blade for inserting. Over the centuries, this has not changed much as this type of hardware is still being used today, but there are locking mechanisms that are now being used that our forefathers would simply not recognize or know how to use.
Yes, it’s true; locks and keys have been in use for thousands of years; dating back to the ancient Sumerians, Chinese and Egyptians. Locks have guarded churches, tombs, palaces, armories, grain storage, temples, tombs and even harems. Over time, man has learned to put trust into good lock hardware and you should too.
All locks protect something but not all locks are right for all needs. Some locks offer minimal protection and others are literally pick-proof. Locks can be lightweight, portable and inexpensive like a padlock on a high school locker or they can be built-in and have intricate mechanisms like biometric locks that detect subtle variations in fingerprints. On this page, we’ll discuss some of the more common locks and their usage. To find out more about any of these lock and key types, we urge you to call our shop or your local locksmith service of choice and get a free consultation and price quotes.
Deadbolt locks can be used in both residential and commercial applications. Your deadbolt lock is installed in the door and is not portable like the padlocks mentioned above. Many refer to deadbolts as dead locks. They are operated by turning the lock cylinder with a key. A well installed deadbolt that is of good quality can be a huge deterrent for anyone attempting to gain illegal entry into or onto your property. They are usually installed in addition to the previous main lock and are used as a strong second line of defense in case the main lock is picked or somehow disabled.
Some of the most widely used keys in circulation have an air of mystery about them, too. These are the automotive transponder keys that allow us to start our ignition systems. The word transponder means to transmit. That’s exactly what these keys do; they transmit a signal from the computer chip embedded in the head of the key, to your car’s on-board computer system. When that signal is recognized, the engine is allowed to start and off you go! Transponder keys are very difficult and expensive to duplicate and since their inception in the mid 1990’s, the rate of auto theft has drastically plummeted.
One of the most dramatic forms of modern-day lock and key types is keyless entry. The technology for this has been in use for decades but restricted mainly to the automotive industry. In the old days, keyless entry was for the special cars and their owners that could afford it. Now, more mainstream cars are using keyless entry and the advancements in its applications are quite astounding. You can lock and unlock your trunk and even start your engine using keyless entry and the remote that goes with it. More advanced systems will lock anyone out that enters the wrong key code too many times and sometimes, they are programmed to even call the police! Keyless entry is now used extensively in hotels, hospitals, museums, nursing homes, luxury condos and private offices. The future is very bright for this form of locks and keys!
Cam locks are everywhere, it seems! These small locks are easily recognized they their tail or “cam” that moves in a circular motion. They are commonly found in laundromats, file cabinets, desks and furniture cabinets. While they lock and use a key, they offer a minimum amount of lock security as they are easy to pick or to break into.
These are high quality solid locks that are made of steel and not tin like their hollow counterparts. High security locks cannot be picked open or pried open. They are also impervious to lock bumping and even gun shots. They come in many forms and if you choose right, they can be affordable and long lasting. You can use high security locks in both residential and commercial buildings and come highly recommended by security experts and finer locksmith shops.
This newer technology uses fingerprints and thumbprints to gain access instead of an actual key. While this sounds very much like James Bond or pure science fiction, it is reality and has actually been in use for some time. In fact, most late model iPhones use fingerprint technology to unlock the devices and use them. Biometric locks are used in home, medical and commercial uses and can even have battery back-up in the event of a power outage.
There are so many other locks that the sheer number of them boggles the mind! Included in this list would be master locks, bump proof locks, garage door locks, mortise and cylinder locks, retina scanners, FOB keys, padlocks, double cylinder deadbolts and literally dozens more. To find which lock is best for your particular needs, we urge you to consult with an experienced and licensed locksmith in your local area.
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Locksmith & Key Oak Park is proud to provide services for those looking for residential, emergency, automotive and commercial locksmith solutions in Oak Park.
Grab any primary school book that shows pictures of locks and keys and… surprise; they all look very similar! The classic image of a lock or a key shows the traditional key hole or slot and a key with a handle and jagged edged blade for inserting. Over the centuries, this has not changed much as this type of hardware is still being used today, but there are locking mechanisms that are now being used that our forefathers would simply not recognize or know how to use. 