Modular lock plug

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plug including a keyway extending along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a longitudinal channel formed in an outer surface of the plug, and a plurality of rack pin cavities, wherein each rack pin cavity includes a first runner connected with the keyway and a laterally-extending second runner connected with the longitudinal channel, wherein the keyway defines a boundary plane including the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, and wherein each of the first runners extends laterally from the keyway along the boundary plane;
• a sidebar seated in the longitudinal channel, the sidebar including a radially outer cam surface and a radially inner interference member, the sidebar having an outer position in which the cam surface extends beyond the outer surface of the plug, the sidebar having an inner position in which the cam surface is received in the longitudinal channel and the interference member is received in the second runners, wherein the sidebar is biased toward the outer position;
• and
• a plurality of rack pins, wherein each rack pin comprises a single-piece monolithic structure including a key-following leg and a sidebar-engaging leg, wherein each sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate operable to receive a portion of the interference member;
• wherein each rack pin is movably received in a corresponding one of the rack pin cavities such that the key-following leg of the rack pin is received in the first runner of the corresponding rack pin cavity and the sidebar-engaging leg of the rack pin is seated in the second runner of the corresponding rack pin cavity;
• wherein each of the rack pins has an unlocking position in which one of the at least one true gates is aligned with the interference member;
• and
• wherein each of the rack pins has a locking position in which each of the at least one true gates is misaligned with the interference member.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a shell defining a cylindrical chamber and a first longitudinal groove, the shell having an inner surface;
• a plug rotatably seated in the chamber, wherein an outer surface of the plug faces the inner surface of the shell such that a shear line is defined therebetween, the plug including:
• a keyway extending along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
• a first longitudinal channel formed in an outer surface of the plug, the plug having a home position in which the first longitudinal channel is aligned with the first longitudinal groove, and the plug having a rotated position in which the first longitudinal channel is misaligned with the first longitudinal groove;
• and
• a plurality of pin cavities, wherein each pin cavity is connected with the keyway;
• wherein the keyway defines a boundary plane including the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis;
• wherein the plurality of pin cavities includes a plurality of rack pin cavities, each rack pin cavity including a first runner extending laterally from the keyway along the boundary plane, each rack pin cavity further comprising a laterally-extending second runner connected with the first longitudinal channel;
• and
• wherein the plurality of pin cavities further includes at least one additional pin cavity connected with the keyway;
• a plurality of springs, wherein each spring is positioned in a corresponding and respective one of the rack pin cavities;
• a first sidebar seated in the first longitudinal channel, the first sidebar having a first outer position and a first inner position, wherein the first sidebar is biased toward the first outer position, wherein the shell is configured to urge the first sidebar from the first outer position toward the first inner position as the plug rotates from the home position toward the rotated position, and wherein the first sidebar is configured to prevent rotation of the plug when the sidebar is blocked from moving to the first inner position;
• and
• a plurality of pins, wherein each of the pins is seated in a corresponding and respective one of the pin cavities, the plurality of pins comprising:
• a plurality of rack pins seated in the plurality of rack pin cavities, wherein each rack pin comprises a key-following leg seated in the first runner and a sidebar-engaging leg seated in the second runner, wherein each rack pin is engaged with a corresponding and respective one of the springs such that the springs urge the key-following legs toward the keyway;
• and
• at least one additional pin seated in the at least one additional pin cavity;
• wherein each of the pins has a locking position and an unlocking position;
• wherein each rack pin is configured to block the first sidebar from moving to the first inner position when the rack pin is in the locking position thereof;
• and
• wherein each rack pin is configured to not block the first sidebar from moving to the first inner position when the rack pin is in the unlocking position thereof;
• wherein, with each of the pins in the unlocking position thereof, the plug is operable to rotate from the home position to the rotated position;
• and
• wherein, with any of the pins in the locking position thereof, the plug is retained in the home position.