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US 11,274,468 B2Granted
Modular and interchangeable lock plug
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsJames Nye, Brian E. Walls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary lock apparatus includes a housing and a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The plug assembly includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing and a retention mechanism operable to selectively prevent removal of the plug assembly from the housing. A system including the lock apparatus may include a change key configured to actuate the tumbler assembly without actuating the retention mechanism and/or a control key configured to actuate both the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism.
Claims28
A system, comprising:
- a modular plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug extending along a longitudinal axis defining a proximal direction and an opposite distal direction, wherein a proximal end portion of the plug defines a faceplate, wherein a plug body extends distally from the faceplate, and wherein the plug body is cylindrical and has a circular footprint;
- a tumbler assembly movably mounted to the plug body and having a blocking state and an unblocking state, wherein a portion of the tumbler assembly projects beyond the circular footprint when the tumbler assembly is in the blocking state;
- and
- a retention mechanism mounted in a distal end portion of the plug and having a retaining state and a releasing state;
- wherein the retention mechanism comprises:
- a first plate spring-biased in a first direction toward a first projected position in which the first plate projects beyond the circular footprint;
- and
- a second plate spring-biased in a second direction toward a second projected position in which the second plate projects beyond the circular footprint;
- and
- wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a housing defining a cylindrical chamber;
- and
- a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the chamber for rotation relative to the housing between a home position and a rotated position, the plug assembly comprising:
- a plug extending along a rotational axis and including a plug body that interfaces with an inner surface of the housing at a cylindrical shear line;
- a tumbler assembly movably mounted in the plug, the tumbler assembly having a blocking state in which a portion of the tumbler assembly crosses the cylindrical shear line and prevents rotation of the plug assembly from the home position, the tumbler assembly having an unblocking state in which the tumbler assembly does not prevent rotation of the plug assembly from the home position;
- and
- a retention mechanism movably mounted in the plug and having a retaining state in which the retention mechanism prevents axial movement of the plug assembly relative to the housing without preventing rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing, the retention mechanism having a releasing state in which the retention mechanism does not prevent axial movement of the plug assembly relative to the housing;
- wherein the retention mechanism comprises:
- a first plate spring-biased in a first direction toward a first retaining position;
- and
- a second plate spring-biased in a second direction toward a second retaining position;
- and
- wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.
10 more elements
A method, comprising:
- inserting a control key into a keyway of a plug assembly, wherein the plug assembly is rotatably mounted within a chamber of a housing, and wherein the plug assembly comprises:
- a plug including a plug body that extends along a rotational axis and is mounted in the chamber, wherein a cylindrical shear line is defined at an interface between the plug body and the housing, and wherein the plug body has a circular footprint;
- a tumbler assembly selectively preventing rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing by selectively maintaining a portion of the tumbler assembly in a blocking position in which the portion of the tumbler assembly crosses the shear line;
- and
- a retention mechanism selectively retaining the plug assembly within the chamber, the retention mechanism comprising a first plate and a second plate, wherein at least one of the second plate or the housing comprises a ramp surface operable to urge the second plate into the plug;
- wherein insertion of the control key actuates the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism such that the plug assembly is rotationally decoupled from the housing and is operable to be axially decoupled from the housing;
- and
- wherein insertion of the control key moves the first plate from a retaining position, in which a portion of the first plate projects beyond the circular footprint, to a releasing position, in which the portion of the first plate is received within the circular footprint;
- with the control key inserted into the plug, rotating the plug assembly from a home position to a rotated position, wherein with the plug assembly in the rotated position, the plug assembly is axially decoupled from the housing;
- with the plug assembly in the second rotational position, exerting a pulling force on the plug assembly, thereby causing the ramp surface to urge the second plate into the plug;
- and
- with the second plate received in the plug, removing the plug assembly from the housing.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.