Modular lock plug
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsBrian E. Walls, Jason C. Clifford, Scott D. Welsby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug assembly including a plug, a sidebar movably mounted on the plug, and a plurality of rack pins seated in the plug. The sidebar is biased to an outer position in which the sidebar extends beyond an outer surface of the plug. Each rack pin includes a key-following leg and a sidebar-engaging leg. The sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate. When a true gate of each rack pin is aligned with the sidebar, the sidebar is free to move radially inward to an inner position.
Claims23
A lock plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug body;
- a plurality of rack pins positioned within openings in the plug body;
- and
- an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body and operable in a first angular position in which the rack pins are retained within the plug body and a second angular position in which the rack pins are removable from the plug body.
A lock plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug body;
- a plurality of rack pins positioned within openings in the plug body;
- and
- an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body and operable in a first angular position in which the rack pins are retained within the plug body and a second angular position in which the rack pins are removable from the plug body;
- wherein one of the plug body and the arcuate cover plate includes a radial protrusion engagable with another of the plug body and the arcuate cover plate to resist rotation of the arcuate cover plate relative to the plug body.
A lock plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug body;
- a plurality of rack pins positioned within openings in the plug body;
- and
- an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body and operable in a first angular position in which the rack pins are retained within the plug body and a second angular position in which the rack pins are removable from the plug body, wherein the arcuate cover plate extends along an arc having a central angle between 180° and 200°.
A lock plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug body;
- a plurality of rack pins positioned within openings in the plug body;
- and
- an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body and operable in a first angular position in which the rack pins are retained within the plug body and a second angular position in which the rack pins are removable from the plug body;
- and
- a plurality of rack pin biasing members, each positioned in one of the opening in the plug body between the arcuate cover plate and a corresponding one of the rack pins and configured to urge the corresponding one of the rack pins away from the arcuate cover plate.
A lock plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug body having a circular shaped outer profile, the plug body comprising:
- a keyway extending along a longitudinal axis of the plug body;
- and
- a plurality of openings communicating with the keyway;
- a plurality of rack pins positioned in corresponding ones of the plurality of openings in the plug body;
- and
- an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body and operable to selectably expose and selectably cover at least a portion of each of the plurality of openings in the plug body while remaining rotatably coupled to the plug body.
A method of pinning a lock plug assembly including a plug body, a plurality of rack pins positionable in corresponding openings in the plug body, and an arcuate cover plate rotatably coupled to the plug body, the method comprising:
- rotating the arcuate cover plate from a closed position in which the cover plate covers the openings in the plug body to an open position in which the openings in the plug body are exposed;
- positioning each of the plurality of rack pins in the corresponding openings in the plug body when the arcuate cover plate is in the open position;
- and
- rotating the arcuate cover plate from the open position to the closed position, thereby covering the openings and maintaining the rack pins within the plug body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.