Wafer-tumbler cam locks for cabinets

A method for packaging a cam lock for installation in a cabinet, the method comprising:

• providing an inventory of a plurality of cam lock components, the inventory of plurality of cam lock components having:
• a plurality of cams;
• a plurality of plugs, each plug having a keyway and a plurality of wafer tumblers in communication with the keyway, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs is defined by a plug length, and wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has the same plug length;
• a plurality of first adapters configured to couple to one of the cams and one of the plugs, wherein each first adapter is defined by a first adapter length;
• and
• a plurality of first cylinder housings configured to receive one of the plugs and one of the first adapters, wherein each first cylinder housing is defined by a first cylinder housing length;
• a plurality of second adapters configured to couple to one of the cams and one of the plugs, wherein each second adapter is defined by a second adapter length that is different from the first adapter length;
• and
• a plurality of second cylinder housings configured to receive one of the plugs and one of the second adapters, wherein each second cylinder housing is defined by a second cylinder housing length that is different from the first cylinder housing length;
• selecting a plurality of first cam lock components from the plurality of cam lock components, wherein the plurality of first cam lock components define a first cam lock, and wherein the selecting of the plurality of first cam lock components includes:
• selecting a first cam from the plurality of cams;
• selecting a first plug from the plurality of plugs;
• selecting a first adapter from the plurality of first adapters based on a first thickness of a first cabinet drawer or door;
• selecting a first cylinder housing from the plurality of cylinder housings based on the first thickness;
• and
• packaging the plurality of first cam lock components of the first cam lock into a first packaging,
• wherein the first plug and the first adapter are configured to be disposed in the first cylinder housing,
• wherein a length of the packaged first cam lock is defined by a first cam lock length that corresponds to the first thickness of the first cabinet drawer or door, and
• whereby installation of the packaged first cam lock in the first cabinet drawer or door is simplified;
• selecting a plurality of second cam lock components from the plurality of cam lock components, wherein the plurality of second cam lock components define a second cam lock, and wherein the selecting of the plurality of the second components includes:
• selecting a second cam from the plurality of cams;
• selecting a second plug from the plurality of plugs;
• selecting a second adapter from the plurality of second adapters based on a second thickness of a second cabinet drawer or door, wherein the second thickness is different from the first thickness;
• selecting a second cylinder housing from the plurality of second cylinder housings based on the second thickness;
• and
• packaging the plurality of second cam lock components of the second cam lock into a second packaging,
• wherein the second plug and the second adapter are configured to be disposed in the second cylinder housing,
• wherein a length of the packaged second cam lock is defined by a second cam lock length that corresponds to the second thickness of the second cabinet drawer or door, and
• whereby installation of the second packaged cam lock in the second cabinet drawer or door is simplified.

A method for installing a cam lock in a cabinet, the method comprising:

• providing a packaged cam lock in a packaging, the packaged cam lock having;
• a cam;
• a plug selected from a plurality of plugs, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs is defined by a plug length, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has the same plug length, and wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has a keyway and a plurality of wafer tumblers in communication with the keyway;
• a first adapter configured to couple to the cam and the plug, wherein the first adapter is defined by a first adapter length;
• a second adapter configured to couple to the cam and the plug, wherein the second adapter is defined by a second adapter length that is different from the first adapter length;
• a first cylinder housing configured to receive the plug and the first adapter, wherein the plug and the first adapter are configured to be retained in the first cylinder housing, wherein the first cylinder housing is defined by a first cylinder housing length;
• a second cylinder housing configured to receive the plug and the second adapter, wherein the plug and the second adapter are configured to be retained in the second cylinder housing, wherein the second cylinder housing is defined by a second cylinder housing length that is different from the first cylinder housing length;
• unpacking the cam lock from the packaging;
• determining whether a thickness a cabinet drawer or door of the cabinet is one of a first thickness or a second thickness;
• in response to determining that the cabinet drawer or door is the first thickness and without inserting a key into the keyway,
• inserting the first cylinder housing through a hole defined by the cabinet drawer or door while the plug and the first adapter are retained in the fit cylinder housing, wherein the first cylinder housing length corresponds to the first thickness of the cabinet drawer or door;
• and
• coupling the cam to the first adapter or the plug while the first cylinder housing extends through the hole;
• and
• in response to determining that the cabinet drawer or door is the second thickness and without inserting a key into the keyway,
• inserting the second cylinder housing through the hole defined by the cabinet drawer or door while the plug and the second adapter are retained in the second cylinder housing, wherein the second cylinder housing length corresponds to the second thickness of the cabinet drawer or door;
• and
• coupling the cam to the second adapter or the plug while the second cylinder housing extends through the hole.

A cam lock system for cabinets, the cam lock system comprising:

• a cam;
• a plug selected from a plurality of plugs, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs is defined by a plug length, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has the same plug length, and wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has a keyway and a plurality of wafer tumblers in communication with the keyway;
• a first adapter configured to couple to the cam and the plug, wherein the first adapter is defined by a first adapter length;
• a second adapter configured to couple to the cam and the plug, wherein the second adapter is defined by a second adapter length;
• a first cylinder housing configured to receive the plug and the first adapter, the plug being insertable into and removable from the second cylinder housing without inserting a key or tool into the keyway of the plug, wherein the first cylinder housing is defined by a first cylinder housing length, and wherein the first adapter length corresponds to a first thickness of the cabinet;
• a second cylinder housing configured to receive the plug and the second adapter, the plug being insertable into and removable from the second cylinder housing without inserting a key or tool into the keyway of the plug, wherein the second cylinder housing is defined by a second cylinder housing length that is different from the first cylinder housing length, and wherein the second adapter length corresponds to a second thickness of the cabinet that is different from the first thickness;
• and
• a retainer clip configured to:
• extend through the fits cylinder housing in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the plug into registry with the plug after the plug and first adapter are inserted into the first cylinder housing to thereby retain both the plug and the first adapter in the first cylinder housing;
• and
• extend through the second cylinder housing in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plug into registry with the plug after the plug and second adapter are inserted into the second cylinder housing to thereby retain both the plug and the second adapter in the second cylinder housing,
• whereby installation of the cam lock using the first cylinder housing and the first adapter in the cabinet is simplified when the cabinet is of the first thickness, and
• whereby installation of the cam lock using the second cylinder housing and the second adapter in the cabinet is simplified when the cabinet is of the second thickness.

A cam lock system for a cabinet, the cam lock comprising:

• a cam;
• a plug selected from a plurality of plugs, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs is defined by a plug length, wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has the same plug length, and wherein each one of the plurality of plugs has a keyway and a plurality of wafer tumblers in communication with the keyway;
• a first means for housing the plug, wherein the first means for housing the plug is defined by a first length that corresponds to a first thickness of the cabinet;
• a first means for adapting the plug to the first length of the first means for housing the plug;
• a second means for housing the plug, wherein the second means for housing the plug is defined by a second length that corresponds to a second thickness of the cabinet;
• a second means for adapting the plug to the second length of the second means for housing the plug;
• and
• a means for retaining, wherein the means for retaining retains the plug and the first means for adapting in the first means for housing the plug, and wherein the means for retaining retains the plug and the second means for adapting in the second means for housing the plug,
• whereby installation of the cam lock using the first means for housing the plug in the cabinet of the first thickness is simplified, and
• whereby installation of the cam lock using the second means for housing the plug in the cabinet of the second thickness is simplified.