Rekeyable lock cylinder with double sided keyway

A rekeyable lock cylinder assembly comprising:

• a key having a blade with a first key cut and a second key cut, the first key cut facing in an opposite direction relative to the second key cut;
• a cylinder body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the cylinder body defines a first locking bar engaging slot and a second locking bar engaging slot;
• and
• a plug assembly disposed at least partially within the cylinder body, the plug assembly including:
• a plug body defining a keyway opening for receiving the key, the keyway opening elongated in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis and includes a first end and an opposite second end disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis;
• at least one first key follower slidably mounted on the plug body and disposed at the first end of the keyway opening, wherein the at least one first key follower is configured to interact with the first key cut when the key is received within the keyway opening;
• at least one second key follower slidably mounted on the plug body and disposed at the second end of the keyway opening, wherein the at least one second key follower is configured to interact with the second key cut when the key is received within the keyway opening, and wherein the at least one first key follower and the at least one second key follower are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis and disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis;
• a first carrier subassembly supported by the plug body, the first carrier subassembly including:
• a first carrier selectively slidable along the longitudinal axis for rekeying between different keys;
• a first locking bar slidably mounted on the first carrier and selectively engageable with the first locking bar engaging slot to block rotation of the plug assembly relative to the cylinder body;
• and
• at least one first rack coupled between the at least one first key follower and the first locking bar to control movement of the first locking bar;
• and
• a second carrier subassembly supported by the plug body and independent from the first carrier subassembly, the second carrier subassembly including:
• a second carrier selectively slidable along the longitudinal axis for rekeying between different keys;
• a second locking bar slidable mounted on the second carrier and selectively engageable with the second locking bar engaging slot to block rotation of the plug assembly relative to the cylinder body;
• and
• at least one second rack coupled between the at least one second key follower and the second locking bar to control movement of the second locking bar.

A method of rekeying a rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

• inserting a first key into a keyway opening of a plug body of a plug assembly of the rekeyable lock cylinder along a longitudinal axis, the first key having a first key cut and a second key cut, the plug assembly including at least one first key follower, at least one second key follower, a first carrier subassembly with a first carrier, a first locking bar, and at least one first rack coupled between the at least one first key follower and the first locking bar, and a second carrier subassembly with a second carrier, a second locking bar, and at least one second rack coupled between the at least one second key follower and the second locking bar, wherein the first key cut positions the first locking bar in an unlocked position via the at least one first key follower and the second key cut positions the second locking bar in an unlocked position via the at least one second key follower, wherein the keyway opening is elongated in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis and includes a first end and an opposite second end disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, the at least one first key follower is disposed at the first end of the keyway opening and the at least one second key follower is disposed at the second end of the keyway opening, and wherein the at least one first key follower and the at least one second key follower are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis and disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis;
• rotating the plug assembly within a cylinder body;
• axially displacing the first carrier having the at least one first rack such that the at least one first rack is disengaged with the at least one first key follower;
• axially displacing the second carrier having the at least one second rack such that the at least one second rack is disengaged with the at least one second key follower;
• removing the first key;
• inserting a second key having at least one third key cut;
• and
• rotating the plug assembly so as to reengage the at least one first rack with the at least one first key follower and reengage the at least one second rack with the at least one second key follower and the first and second locking bars are rekeyed to the at least one third key cut that is different than the first key cut or the second key cut.

A rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

• a cylinder body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the cylinder body defines a first locking bar engaging slot and a second locking bar engaging slot;
• and
• a plug assembly disposed at least partially within the cylinder body and being selectively rotatable around the longitudinal axis, the plug assembly including:
• a plug body;
• at least one first key follower slidably mounted on the plug body;
• at least one second key follower slidably mounted on the plug body;
• a first carrier subassembly supported by the plug body, the first carrier subassembly including:
• a first carrier selectively slidable along the longitudinal axis for rekeying between different keys;
• a first locking bar slidably mounted on the first carrier and selectively engageable with the first locking bar engaging slot to block rotation of the plug assembly relative to the cylinder body;
• and
• at least one first rack coupled between the at least one first key follower and the first locking bar to control movement of the first locking bar;
• and
• a second carrier subassembly supported by the plug body, the second carrier subassembly including:
• a second carrier selectively slidable along the longitudinal axis for rekeying between different keys;
• a second locking bar slidable mounted on the second carrier and selectively engageable with the second locking bar engaging slot to block rotation of the plug assembly relative to the cylinder body, wherein the first locking bar is biased in a same direction relative to the second locking bar;
• and
• at least one second rack coupled between the at least one second key follower and the second locking bar to control movement of the second locking bar.