Devices, methods, and systems for keying a lock assembly

A lock keying tool for a lock cylinder comprising a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body and comprising a plurality of pins and a one-to-one corresponding plurality of racks for relocating the pins, said lock cylinder defining a tool-receiving aperture, said lock keying tool comprising:

• a base plate defining a first face and a second face, said first face opposing said second face;
• a plurality of spaced elongated prongs, each prong from said plurality of prongs comprising a concave first longitudinal end disposed on a first portion of said prong and adapted to engage a corresponding one of the plurality of racks, each prong from said plurality of prongs defining a longitudinal axis and longitudinally dimensioned to relocate to a first predetermined position the corresponding one of the plurality of racks, the first predetermined position common to each of the plurality of racks, each prong from said plurality of prongs comprising a second longitudinal end disposed on a second portion of said prong and connected to said base plate, said second portion having a wider axial cross-section than said first portion;
• and
• a handle connected to said second face of said base plate.

A method for keying a lock cylinder comprising a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed in said cylinder body, said plug assembly comprising a plurality of pins and a one-to-one corresponding plurality of racks for relocating said pins, said lock cylinder defining a tool-receiving aperture, comprising the activities of:

• while the plurality of racks are not engaged with the plurality of pins:
• aligning the plurality of racks to a first predetermined level;
• and
• after aligning the plurality of racks to the first predetermined level, inserting a key into the plug assembly, the plurality of pins relocated by the key;
• and
• after inserting the key into the plug assembly, engaging the plurality of racks with the plurality of pins.

A method for keying a lock cylinder comprising a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed in said cylinder body, said plug assembly comprising at least one pin and at least one corresponding rack for relocating said at least one pin, said lock cylinder defining a tool-receiving aperture, comprising the activities of:

• moving a carrier comprised by said lock cylinder from a first position to a second position, the carrier adapted to engage the at least one rack;
• inserting a rack alignment tool into the tool-receiving aperture;
• receiving the at least one rack in at least one corresponding slot defined by the carrier;
• inserting a key into the plug assembly;
• moving the carrier assembly from the second position to the first position;
• and
• engaging the at least one rack with a corresponding pin from the plurality of pins.