Variable Progression Key Notching System

A progressive key notching system comprising:

• a key having a key blade, the key blade having a plurality of key notches, each of the plurality of key notches having a central axis, the distance between the central axes of at least one pair of adjacent key notches of the plurality of key notches being different than the distance been the central axes of another pair of adjacent key notches of the plurality of key notches;
• a plug body having a plurality of chambers and a key slot, each of the plurality of chambers having a chamber central axis;
• and
• at least one retention pin positioned at least within each of the plurality of chambers, the retention pin configured for lateral displacement along the chamber central axis, the retention pin including at least one recess configured to receive at least a portion of a control bar;
• wherein, when the key blade is operably positioned within the key slot, the chamber central axis of at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers is offset from the central axis of an adjacent key notch of the plurality of key notches, and further wherein the retention pin is configured to be rotated and laterally displaced within the at least one chamber upon engagement with the adjacent key notch to position the at least one recess to receive at least a portion of the control bar.