Lock cylinder including modular plug
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsBrian Edward Walls, Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a plug assembly includes a plug body, a sidebar, a cover plate, and a plurality of rack pins positioned in the plug assembly. A first portion of the sidebar is positioned in the plug and a second portion protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plug body. The rack pins are configured to selectably resist and permit radially inward motion of the sidebar. The cover plate is operable to selectably retain the rack pins within the plug body.
Claims28
An apparatus comprising:
- a plug assembly, the plug assembly including:
- a substantially cylindrical plug body comprising:
- a keyway extending along a longitudinal axis of the plug body;
- a plurality of openings connected to the keyway;
- and
- an axial channel formed on the outer surface of the plug body, and connected to the cavities;
- a sidebar positioned in the axial channel, the sidebar comprising an interference member formed on a radially inner side of the sidebar, and a tapered portion formed on a radially outer side of the sidebar, wherein the sidebar is biased in a radially outward direction;
- and
- a plurality of rack pins positioned in the openings, each of the rack pins defining a unitary structure including a first section positioned at least partially within the keyway, and a second section having a contact surface facing the axial channel, wherein each contact surface includes a receiving notch having a first depth, wherein each receiving notch is configured to receive a portion of the interference member, and wherein each of the rack pins is operable in a first position in which the receiving notch is aligned with the interference member and a second position in which the receiving notch is not aligned with the interference member;
- wherein each contact surface further comprises a false gate notch having a second depth less than the first depth.
(canceled)
(canceled)
-15. (canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- a plug including a keyway, a plurality of cavities in communication with the keyway, and an axial channel in communication with the plurality of cavities;
- a plurality of rack pins, wherein each of the rack pins is positioned in one of the cavities, wherein each of the rack pins comprises a single-piece unitary construction including a first leg and a second leg extending from the first leg, wherein the first leg is positioned at least partially in the keyway, and the second leg includes a contact surface facing the axial channel, wherein each contact surface includes a receiving notch;
- and
- a sidebar seated in the axial channel, wherein a radially outer side of the sidebar includes a tapered portion, and a radially inner side of the sidebar includes an interference member sized and configured to be received in the receiving notch of each rack pin, and wherein the sidebar is biased in a radially outward direction toward an outer position in which the tapered portion protrudes beyond an outer surface of the plug;
- wherein the sidebar is free to move radially inward toward an inner position when the interference member is aligned with the receiving notch of each rack pin, and is not free to move radially inward when the interference member is not aligned with the receiving notch of at least one of the rack pins.
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the plug includes a radial protrusion configured to resist rotation of the cover plate when the cover plate is in the first angular position.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.