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US 2023/0035220 A1Published application
Modular and interchangeable lock plug
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsJames Nye, Brian E. Walls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary lock apparatus includes a housing and a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The plug assembly includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing and a retention mechanism operable to selectively prevent removal of the plug assembly from the housing. A system including the lock apparatus may include a change key configured to actuate the tumbler assembly without actuating the retention mechanism and/or a control key configured to actuate both the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a modular plug assembly, comprising:
- a plug extending along a longitudinal axis defining a proximal direction and an opposite distal direction, wherein a proximal end portion of the plug defines a faceplate, wherein a plug body extends distally from the faceplate, and wherein the plug body is cylindrical and has a circular footprint;
- a tumbler assembly movably mounted to the plug body and having a blocking state and an unblocking state, wherein a portion of the tumbler assembly projects beyond the circular footprint when the tumbler assembly is in the blocking state;
- and
- a retention mechanism mounted in a distal end portion of the plug and having a retaining state in which a portion of the retention mechanism projects beyond the circular footprint, and the retention mechanism having a releasing state in which the portion of the retention mechanism is received within the circular footprint;
- a first key configured for insertion into the plug, wherein with the first key fully inserted into the plug, the first key places the plurality of tumblers in the unblocking state while the retention mechanism remains in the retaining state;
- and
- a second key configured for insertion into the plug, wherein with the second key fully inserted into the plug, the second key places the plurality of tumblers in the unblocking state and places the retention mechanism in the releasing state.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a housing defining a cylindrical chamber;
- and
- a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the chamber for rotation relative to the housing between a home position and a rotated position, the plug assembly comprising:
- a plug extending along a rotational axis and including a plug body that interfaces with an inner surface of the housing at a cylindrical shear line;
- a tumbler assembly movably mounted in the plug, the tumbler assembly having a blocking state in which a portion of the tumbler assembly crosses the cylindrical shear line and prevents rotation of the plug assembly from the home position, the tumbler assembly having an unblocking state in which the tumbler assembly does not prevent rotation of the plug assembly from the home position;
- and
- a retention mechanism movably mounted in the plug and having a retaining state in which the retention mechanism prevents axial movement of the plug assembly relative to the housing without preventing rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing, the retention mechanism having a releasing state in which the retention mechanism does not prevent axial movement of the plug assembly relative to the housing;
- and
- wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first plate biased in a first direction toward a first retaining position, and a second plate biased in a second direction toward a second retaining position, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- inserting a control key into a keyway of a plug assembly, wherein the plug assembly is rotatably mounted within a chamber of a housing, and wherein the plug assembly comprises:
- a plug including a plug body that extends along a rotational axis and is mounted in the chamber, wherein a cylindrical shear line is defined at an interface between the plug body and the housing, and wherein the plug body has a circular footprint;
- a tumbler assembly selectively preventing rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing by selectively maintaining a portion of the tumbler assembly in a blocking position in which the portion of the tumbler assembly crosses the shear line;
- and
- a retention mechanism selectively retaining the plug assembly within the chamber;
- wherein insertion of the control key actuates the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism such that the plug assembly is rotationally decoupled from the housing and is operable to be axially decoupled from the housing;
- and
- wherein insertion of the control key moves a plate of the retention mechanism from a retaining position, in which a portion of the plate projects beyond the circular footprint, to a releasing position, in which the portion of the retention mechanism is received within the circular footprint;
- with the control key inserted into the plug, rotating the plug assembly from a home position to a rotated position, wherein with the plug assembly in the rotated position, the plug assembly is axially decoupled from the housing;
- and
- with the plug assembly in the second rotational position, removing the plug assembly from the housing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.