Key ejector lock

A key ejector lock which comprises:

• a tubular barrel having an internal retaining shoulder adjacent its front end, the rear end of said barrel being slit longitudinally to provide for resilient expansion thereof,
• a tubular front end plug mounted for rotation and for axial reciprocal movement in said barrel and having a keyway extending therethrough for operation thereof by a key,
• a rear end plug rotatably mounted in said barrel and adapted for operative connection to a locking member,
• interengaging circumferential ring and groove means on the slit end of said barrel and said rear end plug enabling relative rotation thereof,
• drive means interposed between said plugs and fixed to said rear end plug for rotation therewith,
• means providing a sliding drive connection between said front end plug and said drive means,
• spring means interposed between said rear end plug and said front end plug and resiliently urging said front end plug forwardly in said barrel,
• means on said barrel providing rearwardly opening circumferentially spaced internal notches,
• lug means projecting outwardly from said front end plug, said lug means being removably received in respective ones of said notches for securing said rear end plug in respective locked and unlocked rotational positions,
• a key ejector received in said front end plug for axial reciprocal movement therein between the front end plug and said drive means and engaging a key inserted through said keyway,
• and spring means interposed between said rear end plug and said key ejector and resiliently urging said key ejector forwardly in said barrel,
• whereby the lock may be assembled by loading the barrel from its rear end with the rear end plug inserted in the barrel into snap-fitting interengagement of said ring and groove means, and insertion of a key in said keyway serves to move said front end plug rearwardly to free the rotatable parts for rotation and enable the key to rotate said front end plug for rotating said rear end plug between said locked and unlocked positions thereof, and said key ejector acts to eject the key when released in any rotational position thereof.