Rekeyable cam lock
AssigneeFrank J. Martin Company
InventorFrank J. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rekeyable cam lock has a plug rotatably received in a cylinder. The plug has a keyway and pin tumblers and is provided with a circumferential groove rearward of the pin tumbler. The cylinder has a bore to receive the plug and a pair of transverse holes to receive a U-shaped clip in registration with the plug groove. The clip engages the groove, permitting rotation of the plug but preventing its removal from the cylinder. When the clip is removed from the holes, the plug is forwardly removable from the cylinder to facilitate rekeying of the lock.
Claims5
A rekeyable cam lock for cabinet doors and drawers, comprising:
- a cylindrical plug having a keyway, a plurality of pin tumblers in communication with the keyway, and an exterior, circumferential groove located rearwardly of the pin tumblers;
- an elongated cylinder having an off-center, longitudinal bore therein for rotatably receiving the plug, the elongated cylinder also having two transverse, spaced-apart bores therein positioned to register with the circumferential groove when the plug is received by the elongated cylinder, the elongated cylinder also having an external slot joining the bores;
- and
- a U-shaped clip sized to be removably received in the bores and the slot so as to removably retain the plug within the elongated cylinder, the clip having dimensions selected so that the clip does not protrude from the external slot.
A rekeyable cam lock for installation in a drawer or door panel, comprising:
- a cylindrical plug having a circumferential groove;
- an elongated cylinder defining a longitudinal bore sized to rotatably and removably receive the cylindrical plug, wherein the elongated cylinder also defines two apertures positioned to register with the circumferential groove when the plug is fully inserted into the bore;
- and
- a substantially U-shaped clip having two substantially parallel, spaced-apart prongs joined together by a transverse bar for releasably engaging the elongated cylinder with the circumferential groove, wherein the transverse bar has a length slightly less than the diameter of the circumferential groove, so that there is an interference fit between the prongs of the clip and groove thereby restraining the cylindrical plug from axial motion within the longitudinal bore while permitting rotation of the plug within the bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.