Mechanically changeable cylinder lock and key with rotating pins

A key for use with a cylinder lock having a changeable key combination including a cylinder housing defining a bore extending along a first axis, a plug arranged in said bore and defining a keyway;

• and
• at least one plug pin disposed in said plug along at least one plug pin axis and communicating with said keyway, said at least one plug pin having a key engagement end face communicating with said keyway, said key engagement end face having a non-axially symmetric configuration;
• the key comprising:
• a key head;
• a shank attached to the key head, said shank having a generally flat surface, having a first width and lying in a flat surface plane and at least one edge surface having an edge width which is less than said first width and lying in an edge plane angled with respect to said flat surface plane;
• and
• at least one key engagement end face engagement element arranged for engagement with said key engagement end face of said at least one plug pin, said at least one key engagement end face engagement element being rotatably mounted in said shank for selectable rotational positioning about a rotation axis generally perpendicular to said flat surface plane.

A method for simultaneously changing the key combination of a cylinder lock and of a key inserted therein, wherein the cylinder lock comprises:

• a cylinder housing defining a bore extending along a first axis;
• a plug arranged in said bore and defining a keyway;
• and
• at least one plug pin disposed in said plug along at least one plug pin axis and communicating with said keyway, said at least one plug pin having a key engagement end face communicating with said keyway, said key engagement end face having a non-axially symmetric configuration,
• wherein said cylindrical housing defines at least one access opening which permits access to said at least one plug pin for selectable rotational positioning thereof, and
• the key comprises:
• a key head;
• a shank attached to the key head;
• and
• at least one key engagement end face engagement element arranged for engagement with said key engagement end face of said plug pins, said at least one key engagement end face engagement element being rotatably mounted in said shank for selectable rotational positioning,
• the method comprising:
• inserting the key into the keyway such that said at least one key engagement end face engagement element is in engagement with a corresponding key engagement end face of said at least one plug pin;
• positioning said key and said plug such that said pin rotation end face of said at least one plug pin opposite said key engagement end face is accessible through said at least one access opening;
• inserting a tool through said at least one access opening to engage a pin rotation end face of at least one plug pin, while at the same time the key engagement end face of said plug pin is in engagement with a corresponding said key engagement end face engagement element;
• and
• rotating said tool in engagement with said pin rotation end face of a plug pin, while at the same time the key engagement end face of said plug pin is in engagement with a corresponding said key engagement end face engagement element, thereby rotating said key engagement end face engagement element by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the plug pin.

A key for use with a cylinder lock having a changeable key combination including a cylinder housing defining a bore extending along a first axis, a plug arranged in said bore and defining a keyway and at least one plug pin disposed in said plug along at least one plug pin axis and communicating with said keyway, said at least one plug pin having a key engagement end face communicating with said keyway, said key engagement end face being configured such that rotation of the plug pin about the plug pin axis effects a change in the key combination of the cylinder lock,

• the key comprising:
• a key head;
• a shank attached to the key head, said shank having a generally flat surface, having a first width and lying in a flat surface plane and at least one edge surface having an edge width which is less than said first width and lying in an edge plane angled with respect to said flat surface plane;
• and
• at least one key engagement end face engagement element arranged for engagement with said key engagement end face of said at least one plug pin, said at least one key engagement end face engagement element being rotatably mounted in said shank for selectable rotational positioning about a rotation axis generally perpendicular to said flat surface plane and subsequently fixable so as to resist further rotational positioning.