Re-keyable lock assembly
AssigneeNewfrey LLC
InventorsWalter Strader, Steven Armstrong, Gerald B. Chong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A re-keyable lock cylinder includes a plug body and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body. The plug assembly includes a plurality of planar wafers and the carrier sub assembly includes a plurality of racks for engaging the wafers in a face-to-face teeth arrangement. The racks disengage from the wafers to separate the teeth in response to movement of the carrier such that the lock cylinder is in a re-keyable condition when the racks are disengaged from the wafers.
Claims20
A re-keyable lock cylinder comprising:
- a cylinder which defines a longitudinal axis;
- a plug receivable within the cylinder;
- a wafer slidably mountable within said plug transverse said axis;
- a carrier mountable adjacent said plug, said carrier selectively movable parallel to said axis;
- and
- a rack slidably mountable within said carrier, said rack engageable with said wafer.
A re-keyable lock cylinder comprising:
- a cylinder which defines a longitudinal axis;
- a plug receivable within the cylinder;
- a wafer slidably mountable within said plug transverse said axis;
- a biasing member to bias said wafer toward a keyway;
- a carrier mountable adjacent said plug;
- and
- a rack slidably mountable within said carrier, said rack facially engaged with said wafer, said plug and carrier rotatable relative said cylinder in response to a valid key being located in said keyway to position said wafer and said rack in a predetermined position said carrier axially displaceable parallel to said axis when said wafer and said rack are positioned at said predetermined position.
A method of re-keying a lock cylinder comprising the steps of:
- (1) inserting a first key into a keyway of a plug parallel to an axis;
- (2) longitudinally displacing a carrier relative the plug parallel to the axis from a first position to a second position to longitudinally separate a rack in the carrier from a wafer in the plug;
- (3) removing the first key;
- (4) inserting a second key into the keyway;
- (5) returning the carrier to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.