Patent ID: 8635022
Filing Date: 2014-01-21
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A lock assembly, comprising: a lock body including an inner surface defining a bore having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal slot extending along at least a portion of the inner surface, the lock body defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced pin bores extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lock body from an outer surface of the lock body and opening into the bore; a key plug defining a longitudinal keyway extending from one end and having an outer surface defining a longitudinal groove, the key plug further defining a first plurality of longitudinally spaced pin bores extending radially substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the key plug from the outer surface of the key plug and opening into the keyway, and a second plurality of longitudinally spaced pin bores extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the key plug from the outer surface of the key plug and opening into the keyway, the longitudinal groove in the outer surface of the key plug opening into the second plurality of pin bores, wherein the key plug is rotatably disposed in the bore of the lock body such that in a first position of the key plug the pin bores in the lock body align with the first plurality of pin bores in the key plug, and wherein the outer surface of the key plug defines a shear plane with the inner surface of the lock body; a first plurality of pins, each of the first plurality of pins including a first outer portion and a second inner portion disposed in one of the pin bores in the lock body and in one of the first plurality of pin bores in the key plug; means for urging the first plurality of pins toward the keyway such that the first outer portions of the pins span the shear plane to prevent rotation of the key plug relative to the lock body when a key is not in the keyway; a second plurality of pins, each of the second plurality of pins having a recess formed therein and disposed in one of the second plurality of pin bores in the key plug for reciprocal or rotational movement about an axis; an elongated spring member for simultaneously engaging and biasing the second plurality of pins toward the keyway, the spring member disposed in a longitudinal slot defined in the outer surface of the key plug contiguous with the second plurality of pin bores; a locking bar disposed in the groove in the key plug for movement between a first position where the locking bar is received in the slot in the lock body and a second position where at least a portion of the locking bar is received in the recesses in the second plurality of pins, the locking bar prevented from moving to the second position unless the second plurality of pins are in a predetermined position where the recesses are aligned for receiving the at least a portion of the locking bar; and means for biasing the locking bar to the first position, wherein upon insertion of a proper key in the keyway the first plurality of pins are moved axially in the bores in the lock body and the key plug such that the junction between the first portion and the second portion of the first plurality of pins aligns with the shear plane, and the second plurality of pins are moved axially or rotated about their axes for aligning the recesses in the second plurality of pins with the locking bar so the key can rotate the key plug and the locking bar cams against the slot in the lock body to move the locking bar into the second position to allow rotation of the key plug.