Patent ID: 7669445

Claim:
A spindle for use with a lock assembly consisting essentially of: an elongate spindle base structured for insertion into a dial; and an elongate spindle shaft extending in an axial direction from a first end of the spindle base and structured for insertion into a lock device, the spindle shaft including: a plurality of spindle segments each having four sides with a chamfered leading edge and an unchamfered trailing edge, wherein each of the four sides of the spindle segments has a substantially equal first width such that the spindle segments are generally square in cross-section, the chamfered leading edges of the spindle segments being structured to guide the spindle into a cam of the lock device during assembly; and a plurality of spaced apart groove segments each having four sides and separating the plurality of spindle segments, wherein each of the four sides of the groove segments has a substantially equal second width such that the groove segments are generally square in cross-section, the second width being less than the first width such that a cross-sectional area of the groove segments is less than a cross-sectional area of the spindle segments; wherein the unchamfered trailing edges of the spindle segments are substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of an adjacent one of the groove segments thereby defining a distal shoulder.