Keying system and method
First Claim
1. A master keying method, comprising:
- providing a lock cylinder having a cylinder body with a longitudinal axis, and a plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body, the plug assembly having a keyway, a plug body having a plurality of protrusion features, and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body, the carrier sub-assembly being moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder body between a first position and a retracted position, the plug assembly including a plurality of pins and a plurality of racks for engaging the pins, each rack of the plurality of racks having a locking bar-receiving groove and a protrusion receiving groove;
inserting a valid master key into the keyway;
rotating the valid master key to rotate the plug assembly from an original position to a first position in a first rotational direction;
moving the carrier sub-assembly to a retracted position to decouple the plurality of racks from the plurality of pins and position the protrusion receiving groove of each rack over a corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body;
removing the valid master key from the keyway;
inserting a rack removal key in the keyway, the rack removal key having a cut that lifts the plurality of pins by a first amount;
rotating the plug assembly to a second position in the first rotational direction to release the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to reengage the plurality of racks with the plurality of pins;
removing a side plug from the cylinder body to disengage a locking bar from the locking bar-receiving groove of each rack, thereby decoupling all of the plurality of racks from each other rack;
removing the rack removal key from the keyway;
inserting a rack removal tool into the keyway, the rack removal tool having a cut that lifts the plurality of pins by a second amount greater than the first amount;
moving the carrier sub-assembly to the retracted position to decouple the plurality of racks from the plurality of pins and position each rack above the corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body;
removing the racks from access holes in the cylinder body;
inserting each of a plurality of master racks through a respective access hole, each master rack of the plurality of master racks having a master locking bar-receiving groove and a master protrusion receiving groove;
releasing the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to engage the plurality of master racks with the plurality of pins;
remove the rack removal tool from the keyway;
reinsert the rack removal key in the keyway;
without removing the rack removal key, reinstalling the side plug back on to the cylinder body so that the locking bar engages with the master locking bar-receiving groove of each master rack of the plurality of master racks, thereby coupling all of the plurality of master racks together;
rotating the plug assembly to the first position in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction;
moving the carrier sub-assembly to the retracted position to decouple the plurality of master racks from the plurality of pins and position the master protrusion receiving groove of each master rack over a corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body;
removing the rack removal key from the keyway;
inserting a new master key in the keyway; and
rotating the plug body back in the second rotational direction back to the original position to release the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to reengage the plurality of master racks with the plurality of pins.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keying system includes a cylinder body. A plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body includes a plug body and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body. The carrier sub-assembly is moveable parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder body between a first position and a second position. The plug assembly includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of racks for selectively engaging the plurality of pins. Each rack of the plurality of racks has a first locking bar-receiving groove along a neutral axis and at least a second locking bar-receiving groove spaced from the neutral axis, wherein a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of a first rack of the plurality of racks is different from a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of at least one other of the plurality of racks.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A master keying method, comprising:
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providing a lock cylinder having a cylinder body with a longitudinal axis, and a plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body, the plug assembly having a keyway, a plug body having a plurality of protrusion features, and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body, the carrier sub-assembly being moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder body between a first position and a retracted position, the plug assembly including a plurality of pins and a plurality of racks for engaging the pins, each rack of the plurality of racks having a locking bar-receiving groove and a protrusion receiving groove; inserting a valid master key into the keyway; rotating the valid master key to rotate the plug assembly from an original position to a first position in a first rotational direction; moving the carrier sub-assembly to a retracted position to decouple the plurality of racks from the plurality of pins and position the protrusion receiving groove of each rack over a corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body; removing the valid master key from the keyway; inserting a rack removal key in the keyway, the rack removal key having a cut that lifts the plurality of pins by a first amount; rotating the plug assembly to a second position in the first rotational direction to release the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to reengage the plurality of racks with the plurality of pins; removing a side plug from the cylinder body to disengage a locking bar from the locking bar-receiving groove of each rack, thereby decoupling all of the plurality of racks from each other rack; removing the rack removal key from the keyway; inserting a rack removal tool into the keyway, the rack removal tool having a cut that lifts the plurality of pins by a second amount greater than the first amount; moving the carrier sub-assembly to the retracted position to decouple the plurality of racks from the plurality of pins and position each rack above the corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body; removing the racks from access holes in the cylinder body; inserting each of a plurality of master racks through a respective access hole, each master rack of the plurality of master racks having a master locking bar-receiving groove and a master protrusion receiving groove; releasing the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to engage the plurality of master racks with the plurality of pins; remove the rack removal tool from the keyway; reinsert the rack removal key in the keyway; without removing the rack removal key, reinstalling the side plug back on to the cylinder body so that the locking bar engages with the master locking bar-receiving groove of each master rack of the plurality of master racks, thereby coupling all of the plurality of master racks together; rotating the plug assembly to the first position in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction; moving the carrier sub-assembly to the retracted position to decouple the plurality of master racks from the plurality of pins and position the master protrusion receiving groove of each master rack over a corresponding protrusion feature on the plug body; removing the rack removal key from the keyway; inserting a new master key in the keyway; and rotating the plug body back in the second rotational direction back to the original position to release the carrier sub-assembly from the retracted position to reengage the plurality of master racks with the plurality of pins. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A keying system, comprising:
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a cylinder body having a longitudinal axis; a plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body, the plug assembly having a keyway, the plug assembly including a plug body and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body, the carrier sub-assembly being moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder body between a first position and a second position, the plug assembly including a plurality of pins and a plurality of racks for selectively engaging the plurality of pins, each rack of the plurality of racks having a first locking bar-receiving groove along a neutral axis and at least a second locking bar-receiving groove spaced from the neutral axis, wherein a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of a first rack of the plurality of racks is different from a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of at least one other of the plurality of racks. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification