US 11,988,018 B2
Rekeyable lock cylinder with enhanced torque resistance
Hanna Farag, Riverside, CA (US); Jack Zhang, Xiamen (CN); Mark S. Bloom, Ladera Ranch, CA (US); and James Lin, Laguna Niguel, CA (US)
Assigned to ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc., New Haven, CT (US)
Filed by Spectrum Brands, Inc., Middleton, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/825,817.
Application 16/825,817 is a continuation of application No. 15/172,206, filed on Jun. 3, 2016, granted, now 10,612,271, issued on Apr. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/180,339, filed on Jun. 16, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0318388 A1, Oct. 8, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E05B 27/00 (2006.01); E05B 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 27/005 (2013.01) [E05B 27/0017 (2013.01); E05B 27/0021 (2013.01); E05B 27/0057 (2013.01); E05B 27/0082 (2013.01); E05B 29/004 (2013.01); E05B 29/0066 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:
a cylinder body with a longitudinal axis including a groove; and
a plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the plug assembly including;
a plurality of key followers, wherein at least one of the plurality of key followers includes at least one rack engaging feature at a first side, the at least one rack engaging feature being at least one of a projection and a recess;
a plurality of racks, wherein at least one of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of key follower engaging features at a first side, the plurality of key follower engaging features being a corresponding other one of the at least one of the projection and the recess of the at least one rack engaging feature;
wherein the at least one of the plurality of racks is selectively disengageable at the first side from the at least one of the plurality of key followers between a plurality of assignable key cut positions, the at least one of the plurality of racks also including a locking bar engaging groove at a second side, opposite the first side of the at least one of the plurality of racks; and
a locking bar being movable between a locked position in the groove of the cylinder body and an unlocked position out of the groove of the cylinder body, wherein the locking bar is biased toward the plurality of racks,
wherein the locking bar is positionable at least partially within the locking bar engaging groove when the at least one of the plurality of racks is positioned at both a first key cut position from an unauthorized key and a second key cut position from an authorized key, the first key cut position being consecutive with the second key cut position, wherein the first key cut position corresponds to the locked position of the locking bar, and wherein the second key cut position corresponds to the unlocked position of the locking bar.