Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02661241 2009-04-01
REKEYABLE LOCK CYLINDER, PLUG ASSEMBLY OF THE SAME AND
METHOD FOR REKEYING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally relating to a lock cylinder, more
particularly
to a rekeyable lock cylinder and rekeying method thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lock cylinder of known lock device typically is matched with a proper key so
lock cylinder as well as key must be replaced in pair while replacing a lock,
which
results in high lock-replacing cost and inconvenience in use.
SUMMARY
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rekeyable lock
cylinder and rekeying method thereof. First, a first matched key is inserted
into a
plug body and then turned to drive the plug body and a guide bar turning.
Next, a
rekeying tool is inserted into a tool-receiving hole of the plug body to push
a
tool-receiving portion of the guide bar and enable a plurality of first rack
components to move along transverse axis-direction of the plug body for
disengaging from a plurality of second rack components. Then, the first
matched
key is pulled out before inserting a second matched key into the plug body.
Finally, the rekeying tool is pulled out to make the first rack components
reengage
with the second rack components. Accordingly, the present invention may
provide advantages of widely lowering re-keying cost and enhancing convenience
in use, because lock replacement can be completed as soon as re-keying another
matched key only without replacing lock cylinder.
A rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with the present invention comprises
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a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed within the cylinder body. The
plug
assembly comprises a plug body, a plurality of pin assemblies and a guide bar,
wherein the plug body has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis perpendicular
to
the longitudinal axis and a tool-receiving hole, each of the pin assemblies is
movably disposed in the plug body and comprises a first rack component and a
second rack component selectively engaging with the first rack component, and
the
guide bar coupled to the plug body has a plurality of pin runners servicing
for
engaging with the first rack components and a tool-receiving portion exposed
by
the tool-receiving hole. The tool-receiving portion has a tool-contacting
surface
facing the first rack components and the guide bar is configured to move the
first
rack components transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plug body to
disengage the first rack components from the second rack components.
Rekeying method of a rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with the present
invention comprises initially providing a rekeyable lock cylinder, which
comprises
a plug body, a guide bar disposed at the plug body and a plurality of pin
assemblies.
The plug body has a transverse axis and a tool-receiving hole. Each of the pin
assemblies comprises a first rack component and a second rack component in
engagement with the first rack component. The guide bar has a tool-contacting
surface facing the first rack components. Next, a first matched key is
inserted
into the plug body and then turned to drive the plug body and the guide bar
turning.
Then a rekeying tool is inserted into the tool-receiving hole to push the
tool-contacting surface of the guide bar, which enables the first rack
components to
move along transverse axis-direction of the plug body to disengage from the
second rack components. Next, a second matched key is inserted into the plug
body after pulling out the first matched key. Finally, the rekeying tool is
pulled
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out to make the first rack components reengage with the second rack
components.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a rekeyable lock cylinder
in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.2 is an assembled perspective view illustrating the rekeyable lock
cylinder.
Fig.3 is a side view illustrating the rekeyable lock cylinder.
Fig.4 is an assembled perspective view illustrating a plug assembly in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.5 is an assembled longitudinal section view illustrating the rekeyable
lock
cylinder.
Fig.6 is a transverse section view illustrating the rekeyable lock cylinder
along
A-A line of Fig.5.
Fig.7 is a flow chart for rekeying method of the rekeyable lock cylinder.
Fig.8 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the first matched key is
inserted into the rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.9 is a transverse section view illustrating the first matched key is
inserted
into the rekeyable lock cylinder along B-B line of Fig.8.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the first matched key is
turned
45-degrees clockwise in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig.l1 is a transverse section view illustrating the first matched key is
turned
45-degrees clockwise along C-C line of Fig.10.
Fig.12 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the rekeying tool is
inserted
into the rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the
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present invention.
Fig. 13 is a transverse section view illustrating the rekeying tool is
inserted into
the rekeyable lock cylinder along D-D line of Fig.12.
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the first matched key is
pulled
out in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 15 is a transverse section view illustrating the first matched key is
pulled
out along E-E line of Fig.14.
Fig.l6 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the second matched key is
inserted into the rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.17 is a transverse section view illustrating the second matched key is
inserted into the rekeyable lock cylinder along F-F line of Fig.16.
Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the rekeying tool is
pulled out
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.19 is a transverse section view illustrating the rekeying tool is pulled
out
along G-G line of Fig.18.
Fig.20 is a longitudinal section view illustrating the rekeyable lock cylinder
in
normal service condition in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present
invention.
Fig.21 is a transverse section view illustrating the rekeyable lock cylinder
in
normal service condition along H-H line of Fig.20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. l and 2 illustrates a rekeyable lock cylinder in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention comprising a cylinder body 10, a plug
assembly 20 disposed within the cylinder body 10 and a plurality of upper pins
30.
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The cylinder body 10 comprises a hollow cylinder portion 11 for accommodating
the plug assembly 20, an extending protrusion 12 formed at one side of the
hollow
cylinder portion 11, a resilient assembly 13 disposed at the hollow cylinder
portion
11, a location bar 14 and a first spring 15 serving for pushing the location
bar 14.
Or, the cylinder body 10 may omit manufacturing the extending protrusion 12 in
another embodiment. In this embodiment, the hollow cylinder portion 11 has an
inside wall l la, an outside wall llb, a recession 111, an axial groove 112
and a
radial groove 113, wherein the recession 111, the axial groove 112 and the
radial
groove 113 are recessed from the inside wall 11 a. Preferably, the recession
111
communicates with the inside wall 11 a and the outside wall 11 b. The axial
groove 112 in communication with the radial groove 113 comprises a first
limiting
area 112a, an overlapping area 112b and a second limiting area 112c, wherein
the
overlapping area 112b is where the axial groove 112 communicates with and
intersects the radial groove 113, the first limiting area 112a and the second
limiting
area 112c are respectively located at the two sides of the overlapping area
112b.
The extending protrusion 12 has a plurality of upper pin holes 121 and a
straight
slot 122 parallel to the upper pin holes 121, the upper pin holes 121 and the
straight
slot 122 communicate with the hollow cylinder portion 11. Referring to Fig.1,
2
and 4, the resilient assembly 13 disposed at the recession 111 of the hollow
cylinder portion 11 has a movable plate 131, an immovable plate 132 affixed at
the
recession 111 and at least one resilient member 133 disposed between the
movable
plate 131 and the immovable plate 132. In this embodiment, the movable plate
131 is transversely movable within the recession 111 and has a surface 131 a
facing
the resilient member 133 and at least one pillar 131b projecting from the
surface
131a, and preferably the resilient member 133 is disposed on the pillar 131b
of the
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movable plate 131 and two ends of the resilient member 133 contact against the
movable plate 131 and the immovable plate 132 respectively. In addition, the
location bar 14 and the first spring 15 are disposed within the straight slot
122 of
the extending protrusion 12 in this embodiment.
Referring to Fig.l and 4, the plug assembly 20 comprises a plug body 21, a
plurality of pin assemblies 22 and a guide bar 23 coupled to the plug body 21.
The plug body 21 has a longitudinal axis 21a, a transverse axis 21b
perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis 21a, a front portion 211, a middle portion 212, a
drive
portion 213, a tool-receiving hole 214 penetrating the front portion 211 and a
keyhole 215. In this embodiment, the middle portion 212 has a plurality of pin
holes 216 serving for disposing the pin assemblies 22, a trench 217
communicating
with the pin holes 216 and a catching slot 218, wherein the trench 217 has a
trench
wal1217a facing the tool-receiving hole 214 and a tool-fixing hole 217b
recessing
from the trench wall 217a, and preferably the tool-fixing hole 217b
corresponds to
the tool-receiving hole 214. Besides, the tool-receiving hole 214 communicates
with the trench 217. Referring to Fig.l, 4 and 6, the pin assemblies 22 are
movably disposed within the pin holes 216 of the plug body 21. In this
embodiment, the pin assemblies 22 are height-adjustable pins and each of the
pin
assemblies 22 comprises a first rack component 221 engaged with the guide bar
23,
a second rack component 222 selectively engaging with the first rack component
221 and an elastic component 223 disposed between the first rack component 221
and the second rack component 222. Referring to Fig.l, 3 and 4, the guide bar
23
disposed at the trench 217 of the middle portion 212 of the plug body 21 has a
first
side 23a facing the tool-receiving hole 214, a second side 23b facing the
drive
portion 213, a plurality of pin runners 231 serving for engaging with the
first rack
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components 221 and a tool-receiving portion 232 exposed by the tool-receiving
hole 214, wherein the tool-receiving portion 232 has a groove 2321 recessed
from
the first side 23a, a chute 2322 recessed from the first side 23a and a
tool-contacting surface 232a located within the groove 2321, preferably the
groove
2321 is in communication with the first side 23a and the second side 23b. The
groove 2321 has a first groove portion 2321a, a second groove portion 2321b
corresponding to the tool-receiving hole 214 and an inner wal12321c. The chute
2322 communicates with the groove 2321 and the tool-contacting surface 232a
faces the first rack components 221, and preferably the tool-contacting
surface
l0 232a is part of the inner wall 2321c. Referring again to Fig.1 and 6, the
upper
pins 30 are configured and disposed to move in the upper pin holes 121 of the
extending protrusion 12 of the cylinder body 10 and the pin holes 216 of the
middle portion 212 of the plug body 21.
Moreover, referring again to Fig.1 and 6, the present invention further
comprises a limit assembly 40 disposed at the plug body 21 as to enhance
burglar-proofness and security. The limit assembly 40 has a limiting block 41
and
a second spring 42 contacting against the limiting block 41. The limiting
block
41, disposed at the keyhole 215 of the plug body 21 and adjacent to the drive
portion 213, projects from the plug body 21 and corresponds to the axial
groove
112 of the hollow cylinder portion 11. In this embodiment, the limiting block
41
can move within the axial groove 112 of the hollow cylinder portion 11 and has
a
first lateral 41a, a chamfer 411 recessed from the first lateral 41a and
corresponding to the keyhole 215, a second lateral 41b opposite to the first
lateral
41a, a bottom surface 41c facing the axial groove 112 and a protrusion 412
projecting from the bottom surface 41c. The protrusion 412, also projecting
from
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the plug body 21, is disposed to move within the axial groove 112 of the
hollow
cylinder portion 11 capable of limiting the plug body 21 not to be turned
around.
Referring again to Fig.l and 6, the second spring 42 is disposed between the
drive
portion 213 of the plug body 21 and the limiting block 41 and one end of the
second spring 42 contacts against the second lateral 41 b of the limiting
block 41.
In this embodiment, if an unmatched key (not shown in the drawings) is
inserted
into the keyhole 215 of the plug body 21 with opportune beat and turn for
unlocking in a locked condition, it merely makes that the protrusion 412 of
the
limiting block 41 moves from the first limiting area 112a of the axial groove
112 to
the second limiting area 112c. Meantime, despite the upper pins 30 or the pin
assemblies 22 cannot limit the plug body 21 not to be turned around, but the
protrusion 412 still can limit the plug body 21 not to be turned around. The
present invention also utilizes the limiting block 41 and the second spring 42
to
strength lock cylinder structure and increases unlocking difficulty for an
unmatched key, thereby widely enhancing burglar-proofness and security of the
lock cylinder structure.
Fig.7 illustrates rekeying method of the rekeyable lock cylinder comprising
"providing a rekeyable lock cylinder" step 500, "inserting a first matched key
into
a plug body" step 510, "turning the first matched key to drive the plug body
and a
guide bar turning" step 520, "inserting a rekeying tool into a tool-receiving
hole to
push the guide bar and enable each first rack component to move along
transverse
axis-direction of the plug body for disengaging from each second rack
component"
step 530, "pulling out the first matched key" step 540, "inserting a second
matched
key into the plug body" step 550, "pulling out the rekeying tool to make each
first
rack component reengage with each second rack component" step 560 and
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"turning the second matched key to make lock cylinder restore normal operating
condition" step 570. Initially, referring to Fig.2, 5 and 6, "providing a
rekeyable
lock cylinder" step 500 is performed, in which the rekeyable lock cylinder is
composed by assembling the cylinder body 10, the plug assembly 20 and the
upper
pins 30. In this embodiment, the tool-receiving hole 214 corresponds to the
second groove portion 2321b of the groove 2321 and there is a condition that
the
first rack components 221 are in engagement with the second rack components
222.
Next, referring to Fig.7, 8 and 9, "inserting a first matched key into a plug
body"
step 510 is performed, in which a first matched key 60 is inserted into the
keyhole
215 of the plug body 21 and pushes the pin assemblies 22 upwardly move to
turning interface in this embodiment. Next, referring to Fig.7, 10 and 11,
"turning
the first matched key to drive the plug body and a guide bar turning" step 520
is
performed, in which the first matched key 60 is turned to drive the plug body
21
and the guide bar 23 turning to a predetermined angular position and the first
matched key 60 is turned about 45-degrees clockwise in this embodiment.
Meantime, the catching slot 218 of the middle portion 212 of the plug body 21
corresponds to the location bar 14 that allows the location bar 14 be caught
by the
catching slot 218, and the plug body 21, the guide bar 23 and the pin
assemblies 22
are limited at 45-degrees position by the location bar 14, wherein the guide
bar 23
corresponds to the recession 111 of the hollow cylinder portion I I and the
resilient
assembly 13 and contacts against the movable plate 131 of the resilient
assembly
13. Next, referring to Fig.1, 3, 7, 12 and 13, "inserting a rekeying tool into
a
tool-receiving hole to push a tool-receiving portion of the guide bar and
enable
each first rack component to move along transverse axis-direction of the plug
body
for disengaging from each second rack component" step 530 is performed, in
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which a rekeying tool 70 is inserted into the tool-receiving hole 214 of the
plug
body 21. Meantime, the rekeying tool 70 pushes the tool-contacting surface
232a
of the tool-receiving portion 232 of the guide bar 23 for allowing the guide
bar 23
to move to the resilient assembly 13. In this embodiment, the rekeying tool 70
first contacts against the chute 2322 of the tool-receiving portion 232 and
then
slides into the groove 2321 of the tool-receiving portion 232 along the chute
2322
and contacts against the tool-contacting surface 232a. When the rekeying tool
70
penetrates the groove 2321 of the tool-receiving portion 232, it pushes the
guide
bar 23 moving along transverse axis-direction of the plug body 21 and the
movable
plate 131 of the resilient assembly 13 is pushed by the guide bar 23 moving to
the
immovable plate 132 and compresses the resilient member 133. In this
embodiment, a space needed for the guide bar 23 to move in can be provided by
that the movable plate 131 moves away. Besides, the guide bar 23 moves to
drive
each of the first rack components 221 moving along transverse axis-direction
of
the plug body 21 capable of disengaging each of the first rack components
221 from each of the second rack components 222 and meantime the tool-
receiving
hole 214 corresponds to the first groove portion 2321a and the second groove
portion 2321b of the groove 2321. In addition, the rekeying tool 70 is
inserted
into the tool-fixing hole 217b in this embodiment for affixing the guide bar
23 and
the first rack components 221. Next, referring to Fig.7, 14 and 15, "pulling
out
the first matched key" step 540 is performed, in which the first matched key
60 is
pulled out. When the first matched key 60 is pulled out in this embodiment,
the
second rack components 222 of the pin assemblies 22 are pushed by the elastic
components 223 to fall to lowermost position. Next, referring to Fig.7, 16 and
17,
"inserting a second matched key into the plug body" step 550 is performed, in
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which a second matched key 80 is inserted into the keyhole 215 of the plug
body
21 and the second rack components 222 of the pin assemblies 22 in this
embodiment will readjust height in accordance with different height of bitting
of
the second matched key 80. Next, referring to Fig.7, 18 and 19, "pulling out
the
rekeying tool to make each first rack component reengage with each second rack
component" step 560 is performed, in which the rekeying tool 70 is pulled out
and
meantime the guide bar 23 is pushed by the resilient member 133 of the
resilient
assembly 13 to restore and drive the first rack components 221 to reengage
with
the second rack components 222. Finally, referring to Fig.7, 20 and 21,
"turning
the second matched key to make lock cylinder restore normal operating
condition"
step 570 is performed, in which the second matched key 80 is turned to make
the
rekeyable lock cylinder restore normal operating condition.
While the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described in
detail with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be clearly
understood by those skilled in the art that various changed in form and
details may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
