Abstract: A re-keyable lock has a forwardly removable cylinder and plug assembly. The cylinder and plug assembly is removably secured to the lock by a setscrew. The setscrew can be removed with conventional and readily available tools. An alignment structure is provided to facilitate alignment of the cylinder and plug assembly with the lock.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improvement in a lock of the type having a cylinder with an associated internal cavity, a key operated lock plug rotatably mounted in the cylinder cavity and a coupling mounted for rotation relative to the lock cylinder for association with a lock member that is movable upon rotation of the coupling between locked and open states. Shoulders are provided on the plug and coupling and upon effecting relative rotation between the coupling and plug through a change key the shoulders can be selectively brought into interfering, facing relationship to prohibit withdrawal of the plug or misaligned to allow removal of the plug. An access key, that is longer than the change key, in a fully seated position in the plug keyway, extends into the coupling opening and is thereby keyed to the coupling so that turning of the control key directly operates the coupling.

Abstract: A re-keyable lock has a forwardly removable cylinder and plug assembly. The cylinder and plug assembly is removably secured to the lock by a setscrew. The setscrew can be removed with conventional and readily available tools.

Abstract: A core assembly is provided for use in a lock cylinder formed to include an axially extending core-receiving chamber of figure-8 cross-section providing upper and lower chamber portions. A throw member extending into the lower chamber portion is provided for actuating a lock assembly. The core assembly includes a plug member configured to fit in the upper chamber portion, and an actuator member configured to rotate freely in the lower chamber portion. The actuator member includes means for operably engaging the actuating means so that the lock assembly is actuable upon rotation of the actuator member in the lower chamber portion and an assembly for ejecting the plug member from the upper chamber portion in response to withdrawal of the actuator member from the lower chamber portion.

Abstract: A lock includes a lock housing and an interchangeable core including a core body, a core sleeve, and a key plug having a key slot. A bridge member is provided on a flange of the key-way disc to cover a portion of the longitudinal opening of the key slot in the key-way disc. In one embodiment, a cylinder cap is threadedly mounted on the lock cylinder housing to protect the core and a key-way disc is mounted in the cylinder cap to protect the key plug while still permitting insertion of an operating key into the key slot of the key plug. A spin-free pin is mounted for free rotation in the lock cylinder housing for blocking rotation of the protective cylinder cap in relation to the lock cylinder housing. A setscrew is provided in the lock cylinder housing to urge the spin-free blocking pin into rotation-blocking engagement with the threaded cylinder cap. In other embodiments, the cap is mounted on the lock core for removal therewith by a control key from a lock cylinder housing or a padlock case.

Abstract: The lock comprises an improvement in a lock of the type having a cylinder with an associated internal cavity, a key operated lock plug rotatably mounted in the cylinder cavity and a coupling mounted for rotation relative to the lock cylinder for association with a lock member that is movable upon rotation of the coupling between locked and open states. Shoulders are provided on the plug and coupling and upon effecting relative rotation between the coupling and plug through a change key the shoulders can be selectively brought into interfering, facing relationship to prohibit withdrawal of the plug or misaligned to allow removal of the plug. An access key, that is longer than the change key, in a fully seated position in the plug keyway, extends into the coupling opening and is thereby keyed to the coupling so that turning of the control key directly operates the coupling. Structure is provided for preventing shifting of the lock member from its locked state in the absence of a key being in the keyway.

Abstract: A lock mechanism comprises a housing having a bore therein, a sleeve located within said bore, means for indexing said sleeve within said bore at a selected angular disposition in relation to said sleeve, a rotor which is rotatably mounted and axially slidable within said sleeve, said rotor having a longitudinally extending key slot, pistons slidable within bores in said sleeve and rotor between a first position where said sleeve and rotor are coupled together for simultaneous rotation and a second position on insertion of a key in said slot, and a control element for effecting movement of mechanism to be controlled. The rotor is movable axially from a first position where it is disengaged from said control element and a second position where it drivably engages said control element.

Abstract: A modifiable cylinder which comprises a plug and a cylinder body. The plug fits into the cylinder body and has a keyway and a plurality of bottom pin holes which are disposed above and perpendicular to the keyway. Each of the bottom pin holes has a bottom pin. The cylinder body comprises a main chamber housing and a subchamber housing. The main chamber housing has a plurality of top pin holes, each of which has a spring and a top pin. In open position, the top pin holes are aligned with the bottom pin holes. The subchamber housing has a plurality of top pin holes, each of which has a spring, a top pin and several discs. When the plug is turned to the modifying position, the top pin holes are aligned with the bottom pin holes so that the discs can be moved into the bottom pin holes so as to modify the inner combination of the cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder lock with a removable plug incorporates a series of spring biased combinating disc tumblers which cooperate with a first key in normal lock operation. An additional, unbiased control tumbler at the end of the plug cooperates with a retention flange associated with the cylinder to retain the plug against removal from the cylinder while permitting rotation of the plug in the cylinder. The control tumbler includes a notch for receipt of the first key as well as a second, plug removal key. The first key acts against one edge of the notch to displace the control tumbler into a position which ensures that the tumbler will remain engaged with the plug retention flange regardless of the orientation of the plug.

Abstract: A removable core (15) for a lockset (10) has a core removal ring (35') which is provided with a gap therein which prevents the lock from being picked by turning the core removal ring with an elongate wire having a wedge-shaped end. One of the end edges of the core removal ring (35') defining the gap is positioned in substantial registration with a keyway (18) at an approximate 6 o'clock position. The other end edge of core removal ring (35') normally resides at an approximate 3 o'clock position.

Abstract: A cylinder lock with a removable plug incorporates a series of spring biased combinating disc tumblers which cooperate with a first key in normal lock operation. An additional, unbiased control tumbler at the end of the plug cooperates with a retention flange associated with the cylinder to retain the plug against removal from the cylinder while permitting rotation of the plug in the cylinder. The control tumbler includes a notch for receipt of the first key as well as a second, plug removal key. The first key acts against one edge of the notch to displace the control tumbler into a position which ensures that the tumbler will remain engaged with the plug retention flange regardless of the orientation of the plug.

Abstract: A lock assembly comprises a stator, a rotor pivoting in a bore in the stator and a plurality of stator piston/rotor piston pairings which are resiliently urged towards a key channel provided axially in the said rotor for receiving a coded key slidable in said channel and having flats each of which cooperates with one of the said pairings in order to displace the latter against the action of the said resilient means so that the generatrix of separation between each rotor piston and each stator piston of one pairing is at a tangent to the said rotor. The pairs of stator pistons and rotor pistons and their resilient restoring means are preassembled each in a radial bore in the stator. The radial bores are distributed angularly about the axis of the lock in at least one diametrical plane and are closed at their inner end by an abutment which is moved aside during insertion of the rotor.

Abstract: A new lock center combined with a cylindrical barrel for use in a padlock. The padlock is provided with a key having a plurality of arc-shaped teeth which can engage a corresponding number and shape of slots in the lock center. Two resiliently retained pins located in aligned vertical pin holes in the barrel and lock center prevent relative rotation of the lock center and barrel. However, by inserting and rotating the key in the lock center, the arc-shaped teeth of the key engage the pins and align the line of contact between the two pins with the line of contact between the lock center and the cylindrical barrel, thereby permitting the lock center to rotate relative to the barrel. Upon rotation of the lock center, the thinner shoulder of the upper part of the lock center is rotated between two steel balls, which then can roll out of contact with the lock shackle toward the thinner shoulder and permit the shackle to be open by spring pressure.

Abstract: A readily rekeyable door lock, particularly for sliding glass patio doors and the like, has a housing to be secured to the door and containing a lock catch rotatable between locking and unlocking positions by a key operated lock unit which is readily replaceable to rekey the door lock.

Abstract: A steering lock assembly for use in an automobile comprises a cylinder lock plug for controlling an ignition switch assembly with a mating key inserted in the cylinder lock plug and a steering shaft lock operatively associated with the cylinder lock plug for selectively locking and unlocking an automobile steering shaft. The cylinder lock plug comprises a key-operated barrel and the steering shaft lock comprises a locking member. As an element for transmitting rotation of the barrel, which is effected by turning the mating key inserted therein, to the locking member, a cam member is utilized, which cam member is integrally formed with the barrel.

Abstract: A safe deposit box system which is either front loading or side loading. Each of the safe storage boxes has an integral lock housing adapted to be locked into the frame forming the compartments into which the safe storage boxes are retained. The lock housing has a latch operated by a lock device in the housing, and there is provided a latch receiving seat in the frame defining the compartment, and the material of the lock housing is of a sturdier construction than the material forming the construction of the tray of the safe storage box.

Abstract: A padlock comprising a body having a pair of parallel bores therein adapted to receive the legs of a shackle, and a shackle having a pair of parallel legs slidably received in said bores. A locking means is positioned within the padlock body to secure the shackle in the body when the legs are depressed into the bores. An interchangeable means, such as a standard cylinder lock, is provided for releasing the locking means and includes key-operated means operable by turning movement of a key to effect the release of the shackle from the locking means to allow one of the shackle legs to withdraw from the padlock body. The padlock body has an opening to receive the interchangeable means to permit positioning the interchangeable means within the padlock body. Detachable cover means adapted to close the opening is provided. Fastener means, such as a screw member, operable from within the body, is engageable in fastening relation with the cover means.

Abstract: A lock cylinder incorporating a front retainer for a sidebar and a body counterbore to receive same, a core shell having a torquing engagement extension and an indexing protrusion to properly index the insertion and removal of the core, a torquing tumbler for applying rotational torque to the core, an improved centering spring, an inter-connection of a sidebar and a body engaging link of a removable core differential mechanism, a method of yieldingly biasing the engaging links outwardly from the core assembly, and improved combinating capabilities by arrangements of gatings in the rotary disc-tumblers for variable incrementations and the arrangement of tumblers and spacers of various thicknesses to achieve a variable spacings of the bittings.

Abstract: A padlock of the type having a removable locking plug or cylinder capable of being removed from the top through a top opening in the lock case, also has a cap for the top opening. This cap is locked into the padlock case by a loose ball fitting in a groove in the cap and in the case. This cap locking ball is in addition to two other conventional locking balls used to lock the shackle in one conventional type padlock. The shackle is retained by another ball which is carried by a shackle leg and cooperates with another groove in the case. The shackle locking ball is placed in or out of locking position by adjustment of a set screw in the shackle leg.

Abstract: A disposable plug assembly to be used as a substitute for the removable core in a lock cylinder, as during the construction of a building, prior to installation of the final cores, the disposable core including a part which can be used to operate a cam or tail on the cylinder for actuating a latch bolt.

Abstract: In a padlock having a ball-locked shackle and a removable key-operated cylinder:A cam retaining means consisting of a serrated pin in combination with a coiled spring;A shackle retaining means comprising a tapped shackle end and a threaded flanged member in conjunction with a ball and cam detent.