REKEYABLE LOCK ASSEMBLY WITH BLOWN CYLINDER PROTECTION

1 . A rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

a plug body with a keyway opening along a longitudinal axis and a multiple of channels transverse to said axis; and

a rekeying feature adjacent to said keyway opening.

2 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 1 , wherein said rekeying feature is generally opposite said multiple of channels.

3 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 1 , wherein said rekeying feature includes a first wall and a second wall in a perpendicular arrangement, said first wall parallel to said keyway opening.

4 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a first support and a second support, said first support forward of said second support relative to a plug face of said plug body.

5 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first support defines a first recess generally along said first wall and a second recess is generally along said second wall, said first recess at least partially intersect with said second recess.

6 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 5 , wherein said rekeying feature receives a lock assembly movable with respect to insertion of a key into said keyway opening, said lock assembly includes a holding bar with a key engagement member movable with respect to insertion of said key.

7 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 5 , wherein said rekeying feature receives a lock assembly movable with respect to insertion of a key, said lock assembly comprising:

a holding bar with a key engagement member movable with respect to insertion of said key, said holding bar includes a spring cup on an opposite side of said key engagement member relative an arm said spring cup received within said first support;

a spring at least partially within said spring cup;

a holding bar cover engaged with said first support to retain said spring between said spring cup and said holding bar cover;

a stop adjacent to said holding bar cover, said stop engaged with said second support.

8 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 7 , wherein said key engagement includes a relatively flat section which faces said keyway opening and a raised section opposite thereto.

9 . A rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

a cylinder body which defines a longitudinal axis;

a plug body positionable within said cylinder body, said plug body includes a keyway opening along said longitudinal axis;

a carrier disposed adjacent said plug body;

a plurality of pins disposed in said plug body; and

a rekeying feature adjacent to said keyway opening.

10 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 9 , wherein said rekeying feature receives a lock assembly movable with respect to insertion of a key.

11 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 10 , wherein said lock assembly includes a holding bar with a key engagement member movable with respect to insertion of said key.

12 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 11 , wherein said key engagement includes a relatively flat section which faces said keyway opening and a raised section opposite thereto.

13 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 12 , wherein said raised section is engageable with a detent recess located within an interior surface of a cylinder wall of said lock cylinder body when said key is not fully inserted into said keyway opening.

14 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 12 , wherein said holding bar includes a spring cup on an opposite side of said key engagement member relative an arm.

15 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 14 , wherein said spring cup receives a spring, said spring retained by a holding bar cover engaged with said rekeying feature.

16 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a stop adjacent to said holding bar cover, said stop engaged with said rekeying feature.

17 . A rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

a cylinder which defines a longitudinal axis;

a plug body rotatable within said cylinder;

a multiple of pins movably mountable within said plug body transverse said longitudinal axis;

a multiple of biasing members to bias said respective multiple of pins toward a keyway;

a carrier mountable adjacent said plug body;

a multiple of racks slidably movable transverse to said longitudinal axis, said multiple of racks engaged with said multiple of pins in response to said carrier being at a first predetermined position, said carrier axially displaceable along said longitudinal axis to selectively disengage said multiple of racks from said multiple of pins in response to said carrier being at a second predetermined position; and

a rekeying feature adjacent to said keyway opening.

18 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 17 , wherein said rekeying feature includes a first wall and a second wall in a perpendicular arrangement, said first wall parallel to said keyway opening, said first support defines a first recess generally along said first wall and a second recess is generally along said second wall, said first recess at least partially intersect with said second recess.

19 . The rekeyable lock cylinder as recited in claim 18 , wherein said rekeying feature receives a lock assembly movable with respect to insertion of a key, said lock assembly comprising:

a holding bar with a key engagement member movable with respect to insertion of said key, said holding bar includes a spring cup on an opposite side of said key engagement member relative an arm said spring cup received within said first support;

a spring at least partially within said spring cup;

a holding bar cover engaged with said first support to retain said spring between said spring cup and said holding bar cover;

a stop adjacent to said holding bar cover, said stop engaged with said second support.

20 . A method of rekeying a rekeyable lock cylinder comprising:

inserting a first key in a home position of a keyway opening;

rotating the plug body from the home position to a first position;

inserting a tool in the tool-receiving aperture;

removing the first valid key from the keyway;

inserting a second key in the keyway until a key engagement member of a holding bar is received within a slot in the key; and

rotating the plug body away from the first position.

21 . The method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising locating the slot of the key on a side of a key opposite a key cut side of the key.