IP Library Granted Patent US 12,460,445
Granted Patent B2
US 12,460,445 · App. 18/999,595 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Lock cores and keys

Inventors: Christopher Case (Fishers, IN); Douglas McIntyre (Spring, TX); Jeffery Brannum (Lapel, IN)
Assignee: Innovate LLC
E05B27/0042E05B27/0007E05B27/083
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,460,445
App. No.
18/999,595
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lock core and key assembly includes a core body, a core plug having a core plug insert-receiving aperture, a core plug insert positioned in the core plug insert-receiving insert, and a key. The core plug insert has a taper and the key has a bow and a shank with a taper that aligns with the taper of the core plug insert.

Claims (33)

1 . A method of assembling an interchangeable lock core comprising the steps of

providing

a core body having a plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and a plurality of ejector pin-receiving apertures in line with the plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and sized to receive an ejector pin,

a core plug having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the first end, a side wall extending between the first and second ends of the core plug, a plurality of pin-receiving apertures, a keyway, and a core plug insert-receiving aperture positioned in the side wall between the first and second ends of the core plug, the keyway having an opened end positioned on the first end of the core plug and sized to receive a key, and

a core plug insert having a longitudinally extending, tapered surface having a length at least one quarter of a length of the keyway,

positioning the core plug in the core body with the plurality of pin-receiving apertures in line with the pin- and spring-receiving apertures of the core body, and

positioning the core plug insert into the core plug insert-receiving aperture of the core plug with the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert defining at least a portion of the keyway, the keyway having a profile configured to match a profile of a key configured to unlock the interchangeable lock to allow the core plug to rotate relative to the core body.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the core plug insert-receiving aperture is spaced apart from the first and second ends of the core plug and the step of positioning the core plug insert includes moving the core plug insert laterally into the core plug insert-receiving aperture of the core plug.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes the steps of

machining the core body and core plug and

metal injection molding the core plug insert.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a key having a tapered surface that engages the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapered surface of the key has a length at least one quarter of a length of the key.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the core plug insert-receiving aperture has ends that block longitudinal movement of the core plug insert.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending tapered surface extends into a side of the keyway.

8 . A method of assembling an interchangeable lock core comprising the steps of

providing

a core body having a plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and a plurality of ejector pin-receiving apertures in line with the plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and sized to receive an ejector pin,

a core plug having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the first end, a side wall extending between the first and second ends of the core plug, a plurality of pin-receiving apertures, a keyway, and a core plug insert-receiving aperture positioned in the side wall between the first and second ends of the core plug, the keyway having an opened end positioned on the first end of the core plug and sized to receive a key, and

a core plug insert having a longitudinally extending, tapered surface, the core plug insert-receiving aperture having ends that block longitudinal movement of the core plug insert,

positioning the core plug in the core body with the plurality of pin-receiving apertures in line with the pin- and spring-receiving apertures of the core body, and

positioning the core plug insert into the core plug insert-receiving aperture of the core plug with the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert defining at least a portion of the keyway, the keyway having a profile configured to match a profile of a key configured to unlock the interchangeable lock to allow the core plug to rotate relative to the core body.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing a key having a tapered surface that engages the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the tapered surface of the key has a length at least one quarter of a length of the key.

11 . A method of assembling an interchangeable lock core comprising the steps of

providing

a core body having a plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and a plurality of ejector pin-receiving apertures in line with the plurality of pin- and spring-receiving apertures and sized to receive an ejector pin,

a core plug having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the first end, a side wall extending between the first and second ends of the core plug, a plurality of pin-receiving apertures, a keyway, and a core plug insert-receiving aperture positioned in the side wall between the first and second ends of the core plug, the keyway having an opened end positioned on the first end of the core plug and sized to receive a key, and

a core plug insert having a longitudinally extending, tapered surface, the longitudinally extending tapered surface extending into a side of the keyway,

positioning the core plug in the core body with the plurality of pin-receiving apertures in line with the pin- and spring-receiving apertures of the core body, and

positioning the core plug insert into the core plug insert-receiving aperture of the core plug with the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert defining at least a portion of the keyway, the keyway having a profile configured to match a profile of a key configured to unlock the interchangeable lock to allow the core plug to rotate relative to the core body.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing a key having a tapered surface that engages the longitudinally extending, tapered surface of the core plug insert.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the tapered surface of the key has a length at least one quarter of a length of the key.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2024
From: CASE, CHRISTOPHER; MCINTYRE, DOUGLAS; BRANNUM, JEFFERY
To: INNOVATE, LLC
Reel/Frame 069674/0980 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 18912733 · Oct 11, 2024
Provisional Application 63614728 · Dec 26, 2023
Related Publication 20250207430A1 · Jun 26, 2025
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