Combination-Rekeyable Wafer Lock

[MacGyver101]

I was just browsing through through the recently-issued lock patents, and found this interesting idea:

US Patent 7,874,191

I'm not sure how practical the design is, but it's interesting.

The basic idea is that it's a traditional (non-sidebar) wafer lock that uses SmartKey-like wafers, but instead of being rekeyed through the keyway the lock biting is set by dialing in a combination with Sesame-like dials.

The dials interlock with the ridges on the sides of the wafers, and are used to directly set the wafer height.

I'm still scratching my head a bit over what happens to disconnect the wafers from the combination dials when you insert a key... and it seems like it would be a pain to have to strip the lock apart to change the combination (relative to the other user-rekeyable designs that have been coming out lately). However, even if it's not an entirely practical design, it's still an interesting idea.

[lock2006]

Very interesting idea and info about this Combination-Rekeyable Wafer Lock
i still working on a couples of this locks to change the combination.

[Poff]

I am wondering if maybe the combination looking things are the tumblers and maybe you pull the cylinder out of the lock which appears it would disengage the dial's teeth from the wafer teeth. Then maybe you insert the new key and push in the dials and insert the cylinder. The wafers look like they are all cut the same and may not protrude from the cylinder.

[Poff]

I am wondering if maybe the combination looking things are the tumblers and maybe you pull the cylinder out of the lock which appears it would disengage the dial's teeth from the wafer teeth. Then maybe you insert the new key and push in the dials and insert the cylinder. The wafers look like they are all cut the same and may not protrude from the cylinder.

Upon further investigation of the drawings attached to the patent: The key is inserted in the lock which causes the wafers to rotate the dials via the teeth, the dials have nubs on them, when they are all lined up a spring loaded side bar unlatches from the rear of the plug and allows the cylinder to rotate. If you pull out the cylinder with the original key inserted the nubs are all lined up, it disengages the wheels from the wafers and you insert a new key. When you push the wheels, that are all lined up, back against the wafers the cylinder is rekeyed to the new key. You insert the cylinder and pull out the new key.