n some embodiments of the present invention, a freewheeling lock apparatus and method are provided in which the freewheeling lock affords actuation of a device only in response to the use of an appropriate key. The locking mechanism can include a housing, a sleeve received at least partially within the housing, a lock cylinder received at least partially within the sleeve and having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, a guide engagable with the sleeve and with one or more tumblers or other projecting elements of the lock cylinder, and an actuator engaged with the lock cylinder for rotation therewith when the lock cylinder is rotated in the unlocked configuration, and moved by the sleeve to a position disengaged from the lock cylinder when the lock cylinder is rotated in the locked configuration. |