Patent Application
20220081933
This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010968382.2 filed Sep. 15, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of locks and in particular to a lock and a case having the same.
In order to ensure the safety of luggage, people often use case having locks on it to carry items when they going outsides. The case includes, but is not limited to, a luggage case, a suitcase, and a briefcase.
Generally, the lock of the luggage case is used in combination with the zipper of the case body. When the zipper is zipped up, a zipper puller may be inserted or clamped in the locking hole of the above-mentioned lock. Then a component such as a lock tongue which is movable and actuated in the locking hole of the above-mentioned lock penetrates through a hole in the head of the zipper puller to achieve the purpose of locking the zipper.
Such lock typically includes a password wheel lock which is suitable for being unlocked through the operation of a password wheel by a user and a transportation security administration (TSA) key lock (commonly known as a customs lock) which is suitable for being unlocked through the operation of a key by a user, particularly a customs verifier, which makes the existing lock complex in structure, large in size, and occupy space of the case.
The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a lock and a case having the same. The lock is simple in structure and small in size.
To achieve this objective, the present disclosure adopts solutions described below.
A lock includes a housing and further includes a lock tongue, a key lock mechanism, a password wheel lock mechanism which are sequentially disposed in the housing. The password wheel lock mechanism includes a spindle and a password wheel and the key lock mechanism includes a lock core and a lock block.
When both the password wheel and the lock core are locked, the spindle and the lock block are configured to be locked by the password wheel and the lock core respectively; the spindle is configured to abut against the lock block; the lock block is configured to abut against the lock tongue so that the lock tongue is kept in a locking position; and when the password wheel is unlocked, the spindle is configured to cancel the abutting against the lock block and furthermore the lock block is configured to cancel the abutting against the lock tongue.
When the lock core is unlocked, the lock block is capable of being driven to move to an avoidance position so that the lock block cancels the abutting against the lock tongue.
In an embodiment, the lock further includes a push button; the push button is slidably mounted on the housing and the push button is configured to hook the lock tongue; and when the lock block cancels the abutting against the lock tongue, the push button is capable of driving the lock tongue to move to an unlocking position.
In an embodiment, the push button has a mounting hole and the lock core is rotatably disposed in the mounting hole.
In an embodiment, the push button has a limiting portion, and the limiting portion is configured to limit a rotation stroke of the lock core.
In an embodiment, the lock block has a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other; the first end is hinged with the spindle; and the second end is configured to abut against the lock tongue.
The lock block is provided with a first slot at the second end or adjacent to the second end, an eccentric protrusion disposed at a bottom of the lock core is inserted into the first slot, and the eccentric protrusion slidable along the first slot so that when the lock core rotates, the eccentric protrusion is capable of driving the lock block to deflect to the avoidance position.
In an embodiment, the first slot includes a first guide section and a second guide section connected to the first guide section; when the lock core is locked, the first guide section is parallel to an unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue; and when the lock core is unlocked, the second guide section is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue.
In an embodiment, the lock block is slidably connected to the housing; the lock block has a second slot; an eccentric protrusion disposed at a bottom of the lock core is inserted into the second slot; and the eccentric protrusion is slidable along the second slot so that when the lock core rotates, the eccentric protrusion is capable of driving the lock block to slide to the avoidance position.
In an embodiment, the lock block includes a lock core stop block and a connection rod; the lock core stop block is slidably connected to the housing; the second slot is formed and the connection rod is slidably connected to the second slot; when the lock core is locked, two ends of the connection rod abut against the spindle and the lock tongue, respectively; and the connection rod is limited by the lock core stop block so that the connection rod is slidable only along a direction which is parallel to an unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue.
In an embodiment, an elastic element is disposed between the connection rod and the lock core stop block, and the elastic element is configured to enable the connection rod to keep abutting against the lock tongue.
To achieve this objective, the present disclosure further adopts the solution described below.
A case includes the above-mentioned lock.
The present disclosure has the beneficial effects described below.
The lock provided by the present disclosure has a simple structure. The locking and unlocking actions of the key lock mechanism and the password wheel lock mechanism may be independently performed, and the key lock mechanism and the password wheel lock mechanism may cooperate with each other to lock zipper pullers to ensure the locking effect of the case. Meanwhile, the lock block which is movable for avoidance is more suitable for a housing of a small size and the housing of a smaller size is allowed to be produced. Thus, the lock has a simple structure and also meets the practical use requirement for occupying small space.
1 housing
11 top cover
2 bottom plate
13 locking hole
14 sliding groove
2 lock tongue
21 first abutting part
3 key lock mechanism
31 lock core
311 limiting block
312 eccentric protrusion
32 lock block
321 first slot
3211 first guide section
3212 second guide section
322 second slot
323 lock core stop block
324 connection rod
3241 second abutting part
4 password wheel lock mechanism
41 spindle
42 password wheel
5 push button
51 mounting hole
52 limiting slot
The present disclosure is further described below in detail in conjunction with drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the embodiments set forth below are intended to merely illustrate the present disclosure and not to limit the present disclosure. It is to be noted that to facilitate description, only part, not all, of structures related to the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings.
In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term “connected to each other”, “connected” or “fixed” is to be construed in a broad sense, for example, as fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrated; mechanically connected or electrically connected; directly connected to each other or indirectly connected to each other via an intermediary; or internally connected or an interactional relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the preceding terms in the present disclosure may be understood based on specific situations.
In the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, when a first feature is described as “on” or “below” a second feature, the first feature and the second feature may be in direct contact or be in contact via another feature between the two features instead of being in direct contact. Moreover, when the first feature is described as “on”, “above”, or “over” the second feature, the first feature is right on, above, or over the second feature or the first feature is obliquely on, above, or over the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a higher level than the second feature. When the first feature is described as “under”, “below” or “underneath” the second feature, the first feature is right under, below or underneath the second feature or the first feature is obliquely under, below or underneath the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a lower level than the second feature.
In the description of the embodiment, the orientations or position relations indicated by terms such as “above”, “below”, “right” and the like are based on orientations or position relations shown in the drawings. These orientations or position relations are intended only to facilitate and simplify description of the present disclosure, and not to indicate or imply that a device or element referred to must have such specific orientations or must be configured or operated in such specific orientations. Therefore, these orientations or position relations are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are used only to distinguish between descriptions and have no special meaning.
This embodiment provides a lock which is preferably used in a luggage case. However, in other optional embodiments, the lock may also be used in a suitcase, briefcase, etc. The lock has a simple structure and occupies small space.
In conjunction with
The luggage case includes a case body and a lock. The case body is provided with a zipper. The lock achieves the purpose of locking the zipper by locking the zipper puller of the zipper.
Referring to
The key lock mechanism 3 includes a lock core 31 into which a key may be inserted from the outside of the housing 1 and includes a lock block 32 which is linked with the lock core 31. The lock core 31 is unlocked through a correct key so that the lock core 31 rotates and drives the lock block 32 to perform locking and unlocking actions. The password wheel lock mechanism 4 includes a spindle 41 and a plurality of password wheels 42 which are disposed on the spindle 41. The spindle 41 is unlocked when the password wheels 42 are in the correct position so that the spindle 41 can move along the axial direction of the spindle 41. On the contrary, the spindle 41 is locked when the password wheels 42 are in the wrong position so that the axial movement of the spindle 41 is limited.
The lock tongue 2, the key lock mechanism 3, and the password wheel lock mechanism 4 are sequentially disposed. When the password wheel 42 and the lock core 31 are each locked, the spindle 41 and the lock block 32 are locked by the password wheel 42 and the lock core 31, respectively. In this case, the spindle 41 abuts against the lock block 32 and the lock block 32 abuts against the lock tongue 2 so that the lock tongue 2 is kept in the locking position to ensure that the zipper is zipped up.
When a user needs to unlock and open the luggage case through the password wheel 42 and the password wheel 42 is moved to the correct position for unlocking, the spindle 41 is in an active state, that is, the abutting against the lock block 32 is canceled. Then the abutting of the lock block 32 against the lock tongue 2 is canceled so that the lock tongue 2 can move to the unlocking position and the zipper puller is unlocked. Furthermore, the zipper is opened through the zipper puller so that the luggage case can be opened.
When the user unlocks and opens the luggage case through a key, the key is inserted into the lock core 31 and the lock core 31 is rotated for unlocking so that the lock core 31 drives the lock block 32 to move to an avoidance position. Thus, the lock block 32 can cancel the abutting against the lock tongue 2 and the lock tongue 2 can move to the unlocking position to make the zipper puller unlocked. Furthermore, the zipper is opened through the zipper puller so that the luggage case can be opened.
With the above-mentioned structure, the structure of the lock is simpler, and the key lock mechanism 3 and the password wheel lock mechanism 4 may not only be subjected to the locking and unlocking actions independently but also cooperate with each other to lock the zipper puller to ensure the locking effect of the case. Meanwhile, in the key lock mechanism 3, the lock block 32 which is movable for avoidance is suitable for a housing 1 of a small size and the housing 1 of a smaller size is allowed to be produced. Thus, the lock has a simple structure and also meets the practical use requirement for occupying small space.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the push button 5 is provided with a mounting hole 51 and the lock core 31 is rotatably disposed in the mounting hole 51 so that when the user pushes the push button 5, the push button 5 can directly drive the lock core 31 and the lock tongue 2 to move synchronously to complete the unlocking action.
Since the unlocking action of the key lock mechanism 3 is completed in a manner that the key unlocks the lock core 31 and the lock core 31 is rotated to the unlocking position, accurate and limited rotation stroke of the lock core 31 can facilitate the rotation of the key by the user to the correct locking position and unlocking position. Therefore, in this embodiment, the push button 5 also has a limiting portion which is configured to limit the rotation stroke of the lock core 31 so that the user is prevented from confusing the locking and unlocking rotation positions and the user conveniently performs the locking and unlocking actions of the zipper through the two limit positions to which the key rotates.
As shown in
In this embodiment, in order to enable the lock tongue 2 to be automatically reset to the locking position after being unlocked, the lock tongue 2 may be connected to or abut the housing 1 by a compression spring. When the lock tongue 2 is in the unlocking position, the compression spring is elastically deformed and elastic potential energy for resetting the lock tongue 2 to the locking position is formed.
Referring to
In order that the lock block 32 is enabled to move to the avoidance position by linkage when the lock core 31 rotates, in this embodiment, the lock block 32 has a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other, the first end is hinged with the spindle 41, and the second end is configured to abut against the lock tongue 2.
The lock block 32 is provided with a first slot 321 at the second end or adjacent to the second end. An eccentric protrusion 312 disposed at a bottom of the lock core 31 and eccentric to the axis of the lock core 31 is inserted into the first slot 321 and the eccentric protrusion 312 is slidable along the first slot 321. Thus, when the lock core 31 rotates, the eccentric protrusion 312 can drive the lock block 32 to deflect around the shaft by which the lock block 32 is hinged with the spindle 41 to the avoidance position so as to enable the second end to cancel the abutting against the lock tongue 2.
The first slot 321 includes a first guide section 3211 and a second guide section 3212 which are connected to each other. When the lock core 31 is locked, the first guide section 3211 is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2. When the lock core 31 is unlocked, the second guide section 3212 is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2.
It should be noted that the first slot 321 is configured to be of the above-mentioned structure for the purpose described below.
When the zipper puller is unlocked merely by the password wheel lock mechanism 4, the push button 5 and the lock core 31 which is built in the push button 5 need to move towards the password wheel lock mechanism 4 for hooking and pulling the lock tongue 2 for unlocking.
In this case, the first guide section 3211 which is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2 allows the lock core 31 to slide relative to the lock block 32. When the zipper puller is unlocked by the key lock mechanism 3, the lock core 31 is rotated by the key. The lock core 31 and the eccentric protrusion 312 which is disposed on the lock core 31 slide from the end of the first guide section 3211 farther away from the second guide section 3212 to the end of the first guide section 3211 adjacent to the second guide section 3212, and such action may drive the lock block 32 to deflect to the avoidance position. The push button 5 and the lock core 31 which is built in the push button 5 need to move towards the password wheel lock mechanism 4 to hook and pull the lock tongue 2 for unlocking. However, the lock block 32 in the avoidance position needs to keep in the position. In this case, the second guide section 3212 which is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2 allows the lock core 31 to slide relative to the lock block 32.
In this embodiment, the structure of the lock is basically the same as the structure of the lock described in embodiment one, except that the structure of the lock block 32 and the actuation mode of the locking and unlocking actions of the lock block 32 are different.
Referring to
Exemplarily, the housing 1 is provided with a sliding groove 14. The extension direction of the sliding groove 14 is perpendicular to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2 such that the lock block 32 is slidable along the direction perpendicular to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2. The extension direction of the second slot 322 is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2. When the user rotates and unlocks the lock core 31 with the key, the eccentric protrusion 312 disposed at the bottom of the lock core 31 slides along the second slot 322 and drives the lock block 32 to slide along the sliding groove 14 to the avoidance position. In this case, the user pushes the push button 5 to slide along the direction parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2, and the eccentric protrusion 312 can continue to slide along the second slot 322 to hook and pull the lock tongue 2 to complete the unlocking action.
In order to facilitate the locking and unlocking actions merely performed by the password wheel lock mechanism 4, in this embodiment, the lock block 32 includes a lock core stop block 323 and a connection rod 324. The lock core stop block 323 is slidably connected to the housing 1 and the second slot 322 is formed. The connection rod 324 is slidably connected to the second slot 322. When the lock core 31 is locked, two ends of the connection rod 324 abut against the spindle 41 and the lock tongue 2, respectively. The connection rod 324 is limited by the lock core stop block 323 to be merely slidable along the direction which is parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2.
In other words, in the lock block 32, the connection rod 324 is a locking execution portion which stops the lock tongue 2. The lock core stop block 323 is a linkage execution portion which is driven by the lock core 31 and drives the connection rod 324 to deflect to the avoidance position. The position of the lock core stop block 323 is limited when the locking and unlocking actions are performed merely by the password wheel lock mechanism 4 and the key lock mechanism 3 is kept locked. However, the connection rod 324 which can slide relative to the lock core stop block 323 along the direction parallel to the unlocking movement direction of the lock tongue 2 may move towards the password wheel lock mechanism 4 through being pushed against by the lock tongue 2 when the push button 5 hooks and pulls the lock tongue 2.
In addition, the split structure of the lock core stop block 323 and the connection rod 324 is also suitable for avoiding the lock tongue 2 by movement when the zipper puller is locked into the locking hole 13 so that the lock tongue 2 can complete the linear reciprocation movement of avoiding the zipper puller and resetting the locked zipper puller.
An elastic element is disposed between the connection rod 324 and the lock core stop block 323 and the elastic element is configured to enable the connection rod 324 to keep abutting against the lock tongue 2. Specifically, the connection rod 324 is provided with a second abutting part 3241 which can be connected to or abut against a compression spring serving as an elastic element. The lock core stop block 323 is provided with a wall surface which is opposite to the second abutting part 3241 so that the compression spring can be accommodated between the connection rod 324 and the lock core stop block 323. The purpose of keeping the connection rod 324 in abutment with the lock tongue 2 is achieved through the stretching elastic force of the compression spring.
Apparently, the preceding example embodiments of the present disclosure are merely used for clearly illustrating the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the implementations of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art can make various apparent modifications, adaptations, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Implementations of the present disclosure cannot be and do not need to be all exhausted herein. Any modification, equivalent, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall be within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202010968382.2 | Sep 2020 | CN | national |
