The present invention relates to a lock mechanism, and more particularly, to a lock mechanism applicable to objects movable relative to each other.
Generally, a slide rail assembly can be used in a rack system for home, office or electronic device. The slide rail assembly comprises a first rail and a second rail respectively mounted to a first object and a second object, such as a cabinet and a drawer, such that the drawer can be opened or retracted relative to the first rail and/or the cabinet through the second rail.
For different market requirements, a user may not want the second rail (the second object) to be freely operated relative to the first rail (the first object) to move away from a predetermined position. U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,299 B2 discloses a drawer slide and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism (104) is an electronic lock. As shown in
Furthermore, the latch receiver (324) and the lever arm (304) are configured to rotate to work with each other, and a first spring (326) and a second spring (350) are respectively required to apply spring forces to the lock mechanism for locking or unlocking. However, for different market requirements or different structural operations, such configuration may not be proper to achieve some locking functions. Therefore, it is important to develop a product with a simple structure to lock a movable object relative to a fixed object in a different way.
The present invention relates to a lock mechanism which is applicable to objects movable relative to each other.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lock mechanism is applicable to a first object and a second object movable relative to each other. The lock mechanism is configured to be mounted on one of the first object and the second object. The lock mechanism comprises a driving device and a locking member. The locking member is configured to be driven by the driving device to linearly move between a first position and a second position. Wherein, when the locking member is located at the first position, the locking member is configured to lock the other one of the first object and the second object. Wherein, when the locking member is located at the second position, the locking member does not lock the other one of the first object and the second object.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the locking member.
Preferably, the driving device comprises a motor. The lock mechanism further comprises a linkage member connected to the locking member. The linkage member is configured to be linearly moved in response to a rotational driving force of the motor.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises a driving member connected to a shaft of the motor. The linkage member is configured to be driven by the driving member.
Preferably, a linear moving direction of the linkage member is substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises a housing. The linkage member and the housing have corresponding structural features interacting with each other for guiding the linkage member to linearly move relative to the housing.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises a manual releasing feature arranged on one of the linkage member and the locking member. When the linkage member does not move in response to the rotational driving force of the motor, the manual releasing feature is configured to drive the locking member to move from the first position to the second position.
Preferably, the lock mechanism is detachably connected to one of the first object and the second object through the housing.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises a fixing base. The locking member comprises a contact part. The elastic member is arranged between the fixing base and the contact part.
Preferably, the lock mechanism further comprises a sensor configured to detect whether the second object is located at a predetermined position relative to the first object.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lock mechanism is applicable to a first object and a second object. The lock mechanism is configured to be mounted on one of the first object and the second object. The lock mechanism comprises a driving device and a locking member. The locking member is configured to be driven by the driving device to move between a first position and a second position in a non-rotatable manner. Wherein, when the locking member is located at the first position, the locking member is configured to lock the other one of the first object and the second object for preventing the second object from moving relative to the first object. Wherein, when the locking member is located at the second position, the locking member does not lock the other one of the first object and the second object for allowing the second object to move relative to the first object.
Preferably, the first object and the second object are respectively a first rail and a second rail of a slide rail assembly; or the first object and the second object are respectively a cabinet and a movable member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lock mechanism comprises a driving device, a driving member, a locking member, a linkage member and an elastic member. The driving device comprises a motor. The driving member is connected to a shaft of the motor. The linkage member is connected to the locking member. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force to one of the linkage member and the locking member for holding the locking member at a locking position. Wherein, the driving member is configured to drive the linkage through a rotational driving force provided by a shaft of the motor, in order to linearly move the locking member away from the locking position.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that, is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
As shown in
Preferably, the first rail 24 comprises a first rail part 30 and a first extension part 32. The first extension part 32 is laterally (transversely) extended relative to a longitudinal direction of the first rail part 30. The third rail 28 is movably mounted to the first rail 24 through the first rail part 30.
Preferably, the second rail 26 comprises a second rail part 34 and a second extension part 36. The second extension part 36 is laterally (transversely) extended relative to a longitudinal direction of the second rail part 34. The second rail 26 is movably mounted to the third rail 28 through the second rail part 34.
Preferably, the lock mechanism 20 is arranged on one of the first rail 24 and the second rail 26. In the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 20 is detachably connected to one of the first rail 24 and the second rail 26. For example, the lock mechanism 20 is detachably connected to the first rail 24. Specifically, the lock mechanism 20 is detachably connected to at least one corresponding feature (such as a first corresponding feature 42a and/or a second corresponding feature 42b) of a wall 32a of the first extension part 32 of the first rail 24 through at least one connecting feature (such as a first connecting feature 40a and/or a second connecting feature 40b) of a housing 38. Wherein, the at least one connecting feature 40a, 40b is connected to the at least one corresponding feature 42a, 42b by engaging, fastening or screwing. But the present invention is not limited thereto.
On the other hand, the other one of the first rail 24 and the second rail 26 is arranged with an additional feature 44. The additional feature 44 is configured to interact with a locking part 54 of the lock mechanism 20. In the present embodiment, the additional feature 44 is provided on an extension wall 45a of a fitting member 45. The fitting member 45 is detachably connected to the other one of the first rail 24 and the second rail 26. For example, the fitting member 45 is detachably connected to the second rail 26. Specifically, the fitting member 45 is detachably connected to at least one mounting structure (such as a first mounting structure 48a and/or a second mounting structure 48b) of the second extension part 36 of the second rail 26 through at least one mounting feature (such as a first mounting feature 46a and/or a second mounting feature 46b). The at least one mounting feature 46a, 46b is connected to the at least one mounting structure 48a, 48b by engaging, fastening or screwing. But the present invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, the additional feature 44 can be directly integrally formed on the second rail 26, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
As shown in
In
Preferably, the driving device 50 comprises a motor 56 (such as a servo motor), and the lock mechanism 20 further comprises an elastic member 58, a linkage member 60 and a driving member 62.
The elastic member 58 is configured to provide an elastic force to the locking member 52. In the present embodiment, the locking member 52 is configured to be held at the first position P1 in response to the elastic force of the elastic member 58, and the first position P1 is a locking position, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, when the second rail 26 is located at a first predetermined position X1 (such as a retracted position, but it is not limited thereto) relative to the first rail 24 and the locking member 52 is located at the first position P1, the locking part 54 of the locking member 52 is configured to lock the additional feature 44 (such as a hole or a groove) of the second rail 26. In such state, the second rail 26 is prevented from being moved relative to the first rail 24 from the first predetermined position X1 along a direction D.
The linkage member 60 is connected to the locking member 52. In the present embodiment, the linkage member 60 is fixed to the locking member 52. Therefore, the linkage member 60 and the locking member 52 can be seen as one piece. The linkage member 60 can be linearly moved in response to a rotational driving force of a shaft 56a of the motor 56.
The driving member 62 is connected to the shaft 56a of the motor 56. The driving member 62 can be a cam or a lever arm. The linkage member 60 is configured to be driven by the driving member 62. Preferably, a linear moving direction of the linkage member 60 is substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft 56a. For example, the linkage member 60 is linearly movable along a transverse direction, and the shaft 56a of the motor 56 is arranged along a longitudinal direction (the longitudinal direction is same as a longitudinal direction or a moving direction of the rails). Furthermore, the linkage member 60 and a base 38a of the housing 38 have corresponding structural features interacting with each other for guiding the linkage member 60 to linearly move relative to the base 38a of the housing 38. The structural features can be a combination of a protrusion 64a and an elongated hole 64b (or an elongated groove). For example, the protrusion 64a is inserted into a portion of the elongated hole 64b, and the elongated hole 64b (or the elongated groove) has a predetermined boundary, such that the linkage member 60 can be linearly moved relative to the base 38a within a limited range.
Preferably, the lock mechanism 20 further comprises a fixing base 66 fixed relative to the housing 38. In the present embodiment, the fixing base 66 comprises a first part 66a, a second part 66b and a third part 66c arranged between the first part 66a and the second part 66b. Wherein, the third part 66c is fixed to the base 38a of the housing 38, and the first part 66a and the second part 66b are substantially perpendicularly connected to the third part 66c. Wherein, when the locking member 52 is located at the first position P1, the locking part 54 of the locking member 52 is in an extended state relative to the first part 66a of the fixing base 66 and configured to lock the additional feature 44 of the extension wall 45a of the fitting member 45. On the other hand, the locking member 52 further comprises a contact part 68. The elastic member 58 is arranged between the second part 66b of the fixing base 66 and the contact part 68 of the locking member 52. Preferably, the lock mechanism 20 further comprises a sensor 70 configured to detect whether the second rail 26 is located at the first predetermined position X1. For example, the sensor 70 is a micro switch which comprises an elastic sensing part 70a. When the second rail 26 is located at the first predetermined position X1 relative to the first rail 24, a portion of the second rail 26 (such as the extension wall 45a of the fitting member 45 of the second rail 26) is configured to press the elastic sensing part 70a, such that the elastic sensing part 70a is configured to accumulate an elastic force to further generate an electronic sensing signal. Accordingly, the sensor 70 thus detects that the second rail 26 is located at the first predetermined position X1 relative to the first rail 24.
As shown in
Specifically, when the motor 56 of the driving device 50 receives an electronic control signal, the shaft 56a of the motor 56 can be controlled to rotate a specific angle, such that the driving member 62 is rotated along a direction (such as a clockwise direction) to be switched from a first state S1 (as shown in
Therefore, the driving device 50 can receive an electronic control signal transmitted from an electronic device (such as a computer, a mobile phone or a wireless sensor) to control the locking member 52 to no longer lock the second rail 26. Moreover, when the second rail 26 is moved relative to the first rail 24 from the first predetermined position X1 to the second predetermined position X2 along the direction D, the extension wall 45a of the fitting member 45 of the second rail 26 no longer presses the elastic sensing part 70a, such that the elastic sensing part 70a releases the accumulated elastic force. Accordingly, the sensor 70 thus detects that the second rail 26 is moved away from the first predetermined position X1 relative to the first rail 24. In addition, when the driving member 62 returns to the first state S1 (as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the manual releasing feature 74 is arranged on the linkage member 60, and the manual releasing feature 74 is a protrusion. A user can tie a string 76 onto the manual releasing feature 74 in advance. In some situation (such as in a situation of the motor 56 of the driving device 50 being out of power or damaged), the shaft 56a of the motor 56 of the driving device 50 is unable to operate, such that the driving member 62 in the first state S1 (as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Therefore, the lock mechanism of the present invention is characterized in that:
1. The locking member 52 of the lock mechanism 20 is configured to be driven by the driving device 50 to move from the first position P1 to the second position P2 in a non-rotatable manner (such as in a linear manner).
2. The lock mechanism 20 is an electronic lock or a smart lock, and applicable to the first object and the second object movable relative to each other. The lock mechanism 20 is configured to lock the second object at the first predetermined position X1 relative to the first object, and the user can unlock the second object through an electronic control way. Wherein, a combination of the first object and the second object can be a combination of the first rail and the second rail, a combination of the cabinet and the drawer, or a combination of the cabinet and the door panel.
3. The lock mechanism 20 can be electrically controlled or manually operated to unlock the second object relative to the first object.
4. The sensor 70 is configured to detect whether the second object is located at the first predetermined position X1 relative to the first object.
5. The locking member 52 is configured to be held at the first position P1 in response to the elastic force of the elastic member 58.
6. The linkage member 60 is connected to the locking member 52, and the linkage member 60 and the base 38a of the housing 38 have corresponding structural features interacting with each other for guiding the linkage member 60 to linearly move relative to the housing 38.
7. The lock mechanism 20 is detachably connected to one of the first object and the second object. Therefore, the user can decide to mount the lock mechanism 20 to one of the first object and the second object according to requirements, and the other one of the first object and the second object is arranged with the additional feature 44 configured to interact with the lock mechanism 20.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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107124185 | Jul 2018 | TW | national |