Patent Grant
8578744
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a lock structure. Particularly, the present invention relates to a lock structure for securing an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Consumer electronic products have played an important role in modern life; moreover, because of fast modern lifestyle and the demand for instant information, portable electronic products have become one of the essentials for people. However, because of higher unit price and easy realizable characteristics, the possibility of portable electronic products being stolen accordingly increases.
To prevent from thieves, a lock structure had been developed, such as the notebook lock, which can connect an opening or a lock hole of electronic products through its lock fastener. The lock fastener is further controlled by a lock mechanism to accomplish the locking/unlocking operation. However, when using the lock mentioned above to secure an electronic product, it is required to insert the key into the key hole to control the lock fastener or to operate unlocking/locking of the lock body; on the other hand, the unlocking or locking operation may require both hands to simultaneously operate the lock structure. Therefore, the lock structure for electronic product can be improvable in operation or design.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock structure to work with a key to provide a burglarproof function for expensive items such as electronic devices.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock structure, which is easy to operate a locking operation.
The present invention provides a lock structure to work with a key. The lock structure includes a housing, a lock body, an operation device, a driving device, a movable connecting unit having an entering portion, and a securing element. The housing has a first through hole formed thereon. The entering portion includes, for example, two columnar structures spaced apart from each other. The entering portion is capable of moving back and forth with respect to the housing and the securing element through the first through hole to retreat back to the housing or extend out of the housing, i.e. being in or out of the housing. The securing element has an extension portion passing through the first through hole; a retaining portion is formed on one end of the extension portion to form a T-shaped structure with the extension portion. The lock structure connects to the electronic device by means of the T-shaped structure. The lock body is connected to the driving device. When the lock body is in an unlocked status, a restriction in a locked status to the driving device is released. The action of the driving device further drives or causes the connecting unit and the entering element thereof to move, wherein the entering portion moves out from the cavity through the first through hole and moves along the extension portion in an axial direction; alternatively, the entering portion moves along the extension portion and return back to the cavity through the first through hole. In addition, the lock body is connected to an operation device.
When the lock body is in the unlocked status, the operation device is operable; moreover, when operating the operation device, the operation device activates the driving device to drive the entering portion to move out through the first through hole, move along the extension portion of the securing element in the axial direction to partially or completely extend out of the housing, and selectively enter the lock hole. When the operation is completed, the lock body is in the locked status; correspondingly, the movements of the driving device and the entering portion are completed. Consequently, the two columnar structures of the entering portion are fixed at opposite sides of the extension portion so that the securing element is secured to the lock hole. In addition, the operation device is restrained from being operable.
That is, when the lock body is in the unlocked status, the T-shaped structure of the securing element can enter the lock hole or leave the lock hole; furthermore, when the T-shaped structure is in the lock hole, it is able to rotate the lock structure to let it revolve on its own axis by ninety degrees, so that the retaining portion of the securing element is blocked by a wall around the lock hole. Afterwards, the operation device is operated to drive the driving device to make the entering portion move out through the first through hole and move along the extension portion of the securing element, finally entering the lock hole, so that the two columnar structures of the entering portion are positioned beside the extension portion respectively at opposite sides. When the operation is finished and the lock body is in the locked status, the entering portion is inserted into the lock hole and restricts the rotation of the lock structure, so that the T-shaped structure of the securing element cannot be removed from the lock hole; that is, the securing element is secured to the lock hole and the lock structure cannot be detached from the electronic device. The operation device and the lock body can be different portions of the lock structure; alternatively, the lock body itself can serve as the operation device.
On the contrary, when performing an unlocking operation on the lock body in the locked status as mentioned above, the restriction in a locked status to the driving device is released, further resulting in a displacement of the connecting unit in an axial direction; meanwhile, the entering portion selectively leaves the lock hole and simultaneously moves along the extension portion of the securing element in the axial direction, then finally returns back to the cavity through the first through hole. Consequently, the extension portion without the entering portion being positioned at opposite sides thereof allows the lock structure to be rotated in order to allow the securing element, without the retaining portion blocked by the wall around the lock hole after rotation, to leave the lock hole, so that the lock structure is released from the securing of the electronic device.
The present invention provides a lock structure for an electronic device. In preferred embodiments, the electronic device can be any electronic device that has at least a lock hole such as, but is not limited to, laptops or notebooks. As
The T-shaped structure of the securing element 40 of the lock structure 10 can enter into or leave the corresponding lock hole, wherein the retaining portion 403 is firstly inserted into or detached from the lock hole with entering portion 1011 preferably being received within the housing 100. When the retaining portion 403 has been inserted into the lock hole, rotating the lock structure 10 about its own axis by an angle in a range of zero to one hundred eighty degrees, preferably ninety degrees, will make the retaining portion 403 within the lock hole rotate accordingly to a position not corresponding to the lock hole, so that the inner face of the wall around the lock hole blocks the T-shaped structure of the securing element 40 from leaving the lock hole by touching against the retaining portion 403. As
As mentioned above, the entering portion 1011 in the lock hole 3 restricts the rotation of the lock structure 10 as well as the rotation of the retaining portion 403 to a position allowing the T-shaped structure to leave the lock hole 3; in other words, the retaining portion 403 of the securing element 40 is engaged with and secured in the lock hole 3. In sum, in cooperation with the entering portion 1011, the T-shaped structure of the securing element 40 is selectively engaged with and secured in the lock hole 3 to secure the electronic device to a stationary object. It is noted that although the entering portion 1011 of the embodiment is illustrated as two columnar structures, in other embodiments, the entering portion 1011 can be any number of any appropriate shaped structure provided that the entering portion 1011 can move back and forth to reveal or block the lock hole with the extension portion 402, allowing or restricting the rotation of the lock body and the T-shaped structure of the securing element 40 within the lock hole. The structure and movement relationships among the housing 100, the lock body 20, the operation device, the driving device, and the securing element 40 will be described later.
An exploded view of the embodiment is shown in
A connecting unit 101 is disposed in the cavity enclosed by the inner housing part 102 and can have a displacement in the axial direction therein. In addition, the entering portion 1011 is formed on one side of the connecting unit 101 for the lock structure 10 connecting to the electronic device. When the connecting unit 101 displaces axially, i.e. displaces in the axial direction of the lock structure 10 in the cavity, the entering portion 1011 formed thereon displaces accordingly to move out of the housing 100 or return back to the housing 100 through the first through hole 1023 formed on the first portion 1021 of the inner housing part 102. The shape and the size of the first through hole 1023 are designed based on the entering portion 1011. For example, as the above mentioned, the entering portion 1011 is two columnar structures spaced apart from each other; the first through hole 1023 is therefore designed based on the two columnar structures. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first through hole 1023 has an elongated shape due to the overall shape of the entering portion 1011. Furthermore, in addition to the entering portion 1011, the elongated through hole 1023 enables the extension portion 402 of the securing element 40 to pass through, wherein the two columnar structures of the entering portion 1011 are positioned beside the extension portion 402 respectively at the opposite sides thereof, as mentioned above. The securing element 40 is disposed at the side of the connecting unit 101 having the entering portion 1011 formed thereon. The securing element 40 includes the settling portion 401, the extension portion 402, and the retaining portion 403, wherein the settling portion 401 and a small portion of the extension portion 402 are located in the cavity, a great portion of the extension portion 402 extending out from the first through hole 1023 together with the retaining portion 402 are located outside the housing 100. By means of the setting portion 401, the securing element 40 can be fixed to the inner side of the housing 100. While the entering portion 1011 mentioned above displaces axially, the entering portion 1011 also moves relative to the securing element 40, particularly along the extension portion 402. The connection of the connecting unit 101, the inner housing part 102, the first housing part 103, and the second housing part 104 can be accomplished by any prior arts such as engagement, adhering, or fastening.
In addition, a portion of the lock body 20 is accommodated in the cavity, wherein the lock body 20 is, for example, a key lock and has a key hole exposed to outside. When a user uses a key to unlock the lock body 20, the operation device mentioned above will enter a first status, and the driving device 30 which is restricted by the lock body 20 in a locked status will be released so that the connecting unit 101 displaces in the axial direction, i.e. away from the securing element 40. The entering portion 1011 of the connecting unit 101 therefore moves along the extension portion 402 of the securing element 40 and selectively retreats from the lock hole. Finally, the entering portion 1011 may return back to the cavity through the first through hole 1023. Afterwards, after the lock structure 10 being rotated, the T-shaped structure of the securing element 40 may leave the lock hole or selectively enter the lock hole. The first status mentioned above is a status in which, for example, the operation device can be pressed. On the other hand, when the user operates the operation device in the first status, i.e. presses the operation device, the pressed operation device will drive simultaneously the driving device 30, which is released in the unlocked status, to move and drive the connecting unit 101 to displace in the axial direction, i.e. move toward the securing element 40. The entering portion 1011 extending out of the housing 100 from the first through hole 1023 and simultaneously moves along the extension portion 402. After the completion of locking operation by pressing and operating the lock body 20, the operation device is in a second status; meanwhile, the driving device 30 and the connecting unit 101 also complete the moving or displacing action and remain at the position after the movement or displacement. On the other hand, the entering portion 1011, which moves along with the displacement of the connecting unit 101, selectively enters the lock hole and is fixed at opposite sides of the extension portion 402. Consequently, since the entering portion 1011 and the retaining portion 403 are confined within the lock hole, the lock structure 10 is not rotatable to let the securing element 40 leave the lock hole; in other words, the securing element 40 is secured in the lock hole. The second status mentioned above is a status in which, for example, the operation device cannot be pressed. The operation and mechanism thereof of the lock body 20 are known by a skilled person and not elaborated hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation device is disposed on the lock body 20; in other words, the lock body 20 itself also serves as the operation device. Accordingly, the unlocking operation simultaneously enables the lock body/operation device 20 enter the unlocked status, i.e. the first status. On the contrary, pressing the operation device/lock body 20 is equal to performing the locking operation. The completion of pressing action is equal to the completion of the locking operation, allowing the operation device/lock body 20 to enter the locked status, i.e. the second status. The connection between the driving device 30 and other components of the lock structure 10 will be described later.
As
Please refer to
In view of the discussions set forth above, the restricting element 302 of the driving device 30 and the connecting unit 101 are combined together, so that the restricting element 302 and the connecting unit 101 together can displace in the axial direction. Moreover, the restricting element 302 can displace in the radial direction by itself, wherein the displacement of the restricting element 302 in the radial direction can effect the displacement of the restricting element 302 and the connecting unit 101 in the axial direction. Particularly, the radial displacement of the restricting element 302 is resulted from either driving the driving portion 301 during the unlocking operation or a force provided by an elastic element 51 at a relative position. During the unlocking operation, the driving portion 301 drives the flat portion 3022 to retreat from the second through hole 1024 so that the restricting element 302 is released from the restricting position; on the contrary, during the locking operation, the force provided by the elastic element 51, which is disposed at the side of the frame-like structure 3021 opposite to the side at which the flat portion 3022 is disposed, pushes the restricting element 302 toward the second through hole 1024 so that the flat portion 3022 is confined by the second through hole 1024 and the restricting element 302 enters the restricting position. On the other hand, the axial displacement of the restricting element 302 and the connecting unit 101 is resulted from either pressing the lock body/operation device 20 in the first/unlocked status or a force provided by the elastic element 52 at a relative position. When the lock body/operation device 20 is in the unlocked/first status, pressing the unlocked lock body/operation device 20 will make the connecting unit 101 move toward the securing element 40 in the axial direction by means of driving of the driving device 30, so that the entering portion 1011 moves out through the first through hole 1023 and simultaneously moves along the extension portion 402, then finally selectively enters the lock hole. Meanwhile, the locking operation is accomplished while the lock body/operation device 20 is in the second status. When performing the unlocking operation, the force provided by the elastic element 52, which is disposed at the side of the connecting unit 101 opposite to the side adjacent to the driving portion 301, makes the connecting unit 101 and the components adjacent/connecting to the connecting unit 101 displace away from the securing element 40 in the axial direction, so that the entering portion 1011 selectively leaves the lock hole and simultaneously moves along the extension portion 402, then finally returns back to the cavity through the first through hole 1023; meanwhile, the lock body/operation device 20 is in the first status.
More specifically, when performing the unlocking operation to make the restricting element 302 leave the restricting position in the radial direction, the flat portion 3022 retreats into the cavity and is no longer restrained by the wall of the inner housing part 102. Meanwhile, the restricting element 302 presses the elastic element 51 to store elasticity. On the other hand, the elastic element 52 releases elasticity to drive the connecting unit 101 and the components adjacent/connecting to the connecting unit 101 to displace away from the securing element 40 in the axial direction, which consequently makes the entering portion 1011 selectively leave the lock hole and return back to the cavity through the first through hole 1023 so that the T-shaped structure can leave the lock hole to detach the lock structure from the electronic device after rotating the lock structure 10. On the other hand, the lock body/operation device 20 reverts to the first status. On the contrary, when pressing the lock body/operation device 20 in the first status, the connecting unit 101 displaces toward the securing element 40 in the axial direction so that the entering portion 1011 can exit through the first through hole 1023 and move along the extension portion 402 to extend out of the housing 100. In addition, when the connecting unit 101 moves to a degree allowing the opening 1012 of the trough to be aligned with the second through hole 1024 of the inner housing part 102, the elastic element 51 is able to release elasticity to make the restricting element 302 move toward the restricting position in the radial direction, so that the flat portion 3022 extends into the second through hole 1024 and is restrained by the wall of the inner housing part 102. As such, the locking operation is accomplished. At this time, the entering portion 1011 which selectively enters the lock hole is fixed in the lock hole due to the completion of locking operation; meanwhile, the lock structure 10 is unable to be rotated so that the securing element 40 cannot leave the lock hole; that is, the electronic device is secured.
Although the preferred embodiments of present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. The preferred embodiments disclosed will not limited the scope of the present invention. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/428,049 filed on Dec. 29, 2010 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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