Patent Application
20250027338
The present invention relates to a reset auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks.
Cipher wheel locks combine the convenience of electronic locks with the stability of key mechanical locks, making them widely used in the market. However, the password of the current cipher wheel locks on the market remains unchanged between resets, making them difficult to use in places with high population turnover, such as shopping malls and bathhouses. Additionally, the correct password is displayed during both unlocking and locking, requiring the user to manually scramble the password to prevent leakage, which is inconvenient to operate. After improvement, specifically referencing Chinese Patent No. 201922402453.8, titled “A Cipher Wheel Lock,” the main technical feature is a cam mechanism variable code lock, relying on a gradual reset cam to ultimately drive the cipher wheel to change the code. However, in practice, due to the limited travel of the lock switch, the width of the highest point of the gradual reset cam is relatively small, resulting in a very short code change travel for the cipher wheel. The cipher wheel may overshoot due to inertia, leading to unstable and inaccurate code changes. For example, during automatic resetting, the cipher wheel should return to 0000, but due to the aforementioned instability and inaccuracy, these cipher wheels may fail to stably change the code, potentially jumping from “0” to an adjacent “1” or “9,” failing to provide users with a stable cipher wheel code-changing experience.
To address the above technical problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a reset auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks.
The present invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
A reset auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks, including a knob; a cipher wheel assembly that is rotatable relative to the knob; a reset cam; and an auxiliary guide block. The knob is provided with a receiving chamber in the middle for accommodating the cipher wheel assembly. The cipher wheel assembly includes a positioning piece. The positioning piece is provided with a shifting lever. The reset cam can rotate synchronously with the knob. The reset cam includes a reset surface and a guide surface that are connected. The guide surface is located beside the reset surface. The reset surface is positioned at the highest point of the reset cam. The auxiliary guide block is capable of moving relative to the reset cam. The support surface of the auxiliary guide block can be positioned beside the reset surface. The shifting lever is operatively connected with the reset cam. After being tilted by the guide surface, the shifting lever engages with the reset surface and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the reset cam includes the reset surface located at the highest point, with the guide surfaces on both sides of the reset surface for driving the shifting lever to tilt.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the auxiliary guide block can be in abutting engagement with the side wall of the shifting lever, causing the auxiliary guide block to displace relative to the reset cam when the shifting lever tilts on the guide surface.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the reset auxiliary structure further includes a turntable that can rotate relative to the reset cam; the auxiliary guide block is connected to the turntable.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the knob includes a base plate; the turntable is rotatably connected to the base plate; and the reset cam is arranged on the base plate.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the base plate is provided with a connection slot; the turntable is provided with a limiting protrusion; and the limiting protrusion positioned within the connection slot.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral side of the turntable is provided with a limiting groove; the base plate is provided with a limiting block; the cooperation between the limiting block and the limiting groove restricts the rotational angle of the turntable.
In the embodiment of the present invention, a pin shaft is provided on the base plate. The turntable is fitted over the pin shaft. The middle of the pin shaft is provided with a connection hole; and a fixing bolt is fitted within the connection hole. The turntable is connected to the knob through the cooperation of the fixing bolt and the connection hole.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the turntable is positioned at the center of the base plate. The reset cam is located on the outer periphery of the turntable. The auxiliary guide block is located on the inner periphery of the reset cam.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the reset surface of the reset cam and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block can simultaneously engage with the shifting lever.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the positioning piece includes a rotating shaft. The positioning piece is rotatable relative to the cipher wheel assembly when tilted by the cooperation between the shifting lever and the reset cam.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft is located on the outer periphery of the reset cam.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the lower end of the guide surface is connected to the base plate. The guide surface is a curved surface.
The reset auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks of the present invention has the following advantages:
Based on the reset cam structure of the lock body in the prior art, the auxiliary guide block is axially fixed to the base plate of the lock body. The auxiliary guide block can rotate radially within a certain angle, limiting its axial movement and preventing any vertical motion.
During the unlocking process, the reset cam drives the positioning piece, which in turn drives the cipher wheel cam to sequentially and gradually change the code. When the reset cam reaches its highest point, the cipher wheel cam reaches its lowest point, achieving the desired code change effect. Due to the rotational inertia during the cipher wheel's movement, the auxiliary guide block and the shifting lever then engage, causing the positioning piece to maintain a reset state for a longer period, thereby achieving a delayed code change, resulting in a more stable and accurate code change for the cipher wheel.
During the locking process, the reset cam drives the positioning piece, which in turn drives the cipher wheel cam to sequentially and gradually change the code, while also driving the auxiliary guide block to its limit position. When the reset cam reaches its highest point, the auxiliary guide block then engages to delay the code change, making the cipher wheel's code change more stable and accurate.
To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, a brief introduction to the drawings used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art is provided below. It is evident that the following drawings are merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and comprehensively in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is evident that the described embodiments represent some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort, based on the embodiments of the present invention, are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as “center,” “longitudinal,” “transverse,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” and similar indications of position or direction are based on the positions or orientations shown in the drawings. These terms are used for convenience in describing the invention and simplifying the description and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, these terms should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
Moreover, terms such as “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of these features. In the description of the present invention, the term “multiple” means two or more unless otherwise specifically defined.
In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms “install,” “attach,” “connect,” “fix,” and similar terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they may refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary. They may refer to internal communication between two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.
In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the first feature being “above” or “below” the second feature may include direct contact between the first and second features, or it may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, the first feature being “above,” “over,” or “on” the second feature includes the first feature being directly or diagonally above the second feature or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. The first feature being “below,” “under,” or “beneath” the second feature includes the first feature being directly or diagonally below the second feature or merely indicating that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, a reset auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks includes a knob 10, a cipher wheel assembly 20 that is rotatable relative to the knob 10, a reset cam 30, and an auxiliary guide block 40. The knob 10 is centrally provided with a receiving chamber 17 for accommodating the cipher wheel assembly 20. During use, the cipher wheel assembly 20 remains stationary, and locking and unlocking are performed by rotating the knob 10. The reset function of the cipher wheel assembly 20 in this invention (as shown, using a four-digit code, which can be reset to all zeros, forming 0000) is not elaborated upon here, as it can be specifically referenced in the background technology provided in Chinese Patent No. 201922402453.8, titled “A Cipher Wheel Lock.” The cipher wheel assembly 20 includes a positioning piece 21. The positioning piece 21 is provided with a shifting lever 22. The reset cam 30 is capable of rotating synchronously with the knob 10. When locking or unlocking, the rotation of the knob 10 drives the reset cam 30 to rotate along with knob 10, allowing the rest cam 30 to engage with the shifting lever 22. The reset cam 30 includes a reset surface 31 and a guide surface 32 that are connected. The guide surface 32 is located beside the reset surface 31. The reset surface 31 is positioned at the highest point of the reset cam 30. The auxiliary guide block 40 is movable relative to the reset cam 30. The support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40 can be positioned beside the reset surface 31, preferably located at the upper end of the auxiliary guide block 40. The shifting lever 22 engages with the reset cam 30. After being tilted by the guide surface 32, the shifting lever 22 can be connected to the reset surface 31 and the support surface 41 of the auxiliary guide block 40. In this invention, when the knob 10 is rotated, the reset cam 30 engages with the shifting lever 22, thereby allowing the guide surface 32, reset surface 31, and shifting lever 22 to interact. This interaction causes the shifting lever 22 to rise or fall without rotating. Simultaneously, as the shifting lever 22 moves, the shifting lever 22 engages with the auxiliary guide block 40, allowing the auxiliary guide block 40 to remain stationary just like the shifting lever 22, without rotating.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reset cam 30 includes a reset surface 31 located at the highest point. The guide surfaces 32 are located on both sides of the reset surface 31 for driving the shifting lever 22 to tilt. In one embodiment, the two guide surfaces 32 may be symmetrically arranged relative to the reset surface 31. During the locking or unlocking process, the shifting lever 22 moves from the guide surface 32 on one side to the guide surface 32 on the other side. In this process, the auxiliary guide block 40 initially does not rotate with the knob 10. As the knob continues to rotate, the auxiliary guide block 40 will eventually rotate synchronously with the knob 10, as described in more detail below.
The side wall of the auxiliary guide block 40 can be in abutting engagement with the side wall of the shifting lever 22, causing the auxiliary guide block 40 to displace relative to the reset cam 30 when the shifting lever 22 tilts on the guide surface 32.
The invention further includes a turntable 50. The turntable 50 is rotatable relative to the reset cam 30. The auxiliary guide block 40 is connected to the turntable 50. In one embodiment, the auxiliary guide block 40 is rotatable synchronously with the turntable 50. The turntable 50 can rotate synchronously with the knob 10 (or the reset cam 30) under the influence of external force, or the turntable 50 may rotate independently of the knob 10.
Furthermore, the knob 10 in the present invention includes abase plate 11. The turntable is rotatably connected to the base plate. The reset cam 30 is arranged on the base plate 11. The knob 10, the base plate 11, and the reset cam 30 are integrally formed. The rotation of the knob 10 synchronizes with the rotation of the base plate 11 and reset cam 30. The turntable 50 can either rotate synchronously with the knob 10 under the influence of external force or remain stationary.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the base plate 11 is provided with a connection slot 12, preferably an arc-shaped slot. The turntable 50 is provided with a limiting protrusion 51. The limiting protrusion 51 is positioned within the connection slot 12. In other words, the cooperation between the connection slot 12 and the limiting protrusion 51 allows for the auxiliary guide block 40 and knob 10 to have independent rotational travel. When the rotational angle of the knob 10 reaches the arc angle of the connection slot 12, further rotation of the knob 10 will cause the auxiliary guide block 40 (or the turntable 50) to start rotating synchronously with the knob 10.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral side of the turntable 50 is provided with a limiting groove 52, preferably an arc-shaped groove. The base plate 11 is provided with a limiting block 13. The cooperation between the limiting block 13 and the limiting groove 52 restricts the rotational angle of the turntable 50. As mentioned above, the cooperation between the limiting groove 52 and the limiting block 13 allows for the independent rotational travel of the auxiliary guide block 40 and knob 10. When the rotational angle of the knob 10 reaches the arc angle of the limiting groove 52, further rotation of the knob 10 will cause the auxiliary guide block 40 (or the turntable 50) to start rotating synchronously with the knob 10. For specific details, refer to
Referring to
Preferably, the turntable 50 is positioned at the center of the base plate 11. The reset cam 30 is located on the outer periphery of the turntable 50. The auxiliary guide block 40 IS positioned on the inner periphery of the reset cam 30. In a preferred embodiment, the pin shaft 14 and the rotational axis of the knob 10 are coaxial, meaning that the knob 10, the turntable 50, the reset cam 30, and the auxiliary guide block 40 can all rotate coaxially.
In a preferred use of the invention, the reset surface 31 of the reset cam 30 and the support surface 41 of the auxiliary guide block 40 can simultaneously engage with the shifting lever 22. This configuration allows the tilting process of the shifting lever 22 to be smoother. In other words, when the shifting lever 22 engages with the reset surface 31, the shifting lever 22 can also engage with the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, maintaining the shifting lever 22 in a tilted state. As the knob 10 continues to rotate, the shifting lever 22 disengages from the reset surface 31, but the shifting lever 22 can continue to engage with the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, maintaining the tilted state of the shifting lever 22.
Referring to
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In the present invention, the short length of the reset surface helps prevent the cipher wheel assembly 20 from getting stuck. To ensure that the shifting lever 22 remains in a tilted state for a sufficient duration during continuous rotation, an auxiliary support is needed to maintain the accuracy of the cipher wheel assembly's reset.
The above description illustrates and describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. Rather, it is applicable to various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and changes can be made within the scope of the utility model concept described herein, using the above teachings or related knowledge in the field. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202210798255.1 | Jul 2022 | CN | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2022/105225 | Jul 2022 | WO |
| Child | 18908815 | US |
