Lock Structure with Auto-Reset Function

• US 20100257907A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sinoxlock (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sinoxlock (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yu, Chang-Chiang, Wu, Chun-Sheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/284
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0058 by axial disengagement between hub and rim of tumbler discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0079 when unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/02 with tumbler discs or rings arranged on a single axis, each disc being adjustable independently of the others
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7316 Combination upsetting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7322 Permutation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7339 Pin and socket

Abstract

A lock structure including an activation device, a combination lock, and a setting device is provided. The combination lock has a plurality of dials, a shaft passing through the dials, and a plurality of first gears disposed on one side of each dial. Each first gear further includes a missing tooth. One end of the shaft is connected to the activation device. The setting device has a plurality of second gears corresponding to the first gears and a setting shaft, wherein one end of the setting shaft passes through the second gears and the other end is connected to the activation device. When the activation device is activated, the second gears are driven to rotate the first gears, so that when each second gear runs free with the missing tooth of each first gear, the dials are in a predetermined position. That is, by means of the activation device and the setting device, the dials of the combination lock can automatically return to the predetermined position after opening or closing the lock.

Claims

1. A lock structure, comprising:

an activation device;

a combination lock having a plurality of dials, a shaft passing through the dials, and a plurality of first gears disposed on one side of each dial, wherein each first gear includes a missing tooth, one end of the shaft is connected to the activation device;

a setting device having a plurality of second gears corresponding to the first gears and a setting shaft, wherein one end of the setting shaft passes through the second gears and the other end is connected to the activation device;

wherein when the activation device is activated, the second gears are driven to rotate the first gears, so that when each second gear runs free with the missing tooth of each first gear, the dials are in a predetermined position, when the activation device moves to a locked position, the second gear is driven to rotate the first gear, so that when each second gear runs free with the missing tooth of each first gear, the dials are in the predetermined setting position.

2. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the combination lock further includes:

a plurality of protruding portions arranged side by side on the shaft; and

a plurality of bushings selectively engaged with the protruding portions, wherein the bushing is movable along the shaft to position or release the shaft.

3. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein each first gear includes a series of aligning teeth and a block tooth, the missing tooth is formed between the block tooth and a first one of the series of aligning teeth, the block tooth is disposed between the missing tooth and the last one of the series of aligning teeth, and the size of the block tooth is greater than that of each aligning tooth.

4. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the first gear and the dial are integrally formed, the diameter of the first gear is smaller than the diameter of the dial.

5. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the second gear has an arc tooth, a plurality of setting teeth, and a toothless portion, the size of the arc tooth is greater than that of the setting tooth to prevent from engaging with the first gear, and when the first gear rotates, the toothless portion prevents from engaging with the first gear.

6. The lock structure of claim 5, wherein each second gear is formed as a sector gear consisting of the setting teeth and the arc tooth.

7. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the setting device further includes:

at least one convex portion disposed on the setting shaft;

a linking element having one end connected to the setting shaft and the other end connected to the activation device; and

a plurality of spacers equidistantly linking each second gear, an inner wall of the spacers having at least one groove corresponding to the convex portion, wherein when the linking element drives the setting shaft to rotate, the convex portions of the setting shaft engage with the grooves of the spacers to rotate the second gears synchronously.

8. The lock structure of claim 7, wherein the linking element has a linking gear and a linking shaft, the linking gear rotates about the linking shaft, one end of the setting shaft has a toothed bar engaged with the linking gear, the setting shaft and the linking shaft are eccentric, and the setting shaft is driven by the linking gear to rotate.

9. The lock structure of claim 7, wherein the setting device further includes a first resilient element disposed on the other end of the setting shaft for increasing the returning force of the second gears.

10. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the activation device further includes:

a knob having a recess portion, the knob disposed on one side of a positioning device;

a rotatable slider disposed under the knob, the rotatable slider having a blocking portion for contacting one end of the shaft of the combination lock;

an activation sleeve having a protruding portion and a plurality of first lugs, wherein the protruding portion corresponds to the recess portion, and the first lugs are disposed at different angles, respectively; and

a sliding sleeve having a plurality of second lugs and a driving portion, wherein the second lugs are disposed corresponding to the first lugs, and the driving portion is disposed on one side of the sliding sleeve;

wherein when the knob turns, the first lugs of the activation sleeve are rotated to move the second lugs vertically, such that the driving portion drives the second gears of the setting device to rotate via the linking element.

11. The lock structure of claim 10, wherein the driving portion includes a rack, the linking element includes a second linking gear for engaging with the rack.

12. The lock structure of claim 10, wherein the rotatable slider includes a chute and a passive portion, the activation sleeve includes a pushing portion and a step portion, the chute is disposed corresponding to the step portion to freely move on the step portion, and the passive portion is moved by the pushing portion.

13. The lock structure of claim 10, wherein the activation sleeve further includes a through hole and a second resilient element, the sidewall of the through hole is formed with two notches on opposite sides, the second resilient element is disposed on bottom of the activation sleeve for increasing an upward force of the sliding sleeve.

14. The lock structure of claim 12, wherein the rotatable slider has a recess for use with a positioning block to position the rotatable slider.

15. The lock structure of claim 1, wherein the activation device includes a key lock, the key lock has a lock core, a lock core sleeve, and an assembly member, the lock core is disposed inside the lock core sleeve and connects with the assembly member.

16. The lock structure of claim 15, wherein the lock core sleeve has two notches on opposite sides for engaging with a plurality of lock tongues of the lock core;

when the key lock is unlocked, the plurality of the lock tongues are released from the notches to allow the assembly member to rotate;

when the key lock is locked, the lock tongues engage with the notches to prevent the assembly member from rotating.

17. The lock structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a positioning device for positioning the combination lock and the setting device;

a housing for accommodating the positioning device and the activation device, wherein the activation device is disposed on one side of the positioning device; and

a cover for covering the housing, wherein the cover is formed with a plurality of holes corresponding to the dials.

18. The lock structure of claim 1, further comprising a shield rotatably connected to the activation device to selectively be in a locked position and an unlocked position.