Lock-and-alarm assembly

• US 6,598,439 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EZ Trend Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: EZ Trend Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Fang-Kun
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/270,451
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 704/23, 704/41, 704/55, 704/16, 701/58, 70D/IG.59, 704/27, 704/24, 704/28, 704/19, 70D/IG.49
• US Class Current: 70/423
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/14 Closures or guards for keyholes for vehicle ignition or steering lock B60R25/023
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/49 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 Tampering prevention or attack defeating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7955 Keyhole guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8649 Keyhole covers

Abstract

A lock-and-alarm assembly includes an escutcheon formed with a through-hole. A lock core is formed with a keyway that can be accessed through the through-hole. A blind is detachably mounted in the through-hole for blocking access to the keyway through the through-hole. A switch is connected to the blind and is actuated upon removal of the blind, which, in turn, results in actuation of an alarm.

Claims

1. A lock-and-alarm assembly comprising:

an escutcheon including a peripheral wall that confines a lock-mounting space and that has a front wall, said front wall confining a front side of said lock-mounting space and being formed with a through-hole that is confined by a hole-confining wall and that extends in a longitudinal direction;

a lock core mounted in said lock-mounting space and formed with a keyway that is aligned with said through-hole;

an engaging member;

a blind mounted movably in said through-hole and movable between an engaging position, in which, said blind engages said hole-confining wall through said engaging member, thereby blocking said through-hole and preventing access to said keyway through said through-hole, and a disengaging position, in which said blind disengages from said hole-confining wall, thereby permitting removal of said blind from said through-hole and access to said keyway through said through-hole, said blind having a front wall formed with at least a channel that extends in said longitudinal direction and that is adapted to receive a tool therein in such a manner that operation of the tool results in movement of said blind from said engaging position to said disengaging position;

an alarm;

a switch electrically connected to said alarm and including a button mounted movably within said through-hole and disposed rearwardly of said channel, said button being operable to move rearwardly in said longitudinal direction for actuating said alarm; and

an actuator disposed frontwardly of said button within said through-hole and including at least an insert that extends frontwardly therefrom into said channel in such a manner that said button is moved rearwardly to actuate said alarm upon insertion of the tool into said channel.

2. The lock-and-alarm assembly of claim 1, wherein said engaging member includes an inner thread that is formed on said hole-confining wall, and an outer thread that is formed on said blind and that threadedly engages said inner thread when said blind is received in said through-hole, said blind being rotatable relative to said hole-confining wall from said engaging position to said disengaging position when the tool is inserted into said channel and is rotated.

3. The lock-and-alarm assembly of claim 2, wherein said blind further has an annular flange projecting rearwardly from said front wall of said blind, having a rear end opposite to said front wall of said blind, and confining an actuator-receiving space, said switch further including a frame plate that is secured to said rear end of said annular flange, said button being mounted movably on said frame plate and projecting therefrom into said actuator-receiving space, said actuator being received in said actuator-receiving space and further including a stud projecting rearwardly therefrom to contact said button so as to permit actuation of said alarm upon insertion of the tool into said channel, said actuator further including a coil spring that is sleeved around said stud for urging said actuator to move frontwardly.