Card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel

A card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel includes a card lock casing and a card barrel limiting mechanism. The card lock casing has a card-inserting groove. The card barrel limiting mechanism has a lock barrel limiting push rod pivotally disposed in the card lock casing, an elastic element disposed between the card lock casing and the lock barrel limiting push rod, and a movable pressing unit for pressing the lock barrel limiting push rod. One end of the lock barrel limiting push rod projects outside the card lock casing in order to selectively lock or release the lock barrel. When a card passes through the card-inserting groove to push the movable pressing unit to release the lock barrel limiting push rod, the lock barrel limited push is moved by the elasticity of the elastic element in order to release the lock barrel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card lock structure, and particularly relates to a card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel.

2. Description of Related Art

Locks are widely used and consist of many types, such as key locks, cabinet locks and number locks, which are opened by keys or number combination, or card locks, which are opened by magnetic cards.

Cabinet locks can be used in some special locations, for instance, natatorium, gymnasium, and so on. Users can put belonging into a cabinet and lock the cabinet with a key to avoid losing something. However, keys of said cabinets can be inserted and withdrawn freely, which leads to keys becoming lost or discarded. This has costly consequences for the owners of the cabinets who may have to remake keys or even to change entire cabinets. Thus, it is very important to prevent keys from being removed from cabinets while the cabinets are not in use. The inventors of the present invention are of the opinion that the shortcomings above can be remedied and therefore suggest the present invention, which is a reasonable design and an effective improvement based on deep research.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular aspect of the present invention is to provide a card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel. The present invention selectively locks or releases the lock barrel so as to control the rotation of the lock barrel. When the lock barrel cannot be rotated, the key inserted into the lock barrel cannot be taken out. Hence, the lock such as key lock or number lock that uses the lock barrel cannot be used, for example, the key inserted into the lock barrel of the key lock cannot be rotated and taken out or the turn wheel of the number lock cannot be rotated.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned aspects, the present invention provides a card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel, including: a card lock casing and a card barrel limiting mechanism. The card lock casing has a card-inserting groove formed on a lateral side thereof. The card barrel limiting mechanism is disposed in the card lock casing. The card barrel limiting mechanism has a lock barrel limiting push rod pivotally disposed in the card lock casing, an elastic element disposed between an inner surface of the card lock casing and the lock barrel limiting push rod and a movable pressing unit for pressing the lock barrel limiting push rod. One end of the lock barrel limiting push rod projects outside the card lock casing in order to selectively lock or release the lock barrel. Therefore, when the movable pressing unit presses the lock barrel limiting push rod, the lock barrel is locked by the lock barrel limiting push rod; when a card passes through the card-inserting groove to push the movable pressing unit to release the lock barrel limiting push rod, the lock barrel limited push is moved by the elasticity of the elastic element in order to release the lock barrel.

The advantage of the present invention is the following: the card lock structure of the present invention can be built into the cabinet. When the card is not inserted into the lock barrel, the key cannot rotate the lock barrel, because the lock barrel is locked by the card lock structure. At the same time, the key is inserted into the lock barrel and cannot be taken out so as to prevent losing the key. When the lock barrel is released by the card lock structure, the key can be taken out. Thereby, by controlling the card, it can be avoided that a key of a cabinet is lost or willfully discarded.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, the present invention provides a card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel L, including: a card lock casing1and a card barrel limiting mechanism2.

The card lock casing1has a card-inserting groove10formed on a lateral side thereof for receiving a card C (as shown inFIG. 3). In addition, the card lock casing1is composed of at least two shells (11a,11b), and the at least two shells (11a,11b) are assembled together by means of a plurality of screw bolts12. Moreover, the card lock casing1further includes a support13disposed therein, and the support13has a pivot portion130, an opening131formed under the pivot portion130and a retaining groove132formed beside one side of the opening131. However, the feature of using the screw bolts12to assemble the at least two shells (11a,11b) together is just an example. Any method for assembled the at least two shells (11a,11b) together is protected by the present invention.

Furthermore, the card barrel limiting mechanism2is disposed in the card lock casing1. The card barrel limiting mechanism2has a lock barrel limiting push rod20, an elastic element21and a movable pressing unit22. In addition, the lock barrel limiting push rod20is pivotally disposed in the card lock casing1, the elastic element21is disposed between an inner surface of the card lock casing1and the lock barrel limiting push rod20, and a movable pressing unit22presses the lock barrel limiting push rod so as to forcedly lock the lock barrel L by the lock barrel limiting push rod20.

Moreover, the top side of the lock barrel limiting push rod20is pivotally disposed between the inner surface of the card lock casing1and the pivot portion130. The lock barrel limiting push rod20has a receiving groove201formed on a middle portion thereof in order to receive the elastic element21. One end202of the lock barrel limiting push rod20projects outside the card lock casing1in order to selectively lock or release the lock barrel L, and the lock barrel limiting push rod20is received in the opening131.

Furthermore, the movable pressing unit22has a pin body220, a movable body221and a torsion spring222. The pin body220is disposed in the retaining portion132, the movable body221is disposed around the pin body220, and the torsion spring222is disposed around the pin body220. In addition, one end2220of the torsion spring222is retained in the movable body221, and another end2221of the torsion spring222abuts against the support13. Hence, the end2220of the torsion spring222is fixed by the movable body221, and the another end2221of the torsion spring222is fixed by the interference of the support13. Therefore, the torsion force generated by the torsion spring222is forced on the movable body221to press the lock barrel limiting push rod20.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 4, when the movable body221of the movable pressing unit22presses the lock barrel limiting push rod20, the lock barrel L is locked by the lock barrel limiting push rod20. Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, when the card C passes through the card-inserting groove10to push the movable body221of the movable pressing unit22to release the lock barrel limiting push rod20, the lock barrel limited push20is moved by the elasticity of the elastic element21so as to release the lock barrel L.

In other words, referring toFIGS. 2 and 4, when the movable body221of the movable pressing unit22presses the lock barrel limiting push rod20, the lock barrel L is locked by the end202of the lock barrel limiting push rod20. Because the lock barrel L is locked by the card lock structure, the key cannot rotate the lock barrel L. At the same time, the key is inserted into the lock barrel L and cannot be taken out so as to prevent losing the key. Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, when the card C passes through the card-inserting groove10to push the movable body221of the movable pressing unit22to release the lock barrel limiting push rod20, the end202of the lock barrel limited push20is moved and far away from the lock barrel L by the elasticity of the elastic element21so as to release the lock barrel L. Because the lock barrel is released from the card lock structure, the key can be taken out. Thereby, by controlling the card, it can be avoided that a key of a cabinet is lost or willfully discarded.

Referring toFIG. 6, the card lock casing1has a plurality of through holes14. The card lock structure further includes a plurality of screw bolts S passing through the through holes14and being engaged with another object P in order to fix the card lock casing1on the object P. For example, the object P can be a cabinet. Hence, the card lock structure of the present invention can be disposed on the inner surface of the cabinet. When the card C has not be inserted into the card-inserting groove10yet, the lock barrel of the key lock or the number lock on the cabinet is locked by the end202of the lock barrel limiting push rod20, so that the user cannot use the key lock (the key will be locked in the lock barrel of the key lock and the key cannot be taken out from the key lock) or the number lock.

In conclusion, the card lock structure of the present invention can be built into a cabinet. When the card has not been inserted into the lock barrel, the key cannot rotate the lock barrel, because the lock barrel is locked by the card lock structure, and the key can also not be taken out. When the lock barrel is released by the card lock structure, the key can be taken out. Thus, by controlling the card, it can be avoided that a key of a cabinet is lost or discarded.