Patent Publication Number: US-2022235586-A1

Title: Lockset

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The utility model relates to a lockset. Further, the utility model relates to a lockset for an electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In modern life, consumer electronic products play an important role. In view of the fast lifestyle and the demand of people for instant information, portable electronic products become one of necessities of people. However, the products are easily stolen or robbed due to relatively high unit prices and ease of cash realization. 
     For prevention of thievery, a lockset is designed, such as a notebook computer lock. A lock fastener of the notebook computer lock may be connected to a lock hole of an electronic product, and a movement of the lock fastener is controlled by using a key lock mechanism to complete locking/unlocking. However, due to lock holes of different specifications, a user needs to purchase/carry a lockset having a corresponding lock fastener according to the specification of a lock hole, which is not only uneconomical but also inconvenient to use. 
     SUMMARY 
     The utility model is intended to provide a lockset. The lockset is applicable to lock holes of different sizes and is convenient to use. 
     The lockset of the utility model includes a housing, at least one hook, a driving device, and a lock body. The housing has a front opening at an end. The hook is disposed in the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing. The hook includes front end portions and rear end portions, wherein at least part of the front end portions extends out of the front opening, and the rear end portions extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the front end portions extend. The driving device includes a force application member and a driving member. The force application member includes a force bearing portion at least partially disposed inside the housing and a force application portion disposed inside the housing. The force bearing portion is connected to the force application portion and is rotatable with the force application portion relative to the housing. The driving member is disposed in the housing and rotatable with the force application portion, to selectively move between the rear end portions to change an opening width of the front end portions. The lock body is disposed on a side of the driving device, wherein the lock body restricts a movement of the driving device when the lock body is locked. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, at least one of the hooks is rotatable relative to the housing along a plane parallel to an X-Y plane. The force application member is rotatable along a plane parallel to an X-Z plane. The driving member is selectively movable to extend different depths between the rear end portions in a Y-axis direction, so as to change the opening width of the front end portions. An X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are orthogonal. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the force application portion has a driving portion. An end of the driving member is movable in the Y-axis direction to be snapped in the driving portion, so that the driving member is rotatable with the force application member. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the driving device further includes a displacement restriction member fixed in the housing. The displacement restriction member therein has an accommodating space extending along the Y axis. A sidewall thread is disposed on a sidewall of the accommodating space. The driving member is disposed in the accommodating space. The driving member is a circular cylinder having a driving member thread on a side surface that is mated with the sidewall thread. When the force application member is rotated, the driving member is rotated with the force application member. Under the action between the sidewall thread and the driving member thread, an end of the driving member that faces the rear end portions is moved in the Y-axis direction for extending different depths between the rear end portions. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the housing therein has an accommodating space extending along the Y axis. A sidewall thread is disposed on a sidewall of the accommodating space. The driving member is disposed in the accommodating space. The driving member is a circular cylinder having a driving member thread on a side surface that is mated with the sidewall thread. When the force application member is rotated, the driving member is rotated with the force application member. Under the action between the sidewall thread and the driving member thread, an end of the driving member that faces the rear end portions is moved in the Y-axis direction for extending different depths between the rear end portions. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, a part of the force bearing portion is exposed from the housing. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the lock body includes a snapping member which is movable along the Y-axis direction. When the lock body is locked, an end of the snapping member is snapped in the force application member to restrict the rotation of the force application member. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the lock body is a key lock, and the snapping member includes a protruding post. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the lock body is a combination lock, and the snapping member includes a lock shaft rod. 
     In an embodiment of the utility model, the lockset further includes an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force so that the rear end portions approach each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model. 
         FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic exploded views of the embodiment of the lockset according to the utility model. 
         FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model in which an end of the snapping member extends into the plurality of protruding members. 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4D  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model in which an end of the driving member moves for extending different depths between the rear end portions. 
         FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model in which a lockset is locked in a lock hole. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic diagrams of different embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model. 
         FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are schematic exploded views of different embodiment of the lockset according to the utility model. 
         FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  are schematic diagrams of different embodiment of a lockset according to the utility model in which an end of the snapping member extends into the plurality of protruding members. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A lockset of the utility model is applicable to an electronic device, and is connected to a lock hole on the electronic device. The electronic device is preferably a portable electronic device, such as, but is not limited to, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, an e-book, a digital frame, a global positioning system (GPS) navigator, a mobile network device, a personal digital assistant, a digital walkman, or an electronic dictionary. 
     In different embodiments, the lockset may vary. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 2B , a lockset  800  of the utility model includes a housing  100 , at least one hook  200 , a driving device  300 , and a lock body  400 . The housing  100  has a front opening  110  at an end. Each hook  200  is disposed in the housing  100 , and is rotatable relative to the housing  100 . In this embodiment, two hooks  200  are disposed in the housing  100 , and are rotatable relative to the housing  100  along a plane parallel to an X-Y plane, and are scissor-shaped. However, in a different embodiment, there may be only one hook  200  used with another non-rotary fixing member, and is not limited to the scissor shape. Each hook  200  includes front end portions  210  and rear end portions  220 . At least part of the front end portions  210  extends out of the front opening  110 . A hook portion  211  laterally extending is disposed at an end of each front end portion  210 . The rear end portions  220  extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the front end portions  210  extend. An X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are orthogonal. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the driving device  300  includes a force application member  310  and a driving member  320 . The force application member  310  is rotatable along a plane parallel to an X-Z plane, and includes a force bearing portion  311  partially disposed inside the housing  100  and a force application portion  312  disposed inside the housing  100 . The force bearing portion  311  is connected to the force application portion  312  by penetrating the housing  100 , and is rotatable with the force application portion relative to the housing  100 . More specifically, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the housing  100  has a rear opening  120 . The force bearing portion  311  is connected to the force application portion  312  by penetrating the housing  100  through the rear opening  120 . A part of the force bearing portion  311  is exposed from the housing  100 . However, in a different embodiment, the force bearing portion  311  is completely disposed in the housing  100 , or at least does not protrude out of the housing  100 . A user may rotate the force bearing portion  311  with a screw driver or the like. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 2B , the driving member  320  is disposed in the housing  100 , and is rotatable with the force application portion  312 . The lock body  400  is disposed on a side of the driving device  300 . The lock body  400  restricts a movement of the driving device  300  when locked. More specifically, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the force application portion  312  is a disc having a plurality of protruding members  314  disposed at a peripheral edge. The lock body  400  includes a snapping member  410  which is movable along a Y-axis direction. When the lock body  400  is locked, an end of the snapping member  410  extends into the plurality of protruding members  314  to restrict the rotation of the force application member  310 . The snapping member  410  includes a protruding post  411 . However, in a different embodiment, the force application portion  312  is not limited to the disc having a plurality of protruding members  314  disposed at the peripheral edge, as long as the snapping member  410  can be limited by means of shape matching or friction. For example, a plurality of holes may be provided on the peripheral edge of the force application portion  312  for insertion of the protruding post  411 . In other words, when the lock body  400  is locked, an end of the snapping member  410  is snapped in the force application member  310  to restrict the rotation of the force application member  310 . In this embodiment, the lock body  400  is a key lock used with a key  900 . For example, the lock body  400  communicates with the outside of the housing  100  through a side opening  130 , so as to insert and operate the key  900 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the driving member  320  is disposed in the housing  100 , and is rotatable with the force application portion  312  to selectively move between the rear end portions  220 , so as to change an opening width of the front end portions  210 . In this embodiment, the force application portion  312  has a driving portion  313 . An end  321  of the driving member  320  is movable in the Y-axis direction to be snapped in the driving portion  313 , so that the driving member  320  is rotatable with the force application member  310 . More specifically, the driving portion  313  is polygonal. The end  321  of the driving member  320  is a polygonal cylinder having an outer contour matching the driving portion  313 . Thus, when the end  321  of the driving member  320  is inserted into the driving portion  313 , snapping achieved on the X-Z plane, so that the driving member  320  is rotatable with the force application member  310 . However, snapping is not achieved in the Y-axis direction, and therefore relative movement is allowed. However, in a different embodiment, the driving member  320  and the driving portion  313  may be other objects mated with each other, and may include a plurality of driving members and driving portions. 
     Further, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C , the driving device  300  further includes a displacement restriction member  330  fixed in the housing  100 . The displacement restriction member  330  therein has an accommodating space  140  extending along the Y axis. A sidewall thread  144  is disposed on a sidewall of the accommodating space  140 . The driving member  320  is disposed in the accommodating space  140 . The driving member  320  is a circular cylinder having a driving member thread  324  on a side surface that is mated with the sidewall thread  144 . By means of the abutment between the sidewall thread  144  and the driving member thread  324 , when the force application member  310  is rotated, the driving member  320  is rotated with the first driving member. In this way, an end  322  of the driving member  320  that faces the rear end portions  220  is moved in the Y-axis direction for extending different depths between the rear end portions  220 . The end  322  of the driving member  320  that faces the rear end portions  220  has an inclined plane, helping the end  322  move in the Y-axis direction for extending different depths between the rear end portions  220  and spread the rear end portions  220 . However, in a different embodiment shown in  FIG. 4D , the accommodating space  140  may be directly provided in the housing  100 . That is to say, the sidewall thread  144  is directly disposed on an inner side of the housing  100 . In this case, the displacement restriction member  330  is omitted. In addition, the lockset  800  further includes an elastic member  500 , such as a rubber ring. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force so that the rear end portions  220  approach each other. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , a user may rotate the force application member  310  in a direction, so that the end  322  of the driving member  320  that faces the rear end portions  220  is moved in the Y-axis direction to escape from the position between the rear end portions  220 . In this case, by means of the elastic force of the elastic member  500 , the rear end portions  220  can approach each other, so that the opening width of the front end portions  210  is reduced, thereby inserting the front end portions into a lock hole  720 . In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B , after the front end portions  210  are inserted into the lock hole  720 , the user may reversely rotate the force application member  310 , so that the end  322  of the driving member  320  that faces the rear end portions  220  is moved in the Y-axis direction to partially extend between the rear end portions  220 . Therefore, the rear end portions  220  can be moved away from each other, to increase the opening width of the front end portions  210 , thereby snapping the front end portions in the lock hole  720 . In this way, the user may further lock the lock body  400  (referring to  FIG. 2A ) to fix the front end portions  210 , so as to achieve locking. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 5C , after the front end portions  210  are inserted into a lock hole  710 , the user may rotate the force application member  310 , so that the end  322  of the driving member  320  that faces the rear end portions  220  is moved in the Y-axis direction to extend between the rear end portions  220  to a greater extent. In this case, the rear end portions  220  can be moved away from each other, to further increase the opening width of the front end portions  210 , thereby snapping the front end portions in the larger lock hole  710 . Then, the user may further operate the lock body  400  to achieve locking. 
     In a different perspective, in the lockset  800  of the utility model, the opening width of the hook  200  is adjusted by rotating the driving device  300 . Since the force application member  310  and the driving member  320  of the driving device  300  achieve mating and snapping by using the gear, the thread, and the like, the opening width of the hook  200  may be controlled according to a degree of rotation. Since the rotation is substantially a continuous operation, continuous control of the opening width of the hook  200  can be achieved. Therefore, the utility model is applicable to lock holes of different sizes and is convenient to use. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the lock body  400  is a key lock. However, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A to 8B  or another different embodiment, the lock body  400  may be a different lock, such as a combination lock. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A to 8B , the lock body  400  is a combination lock. The snapping member  410  includes a lock shaft rod. More specifically, when the lock body  400  is locked, an end of the lock shaft rod of the snapping member  410  extends into the plurality of protruding members to restrict a movement of the driving device  300 , so as to restrict the rotation of the hook  200 . 
     Although the foregoing description and drawings have disclosed exemplary embodiments of the utility model, it is necessary to understand that various additions, many modifications, and substitutions may be used in the exemplary embodiments of the utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of the principle of the utility model as defined in the claims attached. A person of original skill in the art of the utility model may understand that modifications of various forms, structures, arrangements, ratios, materials, elements and components may be made to the utility model. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification shall be construed as describing the utility model, but are not intended to limit the utility model. The scope of the utility model shall be subject to those defined in the attached claims, covers legal equivalents thereof, and is not limited to the foregoing description.