Patent Publication Number: US-7722094-B2

Title: Locking device for door

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0047507, filed on May 26, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a door lock structure, and more particularly, to a door locking device which can safely secure an object needing a protection, such as a safe and a financial Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A safe is utilized to secure cash, securities, jewelry, confidential documents, and the like. Specifically, the safe is utilized to protect an object from an unauthorized user&#39;s access. However, along with developments in safe manufacturing technologies, skills to illegally open the safe are also being improved. Accordingly, there is a need for a safe which is safer and can thwart theft. Particularly, a financial Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) is generally installed in a public location with great amounts of cash, and thus a necessity of safe safety becomes an issue. 
   A first objective of the safe is to prevent an unauthorized user from opening the safe even though the unauthorized user may utilize any instrument and method. A secondary objective of the safe is to stall for time to allow the police or a private security force to take an appropriate measure by making it difficult to open the safe when the unauthorized user attempts to force open the safe. Currently, various types of cutting tools and welding tools are developed and thus it may be almost impossible to manufacture a safe that an unauthorized user can never open. Accordingly, the most appropriate countermeasure is to manufacture a safe in which it takes time to open the safe when an unauthorized user attempts to force open the safe. 
   An article, associated with Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certification for safety regulations in the United States, specifies that a corresponding safe should not be opened by a safe specialist for about thirty minutes to be evaluated as a level one of the safety regulation. Specifically, when the entire device, such as an ATM, may not be moved, the device needs to be secured for a maximum possible time. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY 
   An aspect of the present invention provides a door locking device which can safely secure an object needing a protection, such as a safe and a financial Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). 
   An aspect of the present invention also provides a door locking device which can maintain a locked state of a door even when a door handle and a shaft of the door handle are damaged. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door locking device including: a door being mounted to an object to be capable of opening and closing a storage space of the object; a door handle being provided on a external surface of the door; a rotating bracket being mounted inside of the door to combine with a shaft of the door handle and thereby rotate together with the shaft; a rotating latch being provided between the door and the rotating bracket to rotate with the door handle, and detachably coupled with the rotating bracket along an axial direction of the shaft; a lock assembly being provided inside of the door to selectively restrain a rotation of the rotating latch; and a locking pin member being provided inside of the door to interoperate with the rotating latch, and selectively bind the door to the object according to a rotation manipulation of the door handle. Through the above configuration, the shaft of the door handle may not directly connect with the rotating latch. Specifically, the shaft may indirectly connect with the rotating latch via the rotating bracket and be detachable from the rotating latch. Accordingly, although the shaft of the door handle and the rotating bracket, integrally formed with the shaft, are damaged due to the forceful shock from the outside, the rotating bracket and the rotating latch may be detachable from each other and thus maintain the locked state of the door. Accordingly, an unauthorized user needs to carry out another operation to disassemble the rotating latch and thus it is possible to delay an intrusion time to open the safe. 
   In an aspect of the present invention, the object may indicate a security apparatus to secure cash, securities, jewelry, confidential documents, and the like, and may generally include a safe, a financial ATM, and the like. 
   Also, the rotating bracket and the rotating latch may restrain each other&#39;s rotation and integrally rotate. For example, the rotating latch may be formed to have a first binding surface in parallel with both side portions of the circumferential surface of the rotating latch, and the rotating bracket may be formed in a yoke or “U” shape to have a second binding surface in both ends of the rotating bracket to be engaged with the first binding surface of the rotating latch. Also, the rotating bracket and the rotating latch may be formed in various shapes that are detachable along the axial direction of the shaft. 
   Also, the locking pin member may include: a link assembly rotatably connecting with the rotating latch; and a fixing pin rotatably connecting with the link assembly to thereby interoperate with the link assembly and be selectively protruded from the door, and a pinhole is formed in the object to receive a free end of the fixing pin. In this instance, depending upon embodiments, the link assembly may be constructed using a multi-link method, such as a two-fold link method, at least a four-fold link method, and the like. For example, the link assembly may include: a connecting link portion pivotably connecting with the rotating latch; and a rotating link portion rotatably connecting with the connecting link portion and the fixing pin to be rotatable on the door. Also, depending upon embodiments, it is possible to construct so that the rotation of the rotating latch may be transmitted to the fixing pin using various types of members, such as a rack, a pinion, and the like, instead of the link assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a financial ATM using a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view illustrating a structure of a rotating bracket and a rotating latch of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a rotating bracket and a rotating latch of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating an operating structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating an intrusion state of an unauthorized user attempting to open an object with a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a financial Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) using a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   Also,  FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is an exploded view illustrating a structure of a rotating bracket and a rotating latch of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a rotating bracket and a rotating latch of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to the figures, a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a door  210  being mounted to an object to be capable of opening and closing a storage space  201  of the object; a door handle  310  being provided on a external surface of the door  210  to be capable of manipulating a rotation; a rotating bracket  320  being mounted inside of the door  210  to combine with a shaft  311  of the door handle  310  and thereby rotate together with the shaft  311 ; a rotating latch  330  being provided between the door  210  and the rotating bracket  320  to rotate with the door handle  310 , and detachably coupled with the rotating bracket  320  along an axial direction of the shaft  311 ; a lock assembly  370  being provided inside of the door  210  to selectively restrain a rotation of the rotating latch  330 ; and a locking pin member  340  being provided inside of the door  210  to interoperate with the rotating latch  330 , and selectively bind the door  210  to the object according to the rotation manipulation of the door handle  310 . 
   In this instance, the object indicates a safety apparatus to secure cash, securities, jewelry, confidential documents, and the like, such as a general safe, a financial ATM, and the like. Also, the financial ATM indicates an automated machine which can provide basic financial services, such as a cash withdrawal machine, a cash deposit machine, and the like, without restriction on a time and an occasion and also without a help of a teller. 
   Hereinafter, an example of a safe  200  of a cash withdrawal machine using a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cash withdrawal machine includes a cabinet  100  which forms an external appearance of the cash withdrawal machine, and a plurality of modules which is provided for each functional unit and thereby installed in the cabinet  100 . The functional unit modules include a magnetic card reading module, a bankbook arrangement module, a user interface module, a bill withdrawal module, and the like. 
   Also, the safe  200  having the storage space  201  is provided below the cabinet  100  to keep a cash cassette containing cash. Also, a front opening of the storage space  201  may be opened and closed by the door  210  that is combined with the safe  200  via a hinge. The closed state of the door  210  may be selectively maintained by the door locking device. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the door handle  310  is provided on the external surface of the door  210  to be capable of manipulating a rotation. A shaft  311  is integrally formed with the door handle  310  and thereby transmits an operating force of the door handle  310 . Also, the shaft  311  passes through the door  210  and is protruded from the inside of the door  210 . 
   The rotating bracket  320  is combined with the shaft  311  protruded from the inside of the door  210 , and thus may integrally rotate together with the shaft  311 . Also, the rotating latch  330  is rotatably provided between the door  210  and the rotating bracket  320 . In this instance, the rotating latch  330  is selectively detachable from the rotating bracket  320  along the axial direction of the shaft  311 . 
   Also, the rotating bracket  320  is combined with the rotating latch  330  to cover at least one portion of a circumferential surface of the rotating latch  330 , and is formed with at least one of a first binding surface  331  and a second binding surface  322  in a contact surface between the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330  to thereby restrain the relative rotation. Accordingly, the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330  may integrally rotate and also be selectively separated from each other along the axial direction of the shaft  311 . 
   Hereinafter, an example that the rotating latch  330  is formed in a non-circular shape having the first binding surface  331  in parallel with both side portions of the circumferential surface of the rotating latch  330 , and the rotating bracket  320  is formed in a yoke or “U” shape to cover at least one portion of the circumferential surface of the rotating latch  330  and thereby combine with the rotating latch  330  will be described. In this instance, the second binding surface  322  is formed in both ends of the rotating bracket  320  to make a surface contact with the first binding surface  331  of the rotating latch  330 . As described above, the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330  may be formed to have various types of shapes, such as a D-cut shape, and the like, depending on a required condition. 
   The present invention is not limited or restricted by the shape of the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330 . However, it may be desirable that the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330  are formed to be readily separable from each other along the axial direction of the shaft  311 . 
   Also, according to the present exemplary embodiment, a shaft hole  332  is formed in a central portion of the rotating latch  330 , and the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  passes through the shaft hole  332 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto and thus the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  may be constructed to not pass through the rotating latch  330 . 
   Also, the shaft  311  and the rotating bracket  320  may be combined with each other by forming a male screw thread in an end of the shaft  311  and providing a combining hole  321  formed with a female screw thread in the rotating bracket  320 . Also, the combination state may be fixed by a combining nut  313  and a washer provided on an outside of the rotating bracket  320 . Also, depending upon embodiments, the shaft  311  and the rotating bracket  320  may be integrally formed using a combination method, such as a welding, and the like. 
   As described above, the rotation of the rotating latch  330  may be selectively restrained by a lock assembly  370  mounted inside of the door  210 . The door assembly  370  includes a locking body  371  being provided inside of the door  210 , and a lock  372  being received in the locking body  371  to be selectively externally withdrawn from the locking body  371 . The lock  372 , withdrawn from the locking body  371 , may make a surface contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating latch  330  and thereby restrain the rotation of the rotating latch  330 . 
   Also, since the locking body  371  mechanically or electrically connects with a locking module  373  provided on the external surface of the door  210 , the lock  372  may be selectively withdrawn from the locking body  371  according to an operation of the locking module  373 . In this instance, the locking module  373  may include a dial-type locking module, a keypad-type locking module, and the like, which are generally used for the safe  200 , to enable only a particular user to utilize the safe  200 . 
   Also, depending upon embodiments, a locking groove  333  may be formed in the circumferential surface of the rotating latch  330  to receive at least one portion of the lock  372  and thereby stably maintain a restrained state of the rotating latch  330  by the lock  372 . Also, instead of the locking groove  333 , a protrusion may be formed to hook the lock  372 . 
   According to the present exemplary embodiment, the lock  372  directly makes a surface contact with the rotating latch  330  and thereby restrains the rotation of the rotating latch  330 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, depending upon embodiments, the lock  372  may restrain the rotating bracket  320 , which is combined with the rotating latch  330  to rotate together with the rotating latch  330 , and thereby may restrain the rotation of the rotating latch  330  without directly restraining the rotation of the rotating latch  330 . 
   The locking pin member  340  is provided inside of the door  210  to be interoperable with the rotating latch  330 , so that the door  210  may be selectively retrained by the safe  200  according to the rotation manipulation of the door handle  310 . In this instance, the locking pin member  340  includes a link assembly  350  rotatably connecting with the rotating latch  30 ; and a fixing pin  360  rotatably connecting with the link assembly  350  to thereby interoperate with the link assembly  350  and be selectively protruded from the door  210 . Also, a pinhole  203  is formed in the safe  200  to receive a free end of the fixing pin  360 . 
   The link assembly may include a connecting link portion  351  and a rotating link portion  352 . The connecting link portion  351  is formed in an “L” shape and one end of the connecting link portion  351  pivotably connects with the rotating latch  330 . Also, the rotating link portion  352  is formed in a “T” shape and rotatably provided inside of the door  210 . In this instance, another end of the connecting link portion  351  pivotably connects with the rotating link portion  352 . Also, one end of the rotating link portion  352  rotatably connects with one end of the fixing pin  360 . 
   Also, since the fixing pin  360  rotatably connects with the rotating link portion  352 , the fixing pin  360  interoperates with the connecting link portion  351  and the rotating link portion  352  according to the rotation manipulation of the door handle  310 . In this instance, the fixing pin  360  may be selectively protruded from a top surface of the door  210 . When a free end of the fixing pin  360  is externally protruded from the top surface of the door  210 , the free end of the fixing pin  360  may be received in the pinhole  203  and thus the door  210  may be restrained to be maintained in the closed state. 
   Also, the link assembly  350  and the fixing pin  360  may rotatably connect with each other via a pin or a hinge. In this instance, a pin guide  380  may be provided inside of the door  210  to receive the free end of the fixing pin  360  and to guide the free end of the fixing pin  360  to stably perform a linear motion. 
   According to the present exemplary embodiment, the link assembly  350  includes the connecting link portion  351  and the rotating link portion  352  to transmit the rotary motion of the rotating latch  330  to the fixing pin  360 , that is, the link assembly  350  is constructed using a two-fold link method. However, depending upon embodiments, the link assembly  350  may be constructed using a three-fold link method, a four-fold link method, and the like. In this instance, the present invention is not limited or restricted by the number of link portions. 
   In a normal state according to a structure constructed as described above, a disposition state of the rotating latch  330  may be supported and thereby fixed by the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  and the locking pin member  340 . Even when the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  and the rotating bracket  320 , integrally formed with the shaft  311 , are damaged due to the forceful shock from the outside, the disposition state of the rotating latch  330  may be supported by the locking pin member  340 . 
     FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating an operating structure of a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operating state of the door locking device according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
   When rotating the door handle  310  counter-clockwise based on the inside of the door  210  to restrain the locked state of the door  210 , the shaft  311  is rotated counter-clockwise together with the door handle  310  and the rotating bracket  320  and the rotating latch  330  are also rotated counter-clockwise. 
   As the rotating latch  330  is rotated counter-clockwise, the connecting link portion  351  and the rotating link portion  352 , connected thereto, respectively interoperate with the rotating latch  330 , which results in the fixing pin  360  moving upwards and downwards, so that the free end of the fixing pin  360  may be externally protruded from the top surface of the door  210  and thereby the door  210  may be restrained to be maintained in a closed state. Also, the counter-clockwise rotated state of the rotating latch  330  may be selectively restrained by the lock  372  of the lock assembly  370 . 
     FIG. 7  is a plan view illustrating a structure of a door locking device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   As described above, like reference numerals refer to the like elements and thus detailed descriptions related thereto will be omitted. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a pair of fixing pins  360  and  362  may be provided to face each other by including the rotating link portion  352  in a central portion. Also, pin guides  380  and  382  may be provided in the top surface and a bottom surface of the door to receive the fixing pins  360  and  362  respectively. Through the above structure, the door may be further firmly restrained. Also, a structure may be simplified by enabling one link assembly  350  to interoperate with the pair of fixing pins  360  and  362  and thus parts and assembly processes may be reduced. 
   As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  may not directly connect with the rotating latch  330 . Specifically, the shaft  311  may indirectly connect with the rotating latch  330  via the rotating bracket  320  and be separable from the rotating latch  330 . Accordingly, although the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  and the rotating bracket  320 , integrally formed with the shaft  311 , are damaged due to the forceful shock from the outside, the rotating latch  330  and the locking pin member  340  connected thereto may barely be damaged and thus maintain the locked state of the door  210 . 
     FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating an intrusion state of an unauthorized user attempting to open an object with a door locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a general method of opening an object, such as a safe, may include a method of using a drill, a chisel, and the like. Specifically, a method of applying a forceful shock from an outside, using a drill, a chisel, and the like, and thereby damaging a comparatively fragile door handle and a locking pin member connected thereto may be utilized. 
   However, according to the present invention, the shaft  311  of the door handle  310  indirectly connects with the rotating latch  330  via the rotating bracket  320 , instead of directly connecting with the rotating latch  330 . Accordingly, it is possible to delay the intrusion using the drill, the chisel, and the like. Specifically, although the door handle  310  and the rotating bracket  320  may be damaged due to the forceful shock from the outside, the rotating bracket  320  may be separated from the rotating latch  330 . Accordingly, the unauthorized user needs to carry out another operation to disassemble the rotating latch  330 . Specifically, it may take some time to open the safe  200  and thus the unauthorized user may not open the safe  200  within a comparatively shorter time. 
   As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to safely secure an object needing a protection, such as a safe and a financial ATM. 
   Also, according to the present invention, even when a door handle and a shaft of the door handle are damaged due to a forceful shock from an outside, a rotating bracket and a rotating latch may be separated from each other. Accordingly, a locked state of a door may be maintained and thus an unauthorized user may not quickly open an object. 
   Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.