Patent Publication Number: US-7222506-B2

Title: Security check hanging lock structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is related to an improved security check lock structure including two independent lock mechanisms for driving two locking members which are connected to form a hanging hook. By means of unlocking the lock mechanisms, the locking members can be respectively driven to open the hanging hook. Therefore, the hanging lock is unlockable in multiple manners. 
   In response to the recent terror activities, the customs of respective countries have checked the baggage of the passengers more and more strictly. In order to minify the affection and inconvenience to the passengers, it is a trend to equip the baggage case with a security check lock structure which is unlockable in at least two manners (generally in two manners ). All the lock apparatuses manufactured by the same manufacturer are set also unlockable by a specific common key owned by the customs. Accordingly, when passing through the customs, the security check can be conveniently performed. Also, it is more convenient to use such lock-apparatuses. 
   Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 247655 discloses a security check lock structure including: a lock housing; a slide member movably disposed in the lock housing, the slide member having an internal slide space; a lock hook having a root section and a free end, the root section being movably disposed in the slide space of the slide member, the free end being synchronously movable with the root section between a first position and a second position. When the free end is positioned in the first position, the free end is inserted in the lock housing. When the free end is positioned in the second position, the free end is separated from the lock housing; a private lock mechanism disposed in the lock housing for driving the slide member to control the movement of the root section of the lock hook; and a common lock mechanism disposed in the lock housing for controlling the movement of the root section of the lock hook within the slide space. 
   In the above security check lock structure, the two lock mechanisms serve to control one single lock hook so as to lock or unlock the lock structure. The design of such lock structure is limited. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved security check hanging lock structure including a lock housing, two locking members and two independent lock mechanisms. Each locking member has a base end pivotally disposed in the lock housing and a free end extending to outer side of the lock housing. The free ends of the locking members are connectable to form a hanging hook. The lock mechanisms are disposed in the lock housing for controlling the movement of the first and second locking members. By means of unlocking the first and second lock mechanisms, the free ends of the first and second locking members can be respectively driven to displace away from each other so as to unlock the hanging lock in at least two manners. 
   The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing that the first embodiment is unlocked by means of turning the numeral wheels; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing that the first embodiment is unlocked by means of a key; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective assembled view of a second embodiment of the present invention in a locked state; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing that the second embodiment is unlocked by means of turning the numeral wheels; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing that the second embodiment is unlocked by means of a key; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective assembled view of a third embodiment of the present invention in a locked state; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention, showing that the third embodiment is unlocked by means of a key; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing that the fourth embodiment is unlocked by means of a key; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing that the fifth embodiment is unlocked by means of a key; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention, showing that the sixth embodiment is unlocked by means of turning the numeral wheels; and 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, showing that the sixth embodiment is unlocked by means of a key. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . According to a first embodiment, the present invention includes a lock housing  1 , a first (private ) lock mechanism  2 , a second (common ) lock mechanism  3 , a first locking member  4  and a second locking member  5 . The lock housing  1  is composed of a casing  12  and a cover body  11  mated with each other. The casing  12  is formed with a first receiving cavity  121  and a second receiving cavity  122  separated from each other. In addition, the periphery of the casing  12  is formed with an upper pivot hole  123  and a lateral hollow section  124 . The center of the cover body  11  is formed with multiple numeral windows  111  corresponding to the first receiving cavity  121  of the casing  12 . One side of the cover body  11  is formed with an upper pivot hole  113  corresponding to the upper pivot hole  123  of the casing  12 . Another side of the cover body  11  is formed with a lower pivot hole  112  corresponding to the lateral hollow section  124 . The first locking member  4  has a base end  40  having a transverse projecting shaft  41 . The projecting shaft  41  is fitted in the lower pivot hole  112  of the cover body  11  to pivotally connect with the cover body  11 . A middle section of the first locking member  4  outward extends from the lateral hollow section  124  of the casing  12 . The other end of the first locking member  4  is a free end formed with a slope  42 . The second locking member  5  has a base end  50  having two transverse projecting shafts  51  on two sides. The projecting shafts  51  are respectively fitted in the upper pivot holes  113 ,  123  of the cover body  11  and the casing  12  to pivotally connect with the cover body  11  and the casing  12 . A middle section of the second locking member  5  is formed with a restricting section  54 . A resilient member  53  is disposed on the middle section of the second locking member  5  for outward pushing the restricting section  54 . The other end of the second locking member  5  is a free end formed with a slope  52  corresponding to the free end of the first locking member  4 . The free ends of the two locking members  4 ,  5  are connectable to form a hanging hook  45 . The first (private ) lock mechanism  2  is composed of multiple numeral wheels  21 , a numeral lock core  22 , a resilient member  23  and a lock bolt  24 . The numeral wheels  21  are fitted around the middle of the lock core  22  for controlling movement thereof. The lock bolt  24  is connected with one end of the lock core  22 . The resilient member  23  is disposed between the lock bolt  24  and the lock core  22  for outward pushing the lock bolt  24  to resiliently abut against the middle section of the first locking member  4 . The second (common ) lock mechanism  3  is composed of a lock core  31 , a dogging section  32  drivable by the lock core  31  and a lock bolt  33 . The lock core  31  is drivable by a key to control the rotation of the dogging section  32 . An end section  331  of the lock bolt  33  is drivingly connected with the dogging section  32 . The lock bolt  33  is restricted by the restricting section  54  of the second locking member  5  for restricting the movement of the second locking member  5 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively show that the first embodiment of the present invention is unlocked by means of turning the numeral wheels  21  and using a key. When the numeral wheels  21  are turned to a correct unlocking position, the numeral lock core  22  is released from the engagement. At this time, the first locking member  4  can be inward pressed to compress the resilient member  23  and drive the lock bolt  24 . At the same time, the slope  42  of the first locking member  4  is moved away from the slope  52  of the second locking member  5 , whereby an unlocking gap  452  is defined between the slopes  42 ,  52  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Moreover, in the case that a preset key is inserted into the lock core  31  to turn the dogging section  32 , the lock bolt  33  can be rotated to release the restricting section  54  from the restriction. At this time, by means of the resilient outward pushing force of the resilient member  53 , the second locking member  5  is pivotally outward turned about the base end  50 . Accordingly, the slope  52  of the free end of the second locking member  5  is displaced away from the slope  42  of the first locking member  4  to define an unlocking gap  453  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively show that the second embodiment of the present invention is unlocked by means of turning the numeral wheels and using a key. A first (private) lock mechanism  2  and a second (common) lock mechanism  3  identical to those of the first embodiment are disposed in the lock housing  10 . A first locking member  6  and a second locking member  7  are arranged on one side of the lock housing  10 . A middle section  60  of the first locking member  6  is pivotally disposed on the lock housing  10 . The inner and outer ends  61 ,  62  of the first locking member  6  can be freely swung. The lock bolt  24  of the first (private) lock mechanism  2  outward resiliently pushes the inner end  61 . The center of the outer end  62  is formed with a notch  621 . The base end  71  of the second locking member  7  is pivotally disposed on the lock housing  10 . The middle section of the second locking member  7  has a restricting section  74  extending into the lock housing  10 . The restricting section  74  is outward pushed by a resilient member  73 . The restricting section  74  is dogged by the lock bolt  33  of the second (common) lock mechanism  3 . The second locking member  7  has a projecting lock bar  72  positioned on outer side of the lock housing  10 . An outer end  721  of the lock bar  72  extends into the notch  621  of the first locking member  6  to form a hanging hook. When the numeral wheels  21  of the first lock mechanism  2  are turned to a correct unlocking position, the lock bolt  24  is released from the locking. At this time, the inner end  61  of the first locking member  6  can be inward pressed to push the lock bolt  24  and compress the resilient member  23 . At the same time, the notch  621  of the outer end  62  of the first locking member  6  is outward pivotally rotated, whereby an unlocking gap  76  is defined between the notch  621  and the outer end  721  of the lock bar  72  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In the case that a preset key is inserted into the lock core  31 , the lock bolt  33  can be rotated to release the restricting section  74  from the restriction. At this time, by means of the resilient outward pushing force of the resilient member  73 , the second locking member  7  is pivotally outward turned about the base end  71  thereof. Accordingly, the outer end  721  of the lock bar  72  is separated from the notch  621  of the first locking member  6  to define an unlocking gap  76  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a third embodiment of the present invention in a locked state.  FIG. 9  shows that the third embodiment of the present invention is unlocked by means of a key. A first (private) lock mechanism  2  and a first locking member  6  similar to the second embodiment are disposed in the lock housing  100 . A second receiving cavity  101  is formed in the lock housing  100 . One side of the second receiving cavity  101  has an axially extending channel  102 . A lock core  301  connected with a second locking member  7 A is received in the second receiving cavity  101 . An annular groove  103  is formed at inner end of the second receiving cavity  101 . The inner end of the lock core  301  of the second (common) lock mechanism  30  can drive a projecting block  303  transversely extending into the annular groove  103 . The second locking member  7 A has a projecting lock bar  72 A positioned on outer side of the lock housing  100 . The outer end  73 A of the lock bar  72 A can extend into the notch  621  of the first locking member  6  to form a hanging hook. When a preset key is inserted into the lock core  301 , the projecting block  303  can be rotated and aligned with the channel  102  beside the second receiving cavity  101 . Under such circumstance, the lock core  301  can be drawn out along the channel  102 . At this time, the lock bar  72 A of the second locking member  7 A is slid along with the lock core  301  in a direction away from the first locking member  6 . Accordingly, an unlocking gap  706  is defined between the outer end  73 A of the lock bar  72 A and the notch  621  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Also, this embodiment can be unlocked by means of turning the first (private) lock mechanism  2  to drive the first locking member  6 . Such operation is identical to that of the second embodiment and will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  respectively show a fourth and a fifth embodiments of the present invention, which are unlocked by a key. Each of the fourth and fifth embodiments has a lock housing  1  in which a first (private) lock mechanism  2  and a second (common) lock mechanism  3  are disposed. The lock housing  1  and the first and second lock mechanisms  2 ,  3  are identical to those of the first embodiment. A first and a second locking members  4 A,  5 A similar to the first and second locking members  4 ,  5  of the first embodiment are drivable by the first and second lock mechanisms  2 ,  3 . The difference between these embodiments and the first embodiment is that the free ends of the locking members  4 A,  5 A are formed with stepped or recessed sections  42 A,  43 A,  52 A,  53 A which are complementary to each other. These embodiments can be unlocked by means of using the first (private) lock mechanism  2  or the second (common) lock mechanism  3  for driving the first locking member  4 A or the second locking member  5 A. Such operation is identical to that of the first embodiment and will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  are sectional views showing the structure of a sixth embodiment of the present invention and the unlocking operation thereof. This embodiments has a lock housing  1 B in which a first (private) lock mechanism  2 B and a second (common) lock mechanism  3 B are disposed. According to the positions of the numeral wheels  21 B of the first (private) lock mechanism  2 B, the movement of a dogging member  22 B is controllable. One end of the dogging member  22 B has a perpendicularly projecting abutting section  23 B. A base end  41 B of a first locking member  4 B is pivotally disposed on inner periphery of the lock housing  1 B. In normal state, a resilient member  42 B resiliently outward pushes the first locking member  4 B to locate the first locking member  4 B. In addition, the middle of inner side of the first locking member  4 B is formed with a recessed section  43 B. The other end of the first locking member  4 B is a free end  44 B having a slope  45 B. The second locking member  5 B has a base end  51 B drivingly connected with the lock core  31 B of the second (common) lock mechanism  3 B. The second locking member  5 B has an outward extending end extending toward the first locking member  4 B. The outward extending end is formed with a slope  52 B adapted to the slope  45 B of the first locking member  4 B. The free ends of the first and second locking members  4 B,  5 B can be complementarily connected to form a hanging hook. 
   When the numeral wheels  21 B are turned to a correct unlocking position, the dogging member  22 B is released from the locking. At this time, the projecting abutting section  23 B of the dogging member  22 B can be pushed to a position aligned with the recessed section  43 B of the first locking member  4 B. At this time, the first locking member  4 B can be inward pressed and the projecting abutting section  23 B of the dogging member  22 B will extend into the recessed section  43 B of the first locking member  4 B without stopping the first locking member  4 B. Accordingly, the slope  41 B of the free end of the first locking member  4 B is separated from the slope  52 B of the outward extending end of the second locking member  5 B to define an unlocking gap  452  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In the case that a preset key is inserted into the lock core  31 B of the second (common) lock mechanism  3 B, the lock bolt can be rotated to drive the second locking member  5 B. At this time, an unlocking gap  452  is defined between the slope  52 B of the outward extending end of the second locking member  5 B and the slope  41 B of the free end of the first locking member  4 B as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.