Patent Publication Number: US-2005115288-A1

Title: Adjustable locking mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      The present disclosure relates to an adjustable locking mechanism for use with any suitable door, drawer or other enclosure.  
      Latching devices for use in securing doors, drawers and other enclosures in a closed position are known. Such devices may include a pawl or other latching member for engaging a wall or other structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure. Depending on the design of the device, such pawl or other latching member may be movable rotationally or translationally to engage and disengage such structure.  
      The present disclosure relates to an adjustable locking mechanism that can be used with any suitable door, drawer, or other enclosure. The adjustable locking member includes a housing and a latching pawl rotatable relative to the housing. The adjustable locking mechanism can be used, for example, on recreational or other vehicles such as, for example, on cabinet doors, cabin doors, drawers or luggage or other doors or compartments in vehicles. The adjustable locking mechanism can also be used in any other industrial, business, personal, travel or other vehicle or non-vehicle application. The present disclosure also relates to a method for engaging and disengaging the door, drawer or other enclosure with the structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure  
      Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an adjustable locking mechanism;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the cap of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the cap of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 1  and as shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a housing of an adjustable locking mechanism in accordance with an other embodiment of the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 8  is a side plan view of the housing of the adjustable locking mechanism of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of a cap of an adjustable locking mechanism in accordance with an other embodiment configured to engage the housing of  FIG. 7 ; and  
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the cap of  FIG. 9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the number and arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.  
       FIGS. 1-6  provide an illustrative embodiment of an adjustable locking mechanism  10  comprising a housing  12 , a lock cylinder  14 , a threaded spindle  16 , a latching pawl  18 , a cap  20 , a spring  22 , a pair of retainers  24  and  26 , and a lock nut  28 . The adjustable locking mechanism  10  is configured to be installed on a door or drawer or any other suitable enclosure. The adjustable locking mechanism  10  can used, for example, on recreational or other vehicles such as, for example, on cabinet doors, cabin doors, drawers or luggage or other doors or compartments in vehicles or can be used in any other industrial, business, personal, travel or other vehicle or non-vehicle application. The adjustable locking mechanism  10  in accordance with the present disclosure, including each of these components, may have any suitable configuration other than as illustrated or described herein, and may include more or less components than as illustrated or described herein in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The illustrated housing  12  comprises a first portion  36  and a second portion  38 . The first portion  36  includes a top portion  44  and a bottom portion  46  which define a central bore  48  receiving the lock cylinder  14 . The top portion  44  includes a flanged outer wall  54  and an annular boss  56  that defines a plurality of indicia  60 , shown in the form of four slots or marks disposed 90 degrees apart from each other. The top portion  44  also includes an annular ledge  62  disposed about the central bore  46  for engaging the lock cylinder  14 . The bottom portion  46  includes an outer wall including a pair of threaded portions  72  and a pair of flat sides  74 , and defines a slot  76  to receive the retainer  24 .  
      The second portion  38  of the housing  12  has a generally truncated cylindrical configuration. The housing  12  includes an opening  80  defined by two opposed walls  82  and a lip  84 . The opposed walls  82  are configured to limit rotation of the latching pawl  18 . The housing defines a pair of holes  94  for engaging the cap  20 . The housing  12  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, metal, synthetic materials or composite materials or any combination thereof. Among other materials, for example, a zinc alloy or any suitable polyurethane material may be suitable. The housing  12  may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The illustrated lock cylinder  14  is generally cylindrical and is rotatably coupled to the housing  12 . The lock cylinder  14  includes a front face  96 , a flange  98  for engaging the ledge  62  of the housing  12 , a body portion  100  and a boss  102 . The lock cylinder  14  defines a key hole slot  104  configured to align with the marks  60  defined by the housing  12  at alternative locations. The lock cylinder  14  also defines a cylinder recess  110  in the form of an annular groove for receiving the retainer  24 . The lock cylinder  14  is rotatable by a key inserted into the key hole slot  104 . The lock cylinder  14  is configured to be disengageable with the key in  90  degree rotational increments. For example, the lock cylinder  14  and housing  12  are configured such that the key can be inserted into the key hole slot  104  when the key hole slot  104  aligns with a pair of the marks  60 , and becomes removable when the key hole slot is rotated 90 degrees or an increment of 90 degrees so that the key hole slot aligns with one of the pairs of marks. The degree of rotation and the location and number of marks  60  can be different than as described herein in accordance with other embodiments. Additionally, the marks  60  may be omitted in accordance with other embodiments. Still further, the key may be removable from any position or the lock cylinder  14  can be rotated without a key in accordance with other embodiments. The lock cylinder  14  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, synthetic materials, composite materials or any combination thereof. Among other materials, for example, steel or other metal may be suitable. The lock cylinder  14  may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The illustrated latching pawl  18  includes a latch  120  and a ring  122  mounted to the spindle  16 . The latch  120  extends through the opening  80  of the housing  12 . The ring  122  includes a threaded inner wall  124  defining a hole  126  threadingly engaging the spindle  16 . The latching pawl  18  is configured to rotate between an unlocked position, and a locked position in which it engages a wall or other structure adjacent or otherwise associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure. Because of the configuration of the opposing walls  82  of the housing  12 , the degree of rotation of the latching pawl  18  is generally 90 degrees. The opposing walls  82  may be spaced or configured in any suitable manner to permit the 90 degree rotation or to permit degrees of rotation other than 90 degrees. The latching pawl  18  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, synthetic materials, composite materials or any combination thereof. Among other materials, for example, steel or other metal may be suitable. The latching pawl  18  may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The illustrated spindle  16  includes a flange  130 , a threaded portion  132 , and an unthreaded portion  134 , and is oriented along an axis  138 . The flange  130  defines a recess  140  for receiving the boss  102  of the lock cylinder  14 . The threaded portion  132  is configured to threadingly engage the latching pawl  18 , and the unthreaded portion  134  is engaged with the cap  20 . The unthreaded portion  134  of the spindle  16  defines a recess in the form of an annular groove  136  for receiving the retainer  26 . The spindle  16  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, synthetic materials, composite materials or any combination thereof. Among other materials, for example, steel or other metal has been found to be suitable. The spindle  16  may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The cap  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  5  and  6  includes a base  150  and a rim  152 . The base  150  defines a hole  154  for receiving the unthreaded portion  134  of the spindle  16 . The retainer  26  is disposed about the spindle  16  immediately adjacent the hole  154 . The retainer  26  and the cap  20  prevent or minimize any longitudinal displacement of the spindle relative to the housing  12 . The rim  152  is comprised of a plurality of flexible fingers  160  for receiving the bottom portion  46  of the housing  12 . At least some of the flexible fingers  160  terminate in a hook  168  configured to engage by snap fit the lip  84  of the second portion  38  of the housing  12 . The hooks  168  are disposed about the cap  20  so that some of the hooks engage the lip  84  of the housing  12  and some are received by the holes  94  of the housing. The cap  20  may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The illustrated spring  22  is disposed about the spindle  16  between the first portion  36  of the housing  12  and the ring  122  of the latching pawl  18 . The spring  22  applies a force biasing the latching pawl  1   8  away from the first portion  36  of the housing  12 . The spring  22  is illustrated as a coil spring but may have any other suitable coil or non-coil configuration and may be positioned at any other suitable locations in accordance with other embodiments. The spring  22  may be constructed of any suitable material.  
      The other components of the illustrated embodiment, the retainers  24  and  26  and the locknut  28 , are constructed of any suitable material. These components may have any other suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments and may be omitted in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The adjustable locking mechanism  10  may be secured to a door, drawer or other suitable enclosure, for example, by installing it into a hole defined by the door, drawer or other suitable enclosure such that adjustable locking member extends through the hole, the front face  96  of the lock cylinder  14  faces away from one side of the door, drawer or other enclosure, and the latching pawl  18  is disposed on the other side of the door, drawer or other enclosure.  
      To unlock or disengage the adjustable locking mechanism  10  and thereby unlock or otherwise disengage the latch  120  from the wall or other structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure, a key may be inserted into the key hole slot  104  of the lock cylinder  14  and rotated approximately 90 degrees. The key hole slot  104  aligns with a first pair of the marks  60  prior to such rotation, and aligns with a second pair of the marks  60  at the conclusion of such rotation. The 90 degree rotation of the key causes the lock cylinder  14 , the spindle  16  and the latching pawl  18  to together rotate 90 degrees. One of the opposing walls  82  of the housing  12  contacts the latch  120  of the latching pawl  18  to prevent further rotation of the latching pawl beyond 90 degrees. During such rotation, the latch  120  rotates within the opening  80  from one of the walls  82  to the other wall  82  and away from the wall or other structure associated with the wall or other structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure. The key may then be removed from the key hole slot  104 .  
      To lock or engage the adjustable locking mechanism  10  and thereby lock or otherwise engage the latch  120  with the wall or other structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure, the key may be inserted into the key hole slot  104  of the lock cylinder  14  and rotated approximately 90 degrees in the reverse direction until the key hole slot  104  again aligns with the first pair of the marks  60 . The 90 degree rotation of the key in the reverse direction causes the lock cylinder  14 , the spindle  16  and the latching pawl  18  to rotate 90 degrees in the reverse direction. The other of the opposing walls  82  of the housing  12  contacts the latch  120  to prevent further rotation of the latching pawl  18  beyond 90 degrees. Thus, during such rotation, the latch  120  rotates within the opening  80  from one of the opposing walls  82  to the other to engage the wall or other structure associated with the door, drawer or other enclosure. The key may then be removed from the key hole slot  104 .  
      With the illustrated embodiment, before removing the key, however, the locking or engaging force of the adjustable locking mechanism  10  can be increased by continued rotation of the key beyond 90 degrees. Continuing such rotation causes the spindle  16  to rotate relative to the latching pawl  18  because the other of the opposing walls  82  is engaged with the latch  120  and thus prevents further rotation of the latching pawl and because of the threading engagement of the spindle  16  and the latching pawl. Such rotation of the spindle  16  relative to the latching pawl  18  causes the latching pawl to travel on the spindle along the axis  138  of the spindle towards the first portion  36  of the housing  12 . If desired, the lock cylinder  14  can be further rotated in the reverse direction an additional 90 degrees so that the key hole slot  104  aligns with the other pair of marks  60 , which causes still further movement of the latching pawl  18  and still further increases the locking or engaging force. The key may then be removed from the key hole slot  104 .  
      Such ability to increase the engagement force of the adjustable locking mechanism in rotational increments of the lock cylinder may provide a better seal and may be useful not only to ensure a sufficient sealing force but also to increase the sealing force, as circumstances may dictate. Increasing the engagement force may be used not only to provide a tight seal during an initial use of the adjustable locking mechanism, but also, for example, to provide a tighter seal after the door, seals or surfaces of the door, or the adjustable locking mechanism becomes worn, shrinks, swells or otherwise changes over time.  
      With the illustrated adjustable locking mechanism  10 , it is intended that the key be removable from the key hole slot  104  upon rotational increments of 90 degrees. In this regard, as indicated above, when unlocking or disengaging the adjustable locking mechanism  10 , the key is rotated 90 degrees and then becomes removable; and when locking or engaging the adjustable locking mechanism  10 , the key is rotated 90 degrees in the other direction and then becomes removable. Similarly, when the engaging or clamping force is increased, the key is removable after one or more 90 degree incremental rotations. Any other suitable magnitude of rotation can be used in accordance with other embodiments. Moreover, it is not necessary that the key be removable at any certain location or that a key even be used to rotate the lock cylinder in accordance with other embodiments.  
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate alternative embodiments of the housing and the cap, which are threadingly engaged with each other. The housing  12 A illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is similar to the housing  12  except that the second portion  36 A includes a threaded base  200 A for threadingly engaging the cap  20 A of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The illustrated cap includes a base  150 A and a rim  152 A. The base  150 A defines a hole  154 A for receiving the unthreaded portion  142  of the spindle  16 . The rim  152 A includes a threaded inner wall  202 A for threadingly engaging the threaded portion of the bottom of the housing  12 A. The housing  12 A and the cap  20  may have any suitable configuration in accordance with other embodiments.  
      The present disclosure also relates to a method for adjustably engaging and disengaging the door, drawer or other enclosure with the structure associated with the enclosure comprising rotating a lock cylinder of a locking mechanism in a first direction to cause a latch of the locking mechanism to engage the structure; and rotating the lock cylinder further in the first direction to cause the latch to increase the engaging force on the structure. The locking mechanism may be in the form of the adjustable locking mechanism  10  described above or may have any other suitable construction.  
      Although the adjustable locking mechanism of the present disclosure has been described and illustrated in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present disclosure are to be limited only by terms of the appended claims.