Patent Publication Number: US-2005126233-A1

Title: Hanging lock structure

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/676,853, entitled “Numeral Lock Structure” filed on Sep. 30, 2003 and currently pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is related to an improved hanging lock structure, and more particularly to a hanging lock having simple structure and can be conveniently operated.  
      In a conventional hanging lock, a lock core is disposed in a lock body. The lock core is connected with an outward extending U-shaped lock hook. A free end of the lock hook can be inserted and locked in the lock hole formed on the lock body. Multiple numeral wheels are fitted around the lock core. The lock core can be unlocked/locked with a key or by means of the numeral wheels. The numerals on the surfaces of the numeral wheels are exposed to outer side of the lock body. In use, the numeral wheels are turned to preset unlocking number to unlock the lock core. Then the lock hook is tracked outward to extract the free end of the lock hook from the lock hole. Such structure has some shortcomings as follows: 
          1. After the lock core is unlocked with the key or by means of the numeral wheels, a user needs to hold the lock body with one hand and pull the lock hook with the other hand to extract the free end of the lock hook from the lock hole of the lock body. Therefore, the unlocking operation needs both hands to accomplish. This is inconvenient.     2. The lock hook is directly connected with the lock core which is restricted by the numeral wheels. Accordingly, a thief can continuously pull the lock hook and at the same time turn the respective numeral wheels. When the numeral wheels are positioned in the unlocking position (number), the lock core will loosen so that an unauthorized person can unlock the lock.     3. The lock hook and the lock core are synchronously driven.        

      The sections of the numeral wheels engaged with the lock core have limited structural strength. Therefore, a thief can easily knock out the lock hook to damage the lock core. Accordingly, such lock structure has poor burglarproof effect.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a hanging lock structure including: a lock main body in which a lock core is arranged, the lock core being controlled by a key or multiple numeral wheels to lock or unlock the hanging lock; a lock hook having a base end and an extending free end, the base end being pivotally inserted in one end of the lock main body, whereby the free end of the lock hook can be freely rotated about the axis of the base end; and a displaceable button disposed on the lock main body and controllable by the lock core to restrict the movement of the lock hook. Topside of the displaceable button is formed with a notch in which the free end of the lock hook is restricted in a locked state. When the lock core is locked, the displaceable button is synchronously restricted from displacing to keep locking the lock hook. When the lock core is unlocked, the displaceable button is synchronously displaceable, permitting the free end of the lock hook to be turned outward and detach out from the notch for unlocking. When the lock core is unlocked with the key or by means of the numeral wheels, a user can hold the lock main body and at the same time rotate the displaceable button to open the lock hook with single hand. This is convenient to the user.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above numeral lock structure in which the displaceable button is substantially a rotary roller. One end of the displaceable button is formed with a notch tapered from one side to the center. A shaft section projects from the other end of the displaceable button into the lock main body. An extending section is formed at bottom end of the displaceable button. The extending section is inserted into the main body to be controlled by the lock core. When the lock core is unlocked, the displaceable button is released and can be laterally rotated. After the notch of the displaceable button is turned to a direction to free the free end of the lock hook, the free end of the lock hook can be rotated to an unlocking position and detached out of the notch of the displaceable button for unlocking.  
      It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above numeral lock structure in which the lock core and the lock hook are separate members without drivingly connecting with each other. Therefore, a thief cannot damage the lock core to unlock the hanging lock. Therefore, a better burglarproof effect is achieved.  
      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 in a locked state;  
       FIG. 3A  is a top view according to  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked state;  
       FIG. 4A  is a top view according to  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked state; and  
       FIG. 5A  is a top view according to  FIG. 5 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Please refer to  FIG. 1  which shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The hanging lock includes a lock main body  1 , a lock hook  2 , a linking member  3  and a rotary displaceable button  4 . A lock core  12  is arranged in the lock main body  1 . Multiple numeral wheels  11  are fitted on the lock core  12 . When the numeral wheels  11  are turned to the correct number, the lock core  12  can be unlocked and moved. Alternatively, the lock core  12  can be directly unlocked with a key. A resilient member  13  such as a spring is fitted on the lock core  12 . The resilient member  13  is compressed between the top end of the lock core  12  and the numeral wheels  11 , whereby in normal state, the lock core  12  is resiliently forced to abut against the linking member  3 . The lock hook  2  is substantially U-shaped and has a base end  21  and an extending free end  22 . The base end  21  is pivotally inserted in one end of the lock main body  1 , whereby the lock hook  2  can be freely laterally rotated about the axis of the base end  21 . The linking member  3  is formed with a central through shaft hole  31 . The circumference of top side of the shaft hole  31  is formed with a recessed section  33 . Two sides of the recessed section  33  are respectively formed with two lateral recessed slopes  331  which upward obliquely extend. In addition, a plane plate-like pressing section  32  extends from a lateral edge of the linking member  3  toward the lock core  12 .  
      The top end of the rotary displaceable button  4  is substantially a roller. The roller is formed with a notch  43  tapered from one side to the center. A shaft section  41  projects from lower end of the roller. An acute projecting section  42  corresponding to the recessed section  33  is formed at an adjoining section between the shaft section  41  and the roller. Two sides of the acute projecting section  42  are formed with lateral projecting slopes  421  corresponding to the lateral recessed slopes  331 .  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective assembled view according to  FIG. 1 . Also with reference to  FIG. 3 , when assembled, the linking member  3  and the lock core  12  are disposed in the lock main body  1  on different sides thereof. The pressing section  32  of the linking member  3  extends to upper side of the lock core  12  to press the same. The shaft section  41  of the displaceable button  4  is inserted into the lock main body  1  and rotatably passed through the shaft hole  31  of the linking member  3 . A resilient member  34  such as a spring is disposed between the linking member  3  and the inner side of the lock main body  1  near the tail end of the shaft section  41 . The resilient member  34  makes the linking member  3  naturally attach to the end of the lock main body in which the displaceable button  4  is inserted. The acute projecting section  42  of the displaceable button  4  is totally inlaid in the recessed section  33  of the linking member  3 . The notch  43  of top side of the displaceable button  4  is kept in a closed position to restrict the movement of the free end  22  of the lock hook  2 . Accordingly, when the numeral wheels  11  are in the locking position (incorrect unlocking number), the lock core  12  is engaged and cannot be pressed down. At this time, the lock core  12  abuts against the linking member  3  to prevent the linking member  3  from descending. Therefore, the displaceable button  4  is restricted from moving, that is, the displaceable button  4  cannot be turned so that the free end  22  of the lock hook  2  is still restricted by the displaceable button  4  from rotating out for unlocking.  
       FIG. 4  shows the unlocking operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. When the numeral wheels  11  are turned to the unlocking number, the lock core  12  is released from the engagement. At this time, the lock core  12  can be pressed down. When rotating the displaceable button  4 , the acute projecting section  42  of the displaceable button  4  downward slides alone the lateral recessed slopes  331  of the recessed section  33  to press down the top side of the linking member  3 . Accordingly, the bottom end of the linking member  3  compresses the resilient member  34  and moves downward. At the same time, the pressing section  32  downward presses the lock core  12  (and the resilient member  13 ). After the displaceable button  4  is rotated by about 90 degrees, the notch  43  of top side of the displaceable button  4  is turned to a direction to free the free end  22  of the lock hook  2 , whereby the free end  22  of the lock hook  2  can be rotated to an unlocking position and detached out of the notch  43  of the displaceable button  4  (as shown by phantom line of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4A ).  
      Alternatively, the linking member  3  can be removed. The lock core  12 A is directly is directly disposed on the shaft section  41  of the displaceable button  4 . A key  5  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) is directly inserted into the main body  1  to drive the lock core  12 A. The shaft section  41  of the displaceable button  4  is driven by the lock core  12 A to rotate the notch  3  so as to release the free end  22 .  
      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.