Patent Publication Number: US-8540288-B2

Title: Door lock transmission structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a door lock, and more particularly to a door lock structure driven by a primary lock assembly and a secondary lock assembly for its operation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9  for a conventional door lock, the door lock comprises a case  90 , and a first insert  91  and a second insert  92 , both installed in the case  90 , wherein the first insert  91  drives a link rod module  93  by a key to slide inside the case  90  and link both upper and lower locks of a door, and the second insert  92  is driven by a door handle to move a driving element  94  and link the driving element  94  to slide in the case  90 , and the first insert  91  and the second insert  92  as shown in the figures are driven by the key and the door handle respectively. 
     The main problem of the conventional door lock resides on that when both first insert  91  and second insert  92  are locked (and their locked status is shown in  FIG. 8 ), and if the door is opened from inside, then users behind the door have to open the first insert  91  first, and then turn the door handle connected to the second insert  92  before the door can be opened (and the unlocked status is shown in  FIG. 9 ), and thus it takes two steps to open a door, and the conventional door lock definitely requires improvements to give a more convenient way of opening the door. If there is a fire, and users have to escape for their survival, such conventional door lock may delay the escape, and thus the conventional door lock requires improvements on safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art by providing a door lock transmission structure, wherein a second insert of a primary lock assembly can be opened by turning a door handle installed on an internal side of a door directly, and the second insert is driven to open a first insert and a secondary lock assembly, such that the door can be opened conveniently at regular time, and quickly at fire or any other emergency situation to provide a safe escape. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a power-saving mechanism installed between components of the primary lock assembly to provide a power-saving way of locking and unlocking the door. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a door lock transmission structure, comprising: 
     a case, having a plurality of protruding pillars and through holes, disposed in the case for installing a primary lock assembly, and the primary lock assembly driving a secondary lock assembly by link rods installed at upper and lower positions of a door, and the primary lock assembly comprising: 
     a first insert and a second insert, both movably installed in the case, and each having a latch portion disposed at an end of the insert and passing out of the case, a swaying element installed in the case and moving the first insert to slide, and a stop wall disposed at an end of the second insert inside the case; 
     two driving elements, driven by a door handle, and stacked with each other in the case and driven independently, and having a coupling portion installed coaxially between both ends of the two driving elements for installing the door handle, and each coupling position driving an insert hole, and a first turning end disposed on the same side of the end of the driving element for driving the second insert to slide, wherein another end of the door handle on the internal side of the door and connected to the driving element includes a second turning end for linking and operating the first insert; 
     a plate, linked with the first insert and the two secondary lock assemblies for a synchronous operation, and both ends of the plate being coupled to a link rod between the two secondary lock assemblies, and a first link element slid together with the first insert to pivotally swing and drive the plate to move; 
     a second link element, operated together with the driving element to drive the second insert to slide, and having a first abutting portion disposed on an internal side of the second link element, and abutted against an internal side of a stop wall of the second insert, and a second abutting portion abutted against the first turning end of the two driving elements; and 
     a link component, linked with the first insert and the second insert for a synchronous operation, and including a sliding element linked between both ends of the link component and with the second turning end of the driving element, a spring installed at an end of the sliding element; and resuming its original position after the sliding element is moved, and another end of the spring being coupled to swaying element for linking the latch portion for retracting the first insert, and a poking portion disposed at an end of the link component for driving the swaying element to sway. 
     The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments and related drawings as follows. 
     Of course, another element and/or an arrangement of elements of the present invention may be altered or modified in an equivalent manner, and the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments and drawings used in this specification only. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door lock of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a primary lock assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a primary lock assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic planar view of a primary lock assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a door lock when locked in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a door lock when unlocked in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a door handle and a coupling portion in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic planar view of a conventional door lock when locked, and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic planar view of a conventional door lock when unlocked. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7  for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment is provided for the purpose of illustrating the present invention only, but not intended for limiting the scope of the invention. 
     This preferred embodiment provides a door lock transmission structure, comprising: a case  1 , including a plurality of protruding pillars  11  and through holes  12  for installing a primary lock assembly  2  (wherein the case  1  of this preferred embodiment as shown in the figures further comprises components such as a cover  13  secured onto the case  1  by screws and a side panel  14  installed on a side of a door), and the primary lock assembly  2  including a link rod  3  installed at upper and lower position of the door for driving a secondary lock assembly  4 , and the primary lock assembly  2  comprises the following elements: 
     A first insert  21  and a second insert  22  are movably installed in the case  1 , and each insert  21 ,  22  has a latch portion  211 ,  221  disposed at an end of the insert  21 ,  22  for passing out of the case  1  during an operation, and the case  1  as shown in  FIG. 4  has a through hole  141  (disposed on the side panel  14  as shown in the figure) disposed at a position opposite to the latch portion  211 ,  221 , and the latch portions  211 ,  221  of the first insert  21  and the second insert  22  are passed and limited into the through hole  141 , so that the first insert  21  and the second insert  22  can slide in a direction towards the through hole  141  only, and when each latch portion  211 ,  221  as shown in  FIG. 5  is extended, the door lock is situated at a locked status; on the other and, when the latch portions  211 ,  221  are retracted as shown in  FIG. 6 , the door lock is situated at an unlocked status. 
     The case  1  includes a swaying element  23  for driving the first insert  21  to slide. In this preferred embodiment, the first insert  21  includes a notch  212  in the case  1 , and the notch  212  is opened towards the first insert  21 , and the swaying element  23  includes a turning rod  231  embedded into the   notch  212  of the first insert  21 , and the swaying element  23  includes a guiding gear  232  installed at an opposite side of the turning rod  231  for engaging the guiding gear  232  with a driving gear  233 , such that the driving gear  233  can be turned to pivotally sway the swaying element  23 . Unlike the way of driving by the link rod in a conventional door lock, this preferred embodiment of the invention can provide a power-saving transmission structure having the driving gear  233  engaged with the guiding gear  232 . 
     In addition, the swaying element  23  as shown in  FIG. 4  includes a protrusion  234  extended towards the pivotal connection position of the turning rod  231 , and case  1  includes a power-saving spring  235  pressed against the protrusion  234 , such that when the swaying element  23  is swayed, the pressing of the power-saving spring  235  provides a force applied towards the rotating direction, and further improves the power-saving effect. 
     The second insert  22  includes a stop wall  222  inside the case  1  and installed at an end of the second insert  22 . In this preferred embodiment, the case  1  includes a torque spring  223 , and an end presses against the protruding pillar  11  of the case  1 , and another end presses against an external side of the stop wall  222 . With the torque spring  223  pressing against the second insert  22 , the latch portion  221  can be passed downwardly out from the through hole  141  of the case  1  in a normal condition. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the first insert  21  inside the case  1  includes a first slot  213  opened in the same sliding direction of the first insert  21 , a protruding pillar  11  disposed in the case  1  and at a position corresponding to the first slot  213 , and the first insert  21  is sheathed to the protruding pillar  11  through the first slot  213  for limiting the sliding path of the first insert  21 . 
     In two driving elements  24 ,  29 , one of the driving elements  24  is coupled to a door handle  241  installed behind a door, and the driving element  29  is coupled to another door handle  291  on the front side of the door. The two driving elements  24 ,  29  are stacked inside the case  1 , and the driving element  24  drives the door handle  241  from an internal side of the door, and door handle  291  is driven by the driving element  29  from the front side of the door. The driving element  24  includes an insert hole  242  disposed axially on both ends and provided for installing a coupling portion  243  of the door handle  241 , a first turning end  244  disposed on the same side of an end of the driving element  24  for driving the second insert  22  to slide, wherein another end of the driving element  24  coupled to the door handle  241  behind the door includes a second turning end  245  for linking the second insert  22  and the first insert  21 . The driving element  29  includes an insert hole  292  coaxially disposed between both ends and provided for installing the coupling portion  293  of the door handle  291 , and a first turning end  294  disposed on the same side of an end of the driving element  29  for driving the second insert  22  to slide. 
     In this preferred embodiment, each of the coupling portion  243  of the door handle  241  and the coupling portion  293  of the door handle  291  includes two rods pivotally coupled to their distal ends, and each rod corresponds to the insert hole  242  of the driving element  24  and the insert hole  292  of the driving element  29 , wherein the two rods are in quadrilateral shape, and the insert holes  242 ,  292  are provided for installing the rods in a plum blossom shape. 
     The driving element  24  includes a spiral torque spring  246  installed thereon, and the driving element  29  includes a spiral torque spring  295 , and these two spiral torque springs  246 ,  295  are provided for resuming the original positions of the driving element  24  and the driving element  29  respectively after an operation takes place, and the spiral torque spring  246  is sheathed around the insert hole  242 , and the spiral torque spring  295  is sheathed around the insert hole  292 , such that after the driving elements  24 ,  29  are operated, the resilience of the spiral torque spring  246 ,  295  drive them to resume their original positions. 
     A plate  25  is provided for lining the first insert  21  and the two secondary lock assemblies  4  for a synchronous movement, and a link rod  3  is connected between both ends of the plate  25  and the two secondary lock assemblies  4 . In addition, the case  1  further includes a first link element  26  slid together with the first insert  21  for a pivotal swing and driving the plate  25  to slide. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the first insert  21  includes a second slot  214  disposed between both ends of the first insert  21 , and the second slot  214  is opened in a direction perpendicular to the open direction of the first slot  213 , and an end of the first link element  26  has a drag portion  261 , for protruding the first link element  26  from the second slot  214 , such that when the first insert  21  slides, the first link element  26  is driven to swing pivotally. The plate  25  includes a third slot  251  installed in the same direction of the first slot  213 . Further, the first link element  26  includes a guiding pillar  262  protruded from the third slot  251  and provided for driving the plate  25  to slide when the first link element  26  is swung pivotally, so as to drive the two secondary lock assemblies  4  to lock or unlock the door. 
     A second link element  27  is moved together with the driving elements  24 ,  29  to drive the second insert  22  to slide. The second link element  27  includes a first abutting portion  271  and a second abutting portion  272 , and the first abutting portion  271  is provided for abutting against the first turning ends  244 ,  294  of the two driving elements  24 ,  29 . When the first turning ends  244 ,  294  are turned, the second link element  27  is linked to swing. The second abutting portion  272  is provided for abutting against an internal side of the stop wall  222  of the second insert  22 , such that when the second link element  27  is swung, the second insert  22  is driven to retract. 
     In addition, a stop pillar  273  is protruded from the pivotal connection position of the second link element  27  and the case  1 , and the plate  25  includes a fourth slot  252  disposed at a corresponding position of the stop pillar  273 , and the plate  25  is sheathed onto the stop pillar  273  through the fourth slot  252  for limiting the sliding path of the plate  25 . 
     A link component  28  is provided for linking the first insert  21  and the second insert  22  for a synchronous movement, and the link component  28  includes a sliding element  281 , and a portion between both ends are coupled with the second turning end  245  of the driving element  24 , and an end of the sliding element  281  has a spring  282  for resuming the original position of the sliding element  281  after the sliding element  281  is moved, and another end of the sliding element  281  is connected to a swaying element  283  for linking the latch portion  211  of the first insert  21  to retract, and an end of the swaying element  283  has a poking portion  283   a  for driving the turning rod  231  of the swaying element  23  to swing. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the second turning end  245  of the driving element  24  includes a screw  245   a  secured to the end of the second turning end  245 , and the sliding element  281  includes a through hole  281  disposed at an opposite position, and the screw  245   a  is partially passed through and extended into the through hole  281   a.    
     The swaying element  283  includes a rectangular hole  283   b  formed between the poking portion  283   a  and the pivotal connecting end, and a guiding pillar  281   b  disposed at the end of the sliding element  281 , and the sliding element  281  is protruded from the rectangular hole  283   b  through the guiding pillar  281   b , such that when the sliding element  281  slides sideway, the guiding pillar  281   b  drives the swaying element  283  to swing. 
     In  FIG. 4 , when the driving element  24  is driven by the door handle  241  to rotate, the second turning end  245  of the driving element  24  props the sliding element  281  to a sidewall inside the through hole  281   a  by the screw  245   a , such that the sliding element  281  slides to the left side as shown in the figure. Now, the poking portion  283   a  of the swaying element  283  pokes the turning rod  231  of the swaying element  23  to sway upward. Since the turning rod  231  is situated in the notch  212  of the first insert  21 , therefore the upwardly swung turning rod  231  drives the first insert  21  to retract into the case  1 . If the door handle  241  is released, the sliding element  281  will resume its original position by the resilience of the spring  282 . Now, the swaying element  283  no longer props the turning rod  231  anymore, so that the first insert  21  can be pushed downward by the power-saving spring  235  and extended out from the case  1 . 
     From the description of the preferred embodiment above, we can observe the advantages of the invention easily. If a user wants to open the first insert  21  from the front side of the door, the user has to use a key to open the lock. Unlike the conventional door lock, the door handle  241  installed behind the door in accordance with the invention can be turned to open the first insert  21 , the second insert  22  and the two secondary lock assemblies  4  of the primary lock assembly  2  simultaneously. Besides the anti-burglar effect, users can open the door lock behind the door simply by turning the door handle  241  behind the door without requiring two necessary steps of the conventional door lock. For an emergency like a fire, users can turn the door handle  241  to escape immediately. Compared with the conventional door lock, the invention provides more time for the escape, and thus the door lock of the present invention obviously provides a convenient way of unlocking the door lock and offers a better safety to users. 
     It is noteworthy to point out that the primary lock assembly  2  of the present invention further includes a power-saving mechanism to make the operation of locking and unlocking the door lock easier. 
     In summation of the description above, the present invention definitely achieves the expected objectives and complies with the patent application requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application. 
     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.