Patent Publication Number: US-9839273-B2

Title: Locking device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0006384 filed on Jan. 19, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a locking device. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a bag has an inner space to accommodate goods therein and has an opening/closing structure in order for the goods accommodated therein not to escape from the bag. For example, the opening/closing structure of the bag is roughly classified into a locking device-type structure and a zipper-type structure. A one-touch type structure enables the bag to be opened and closed at a time and may include a separate locking device. 
     In a locking device-type structure currently used, an upper plate disposed on one side of a bag and a lower plate disposed on the opposite side are combined with fabric (e.g., leather) interposed therebetween. Conventionally, the upper plate and the lower plate have been screw-combined in order to strongly combine the upper plate and the lower plate or the upper plate and the lower plate has been combined and then riveted by pressurizing an insertion part protruded in a direction to be spread outwards in order to suppress separation therebetween. 
     However, the conventional screw-type locking device may be decreased in combination force due to wear caused by relative rotation of the upper and lower plates in use and thus may be separated. Further, the conventional rivet-type locking device requires a separate press or pressing process and thus has low workability and may be separated together with fabric interposed between the upper and lower plates due to wear of the fabric caused by relative rotation of the upper and lower plates in use. 
     Patent Document 1: Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1988-0006500 (May 31, 1988) 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a locking device for bags, and provide the locking device of which an upper body part and a lower body part are fixed and combined with each other by a locking washer. 
     Further, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking device for bags that enables a bag to be easily opened and closed. 
     However, problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described problems. Although not described herein, other problems to be solved by the present disclosure can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions. 
     A locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a locking unit capable of performing locking and unlocking operations by rotation; an upper body part in which a first connection hole is formed; a body part which is inserted into the first connection hole of the upper body part and combined with one end of the locking unit; a lower body part in which a third connection hole into which the body part is inserted from below is formed; and a locking washer which is positioned between the upper body part and the lower body part and configured to fix and combine the upper body part and the lower body part. 
     The upper body part may include a plurality of combination protrusions formed on a lower side of the upper body part. 
     The locking washer may include combination holes for combination with the combination protrusions at positions corresponding to the combination protrusions, respectively. 
     In the locking washer, a second connection hole may be formed, and a plurality of protrusions extended inwardly along an inner periphery of the second connection hole may be provided. 
     The number of the protrusions may include at least one of 12, 16, or 20. 
     The protrusions may be slanted upwardly or downwardly at a predetermined angle, and the protrusions may be forcibly inserted into the lower body part, and, thus, the upper body part and the lower body part can be fixed and combined with each other. 
     The angle may be from 25 degrees to 35 degrees. 
     The protrusion may have a cross section formed into a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or a polygonal shape. 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking device that has a strong combination force due to a uniform force supplied by a locking washer. 
     Further, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking device configured to enable a bag to be easily opened and closed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  provides diagrams illustrating a shape of a locking washer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  provides diagrams illustrating the locking device combined in part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  provides diagrams illustrating the locking device combined in part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the combined locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially exploded view of a locking device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, they are merely exemplary embodiments and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     Detailed descriptions of functions or configurations known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure. Further, the terms used herein are defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, and may vary depending on intentions of a user or operator, or usual practices. Therefore, the definitions thereof should be construed based on the contents throughout the specification. 
     The technical concept of the present disclosure is defined by the claims. The following embodiments are used merely to efficiently explain the technical concept of the present disclosure to one of ordinary skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is a locking device for opening/closing a bag or a purse. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the locking device  1  may include a locking unit  10  capable of performing locking and unlocking operations by rotation, an upper body part  20  in which a first connection hole  22  is formed, a body part  50  which is inserted into the first connection hole  22  of the upper body part  20  and combined with one end of the locking unit  10 , a lower body part  40  in which a third connection hole  43  into which the body part  50  is inserted from below is formed, a locking washer which is positioned between the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40  and configured to fix and combine the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40 , a first supporting plate  60  supporting the body part  50 , and a second supporting plate  70 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the locking device  1  may be formed by combining the locking unit  10 , the upper body part  20 , the locking washer  30 , the lower body part  40 , the body part  50 , the first supporting plate  60 , and the second supporting plate  70  in order. 
     The locking unit  10  may include a locking unit rotating rod  12  and a locking unit rotating part  14 . The locking unit rotating rod  12  may be inserted into the first connection hole  22  formed in the upper body part  20 , and specifically, the locking unit rotating rod  12  may be inserted into a fourth connection hole  52  of the body part  50  via the first connection hole  22 . That is, a place (first connection hole) for insertion of the locking unit rotating rod  12  may be different from a space (fourth connection hole) for maintaining the locking unit rotating rod  12  as being inserted. Therefore, the locking unit rotating rod  12  may be inserted into the fourth connection hole  52  and maintained as being inserted within the body part  50 . In the body part  50  in which the fourth connection hole  52  is formed, an elastic member  54  that enables the locking unit rotating rod  12  to be rotated at a predetermined angle may be provided. For example, the elastic member  54  may adopt any member, such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, etc., which can give an elastic force. The locking unit rotating rod  12  can be rotated by the elastic member  54 , and the locking device  1  can perform locking and unlocking operations with an elastic force of the elastic member  54 . 
     The locking unit rotating part  14  that enables the locking unit rotating rod  12  to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise may be provided. The locking unit rotating part  14  may be positioned orthogonal at 90 degrees to a longitudinal direction of the upper body part  20  when a locking operation is performed. The locking unit rotating part  14  may be positioned in the longitudinal direction of the upper body part  20  when an unlocking operation is performed. The locking unit rotating part  14  may be smaller in size than the upper body part  20 . Specifically, the locking unit rotating part  14  may be formed so as to correspond in size and shape to the first connection hole  22 . Further, the locking unit rotating part  14  may be formed into a shape that enables a user to easily perform the locking and unlocking operations. For example, the locking unit rotating part  14  may be formed into a cylindrical shape, a hexahedral shape, or the like with a predetermined thickness. 
     Further, a blocking part  16  may be formed at an end of the locking unit rotating rod  12  (where the locking unit rotating part  14  is positioned). A predetermined gap may be formed between the locking unit  10  and the upper body part  20  by the blocking part  16 . When the locking unit rotating part  14  is repeatedly rotated, the locking unit rotating part  14  is repeatedly brought into contact with the upper body part  20 . Thus, the gap is formed to suppress wear at a contact portion between the locking unit  10  and the upper body part  20 . The blocking part  16  may be formed to have a greater diameter than the fourth connection hole  52  which is a space for maintaining the locking unit rotating rod  12  as being inserted, and may be formed to a smaller diameter than the first connection hole  22 . Also, the blocking part  16  may block additional insertion of the locking unit rotating rod  12  toward the fourth connection hole  52 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the upper body part  20  may include the first connection hole  22 , a stumbling sill  24 , and a combination protrusion  26 . 
     The upper body part  20  may have an open space therein, and the first connection hole  22  may be formed at the center thereof. The third connection hole  43  of the lower body part and the body part  50  may be inserted toward the first connection hole  22 . The first connection hole  22  may have a cross section formed into an oval shape. The first connection hole  22  may also have a cross section formed into an asymmetric shape in order to improve the accuracy of combination position and suppress rotation when the upper body part  20 , the locking washer  30 , the lower body part  40 , and the body part  50  are combined in order. Therefore, the upper body part  20 , the locking washer  30 , the lower body part  40 , and the body part  50  can be combined and fixed to each other with accuracy. Further, a second connection hole  32  and the third connection hole  43  may be formed into a shape corresponding to a shape of the first connection hole  22 . 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the stumbling sill  24  may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of the upper body part  20 . If the user rotates the locking unit rotating part  14  to perform a locking operation, the locking unit rotating part  14  is caught by the stumbling sill  24 , so that the locking operation is performed. The stumbling sill  24  may be formed into a concave groove around an end of the locking unit rotating part  14  to suppress a deviation of the locking unit rotating part  14 . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the upper body part may include a plurality of combination protrusions  26  formed on a lower side of the upper body part  20 . The combination protrusions  26  may be inserted and combined with combination holes  36  of the locking washer  30  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the combination protrusions  26  may be formed into a column shape so as to be inserted and combined with combination holes  36 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating a shape of the locking washer  30  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating an angle of the protrusion  34  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the locking washer  30  may include the second connection hole  32 , the protrusions  34 , and the combination holes  36 . 
     The locking washer  30  may be formed of stainless steel. The stainless steel is relatively less worn out than mild steel and thus can be used for a long time. For example, the locking washer  30  may be formed of stainless steel 201 among various kinds of stainless steel. Further, the locking washer  30  may be manufactured by processing portions in contact with the upper body part  30  and the lower body part  40  with a material which is not easily slippery. For example, the contact portions may be formed of a non-slip material. Moreover, portions of the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40  in contact with the locking washer  30  may also be formed of such a material. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the second connection hole  32  may be formed at the center of the locking washer  30 . The second connection hole  32  may be positioned corresponding to a position of the first connection hole  22 . That is, the second connection hole  32  may be provided as communicating with the first connection hole  22 . Therefore, a diameter of the second connection hole  32  may be equal to a diameter of the first connection hole  22 . Further, the second connection hole  32  may be formed so as to correspond in shape to the first connection hole  22 . Therefore, the second connection hole  32  may have a cross section formed into an oval shape. Furthermore, the lower body part  30  may be forcibly inserted into the second connection hole  32 . 
     In the locking washer  30 , a plurality of combination holes  36  for combination with the combination protrusions  26  may be formed at positions corresponding to the combination protrusions  26 , respectively. The combination protrusions  26  of the upper body part  20  may be inserted and combined with combination holes  36 . Therefore, the locking washer  30  may be inserted and combined with the upper body part  20 . 
     Further, on the locking washer  30 , a plurality of protrusions  34  extended inwardly along an inner periphery of the second connection hole  32  may be provided. The protrusions  34  may be formed so as to face each other and a space may be formed therebetween. The protrusions  34  may be formed apart from each other with a predetermined gap. Since the protrusions  34  are formed consecutively, the space is formed between them, so that the protrusion  34  and the space are formed repeatedly. The space is formed, the forcible insertion of the lower body part  40  may be easily performed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the protrusions  34  are slanted upwardly or downwardly at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the second connection hole  32 . That is, the protrusions  34  may be slanted from a side A toward a side B at the predetermined angle θ. Herein, the side A may refer to a side on which the combination holes  36  are positioned, and the side B may refer to a side opposite thereto. Herein, the predetermined angle θ may be from 25 degrees to 35 degrees. For example, if the protrusions  34  have an angle of 25 degrees of less, a force applied by the protrusions  34  to the lower body part  40  may be decreased. Accordingly, a combination force between the locking washer  30  and the lower body part  40  may be decreased. Further, if the protrusions  34  have an angle of degrees or more, a relatively greater force may be required when the locking washer  30  and the lower body part  40  are combined, and it may be difficult to combine the locking washer  30  and the lower body part  40 . Therefore, an optimal slant angle of the protrusions  34  may be 30 degrees. 
     Further, the number of the protrusions  34  may include at least one of 12, 16, or 20. For example, if the number of the protrusions  34  is 20, the combination force with the lower body part  40  may be increased. Herein, the protrusion  34  and the lower body part  40  are provided so as to be pressurized, so that the combination force between the protrusion  34  and the lower body part  40  can be further increased. 
     Furthermore, the protrusion  34  may have a cross section formed into a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or a polygonal shape. Since the protrusions  34  are in contact with a lower body main part  42  and slanted from the side A toward the side B, a force (i.e., pressure) applied to the lower body main part  42  is generated. Due to generation of the force, the protrusion  34  can be positioned as being stably fixed to the lower body main part  42 . That is, the protrusions are forcibly inserted into the lower body main part  42 , and, thus, the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40  can be fixed and combined with each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  again, the lower body part  40  may include the lower body main part  42 , the third connection hole  43 , a lower body supporting part  44 , and position fixing protrusions  46 . The lower body main part  42  may be formed into a column shape so as to be forcibly inserted toward the second connection hole  32  of the locking washer  30 . The lower body main part  42  and the lower body supporting part  44  may be formed as one body, and may have a hollow inner space in order for the body part  50  to be inserted. That is, the third connection hole  43  may be formed. The third connection hole  43  may be formed to have a diameter equal to or smaller than the diameter of the second connection hole  32  formed in the locking washer  30 . This is to forcibly insert and fix the lower body main part  42  in the second connection hole  32 . If the lower body main part  42  is forcibly inserted into the second connection hole  32 , the protrusions  34  of the locking washer may be brought into direct contact with an outer surface of the lower body main part  42 . 
     Further, when the lower body main part  42  is forcibly inserted, a stumbling sill (not illustrated) may be formed in order for the protrusions  34  to be caught. That is, a concave-convex shape may be formed on the outer surface of the lower body main part  42 . That is, in order to increase a frictional force between the protrusions  34  and the lower body main part  42 , a concave-convex shape may be formed on the outer surface of the lower body main part  42 . The concave-convex shape may be formed as repetition of a groove and a protrusion, and the protrusions  34  may be fixed as being caught by the grooves formed in the lower body main part  42 . Herein, the protrusions  34  may be provided so as to pressurize the lower body main part  42 . 
     Meanwhile, the lower body supporting part  44  may be formed into a plate shape and may function to support the lower body main part  42 . Further, on the lower body supporting part  44 , the position fixing protrusions  46  may be formed. A plurality of the position fixing protrusions  46  may be formed around the lower body supporting part  44 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , while the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40  are combined with each other, there may be a gap between the upper body part  20  and the lower body part  40 . The gap may be a contact portion between the position fixing protrusions  46  with a material of a bag (including, e.g., leather and fabric). That is, the position fixing protrusions  46  may be in contact with one surface of the material of the bag, and the position fixing protrusions  46  may have sharp ends. Thus, the position fixing protrusions  46  may penetrate the material and may be fixed in position. 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are partial combination views of the locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 5  provides diagrams illustrating the locking device  1  in which the locking washer  30  and the lower body part are combined with each other. The upper body part  20  and the locking washer  30  may be combined by inserting the combination protrusions  26  formed on the upper body part  20  into the combination holes  36  formed in the locking washer  30 . 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates that the lower body part  40  is combined with the upper body part  20  and the locking washer  30  combined as described above.  FIG. 6B  is a diagram illustrating that only the locking washer  30  and the lower body part  40  are combined with each other. Referring to  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the lower body part  40  may be combined with the upper body part  20  and the locking washer  30 . To this end, the lower body part  40  may be forcibly inserted into the second connection hole  32  of the locking washer  30  and brought into close contact with the protrusions  34 . If the lower body main part  42  is forcibly inserted into the second connection hole  32  of the locking washer  30 , the lower body main part  42  can be forcibly inserted in close contact with the protrusions  34  from the moment when the protrusions  34  are in close contact with the outer surface of the lower body main part  42 . Therefore, the lower body main part  42  may apply a forcible insertion force toward the protrusions  34 . Further, when forcibly inserted into the second connection hole  32 , the lower body main part  42  is forcibly inserted through linear movement. Thus, the forcible insertion force applied toward the protrusions  34  can be uniform. Therefore, a diameter is increased by the forcible insertion force uniformly applied to the locking washer  30 , so that the protrusions  34  strongly pressurize the lower body main part  42 . That is, when the lower body part  40  is forcibly inserted into the locking washer  30 , the forcible insertion force may cause deformation, i.e., the increase in diameter, of the locking washer  30 . Therefore, a combination force between the protrusion  34  and the lower body main part  42  may be increased so as to achieve strong combination. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  again, the body part  50  may have an open space therein. That is, the open space is configured to allow the first supporting plate  60  and the second supporting plate  70  to be inserted therein. The body part  50  may be inserted toward the upper body part  20  via the third connection hole  43  formed in the lower body part  40 . That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the body part  50  may be at the same position as the upper body part  20 , and may be a part in contact with the locking unit  10 . Further, in the body part  50 , the fourth connection hole  52  may be formed in order for the locking unit rotating rod  12  to be inserted. The locking unit rotating rod  12  may pass through the fourth connection hole  52  of the body part  50 , so that the upper body part  20  and the body part  50  may be combined with each other. The fourth connection hole  52  may be formed so as to correspond in shape to the locking unit rotating rod  12 . 
     The first supporting plate  60  may function to support the body part  50  toward the upper body part  20 . That is, the first supporting plate  60  may be inserted and fixed in the body part  50 . In the second supporting plate  70 , at least one hole for combination with the first supporting plate  60  may be formed. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the combined locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7  illustrates that the above-described components of the locking device  1  are combined with each other. 
     The components of the locking device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure have been described above. The locking device  1  configured as described above is operated as follows. 
     It is assumed that the locking device  1  is formed by combining the locking unit  10 , the upper body part  20 , the locking washer  30 , the lower body part  40 , the body part  50 , the first supporting plate  60 , and the second supporting plate  70  in order. 
     If the locking unit rotating part  14  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the locking unit rotating rod  12  may be rotated accordingly while being applied with an elastic force of the elastic member  54  positioned within the body part  50 . The locking unit rotating part  14  may be caught by the stumbling sill  24  formed on the upper body part  20 , which means that a locking operation of the locking device  1  is performed. The stumbling sill  24  may be formed into a concave groove to suppress a deviation of the locking unit rotating part  14 . Therefore, the locking unit rotating part  14  may not deviate from the stumbling sill  24  to maintain a locked state. Further, the locking device  1  can be strongly combined by the locking washer  30 . 
     When an unlocking operation is performed, if the locking unit rotating part  14  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the locking unit rotating part  14  may be applied with an elastic force of the elastic member  54  positioned within the body part  50 . Accordingly, the locking unit rotating rod  12  may be rotated. Since the locking unit rotating part  14  satisfies the conditions for a deviation from the stumbling sill  24  formed on the upper body part  20 , the locking may be canceled. 
       FIG. 8  is a partially exploded view of a locking device  1   a  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the locking device  1   a  may include an upper body part  20   a , a locking washer  30   a , and a lower body part  40   a . A first connection hole  22   a  for combination may be formed at the center of the upper body part  20   a . The locking washer  30  may include a second connection hole  32   a  and protrusions  34   a . The lower body part  40   a  may include a lower body main part  42   a , a lower body supporting part  44   a , a third connection hole  43   a , position fixing protrusions  46   a , a first step  48 , and a second step  48   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in order to combine the lower body part  40   a  and the locking washer  30   a  with each other, the first step  48  and the second step  48   a  may be formed on the lower body part  40   a . The locking washer  30   a  may be forcibly inserted between the first step  48  and the second step  48   a  and fixed at that position. Accordingly, the locking washer  30   a  may be combined with the upper body part  20   a  in a state where the locking washer  30   a  is fixed to the lower body part  40   a . Therefore, on the upper body part  20   a , combination protrusions (not illustrated) may be formed. 
     While the representative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above but should be defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.