Patent Publication Number: US-9903137-B2

Title: Rotating lock latch bolt and locks having the rotating lock latch bolts

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of a PCT/CN2014/090931, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on Nov. 12, 2014, entitled “Rotating Lock Latch Bolt and Locks Having the Rotating Lock Latch Bolts”, by Jianping SUN, and Hao MIN, which claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201410175836.5, filed on Apr. 29, 2014, entitled “Rotating Lock Latch Bolt and Locks Having the Rotating Lock Latch Bolts” by Jianping SUN, and Hao MIN, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Some references, if any, which may include patents, patent applications and various publications, may be cited and discussed in the description of this invention. The citation and/or discussion of such references, if any, is provided merely to clarify the description of the present invention and is not an admission that any such reference is “prior art” to the invention described herein. All references listed, cited and/or discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the technical field of locks, and more particularly to a rotating lock latch bolt and locks having the rotating lock latch bolts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to prevent content in a safe from being unauthorized accessed, a lock is usually used. The locking and unlocking of the lock are controlled by a locking mechanism either electrically or mechanically. Currently, the locking mechanism includes at least a swinging lock latch or a sliding lock latch to keep a lock locked or unlocked. The strength and stability of the lock depend on the dimension and strength of the lock latch, the dimension and strength of the lock latch support, and travelling distance of the movement of the lock latch. When the lock latch and the lock latch support are not big enough, or not strong enough, and when travelling distance of the movement of the lock latch is not long enough, the locking mechanism may not have sufficient strength to prevent breakage of the lock. Certain design of the locks may be easily broken by exerting a moderate force on the lock latch and the locking mechanism may fail. Furthermore, certain locking mechanism may be easily unlocked by applying impacting force, especially along a direction of a linear motion trajectory of a key-drawn locking mechanism, the key-drawn locking mechanism may produce instant movement causing instant unlocking by moving out of the motion trajectory of the locking tab. It is desirable to have a mechanism to prevent the lock latch from moving. 
     Therefore, heretofore unaddressed needs exist in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention relates to a rotating lock latch bolt. In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt may include: a first cylindrical body; and a second cylindrical body. The second cylindrical body may be positioned below the first cylindrical body. One half of a middle portion of the second cylindrical body is removed to define a recess portion. The first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body may be connected co-axially and rotatable along the axes of the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body. 
     In certain embodiments, the first cylindrical body may include a lock latch bolt gear to receive rotating driving force from a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may include a lock latch bolt control gear configured to drive the lock latch bolt gear to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to a first position to bolt a lock latch, and rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to a second position to release the lock latch. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch may be positioned in the recess portion. The rotating lock latch bolt may bolt the lock latch when the rotating lock latch bolt is in the first position. The rotating lock latch bolt may release the lock latch when the rotating lock latch bolt is in the second position. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a lock. The lock may include a lock latch, a lock latch control mechanism, a rotating lock latch bolt, and a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. The lock latch control mechanism may be configured to drive the lock latch to a first position to lock the lock, and to a second position to unlock the lock. The rotating lock latch bolt may be configured to bolt the lock latch to prevent the lock latch from moving when the lock latch is in the first position. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may be configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to bolt and release the lock latch. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch control mechanism may include a manual lock latch control mechanism, an electrical lock latch control mechanism, and a mechanical lock latch control mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch may include a rotating lock latch, or a sliding lock latch. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may include an electrical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism, and a mechanical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt may include a first cylindrical body, and a second cylindrical body. The second cylindrical body may be positioned below the first cylindrical body. Substantially one half of a middle portion of the second cylindrical body is removed to define a recess portion. The first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body may be connected co-axially and rotatable along the axes of the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body. 
     In certain embodiments, the first cylindrical body may include a lock latch bolt gear to receive rotating driving force from the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may be configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may include a lock latch bolt control gear for driving the lock latch bolt gear to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to a first position to bolt the lock latch, and rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to a second position to release the lock latch. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch may be disposed in the recess portion of the rotating lock latch bolt. The lock latch control mechanism is configured to control the movement of the lock latch. The lock is locked when the lock latch control mechanism drives the lock latch to the first position, and the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism drives the rotating lock latch bolt to the first position. The lock is unlocked when the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism drives the rotating lock latch bolt to the second position, and the lock latch control mechanism drives the lock latch to the second position. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for operating a lock. In certain embodiments, the method may include: receiving a passcode for the lock from a user at an electronic keypad, comparing the received passcode to one or more predetermined passcodes stored in the lock to determine whether the user is an authorized user, terminating when the user is not an authorized user, or performing following operations when the user is an authorized user. When the lock is in a locked position, the method may include: instructing a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism to rotate a rotating lock latch bolt to an unlocked position to release a lock latch, displaying a message on a screen indicating that the lock may be unlocked, and unlocking the lock by moving the lock latch to an unlocked position using a lock latch control mechanism. When the lock is in an unlocked position, the method may include locking the lock by moving the lock latch to a locked position using the lock latch control mechanism, instructing the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt to a locked position to bolt the lock latch, and displaying a message on the screen indicating that the lock is locked. 
     In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism may include an electrical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism, and a mechanical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch may include a rotating lock latch, or a sliding lock latch. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch control mechanism may include a manual lock latch control mechanism, an electrical lock latch control mechanism, and a mechanical lock latch control mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. The drawings do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotating lock latch bolt according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a locking mechanism having a swinging lock latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 2  while the locking mechanism is in a locked position according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 2  while the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a locking mechanism having a sliding lock latch according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 5  while the locking mechanism is in a locked position according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 5  while the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a lock having a rotating lock latch bolt according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. 
     Prior to a detailed description of the present invention, the following definitions are provided as an aid to understanding the subject matter and terminology of aspects of the present invention, and not necessarily limiting of the present invention, which are expressed in the claims. Whether or not a term is capitalized is not considered definitive or limiting of the meaning of a term. As used in this document, a capitalized term shall have the same meaning as an uncapitalized term, unless the context of the usage specifically indicates that a more restrictive meaning for the capitalized term is intended. A capitalized term within the glossary usually indicates that the capitalized term has a separate definition within the glossary. However, the capitalization or lack thereof within the remainder of this document is not intended to be necessarily limiting unless the context clearly indicates that such limitation is intended. 
     The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in  FIGS. 1-7 . 
     In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a rotating lock latch bolt  110  for a lock as shown in  FIG. 1 . In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt  110  may include: a first cylindrical body  112 ; and a second cylindrical body  114 . The second cylindrical body  114  may be positioned below the first cylindrical body  112 . One half of a middle portion of the second cylindrical body  114  may be removed to define a recess portion  116  of the rotating lock latch bolt  110 . The first cylindrical body  112  and the second cylindrical body  114  may be connected co-axially and rotatable along the axes of the first cylindrical body  112  and the second cylindrical body  114 . 
     A locking mechanism having a rotating lock latch  140  is shown in  FIG. 2 , or a locking mechanism having a sliding lock latch  140  is shown in  FIG. 5 , respectively, according certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The first cylindrical body  112  may include a lock latch bolt gear  120  to receive rotating driving force from a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may include a lock latch bolt control gear  132  configured to drive the lock latch bolt gear  120  to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a first position to bolt the rotating lock latch  140  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or the sliding lock latch  140 ′ as shown in  FIG. 5 , and rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a second position to release the rotating lock latch  140 , or the sliding lock latch  140 ′. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a lock  100 . The lock  100  may include, among other things, a lock latch  140 , a lock latch control mechanism  150 , a rotating lock latch bolt  110 , and a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130 . The lock latch control mechanism  150  may be configured to drive the lock latch  140  to a first position to lock the lock  100 , and to a second position to unlock the lock  100 . The rotating lock latch bolt  110  may be configured to bolt the lock latch  140  to prevent the lock latch  140  from moving when the lock latch  140  is in the first position. The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may be configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to bolt and release the lock latch  140 . 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch control mechanism  150  may include a manual lock latch control mechanism, an electrical lock latch control mechanism, and a mechanical lock latch control mechanism. The manual lock latch control mechanism and the mechanical lock latch control mechanism may be used in deadbolt locks, or key operated locks. The electrical lock latch control mechanism and mechanical lock latch control mechanism may be used in safe locks, or home automation applications. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch  140  may include a rotating lock latch  140  as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , or a sliding lock latch as shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may include an electrical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism, and a mechanical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt  110  may include a first cylindrical body  112 , and a second cylindrical body  114  as shown in detail in  FIG. 1 . The second cylindrical body  114  may be positioned below the first cylindrical body  112 . Substantially one half of a middle portion of the second cylindrical body  114  is removed to define a recess portion  116 . The first cylindrical body  112  and the second cylindrical body  114  may be connected co-axially and rotatable along the axes of the first cylindrical body  112  and the second cylindrical body  114 . 
     Referring to back to  FIG. 2 , in certain embodiments, the first cylindrical body  112  may include a lock latch bolt gear  120  to receive rotating driving force from the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may be configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may include a lock latch bolt control gear  132  for driving the lock latch bolt gear  120  to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a first position to bolt the lock latch  140 , and rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a second position to release the lock latch  140 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 2  while the locking mechanism is in a locked position is shown according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The swinging lock latch  140  may be positioned in the recess portion  116 . When the swinging lock latch  140  is in the first position (the lock  100  is locked), the lock latch control mechanism  150  may rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to the first position with certain angle, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to bolt swinging lock latch  140  to prevent the swinging lock latch  140  from moving away from the locked position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 2  while the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position is shown according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The swinging lock latch  140  may be positioned in the recess portion  116 . When the rotating lock latch bolt  110  is rotated to the second position with certain angle, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lock latch control mechanism  150  may rotate the swinging lock latch  140  to unlock the lock  100 . 
     Referring to back to  FIG. 5 , in certain embodiments, the first cylindrical body  112  may include a lock latch bolt gear  120  to receive rotating driving force from the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may be configured to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110 . The rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may include a lock latch bolt control gear  132  for driving the lock latch bolt gear  120  to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a first position to bolt the lock latch  140 ′, and rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a second position to release the lock latch  140 ′. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 5  while the locking mechanism is in a locked position is shown according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The sliding lock latch  140 ′ may be positioned in the recess portion  116 . When the sliding lock latch  140 ′ is in the first position (the lock  100 ′ is locked), the lock latch control mechanism  150  may rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to the first position with certain angle, as shown in  FIG. 6 , to bolt sliding lock latch  140 ′ to prevent the sliding lock latch  140 ′ from moving away from the locked position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a top view of the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 5  while the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position is shown according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The sliding lock latch  140 ′ may be positioned in the recess portion  116 . When the rotating lock latch bolt  110  is rotated to the second position with certain angle, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the sliding lock latch  140 ′ may be sliding freely up and down, and the lock latch control mechanism  150  may slide the sliding lock latch  140 ′ to unlock the lock  100 ′. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for operating a lock  100 . In certain embodiments, the method may include: receiving a passcode for the lock  100  from a user at an electronic keypad, comparing the received passcode to one or more predetermined passcodes stored in the lock  100  to determine whether the user is an authorized user, terminating when the user is not an authorized user, or performing following operations when the user is an authorized user. When the lock  100  is in a locked position, the method may include: instructing a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  to rotate a rotating lock latch bolt  110  to an unlocked position to release a lock latch  140 , displaying a message on a screen indicating that the lock  100  may be unlocked, and unlocking the lock  100  by moving the lock latch  140  to an unlocked position using a lock latch control mechanism  150 . When the lock is in an unlocked position, the method may include locking the lock  100  by moving the lock latch  140  to a locked position using the lock latch control mechanism  150 , instructing the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to a locked position to bolt the lock latch  140 , and displaying a message on the screen indicating that the lock  100  is locked. 
     In certain embodiments, the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  may include an electrical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism, and a mechanical rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch may include a rotating lock latch  140  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or a sliding lock latch  140 ′ as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In certain embodiments, the lock latch control mechanism  150  may include a manual lock latch control mechanism, an electrical lock latch control mechanism, and a mechanical lock latch control mechanism. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a flow chart illustrating a method  200  of operating a safe lock having a rotating lock latch bolt is shown according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     At block  202 , a user enters a passcode through a numerical keypad on a safe to open the safe. 
     At block  204 , a control system of the safe receives the passcode entered by the user, and proceeds to authenticate the user. The control system of the safe compares the passcode entered with one or more predetermined and pre-stored passcodes in the safe to see if the user is an authorized user. 
     At query block  206 , the control system of the safe determines whether the user is an authorized user based on the comparison at block  204 . If the user is not an authorized user, the method  200  proceeds to terminate at block  230 . If the user is not an authorized user, the method  200  proceeds to terminate at block  230 . If the user is an authorized user, the method  200  proceeds to query block  208 . 
     At query block  208 , the control system of the safe determines whether the safe lock is locked or unlocked. If the safe lock is locked, the method  200  proceeds to block  210 . If the safe lock is not locked, the method  200  proceeds to block  220 . 
     At block  210 , when the safe lock is locked, the control system of the safe may send instructions to a rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  to rotate a rotating lock latch bolt  110  to an unlocked position. 
     At block  212 , once the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  rotates the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to the unlocked position, the control system of the safe may display a message on a display screen of the safe to indicate the safe lock may be unlocked. 
     At block  214 , the user may use a lock latch control mechanism  150  to unlock the safe lock. In certain embodiments, the lock latch control mechanism  150  may include a manual lock latch control mechanism, an electrical lock latch control mechanism, and a mechanical lock latch control mechanism. The manual lock latch control mechanism and the mechanical lock latch control mechanism may be used in deadbolt locks, or key operated locks. The electrical lock latch control mechanism and mechanical lock latch control mechanism may be used in safe locks, or home automation applications. In certain embodiments, the lock latch may include a rotating lock latch  140  as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . The lock latch control mechanism  150  rotates the swinging lock latch  140  to its locked position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lock latch may also include a sliding lock latch  140 ′ as shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 . The lock latch control mechanism  150  drives the sliding lock latch  140 ′ vertically to its locked position as shown in  FIG. 6 . Once the safe lock is unlocked, the method  200  proceeds to be terminated at block  230 . 
     At block  220 , when the safe lock is unlocked, the user may use the lock latch control mechanism  150  to lock the safe lock. For the swinging lock latch, the lock latch control mechanism  150  rotates the swinging lock latch  140  to its unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 4 . For the sliding lock latch  140 ′, the lock latch control mechanism  150  drives the sliding lock latch  140 ′ vertically to its unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     At block  222 , the control system of the safe may instruct the rotating lock latch bolt control mechanism  130  to rotate the rotating lock latch bolt  110  to bolt the lock latch  140 . 
     At block  224 , the control system of the safe then may display a message on the display screen of the safe to indicate the safe lock is locked. Once the safe lock is locked, the method  200  proceeds to be terminated at block  230 . 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.