Patent Publication Number: US-9845616-B2

Title: Lockset

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the technical field of mechanical locks, and particularly to a lockset. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the development of the economy and the improvement of people&#39;s living standard, the number of times of traveling is increasing. During traveling, people will generally carry suitcases which are opened or closed by a slide fastener. Therefore, to coordinate with such suitcases, there are various coded locks in the market. However, at present, the opening or closing of a suitcase is controlled by two fastener pieces, that is, a slide fastener is provided with two fastener pieces. When the two fastener pieces are brought into contact with each other, the suitcase is closed. At this moment, two slide fastener pieces need to be secured onto the coded locks. As for the present coded locks one locking position corresponds to one fastener piece, two fastener pieces need to be snapped and then locked into two locking positions, respectively. Such a coded lock has great hazards in use: first, there is still a certain unclosed clearance between the two fastener pieces, making crimes possible, for example, throwing unknown objects or the like into the suitcase through this clearance; and second, once one of the two locking positions is damaged, loss may be brought to the user if he or she may think it still works well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, an objective of the present invention is to provide a lockset capable of achieving locking by two fastener pieces, safe use and easy operation. 
     The present invention employs the following technical solutions. 
     A lockset is provided, including an upper shell and a bottom plate which are fixedly connected to each other, an accommodating space being formed between the upper shell and the bottom plate, a jack being provided on the surface of the upper shell, a locking mechanism being provided within the accommodating space, the locking mechanism including a locking hook fitted with the jack and a control device for controlling the locking hook to move, the locking hook including a hook portion accessible to the underneath of the jack and a connection portion controlled by the control device, the hook portion being able to move toward one side of the jack when a code is correct, the connection portion being limited by the control device and the hook portion being limited underneath the jack when the code is wrong, wherein a side plate is provided on the front side of the hook portion, the side plate includes an inclined portion located at an upper end and a vertical portion located at a lower end, and the upper end of the inclined portion is inclined outward. 
     Further, the control device includes a code mechanism, the code mechanism including a number of code wheels, a switch member for controlling the motion of a moving portion of the locking hook and an elastic member for assisting the resetting of the switch member, the switch member being in interlocked connection with the moving portion of the locking hook; when the code is correct, the switch member is located in an unlocked position and the locking hook may move with respect to the jack to realize unlocking; and, when the code is wrong, the switch member is located in a locked position, the locking hook is limited, and the hook portion is located underneath the jack. 
     Further, the switch member is a shaft lever on which the code wheels are sheathed; when the code is correct, the shaft lever may move with respect to the code wheels; and, when the code is wrong, the shaft lever is limited. 
     Further, a spring strip is provided underneath the code mechanism, the spring strip including a fixed portion and an elastic portion fitted with the code wheels, the fixed portion being fixed on the bottom plate and the elastic portion being against the code wheels. 
     Furthermore, the code mechanism further includes a code adjustment structure, code adjustment wheels being provided inside the code wheels; a reset spring for resetting the shaft lever is provided at one end of the shaft lever while a code adjustment device is provided at the other end thereof, the code adjustment device including a code adjustment block and a code adjustment switch block; a shaft hole fitted with the shaft lever is provided on the code adjustment block, and a first slope for pushing the code adjustment block towards the code wheels is provided at the upper end of the code adjustment block; a second slope fitted with the first slope is provided at the lower end of the code adjustment switch block, and the first slope is against the second slope; a code adjustment hole fitted with the code adjustment switch block is provided on the upper shell; during code adjustment, the code wheels are rotated to correct positions first, then the code adjustment switch block is pressed to push the code adjustment block to move towards the code wheels and thus push the code adjustment wheels to move and press against the reset spring; after the code adjustment wheels are moved, the code wheels may be rotated with respect to the code adjustment wheels for code adjustment; at the end of code adjustment, the code adjustment switch block is loosened, and both the code adjustment wheels and the code adjustment switch reset under the action of the reset spring, so that the code adjustment is completed. 
     Further, the control device includes a lock cylinder device including a lock cylinder, and the lock cylinder is in interlocked connection to the connection portion of the locking hook; and, when the lock cylinder device is unlocked, the locking hook may move with respect to the jack. 
     Further, the control device further includes a locking block and a pushing mechanism, a lock cylinder jacket fixedly connected to the lock cylinder being provided at the lower end of the pushing mechanism; a movement space for allowing the lock cylinder device to move is provided inside the accommodating space; the lock cylinder is connected to a rotating block, a perforation and a moving hole fitted with the rotating block being provided in the middle of the locking block, the rotating block being inserted into the perforation, one end of the shaft lever being against the locking block, the moving portion of the locking hook being in interlocked connection to the lock cylinder; during unlocking with a code, the pushing mechanism may drive the lock cylinder device to move and the lock cylinder drives the locking hook to move so as to realize unlocking; when the lock cylinder device is unlocked, the rotating block may move with respect to the moving hole; the lock cylinder device may move with respect to the locking block and the lock cylinder drives the locking hook to move so as to realize unlocking; and, during locking, the shaft lever is limited and the rotating block is limited inside the perforation. 
     Further, the lock cylinder device further includes a connection block located underneath the locking block, a round hole fitted with the rotating block being provided at one end of the connection block while a recess being provided at the lower end of the other end thereof; and, a bump fitted with the recess is provided in the moving portion, the bump being inserted into the recess. 
     Further, a press block is provided underneath the code adjustment block, a positioning column is provided at the lower end of the code adjustment switch block, a positioning groove fitted with the positioning column is provided on the press block, and the positioning column of the code adjustment block is inserted into the positioning groove. 
     Further, an ejector block located underneath the hook portion of the locking hook is provided inside the jack, and an elastic member for ejecting the ejector block is provided between the ejector block and the bottom plate. 
     Further, the lockset further includes a lower shell fixedly connected to the upper shell. 
     The present invention has the following advantages: as the side plate of the jack is provided with its upper end being inclined outward, two fastener pieces may be easily locked when in use, and thus the slide fastener with two fastener pieces is easier for locking. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart of fitting with two fastener pieces according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a structural diagram of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a structural diagram of the present invention, where an upper shell is removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a structural diagram of the present invention, where a lower shell and a pushing mechanism are removed; and 
         FIG. 5  is a breakdown structural diagram of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       1 —Upper shell;  1 —Jack;  111 —Inclined portion;  112 —Vertical portion;  2 —Locking hook;  21 —Bump;  22 —Connection portion;  23 —Hook portion;  3 —Shaft lever;  31 —Motion groove;  32 —Moving groove;  4 —Locking block;  41 —Perforation;  42 —Moving hole;  5 —Connection block;  51 —Round hole;  6 —Code adjustment wheel;  61 —Fixture block;  7 —Code adjustment block;  71 —First slope;  8 —Code adjustment switch block;  81 —Second slope;  82 —Positioning column;  9 —Spring strip;  91 —Fixed portion;  92 —Elastic portion;  10 —Lock cylinder;  101 —Rotating block;  20 —Pushing mechanism;  30 —Bottom plate;  40 —Lower shell;  50 —Reset spring;  60 —Code wheel;  70 —Ejector block;  80 —Press block;  801 —Positioning groove;  90 —Elastic member; and,  100 —Fastener piece. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be further described as below with reference to the drawings by embodiments. 
     Embodiment 1: as Illustrated in FIG.  1  to FIG.  5   
     A lockset is provided, including an upper shell  1  and a bottom plate  30  which are fixedly connected to each other. An accommodating space is formed between the upper shell  1  and the bottom plate  30 . A jack  11  is provided on the surface of the upper shell  1 . A locking mechanism is provided within the accommodating space. The locking mechanism includes a locking hook  2  fitted with the jack  11  and a control device for controlling the locking hook  2  to move. The locking hook  2  includes a hook portion  23  accessible to the underneath of the jack  11  and a connection portion  22  controlled by the control device. When a code is correct, the hook portion  23  is able to move toward one side of the jack  11 ; and, when the code is wrong, the connection portion  22  is limited by the control device and the hook portion  23  is limited underneath the jack  11 . A side plate is provided in the jack  11  on the front side of the hook portion  23 . The side plate includes an inclined portion  111  located at an upper end and a vertical portion  112  located at a lower end. The upper end of the inclined portion  111  is inclined outward. 
     When in design, the side plate of the jack  11  is designed to have an inclined upper end portion and a vertical lower end portion. Consequently, when it is needed to insert the fastener pieces  100 , two fastener pieces  100  may be disorderly inserted into the jack  11  and then snapped, including the following two operations: 
     1) Where the right fastener piece  100  is snapped into the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  first and then the left fastener piece  100 , the operation is very simple, and it is only needed to push the right fastener piece  100  and the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  rightward together, with the locking plate of the right fastener piece  100  being snapped into the hook portion  23  all the time during the pushing process; when the left fastener piece  100  enters a locking position, the locking hook  2  is reset, and, the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  passes through a perforation  41  of the right fastener piece  100  to a perforation  41  of the left fastener piece  100  and thus snaps the left fastener piece  100 . 
     2) As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where the left fastener piece  100  is snapped into the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  first, the lower end portion of the left fastener piece  100  will be against the vertical portion  112  of the lower end of the side plate of the jack  11 , and the left fastener piece  100  is in a vertical state (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 - a ); then, the right fastener piece  100  is ready to be inserted into the jack  11 . When inserted into the jack  11 , the right fastener piece  100  will resist against the upper end of the left fastener piece  100  in the jack  11 . As the upper end of the jack  11  is designed inclined, the right fastener piece  100  will squeeze the left fastener piece  100  and make the left fastener piece  100  inclined, and the friction between the left fastener piece  100  and the side plate of the jack is thus increased (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 - b ). The right fastener piece  100  is brought into contact with the hook portion  23  and gradually pushes the hook portion  23  rightward, so that the hook portion  23  moves rightward. Until the hook portion  23  leaves the perforation  41  of the left fastener piece  100  and gradually leaves the underneath of the jack  11  (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 - c ), the lower end portion of the right fastener piece  100  enters the underneath of the jack  11 . Upon entering the underneath of the jack  11 , the lower end portion of the right fastener piece  100  squeezes the end portion of the left fastener piece  100 , so that the lower end portion of the left fastener piece  100  resists against the vertical portion  112  of the side plate of the jack  11 , and the left fastener piece  100  is in a vertical state (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 - d ). Subsequently, the locking hook  2  is reset, with its hook portion  23  being gradually inserted into the perforations  41  of both the right fastener piece  10030  and the left fastener piece  100  so as to realize the snap-in connection of the two fastener pieces  100  (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 - e ). During this process, the left fastener piece  100  is squeezed by the right fastener piece  100  all the rime, resulting in a large friction between the left fastener piece  100  and the side plate of the jack  11 , thus preventing the left fastener piece  100  from falling off or disengaging during this process. In order to better snap the two fastener pieces  100  together, the width of the lower end of the jack  11  is equal or equivalent to the sum of the widths of the two fastener pieces  100 . As a result, the right fastener piece  100  squeezes the left fastener piece  100  all the time after inserted. During a specific implementation, a side plate is further provided on the other side of the jack  11 , and a through hole for allowing the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  to move is provided in the middle of the side plate. Thus, a spacing of the lower end of the jack  11  may be controlled. 
     To conveniently move the locking hook  2 , an elastic member  90  for resetting the locking hook  2  is provided within the accommodating space. 
     Further, the control device includes a code mechanism. The code mechanism includes a number of code wheels  60 , a switch member for controlling the motion of a moving portion of the locking hook  2  and an elastic member  90  for assisting the resetting of the switch member. The switch member is in interlocked connection with the moving portion of the locking hook  2 . When the code is correct, the switch member is located in an unlocked position and the locking hook  2  may move with respect to the jack to realize unlocking; and, when the code is wrong, the switch member is located in a locked position, the locking hook  2  is limited, and the hook portion  23  is located underneath the jack  11 . 
     The switch member used herein may be a locking plate, the movement of which is controlled by the code wheels  60 . When the code is correct, the locking plate is in an unlocked position, the moving portion of the locking hook  2  is separated from or dislocated with the locking plate, and the locking hook  2  may move with respect to the jack  11  so as to realize unlocking. When the code is wrong, the locking plate is in a locked position, the locking plate is against or adjoins to the moving portion, and the locking hook  2  cannot move with respect to the jack  11  so as to realize locking. 
     Further, the switch member is a shaft lever  3  on which the code wheels  60  are sheathed. When the code is correct, the shaft lever  3  may move with respect to the code wheels  60 ; and, when the code is wrong, the shaft lever  3  is limited. 
     In the design of the code mechanism, a moving groove  32  may be transversely provided on the shaft lever  3 , and fixture blocks  61  fitted with the moving groove  32  may be provided on the inside surfaces of the code wheels  60 . Meanwhile, an annular motion groove  31 , in which the fixture blocks  61  are located, is provided on the shaft lever  3 . When the code is correct, the fixture blocks  61  are located at an overlapped portion of the motion groove  31  and the moving groove  32 . 
     Further, a spring strip  9  is provided underneath the code mechanism, the spring strip  9  including a fixed portion  91  and an elastic portion  92  fitted with the code wheels  60 , the fixed portion  91  being fixed on the bottom plate  30  and the elastic portion  92  being against the code wheels  60 . 
     The arrangement of the spring strip  9  makes the rotation of the code wheels  60  more stable and realizes a good hand-feeling. 
     Furthermore, the code mechanism further includes a code adjustment structure. Code adjustment wheels  6  are sheathed inside the code wheels  60 . A reset spring  50  for resetting the shaft lever  3  is provided at one end of the shaft lever  3 , while a code adjustment device is provided at the other end thereof. The code adjustment device includes a code adjustment block  7  and a code adjustment switch block  8 . A shaft hole fitted with the shaft lever  3  is provided on the code adjustment block  7 , and a first slope  71  for pushing the code adjustment block  7  towards the code wheels  60  is provided at the upper end of the code adjustment block  7 . A second slope  81  fitted with the first slope  71  is provided at the lower end of the code adjustment switch block  8 , and the first slope  71  is against the second slope  8 . A code adjustment hole fitted with the code adjustment switch block  8  is provided on the upper shell  1 . During code adjustment, the code wheels  60  are rotated to correct positions first, and then the code adjustment switch block  8  is pressed to push the code adjustment block  7  to move towards the code wheels  60  and thus push the code adjustment wheels  6  to move and press against the reset spring  50 . After the code adjustment wheels  6  are moved, the code wheels  60  may be rotated with respect to the code adjustment wheels  6  for code adjustment. At the end of code adjustment, the code adjustment switch block  8  is loosened, and both the code adjustment wheels  6  and the code adjustment switch reset under the action of the reset spring  50 , so that the code adjustment is completed. 
     During specific arrangement, two regions are reserved on the surface of each of the code adjustment wheels  6 . When the code is wrong, the code wheels  60  are connected to the code adjustment wheels  6 , and the code wheels  60  drive the code adjustment wheels  6  to rotate. During code adjustment, the code adjustment wheels  6  are pushed to move by the code adjustment block  7 . At this time, the code wheels  60  is unable to move due to the limitation of the code wheels  60  holes of the upper shell  1 , so that the code wheels  60  are moved to the other region on the surfaces of the code adjustment wheels  60 , and the code wheels  60  may be rotated with respect to the code adjustment wheels  6 . After the code wheels  6  are set, fixture blocks  61  for controlling the movement of the shaft lever  3  are provided on the inside surfaces of the code adjustment wheels  6 . That is, the fixture blocks  61  of the code wheels  60  are provided on the code adjustment wheels  6 . 
     Further, the control device includes a lock cylinder  10  device including a lock cylinder  10 , and the lock cylinder  10  is in interlocked connection to the connection portion  22  of the locking hook  2 ; and, when the lock cylinder  10  device is unlocked, the locking hook  2  may move with respect to the jack  11 . 
     When the lock cylinder  10  device is employed, the movement of the locking hook  2  is controlled by the lock cylinder  10  device. 
     Further, the control device further includes a locking block  4  and a pushing mechanism  20 . A lock cylinder  10  jacket fixedly connected to the lock cylinder  10  is provided at the lower end of the pushing mechanism  20 . A movement space for allowing the lock cylinder  10  device to move is provided inside the accommodating space. The lock cylinder  10  is connected to a rotating block  101 . A perforation  41  fitted with the rotating block  101  and a moving hole  42  communicated with the perforation  41  are provided in the middle of the locking block  4 . The rotating block  101  is inserted into the perforation  41 . One end of the shaft lever  3  is against the locking block  4 . The moving portion of the locking hook is in interlocked connection to the lock cylinder  10 . During unlocking with a code, the pushing mechanism  20  may drive the lock cylinder  10  device to move and the lock cylinder  10  drives the locking hook  2  to move so as to realize unlocking. When the lock cylinder  10  device is unlocked, the rotating block  101  may move with respect to the moving hole  42 . The lock cylinder  10  device may move with respect to the locking block  4  and the lock cylinder  10  drives the locking hook  2  to move so as to realize unlocking. During locking, the shaft lever  3  is limited and the rotating block  101  is limited inside the perforation  41 . The rotating block  101  may be of a cuboid or cam structure. 
     Through the arrangement of the locking block  4 , the pushing mechanism  20  and the like, a combination lock is formed, that is, the lock may be opened with a code or a key. During specific operation, the locking hook  2  is connected to the lock cylinder  10  via the connection portion  22 , and the locking hook is driven to move by the transverse movement of the lock cylinder  10  so as to realize unlocking. To enable the lock cylinder  10  to move, there are following two technical solutions. First, unlocking with a code: after unlocking with a code, the shaft lever  3  may move with respect to the code wheels  60  or the code adjustment wheels  6 , so that the shaft lever  3  may push the lock cylinder  10  device to move transversely, and the lock cylinder  10  drives the locking hook  2  to move to realize unlocking. Second, unlocking with a key: after the lock cylinder  10  device is unlocked, the rotating block  101  is fitted with the moving hole  42 , so that the rotating block  101  may move within the moving hole  42 . At this time, although the locking block  4  is against the shaft lever  3  and the shaft lever  3  is limited, the loch cylinder  10  device may still be pushed, the rotating block  101  enters the moving hole  42  through the perforation  41 , and the lock cylinder  10  drives the locking hook  2  to move so as to realize unlocking. Next, the reset spring  50  may be sheathed on the shaft lever  3  and located between the locking block  4  and the code wheels  60 . During unlocking with a code, the shaft lever  3  is moved and then compresses the reset spring  50 . After unlocking, the shaft lever  3  resets through the reset spring  50 . Of course, the reset spring  50  may also be provided between the locking block  4  and the shaft lever  3 . 
     Further, the lock cylinder  10  device further includes a connection block  5  located underneath the locking block  4 ; a round hole  51  fitted with the rotating block  101  is provided at one end of the connection block  5  while a recess is provided at the lower end of the other end thereof; and, a bump  21  fitted with the jack  11  is provided in the moving portion, and the bump  21  is inserted into the recess. 
     The arrangement of the connection block  5  and the bump  21  is convenient for the connection of the lock cylinder  10  to the moving portion, so that interlock is formed between the lock cylinder  10  and the moving portion. 
     Further, a press block  80  is provided underneath the code adjustment block  7 , a positioning column  82  is provided at the lower end of the code adjustment switch block  8 , a positioning groove  801  fitted with the positioning column  82  is provided on the press block  80 , and the positioning column  82  of the code adjustment block  8  is inserted into the positioning groove  801 . 
     During code adjustment, the code adjustment switch block  8  and the code adjustment block  7  will move with respect to each other. To remain the motion orientation of the code adjustment switch block  8  and prevent the code adjustment switch block  8  from shifting, the press block  80 , the positioning column  82  and the positioning groove  801  are provided. 
     Further, an ejector block  70  located underneath the hook portion  23  of the locking hook  2  is provided inside the jack  11 , and an elastic member  90  for ejecting the ejector block  70  is provided between the ejector block  70  and the bottom plate  30 . 
     After the arrangement of the ejector block  70 , during unlocking, the ejector block  70  bounces the fastener pieces  100 , so that it is convenient to use. The elastic member  90  may be a spring, a spring strip, etc. 
     Further, the lockset further includes a lower shell  40  fixedly connected to the upper shell  30 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in details, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent replacements may be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the essence and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.