Patent Abstract:
A tubular lever lock includes a protruded connection part formed at the cross section of a pawl which slides along an inner spindle and interfaced with the operation of an eccentric hole of an operation globe. The spindles are structured to form and to protrude with a square pole passing through a latch by an appropriate distance. A key holder is formed on an outer bundle and is connected with a lock cylinder of an outer spindle, which enables a catch hub installed inwardly and elastically to rotate. With regard to the inner bundle and outer bundle, when built in, the key holder of the outer bundle causes connection with the operation globe through a square hole of a catch hub as well as a hole of the square pole.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved tubular lever lock and more particularly to a tubular lever lock including an inner bundle and an outer bundle so as to be suitable for a handicapped person and further to easily lock and unlock by using a lock cylinder. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various types of tubular lever locks are known in the art. A lever lock is generally categorized into a tubular lever lock and a cylindrical lever lock, of which merits and disadvantages are differentiated with each other. Because the cylinder lever lock contains a single bundle alone, its inner and outer plate must be equipped respectively with a lever sagging protection device. Furthermore, a device for balancing a span between the right and left plates in accordance with the thickness of a door while keeping an even distance, with its bundle centered is required. However, such a complicated configuration causes productivity to be decreased and further has a comparative disadvantage in that, in its assembly, the balancing of the empty space between the right and left is not easy to handle due to the thickness of the door. Furthermore, it has such a structure that the locking action is carried out by way of pressing a pawl and the locking is then conducted indoors with a lever rotation, thereby suiting the handicapped person. 
     But the configuration of the tubular lever lock is more relatively simplified as intended if divided into an inner bundle and an outer bundle owing to the nature of this embodiment. Basically, it has the capability of sagging protection of a lever as well as balancing the right and left intervals due to the door thickness. Furthermore, it facilitates manufacture at much lower cost, installation at the doors, if such a latently laden method is made use of, coupled with the ease of balancing the right and left intervals due to door thickness, and the selection of the lever and/or the knob or a combination of both where required. Therefore, when viewed from the public parameters, it is considered to be satisfactory in terms of function newly employed and the cost of purchase being far more economized. However, the activities of locking and unlocking are conducted by turning the pawl around, which has been appreciated thus far not to suit a handicapped person. 
     For purposes of facilitating use by a handicapped person, a square pole of a latch which connects the pawl of the inner bundle with the outer lock cylinder must maintain a connected state even when the pawl is pushed. At this junction, a lever of the outer bundle must keep a state of minimal rotation. When reset to unlock, the lever is to satisfy complicated conditions of keeping in connection with the square pole. However, up to this moment, any kind of a newly invented tubular lever lock has not been made available that meets such requisites as outlined above. In light of the production cost and other functional aspects involved, the tubular lever lock is by far superior to the cylindrical lever lock, and yet it has not been widely employed under a mere presumption that it would be inappropriate for a handicapped person. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tubular lever lock, which eliminates the above problems encountered with conventional tubular lever locks. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tubular lever lock including an inner bundle and an outer bundle suitable for handicapped persons, which is easily locked and unlocked using a lock cylinder. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a tubular lever lock which makes locking possible by pushing a pawl indoors while maintaining the existing principal functions of the tubular lever lock, which allows lock setting with a lever rotation so as to suit a handicapped person, and to enable the release of the lock setting with any elastic action of pulling a catch plate of the pawl, when lifting the lock from outside. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tubular lever lock, which is simple in structure, inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a tubular lever lock including a protruded connection part formed at the cross section of a pawl which slides along an inner spindle and interfaced with an eccentric hole of an operation globe built up inside, the spindles being structured to form and to protrude with a square pole passing through a latch in an appropriate distance, a key holder formed on an outer bundle and connected with a lock cylinder of an outer spindle in a big interval, which enables a catch hub installed inwardly and elastically to rotate. With regard to the inner bundle and outer bundle, when built in, the key holder of the outer bundle causes connection with the operation globe through a square hole of a catch hub as well as a hole of the square pole. 
     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled din the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tubular lever lock according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tubular lever lock according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tubular lever lock according to the present invention in a locked position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the tubular lever lock according to the present invention in an unlocked position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the tubular lever lock as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an inner bundle  4  and an outer bundle  6  having component parts capable of being adjusted in right and left directions, with a latch  2  centered therebetween. The inner bundle  4  and the outer bundle  6  contain first and second spindles  12  and  14  which are connected with first and second plates  8  and  10  by mutual engagement, inner and outer levers  16  and  18  which are-connected with and fixed to the spindles  12  and  14 , and first and second rotation springs  20  and  22  for returning the levers  16  and  18  to their original positions, respectively. Operation of the tubular lever lock occurs when a square pole  28  triggers a latch  2  when connected with a pawl  24  of the inner bundle  4  and a lock cylinder  26  of the outer bundle  6 , the square pole  28  penetrating a square hole  23  of the latch  2 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a connection hole  30  is disposed on both sides of an inner section of a plate  8  of the inner bundle  4 . A guide plate  32  protrudes to catch the rotation spring  20  at a central portion of a joining hole  34 . An operation chamber  40  is formed with inner and outer catch plates  36  and  38  adjoined together. Furthermore, a few separation grooves for connection with the spindle  12  are formed in the outer catch plate  38 . Accordingly, the pawl  24  sliding along the spindles  12  and  14  maintains the locked state by a catch projection  58  engaging with a protrusion  44 . The engagement is released by a separation groove  42  formed in the outer catch plate  38  when the inner lever  16  rotates. 
     The spindle  12 , which is allowed to rotate by way of the joining hole  34  of the inner plate  8 , engages with an inner portion of the joining hole  34  by a plurality of protrusions  44  formed at positions aligned with the separation groove  42 . A spring washer  46  is forcibly installed from an inner portion thereof, enabling the first plate  8  to rotate. A plurality of fixing plates  50  are formed at an end portion of the spindle  12  to connect with a first support  48 . 
     The spindle  12  is equipped with a slot  52 . With the installation of the pawl  24 , a spring  56  of a pawl case  54  supports the spring  56  from the outside so that the inner lever  16  is able to sustain the pawl  24  from the outside. At the end of the pawl  24 , a connection jack  60  is formed for connecting with an operation globe  62 . 
     The operation globe  62  is installed elastically inside the rotation spring  20  and a first spring  64 . The connection jack  60  joins with the eccentric hole  68 , the eccentric hole  68  being inclined on one side from a narrow, long connection groove  66  located in the middle of the operation globe  62 . 
     At an inner portion of the rotation spring  20 , an appropriate length of the square pole  28  remains connected to and fixed by the fixing plate  50  to the inwardly protruded support  48  to sustain the spring  64 . The rotation spring  20  is elastically installed at the support  48  and both sectional parts protrude outwardly and are supported against the guiding plate  32  of the plate  8 . This causes the connection jack  60  of the pawl  24  to be kept in constant connection with the operation globe  62  of the eccentric hole  68 . 
     The square pole  28  is connected with and fixed to the support  48  at an inner part thereof. A cylindrical guide hole  72  is penetrated and inserted by an elongated key holder  74 , which is connected with the pawl  24  of the inner bundle  4  and a lock cylinder  26  of the outer bundle  6 . Accordingly, the elongated key holder  74  is allowed to rotate. That is, the key holder  74 , which connects the lock cylinder  28  of the outer bundle  6  with the operation globe  62  of the inner bundle  4 , keeps an appropriate distance depending upon operation of the pawl  24 , and thus causes the connection to be maintained, irrespective of whether the pawl  24  is locked or released. 
     The outer bundle  6  includes protruding first and second screw tubes  76  and  78  located at a given distance. The screw tubes  76  and  78  cooperate with first and second connecting holes  30  of the inner plate  8  at right and left sides of the plate  10 , so that the screw tubes  76  and  78  intersect an elongated guiding plate  32  formed in the inner plate  10 . When the intervals are adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the middle of the door, a joining hole  80  and a catch plate  82  of the plate  10  cooperate with a plurality of protrusions  84  formed on the spindle  4 . The spindle  14 , which is formed with a plurality of fixing plates  86 , is inserted from the inner portion of the joining hole  80  and rotates with respect to the plate  10  by way of a spring washer  88  inserted forcibly from an outer end thereof. 
     The spindle  14 , is connected with an outer portion of the plate  10  by a protrusion  90  located halfway along the spindle  14 . The lock cylinder  26  is formed with a key lever  92  protruding therefrom. The lock cylinder  26  is inserted in the lever  18 , while the outer surface of the lever  18  is connected and fixed by the protrusion  90  opn the spindle  14 . 
     The elongated key holder  74 , which is connected with the pawl  24  of the inner bundle  4  and the lock cylinder  26  of the outer bundle  6 , is connected and installed by a catch hub  94 , which is mounted for rotation and sliding movement along the spindle  14 . The catch hub  94  is kept in connection with the pawl  24  and the key holder  74  by elastic installation with the spring  96 . 
     At the sectional part of the spindle  14 , a fixing plate  86  is connected with and fixed to a cylindrical hole  98  formed in a support  100 , so as to support the spring  96 . The rotation spring  22  is elastically installed at the support  100  so that both section parts protruding outwardly are sustained by the screw tubes  76  and  78  of the plate  10 . 
     The catch hub  94 , which supports the key holder  74  at one end, is made to slide to the right and left side by a guide plate  102  inserted in a protruded guide groove  104  of the spindle  14  in the horizontal direction. At the other end, the elongated key holder  74  penetrates and protrudes inwardly through the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 . At the time of catch and release of the pawl  24 , the square pole  28  of the inner bundle  4  is connected with or separated from the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 . 
     The elongated key holder  74  is formed at its rear end, with a connection groove  108  in accordance with the operation of the pawl  24 . The key lever  91  of the lock cylinder  26  is connected with the connection groove  108 . At the section part of the long connection pole connected through the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 , connection plate  110  is formed so that the square pole  28 , when in an assembly of the inner and outer bundles  4  and  6 , is connected with connection groove  66  formed in operation globe  62  of the inner bundle  4  and penetrates the guide hole  72 . The square pole  28 , when the sliding of the pawl  24  is activated for locking and releasing, is connected with or separated from the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 . The elements  124  and  126  are screw nails, respectively. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tubular lever lock according to the present invention operates as follows. First of all, the inner and outer bundles  4  and  6  are joined with a door installed with the latch  2  halfway between. The square pole  28  of the inner bundle  4  penetrates the square hole  23  of the latch  2  toward its other end. The elongated key holder  74  protruded inwardly from the outer bundle  6  is inserted into the square pole  28  of the inner bundle  4 . 
     In connection with the above, the inner bundle  4  and outer bundle  6  are assembled in a direction such that they are adjusted to straighten the connection holes  30  of the inner bundle  4  and the screw tubes  76  and  78  of the outer bundle  6 . This makes the screw tubes  76  and  78  protruding from the outer bundle  6  and the guide plate  32  protruding from the inner bundle  4  interface to guide the screw tubes  76  and  78  into cooperation with the connection holes  30 . Then, the adjustment of the inner bundle and the outer bundle in accordance with the thickness of the door is facilitated, when the assembly is completed with the elongated screws  124  and  126  inserted and fixed through the connection holes  30  of the inner plate  8 . 
     The elongated key holder  74  rotating by the lock cylinder  26  of the outer bundle  6 , when installed, is connected with the operation globe  62  through a sectional part of the connection plate  110 . A section part of the inner bundle  4  is joined with or disintegrated from the square hole  106  formed in the catch hub  94  of the outer bundle  6  depending upon a catch or release of the pawl  24 . 
     Furthermore, the catch plate  58 , which the spring  56  of the pawl case  54  supports elastically from an outward direction, when the pawl  24  is pushed from indoors, advances into the operation chamber  40  of the plate  8  and catches with the outer side of the catch plate  38 . At this time, since the connection jack  60  of the pawl  24  is already caught with a rounded edge groove amid the eccentric hole  68  of the operation globe  62  and the catch plate  58  of the pawl  24  protrudes extremely in the outward direction, the catch plate  38  is tightly operated. 
     When the pawl  24  is pushed, the operation globe  62  connected through the connection jack  60  of the section part of the pawl  24  advances forward. The advance of the operation globe  62 , the key holder  74  of the outer bundle  6  and catch hub  94  connected with the key holder  74  all retreat together. When the square pole  28  fixed to the section part thereof retracts from the square hole  106  of the retreating catch hub  94 , the outer lever  18  is kept in a locked condition with minimal rotation. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, under such a locked position, the inner lever  16  of the lock cylinder  26  is used as a means to unlock. The method of releasing the lock by use of the inner lever  16  is to simply turn around the inner lever  16  to cause the pawl  24  sliding along the guide groove  104  of the spindle  12  to rotate side by side. Furthermore, the catch plate  58  reaches the separation groove  42  formed at the outer side of the catch plate  38  of the plate  8 . The catch condition is therefore set to retreat and is relieved by the force of the spring  64 . When the pawl  24  sets back, the catch hub  94  connected with the key holder  74  advances forward by the amount of distance of the pawl  24 &#39;s retreat caused by the repelling force of the spring  64 . At this time, the sectional part of the square pole  28  of the inner bundle  4  again enters the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 , and the rotation of the outer lever  18  makes both locking and releasing possible. 
     At this time, the catch hub  94  sliding along the spindle  14  is set to be impossible to rotate, and the square pole  28  also is fixed to the spindle  12  through the support  48 . Under the state where the inner lever  16  and outer lever  18  are set to retreat, the sectional part of the square pole  28  is easily connected with or released from the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the key lever  92  of the lock cylinder  26  rotates by a key and the key holder  74  connected therewith causes the operation globe  62  to rotate, with the catch hub  94  and the square pole  28  as a supporting component. When the operation globe  62  rotates, the connection jack  60  located in the eccentric hole  68 , with the spindle  12  and the inner lever  16  in fixed condition, is drawn inwardly in the reversed catch direction of the catch plate  58  by the eccentric hole  68 . Then the catch plate  58  of the pawl  24  is set to separate from the operation chamber  40  of the plate  8  and, at the same time, the pawl  24  retreats by the repelling force of the spring  64 . Then, the locking is set to be released. In a similar manner, both the key holder  74  and catch hub  94  advance by the amount of distance of the setback of the pawl  24  due to be released by the pawl  24 , when the section part of the square pole  28  enters into the square hole  106  of the catch hub  94  and is set to the state of rotation, making locking and releasing possible by the inner lever  18 . 
     Accordingly, while satisfying principal functions of the tubular lever lock according to the present invention such as protecting drooping of the inner and outer lever  18  and adjusting the right and left intervals in accordance with the thickness of the door, locking by pressing the pawl  24  and releasing by the rotation of the inner lever  16  are easily operated by a handicapped person. When locking and releasing from the outside with the use of the lock cylinder  26  is desired, the locking is set to release with the drawing of the catch plate  58  through the eccentric hole  68  of the operation globe  62 , which makes the action of locking and releasing smoother from outside. 
     The invention being thus described, it will. be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4