Abstract:
A bathroom lock device includes an inner lock assembly, an outer actuating wheel and a latch unit. The inner lock assembly is consisted of an actuating press rod, an unlocking cam and an inner actuating wheel, which constitutes a press-button mechanism. In locking operation, the actuating press rod is pressed to limit rotation of the outer actuating wheel and to rest in lock stage. In unlocking operation, an inner lever is operated to successively actuate the unlocking cam and the inner actuating wheel for rotation. Thus, the preceding rotation of the unlocking cam can push the actuating press rod to rest in unlock stage, and the following rotation of the inner actuating wheel can drive the latch unit for retraction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to a bathroom lock device. More particularly, the present invention is related to the bathroom lock device having a press-button mechanism for an inner lock assembly to simplify the entire structure and locking/unlocking operation.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,231, issued on May 27, 2003 to Huang, titled “LOCK STRUCTURE FOR BATHROOM USE,” discloses a lock structure which includes an inner rose  10 , an outer rose  20 , an inner lock assembly  30  and an outer lock assembly  40 . The inner lock assembly  30  and the outer lock assembly  40  are disposed between the inner rose  10  and the outer rose  20 . In locking operation, users located in the bathroom can operate the inner lock assembly  30  to lock a bathroom door (not shown). In next unlocking operation, the users located in the bathroom can turn an inner lever  11  or an inner knob of the inner lock assembly  30  to unlock the bathroom door. When the bathroom door is inadvertently locked by accident, an appropriated tool is used to turn the outer lock assembly  40  to unlock it from the outside of the bathroom.  
         [0005]     The inner lock assembly  30  is a rotatable actuating mechanism and includes an inner actuating rod  31 , a positioning member  32 , an inner control gear  33 , an elastic member  34  and an inner actuating wheel  35 . The inner actuating rod  31  is extended through an aperture  321  of the positioning member  32  to actuate the inner control gear  33  for rotation. The positioning member  32  is mounted in the inner rose  10 , and provided with an unlocking groove  322  and a locking groove  323 . The inner control gear  33  has an engaging protrusion  331  facing to the positioning member  32 , and a plurality of teeth  332  provided on its outer periphery. The elastic member  34  is elastically abutted against the inner control gear  33  so that the engaging protrusion  331  can be selectively engaged with the unlocking groove  322  or the locking groove  323 . The inner actuating wheel  35  is rotated by an inner spindle  12 , and provided with a notch  351  and a plurality of teeth  352 . The unlocking groove  322  and the locking groove  323  has an axial distance therebetween so as to reciprocate the positioning member  32  between unlock stage and lock stage. Namely, in unlocking operation, the engaging protrusion  331  of the inner control gear  33  is engaged with the unlocking groove  322  of the positioning member  32  so that the teeth  332  of the inner control gear  33  can be disengaged from the notch  351  of the inner actuating wheel  35 . Consequently, it allows rotation of the inner spindle  12  and the outer spindle  22  for unlocking operation. In locking operation, the engaging protrusion  331  of the inner control gear  33  is engaged with the locking groove  323  of the positioning member  32  by turning an angular movement of  90  degrees of the inner actuating rod  31  so that the teeth  332  of the inner control gear  33  is engaged with the notch  351  of the inner actuating wheel  35 . Consequently, it prevents from rotation of the outer spindle  22 . Meanwhile, the inner control gear  33  is confronted with the outer lock assembly  40  for unlock operation from the outside.  
         [0006]     However, the entire lock structure is sophisticated although users can turn the inner actuating rod  31  of the inner lock assembly  30  for locking operation and the inner lever  11  for unlocking operation. This results in an increase in the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, by use such a lock structure, users must turn an angular movement of 90 degrees of the inner actuating rod  31  for unlocking operation that is inconvenient to children, old people, handicapped people and maimed people etc. Moreover, the teeth  332 ,  352  of the inner control gear  33  and the inner actuating wheel  35  are easy to be deformed and destroyed, and the positioning member  32  may be broken along the unlocking groove  322  when it is impacted. This may result in a decrease in the useful life of the lock structure. Hence, there is a need for an improvement of the conventional lock structure.  
         [0007]     The present invention intends to provide a bathroom lock device which includes an inner lock assembly. The inner lock assembly simply employs a actuating press rod, an unlocking cam and an inner actuating wheel to constitute a press-button mechanism. In locking operation, pressing the actuating press rod can rapidly change to lock stage. In unlocking operation, pressing an inner lever can operate the unlocking cam to return to unlock stage. Thereby, the bathroom lock of the present invention is simplified, convenient for use, suitable for mass production and long-term use in such a way to mitigate and overcome the above problem.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The primary objective of this invention is to provide a bathroom lock device having an inner lock assembly, which employs an actuating press rod, an unlocking cam and an inner actuating wheel to constitute a press-button mechanism. In operation, users can easily press the actuating press rod to lock the bathroom lock device that simplifies the entire structure and convenient for operation.  
         [0009]     The bathroom lock device in accordance with the present invention includes an inner lock assembly, an outer actuating wheel and a latch unit. The inner lock assembly is consisted of an actuating press rod, an unlocking cam and an inner actuating wheel, which constitutes a press-button mechanism. In locking operation, the actuating press rod is pressed to limit rotation of the outer actuating wheel and to rest in lock stage. In unlocking operation, an inner lever is operated to successively actuate the unlocking cam and the inner actuating wheel for rotation. Thus, the preceding rotation of the unlocking cam can press the actuating press rod to rest in unlock stage, and the following rotation of the inner actuating wheel can drive the latch unit for retraction.  
         [0010]     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings herein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a lock structure for bathroom use in accordance with the prior art;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a bathroom lock device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the bathroom lock device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A in  FIG. 3 , of the bathroom lock device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 4 , of the bathroom lock device in unlocking operation in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 3 , of the bathroom lock device in unlocking operation in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 4 , of the bathroom lock device driving a latch unit in unlocking operation in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a bathroom lock device in accordance with the present invention includes an inner rose  50 , an outer rose  60 , an inner lock assembly  70 , an outer actuating wheel  80 , a latch unit  90  and a spindle  91 . The inner rose  50  has an axial hole through which to extend an inner shaft  52 . The inner shaft  52  has a first end connected to an inner lever  51 , and a second end formed with a pair of assembling walls  521  and a pair of slots  522  defined therebetween. The outer rose  60  has an axial hole through which to extend an outer shaft  62 . The outer shaft  62  has a first end connected to an outer lever  61 , and a second end formed with a pair of assembling walls  621 . Furthermore, the outer rose  60  is formed with an aperture  63 . The inner lock assembly  70  is consisted of an actuating press rod  71 , an unlocking cam  72 , an inner actuating wheel  73 , an elastic member  74  and a clip member  75 , which constitutes a press-button mechanism for shifting between lock stage and unlock stage. The detailed construction of the inner lock assembly  70  will further be described below.  
         [0020]     The outer actuating wheel  80  has a pair of curved holes  81 . Each of the curved holes  81  is adapted to receive the corresponding assembling wall  621  of the outer shaft  62 . The latch unit  90  allows extension of the spindle  91  and thus a rotational movement of the spindle  91  is able to retract or extend a latch bolt (not shown) of the latch unit  90  so as to situate in unlock stage or lock stage.  
         [0021]     Construction of the inner lock assembly  70  shall be described in more detail, referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The actuating press rod  71  is provided with a press button  711 , a connecting shank  712 , an unlocking block  713 , a locking block  714 , a releasing groove  715 , and at least two positioning recessions  716 . The press button  711  is mounted on an aperture  501  of the inner rose  50  for allowing users&#39; press operation. The connecting shank  712  is aligned with the aperture  63  of the outer rose  60  when assembled. The aperture  63  allows an appropriated tool to extend through it for actuating the connecting shank  712  for unlocking operation when the inner lock assembly  70  is inadvertently locked by accident. The unlocking block  713  is an upright block having a pair of inclined surfaces and the locking block  714  is a longitudinal block having a pair of inclined surfaces. The releasing groove  715  is located on the connecting shank  712  proximate the locking block  714 . The positioning recessions  716  are located at an underside of the actuating press rod  71 . The unlocking cam  72  has a pair of lugs  721 , an opening  722  and a pair of engaging teeth  723 . In operation, the lugs  721  are pushing the inclined surfaces of the unlocking block  713  so that rotation of the lugs  721  results in a longitudinal movement of the actuating press rod  71  to the inner lever  51 . The opening  722  and the engaging teeth  723  are securely connected with the assembling walls  521  and the slots  522  to form a tightly assembled relationship so that the unlocking cam  72  and the inner shaft  52  are operated in synchronous movement. The inner actuating wheel  73  has a notch  731 , a non-circular hole  732 , a pair of curved holes  733  and a plurality of protrusions  734 . In lock stage, the notch  731  is engaged with the locking block  714  of the actuating press rod  71  which limits rotation of the inner actuating wheel  73 . The non-circular hole  732  is combined with the spindle  91  so that the inner actuating wheel  73  and the spindle  91  have an assembled relationship. The curved holes  733  are loose-fitted with the assembling wall  521  of the inner shaft  52  to form a loose-assembled relationship. Each of the curved holes  733  has an arc length greater than that of the assembling wall  521  so as to allow a predetermined angular movement of the assembling wall  521  within the curved holes  733 . In rotational operation, each of the assembling walls  521  is initially confronted with an end of each of the curved hole  733  and thus driven the inner actuating wheel  73  for rotation. Preferably, a series of the protrusions  734  are equi-spaced at one side and contacted with the unlocking cam  72  to thereby maintain a distance therebetween. Consequently, correct alignment of the inner actuating wheel  73  and the unlocking cam  72  with the locking block  714  and the unlocking block  713  is insured.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the elastic member  74  has an ordinary form of a spring, such as a coil spring, and is forcibly returning rotation of the unlocking cam  72  and the inner actuating wheel  73 .  
         [0023]     The clip member  75  is mounted in the inner rose  50  and fixed on one of the positioning recessions  716  of the actuating press rod  71  to ensure it located at a locking position or an unlocking position.  
         [0024]     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the drawings illustrate the bathroom lock device, which is situated in lock stage, in accordance with the present invention. Users located in the bathroom can press the press button  711  of the actuating press rod  71  to move a predetermined longitudinal distance to the outer lever  61 . This results in an engagement of the locking block  714  of the actuating press rod  71  with the notch  731  of the inner actuating wheel  73 . Thereby, the actuating press rod  71  limits all rotations of the inner actuating wheel  73 , the spindle  91 , the latch unit  90 , the outer actuating wheel  80  and the outer lever  61  for locking purpose, as shown in  FIG. 3 . An operator located at the outside of the bathroom cannot rotate the outer lever  61  since the assembled relationship of the outer shaft  62 , the spindle  91  and the inner actuating wheel  73  which is limited by the locking block  714  of the actuating press rod  71 . Under these conditions, such as an irrotational movement of the spindle  91 , the latch unit  90  is situated in lock stage.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the drawings illustrate the bathroom lock device, which is situated in unlock stage, in accordance with the present invention. In unlocking operation, in addition to extract the actuating press rod  71 , users located in the bathroom can rotate the inner lever  51  for returning the actuating press rod  71  from the lock stage to the unlock stage.  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , when the rotation of the inner lever  51  drives the inner shaft  52 , the assembling wall  521  of the inner shaft  52  firstly actuates the unlocking cam  72  for rotation. Due to the loose-assembled relationship, the rotation of the assembling wall  521  of the inner shaft  52  can still not actuate the inner actuating wheel  73  unless the a predetermined angular rotation of the unlocking cam  72  has been carried out. At that time, the assembling wall  521  of the inner shaft  52  is still spaced from the end of the curved hole  733  of the inner actuating wheel  73 . Consequently, the engagement of the notch  731  of the inner actuating wheel  73  with the locking block  714  of the actuating press rod  71  results in a stationary state of the inner actuating wheel  73 . Further turning the inner lever  51 , the lug  721  of the unlocking cam  72  pushes the inclined surface of the unlocking block  713  of the actuating press rod so as to forcibly move the actuating press rod  71  backward a longitudinal distance, as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0027]     Once the assembling wall  521  of the inner shaft  52  drives the unlocking cam  72  a predetermined angular movement and returns the actuating press rod  71 , it can engage with the end of the curved hole  733  of the inner actuating wheel  73 . This causes a disengagement of the notch  731  from the locking block  714  of the actuating press rod  71  and a rotation of the inner actuating wheel  73 , together with the rotation of the unlocking cam  72 . Since the actuating press rod  71  is returned and the releasing groove  715  of the actuating press rod  71  is aligned with the inner actuating wheel  73 , it allows rotation of the inner actuating wheel  73  through the releasing groove  715 . Finally, the rotations of the inner actuating wheel  73  and the spindle  91  drive the latch unit  90  to retract the dead bolt for opening the bathroom door.  
         [0028]     By use such an inner lock assembly  70 , the present invention accomplishes a simplified structure and it is convenient for use to children, old people, handicapped people and maimed people etc.  
         [0029]     The conventional lock structure, as shown in  FIG. 1 , has an increase of components, a sophisticated structure, inconvenient use and a weakened structure. In comparison with the conventional lock structure, the bathroom lock device has an inner lock assembly consisted of the actuating press rod  71 , the unlocking cam  72  and the inner actuating wheel  73  to constitute a press-button mechanism.  
         [0030]     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.