Patent Description:
With reference to <FIG>, a conventional disc tumbler cylinder lock has a lock sleeve (not shown in drawings) and a lock cylinder <NUM> mounted in the lock sleeve. The lock cylinder <NUM> has a lock cylinder frame <NUM>, multiple discs <NUM>, multiple gaskets <NUM>, and a needle roller <NUM>. An end of the lock cylinder frame <NUM> forms an accommodating space <NUM>, a position limiting opening <NUM>, and an accommodating opening <NUM>. Another end of the lock cylinder frame <NUM> forms a tongue fixing rod <NUM>. A tongue (not shown in drawings) and a position limiting sheet are configured to be installed on the tongue fixing rod <NUM>. Each of the discs <NUM> has a key hole. An outer annular surface of each of the discs <NUM> forms a protrusion <NUM> and a disc notch <NUM>. An outer annular surface of each of the gaskets <NUM> forms a positioning segment <NUM> protruding and shaped as an annular sector. The discs <NUM> and the gaskets <NUM> are staggeredly accommodated in the accommodating space <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> abuts a side of the position limiting opening <NUM>. The disc notches <NUM> are staggered when viewed from a side. Two sides of the positioning segments <NUM> respectively abut two sides of the position limiting opening <NUM>. The needle roller <NUM> is mounted in the accommodating opening <NUM>.

For unlocking, a key (not shown in drawings) is inserted into the key hole of the discs <NUM>, and then the key is rotated <NUM> degrees clockwise. Serrations of the key corresponding in positions to the discs <NUM> push the discs <NUM> till the disc notches <NUM> of the discs <NUM> are aligned. Then, the needle roller <NUM> is allowed to move into the disc notches <NUM> so that the lock cylinder <NUM> is allowed to rotate relative to the lock sleeve, thereby unlocking the lock.

By changing the number of the discs <NUM> and the positions of the disc notches <NUM> on the discs <NUM>, the conventional disc tumbler cylinder lock can achieve good anti-theft effect, so the conventional disc tumbler cylinder lock is often used in cabinets and vehicles with high anti-theft requirements.

However, the aforementioned lock cylinder does not have any spring, such that when the conventional disc tumbler cylinder lock is impacted with strong vibration such as vibration due to poor road conditions, the discs <NUM> might rotate unexpectedly, which makes it difficult or even impossible to insert the key, or makes the key turned but without being inserted to the end, causing the key to be damaged or broken.

To sum up, the conventional disc tumbler cylinder lock needs to be improved.

In addition, a disc tumbler lock according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>, which describes a multiple gasket arrangement with position limiting segments and rotaion limiting segments for preventing the discs from rotating unexpectedly.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a disc tumbler cylinder lock to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems in an alternative way.

The main objective of the present invention is thus to provide a disc tumbler cylinder lock with an alternative arrangement for preventing the discs from rotating unexpectedly.

The disc tumbler cylinder lock has a lock sleeve, a lock cylinder base, multiple discs, multiple gaskets, and a needle roller. The lock sleeve is a hollow tube. An end of the lock cylinder base forms an accommodating space, a position limiting opening, and an accommodating opening. Another end of the lock cylinder base forms a fixing rod. The lock cylinder base is rotatably mounted in the lock sleeve. Each of the discs has a key hole, a position limiting protrusion, and a disc notch. The key hole is formed through the disc. The position limiting protrusion protrudes from an outer annular surface of the disc. The disc notch is concaved from the outer annular surface of the disc. Each of the gaskets has a ring body, a position limiting segment, a rotation limiting segment, and a concave segment. The ring body is a ring. The position limiting segment protrudes outward from an outer annular surface of the ring body along a radial direction. The rotation limiting segment protrudes from the position limiting segment along an axial direction of the lock sleeve. The concave segment is concaved from the outer annular surface of the ring body. The discs and the gaskets are staggeredly accommodated in the accommodating space. A side surface of the position limiting protrusion abuts a side surface of the position limiting opening. Two sides of the position limiting segment abut two opposite side edges of the position limiting opening. The rotation limiting segment is adjacent to another side surface of the position limiting protrusion. A needle roller is mounted in the accommodating opening. In contrast to the state of the art, each of the gaskets has a gasket notch concaved inward. The rotation limiting segment is a bent sheet protruding from the gasket notch along the axial direction of the lock sleeve.

Since each of the gaskets has a rotation limiting segment, when the disc tumbler cylinder lock is in a locked state, the rotation limiting segment and a side surface of the position limiting opening of the lock cylinder base can limit the position limiting protrusion of the discs to significantly reduce the rotation of the discs upon impacted, thereby enhancing structural stability. Besides, since the rotation limiting segment is a spring sheet, when a user turns the key to rotate the discs, the position limiting protrusion of the discs can easily push and deform the rotation limiting segment to slide over the rotation limiting segment, thereby reducing the rotational resistance upon turning the key.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

With reference to <FIG>, a disc tumbler cylinder lock in accordance with the present invention comprises a lock sleeve <NUM>, a lock cylinder base <NUM>, multiple disc <NUM>, multiple gaskets <NUM>, and a needle roller <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the lock sleeve <NUM> is a hollow tube and forms a lock cylinder chamber <NUM>, a key opening <NUM>, and an assembling opening <NUM> connected to each other. An inner wall of the lock sleeve <NUM> forms a pin slot <NUM>. The pin slot <NUM> extends along a direction form an end of the lock sleeve <NUM> to another and is an elongated slot. The lock sleeve <NUM> is a standard component of the prior art, and the detailed structure of the lock sleeve <NUM> will be omitted.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the lock cylinder base <NUM> is tubular and forms an accommodating space <NUM>, a position limiting opening <NUM>, and an accommodating opening <NUM> connected to each other. The position limiting opening <NUM> and the accommodating opening <NUM> are both elongated holes and are respectively located in two opposite sides. The position limiting opening <NUM> has a first side surface <NUM> and a second side surface <NUM> respectively located in two opposite side edges. An end of the lock cylinder base <NUM> forms a fixing rod <NUM> with an outer thread. The section of the lock cylinder base <NUM> having the accommodating space <NUM> is moveably mounted in the lock sleeve <NUM> and a position limiting ring <NUM> and a rotation limiting sheet <NUM> are sleeved on the lock cylinder base <NUM> such that the lock cylinder base <NUM> is limited to rotate in a particular position within a particular angular range. A tongue (not shown in drawings) is adapted to be mounted on the fixing rod <NUM>. The lock cylinder base <NUM>, the position limiting ring <NUM>, and the rotation limiting sheet <NUM> are standard components of the prior art, and the detailed structures of the lock cylinder base <NUM>, the position limiting ring <NUM>, and the rotation limiting sheet <NUM> will be omitted.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the discs <NUM> is round and has a key hole <NUM>, a position limiting protrusion <NUM>, and a disc notch <NUM>. The key hole <NUM> is formed through the disc <NUM>. The position limiting protrusion <NUM> protrudes from an outer annular surface of the disc <NUM>. At least two of the disc notches <NUM> of the discs <NUM> have different distances between the position limiting protrusion <NUM>. The discs <NUM> are a standard component of the prior art, and the detailed structure of the discs <NUM> will be omitted.

With reference to <FIG>, each of the gaskets <NUM> has a ring body <NUM>, a position limiting segment <NUM>, a rotation limiting segment <NUM>, and a concave segment <NUM>. The ring body <NUM> is a ring with a frame circling a center space therein. A rib <NUM> protrudes from a side surface of the ring body <NUM> and extends annularly. The position limiting segment <NUM> protrudes from an outer annular surface of the ring body <NUM> and extends radially. Specifically, the position limiting segment <NUM> is in the shape of a sector, and a gasket notch <NUM> is formed inward on the position limiting segment <NUM>. The rotation limiting segment <NUM> protrudes from the gasket notch <NUM> along an axial direction of the lock sleeve <NUM>. The rotation limiting segment <NUM> is a bent sheet with a V-shaped cross section, parallel to the axial direction and perpendicular to a radial direction of the ring body <NUM>. As viewed along the radial direction of the ring body <NUM>, the rotation limiting segment <NUM> protrudes opposite to the rib <NUM>. The concave segment <NUM> is concaved inward from the outer annular surface of the ring body <NUM> and is located opposite to the position limiting segment <NUM>. The discs <NUM> and the gaskets <NUM> are staggeredly accommodated in the accommodating space <NUM> of the lock cylinder base <NUM>. The rotation limiting segment <NUM> is adjacent to a side surface of the position limiting protrusion <NUM>. Two sides of the position limiting segment <NUM> respectively abut the first side surface <NUM> and the second side surface <NUM> of the position limiting opening <NUM>. Each of the discs has the following two states. When the present invention is locked, another side surface of the position limiting protrusion <NUM> abuts the first side surface <NUM> of the position limiting opening <NUM>, and the disc notches <NUM> of the discs <NUM> are not aligned. When the present invention is unlocked, some of the discs <NUM> are rotated till the disc notches <NUM> are aligned.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the needle roller <NUM> is mounted in the accommodating opening <NUM>. Specifically, the needle roller <NUM> is located between the pin slot <NUM> of the lock sleeve <NUM> and the accommodating opening <NUM>. The needle roller <NUM> corresponds to the disc notches <NUM> of the discs <NUM> in position and shape.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the present invention is unlocked and locked by a key, and the operation is conventional and will not be detailed below. The gaskets <NUM> reduce the friction between the discs <NUM>. When being locked, the rotation limiting segment <NUM> of the gaskets <NUM> and the first side surface <NUM> of the position limiting opening <NUM> limit the position of the discs <NUM> therebetween, such that even if the discs <NUM> are impacted by strong vibration, the rotation range of the discs <NUM> is significantly reduced. In other words, even if the discs <NUM> rotate, the rotation range is very small, and therefore would not affect the insertion of the key, facilitating the key always to be inserted to the end, which improves the stability of the structure and prevent the large rotation of the discs <NUM>. Additionally, since the rotation limiting segment <NUM> is a spring sheet, when a user turns the key to rotate the discs <NUM>, the position limiting protrusion <NUM> of the discs <NUM> can easily push and deform the rotation limiting segment <NUM> to slide over the rotation limiting segment <NUM>, thereby reducing the rotational resistance upon turning the key.

The following embodiment is not according to the invention and is present for illustration purposes only.

Claim 1:
A disc tumbler cylinder lock, and characterized in that the disc tumbler cylinder lock comprises:
a lock sleeve (<NUM>) being a hollow tube;
a lock cylinder base (<NUM>); an end of the lock cylinder base (<NUM>) forming an accommodating space (<NUM>), a position limiting opening (<NUM>), and an accommodating opening (<NUM>); another end of the lock cylinder base (<NUM>) forming a fixing rod (<NUM>); the lock cylinder base (<NUM>) rotatably mounted in the lock sleeve (<NUM>);
multiple discs (<NUM>); each of the discs (<NUM>) having a key hole (<NUM>), a position limiting protrusion (<NUM>), and a disc notch (<NUM>); the key hole (<NUM>) formed through the disc (<NUM>); the position limiting protrusion (<NUM>) protruding from an outer annular surface of the disc (<NUM>); the disc notch (<NUM>) concaved from the outer annular surface of the disc (<NUM>);
multiple gaskets (<NUM>, 40A); each of the gaskets (<NUM>, 40A) having a ring body (<NUM>), a position limiting segment (<NUM>), a rotation limiting segment (<NUM>), and a concave segment (<NUM>); the ring body (<NUM>) being a ring; the position limiting segment (<NUM>) protruding outward from an outer annular surface of the ring body (<NUM>) along a radial direction; the rotation limiting segment (<NUM>) protruding from the position limiting segment (<NUM>) along an axial direction of the lock sleeve (<NUM>); the concave segment (<NUM>) concaved from the outer annular surface of the ring body (<NUM>); the discs (<NUM>) and the gaskets (<NUM>, 40A) staggeredly accommodated in the accommodating space (<NUM>); a side surface of the position limiting protrusion (<NUM>) abutting a side surface of the position limiting opening (<NUM>); two sides of the position limiting segment (<NUM>) abutting two opposite side edges of the position limiting opening (<NUM>); each rotation limiting segment (<NUM>) being adjacent to another side surface of the position limiting protrusion (<NUM>);
a needle roller (<NUM>) mounted in the accommodating opening (<NUM>),
characterized in that each of the gaskets (<NUM>, 40A) has a gasket notch (<NUM>) concaved inward; the rotation limiting segment (<NUM>) is a bent sheet protruding from the gasket notch (<NUM>) along the axial direction of the lock sleeve (<NUM>).