Patent ID: 12215522

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “circumferential”, “lateral”, “horizontal”, “outward”, “forward”, “rearward”, “spacing”, “length”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An electronic control door lock10(hereinafter referred to as “door lock10”) of an embodiment according to the present invention is in the form of a cylindrical lock and can be locked and unlocked through electronic control. With reference toFIGS.1-7, door lock10comprises an outer chassis535having first and second portions537and539spaced along a longitudinal axis of outer chassis535. Each of first and second portions537and539has an end face. A first compartment551extends along the longitudinal axis from the end face of first portion537towards but spaced from the end face of second portion539. A notch552extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from an outer periphery of first portion537to first compartment551. A second compartment553extends from the end face of second portion539towards but spaced from first portion537. A third compartment555extends from a bottom face of first compartment551to second compartment553along the longitudinal axis. A lining sleeve557is securely mounted in third compartment555of outer chassis535. Inner lining sleeve557includes a first end face facing and spaced from first compartment551along the longitudinal axis and a second end face. Lining sleeve557includes an axial hole559extending from the first end face of lining sleeve557through the second end face of lining sleeve557. Axial hole559includes a larger hole section and a smaller hole section. A shoulder561is formed at in intersection between the larger hole section and the smaller hole section. Axial hole559intercommunicates with first compartment551and second compartment553. A limiting groove571is formed in an inner periphery of axial hole559, extends to the first end face of lining sleeve557, and is substantially C-shaped in cross section. Lining sleeve557further includes a coupling groove571A extending from an intermediate portion of limiting groove571along the longitudinal axis.

Door lock10further includes an outer spindle41having first and second ends412and414spaced along the longitudinal axis A plurality of protrusions is formed on an outer periphery of first end412of outer spindle41. The protrusions are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction and form a stop portion. A passageway416extends from an end face of first end412towards but spaced from second end414. Outer spindle41further includes a protrusion418extending from an outer periphery of first end412. An outer engaging plate420is received in outer spindle41and is positioned by elasticity. An end of outer engaging plate420is located outside of outer spindle41(seeFIG.6). Outer spindle41is rotatably mounted to outer chassis535. Specifically, first end412of outer spindle41is received in axial hole559of lining sleeve557. The outer periphery of first end412of outer spindle41rotatably abuts the inner periphery of axial hole559of lining sleeve557. The stop portion at first end412of outer spindle41rotatably abuts shoulder561of axial hole559. Passageway416of outer spindle41is aligned with limiting groove571. Second end414of outer spindle41is located outside of outer chassis535. Protrusion418of outer spindle41is received in second compartment553.

Door lock10further includes an outer spring258, an outer cover262, an outer follower ring536, and an outer retainer ring264. Outer follower ring536is mounted around outer spindle41and is received in second compartment553. Outer follower ring536includes an actuating arm538on an outer periphery thereof and an engagement groove540in the outer periphery thereof. Engagement groove540engages with protrusion418of outer spindle41. Outer spring258is in the form of a torsion spring having two tangs260. Outer spring258is mounted around outer follower ring536and is located in second compartment553, with tangs260located on opposite sides of actuating arm538of outer follower ring536and with tangs260engaged with an inner wall of second compartment553, such that one of tangs260is pivoted by actuating arm538and the other tang260is not moved when outer spindle41is rotated to pivot outer follower ring536, providing elasticity for returning outer spindle41. Outer cover262is mounted around outer spindle41and closes an end opening of second compartment553, preventing outer spring258from disengaging from second compartment553along the longitudinal axis. Outer retainer ring264is mounted to the outer periphery of outer spindle41and is located outside of outer chassis535. Outer retainer ring264abuts an outer face of outer cover262. Furthermore, since first end412of outer spindle41abuts shoulder561of lining sleeve557, outer spindle41can not move relative to outer chassis535along the longitudinal axis.

Door lock10further includes an actuating member230A rotatably received in outer spindle41. A space232extends from a first end of actuating member230A along the longitudinal axis towards but spaced from a second end of actuating member230A. Space232includes a stop wall241. A limiting groove234extends from an end face of the first end of actuating member230A towards but spaced from the second end of actuating member230A along the longitudinal axis and intercommunicates with space232. Limiting groove234has larger and smaller groove sections236and238extending in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis. Larger and smaller groove sections236and238intercommunicate with each other. An arc of larger groove section236in the circumferential direction is larger than that of smaller groove section238. Actuating member230A further includes a sector-shaped lug240extending outward from the first end of actuating member230A and extending in the circumferential direction. In the form shown, smaller groove section238extends from an end face of the first end of actuating member230A to larger groove section236along the longitudinal axis and is located between larger groove section236and lug240. Limiting groove234of actuating member230A is aligned with passageway416of outer spindle41. Lug240is located outside of outer spindle41and is received in first compartment551of outer chassis535.

Door lock10further includes a partitioning plate35, a retractor52, a positioning plate53, and two springs528. Partitioning plate35has two sides spaced along the longitudinal axis and a through-hole351extending from a side through the other side of partitioning plate35. Retractor52has first and second actuation walls522and524spaced along the longitudinal axis and a connecting end526between first and second actuation walls522and524. Partitioning plate35is received in first compartment551of outer chassis535, with a side of partitioning plate35abutting an end wall of first compartment551and with through-hole351aligned with axial hole559of lining sleeve557. Retractor52is movably received in first compartment551of outer chassis535. First actuation wall522faces partitioning plate35. Connecting end526of retractor52is aligned with notch552of outer chassis535. Springs528are mounted between positioning plate53and retractor52. Specifically, each spring528has an end fixed to positioning plate53. The other end of each spring528abuts against retractor52. Lug240of actuating member230A is contiguous to first actuation wall522of retractor52. Retractor52is movable in a lateral direction between a forward position (FIG.6) close to notch552and a rearward position (FIG.11) away from notch552. Springs528bias retractor52from the rearward position to the forward position.

Door lock10further includes an inner chassis542engaged with outer chassis535. Inner chassis542includes first and second ends spaced along the longitudinal axis and respectively having an engaging portion546and a flange544spaced from engaging portion546along the longitudinal axis. A first chamber548extends from an end face of the first end of inner chassis542towards but spaced from the second end of inner chassis542. A second chamber550extends from an end face of the second end of inner chassis542to first chamber548. A sector-shaped insertion groove548A is formed in a surface of flange544facing outer chassis535. A lining sleeve549is securely mounted in first chamber548of inner chassis542. Lining sleeve549includes an axial hole554extending from an end of lining sleeve549through the other end of lining sleeve549. Axial hole554includes a smaller hole section and a larger hole section. A shoulder556is formed at an intersection between the smaller section and the larger section of axial hole554. A restraining groove560is defined in an inner periphery of the larger hole section of axial hole554. Restraining groove560includes two restraining walls560A spaced from each other in a circumferential direction about a longitudinal axis of axial hole554coincident with the longitudinal axis of outer chassis535. A fixing groove558is defined in a bottom wall of restraining groove560and intercommunicates with the larger hole section of axial hole554. Furthermore, a pressing plate593is mounted in inner chassis542and is located adjacent to an opening of first chamber548to cover first chamber548.

Door lock10further includes an inner spindle595rotatably received in axial hole554of inner sleeve549. Inner spindle595includes first and second ends597and599spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. An engagement portion598extends from first end597of inner spindle595along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of protrusions is formed on an outer periphery of first end597of inner spindle595and forms a stop portion. A receiving hole611extends from first end597through second end599of inner spindle595along the longitudinal axis. A protrusion613is formed on an outer periphery of inner spindle595, extends in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis, and is located adjacent to first end597of inner chassis542. An inner engaging plate615is received in inner spindle595and positioned by elasticity.

An end of inner engaging plate615is located outside of inner spindle595. First end597of inner spindle595is received in axial hole554of lining sleeve549. The stop portion on first end597of inner spindle595abuts shoulder556of lining sleeve549. Protrusion613of inner spindle595is located in second chamber550of inner chassis542. Second end599of inner spindle595is outside of inner chassis542.

Door lock10further includes an inner spring362, an inner cover366, an inner follower ring562, and an inner retainer ring368. Inner follower ring562is mounted around inner spindle595and is located in second chamber550of inner chassis542. Inner follower ring562includes an actuating arm564on an outer periphery thereof and an engagement groove566in the outer periphery thereof. Protrusion613of inner spindle595is engaged in engagement groove566. Inner spring362is in the form of a torsion spring and has two tangs364.

Inner spring362is mounted around inner follower ring562and is located in second chamber550of inner chassis542. Tangs364of inner spring362elastically sandwiches two sides of actuating arm564of inner follower ring562. Furthermore, each tang364of inner spring362are attached to two sides on a rib on the inner periphery of second chamber550of inner chassis542. Thus, one of tangs364is pivoted by actuating arm564and the other tang364is not moved when inner spindle595is rotated to pivot inner follower ring562, providing elasticity for returning inner spindle595.

Inner cover366is mounted around inner spindle595and closes an end opening of second chamber550of inner chassis542, preventing inner spring362from disengaging from second chamber550. Inner retainer ring368is mounted to the outer periphery of inner spindle595and is located outside of inner chassis542. Inner retainer ring368abuts an outer face of inner cover366. Thus, inner spindle595can not move relative to inner chassis542along the longitudinal axis.

Door lock10further includes a pressing member568received in first chamber548of inner chassis542. Pressing member568includes a pressing block570extending radially from an outer periphery of pressing member568in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A through-hole576extends from a first side of pressing member568through a second side of pressing member568along the longitudinal axis. An engagement groove574is defined in the first side of pressing member568and intercommunicates with through-hole576. An ear572is formed on the second side of pressing member568and extends outward in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Engagement portion598of inner spindle595engages with engagement groove574of pressing member568. Pressing member568and inner spindle595can jointly rotate about the longitudinal axis of inner spindle595coincident with the longitudinal axis of outer chassis535. Furthermore, pressing block570of pressing member568is received in restraining groove560of lining sleeve549. Ear572of pressing member568is on an outer side of first chamber548of inner chassis542along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to second actuation wall524of retractor52.

Door lock10further includes a seat338mounted in insertion groove548A of inner chassis542and a detection member356mounted on seat338. Detection member356can be in the form of a micro switch. Detection member356includes a pressable pressing plate358facing pressing member568(seeFIG.7). Detection member356is electrically connected to a power supply378and a burglarproof system380.

Door lock10further includes an inner handle11, an inner escutcheon12, and an inner fixing board16. Inner fixing board16is mounted to engaging portion546of inner chassis542. Inner escutcheon12is mounted around inner fixing board16to cover engaging portion546of inner chassis542. Inner handle11includes a positioning groove110. Inner handle11is mounted around second end599of inner spindle595with the end of inner engaging plate615extending through an end of inner spindle595into positioning groove110of inner handle11. Thus, inner handle11can not move along the longitudinal axis to disengage from inner spindle595. When inner handle11is rotated about the longitudinal axis of inner spindle595, inner spindle595rotates together with inner handle11through inner engaging plate615, forming an inner operational device22operated by inner handle11.

Flange544of inner chassis542abuts the end face of first portion537of outer chassis535. Two screws379extend through flange544of inner chassis542into first portion537of outer chassis535, fixing inner and outer chassis542and535together.

Door lock10further includes a lock driving device811having a housing813. A distal end of housing813of lock driving device811is pivotably coupled with through-hole576of pressing member568. An arm814extends in a radial direction from an outer periphery of housing813.

Lock driving device811further includes a motor815mounted in housing813. Motor815includes a speed reduction mechanism817and a driving shaft819extending beyond housing813. Motor815is electrically connected to a wire820extending through arm814to an outer side of housing813. Furthermore, wire820is secured in wire groove346to prevent damage to wire820due to twisting. When motor639operates, driving shaft819is driven at a lower speed via transmission by speed reduction mechanism817.

Lock driving device811further includes a rotating shaft831coupled with driving shaft819to move therewith. Rotating shaft831includes a coupling end833and an abutting end835spaced from coupling end833along the longitudinal axis. Rotating shaft831further includes an intermediate section836between coupling end833and abutting end835. A driving thread837formed by an outer threading is disposed on an outer periphery of intermediate section836. Driving thread837has about two turns (two pitches).

Lock driving device811further includes a connecting member839disposed between motor815and rotating shaft831. Connecting member839includes a first connecting end851and a second connecting end853spaced from first connecting end851along the longitudinal axis. Connecting member839is pivotably connected to housing813. Second connecting end853is coupled with driving shaft819to rotate therewith. First connecting end851is coupled with coupling end833of rotating shaft831to rotate therewith. Thus, rotating shaft831rotates when motor815is activated.

With reference toFIGS.4-6A, lock driving device811further includes an activation member869. Activation member869includes a sleeve portion871and an activation portion897. Sleeve portion871includes an inner end873and an outer end875spaced from inner end873along the longitudinal axis. Sleeve portion871further includes an end cap room877extending from inner end873along the longitudinal axis and a through-hole879extending from outer end875along the longitudinal axis. Sleeve portion871further includes a guiding groove891extending between through-hole879and end cap room877along the longitudinal axis. Guiding groove891has non-circular cross sections. In this embodiment, guiding groove891has elliptic cross sections.

Sleeve portion871is disposed around rotating shaft831. Inter mediate section836of rotating shaft831is located in guiding groove891of sleeve portion871. Abutting end835of rotating shaft831is located outside of outer end875of sleeve portion875. Coupling end833is located outside of inner end873of sleeve portion871.

Activation portion897includes a first room899and a second room911spaced from first room899along the longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, first room899extends from an end face of activation portion897along the longitudinal axis, and second room911extends from another end face of activation portion897. A through-hole913extends between first and second rooms899and911. A leg915extends from an outer periphery of activation portion897in a radial direction and is substantially smaller than smaller groove section238of limiting groove234of actuating member230A.

First room899of activation portion897is coupled with outer end875of sleeve portion871. Abutting end835of rotating shaft831extends through through-hole913and second room911to an outer side of activation portion897.

An end cap893and an end cap retainer ring895are disposed in end cap room877of sleeve portion871. End cap retainer ring895prevents end cap893from disengaging from sleeve portion871along the longitudinal axis. End cap893seals guiding groove891. Coupling end833of rotating shaft831extends through end cap893to couple with connecting member839.

A driving spring855is disposed in guiding groove891of sleeve portion871. Driving spring855includes a first driving section857and a second driving section859on two ends thereof. Each of first and second driving sections857and859is a rectilinear section extending in a tangential direction of driving spring855. Driving spring855is mounted around intermediate section836of rotating shaft831and is in threading connection with driving thread837. First driving section857faces end cap893along the longitudinal axis. Second driving section859is located between first driving section857and outer end875of sleeve portion871along the longitudinal axis. Each of first and second driving sections857and859abuts an inner surface of guiding groove891. Thus, driving spring855cannot rotate relative to sleeve portion871but can rotate relative to rotating shaft831. Namely, driving spring855cannot rotate together with rotating shaft831. Furthermore, when motor815operates to rotate rotating shaft831, driving thread837pushes driving spring855to move along the longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, a spacing between first and second driving sections857and859along the longitudinal axis is smaller than a length of guiding groove891along the longitudinal axis. In an embodiment, the spacing between first and second driving sections857and859along the longitudinal axis is approximately ⅔-¾ of the length of guiding groove891along the longitudinal axis.

Lock driving device811further includes a limiting member917and a limiting spring933. Limiting member917includes a head919and a shank931extending from an end face of head919along the longitudinal axis. Limiting member917further includes a movement hole932extending through shank931and head919along the longitudinal axis.

Limiting member917is received in second room911of activation member897. Shaft931is slidably received in through-hole913of activation portion897along the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, shaft931is securely connected to through-hole879of sleeve portion871, such that limiting member917and sleeve portion871can move jointly along the longitudinal axis. Activation portion897is allowed to move independently relative to limiting member917along the longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, abutting end835of rotating shaft831is movably coupled with movement hole932of limiting member917. Limiting spring933is disposed around shank931of limiting member917and is located between an end face of second room911and head919along the longitudinal axis. Limiting spring933biases the end face of second room911of activation portion897to abut against outer end875of sleeve portion871(seeFIG.6A). Thus, frictional force is provided between activation portion897and sleeve portion871.

With reference toFIGS.5-7, lock driving device811is disposed between inner chassis542and outer chassis535. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis of rotating shaft831is coincident with the longitudinal axis of outer chassis535. Housing813is received in receiving hole611of inner spindle595. Furthermore, arm814is coupled with fixing groove558of lining sleeve549. Thus, when inner spindle595pivots, housing813does not rotate. Inner end873of sleeve portion871, activation portion897, limiting member917, and limiting spring933are received in space232of actuating member230A. Sleeve portion897extends through retractor52. Leg915of activation portion897is received in limiting groove234. Furthermore, Leg915is slidable in passageway416along the longitudinal axis but not rotatable relative to passageway416. Thus, rotation of outer spindle41pushes leg915to cause pivotal movement of activation portion897.

Furthermore, abutting end835of rotating shaft831is contiguous to stop wall241of actuating member230A. Thus, rotating shaft831cannot move along the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, leg915is restricted by passageway416of outer spindle41, such that activation portion897presses against outer end875of sleeve portion871to generate a frictional force. Thus, when rotating shaft831rotates, sleeve portion871does not rotate, and driving spring855moves along the longitudinal axis.

Door lock10is adapted to be mounted to a door370having inner and outer faces374and372spaced along the longitudinal axis and a lateral face375extending between inner and outer faces374and372. Door370further includes a mounting space376extending from outer face372through inner face374. Door370further includes a transverse hole377extending from lateral face375to mounting space376in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis

Inner chassis542and outer chassis535of door lock10are mounted in mounting space376of door370. Second portion539of outer chassis535extends beyond mounting space376and is located at an outer side of door370. Engaging portion546of inner chassis542extends beyond mounting space376and is located at an inner side of door370. Inner fixing board16abuts inner face374of door370. Inner handle11is located at the inner side of door370.

Door lock10further includes an outer escutcheon32, an outer fixing board36, and a pressing ring37. Two mounting posts361are mounted to outer fixing board36. Outer fixing board36is mounted around second portion539of outer chassis535with mounting posts361extending through door370. Two screws7extend through inner fixing board16into screw holes in mounting posts361, fixing inner and outer fixing boards16and36to inner and outer faces374and372of door370. Thus, inner chassis542and outer chassis535are fixed to door370. Pressing ring37is threadedly engaged on second portion539of outer chassis535and presses against outer fixing board36. Outer escutcheon32is mounted around outer fixing board36. Pressing ring37and second portion539of outer chassis535are located inside outer escutcheon32.

Door lock10further includes an outer handle31and a lock core34. Outer handle31includes a positioning hole311. Lock core34includes a tail piece341extending along the longitudinal axis. Lock core34is received in outer handle31. Outer handle31is mounted around second end414of outer spindle41with the end of outer engaging plate420engaged in positioning hole311of outer handle31. Thus, outer handle31cannot disengage from outer spindle41along the longitudinal axis. When outer handle31rotates along the longitudinal axis, outer spindle41rotates jointly with outer handle31. Tail piece341of lock core34extends through actuating member230A and is connected to actuating member230A to move therewith. When lock core34is rotated by a key, tail piece341drives and rotates jointly with actuating member230A about the longitudinal axis of outer spindle41. An outer operational device20operated by outer handle31is, thus, formed.

Door lock10further includes a latch device5having a latch bolt51movable between a latching position outside of door370and an unlatching position inside of door370. Latch device5further includes an engagement portion510at an inner end thereof. Latch device5is mounted in transverse hole377of door370with latch bolt51located outside of lateral face375and with engagement portion510extending through notch552of outer chassis535and connected to connecting end526of retractor52to move therewith.

Now that the basic construction of door lock10of the embodiment of the present invention has been explained, the operation and some of the advantages of door lock10can be set forth and appreciated. In particular, for the sake of explanation, it will be assumed that door370is in a closed state, and door lock10is not operated (FIG.5) with inner and outer handles11and31in horizontal positions. Retractor52is in the forward position with latch bolt51in the latching position. Activation member869is in the first position. With reference toFIGS.5-7, in this state, leg915of activation member869is received in larger groove section236of actuating member230A and coupling groove571A of lining sleeve549, such that activation portion897is not rotatable. Burglarproof system380is activated. Pressing block570of pressing member568presses against pressing plate358of detection member356(FIG.6).

In a case that leg915of activation member869is in the first position, when a user intends to pivot outer handle31for pivoting outer spindle41, outer spindle41is stopped by leg915and, thus, not pivotable, because activation portion897is not rotatable. Thus, outer handle31cannot be pivoted. Retractor52is biased by springs528to be in the forward position adjacent to notch552of outer chassis535. Latch bolt51of latch device5remains in the latching position, and door lock10is in a locked state.

When door lock10is in the locked state, since leg915of activation member869is in larger groove section236of limiting groove234, a key can be used to rotate tail piece341of lock core34. Tail piece341drives actuating member230A to pivot, such that lug240of actuating member230A pushes first actuation wall522to move retractor52from the forward position to the rearward position (leg915pivots in larger groove section236). Thus, latch bolt51moves from the latching position to the unlatching position, permitting opening of door370.

When inner handle11is pivoted while activation member869is in the first position, inner spindle595pivots relative to housing813of lock driving device811(housing813does not pivot under restriction by lining sleeve549). Ear572of pressing member568pushes second actuation wall524to move retractor52from the forward position to the rearward position, and latch bolt51moves from the latching position to the unlatching position, permitting opening of door370.

When it is desired to set door lock10to an unlocked state, lock driving device811is supplied with electricity by power supply378, and motor815of lock driving device811rotates in the forward direction to rotate rotating shaft831. Driving thread837of rotating shaft831pushes driving spring855to move toward end cap893along the longitudinal axis. After first driving section857of driving spring855abuts against end cap893, further rotation of rotating shaft831causes driving spring855to push activation member869to move from the first position (FIGS.6and7) to the second position (FIGS.8-10) along the longitudinal axis. Thus, leg915of activation member869moves into limiting groove571of lining sleeve557and smaller groove section238of actuating member230A.

With reference toFIGS.11-12, when activation member869is in the second position, activation portion897is permitted to pivot about the longitudinal axis of outer spindle41, such that outer handle31can be operated to pivot outer spindle41. Outer spindle41pushes leg915to cause pivotal movement of activation portion897, whereas sleeve portion871does not pivot. Furthermore, leg915abuts against the inner wall of smaller groove section238, such that actuating member230A pivots jointly with leg915. Lug240of actuating member230A pushes first actuation wall522to move retractor522from the forward position to the rear position, and latch bolt51moves from the latching position to the unlatching position, thereby permitting opening of door370.

When latch bolt51moves from the latching position to the unlatching position, pressing block570of pressing member568disengages from pressing plate358of detection member356(FIG.13). Furthermore, pressing block570of pressing member568abuts against restraining wall560A of restraining groove560of lining sleeve549to restrain the rotational angle of inner handle11. Returning of pressing member568will not be hindered by pressing plate358of detection member356. Furthermore, inner spring362is twisted by actuating arm564when inner spindle595is rotated and drives inner follower ring562, providing resiliency for returning inner handle11when inner handle11is released.

When it is desired to set door lock10from the unlocked state to the locked state, motor815drives rotating shaft831to rotate in the reverse direction, such that driving spring855moves away from end cap893along the longitudinal axis. Thus, second driving section859presses against an end of guiding groove891adjacent to outer end875to thereby move activation member869from the second position to the first position. As a result, leg915is located in coupling groove571A to prevent pivotal movement of activation portion897. Accordingly, outer spindle41and outer handle31cannot pivot, and door lock10returns to the locked state.

With reference toFIG.14, in a case that leg915gets stuck (such as when an external force is applied to outer handle31) while activation member869is in the first position, activation member869cannot move along the longitudinal axis. Thus, when rotating shaft831rotates in the forward direction, although driving spring855moves toward end cap893along the longitudinal axis and presses against end cap893, activation member869cannot move toward the second position along the longitudinal axis. In this case, a portion of the driving spring855between the first driving section857and the driving thread837is compressed to store elasticity. When the stuck situation of leg915is removed (such as release of the external force on outer handle31), driving spring855can bias end cap893to move activation member869to the second position.

With reference toFIG.15, in a case that activation member869gets stuck in the second position and, thus, cannot move along the longitudinal axis, when rotating shaft831rotates in the reverse direction, although driving spring855moves away from end cap893along the longitudinal axis and presses against the end of guiding groove891adjacent to outer end875, activation member869cannot move toward the first position along the longitudinal axis. In this case, another portion of the driving spring855between the second driving section859and the driving thread837is compressed to store elasticity. When the stuck situation of activation member869is removed, driving spring855can bias the end of guiding groove891adjacent to outer end875to move activation member869to the first position.

It is worth noting that since the spacing between first and second driving sections857and859of driving spring855along the longitudinal axis is smaller than the length of guiding groove891along the longitudinal axis, even if driving spring855undergoing movement is compressed due to none-movement of activation member869, the compression extent of driving spring855is appropriate. Thus, the frictional force generated by driving spring855pressing against activation portion897via outer end875of sleeve portion871is appropriate, such that outer handle31can still operate smoothly.

The components of lock driving device811according to the present invention are significantly reduced in complexity to reduce difficulties in manufacturing. Furthermore, the number of components related lock driving device811is reduced to effectively reduce the manufacturing costs.

The spacing between first and second driving sections857and859of driving spring855along the longitudinal axis is smaller than the length of guiding groove891along the longitudinal axis, such that driving spring855can push activation member869to move, and excessive compression of driving spring855can be prevented while generating appropriate elasticity as well as avoiding interference between related components (the frictional force is appropriate).

Driving thread837has only two turns (two pitches), which can prevent excessive compression of driving spring855.

Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, sleeve portion871and activation portion897of lock driving device811can be integrally formed as a single member. In this case, when outer handle31is pivoted, although activation member869and driving spring855also pivot, the pivotal angle of outer handle31is only about 45 degrees. Furthermore, after returning of outer handle31, activating member869and driving spring855also return, avoiding adverse affection on substantial operation of lock driving device811.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.