Patent ID: 7543469

Claim:
An electronic lock comprising an outer handle ( 3 ), an inner handle ( 4 ), and a mechanism ( 2 ) comprising: a housing ( 20 ); a drive assembly ( 30 ) disposed in the housing ( 20 ) and comprising a gearwheel ( 31 ) including a front peripheral flange ( 311 ) and a plurality of equally spaced openings ( 312 ) around the flange ( 311 ), each opening ( 312 ) having a curved edge ( 313 ) between the front end of the flange ( 311 ) and the teeth of the gearwheel ( 31 ); a clutch ( 40 ) disposed in the housing ( 20 ) and comprising a ring ( 41 ) including a plurality of equally spaced risers ( 411 ), the risers ( 411 ) being disposed in the openings ( 312 ) to engage with the curved edges ( 313 ), a first bearing sleeve ( 42 ) disposed in the ring ( 41 ) and including a central opening ( 421 ) of a predetermined section and a rear projection ( 422 ) of a predetermined shape, a driven member ( 44 ) including a groove ( 411 ) on its front surface, the groove ( 411 ) having a shape conformed to the predetermined shape of the projection ( 422 ) and being disengaged from the projection ( 422 ) when the electronic lock is in a locked position, and a rear first spindle ( 442 ) of a predetermined section, the first spindle ( 442 ) projecting out of the housing ( 20 ) to secure to the inner handle ( 4 ), and a biasing member ( 43 ) put on the first bearing sleeve ( 42 ) and urged against the driven member ( 44 ); a second bearing sleeve ( 52 ) comprising a rear peripheral flange ( 521 ) securely urged against the first bearing sleeve ( 42 ) and partially forwardly projecting out of the housing ( 20 ); and a front second spindle ( 51 ) of a predetermined section securely passing through the second bearing sleeve ( 52 ) into the first bearing sleeve ( 42 ) to dispose proximate the bottom of the central opening ( 421 ) of the first bearing sleeve ( 42 ); whereby activating a drive source ( 33 ) will turn the gearwheel ( 31 ) via a pinion ( 32 ), push the risers ( 411 ) rearward by sliding along the curved edges ( 313 ), move the ring ( 41 ) rearward to fit the projection ( 422 ) into the groove ( 441 ), and compress the biasing member ( 43 ) such that turning the outer handle ( 3 ) will activate the mechanism ( 2 ) to unlock the electronic lock.