Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    This invention is related to a dial matching device for a combination lock, in particular, a dial matching device that helps the user to more accurately identify the corresponding locations of all the dials for unlocking the combination lock,  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    A combination lock is a locking apparatus utilizing dials which must be adjusted to the pre-designated locations of preset numerals or symbols for unlocking the combination lock.  
           [0007]    The conventional combination lock usually includes indication arrows, symbols, grooves or protrusions as the dial matching device, which is referred to as “dial matching indication unit” hereinafter, on one or both sides of the parallel dials of the combination lock to identify the locations for matching the dials with the combination. The user adjusts the dials of the combination lock to the locations for matching the dials with the preset combination with reference to the dial matching indication unit so as to unlock the combination lock. In other words, as long as each of the dials is accurately matched with the preset numeral or symbol at the location Indicated by the dial matching indication unit, the combination lock may be unlocked  
           [0008]    Generally, the “dial matching indication unit” is provided only adjacent to the outermost dial(s), that is, only the outermost dial(s) may be directly identified by the adjacent dial matching indication unit. Nonetheless, the dials in the middle, or those not adjacent to the dial matching Indication unit, may still be checked by visually extending the identification direction pointed out by the dial matching indication unit, so that the user may complete the dial matching process. Such kind of dial matching indication unit has been used in the combination lock for a long time.  
           [0009]    However, such a dial matching indication unit is not an ideal solution for the combination lock. Usually, the dial matching Indication unit is not very apparent to the user and thus, some drawbacks may occur. For example:  
           [0010]    1. When the grooves or protrusions are used on the surface of the combination lock as the dial matching indication unit, if the depth or height thereof is too small, the visual effect for identification may not be significant enough; on the other hand, if the depth of the grooves is too large, dust may be accumulated therein; if the height of the protrusions is too large, they may appear awkward.  
           [0011]    2. If the dial matching indication unit is printed on the surface of the lock or in the form of a sticker, they are easily damaged during the usage of the lock and may become unclear or even disappear and thus, the identification function thereof is deteriorated.  
           [0012]    3. Even if a user knows that the designated combination number of the dials must exactly match with the indication unit in order to unlock the locks, combination locks usually allow a minute amount of displacement such that the locks still cannot be unlocked even if the indicating unit has pointed to the side edges of the designated combination number with excessive displacement.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    A primary objective of this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks and provide a dial matching indication device for a combination lock to clearly mark the reference position for matching the dials, such that the user may quickly and accurately identify the combination of a series of numerals (or symbols) of the dials through the dial matching indication device for unlocking the combination lock. In addition, the dial matching identification function provided by the device of this invention will not be easily deteriorated by the usage of the lock.  
           [0014]    According to the above objective, this invention provides a window-type dial matching identification mechanism, comprising a dial matching frame which is provided on a lock mechanism. The frame has at least one window placed across all the dials at a predetermined matching position, so that the user can quickly and accurately identify the combination of the dials through the window for unlocking the lock.  
           [0015]    The structures and characteristics of this invention can be realized by referring to the appended drawings and explanations of the preferred embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one of the preferred embodiments according to this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another preferred embodiment according to this invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 5A and 5B show the possible structures of the dial matching frames utilized in the preferred embodiments for a combination lock;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is another type of the dial matching frame utilized in the preferred embodiment of this Invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing yet another preferred embodiment according to this invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a further preferred embodiment according to this Invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic assembly view showing the embodiment of FIG. 8;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a further preferred embodiment according to this invention; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the other preferred embodiment according to this invention, 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows a combination lock  10  with a dial matching frame  20  thereon such that the user can clearly identify the combination of the dials for unlocking the lock. As illustrated in the figures, the combination lock  10  includes a lock body  11  and a latch  12 , wherein the lock body  11  further has a locking hole  111  and a plurality of parallel dials  112  provided around the exterior of the lock body  11 . Each of the dials  112  can be Independently rotated with respect to the lock body  11  and is provided with numerals  113  (or symbols) surrounding the surface thereof. When each of the dials  112  is rotated to a preset combination at the predetermined dial matching position, the lock body  11  may be unlocked. Otherwise, when one or more numerals  113  of the dials  112  at the matching position do not match with the preset combination, the lock body  11  remains at the locked state. The application of this kind of combination lock  10  is well known to the persons skilled in the art and thus, the detailed description is not provided.  
         [0028]    The combination lock  10  also includes a latch  12 . According to this invention, the latch  12  may be a U-shaped rigid body or a flexible wire, such as a steel cable. In the preferred embodiments discussed in this invention, the latch  12  includes a steel cable  121  having a desired length with one end thereof connected with the lock body  11 , and the other end of the latch  12  is provided with a locking rod  122  which may be inserted into the locking hole  111  to be locked by the lock body  11  when it is adjusted to the locked state. Thus, the lock body  11  and the latch  12  are locked together and form a closed loop. Of course, the locking rod  122  may be released from the locking hole  111  when the lock body  11  is at the unlocked state,  
         [0029]    In addition to the lock body  11  and the latch  12 , the combination lock  10  disclosed in the preferred embodiment of this invention further comprises a dial matching frame  20  which is used to provide the reference position and enhance the identifiability for the user to match the dials  112 . Accordingly, the user can clearly identify a set of numerals  113  on the dials  112  through the dial matching frame  20 . Generally, the dial matching frame  20  includes a frame body  21  which defines at least one window  22  enclosed by an appropriate perimeter.  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, after the dial matching frame  20  is mounted on the lock body  11  (to be further described later), the numerals  113  can be clearly identified by the user through the window  22 . The size of the window  22  can be appropriately designed in view of the dimension of the numerals  113  on the dials  112 , such that under normal viewing angle, the user can only see one set of the numerals  113  on the dials  112 . That is, only the set of numerals  113  adjusted to the matching position can be seen through the window  22 .  
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiments of this invention, the dial matching frame  20  and the lock body  11  may be separable components, wherein the dial matching frame  20  and the lock body  11  respectively have mating holes  23  and mating blocks  13  of the same number at corresponding locations such that the dial matching frame  20  can be mounted on the lock body  11  by inserting the mating blocks  13  into the mating holes  23 . In actual application, the mating block  13  may further incorporate a resilient head  131  which is deformable upon an external force for passing through the mating hole  23 , so that the dial matching frame  20  can be mounted on the lock body  11 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 4, each of the dial matching frame  20  and the lock body  11  may have a fastening hole  14  and  24 , respectively, at a corresponding location, and a fastening member  30  is further provided to pass through the two fastening holes  14  and  24  so as to fasten the dial matching frame  20  on the lock body  11 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 5A and 5B show the dial matching frames  20   a  and  20   b  with different structures as compared with that disclosed in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5A, the dial matching frame  20   a  has small windows  22   a  on its surface in the same number with that of the dials  112 . Each of the small windows  22   a  is designed according to the type and size of the numerals  113 , and may also be designed into various shapes to present unique and novel visual effects. In FIG. 5A, the small windows  22   a  are round, and of course may be other geometrical shapes or specially designed shapes. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, instead of the enclosed circular shape shown In FIG. 5A, the small windows of the dial matching frame  20   b  may be in the form of a semicircular opening  22   b.  Although the dial matching frame  20   b  with the opening  22   b  may not completely encircle the numerals  113 , the numerals  113  of the dials  112  at the dial matching position can still be clearly identified in such a design.  
         [0034]    In view of the above, it is understood that the dial matching frame  20 ,  20   a  or  20   b  is a dial displayer provided on the combination lock  10  so as to facilitate the user to match the combination of the lock  10 . The dial matching frame  20 ,  20   a  or  20   b  should have at least one displaying window  22 ,  22   a  or opening  22   b.  The dial matching frame  20  may further include a lens  40  Inserted thereinto, as shown in FIG. 6. Particular, the lens  40  may be a convex lens to magnify the numerals  113  through the window  22 . Moreover, the dial matching frame  20  may be made of a fluorescent material such that the combination lock  10  can still be used in a dark environment since the display of the numerals  113  are enhanced by the light emitting from the dial matching frame  20 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 shows another type structure of the dial matching frame  20 . As illustrated in the drawing, the dial matching identification mechanism may be a resilient member  50  with restorability after stretching. In addition, the lock body  11  has two positioning parts  15  at the predetermined dial matching positions on both sides of the dials  112 , respectively. The resilient member  50  is stretched and wrapped around the positioning parts  15 . The resilient member  50  thus forms a frame body surrounding the dial matching position and defines a window  51  to provide the indication function. In order to have stable attachment so that the resilient member  50  will not be easily or unexpectedly separated from the positioning parts  15 , the resilient member  50  should have shorter length than the distance between the two positioning parts  15 . Therefore, the resilient member  50  must be properly stretched prior to being wrapped around the positioning parts  15  and thus, the resilient member  50  is constantly under the recovering force and is stably engaged with the positioning parts  15 . Furthermore, the positioning parts  15  may comprise recessed grooves  151  so that the resilient member  50  can be inserted thereinto and will not be separated very easily.  
         [0036]    Accordingly, not only the dial matching frame  20  made of hard material can provide the user with dial matching function for the combination lock  10 , the resilient member  50  with restorability after stretching may also be used to achieve the identical function.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 8 discloses another preferred embodiment of this invention. The latch  12  has an integrally formed dial matching frame  20   c.  The latch  12  also includes the steel cable  121  with one end thereof connected with the lock body  11 . The other end of the latch  12  is provided with the locking rod  122  which may be inserted into the locking hole  111  to be locked by the lock body  11  when it is adjusted to the locked state. At this time, the latch  12  is fixed with the lock body  11 . The locking rod  122  may be released from the locking hole  111  when It is at the unlocked state.  
         [0038]    Alternatively, the dial matching frame  20   c  may be integrally formed with the lock body  11 . In either way, the window  22   c  of the dial matching frame  20   c  is set to be at the dial matching position above the dials  112  when the locking rod  122  is inserted into and locked within the locking hole  111 , as shown in FIG. 9. The dial matching frame  20   c  may be constructed as that shown in the figure as an annular framework surrounding the latch  12 . The dial matching frame  20   c  has not only an engraved window  22   c,  but also dialing holes  25   c  for the user to rotate the dials  112 .  
         [0039]    This kind of dial matching frame  20   c  provides the function of identifying the matching position of the dials for the user through the window  22   c,  it also provides certain degree of protection over the latch  12  to prevent damage thereto due to collision between the latch  12  and other articles.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 10 illustrates another type of preferred embodiment for a dial matching frame  20   d  according to this invention. The overall dial matching frame  20   d  is not solely extended from the lock body  11  or the latch  12 , but combined by two half frames  201   d,    202   d  extending from the lock body  11  and the latch  12  respectively. Thus, when the locking rod  122  is inserted into the locking hole  111 , the two half frames  201   d  and  202   d  match with each other above and is placed across all the dials  112  at the predetermined dial matching position and form at least one window  203 d above the dials  112  in order to show the numerals  113  thereon.  
         [0041]    In other words, the dial matching frame  20   d  is formed by two concave plates extending toward each other from the lock body  11  and the latch  12  respectively. It is not integrally formed in one piece.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 discloses a modified structure based on the previous preferred embodiment. The dial matching frame  20   e  is formed by two straight plates  204   e  and  205   e  extending from the lock body  11  and the latch  12  respectively and misaligned with each other.  
         [0043]    It should be pointed out that, the lens inserted into the dial matching frame as shown in FIG. 6 and the use of a fluorescent material to make the dial matching frame, may also be applied to the dial matching frames  20   c,    20   d  as shown In FIGS. 8 and 10 so as to enhance the displaying effects of the combination numerals.  
         [0044]    This invention provides a dial matching frame to be utilized on a combination lock. It is a dial matching indication device that clearly marks the reference position for matching the dials. Therefore, the user may quickly and accurately Identify the combination of a series of numerals (or symbols) of the dials through the dial matching indication device for unlocking the combination lock. In addition, the dial matching identification function provided by the device of this invention will not be easily deteriorated by the usage of the lock.  
         [0045]    This Invention is related to a novel creation that makes a breakthrough in the art. Aforementioned explanations, however, are directed to the description of preferred embodiments according to this invention. Since this invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiments, changes and implementations to certain features of the preferred embodiments without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.  
       Sequence Listing  
       [0046]    [0046] 10  combination lock  
         [0047]    [0047] 11  lock body  
         [0048]    [0048] 111  locking hole  
         [0049]    [0049] 112  dials  
         [0050]    [0050] 113  numerals  
         [0051]    [0051] 12  latch  
         [0052]    [0052] 121  steel cable  
         [0053]    [0053] 122  locking rod  
         [0054]    [0054] 13  mating blocks  
         [0055]    [0055] 14  fastening holes  
         [0056]    [0056] 15  positioning parts  
         [0057]    [0057] 151  recessed grooves  
         [0058]    [0058] 20  dial matching frame  
         [0059]    [0059] 20   a  dial matching frame  
         [0060]    [0060] 20   b  dial matching frame  
         [0061]    [0061] 20   c  dial matching frame  
         [0062]    [0062] 20   d  dial matching frame  
         [0063]    [0063] 20   e  dial matching frame  
         [0064]    [0064] 201   d  half frame  
         [0065]    [0065] 203   d  window  
         [0066]    [0066] 204   e  straight plate  
         [0067]    [0067] 205   e  straight plate  
         [0068]    [0068] 21  frame body  
         [0069]    [0069] 22  window  
         [0070]    [0070] 22   a  window  
         [0071]    [0071] 22   b  opening  
         [0072]    [0072] 22   c window    
         [0073]    [0073] 23  mating holes  
         [0074]    [0074] 24  fastening hole  
         [0075]    [0075] 25   c  dialing holes  
         [0076]    [0076] 30  fastening member  
         [0077]    [0077] 40  lens  
         [0078]    [0078] 50  resilient member

Technology Category: 4