[0001] This invention relates to an electric lock, and more particularly to an electric
lock that can be operated either electrically or manually.
[0002] In
US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0169525, the applicant discloses an electric lock operable either electrically or manually
to increase convenience during use. However, protrusions of rotatable members of the
electric lock experience fast wear due to frequent contact therebetween, thereby reducing
the service life of the electric lock. Furthermore, locking and unlocking of the electric
lock cannot be controlled precisely.
[0003] The object of this invention is to provide an electric lock that is durable and that
can be locked and unlocked precisely.
[0004] According to this invention, an electric lock includes a manual operation mechanism
and an electric control mechanism. The manual operation mechanism includes a rotary
knob unit, a first attracting member mounted fixedly to the rotary knob unit, a key-operated
lockset, and a lock-connecting rod connected to and rotatable by the rotary knob unit
and the key-operated lockset. The electric control mechanism includes a power source
unit, a clutch gear driven by the power source unit to rotate in two directions, and
a second attracting member mounted fixedly to the clutch gear. When the clutch gear
is driven by the power source unit to rotate to align the first and second attracting
members with each other, a magnetic attraction force is generated between the first
and second attracting members to allow for co-rotation of the rotary knob unit with
the clutch gear.
[0005] As such, since no friction occurs among rotating parts of the electric lock, wearing
of the rotating parts can be prevented, thereby increasing the service life of the
electric lock and precision in controlling locking and unlocking of the electric lock.
[0006] These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of an electric
lock according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment,
illustrating positioning of a hand-operated connecting rod relative to a rotary knob
when the electric lock is in an unlocking state;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the first preferred embodiment in the
unlocking state;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating
positioning of the hand-operated connecting rod relative to a first handle when the
electric lock is in the unlocking state;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but in a locking state;
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating positioning of the hand-operated
connecting rod relative to the rotary knob when the electric lock is in a locking
state;
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating positioning of the hand-operated
connecting rod relative to the first handle when the electric lock is in the locking
state; and
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of an electric
lock according to this invention.
[0007] Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the first preferred embodiment of an electric lock
according to this invention is mounted to a door (not shown), and includes a lock
housing unit 3, a handle unit 4, a manual operation mechanism 5, and an electric control
mechanism 6.
[0008] The lock housing unit 3 includes a first lock housing 31 mounted to an inner side
surface of the door, and a second lock housing 32 mounted to an outer side surface
of the door. The first lock housing 31 has an upright wall 311, and a surrounding
wall 313 extending from a periphery of the upright wall 311 toward the door to define
an accommodating chamber 312. The upright wall 311 has a circular mounting hole 314
and two mounting blocks 315 (only one is shown in Fig. 1) flanking the mounting hole
314 and extending into the accommodating space 312. The second lock housing 32 has
an upright wall 321 and a surrounding wall 322 extending from a periphery of the upright
wall 321 toward the door. The upright wall 321 has a mounting hole 323 and a plurality
of pushbutton-receiving holes 324 located above the mounting hole 323.
[0009] The handle unit 4 includes a first handle 41 disposed rotatably on the first lock
housing 31 and extending into the mounting hole 314, a second handle 43 disposed rotatably
on the second lock housing 32 and extending into the mounting hole 323, two return
units 44 for respectively returning the first and second handles 41, 43, a first connecting
seat 45 sleeved on and co-rotatable with the first handle 41, a second connecting
seat 46 connected to the second handle 43, and a handle-connecting rod 47 extending
into and co-rotatable with the first and second connecting seats 45, 46.
[0010] The first handle 41 includes a handle housing 411, and a mounting seat 412 fixed
within the handle housing 411. The handle housing 411 has a cylindrical mounting portion
413, and a rotary lever portion 414 extending radially and outwardly from the mounting
portion 413. The mounting seat 412 has a surrounding wall 416 defining a mounting
passage 415. The surrounding wall 416 has a rotation-limiting portion 40 extending
into the accommodating chamber 312. The rotation-limiting portion 40 is formed with
diametrically opposed first and second notches 401, 402, a circumferentially extending
limiting slot 403 having a first end 405 and a second end 406 that is in spatial communication
with the first notch 401, and a ring-engaging groove unit 404 disposed in proximity
to an end of the rotation-limiting portion 40.
[0011] The second handle 43 includes a handle housing 431 and a mounting seat 433 fixed
within a mounting portion 432 of the handle housing 431. The first connecting seat
45 has a central portion 451 extending into the mounting passage 415 in the first
handle 41, and two wings 452 extending respectively from two opposite sides of the
central portion 451 and engaging respectively the first and second notches 401, 402
in the first handle 41 so as to allow for co-rotation of the first connecting seat
45 with the first handle 41. The second connecting seat 46 is mounted rotatably within
the mounting seat 433 of the second handle 43. The handle-connecting rod 47 is configured
as a rectangular tube, and extends through a rectangular hole 453 in the first connecting
seat 45 and into the second connecting seat 46. The handle-connecting rod 47 can drive
a spring bolt (not shown) in a known manner.
[0012] The manual operation mechanism 5 includes a rotary knob unit 50 (see Fig. 2), a first
attracting member 54 mounted fixedly to the rotary knob unit 50, a key-operated lockset
55 mounted to the second handle 43, a lock-connecting rod 56 connected to and rotatable
by the rotary knob unit 50 and the key-operated lockset 55, and an engaging plate
unit 57 sleeved on and driven by the lock-connecting rod 56 to allow for or prevent
co-rotation of the second handle 43 with the lock-connecting rod 56. The rotary knob
unit 50 includes a rotary knob 51 mounted rotatably on the first handle 41, and a
hand-operated connecting rod 52 co-rotatable with the rotary knob 51.
[0013] The rotary knob 51 includes a disc portion 511, an actuation block 512 extending
from the disc portion 511 in a direction away from the first handle 41 and allowing
for manual operation, a surrounding wall 513 extending from a periphery of the disc
portion 511 in a direction toward the first handle 41, and a hole-defining wall 514
extending from the disc portion 511 in a direction toward the first handle 41. The
surrounding wall 513 is disposed around the hole-defining wall 514, and has two hook-engaging
slots 515 (only one is shown in Fig. 2) formed radially therethrough. The hole-defining
wall 514 defines an insert hole 516. The hand-operated connecting rod 52 has a handle-retaining
portion 521, an annular mounting portion 522 disposed around the handle-retaining
portion 521, and a connecting portion 523 interconnecting the handle-retaining portion
521 and the annular mounting portion 522 to thereby form a curved slot 524 between
the handle-retaining portion 521 and the annular mounting portion 522. The handle-retaining
portion 521 is formed with two retaining hooks 525 (only one is shown in Fig. 2) engaging
respectively the hook-engaging slots 515 in the rotary knob 51 so as to allow for
co-rotation of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 with the rotary knob 51. The annular
mounting portion 522 is formed with an annular flange 526 allowing the first attracting
member 54 to be mounted fixedly therewithin. During assembly of the rotary knob unit
50 and the first handle 41, the connecting portion 523 of the hand-operated connecting
rod 52 is moved into the limiting slot 403 in the rotation-limiting portion 40 of
the first handle 41 via the first notch 401. Subsequently, the retaining hooks 525
of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 are moved respectively into the hook-engaging
slots 515 in the rotary knob 51. As such, the connecting portion 523 is movable between
the first end 405 and second end 406 of the limiting slot 403 so that the maximum
rotational angle of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 relative to the first handle
41 is 90°. An end of the lock-connecting rod 56 engages fittingly the insert hole
516 in the rotary knob 51 so as to allow for co-rotation with the rotary knob 51.
The engaging plate unit 57 is disposed within the second connecting seat 46. The lock-connecting
rod 56 is rotatable to activate the engaging plate unit 57 to thereby lock or unlock
the electric lock. Since such locking and unlocking operations do not pertain to this
invention, a further description thereof will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
A C-shaped retaining ring 58 is received within the ring-engaging groove unit 404
in the first handle 41 to prevent removal of the first handle 41 from the first lock
housing 31.
[0014] The electric control mechanism 6 includes a power source unit 61 mounted within the
accommodating chamber 312 in the first lock housing 31, a pushbutton unit 62 mounted
on the second lock housing 32 and aligned with the pushbutton-receiving holes 324,
a positioning seat 63 mounted to the mounting blocks 315 of the first lock housing
31, a clutch gear 64 mounted to the positioning seat 63 and driven by the power source
unit 61 to rotate in two directions, a pair of second and third attracting members
65, 65' mounted fixedly to the clutch gear 64 and spaced apart from each other by
an angle of 180°, a circuit board 67 mounted to the first lock housing 31, a micro-switch
66 disposed on the circuit board 67, and a sensing switch 68. The power source unit
61 includes a motor 611 disposed in the accommodating space 312 in the first lock
housing 31, a worm rod 612 driven by the motor 611, and a reduction gear 613 driven
by the worm rod 612. The clutch gear 64 has a meshing portion 641 meshing with the
reduction gear 613, a pair of first and second control portions 642, 642' projecting
toward the circuit board 67 and each rotatable to contact and activate the micro-switch
66 to thereby stop operation of the power source unit 6, and a central hole 643. The
meshing portion 641 has two diametrically opposed mounting holes 644 allowing the
second and third attracting members 65, 65' to be mounted respectively therewithin.
In this embodiment, the first, second, and third attracting members 54, 65, 65' are
magnets. Alternatively, the first attracting member 54 or the second and third attracting
members 65, 65' may be made of a magnetically conductive metallic material.
[0015] The lock-connecting rod 56 is configured as a plate having a rectangular cross-section.
[0016] With further reference to Figs. 3 and 4, when the electric lock is in an unlocking
state, the lock-connecting rod 56 is horizontal, and the connecting portion 523 of
the hand-operated connecting rod 52 is disposed at the first end 405 of the limiting
slot 403 in the first handle 41. Furthermore, the second attracting member 65 is adjacent
to the first attracting member 54, and the first control portion 642 of the clutch
gear 64 is aligned with the micro-switch 66. Further, the engaging plate unit 57 projects
from the second connecting seat 46 to allow for co-rotation of the second handle 43
with the handle-connecting rod 47. In this state, when an external force is applied
to pivot one of the first and second handles 41, 43, the handle-connecting rod 47
and the other of the first and second handles 41, 43 co-rotate therewith to move the
spring bolt. When the external force is released, the first and second handles 41,
43 are returned by the return units 44 to their original positions.
[0017] With particular reference to Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7, the electric lock can be locked
manually by rotating the rotary knob 51 or inserting a key (not shown) into the lockset
55 and rotating the key. When the rotary knob 51 is rotated 90°, the hand-operated
connecting rod 52 and the lock-connecting rod 56 co-rotate therewith to move the connecting
portion 523 of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 to the second end 406 of the limiting
slot 403. Hence, the lock-connecting rod 56 is rotated to a vertical position to retract
the engaging plate unit 57 into the second connecting seat 46, thereby preventing
co-rotation of the second handle 43 with the lock-connecting rod 56 and, thus, opening
of the door through operation of the second handle 43. During rotation of the hand-operated
connecting rod 52, when the lock-connecting rod 56 is rotated to the vertical position,
the first attracting member 54 is aligned with the sensing switch 68 along a longitudinal
direction of the hand-operated connecting rod 52. When the sensing switch 68 detects
alignment of the first attracting member 54 therewith (i.e., the locking state of
the electric lock), a signal is emitted therefrom to the circuit board 67. Hence,
if a button-pushing operation is performed on the pushbutton unit 62 in order to lock
the door, operation of the power source unit 6 can be prevented.
[0018] Alternatively, the electric lock may be locked electrically by operating the pushbutton
unit 62 or a remote controller (not shown) to activate the motor 611 of the power
source unit 6. When the motor 611 is activated, the clutch gear 64 is rotated clockwise.
Upon clockwise rotation of the clutch gear 64 by 45°, the second attracting member
65 comes into alignment with the first attracting member 54 to generate a magnetic
attraction force therebetween, to thereby allow for subsequent co-rotation of the
hand-operated connecting rod 52 and the rotary knob 51 with the clutch gear 64. When
the connecting portion 523 of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 is disposed at the
second end 406 of the limiting slot 403, the second control portion 642' contacts
and activates the micro-switch 66 to stop operation of the power source unit 61.
[0019] To unlock the electric lock electrically, the pushbutton unit 62 or the remote controller
is operated to rotate the clutch gear 64 counterclockwise.
[0020] To unlock the electric lock manually, the rotary knob 51 is rotated counterclockwise.
[0021] Upon counterclockwise rotation of the clutch gear 64 by 45°, the third attracting
member 65' comes into alignment with the first attracting member 54 to generate a
magnetic attraction force therebetween to thereby allow for subsequent co-rotation
of the hand-operated connecting rod 52 and the rotary knob 51 with the clutch gear
64.
[0022] Fig. 8 shows the second preferred embodiment of an electric lock according to this
invention, which is configured as a so-called "auxiliary lock" (i.e., a lock that
does not have any handle) and which is similar in construction to the first preferred
embodiment. In this embodiment, the rotary knob unit 50 is one piece configured as
a rotary knob, and includes an upright wall 511, an actuation block 512, and a rotating
shaft portion having an end surface 514' formed with a cross-shaped slot 516. The
cross-shaped slot 516 has two straight slot portions intersecting each other. The
lock-connecting rod 56 has an end engaging fittingly one of the straight slot portions
of the cross-shaped slot 516 to allow for co-rotation of the lock-connecting rod 56
and the rotary knob unit 50.
[0023] Two first attracting members 54 are disposed fixedly on the rotating shaft portion
of the rotary knob unit 50, and are spaced apart from each other by an angle of 180°.
The clutch gear 64 is sleeved rotatably around the rotating shaft portion of the rotary
knob unit 50. The second and third attracting members 65, 65' are disposed fixedly
in the clutch gear 64. Each of the second and third attracting members 65, 65' is
rotatable relative to the rotary knob unit 50 to align with the corresponding first
attracting member 54 along a radial direction of the rotary knob 51.
[0024] Since co-rotation of the clutch gear 64 with the rotary knob unit 50 is enabled by
a magnetic attraction force generated between the first attracting member(s) 54 and
the second and third attracting members 65, 65' , no friction occurs among rotating
parts of the electric lock. As a result, wearing of the rotating parts can be prevented,
thereby increasing the service life of the electric lock and precision in controlling
locking and unlocking of the electric lock.
1. An electric lock comprising:
a manual operation mechanism (5) including
a rotary knob unit (50),
a key-operated lockset (55), and
a lock-connecting rod (52) connected to and rotatable by the rotary knob unit (50)
and the key-operated lockset (55); and
an electronic control mechanism (6) including
a power source unit (61), and
a clutch gear (64) driven by the power source unit (61) to rotate in two directions;
characterized by:
the manual operation mechanism (5) further including a first attracting member (54)
mounted fixedly to the rotary knob unit (50); and
the electric control mechanism (6) further including a second attracting member (65)
mounted fixedly to the clutch gear (64);
wherein, when the clutch gear (64) is driven by the power source unit (61) to rotate
to align the first and second attracting members (54, 65) with each other, a magnetic
attraction force is generated between the first and second attracting members (54,
65) to allow for co-rotation of the rotary knob unit (50) with the clutch gear (64).
2. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the electric control mechanism (6) further includes a second attracting member (65')
mounted fixedly to the clutch gear (64) and spaced apart from the second attracting
member (65) by an angle of 180 degrees, a magnetic attraction force being generated
between the first and second attracting members (54, 65) to thereby allow for co-rotation
of the rotary knob unit (50) with the clutch gear (64) when the clutch gear (64) is
driven by the power source unit (61) to rotate to align the first and second attracting
members (54, 65) with each other.
3. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 1, further characterized by a lock housing unit (3) for mounting with the electric control mechanism (6), and
a handle unit (4) mounted on the lock housing unit (3), the handle unit (4) including
a first handle (41) disposed rotatably on the lock housing unit (3) and allowing the
rotary knob unit (50) to be mounted rotatably thereon, and a second handle (43) disposed
rotatably on the lock housing unit (3) and allowing the key-operated lockset (55)
to mounted thereon.
4. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 3, further
characterized in that:
the first handle (41) has a rotation-limiting portion (40) formed with at least one
notch (401) and a circumferentially extending limiting slot (403) that has a first
end (405) and a second end (406) in spatial communication with the notch (401); and
the rotary knob unit (50) includes a rotary knob (51), and a hand-operated connecting
rod (52), the hand-operated connecting rod (52) having a handle-retaining portion
(521) connected to and co-rotatable with the rotary knob (51), an annular mounting
portion (522) disposed around the handle-retaining portion (521) and allowing the
first attracting member (54) to be mounted thereon, and a connecting portion (523)
interconnecting the handle-retaining portion (521) and the mounting portion, the connecting
portion (523) being received movably within the limiting slot (403) in the first handle
(41) and movable between the first end (405) and the second end (406) so that a maximum
rotational angle of the hand-operated connecting rod (52) relative to the first handle
(41) is 90°, the notch (401) in the first handle (41) allowing the connecting portion
(523) to be moved into the limiting slot (403) therethrough.
5. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 4, further characterized in that the rotary knob (51) includes a disc portion (511), an actuation block (512) projecting
from the disc portion (511) and allowing for manual operation, and a surrounding wall
(513) extending from the disc portion (511) away from the actuation block (512) and
having a hook-engaging slot (515) formed radially therethrough, the handle-retaining
portion (521) of the hand-operated connecting rod (52) being formed with a retaining
hook (525) engaging the hook-engaging slot (515) in the rotary knob (51) so as to
allow for co-rotation of the hand-operated connecting rod (52) with the rotary knob
(51).
6. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 4, further characterized in that the first handle (41) is formed with two the notches (401, 402), the handle unit
(4) further includes a first connecting seat (45), and a handle-connecting rod (47)
extending through and co-rotatable with the first connecting seat (45), the first
connecting seat (45) being formed with two wings (452) engaging respectively the notches
(401, 402) in the first handle (41) so as to allow for co-rotation with the first
handle (41).
7. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 4, further characterized in that the first and second attracting members (54, 65) are rotatable relative to each other
to align with each other along a longitudinal direction of the hand-operated connecting
rod (52).
8. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the electric control mechanism (6) further includes a circuit board (67) provided
with a micro-switch (66), the power source unit (61) including a motor (611) and a
reduction gear (613) driven by the motor (611), the clutch gear (64) having a meshing
portion (641) meshing with the reduction gear (613), and a control portion (642, 642')
rotatable to activate the micro-switch (66) to thereby stop operation of the power
source unit (61).
9. The electric lock as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the clutch gear (64) is disposed rotatably around the rotary knob unit (50), the
first and second attracting members (54, 65) being rotatable relative to each other
to align with each other along a radial direction of the rotary knob unit (50).