Theft-proof lock

Abstract

 A theft-proof lock comprises a case (1, a first core (2, a second core (3 and a bridging latch ring (4. The case (1 includes a first hollow assembly portion (12 and a second hollow assembly portion (13 that are coaxially positioned and separated by a spaced section (11, and a bridging section (14 to bridge the first and second hollow assembly portions (12, 13. The first core (2 is installed in the first hollow assembly portion (12 and includes a first confining ring (22. The second core (3 is installed in the second hollow assembly portion (13 and includes a second confining ring (32. The bridging latch ring (4 is located in the spaced section (11 to assemble with the first core (2 and the second core (3, and has a first confining portion (43 latched by the first confining ring (22 and a second confining portion (44 latched by the second confining ring (32, thereby the first core (2, the second core (3 and the bridging latch ring (4 can be fastened together.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock and particularly to a theft-proof lock to avoid destruction by external forces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To protect the safety of people's life and property almost all entrances and exits are installed with various types of locks to prevent thefts from invading. To prevent the thefts from destroying the locks forcefully and invading to do pilferage, all lock producers have tried very hard to make improvement on the theft-proof effect. For instance, Taiwan patent Nos. I290187 and I265228, world intellectual right organization patent publication No. WO 2011/051703 and European patent publication Nos. 2642047 and 2025838 have disclosed various types of theft-proof locks. Among them I290187 proposes a lock and key system with an extra password. The key has an undulate guide surface on one lateral side. When the key is inserted into the lock, it is connected to one or more lateral locking brake bolts inside the lock; the lateral locking brake bolts collaborate with a lateral locking mechanism to lock the plugged key from turning. The undulate guide surface of the key has the blade edge chiseled to form a password top section on the upper border, thereby can enhance the password power.

[0003] I265228 discloses another type of lock which includes a key structure and a core structure corresponding to the keyway. The key structure has an upper bolt blade, a middle bolt blade and a lower bolt blade that are adjacent to each other and assembled together. The upper, middle and lower bolt blades have respectively an aperture corresponding to each other. Through the middle bolt blade the apertures can be arranged in a staggered manner against the upper and lower bolt blades so that an upper wedge trough and a lower wedge trough at two sides can be maintained at a same distance. The upper and lower wedge troughs can receive insertion of the key structure in an un-directional manner. The core structure is collaborated with the key structure and includes an inner core, a wedge member and an outer sleeve. The inner core has a cavity and carved ditches on the cavity edge in the same direction or vertical direction, so that the inner core can be coupled with the wedge member through the cavity and vertical ditches to form a keyway to receive insertion of the key structure. Such a structure can deter the thefts from destroying the locking pins inside the inner core without being tempered easily.

[0004] However, all the aforesaid conventional techniques aim to make improvement on the core structure. In fact, the lock is assembled via a case, a first core, a second core and a connection ring. The first core and second core are located at two ends of the case and driven by the connection ring. However, in order to install the lock on a door the case has to provide an assembly hole for fastening. The first core, second core and connection ring are assembled in a non-fixed manner, but rather in a loosely coupled fashion without mutual constraints. Because the case has to form the assembly hole the structural strength of the case at the assembly hole is weaker. Hence a theft can exert a directional force through a tool at one side of the case to either the first or second core to break the case via the assembly hole to destroy the lock to make protective function ineffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the structural problem of the case of the conventional locks that is easily destructed by external forces.

[0006] To achieve the foregoing object the present invention provides a theft-proof lock which comprises a case, a first core, a second core and a bridging latch ring. The case includes a first hollow assembly portion and a second hollow assembly portion that are coaxially positioned and separated by a spaced section, and a bridging section to bridge the first and second hollow assembly portions. The first core is installed in the first hollow assembly portion and has a first coupling end protruding from the first hollow assembly portion into the spaced section and a first confining ring disposed on the first coupling end. The second core is installed in the second hollow assembly portion and has a second coupling end protruding from the second hollow assembly portion into the spaced section and a second confining ring disposed on the second coupling end. The bridging latch ring is located in the spaced section and has a first fastening end faced the first core for fastening therewith, and a second fastening end faced the second core for fastening therewith, and a first confining portion located on the first fastening end to be latched by the first confining ring to fasten the first core to the bridging latch ring for positioning, and a second confining portion located on the second fastening end to be latched by the second confining ring to fasten the second core to the bridging latch ring for positioning.

[0007] In one embodiment the first core has a first installation groove for the first confining ring to be installed therein and the second core has a second installation groove for the second confining ring to be installed therein.

[0008] In another embodiment the first fastening end and second fastening end are respectively a notch formed on the bridging latch ring.

[0009] In yet another embodiment the first and second confining portions are respectively an opening formed on the bridging latch ring.

[0010] In yet another embodiment the case has an assembly notch and a structural support member installed in the assembly notch.

[0011] In yet another embodiment the case further has a plurality of fastening holes, and the structural support member has a plurality of coupling holes corresponding to the fastening holes to allow fasteners to run through for fastening the structural support member to the assembly notch.

[0012] In yet another embodiment the first confining ring has a first annular coupling portion fastened to the first core and a first latch portion connected to the first annular coupling portion and latched on the first confining portion, and the second confining ring has a second annular coupling portion fastened to the second core and a second latch portion connected to the second annular coupling portion and latched on the second confining portion.

[0013] In yet another embodiment the first confining ring and the second confining ring are respectively a C-shaped clip ring.

[0014] In yet another embodiment the case includes a first half case including the first hollow assembly portion and a second half case including the second hollow assembly portion.

[0015] In yet another embodiment the case has an assembly hole located on the bridging section for installation on a door.

[0016] Through the aforesaid structure, with the first core and the second core coupled respectively with the first and second confining rings, and the first and second confining portions formed respectively on the bridging latch ring to couple with the first and second confining rings, the first and second cores and the bridging latch ring can be fastened together to enhance the total structural strength of the theft-proof lock and prevent easy destruction by external forces.

[0017] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is another exploded view of an embodiment of the invention viewed from another direction.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross section view of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Please referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention aims to provide a theft-proof lock 100 to be installed on a door (not shown in the drawings). It comprises a case 1, a first core 2, a second core 3 and a bridging latch ring 4. The case 1 includes a first hollow assembly portion 12 and a second hollow assembly portion 13 that are coaxially positioned and separated by a spaced section 11, and a bridging section 14 to bridge the first and second hollow assembly portions 12 and 13. The first core 2 is installed in the first hollow assembly portion 12 and has a first coupling end 21 protruding from the first hollow assembly portion 12 into the spaced section 11 and a first confining ring 22 disposed on the first coupling end 21. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention the first confining ring 22 has a first annular coupling portion 221 fixedly coupled on the first core 2 and a first latch portion 222 integrally extended from the first annular coupling portion 221. More specifically, the first confining ring 22 can be a C-shaped clip ring. The first core 2 has a first installation groove 23 to allow the first confining ring 22 to be installed therein.

[0020] As previously discussed, also referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the second core 3 is eventually constructed like the first core 2 and installed in the second hollow assembly portion 13, and has a second coupling end 31 protruding from the second hollow assembly portion 13 into the spaced section 11 and a second confining ring 32 disposed on the second coupling end 31. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention the second confining ring 32 is made same as the first confining ring 22. In one embodiment the second confining ring 32 has a second annular coupling portion 321 fixedly coupled on the second core 3 and a second latch portion 322 integrally extended from the second annular coupling portion 321. Similarly, the second confining ring 32 can also be a C-shaped clip ring. The second core 3 has a second installation groove 33 to allow the second confining ring 32 to be installed therein.

[0021] The bridging latch ring 4 is located in the spaced section 11 and has a first fastening end 41 faced the first core 2 for fastening therewith, a second fastening end 42 faced the second core 3 for fastening therewith, a first confining portion 43 formed at the first fastening end 41 and latched by the first confining ring 22 to fasten the first core 2 and the bridging latch ring 4 together, and a second confining portion 44 formed at the second fastening end 42 and latched by the second confining ring 32 to fasten the second core 3 and the bridging latch ring 4 together. In addition, the first fastening end 41 and the second fastening end 42 can be formed respectively in a notch on the bridging latch ring 4. More specifically, the first and second fastening ends 41 and 42 can be formed by machining such as lathe or CNC machining. On the other hand, the first and second confining portions 43 and 44 can be respectively an opening on the bridging latch ring 4, and the first and second confining portions 43 and 44 can be located on the bridging latch ring 4 with the positions thereof adjustable according to design requirements.

[0022] Through the aforesaid structure, for assembly of the theft-proof lock 100, first, the first core 2 or the second core 3 is installed on the case 1; in this embodiment the first core 2 is installed first, then the second core 3 is installed as an example for discussion. The first core 2 is inserted into the first hollow assembly portion 12 with the first coupling end 21 extended to the spaced section 11; next, the bridging latch ring 4 is aligned with the spaced section 11 and makes the first fastening end 41 facing the first coupling end 21 of the first core 2 for installation thereof; meanwhile, the first confining ring 22 is held on the first fastening end 41 with a portion latched in the first confining portion 43. More specifically, the first annular coupling portion 221 of the first confining ring 22 is positioned on the first fastening end 41 after the first core 2 and the bridging latch ring 4 are coupled with the first latch portion 222 wedged in the first confining portion 43. The first confining ring 22 of the invention has desirable deformation characteristics, hence the first latch portion 222 can be shrunk to latch in the first confining portion 43 to provide a compact effect to the first core 2. As a result, the first core 2 can be fastened to the bridging latch ring 4 to finish assembly. Then the second core 3 can be installed in the second hollow assembly portion 13 with the second coupling end 31 extended to the spaced section 11. The second coupling end 31 also is coupled with the second fastening end 42 of the bridging latch ring 4, with the second confining ring 32 held on the second fastening end 42. More specifically, the second annular coupling portion 321 of the second confining ring 32 is positioned on the second fastening end 42 with the second latch portion 322 shrunk and wedged in the second confining portion 44 to provide a compact effect to the second core 3, thus finish coupling of the second core 3 and the bridging latch ring 4. After the assembly of the theft-proof lock 100 is finished, the first core 2, the second core 3 and the bridging latch ring 4 are fastened together, thus total structural strength of the theft-proof lock 100 can be enhanced to prevent either of the first core 2 or the second core 3 from being destructed by external forces so that the theft-proof lock 100 can be maintained intact.

[0023] Please referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 again, in one embodiment the case 1 has an assembly notch 15 on the bridging section 14 and a structural support member 16 installed on the assembly notch 15. Furthermore, the assembly notch 15 and the structural support member 16 can be installed in many ways. In another embodiment, the case 1 further has a plurality of fastening holes 18 formed on the assembly notch 15, and the structural support member 16 has a plurality of coupling holes 17 corresponding to the fastening holes 18 to receive a plurality of fasteners 5. The fasteners 5 may respectively run through the coupling holes 17 and the fastening holes 18 for fastening the structural support member 16 to the assembly notch (15). In addition, the fasteners 5 can be screws. Moreover, the case 1 can be designed according to the structure of the lock and fabrication consideration, and divided into two pieces and assembled together, or formed in one piece made by machining. In yet another embodiment the case 1 consists of a first half case 1a including the first hollow assembly portion 12 and a second half case 1b including the second hollow assembly portion 13, then are coupled together. In addition, the case 1 has a door assembly hole 19 on the bridging section 14 to install the theft-proof lock on a door.

[0024] As a conclusion, the theft-proof lock of the invention consists of a case, a first core, a second core and a bridging latch ring. The case includes a first hollow assembly portion and a second hollow assembly portion that are coaxial and separated by a spaced section, and a bridging section to connect the first and second hollow assembly portions. The first core is installed in the first hollow assembly portion and has a first confining ring. The second core is installed in the second hollow assembly portion and has a second confining ring. The bridging latch ring is located in the spaced section and coupled with the first and second cores, and has a first confining portion latched by the first confining ring and a second confining portion latched by the second confining ring. Thus the first core, the second core and the bridging latch ring can be coupled together to enhance the total structural strength of the theft-proof lock.

[0025] In summary there is disclosed a theft-proof lock comprising a case 1, a first core 2, a second core 3 and a bridging latch ring 4. The case 1 includes a first hollow assembly portion 12 and a second hollow assembly portion 13 that are coaxially positioned and separated by a spaced section 11, and a bridging section 14 to bridge the first and second hollow assembly portions 12, 13. The first core 2 is installed in the first hollow assembly portion 12 and includes a first confining ring 22. The second core 3 is installed in the second hollow assembly portion 13 and includes a second confining ring 32. The bridging latch ring 4 is located in the spaced section 11 to assemble with the first core 2 and the second core 3, and has a first confining portion 43 latched by the first confining ring 22 and a second confining portion 44 latched by the second confining ring 32, thereby the first core 2, the second core 3 and the bridging latch ring 4 can be fastened together.

Claims

1. A theft-proof lock, comprising:

a case (1 including a first hollow assembly portion (12 and a second hollow assembly portion (13 that are coaxially positioned and separated by a spaced section (11, and a bridging section (14 to bridge the first and the second hollow assembly portions (12,13;

a first core (2 which is installed in the first hollow assembly portion (12 and includes a first coupling end (21 protruding from the first hollow assembly portion (12 into the spaced section (11 and a first confining ring (22 disposed on the first coupling end (21;

a second core (3 which is installed in the second hollow assembly portion (13 and includes a second coupling end (31 protruding from the second hollow assembly portion (13 into the spaced section (11 and a second confining ring (32 disposed on the second coupling end (31; and

a bridging latch ring (4 which is located in the spaced section (11 and includes a first fastening end (41 faced the first core (2 for fastening therewith, a second fastening end (42 faced the second core (3 for fastening therewith, a first confining portion (43 formed at the first fastening end (41 and latched by the first confining ring (22 to fasten the first core (2 to the bridging latch ring (4, and a second confining portion (44 formed at the second fastening end (42 and latched by the second confining ring (32 to fasten the second core (3 to the bridging latch ring (4.

2. The theft-proof lock of claim 1, wherein the first core (2 includes a first installation groove (23 for the first confining ring (22 to be installed therein, and the second core (3 includes a second installation groove (33 for the second confining ring (32 to be installed therein.

3. The theft-proof lock of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first fastening end (41 and the second fastening end (42 are respectively a notch formed on the bridging latch ring (4.

4. The theft-proof lock of claim 3, wherein the first confining portion (43 and the second confining portion (44 are respectively an opening formed on the bridging latch ring (4.

5. Thee theft-proof lock of one of the preceding claims, wherein the case (1 includes an assembly notch (15 located in the bridging section (14 and a structural support member (16 installed in the assembly notch (15.

6. The theft-proof lock of claim 5, wherein the case (1 includes a plurality of fastening holes (18 formed on the assembly notch (15, and the structural support member (16 includes a plurality of coupling holes (17 corresponding to the plurality of fastening holes (18 to receive a plurality of fasteners (5 respectively run through the plurality of fastening holes (18 for fastening the structural support member (16 to the assembly notch (15.

7. The theft-proof lock of one of the preceding claims claim 1, wherein the first confining ring (22 includes a first annular coupling portion (221 fixedly coupled on the first core (2 and a first latch portion (222 connected to the first annular coupling portion (221 and latched in the first confining portion (43, and the second confining ring (32 includes a second annular coupling portion (321 fixedly coupled on the second core (3 and a second latch portion (322 connected to the second annular coupling portion (321 and latched in the second confining portion (44.

8. The theft-proof lock of claim 7, wherein the first confining ring (22 and the second confining ring (32 are C-shaped clip rings.

9. The theft-proof lock of one of the preceding claims claim 1, wherein the case (1 includes a first half case (1a including the first hollow assembly portion (12 and a second half case (1b including the second hollow assembly portion (13.

10. The theft-proof lock of one of the preceding claims claim 1, wherein the case (1 includes an assembly hole (19 located on the bridging section (14 for installation on a door.

Drawing