Joint lock

Abstract

A joint lock comprises a lock body that accommodates a combination locking mechanism; and a jointed bar hoop. The combination locking mechanism has a plurality of code rings rotatable about an axis of rotation and a latch that is preloaded along the axis of rotation in the direction of a locked position. The lock body has an introduction opening through which the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop can be introduced into the lock body along an introduction direction that is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the code rings, with the locking bar introduced into the lock body being locked to the lock body when the latch is in the locked position and is blocked. The latch and/or the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop has/have at least one slope that is configured to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into a release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body and/or on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body.

Claims

1. A joint lock having a lock body that accommodates a combination locking mechanism and having a jointed bar hoop that has a plurality of jointed bars pivotably connected to one another and a locking bar, wherein a first end of the jointed bar hoop is permanently fastened to the lock body and a second end of the jointed bar hoop has the locking bar; wherein the combination locking mechanism has a plurality of code rings rotatable about an axis of rotation and a latch that is preloaded along the axis of rotation in the direction of a locked position, wherein the latch is movable in the direction of a release position when a secret code is set at the code rings, and wherein the latch is blocked in the locked position when the secret code is not set at the code rings; and wherein the lock body has an introduction opening through which the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop can be introduced into the lock body along an introduction direction that is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the code rings, with the locking bar introduced into the lock body being locked to the lock body when the latch is in the locked position and is blocked, wherein at least one of the latch and the locking bar has at least one slope that is configured to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into the release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body or on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body.

2. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one slope extends along a plane that is intersected at an acute angle by the axis of rotation of the combination locking mechanism.

3. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one slope extends along a plane whose normal extends within a plane that is spanned by the axis of rotation and the introduction direction.

4. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the radial spacing of the at least one slope from the axis of rotation increases in the direction of the release position of the latch.

5. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch has a release slope and the locking bar has a removal slope that are configured to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into the release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body.

6. A joint lock in accordance with claim 5, wherein the release slope and the removal slope extend in parallel with one another.

7. A joint lock in accordance with claim 5, wherein the release slope and the removal slope substantially contact one another when the locking bar is introduced into the introduction opening.

8. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch has a reception slope and the locking bar has an introduction slope, said slopes being configured to effect an urging back of the latch from the locked position into the release position on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body.

9. A joint lock in accordance with claim 8, wherein the reception slope and the introduction slope extend in parallel with one another when the locking bar is introduced into the introduction opening.

10. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking bar has a removal slope and a boundary slope, with the removal slope and the boundary slope bounding a recess in the locking bar into which the latch engages when the locking bar is introduced into the introduction opening.

11. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock body has a preload spring that cooperates with the latch at an end of the latch disposed in the direction of the release position such that the latch is preloaded in the direction of the locked position.

12. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking bar has a longitudinal axis and can be axially introduced into the introduction opening of the lock body with respect to the longitudinal axis, or wherein the locking bar is laterally pivotable into the introduction opening of the lock body.

13. A joint lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the jointed bar hoop is foldable into a yardstick configuration in which the jointed bars and the locking bar are aligned in parallel with one another.

14. A joint lock having a lock body that accommodates a combination locking mechanism and having a jointed bar hoop that has a plurality of jointed bars pivotably connected to one another and a locking bar, wherein a first end of the jointed bar hoop is permanently fastened to the lock body and a second end of the jointed bar hoop has the locking bar; wherein the combination locking mechanism has a plurality of code rings rotatable about an axis of rotation and a latch that is preloaded along the axis of rotation in the direction of a locked position, wherein the latch is movable in the direction of a release position when a secret code is set at the code rings, and wherein the latch is blocked in the locked position when the secret code is not set at the code rings; and wherein the lock body has an introduction opening through which the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop can be introduced into the lock body along an introduction direction that is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the code rings, with the locking bar introduced into the lock body being locked to the lock body when the latch is in the locked position and is blocked, wherein at least one of the latch and the locking bar has at least one slope that is configured to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into the release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body or on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body, wherein the combination locking mechanism is held in a holder, with the holder having an abutment that is configured to bound a movement of the latch effected by the preload of the latch in the direction of the locked position, wherein the lock body has a housing in which the holder is received.

15. A joint lock in accordance with claim 14, wherein the abutment defines a maximum engagement of the latch into the introduction opening of the lock body in the locked position of the latch.

16. A joint lock having a lock body that accommodates a combination locking mechanism and having a jointed bar hoop that has a plurality of jointed bars pivotably connected to one another and a locking bar, wherein a first end of the jointed bar hoop is permanently fastened to the lock body and a second end of the jointed bar hoop has the locking bar; wherein the combination locking mechanism has a plurality of code rings rotatable about an axis of rotation and a latch that is preloaded along the axis of rotation in the direction of a locked position, wherein the latch is movable in the direction of a release position when a secret code is set at the code rings, and wherein the latch is blocked in the locked position when the secret code is not set at the code rings; and wherein the lock body has an introduction opening through which the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop can be introduced into the lock body along an introduction direction that is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the code rings, with the locking bar introduced into the lock body being locked to the lock body when the latch is in the locked position and is blocked, wherein at least one of the latch and the locking bar has at least one slope that is configured to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into the release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body or on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body, wherein the combination locking mechanism is held in a holder, with the holder having an abutment that is configured to bound a movement of the latch effected by the preload of the latch in the direction of the locked position, wherein the abutment defines a maximum engagement of the latch into the introduction opening of the lock body in the locked position of the latch, wherein the maximum engagement of the latch into the introduction opening of the lock body defined by the abutment differs from a position of a reduced engagement which the latch adopts when the locking bar is introduced into the introduction opening and the latch contacts the locking bar, with the code rings of the combination locking mechanism only being rotatable when the latch adopts the position of the reduced engagement, but not when the latch is in the position of the maximum engagement.

17. A joint lock having a lock body that accommodates a combination locking mechanism and having a jointed bar hoop that has a plurality of jointed bars pivotably connected to one another and a locking bar, wherein a first end of the jointed bar hoop is permanently fastened to the lock body and a second end of the jointed bar hoop has the locking bar; wherein the combination locking mechanism has a plurality of code rings rotatable about an axis of rotation and a latch that is preloaded along the axis of rotation in the direction of a locked position, wherein the latch is movable in the direction of a release position when a secret code is set at the code rings, and wherein the latch is blocked in the locked position when the secret code is not set at the code rings; and wherein the lock body has an introduction opening through which the locking bar of the jointed bar hoop can be introduced into the lock body along an introduction direction that is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the code rings, with the locking bar introduced into the lock body being locked to the lock body when the latch is in the locked position and is blocked, wherein the latch and the locking bar each have at least one slope that interact with each other to effect an urging back of the preloaded latch from the locked position into the release position on a removal of the locking bar from the introduction opening of the lock body or on an introduction of the locking bar into the introduction opening of the lock body, wherein the interacting slopes are planar.

18. A joint lock in accordance with claim 17, wherein the interacting slopes extend in parallel with one another.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in the following purely by way of example with reference to the drawings. They only represent possible embodiments, wherein further embodiments can be seen from the description and the claims. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: a perspective representation of a joint lock;

(3) FIG. 2: a perspective representation of the joint lock when the combination locking mechanism is removed and the cover is removed to illustrate the engagement of the latch into the locking bar in the locked position;

(4) FIG. 3: a side view of the latch received in the holder;

(5) FIG. 4: a perspective side view of the holder;

(6) FIG. 5A: a plan view of the locking bar;

(7) FIG. 5B: a perspective representation of the locking bar; and

(8) FIG. 6: a perspective representation for illustrating the cooperation of the latch with the locking bar in the locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a joint lock 11 that has a lock body 13 to which a jointed bar hoop 17 is fastened in an articulated manner. The jointed bar hoop 17 comprises five jointed bars 19 and a locking bar 21 that are pivotably connected to one another via a plurality of pivotal connections 22. The respective pivotal connection 22 comprises a rivet. Only the pivotal connection 22 of the locking bar 21 to the adjacent jointed bar 19 can be seen in FIG. 1. The locking bar 21 forms a free end of the jointed bar hoop 17 and can be introduced along an introduction direction E into an introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 and can be selectively locked to or released from the lock body 13 there. The introduction direction E here corresponds to the longitudinal axis A of the locking bar 21. The end 20 of the jointed bar hoop 17 opposite the locking bar 21 is connected to the lock body 13 in a permanent, but likewise articulated manner.

(10) Furthermore, both the jointed bars 19 and the locking bar 21 of the jointed bar hoop 17 have a respective jacket 18. This jacket 18 can, for example, be produced from a plastic to provide protection against damage and to enable a comfortable handling of the jointed bar hoop 17.

(11) In the state shown in FIG. 1, the jointed bar hoop 17 is folded into a so-called yardstick configuration in which the jointed bars 19 and the locking bar 21 are aligned in parallel with one another.

(12) The lock body 13 accommodates a combination locking mechanism 15 that is surrounded by a housing (not shown) and a cover 45. The housing serves for the securing against break-open attempts and can be produced from metal. The cover 45 can, for example, be produced from a plastic to enable a comfortable handling of the lock. Furthermore, the inner space of the lock body 13 can be protected from contamination by the cover 45.

(13) The combination locking mechanism 15 has four code rings 23 that are rotatable about an axis of rotation D. In the embodiment shown here, the introduction direction E of the locking bar 21 and the axis of rotation D of the code rings 23 are precisely orthogonally aligned with respect to one another. Due to a rotation of the code rings 23, a secret code can be set that can enable a movement of a latch 25 (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3) along the axis of rotation D from a locked position into a release position to release a received locking bar 21 from the lock body 13. Due to a setting of a combination at the code rings 23 that does not correspond to the secret code, the latch 25 can, in contrast, be blocked in the locked position in that inwardly disposed sections of the code rings 23, not shown, engage into a respective blocking recess 26 of the latch 25 (cf. FIG. 2). Furthermore, the combination locking mechanism 15 is held in a cage-like holder 39 that enables a defined positioning of the combination locking mechanism 15 in the lock body 13.

(14) As FIG. 2 shows, the combination locking mechanism 15 comprises the latch 25 which is peripherally surrounded by the code rings 23 and by means of which the locking bar 21 introduced into a lateral introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 can be locked to the lock body 13. In FIG. 2, this latch 25 is in the locked position and engages into a recess 37 of the introduced locking bar 21. In this respect, the latch 25 is preloaded in the direction of the locked position by means of a preload spring 47 so that it is also possible to hold the locking bar 21 in the lock body 13 when the secret code is set at the code rings 23 and the latch 25 is generally released for a movement against the preload in the direction of the release position. After an introduction of the locking bar 21, the latter can thus already be held at the lock body so that a user can adjust the combination at the code rings comfortably and with both hands without the locking bar releasing from the lock body 13 in an unwanted or uncontrolled manner. Equally, it can be prevented by this preload of the latch 25 in the direction of the locked position that a locking bar 21 introduced into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 releases directly and in an uncontrolled manner from the lock body and, for instance, falls out unintentionally due to a setting of the secret code.

(15) As can in particular be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder 39 has an abutment 41 that bounds a movement effected by the preload of the latch 25 in the direction of the locked position. In this respect, the abutment 41 cooperates with an abutment point 24 of the latch 25. Due to this cooperation of the abutment 41 with the abutment point 24 of the latch 25, a maximum (lateral) engagement of the latch 25 into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 can consequently be defined. It can thereby, for example, be prevented that the latch 25 projects too deeply into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 when the locking bar 21 is removed.

(16) Furthermore, the latch 25 has a release slope 29 and a reception slope 33 in the direction of the locked position or at its end remote from the preload spring 47. It is made possible by these slopes 29, 33 that an urging back of the latch 25 against the preload and thus in the direction of the release position takes place (provided that the secret code is set at the code rings 23) due to an introduction or a removal of the locking bar 21 in or against the introduction direction E. These slopes 29, 33 are in this respect formed as planar surfaces and each extend in such a plane that is intersected at an acute angle by the axis of rotation D of the combination locking mechanism 15. The respective radial spacing of the slopes 29, 33 from the axis of rotation D increases in the direction of the release position in so doing. This design makes it possible that, on an introduction of the locking bar 21 in the introduction direction E or on its removal against the introduction direction E, the locking bar 21 can urge the latch 25 against the preload by the preload spring 47 in the direction of the release position.

(17) The locking bar 21 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B has an introduction slope 35 at its end disposed opposite the pivotal connection 22, said introduction slope 35 first being introduced on an introduction of the locking bar 21 into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13. On an introduction of the locking bar 21 in the introduction direction E, this introduction slope 35 can cooperate with the reception slope 33 of the latch 25 shown in FIG. 3 to enable a (temporary) urging back of the latch 25 against the preload of the preload spring 47 into the release position. In this respect, the introduction slope 35 of the locking bar 21 and the reception slope 33 of the latch 25 can in particular be configured such that they extend in parallel when the locking bar 21 is introduced into the introduction opening 27 along the introduction direction E. This can enable a defined and smooth drive of the latch 25 from the locked position into the release position without excessive force fluctuations or inaccuracies occurring for a user.

(18) Furthermore, the locking bar 21 (cf. FIGS. 5A and 5B) has a recess 37 that is bounded by a removal slope 31 and a boundary slope 43. Due to these slopes 31 and 43 of the locking bar 21, it is made possible on the introduction of the locking bar 21 into the introduction opening 27 that, after the latch 25 has initially been urged back into the release position by the explained cooperation of the introduction slope 35 of the locking bar 21 and the reception slope 33 of the latch 25, the latch 25 can automatically engage into the recess 37 of the locking bar 21 due to its preload when a locked position of the locking bar 21 is reached in order to hold and ultimately lock the locking bar 21. The locking bar 21 can thereby at least be held at the lock body 13 in a force-transmitting manner even if the secret code is still set at the code rings 23. Due to a subsequent adjustment of the combination at the code rings 23, the latch 25 can then, however, be blocked in the locked position in that the code rings 23 engage into the blocking recesses 26 of the latch 25. Thus, the locking bar 21 is then secured at the lock body 13 in a form-fitted manner.

(19) The removal slope 31 of the locking bar 21 can in particular extend in parallel with the release slope 29 of the latch 25 and can extend substantially contacting said release slope 29 if, in the explained state, the locking bar 21 is introduced into the lock body 13 and the latch 25 adopts the locked position. Equally, the boundary slope 43 of the locking bar 21 can extend in parallel with and contacting the reception slope 33 of the latch 25. A substantially form-fitted engagement of the latch 25 into the recess 37 of the locking bar 21 is thereby made possible so that the locking bar 21 is held in a defined position in the lock body 13 in the locked state and in particular in the blocked state and any movements are bounded, whereby a noise formation can also be prevented. However, slight free spaces between the respective mutually oppositely disposed slopes, for example due to production tolerances, are generally unproblematic in this respect.

(20) For a removal of the locking bar 21 from the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 against the introduction direction E, the removal slope 31 of the locking bar 21 can cooperate with the release slope 29 of the latch 25 (cf. FIG. 3) in order, in turn, to effect a (temporary) displacement of the latch 25 from the locked position against the preload by the preload spring 47 in the direction of the release position. This naturally requires that the secret code has been set at the code rings 23. In turn, a defined and uniform movement of the latch 25 in the direction of the release position is in this respect made possible by the parallel extent of the removal slope 31 of the locking bar 21 and the release slope 29 of the latch 25. Furthermore, it can be achieved by an engagement with an exact fit of the latch 25 into the recess 37 of the locking bar 21 when the locking bar 21 is introduced into the lock body 13 that the translation of the movement of the locking bar 21 against the introduction direction E during a removal is directly translated into an axial movement of the latch 25 in the direction of the release position without any delays or a noticeable or audible abutment of the removal slope 31 of the locking bar 21 and the release slope 29 of the latch 25 taking place. As soon as the locking bar 21 has been removed from the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 in this manner and the introduction slope 35 has passed the latch 25, the latch 25 can snap back into the locked position due to its preload, with this movement, as explained, being bounded by the abutment 41 of the holder 39. In this state, the locking bar 21 can, provided that the secret code is still set at the code rings 23, again be introduced into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13.

(21) FIG. 6 again shows the engagement of the latch 25 into the recess 37 of the locking bar 21. In this respect, the latch 25 engages with an exact fit into the recess 37 of the locking bar 21 that is bounded by the removal slope 31 and the boundary slope 43 of the locking bar 21. The boundary slope 43 in this respect in particular bounds the depth of the introduction of the locking bar 21 into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 in the introduction direction E.

(22) A simple handling of a joint lock 11 is thus made possible by such a joint lock 11 or by the respective cooperation of the introduction slope 35 of the locking bar 21 with the reception slope 33 of the latch 25 and the respective cooperation of the removal slope 31 of the locking bar 21 with the release slope 29 of the latch 25. Since the latch 25 is automatically temporarily displaced in the direction of the release position on an introduction of the locking bar 21 into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 or on a removal of the locking bar 21 from the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 when the secret code is set at the code rings 23 of the combination locking mechanism 15, no further action by the user is necessary to displace the latch 25 into the release position. A user thus only has to set the secret code and can directly selectively introduce the locking bar 21 into the introduction opening 27 of the lock body 13 or release it from the lock body 13, wherein the latch 25 is hereby indirectly driven in the direction of the release position. Nevertheless, it is achieved by the preload of the latch 25 that the introduced locking bar 21 is held in the lock body 13 even if the secret code is set at the code rings 23 and the latch 25 is thus not blocked by the code rings 23. An unintentional release of the locking bar 21 from the lock body 13 is hereby prevented.