Handle-locking mechanism and door lock using such mechanism

Abstract

A handle-locking mechanism for a door comprises a sliding bar, a locking member and a rotatable member all inside a lock body, wherein the rotary motion of the rotatable member drives an upper latch and a lower latch to a locking position and unlocking position; the sliding bar is slidably arranged inside the lock body and one end of the sliding bar abuts against the bolt, and the sliding bar is provided with a first elastic element, and the sliding bar is pushed against the elastic force from the first elastic element when the bolt retracts; the locking member is coupled with the sliding bar, and when the bolt stretches out, the locking member is brought by the sliding bar to a position to block the rotary motion of the rotatable member.

Claims

1. A handle-locking mechanism for a door, comprising a sliding bar, a locking member and a rotatable member all inside a lock body, wherein rotary motion of the rotatable member drives an upper latch and a lower latch between a locking position and an unlocking position; the sliding bar being slidably arranged inside the lock body and one end of the sliding bar abutting against a bolt, and the sliding bar engaging a first elastic element, and the sliding bar pushing against the elastic force from the first elastic element when the bolt retracts; the locking member is coupled with the sliding bar, and when the bolt extends, the locking member is brought by the sliding bar to a position to block the rotary motion of the rotatable member; the rotatable member comprising a rotatable portion, and a second elastic element is provided between the rotatable portion and the lock body for restoring the rotatable portion to its origin position after being rotated; and the rotatable portion being configured with a groove for receiving the second elastic element, a first slot and a second slot, wherein the first slot and the second slot are arranged offset from each other and are in communication with the groove respectively; and two ends of the second elastic element extend across the first slot and the second slot, respectively, and each end abuts against a corresponding side of a retaining member of the lock body.

2. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein an inclined guiding surface is configured in an area of contact between the sliding bar and the bolt.

3. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a first arm and a second arm which both are angularly connected at a joint, wherein a locating post is configured at the joint of the first arm and the second arm, such that the locking member is pivoted around the locating post in the lock body.

4. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the sliding bar is provided with a pair of limiting posts which form a space therebetween, and the first arm of the locking member is received into the space, such that the locking member is pivoted during the sliding motion of the sliding bar.

5. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a protrusion is provided on the rotatable member, and when the first elastic element is in its natural state, the second arm pivoting to a position below a rotary path of the protrusion and abuts against the protrusion.

6. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 5, wherein, when the first elastic member is in its natural state, the direction of the second arm is tangent to the rotary path of the protrusion.

7. The handle-locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion is provided with a hole for mounting a handle, and the hole is configured in the shape of a polygon or an oval.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described hereinafter in details with reference to the figures and the embodiments for the sake of better understanding. Any non-substantive, obvious alterations or improvement by the technician of this technical field according to the present invention may be incorporated into ambit of the claims of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an internal structure of the door lock being locked according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged part A of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an internal structure of the door lock being unlocked according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged part B of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a sliding bar being connected with a locking member according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates the rotatable member according to the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lock body and components of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(9) 10 Lock body 1 Sliding bar 11 First elastic element 12 Guiding surface 13 Limiting post 2 Locking member 21 First arm portion 22 Second arm portion 23 Locating post 3 Rotatable member 31 Protrusion 32 Rotatable portion 321 Hole 322 Groove 323 First slot 324 Second slot 33 Second elastic element 4 Upper latch 5 Lower latch 6 Deadbolt 7 Retaining member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) The present invention will be described hereinafter in details with reference to the figures and the embodiments for the sake of clarity. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention and the features in different embodiments may be combined if they are not conflicted with each other. Although certain embodiments are described in detail for a better understanding, it should be understood that there may be more embodiments. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art on the basis of the present invention without creative works and without departing from the scope of the claims.

(11) The technical terms used herein have the general meanings well understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. The terms in the description of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustrating the embodiments, not limiting the present invention.

Embodiment

(12) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, this embodiment provides a handle-locking mechanism, comprising a sliding bar 1, a locking member 2, and a rotatable member 3, all of which are arranged inside a lock body 10 of a door lock, such as a multi-point door lock assembly. The rotatable member 3 is coupled to an upper shootbolt latch 4 and a lower shootbolt latch 5 in the lock body 10 via a transmission mechanism, such that rotary motion of the rotatable member 3 is transformed into the linear motion of the upper latch 4 and the lower latch 5 to achieve locking and unlocking.

(13) The sliding bar 1 is slidably arranged inside the lock body 10, where one end of the sliding bar 1 abuts against a bolt 6. The sliding bar 1 is provided with a first elastic element 11. When the bolt 6 retracts, the sliding bar 1 is pushed downwardly against the elastic force from the first elastic element 11.

(14) In this embodiment, the bolt 6 of the lock body 10 is a deadbolt. One end of the sliding bar 1 contacts with the deadbolt, while the first elastic element 11 is provided at the other end of the sliding bar 1. The first elastic element 11 preferably is a compression spring. In another alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the first elastic element 11 is provided at the end of the sliding bar 1 which contacts with the deadbolt, in this case, the first elastic element 11 is a tension spring.

(15) In a preferred embodiment, an inclined guiding surface 12 is configured in the contacting area of the sliding bar 1 facing to the bolt 6, such that the retraction of the bolt 6 can press the sliding bar 1 down smoothly. In this embodiment, the guiding surface 12 is provided on the end of the sliding bar 1, however, it is also possible that the guiding surface 12 is provided on the bolt 6.

(16) The locking member 2 is coupled with the sliding bar 1. When the bolt 6 is extended, the first elastic element 11 restores its natural state and forces the sliding bar 1 to move upwardly, and the locking member 2 therefore moves to a position to block the rotary motion of the rotatable member 3.

(17) In a preferred embodiment, the locking member 2 has a cross-section in the shape of a “L” or “V”, consisting of a first arm 21 and a second arm 22 which both are connected at a certain angle, wherein a locating post 23 is configured at the joint of the first arm 21 and the second arm 22, such that the locking member 2 can be pivoted around the locating post 23 in the lock body 10.

(18) In addition, the sliding bar 1 is provided with a pair of limiting posts 13 which form a space therebetween. The first arm 21 of the locking member 2 is received into the space, such that the locking member 2 can be pivoted following the sliding motion of the sliding bar 1. Specifically, a protrusion 31 is provided on the rotatable member 3, when the first elastic element 11 is in its natural state, the sliding bar 1 drives the locking member 2 to pivotally move, allowing the second arm 22 to pivot to a position below the rotary path of the protrusion 31, and abuts against the protrusion 31 to prevent the rotatable member 3 from rotating. In this embodiment, each limiting post 13 is a cylinder for better movement between the sliding bar 1 and the locking member 2.

(19) As a preferred embodiment, when the first elastic member 11 is in its natural state, the direction of the second arm 22 is tangent to the rotary path of the protrusion 31, in order to further improve the locking protection for the rotatable member 3, in case the handle is under too much pressure, causing the locking member 2 to pivot reversely to force the sliding bar 1 to a unlock position. Therefore, the reliability of the mechanism is further improved, and the life time of the parts are prolonged as mis-operation is avoided.

(20) Further, the rotatable member 3 comprises a rotatable portion 32 where the protrusion 31 is arranged. The rotatable portion 32 is provided with a hole 321 for mounting the door handle. In this embodiment, the hole 321 is preferably configured in the shape of a polygon, however, it is also possible that the hole 321 has a cross-section in the shape of an oval in practical use, in order to effectively prevent the handle from sliding, and achieve a more simplified structure.

(21) A second elastic element 33 is provided between the rotatable portion 32 and the lock body 10 for restoring the rotatable portion 32 to its origin position after being rotated. The rotatable portion 32 is configured with a groove 322 for receiving the second elastic element 33, a first slot 323, and a second slot 324, wherein the first slot 323 and the second slot 324 are arranged offset from each other and are in communication with the groove 322 respectively. In this embodiment, the second elastic element 33 is a torsional spring. The two ends of the second elastic element 33 extend across the first slot 323 and the second slot 324 respectively and each abuts against the corresponding side of a retaining member 7 of the lock body 10.

(22) Further provided is a door lock in this embodiment according to the present invention, comprising the lock body 10 and the above described handle-locking mechanism.

(23) It should be noted that, the rest structure of the door lock according to the present invention may be those disclosed already in prior art and will not be described in details herein.

(24) The embodiment described hereinbefore is merely preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for purposes of any restrictions or limitations on the invention. It will be apparent that any non-substantive, obvious alterations or improvement by the technician of this technical field according to the present invention may be incorporated into ambit of the claims of the present invention.