Safety locking mechanism for lockset

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety locking mechanism for a lockset having a cover plate, a support plate, and a lock body. The safety locking mechanism includes a locking push rod having a direction-limiting shaft and a cylindrical rod, a locking stopper, and a locking compression spring. The direction-limiting shaft is mounted at one end of the cylindrical rod and the other end of the cylindrical rod passes through the support plate and presses against the cover plate. The locking stopper is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical rod and has a front end and a back end being close against the support plate and the lock body respectively. The lock body is provided with a direction-limiting groove. The direction-limiting shaft is mounted in the direction-limiting groove. The locking compression spring is mounted between the direction-limiting shaft and a bottom end of the direction-limiting groove in a compressed manner.

Claims

1. A safety locking mechanism for a lockset, having a cover plate and a lock body, comprising: a locking push rod having a direction-limiting shaft and a cylindrical rod, wherein the direction-limiting shaft is mounted at a first end of the cylindrical rod, the cylindrical rod defines a helical inclined surface at a adjacent to the direction-limiting shaft, the helical inclined surface protruding from the cylindrical rod and axially extending along the surface of the cylindrical rod, and a second end of the cylindrical rod presses against the cover plate of the lockset; a locking stopper defines a specially-shaped hole, wherein the specially-shaped hole includes a space having a cross-section similar to the cross-section of the helical inclined surface such that the helical inclined surface section of the locking push rod fits into the specially-shaped hole, the locking stopper is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical rod, a front end of the helical inclined surface is inserted into the specially-shaped hole, and when axially moving in the specially-shaped hole, the helical inclined surface drives the locking stopper to rotate only in a radial direction, wherein the lock body comprises a lock tongue for locking and unlocking the lockset, a locking shaft for providing the safety lock mechanism to the lockset by locking the lock tongue when the cover plate is removed, and the lock body defines a direction-limiting groove having the same cross-sectional shape as the direction-limiting shaft, the direction-limiting shaft is fitted in the direction-limiting groove allowing the direction-limiting shaft to be slidable in the direction-limiting groove only in an axial direction, and a locking compression spring is mounted between the direction-limiting shaft and a bottom end of the direction-limiting groove in a compressed manner to elevate the locking push rod, rotate the locking stopper and lock the lock tongue when the cover plate is removed.

2. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 1, wherein the lockset further comprises a support plate, and a first end of the locking stopper faces the support plate and a second end of the locking stopper faces the lock body, respectively.

3. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the specially-shaped hole comprises a helical surface fitted with the helical inclined surface, and when the helical inclined surface passes through the specially-shaped hole, the helical surface is driven by the helical inclined surface to rotate radially.

4. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 3, wherein after when the cover plate is removed, the locking push rod is elevated by the compression force of the locking compression spring, the locking push rod axially moves upward, and the helical inclined surface drives the locking stopper to rotate through the specially-shaped hole radially.

5. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 2, wherein when the locking push rod presses against the cover plate, the locking stopper is located outside a moving passage of the locking shaft of the lockset.

6. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 2, wherein when the cover plate is removed from the support plate, the locking stopper rotates to an intersection with a moving passage of the locking shaft of the lockset.

7. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 2, wherein the direction-limiting shaft is fixed at one end of the locking push rod, and the other end of the locking push rod passes through the specially-shaped hole of the locking stopper and the support plate in order, and presses against the cover plate.

8. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 7, wherein the locking shaft is used to control locking and rotation of the lock tongue of the lockset.

9. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the direction-limiting shaft comprises a polygon.

10. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 1, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

11. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the direction-limiting shaft is a polygon.

12. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the direction-limiting shaft is a polygon.

13. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 4, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the direction-limiting shaft is a polygon.

14. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 2, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

15. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 3, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

16. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 4, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

17. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 5, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

18. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 6, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

19. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 7, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

20. The safety locking mechanism for a lockset according to claim 8, wherein the direction-limiting shaft comprises a circular shaft, the circular shaft defines an axial key groove, the direction-limiting groove comprises a matching limiting key on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove, the limiting key fits in the axial key groove and is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod moves only in the axial direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a locking push rod and a locking stopper of a safety locking mechanism according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the locking push rod and the locking stopper of the safety locking mechanism according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3-1 is a schematic structural view of the safety locking mechanism during normal work of a lockset; and FIG. 3-2 is a schematic structural view after separation of a cover plate of the lockset; and

(4) FIG. 4-1 is a schematic view of positions of the locking stopper and a locking shaft during normal work of the lockset; and FIG. 4-2 is a schematic view of positions of the locking stopper and the locking shaft during separation of the cover plate of the lockset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In order to make the objectives and technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are merely a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

(6) Persons skilled in the art can understand that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. It should be further understood that, terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be understood as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(7) The term and/or in the present invention means that either or both elements may be present.

(8) The terms inner and outer in the present invention refer to, relative to a device itself, a direction toward the interior of the device and an opposite direction respectively and are not intended to specifically limit the apparatus and mechanism of the present invention.

(9) The terms left and right in the present invention refer to, when a reader is facing the drawing, the left side of the reader and the right side of the reader respectively and are not intended to specifically limit the apparatus and mechanism of the present invention.

(10) The term connection in the present invention may refer to direct connection between components or indirect connection between the components through other components.

(11) The terms clockwise and anticlockwise in the present invention refer to a clockwise direction and an anticlockwise direction shown in the accompanying drawings respectively, are defined for helping the reader to read and understand, and are not intended to specifically limit the apparatus and mechanism of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a locking push rod and a locking stopper of a safety locking mechanism according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the locking push rod and the locking stopper of the safety locking mechanism according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3-1 is a schematic structural view of the safety locking mechanism during normal work of a lockset according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3-2 is a schematic structural view when a cover plate of the lockset is removed according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4-1 is a schematic view of positions of the locking stopper 2 and a locking shaft 13 during normal operation of the lockset according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 4-2 is a schematic view of positions of the locking stopper 2 locking the locking shaft 13 the cover plate 8 of the lockset is removed according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a safety locking mechanism for a lockset is provided. The lockset includes a cover plate 8, a support plate 9, and a lock body 10, as shown in FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2. The safety locking mechanism includes a locking push rod 1, a locking stopper 2, and a locking compression spring 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The locking push rod 1 includes a direction-limiting shaft 4 and a cylindrical rod 6. The direction-limiting shaft 4 is mounted at one end of the cylindrical rod 6. The lock body 10 defines a direction-limiting groove 15, and the direction-limiting shaft 4 is mounted in the direction-limiting groove 15, as shown in FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2. The locking compression spring 3 is mounted between the direction-limiting shaft 4 and a bottom end of the direction-limiting groove 15 in a compressed manner. The shape of the direction-limiting shaft 4 matches and the shape of the direction-limiting groove 15, the direction-limiting shaft 4 is limited to move in an up and down direction under the compression force of the locking compression spring 3, and not rotatable around the axial of the direction-limiting-groove 15. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the direction-limiting shaft 4 has a rectangular shape or square shape with rounded corners. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction-limiting shaft 4 has a round shape with an axial key groove 41. When the direction-limiting groove 15 includes a matching limiting key (not shown in FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2), the direction-limiting groove 15 can also ensure that the direction-limiting shaft 4 only moves in an up and down direction. The cylindrical rod 6 is provided with a helical inclined surface 5 at a position adjacent to the direction-limiting shaft 4, the helical inclined surface 5 axially extending along the surface of the cylindrical rod 6, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the other end of the locking push rod 1 passes through the support plate 9 and presses against the cover plate 8, as shown in FIG. 3-1. The locking stopper 2 defines a specially-shaped hole 7, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The specially-shaped hole 7 includes a space having the same cross-section similar to the cross-sections of the helical inclined surface 5 such that the helical inclined surface 5 section of the locking push rod 1 fits into the specially-shaped hole 7. The locking stopper 2 is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical rod 6, a front end of the helical inclined surface 5 is inserted into the specially-shaped hole 7, the specially-shaped hole 7 is driven by the helical inclined surface 5. The locking stopper 2 is installed between the support plate 9 and the lock body 10 with a first end facing the support plate 9 and a second end facing the lock body 10, respectively.

(14) In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3-2 of FIG. 3, after the cover plate 8 is removed, the locking push rod 1 moves upwards as shown in FIG. 3-2, under the compression force of the locking compression spring 3, the helical inclined surface 5 section of the locking push rod 1 drives the specially-shaped hole 7 to rotate the locking stopper 2 such that the locking stopper 2 moves into a moving passage 11 of the locking shaft 13 to drive the locking shaft 13 into a moving passage 14 of a lock tongue 12 to lock the lock tongue 12.

(15) As shown in FIG. 4-1, when the locking push rod 1 presses against the cover plate 8, the locking stopper 2 is located outside a moving passage 11 of the locking shaft 13 of the lockset. As shown in FIG. 4-2, when the cover plate 8 is removed, the locking stopper 2 rotates to an intersection with the moving passage 11 of the locking shaft 13 of the lockset.

(16) In certain embodiments, the direction-limiting shaft 4 is fixed at one end of the locking push rod 1. The other end of the locking push rod 1 passes through the specially-shaped hole 7 of the locking stopper 2 and the support plate 9 in order, and presses against the cover plate 8. The locking shaft 13 is used to control locking and rotation of a lock tongue 12 of the lockset. Therefore, the locking stopper 2 drives the locking shaft 13 to a position where the lock tongue 12 is blocked by the locking shaft 13 and the lock tongue 12 is then locked when the cover plate 8 is removed.

(17) In certain embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the direction-limiting shaft may include a polygon, for example, a triangle or a quadrangle.

(18) In certain embodiments, the direction-limiting shaft 4 may also be a circular shaft, as shown in FIG. 1, and the circular direction-limiting shaft 4 includes the axial key groove 41. The direction-limiting groove 15 may include a matching limiting key (not shown in FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2) on an inner wall of the direction-limiting groove. The limiting key fits in the axial key groove 41. The limiting key is slidable in the key groove in an axial direction to ensure that the locking push rod 1 moves only in up and down direction and not rotatable around the locking push rod 1.

(19) The implementations of the present invention are specifically described in detail, but they are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that, several modifications and improvements can be made by persons of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the concept of the present invention. All these modifications and improvements are within the protection scope of the present invention.