Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-19
2004-06-01
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3676)
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
C070S472000, C292S336300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06742367
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock with damage prevention by forcible turning of an outer handle. In particular, the present invention relates to a lock having an outer handle that rotates freely when it is turned under a locked state, thereby preventing intentional damage to the lock by forcible turning of the outer handle.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
of the drawings illustrates an outer handle assembly of a conventional lock. The outer handle assembly comprises a mounting member
90
fixed to a doorplate, an outer rose
92
, an outer handle
91
, an outer spindle
93
, and an actuating sleeve
94
mounted in the outer spindle
93
. A locking plate
95
is mounted in the actuating sleeve
94
and includes two ends
951
respectively extending through aligned slots
941
in the actuating sleeve
94
and through aligned slots
931
of the outer spindle
93
. The outer spindle
93
is turned when the outer handle
91
is turned. When in a locked state, the ends
951
of the locking plate
95
are respectively retained in two locking grooves
921
in the outer rose
92
. The actuating sleeve
94
is actuatable by a tailpiece
912
of a lock core
911
mounted in the outer handle
91
to thereby move the locking plate
95
along a longitudinal direction and thus disengage the locking plate
95
from the locking grooves
921
, allowing subsequent unlatching. However, even if in the locked state, an unauthorized person may apply a relatively large force to turn the outer spindle
91
, causing disengagement of the ends
951
of the locking plate
95
from the locking grooves
921
. The lock is thus damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a lock having an outer handle that rotates freely when it is turned under a locked state, thereby preventing intentional damage to the lock by forcible turning of the outer handle.
A lock in accordance with the present invention comprises an inner handle assembly, a latch assembly having a latch bolt, and an outer handle assembly. The outer handle assembly comprises:
an outer handle;
an outer rose including an axial hole for pivotally receiving an end of the outer handle, the outer rose further including at least one post for connection with the inner handle assembly;
a lock core set mounted in the outer handle and including a lock core that is actuatable by a key to turn, the lock core having a tailpiece;
an outer spindle including a first end connected to the outer handle to turn therewith and a second end including two positioning slots;
an actuating sleeve rotatably mounted in the outer spindle, the actuating sleeve including a hole on an end thereof, the tailpiece extending through the hole of the actuating sleeve, the hole being so configured that the actuating sleeve is turned when the lock core and the tailpiece are turned, the actuating sleeve and the outer spindle being so configured that longitudinal movement of the actuating sleeve relative to the outer spindle is not allowed, the actuating sleeve further including two guide slots each having an inclined section and a horizontal section;
a locking plate mounted in the actuating sleeve and including two wings, each of the wings being extended through an associated one of the guide slots into an associated one of the positioning slots of the outer spindle, each of the wings being retainable by the horizontal section of an associated one of the guide slots;
an unlatching member including a first end releasably engaged with the locking plate to allow joint rotation of the unlatching member and the locking plate, the unlatching member further including a second end operably connected to an inner handle of the inner handle assembly, the unlatching member being operably connected to the latch bolt such that rotation of the unlatching member causes retraction of the latch bolt; and
a cap fixed to the second end of the outer spindle and including a hole through which the unlatching plate extends, the hole of the cap allowing free rotation of the unlatching member;
wherein when the lock is in an unlocked state, the first end of the unlatching member is engaged with the locking plate to allow joint rotation; and
wherein when the lock is switched from the unlocked state to a locked state, each wing of the locking plate is guided by the inclined section of an associated one of the guide slots and then retained in the horizontal section of an associated one of the guide slots, the unlatching member being moved away from and thus disengaged from the first end of the unlatching member such that the unlatching member is not turned when the outer handle is turned while the lock is in the locked state.
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Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd
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