Lock setting changing unit

Details Lock setting changing unit Lock setting changing unit

2001-03-28

2002-11-05

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)

Locks

Operating mechanism

Using a powered device

C070S276000, C070S382000, C070S383000, C070S384000, C070S413000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06474121

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock setting changing unit which can change the lock state of a locking system using a magnetic card key, and particularly relates to a lock setting changing unit suitable for use in a guest room of a hotel or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
As a locking system for a guest room of a hotel or the like, it is widely known that, for example, as disclosed in JP-B-58-41391, German Patent No. 2,753,206, or the like, the room can be locked/unlocked from the outside by using a key while the room can be locked/unlocked from the inside by operating a knob. However, there has been a problem that the locked state of such a locking system can be unlocked from the outside by using a regular-use key even if the room has been locked from the inside. In consideration of such a problem in safety, there has been developed a lock state display system which shows the locking state effected in the inside of the room to the outside of the room, and at the same time, prevents unlocking from the outside by a regular-use key, for example, as disclosed in JP-B-61-39475, or the like.
Further, if a guest of a hotel lost or missed the room key, there would be a risk that the key may be abused to cause theft. Therefore, there has been desired a locking system which can change the magnetic lock setting of the locking system to prevent the room from being unlocked with the card key of the preceding guest after the guest checked out. Thus, a lock setting changing unit which can change the magnetic lock setting has been developed. However, if an operator changed the setting of the lock without becoming aware that a setting tool comes out before he changes the lock setting correctly, there occurs an accident that the lock can be unlocked even with the card key of the guest who stayed the room prior to the change of the lock setting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock setting changing unit for a locking system using a magnetic card key, said unit having changing means in which a setting tool is prevented from coming out in the middle of changing the magnetic lock setting so that the magnetic lock setting can be changed correctly.
The above object can be achieved in a locking system which is constituted by a housing, a slider provided in the housing and having a plurality of opened grooves into which magnetic lock pins are inserted, and a pair of plates provided in the housing so that a magnetic card key can be inserted between the plates, said system being further constituted by; a lock setting changing unit comprising: a disc capable of rotating to change magnetic lock setting, said disc being inserted into at least one circular recess portion of the slider; and engagement means provided in the disc so as to prevent a setting tool from being relieved from the disc in the middle of changing the magnetic lock setting; wherein the setting tool is inserted into a center hole of the disc, the disc is rotated by the setting tool so that the magnetic lock setting is changed into a new magnetic lock setting position, and the setting tool is allowed to be relieved from the disc after the magnetic lock setting is changed.
This lock setting changing unit in the locking system has a feature that a sliding ember is provided in a closed-end hole crossing a middle of the rotatable disc while being urged outward by a spring; and a cut-off shoulder is formed in the sliding member on one side thereof which is perpendicular to a direction along which a groove is opened in the sliding member, wherein a setting tool is inserted into a center hole of the disc so that an engagement groove of the setting tool is engaged with the groove of the sliding member, the disc is rotated by the setting tool so that magnetic lock setting can be changed into a new magnetic lock setting position, and then a top end head portion of the sliding member is urged by a spring so as to be inserted into one of corresponding engagement grooves in a circuit recess portion, so that the setting tool is allowed to be relieved from the groove of the sliding member.
This lock setting changing unit in the locking system has a feature that the top end head portion of a sliding member comes into contact with a circumference of the circular recess portion when the disc is rotated by the setting tool, and an upper side of an axial groove of a spindle shaft of the setting tool engages with a cut-off shoulder formed in the sliding member on one side thereof perpendicular to a direction along which a groove is opened in the sliding member, so that the setting tool cannot be relieved from the disc; and when the disc is rotated to a new magnetic lock setting position by the setting tool, the sliding member is pressed out to one of corresponding engagement grooves in the circular recess portion of the slider by spring force, so that the upper side of the axial groove of the spindle shaft of the setting tool is released from engagement with the cut-off shoulder of the groove of the sliding member, and the setting tool can be then relieved from the disc.
The lock setting changing unit in the locking system has a feature that the magnetic lock pins are inserted into a plurality of grooves opened outward in the slider, and an axial groove opened outward is provided also in the disc, so that a magnet inserted into the groove changes its position relative to the slider in accordance with the rotation of the disc.
The lock setting changing unit in the locking system has a feature that the setting tool is constituted by a spindle shaft and a grip which are circular in cross section, and a top end of the spindle shaft is formed with a curvature. The spindle shaft has a semicircularly cut-off portion which is semicirclularly cut off from the top end by about one third of the length of the spindle shaft. The semicircular cut-off portion of the spindle shaft forms a long groove in the axial direction of the spindle shaft, and the axial groove of the spindle shaft of the setting tool is engaged with the groove of the sliding member, so that the setting tool cannot be relieved from the groove of the sliding member until the disc is rotated to a new magnetic lock setting position.
The lock setting changing unit according to the present invention has a simple structure, can perform an accurate operation and can give a high sense of safety and a high sense of reliability to a user.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4312198 (1982-01-01), Sedley
patent: 4932228 (1990-06-01), Eisermann
patent: 5211040 (1993-05-01), Gisiger
patent: 5406815 (1995-04-01), Sedley
patent: 5664449 (1997-09-01), Sedley

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