Lockset knob assembly for use with an interchangeable lock core

Details Lockset knob assembly for use with an interchangeable lock core Lockset knob assembly for use with an interchangeable lock core

2000-08-14

2002-03-26

Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)

Locks

Special application

For control and machine elements

C070S369000, C070S371000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06360570

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lockset knob assembly for use with an interchangeable lock core.
2. Description of the Related Art
Locks allowing interchanging of lock cores have been used, and two typical types thereof include knobs and lever handles for receiving the interchangeable lock cores.
FIGS. 5 through 7
of the drawings illustrates a conventional lockset knob assembly for use with an to interchangeable lock core. The lockset knob assembly includes an outer knob housing
80
, an inner knob housing
81
, a sleeve
82
, and a spindle
83
that is operably connected with a transmission shaft of a lockset transmission assembly. The lockset is unlatched when the spindle
83
is turned. The sleeve
82
is mounted in the spindle
83
and includes a number of inner radial protrusions
831
for positioning the sleeve
82
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the spindle
83
includes a number of longitudinal projections
832
that are extended through associated slots
811
in the inner knob housing
81
and then bent so as to be positioned in associated grooves
812
in the inner knob housing
81
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the inner knob housing
81
is inserted into the outer knob housing
80
via an opening in an end of the outer knob housing
80
with an 8-shape hole
813
in an end face of the inner knob housing
81
aligned with an 8-shape hole
802
in an end face of the outer knob housing
80
. Then, the outer knob housing
80
is rolled to reduce the diameter of the opening
801
, thereby enclosing the inner knob housing
81
.
After mounting a lock core
84
via the 8-shape holes
813
and
802
, a proper key is inserted into the lock core
84
and then rotated through a pre-determined angle to make a wing
841
project outward and be located behind the sleeve
82
, thereby preventing disengagement of the lock core
84
. Replacement of the lock core
84
can be easily achieved by means of inserting the proper key into the lock core
84
and rotating the key through the pre-determined angle in a reverse direction until the wing
841
retracts into the lock core
84
to thereby allow removal of the lock core
84
and subsequent insertion of a new lock core.
Nevertheless, when removing the lock core
84
, the sleeve
82
may be rotated inadvertently and thus hinder insertion of the new lock core, as a central portion of the sleeve
82
no longer aligns with a lower portion of the 8-shape hole
813
of the inner knob housing
81
. In addition, since the inner knob housing
81
and the outer knob housing
80
are not positioned relative to each other, the inner knob housing
81
and the outer knob housing
80
may be moved relative to each other during rolling of the outer knob housing
80
, such that the 8-shape holes
813
and
802
thereof no longer align with each other. Additional adjustment for re-achieving the alignment of the 8-shape holes
813
and
802
is required. Furthermore, the inner and outer knob housings
80
and
81
are formed by means of punching and rolling thin metal plates and are thus very thin, especially in the 8-shape holes
802
and
813
. As a result, even though a lock core
84
is mounted in the 8-shape holes
802
and
813
, the lockset can be picked easily by means of inserting a sharp article through a point A in
FIG. 6
to damage the outer end face of the outer knob housing
80
and then the lock core
84
and the inner knob housing
81
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A lockset knob assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises:
an outer knob housing including a first end with a first opening and a second end with a first 8-shape hole in an end face of the second end, a periphery defining the first 8-shape hole including a retaining flange projecting inward toward the first end of the outer knob housing;
an inner knob housing including a first end with a second opening and a second end with a second 8-shape hole in an end face of the second end, the second 8-shape hole being larger than the first 8-shape hole, the inner knob housing being mounted in the outer knob housing with the retaining flange of the outer knob housing engaged in the second 8-shape hole to thereby prevent relative movement between the inner knob housing and the outer knob housing, the inner knob housing further including a plurality of slots and a plurality of radially extending grooves, each said groove being adjacent to and communicated with an associated said slot;
a spindle including a plurality of longitudinal projections that are extended through the slots of the inner knob housing and then bent so as to be positioned in the grooves of the inner knob housing, respectively, the spindle further including a first engaging portion; and
a sleeve mounted in the spindle and including a second engaging portion that is engaged with the first engaging portion, thereby preventing longitudinal movement and rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the spindle.
The first engaging portion is a protrusion and the second engaging portion is an engaging slot for engaging with the protrusion. Alternatively, the first engaging portion is an engaging slot and the second engaging portion is a protrusion for engaging with the engaging slot.
In accordance with the present invention, the sleeve of the lockset knob assembly is reliably positioned so as not to interfere with changing of the lock core. The retaining flange that projects inward from a periphery defining the 8-shape hole of the outer knob housing engages with a periphery defining the 8-shape hole of the inner knob housing to thereby prevent relative movement between the inner knob housing and the outer knob housing during the rolling procedure for enclosing the inner knob housing by the outer knob housing. In addition, the thickness of the periphery defining the 8-shape hole of the outer knob housing is increased and the strength thereof is improved to prevent picking of and damage to the lockset.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3308641 (1967-03-01), Russell et al.
patent: 3869890 (1975-03-01), Neary
patent: 4435967 (1984-03-01), Best et al.
patent: 4995249 (1991-02-01), Preissler et al.
patent: 5398531 (1995-03-01), Shen
patent: 5507163 (1996-04-01), Juang
patent: 6014877 (2000-01-01), Shen
patent: 6112565 (2000-09-01), Aramburu

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