Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-23
2001-04-24
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
C292S227000, C292SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220065
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanical push button lock for controlling a locked/unlocked state of a specific element of a machine, and more particularly to a mechanical push button lock that not only provides two stage tactile impression but also has simple structure and low manufacturing tolerance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A mechanical push button lock is used to control the locked/unlocked state of a specific element of a machine and is in widespread use in conventional industry and many products. Possible applications include mechanical push button lock for the cover of a crystal display projector, the mechanical push button lock of door, and so on.
The conventional structure of the mechanical push button lock comprises two categories. One category provides two stage tactile impression and the other category provides a simple structure and low tolerance.
First category, as
FIG. 1
shows, comprises push key
10
, first cross rod
11
, second cross rod
12
, shaft
13
, first spring
14
and second spring
15
. Push key
10
located in one end of first cross rod
11
, and one end of first spring
14
is located on first cross rod
11
. Another end of first spring
14
is located on a fixed specific object
165
to settle first cross rod
11
in a specific region. Beside, the direction of first cross rod
11
points to second cross rod
12
. Moreover, second cross rod
12
rotates around shaft
13
and second spring
15
is used to settle second cross rod
12
in another specific region by connecting second cross rod
12
with fixed specific object
16
. Obviously, fixed specific object
16
and fixed specific object
165
can be the same object or be different objects, it depends on the design of mechanical push button lock. In addition, when the mechanical push button lock is locked then specific element
17
also is restricted by second cross rod
12
and is locked.
Therefore, it is obvious that when push key
10
is pressed first cross rod
11
slight slides along the pressed direction and first spring
14
is transfigured. Afterwards, when first cross rod
11
touches second cross rod
12
then not only does first cross rod
11
slide along the pressed direction but also second cross rod
12
rotates around shaft
13
. In other words, not only first spring
14
is transfigured but also second spring
15
is elongated. Then when second cross rod
12
rotates enough degrees, second cross rod
12
does not restrict specific element
17
and then specific element
17
is unlocked.
Consequently, this category provides two stage tactile impression that is obvious to a user because the required pushed force is small before the first cross rod
11
contacts second cross rod
12
and is large after the first cross rod
11
contacts second cross rod
12
.
The second category, as
FIG. 2
shows, comprises push key
20
, spring
21
, shaft
22
and skeleton structure
23
. Push key
20
is located in one end of skeleton structure
23
and specific element
24
contacts another end of skeleton structure
23
when specific element
24
is locked by the mechanical push button lock, and shaft
22
penetrates through skeleton structure
23
. Moreover, spring
21
is used to settle skeleton structure
23
in a specific region by connecting skeleton structure
23
with fixed object
25
.
Obviously, when push key
20
is pressed then skeleton structure
23
rotates around shaft
23
, and when skeleton structure
23
rotates enough degrees then specific element
24
is relaxed and unlocked. Moreover, because only one spring
21
is transfigured, it provide a one stage tactile impression for user.
Comparing FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
, it is crystal-clear that the structure of the first category is complicated and thus the cost of the first category is higher. In comparison, the structure of the second category is simplified and the cost of the second category is lower. Beside, the manufacturing process of the first category is more complicated for there are six component parts that need to be installed, but manufacturing tolerance is more sensitive in the second category because no spring is located between the push key and the shaft to absorb some manufacturing tolerance.
According to the previous discussion, it is obvious that both the conventional structures of the mechanical push button lock are required to improve, and it is therefore desired to develop a push button lock that provides two stage tactile impression, a simple structure and low manufacturing tolerances simultaneously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention to mitigate and/or obviate these previously described disadvantages in the manner set forth in the following description of these preferred embodiments.
A primary object of the present invention is to present a mechanical push button lock that provides the user with a two stage tactile impression.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical push button lock that has a simple structure and a simple installation process.
A further object of the invention is to afford a mechanical push button that efficiently decreases the manufacturing tolerance.
These component parts of the provided invention comprise a push key, a shaft, a spring, a cross rod and an actuating rod. Moreover, these component parts are combined by the following rules:
(1) a cross rod is coupled with and actuating rod such that the cross rod is settled in a specific region.
(2) spring is used to connect the actuating rod and cross rod.
(3) a shaft penetrates through the cross rod.
(4) a push key is located in one end of actuating rod and a spring is located in another end of the actuating rod.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, as well the features of novelty which is characterized in these claims annexed to and forming a part of the invention.
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Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Mustek Systems, Ltd.
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