Locks – Operating mechanism – Key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-02-13
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Key
C070S377000, C070SDIG002, C070SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking device, and more particularly to a locking device capable of securely maintaining a locking state thereof, as in a box type configuration, while eliminating a limitation on the application thereof, which is involved in the case of the box type configuration.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A locking device, which has a box type configuration, typically includes a plurality of key plates each having a key groove. The key plates are mounted in a stacked state in a housing of the locking device in such a fashion that they can be hinged by a rotation of a key while being resiliently urged by a resilient member. In accordance with the hinging of the key plates, the locking device is switched between its locking state and its lock releasing state.
In this locking device, an engagement member, which is operatively connected to the key plates, moves between its locking position and its lock releasing position by the rotation of the key. At the lock releasing position, the engagement member engages with grooves formed at the key plates, thereby causing the key plates to be held at fixed positions, respectively.
Since this locking device uses a large number of key plates, it can securely maintain its locking state. Accordingly, it is very difficult to release the locking state of the locking device using any means except for a designated key. However, there is a problem in that the key cannot be separated from the locking device at the lock releasing position because the key groove of the key is engaged with the key plates at the lock releasing position.
For this reason, the conventional box type locking device have been used only for locks of safes or similar devices.
Since the key cannot be separated from the locking device in the lock releasing state, such a box type locking device is used for a door lock installed at the gate of a building or other construction which is frequently opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a locking device having a configuration capable of allowing separation of a key in a lock releasing state of the locking device while maintaining the advantages of the conventional box type locking device, so that it is applicable to any devices or constructions requiring a locking function.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a locking device comprising: a housing defined with a closed space therein and provided with an opening for opening the closed space; a cover mounted to the housing and adapted to close the space of the housing; a slider arranged in the housing in such a fashion that it is slidable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof, the slider having a bolt adapted to selectively lock an article to which the locking device is applied; a rotating member mounted in the housing in such a fashion that it is rotatable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof, the rotating member having a torsion spring adapted to always urge the rotating member toward an initial position defined between the locking position thereof and the lock releasing position thereof; a cylinder mounted in the housing in such a fashion that it is rotatable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof, the cylinder having an engagement rod adapted to selectively move the slider between the locking and lock releasing positions thereof, the cylinder being connectable with an external connecting member; a plurality of key plates hingably mounted in the housing, the key plates respectively having guide channels which are misaligned from one another at an initial position of the key plates; a resilient strip member adapted to always urge the key plates toward the initial position thereof; and a pusher mounted in the housing in such a fashion that it rotates along with the rotating member, the pusher having a locking arm adapted to move the engagement rod toward the locking position of the cylinder, a lock releasing arm adapted to move the engagement rod toward the lock releasing position of the cylinder, and a swing member received in the guide channels of the key plates and allowed to move along the guide channels in a state in which the guide channels are aligned together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1177360 (1916-03-01), Schoenfeld
patent: 3402581 (1968-09-01), Schweizer et al.
patent: 3653238 (1972-04-01), Brugemann
patent: 4332153 (1982-06-01), Miles
patent: 4462230 (1984-07-01), Evans
patent: 4506530 (1985-03-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 4526022 (1985-07-01), Parrock
patent: 418591 (1925-09-01), None
patent: 209231 (1968-03-01), None
Galgano & Burke
Gall Lloyd A.
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