AU719612B3

AU719612B3 - Locking core assembly

Info

Publication number: AU719612B3
Application number: AU48833/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jesse Lin
Original assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-21
Filing date: 1999-09-21
Publication date: 2000-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2005-09-21

Description

P/00/012 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for service: "Locking Core Assembly" Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co. Ltd Jesse Lin WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- TITLE: Locking Core Assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking core assembly, and more particularly to a locking core with an improved driving member to allow the lock core assembly to be used with different locks.

BACKGROUND ART Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a conventional lock core assembly for cylindrical locks or lever locks. This lock core assembly includes a casing 1 having a hole 12 for rotatably receiving a lock core 2. The casing 1 includes a number of upper pinholes 11, and the lock core 2 includes a corresponding number of lower pinholes 21. Each upper pin hole 11 and the associated lower pin hole 21 together receive a spring 15, an upper tumbler pin 13, and a lower tumbler pin 14 to control rotational movements of the lock core 2. The lock core 2 further includes a receptacle 25 defined in an end face thereof for receiving a spring 26 and a positioning pin 27. The positioning pin 27 is extended through one of two arcuate recesses 62 defined in a periphery of a driving member 6. The positioning pin 27 further includes a reduced end 28 distal to the spring 26 that biases the positioning pin 27 outwards. The reduced end 28 of the positioning pin 27 is retained in one of a number of retaining notches 31 of a screw cap 3 that is threadedly engaged to an end (see threading 24) of the lock core 2. The driving member 6 includes a driving plate 63 for driving a dead bolt (not shown).

Fig. 6 illustrates a conventional locking core for auxiliary locks. The casing 1, the lock core 2, and the screw cap 3 are identical to those in Fig. 5, yet the driving member (now designated by is modified. The driving member 7 includes a driving plate 72 having a cam 71 formed on an end thereof. The cam 71 includes two shoulders (not labelled). A washer 73 is mounted around the driving plate 72 and includes an arcuate recess 74 defined in an outer periphery thereof. When the driving member 7 is placed between the screw cap 3 and the -3lock core 2, the lock core 2 is not rotatable if the auxiliary lock is locked from inside.

The two-shoulder design of the cam 71 meets this requirement.

Fig. 7 illustrates a conventional lock core for tubular locks. The lock core of this type is different from those disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6. The lock core includes a casing 1 with a hole 12 for receiving a lock core 8, and an end cap 81 is riveted to a protruded end of the lock core 8. The end cap 81 has a substantially shaped hole 82 through which a driving plate (not shown) is extended. A proper key is required to rotate the lock bore 8 to achieve the locking function from outside. Actuation of the driving plate is not necessary when the lock core 8 is returned and the key is removed. In order to meet the above requirements, the lock core 8 for tubular locks cannot adopt the structure shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. Namely, a manufacturing factory must produce several kinds of lock cores and caps, and additional moulds are thus required. In addition, a large stock of the lock cores and caps is required and thus results in an increased cost and inconvenient production. The present invention is intended to provide an improved driving member for a lock core assembly that mitigates and/or obviates the above problems.

I

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a lock core assembly that can be used for tubular locks, lever locks, cylindrical locks, and auxiliary locks to thereby provide convenient production and reduce the cost for production.

Accordingly the invention resides in a lock core assembly, comprising: a casing including a longitudinal passage, a lock core rotatably received in the passage and including an end extending beyond the casing, the end of the lock core including an axial bore which opens into the end face at said end; a screw cap engagable with the end of the lock core to be rotatable therewith, the screw cap having an opening in opposed relation to the end face which is defined by an inwardly extending flange; a plurality of retaining notches defined around the face of the flange; a positioning pin slidably received in the bore and biased resiliently outward from the end face; -4a driving member of generally annular configuration having a first portion at one end; said first portion having a diameter to be received between the flange and the end face of the lock core, the driving member having a second portion which extends axially from the first portion and which is received in the opening of the screw cap to extend through said opening; the first portion including at least one recess through which the positioning pin extends; and the inner periphery of the driving member having a part circular configuration substantially corresponding to two opposed quadrants of a circle and adapted to receive an end of a driving plate of a lock to permit limited axial rotation of the drive plate about 90' within the driving member.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the first portion includes two recesses angularly spaced by 90* The present invention provides a driving member for a lock core assembly. The driving member is a plate that comprises at least one arcuate recess defined in an outer periphery and a substantially shaped hole defined therein. The arcuate recess is extended by a positioning pin mounted to an end face of a lock core of the lock core assembly.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock core assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partially sectioned, of the lock core assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating an alternative arrangement of the lock core assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional lock core assembly for cylindrical locks or lever locks; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional lock core assembly for auxiliary locks; and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional lock core assembly for tubular locks.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Fig. 1, a lock core assembly in accordance with the present invention generally includes a casing 1, a lock core 2, a screw cap 3, and a driving member 4. The casing 1 includes a longitudinal hole 12 for rotatably receiving the lock core 2. The casing 1 includes a number of upper pinholes 11, and the lock core 2 includes a corresponding number of lower pinholes 21. Each upper pinhole 11 and the associated lower pinhole 21 together receive a spring an upper tumbler pin 13, and a lower tumbler pin 14 to control rotational movements of the lock core 2. The lock core 2 further includes a keyway 22 defined in a first end thereof through which a proper key (not shown) is insertable to push the upper tumbler pins 13 and the lower tumbler pins 14, which, in turn, makes a split line of the casing 1 coincide with a split line of the lock core 2 to thereby allowing rotation of the lock core 2, which is conventional and therefore not further described. The lock core 2 further includes a flange 23 formed on a second end thereof. In addition, the first end of the lock core 2 further includes an outer threading 24 for threadedly engaging with the screw cap 3 to thereby rotatably hold the lock core 2 in the casing 1.

The lock core 2 further includes a receptacle 25 defined in an end face of the first end thereof for receiving an elastic member (eg. a spring 26) and a positioning pin 27. The positioning pin 27 is extended through one of two arcuate recesses 42 defined in a periphery of the driving member 4. The positioning pin 27 further includes a reduced end 28 distal to the spring 26. The spring 26 biases the reduced end 28 outwardly beyond the receptacle 25. The reduced end 28 of the positioning pin 27 is retained in one of a number of annularly disposed retaining notches 31 defined in an inner periphery of the screw cap 3. The reduced end 28 of the positioning pin 27 includes a shoulder (not labelled) that abuts against -6an inner end wall that defines the retaining notches 31 to thereby prevent from disengagement of the positioning pin 27 and allow simultaneous rotations of the driving member 4 and the lock core 2.

The screw cap 3 is threadedly engaged to the first end of the lock core 2 to rotate therewith. As mentioned above, the reduced end 28 of the positioning pin 27 is retained in one of the retaining notches 31 of the screw cap 3 to prevent relative rotational movement between the screw cap 3 and the lock core 2. When rotation of the screw cap 3 is required, a tool is required to push the positioning pin 27 so as to move reduced end 28 away from the retaining notch 31. After the screw cap 3 is rotated to the desired location, the force applied to the positioning pin 27 is released such that the positioning pin 27 is returned to a position shown in Fig. 2 under the action of the spring 26. Namely, the screw cap 3 is fixed.

The driving member 4 is reliably mounted between the screw cap 3 and the lock core 2. In addition to the two arcuate recesses 42, the driving member 4 includes a substantially shaped hole 41 defined therein through which a driving plate 5 is extended for driving a dead bolt (not shown). The driving plate is either travelled through ninety (90) degrees of free rotation before it actually drives the dead bolt, or directly drives the dead bolt in a case that the lock core assembly is mounted to a tubular lock where locking from outside is required.

The positioning pin 27 is extended through one of the two arcuate recesses 42 in a manner that the driving member 4 and the lock core 2 rotate simultaneously.

The arcuate recesses 42 are angularly spaced by a ninety (90) degrees so as to be selectively extended through by the positioning pin 27 according to the need of a left-hand operation or a right-hand operation of a cylindrical lock.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, when the lock core assembly of the present invention is applied to a cylindrical lock, the driving plate 5 extends through the shaped hole 41 of the driving member 4. For locking, the lock core 2 firstly drives the driving member 4 to rotate clockwise (see Fig. and the lock core 2 is then returned to its initial position (by means of counterclockwise rotation) and the key is removed, the driving plate 5 is not rotatable and the lock is thus in a locked status. When the lock core 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the driving member 4 is -7actuated to urge the driving plate 5 to rotate and thus return to its initial position to thereby achieve the unlocking function.

The positioning pin 27 in Fig. 3 extends through the right arcuate recess 42, while the positioning pin 27 in Fig. 4 extends through the left arcuate recess 42 of the driving member 4. Thus, operation of a cylindrical lock with a lock core assembly shown in Fig. 4 is achieved in an opposite direction.

According to the above description, it is appreciated that the driving member 4 allows the lock core assembly of the present invention to incorporate elements of conventional. lock core assemblies and thus can be used with a wide variety of locks (eg. tubular locks) other than cylindrical locks. Thus, a convenient structure is provided. The number of moulds for manufacturing locks is thus lowered. The quantity of spare elements for production is reduced to lower the stock cost, as the manufacturing factory can only prepare different driving members.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A lock core assembly, comprising: a casing including a longitudinal passage, a lock core rotatably received in the passage and including an end extending beyond the casing, the end of the lock core including an axial bore which opens into the end face at said end; a screw cap engagable with the end of the lock core to be rotatable therewith, the screw cap having an opening in opposed relation to the end face which is defined by an inwardly extending flange; a plurality of retaining notches defined around the face of the flange; a positioning pin slidably received in the bore and biased resiliently outward from the end face; a driving member of generally annular configuration having a first portion at one end; said first portion having a diameter to be received between the flange and the end face of the lock core, the driving member having a second portion which extends axially from the first portion and which is received in the opening of the screw cap to extend through said opening; the first portion including at least one recess through which the positioning pin extends; and the inner periphery of the driving member having a part circular configuration substantially corresponding to two opposed quadrants of a circle and adapted to receive an end of a driving plate of a lock to permit limited axial rotation of the drive plate about 900 within the driving member.

2. The lock core assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion includes two recesses angularly spaced by 90