US-12624572-B2 - Lock capable of showing locking or unlocking state

US12624572B2US 12624572 B2US12624572 B2US 12624572B2US-12624572-B2

Abstract

A lock capable of showing a locking state or an unlocking state comprises a latch device and an operating device for moving a latch from a latching position and an unlatching position. The operating device includes a window and an indicating member movable relative to the window. The indicating member includes a locking indication and an unlocking indication. A locking operation mechanism of the operating member may be operated to move the indicating member to a position in which the locking indication is aligned with the window and the operating device is unable to move the latch to the unlatching position or another position in which the unlocking indication is aligned with the window and the operating device is operable to move the latch to the unlatching position.

Inventors

Chang-Ren Wu

Assignees

I-TEK METAL MFG. CO., LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240826

Claims (9)

1 . A lock capable of showing a locking state or an unlocking state, with the lock comprising: a latch device including a latch and an unlatching member interlocked with the latch, wherein the latch is movable between a latching position and an unlatching position, wherein the unlatching member is interlocked with the latch for moving the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position, and wherein the latch device is configured to be securely mounted to a first side of a door; a base including a window, a first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion, wherein the base is configured to be securely mounted to a second side of the door; an operating member coupled with the second engaging portion, wherein the operating member is interlocked with the latch, and wherein the operating member is interlocked with the latch for moving the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position; a locking operation mechanism coupled with the first engaging portion of the base, wherein the locking operation mechanism includes an actuating block, wherein the locking operation mechanism is lockably coupled with the operating member, wherein when the locking operation mechanism is not in an unlocked state, the actuating block is prevented from being actuated, and wherein the actuating block is actuatable when the locking operation mechanism is in the unlocked state; an actuating member pivotably connected with the locking operation mechanism, wherein the actuating member includes a first arm and is interlocked with the actuating block; an indicating member movably received in the base, wherein the indicating member includes a locking indication and an unlocking indication, wherein the first arm is interlocked with the indicating member, wherein when the locking operation mechanism secures the operating member in place, operation of the operating member is prevented to thereby prevent the latch from moving from the latching position to the unlatching position, and the indicating member is in a position in which the locking indication is aligned with the window, wherein when the locking operation mechanism releases the operating member, the operating member is permitted to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position, wherein movement of the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position causes the actuating block to actuate the actuating member to pivot, and the indicating member is pushed by the first arm to another position in which the unlocking indication is aligned with the window.
2 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mounting hole and a frame coupled with the mounting hole, wherein the first engaging portion is located between the mounting hole and the second engaging portion, wherein the frame includes a receiving groove, wherein the window is located on a face of the frame and intercommunicates with the receiving groove, and wherein the indicating member is movably received in the receiving groove.
3 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the indicating member further includes an unlocking wall adjacent to the locking indication and a locking wall adjacent to the unlocking indication and spaced from the unlocking wall, wherein a notch is formed between the locking wall and the unlocking wall, and wherein the first arm of the actuating member extends through the notch and is located between the locking wall and the unlocking wall.
4 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a side cover, wherein the frame includes a flange adjacent to a side of the window and an extension portion extending from the flange, wherein the receiving groove is on an inner side of the extension portion, wherein the frame further includes a sidewall, wherein the mounting hole is formed on the sidewall and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from an outer surface of the sidewall towards but spaced from an inner surface of the sidewall, wherein the second portion extends from the inner surface of the sidewall to the first portion, wherein a cross sectional area of the first portion is greater than a cross sectional area of the second portion, wherein the flange of the frame is coupled with the first portion and is exposed to the outer surface, wherein the extension portion extends through the second portion to an inner spaced delimited by the base, wherein the side cover is securely disposed on the extension portion of the frame, and wherein the side cover includes two ends abutting the inner surface of the sidewall.
5 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: an activating member coupled with the operating member to rotate therewith and received in the base; a sliding member movably received in the base, wherein pivotal movement of the activating member causes displacement of the sliding member; a driving member coupled with the sliding member to move therewith, wherein the driving member is interlocked with the latch; a limiting member pivotably received in the bae, wherein the activating member further includes a second arm and a third arm, wherein the limiting member is interlocked with the third arm, and wherein the second arm is interlocked with the actuating block, wherein when the locking operation mechanism is in the unlocked state, the actuating block is pivotable to press against the second arm to thereby pivot the actuating member, the first arm pushes the indicating member to displace, the third arm pushes the limiting member to pivot between a stop position and a non-stop position, wherein when the locking operation mechanism secures the operating member in place, the limiting member is in the stop position, the sliding member is stopped by the limiting member to thereby prevent pivotal movement of the activating member and the operating member, wherein when the locking operation mechanism releases the operating member, the limiting member is in the non-stop position, the sliding member is spaced from the limiting member and is displaceable to permit pivotal movement of the activating member and the operating member.
6 . A lock capable of showing a locking state or an unlocking state, with the lock comprising: a latch device including a latch movable between a latching position and an unlatching position; an operating device interlocked with the latch device, wherein the operating device includes a base and an indicating member movably coupled with the base, wherein the base includes a window, wherein the indicating member includes a locking indication and an unlocking indication, wherein the operating device further includes an operating member and a driving member interlocked with the latch and the operating member, wherein operation of the driving member causes movement of the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position, wherein the operating device further includes a limiting member configured to restrict movement of the driving member and a locking operation mechanism, wherein each of the locking operation mechanism, the indicating member, and the limiting member is interlocked with an actuating member, wherein operation of the locking operation mechanism causes pivotal movement of the actuating member which actuates the indicating member to pivot the limiting member to a stop position or a non-stop position, wherein when the limiting member is in the stop position, operation of the driving member and the operating member is prevented, and the locking indication of the indicating member is aligned with the window, and wherein when the limiting member is in the non-stop position, operation of the driving member and the operating member is permitted, and the unlocking indication of the indicating member is aligned with the window.
7 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the actuating member includes a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, wherein the locking operation mechanism includes a lock core and an actuating block coupled with the lock core to rotate therewith, wherein the first arm is interlocked with the indicating member, wherein the third arm is interlocked with the limiting member, wherein the second arm is interlocked with the actuating block, wherein when the lock core is in an unlocked state, rotation of the actuating block is prevented, and wherein when the lock core is in the unlocked state, the actuating block is rotatable to press against the second arm, such that the first arm actuates the indicating member to displace, and the third arm actuates the limiting member to pivot.
8 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the base includes a mounting hole and a frame coupled with the mounting hole, wherein the frame includes a receiving groove, wherein the window is on an end face of the frame and intercommunicates with the receiving groove, and wherein the indicating member is movably received in the receiving groove.
9 . The lock capable of showing the locking state or the unlocking state as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a side cover, wherein the frame includes a flange adjacent to the window and an extension portion extending from the flange, wherein the frame further includes a sidewall, wherein the mounting hole is formed on the sidewall and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from an outer surface of the sidewall towards but spaced from an inner surface of the sidewall, wherein the second portion extends from the inner surface of the sidewall to the first portion, wherein a cross sectional area of the first portion is greater than a cross sectional area of the second portion, wherein the flange of the frame is coupled with the first portion and is exposed to the outer surface, wherein the extension portion extends through the second portion to an inner space delimited by the base, wherein the side cover is securely disposed on the extension portion of the frame, and wherein the side cover includes two ends abutting the inner surface of the sidewall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lock and, more particularly, to a lock capable of showing the lock is in a locking status or an unlocking status through direct visual observation. A currently available lock is suitable for installation on a passageway door which may, e.g., permit access to a stair well between two floors of a building. A non-automatically controlled passageway door in a normal state is generally set to a normally closed state to prevent spread of fire and smoke during a fire event. A lock installed on the passageway door includes a latch device mounted on an inner side of the passageway door and an operating device mounted on an outer side of the passageway door. The latch device includes a latch engaged with a groove in a door frame when the passageway door is closed. The operating device in an unlocked state may be operated to move the latch from a latching position to an unlatching position. On the other hand, the operating device in a locked state cannot be directly operated to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position. Since the operating device cannot be operated to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position in all conditions. In a case of, e.g., a fire event, a person on the side of the operating device still has to directly operate the operating device to assure whether the operating device is in a locked state. However, the operating device may become very hot due to the high temperature of the fire event, such that the person not aware of this situation may be scalded. Furthermore, in the emergent state of the first event, the person still has to manually operate to check whether the operating device is in the locked state. This adversely affects the speed for checking whether each passageway door is in the locked state. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problem, the present invention provides a lock capable of showing a locking state or an unlocking state, with the lock comprising: a latch device including a latch and an unlatching member interlocked with the latch, wherein the latch is movable between a latching position and an unlatching position, wherein the unlatching member is independently interlocked with the latch for moving the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position, and wherein the latch device is configured to be securely mounted to a first side of a door;a base including a window, a first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion, wherein the base is configured to be securely mounted to a second side of the door;an operating member coupled with the second engaging portion, wherein the operating member is interlocked with the latch, and wherein the operating member is independently interlocked with the latch for moving the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position;a locking operation mechanism coupled with the first engaging portion of the base, wherein the locking operation mechanism includes an actuating block, wherein the locking operation mechanism is lockably coupled with the operating member, wherein when the locking operation mechanism is not in an unlocked state, the actuating block is prevented from being actuated, and wherein the actuating block is actuatable when the locking operation mechanism is in the unlocked state;an actuating member pivotably connected with the locking operation mechanism, wherein the actuating member includes a first arm and is interlocked with the actuating block;an indicating member movably received in the base, wherein the indicating member includes a locking indication and an unlocking indication, wherein the first arm is interlocked with the indicating member,wherein when the locking operation mechanism secures the operating member in place, operation of the operating member is prevented to thereby prevent the latch from moving from the latching position to the unlatching position, and the indicating member is in a position in which the locking indication is aligned with the window,wherein when the locking operation mechanism releases the operating member, the operating member is permitted to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position, wherein movement of the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position causes the actuating block to actuate the actuating member to pivot, and the indicating member is pushed by the first arm to another position in which the unlocking indication is aligned with the window. The window of the indicating member is aligned with the locking indication or the unlocking indication to enable direct visual indication of the status of the operating device (permitting or not permitting movement of the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position) without further operation. This permits rapid confirmation of whether the lock is in a locked state, which is extremely helpful in an emergent situation, such as a fir