TWI860901B - Rekeyable lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock includes a lock casing formed with a lock cylinder hole, a pin replacing hole and a plurality of first pin holes; a lock cylinder rotatably arranged in the lock cylinder hole and formed with a plurality of second pin holes; a pin set including a plurality of first pins respectively accommodated in the first pin holes, and a plurality of second pins respectively accommodated in the second pin holes; and a pin cover arranged in the pin replacing hole and including a cover body formed with a groove, and a sliding block arranged in the groove and slidable relative to the cover body between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. When the sliding block is located at the second predetermined position, the sliding block and the cover body are configured to respectively abut against an inner wall of the lock casing to fix the pin cover in the pin replacing hole.

Description

Replaceable key locks

The present invention relates to a lock, and more particularly to a lock with a replaceable key.

Generally speaking, a lock achieves the locking and unlocking functions by using the combination of a key and a plurality of lock beads in the lock core. For example, when the tooth height of the key corresponds to the length change of the plurality of lock beads in the lock core, the key can rotate the lock core to lock or unlock; when the tooth height of the key does not correspond to the length change of the plurality of lock beads in the lock core, the key cannot rotate the lock core to lock or unlock. In order to replace the key, the lock bead in the lock core must be replaced in the conventional lock so that the length change of the new lock bead in the lock core can correspond to the tooth height of the key. In order to prevent the lock ball in the lock core from falling out when the key rotates the lock core, a lock ball plug is used in the known lock to block the lock ball. However, the lock ball plug of the known lock is easily pushed and loosened by the lock ball, causing the lock ball in the lock core to fall out, thereby causing the lock to fail to operate normally.

The lock with replaceable keys of the present invention comprises a lock shell, which is formed with a lock kernel hole, a lock bead replacement hole and a plurality of first lock bead holes; a lock kernel is rotatably arranged in the lock kernel hole, wherein the lock kernel is formed with a plurality of second lock bead holes; a lock bead set comprises a plurality of first lock beads respectively accommodated in the plurality of first lock bead holes, and a plurality of second lock beads respectively accommodated in the plurality of second lock bead holes; and a lock bead cover is arranged in the lock bead replacement hole, the lock bead cover comprises a cover body formed with a groove, and a slide block is arranged in the groove and can slide relative to the cover body between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. When the slider is located at the second predetermined position relative to the cover body, the slider and the cover body are used to respectively abut against an inner wall of the lock shell to fix the lock bead cover in the lock bead replacement hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover body, the slider does not abut against the inner wall of the lock shell to allow the lock bead cover to leave the lock bead replacement hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a first positioning structure is formed on the slider, and a second positioning structure is formed on the inner wall of the lock shell, wherein when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover body, the first positioning structure is engaged with the second positioning structure to prevent the slider from sliding relative to the cover body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a third positioning structure is formed on the slider, and a fourth positioning structure is formed on the cover, wherein when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover, the third positioning structure is engaged with the fourth positioning structure to prevent the slider from sliding relative to the cover.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the slider includes a main body and a protrusion protruding relative to the main body, and the top surface of the protrusion, the top surface of the cover and the outer surface of the lock shell are flush.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the lock core is located at a first rotation position relative to the lock shell, the plurality of second lock bead holes are respectively connected to the plurality of first lock bead holes, wherein when the lock core is located at a second rotation position relative to the lock shell, the plurality of second lock bead holes are connected to the lock bead replacement hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover body includes a covering portion for covering the lock bead replacement hole, wherein the covering portion is formed with the groove; and an extension portion extending laterally from the covering portion for abutting against an edge of the lock shell adjacent to the lock bead replacement hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover is made of plastic material, and the slider is made of metal material.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lock core is further formed with a key hole connected to the plurality of second lock bead holes. The lock core is suitable for a first key having a first cross-sectional profile and a second key having a second cross-sectional profile different from the first cross-sectional profile. The key hole is used to selectively receive the first key or the second key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer contour of the keyhole is greater than or equal to the outer contour of the first cross-sectional contour and the second cross-sectional contour superimposed.

Compared with the prior art, the lock bead cover of the lock of the present invention can be more stably fixed in the lock bead replacement hole to prevent the second lock bead in the lock core from falling out. Furthermore, the lock bead cover of the lock of the present invention can also be easily removed from the lock bead replacement hole to replace the second lock bead. In addition, the lock core of the lock of the present invention can be matched with keys with different tooth heights and keys with different cross-sectional profiles, thereby increasing the flexibility of the lock of the present invention in use and design.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 at the same time. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the lock with replaceable keys of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the lock with replaceable keys of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the lock with replaceable keys 100 of the present invention includes a lock shell 110, a lock core 120, a lock bead set 130, an outer shell 140 and a lock bead cover 150. The lock shell 110 is formed with a lock core hole 112, a lock bead replacement hole 114 and a plurality of first lock bead holes 116. The lock core hole 112 is connected to the lock bead replacement hole 114 and the first lock bead hole 116. The lock core 120 is rotatably disposed in the lock core hole 112. The lock core 120 is formed with a plurality of second bead lock holes 122 corresponding to the plurality of first bead lock holes 116. The lock core 120 is further formed with a key hole 124 connected with the plurality of second bead lock holes 122, and the key hole 124 is used to allow a key to be inserted.

The lock ball assembly 130 includes a plurality of first lock balls 132, a plurality of second lock balls 134, and a plurality of springs 136. The plurality of first lock balls 132 are respectively received in the plurality of first lock ball holes 116. The plurality of first lock balls 132 have the same length. The plurality of springs 136 are respectively received in the plurality of first lock ball holes 116 to push the plurality of first lock balls 132 toward the lock core 120. The plurality of second lock balls 134 are respectively received in the plurality of second lock ball holes 122. The lengths of the plurality of second lock ball holes 122 may be different to correspond to the tooth height of a key.

The outer shell 140 has a receiving space formed therein for receiving the lock shell 110. The lock bead cover 150 is disposed in the lock bead replacement hole 114 of the lock shell 110 to close the lock bead replacement hole 114.

Please refer to Figures 3 to 6 at the same time, and refer to Figure 2 together. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the lock shell, lock core and bead lock cover of the present invention, Figure 4 is an exploded view of the lock shell and bead lock cover of the present invention, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the slider of the bead lock cover of the present invention being located at a first predetermined position relative to the cover body of the bead lock cover, and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the slider of the bead lock cover of the present invention being located at a second predetermined position relative to the cover body of the bead lock cover. As shown in the figure, the bead lock cover 150 includes a cover body 152 and a slider 154. The cover body 152 includes a covering portion 152a and at least one extension portion 152b. The covering portion 152a is formed with a groove 153, and the shape of the covering portion 152a corresponds to the lock bead replacement hole 114 to cover the lock bead replacement hole 114. The extension portion 152b extends laterally from the covering portion 152a to abut against the edge of the lock shell 110 adjacent to the lock bead replacement hole 114. In this embodiment, the cover 152 includes two extension portions 152b extending from both sides of the covering portion 152a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The slider 154 is disposed in the groove of the cover 152, and the slider 154 can slide relative to the cover 152 between a first predetermined position P1 and a second predetermined position P2. The slider 154 includes a body 154a and a protrusion 154b protruding relative to the body 154a. The protrusion 154b can facilitate the user to move the slider 154.

When the slider 154 is located at the first predetermined position P1 relative to the cover 152, the slider 154 does not extend into the interior of the lock shell 110 and does not abut against the inner wall 118 of the lock shell 110 (as shown in FIG. 5 ). In this way, the user can move the lock bead cover 150 along the removal direction D to make the lock bead cover 150 leave the lock bead replacement hole 114. When the slider 154 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the cover 152, the slider 154 and the cover 152 are used to abut against the inner wall 118 near the opposite ends of the lock shell 110 (as shown in FIG. 6 ) to fix the lock bead cover 150 in the lock bead replacement hole 114.

According to the above configuration, when the slider 154 is located at the first predetermined position P1 relative to the cover body 152, the user can easily move the lock bead cover 150 to make the lock bead cover 150 leave the lock bead replacement hole 114; and when the slider 154 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the cover body 152, the lock bead cover 150 can be stably fixed in the lock bead replacement hole 114 and is not easy to fall off.

In addition, a first positioning structure 155 is formed on the slider 154, and a second positioning structure 119 is formed on the inner wall 118 of the lock shell 110. When the slider 154 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the cover 152, the first positioning structure 155 of the slider 154 is used to engage with the second positioning structure 119 of the inner wall 118 of the lock shell 110 to prevent the slider 154 from sliding relative to the cover 152. Furthermore, a third positioning structure 156 is formed on the slider 154, and a fourth positioning structure 157 is formed on the cover 152. When the slider 154 is located at the first predetermined position P1 relative to the cover 152, the third positioning structure 156 of the slider 154 is used to engage with the fourth positioning structure 157 of the cover 152 to prevent the slider 154 from sliding relative to the cover 152. According to the above configuration, when the slider 154 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the cover 152, the design of the first positioning structure 155, the second positioning structure 119, the third positioning structure 156 and the fourth positioning structure 157 can allow the lock ball cover 150 to be more stably fixed in the lock ball replacement hole 114.

In this embodiment, the first positioning structure 155 and the third positioning structure 156 are protruding structures, and the second positioning structure 119 and the fourth positioning structure 157 are recessed structures, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, the top surface of the protrusion 154b of the slider 154 and the top surface of the cover 152 are flush with the outer surface of the lock shell 110 to facilitate the installation of the lock shell 110 into the outer shell 140. In this embodiment, the cover 152 is made of plastic material or other elastic material, and the slider 154 is made of metal material, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the cover 152 is made of plastic material or other elastic material, the cover 152 can be elastically deformed to allow the lock ball cover 150 to be easily installed in the lock ball replacement hole 114 or to allow the lock ball cover 150 to be easily removed from the lock ball replacement hole 114. Furthermore, when the slider 154 is made of metal, the cover 152 and the slider 154 can fit together better and are not easy to separate or shake relative to each other due to the material characteristics between the cover 152 and the slider 154.

It is worth mentioning that in this embodiment, the positions of the extensions 152b at the two side edges of the lock shell 110 at the lock bead replacement hole 114 are in a step shape, and the covering portion 152a and the extension portion 152b are in a corresponding step shape, so that when the lock bead cover 150 covers the lock bead replacement hole 114, it can be prevented from passing through the lock bead replacement hole 114 and falling into the lock core hole 112, that is, it can be prevented from falling toward the lock bead cover 150. 6; and when the slider 154 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the cover body 152, the first positioning structure 155 of the slider 154 is used to engage with the second positioning structure 119 of the inner wall 118 of the lock shell 110, which can further prevent the lock bead cover 150 from displacing upward in FIG. 6. In other words, the above-mentioned arrangement can achieve a good fixing effect that the lock bead cover cannot be displaced downward and upward in FIG. 6 when it is at the second predetermined position P2.

Please refer to FIG. 3 together with FIG. 2. When the lock core 120 is located at a first rotation position R1 relative to the lock shell 110 (the top 124a of the key hole 124 corresponds to the first rotation position R1) and a key has not yet been inserted into the key hole 124, the plurality of second lock bead holes 122 are respectively connected to the plurality of first lock bead holes 116, and the spring 136 is used to push the first lock bead 132 toward the lock core 120 so that a portion of the first lock bead 132 extends into the second lock bead hole 122, thereby preventing the lock core 120 from rotating relative to the lock shell 110. When the lock core 120 is at the first rotation position R1 relative to the lock shell 110 and a correct key is inserted into the key hole 124, the first lock ball 132 no longer extends into the second lock ball hole 122 because the tooth height of the key corresponds to the length of the second lock ball 134, thereby allowing the lock core 120 to rotate relative to the lock shell 110 from the first rotation position R1. The above configuration is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail.

When the lock core 120 rotates from the first rotation position R1 to a second rotation position R2 relative to the lock shell 110 (the top 124a of the key hole 124 corresponds to the second rotation position R2), the plurality of second lock bead holes 122 are connected to the lock bead replacement hole 114. When the user needs to replace the key, the user can remove the lock bead cover 150 from the lock shell 110 to expose the lock bead replacement hole 114. In this way, the user can take out the second lock bead 134 through the lock bead replacement hole 114. The user can further insert a new key, replace the second lock bead (corresponding to the tooth height of the new key), and then install the lock bead cover 150 into the lock bead replacement hole 114 of the lock shell 110. Afterwards, the user uses the new key to rotate the lock core 120 from the second rotation position R2 to the first rotation position R1, and removes the new key to complete the key replacement operation.

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the outer contour of the keyhole of the lock core of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the lock core 120 of the lock 100 of the present invention can be applicable to a first key having a first cross-sectional profile A and a second key having a second cross-sectional profile B. The first cross-sectional profile A is different from the second cross-sectional profile B. For example, the outer contour of the keyhole 124 is greater than or equal to the outer contour after the first cross-sectional profile A and the second cross-sectional profile B are overlapped. In this way, the keyhole can selectively receive the first key having the first cross-sectional profile A or the second key having the second cross-sectional profile B. In FIG. 7, the shapes of the first cross-sectional profile A and the second cross-sectional profile B are only examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The shapes of the first cross-sectional profile A and the second cross-sectional profile B can be changed according to usage and design requirements.

According to the above configuration, the lock core 120 of the lock 100 of the present invention can be used with keys of different tooth heights as well as keys of different cross-sectional profiles, so as to increase the flexibility of the lock 100 of the present invention in terms of use and design.

In addition, the lock 100 of the present invention further includes a driving rod 160 connected to the lock core 120 for rotating along with the lock core 120. The driving rod 160 is used to drive a lock bolt to move when rotating, for example, to drive the lock bolt to retract relative to a door panel.

Compared with the prior art, the bead cover 150 of the lock 100 of the present invention can be more stably fixed in the bead replacement hole 114 to prevent the second bead 134 in the lock core from falling out. Furthermore, the bead cover 150 of the lock 100 of the present invention can also be easily removed from the bead replacement hole 114 to replace the second bead 134. In addition, the lock core 120 of the lock 100 of the present invention can be matched with keys with different tooth heights and keys with different cross-sectional profiles, thereby increasing the flexibility of the lock 100 of the present invention in use and design.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention should fall within the scope of the present invention.

100: Lock

110: Lock Shell

112: Lock Ren Kong

114: Lock bead replacement hole

116: First bead lock hole

118: Inner wall

119: Second positioning structure

120: Lock

122: Second bead lock hole

124:Keyhole

130: Lock Bead Set

132: First Lock Bead

134: Second lock bead

136: Spring

140: Shell

150: Lock Bead Cover

152: Cover

152a: Covering part

152b: Extension

153: Groove

154: Slider

154a:Entity

154b: protrusion

155: first positioning structure

156: Third positioning structure

157: Fourth positioning structure

160:Drive rod

D: Remove direction

A: First section profile

B: Second section profile

P1: First reserved position

P2: Second reserved position

R1: First rotation position

R2: Second rotation position

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lock with a replaceable key of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a lock with a replaceable key of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a lock shell, a lock core and a lock bead cover of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a lock shell and a lock bead cover of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a slider of the lock bead cover of the present invention being located at a first predetermined position relative to the cover body of the lock bead cover. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a slider of the lock bead cover of the present invention being located at a second predetermined position relative to the cover body of the lock bead cover. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the outer contour of the keyhole of the lock core of the present invention.

100: Locks

110: Lock shell

112: Lock Ren Kong

114: Lock bead replacement hole

116: First bead lock hole

120: Lock Ren

122: Second bead lock hole

124: Keyhole

130: Locking bead set

132: The first lock bead

134: Second lock bead

136: Spring

140: Shell

150: Lock bead cover

152: Cover

154: Slider

160: Drive rod

Claims (9)

A key-replaceable lock comprises: a lock shell having a lock core hole, a lock bead replacement hole and a plurality of first lock bead holes; a lock core rotatably disposed in the lock core hole, wherein the lock core has a plurality of second lock bead holes; a lock bead set comprising: a plurality of first lock beads respectively accommodated in the plurality of first lock bead holes; and a plurality of second lock beads respectively accommodated in the plurality of second lock bead holes; and A lock bead cover is disposed in the lock bead replacement hole, and the lock bead cover comprises: a cover body, formed with a groove; and a slider, disposed in the groove and capable of sliding between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position relative to the cover body; wherein when the slider is located at the second predetermined position relative to the cover body, the slider and the cover body are used to respectively abut against an inner wall of the lock shell to fix the lock bead cover in the lock bead replacement hole. A lock as described in claim 1, wherein when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover body, the slider does not abut against the inner wall of the lock shell to allow the lock ball cover to leave the lock ball replacement hole. The lock as described in claim 1, wherein a first positioning structure is formed on the slider, and a second positioning structure is formed on the inner wall of the lock shell, wherein when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover, the first positioning structure is engaged with the second positioning structure to prevent the slider from sliding relative to the cover. The lock as described in claim 3, wherein the slider is further formed with a third positioning structure, and the cover is formed with a fourth positioning structure, wherein when the slider is located at the first predetermined position relative to the cover, the third positioning structure is engaged with the fourth positioning structure to prevent the slider from sliding relative to the cover. A lock as described in claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a main body and a protrusion protruding relative to the main body, and the top surface of the protrusion, the top surface of the cover and the outer surface of the lock shell are flush. A lock as described in claim 1, wherein when the lock core is in a first rotational position relative to the lock shell, the plurality of second lock bead holes are respectively connected to the plurality of first lock bead holes, and when the lock core is in a second rotational position relative to the lock shell, the plurality of second lock bead holes are connected to the lock bead replacement hole. The lock as described in claim 1, wherein the cover body comprises: a covering portion for covering the lock bead replacement hole, wherein the covering portion is formed with the groove; and an extension portion extending laterally from the covering portion for abutting against the edge of the lock shell adjacent to the lock bead replacement hole. A lock as described in claim 1, wherein the lock core is further formed with a key hole connected to the plurality of second lock bead holes, wherein the lock core is suitable for a first key having a first cross-sectional profile and a second key having a second cross-sectional profile different from the first cross-sectional profile, and the key hole is used to selectively receive the first key or the second key. A lock as described in claim 8, wherein the outer contour of the keyhole is greater than or equal to the outer contour of the first cross-sectional contour and the second cross-sectional contour after being overlapped.

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