Lock device with a clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814876-B2
Application number	US-202217683501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Feb 18, 2022
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A clutch includes an outer box and an intermediate member pivotably connected to the outer box. The intermediate member is coupled with an outer handle to pivot therewith. A torsion spring is disposed between the intermediate member and the outer box and biases the intermediate member to an initial position. A coupling member is pivotably mounted between the intermediate member and the outer box and is operatively connected to a first latch of a latch device of a lock device. When the coupling member and the intermediate member are jointly pivotable, pivotal movement of the outer handle causes the first latch to move from the latching position or the unlatching position. When the coupling member is not jointly pivotable with the intermediate member, pivotal movement of the outer handle is incapable of causing movement of the first latch. A lock device with the clutch is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lock device comprising:
a latch device including a first latch movable between a latching position and an unlatching position;
an outer escutcheon to an outer side of the latch device;
an outer handle pivotably mounted to an outer side of the outer escutcheon; and
a clutch disposed on the outer side of the latch device and located on an inner side of the outer escutcheon, wherein the clutch includes a pivotable intermediate member coupled to the outer handle to pivot therewith, wherein the clutch further includes a coupling member operatively coupled to the first latch, wherein the coupling member is configured to or not to jointly pivot with the intermediate member, wherein when the coupling member and the intermediate member are jointly pivotable, pivotal movement of the outer handle causes the first latch to move from the latching position or the unlatching position, and wherein when the coupling member is not jointly pivotable with the intermediate member, pivotal movement of the outer handle is incapable of causing movement of the first latch.

2. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clutch further includes a clutch member movably coupled to the intermediate member and jointly pivotable with the intermediate member, wherein the clutch member includes an engaging arm, wherein the clutch member is movable along a pivotal axis of the intermediate member between an engagement position and a disengagement position, wherein when the clutch member is in the engagement position, the coupling member and the intermediate member are jointly pivotable, and wherein when the clutch member is in the disengagement position, the coupling member is incapable of pivoting jointly with the intermediate member.

3. The lock device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the intermediate member further includes a mounting hole extending along the pivotal axis of the intermediate member and a through-hole extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the intermediate member and extending from an outer side of the intermediate member to the mounting hole, wherein the clutch member is movably received in the through-hole, wherein the coupling member includes a pivotal portion having an outer periphery and an engaging groove extending from the outer periphery, wherein the pivotal portion is pivotally received in the mounting hole, wherein when the clutch member is aligned with the engaging groove, the clutch member is movable from the disengagement position to the engagement position, wherein when the clutch member is not aligned with the engaging groove, the clutch member is not movable from the disengagement position to the engagement position, wherein when the clutch member is in the disengagement position, the engaging arm is located on an outer side of the engaging groove, and wherein when the clutch member is in the engagement position, the engaging arm engages with the engaging groove.

4. The lock device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch member further includes a driving device including:
a motor;
a shaft configured to be driven by the motor to rotate, wherein the shaft includes an outer periphery having a threaded section;
a helical elastic element in threading connection with the threaded section of the shaft, wherein the helical elastic element is compressible and includes a first tang and a second tang, wherein the helical elastic element moves along a longitudinal axis of the shaft when the shaft rotates; and
a sliding block including a compartment having first and second walls opposite to each other, wherein the sliding block further includes an activation end located outside of the compartment, wherein the second wall is located between the first wall and the activation end along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the sliding block further includes an extension arm extending from the activation arm, wherein the shaft is received in the compartment, wherein the first tang of the helical elastic element is adjacent to the first wall, wherein the second tang of the helical elastic element is adjacent to the second wall, wherein the first tang and the second tang are configured to be restricted and retained in place by the first and second walls when the shaft rotates, wherein when the helical elastic element moves and the first tang abuts against the first wall, the sliding block moves away from the intermediate member along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the clutch member moves to the disengagement position, wherein when the helical elastic element moves and the second tang abuts against the second wall, the sliding block moves towards the intermediate member along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the clutch member moves to the engagement position, wherein when the clutch member is not aligned with the engaging groove and the helical elastic element moves towards the intermediate member, a section of the helical elastic element between the threaded section and the second tang is compressed by the threaded section and the second wall.

5. The lock device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the threaded section of the shaft has one turn, wherein the helical elastic element is a compression spring, wherein each of the first and second tangs is rectilinear and extends in a tangential direction of an associated one of two ends of the compression spring.

6. The lock device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a supporting spring, wherein the clutch member further includes an abutting portion which is larger than the engaging arm and made of plastic material, wherein the engaging arm is made of metal material, wherein the abutting portion is located on an outer side of the intermediate member and abuts against one of the activation end and the extension arm of the sliding block, wherein the supporting spring is disposed between the abutting portion and the intermediate member and biases the clutch member to the disengagement position.

7. The lock device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:
an actuating member, wherein the intermediate member further includes a first end face and a second end face spaced from the first end face along the pivotal axis of the intermediate member, wherein the mounting hole extends from the first end face along the pivotal axis of the intermediate member but spaced from the second end face, wherein the actuating member is mounted on the second end face 80 of the intermediate member, and wherein the actuating member includes a push block protruding towards the second end face;
an outer box mounted to the outer escutcheon and including a stop member, wherein the intermediate member, the coupling member, and the driving device are received in the outer box; and
a torsion spring having two ends, wherein the stop member and the push block are located between the two ends of the torsion spring, wherein the two ends of the torsion spring biases the push block to retain the intermediate member in an initial position in which the clutch member is aligned with the engaging groove.

8. The lock device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch further includes a driving device including:
an inner box;
a motor including a driving toothed portion, wherein the motor is received in an inner box;
a sliding block including:
a first block received in the inner box and movable along a rotational axis of the driving toothed portion, wherein the first block includes an inner end and an activation end, wherein the first block further includes a compartment formed between the inner end and the activation end, wherein the first block further includes an opening extending from an outer surface thereof to the compartment, and wherein the clutch member abuts against the acti

Assignees

• I Tek Metal Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Huang Tsung-Yu

Classifications

• E05B47/0012 Primary

  with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68) · CPC title

• E05B47/068

  axially, i.e. with an axially disengaging coupling element · CPC title

• E05B55/005

  Cylindrical or tubular locks · CPC title

• E05B2047/0031

  of the elastic type · CPC title

• E05B47/0692 Primary

  with a rectilinearly moveable coupling element · CPC title