Door lock with easy-to-install and remove input interface module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12215520-B2
Application number	US-202217718568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2022
Priority date	Mar 28, 2022
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A lock device includes a latch and inner and outer operating devices disposed on two sides of the latch device. The inner operating device includes a main board configured to control the outer operating device to or not to move a latch between the latching position and the unlatching position. The outer operating device includes a removable input interface module electrically connectable with the main board. The input interface module is configured to permit input of an unlocking identification information or an unlocking command by a physical or wireless measure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A door lock comprising:
a latch device including a latch movable between a latching position and an unlatching position;
an inner operating device mounted to a side of the latch device and is configured to move the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the inner operating device includes an inner escutcheon having a maintenance hole;
an outer operating device mounted to another side of the latch device and is configured to move the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position, wherein the outer operating device includes an outer escutcheon having a mounting area, and wherein the mounting area includes a socket aligned with the maintenance hole;
a main board fixed in the inner escutcheon, wherein the main board is configured to control the outer operating device to or not to move the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position;
a fastener rotatably coupled with the socket; and
an input interface module removably mounted in the mounting area and electrically connectable with the main board, wherein the input interface module is configured to permit input of an unlocking identification information or an unlocking command by a physical or wireless measure, wherein the input interface module includes a connecting member, wherein when the maintenance hole is revealed, the fastener is rotatable to tighten or loosen the connecting member of the input interface module, wherein when the connecting member is tightened by the fastener, the input interface module is secured in the mounting area, and wherein when the fastener is disengaged from the connecting member, the input interface module is removable from the outer escutcheon,
wherein the input interface module further includes:
a box including a fixing hole and a compartment spaced from the fixing hole, wherein the box further includes a coupling portion at a bottom thereof, wherein the outer escutcheon further includes a vertical wall and a bottom wall contiguous to the vertical wall and the mounting area, wherein the outer escutcheon further includes a slot extending from the vertical wall and an insertion groove extending from the bottom wall, wherein the coupling portion of the box is removably coupled with the insertion groove, and wherein the connecting member is coupled with the fixing hole;
a circuit board securely disposed in the box, wherein the circuit board includes an outer connecting seat received in the compartment; and
a connecting cable including an outer end and an inner end, wherein the outer end extends through the slot of the outer escutcheon and is in electrical connection with the outer connecting seat, and wherein the inner end of the connecting cable is in electrical connection with the main board.

2. The door lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the box further includes a stop portion formed on an outer periphery of the fixing hole, wherein the connecting member includes an enlarged head having non-circular cross sections, and wherein the enlarged head abuts against the stop portion to prevent rotation of the connecting member relative to the fixing hole.

3. The door lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input interface module is an input device using a plurality of buttons, a biological feature input device, or a wireless input device.

4. The door lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the input device using the plurality of buttons includes a plurality of physical buttons or a touch screen with a plurality of virtual buttons displayed on the touch screen.

5. The door lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the biological feature input device is a fingerprint input device, a facial feature input device, an iris image input device, or an audio input device.

6. The door lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the wireless input device is a device using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification, or near field communication.

7. The door lock as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply module, wherein the inner escutcheon includes an inner assembling room and an outer sidewall contiguous to the inner assembling room, wherein the inner escutcheon further includes a chamber extending from the outer sidewall and spaced from the inner assembling room, wherein the inner escutcheon further includes a vertical inner wall contiguous to the chamber and spaced from the outer sidewall, wherein the power supply module is received in the chamber, wherein the main board is securely disposed in the inner assembling room, and wherein the power supply module is electrically connected to and provides power to the main board; and
a protective cover removably coupled to the inner escutcheon and covering the chamber, wherein when the protective cover is detached from the inner escutcheon, the power supply module is movable to reveal the maintenance hole.

8. The door lock as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a connecting cable having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the inner escutcheon includes an inner assembling room and an outer sidewall contiguous to the inner assembling room, wherein the inner escutcheon further includes a chamber extending from the outer sidewall and spaced from the inner assembling room, wherein the inner escutcheon further includes a vertical inner wall contiguous to the chamber and spaced from the outer sidewall, wherein the main board is securely disposed in the inner assembling room and includes an inner connecting seat extending into the chamber, wherein the vertical inner wall includes a slot spaced from the maintenance hole, wherein the inner end of the connecting cable extends through the slot and is in electrical connection with the inner connecting seat, and wherein the outer end of the connecting cable is in electrical connection with the input interface module.

9. The door lock as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the outer escutcheon further includes a vertical wall contiguous to the mounting area, wherein the outer escutcheon further includes a slot extending from the vertical wall, wherein the input interface module further includes an outer connecting seat adjacent to the slot, and wherein the outer end of the connecting cable extends through the slot of the outer escutcheon and is in electrical connection with the outer connecting seat.

10. The door lock as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the inner operating device further includes an inner return mechanism and an inner handle operatively connected to the inner return mechanism, wherein the inner return mechanism is securely disposed to the inner escutcheon and is located in the inner assembling room, wherein the main board is located between the inner return mechanism and the outer sidewall of the inner escutcheon, and wherein the inner return mechanism biases the inner handle to retain the latch in the latching position.

11. The door lock as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a disengagement prevention member, wherein the outer escutcheon further includes a vertical wall contiguous to the mounting area, wherein the socket extends from the vertical wall towards the latch device, wherein the socket further includes a groove, wherein the fastener includes a threaded section and a head, wherein the head is located outside of the socket and faces the inner operating device, wherein the threaded section is located in the groove, wherein the disengagement prevention member and the fastener are jointly and rotatably mounted around the threaded section.

12. A door lock comprising:
a latch device including a latch movable between a latching position and an unlatching position;
an inner operating device mounted to a side of the

Assignees

• I Tek Metal Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lin Hsi-Ting

Classifications

• E05B2047/0036

  Reversible actuators · CPC title

• E05B47/0692

  with a rectilinearly moveable coupling element · CPC title

• E05B2047/0026

  Clutches, couplings or braking arrangements · CPC title

• E05B2047/005

  Opening, closing of the circuit · CPC title

• E05B17/044

  Clutches, disengageable couplings · CPC title