GB2268963A - Combination lock for handbag or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination lock for a handbag or the like comprises a plurality of number wheels 8 each having a peripheral notch. When the correct combination is dialled, the notches are in a line. A sliding block 2 is provided with tongues 25 equal in number to the notches. When the latter are in line the tongues can move into the notches, thus allowing sliding movement of block 2 via hand knob 6. Block 2 has a ramp surface 22 which, when the block slides, drives a driven block 3 downwards, thus releasing bolt tang 31 from the hasp of the other part of the fastening. Springs urge the device to the engaged condition. <IMAGE>

Description

BAG LOCK The present invention relates to handbag locks and relates more particularly to a combination handbag lock which uses a combination and a knob to control the movement of. a slide block and a driven block so as to move a lock key between locking and unlocking positions.

Various types of locks are known and widely used for locking a variety of handbags. These handbag locks include snap button locks, snap fasteners, spring latch controlled locks, and combination locks. A snap button lock is generally comprised of a male button fastened to the body of a handbag, and a female button fastened to the cover panel of the handbag. The cover panel is secured to the body of the handbag when the male and female buttons are connected together. The disadvantage of this structure of snap button lock is that the female button may be disconnect from the male button easily. A handbag snap fastener is generally comprised of two opposed round-head bolts respectively fastened to the two opposite parts of a handbag. By closing the two opposed round-head bolts together, the two opposite parts of the handbag are closed together.

While opening or closing the round-head bolts, the fingers may be jammed or hurt easily. Furthermore, the round-head bolts are difficult to open with a wet hand.

A spring latch controlled handbag lock is generally comprised of casing fastened to the body of a handbag and a loop fastened to the cover panel of the handbag.

Inserting the loop into a lock hole on the casing causes the loop to be automatically locked by a spring latch.

The casing has a knob on the outside and moved to release the spring latch from the loop. This structure of handbag lock can be easily opened by a thief, and therefor it provides less protection. A combination handbag lock is comprised of a set of number wheels rotated to control a mechanism in carrying a lock latch into locking or unlocking position. The internal mechanism of a conventional combination handbag lock is very complex and may be damaged easily..

The combination handbag lock of the present invention is comprised of a casing covered with a cover to hold a driven block, a slide block, and a set of number wheels. The driven block is linked to the slide block by a linking rod. The slide block is controlled by a knob and the set of number wheels. The driven. block is moved downwards by the slide block through the knob to carry a lock key from locking position into unlocking position through as the number wheels have been respectively rotated to align the holes thereon with the tongues on the slide block. A spring is provided to move the slide block and the driven block back to their original position automatically as the knob is released, causing the lock key to be retained in locking position after the holes on the number wheels have been deviated from the tongues.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a combination handbag lock embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a plain view showing the operation of the combination handbag lock.

Referring to Fig. 1, a combination handbag lock is generally comprised of a slide block 2, a driven block 3, a spring 4, a cover 5, a knob 6, a casing 7, and a set of number wheels 8. The slide block 2 comprises an elongated sliding slot 21 at a suitable location, a slope 22 extended downwards from the elongated sliding slot 21 at the middle, a notch 23 on the back connected to the sliding slot 21 and the slope 22, a hole 24 adjacent to a bottom corner thereof, and two tongues 25 at the bottom. The driven block 3 comprises a lock key 31, a bar 32 opposite to the lock key 31, a round rod 33 on the bottom end of the bar 32 at right angle, a groove 34 on the back thereof, and a stop plate 341 on the groove 34 at the top for keeping the spring 4 in place.The cover 5 comprises a lock hole 51 at the middle adjacent to the top edge thereof, and a hole 52 adjacent to the lower left corner thereof into which the knob 6 is fastened. The knob 6 is inserted into the hole 52 on the cover 5 and pushed to move the slide block 2 and the driven block 3. The casing 7 comprises two spaced guide rods 71, an elongated groove 72 between the guide rods 71, and a stop plate 73 on the elongated groove 72 at the bottom.

The number wheels 8 (there are two number wheels 8 in the present preferred embodiment) have each a C-shaped ring 81 respectively attached to the back side thereof.

The assembly process of the combination handbag lock is outlined hereinafter. Put the driven block 3 in the casing 7 above the guide rods 71, and then put the slide block 2 in the casing 7 to let the guide rods 71 insert into the sliding slots 21 and the round rod 33 insert into the notch 23 respectively.

Therefore, the round rod 33 has a front end stopped at the slope 22. The spring 4 is then inserted in the elongated groove 72 on the casing 7 and the groove 34 on the driven block 3 and retained between the stop plates 73 and 341. Therefore, the spring 4 gives an upward pressure to the driven block 3 causing the round rod 2 to constantly contact the top edge of the slope 22.

The two number wheels 8 are then placed in the casing 7 below the slide block 2 with the C-shaped rings 81 thereof disposed in contact with the tongues 25 respectively. Once the cover 5 has been fastened to the casing 7, the lock key 31 is retained in "locking position" projecting over the lock hole 51 on the inside, and the knob 6 is inserted through the hole 52 on the cover 5 into the hole 24.

The operation of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3.

Rotating each number wheel 8 to let the opening on the C-shaped ring 81 be aligned with each tongue 25 respectively, and therefore the slide block 2 can be moved rightwards by the knob 6. Moving the slide block 2 rightwards causes the tongues 25 to be inserted into the openings on the C-shaped rings 81 of the number wheels 8 respectively. At the same time, the round rod 33 is forced downwards by the slope 22, causing the lock key 31 removed from the loop, which is inserted into the lock hole 51, into "unlocking position", and therefore the handbag onto which the combination handbag is fastened is opened (see the dotted line in Fig. 3).

Releasing the knob 6 causes the spring 4 to push the slide block 2 and the driven block 3 back to their original positions, and therefore the lock key 31 is moved back to "locking position" (see the real line in Fig. 3). The number wheels 8 are rotated again to let the tongues 25 be removed out of the opening on each Cshaped ring 81 and stopped against the outside edge of each C-shaped ring 81 respectively. Therefore, the slide block 2 becomes stopped in place again, and the lock key 31 is firmly retained in "locking position".

In addition to the general statements set out in the introduction to the specification, there may also be provided in a broad aspect of the invention a bag lock comprising: a casing for a first part of a bag; a cover having a lock hole for a loop on a second part of the bag to be releasably inserted; a slide block mounted inside said casing and cover and having a plurality of tongues; a knob for moving said slide block; a driven block movably retained inside said casing, and having a lock key to be releasably inserted in the loop to hold the second part of the handbag to the first part thereof, and a linking means coupled to said slide block; and a plurality of number wheels each having a C-shaped ring having an opening into which a respective tongue may be releasably inserted; wherein the lock key on the said driven block is moved into an unlocking position by movement of said slide block by said knob when the opening on the C-shaped ring of each number wheel is aligned with its respective tongue, and the lock key on the driven block is moved back from the unlocking position to the locking position by a spring upon release of the said knob.

Claims (3)

1. A combination handbag lock comprising: a casing fastened to a first part of a handbag, said casing having two spaced guide rods, an elongated groove between said guide rods, and a stop plate; a cover covered on said casing, said cover having a lock hole into which a loop on a second part of the hand bag is releasably inserted, and a key hole; a slide block mounted on said guide rods inside said casing and said cover, said slide block having an elongated sliding slot into which said guide rods are inserted, a slope extended downwards from said elongated sliding slot at the middle, a notch on a back thereof connected to said elongated sliding slot and said slope, a pin hole adjacent to a bottom corner thereof, and a plurality of tongues spaced at the bottom;; a knob having a pin inserted through the key hole on said cover into the pin hole on said slide block, said knob being controlled to move said slide block; a driven block movably retained inside saidcasing and said cover above said guide rods and said slide block, said driven block having a lock key releasably inserted in the loop to hold the second part of the handbag to the first part thereof, a L-shaped linking rod inserted through the notch on said slide block and stopped against the slope on said slide block at the top, a groove on a back thereof, and a stop plate; a spring received in the elongated groove on said casing and the groove on the back of said driven block and retained between the stop plate on said casing and the stop plate on said driven block;; a plurality of number wheels retained in holes on said cover inside said casing and stopped against the tongues on said slide block respectively, said number wheels having each a C-shaped ring attached to a back side thereof, said C-shaped ring having an opening into which the respective tongue is releasably inserted; and wherein the lock key on said driven block is moved into unlocking position by said slide block through said knob when the opening on the C-shaped ring of each number wheel is aligned with the respective tongue; the lock key on said driven block is moved back from unlocking position to locking position by said spring upon releas of said knob.

2. A bag lock comprising: a casing for a first part of a bag; a cover having a lock hole for a loop on a second part of the bag to be releasably inserted; a slide block mounted inside said casing and cover and having a plurality of tongues; a knob for moving said slide block; a driven block movably retained inside said casing, and having a lock key to be releasably inserted in the loop to hold the second part of the handbag to the first part thereof, and a linking means coupled to said slide block; and a plurality of number wheels each having a C-shaped ring having an opening into which a respective tongue may be releasably inserted; wherein the lock key on the said driven block is moved into an unlocking position by movement of said slide block by said knob when the opening on the C-shaped ring of each number wheel is aligned with its respective tongue, and the lock key on the driven block is moved back from the unlocking position to the locking position by a spring upon release of the said knob.

3. A bag lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.