WO2003024829A1

WO2003024829A1 - A device for locking of airtight case

Info

Publication number: WO2003024829A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Woo Kwon
Original assignee: Kyung-Woo Kwon
Priority date: 2001-09-03
Filing date: 2002-09-03
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: KR100412322B1; KR20030020579A; WO2003024829B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for locking an airtight container which can be privately used for storing expensive samples or alcoholic liquors. This locking device includes an upper cover having a locking assembly installed thereto and a lower cover rotatably connected to a lower portion of the upper cover through a combination unit, in which a ratchet groove is formed at an outer circumference and connected to the locking assembly for controlled rotation of the lower cover, an opening is formed at a center, and diaphragm plates are installed in the opening so as to be protruded by means of a moving unit. Thus, this locking device prevents the container from being opened due to external factors, and ensures freshness of contents for long time storage.

Description

A DEVICE FOR LOCKING OF AIRTIGHT CASE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for locking an airtight container so as to be privately used for storing expensive samples or alcoholic liquors, and more particularly to a device for locking an airtight container including an upper cover having a locking assembly installed thereto and a lower cover rotatably connected to a lower portion of the upper cover through a combination unit, in which a ratchet groove is formed at an outer circumference and connected to the locking assembly for controlled rotation of the lower cover, an opening is formed at a center, and diaphragm plates are installed in the opening so as to be protruded by means of a moving unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a container for samples or alcoholic liquors made of plastic, metal or glass has an injection hole with a reduced diameter at an upper portion. The container also has a cap adhered to an inner circumference of the injection hole or surrounding an outer circumference of the injection hole. The cap is rotated or pressed to seal the injection hole so as to prevent leakage of contents and keep freshness of the contents for a certain time.

However, this container is just capable of temporarily closing the injection hole, and there is not provided a device for locking the container in safety after once opening the injection hole. Thus, the cap of the container can be easily opened by external impact or pressure, so its contents may be easily deteriorated. In addition, since an unspecified number of persons can open the cap without difficulty, the container cannot ensure stability, security and reliability. Moreover, the contents in the container cannot keep their freshness for a long time.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide a device for locking an airtight container which is capable of disabling a not-allowed person to open the container, always keeping airtightness to a certain level, preventing the container from being opened due to external factors, and ensuring a long time storage of its contents.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a locking device for an airtight container which includes an upper cover having a concave portion of a predetermined depth formed at a bottom of a locking device closely supported by a cap and an injection hole of a storage container, the upper cover having a locking assembly to an inner side so that a press button and a hooking protrusion are connected to both ends of the locking assembly; a lower cover having a ratchet groove formed at an outer circumference, the locking assembly being contacted with the ratchet groove to control one-directional rotation of the lower cover, the lower cover having a plurality of diaphragm plates installed at an inner side so as to be protruded into an opening formed at a center, the lower cover having a diaphragm moving means connected to the diaphragm plate so that the diaphragm plate is protruded into the opening when the cover rotates; and a combination means installed to connect the upper and lower covers of the locking device so that the upper and lower covers are rotatable to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device for locking an airtight container according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the airtight container locking device according to the present invention in use;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing essential parts of the locking device according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing the locking device according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing a locking device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, an airtight container locking device 300 of the present invention includes an upper cover 100 and a lower cover 200 connected to a lower portion of the upper cover 100.

The upper cover 100 includes a locking assembly 130 which has a plurality of rotating plates 110 protruded on an upper surface and a locking bar 120 of a ' c shape inserted into the rotating plates 110 to move therein when manipulating the rotating plates 110. One end of the locking bar 120 is connected to a press button 140 exposed on the upper surface of the upper cover 100. A hooking protrusion 150 is formed at the other end of the locking bar 120. The locking bar 120 is elastically supported to an inner side of the upper cover 100 through a spring 160.

In addition, a concave portion 170 is formed in the upper cover 100 so that a rotating support plate 180 is screwed to an inner side of the concave portion 170 so as to move vertically. At a bottom of the upper cover 100, guide holes 190 are symmetrically formed.

The lower cover 200 rotatably connected to the lower portion of the upper cover 100 is connected through a combination unit 210 rotatably installed to the bottom of the upper cover 100. The lower cover 200 has an opening 220 at a center portion, and a plurality of diaphragm plates 230 are installed to transfer holes 240 communicated with the opening 220 so as to be protruded into the opening 220.

In addition, a fixing protrusion 230a is protruded at one side of the diaphragm plate 230 and inserted to a sliding hole 200a slantingly extended from an upper outer circumference to an inner circumference of the upper cover 100. A ratchet groove 250 is formed at a partial portion near an outer circumference of the lower cover 200.

The diaphragm plate 230 is formed so that one end protruded into the opening 220 has an arc shape, and an elastic pad 230b containing minute balls is attached to an inner side of the diaphragm plate 230. The combination unit 210 has a plurality of fixing bars 210a protruded to the bottom of the upper cover 100, an elongated hole 210b formed at an upper surface of the lower cover 200 along its circumference so as to insert the fixing bar 210a thereto, and a fixing ring 210c fixed to the fixing bar 210a. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper cover 100 includes the locking assembly 130 which has a plurality of the rotating plates 110 protruded on the upper surface and the locking bar 120 of a 't= ' shape inserted into the rotating plates 110 to move therein when manipulating the rotating plates 110. One end of the locking bar 120 is connected to the press button 140 exposed on the upper surface of the upper cover 100. The hooking protrusion 150 is formed at the other end of the locking bar 120. The locking bar 120 is elastically supported to the inner side of the upper cover 100 through the spring 160.

In addition, the concave portion 170 is formed in the upper cover 100 so that the rotating support plate 180 is screwed to an inner side of the concave portion 170 so as to move vertically. At the bottom of the upper cover 100, a sliding hole 100a slantingly extended from an outer circumference to an inner circumference at the bottom of the upper cover 100 is formed. The lower cover 200 rotatably connected to the bottom of the upper cover 100 is connected through the combination unit 210 rotatably installed to the bottom of the upper cover 100. The lower cover 200 also has the opening 220 at a center portion, and a plurality of the diaphragm plates 230 are installed to the transfer holes 240 communicated with the opening 220 so as to be protruded into the opening 220. The fixing protrusion 230a is protruded at one side of the diaphragm plate 230 and inserted into an elongated hole 290 formed at an upper surface of the lower cover 200. The ratchet groove 250 is formed at a partial portion near an outer circumference of the lower cover 200. In addition, the diaphragm plate 230 is formed so that one end protruded into the opening 220 has an arc shape, and the elastic pad 230b containing minute balls is attached to the inner side of the diaphragm plate 230.

The combination unit 210 has a plurality of the fixing bars 210a protruded to the bottom of the upper cover 100, the elongated hole 210b formed at an upper surface of the lower cover 200 along its circumference so as to insert the fixing bar 210a thereto, and the fixing ring 210c fixed to the fixing bar 210a.

Now, operation and effects of the locking device according to the present invention are described as below.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the locking device 300 is configured by connecting the upper cover 100 to the lower cover 200 through the combination unit 210. The upper and lower covers 100 and 200 are rotatable owing to the combination unit 210. When combining the combination unit 210, the fixing bar 210a protruded at a lower portion of the upper cover 100 is inserted into the elongated hole 210b perforated in correspondence with the fixing bar 210a in a circumferential direction of the lower cover 200, and then the fixing ring 210c is fit into an end of the fixing bar 210a. Then, the upper and lower covers 100 and 200 are fixed and at the same time the covers become rotatable owing to the fixing bar 210a moving within the elongated hole 210b.

The locking operation of the storage container 400 by using the locking device 300 is as follows. First, the rotating support plate 180 screwed to the concave portion 170 of the upper cover 100 is rotated so that an end of the diaphragm plate 230 is positioned in the same line as the protruded portion of the storage container 400.

Then, if rotating the lower cover 200, the hooking protrusion 150 of the locking assembly 130 is supported to the ratchet groove 250 formed on the lower cover 200 so as to prevent one-directional rotation.

If rotating the lower cover 200 further, the diaphragm moving unit 260 moves the diaphragm plate 230, protruded into the opening 220 of the lower cover 200, toward the opening 220 so as to be contacted with the protruded portion of the storage container 400. At this time, the locking device 300 is closely supported through not only the rotating support plate 180 of the upper cover 100 supported by the cap of the storage container but also the diaphragm plate 230 of the lower cover 200, so a non-allowed person cannot open the storage container.

The diaphragm moving unit 260 is operated as follows. The diaphragm plate 230 and the fixing protrusion 230a connected to the diaphragm plate 230 are movable along the transfer hole 220a formed at one side of the opening 220 and the sliding hole 200a of the upper surface of the lower cover 200. Thus, when the fixing protrusion 230a is inserted into the guiding hole 190 of the upper cover 100, the diaphragm moving unit 260 converts a rotary force of the diaphragm plate 230 into a rectilinear motion so that the diaphragm plate 230 moves toward the opening 220.

At this time, the elastic pad 230b containing minute balls is attached to an end of the diaphragm plate 230 so that the diaphragm plate 230 can be stuck to a surface of the storage more tightly.

When releasing the locking device 300, the rotating plate 110 should be rotated to conform to a secret number, so the locking bar 120 inserted into the rotating plate 110 becomes movable. Then, if pressing the press button 140 connected to an end of the locking bar 120, the whole locking bar 120 is moved so that the hooking protrusion 150 fixed to the ratchet groove 250 is separated.

At this time, the lower cover 200 can be rotated to a reverse direction.

If rotating the lower cover 200 to a reverse direction, the diaphragm moving unit 260 is also operated in a reverse direction, so the diaphragm plate 230 is retreated and the locking device 300 is released from the storage container. At the same time, the cap can be opened.

On the other hand, Fig. 5 shows a locking device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 5, when rotating the upper cover 100, the diaphragm plate 230 is closely supported to an outer side of the storage container 400 by means of the diaphragm moving unit 260.

This diaphragm moving unit 260 is constructed that the fixing protrusion 230a of the diaphragm plate 230 inserted into the transfer hole

240 is movably installed in the elongated hole 290 formed in the upper surface of the lower cover 200. Thus, if rotating the upper cover 100 after inserting the fixing protrusion 230a into the sliding hole 100a of the upper cover 100, the diaphragm plate 230 is moved and closely supported to an outer side of the storage container.

Furthermore, in order to separate the locking device 300 from the storage container, the rotating plate 110 is rotated to conform to a secret number and the locking bar 120 is moved as in the above case. So, the hooking protrusion 150 of the locking bar 120 is separated from the ratchet groove 250, and the locking device 300 becomes detachable.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, by using the locking device for an airtight container according to the present invention, only an allowed person can open the container, falsification or deterioration of contents is prevented in advance, and airtightness of the container can be always kept regular. In addition, by preventing unspecified persons from opening the cap of the container, reliability and safety of the storage container are further improved, and the contents can be kept for a longer time.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A locking device for an airtight container comprising: an upper cover (100) having a concave portion (170) of a predetermined depth formed at a bottom of a locking device (300) closely supported by a cap (410) and an injection hole (400a) of a storage container (400), the upper cover (100) having a locking assembly (110) to an inner side so that a press button (140) and a hooking protrusion (150) are connected to both ends of the locking assembly (110); a lower cover (200) having a ratchet groove (250) formed at an outer circumference, the locking assembly (110) being contacted with the ratchet groove (250) to control one-directional rotation of the lower cover (200), the lower cover (200) having a plurality of diaphragm plates (230) installed at an inner side so as to be protruded into an opening (220) formed at a center, the lower cover (200) having a diaphragm moving means (250) connected to the diaphragm plate (230) so that the diaphragm plate (230) is protruded into the opening (220) when the cover rotates; and a combination means (210) installed to connect the upper and lower covers (100 and 200) of the locking device (300) so that the upper and lower covers (100 and 200) are rotatable to each other.

2. A locking device for an airtight container according to claim 1, wherein the combination means(210) includes: a plurality of fixing bars (210a) protruded at a bottom of the upper cover (100); an elongated hole (210b) formed at an upper surface of the lower cover (200) along a circumference so that the fixing bar (210a) is inserted thereinto; and a fixing ring (210c) fixed to the fixing bar (210a).

3. A locking device for an airtight container according to claim

1, wherein a rotating support plate (180) is screwed to an inner side of the concave portion (170) of the upper cover (100) so as to adjust the height thereof.

4. A locking device for an airtight container according to claim 1, wherein the locking assembly (130) includes: a plurality of rotating plates (110) protruded to an upper surface of the upper cover (100); and a locking bar (120) of a ' t: ' shape inserted into the rotating plates (110) so as to be movable into the rotating plates (110).

5. A locking device for an airtight container according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm moving means (250) includes: a transfer hole (240) communicated with the opening (220); a fixing protrusion (230a) protruded to an upper portion of the diaphragm plate (230); a plurality of sliding holes (200a) slantly extended from an outer circumference to an inner circumference on an upper surface of the lower cover (200); and an elongated hole (100a) formed at a bottom of the upper cover (100) so that the fixing protrusion (230a) is inserted thereto.

6. A locking device for an airtight container according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm moving means (250) includes: a transfer hole (240) communicated with the opening (220); a fixing protrusion (230a) protruded to an upper portion of the diaphragm plate (230); an elongated hole (290) formed at an upper surface of the lower cover (200); and a plurality of sliding holes (100a) slantingly extended from an outer circumference to an inner circumference on a bottom of the upper cover (100) so that the fixing protrusion (230a) is inserted thereto.