Crescent Tablets

Abstract

To provide a crescent lock having a mechanism for preventing problems in a crescent lock market, especially unintended unlocking and locking (accidental unlocking and erroneous locking) of the crescent lock.SOLUTION: In a crescent lock in which: a stop piece is provided that is formed in a substantially horseshoe shape consisting of circular and rectangular sections at end portions of a shaft extending into the pedestal; the rectangular section of the stop piece is configured to interfere with an inner wall of the pedestal for restricting an operation lever to rotate; a first lock mechanism interfering with the rectangular section of the stop piece is provided in the pedestal; and such a lock mechanism is configured to be operable from the outside of the pedestal, then there is provided, for solution, a second lock mechanism by which the operation of the first lock mechanism is configured to be restricted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crescent lock used for sliding shoji screens or lift-up shoji screens, which has a structure that prevents mistaken locking and erroneous locking, that is, prevents intrusion from outside, and prevents accidents caused by unintentional unlocking or locking by small children, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Crescent locks have traditionally had problems such as forgetting to lock or not being able to lock properly even after operating the lock, resulting in "empty locks." There have also been cases of people breaking the glass of a sliding screen to unlock the crescent lock and illegally entering a room from the outside. Therefore, the crescent lock market needed a solution to prevent these problems from occurring.

[0003] Recently, there have been cases where a crescent lock attached to a shoji screen has been accidentally locked by a small child while the parent is outside on the balcony or elsewhere, locking the parent out of the room, or where a small child has accidentally unlocked a locked crescent lock and gone outside the room on a balcony or elsewhere, eventually falling off the balcony. There are calls for measures to prevent such accidents in the crescent market. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a crescent lock that has a mechanism that solves the problems in the crescent lock market described above, particularly preventing unintentional unlocking and locking of crescent locks (mistaken locking and erroneous locking). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This problem is solved by a crescent lock consisting of a crescent lock body that is attached to an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes by sliding, or an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes up and down, and a receiving bracket that is attached to an outdoor shoji screen, wherein the crescent lock body is made up of a base for attaching to the shoji screen, an axle that is rotatably supported by a bearing provided on the base, a hook that is fixed integrally with the axle, and an operating lever for rotating the axle and the hook, and wherein the operating lever is configured to be fixable to the axle in at least two fixed states, and the crescent lock can be unlocked and / or locked only when the operating lever is in one of the fixed states.

[0007] In a developed version of the present invention, a clutch plate is provided within the operating lever, two engagement grooves are provided on the shaft, and the clutch plate is configured to engage and / or disengage with the engagement grooves provided on the shaft, so that the operating lever can be fixed in two fixed states relative to the shaft.

[0008] In a further developed version of the present invention, the operating lever is configured to be slidable within a horizontal hole provided in the shaft, and first and second engagement holes are provided in the operating lever 5, and a fixing mechanism is provided that cooperates with these engagement holes, so that the operating lever can be fixed to the shaft in two fixed states.

[0009] Advantageously, a stop piece formed in an approximately horseshoe shape consisting of a circle and a rectangle is provided at the end of the shaft extending into the base, and the rectangular portion of the stop piece is configured to interfere with the inner wall of the base, thereby limiting the rotation of the operating lever.

[0010] It is also conceivable that a separate locking mechanism that interferes with the rectangular portion of the stop piece is provided within the base, and that this locking mechanism is configured to be operable from outside the base.

[0011] In another embodiment, a crescent lock is provided which is made up of a crescent lock body to be attached to an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes by sliding or an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes up and down, and a receiving bracket to be attached to an outdoor shoji screen, and the crescent lock body is made up of a base for attaching to the shoji screen, an axle that is rotatably supported by a bearing provided on the base, a hook that is fixed integrally with the axle, and an operating lever for rotating the axle and the hook. A stop piece formed in a roughly horseshoe shape consisting of a circle and a rectangle is provided at the end of the shaft extending into the base, and the rectangular part of the stop piece is configured to interfere with the inner wall of the base, thereby restricting the rotation of the operating lever, In a crescent lock, a first locking mechanism that interferes with the rectangular portion of the stop piece is provided inside the base, and the locking mechanism is configured to be operable from outside the base, A second locking mechanism may be provided, and the second locking mechanism may be configured to restrict operation of the first locking mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] (a diagram showing the unlocked state of the crescent lock according to the first embodiment of the present invention) [Figure 2] (Diagram of the locked state of the crescent lock according to the first embodiment of the present invention) [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the state of preventing accidental locking of the crescent lock according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the crescent lock according to the first embodiment of the present invention is prevented from being accidentally locked. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram of a mechanism for realizing a state for preventing erroneous operation according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram of another modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the unlocked state of the crescent lock according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the locked state of the crescent lock according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of preventing accidental locking of the crescent lock according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state in which the crescent lock according to the second embodiment of the present invention is prevented from being accidentally locked. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modified example of the second embodiment (unlocked state) [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modified example of the second embodiment (locked state) [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modified example of the second embodiment (misoperation prevention state) [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram of another modified example of the second embodiment (unlocked state) [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram of another modified example of the second embodiment (locked state) [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram of another modified example of the second embodiment (misoperation prevention state) [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment having a further mechanism for preventing erroneous operation. [Figure 19] 10 is a diagram showing a further modification of the misoperation prevention mechanism; [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another modified example of the misoperation prevention mechanism. [Figure 21] Another diagram of the additional anti-misoperation mechanism DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] [First Example] The structure of the crescent lock according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the following examples. There are multiple embodiments of the crescent lock according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the crescent lock according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows only the crescent lock body 1 attached to the shoji screen on the inside of a room (also called the inner shoji screen). This crescent lock body 1 cooperates with a receiving bracket attached to the shoji screen on the outside of the room (also called the outer shoji screen) to lock and unlock the shoji screen. Figure 1 shows the crescent lock body 1 according to the first embodiment in an unlocked state. The crescent lock according to this first embodiment is also called a clutch-type / slide type.

[0014] As can be seen in Figure 1, the crescent lock body 1 mainly consists of a base 2, an axle 3, and a latch 4. The base 2 is a component for attaching the crescent lock body 1 to the vertical frame of an inner shoji screen, and has, for example, mounting structures for the vertical frame in two locations. Note that the mounting structures are not an essential part of the present invention and are not shown in the figure. A bearing 21 is provided in approximately the center of the base 2 (see Figure 2). The bearing 21 rotatably supports the axle 3. The axle 3 is formed integrally with the latch 4 by caulking. Meanwhile, the operating lever 5 is configured to be switchable between two states: a state in which it can rotate relative to the axle 3 and a state in which it cannot rotate. This configuration will be described later. The state shown in Figure 1 is a state in which the operating lever 5 cannot rotate relative to the axle 3.

[0015] As can be seen in Figure 1, in this state, the operating lever 5 extends to the left, starting from the shaft 3. Although not shown, there is a catch attached to the outer screen at a position just above the shaft 3 as seen in Figure 1, and by operating the operating lever 5, i.e., by rotating the operating lever 5 and the latch 4 180 degrees counterclockwise around the central axis of the shaft 3, the latch 4 engages with the catch, realizing the locked state of the crescent lock (Figure 2).

[0016] Figure 2 shows the crescent lock body 1 of the first embodiment in a locked state. Compared to the state in Figure 1, the operating lever 5 and latch 4 are rotated 180 degrees around the axis 3. As mentioned above, in this state, the latch 4 engages with the receiving bracket (not shown), realizing the locked state of the crescent lock. After this, the crescent lock of the present invention achieves the CR state (child-resistant state, mis-locking prevention state) shown in Figure 3, and the structure for this will be explained based on Figure 2.

[0017] As can be seen in Figure 2, a clutch plate 6 is provided inside the operating lever 5. The clutch plate 6 is guided by the inner wall of the operating lever 5 and is provided so as to be slidable inside the operating lever 5 in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5. In this embodiment, as seen in Figure 2, a spring 7 is provided incorporated in the clutch plate 6, and this spring 7 constantly urges the clutch plate 6 toward the shaft 3 in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5. It is also possible to provide a separate mechanism having a positioning spring function for engaging and disengaging with the clutch plate 6, without providing the spring 7.

[0018] A back plate 8 is further provided inside the operating lever 5. The back plate 8 is configured to close the space inside the operating lever 5, that is, the space that houses the clutch plate 6.

[0019] A protrusion 61 is provided on the end of the clutch plate 6 on the shaft 3 side. Meanwhile, an engagement groove 31 is formed on the shaft 3. The protrusion 61 provided on the clutch plate 6 is configured to be able to engage with and disengage from this engagement groove 31. The clutch plate 6 is constantly urged by a spring 7 toward the shaft 3 in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5, so once the protrusion 61 engages within 31, the clutch plate 6, operating lever 5, and shaft 3 rotate as a unit (the operating lever 5 becomes unable to rotate with respect to the shaft 3), meaning that the shaft 3 is rotated together with the rotation of the operating lever 5.

[0020] Furthermore, the clutch plate 6 is provided with a knob 62. As can be seen in FIG. 2, this knob 62 is configured to protrude slightly from a hole provided in the back plate 8. A user of the crescent lock can operate this knob 62 to move the clutch plate 6. That is, the user can use the knob 62 to move the clutch plate 6 in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5 away from the shaft 3 against the biasing force of the spring 7, thereby allowing the protrusion 61 provided on the clutch plate 6 to disengage from the engagement groove 31 provided on the shaft 3. As a result, the operating lever 5 and the shaft 3 are disengaged, and the operating lever 5 becomes rotatable relative to the shaft 3.

[0021] Figure 3 shows a special state of the crescent lock of the present invention, namely, the child-resistant state (misunderstanding lock prevention state). The orientation of the operating lever 5 is different from the state in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the operating lever 5 extends to the right of the figure, but in Figure 3, the operating lever 5 extends to the left of the figure.

[0022] As described above, in the crescent lock of the present invention, the operating lever 5 is configured to be switchable between a state in which it is rotatable and a state in which it is not rotatable relative to the shaft 3. After the locked state of the crescent lock is achieved in a state in which the operating lever 5 is not rotatable relative to the shaft 3, that is, in a state in which the operating lever 5, shaft 3, and latch 4 rotate together, in the crescent lock of the present invention, by operating the knob 62 as described above to make the operating lever 5 rotatable relative to the shaft 3 (and latch 4), the crescent lock of the present invention can rotate only the operating lever 5 180 degrees clockwise as shown in Figure 3.

[0023] Here, two engagement grooves are formed on the shaft 3. Both of these engagement grooves exist on a line perpendicular to the line connecting the receiving portion of the receiving metal fitting and the center of the shaft 3 when the crescent lock is unlocked. In other words, the first engagement groove 31 is located at a position on the shaft 3 where the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 can engage when the crescent lock is in its normal operating state (position C), and the second engagement groove 32 is located at a position 180 degrees opposite to position C on the shaft 3, i.e., a position on the shaft 3 where the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 can engage when the crescent is in its misoperation-preventing state (position B).

[0024] With this configuration, when the operating lever 5 is rotated 180 degrees from the normal use state relative to the shaft 3, the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 engages with the second engagement groove 32.

[0025] This prevents the crescent lock from being accidentally locked. To unlock the crescent lock in the state shown in Figure 3, the operating lever 5 must be rotated clockwise. However, in the state shown in Figure 3, a shoji screen is present above the crescent lock body 1 (above in Figure 3). Therefore, when attempting to rotate the operating lever 5 clockwise, the operating lever 5 collides with and interferes with the shoji screen, preventing the rotation required for the unlocking operation. To perform the unlocking operation, the knob 61 must be operated again to disengage the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 from the second engagement groove 32 of the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 must be rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise to engage the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 with the first engagement groove 31 of the shaft 3.

[0026] The configuration of the knob 62 that allows the clutch plate 6 to move within the operating lever 5 is not limited to the above configuration. In the above example, a hole is provided in the back plate 8, and the knob 62 protrudes from the hole, but it is also possible to provide a hole on the top or side surface of the operating lever 5, and have the knob 62 protrude from the hole in the operating lever 5.

[0027] [Second mechanism to prevent misoperation] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the shaft 3 may be provided with an additional anti-misoperation mechanism (second anti-misoperation mechanism). That is, a stop piece 9 may be attached to the shaft 3. More specifically, the shaft 3 extends into the bearing 21 of the base 2, and a rectangular portion 33 is formed at the end protruding into the bearing 21, to which the stop piece 9 is attached. That is, the stop piece 9 has a rectangular hole 91, into which the rectangular portion 33 of the shaft 3 fits and is crimped to prevent it from coming loose. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the stop piece 9 is shaped like a horseshoe (a shape composed of a circle and a rectangle). Because the outer shape of the stop piece 9 is formed in this way, when the shaft 3 rotates 180 degrees from the unlocked state to the locked state, the cross section of the rectangular portion (parallel portion) of the stop piece 9 abuts against the inner side wall of the base 2, preventing the stop piece 9 and the shaft 3 connected to it from rotating any further.

[0028] [Third mechanism to prevent misoperation] Furthermore, a locking mechanism 10 may be provided inside the base 2. The locking mechanism 10 is composed of a slide knob 101 and a lock piece 102. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the slide knob 101 is formed as a knob portion that is provided slidably along the side surface of the base 2. That is, a hole that slidably guides the slide knob 101 is provided on the side surface of the base 2, and the slide knob 101 is configured to be able to slide within the hole in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5) in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 3). This allows the slide knob 101 to reciprocate between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0029] Lock piece 102, which is formed integrally with slide knob 101 and positioned inside base 2, slides integrally with slide knob 101, i.e., moves back and forth between the locked position and the unlocked position. At that time, the surface of lock piece 102 facing stop piece 9 is configured to contact the parallel side surface of stop piece 9 in the locked position (locked state). In other words, as can be seen in Figure 2 (and Figure 3), lock piece 102 of lock mechanism 10 is provided with, for example, a flat portion and a curved portion, and the flat portion restrains the parallel side surface of stop piece 9 of shaft 3 in the locked position. This prevents operating lever 5 from rotating in the unlocking direction.

[0030] [Lockout prevention state] Next, the lockout prevention state (mis-lock prevention state) of the crescent lock of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 4. As described above, the crescent lock of the present invention can switch between a state in which the operating lever 5 can rotate relative to the shaft 3 and the latch 4 (which are integrally formed by caulking) and a state in which it cannot rotate, so it can prevent a situation in which the crescent lock is accidentally locked by a small child or the like while a parent is out on a balcony or the like, and the parent is locked out.

[0031] In other words, in the unlocked state shown in Figure 1, the knob 62 of the clutch plate 6, as explained with reference to Figure 2, is operated to disengage the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 from the first engagement groove 31 of the groove 3. This allows the operating lever 5 to rotate relative to the shaft 3, so the operating lever 5 is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise to the state shown in Figure 4. By rotating the operating lever 5 180 degrees in this way, the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 engages with the second engagement groove 32 provided on the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 is again unable to rotate relative to the shaft 3. In this state, even if the crescent lock is operated to lock it, the operating lever will collide with the sliding screen, preventing the rotational movement required to lock it. In this way, the lockout-preventing state of the crescent lock according to the present invention is realized.

[0032] To release the lockout prevention state, the knob 62 of the clutch plate 6 is operated again to disengage the protrusion 61 from the second engagement groove 32, thereby enabling the operating lever 5 to rotate relative to the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 is then rotated 180 degrees in the reverse direction to its original position. After the 180-degree rotation, the protrusion 61 re-engages with the first engagement groove 31, and the operating lever 5, shaft 3, and latch 4 are no longer rotatable, allowing the locking operation to be achieved in the same way as a normal crescent lock.

[0033] [Spacer ring] Next, referring to Figure 5, we will explain another mechanism for preventing erroneous operation in the crescent lock of the present invention. In the positional relationship between the operating lever 5 and the latch 4 in the crescent lock body 1 of the present invention shown in Figures 1-4, even if the clutch plate 6 is operated to allow the operating lever 5 to rotate relative to the shaft 3, the operating lever 5 interferes with the latch 4 and cannot rotate. Therefore, in a further embodiment of the crescent lock of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5(A), a spacer ring 54 can be provided between the operating lever 5 and the base 2, allowing the operating lever 5 to rotate without interfering with the latch 4. The spacer ring 54 has an inner diameter and an outer diameter that are concentric, with its upper and lower surfaces parallel and perpendicular to the inner diameter and outer surfaces. The spacer ring 54 can be fitted to the shaft 3 by a slip fit, but a light press fit or press fit is preferred. This configuration allows the operating lever 5 to rotate freely without interfering with the latch 4.

[0034] 5(B), it is also possible to provide a clearance groove 55 on the side of the operating lever 5 in addition to the spacer ring 54. The position and dimensions of the clearance groove are determined according to the position and dimensions of the latch 4. This makes it possible to use a spacer ring 54 with a lower height, or to not use a spacer ring at all.

[0035] [Modification of the first embodiment] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a modified example (clutch-type button type) of the first embodiment (clutch-type slide type) of the present invention will be described. This modified example shown in FIG. 6 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 only in the method and mechanism for moving the clutch plate 6. That is, in this modified example, a push button 63 is provided within the operating lever 5 as a means for moving the clutch plate 6. A slanted notch 64 is provided on the clutch plate 6 at a position corresponding to the push button 63. As shown in FIG. 6, the slanted notch 64 is provided at an angle from the inner wall of the operating lever 5 toward the back plate 8. By pressing the push button 63 toward the operating lever 5, the clutch plate 6 can be moved to the right in FIG. 6. As a result, the protrusion 61 of the clutch plate 6 is disengaged from the engagement groove 31, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the operating lever 5 becomes rotatable about the shaft 3, as in the first embodiment. This makes it possible for this modified example of the first embodiment to achieve the same erroneous operation prevention function (mistaken lock prevention function, lockout prevention function) as the first embodiment.

[0036] Next, another modified example (rotation type) of the first embodiment (clutch type / slide type) will be described with reference to FIG. 7. This modified example differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in the mechanism and method for realizing the mis-locking prevention state and the mis-locking prevention state. That is, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the operating lever 5 is configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis of the shaft 3 as the central axis, but in the modified example shown in FIG. 7, a second rotation axis is provided in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 is configured to be rotatable around this rotation axis. The mechanism (clutch plate 6, protrusion 61, engagement groove 31) for making the operating lever 5 rotatable and non-rotatable is basically the same as the mechanism in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. This modified example can also realize the same mis-operation prevention function (mis-locking prevention function, lockout prevention function) as the first embodiment.

[0037] [Second Example] Next, a second embodiment of the crescent lock according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. That is, Figure 8 shows a so-called sliding-type crescent lock according to the present invention. As with the first embodiment in Figure 1, Figure 8 also shows only the crescent lock main body 1 that is attached to the inside shoji screen (inner shoji screen) of a room. This crescent lock main body 1 is designed to lock and unlock the shoji screen in cooperation with a receiving bracket (not shown) that is attached to the outside shoji screen of a room (also called the outer shoji screen).

[0038] This crescent lock body 1, like the crescent lock body 1 of the first embodiment in Figure 1, is primarily composed of a base 2, an axle 3, and a latch 4. The base 2 is a component for attaching the crescent lock body 1 to the vertical frame of an inner shoji screen, and has, for example, an attachment structure for attaching to the vertical frame in two places. The attachment structure is not an essential part of the present invention, so it is not shown in the figures. A bearing 21 is provided in approximately the center of the base 2 (see Figure 9). The bearing 21 rotatably supports the axle 3. The axle 3 is integrally formed with the latch 4 by caulking.

[0039] A horizontal hole 34 is provided through the shaft 3 (see Figure 9). One end of the operating lever 5 (the end on the right side as viewed in Figure 8) is inserted into the tunnel formed by this horizontal hole 34. In this state of Figure 8, the operating lever 5 starts from the shaft 3 and extends leftward. Although not shown, there is a bracket attached to the outer screen just above the shaft 3 as viewed in the figure. By operating the operating lever 5 and rotating the operating lever 5 and the latch 4 180 degrees counterclockwise around the central axis of the shaft 3, the latch 4 engages with the bracket, achieving the locked state of the crescent lock (Figure 9).

[0040] Figure 9 shows the crescent lock body 1 of the second embodiment in a locked state. Compared to the state in Figure 8, the operating lever 5 and latch 4 are rotated 180 degrees around the axis 3 (the state after rotating 180 degrees counterclockwise). As described above, in this state, the latch 4 engages with the receiving bracket (not shown), realizing the locked state of the crescent lock. After this, the crescent lock of the present invention will achieve the CR state (child-resistant state, mis-locking prevention state) shown in Figure 10, but first the structure for this will be explained based on Figure 9.

[0041] As can be seen in Figure 9, the shaft 3 is provided with a pilot hole 35. This pilot hole 35 extends in the direction of the rotation axis (central axis) at the center of the shaft 3 and penetrates to the horizontal hole 34. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the pilot hole 35, and it is configured so that a set screw 65 (male thread) can be screwed into it.

[0042] As can be seen in Figure 9, one end of the operating lever 5 is configured to be insertable into a horizontal hole 34 provided in the shaft 3, and in the example shown in this figure, for example, one end is formed thinner in cross section than the other end. A first engagement hole 51 is formed in the operating lever 5 at a position where it is inserted into the shaft 3. As can be seen in Figure 10, a protrusion of a set screw 65 can engage in this engagement hole 51.

[0043] In the second embodiment, the operating lever 5 can be slid within the shaft 3 by removing or loosening the set screw 65 from the shaft 3. By sliding the operating lever 5 to the left in FIG. 9 from the state shown in FIG. 9, the operating lever 5 can be moved to the position shown in FIG. 10. In this position shown in FIG. 10, the second engagement hole 52 provided in the operating lever 5 is positioned exactly at the position of the lower hole 35. By screwing in the set screw 65 in this state, the operating lever 5 is fixed to the shaft 3, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 11, which realizes a child-resistant state (a state to prevent misunderstandings). In this state, even if you try to operate the operating lever 5 to unlock the crescent lock (even if you try to rotate the operating lever 5 180 degrees clockwise), the operating lever 5 will collide with or interfere with the shoji screen, preventing unlocking.

[0044] In the above explanation, when the crescent lock is in the locked state (the state shown in FIG. 9), the set screw 65 is removed or loosened from the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 is slid into the shaft 3, realizing a child-resistant state (a state that prevents mis-locking). In the crescent lock according to the second embodiment, when the crescent lock is in the unlocked state (the state shown in FIG. 8), it is also possible to remove the set screw 65 and slide the operating lever 5 into the shaft 3. In this case, the crescent lock is in the state shown in FIG. 11, realizing a so-called lockout prevention state (a state that prevents mis-locking). In this state, even if a child, for example, were to operate the operating lever 5 to lock the crescent lock, the operating lever 5 would collide with or interfere with the shoji screen, preventing the lock from being locked.

[0045] 10, a retainer 53 is provided at the tip (left end) of the operating lever 5. An engagement groove having a shape that matches the shape of this retainer is formed in the shaft 3, and functions as a transmission part for the rotation of the shaft 3 by the operating lever 5.

[0046] The set screw 6 can be screwed in and out by providing a protrusion on the top surface of the set screw 6 so that the set screw 6 protrudes from the shaft 3 and can be operated by pinching the outer shape of this protrusion with the fingers. It is also possible to configure the top surface of the set screw 6 so that it can be operated with a special wrench or coin to operate (turn) the set screw 6.

[0047] It should be noted that the mechanisms (second and third erroneous operation prevention mechanisms) such as the stop piece 9 and the lock mechanism 10 described in the first embodiment can also be provided in the second embodiment.

[0048] [Modification of the second embodiment] Next, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. In the modified example of Figures 12 to 14, the shaft 3 is not provided with the mechanism using the set screw 65 provided in the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10, but instead is provided with a mechanism using a push button (push button mechanism 66). This push button mechanism 66 consists of a spring 661, an engaging protrusion 662, an engaging protrusion holder 663, a push button 664, and a cover 665.

[0049] As can be seen particularly in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, the engagement protrusion 662, together with the engagement protrusion holder 663, is constantly biased upward in FIG. 12 by a spring 661 within a hollow portion provided in the shaft 3. A hole through which the engagement protrusion 662 can pass is provided in the underside of the engagement protrusion holder 663, and the engagement protrusion 662 passes through this hole and extends toward the bottom of the hollow portion. The outer diameter of the portion of the engagement protrusion 662 that protrudes below the engagement protrusion holder 663 and the inner diameter of the spring 661 are appropriately adjusted so that the protruding portion of the engagement protrusion 662 is precisely guided by the inner diameter of the spring. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, the engagement protrusion holder 663 is U-shaped to cover the operating lever 5. The upper portion of the hollow portion of the shaft 3 is closed by a lid 665. A hole for the push button 664 is provided in the cover 665, and the push button 664 protrudes from this hole. In this modification, an engagement hole 51 is provided on the underside of the operating lever 5. As in the first embodiment, two engagement grooves are provided in the operating lever 5.

[0050] Next, the operation of this modified example will be described. When the push button 664 is pressed, the push button 664, the engagement protrusion holder 663, and the engagement protrusion 662 move downward in the figure against the biasing force of the spring 661. When the engagement protrusion 662 disengages from the engagement hole 51 of the operating lever 5, the operating lever 5 becomes slidable, and can be slid toward the left in the figure. When the operating lever 5 is slid so that the second engagement hole 52 provided in the operating lever 5 is positioned exactly at the engagement protrusion 662, the engagement protrusion 662 engages into the second engagement hole 52 due to the biasing force of the spring 661, and the sliding of the operating lever 5 ends. In this position, the child-resistant state (mistake-lock prevention state) shown in FIG. 14 is realized. Although not shown, by operating the push button portion / operating lever 5 when the crescent lock according to the modified example of the second embodiment is in the unlocked state, and causing the engaging protrusion portion 662 to engage with the second engaging hole 52, it is possible to realize the lockout prevention state (mislock prevention state) as described in the other embodiments and modified examples.

[0051] [Another Modification of the Second Embodiment] Next, another modified example of the crescent lock according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 15. Unlike the second embodiment and the modified examples described above, this modified example does not have the set screw mechanism 65 and push button mechanism 66, but instead has a pull button mechanism 67. This pull button mechanism consists of a spring 671, an engaging protrusion 672, and a lid 673.

[0052] As can be seen in FIG. 15 , a hollow portion is provided within the shaft 3 in this modification. An engagement protrusion 672 and a spring 671 are housed within the hollow portion. The inner diameter of the spring and the outer diameter of the shaft of the engagement protrusion 672 are appropriately adjusted, and the shaft of the engagement protrusion 672 is guided by the inner diameter of the spring. The spring 671 is configured to constantly urge the engagement protrusion 672 downward. A hole is provided in the cover 673, and the shaft of the engagement protrusion 672 protrudes from this hole. As in the previous embodiments and modifications, a horizontal hole 34 is provided in the shaft 3, and the operating lever 5 is inserted into this horizontal hole 34. Two engagement grooves are provided on the upper surface of the operating lever 5, and in the state shown in FIG. 15 , the engagement portion of the engagement protrusion 672 is engaged in the first engagement hole 51.

[0053] The shaft of the engaging protrusion 672 protrudes upward from the cover 673 and can be pinched with fingers. When the shaft is pinched with fingers and pulled upward, the engaging protrusion 672 moves upward in the figure together with the shaft against the spring force, and the engaging protrusion 672 disengages from the engaging hole 51. This allows the operating lever 5 to slide within the shaft 3. Thereafter, when the operating lever 5 is slid toward the left in the figure, the engaging protrusion 672 engages with the second engaging hole 52 when it reaches a position where it overlaps with the second engaging hole 52, and the child-resistant state (mistake-lock-preventing state) shown in FIG. 17 is realized.

[0054] In this modified example, as in the embodiments and modified examples described so far, it is possible to realize a lockout prevention state (mis-lock prevention state) by operating the pull button mechanism 67 when the crescent lock is in the unlocked state, sliding the operating lever 5, and bringing the engaging protrusion 672 into engagement with the second engaging hole 52.

[0055] In this modified example, second and third erroneous operation prevention mechanisms may also be provided.

[0056] As can be seen in Figure 18, the crescent lock of the present invention can be provided with another anti-misoperation mechanism. That is, the crescent lock of the present invention can be provided with a second locking mechanism 11 in addition to the (first) locking mechanism 10 described above. This second locking mechanism 11 is provided to restrict the sliding of the first locking mechanism 10 described above. As can be seen in Figure 18, the second locking mechanism 11 is made up of a slide knob 111, a fixing mechanism 112, and a spring mechanism 113.

[0057] In this embodiment, the second locking mechanism 11, like the first locking mechanism 10, is provided so as to be slidable along a hole provided in the side surface of the base 2. The fixing mechanism 112 is provided with a fixing portion that extends toward the first locking mechanism 10. The fixing mechanism 112 is also connected to a spring mechanism 113. The spring mechanism 113 biases the fixing mechanism 112 in the locking direction in the locked state and in the unlocking direction in the unlocked state.

[0058] When the user operates the slide knob 111 and slides the second locking mechanism 11 toward the left side of the figure against the biasing force of the spring mechanism 113, the fixed portion of the fixing mechanism 112 comes into contact with the locking piece 102 of the first locking mechanism 10 while being biased, and as a result, the first locking mechanism 10 can no longer move to the unlocked position. This further prevents erroneous operation of the crescent lock according to the present invention (prevents misunderstanding of locking and erroneous locking).

[0059] The misoperation prevention mechanism may also be provided in a manner as shown in FIG. 19. The embodiment in this figure also includes a second locking mechanism 11, which is similar to the embodiment in FIG. 18 in that it has the function of restricting the sliding of the first locking mechanism 10. The embodiment in FIG. 19 differs from the embodiment in FIG. 18 in the configuration and operation of the second locking mechanism 11. That is, the second locking mechanism 11 in FIG. 19 is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction of FIG. 19, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the base 2. That is, a hole is provided in the base 2, and a shaft 114 is provided in the second locking mechanism 11, and the shaft 114 of the second locking mechanism 11 slides within the hole in the base 2. A fixing portion 115 is provided at the tip of the shaft 114 (the end portion within the base 2). The length of the shaft 114 and the position of the fixed part 115 are adjusted so that when the second locking mechanism 11 is slid upward in Figure 19, that is, when the fixed part 115 is slid close to the inner wall surface of the side of the base 2, the fixed part 115 abuts against the lock piece 102 of the first locking mechanism 10 and restricts its sliding; and when the second locking mechanism 11 is slid downward in Figure 19, that is, when the fixed part 115 is slid away from the side of the base 2, the fixed part 115 does not interfere with the sliding movement of the lock piece 102 of the first locking mechanism 10.

[0060] Furthermore, the misoperation prevention mechanism can also be provided in a manner as shown in FIG. 20 . The embodiment in this figure also includes a second locking mechanism 11, which has the function of restricting the sliding of the first locking mechanism 10, similar to the embodiment in FIGS. 18 and 19 . The embodiment in FIG. 20 differs from the embodiment in FIGS. 18 and 19 in the configuration and operation of the second locking mechanism 11. That is, the second locking mechanism 11 in FIG. 20 is provided to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the side surface of the base 2. Therefore, the second locking mechanism 11 in FIG. 20 includes a rotary operation knob 116, a rotary shaft 117, and a fixed portion 118. The rotary shaft 117 passes through a hole provided in the base 2 and can be rotated by rotating the rotary operation knob 116 located on the outside of the base 2.

[0061] A fixed portion 118 is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 117 (the end inside the base 2). The fixed portion 118 is configured to rotate together with the rotating shaft 117. When the rotating shaft 117 and the fixed portion 118 are in one rotation position, the fixed portion 117 abuts against the lock piece 102 of the first locking mechanism 10, thereby restricting the slide, and when in the other rotation position, the abutment with the lock piece 102 of the first locking mechanism 10 is released, thereby not restricting the slide. In other words, the user can freely restrict or release the slide of the first locking mechanism 10 by rotating the rotation operation knob 116 of the second locking mechanism 11, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

[0062] The misoperation prevention mechanism can also be provided in a manner as shown in Figure 21. In the embodiment shown in this figure, a component called a trigger is provided in the crescent lock. This trigger is configured to allow rotation of the operating lever only when the crescent receiver (receiving metal fitting) abuts against the trigger. Possible configurations for such a trigger include a mode in which the trigger is provided on the opposite side of the axis from the operating lever, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 21, or a mode in which the trigger is provided on a base and restricts rotation of a stop piece that is provided integrally with the axis within the base, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Crescent lock body 2 pedestal 3-axis 4 Hanging hardware 5 Control lever 6 Clutch plate 7. Spring 8 Back plate 9 Stop piece 10 First locking mechanism 11 Second locking mechanism

Claims

[Claim 1] This crescent lock consists of a crescent lock body (1) to be attached to an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes by sliding or an indoor shoji screen that opens and closes up and down, and a receiving bracket to be attached to an outdoor shoji screen, in which the crescent lock body (1) is made up of a base (2) for attaching to the shoji screen, an axle (3) rotatably supported by a bearing (21) provided on the base (2), a hook (4) fixed integrally with the axle (3), and an operating lever (5) for rotating the axle (3) and the hook (4), A stop piece (9) formed in a roughly horseshoe shape consisting of a circle and a rectangle is provided at the end of the shaft (3) extending into the base (2), and the rectangular portion of the stop piece (9) is configured to interfere with the inner wall of the base (2), thereby restricting the rotation of the operating lever (5). A crescent lock has a first locking mechanism (10) provided in the base (2) that interferes with the rectangular portion of the stop piece (9), and the first locking mechanism (10) is configured to be operable from outside the base (2), A crescent lock is provided with a second locking mechanism (11) configured to restrict operation of the first locking mechanism (10).

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