Length-adjustable lock cylinder

Abstract

The present application relates to a length-adjustable lock cylinder. The main improvements lie in that a sliding hole is provided at the end of a lock head portion on the same side as a keyhole, the sliding hole is recessed downward from the top wall of the lock head portion, and a length-adjustable lock housing extension portion is slidably connected in the sliding hole; the lock housing extension portion comprises a sliding rail and a lock housing portion, the sliding rail being slidably connected in the sliding hole and being fixed by means of a locking device; at least one lock plug extension portion is connected between the lock housing portion and the keyhole; each lock plug extension portion comprises a through hole penetrating the middle portion of the lock plug extension portion in a front-rear direction for key insertion; each lock plug extension portion further comprises an inner groove provided on the right side thereof, the inner groove enclosing and positioning the end of the keyhole exposed from a lock plug portion, the inner groove being provided with a limiting block engaged into the upper end of the keyhole for positional restriction; one lock plug extension portion further comprises a boss connected in the lock housing portion in a limited manner, the boss extending outward and being exposed from the lock housing portion for key insertion; and two lock plug extension portions can be connected end to end by means of the inner grooves and the limiting blocks.

Description

An adjustable length lock cylinder Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lock cylinders, and more specifically to an adjustable length lock cylinder. Background Technology

[0002] With changing market demands and technological advancements, lock designs are constantly innovating, especially in the field of adjustable-length lock cylinders. Traditional lock cylinders have a fixed length, making it difficult to meet the needs of different application scenarios. To address this issue, some lock cylinder designs with adjustable lengths have emerged on the market.

[0003] Chinese utility model patent CN218668909U, published on March 21, 2023, discloses an adjustable-length lock cylinder, including a front lock body, a rear lock body, a dial, and an extension assembly. The extension assembly includes several extension pieces disposed between the front lock body and the dial, and / or between the rear lock body and the dial. It also includes a rotating shaft, on which the extension pieces are mounted. The rotating shaft is formed by connecting several filler plates, disposed between the front filler plate of the front lock body and the dial, and / or between the rear filler plate of the rear lock body and the dial. The number of filler plates corresponds to the number of extension pieces. This design allows for adjustment of the lock cylinder length, making it suitable for different applications. Furthermore, the rotating shaft formed by multiple filler plates replaces the fixed length of existing rotating shafts, accommodating different numbers of extension pieces by using a corresponding number of filler plates, thus facilitating lock cylinder length adjustment.

[0004] The lock cylinder structure described above consists of a front lock body and a rear lock body. The length of the lock cylinder is adjusted by inserting an extension component between the two bodies. This structure is complex and has high production costs. Furthermore, it is inconvenient to install or replace, requiring disassembly of the lock cylinder and replacement of the extension component each time. Repeated replacements can also damage components, affecting the lock cylinder's lifespan. Additionally, adjusting the length may require multiple extension components, impacting both aesthetics and the lock cylinder's stability. Therefore, the existing adjustable-length lock cylinder structure requires further improvement.

[0005] Chinese utility model patent CN222207499U, published on December 20, 2024, discloses an adjustable-length lock cylinder, including a lock cylinder body. The lock cylinder body includes a lock shell, a lock cylinder, and a lock cylinder pivot. The lock cylinder has a keyhole for key insertion, and the lock cylinder pivot has a connecting mechanism for manual or electric unlocking. The lock cylinder also includes a first lock shell extension and a lock cylinder extension, which are detachably disposed on the keyhole of the lock cylinder body. At one end, the lock shell is provided with a first fixing part for fixing the first lock shell extension part. The first fixing part includes a fixing groove and a fixing hole. The first lock shell extension part is provided with a plug that mates with the fixing groove and a fixing post that mates with the fixing hole. The lock cylinder body at the end where the key is inserted is provided with a recessed hole for fixing the lock cylinder extension part. The lock cylinder extension part is provided with a protruding post that mates with the recessed hole. The first lock shell extension part is provided with a mounting hole for placing the lock cylinder extension part.

[0006] Although the aforementioned prior art discloses that, compared to existing technologies, the extended components are located at one or both ends of the lock cylinder body, and adjusting the length only requires adding or replacing longer or shorter extended components without disassembling the lock cylinder, making it more convenient than the technical solution disclosed in the first patent, its structure and length adjustment are fixed, failing to adapt to the needs of adjusting lock cylinders of different lengths. Furthermore, its lock cylinder adjustment component has a simple structure; specifically, its extended portion of the lock shell only uses inserts and fixing posts to limit the engagement with fixing slots and fixing holes respectively. This limiting engagement can easily lead to the extended components becoming loose or misaligned during long-term use of the lock, resulting in the inability to unlock and posing a certain security risk.

[0007] Therefore, overcoming the aforementioned defects and providing a lock cylinder that is easy to adjust in length and has good structural stability has become an important issue that needs to be addressed by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of the above-mentioned technologies and provides a lock cylinder with an adjustable length.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] An adjustable-length lock cylinder includes a main lock body, which comprises a lock cylinder and a lock head. One end of the lock cylinder has a keyhole for key insertion. The lock head has a sliding hole on the same side as the keyhole. The sliding hole is recessed downwards from the top wall of the lock head. An adjustable-length lock case extension is slidably connected to the sliding hole. The lock case extension includes a slide rail and a lock case portion. The slide rail is slidably connected to the sliding hole and fixed by a locking device. At least one lock cylinder extension is connected between the lock case portion and the keyhole. The extended cylinder portion includes a through hole for key insertion, which runs through the middle of the extended cylinder portion from front to back. The extended cylinder portion also includes an inner groove on its right side, which encloses and positions the end of the keyhole exposed in the cylinder portion. A limiting block is provided in the inner groove to lock the upper end of the keyhole. The extended cylinder portion also includes a boss that is connected to the lock housing portion for limiting the connection. The boss extends outward and is exposed in the lock housing portion for key insertion. Two extended cylinder portions can be connected end to end through the inner groove and the limiting block.

[0011] Furthermore, the locking device includes a first screw hole at the right end of the sliding hole, a plurality of second screw holes on the slide rail, and a bolt that passes through the second screw holes from top to bottom and is inserted into the first screw hole for connection and fixation. After the bolt is fully inserted into the second screw hole and the first screw hole, its upper wall surface is lower than the second screw hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the distance between the centers of two adjacent second screw holes is 5-10mm.

[0013] Furthermore, the slide rail includes a positioning block disposed at its left end, and a positioning groove for the positioning block to be inserted is recessed on the left side wall of the slide hole.

[0014] Furthermore, the slide rail sidewall is also provided with a length indicator mark.

[0015] Furthermore, the length of the extended portion of the lock cylinder is 5mm-30mm.

[0016] Furthermore, a baffle plate is provided at the bottom of the sliding hole to isolate the sliding hole from the internal structure of the main lock body.

[0017] Furthermore, a first anti-drilling pin is symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sidewalls of the left side of the sliding hole, a second anti-drilling pin is symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sidewalls of the right side of the sliding hole, and a third anti-drilling pin is provided at the bottom of the lock head near the lock cylinder, and the third anti-drilling pin is located near the keyhole on the right side.

[0018] Furthermore, the main lock body is provided with a first connecting part and a second connecting part for manual or electric unlocking at the other end, which is laterally away from the keyhole.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0020] This design utilizes a sliding hole and rail system, achieving non-destructive length adjustment through their sliding connection. Users can adjust the lock cylinder without disassembling the entire lock cylinder. This design simplifies the installation process and improves efficiency, making it particularly suitable for situations requiring frequent adjustments or on-site installation. The rail can be fixed at any desired position, ensuring a stable lock cylinder length after adjustment and avoiding the wear and instability issues caused by repeated disassembly and reassembly in traditional methods. The detachable design of the lock case extension and cylinder extension allows users to quickly replace extension parts of different lengths according to actual needs. Multiple cylinder extensions can also be stacked end-to-end to adjust the lock cylinder length, greatly improving the product's applicability and maintenance convenience. This allows the same lock cylinder to adapt to various application scenarios, reducing inventory management costs. The cylinder extension's design, with its through-hole and boss connection, ensures that even after adding the cylinder extension, users can still easily insert the key without affecting the user experience, while also guaranteeing smooth unlocking. The precise positioning of the inner groove and limiting block of the extended lock cylinder ensures that the extended lock cylinder can be accurately installed in the correct position and remain stable, reducing the risk of loosening during long-term use. This not only improves the security performance of the lock cylinder but also extends its service life. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the adjustable length lock cylinder in this case.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the two different sizes of the lock cylinder extension in this case.

[0023] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the main lock body in this case.

[0024] Figure 4 is a side view of the assembled state of the adjustable length lock cylinder in this case.

[0025] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along direction AA in Figure 4 of this case.

[0026] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled state of the adjustable length lock cylinder in this case. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The following examples further illustrate the features and other related characteristics of the present invention in detail, to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art:

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, this invention provides an adjustable length lock cylinder, including a main lock body 1, which comprises a lock cylinder portion 11 and a lock head 12. In practice, the main lock body is typically made of high-strength materials to ensure its durability and security. The lock cylinder portion 11, as the core part of the lock cylinder, contains the specific lock cylinder and lock cylinder structure, enabling unlocking via key or mechanical means. The lock head 12 provides connection points and support structures, allowing the installation of additional length adjustment components and ensuring these components are securely fixed to the main lock body. One end of the lock cylinder portion 11 has a keyhole 111 for key insertion, facilitating unlocking with a key. A sliding hole 121 is provided on the same side of the lock head 12 as the keyhole 111. The sliding hole 121 is recessed downwards from the top wall of the lock head 12, and an adjustable length lock shell extension portion 3 is slidably connected within the sliding hole 121. The extended lock housing 3 includes a slide rail 31 and a lock housing part 32. The slide rail 31 is slidably connected in the slide hole 121 and fixed by a locking device. The sliding engagement between the slide hole 121 and the slide rail 31 allows the user to easily adjust the position of the extended lock housing 3 as needed, and then fix it in the desired position by the locking device. This facilitates adjustment while ensuring a more stable connection, improving the stability and durability of the overall adjustable lock cylinder structure. This allows the overall length of the lock cylinder to be flexibly adjusted according to the requirements of the installation environment, broadening its application range. The matching design of the slide hole 121 and the slide rail 31 allows for flexible adjustment of the lock cylinder length without disassembling the entire lock cylinder, simplifying the installation process and improving work efficiency. At least one extended lock cylinder part 4 is connected between the lock housing part 32 and the keyhole 111. The lock housing part 32 serves as an external protective layer and also provides an installation platform for the extended lock cylinder part 4 and other internal components. In practice, the user can adjust the length of the slide rail 31 in the slide hole 121 as needed to increase or decrease the number of lock cylinder extension parts 4, thereby adjusting the overall length of the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder extension part 4 includes a through hole 41 extending through the middle of the lock cylinder extension part 4 for key insertion. The through hole 41 maintains the integrity of the key path inside the lock cylinder and does not affect normal key unlocking. The lock cylinder extension part 4 also includes an inner groove 42 on its right side. The inner groove 42 encloses and positions the end of the keyhole 111 exposed in the lock cylinder part 11. A limiting block 43 is provided in the inner groove 42 to engage with the upper end of the keyhole 111 and limit its movement. The lock cylinder extension part 4 also includes a boss 44 connected to the lock housing part 32, which extends outward and protrudes from the lock housing part 32 for key insertion. Two lock cylinder extension parts 4 can be connected end-to-end via the inner groove 42 and the limiting block 43. The design of the inner groove 42 and the limiting block 43 greatly improves the stability of the lock cylinder extension 4 after installation with the main lock body 1 and the lock shell 32, and also improves the stability of the lock cylinder extension 4 after installation with each other, reducing the risk of loosening during long-term use.The protrusion 44 facilitates the better installation of the cylinder extension 4 onto the lock housing 32 and acts as a limit, resulting in a more secure connection while still allowing the user to easily insert the key without affecting the user experience. Secondly, the protrusion 44 facilitates the precise and secure connection between adjacent cylinder extensions 4 and the inner groove 42 and the limiting block 43. The modular design of the cylinder extension 4 in this design allows for quick replacement of cylinder extensions 4 of different lengths according to actual needs, improving the product's applicability and maintenance convenience. In practice, the lock housing extension 3 and cylinder extension 4 are made of robust and durable materials, such as zinc alloy and copper, to enhance the overall structural strength and durability, effectively resisting external impacts and environmental factors. In this design, to save costs while achieving robustness and durability, the lock housing extension 3 and cylinder extension 4 are made of copper.

[0029] It should be noted that the fixing groove and fixing hole in CN222207499U in the background technology are set on the side wall of the main lock body, while the sliding hole 121 in this case is formed by recessing from the top of the lock head 12. This design is less likely to damage the internal components of the lock cylinder during the production process, leaving more space for other internal components (such as electronic components and mechanical transmission components), which helps to optimize the internal structural layout and improve overall performance. At the same time, the top sliding hole design allows users to directly adjust the length from the top without having to go around to the side or bottom, simplifying the installation and adjustment process. The top sliding hole 121 does not affect the integrity and aesthetics of the side of the lock body, making the product look cleaner and more professional. The processing of the top sliding hole 121 is relatively simple, reducing the need for complex molds; at the same time, it is easier to position and fix the slide rail 31 during assembly, reducing production difficulty and cost.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, the locking device includes a first screw hole 122 located at the right end of the sliding hole 121, several second screw holes 311 located on the slide rail 31, and a bolt 5 that passes through the second screw holes 311 from top to bottom and is inserted into the first screw hole 122 for connection and fixation. The multiple second screw holes 311 provide flexible adjustment options, ensuring that the user can accurately set the lock cylinder length according to actual needs. The tight fit between the bolt 5, the first screw hole 122, and the second screw holes 311 ensures the stability of the connection between the slide rail 31 and the main lock body 1 after adjustment, preventing slippage and loosening. This bolted connection method is simple in structure, convenient to operate, and low in cost. When the bolt 5 is fully inserted into the second screw hole 311 and the first screw hole 122, its upper wall surface is lower than the second screw hole 311, meaning the bolt 5 is completely recessed into the second screw hole 311, which not only improves aesthetics but also enhances the system's security and durability.

[0031] Furthermore, the distance between the axes of two adjacent second screw holes 311 is 5-10mm. This 5-10mm spacing allows for more precise length adjustments, ensuring the lock cylinder can accurately adapt to various installation sizes. Preferably, in this case, considering cost and the user's requirements for increasing the overall length of the lock cylinder, the distance between the axes of two adjacent second screw holes 311 is 5mm. It should be noted that the distance between the axes of two adjacent second screw holes 311 can also be 10mm, etc.

[0032] Further, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, the slide rail 31 includes a positioning block 312 disposed at its left end, and a positioning groove 123 for the positioning block 312 to be inserted is recessed on the left side wall of the slide hole 121. In this embodiment, when the user does not need to add the lock cylinder extension part 4, the positioning block 312 is completely embedded in the positioning groove 123 to ensure the stability of the connection between the slide rail 31 and the main lock body 1. Moreover, from the outside, the two structures are integrated, the structure is complete and stable, and it is more aesthetically pleasing. At this time, the lock cylinder in this case is in an unextended state to meet the length requirements of ordinary lock cylinders, but the thickness of the lock shell part 32 needs to be made thinner to fit tightly with the main lock body 1 without affecting the length.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, to facilitate users in more intuitively and accurately adjusting to the required length, a length indicator 313 is also provided on the side wall of the slide rail 31. In specific implementation, the length indicator is a scale that clearly marks different length positions.

[0034] Furthermore, the length of the extended lock cylinder part 4 is 5mm-30mm. In this case, considering cost and user requirements for the overall length increase of the lock cylinder, and to facilitate matching with the distance between the second screw hole 311 and the axis, the length of the extended lock cylinder part 4 is preferably set to 5mm. It should be noted that the length of the extended lock cylinder part 4 can also be 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, etc. Different lengths of the extended lock cylinder part 4 can meet the needs of various installation environments, enhancing the applicability of the product. Multiple extended lock cylinder parts 4 can be connected end to end to further increase the length, and in conjunction with the sliding of the slide rail 31 relative to the slide hole 121 and the locking of the locking device, different length adjustments can be achieved.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, a baffle plate 6 is provided at the bottom of the sliding hole 121 to isolate the sliding hole 121 from the internal structure of the main lock body 1. The baffle plate 6 prevents external dust, moisture, etc. from entering the interior of the main lock body 1, protects the internal components from contamination, enhances the sealing performance, and improves the waterproof and dustproof protection capabilities of the lock cylinder.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, first anti-drilling pins 7 are symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sidewalls of the left side of the sliding hole 121, and second anti-drilling pins 8 are symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sidewalls of the right side of the sliding hole 121. A third anti-drilling pin 9 is located at the bottom of the lock head 12 near the lock cylinder 11, and is positioned near the keyhole 111 on the right side. The first anti-drilling pins 7, 8, and 9 provide physical barriers from different angles, forming a multi-layered protection system that greatly increases the difficulty of illegal intrusion. The combined effect of the first anti-drilling pins 7, 8, and 9 protects the most sensitive area of ​​the lock cylinder, preventing the intrusion of tools such as drill bits, and greatly improving the overall security of the lock cylinder.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, the main lock body 1, at the end furthest from the keyhole 111, has a first connecting part 13 and a second connecting part 14 for manual or electric unlocking. The design of the first connecting part 13 and the second connecting part 14 allows the lock cylinder to support both manual and electric unlocking, meeting the needs of different scenarios. Whether in traditional mechanical locks or modern smart lock applications, this design provides a suitable solution, expanding the product's market reach.

[0038] As stated above, this case protects an adjustable length lock cylinder, and all technical solutions that are the same as or similar to this case should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of this case.

Claims

1. An adjustable length lock cylinder, comprising a main lock body (1), the main lock body (1) comprising a lock cylinder portion (11) and a lock head (12), wherein one end of the lock cylinder portion (11) is provided with a keyhole (111) for inserting a key, characterized in that: A sliding hole (121) is provided at one end of the lock head (12) on the same side as the keyhole (111). The sliding hole (121) is recessed downward from the top wall of the lock head (12). An adjustable length lock shell extension (3) is slidably connected in the sliding hole (121). The lock shell extension (3) includes a slide rail (31) and a lock shell part (32). The slide rail (31) is slidably connected in the sliding hole (121) and fixed by a locking device. At least one lock cylinder extension (4) is connected between the lock shell part (32) and the keyhole (111). The lock cylinder extension (4) includes a power supply that runs through the middle of the lock cylinder extension (4). The key insertion hole (41) and the extended cylinder part (4) also include an inner groove (42) on its right side. The inner groove (42) wraps and positions the end of the key hole (111) exposed in the cylinder part (11). A limiting block (43) is provided in the inner groove (42) to be inserted into the upper end of the key hole (111) and thus limited. The extended cylinder part (4) also includes a boss (44) that is connected to the lock shell part (32). The boss (44) extends outward and is exposed in the lock shell part (32) for key insertion. The two extended cylinder parts (4) can be connected end to end through the inner groove (42) and the limiting block (43).

2. The adjustable length lock cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking device includes a first screw hole (122) opened at the right end of the sliding hole (121), a plurality of second screw holes (311) opened on the slide rail (31), and a bolt (5) that passes through the second screw holes (311) from top to bottom and enters the first screw hole (122) for connection and fixation. After the bolt (5) is fully inserted into the second screw hole (311) and the first screw hole (122), its upper wall surface is lower than the second screw hole (311).

3. The adjustable length lock cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distance between the centers of two adjacent second screw holes (311) is 5-10mm.

4. The adjustable length lock cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slide rail (31) includes a positioning block (312) disposed at its left end, and a positioning groove (123) for the positioning block (312) to be inserted is recessed on the left side wall of the slide hole (121).

5. The adjustable length lock cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slide rail (31) is also provided with a length indicator (313) on its side wall.

6. An adjustable length lock cylinder according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that: The length of the extended part (4) of the lock cylinder is 5mm-30mm.

7. An adjustable length lock cylinder according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The bottom of the sliding hole (121) is provided with a baffle plate (6) for isolating the sliding hole (121) from the internal structure of the main lock body (1).

8. An adjustable length lock cylinder according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: A first anti-drilling pin (7) is symmetrically arranged on the front and rear side walls on the left side of the sliding hole (121), and a second anti-drilling pin (8) is symmetrically arranged on the front and rear side walls on the right side of the sliding hole (121). A third anti-drilling pin (9) is provided at the bottom of the lock head (12) near the lock cylinder (11), and the third anti-drilling pin (9) is located near the keyhole (111) on the right side.

9. An adjustable length lock cylinder according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The main lock body (1) is provided with a first connecting part (13) and a second connecting part (14) at the other end, which is laterally away from the keyhole (111), for manual or electric unlocking.

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