JP7715372B2 - Electronic lock mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic lock mounting structure.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a locking and unlocking device (a so-called electronic lock) that is equipped with a clamping mechanism that can clamp the thumbturn knob, and that can lock or unlock a door by rotating the clamping mechanism with a motor to rotate the thumbturn knob.

Patent No. 6060471

However, because conventional electronic locks are designed to cover the surface of the door on which the thumb turn is installed, there is poor ventilation between the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door, which can lead to condensation and corrosion on the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door. Furthermore, because conventional electronic locks allow almost no ultraviolet light to enter between the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door, there is a risk of uneven tanning on the surface of the door. When the electronic lock is removed, this uneven tanning highlights the part of the door surface that was covered by the electronic lock, which is aesthetically undesirable. Furthermore, with conventional electronic locks, there is a risk of the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door fusing together.

One embodiment of the electronic lock mounting structure is for mounting an electronic lock to a thumbturn device installed on a door. It includes an engaging portion provided on the electronic lock and an engaged portion provided on the thumbturn device, and the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion with a predetermined gap formed between the back surface of the electronic lock and the surface of the door.

According to one embodiment, it is possible to improve light incidence and ventilation between the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a procedure for installing an electronic lock according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a view of the electronic lock unit according to the first embodiment from the right side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a plate and a spacer included in the thumb turn device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the procedure for installing an electronic lock according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view of the electronic lock unit according to the second embodiment from the right side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view of the electronic lock unit according to the third embodiment from the right side.

One embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment described below, the direction corresponding to the up-down direction of the surface 20A of the door 20 is referred to as the Z-axis direction. The direction corresponding to the left-right direction of the surface 20A of the door 20 is referred to as the X-axis direction. The direction perpendicular to the surface 20A of the door 20 is referred to as the Y-axis direction.

First Embodiment
(Schematic configuration of electronic lock unit 10)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit 10 according to a first embodiment. The electronic lock unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to enable locking and unlocking of the door 20 by rotating a knob portion 132 of a thumb-turn device 130 provided on a door 20 by remote control via wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), etc.) from various wireless devices (e.g., smartphones, remote controls, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic lock unit 10 is configured to include an electronic lock 100, an attachment 120, and a thumb-turn device 130. The attachment 120 and the thumb-turn device 130 constitute an electronic lock mounting structure 10A.

The thumb-turn device 130 has a base 131 and a knob portion 132. The base 131 is fixed to the door 20 with screws, protruding from the interior surface 20A of the door 20. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the thumb-turn device 130 has been replaced with one that can engage with the attachment 120. The base 131 rotatably holds the knob portion 132. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the base 131 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The base 131 also has multiple grooves 131A cut out linearly in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) on each of its left and right sides. The grooves 131A are an example of "engageable portions." In the example shown in FIG. 1, the base 131 has grooves 131A1, 131A2, and 131A3 on each of its left and right sides, in order of furthest from the surface 20A of the door 20. Locking portions 131B1, 131B2, and 131B3 protrude from grooves 131A1, 131A2, and 131A3 at a predetermined height, respectively. Knob 132 protrudes from the surface of base 131. Knob 132 can be rotated around a rotation center axis AX1 that extends in a direction perpendicular to surface 20A of door 20 (the Y-axis direction), thereby switching door 20 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

The electronic lock 100 is attached to the thumb-turn device 130 via the attachment 120. Specifically, the electronic lock 100 is integrated with the attachment 120 by screwing the attachment 120 into place, making it attachable (engageable) to the thumb-turn device 130. A roughly cylindrical thumb-turn holder 102 protruding toward the rear surface 101A is provided on the underside (negative Z-axis direction) of the housing 101 of the electronic lock 100. Driven by a motor (not shown) provided inside the housing 101, the thumb-turn holder 102 can rotate around a rotation center axis AX2 extending in a direction perpendicular to the surface 20A of the door 20 (Y-axis direction). A groove 102A, cut out linearly with a fixed width, is formed on the surface of the thumb-turn holder 102 (the surface facing the thumb-turn device 130).

The attachment 120 is a resin component that allows the electronic lock 100 to be attached to the thumbturn device 130. The attachment 120 is designed to fit the thumbturn device 130 that will replace the existing one installed on the door 20. The attachment 120 is secured to the rear surface 101A of the housing 101 of the electronic lock 100 with four screws 122 from the rear surface 120B side of the attachment 120. An opening 120A with a shape substantially identical to the outer shape of the base 131 is formed on the underside of the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120. A rib 121 with a fixed width (slightly smaller than the groove 131A) protrudes from each of the left and right inner wall surfaces of the opening 120A and extends vertically. The rib 121 is an example of an "engagement portion." A locking recess 121A is formed at a predetermined height position in the rib 121.

(Installation procedure for electronic lock 100)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the procedure for installing the electronic lock 100 according to the first embodiment.

When attaching the electronic lock 100 to the thumbturn device 130, first, as shown in Figure 2(a), rotate the knob 132 as necessary to orient the longitudinal direction of the knob 132 vertically (in the Z-axis direction).

Next, as shown in Figure 2(b), the electronic lock 100 integrated with the attachment 120 is slid downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) from the upper side (positive side of the Z axis) of the thumbturn device 130. At this time, each of the pair of ribs 121 of the attachment 120 slides into each of the pair of grooves 131A (groove 131A1, groove 131A2, or groove 131A3) formed on the left and right side surfaces of the base 131.

Then, as shown in Figure 2(c), by sliding the electronic lock 100 downward to a predetermined height, the thumb-turn device 130 is accommodated within the opening 120A of the attachment 120 with each of the pair of ribs 121 engaging with each of the pair of grooves 131A, completing the attachment of the electronic lock 100 to the thumb-turn device 130.

At this time, the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120 engages with the groove portion 131A of the thumb-turn device 130, restricting movement of the electronic lock 100 in the forward and backward directions (Y-axis direction) relative to the thumb-turn device 130, preventing the electronic lock 100 from easily falling off the thumb-turn device 130.

Furthermore, the locking portion 131B, which protrudes into the groove portion 131A of the thumb-turn device 130, engages with the locking recess 121A formed in the rib portion 121, restricting upward movement of the electronic lock 100 (positive direction of the Z axis) relative to the thumb-turn device 130, preventing the electronic lock 100 from easily falling off the thumb-turn device 130. However, the locking portion 131B can be switched to a state where it does not protrude from the groove portion 131A by manually operating the operating portion 131C (see Figure 1), which is exposed from the bottom surface of the base 131, thereby making it possible to remove the electronic lock 100 from the thumb-turn device 130.

Furthermore, as the electronic lock 100 slides downward, the knob 132 enters and engages with the groove 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 of the electronic lock 100. The rotation center axis AX2 of the thumb-turn holder 102 and the rotation center axis AX1 of the knob 132 then coincide with each other. This allows the electronic lock 100 to rotate the thumb-turn holder 102 via remote control from various wireless devices, thereby rotating the knob 132 and switching the door 20 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic lock 100 has a knob 103 that is exposed from the surface 101B of the housing 101. The knob 103 is rotatable together with the thumb-turn holder 102. Therefore, by manually rotating the knob 103, the user can rotate the thumb-turn holder 102 and thereby rotate the knob portion 132 that is engaged with the groove portion 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102.

In this way, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment allows the electronic lock 100 to be easily and securely attached to the thumb turn device 130.

(Gap 10B formed by electronic lock unit 10)
3 is a view of the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment as seen from the right side. As described in FIG. 2, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment is configured such that, when the electronic lock 100 is attached to the thumb-turn device 130 by engaging the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120 with the groove portion 131A of the thumb-turn device 130, a gap 10B having a predetermined distance is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20. Note that, since the attachment 120 is integrated with the electronic lock 100, the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 corresponds to the "back surface of the electronic lock."

In particular, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment can adjust the spacing of the gap 10B to either spacing D1, spacing D2, or spacing D3 by selectively changing the groove 131A that engages with the rib portion 121 formed on the attachment 120 from among the three grooves 131A (groove 131A1, groove 131A2, and groove 131A3) formed on the side surface of the base 131 of the thumb turn device 130.

For example, Figure 3(a) shows an example in which the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120 is engaged with the groove portion 131A1 formed at the position farthest from the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10B with the largest distance D1 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 3(b) shows an example in which the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120 is engaged with a groove portion 131A2 formed in a position second farthest from the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10B having the second largest distance D2 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 3(c) shows an example in which the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120 is engaged with a groove portion 131A3 formed at a position closest to the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10B having the smallest distance D3 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

When engaging with any of the grooves 131A, the locking sections 131B1, 131B2, and 131B3 provided in each groove restrict movement of the electronic lock 100 in the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the operating section 131C is designed to allow common operation of the locking sections 131B1, 131B2, and 131B3, making it possible to remove the electronic lock 100 from the thumb-turn device 130 with a single operating section 131C regardless of which of the grooves 131A it is engaged with.

In addition, the height in the Y-axis direction of the knob portion 132 of the thumb-turn device 130 and the depth in the Y-axis direction of the groove portion 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 are preset to dimensions that allow sufficient engagement between the knob portion 132 and the groove portion 102A regardless of which groove portion 131A is selected. This eliminates the need to change components of the electronic lock 100 or the thumb-turn device 130 depending on the size of the gap 10B.

In addition, the distances D1 to D3 are all set to values that allow sufficient ultraviolet light UV to be incident between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20, and that allow sufficient ventilation between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20, compared to conventional technology.

The electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment forms a gap 10B between the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20, allowing sufficient ultraviolet light UV to enter the gap 10B. As a result, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment can, for example, prevent uneven browning caused by ultraviolet light UV from occurring on the surface 20A of the door 20.

Furthermore, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment forms a gap 10B between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20, thereby sufficiently increasing the breathability within the gap 10B. As a result, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment can, for example, prevent condensation and corrosion from occurring on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

In the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the base 131 of the thumb turn device 130 may have two or fewer grooves 131A, or may have four or more grooves 131A.

In addition, in the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the thumb turn device 130 may have one groove 131A, and the attachment 120 of the electronic lock unit 10 may have multiple rib portions 121 formed in a direction perpendicular to the Y axis, and the gap 10B may be adjusted by selecting any of the rib portions 121.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment, a groove may be provided on the attachment 120 side, and a ridge may be provided on the base 131 side of the thumb turn device 130.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the groove portion 131A and the rib portion 121 may be provided so as to extend linearly in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). In other words, the electronic lock 100 may be attached to the thumb-turn device 130 by sliding it in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

In addition, in the electronic lock unit 10 of the first embodiment, the position where the crease 121 of the attachment 120 is formed can be determined from the appearance of the electronic lock unit 10 by providing a mark on the side of the attachment 120 corresponding to the position of the crease 121, which can be used as a guide during installation to make the work easier.

Corrosion can occur, for example, when the surfaces of the four screws 122 exposed on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 come into contact with the surface 20A of the metal door 20, causing ionization and corrosion (galvanic corrosion), or when the resin attachment 220 undergoes a chemical reaction and melts if the resin film or paint used to decorate the surface 20A of the door 20 has different properties. Condensation on the surface 20A of the door 20 can also cause the four screws 122 to oxidize and rust, resulting in corrosion of the surface 20A of the door 20. Therefore, the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment can form a gap 10B between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120 and the surface 20A of the door 20, thereby reliably preventing corrosion on the surface 20A of the door 20 without the need for any special corrosion prevention features.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The following mainly describes the changes made to the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment from the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment.

(Schematic configuration of electronic lock unit 10-2)
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a plate 233 and a spacer 234 provided in a thumb-turn device 230 according to the second embodiment.

As shown in Figure 4, the electronic lock unit 10-2 is configured with an electronic lock 100, an attachment 220, and a thumb-turn device 230. The attachment 220 and the thumb-turn device 230 constitute the electronic lock mounting structure 10-2A. The electronic lock 100 is the same as in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

The thumb-turn device 230 has a base 231, a knob 232, a plate 233, and a spacer 234. In the example shown in Figure 4, the thumb-turn device 230 is one that is already installed in the door 20. However, the thumb-turn device 230 has an additional plate 233 and spacer 234 installed between the base 231 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

The base 231 protrudes from the interior surface 20A of the door 20 and is fixed to the surface of a plate 233 fixed to the surface 20A of the door 20. The base 231 is biased toward the surface 20A of the door 20 by a biasing member (not shown), and has a cylindrical portion (not shown) inside that rotatably holds the knob portion 232. In the example shown in Figure 4, the base 231 has a truncated cone shape whose diameter gradually decreases as it moves away from the surface 20A of the door 20, and is configured with a spring inside that biases and fixes the plate 233 and spacer 234 so that they abut against the surface 20A of the door 20.

The knob 232 protrudes from the surface of the base 231. The knob 232 can be rotated around a rotation center axis AX1 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface 20A of the door 20 (the Y-axis direction), thereby switching the door 20 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

The plate 233 is provided on the front surface side (positive side of the Y axis) of the spacer 234, between the rear surface of the base 231 and the front surface 20A of the door 20. The plate 233 is a flat, annular member made of a metal material. The plate 233 is fixed to the front surface 20A of the door 20 with four screws 233D that pass through the plate 233.

The plate 233 has multiple engaging claws 233A. The engaging claws 233A are an example of an "engaged portion." The engaging claws 233A protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral edge of the plate 233. In the example shown in Figure 5, the plate 233 has four engaging claws 233A arranged at 90-degree intervals. In particular, in the example shown in Figure 5, the plate 233 has two engaging claws 233A protruding in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) and two engaging claws 233A protruding in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

A circular opening 233B is formed in the center of the plate 233, with the center of the rotation central axis AX1. A cylindrical portion that accommodates the rotation shaft portion (not shown) of the knob portion 232 is inserted into the opening 233B. The opening 233B has a notch portion 233C that is cut out radially from the inner peripheral edge of the opening 233B toward the outside. In the example shown in Figure 5, the opening 233B has a notch portion 233C that is cut out toward the top (positive direction of the Z axis) and a notch portion 233C that is cut out toward the bottom (negative direction of the Z axis).

The notch 233C is formed to allow an attachment (not shown) for attaching the thumb-turn device 230, which is provided on the back side (negative side of the Z axis) of the base 231, to the door 20 to be inserted from the front side (positive side of the Z axis) of the plate 233 to the back side (negative side of the Z axis) of the plate 233. The thumb-turn device 230 of the second embodiment is positioned in the rotational direction by inserting the convex portion of the attachment attached to the cylindrical portion housed within the base 231 into the back side (negative side of the Z axis) of the plate 233. This allows the knob portion 232 to be installed parallel to the horizontal direction (Z axis direction) of the front surface 20A of the door 20.

The spacer 234 is provided on the rear side (negative side of the Y axis) of the plate 233, between the rear surface of the base 231 and the surface 20A of the door 20. The spacer 234 is a flat, annular member with a constant thickness in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis AX1.

A circular opening 234A is formed in the center of the spacer 234, centered on the rotation center axis AX1. The rotation shaft portion (not shown) of the knob portion 232 is inserted into the opening 234A. The spacer 234 also has four through holes 234B formed at 90-degree intervals on the same circumference, penetrating the spacer 234. Screws 233D for fastening the plate 233 are inserted into the through holes 234B. The spacer 234 is positioned between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20. When the plate 233 is fastened to the surface 20A of the door 20 with the screws, the spacer 234 is sandwiched between the spacer 234 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

The spacer 234 is provided to fix the plate 233 at a position spaced apart from the surface 20A of the door 20 in the positive Y-axis direction. In other words, the thickness of the spacer 234 determines the distance the plate 233 is spaced from the surface 20A of the door 20. The thumbturn device 230 of the second embodiment has multiple spacers 234 of different thicknesses (see Figure 7). As a result, the thumbturn device 230 of the second embodiment can change the distance the plate 233 is spaced from the surface 20A of the door 20 by changing the spacers 234.

The attachment 220 is a resin component that enables the electronic lock 100 to be attached to the thumb-turn device 230. The attachment 220 is fixed to the rear surface 101A of the housing 101 of the electronic lock 100 with four screws 222 from the rear surface 220B side of the attachment 220. A circular opening 220A is formed on the underside of the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220, with the center at the rotation center axis AX2. The opening 220A is an example of an "engagement portion." The base 231 of the thumb-turn device 230 is inserted into the opening 220A. Furthermore, the engagement claw 233A of the plate 233 engages with the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A. The opening 220A has a notch 220C that is cut out radially outward from the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A. In the example shown in Figure 5, opening 220A has four notches 220C arranged at 90-degree intervals and cut out in a direction that differs by 45 degrees from the X-axis and Y-axis directions. A narrow groove 220Ca is formed in the circumferential direction from the Y-axis end of each notch 220C. This groove 220Ca is formed with a depth and width that allows engagement claw 233A of plate 233 to be inserted.

(Installation procedure for electronic lock 100)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the procedure for installing the electronic lock 100 according to the second embodiment.

When attaching the electronic lock 100 to the thumb-turn device 230, first, as shown in Figure 6(a), the electronic lock 100 is pushed toward the surface 20A of the door 20 (i.e., in the negative Y-axis direction) with the rotation center axis AX2 aligned with the rotation center axis AX1 and tilted approximately 45 degrees so that the notch 220C is aligned with the engagement claw 233A of the plate 233. This inserts the base 231 of the thumb-turn device 230 into the opening 220A of the attachment 220. 6(a), the electronic lock 100 is rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise around the rotation center axis AX2, and the plate 233 is aligned in a state where each of the four engaging claws 233A is fitted into each of the grooves 220Ca formed in each of the four cutouts 220C of the opening 220A of the attachment 220. As a result, each of the four engaging claws 233A can be positioned in the grooves 220Ca formed inside (on the positive side of the Y axis) the opening 220A of the attachment 220. At this time, the rotational position of the groove 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 is fixed with a fixing jig (not shown) so that the thumb-turn device 230 is in the unlocked position, and the electronic lock 100 is rotated 45 degrees so that the longitudinal direction of the knob 232 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the groove 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 of the electronic lock 100. This allows the knob 232 to engage in the groove 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 of the electronic lock 100 as the electronic lock 100 is pushed in the negative direction of the Y axis.

Next, as shown in Figure 6(b), the electronic lock 100 is rotated 45 degrees clockwise around the rotation center axis AX2. This causes each of the four engagement claws 233A on the base 231 of the thumb-turn device 230 to engage with the inner peripheral edge of the inside (positive Y-axis side) of the opening 220A of the attachment 220.

As a result, as shown in Figure 6(c), with the base 231 inserted through the opening 220A, the electronic lock 100 and attachment 220 are fixed to the plate 233 of the thumb-turn device 230, thereby completing the attachment of the electronic lock 100 to the thumb-turn device 230.

At this time, each of the four engagement claws 233A on the base 231 of the thumb-turn device 230 engages with a groove 220Ca formed on the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A of the attachment 220, restricting movement of the electronic lock 100 in the forward and backward directions (Y-axis direction) relative to the thumb-turn device 230. This prevents the electronic lock 100 from easily falling off the thumb-turn device 230.

In addition, the groove 220Ca formed on the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A of the attachment 220 may be configured as a sloped surface with a gradually decreasing width, and the engagement friction between each of the four engagement claws 233A of the base 231 of the thumb-turn device 230 and the groove 220Ca formed on the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A of the attachment 220 may be configured to suppress unnecessary rotation of the electronic lock 100 relative to the thumb-turn device 230, thereby fixing the electronic lock 100 so that it does not easily rotate to an angle at which it can be removed from the thumb-turn device 230 inadvertently.

However, by again rotating the electronic lock 100 45 degrees counterclockwise around the rotation center axis AX2, the four engagement claws 233A are disengaged from the grooves 220Ca formed on the inner periphery of the opening 220A, thereby making it possible to remove the electronic lock 100 from the thumb-turn device 230.

When the electronic lock 100 is attached to the thumb-turn device 230, the knob 232 fits into and engages with the groove 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102 of the electronic lock 100. Furthermore, the rotation center axis AX2 of the thumb-turn holder 102 and the rotation center axis AX1 of the knob 232 coincide with each other. This allows the electronic lock 100 to rotate the thumb-turn holder 102 via remote control from various wireless devices, thereby rotating the knob 232 and switching the door 20 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

As shown in Figure 6, the electronic lock 100 has a knob 103 that is exposed from the surface 101B of the housing 101. The knob 103 is rotatable together with the thumb-turn holder 102. Therefore, by manually rotating the knob 103, the user can rotate the thumb-turn holder 102 and thereby rotate the knob portion 232 that is engaged with the groove portion 102A of the thumb-turn holder 102.

In this way, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the first embodiment allows the electronic lock 100 to be easily and securely attached to the thumb-turn device 230.

(Gap 10-2B formed by electronic lock unit 10-2)
FIG. 7 is a view of the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment, viewed from the right side. As described in FIG. 6, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment can be attached to the thumb-turn device 230 by rotating the electronic lock 100 and engaging each of the four engagement claws 233A of the thumb-turn device 230 with the inner peripheral edge of the opening 220A of the attachment 220. At this time, a spacer 234 having a certain thickness is provided between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20, so that a gap 10-2B having a predetermined distance is formed between the back surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20. Since the attachment 220 is integrated with the electronic lock 100, the back surface 220B of the attachment 220 corresponds to the "back surface of the electronic lock."

In particular, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment can adjust the gap 10-2B to either distance D4, distance D5, or distance D6 by selectively changing the spacer 234 placed between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20 from among three spacers 234 of different thicknesses.

For example, Figure 7(a) shows an example in which the thickest spacer 234-1 is placed between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10-2B with the largest distance D4 is formed between the back surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 7(b) shows an example in which the second thickest spacer 234-2 is placed between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10-2B having the second largest distance D5 is formed between the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 7(c) shows an example in which the spacer 234-3 with the smallest thickness is placed between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, a gap 10-2B with the smallest distance D6 is formed between the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

In addition, the distances D4 to D6 are all set to values that allow sufficient ultraviolet light UV to be incident between the back surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20, and that can sufficiently increase the air permeability between the back surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20, compared to conventional technology.

The electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment forms a gap 10-2B between the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20, allowing sufficient ultraviolet light UV to enter the gap 10-2B. As a result, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment can, for example, prevent uneven browning caused by ultraviolet light UV from occurring on the surface 20A of the door 20.

Furthermore, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment forms a gap 10-2B between the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20, thereby sufficiently improving the ventilation within the gap 10-2B. As a result, the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment can, for example, prevent condensation and corrosion from occurring on the rear surface 220B of the attachment 220 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

In the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment, the thumb turn device 230 may have two spacers 234 of different thicknesses, or may have four or more spacers 234 of different thicknesses.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment, the thumb-turn device 230 may have multiple spacers 234 stacked between the plate 233 and the surface 20A of the door 20. In this case, the electronic lock unit 10-2 can adjust the spacing of the gap 10-2B by changing the number or combination of the multiple spacers 234.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10-2 according to the second embodiment, the positional relationship between the thumb-turn device 230 and the electronic lock 100 in the positive Y-axis direction beyond the plate 233 does not change depending on the size of the gap 10-2B, so there is no need to change any components of the electronic lock 100.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The following mainly describes the changes made to the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment from the electronic lock unit 10 according to the first embodiment.

(Schematic configuration of electronic lock unit 10-3)
Figure 8 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the electronic lock unit 10-3 is configured with an electronic lock 100, an attachment 120-2, and a thumb-turn device 130-2. The attachment 120-2 and the thumb-turn device 130-2 constitute an electronic lock mounting structure 10-3A. The electronic lock 100 is the same as that in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

The thumb-turn device 130-2 differs from the thumb-turn device 130 according to the first embodiment in that the base 131 has one groove 131A on each of the left and right sides. However, the groove 131A according to the third embodiment is wider in the Y-axis direction than the groove 131A according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the locking portion 131B according to the third embodiment is wider in the Y-axis direction than the locking portion 131B according to the first embodiment.

The attachment 120-2 differs from the attachment 120 according to the first embodiment in that it further includes four spacers 123 on the back surface 120B. The spacers 123 are provided to secure the attachment 120-2 at a position spaced apart from the surface 20A of the door 20 in the positive Y-axis direction. In other words, the thickness of the spacers 123 determines the distance the attachment 120-2 is spaced from the surface 20A of the door 20. The attachment 120-2 according to the third embodiment has multiple types of spacers 123 with different thicknesses (see Figure 9). As a result, the distance the attachment 120-2 according to the second embodiment is spaced from the surface 20A of the door 20 can be changed by replacing the spacers 123.

(Gap 10-3B formed by electronic lock unit 10-3)
9 is a view of the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment as seen from the right side. As with the first embodiment, the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment allows the electronic lock 100 to be attached to the thumb-turn device 130-2 by engaging the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120-2 with the groove portion 131A of the thumb-turn device 130-2.

However, in the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, the width of the groove 131A of the thumb-turn device 130-2 is greater than the width of the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120-2, so the electronic lock 100 can move in the Y-axis direction within the width of the groove 131A of the thumb-turn device 130-2.

In the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, four spacers 123 are provided on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2, thereby forming a gap 10-3B with a predetermined distance between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20. Since the attachment 120-2 is integrated with the electronic lock 100, the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 corresponds to the "back surface of the electronic lock."

In particular, the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment can adjust the gap 10-3B to either distance D7, distance D8, or distance D9 by selectively changing the spacer 123 placed on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 from among three types of spacers 123 with different thicknesses.

For example, Figure 9(a) shows an example in which the thickest spacer 123-1 is placed on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2. In this case, a gap 10-3B with the largest distance D7 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 9(b) shows an example in which the second thickest spacer 123-2 is placed on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2. In this case, a gap 10-3B having the second largest distance D8 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

For example, Figure 9(c) shows an example in which the thinnest spacer 123-3 is placed on the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2. In this case, a gap 10-3B with the smallest distance D9 is formed between the back surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

In addition, the distances D7 to D9 are all set to values that allow sufficient ultraviolet light UV to be incident between the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20, and that can sufficiently increase the air permeability between the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20, compared to conventional technology.

The electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment forms a gap 10-3B between the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20, allowing sufficient ultraviolet light UV to enter the gap 10-3B. This allows the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment to, for example, prevent uneven browning caused by ultraviolet light UV from occurring on the surface 20A of the door 20.

Furthermore, the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment forms a gap 10-3B between the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20, thereby sufficiently improving the ventilation within the gap 10-3B. As a result, the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment can, for example, prevent condensation and corrosion from occurring on the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 and the surface 20A of the door 20.

In the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, the attachment 120-2 may have two types of spacers 123 with different thicknesses, or may have three or more types of spacers 123 with different thicknesses.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, the attachment 120-2 may have multiple spacers 123 stacked on its back surface 120B. In this case, the electronic lock unit 10-3 can adjust the spacing of the gap 10-3B by changing the number or combination of the multiple spacers 123.

In the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, the spacer 123 may be adhered to the rear surface 120B of the attachment 120-2 with adhesive or the like, or may be fixed with screws or the like. The spacer 123 may also be formed integrally with the attachment 120-2. The spacer 123 may also have an adjustment mechanism that allows adjustment of its thickness in the Y-axis direction. The spacer 123 may also be attached to the surface 20A of the door 20.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, the width of the groove 131A of the thumb-turn device 130-2 may be approximately the same as the width of the rib portion 121 of the attachment 120-2, and instead the attachment 120-2 may be configured to be expandable and contractible in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). In this case, too, the electronic lock unit 10-3 can adjust the width of the gap 10-3B by adjusting the thickness of the spacer 123.

Furthermore, in the electronic lock unit 10-3 according to the third embodiment, external forces applied to the electronic lock 100 can be absorbed not only by the engagement portion between the base 131 and the electronic lock 100, but also by the door 20 via the spacer 123, thereby improving the reliability of the electronic lock installation.

In yet another embodiment, the attachment could be made of metal. Even in this case, the back of the attachment will not corrode due to electrolytic corrosion when it comes into contact with the metal door surface, allowing for greater freedom in selecting the attachment material.

In addition, by making the attachment out of metal and giving it a mirror finish, ultraviolet light UV that enters the gap formed between the back of the attachment and the surface of the door can be efficiently reflected, thereby preventing uneven burning on the surface of the door caused by ultraviolet light UV.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as set forth in the claims.

10, 10-2, 10-3 Electronic lock unit, 10A, 10-2A, 10-3A Electronic lock mounting structure, 10B, 10-2B, 10-3B, Gap, 20 Door, 20A Surface, 100 Electronic lock, 101 Housing, 101A Rear surface, 101B Surface, 102 Thumb turn holder, 103 Knob, 120, 120-2, 220 Attachment, 120A, 220A Opening, 120B, 220B Rear surface, 220C Notch, 121 Rib portion, 121A Lock recess, 122, 222 Screw, 123, 123-1, 123-2, 123-3 Spacer, 130, 130-2, 230 Thumb turn device, 131, 231 Base, 131A, 131A1, 131A2, 131A3: Groove, 131B: Lock, 132, 232: Knob, 233: Plate, 233A: Engagement Claw, 233B: Opening, 233C: Notch, 233D: Screw, 234, 234-1, 234-2, 234-3: Spacer, 234A: Opening, 234B: Through-hole, AX1, AX2: Rotational Axis, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9: Spacing, UV: Ultraviolet Light

Claims (8)

An electronic lock mounting structure for mounting an electronic lock on a thumb turn device installed on a door,
An engagement portion provided on the electronic lock;
an engaged portion provided on the thumb turn device,
The engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion in a state where a gap having a predetermined distance is formed between the back surface of the electronic lock and the surface of the door ,
The thumb turn device is
The engaged portion has one of a groove portion and a ridge portion,
The electronic lock is
The engaging portion has the other of the groove portion or the ridge portion,
The electronic lock is attached to the thumb turn device in a state where the gap is formed by sliding the electronic lock in the extension direction of the groove portion and the ridge portion and engaging the groove portion with the ridge portion.
The thumb turn device is
The door has a plurality of engaged portions, each of which is at a different distance from the surface of the door.
An electronic lock mounting structure characterized by the above. The electronic lock is
An attachment that fits the thumb turn device is attached,
The electronic lock mounting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion is provided on the attachment. An electronic lock mounting structure for mounting an electronic lock on a thumb turn device installed on a door,
An engagement portion provided on the electronic lock;
an engaged portion provided on the thumb turn device;
Equipped with
The engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion in a state where a gap having a predetermined distance is formed between the back surface of the electronic lock and the surface of the door,
The thumb turn device is
With a base,
a plate having an engaging claw as the engaged portion;
a spacer disposed between the plate and the surface of the door;
The electronic lock is
The engaging portion has an opening on a rear surface,
An electronic lock mounting structure characterized in that, with the base and the engaging claw inserted through the opening, the electronic lock is rotated circumferentially around the opening to engage the engaging claw with the opening, thereby forming the gap and mounting the electronic lock to the thumb turn device. The thumb turn device is
The electronic lock mounting structure according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a plurality of spacers of different thicknesses, and the spacer placed between the plate and the surface of the door can be replaced with any of the plurality of spacers. The electronic lock is
An attachment that fits the plate is attached to the plate;
The electronic lock mounting structure according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the opening is provided in the attachment. Further, a spacer is provided between the rear surface of the electronic lock and the surface of the door.
The electronic lock is
The door is engaged with the thumb turn device so as to be movable in a direction toward and away from the surface of the door,
The electronic lock mounting structure described in claim 1, characterized in that the spacer is positioned between the back of the electronic lock and the surface of the door, thereby forming the gap so that the electronic lock is mounted to the thumb turn device. The electronic lock mounting structure according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spacers of different thicknesses, and the spacer placed between the back surface of the electronic lock and the surface of the door can be replaced with any of the plurality of spacers. The electronic lock is
An attachment that fits the thumb turn device is attached,
The spacer is
The electronic lock mounting structure according to claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that it is disposed between the rear surface of the attachment and the surface of the door.