Clutch Mechanism for Outer Handle Device of Door Lock

摘要

An outer handle device includes an outer handle having a shank with an end face. A clutch block is slideably received in a chamber formed in the end face along an axis but not rotatable relative to the outer handle about the axis. A spindle is rotatably received in the chamber. A protrusion and an engaging groove are respectively formed in the clutch block and a portion of the spindle. When the spindle is in a locked, not rotatable state, the clutch block rotates jointly with the outer handle while the outer handle is rotated for moving a latch from a latching position to an unlatching position. The clutch block also slides relative to the outer handle along the axis to disengage the protrusion from the engaging groove, disengaging the clutch block from the spindle such that the spindle is not rotated and that the latch remains in the latching position.