- 1 Vehicle Canopy Central Locking System The present invention relates to a locking device for a pivotable window and to a central locking system for a vehicle incorporating a plurality of locking devices. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a means of centrally locking all of the locking devices 5 simultaneously to facilitate quick and easy access to inside the vehicle whilst maintaining a necessary level of security. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to fit pivoting windows to vehicles. One example, and that which is described in detail herein, are road vehicles which have a trailer bed and canopy at the rear of 10 the vehicle typically used by tradesman to transport their tools to and from worksites. Another example is caravans which typically have upwardly pivotable windows. In the case of canopys, there are typically two side windows and one rear window to allow for a person to view inside the canopy. Each window has a generally horizontal hinge axis along an upper edge thereof such that entry inside the canopy is achieved by rotating the window outwardly 15 and upwardly. Each window also includes one or more rotatable handles adjacent the lower edge for fastening the window in the closed position. Unfortunately, vehicles such as these are often targets for criminals, and one method of gaining entry to a vehicle is to force a pivoting window, where such is fitted, open. Consequently, various designs have been proposed to offer increased security for such 20 windows. The rotatable handle design mentioned earlier usually involves a latch on the opposed inner side of the window being rotatable by rotation of the handle to a position where the opening of the window is prevented because of an abutment between the latch and a surface inside the vehicle. Such rotatable handles typically have key locks which can lock the handles in this fastened position and ensures the handle and hence the latch is not rotatable to 25 a position which would otherwise allow the window to be opened. Whilst prior art pivotable vehicle windows are thus lockable, one can appreciate how laborious it is for someone to have to manually unlock the handle(s) of each window one-by one every time he or she wants to gain access to the inside of the canopy, and likewise when -2 locking the windows up again. The Applicant is not aware of any simplified and efficient means of locking such windows and, in particular, a system which allows for a window to be locked by one simple step of closing the window shut. In summary, there are no locking systems known to the present Applicant which allow for the simplified opening, closing, 5 locking and unlocking of pivotable vehicle windows to allow for efficient access to and from the inside of the vehicle whilst still maintaining the required level of security. It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the abovementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 10 Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a locking device for a window that is pivotable relative to a fixed body between an open and a closed position, said locking device comprising: a locking member disposed on the inside of said window and moveable therewith, said locking member including an aperture; 15 a shaft associated with said fixed body, said shaft including a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with said locking member aperture when the window is in the closed position, the shaft being moveable along said longitudinal axis between a locked position in which said shaft extends through said locking member aperture to prevent said window from moving away from said fixed body, and an unlocked position in which said shaft does not extend through said 20 aperture; and an electric means of actuating movement of said shaft between locked and unlocked positions. Preferably said window extends substantially vertically, and said locking member includes a surface extending outwardly from said window and said locking member aperture extends through said surface. 25 In preference said shaft is moveable between said locked and unlocked positions by actuation of an electric motor.
- 3 Preferably said device further includes a biasing means for biasing said shaft towards its locked position when intended to be in said locked position. In preference said locking member includes an angled surface at a free end thereof and said shaft includes a correspondingly angled surface at a top end thereof, whereby when 5 said shaft is in the locked position and said window is moved to its closed position, said angled surfaces abut and cause said shaft to move temporarily towards its unlocked position until such time that said shaft becomes aligned with said aperture to enable it to move back to its locked position. Preferably said shaft includes a locking shoulder configured such that when the shaft 10 is in the locked position and the window and locking member is moved away from the closed position, said shoulder engages with the aperture and prevents such movement. Preferably said window includes at least one handle associated with an outside surface thereof, said handle being rotatable and associated with a latch on the opposed side of said window such that said latch is rotatable with said handle. 15 In preference said handle and latch are positioned and configured such that they are rotatable between a first position in which said latch abuts with a surface of said fixed body and prevents said window from moving away therefrom, and a second position in which said latch does not obstruct the path of said window away from the fixed body. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a window locking system for a 20 vehicle including at least one pivotable window, said window locking system including: at least one locking device associated with each window, each locking device including a locking member disposed on the inside of said window and moveable therewith, said locking member including an aperture, and a shaft associated with said fixed body, said shaft including a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with said locking member aperture when the 25 window is closed, said shaft being moveable along said longitudinal axis between a locked position in which said shaft extends through said locking member aperture and prevents said window from moving away from said fixed body, and an unlocked position in which said -4 shaft does not extend through said aperture; and an electric means of actuating movement of said shaft between locked and unlocked positions. Preferably each shaft is moveable between said locked and unlocked positions by operation of an electric motor, 5 In preference each electric motor is wired to a control means operable to cause all of said shafts to move between said locked and unlocked positions simultaneously. Preferably said control means is remotely controllable by a handheld transmitter. Preferably said window extends substantially vertically, and said locking member includes a surface extending outwardly from said window and said locking member aperture 10 extends through said surface. In preference said device further includes a biasing means for biasing said shaft when intended to be in said locked position. Preferably said locking member includes an angled surface at a free end thereof and said shaft includes a correspondingly angled surface at a top end thereof, whereby when said 15 shaft is in the locked position and said window is moved to its closed position, said angled surfaces abut and cause said shaft to move temporarily towards its unlocked position until such time that said shaft becomes aligned with said aperture to enable it to move back to its locked position, In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a central locking system for 20 pivotable vehicle windows, said central locking system comprising: at least one locking device associated with each window whereby each locking device includes a locking member disposed on the inside of said window and moveable therewith said locking member including an aperture, and a shaft associated with said fixed body said shaft including a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with said locking member aperture when the 25 window is closed, said shaft being moveable between a locked position in which the shaft extends through said locking member aperture and prevents said window from moving away from said fixed body, and an unlocked position in which said shaft does not extend through said aperture, each shaft being moveable between said locked and unlocked positions by -5 operation of an electric motor; a control means to which each of said electric motors are wired, said control means being operable to move all of said shafts between the locked and unlocked positions simultaneously; and 5 a remote transmitter for remotely operating said control means. Preferably said window extends substantially vertically, and said locking member includes a surface extending outwardly from said window and said locking member aperture extends through said surface. In preference said locking device further includes a biasing means for biasing said 10 shaft when in said locked position. Preferably said locking member includes an angled surface at a free end thereof and said shaft includes a correspondingly angled surface at a top end thereof, whereby when said shaft is in the locked position and said window is moved to its closed position, said angled surfaces abut and cause said shaft to move temporarily towards its unlocked position until 15 such time that said shaft becomes aligned with said aperture to enable it to move back to its locked position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the 20 description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a rear perspective view of a vehicle including a trailer bed and canopy, to which the present invention may be applied; Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the vehicle of Figure 1 and in particular the electrical wiring inside the vehicle from a central locking receiver to each electric 25 motor associated with the locking devices on each window; Figure 3 illustrates an internal view of one of the side windows of the vehicle of Figure 1, including two locking devices of the present invention, as well as an enlarged perspective view of one of the locking devices; - 5a Figure 4 illustrates the vehicle as shown in Figure I as well as an enlarged perspective view of one of the locking devices associated with the rear window of the vehicle canopy; and Figure 5 illustrates an end view of one of the side windows in both an open and a 5 closed position, the closed position shown in broken lines, when the locking device is in a locked state. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS -6 The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used 5 throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. The present invention relates to a central locking system 10 and individual locking devices 12 forming part of the system. It is to be understood that whilst the vehicle 14 illustrated and described herein is of the type having a trailer bed and canopy, the present invention is not intended to be limited to use on such vehicles. The invention could equally 10 well be applied to any vehicle having a pivotable window that needs to be locked. Turning to Figure 1, a vehicle 14 is shown including a front cabin 16, a trailer bed 18 having a pivotable access panel 19 at the rear of the bed, a canopy 20, side canopy windows 22, and a rear canopy window 24. Other features of the vehicle which are considered known in the art and which have no bearing on the present invention are not described herein. 15 Each window includes at least one locking device 12, but in a preferred embodiment and as shown in the drawings, each window includes two locking devices 12 corresponding with the number of rotatable handles 26 on the outside of the windows. Each locking device 12 includes its own small electric motor 28, the purpose of which is described in more detail below. 20 Figure 2 illustrates how each electric motor 28 is individually wired to a central signal receiver 30 which is operable by a remote transmitter 32. In the embodiment shown, the remote transmitter 32 is a handheld device which can be easily connected to a driver's keyring for example, as per well known vehicle door central locking transmitters. Once the transmitter is activated, a signal is sent to the receiver which in turn operates each of the 25 electric motors 28 simultaneously. Turning to Figure 3 there is shown an internal view one of the side windows 22 of the vehicle 14 including two spaced apart locking devices 12 of the present invention adjacent the lower edge of the window. There is also shown an enlarged view of a locking device which -7 will assist the reader in understanding how each device causes locking and unlocking of the handle 26 in its fastened position. Mounted to an interior surface 34 of the vehicle trailer bed is the electric motor 28 which has a protective guard 36 extending over the front of the motor 28. The interior surface 34 extends substantially vertically and also forms the abutment 5 surface for an internal latch 38 which is rotatable with the external handle 26. The skilled addressee would realise that when the latch 38 is rotated to the position shown in Figure 3, the window 22 cannot be opened or upwardly pivoted because the latch 38 abuts with the interior surface 34. Also associated with the handle and latch of the window, although this need not be 10 the case as will become apparent when describing the rear window lock below, is a locking member or bracket 40 including a first surface 42 which lines the internal surface of the window 22 and which in the embodiment shown is wedged between the window and the internal latch, and a second surface 44 extending outwardly from said window 22 such that it extends above the electric motor when the window is shut. The first and second surfaces 42 15 and 44 extend substantially perpendicularly to one another. The second surface 44 includes an aperture 46 which is aligned with a vertical locking shaft 48 associated with the electric motor 28 which is moveable into or out of the aperture 46 each time the electric motor is actuated. In particular, the shaft 48 is moveable between a first unlocked position, in which the shaft is in a lowermost position and not extending through aperture 46, and a second locked position, in 20 which the shaft is received through the aperture 46 and thus prevents the bracket 40 and hence window 22 from being opened regardless of the position of the handle 26 and latch 38. Figure 4 illustrates a locking device 12 associated with the rear window 24. Because the vehicle includes a pivotable access panel 19 below the rear window 22, the locking device 12 cannot be mounted thereto. Instead, each device 12 is mounted to an interior surface 50 25 adjacent the side edges of the window 24 and rather than vertical movement of a shaft 48, there is a horizontal shaft movement between its locked and unlocked state. Other than their orientation and position relative to the window handles, the locking devices 12 associated with the rear window 24 work in exactly the same way as previously described.
-8 Thus, it is to be understood that there is no requirement for the locking device 12 of the present invention to be located at the same position as the existing window handles. This simplifies the installation or retro-fitting of the system to a vehicle because the one nut (or other fastening means) can be used to extend through coaxial apertures in the window 22, first 5 surface 42 of the bracket 40, and the latch 38, but it is not essential. In the embodiment shown, the bracket 52 associated with the rear window includes only one surface 54 with aperture 46 and is directly fastened to the window. It is to be understood that other configurations and fastening means could be employed, provided there is a surface extending out from the window which is configured to be engaged by the moveable locking shaft. 10 It is to be further understood that while many of the locking device components are shown to be bolted to the vehicle and window, other fastening means could be used. Furthermore, the protective guard 36 could equally well be replaced by a housing that covers the entire electric motor. Thus, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the present invention provides a 15 means of remotely locking and unlocking one or more pivotable windows of a vehicle simultaneously, regardless of whether the manual handles are in their fastened or unfastened position. For example, the latch 38 may be in the horizontal "unfastened" position, but the window will still not be able to be opened if the electric motor shaft 48 is in its extended locked position. The locking devices 12 of the present invention thus act as an overriding 20 locking mechanism for such vehicle windows. One will also appreciate the ease at which access to inside the vehicle can now be achieved, that is, by the pressing of a button on a transmitter 32 which communicates with a central receiver. When a driver say exits the vehicle and wishes to access inside the canopy, he or she may press the transmitter button to unlock the windows, that is, initiate movement 25 of each locking shaft out from aperture 46, and then once an item is retrieved, the windows can be locked again at the press of a button. There may be situations where the window 22 is in an open position, and the electric motor locking shafts 48 are in their "locked" extended positions. To prevent damage to the -9 locking devices 12 when someone tries to force the window shut in these circumstances, the locking devices 12 are configured such that they can remain in their locked state and still allow the window to be shut closed. In fact, in doing so, each window can be shut closed and locked in one action, that is, by simply urging the window to its closed position. 5 This is achievable because the second surface 44 of bracket 40 and surface 54 of bracket 52 terminate at their free ends in an upward incline 56. The top end surface 58 of the moveable shaft of the electric motor 28 is correspondingly inclined such that when the bracket is moved towards the shaft, there is an abutting sliding motion between the two components which moves the shaft 48 down temporarily until it is able to spring back up through the 10 aperture 46. An appropriate biasing means (not shown) may be a spring associated with the locking shaft inside the electric motor housing. The closing of the window 22 when the locking shaft is in an extended position is best viewable in Figure 5. Figure 5 further illustrates in detail the configuration of the top end of the moveable shaft 48. As well as having an inclined top surface 58, the top end of the shaft 48 defines a 15 shoulder 60 on the opposed side of surface 58 which ensures that if forced entry is attempted, that is, if someone tries to force the window open when the shaft is in the locked position, the shoulder 60 will engage the perimeter of aperture 46 and prevent such movement. The skilled addressee would realise that is such a shoulder were not present, it may be possible for the shaft to slip through the aperture if enough pulling force were applied on the window, 20 particularly given that the shaft is made to be downwardly moveable to a certain extent even when in the locked state. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is 25 recognised that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
- 10 In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention. 5