AU641462B2

AU641462B2 - Automobile steering lock

Info

Publication number: AU641462B2
Application number: AU69863/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hsien-Pao Chen
Original assignee: GOLDEN KNIGHT CO Ltd
Current assignee: GOLDEN KNIGHT CO Ltd
Priority date: 1991-01-22
Filing date: 1991-01-22
Publication date: 1993-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-22
Also published as: AU6986391A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 42 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: TAIWAN C.) 0** SApplicant(s) 60* O Golden Knight Co., Ltd.

No. 78, Lane 274, Jung-Jeng S. Rd., Yung-Kang Shiang, Tainan Hsien, TAIWAN O. C.) oAddress for Service is:

S

PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street SMelbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AUTOMOBILE STEERING LOCK *Ouc Cef 204617 POF Code: 127662/127670 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 1 6006 TITLE OF THE INVENTION AUTOMOBILE STEERING LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional car steering lock as shown in Figures 1, 2 comprises a bon extensible rod 15 having a plurality of cone-shaped recesses 150, a steel ball 11, a spring 12, a cover 13 and a lock body 14. The extensible rod 15 is placed in the central lengthwise hole in the body 10 and can be extended outward or shortened inward therein kept positioned by the steel ball stuck in any of the cone-shaped recesses 150. In adjusting the length of the extensible rod 15 or positioning it, the key body 14 has to be Sturned by a key to disengage the steel ball 11 from one of the recesses 150 or to engage the steel ball 11 with one of the recesses 150. And this operation is not so convenient for using this lock, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION -Th Utmebie leek In- thetiet prises two extensible rods to be movably placed in two hwise od holes in a body which has two lengthwi od holes and a lock housing to contain a key hole a dead bolt and a dead bolt actuator, The bod is ded with a hook at one end to hook on the Sbody of eering wheel of a car, and two lenthwise holes for to e 46 eoof 9 os osa n av toe6feteet-.

I According to this invention there is provided an automobile steering lock comprising: a body having two longitudinally extending rod holes for two extensible rods to be slidably received therein, a blocking plate arranged at one end of the body having two openings formed therein communicating with the rod holes and a further blocking plate arranged at an opposed end of the body having a hook for hooking onto the body of a steering wheel; a lock housing secured to said one blocking rlate, the lock housing having a substantially rectangular opening in one wall thereof and a substantially circular opening in a further wall thereof; two extensible rods movably received within the rod holes formed in the body, each extensible rod having a *i plurality of continuous cone-shaped knots formed thereon, each knot comprising an inclined surface and a vertical surface, one said extensible rod having a hook at one end for hooking onto the body of the steering wheel; a key hole block arranged in said substantially circular opening in the lock housing, the key hole block having a rotator with both a key hole and a slot for receiving an end of an actuator therein to move a dead bolt when the rotator is turned through 900 by a key; an actuator rotated by rotation of the rotator, one end of the actuator being received in the slot in the rotator, and an opposed end of the actuator having a pivot prcjection for engagement in a recess in the lock housing for facilitating pivoting of the actuator, the actuator further including a lateral extension, the lateral extension including an inclined-down face abutting an inclined-up face, abutting another inclined-down face, and two recesses for two vertical bolts to pass therethrough; a dead bolt arranged within the lock housing including: two substantially parallel bolts which are passed through the two recesses of the actuator; a position plate connecting the two parallel bolts and capable of contacting the lateral extension of the actuator; two 39 springs for urging the position plate towards the 2 "0S extensible rods; and two round projections on the position plate around which the ends of the springs are arranged; a rectangular cover secured to the lock housing and closing the rectangular opening in the lock housing, the cover forming an abutment surface for the two springs such that the springs continually bias the two bolts and position plate of the dead bolt towards engagement with the two extensible rods, each said bolt having a lower tip capable of contact with the inclined surfaces of the cone-shaped knots on each of the extensible rods; wherein said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt are able to move up and down by sliding on the inclined surfaces of the knots when the rods are pulled outwardly for adjusting the length of the steering lock when locking on the steering wheel; said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt however being unable to move up and down over the cone-shaped knots when the two rods are pushed inwardly into the rod holes in the body due to the vertical surfaces of the cone-shaped knots, said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt being capable of being moved free of engagement with the extensible rods by said actuator so as to permit the two 25 rods to be pushed freely inwardly into the rod holes without the knots interfering with the tips of the bolts, by turning the key inserted in the key hole in the key hole block and thereby the rotator, th;ough 35 2 e• *2.

.O 2a 91b S by turning of the key hole block rotated for 90 by a correct key.

Therefore, in using this lock, the rod with the hook is, after adjusting its length, first to be hooked on the body of a steering wheel together with the hook of the body, then the other rod is to be pulled outward to make its outward end reach near the corner of a car door. Then this lock is already locked on the steering wheel, impossible to be unlocked unless the correct key is inserted in the key hole to unlock it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional car steering lock.

Figure 2 Is a part cross-sectional view of the conventional 90 car steering lock.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the car steering i t- t i. 4i *a 9 0 S. S 4.

*i @4 Figure 4 is a part cross-sectional view of the car steering lock in the present invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the extensible rods positioned at a certain length in the present Invention.

Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the extensible rod positioned at a certain length in the present invention.

Figure 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the extensible rod in the present invention.

Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the extensible rod in the present invention.

-3- 1 '7 1 Figure 9 is a front cross-sectional view of the extensible rod in the present invention.

Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the extensible rod in the resent invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the car steering lock in the present invention.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the extensible rod locked In the present invention.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the extensible rods unlocked in the present invention, 4 Figure 14 is an exploded of another embodiment of the automobile steering lock in the jpresent ivention.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of this car steering lock hooked and locked on a steering wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The automobile steering lock in the present inveriton comprises, as shown in Figures 3, 4, a body 2, a lock housing 3 mounted on the body 2, two extensible rods 4, 5, a dead bolt actuator 6. a key hole block 7 and a U-shaped dead bolt 8 as the main components.

The body 2 is provided with two lengthwise rod holes 20, 21 and two openings 200, 210 of the rod holes at the left end of the body 2. The lock housing 3 is welded on the upper surface of the body 2 near the left end, having an opening 30 on the upper surface and a round opening 31 in the right vertical side wall. The ends of the body 2 are welded with blocking plates 22, 23 and then a U-shaped hook 24 is fixed with the blocking plate 23, having its opening facing outward.

The two :.-nsible rods 4. 5 are separately and movably placed in the two rod holes 20, 21 and the rod 4 has a hook 40 at its left end. Both rods 4, 5 are each provided with a plurality of continuous cone-shaped knots 41. 51* which separately have an inclined surface 410, or 510, an upright surface 411 or 511. The inner ends of the rods 4, 5 have pin holes 42, 52 for two pins 43, 58 to Inser' In firmly so that the rods 4, 5 can be moved to and fro guided thereby in the rod holes 20, 21 in the body without falling off.

~The extenxible rods 4, 5 as shown in Figures 7, 8 can ,'be provided with lenthwise grooves 44, 54 for pins 440, 540 to insert in from the body 2 so as to limit the direction of their movement and to prevent them from falling out of the rod holes 20, 21 of the body 1.

The right ends of the extensible rods 4, 5 can also be provided with a smaller diameter sections 45, 55. and pin 9 holes 450, 550 in said section 45, 55. Then two block rings 43, 56 of oval shape having central holes 400, 560 of the same size as the diameter of said section 45, 55 are fitted around the sections 45, 55 and riveted together by means of pins 47, 57 inserting through pin holes 462, 562 in the walls 461, 561 of the block rings 43, 56 and in the pin holes 450, 550. Therefore, the rods 4, 5 can be moved in a definite directlon in the rod holes 20. 21.

P

The dead bolt actuator 6 and the key hole block 7 are respectively fixed in the rectangular opening 30 and the round opening 31 in the lock housing 3. The dead bolt actuator 6 is formed by pressing process, having a pivotal round projection 61 at the rear end to fit in a hole 302 in an inner vertical wall 301 of the lock housing 3 as shown in Figures 10, 11, an extension 62 at its left section having an inclind-down face 620, an inclined-up face 621, and an inclined-down face 622 at the left end, two recesses 623, 624 at the inner side of the the extension 62 for two vertical parallel sections 80, 81 of the U-shaped dead bolt 8 to fit in, and the front setons n fitting in a slot 701 in a rotator 70 of the key hole block 7, bo.

The dead bolt 8 has two vertical parallel.

4 4 80, 81 and 00 a position plate 82 connecting the two vertical bolts 80, 81.

SThe posituon plate 82 has two holes 820, 821, which have straight edges 822. 823 to correspond with straight faces 803, 813 of two round projections 802, 812 so that the projections 802, 812 may insert throgh the holes 820, 821 to prevent the bolts 80, 81 from turning around. The bolts 80, 81 have round projections 802, 812 at their upper sections, and annular grooves 804. 814 just below the round projections for C-shaped clips 83, 84 resting on the extension 62 of the dead bolt actuator 6 to fit in springs 801, 811 are positioned around the round projections 802, 812 and on the position plate 82. The lower sections of the bolts 80, 81 have L-shaped flat faces 805, 815. and inclined edges 806, 816.

A dead bolt actuator and two bolts can have the structure shown In Figure 14. The dead bolt actuator 90 is shaped as a semicircular rod, having a projecting post 900 at one end to fit in -6a hole 302 in the inside wall 301 of the rectangular opening a sroove 901 in the other end, two spaced apart inclined grooves 902, 903. A key hole block 91 has at thegbe6"m a projection 910 to fit in the groove 901. Two bolts 902. 903 and two springs on the bolts are orderly positioned in the rectangular pening The bolts 92, 93 have round projections 920. 9 30 9tetop ends, round proections 921, 922, 931, 932 on both sides, L-shaped flat faces 923, 933 and inclined e edges 924 934. A cover 32 is provided, welded on the rectangular opening 30 of the locking house 3 -to always press the two springs 801, 811.

In combiinng the components, at first the rods 4, 5 are ,.",ositioned in the rod holes 20, 21 in the body 1, and the Pins 43, 53 are separately inserted through the pin holes 42, 52 in the rods 4, 5. Then the blocking plate 22 and the lock housing 3 are welded together with the body 2 on the openings 200, 210 of the rod holes 20, 21. As the diameter of an inner surfaces 221, 222 is shorter than that at the rod holes 201, 211, the rods 4. can be moved to and fro with the pins 43, 53 sliding along the rod holes 201, 211 and be stopped by vertical edges 223, 224 without falling out, as shown in Figures 5, 6. Further, the dead bolt 8 and the two sprinss 801, 811 are orderly placed through the rectangular opening 30 in the cavity of the lock housing 3, and then the cover 32 is welded in the opening 30 compressins the springs 801, 811.

Then the two vertical bolts 80, 81 are positioned passing throngh the recesses 623, 624 beside the extension 62, having the C-shaped clips 83, 84 rest on the extension 62 of the dead bolt actuator 6 and having their tips in contact with the inclined t I surfaces 410, 510 of the knots 41. 51 of the rods 4, 5. And the vertical surfaces 801. 811 of their tips are in contact with the upright faces 411, 511 of the knots 41, 50 pressed by the elasticity of the springs 801. 811,and the inclined faces 804, 814 are in elastical contoct with the inclined faces 410, 510 of the knots 41, 51, Mcvrrova y~ In applying this steerinE lock on a steering wheel to be, locked 1 e0 the extensible rod 4 is to be pulled outward along the rod hole 20 in the body 2 for a proper length so as to book the hook 40 on the body of the steering wheel after the hook has beeo S2444 roperly hooked on the body of the steering wheel. Next. the :.extensble rod 5 is to be pulled outward along the rod hole 21 in the body 2, mking its outer end stay near the corner of the car a u door. #hen This steering lock Is 9locking on the steerin wheel, impossible to unlock it without a correct key.

The principle of this lock is that the extensible rods 4 are possible to b pulled outward without using a correct key to unlock this lock. because the lower tips of the vertical bolts 000.::80, 81 of the dead bolt can be pushed up and down by the inclinsurface 410, 510 by means of the elasticity of the springs 801.

811 pressing down the dead bolt when rods 4, 5 are pulled outward aas shown in Figure 9. But on the contrary, the rods 4, 5 are impossible to be pushed inward in the body 2 because the upright surfaces 411, 511 of the cone-shaped knots 41, 50 can prevent the Srods 4, 5 to move inward preventing by the upright surfaces 411, a :,1511 in contact with the vertical surfaces 805, 815 of the lower tips of the bolas, when the rods 4# 5 are pushed inward without using a correct key to turn the key hole block 7 to turn up the actuator 0 to push up the dead bolt.

For taking down th is lock from the steering wheel, a correct kv~ is to be inserted in the key hole to turn clockwise the key hole block 7 for 90 as shovn in Figure 11. and then the ;actuator con, be turned up by the slot 701 in the rotator 70 such that the dead bolt can also be pushed up by the actuator 6, comresIg thpigs 801, 811 up, the lower tips 805. 815 being no longer in contact with the rods 4. 5. which then can be Pushed -to move inward in the rod holes, 20. 21 in the body 2.

4 0 00 _91-

Claims

1. An automobile steering lock comprising: a body having two longitudinally extending rod holes for two extensible rods to be slidably received therein, a blocking plate arranged at one end of the body having two openings formed therein communicating with the rod holes and a further blocking plate arranged at an opposed end of the body having a hook for hooking onto the body of a steering wheel; a lock housing secured to said one blocking plate, the lock housing having a substantially rectangular opening in one wall thereof and a substantially circular opening in a further wall thereof; two extensible rods movably received within the rod 15 holes formed in the body, each extensible rod having a plurality of continuous cone-shaped knots formed thereon, each knot comprising an inclined surface and a vertical surface, one said extensible rod having a hook at one end for hooking onto the body of the steering wheel; :i 20 a key hole block arranged in said substantially circular opening in the lock housing, the key hole block having a rotator with both a key hole and a slot for receiving an end of an actuator therein to move a dead bolt when the rotator is turned through 900 by a key; an actuator rotated by rotation of the rotator, one end of the actuator being received in the slot in the rotator, and an opposed end of the actuator having a pivot projection for engagement in a recess in the lock housing for facilitating pivoting of the actuator, the actuator further including a lateral extension, the lateral extension including an in.lined-down face abutting an inclined-up face, abutting another inclined-down face, and two recesses for two vertical bolts to pass therethrough; a dead bolt arranged within the lock housing including: two substantially parallel bolts which are passed through the two recesses of the actuator; a position plate connecting the two parallel bolts and capable of contacting the lateral extension of the actuator; two _s springs for urging the position plate towards the 10 extensible rods; and two round projections on the position plate around which the ends of the springs are arranged; a rectangular cover secured to the lock housing and closing the rectangular opening in the lock housing, the cover forming an abutment surface for the two springs such that the springs continually bias the two bolts and position plate of the dead bolt towards engagement with the two extensible rods, each said bolt having a lower tip capable of contact with the inclined surfaces of the cone-shaped knots on each of the extensible rods; wherein said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt are able to move up and down by sliding on the inclined surfaces of the knots when the rods are pulled outwardly for adjusting the length of the steering lock when locking on the steering wheel; said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt however being unable to move up and down over the cone-shaped knots when the two rods are pushed inwardly into the rod holes in the body due to the vertical surfaces of the cone-shaped knots, said lower tips of the bolts of the dead bolt being capable of being moved free of engagement with the extensible rods by said actuator so as to permit the two rods to be pushed freely inwardly into the rod holes without the knots interfering with the tips of the bolts, by turning the key inserted in tihe key hole in the key hole block and thereby the rotator, through

2. An automobile steering lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator has a cross section in the form of a half circle, and wherein each of said bolts of the dead bolt includes: a projection projecting outwardly away from the end thereof proximate to the cover, said "i "projection forming a said round projection on the position plate around which a said spring is arranged; a pair of lateral projections; an inclined edge at the end of the bolt proximate to the extensible rods; and an L-shaped face also at said end proximate to the extensible rods but s on an opposing face thereof to said inclined edge.

3. An automobile steering lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the diameter of said openings for the extensible rods is smaller than the diameter of the rod holes and each extensible rod has towards an inner end thereof a pin hole within which a pin is received, such that when the extensible rods are pulled outwardly to a point at which said pin is located adjacent the rod hole, interference of the reduced diameter rod hole with the pin helps prevent the extensible rods from falling completely out of the rod holes.

4. An automobile steering lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each extensible rod has a groove formed thereon having longitudinally spaced opposed ends and the body has a pin projecting outwardly away therefrom into the groove, said ends of said groove thereby constraining the aextent of longitudinal displacement of the extensible rods relative to the body and helping prevent the extensible rods from falling completely out of :.20 the rod holes.

An automobile steering lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner ends of the two extensible rods are separately provided with a pivotal round projection to fit with a stop ring and combined together with a pin inserting in a hole both in the stop ring and the round projection so that the extensible rods can be moved to and fro in the rod holes in the body.

6. An automobile steering lock substantially as herein described with respect to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 2 July 1993 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: GOLDEN KNIGHT CO., LTD. 'O 'P 3737b 12