Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/06—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
  • E05B47/0603—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents the detent moving rectilinearly
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
  • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
  • B60R25/04—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
  • E05B77/44—Burglar prevention, e.g. protecting against opening by unauthorised tools
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B79/00—Mounting or connecting vehicle locks or parts thereof
  • E05B79/10—Connections between movable lock parts
  • E05B79/20—Connections between movable lock parts using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B83/00—Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle
  • E05B83/16—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
  • E05B83/24—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets for car bonnets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
  • E05B17/20—Means independent of the locking mechanism for preventing unauthorised opening, e.g. for securing the bolt in the fastening position
  • E05B17/2007—Securing, deadlocking or "dogging" the bolt in the fastening position
  • E05B17/2011—Securing, deadlocking or "dogging" the bolt in the fastening position using balls or the like cooperating with notches
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/0001—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof
  • E05B47/0002—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets
  • E05B47/0003—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets having a movable core
  • E05B47/0004—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets having a movable core said core being linearly movable
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/02—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the type of actuators used
  • E05B81/04—Electrical
  • E05B81/08—Electrical using electromagnets or solenoids

Definitions

• the present invention relates to locking sys ⁇ tems for vehicles generally and more particularly to locking systems for a vehicle hood.
• Various locking systems are known for locking the hood of a motor vehicle.
• the hood is retained in a closed position by a latch hook which is released mechanically either at the front of the vehicle or by means of a lever and cable arrangement from the interior of the vehicle.
• Apparatus for locking a vehicle hood is also known and suffers from the disadvantage that the hood is normally locked except when the lock is opened by a key.
• the present invention seeks to provide an improved hood locking system, which overcomes disadvan ⁇ tages of the prior art.
• a vehicle hood locking system for use with a vehicle having a hood retaining latch hook which is connected to a user-operat ⁇ ed release lever, the locking system including a user- actuable locking mechanism, and a connection assembly connecting the user actuable locking mechanism to the latch hook, the connection a ⁇ sembly being arranged with respect to the latch hook and the user-actuable locking mechanism such that when the locking mechanism is locked, the connection assembly retains the latch hook against being displaced by attempted operation of the user-oper ⁇ ated release lever.
• a vehicle hood locking system for use with a vehicle having appara- tus for retaining the hood in a closed but not locked condition, the system including a user-actuable locking mechanism which is operative to selectably lock the hood in the closed condition but to maintain the hood in an unlocked closed condition during vehicle operation.
• the user-actuable locking mecha ⁇ nism is coupled to a vehicle security system and is automatically operative to lock the hood in the closed condition when the vehicle security system i ⁇ activated and to unlock the hood when the vehicle security system is deactivated.
• the user-actuable locking mechanism comprises an actuator.
• the actuator is typically, although not necessarily, electrical or elec ⁇ tromagnetic.
• the user-actuable locking mechanism is provided with a lockable manual override mechanism.
• Fig. 1 is a simplified, partially schematic, partially pictorial illustration of a hood locking system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed in a motor vehicle;
• Fig. 2A is a simplified illustration of the hood locking system of Fig. 1 in a first operative orien ⁇ tation, wherein a hood of a motor vehicle is not locked;
• Fig. 2B is a simplified illustration of the hood locking system of Fig. 1 in a second operative orientation, wherein the hood of the motor vehicle is locked;
• Fig. 2C is a simplified illustration of the hood locking system of Fig. 1 in a third operative orien ⁇ tation, wherein a manual override mechanism is used to unlock the hood locking system;
• Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are more detailed illustra ⁇ tions of a portion of the hood locking system of Fig. 1, in the first, second and third operative orientations of Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C, respectively.
• Fig. 1 i ⁇ a simplified, partially schematic, partially pictorial illustration of a hood locking system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed in a motor vehicle 12.
• the motor vehicle may be any suitable conventional motor vehicle and typically includes a hood retaining latch hook which is coupled by a cable 16 to a user-operated release lever 18, normally located within the vehicle 12.
• the locking system 10 includes a user-actuable locking mechanism 20, and a cable connec ⁇ tion assembly 22 connecting the user actuable locking mechanism 20 to the latch hook 14.
• the cable connection assembly 22 is arranged with respect to the latch hook 14 and the user-actuable locking mecha ⁇ nism 20 such that when the locking mechanism 20 is locked, the cable connection assembly 22 retains the latch hook 14 against being displaced by attempted opera ⁇ tion of the user-operated release lever 18.
• the arrangement is that the cable connection assembly 22 and cable 16 are arranged to pull in mutually opposite directions and the cable connection assembly 22 and locking mechanism 20 are designed to have a stronger pull capability than cable 16 and lever 18.
• the locking system 10 may employ an auxiliary latch hook in addition to the one normally provided by the vehicle.
• the user-actuated locking mechanism 20 may be interconnected with a vehicle security system, indicated schematically by reference numeral 24, so as to be actuated for locking the hood when the vehicle securi ⁇ ty system i ⁇ actuated. It is a particular feature of the present invention that when the vehicle security sy ⁇ tem is not actuated, as during vehicle operation, the hood i ⁇ unlocked, for reasons of safety.
• the vehicle security system may be any suitable vehicle security system and preferably includes at least one theft prevention element, such as a gear shift lock 25, such a ⁇ the gear shift lock manufactured by Mul-T- Lock Ltd. the present applicant/as ⁇ ignee and described in one or more of the following patents and patent applica ⁇ tions, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference: United States Patent 4,693,099, and United States Patent Applications 787,902, 932,661, 08/240,184 and 08/434,392.
• the interconnection between the security system 24 and the locking mechanism 20 i ⁇ preferably embodied in electrical connection ⁇ via a protected link, so as to reduce the chance of bypass of the hood locking system by tapping into the link.
• the locking mechanism 20 is pro ⁇ vided with a lockable manual override mechanism 26, which is preferably connected thereto by means of a cable 28.
• Figs. 2A and 3A, 2B and 3B, and 2C and 3C are pairs of simplified and more detailed illustrations of the hood locking system of Fig. 1 in respective first, second and third operative orientations and which illustrate the various elements described hereinabove.
• latch hook 14 is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 30 and is coupled to cable 16 at a location 32 on the latch hook 14.
• Latch hook 14 may engage a hood engagement assembly 33.
• Cable connection assembly 22 includes a tension cable 34 having an end 36 which is mounted onto the latch hook 14, a ⁇ by a retaining member 38, such that pulling on cable 16 for rotating latch hook 14 about pivot axis 30 for opening the hood, results in pulling of tension cable 34.
• User-actuated locking mechanism 20 may be interconnected with vehicle security system 24 (Fig. 1), by means of electrical leads 35.
• the locking mechanism 20 includes a tension cable locking assembly 50 including a tension cable end assembly 52 (Fig. 3A) , fixed to an end of tension cable 34, opposite to end 36, coupled to latch hook 14 (Fig. 2A) .
• the tension cable end assembly 52 is slidable within a bore 53 formed in a housing 54.
• a compression spring 56 also located within bore 53 normally urges the ten ⁇ sion cable end assembly 52 rearwardly so a ⁇ to maintain the cable 34 under tension.
• Tension cable end assembly 52 is formed with a recess 58 which partially receives a locking ball 60, also retained in a pa ⁇ age 62 in housing 54, when the end assembly 52 is suitably positioned at the rear of housing 54, as shown in Fig. 3B.
• the locking ball 60 is partially seated in recess 58 and partially seated in corresponding passage 62 in housing 54, the tension cable end as ⁇ embly 52 i ⁇ locked again ⁇ t forward movement.
• Tension cable end assembly 52 is locked against forward movement when locking ball 60 is prevented from unseating from recess 58. This occurs when a piston element portion 70 is positioned adjacent locking ball 60 in a bore 72 disposed adjacent and generally parallel to bore 53.
• Piston element portion 70 forms part of a piston element 74 which is slidable in bore 72 and which is axially displaceable therein by an actuator, such as a solenoid 76, via a linkage 78.
• Figs. 2B and 3B illustrate the locking mecha ⁇ nism 20 in a locked orientation
• Figs. 2A and 3A illustrate the locking mechanism 20 in an unlocked orien ⁇ tation when the solenoid 76 displaces piston element 74 rearwardly such that piston element portion 70 i ⁇ no longer along ⁇ ide locking ball 60, allowing it to un ⁇ eat from recess 58.
• the locking ball 60 tends to unseat from reces ⁇ 58 and to permit end a ⁇ sembly 52 to move forwardly to a forward position, such a ⁇ that illustrated in Fig ⁇ . 2A and 3A.
• Manual override cable 28 i ⁇ also coupled to linkage 78, as by means of a retaining element 80.
• Figs. 2C and 3C illustrate the locking mechanism 20 in an unlocked orientation when the manual override cable 28 pulls linkage 78 rearwardly such that piston element portion 70 is no longer alongside locking ball 60.
• a key 90 may be inserted into a cylinder 92 of lockable manual override mechanism 26.
• Manual override cable 28 is connected to cylinder 92. After inserting and suitably turning key 90 in cylinder 92, key 90 together with cylinder 92 may be pulled in the direction of an arrow 94 (Fig.
• a retaining element 100 may be fixedly attached to cable 28 behind a bulkhead 102 (Fig. 1) inside vehicle 12 to prevent violent removal and pulling of mechanism 26 in the direction of arrow 94 by an unauthorized person (not shown) who does not posse ⁇ s key 90.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Superstructure Of Vehicle (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11068021

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1995
  • 1995-09-22 IL IL11540395A patent/IL115403A0/xx unknown
• 1996
  • 1996-06-02 TR TR1998/00514T patent/TR199800514T2/xx unknown
  • 1996-06-02 CN CN96198275A patent/CN1202137A/zh active Pending
  • 1996-06-02 BR BR9610937-8A patent/BR9610937A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-02 WO PCT/IL1996/000001 patent/WO1997010976A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-02 EP EP96919980A patent/EP0851820A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-06-02 SK SK380-98A patent/SK38098A3/sk unknown
  • 1996-06-02 AU AU58545/96A patent/AU5854596A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-02 CA CA002232599A patent/CA2232599A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-02 MD MD98-0121A patent/MD980121A/ro unknown
  • 1996-06-02 PL PL96327498A patent/PL327498A1/xx unknown
  • 1996-06-02 CZ CZ98860A patent/CZ86098A3/cs unknown
  • 1996-06-02 EE EE9800150A patent/EE9800150A/et unknown
• 1998
  • 1998-03-20 MX MX9802218A patent/MX9802218A/es unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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