EP1632623A1 - Anti-theft system for a lock of a vehicle door, in particular a motor vehicle door - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a tubular sleeve (8) coaxially surrounding a bolt paddle (4), where the sleeve is freely rotated with respect to the paddle. The paddle is accessible with a clamping tool such as flat nose pliers, which is inserted at base of a window glass. The sleeve is positioned such that it is accessible with the tool. The sleeve is fitted on rings (9) that surround the paddle.

Description

The present invention relates to a burglar-proof system for a locking latch of a vehicle door, particularly a motor vehicle.

It relates more precisely to a lock comprising a rotary control rod, called "lock train".

The door is equipped with a door lock that is visible and is accessible on the outer face of the door, to receive a key.

Inside the door is housed a locking mechanism, the door lock, which is adapted to control the movement and ensure the locking of a bolt adapted to penetrate a striker integral with the door frame (position locked), or out of it (retracted position).

The connection between the door lock and this mechanism is provided by the aforementioned lock train. This extends horizontally, transversely to the outer face of the door.

In general, it is located at one of the two lower corners of the opening of the door which receives a sliding window; the window can be lowered - when it is open - into a slot formed in the thickness of the door, under said opening.

The flange framing the window opening is provided, on the outside, with a flexible gasket, elastomeric material, usually called "licker", a lip is applied against the outer face of the glass.

One of the edges of this pane - usually its trailing edge - passes near the ream lock.

One of the methods commonly used by thieves to open the door is, after removing the "licker", to insert a clamping tool, such as a flat nose, at the base of the window, into the door. neighbor angle of the lock train, in order to access the latter.

By firmly pinching the lock string and applying a sufficiently high torque thereto by means of this tool, they may be able to deteriorate the connection between the door lock and the lock string and cause the latter to rotate on it. -so, to retract the bolt and, thus, open the door.

To overcome this problem, the usual solution is to mount a protective cover over the lock train, to prohibit the passage of the tool.

• le capot doit présenter une forme et une configuration bien spécifique pour chaque modèle de portière et cette forme est différente pour les côtés gauche et droit, ce qui entraîne une gestion des stocks délicate et coûteuse ;
• pour assurer une protection efficace, les jeux entre ce capot et les pièces environnantes doivent être les plus faibles possibles, ce qui peut poser des difficultés de montage ;
• le capot peut être détérioré assez aisément, par exemple au moyen d'un burin, et l'effraction demeure possible, même si elle est plus longue à réaliser.

This solution is not completely satisfactory for the following reasons:

• the hood must have a shape and a very specific configuration for each door model and this shape is different for the left and right sides, resulting in a delicate and expensive inventory management;
• to ensure effective protection, the clearances between this cover and the surrounding parts must be as small as possible, which may pose mounting difficulties;
• the cover can be damaged quite easily, for example by means of a chisel, and burglary remains possible, even if it takes longer to achieve.

The invention aims to solve these difficulties.

It relates, as indicated above, to a burglar-proof system for locking a vehicle door, in particular an automobile door, provided with a window, this lock comprising a rotary control rod, called a "lock train", which is normally accessible to a clamping tool, such as a flat clamp, which can be inserted at the base of the window fitted to said door, so that it is then possible to fraudulently actuate the lock train by applying to it a couple of rotation, and cause the opening of the door by breaking.

According to the invention, this system comprises a tubular sleeve coaxially surrounding the lock train, and free to rotate relative to the latter, the sleeve being thus positioned that it is it which is accessible to the clamping tool and that its fraudulent actuation causes its rotation on itself, without causing that of the lock train or, correlatively, the opening of the door.

This additional sleeve (invisible after assembly) is inexpensive, easy to set up, and adapts to different door models, its configuration simply to be adapted to that of the lock train but not to the silhouette of the door; moreover, thanks to its symmetrical shape, it can be indifferently mounted on a left or right door.

• le manchon tubulaire est sensiblement cylindrique ;
• le manchon tubulaire est métallique ;
• le manchon tubulaire est immobilisé en translation axiale sur la rame de verrou ;
• le manchon tubulaire est emmanché sur des bagues en matériau élastiquement déformable, par exemple en caoutchouc, qui entourent ladite rame de verrou ;
• la rame de verrou est munie de collerettes aptes à immobiliser lesdites bagues en translation axiale ;
• le système comporte une paire de bagues en matériau élastiquement déformable et le manchon tubulaire est serti à ses extrémités sur ces dernières.

According to other advantageous features, but not limiting, of the invention:

• the tubular sleeve is substantially cylindrical;
• the tubular sleeve is metallic;
• the tubular sleeve is immobilized in axial translation on the lock string;
• the tubular sleeve is fitted on rings of elastically deformable material, for example rubber, which surround said lock string;
• the lock train is provided with collars adapted to immobilize said rings in axial translation;
• the system comprises a pair of rings of elastically deformable material and the tubular sleeve is crimped at its ends on the latter.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

• La figure 1 est une vue de face schématique, en coupe transversale, d'un mécanisme de verrouillage d'une portière de véhicule automobile.
• La figure 2 est une vue de face partielle, plus détaillée, de la même portière.
• La figure 3 est une vue de côté montrant le positionnement d'une pince dans le mécanisme, en vue d'une effraction.
• La figure 4 est un schéma similaire à la vue de la figure 3, qui illustre le serrage de la rame de verrou au moyen de la pince.
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective montrant cette même opération.
• Les figures 6, 7, 9, 10 et 11 sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 1 à 5, respectivement, en liaison avec un système anti-effraction conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 8 est une vue de détail, en coupe axiale, représentant le manchon tubulaire monté sur la rame de verrou.
• La figure 12 est une vue partielle, à plus grande échelle, de la vue correspondant à la figure 11.

This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures 1 to 5 show a traditional door locking mechanism, devoid of any burglar-proof system, while Figures 6 to 12 illustrate a burglar-proof system according to the invention. invention.

• Figure 1 is a schematic front view, in cross section, of a locking mechanism of a motor vehicle door.
• Figure 2 is a partial front view, more detailed, of the same door.
• Figure 3 is a side view showing the positioning of a clamp in the mechanism for burglary.
• Figure 4 is a diagram similar to the view of Figure 3, which illustrates the clamping of the lock train by means of the clamp.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view showing this same operation.
• Figures 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to those of Figures 1 to 5, respectively, in connection with an anti-intrusion system according to the invention.
• Figure 8 is a detail view, in axial section, showing the tubular sleeve mounted on the lock string.
• FIG. 12 is a partial view, on a larger scale, of the view corresponding to FIG. 11.

In Figures 1, 2 and 6, the space outside the vehicle is designated E and is located on the left side of the figure; its interior space, designated I, is located on the right of the figure.

The door 1 of the vehicle is equipped with a lock housing 2 embedded in its thickness, which contains a locking mechanism of known type, and a lock 3 whose barrel 30, apparent on the outer face of the door, is intended to receive a key (not shown).

A transverse rod 4, called "lock train", provides a kinematic connection between the cylinder 30 and a transmission member constituting the locking mechanism, disposed in the upper part 20 of the housing 2.

The lock train 4 has for example an approximately square cross section, and is ribbed, which gives it good resistance to torsion. It can turn on itself around its longitudinal axis; an intermediate bearing 5 ensures its guidance in rotation.

The function of the lock train 4 is to transmit to the mechanism 2 the rotational movement of the barrel 3, under the action of the appropriate key, to retract the bolt and allow the opening of the door.

Except for breaking and entering, a person who is not in possession of this key can not normally open the door when it is locked.

Reference 6 in Figure 2 relates to a window that equips this door. When deployed, in the closed position, it closes an opening in the door, at a level higher than that of the locking mechanism.

A peripheral seal, or "liner", 10 is attached to the edge of this opening, and is normally applied against the outer face of the pane 6 to seal.

With regard to the front door of a motor vehicle, the lock 3 and the lock train 4 are normally located in an area of the bodywork which is located near the lower rear corner of the frame opening. the window.

An ill-intentioned person may be able to open the door using a thin clamping tool, such as a flat nose plier P, as follows.

After removing the liner 10, it slips the jaw of the clamp P (slightly open) obliquely by applying it against the glass, towards the lock train 4. This insertion is usually possible by forcing slightly. It then closes the clamp so that its jaws grip and firmly grip the lock string 4.

The person then applies a rotation torque C on the clamp, in one direction and then in the other (see FIGS. 3 to 5), which has the effect of inducing a torsion torque R on the lock train 4 and, after a certain time, to deteriorate the member - referenced 31 in Figure 1 - which ensures the connection of the latter with the barrel 30 of the lock 3.

It is then possible, by rotating the lock train 4 in the appropriate direction to control the mechanism in the unlocking direction to extract the bolt from its keeper, allowing it to open the door.

According to the invention, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 6 to 8, the lock train 4 is surrounded by a coaxial tubular sleeve 8.

It is a small cylindrical tube, preferably metal, for example steel, having a high resistance to deformation, in particular sufficient to prevent it can be crushed by clamping by means of a clamp.

The thickness of its wall is dimensioned accordingly.

The sleeve 8 surrounds the lock string 4 over substantially its entire length, except for its end portions which provide its connection, on one side with the lock 3, on the other with the locking mechanism.

This sleeve is guided in rotation in the intermediate bearing 5.

As seen more particularly in Figure 8, the lock train 4 is provided with two flanges 7, reported or forming integral parts thereof.

Outside each collar is disposed an annular ring 9 of flexible material and elastically deformable, for example rubber, which surrounds the rod 4.

The sleeve 8 is fitted on the rings 9, which support it internally; it is not directly in contact with the stem 4.

Each ring has a cylindrical outer wall, whose diameter corresponds to the inside diameter of the sleeve 8.

The two flanges 7 have a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the sleeve 8; they are thus positioned, and the rings 9 are thus dimensioned, that the end portions of the sleeve 8 each cover a ring.

Each end edge of the sleeve 8 is cut to include some teeth 80 which are folded in a diametral plane, against the outer face of the associated ring 9.

This provides a connection by crimping the sleeve 8 on the rings 9. This results in immobilization in axial translation of the sleeve 8 on the lock train 4, because each ring 9 is trapped between, on one side, a series crimping teeth 80 and, on the other, a flange 7 acting as a stop.

In contrast, the sleeve 8 is crazy in rotation.

It can rotate freely around itself around the rings 9, without this rotation inducing torque (at least significant value) on the train of lock that surrounds.

It is understood that, thanks to this arrangement, it is the sleeve 8 which is in the path of the clamp P when it is fraudulently inserted between the liner and the window; it is only this sleeve that is accessible to the jaw of the forceps. The lock train 4 is not accessible to him.

When the sleeve 8 has been gripped and clamped by the clamp, any torque C exerted on the latter induces the rotation R 'of the sleeve on itself (see Figures 10 and 11).

The lock train 4 is not solicited.

No couple can be applied fraudulently; to drive it in rotation and to unlock the door, it is necessary to have the key dedicated to the lock.

As already said, the tubular sleeve must of course have a sufficient wall thickness, or even be slightly oversized, to limit deformation under the action of the maximum pinch force can be developed manually by means of a conventional clamp.

This prevents the result of this deformation an unexpected connection (in rotation) of the sleeve with the lock string.

Those skilled in the art are able to select the appropriate material and the wall thickness to achieve this result, while maintaining optimum compactness.

Claims (7)

Burglar-resistant system for a closing latch of a vehicle door, in particular an automobile door, provided with a window, said latch comprising a rotary control rod (4), called a "lock train", which is normally accessible to a tool clamping device (P ), such as a flat clamp, insertable at the base of the window (6) fitted to said door (1), so that it is then possible to fraudulently actuate the lock string (4) applying to it a rotational torque, and causing the door to be opened by breaking, characterized in that it comprises a tubular sleeve (8) coaxially surrounding said lock train (4), and free in rotation relative to the latter, this sleeve (8) thus being positioned that it is it that is accessible to the clamping tool (P) and that its fraudulent operation causes its rotation on itself, without causing that of the train latch (4) nor, correlatively, the opening of the door. Burglar-proof system according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular sleeve (8) is substantially cylindrical. Anti-intrusion system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said tubular sleeve (8) is metallic. Burglar-proof system according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said tubular sleeve (8) is immobilized in axial translation on said lock train (4). Burglar system according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said tubular sleeve (8) is fitted on rings (9) of elastically deformable material, for example rubber, which surround said ream of lock (4). Burglar-proofing system according to claim 5, characterized in that said lock train (4) is provided with collars (7) adapted to immobilize said rings (9) in axial translation. Burglar-proof system according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a pair of rings (9) of elastically deformable material and said tubular sleeve (8) is crimped at its ends on the latter.

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