GB2208525A - Locking device for a cover - Google Patents

Description

1 LOCKING DEVICE The present invention relates to a locking device for

acover, such as the door of a glove compartment of a motor vehicle.

A locking device for a cover, is known f rom DE-OS- 32 32 607, which has a lever handle flap pivotable about a pivot axis extending parallel to the plane of the f lap. This known locking device is combined with a normal cylinder lock.

A further locking device for a cover f or use in motor vehicles, is known from DE-OS-34 15 355, in which the lever handle f lap is pivotable about a pivot axis extending parallel to the plane of the f lap and having a combination lock of which the setting discs (for setting the combination) are pivotable about a common pivot axis which likewise extends parallel to the plane of the flap but at right angles to the pivot axis of the lever handle flap.

The known locking device has the disadvantage that it requires a substantial structural outlay and that in the locked position the lever handle flap is held rigid, as a result of which the handle can sustain damage if forced.

With a view to mitigating at least some of the foregoing disadvantages, 1 the present invention provides a locking device for a cover, having a lever handle flap and a combination lock, the lever handle flap being pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the plane of the flap, the device comprising a hook, combination setting discs and a drive roller fast in rotation with the hook, all pivotable about the same axis as the lever handle flap, and means for selectively coupling the drive roller for rotation with the lever handle flap in dependence upon the position of the combination setting discs.

2208525 1 Because the hook, the lever handle flap, the combination setting discs and a drive roller are disposed on a common pivot shaft, a particularly simple layout is achieved which reduces manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, when the lever handle flap is disengaged from the drive roller, it can be moved freely-so that it cannot be damaged in any attempt to force the lock.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to -the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a locking device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section along the line III-III in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section along the line III-III in Fig. 1, in the opening position of the combination setting discs; Fig. 5 is a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1, in the open position of the lever handle flap; Fig. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a section along the line VII-VII in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a partial horizontal sectional view, through an alternative embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 is a section along the line X-X in Fig. 9; c Fig. 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, through a still further embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 12 is a section along the line XII-M in Fig. 11.

In the case of the locking device 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 for a glove compartment cover 2, the locking device 1 comprises a hook 3, a lever handle f lap 4, combination setting discs 5 and a drive roller 6, all 10,1 -arranged on a common pivot shaft 7. The hook 3 engages with a catch pin 8 which is secured in the opening of the glove compartment on the dashboard.

The hook 3 is forked at its other end and is supported by one of its arms 9 directly on the pivot shaft 7 and its other arm 10 permanently meshes with toothing 11 on the drive roller 6 which is centrally supported on the pivot shaft 7. Rotation of the drive roller 6 therefore in turn rotates the hook 3 into and out of engagement with the catch pin 8.

The lever handle flap 4 is spade like at its end which is gripped to open the locking device and has at its upper end, as viewed, two lateral arms 12 and 13 by means of which it is directly supported on the pivot shaft 7. The handle 4 further includes comprises a toothed lever 14 which in its central area has teeth 15 which can engage with corresponding teeth 16 on the drive roller 6, to couple the drive roller 6 selectively for rotation with the lever handle flap 4. When the teeth 15 and 16 are in mesh, the drive roller 6 and the hook 3 rotate with the f lap 4 and when disengaged the flap 4 can still be pivoted freely but the drive roller 6 and the hook 3 in this case remain stationary.

The engagement and disengagement of the teeth 15 and 15 is controlled by the setting discs 5 of the combination lock, as will be described below, such that engagement between the teeth only takes place when a predetermined combination has been set by turning the discs 5 of the combination lock.

c Cain follower levers 17 are integrally formed on the sides of the toothed lever 14 and comprise followers 18. The combination setting discs 5 are arranged rotatably on lateral extensions 19 of the drive roller 6. Each setting disc 5 is provided on one side with two cam discs 20 and 21 which rotate with the -respective setting disc 5. Each cam disc 20 has a single notch or depression 22 which cooperates with the follower 18 on the associated cam follower lever 17 while the cam disc 21 has uniformly distributed notches 23 which cooperate with a detent 25 on a lever 24 formed integrally on the hook 3.

A compression spring 26 is disposed in the middle of the hook 3, and biases the lever 14 into engagement with the drive roller 6, but this is prevented by the cam follower levers 17 and their followers 18 which slide on the can discs 20, until both combination setting discs 5 are positioned in such a way that their corresponding depressions 22 face the followers 18. As soon as this setting has been reached, the handle 4 is pivoted out of the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position of readiness shown in Fig. 5, and a subsequent actuation of the handle 4 effects an unlocking movement of the hook 3.

The lever 24 provided on the hook 3 and having the detent 25, which cooperates with the notches 23 distributed uniformly over the periphery of a cam disc 21, makes it difficult to locate the corresponding open position of the combination setting discs 5 by touch probing by providing regular click stops for the setting disc 5.

In order to urge the hook 3 back into its locking position a spring 27 is provided which is conveniently disposed partly inside an annular recess in the drive roller 6. A spring 28 required to urge the handle 4 back into its flush rest position is disposed in a corresponding annular space on the other side of the drive roller 6.Corresponding hooks or stops for the I C_ legs of the springs 27 and 28 are provided in the adjacent plastics components.

The operation of the locking device according to the invention may readily be seen by studying Fig. 1 in conjunction with Figs. 2 to 6.

When the setting discs 5 are in various random positions. the cam levers 17 adjacent the lever 14 ensure that no engagement is possible between the coupling teeth 15 and 16 and the handle flap 4 can be raised within the pivoting range provided, without the hook 3 being disturbed.

When the two setting discs 5 are rotated into the structurally predetermined release positions in which the depressions 22 on their can discs 20 are exactly aligned with the followers 18 18 on the levers 17, the followers 18 drop into the depressions 22 and the teeth 15 and 16 mesh. This coupling engagement is ensured by the compression spring 26 disposed in the middle of the hook 3 and leads at the same time to a slight pivoting of the handle 4 into a position of readiness, which shows that the locking device is now in the open position. As the handle 4 is now raised, the drive roller 6 is pivoted and entrains the hook 3 accordingly and the latter is disengaged from the catch pin 2.

The individual positions of the setting discs 5 can be provided on the outside with symbols for the user, such as for example numbers, letters and the like, so that the informed and legitimate user who knows the combination of the release setting can easily and reliably set the latter by appropriate adjustment of the setting discs 5.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the combination setting disc 51 can also be designed in such a way that the cam discs 201 are arranged covered by the notches 230 and for reasons of styling only one actuating disc 29 with a fine knurling 30 is provided on the outside for adjustment purposes.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a more complicated version of the combination setting disc 501, in which the personal opening combination can be set from the rear of the glove compartment cover.

For this purpose a pin 31 with catch grooves 32 is -integrally injectionmoulded onto the combination setting disc 511. A number disc 33 is clipped onto the said pin 31. The number disc 3.3 Is provided with an integrated catch spring 34 which - engages in the desired catch groove 32. If for example-the number 4 is set in the opening 35, the number 1 appears on the front of the lock in the viewing window 36.

Using the number disc 33 it is possible, therefore, for the cam disc 20f' with the opening notch 2211. which forms one component with the combination setting disc S.", to have associated with it an individual opening combination.

Claims (8)

1. A locking device for a cover,.having a lever handle 5 flap and a combination lock, the lever handle flap being pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the plane of the f lap, the device comprising ahook, combination setting discs and a drive roller fast in rotation with the hook, all pivotable about the same axis as the lever handle flap, and means for selectively coupling the drive roller for rotation with the lever handle flap in dependence upon the position of the combination setting discs.

2. A locking device as claimed in to Claim 1, wherein a compression spring is provided in the hook to bias a toothed lever extending from the lever handle into engagement with the teeth on the drive roller (6).

3. A locking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein to prevent engagement between the teeth in the toothed lever with the teeth on the drive roller, cam followers are provided on the toothed lever engage cams rotatable with the individual setting discs.

4. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a lever is f ormed on the hook and has detents which cooperate with further notched discs rotatable by the respective setting discs of the combination lock.

5. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein springs f or retracting the hook and the lever handle flap are disposed in annular recesses in the ends of the drive roller.

6. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cam discs associated with the combination setting discs are arranged covered by the position notches and an actuation wheel with f ine knurling is provided laterally thereof.

7. A locking device as claimed in.any preceding claim, wherein a pin with catch. grooves is provided on the combination setting discs, the grooves being engageable by a spring biased catch on a number wheel to permit an individual combination to be set by the user.

-1.0

8. A locking device constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Paten, OrIfice. State House. 56 7' Hc!t-=. Lmdon WCIIR 4TP Further comes mav be obtained from The Patent Office.

Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpmgtcr., Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techraques ltd, St Mary Crky. Kent. Con. 187.