GB2248811A

GB2248811A - Steering lock with means for blocking the ignition switch

Info

Publication number: GB2248811A
Application number: GB9022322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wen-Hsien Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-15
Filing date: 1990-10-15
Publication date: 1992-04-22
Also published as: GB9022322D0

Abstract

A steering lock comprises a lock body (1) having an extensible member (16) attached thereto for adjusting the range between two locking rods which are connected in parallel through a telescopic tube (22; 25) to form a shackle. The shackle can be extended where clearance is required, and is coupled with a pair of hook-shaped fastening rods (24; 24') which are connected in parallel through another telescopic tube (22; 25) for fastening the steering wheel (31). When the lock barrel of the lock body (1) is rotated to a locking position, the first and second latches inside the lock body (1) respectively lock up the locking bars (2; 2') and the extensible member (16). Two protective cover boards (167) are bilaterally attached to the lock body (1) to protect from insertion of a tool in cutting the second latch and prevent from injury of fingers during locking and unlocking operation. <IMAGE>

Description

STRUCTURE OF STEERING LOCK WITH MEANS FOR BLOCKING UP THE IGNITION SWITCH The present invention is related to a car steering lock for locking the steering wheel of a car and simultaneously for blocking up the ignition switch against insertion of a key or pry bar.

Steering lock is a device for locking up vehicle steering wheel with clutch pedal or accelerator pedal or brake pedal. There are various types of steering locks commonly used for locking up the steering wheel but the use of which is not satisfactory. Oqe disadvantage of the conventional steering locks is that the fixed structure occupies much space for storage.

Another disadvantage is that a steering lock must be locked between the steering wheel and a pedal and it tends to damage the steering wheel or a pedal or cause the steering wheel or a pedal to deform.

The present invention has been accomplished to eliminate the afore-said problems. It is one object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which can lock up the steering wheel and simultaneously block up the ignition switch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which is collapsible to reduce space occupation when not in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which can fit any model of car to conveniently block up any raised or recessed structure of ignition switch.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which has guard means to protect the fingers from injury during locking operation and and protect against insertion of a tool to damage the structure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which can be conveniently adjusted according to desired shackle clearance for secure locking on any type of steering post.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a car steering lock which is practical in use and easy to operate.

To achieve the above objects, a car steering lock comprises a lock body having a shackle adjustably fastened therein. The shackle can be extended where clearance is required, and is comprised of a pair of locking bars, which are connected in parallel through a telescopic tube, coupled with a pair of hook-shaped fastening rods, which are also connected in parallel through another telescopic tube. The width between the two locking bars can be adjusted by an extensible member through a latch. When the steering lock is attached to the steering wheel of a car and the lock barrel of the lock body is rotated to a locking position, the first and second latches inside the lock body respectively lock up the locking bars permitting the hook-shaped fastening rods to firmly retain the steering wheel and permitting the button or slot of the lock body to tightly block up the ignition switch.

Protective cover boards are attached to the lock body to protect from insertion of a tool in cutting the second latch and prevent from injury of fingers during locking and unlocking operation.

The present invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the first preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention in locking up a car steering wheel; Fig. 3 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates the use of the third preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention in locking up a car steering wheel; Fig. 6 is a transversely sectional view of the lock body according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is another transversely sectional view of the lock body according to the present invention;; Fig. 8 is a longitudinally sectional view of the lock body according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is another longitudinally sectional view of the lock body according to the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the telescopic tube according to the present invention; and Fig. 11 is an another drawing illustrating the use of the first preferred embodiment of car steering lock of the present invention in locking up a car steering wheel.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a lock body 1 comprises a slot 11 and a button 12 at one side alternatively for blocking up the raised or recessed type of ignition switch. Two holes 13, 13' are bilaterally transversely made on the lock body 1 respectively for insertion therein of a pair of locking bars 2, 2'. The locking bars 2, 2' are connected in parallel by a telescopic tube 22, which is comprised of three sections (or more) 221, 222, 223, that slide one inside another, and have each a plurality of notches 21 at one end conveniently for adjusting shackle clearance.

A linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24' which are movably attached to the locking bars 2, 2' by two pins 23, 23' at an end opposite to the lock body 1 are connected in parallel by a telescopic tube 25 of same size as the telescopic tube 22 and have each a hooked end 241 or 241' for fastening the steering wheel of a car.

Referring to Fig. 10, the three sections 221, 222, 223 of the telescopic tube 22 or 25 slide one inside another and the smaller two sections 223, 222 have each a retaining portion 224 to protect against disengagement from one another.

Referring to Fig. 3, therein illustrated is an alternate form of the present invention which has a structure similar to the afore-said first embodiment of the present invention with exception of the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24'. In this embodiment, the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24' have each a forked end 26 or 26' at the top. After the locking bars 2, 2' are locked on the steering post 3 of a car with the slot 11 or the button 12 stopped at the ignition switch, the steering wheel 31 is firmly retained by the forked ends 26, 26' of the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24'.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, therein illustrated is yet a further embodiment of the present invention, in which an additional lock body 1 is attached to the hooked ends 241, 241' of the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24' of the afore-said first embodiment of the present invention for locking the steering wheel 31. As illustrated, the additional lock body 1 has a pair of locking bars 243, 243'respectively attached to the hooked ends 241, 241' of the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24' by pins 242, 242' to match with the hooked ends 241, 241' for locking up the steering wheel 31.

Referring to Figs. 6 through 9, a lock body 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a circular recess 121 having a spring 122 received therein to support a button 12. The circular recess 121 has a retainer edge 123 at the top for securing the button 12 therein. By means of the effect of the spring 122 and the retainer edge 123, the button 12 is flexibly retained in the circular recess 121 for blocking up any recessed type of ignition switch to protect against insertion of a pry bar. Inside the lock body 1 there is a lock barrel 14 (which is not within the scope of the basic teaching of the present invention and will not be detailed herein) controlled to simultaneously drive a first latch 15 and a second latch 163 into locking position. The lock barrel 14 has a notch 143 made thereon and is revolvably fastened in a circular seat 141 inside the lock body 1 by a pin 142. There is a through-hole 17 made on the lock body 1 between the circular seat 141 and two locking holes 161, 161' for holding a control block 171, a spring 172 and a stop member 173. During rotary motion of the lock barrel 14, the control block 171 is simultaneously driven to protrude. Once the lock barrel 14 is turned back, the spring 172 forces the control block 171 to move in a groove 145. Therefore, once the control block 171 protrudes (in a locking mode) it is immediately forced to move in a notch 162 on the second latch 163 to lock up the second latch 163. The first latch 15 has a notch 151 thereon. When the lock barrel 14 is rotated, its top eccentric block 144 is moved in the notch 151 to push the first latch 15 to move ahead permitting the latch head 152 of the first latch 15 to insert in the locking bar 2.There is a spring 154 attached to the first latch 15 at the back and a notch 153 made on the latch head 152 so that the locking bars 2, 2' are permitted to insert downward into a locking position and prohibited from pulling out of the lock body 1. The second latch 163 is fastened in an extensible member 16 which forms a part of the lock body 1. The second latch 163 has a notch 162 into which the control block 171 is releasably fastened. There is also another latch 164 fastened in the extensible member 16 and having a retainer portion 165 at one end. Once the extensible member 16 is pulled to its limit, the retainer portion 165 is stopped at an inner flange 166 and therefore, the extensible member 16 is secured from separating from the lock body 1.The first latch 15 is driven by the eccentric block 144 to move backward and pushed by by the spring 154 to move forward within an elongated hole 18 and controlled. After locking, the front end of the first latch 15 enters either notch 21 on the locking bar 2' to stop the locking bars 2, 2' from moving. When the locking bars 2, 2' are moved forward along locking direction (under locking mode), the spring 154 is squeezed backward permitting the locking bars 2, 2' and the lock body 1 to retain the steering post 3. Once the locking bars 2, 2' are pulled in reverse direction, they are stopped by the first latch 15 from moving backward. The notch 153 on the latch head 152 of the first latch 15 is not only designed for locking, it will make a clear sound when the locking bars 2, 2' are moved into locking position.

There are protective cover boards 167, 167' attached to the extensible member 16 to protect from insertion of a tool in cutting the second latch 163 and prevent from injury of fingers during operation.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 11, the hooked ends 241, 241' of the linked pair of fastening rods 24, 24' have each at least one locking notch 245 or 245' at a suitable location for locking up the lock body 1 on the hooked ends 241, 241' and the locking bars 2, 2'.

Referring to Fig. 3, the forked ends 26, 26' also comprise each at least one locking notch 261, 261' at a suitable location for locking up the lock body 1 thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A steering lock, comprising: a lock body comprising a spring supported button and a slot at one side alternatively for blocking up the raised or recessed type of car ignition switch, a pair of locking holes transversely bilaterally piercing therethrough, a lock barrel controlled by a key to drive a projecting block to move a first latch from locking position, a spring to force said first latch to a locking position, a control block controlled by a notch on said lock barrel to move forward in locking up a second latch and by a spring to move back to original position, and an expansible member controlled by two latch members to extend from said lock body for adjusting the range between said two locking holes; and a shackle comprising a pair of locking bars adjustably fastened in said locking holes and connected in parallel through a telescopic tube, and a pair fastening rods respectively pivoted to said locking bars, said fastening rods being connected in parallel through another telescopic tube and having each a hooked portion at an opposite end for fastening the steering wheel.

2. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein said fastening rods have each a forked portion an an opposite end for fastening the steering wheel.

3. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein said locking bars and said fastening rods are respectively connected in parallel through a telescopic tube so that the width between said locking bars or said fastening rods can be adjusted.

4. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein a connecting rod can be releasably attached to said hooked portion to connect said fastening rods together for locking up the steering wheel.

5. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein said lock barrel has a notch at one side for controlling the movement of said control block, and a projecting block at the top for locking up said first latch.

6. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein said extensible member is adjustably secured to said lock body by two latches for adjusting the range between said two locking holes.

7. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein two protective cover boards are bilaterally attached to said extensible member to shield the gap between said extensible member and said lock body when said extensible member is extended from said lock body.

8. The steering lock of claim 1, wherein said hooked ends and said forked ends have each at least one locking notch at a suitable location for locking up said lock body thereon.

9. The steering lock as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs.

l and 2, Fig. 3, Figs. 4 and 5, Figs. 6-9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.