GB2314058A

GB2314058A - Gear lever lock

Info

Publication number: GB2314058A
Application number: GB9612455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaieter Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-14
Filing date: 1996-06-14
Publication date: 1997-12-17
Also published as: GB9612455D0

Abstract

A gear lever lock assembly includes a housing (1), a main body (4), a protective casing (5), and a shackle (6) The shackle, when removed from the main body, is retained in position by two retaining members (2) mounted between the housing and the main body. A pair of latch members (44) are mounted in the main body, and a first elastic member (45) is mounted between the latch members for biasing the latch members away from each other for engaging with notches (61) defined in the shackle. A second elastic member (49) is mounted to bias a stop member (48) in the main body toward the latch members. When the lock assembly is in an unlocked position and the shackle is removed from the main body, the latch members disengage from the notches of the shackles while the stop member is biased by the second elastic member to engage with the latch members to prevent outward movements of the latch members, thereby preventing rotational movement of a lock core (42) . A lid (3) is provided to shield a keyway (422) of the lock core.

Description

Improved Gear Lever Lock Assembly The present invention relates to an improved gear lever lock assembly in which a key therefor cannot be removed unless the lock assembly is in a locked position. The present invention also relates to a lid for shielding a keyway of a lock core of the gear lever lock assembly.

Vehicle burglary has increased dramatically in recent times, therefore, vehicle drivers usually employ additional locks to prevent unauthorized access of the steering wheel, the gear lever, and/or other elements in the driving compartment. A gear lever lock generally includes a lock member and a shackle which engages with the lock member to restrain movement of the gear lever, thereby achieving the anti-theft purpose. When not in use, the shackle disengages from the lock member and is held at two shoulders of the lock member. However, the shackle might be disengaged from the shoulders of the lock member when subjected to shocks and vibrations during driving. In addition, a keyway of the lock core of the gear lever lock generally faces upwardly such that dust and foreign matter may accumulate therein and thus block the keyway. Furthermore, the key for the gear lever lock can be removed without acknowledgement of locking of the gear lever lock, thereby failing to reliably prevent access to the gear lever. Such a disadvantage causes inconvenience to car rentors (i.e. people who lend cars to other people and are paid by rate) as they have to go to the returned cars to check whether the gear levers are locked. The present invention is intended to provide an improved gear lever lock assembly to mitigate and/or obviate the above problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gear lever lock assembly to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering a lock core of the lock assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved gear lever lock assembly in which a key therefor cannot be removed unless the lock assembly is in a locked position.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a gear lever lock assembly comprises a main body, a lock core, a shackle, and a protective housing. The main body comprises an upper compartment defined therein, a pair of shackle holes defined therein for receiving two ends of the shackle, and a pair of latch members mounted therein and each having a protrusion, a first operative face, a second operative face, and a recess. The main body further includes a first elastic member mounted between the latch members for biasing the latch members away from each other, a groove defined therein and extending along a direction transverse to the shackle holes, a stop member received in the groove and having a first side and a second side, a pair of stop pieces projecting outwardly from the first side thereof, and a second elastic member mounted to the second side of the stop member for biasing the stop member toward the latch members.

The lock core is received in the upper compartment of the main body and has a pair of actuating pieces for engaging with the recesses of the latch members. The protective casing encloses the main body and has a pair of second shackle holes in alignment with the shackle holes of the main body.

When the lock assembly is in a locked poSition, each of two ends of the shackle is received in the associated shackle hole of the main body, the stop pieces of the stop member engage with the second operative faces of the latch members, and the protrusions of the latch members are extended into the shackle holes of the main body under the action of the first elastic member for engaging with the notches of the ends of the shackle, thereby preventing removal of the shackle from the main body.

When the lock assembly is in an unlocked position and the shackle is removed from the main body, the protrusions of the latch members disengage from the notches of the shackles while the stop pieces of the stop member are biased by the second elastic member to engage with the first operative faces of the latch members to prevent outward movements of the latch members, thereby preventing rotational movement of the lock core.

By such an arrangement, the key cannot be removed unless the lock core is in the locked position, thereby reliably preventing unauthorized access to the gear lever.

Preferably, the main body includes a cap mounted thereon to enclose the upper compartment and having a key hole through which a proper key is inserted into a keyway of the lock core.

The gear lever lock assembly further comprises a housing mounted on and thus enclosing the main body and the protective casing. The housing includes a pair of shoulders each having a slot defined therein, an upper side with an opening defined therein which aligns with the keyway of the lock core, and a wing extending outwardly from two lateral sides thereof. The upper side of the housing has a pair of spaced racks formed on an inner surface thereof, one of the spaced racks having a first retaining notch and a second retaining notch therein.

A pair of retaining members are mounted between the housing and the protective casing and each have a resilient piece extending upwardly beyond an associated slot for retaining one of the ends of the shackle in a position between the retaining piece and an associated wing.

A lid is mounted between the upper side of the housing and the lock member of the gear lever lock and guided between the racks. The lid comprises a stub extending upwardly beyond the opening of the housing and a resilient engaging element formed on a lateral side thereof for selectively engaging with one of the first and second retaining notches. The lid is movable between a first, closed position at which the resilient engaging element engages with the first retaining notch and the opening of the housing is shielded and a second, open position at which the resilient engaging member engages with the second retaining notch and the opening of the housing is exposed for unlocking.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a gear lever lock assembly comprises a main body, a shackle, a protective casing, and a housing. The main body includes an upper compartment for receiving a lock core therein and a pair of shackle holes. The protective casing encloses the main body and has a pair of second shackle holes in alignment with the shackle holes of the main body.

The housing is mounted on and thus encloses the main body and the protective casing and comprises a pair of shoulders each having a slot defined therein, an upper side with an opening defined therein which aligns with the keyway of the lock core, and a wing extending outwardly from two lateral sides thereof. The upper side of the housing has a pair of spaced racks formed on an inner surface thereof, one of the spaced racks having a first retaining notch and a second retaining notch therein.

The main body further comprises a pair of latch members mounted therein and each having a protrusion, a first operative face, a second operative face, and a recess. The main body further comprises a first elastic member mounted between the latch members for biasing the latch members away from each other, a groove defined therein and extending along a direction transverse to the shackle holes, a stop member received in the groove and having a first side and a second side, a pair of stop pieces projecting outwardly from the first side thereof, and a second elastic member mounted to the second side of the stop member for biasing the stop member toward the latch members. The lock core has a keyway and a pair of actuating pieces for engaging with the recesses of the latch members.

When the lock assembly is in a locked position, each of the two ends of the shackle is received in the associated shackle hole of the main body, the stop pieces of the stop member engage with the second operative faces of the latch members, and the protrusions of the latch members are extended into the shackle holes of the main body under the action of the first elastic member for engaging with the notches of the ends of the shackle, thereby preventing removal of the shackle from the main body.

Preferably, the main body includes a cap mounted thereon to enclose the upper compartment and having a key hole through which a proper key is inserted into the keyway of the lock core.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the Drawings: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gear lever lock assembly in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the gear lever lock in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned top plan view, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3, of the gear lever lock assembly, in which a keyway of the gear lever lock assembly is shielded; FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, in which the keyway of the gear lever lock assembly is exposed; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 7-7 in FIG.8, of the gear lever lock assembly in a locked position; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 9-9 in FIG.10, in which a key is inserted and the gear lever lock assembly is in an unlocked position; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 in FIG. 9 in which a shackle of the gear lever lock assembly is removed; and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1111 in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a gear lever lock assembly in accordance with the present invention generally includes a housing 1, a pair of retaining members 2, a lid 3, a main body 4, a protective casing 2, and a shackle 6.

Referring to FIGs. 1 to 3, the housing 1 includes a pair of spaced shoulders la each having a slot 11 defined by a pair of downwardly extending walls 12 and a pair of lateral walls (not labeled) thereof, thereby receiving an associated retaining member 2. Preferably, the slot 11 has an area slightly less than that of the retaining member 2, and a flange 13 is formed on one of the lateral walls which define the slot 11 to prevent the retaining member 2 from disengaging from the associated slot 11.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the housing 1 further includes an upper side 14 having an inner surface on which a pair of spaced racks 15a and 15b are formed. The rack 15b has a first pair of retaining notches 16a and 16b and a second pair of retaining notches 17a and 17b defined therein. In addition, the housing 1 includes an opening 18 (substantially pear shaped) which aligns with a keyway 422 of a lock core 42.

Still referring to FIGs. 1 to 3, the retaining member 2 includes a resilient piece 21 projecting upwardly therefrom and two spaced legs 22. The spaced legs 22 bear against the walls 12 of the housing 1 and are retained in position by the flange 13 on the associated shoulder la of the housing 1, thereby preventing disengagement of the retaining member 2 and the associated flange 13. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.

3, the resilient piece 21 of each retaining member 2 extends beyond the slot 11 in the associated shoulder la, which will be described in detail later. It is appreciated that the legs 22 of each retaining member 2 rest on an upper side of the lock member 5 of the gear lever lock. Preferably, the retaining member 2 is integrally formed of plastics and metal. The resilient piece 21 in FIG. 1 has an end integral with the retaining member 2, while in an alternative embodiment the resilient piece 21 has two ends thereof integral with the retaining member 2.

The lid 3 is mounted between the housing 1 and the main body 4 enclosed by the protective casing 5, i.e., below the inner surface of the upper side 14 of the housing 1. The lid 3 includes a stub 31 projecting upwardly from an upper side thereof and extending beyond the opening 18 of the housing 1, the purpose of which will be described in detail later. The lid 3 further includes a recess 37 defined in an end thereof and a pair of lateral sides 32 and 33, as shown in FIG. 1. A resilient engaging element, such as a substantially T-shaped section, extends from the lateral side 33 and has two protrusions 34 and 35 respectively formed at two distal ends thereof for selectively engaging with one of the first and second pairs of notches 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b.

It is appreciated that a slit 36 is defined between each of the protrusions 34 and 35 and the lateral side 33, thereby allowing smooth engagement and disengagement between the protrusions 34 and 35 and the associated notches 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b. In particular, the lid 3, upon manual operation on the stud 31, is movable between a first, closed position at which the opening 18 of the housing 1 is shielded by the lid 3 and a second, open position at which the opening 18 of the housing 1 is exposed (by provision of the recess 37) through which a key may be inserted into the keyway of the lock core 42 for unlocking.

Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, when the lock is not in use, two ends of the shackle 6 are respectively securely retained between a wing 19 extending outwardly from the housing 1 and the associated resilient piece 21 which extends beyond the associated slot 11. As the legs 22 of the retaining members 2 are supported by the protective casing 5, disengagements of the retaining members 2 are prevented.

When the lid 3 is in the first, closed position shown in FIG. 5, the protrusions 34 and 35 respectively engage with the retaining notches 16b and 17b, while the opening 18 in the housing 1 is shielded, thereby preventing accumulation of dust etc in the keyway 422 of the lock core 42. When the lid 3 is shifted to the second, open position shown in FIG. 6 (e.g., upon manually holding the stud'31 and moving the lid 3 in a direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6), the protrusions 34 and 35 respectively engage with the notches 16a and 17a, while the recess 37 of the lid 3 aligns with the opening 18 of the housing 1 which, in turn, aligns with the keyway 422 of the lock core 42, allowing a proper key to pass through for unlocking. It is appreciated that the side 32 of the lid 3 contacts with and is thus reliably guided by the rack 15a to avoid nonlinear movement of the lid 3. It is further appreciated that the rack 15b may define only two notches therein while the lid 3 may have only one protrusion thereon to achieve the required positioning function.

By the arrangement of the present invention, the shackle is securely retained in position when not in use, and dust is prevented from entering the lock core of the gear lever lock.

Referring to FIGs. 1, 7, and 8, the main body 4 includes an upper compartment 41 defined therein for receiving the lock core 42 and a cap 43 mounted to enclose the upper compartment 41, thereby preventing removal of the lock core 42. The main body 1 further includes two parallel shackle holes 46 each defined adjacent to two lateral sides thereof for receiving two ends of the shackle 6.

The main body 4 further includes a groove 47 defined therein and extending along a direction transverse to the shackle holes 46. As can be seen in FIGs. 1, 7, and 8, the groove 47 is defined adjacent to an open rear side of the main body 4 for receiving therein a stop member 48 having a pair of stop pieces 481 projecting outwardly from a first side thereof. The protective casing 5 encloses the main body 4 and includes a wall for enclosing the open rear side of the main body 4 such that an elastic means, for example, a pair of springs 49 are mounted between the wall and a second side of the stop member 48 for biasing the stop member 48 away from the wall (i.e., toward two latch members 44 which will be described later). In this embodiment, a fastening member, e.g., a pin 52 is inserted into a pin hole 51 defined in the protective casing 5 and a second pin hole (not labeled) defined in a front side of the main body 4 to secure the protective casing 5 and the main body 4 together. The protective casing 5 further includes two shackle holes 53 in alignment with the shackle holes 46 of the main body 4.

Still referring to FIGs. 1, 7, and 8, the main body 4 further includes two latch members 44 mounted in a mediate portion thereof which communicates with the upper compartment 41. In the mediate portion of the main body 4, a passage 46' (see FIG. 8) is defined in the main body 4 and communicates with an associated shackle hole 46. Each latch member 44 includes a recess 441 defined therein, a first operative face 442, a second operative face 443, and a protrusion 444 which is received in an associated passage 46' and may be extended into an associated shackle hole 46 for engaging with a notch 61 defined in the associated end of the shackle 6. An elastic member, e.g., a spring 45, is mounted between the two latch members 44 for biasing the latch members 44 away from each other.

Still referring to FIGs. 1, 7, and 8, the lock core 42 is received in the upper compartment 41 and has a pair of actuating pieces 421 respectively received in the recesses 441 of the latch members 44 and thus may actuate the latch members 44. When a proper key 7 (FIG. 9) is inserted into the keyway 422 of the lock core 42 and is rotated through a predetermined angle, the actuating pieces 421 urge the latch members 44 to retract to an unlocked position, resulting in disengagements of the protrusions 444 of the latch members 44 from the notches 61 of the shackle 6, thereby allowing the shackle 6 to be removed from the lock assembly.

The lock assembly in FIGs. 7 and 8 is in a locked position in which the two ends of the shackle 6 are respectively received in the shackle holes 46 in the main body 4 with each of the protrusions 444 of the latch members 44 extended into the notch 61 defined in the associated end of the shackle 6 (under the action of the elastic member 45), thereby preventing removal of the shackle 6. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the stop pieces 481 of the stop member 48 engage with the second operative faces 443 of the latch members 44 and the springs 49 are compressed.

Referring now to FIGs. 9 to 11, when a proper key 7 is inserted via a key hole 431 (see FIG. 1) defined in the cap 43 into the keyway 422 of the lock core 42 and is rotated through a predetermined angle, the latch members 44 retract to allow removal of the shackle 6 as the protrusions 444 of the latch members 44 disengage from the notches 61 of the shackle 6, while the stop pieces 481 of the stop member 48, under the action of the springs 49, move to a position shown in FIG. 10 to engage with the first operative faces 442 of the latch members 44, so as to prevent the protrusions 444 of the latch members 44 from extending outwardly into the shackle holes 46, and thereby preventing the lock core 42 from returning to its initial position.

Referring to FIGs. 10 and 11, when the shackle 6 is removed from the main body 4, as described in the above, the stop pieces 481 of the stop member 48 prevent outward extending of the latch members 44 such that the lock core 42 cannot return to its initial position. In particular, as shown in FIG. 11, tumbler pins 423 in the lock core 42 are not aligned such that the key 7 cannot be removed. By such an arrangement, the proper key 7 can only be removed under the condition that the lock assembly is in the locked position, thereby providing a structure for reliably preventing unauthorized access to the gear lever.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A gear lever lock assembly comprising: a main body comprising: an upper compartment defined therein, a pair of shackle holes defined therein, a pair of latch members mounted therein and each having a protrusion, a first operative face, a second operative face, and a recess, a first elastic member mounted between the latch members for biasing the latch members away from each other, a groove defined therein and extending along a direction transverse to the shackle holes, a stop member received in the groove and having a first side and a second side, a pair of stop pieces projecting outwardly from the first side thereof, and a second elastic member mounted to the second side of the stop member for biasing the stop member toward the latch members; a lock core received in the upper compartment of the main body and having a pair of actuating pieces for engaging with the recesses of the latch members and a keyway; a shackle including two ends each having a notch therein; and a protective casing for enclosing the main body and having a pair of second shackle holes in alignment with the shackle holes of the main body; wherein when the lock assembly is in a locked position, each of the two ends of the shackle is received in the associated shackle hole of the main body, the stop pieces of the stop member engage with the second operative faces of the latch members, and the protrusions of the latch members are extended into the shackle holes of the main body under the action of the first elastic member for engaging with the notches of the ends of the shackle, thereby preventing removal of the shackle from the main body; and wherein when the lock assembly is in an unlocked position and the shackle is removed from the main body, the protrusions of the latch members disengage from the notches of the shackles while the stop pieces of the stop member are biased by the second elastic member to engage with the first operative faces of the latch members to prevent outward movements of the latch members, thereby preventing rotational movement of the lock core.

2. The gear lever lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body includes a cap mounted thereon to enclose the upper compartment and having a key hole through which a proper key is inserted into the keyway of the lock core.

3. The gear lever lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a housing mounted on and thus enclosing the main body and the protective casing and comprising a pair of shoulders each having a slot defined therein, an upper side with an opening defined therein which aligns with the keyway of the lock core, and a wing extending outwardly from two lateral sides thereof, the upper side having a pair of spaced racks formed on an inner surface thereof, one of the spaced racks having a first retaining notch and a second retaining notch therein; a pair df retaining members mounted between the housing and the protective casing and each having a resilient piece extending upwardly beyond an associated said slot for retaining one of the ends of the shackle in a position between the retaining piece and an associated said wing; and a lid mounted between the upper side of the housing and the lock member of the gear lever lock and guided between the racks, the lid comprising a stub extending upwardly beyond the opening of the housing and a resilient engaging element formed on a lateral side thereof for selectively engaging with one of the first and second retaining notches, the lid being movable between a first, closed position at which the resilient engaging element engages with the first retaining notch and the opening of the housing is shielded and a second, open position at which the resilient engaging member engages with the second retaining notch and the opening of the housing is exposed for unlocking.

4. A gear lever lock assembly comprising: a main body including an upper compartment for receiving a lock core therein and a pair of shackle holes; a shackle including two ends each having a notch therein; a protective casing for enclosing the main body and having a pair of second shackle holes in alignment with the shackle holes of the main body; a housing mounted on and thus enclosing the main body and the protective casing and comprising a pair of shoulders each having a slot defined therein, an upper side with an opening defined therein which aligns with the keyway of the lock core, and a wing extending outwardly from two lateral sides thereof, the upper side having a pair of spaced racks formed on an inner surface thereof, one of the spaced racks having a first retaining notch and a second retaining notch therein; a pair of retaining members mounted between the housing and the protective casing and each having a resilient piece extending upwardly beyond an associated said slot for retaining one of the ends of the shackle in a position between the retaining piece and an associated said wing; and a lid mounted between the upper side of the housing and the lock member of the gear lever lock and guided between the racks, the lid comprising a stub extending upwardly beyond the opening of the housing and a resilient engaging element formed on a lateral side thereof for selectively engaging with one of the first and second retaining notches, the lid being movable between a first, closed position at which the resilient engaging element engages with the first retaining notch and the opening of the housing is shielded and a second, open position at which the resilient engaging member engages with the second retaining notch and the opening of the housing is exposed for unlocking.

5. The gear lever lock assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main body further comprises: a pair of latch members mounted therein and each having a protrusion, a first operative face, a second operative face, and a recess, a first elastic member mounted between the latch members for biasing the latch members away from each other, a groove defined therein and extending along a direction transverse to the shackle holes, a stop member received in the groove and having a first side and a second side, a pair of stop pieces projecting outwardly from the first side thereof, and a second elastic member mounted to the second side of the stop member for biasing the stop member toward the latch members; the lock core has a pair of actuating pieces for engaging with the recesses of the latch members and a keyway; wherein when the lock assembly is in a locked position, each of the two ends of the shackle is received in the associated shackle hole of the main body, the stop pieces of the stop member engage with the second operative faces of the latch members, and the protrusions of the latch members are extended into the shackle holes of the main body under the action of the first elastic member for engaging with the notches of the ends of the shackle, thereby preventing removal of the shackle from the main body; and wherein when the lock assembly is in an unlocked position and the shackle is removed from the main body, the protrusions of the latch members disengage from the notches of the shackles while the stop pieces of the stop member are biased by the second elastic member to engage with the first operative faces of the latch members to prevent outward movements of the latch members, thereby preventing rotational movement of the lock core.

6. The gear lever lock assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the main body includes a cap mounted thereon to enclose the upper compartment and having a key hole through which a proper key is inserted into the keyway of the lock core.

7. A gear lever lock comprising: shackle receiving means; latch means biased toward a locking position for lockingly engaging shackle means receivable in said lock, said latch means being movable into an unlocked position by projections of a lock core; and retaining means biased toward said latch means such that when shackle means is not fully received in said lock said latch means is engaged by said retaining means and retained in the unlocked position thereby retaining said lock core in an unlocked position.

8. A lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein said retaining means is disengagable from said latch means by full insertion of shackle means into said lock; and said lock core is arranged such that a key adapted for use therewith is removable from said lock core only when said lock core is in the locked position thereof.

9. A housing for a gear lever lock having a lid movable between a first position for closing a key access opening in said housing and a second position for enabling access through said opening.

10. A gear lever lock assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 1 and 7 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.