GB2370070A

GB2370070A - Lock device for automobile

Info

Publication number: GB2370070A
Application number: GB0030882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaieter Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-18
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Also published as: GB0030882D0

Abstract

A lock device for an automobile includes a base (1) having a cylinder (11) for rotatably receiving a lock (2). The base defines a through hole (13) combined with a fixing tube (14). The lock is provided with a key hole for allowing insertion of a correct key for driving a locking piece (22) to extend and contact so that the locking piece is selectively locked in one of the two locking recesses (18; 19) of the base. A drive disk (30) rotated with the lock is provided with a fitting hole (32) for fixing a connecting member (33) which is received in the fixing tube, and the other end of the connecting member is combined with a bolt (34) that can protrude outward from or refract into an end face of the fixing tube by rotation of the drive disk.

Description

LOCK DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE The present invention relates to a lock device for an automobile, and more particularly to a lock device for the gear shift stick or the emergency brake stick of an automobile.

A conventional lock device for a vehicle is provided for preventing or restraining movement of the steering wheel or gear shift stick of the vehicle, and thus occupies a considerable space in the limited space of the vehicle. In addition, use and operation of the lock device are inconvenient. In addition, for installation of the lock device of the gear shift stick, a metal plate secured to the bottom of the vehicle is usually required for supporting the lock device to lock the gear shift stick. Therefore, extra expense is accordingly incurred in addition to troublesome installation of the metal plate.

Another conventional lock device for an automobile in accordance with the prior art comprises a main body fixed adjacent to the gear shift stick or the emergency brake stick of an automobile. The lock core of the lock device is rotated to drive a drive disk to rotate, while the drive disk moves a connecting member which drives a stop rod to protrude outward from a fixing tube to limit movement of the gear shift stick or the emergency brake stick of the automobile. The lock core can be rotated by a correct key to rotate the drive disk which moves the connecting member which moves the stop rod to retract into the fixing tube to release the gear shift stick or the emergency brake stick of the automobile so that the gear shift stick or the emergency brake stick of the automobile can be operated normally.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a lock device for an automobile which has a simplified construction, thereby simplifying the fabrication of the lock device for an automobile.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lock device for an automobile, wherein the lock can prevent a child from freely rotating the lock core of the lock by a key, thereby preventing locking the lock unintentionally.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lock device for an automobile, wherein the lock can be locked without having to use a correct key.

The lock device of the present invention includes a base having one end formed with a cylinder for receiving a lock which is rotated relative to the annular slot of the cylinder by a protruding pin. The base defines a through hole combined with a fixing tube. The lock has one end provided with a key hole for allowing insertion of a correct key for driving a locking piece to extend and contract so that the locking piece is selectively locked in one of the two locking recesses of the base. A drive disk is driven to rotate by the lock, and is provided with a fitting hole for fixing one end of a connecting member which is received in the fixing tube, and the other end of the connecting member is combined with a stop rod that can protrude outward from or retract into the end face of the fixing tube by rotation of the drive disk.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock device for an automobile in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the lock device for an automobile as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lock device for an automobile along line 3-3 as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lock device for an automobile along line 4-4 as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an operational view of the lock device for an automobile as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lock device for an automobile along line 6-6 as shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lock device for an automobile along line 7-7 as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1, a lock device for an automobile in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 1, a lock 2, and a drive disk 3.

The base 1 has one end formed with a circular cylinder 11 which receives the lock 2 therein. The cylinder 11 defines an annular slot 12 whereby a pin 21 fixed on the lock 2 can be locked in the annular slot 12, thereby limiting the lock 2 to rotate relative to the base 1 in a positioning manner and to move with a small distance. The base 1 defines at least one through hole 13 combined with a fixing tube 14. The fixing tube 14 forms a hollow passage, for receiving one end of a connecting member 33, and the other end of the connecting member 33 is combined with a stop rod 34. The stop rod 34 performs a retracting or protruding action as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The base I itself defines a positioning hole 15 which allows a positioning member 16 to combine with an end plate 17. The end plate 17 seals the lock 2 therein. The base 1 also defines two locking recesses 18 and 19 therein, and the two locking recesses 18 and 19 allows insertion of the locking piece 22 of the lock 2, thereby forming the locking positioning when the lock 2 is locked or opened.

The recess wall and the recess opening of the first locking recess 18 are not perpendicular with each other, thereby forming an inclined wall 181 for guiding displacement of the locking piece 22, so that the locking piece 22 of the lock 2 slides by guidance of the inclined wall 181. In addition, the recess wall and the recess opening of the second locking recess 19 are substantially perpendicular with each other, thereby forming a vertical wall, therefore, the second locking recess 19 can be used to limit the locking piece 22.

The lock 2 is received in the cylinder 11 of the base 1, to be rotated relative to the annular slot 12 of the cylinder 11 in a positioning manner by means of a protruding pin 21. After the lock 2 is received in the cylinder 11, the pin 21 passes through the annular slot 12 to combine with the hole 211 defined in the lock 2. The lock 2 has one side end exposed to the cylinder 11 and provided with a key hole (not shown) for allowing insertion of a correct key for driving a locking piece 22 to retract into or protrude outward from the surface of the lock 2. When the lock piece 22 protrudes and is locked in the first locking recess 18 of the base 1, the lock 2 is opened. When the lock piece 22 is locked in the second locking recess 18 of the base 1, the lock 2 is fixed, and cannot be rotated relative to the base 1. The drive disk 3 is combined to the other end of the lock 2. As shown in the figures, the post 23 of the lock 2 is inserted into the combination hole 31 defined in the drive disk 3, so that the drive disk 3 can be driven to rotate by the lock 2. In addition, the annular face of one end of the lock 2 is provided with an embossed portion 24, thereby facilitating the lock 2 being held to rotate.

The drive disk 3 has a side disk face provided with a combination hole 31 for allowing insertion of the post 23 of the lock 2, so that the drive disk 3 can be rotated in concert with the lock 2. The drive disk 3 itself is provided with a fitting hole 32 for allowing insertion of one end of the connecting member 33 which is fixed by a positioning member 35, so that the connecting member 33 locally winds around the periphery of the drive disk 3. The connecting member 33 is a flexible member whose length is constant and fixed, and may be made of a cable or the like. The other end of the connecting member 33 is combined with a stop rod 34 which may be made of a rigid material. Therefore, when the lock 2 is rotated, the drive disk 3 can be driven to rotate with the lock 2. Therefore, the drive disk 3 may pull the connecting member 33, so that the stop rod 34 secured to the other end of the connecting member 33 is capable of protruding outward from the end face of the fixing tube 14 or retracting into the end face of the fixing tube 14 by means of rotation of the drive disk 3. An elastic member 37 is mounted between the end plate 17 and the drive disk 3. By means of pushing action of the elastic member 37, the protrusion 36 protruding from the other side disk face of the drive disk 3 may be locked in the second locking recess 19 of the base 1 when the lock 2 is unlocked so as to prevent a child from rotating the lock core of the lock 2 by a key, thereby preventing locking the lock.

Referring to Figs. 2-4, the insertion end of the lock 2 may be exposed to or protruding from the housing wall of the transmission box for allowing insertion of a correct key. Meanwhile, the locking piece 22 of the lock 2 is locked in the first locking recess 18. Therefore, the distal end of the connecting member 33 fixed to the positioning member 35 is far away from the fixing tube 14, that is, the connecting member 33 has a larger length surrounding the periphery of the drive disk 3. Therefore, the stop rod 34 located at the other end of the connecting member 33 is retracted into the end opening of the fixing tube 14 as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time, the lock 2 is opened, so that the gear shift stick of the automobile can be moved freely.

Referring to Figs. 5-7, when wishing to lock the lock 2, a correct key may be inserted into the lock core of the lock 2, to press the drive disk 3 to detach the protrusion 36 from the second locking recess 19, while the lock core of the lock 2 can be rotated, to detach the locking piece 22 of the lock 2 from the first locking recess 18. Therefore, the lock 2 can be rotated, so that the locking piece 22 of the lock 2 is locked in the second locking recess 19.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, the lock 2 is directly pressed and rotated, to press the drive disk 3 to detach the protrusion 36 from the second locking recess 19, while the locking piece 22 of the lock 2 is directly moved on the inclined wall 181 of the first locking recess 18 to climb and rise. Therefore, the drive disk 3 can be rotated, so that the distal end of the connecting member 33 fixed to the positioning member 35 is adjacent to the fixing tube 14, that is, the connecting member 33 has a smaller length surrounding the periphery of the drive disk 3. Therefore, the stop rod 34 located at the other end of the connecting member 33 protrudes outward from the end face of the fixing tube 14 as shown in Fig. 7. At the same time, the lock 2 is locked, so that the gear shift stick of the automobile cannot be moved.

Accordingly, the lock device of the present invention has a simpler construction, and is conveniently used on the gear shift stick of the automobile to control the locking operation of the gear shift stick of the automobile, and the construction only has a key insertion end protruding from or exposed to the housing surface of the transmission box, thereby preventing from breaking the frame of the automobile. In addition, the protrusion of the drive disk is locked in the locking recess of the base, so as to prevent a child from rotating the lock core of the lock by a key, thereby preventing locking the lock unintentionally. Further, when the driver wishes to lock the lock, the lock can be directly pressed and rotated by the driver's hand to be locked, thereby facilitating the driver employing the lock.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim (s) will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A lock device for an automobile, comprising: a base, having one end formed with a cylinder, the cylinder -defining an annular slot and two locking recesses, the base defining a through hole combined with a fixing tube; a lock, received in the cylinder of the base, to be rotated relative to the annular slot of the cylinder in a positioning manner by means of a protruding pin, the lock having one end provided with a key hole for allowing insertion of a correct key for driving a locking piece to extend and contract, the locking piece being selectively locked in one of the two locking recesses of the base; a drive disk, combined to the other end of the lock, and driven to rotate by the lock, the drive disk provided with a fitting hole for fixing one end of a connecting member, the connecting member received in the fixing tube, the other end of the connecting member combined with a stop rod, the stop rod being made of a rigid material, the stop rod capable of protruding outward from an end face of the fixing tube or retracting into the end face of the fixing tube by means of rotation of the drive disk.

2. The lock device for an automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is closed by an end plate after the drive disk is received in the base.

3. The lock device for an automobile as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drive disk is provided with a protrusion, and an elastic member is mounted between the end plate and the drive disk, the protrusion is locked in one of the two locking recesses of the base when the lock is unlocked.

4. The lock device for an automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the lock is unlocked, the locking recess for allowing locking of the locking piece has an inclined wall, so that the lock can be directly rotated, and the inclined wall can guide the locking piece to climb and rise.