GB2370262A

GB2370262A - A gear lever lock for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2370262A
Application number: GB0031328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaieter Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-21
Filing date: 2000-12-21
Publication date: 2002-06-26
Also published as: GB0031328D0

Abstract

A gear lever lock for a vehicle includes a lock seat (2) having a casing (21) receiving an elastic member (22) and a locking rod (23) that has a shank protruding from a hole (213) in the casing. The casing defines a guide slot (211) and a positioning hole (212). The locking rod pressed by the elastic member is provided with a guide member (232) slidable in the guide slot of the casing. A lockset main body (3) is placed in the casing and includes a locking pag (31) that is extendible out of or retractable into the lockset main body by a key (33). The locking rod is pressed by the lockset main body so that the shank of the locking rod has a larger length protruding outward, and the locking peg of the lockset main body is locked into the positioning hole of the casing.

Description

GEAR LEVER LOCK FOR VEHICLE The present invention relates to a gear lever lock for a vehicle, and more particularly to a gear lever lock that allows replacement of the lockset and the key thereof.

A conventional gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig. 7 comprises a lock core 91 placed in a lock body 92, and covered by an outer housing 93. A correct key may be inserted into the lock core 91 to drive a control pin 94 to move up and down. A rod 95 is mounted on the lock body 92, and is placed in a cylinder 96. The lock body 92 defines a positioning hole 922 for allowing insertion of a positioning pin 923 which is slidable in a guide slot 961 defined in the cylinder 96 for limiting the lock body 92 to move is a determined range. The cylinder 96 defines two positioning holes 962 and 963 whereby the control pin 94 is selectively locked in one of the two positioning holes 962 and 963, thereby locking or opening the gear lever lock.

However, the conventional gear lever lock for a vehicle is fixed at a proper position so that the lock body is integrally fixed. Therefore, when the key is lost, it has to replace the whole lock, thereby causing consumption and increasing the cost. In addition, it is inconvenient and difficult to assemble and dismantle the conventional gear lever lock.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a gear lever lock for an automobile, wherein the lockset main body can be detached from a lock seat to thereby allow replacement of the lockset main body.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a gear lever lock for a vehicle including a lock seat having a casing fixed to a gearbox. The casing receives an elastic member and a locking rod that has a shank protruding outward from a hole defined in the casing. The casing defines a guide slot and a positioning hole. The locking rod is provided with a guide member locked in the guide slot of the casing, and is pressed by the elastic member. A lockset main body is placed in the casing and includes a locking peg that is extendible out of or retractable into the lockset main body by a key.

The locking rod is pressed by the lockset main body so that the shank of the locking rod has a larger length protruding outward, and the locking peg of the lockset main body is locked into the positioning hole of the casing.

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 illustrating use of a gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the gear lever lock for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an operational view of the gear lever lock for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an operational view of the gear lever lock for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a receiving seat of the gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the prior art.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2, a gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a lock seat 2 hidden in a gearbox 1, and a lockset main body 3 that can be locked in the lock seat 2 or placed in a receiving seat 4.

The gearbox 1 is of a conventional design of a vehicle, and a gear lever 11 is provided to control the gear shifting.

The lock seat 2 is combined in an opening 12 defined in a proper position of the gearbox 1, the lock seat 2 includes a casing 21, an elastic member 22, a locking rod 23, and if necessary, an outer housing 24 is provided to receive all of the elements and to be fixed.

The casing 21 is fixed at a proper position, thereby forming a hollow cylinder. The casing 21 has one end formed with an open end, for receiving an elastic member 22 and a locking rod 23 therein, and for receiving the lockset main body 3 therein. The other end of the casing 21 defines a hole 213. The casing 21 defines a guide slot 211 and a positioning hole 212, wherein the guide slot 211 may be used for guide displacement of the locking rod 23, and the positioning hole 212 may be used for allowing insertion of the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3. The hole 213 is used for allowing the locking rod 23 to protrude outward therefrom. The casing 21 defines a guide groove 214 for guiding the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3 conveniently.

The elastic member 22 is placed in the casing 21, and has a first end pressing the'bottom of the casing 21, and a second end pressing the locking rod 23, so that when the pressing force on the locking rod 23 is removed, the locking rod 23 can be returned to its original position.

The locking rod 23 includes a shank having one end provided with an enlarged head 231 with a larger diameter, so that the locking rod 23 can be pressed by the elastic member 22 to return to its original position. The shank of the locking rod 23 protrudes outward from the hole 213 of the casing 21, and it is proper that the locking rod 23 constantly protrude outward from the hole 213 of the casing 21. The locking rod 23 protrudes outward to stop and lock the movement of the gear lever of the automobile so that the gear lever cannot act normally. The enlarged head 231 of the locking rod 23 is provided with a protruding guide member 232 that may be a pin, and can be guided in the guide slot 211 of the casing 21, thereby preventing the locking rod 23 from detaching from the casing 21. Further, the enlarged head 231 of the locking rod 23 defines at least one engaging hole 233, and the lockset main body 3 is provided with at least one engaging member 32, whereby the engaging member 32 may be locked in the engaging hole 233, so that the locking rod 23 can be driven by the lockset main body 3 to rotate.

In addition, the outer housing 24 is mounted on the outer surface of the casing 21 for enhancing the aesthetic quality of the casing 21.

The lockset main body 3 may have the conventional structure as shown in Fig. 7, which is a better lockset main body 3. A proper key 33 may be inserted into the lockset main body 3, so that the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3 may be retracted into the lockset main body 3. When the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3 may be retracted into the lockset main body 3, the lockset main body 3 can be conveniently placed in the casing 21, while the shank of the locking rod 23 has a larger length protrudes outward, whereby when the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3 is locked into the positioning hole 212 of the casing 21, the locking rod 23 has a larger length protrudes outward and is positioned, thereby forming a locking action. The lockset main body 3 has a bottom provided with at least one protruding engaging member 32 that may be locked in the engaging hole 233 defined in the locking rod 23. Therefore, the locking rod 23 can be rotated with the lockset main body 3.

Referring to Figs. I and 6, when the lockset main body 3 is not in use, it can be received in a receiving seat 4 that is fixed at one side of the gearbox I in the automobile. The receiving seat 4 may be a cylinder, thereby facilitating storing the lockset main body 3. The receiving seat 4 defines a guide slot 41, thereby allowing passage of the locking peg 31 of the lockset main body 3. The guide slot 41 has a distal end defining a retaining notch 42, so that the locking peg 31 may pass through and lock into the retaining notch 42. The receiving seat 4 has an inner bottom provided with a stub 43, and an elastic member 45 has a first end secured on the stub 43, and a second end pressing a cap 46 that is urged on the bottom of the lockset main body 3. Therefore, when the lockset main body 3 is received in the receiving seat 4, the lockset main body 3 will not detach from the receiving seat 4. The receiving seat 4 is received in a decorative housing 44, for enhancing the aesthetic quality of the receiving seat 4. The receiving seat 4 has an outer surface provided with at least one hook 47.

The decorative housing 44 has an inner wall defining at least one guide channel 48, and a snapping member 49 is provided in the guide channel 48, so that when the receiving seat 4 is received in the decorative housing 44, the hook 47 is snapped in the guide channel 48 by the snapping member 49. The decorative housing 44 may be fixed to one side of the gearbox 1 in the automobile by a positioning member 40 such as a bolt or the like.

Referring to Fig. 3, when the lockset main body 3 is separated from the lock seat 2, the locking rod 23 is pressed by the elastic member 22, so that the shank of the locking rod 23 is not on the way of the gear lever 11, thereby allowing the gear shifting.

Referring to Fig. 4, when the lockset main body 3 is inserted into the lock seat 2, the locking rod 23 is moved to a position preventing movement of the gear lever 11 with the locking peg 31 being engaged in the positioning hole 212 of the casing 21. Thus, the locking rod 23 is fixed in place to thereby lock the gear lever 11 in place.

Referring to Fig. 5, when unlocking is required, a proper key 33 is inserted into the lockset main body 3 and is rotated, so that the locking peg 31 is retracted and thus disengaged from the positioning hole 212 of the casing 21.

The lockset main body 3 is then removed from the casing 21 as shown in Fig. 3.

As a result, the locking rod 23 is moved out of the way of the gear lever 11.

Accordingly, the gear lever lock for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes separate elements such that the elements may be replaced when required. When the key is lost, a new lockset main body can be used without discarding the whole gear lever 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

1. A gear lever lock for a vehicle comprising : a lock seat, including a casing fixed to a gearbox, the casing receiving an elastic member and a locking rod therein, and the locking rod having a shank protruding outward from a hole defined in an end face of the casing, the casing defining a guide slot and a positioning hole, the locking rod provided with a guide member locked in the guide slot of the casing, the locking rod pressed by the elastic member; and a lockset main body, placed in the casing, including a locking peg that is extendible out of or retractable into the lockset main body by a key, the locking rod pressed by the lockset main body so that the shank of the locking rod has a larger length protruding outward, and the locking peg of the lockset main body is locked into the positioning hole of the casing.

2. A gear lever lock for a vehicle comprising: a lock seat, including a casing fixed to a gearbox, the casing receiving an elastic member and a locking rod therein, and the locking rod having a shank protruding outward from a hole defined in an end face of the casing, the casing defining a guide slot and a positioning hole, the locking rod provided with a guide member locked in the guide slot of the casing, the locking rod pressed by the elastic member; a lockset main body, placed in the casing, including a locking peg that is extendible out of or retractable into the lockset main body by a key, the locking rod pressed by the lockset main body so that the shank of the locking rod having a larger length protruding outward, and the locking peg of the lockset main body is locked into the positioning hole of the casing; and a receiving seat, fixed at a proper position in the vehicle, for receiving the lockset main body.

3. The gear lever lock for a vehicle as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the casing is received in an outer housing, and the outer housing is fixed at a proper position in the vehicle.

4. The gear lever lock for a vehicle as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the locking rod has an enlarged head defining at least one engaging hole, the lockset main body is provided with at least one engaging member, the engaging member may be locked in the engaging hole, so that the locking rod can be driven by the lockset main body to rotate.

5. The gear lever lock for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving seat defines a guide slot, and the guide slot has a distal end defining a retaining notch, the locking peg may pass through and lock into the guide slot and the retaining notch.

6. The gear lever lock for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receiving seat is received in a decorative housing, the receiving seat has an outer surface provided with at least one hook, the decorative housing has an inner wall defining at least one guide channel, a snapping member provided in the guide channel, so that when the receiving seat is received in the decorative housing, the hook is snapped in the guide channel.

7. The gear lever lock for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receiving seat has an inner bottom provided with a stub, an elastic member having a first end secured on the stub, and a second end pressing a cap.

8. A gear lever lock for a vehicle herein particularly described with reference to the drawings and as illustrated in the drawings.