GB2459042A

GB2459042A - Steering lock apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2459042A
Application number: GB0906245A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daisuke Tanioka
Original assignee: U Shin Ltd
Current assignee: U Shin Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-09
Filing date: 2009-04-09
Publication date: 2009-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-09
Also published as: GB2459042B; GB0906245D0; JP4629751B2; JP2009248843A

Abstract

A steering lock apparatus in which inner portions of a housing 10 and a housing cover 11 are provided with a lock bolt 12 which is movable between a lock position at which the lock bolt 12 is engaged with a steering shaft, and an unlock position at which the engagement is released, an auxiliary lock member 27 which is energized by an energizing force of an energizing member from a non-engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 does not engage with the lock bolt 12 at the lock position toward an engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 engages with the lock bolt 12, and a stopper member 43 which engages with the auxiliary lock member 27 so as to hold the auxiliary lock member 27 at the non-engaged position. The stopper member 43 is arranged so as to be movable between an inhibition position at which the stopper member 43 engages with the auxiliary lock member 27 and a release position at which the engagement is released. A hold member 47 which engages with the stopper member 43 so as to hold the stopper member 43 at the inhibition position is provided. The hold member 47 is detachably installed to an inner face of the housing or the housing cover. The hold member 47 may be installed on a spring which also energizes the lock bolt 12 in the steering shaft direction.

Description

STEERING LOCK APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a steering lock apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

It often happens that a housing cover of a motor-driven steering lock apparatus is detached by a person who intends to steal a vehicle, and a lock bolt is falsely operated to release an engagement with a steering shaft.

In order to prevent a stealing behavior, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-120695 discloses a structure in which an auxiliary lock member is engaged with a lock bolt by an energizing force of a spring so as to hold the lock bolt at a lock position, in a case where a housing cover is detached.

However, in this structure, for example, if only a rear portion of the lock bolt of the housing cover is broken without detaching the housing cover, the lock pin is not activated, and there is a risk that the lock bolt is falsely operated from the broken hole.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

An obj ect of the present invention is to provide a steering lock apparatus with antitheft function which can be prepared for a breakage of a housing cover.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

A steering lock apparatus includes: a housing having one end opening; a housing cover closing the opening of the housing; a lock bolt which is movable between a lock position at which the lock bolt is engaged with a steering shaft, and an unlock position at which the engagement is released; an auxiliary lock member energized by an energizing force of an energizing member from a non-engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member does not engage with the lock bolt at the lock position toward an engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member engages with the lock bolt; a stopper member engaging with the auxiliary lock member so as to hold the auxiliary lock member at the non-engaged position; and the lock bolt, the auxiliary lock member and the stopper member being provided in inner portions of the housing and the housing cover, wherein the stopper member is arranged so as to be movable between an inhibition position at which the stopper member engages with the auxiliary lockmember and a release position at which the engagement is released, and a hold member engaging with the stopper member so as to hold the stopper member at the inhibition position is provided, and wherein the hold member is detachably installed to an inner face of the housing or the housing cover.

In this configuration, since the hold member engaging with the stopper member so as to hold the stopper member at the inhibition position is detachably installed to the inner face of the housing or the housing cover, it is possible to arrange the stopper member so as to be movable between the inhibition positionatwhichthestoppermemberisengagedwiththeauxiliary lock member and the release position at which the engagement is released With this configuration, the stopper member is engaged with the auxiliary lock member and is held at the non-engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member is not engaged with the lock bolt at the lock position in a normal manner.

In a case where the steering lock apparatus is broken, the hold member is detached from the inner face of the housing or the housing cover, and can not hold the stopper member at the inhibition position. As a result, the stopper member moves to the release position at which the engagement with the auxiliary lock member is released, and the auxiliary lock member in which the engagement with the stopper member is released is energized by the energizing force of the energizing member, and is engaged with the lock bolt at the lock position.

Preferably, the hold member is installed to a spring attaching portion receiving the other end side of a spring in which one end side comes into contact with the lock bolt side so as to energize the lock bolt in the steering shaft direction.

In this configuration, the hold member is provided to the spring attaching member, eliminating the need for further providing a member installing the hold member.

Preferably, the hold member includes an installation portion installed to an installation step portion provided in the inner face of the housing or the housing cover by a restoring force, and a support portion engaging with the stopper member.

Withthis configuration, it ispossible to install theholdmernber to the installation step portion provided in the inner face of the housing or the housing cover by a restoring force. Further, since the hold member has the support portion, the hold member can engage with the stopper member so as to support.

Preferably, the hold member is detached from the installation stepportion, whereby the hoidmember is contracted so as to move the support portion, and release the engagement between the support portion and the stopper member. with this configuration, once the hold member is detached from the installation step portion, the hold member contracts and then the support portion moves when the restoring force acts on the holdmember, whereby the structure may be made such as to release the engagement between the support portion and the stopper member.

Preferably, the housing or the housing cover is provided with a receiving portion supporting the support portion of the holdmernber, and the hold member is detached from the installation step portion, whereby the hold member is contracted so as to move the support portion of the hold member, and release the engagementbetweenthe supportportionandthe receivingportion.

With this configuration, the engagement between the support portion of the hold member and the receiving portion provided in the housing or the housing cover is released after the hold member is detached from the installation step portion so as to sufficiently contract.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, since the hold member is detachably installed to the inner face of the housing or the housing cover, the hold member can be detached to release the hold of the stopper member by a breaking work (for example, adrillingbyadrill) fromtheexternalportion, andit ispossible to actuate the stopper member and the auxiliary member.

Accordingly, even in a case where the housing or the housing cover is partly broken, it is possible to hold the lock bolt at the lock position, and it is possible to further improve the antitheft function.

Further, since the hold member holding the stopper member is provided, it is possible to improve a degree of freedom for setting the actuating point (the fixed position of the hold member) of the auxiliary lock mechanism.

Further, it is possible to effectively operate against the attack intending to remove the spring energizing the lock bolt.

Further, since the hold member is structured such as to be attached to the installation step portion provided in the inner surface of the housing cover by the restoring force, it is possible to easily install the hold member.

Further, since the structure is made such as to release the engagement with the stopper member by utilizing the contraction caused by the restoring force of the hold member, it is possible to more securely actuate the stopper member and the auxiliary lock member.

Further, since the receiving portion supporting the support portion of the holdmember is provided, the holding force with respect to the stopper member of the hold member can be enlarged. Further, sincethestructureismadesuchastorelease the engagement between the support portion of the hold member and the receiving portion by utilizing the contraction force of the hold member, it is possible to more securely release the fixation of the hold member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a steering lock apparatus a lock state in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lock apparatus; Fig. 3 is an explodedperspective viewof the lock apparatus as seen from another angle; Fig. 4 is an explodedperspectiveviewof the lock apparatus as seen from still another angle; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock apparatus with a housing cover detached, as seen from a bottom face; Fig. 6 is an exploded cross sectional view showing a structure of an auxiliary lock mechanism; Fig. 7 is a view of a state that a hold member is installed to a spring attaching shaft of the housing cover; Figs. SA and 8B show the steering lock apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 8A is a cross sectional view showing a lock state, and Fig. 83 is a cross sectional view showing a state after being exposed to an impact from a rearward side of the spring attaching shaft of the housing cover in the lock state; Figs. 9AandgBshowasteeringlockapparatus inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 9A is a cross sectional view showing a lock state, and Fig. 93 is a cross sectional view showing a state after being exposed to an impact from a rearward side of the spring attaching shaft of the housing cover in the lock state; and Figs. 1OA and lOB show a steering lock apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, inwhich Fig. lOAis across sectional view showinga lock state, and Fig. lOB is a cross sectional view showing a state after being exposed to an impact from a rearward side of the spring attaching shaft of the housing cover in the lock state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EBODTh'IENTS

A description will be given below of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 4 show a steering lock apparatus (hereinafter, refer to as "lock apparatus") in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The lock apparatus is arranged around a steering shaft rotating in accordance with a rotating operation of a steering (not shown), and operates in conjunction with an operation of a push switch or a card key for starting or stopping an engine or the like. Engagement concave portions are formed at predetermined positions in a peripheral direction in the steering shaft, in the same manner as the conventional one. -The lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is provided with a housing 10 having one end opening and a housing cover 11, and is structured by arranging a lock bolt 12, an electric motor 13 corresponding to an actuator, and a transmissionmechanismin innerportionthereof, andarranging an auxiliary lock mechanism regulating a forward and backward movement of the lock bolt 12. Further, there is arranged a control board 14 controlling the electric motor 13 based on a forward position of the lock bolt 12.

The housing 10 is constructed by a rectangular container in which one end is opened, and is structured such that a board arranging portion 15 is formed in one side and a lock mechanism arranging portion 16 is formed in the other side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The board arranging portion 15 is structured such as to arrange the electric motor 13 and the control board 14 for controlling, and a concave portion 17 extending along an outer shape of the electric motor 13 is formed in a closed surface thereof. Further, the board arranging portion 15 is provided with a boss 19 for screwing and fixing a motor cover 18 for positioning the electric motor 13, and a boss 20 for screwing and fixing the housing cover 11. Further, the board arranging portion 15 is provided with a notch portion 34 for exposing a connector 21 for an electric connection in a side wall positioned in an opposite side to the lock mechanism arranging portion 16.

The lock mechanism arranging portion 16 is structured such as to arrange the lock bolt 12 and the transmission mechanism, and is provided with a protruding portion 22 protruding in a direction opposite to the open end. The protruding portion 22 is provided with a lock bolt insertion hole 23 penetrating along an attaching direction of the housing cover 11. Further, the lock mechanism arranging portion 16 is provided with a first support convex portion 25 protruding inward so as to form an annular shape around the lock bolt insertion hole 23 and rotatably supporting a rotating member 24 mentioned below, around the lock bolt insertion hole 23.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the protruding portion 22 of the lock mechanism arranging portion 16 is provided with a through hole 26 extending in parallel to the lock bolt insertion hole 23 corresponding to an attaching direction of the housing cover 11. Further, the through hole 26 is provided with an auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 for fitting an auxiliary lock member 27 to an auxiliary lock cover 28 so as to arrange in such a manner as to be concaved inward from an outer face side, in a leading end portion of the protruding portion 22 corresponding to a leading end of the cover attaching direction. Further, the lock mechanism arranging portion 16 is provided with an auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 inserting the auxiliary lock member 27 so as to be movable forward and backward, between the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 corresponding to a leading end of the cover attaching direction of the through hole 26 and the lock bolt insertion hole 23. The auxiliary lock member insertion hole is constructed by a groove provided in such a manner as to extend from a leading end of the protruding portion 22 toward a bottom of the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29. The auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 is provided with a guide groove 31 in such a manner as to be positioned in both sides of the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30, and locking grooves 32 are further provided in both sides of the guide groove 31.

The housing cover 11 is structured such as to close the opening of the housing 10, and is provided with a screw insertion hole 33 at a position corresponding to the boss 20. The housing cover 11 isprovidedinaprotrudingrnannerwitha support portion which is positioned within the notch portion 34 and supports an outer peripheral portion of the connector 21. Further, an annular second support convex portion 36 rotatably supporting the other end of the rotating member 24 is provided at a position corresponding to the first support convex portion 25 of the lock mechanism arranging portion 16. An inner peripheral surface of the second support convex portion 36 is provided with lock bolt guide grooves 37 extending along an axial direction at a predetermined interval in a peripheral direction. A lock bolt guide groove 37 facing to a holding portion 38 mentioned below of the housing cover 11 is provided continuously with an installation groove 39 in such a manner that an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion of the second support convex portion 36 corresponding to the lock bolt guide groove 37 penetrate.

Further, a center of the second support convex portion 36 is provided in a protruding manner with a spring attaching shaft (a spring attaching portion) 41 outwardly fitting a spring 40 that energizes the lock bolt 12 in a forward moving direction so as to install it. The spring attaching shaft 41 is structured such as to protrude from the housing cover 11, has a conical table provided with a columnar installation step portion 42 in its base end, the spring attaching shaft 41 being formed as such a shape that a column is integrally formed coaxially thereon.

Further, the holding portion 38 is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole 26 of the housing 10 in the housing cover 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7. The holding portion 38 is constructed by an approximately rectangular tube-shaped third support convex portion 45 including a holding hole 44 holding, in its inner portion, an end portion close to the housing cover 11 of a stopper member 43 mentioned below so as tobemovable intheaxialdirection. The third support convex portion 45 is provided with a groove 46 communicating with the holding hole 44 while passing through both side walls, at a position in which a straight line being approximately parallel to a longitudinal direction of the housing cover 11 and connecting the installation groove 39 and the holding portion 38 intersects the third support convex portion 45. Further, in an inner face of the housing cover 11, there is formed a groove 48 having a larger width than a diameter of a linear cross section of a hold member 47 mentioned below, and provided continuously from the installation groove 39 of the second support convex portion 36 to the groove 46of the thirdsupportconvexportion45. Further, thehousingcover 11 isprovidedwithawailportion 49positioned in an inner face of an outer wall of the lock mechanism arranging portion 16, in an end edge corresponding to the lock mechanism arranging portion 16.

Thelockboltl2hasasquarepoleshapewhichcanbeinserted to the lock bolt insertion hole 23, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, andtheupperendofthelockbolt 12 isprovidedwithanengagement convex portion 50 which is inserted and locked to an engagement concave portion of the steering shaft. The lock bolt 12 is moved in such a manner as to move forward and backward between a lock position at which the lock bolt 12 is moved forward to the steering shaft side so as to be engaged with the engagement concave portion and an unlock position at which the lock bolt 12 is moved backward to release the engagementby the electric motor 13 via the transmissionmechanism. Further, inacasewhere the engagement convex portion 50 does not come into line with the engagement concave portion in the peripheral direction, it is energized in the forward moving direction by the spring 40, and if the engagement convex portion 50 comes into line therewith, it is moved forward by the energizing force so as to be engaged. The lock bolt 12 in accordance with the present embodiment is structured such as to be driven forward and backward via an independent cam member 51 corresponding to a driven member, and an installationconvexportion 52 is protrudedina lowerportion for coupling the caminernber 51. The installation convex portion 52 has a rectangular cross sectional shape, and is provided with a coupling hole 53 over an opposing surface positioned in an orthogonal direction with respect to the axial direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lock bolt 12 is provided with a lock receiving portion 54 constructed by a concave notched groove at a position corresponding to the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 of the housing 10, in a state that the engagement convex portion 50 is engaged with the engagement concave portion of the steering shaft.

The cam member 51 has an approximately columnar shape in which its lower portion is arranged within the second support convex portion 36 of the housing cover 11, and its upper portion is arranged in an inner portion of the rotating member 24. An outer peripheral portion of a lower end of the cam member 51 is provided with guide convex portions 55 inserted to the lock bolt guide grooves 37 of the second support convex portion 36 at a predetermined interval in the peripheral direction.

Further, the cam member 51 is provided with a through hole 56 penetrating over upper and lower ends along an axis corresponding to the forward and backward moving direction of the lock bolt 12. The through hole 56 has a rectangular shape in which its upper portion comes into line with the installation convex portion 52, and is provided with a coupling hole 58 passing the coupling pin 57 therethrough at a position corresponding to the coupling hole 53. Further, a lower portion of the through hole 56 has a conical shape inserting the spring attaching shaft 41 thereto. An end portion of the spring 40 is positioned by an end face of the lock bolt 12 installed to an upper portion of the through hole 56.

Further, an outer peripheral portion of the cam member 51 is provided with a pair of cam grooves 59 whirling so as to form a spiral shape and concaved as an approximately semicircular shape in such a manner as to oppose in a diametrical direction.

The cam groove 59 is structured such as to convert a rotation power of the rotating member 24 into a linear motion of the lock bolt 12 via the cam member 51. The cam groove 59 is structured such that a predetermined region in one (lower) end is previously set as a lock region of the steering shaft, and a predetermined region in the other (upper) end is previously set as an unlock region of the steering shaft by the lock bolt 12. Further, a forward and backward moving speed of the lock bolt 12 is set based on an angle of incline between the lock region and the unlock region.

The electric motor 13 is a power source for moving the lock bolt 12, and is arranged in the board arranging portion of the housing 10 via the motor cover 18. The electric motor 13 can carry out a forward rotating actuation that moves forward the lock bolt 12, and a reverse rotating actuation that moves backwardthe lockbolt 12, andanoutput shaft thereof isprovided with a worm 60 corresponding to a screw gear in which a spiral gear tooth (not shown) is formed along an axial direction on its outer peripheral surface.

The motor cover 18 is provided with a concave portion 61 in a side facing to the housing cover 11 at a time of attaching the motor cover 18, at a position corresponding to the through hole 26 of the housing 10, in the attaching direction of the housing cover 11. A bottom face of the concave portion 61 is provided with a through hole 62 having a magnitude at which the through hole does not interfere with the stopper member 43, and a spring holding portion 63 having a flange is formed around the through hole 62.

The transmission mechanism is structured such as to transmit the driving force of the electric motor 13 to the lock bolt 12 via the cam member 51 so as to move the lock bolt 12 between the lock position and the unlock position, and includes the cam groove 59 provided in the cam member 51, the rotating.

member 24 in which the cam member 51 is arranged in its inner portion so as tobemovable forwardandbackward, andacamfollower 64 arranged between the rotating member 24 and the cam member 51.

The rotating member 24 has a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter which is somewhat larger than the cam member 51, and is supported so as to be rotatable in the peripheral direction without being moved in the axial direction, in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the housing 10 and the housing cover 11. Specifically, the rotating member 24 is provided with an inward fitting portion 65 fitting to an inner peripheral portion of the first support convex portion 25 in its one (upper) end, and is provided with an outward fitting portion 66 fitting to an outer peripheral portion of the upper support convex portion 36 in its other (lower) end. Further, an upper portion of the rotating member 24 is provided with a worm wheel portion 67 protruding an L-shaped cross sectional shape from the lower portion of the first support convex portion 25 to an outer peripheral portion in a state that the inner fitting portion is inwardly fitted to the first support convex portion 25, and forming a plurality of helical teeth (not shown) extending along the axial direction in its outer peripheral portion. The worm wheel 67 is engaged with the teeth of the worm 60 arranged in such a manner as to extend in a tangential direction in an attached state to the housing 10, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby rotating the rotating member 24 around the axis. Further, a fitting groove 68 that fits the first support convex portion is formed with respect to the inward fitting portion 65 by the worm wheel portion 67. A lower portion of the worm wheel portion 67 is provided with a switch cam groove 69 for detecting the forward moving position of the lock bolt 12 via the rotating member 24. Further, an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member 24 is provided with a pair of vertical grooves 70 extending upward along the axial direction from an inside end portion positioned in an upper side of the outer fitting portion 66 and concaved as an approximately semicircular shape in such a manner as to oppose in a diametrical direction.

The cam follower 64 is constructed by a spherical steel ball, and is arranged in the vertical groove 70 of the rotating member 24, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, if the rotating member 24 is rotated ma state that aportionprotruding from the vertical groove 70 is fitted to the cam groove 59 of the cam member 51, the vertical groove 70 is rotated in the peripheral direction, thereby sliding along the cam groove 59 of the cam member 51 regulated non-rotatably, and moving forward and backward the lock bolt 12 along the rotating axis of the rotating member 24 via the cam member 51.

The auxiliary lock mechanism is structured such as to regulate the forward and backward movement of the lock bolt 12 in a state that the housing 10 of the lock apparatus is disassembled (broken), and prevent an unfair unlocking. The auxiliary lock mechanism includes an auxiliary lock unit having the auxiliary lockmember27 and the auxiliary lock cover 28, the stoppermember 43, the spring 71 and the hold member 47.

The auxiliary lock member 27 is arranged in the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 of the housing 10 as an auxiliary lock unit via the auxiliary lock cover 28.

The auxiliary lock member 27 is structured so as to be movable from an engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 is engaged with the lock bolt 12 at the lock position and the auxiliary lock member 27 can not be operated through the through hole 26, to a non-engaged position at which the engagement with the lock bolt 12 is released and the auxiliary lock member 27 can be operated through the through hole 26. The auxiliary lock member 27 has an approximately C-shaped cross sectional shape having a pair of upper and lower frames 27a and 27b extending in the forward and backward direction, and a front frame 27c coupling them, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The auxiliary lock member 27 is structured such that the front frame 27c side comes to a front side in the forward moving direction, and the front frame 27c is provided with a locking convex portion 72 protruding forward in the forward moving direction. Further, the front frame 27c of the auxiliary lock member 27 is provided with a notch portion 73 corresponding to a thickness of a lower portion of the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 constructed by the groove of the housing 10, in suchamanner as tobe positioned in a lower side of the locking convex portion 72. Further, the auxiliary lockmember 27 is provided with a lockedgroove portion locking to a locking groove portion 74 of a stopper member 43 mentioned below, in a lower edge of the lower frame 27b positioned close to the through hole 26. Further, the auxiliary lock member 27 is provided with a spring receiving portion 76 bent sideward, in a bottom of a groove between the upper and lower frames 27a and 27b. The spring receiving portion 76 serves as a stopper in which a rear face in the forward direction receives an end portion of a spring 77 and a front face in the forward direction comes into contact with the side portion of the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 of the housing 10.

The auxiliary lock cover 28 is structured, as shown in Fig. 1, such as to be assembled in the housing 10 in a state that the auxiliary lock member 27 can move forward with respect to the lock bolt 12. The auxiliary lock cover 28 has a square shape which is larger in a plan view shape than the through hole 26, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, and is provided with a first communication portion 78 that is penetrating and communicates with the through hole 26. At the non-engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 is not engaged with the lock bolt 12, the lower frame 27b forming the locked groove portion 75 corresponding to a part of the auxiliary lock member 27 is positioned inside the first communication portion 78 in a state that the lower frame 27b can be operated through the through hole 26, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, at the engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 is engaged with the lock bolt 12, a part of the auxiliary lock member 27 is positioned withinthefirstcominunicationportion78, however, ispositioned in a state that the part of the auxiliary lock member 27 can not be operated through the through hole 26, as shown in Fig. 8B. The structuremaybemade such that the auxiliary lockmernber 27 is not positioned within the first communication portion 78, by setting dimensions of the upper and lower frames 27a and 27b or setting a dimension of the first communication portion 78.

Further, the auxiliary lock cover 28 is provided with a second communication portion 79 extending in an orthogonal direction with respect to a penetrating direction (a leading end in the cover attaching direction) of the first communication portion 78, communicating with the lock bolt insertion hole 23 from the first communication portion 78 via the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 of the housing 10, and performing an operation guiding the auxiliary lock member 27. The second communication portion 79 is constructed by a hole formed as an identical rectangular shape as a dimension over upper and lower edges of the upper and lower frames 27a and 27b of the auxiliary lock member 27.

Further, the auxiliary lock cover 28 is provided with a spring arranging portion 80 communicating with the first and second communication portions 78 and 79 and energizing the auxiliary lockmember 27 in the forwardmovingdirection engaging the auxiliary lock member 27 with the lock bolt 12. The spring arranging portion 80 has a rectangular shape which is slightly larger than the spring receiving portion 76 of the auxiliary lock member 27, and accommodates the spring receiving portion 76 that moves forward and backward in a movable state. Further, the springarrangingportion8O isprovidedinaprotrudingmanner withacylindrical springinstallationportion8l insuchamanner as to be positioned in a rear side in the energizing direction of the auxiliary lockmember 27. Aspring (anenergizingmember) 77 corresponding to an energizing means arranged in the spring arranging portion 80 is formed at an outer diameter which does not protrude into the communicated first communication portion 78. Since the spring arranging portion 80 structured as mentioned above is provided in such a manner as to be adjacent in the orthogonal direction to the through hole direction of the first communication portion 78, the spring arrangingportion is in a position which is not visible at all through the through hole 26.

Further, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary lock cover 28 is provided with a guide projection 82 protruding into the guide groove 31 of the housing 10 so as to intend to guide in an installing direction and position in an installed state, at open ends of the second communication portion 79 and the spring arranging portion 80 which are positioned close to the through hole 26 with respect to the housing 10. Further, both sides of the guide projection 82 are provided with an elastic locking portion 83 that locks to the locking groove 32 of the housing and intends to lock the auxiliary lock cover 28 in the installed state.

The stopper member 43 is provided in such a manner as to pass through the through hole 26 of the housing 10 between the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 of the housing 10 and the housing cover 11, and is arranged so as to be movable in an axial direction between an inhibition position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 is engaged so as to hold the auxiliary lockrnember27 at the non-engagedposition, andareleaseposition at which the engagement with the auxiliary lock member 27 is released. The stopper member 43 has a columnar shape as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and is provided with a spring holding portion 84 in a portion positioned close to the housing cover 11 of the motor cover 18. The spring holding portion 84 is constructed by a flange. The stopper member 43 is chamfered in such a manner that a portion positioned within the through hole 26 in the attached state has an approximately rectangular cross sectional shape, and a protruding dimension thereof is formed such that a leading end passes through the through hole 26 so as to be positioned within the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 positioned in the leading end in the cover attaching direction.

Further, a locking groove portion 74 is provided in a surface which is positioned in an opposite side with respect to the lock bolt insertion hole 23 in the installed state. An end portion close to the housing cover 11 in the stopper member 43 is held by the holding portion 38 provided in the housing cover 11, and has an approximately rectangular cross sectional shape. A portion from the spring holding portion 84 of the stopper member 43 to the end portion close to the housing cover 11 is constructed by the columnar shape having the approximately rectangular cross sectional shape.

The spring 71 is provided in a direction breaking the stopper member 43 away from the auxiliary lock member 27, that is, in such a manner as to energize the stopper member 43 from the inhibition position toward the release position. One end of the spring 71 is held to the spring holding portion 63 of the motor cover 18 and the other end thereof is held to the spring holding portion 84 of the stopper member 43.

The hold member 47 is formed by a metal wire having an elasticity, and is provided with an installation portion 85 and asupportportion86. The installationportion85has an annular shape (Fig. 7) having a cutout, and is structured such as to be deformable in a direction that the diameter is enlarged by expanding from a center thereof, and the shape is returned (contracted) to the original diameter by the elasticity (the restoring force) of the metal wire if the deformed state in which the diameter is expanded is released. The support portion 86 is provided with a liner portion which is positioned on a plane forming an annular portion of the installation portion 85 and is formed continuously from an end portion of the installation portion 85. The end of the linear portion is provided with a fulcrum point portion 87 spaced apart by a predetermined length from the installation portion 85. At the fulcrum point portion 87, the support portion 86 is first bent in a direction which is orthogonal to the plane that forms the annular portion of the installation portion 85, and is further bent at a position having a predetermined length from the fulcrum point portion 87. Further, it is structured such as to have an end portion extended in such a manner as to become parallel to the linear portion in a direction detaching from the installation portion 85. In the supportportion 86, a length of each of thepositions is set in such a manner as to be engaged with the end surface close to the housing cover 11 of the stopper member 43 that exists at the inhibition position, in a state that the installation portion 85 is installed to the installation step portion 42 of the spring attaching shaft 41.

The control board 14 controls the actuation of the electric motor 13, and is mounted a micro switch 88 for detecting the forward moving position of the lock bolt 12 via the rotating member 24, and a connector 21 for connecting to a main microcomputer (ECU) mounted to the vehicle. Since the lock bolt 12 moves forward and backward along with the rotation of the rotating member 24 so that the micro switch 88 is turned on or off by the switch cam groove 69 of the rotating member 24, the forward moving position of the lock bolt 12 can be determined by the on and off state of the micro switch 88. Further, the connector 21 in accordance with the present embodiment is structured such that the connector 21 does not protrude from the housing 10 in the assembled state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent electric parts mounted to the control board 14 from being broken, by an application of an impact to the connector 21. Further, since the position of the connector 21 is formed as the concaved state in the housing 10, it is possible to improve an assembling workability at a time of manually connecting the other end connector to the lock apparatus attached in a narrow space.

when assembling the lock apparatus having the structure mentioned above, the lock bolt 12 integrally coupled to the cam member 51 and the cam follower 64 are assembled with respect to the rotating member 24, and thereafter these are arranged in the lock mechanism arranging portion 16 of the housing 10 (refer to Fig. 5) Next, the electric motor 13 is arranged with respect to the housing 10, thereafter the motor cover 18 is arranged, and themotor cover 18 is screwedandfixedwith respect to the housing 10. Thereafter, the control board 14 is arranged in such a manner as to be positioned in an outer side of the motor cover 18, and the control board 14 is screwed and fixed with respect to the housing 10.

Further, the spring 77 is arranged in the spring arranging portion 80 of the auxiliary lock cover 28, and the auxiliary lock member 27 is inserted into the second communication portion 79 in such a manner that the spring receiving portion 76 is positioned within the spring arranging portion 80. Further, the auxiliary lock cover 28 is arranged in the auxiliary lock unit arranging portion 29 of the housing 10 in a state that the auxiliary lock member 27 is moved backward (immersed) into the auxiliary lock cover 28 against the energizing force of the spring 77. The assembling work of the auxiliary lock mechanism may be carried out before assembling the rotating member 24, the cam member 51, the lock bolt 12, the cam follower 64 and the electric motor 13.

Finally, the spring 40 is attached to the spring attaching shaft 41, the installation portion 85 is elongated against the restoring force of the installationportion S5of the holdmernber 47 to attach the installation portion 85 to the installation step portion 42, and then the housing cover 11 is installed to the housing 10 and fixed by screw fastening. At this time, the stopper member 43 is inserted to the through hole 26 of the housing 10, and the locking groove portion 74 in the leading end of the stopper member 43 is passed through the through hole 26. In this state, the auxiliary lock member 27 comes to a state that the locking convex portion 72 comes into contact with the outer face of the lock bolt 12, and the locked groove portion 75 and the locking groove portion 74 of the auxiliary lock member 27 come to a state that they move slightly in the forward moving direction of the auxiliary lock member 27. Accordingly, the housing cover 11 is installed in a state that the auxiliary lock member 27 is moved slightly in the backward moving direction against the energizing force of the spring 77, and the locked groove portion 75 of the auxiliary lock member 27 is locked to the locking groove portion 74 of the stopper member 43 of the housing cover 11.

As mentioned above, in the lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment, since the auxiliary lock member 27 and the spring 77, which are formed for preventing the unfair unlocking caused by the breakage of the housing cover, can be assembled as the auxiliary lock unit in the state that they are integrally assembled in the auxiliary lock cover 28, it is possible to improve an attaching workability.

In the lock apparatus assembled as mentioned above, the auxiliary lock member 27 maintains a backward moving state against the energizing force of the spring 77 due to the engagement with the stopper member 43, as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the lock bolt 12 can move in the forward moving direction for locking to the steering shaft, and the backwardmoving direction for unlocking from the steering shaft, by driving the electric motor 13, without interfering with the auxiliary lock member 27 at all.

On the other hand, if the impact is applied to the portion in the vicinity of the spring attaching shaft 41 due to the breakage of the rear portion of the housing cover 11, in the state in which the lock bolt 12 shown in Fig. BAis locked to the steering shaft protruding from the housing 10, the installation portion 85oftheholdmember47 installedto the installationstepportion 42 is detached from the installation step portion 42, as shown in Fig. 8B. Accordingly, the installation portion 85 is guided by the shape of the string attaching shaft 41 formed as the taper shape intheattachingdirectionofthehousingcoverll, allowing the diameter of the installation portion 85 to contract. As a result, the support portion 86 of the hold member 47 moves in the direction of the spring attaching shaft 41, making it impossible to hold the stopper member 43 engaging with the auxiliary lockrnember 27 at thenon-engagedpositionwith respect to the lock bolt 12. Accordingly, the engagement is released at the release position at which the engagement is released between the stopper member 43 and the locked groove portion 75 of the auxiliary lock member 27, and the auxiliary lock member 27 is moved forward along the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 by the energizing force of the spring 77. The locking convex portion 72 of the auxiliary lock member 27 is engaged with the lock receiving portion 54 of the lock bolt 12. As a result, for example, even if the housing cover 11 unfairly moves backward the lock bolt 12 and the cam member 51 to the unlock side against the energizing force of the spring 40 from the breakage hole formed by the breakage of the housing cover 11, the lock bolt 12 can not move backward, making it impossible to release the lock of the steering shaft.

According to the present invention, since the hold member 47 is detachably installed to the inner face of the housing 10 or the housing cover 11, the holding member 47 is detached to release the holding of the stopper member 43 by the breaking work (for example, the drilling work by the drill) from the external portion, allowing the stopper member 43 and the auxiliary lock member 27 to operate. Accordingly, even in a case where a part of the housing cover 11 is broken, the lock bolt 12 can be held in the lock position, making it possible to further improve the antitheft function.

Further, since the hold member 47 holding the stopper member 43 is provided, it is possible to improve a degree of freedom for setting the actuation point of the auxiliary lock mechanism (the fixed position of the hold member 47) Further, since the hold member 47 may be attached to the installation step portion 42 provided in the inner face of the housing cover 11 in suchamanner as to expandthe diameter against the restoring force of the metal wire by the taper surface of the spring attaching shaft 41, it is possible to easily install the hold member 47.

Further, since the engagement with the stopper member 43 is released only by the detachment from the installation step portion 42 by utilizing the (contraction) force that the annular installation portion 85 of the hold member 47 is returned its shape to the original diameter, it is possible to more securely actuate the stopper member 43 and the auxiliary lock member 27.

In a second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the hold member 47 has an installation portion 85 and a support portion 86 which are formed approximately the same shape as the first embodiment, however, the installation portion 85 is not expanded and contracted. A groove 89 for fitting the installation portion of the hold member 47 is provided in such a manner as to surround an outer side of the spring attaching shaft 41 of the housing cover 11. A cross section of the groove 89 is a rectangular cross section which completely accommodates the installation portion 85 of the hold member 47, and holds the installation portion 85 at such a friction force that the installation portion is not detached due to the energizing force of the spring 7lofthestoppermember43. Anendportionofthesupportportion 86 of the hold member 47 may be set to such a length as to be capable of holding the stopper member 43 engaged with the auxiliarylockmember 27 at the non-engagedpositionwith respect to the lock bolt 12. The groove 48 is provided up to a position coming into line with the holding portion 38. The installation portion 85 of the hold member 47 holding the stopper member 43 is fitted and fixed into the groove 89.

If a force is applied with the installation portion 85 of the hold member 47 as a force point by the breakage of the housing cover 11 from a rear side of the spring attaching shaft 41, the installation portion 85 is detached from the groove 89 so as to be lifted up in the attaching direction of the housing cover 11. As a result, the hold member 47 is rotated around the fulcrum point portion 87 as a fulcrum point, and the support portion 86 as a working point is moved in an opposite direction totheattachingdirectionofthehousingcover 11. Accordingly, the support portion 86 of the hold member 47 can not hold the stopper member 43 engaging with the auxiliary lock member 27 at the non-engaged position with respect to the lock bolt 12.

Subsequent motions of the auxiliary lock mechanism are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In a third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, the holdmember 47 is formed as approximately the same shape as the first embodiment, however, a receiving pOrtion 90 receiving a support portion86oftheholdmeimber47 isprovidedintheholdingportion 38 of the housing cover 11. In the present embodiment, even in a case where the force is applied with the installation portion of the hold member 47 as the force point by breakage of the housing cover 11 from the rear side of the spring attaching shaft 41, and the installation portion 85 is contracted in the same manner as the first embodiment, the engagement between the stopper member 43 and the hold member 47 is not released as long as the support portion 86 is held by the receiving portion 90.

Thesupportportion86oftheholdmember47 ismovedinanopposite direction to the attaching direction of the housing cover 11 only after the support portion 86 is not held to the receiving portion 90 by the contraction of the installation portion 85.

A subsequent motion of the auxiliary lock mechanism is the same as the first and second embodiments.

It is possible to enlarge the holding force applied to the stopper member 43 of the hold member 47 by setting a receiving portion 90 for supporting the support portion 86 of the hold member 47. Further, since the structure is made such as to release the engagement between the support portion 86 of the hold member 47 and the receiving portion 90 by utilizing the contraction force of the hold member 47, it is possible to more securely release the fixing of the hold member 47.

As mentioned above, in the lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention, since the locking of the auxiliary lock member 27 is released in a case where the rear side of the spring attaching shaft 41 of the housing cover 11 is broken, the auxiliary lock member 27 moves from the non-engaged position with respect to the lock bolt 12 so as to engage therewith.

Further, in this engaged position, since the lock bolt 12 can notbemovedrearward, itispossibletomaintainthelockposition of the steering shaft by the lock bolt 12. As a result, it is possible to securely prevent an unfair release.

In a case where the engagement convex portion 50 of the lock bolt 12 does not come into line with the engagement concave portion of the steering shaft at a time of carrying out the lock operation by the electric motor 13, the engagement receiving portion 54 of the lock bolt 12 does not come into line with the locking convex portion 72 of the auxiliary lock member 27.

Accordingly, it is impossible to regulate the lock bolt 12.

However, if the engagement concave portion of the steering shaft comes into line with the engagement convex portion 50 of the lock bolt 12 by rotating the steering, the lock bolt 12 moves by the energizing force of the spring 40, and is locked to the steering shaft. Accordingly, in the same mariner as mentioned above, the auxiliary lock member 27 moves forward by the energizing force of the spring 77, and is locked to the lock bolt 12.

In this connection, in order to release the lock of the steering shaft by the lock apparatus, it is necessary to detach the lock apparatus from the steering shaft per the housing 10.

However, the lock apparatus is attached in such a manner as to be positioned at a depth side of the steering shaft, that is, in an extremely narrow space at which the instrument panel is positioned in an upper portion. Further, it is fastened by a bolt between a pair of metal plates arranged around the steering shaft, and the bolt employs a bolt in which a head portion is ruptured if a predetermined torque is applied. Accordingly, it is impossible to carry out a detaching work in the state mentioned above, and it is impossible to break the metal plate because of its stiffness. As the other method, there is amethod of detaching the housing cover 11 so as to operate the lock bolt 12, as mentioned above, however, this method is impossible due to the engagement of the auxiliary lock member 27.

Accordingly, in order to unfairly release the lock apparatus in accordance with each of the embodiments, there is left a method of operating the auxiliary lock member 27 through the through hole 26. However, since the lock apparatus is installed in the extremely narrow space in the same manner as mentioned above, it is hard to simply operate the auxiliary lock member 27 through the through hole 26. Further, in the lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment, since the auxiliary lockmember27 isnotpositioned (isnot visible) within the projection surface facing through the through hole 26 at the engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member 27 is engaged with the lock bolt 12, and whereby it is impossible to operate through the through hole 26, the engagement between the auxiliary lock member 27 and the lock bolt 12 is securely maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to securely maintain the lock between the lock bolt 12 and the steering shaft.

Further, since the auxiliary lock cover 28 for assembling the auxiliary lock member 27 is structured such as to be provided with the first communication portion 78 communicating with the through hole 26, it is impossible to check out (operate) the auxiliary lock cover 28 through the through hole 26. Further, since the spring 77 for energizing the auxiliary lock member 27 to the engaged position is arranged at the invisible position through the throughhole26, it is impossible to detach the spring 77. Accordingly, it is possible to securely prevent the unfair release.

Further, the lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is provided with the through hole 26 in parallel to thelockboltinsertionhole23, andisprovidedwiththe auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30 in such a manner as to be positioned at a leading end in the cover attaching direction of the through hole 26. Further, there is provided the second communication portion 79 communicating with the auxiliary lock member insertion portion 30, and there is provided the spring 77 for moving forward the auxiliary lock member 27 along the extending direction thereof. Accordingly, since the second communication portion 79 plays a role in guiding the auxiliary lock member 27, this structure stabilizes the forward moving motion of the auxiliary lock member 27. Further, since it is possible to simplify the structure of the housing 10, it is possible to achieve a cost cutting.

The steering lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the structure in accordance with the embodiment, but can be variously modified.

For example, the above embodiments are structured such that the independent auxiliary lock cover 28 is provided for arrangingtheauxiliarylockmember27 inthehousinglO, however, the structure may be made such that it is arranged directly in the housing 10. Further, the above embodiments are structured such that the independent cam member 51 is coupled to the lock bolt 12, however, the structure of the cam rneniber 51 may be integrally formed in the lock bolt 12.

Further, the above embodiments are structured such that the lock bolt insertion hole 23 making the lock bolt 12 protrude to the outer portion is provided in the housing 10 side, and the spring attaching portion 41 attaching the spring 40 for energizing the lock bolt is provided in the housing cover 11 side, however, the structure is not limited to this, and may bestructuredsuchthatthe lockboltinsertionhole23isprovided in the housing cover 11 side, and the spring attaching portion 41 is provided in the housing 10 side, respectively. In this case, the hold member 47 may be installed to the sprig attaching portion 41 provided in the housing 10.

Further, the installed position of the hold member 47 is not limited to the spring attaching portion 41, but may be installed to an optional position in the inner surface of the housing 10 or the housing cover 11 which tends to be exposed to the breaking attack.

Further, in the embodiment, the hold member 47 is formed by the metal wire, however, the structure is not limited to this, but may be formed by a resin member.

Further, the above embodiments are structured such that one end side of the spring 40 directly comes into contact with the lock bolt 12 so as to energize the lock bolt 12 to the lock position side, however, the structure is not limited to this, and may be structured, for example, such that the one end side of the spring 40 is brought into contact with the cam member 51 and the lock bolt 12 is energized to the lock position side together with the cam member 51.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A steering lock apparatus comprising: a housing having one end opening; a housing cover closing the opening of the housing; a lock bolt which is movable between a lock position at which the lock bolt is engaged with a steering shaft, and an unlock position at which the engagement is released; an auxiliary lock member energized by an energizing force of an energizing member from a non-engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member does not engage with the lock bolt at the lock position toward an engaged position at which the auxiliary lock member engages with the lock bolt; a stopper member engaging with the auxiliary lock member so as to hold the auxiliary lock member at the non-engaged position; and the lock bolt, the auxiliary lock member and the stopper member being provided in inner portions of the housing and the housing cover, characterized in that the stopper member is arranged so as to be movable between an inhibition position at which the stopper member engages with the auxiliary lock member and a release position at which the engagement is released, and a hold member engaging with the stopper member so as to hold the stopper member at the inhibition position is provided, and wherein the hold member is detachably installed to an inner face of the housing or the housing cover.
2. Asteeringlockapparatusaccordingtoclaiml, wherein the hold member is installed to a spring attaching portion receiving the other end side of a spring in which one end side comes into contact with the lock bolt side so as to energize the lock bolt in the steering shaft direction.
3. A steering lock apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hold member includes an installation portion installed to an installation step portion provided in the inner face of the housing or the housing cover by a restoring force, and a support portion engaging with the stopper member.
4. Asteeringlockapparatusaccordingtoclaimn3, wherein the hold member is detached from the installation step portion, whereby the hold member is contracted so as to move the support portion, and release the engagement between the support portion and the stopper member.
5. A steering lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing or the housing cover is provided with a receiving portion supporting the support portion of the hold member, and the hold member is detached from the installation step portion, whereby the hold member is contracted so as to move the support portion of the hold member, and release the engagement between the support portion and the receiving portion.