GB2465680A

GB2465680A - Steering lock

Info

Publication number: GB2465680A
Application number: GB0920774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Satoshi Sugihara
Original assignee: U Shin Ltd
Current assignee: U Shin Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-28
Filing date: 2009-11-26
Publication date: 2010-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-26
Also published as: JP2010126062A; GB2465680B; GB0920774D0; DE102009053563A1; DE102009053563B4; JP5114369B2

Abstract

A steering lock apparatus has a compact structure and comprises a housing 1, a cylinder lock 2 having a cylinder outer 14 and a cylinder inner 15, a cam member 3 being rotatable integrally with the cylinder inner 15, a lock bolt 4 movable so as to reciprocate between locked and unlocked positions in accordance with a rotating motion of the cam member 3, a retention member 28 passing through the cam member 3, arranged so as to be movable to reciprocate along its axis, and being pressed by one end portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15, and a blocking member 5 held at a non-lock position at which the blocking member 5 is pressed by the retention member 28 and is not locked to a lock receiving portion provided in the lock bolt 4, and moving to a lock position at which the blocking member 5 is locked to the lock receiving portion 38, in a state where the cylinder lock is forcibly detached.

Description

STEERflTG LOCK APPARATUS

1 TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steering lock apparatus for locking a steering of a motor vehicle or the like for the purpose of a theft prevention.

2 BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as a steering lock apparatus, there has been known an apparatus structured such that if a key cylinder is detached due to a breakage or the like, a blocking member biased by a spring is engaged with a camshaft so as to block a rotation of the camshaft, thereby preventing a theft (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 07-008114) In this kind of steering lock apparatus, since a regulation lever holding a blocking member at a non-engaged position is arranged in parallel to the camshaft, there is a problem that the apparatus is enlarged in size in a diametrical direction.

Further, the regulation lever and the blocking member are inserted to the inner side than the opening portion formed in the side surface of the body. Accordingly, the opening portion becomes large, and the lid member for closing is enlarged in size. Therefore, the lid member tends to be broken, and there is a risk of an unauthorized unlock.

Further, the blocking member is structured such as to be engaged with the camshaft so as to block the rotation of the camshaft, however, the lock member locking the steering shaft is not blocked directly its movement by the locking member. In other words, in this steering lock apparatus, if the lock member is activated directly from the opening in the body from which the key cylinder is detached, by using a tool or the like, there arises a risk that the lock of the steering shaft is cancelled.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering lock apparatus which has a compact structure and is excellent in a theft prevention.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a steering lock apparatus including: a housing; a cylinder lock having a cylinder outer and a cylinder inner, and installed to a one end side opening portion of the housing; a cam member arranged within the housing and being rotatable in a clockwise and counterclockwise rotation integrally with the cylinder inner; a lock bolt arranged in the other end side opening portion of the housing, and being movable so as to reciprocate between a lock position blocking a rotation of a steering shaft and an unlock position allowing the rotation of the steering shaft, in accordance with a rotating motion of the cam member; a retention member passing through the cam member, arranged so as to be movable to reciprocate along an axial direction of an axis of rotation of the cam member, and being capable of being pressed by one end portion of the cylinder inner; and a blocking member arranged within the housing, held at a non-lock position at which the blocking member is pressed by the retention member and is not locked to a lock receiving portion provided in the lock bolt, in a state where the cylinder lock is installed to the one end side opening portion of the housing, and moving to a lock position at which the blocking member is locked to the lock receiving portion, in a state where the cylinder lock is detached.

With this configuration, if the cylinder lock is detached from the housing, the blocking portion of the blocking member is positioned at the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt.

Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the lock bolt from moving to the unlock position so as to prevent the theft. Further, since the retention member is arranged in such a manner as to pass through the cam member, it is possible to realize a compact configuration while eliminating a wasteful space.

Preferably, the blocking member is structured such that a state where the blocking member is pressed by the retention member is cancelled so as to move to the lock position at which the blocking member is locked to the lock receiving portion, and to become immovable by the pressing by the retention member to stay at the lock position, if the cylinder lock is detached from the housing, in a state where the lock bolt is positioned at the lock position.

With this configuration, if the cylinder lock is detached from the housing, a state where the blocking member is pressed by the retention member is cancelled so as to move to the lock position. Accordingly, it is impossible to move the lock bolt from the lock position to the unlock position. Further, since the blocking member becomes immovable depending on the pressing operation by the retention member, it is impossible to cancel the lock state of the lock bolt. Therefore, it is possible to securely prevent the theft.

Preferably, the blocking member is provided with a contact portion coming into contact with the retention member, and a blocking portion locking to the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt, and moves in a lateral direction with respect to a moving direction of the retention member and the lock bolt, thereby arranging the blocking portion so as to be capable of engaging with and disengaging from the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt.

With this configuration, the blocking member is activated via the contact portion by the movement of the retention member, and engages and disengages the blocking portion with and from the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt. As mentioned above, since it is possible to lock the blocking member directly to the lock bolt with the simple structure, so as to block the movement of the lock bolt to the unlock position, it is possible to securely prevent the theft. Further, it is possible to carry out the attaching work of the blocking member to the housing independently from the other parts, and it is possible to achieve an excellent working property.

Preferably the blocking member is structured such as to come into contact with a side surface of the lock bolt so as to be positioned at an intermediate position at which an engagement with the engagement receiving portion is avoided, and move to a non-lock position by an actuation portion of the retention member pressed by the cylinder inner, by installing the cylinder lock to the one end side opening portion of the housing, in a case where the lock bolt is at the unlock position.

With this configuration, it is possible to move the blocking member to the non-lock position by installing the cylinder lock to the housing, in a state where the blocking member is positioned at the intermediate position by the lock bolt, and it is possible to achieve an excellent assembling Preferably, the retention member comes into pressure contact with the cylinder inner of the cylinder lock installed to the one end side opening portion of the housing, by being accommodated within the cam member via the spring.

With this configuration, it is possible to move the retention member so as to evacuate from the contact portion of the blocking member in a case where the cylinder lock is detached from the housing, while preventing a rattle of the cylinder inner by the single spring.

Preferably, the housing is provided with a retention portion having a retention recessed portion rotatably supporting the cam member, an insertion portion extending from the retention recessed portion and to which a part of the retention member is inserted, and an attaching portion intersecting the insertion portion and the other end side opening portion from a lateral direction and to which the blocking member is inserted, in an inner portion thereof, wherein the retention member is provided with a contact portion inserted via the attaching portion and positioned within the insertion portion, and a blocking portion positioned within the other end side opening portion, and wherein the steering lock apparatus further includes: an biasing means energizing the blocking member to the insertion portion side; and a closing member closing the attaching portion.

With this configuration, it is possible to arrange the blocking member so as to be deviated in the direction of the rotating shaft of the cylinder lock from the cylinder lock and the cam member, and it is possible to prevent the steering lock apparatus from being enlarged in size in the diametrical direction according to the blocking member.

Preferably, the closing member is maintained in a closed state by a set plate at a time of fixing the set plate installing the housing to the steering shaft side.

With this configuration, since the closing member is inhibited from being detached by the set plate, it is possible to improve the theft preventing performance.

In accordance with the present invention, since the blocking member directly holds the lock bolt at the lock position, even in the case where the cylinder lock is detached due to the breakage or the like, it is possible to securely prevent the theft caused by the unauthorized unlock. Further, since the retention member is arranged in the inner portion of the cam member, it is possible to realize a compact configuration while eliminating the wasteful space.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a steering lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the steering lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment; Fig. 3A is a front elevational view showing a state where a housing is removed before a cylinder lock in Fig. 2 is installed; Fig. 38 is a cross sectional view along a line A-A in Fig. 3A; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3A; Fig. 5A is a front elevational view showing a state (ACC position) in which the cylinder lock is installed from Fig. 3A; Fig. 58 is a cross sectional view along a line B-B in Fig. 5A; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of Fig. 5A; Fig. 7A is a front elevational view showing a state where a cylinder inner is rotated to a START position from Fig. 5A; Fig. 78 is a cross sectional view along a line C-C of Fig. 7A; Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of Fig. 7A; Fig. 9A is a front elevational view showing a state where the cylinder inner is rotated to a LOCK position from Fig. 7A; Fig. 9B is a cross sectional view along a line D-D of Fig. 9A; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of Fig. 9A; Fig. hA is a front elevational view showing a state where the cylinder inner is rotated to the LOCK position and a key is pulled out, in Fig. 9A; Fig. 11B is a cross sectional view along a line E-E of Fig. hA; Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of Fig. hA; Fig. 13A is a front elevational view showing a state where the cylinder inner is detached from Fig. hA; Fig. 133 is a cross sectional view along a line F-F of Fig. 13A; Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of Fig. 13A; Fig. 15A is a front elevational view showing a state before a set plate is attached to a housing; and Fig. 15B is a front elevational view showing a state after attaching.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

A description will be given of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, the following description employs terms (for example, terms including "one end", "other end", "upper", "lower" and the like) indicating specific directions and positions as occasion demands, however, these terms are used for easily understanding the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the technical range of the present invention is not limited by the meanings of the terms.

(1. structure) Figs. 1 and 2 show a steering lock apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The steering lock apparatus is roughly structured such that a cylinder lock 2, a cam member 3, a lock bolt 4 and a blocking member 5 are accommodated in a housing 1.

(1-1. housing 1) The housing 1 is provided with a first tubular portion (a one end side opening portion) 6 of the one end side, a second tubular portion 7 communicating with the first tubular portion 6 and extending in an orthogonal direction, and a communication portion (the other end side opening portion) 8 communicating with the first tubular portion 6 from the other end side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cam member 3 is accommodated in the first tubular portion 6, and the cylinder lock 2 is installed thereto. An ignition switch (not shown) is installed to the second tubular portion 7. A spring receiving portion Ba is formed in an inner end surface close to the first tubular portion 6, and the lock bolt 4 is slidably arranged, in the communication portion 8. A portion at which the first tubular portion 6 and the second tubular portion 7 intersect constructs a retention portion 9 holding each of the cam member 3 and the blocking member 5. In other words, a retention recessed portion holding a leading end portion of the cam member 3 is formed in an end surface close to the first tubular portion 6 in the retention portion 9. An insertion portion 11 is formed at the center of the retention recessed portion 10. Further, an attaching portion 12 communicating with the insertion portion 11 from a side surface of the housing 1 is formed in the retention portion 9, and the blocking member 5 is installed via the attaching portion 12. Further, a set plate 13 shown in Fig. 15 is fixed to the other end portion of the housing 1. The set plate 13 is structured such as to attach the housing 1 to a steering column inside enclosing a steering shaft (not shown) A thread-off bolt 13a is used for fixing the set plate 13.

Accordingly, in the fixed state, a head portion of the bolt l3a falls away so as to come to un-detachable state. Further, the set plate 13 covers the attaching portion 12 which is open to the side surface of the housing 1, and inhibits the blocking member 5 and a closing member 45 installed via the attaching portion 12 from falling away.

(1-2. cylinder lock 2) The cylinder lock 2 is structured, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such as to be installed to one end side opening portion of the first tubular portion 6, and is provided with a tubular cylinder outer 14, a cylinder inner 15 arranged rotatably in an inner portion of the cylinder outer 14, and a plurality of tumblers 16 arranged in an inner portion of the cylinder inner 15.

A lock plate 17 is provided in an inner side of an open end in the cylinder outer 14. The lock plate 17 is formed by a hard material such as a titanium or the like, and prevents the ii cylinder inner or the like from being broken by a drilling or the like, by covering an end surface of the cylinder inner 15 in the other portions than the key insertion port. Further, a locking groove 18 to which the tumbler 16 mentioned below is locked is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder outer 14. In this case, punch marks indicating a LOCK position, an ACC position, an ON position and a START position are formed in an open end surface exposed to an outer side of the housing 1, as shown in Fig. 1, in the cylinder outer 14.

In the cylinder inner 15, there are formed a key hole 19 extending from one end surface to the other end side along an axis of rotation, and a plurality of tumbler insertion holes 20 provided side by side in a direction which is orthogonal to the axis of rotation. A flange portion 21 for positioning in an end portion of the cylinder outer 14 is formed in the other end portion of the cylinder inner 15. A protruding portion 22 is formed at the center of the flange portion 21. The protruding portion 22 is inserted to a guide hole 24 of the cam member 3 mentioned below, and the cylinder inner 15 and the cam member 3 can be integrally rotated.

The tumbler 16 is formed as a tabular shape, a through hole 16a for inserting a key (not shown) is formed at the center portion thereof, and the tumbler 16 is accommodated together with the spring 23 within the tumbler insertion hole 20. The tumbler 16 is configured such that an edge of a through hole 16a is pressed into a key ridge by inserting the key into a key hole 19 of the cylinder inner 15, and the tumbler 16 moves backward into the cylinder inner 15 against an biasing force of the spring 23. Further, since the lock of the tumbler 16 with the locking groove 18 of the cylinder outer 14 is canceled, the cylinder inner 15 can be rotated in a range from the LOCK position to the START position, by rotationally operating the key.

(1-3. cam member 3) The cam member 3 is formed as an approximately tubular shape as shown in Fig. 1, a guide hole 24 to which the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 is non-rotatably inserted is formed in one end side thereof, and an insertion hole 25 in which a cross sectional area is smaller than the guide hole 24 and to which a leading end side of the retention member 28 is slidably inserted is formed in the other end side thereof. The guide hole 24 is formed as an irregular shape in which an inner diameter is smaller at two circumferentially symmetrical positions over an entire length. A spring receiving portion 26 which is further recessed only in an outer peripheral side is formed in a bottom surface of the guide hole 24.

Further, the coil spring 27 and the retention member 28 are accommodated in the guide hole 24. The retention member 28 is structured such that an actuation portion 29 having an inclined surface 29a is formed in one end, and a collar portion 30 having the same shape as the guide hole 24 is formed in the other end.

Further, the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 formed as the same shape is inserted to the guide hole 24.

Accordingly, the cam member 3 and the retention member 28 are integrally rotated while the cylinder inner 15 rotates in a range from the LOCK position to the START position. Further, the coil spring 27 biases the cylinder inner 15 via the collar portion 30 of the retention member 28. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the rattle of the installed cylinder inner 15.

Further, a gear portion 31 and a cam portion 32 are formed in an outer peripheral portion of the cam member 3. The gear portion 31 is engaged with a gear of an ignition switch (not shown), and transmits a rotating motion of the cylinder inner 15 by the key operation to the ignition switch. Accordingly, it is possible to start an engine by the key operation. Further, the cam portion 32 protrudes like a circular arc shape to an outer peripheral surface, and is structured such that a height of one end surface is changed little by little. Accordingly, if the cam member 3 is rotated together with the cylinder inner 15, a contact position of the cam portion 32 with an end surface of an operation member 33 is changed little by little, and it is possible to move the lock bolt 4 between the lock position and the unlock position. The operation member 33 is formed as an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is structured such that an engagement portion 34 is protruded from a lower surface in one end side, and a locking pawl 35 is formed in the other end side.

(1-4. lock bolt 4) The lock bolt 4 is provided with a spring receiving portion 36 in one end surface, a groove-shaped engagement receiving portion 37 is formed in an upper surface in one end side, and an upper surface in the other end side is formed as a step shape, whereby the lock bolt 4 forms a lock receiving portion 38, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Further, the other end portion of the lock bolt 4 is a lock portion 39 engaging with and disengaging from a steering shaft (not shown) . The lock bolt 4 is slidably arranged in the communication portion 8 of the housing 1, in a state where a coil spring 40 is arranged between the spring receiving portion 36 and the spring receiving portion 8a formed in the communication portion 8 of the housing 1, and it is biased in a direction protruding the lock portion 39 from the communication portion 8. Further, at the lock bolt 4, the engagement portion 34 of the operation member 33 is engaged with the engagement receiving portion 37 while being arranged within the communication portion 8, and is integrally slid with the operation member 33. In this case, the lock bolt 4 is reciprocated between a lock position at which the lock portion 39 is engaged with the steering shaft, and an unlock position at which the lock portion 39 is disengaged therefrom, as mentioned below.

(1-5. blocking member 5) The blocking member 5 is formed as a rectangular cross shaped rod form in which an intermediate portion is bent, and forms a blocking portion 41 in which one end portion can be positioned in the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock bolt 4.

Further, the other end portion of the blocking member 5 is a contact portion 42 which is pressed by an actuation portion 29 (an inclined surface 29a) of the retention member 28 arranged within the cam member 3, and a spring receiving portion 44 in which a coil spring 43 is arranged is formed in an opposite side to the contact portion 42. The blocking member 5 is accommodated in the attaching portion 12 which is open to the side surface of the housing 1. A closing member 45 having approximately the same shape as the blocking member 5 is installed to an open portion of the attaching portion 12. In a state where the closing member 45 is installed, the blocking member 5 is biased by the coil spring 43.

The blocking member 5 is positioned at any one of a lock position, an intermediate position and a non-lock position, in correspondence to a difference of stop positions of the lock bolt 4 and the retention member 28.

In other words, in a case where the lock bolt 4 is positioned at the lock position, and the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is positioned at a retracted position which is away from the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5, the blocking member 5 moves to an opposite side to the closing member 45, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, and is positioned at a lock position at which the contact portion 42 comes into contact with a bottom surface of the attaching portion 12. In this lock position, the blocking portion 41 of the blocking member 5 is positioned at the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock bolt 4, and the lock bolt 4 is inhibited from moving from the lock position to the unlock position.

Further, even if the retention member 28 is pressed into the cam member 3, the actuation portion 29 comes into contact with the end surface of the contact portion 42, and it is impossible to move the blocking member 5.

Further, in a case where the lock bolt 4 is positioned at the unlock position, and the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is positioned at the retracted position, the blocking member 5 brings the blocking portion 41 into contact with the side surface of the lock bolt 4, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is inhibited from moving to the lock position, thereby being positioned at an intermediate position. If the retention member 28 is pressed at this intermediate position, it is possible to press a corner portion of the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 by the inclined surface 29a of the actuation portion 29 so as to move the blocking member 5 to the non-lock position.

Further, in the case where the lock bolt 4 is positioned at the unlock position, and the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is positioned at a forward moving position in the vicinity of the contact portion of the inhibiting member 5, the blocking member 5 is positioned at a non-lock position, for example, at which the contact portion 42 comes into contact with the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28, and the blocking portion 41 stays away from the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock bolt 4. At this non-lock position, it is possible to move the lock bolt 4 from the lock position to the unlock position by rotating the cam member 3 together with the cylinder inner 15 by the key operation, and pressing the operation member 33 by the cam portion 32.

(2. assembling method) Subsequently, a description will be given of an assembling method of the steering lock apparatus having the structure mentioned above.

First of all, the coil spring 40, the lock bolt 4 and the operation member 33 are inserted to the communication portion 8 of the housing 1, and the engagement receiving portion 37 of the lock bolt 4 is engaged with the engagement portion 34 of the operation member 33. Subsequently, the cam member 3 and the retention member 28 are inserted from the first tubular portion 6, and the cam member 3 is inserted to the retention recessed portion 10 of the housing 1. The retention member 28 is previously inserted to the guide hole 24 of the cam member 3 via the coil spring 27. Further, the cam member 3 is rotated to the ACC position. In this state, as shown in Fig. 3, the end surface of the cam portion 32 of the cam member 3 comes into contact with the end surface of the operation member 33 which is integrated with the lock bolt 4. Accordingly, the lock bolt 4 is positioned at the unlock position against the biasing fore of the coil spring 40. Subsequently, the blocking member 5 and the coil spring 43 are sequentially inserted to the attaching portion 12 of the housing 1, and are closed by the closing member 45. Further, the blocking portion 41 of the blocking member 5 comes into contact with the side surface of the lock bolt 4, and stays at an intermediate position between the lock position and the non-lock position, as shown in Fig. 4.

Next, the cylinder outer 14 to which the cylinder inner 15 is attached is installed to the first tubular portion 6 of the housing 1. At this time, the protruding portion 22 is inserted to the insertion hole 25 of the cam member 3 by rotating the cylinder inner 15 to which the key is inserted to the ACC position within the cylinder outer 14, and installing the cylinder outer 14 and the cylinder inner 15 to the first tubular portion 6 of the housing 1. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 5, the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 presses the collar portion 30 of the retention member 28 so as to make the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 protrude from the cam member 3 against the biasing force of the coil spring 27.

The actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 presses the edge of the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 by lbs inclined surface 29a, and moves the blocking member 5 from the intermediate position to the non-lock position, as shown in Fig. 6. The lock bolt 4 maintains a state where the end surface of the cam portion 32 of the cam member 3 comes into contact with the end surface of the integrated operation member 33, and a lock link (not shown) provided in the cylinder outer 14 locks to the locking paw! 35 of the operation member 33, whereby the lock bolt 4 stays at the unlock position.

In this case, the key is rotated so as to move the cylinder inner 15 from the ACC position to the LOCK position, thereby canceling the contact state with the operation member 33 by the cam portion 32. Further, if the key is pulled out of the cylinder inner 15, the engagement between the lock link and the locking pawl 35 of the operation member 33 is cancelled, and the lock bolt 4 is moved from the unlock position to the lock position by the biasing force of the coil spring 40 as shown in Fig. 11, whereby the assembling work of the steering lock apparatus is finished.

Further, the steering lock apparatus assembled as mentioned above is provided with the set plate 13 with being attached to the steering column, as shown in Fig. 15. The set plate 13 is fixed to the housing 1 by utilizing a thread-off bolt. At this time, a part of the set plate 13 covers an opening of the attaching portion 12 formed in the housing 1.

Moreover, since the thread-off bolt is used, a head portion of the bolt falls away and the set plate 13 can not be detached.

(3. actuation) Next, a description will be given of an actuation of the steering lock apparatus having the structure mentioned above.

(3-1. initial state: LOCK position) In a state where the key is not inserted to the key hole 19 of the cylinder inner 15, the cylinder inner 15 is positioned at the LOCK position, and the steering lock apparatus maintains the lock state. In other words, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the lock bolt 4 protrudes to the lock position by the biasing force of the coil spring 40, and the lock portion 39 engages with the steering shaft. Moreover, the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 presses the retention member 28 against the biasing force of the coil spring 27, and positions the actuation portion 29 side in the vicinity of the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5. In this state, the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 comes into contact with the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28, and the blocking member 41 is positioned at the non-lock position which stays away from the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock bolt 4.

In this case, if the key is inserted to the key hole 19 of the cylinder inner 15, the tumbler 16 is absorbed in the cylinder inner 15, and the cylinder inner 15 becomes rotatable within the cylinder outer 14.

(3-2. Lock position ACC position -ON position START position) Then, if the cylinder inner 15 is moved to the ACC position by rotating the key, the cam member 3 is rotated so as to press the operation member 33 to a right side in Fig. 5A by the cam portion 32 thereof, and move the lock bolt 4 to the unlock position against the biasing force of the coil spring 40, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Accordingly, the lock state of the steering column is canceled, and the handle can be operated.

Further, since the cylinder inner 15 is rotated to the START position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 over the ON position, the ignition switch is activated via the gear portion 31 of the cam member 3, the engine starts, and the cylinder inner 15 automatically resets to the ON position by taking off the key.

In this case, even in a case where the cylinder inner 15 is rotated to the ACC position, the ON position and the START position, the retention member 28 rotates together with the cylinder inner 15, however, a state where the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 comes into contact with the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is maintained, and a state where the blocking member 41 is held at the non-lock position is maintained.

In this case, if the key is rotated so as to move the cylinder inner 15 from the ON position to the ACC position, the engine stops, and if it is moved to the LOCK position, the steering lock apparatus comes to a state shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and a power supply to an electrical equipment is stopped.

Further, if the key is taken out of the cylinder inner 15, the steering lock apparatus comes to an initial state shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

(3-3. detachment of cylinder key 2) If the cylinder lock 2 is detached from the housing 1 due to theft or the like in a state where the cylinder inner 15 is at the LOCK position, a state where the retention member 28 is pressed by the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 is canceled, and the retention member 28 is moved to a right side in Fig. 13A by the biasing force of the coil spring 27.

Accordingly, the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is retracted from the side portion of the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5, and the blocking member 5 is moved by the biasing force of the coil spring 43. As a result, the blocking portion 41 moves to the lock position at which the blocking portion 41 is locked to the lock receiving portion 38 of the lock bolt 4 from the non-lock position. Further, the lock bolL 4 can not be moved to the unlock position. Further, even if the retention member 28 is pressed thereinto, the actuation portion 29 is inhibited from moving to the forward moving position by the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 moved by the coil spring 43, as shown in Fig. 13B. Accordingly, it is impossible to move the lock bolt 4 to the unlock position.

In a case where the necessity arises for replacing the cylinder lock 2 by a new one due to a breakage of the cylinder lock or a replacement of the key or the like, first of all, the key is inserted to the cylinder inner 15 so as to rotate the cylinder inner 15 to the ACC position shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

At this ACC position, a securing pin (not shown) for fixing the cylinder outer 14 to the housing 1 is operable, and the fixation of the cylinder outer 14 to the housing 1 is canceled by operating the securing pin. Further, if the cylinder lock 2 is detached from the housing 1, a state where the retention member 28 is pressed by the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner is canceled, and the retention member 28 is moved to a right side in Fig. 5A by the energizing force of the coil spring 27.

Accordingly, the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 is retracted from the side portion of the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5, and the blocking member 5 is moved on the basis of the biasing force of the coil spring 43. At this time, the lock bolt 4 is at the unlock position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the blocking portion 41 of the blocking member 5 comes into contact with the side surface of the lock bolt 4, and the blocking member 5 is held to the intermediate position. If the new cylinder lock 2 is installed from one end opening portion of the first tubular portion 6 of the housing 1 in this state, the cylinder outer 14 is fixed to the housing 1 by the securing pin, and the protruding portion 22 of the cylinder inner 15 presses the collar portion 30 of the retention member 28, and makes the actuation portion 29 of the retention member 29 protrude from the cam member 3 against the biasing force of the coil spring 27.

The actuation portion 29 of the retention member 28 presses the contact portion 42 of the blocking member 5 by its inclined surface 29a, and moves the blocking member 5 from the intermediate position to the non-engaged position shown in Fig. 6. Accordingly, the steering lock apparatus comes to the ACC state shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the replacement of the cylinder lock 2 is finished. As mentioned above, in the case of replacing the cylinder lock 2 in the state where the cylinder inner 15 is rotated to the ACC position, the lock bolt 4 is not locked by the blocking member 5, and it is possible to easily replace the cylinder lock 2. In this case, it is impossible to rotate the cylinder inner 15 to the ACC position until the key is inserted, and the theft prevention property is maintained.

In this case, the steering lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the structure in accordance with the embodiment mentioned above, but can be executed by variously changing and adding within the range which does not deviate from the scope of the present invention. For mp1, in th prP.cnt mhndimnt. tih 1r.k h1t 4 nd lh operation member 33 are independently provided, however, the lock bolt 4 and the operation member 33 may be integrally provided. Further, in the present embodiment, the structure is made such that the closing member 45 closing the outside opening of the attaching portion 12 of the housing 1 is fixed by attaching the set plate 13, however, the closing member 45 may be fixed to the housing 1 by a fastening member such as a screw or the like. In this case, if the fastening member is arranged at a position facing to the steering column side, a portion exposing to an outer portion of the fastening member is covered by the cylinder column so as to be invisible from the outer portion in a state where the steering lock apparatus is attached to the steering column, so that it is possible to prevent a theft behavior detaching the closing member 45 in an unauthorized manner. 2f

Claims

V1hat is claimed is: 1. A steering lock apparatus comprising: a housing; a cylinder lock having a cylinder outer and a cylinder inner, and installed to a one end side opening portion of the housing; a cam member arranged within the housing and being rotatable forward and backward integrally with the cylinder inner; a lock bolt arranged in the other end side opening portion of the housing, and being movable so as to reciprocate between a lock position blocking a rotation of a steering shaft and an unlock position allowing the rotation of the steering shaft, in accordance with a rotating motion of the cam member; a retention member passing through the cam member, arranged so as to be movable to reciprocate along an axial direction of an axis of rotation of the cam member, and being capable of being pressed by one end portion of the cylinder inner; and a blocking member arranged within the housing, held at a non-lock position at which the blocking member is pressed by the retention member and is not locked to a lock receiving portion provided in the lock bolt, in a state where the cylinder lock is installed to the one end side opening portion of the housing, and moving to a lock position at which the blocking member is locked to the lock receiving portion, in a state where the cylinder lock is detached.
2. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking member is structured such that a state where the blocking member is pressed by the retention member is cancelled so as to move to the lock position at which the blocking member is locked to the lock receiving portion, and to become immovable by the pressing by the retention member to stay at the lock position, if the cylinder lock is detached from the housing, in a state where the lock bolt is positioned at the lock position.
3. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking member is provided with a contact portion coming into contact with the retention member, and a blocking portion locking to the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt, and moves in a lateral direction with respect to a moving direction of the retention member and the lock bolt, thereby arranging the blocking portion so as to be capable of engaging with and disengaging from the lock receiving portion of the lock bolt.
4. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blocking member is structured such as to come into contact with a side surface of the lock bolt so as to be positioned at an intermediate position at which an engagement with the engagement portion is avoided, and move to a non-lock position by an actuation portion of the retention member pressed by the cylinder inner, by installing the cylinder lock to the one end side opening portion of the housing, in a case where the lock bolt is at the unlock position.
5. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the retention member comes into pressure contact wi'th the cylinder inner of the cylinder lock installed to the one end side opening portion of the housing, by being accommodated within the cam member via the spring.
6. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing is provided with a retention portion having a retention recessed portion rotatably supporting the cam member, an insertion portion extending from the retention recessed portion and to which a part of the retention member is inserted, and an attaching portion intersecting the insertion portion and the other end side opening portion from a lateral direction and to which the blocking member is inserted, in an inner portion thereof, wherein the retention member is provided with a contact portion inserted via the attaching portion and positioned within the insertion portion, and a blocking portion positioned within the other end side opening portion, and wherein the steering lock apparatus further comprises: an biasing means energizing the blocking member to the insertion portion side; and a closing member closing the attaching portion.
7. The steering lock apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wheeiii the closing member is maintained in a closed state by a set plate at a time of fixing the set plate installing the housing to the steering shaft side.