NL2013488B1 - Vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock. - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock, to be used for all mechanical interlocks of vehicle gear shifts. It is characterised by the cylinder (2) of the insert (1) having a passage (4) for an axially sliding locking element (5), having on one end a tongue (6) seating in the key's (3) socket (7), and on the other end a pin (8) seating in a socket (9) of the lock's stationary part (10), preventing the removal of the key when the vehicle gear shift lever interlock is disengaged.

Description

VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERLOCK LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0001] The subject of the invention is a vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock, to be used for all mechanical interlocks of vehicle gear shifts. Mechanical interlocks of vehicle gearbox, with a pin for locking gear shift lever travel mechanisms, are located by movement transferring elements with a lock, located within the vehicle at a location convenient for the driver.

[0002] The key to this lock was usually connected with other keys to the vehicle, after opening of the interlock was taken out from the lock, and with all other keys, mainly the ignition key, encumbered the ignition switch during travel. This key, which is unnecessaiy when the car is travelling, may remain within the interlock lock.

[0003] It is known from international publication No. WO 00/37290 A1, a locking device which comprising: a lock; and a lock support element on which said lock is mounted, said lock support element comprising a face defining a plane; and characterized by a lock mounting assembly for mounting said lock onto said lock support element in a selectable angular orientation with respect to the plane of the face of said lock support element. The lock (11) comprises a locking element which engages a portion of a gear shifting mechanism of a vehicle.

[0004] It is known from European patent application EP 2314807 A2, the locking system, which has a locking cylinder including a cylindrical core that is mounted in a housing, where the cylindrical core is provided with a key channel for guiding a key. An auxiliary blocking element is designed for cooperating with a recess that is arranged at a key shaft when the key is inserted till to a maximum insertion depth. The recess is completely arranged in a groove that runs in a longitudinal direction of the key shaft and moves away from a key tip, where the groove is formed in a broad side of the key shaft.

[0005] In the solutions used so far, a key may be inserted into the lock or taken out regardless of the lock’s position - both when open and closed. A known gear shift lever interlock lock does not protect the against key removal when the interlock is not engaged.

[0006] It is understandable that in case of “locked” position of the lock the key may be inserted into the cylinder slot and to rotate the cylinder, and also to take it out in this position. Whereas in the “open” position it is necessary to safeguard the key in the cylinder, in order to avoid the key accidentally or spontaneously sliding out of the cylinder. A non-trivial issue is also such shaping of the key bow, so that during manoeuvres made by the vehicle or the change of the vehicle user’s position the key bow does not cause any injury.

[0007] The solution presented below fulfils the presented requirements.

THE INVENTION

[0008] According to an aspect of the invention a vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock is provided, in the form of an insert with a cylinder rotated by a key, having locking pins which are moved by the shaped surfaces of the key and connected to gear shift lever locking elements, wherein the lock in the insert cylinder has a channel for an axially sliding special locking element, having on one end a tongue seating in the key’s socket, and on the other end a pin seating in a socket of the lock’s stationary part, locking the key and preventing its removal when the vehicle gear shift lever interlock is locked.

[0009] It is advantageous when the special locking element has a torsion spring, [0010] It is advantageous, when the locking special element is an extended pin of one of the locking pegs of the insert.

[0011] It is also advantageous, when the special locking element is a cylindrical element, with a foot for seating in the key’s socket, and a pin with a spring for seating in a socket of the lock’s stationary part.

[0012] It is also advantageous, when the special locking element is a cylindrical element, with a tongue for seating in the key’s socket, and in the socket of the lock’s stationary part a pin is seated in the form of a plate with a spring.

[0013] It is especially advantageous when the key blade is connected with the key bow with a bolt hinge.

[0014] The use of the solution presented in the invention enables the following technical and utility effects: - protection against taking the key out of the lock after unlocking the gearbox. - the lock interlock is constructed in a manner preventing the key from being removed from the lock after the lock is opened, which is applicable in particular in case of vehicle theft (e.g. car theft), being a clear proof for the insurance companies whether the gear shift lever lock was engaged or not. A complete set of keys declared by the owner serves as a proof for the insurance companies that the vehicle (e.g. a car) was protected by a gear shift lever lock of the new construction, whereas the lack of such a key set demonstrates to the owner and to the insurer that the key is located in the open lock and that the vehicle was not protected against theft. - another example of the effectiveness of the new lock are car rental institutions, where the customer, a tourist, receives 2 keys to the car: for the ignition and for the interlock as presented in the invention. In case of theft of the rented car, the owner requests the return of 2 keys, which serves as a proof of the legal situation, the tourist having fulfilled the contract conditions and proving lack of culpability. When only one key is returned, it is demonstrated that the tourist has not protected the car against theft. - the main feature of the new vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock is protecting against key removal when the interlock is not engaged. - this function is not met by any of the interlocks known in the state of the art worldwide. - the manufacturer of the interlock with the new lock provides an additional guarantee and assurance to the customer that the vehicle (e.g. a car) was protected against theft. - permanent placement of the key in the lock when the vehicle is travelling, - eliminating the possible injuries to the driver or passenger when driving, due to the folding key bow, - eliminating the requirement to store the key when driving, - low costs of manufacturing.

[0015] The subject of the invention, in an example implementation was presented in diagrams on the figure.

[0016] The lock, which is a subject of the invention, occurs in multiple implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] On fig. 1 the lock was shown in a version where the locking element is a pin of one of the pegs locking the insert in the “locked” position, on fig. 2 the same version of implementation was shown in the “open position”, on fig. 3 the lock was shown with the locking element located in the insert, with a view in the “locked” position, whereas fig. 4 presents a cross section in the A-A plane from fig. 3, on fig. 5 the lock was shown with the locking element located in the insert with a view in the “open” position, whereas fig. 6 presents a cross section in the B-B plane from fig. 5, on fig. 7 the lock was shown with the locking element located in the insert, and the pin in the lock’s stationaiy part with a view in the “locked”, whereas fig. 8 presents a cross section in the A-A plane from fig. 7, on fig. 9 the lock was shown with the locking element located in the insert with a view in the “open” position, whereas fig. 10 presents a cross section in the B-B plane from fig. 9, while fig. 11 shows a key with the bow folded, used in the solution presented on fig. 1 and fig. 2, and fig. 12 shows a key with the folded bow used in the remaining solutions.

[0017] The vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock has in its body an insert 1 with a cylinder 2 rotated by the key 3, having locking pins, which are moved by shaped surfaces of key 3 and is connected with the locking elements of the gear shift lever not shown on the figure. In the cylinder 2 the insert 1 has a passage 4 for an axially sliding locking element 5, having on one end a tongue 6 seating in the key’s 3 socket 7, and on the other end a pin 8 seating in a socket 9 of the lock’s stationary part 10.

[0018] In one of the versions, shown on fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 5 and fig. 6 the key 3, after being inserted in the passage 11 of the insert 1, in the locked interlock position, has the possibility of longitudinal movement. When sliding the key 3 into the passage 11, the tongue 6 of the locking element 5 moves freely over the surface of the key 3, and the pin 8 located on its other end is located in the socket 9 of the lock’s stationary part 10. In this position of the locking element 5 the rotation of the insert 1 is impossible. When the tongue 6 of the locking element slides into the socket 7 of the key 3, an axial movement of the locking element 5 caused by the spring 12 will occur. The locking element 5 will move out of the socket 9, enabling the rotation of the insert 1, and thus opening the interlock mechanism. The locking element 5 moves in the insert 1, resting on the inner surface of the lock’s stationary part 10. This placement of the locking element 5 prevents the key 3 sliding out from the passage 11 of the insert 1.

[0019] Closing the interlock is performed by rotating the key 3 with the insert 1 in a reverse direction. When the locking element 5 is located within the axis of the socket 9 of the lock’s stationary part 10, the spring 12 will move it’s edge into the socket 9. There is a possibility of sliding of the locking element’s 5 tongue 6 from the socket 7 of the key 3, and thus the possibility of sliding out key 3 from the passage 11 of the insert 1.

[0020] In another version of the construction, presented on fig. 1 and 2, the locking element 5 is the extended pin of one of the locking pegs of the insert 1. Its action is the same as described for the previous version of implementation.

[0021] In another version of implementation, shown on fig. 7, fig. 8, fig. 9 and fig. 10 the locking element 5 is a cylindrical element with tongue 6 for seating in the socket 7 of the key 3, and in the socket 9 of the lock’s stationary part 10 a pin 8 is seated, in the form of a plate with a spring 12.

[0022] In this version, when the locking element’s 5 tongue 6 will slide into the socket 7 of the key 3 as a result of the action of the spring 12, the cylinder 2 can rotate, since the internal part of the locking element 5 with its head moves along the internal surface of the lock’s stationary part 10. It is not possible to take out the key 3 from the lock. After the lock is closed the locking element’s head 5 will be located coaxially to the ping 8. As a result of the movement of the key 3 deflection of the spring 12 will occur and the movement of locking element 5 and pin 8 in the direction of the socket 9 of the lock’s stationary part 10. The tongue 6 will slide out from the socket 7 of the key 3, enabling sliding it out from the passage 11 of the insert 1.

[0023] For these solutions a key 3 was used with a bolt hinge 13 between the blade 14 and the bow 15.

CLAUSES

Clause 1: The vehicle gear shift lever interlock lock, in the form of an insert with a cylinder rotated by a key, having locking pins which are moved by the shaped surfaces of the key and connected to gear shift lever locking elements, characterized in that the lock in the insert (1) cylinder (2) has a channel (4) for an axially sliding special locking element (5), having on one end a tongue (6) seating in the key’s (3) socket (7), and on the other end a pin (8) seating in a socket (9) of the lock’s stationary part (10), preventing the removal of the key when the vehicle gear shift lever interlock is disengaged.

Clause 2: A lock in accordance with clause 1, characterized in that special locking element (5) has a torsion spring (12).

Clause 3: A lock in accordance with clause 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is an extended pin of one of the locking pegs of the insert (1).

Clause 4: A lock in accordance with clause 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is a cylindrical element with a tongue (6) for seating in the socket (7) of the key (3), and a pin (8) with a spring (12) for seating in the socket of the lock’s stationary part.

Clause 5: A lock in accordance with clause 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is a cylindrical element with the tongue(6) for seating in the socket (7) of the key (3), and in the socket of the lock’s stationary part (10) a pin (8) is seated in the form of a plate with a spring (12).

Clause 6: A lock in accordance with clausel, characterized in that the blade (14) of the key (3) connected to the bow (15) with a bolt hinge (13).

Claims (6)

A gear shift lock for vehicles in the form of an input with a cylinder rotatable by a key with pins moved through the formed surfaces of the key and connected to locking elements for the gear shift, characterized in that the lock in the input (1) cylinder (2) has a channel (4) for an axially slidable special locking element (5), which has a tongue (6) at one end that fits into the key profile (7) of the key (3) and which at the other end has a pin (8) which fits into a cavity (9) of the fixed part (10) of the lock (10), which prevents the removal of the key when the gear shift lock is disengaged. Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) has a torsion spring (12). Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is an extended pin of one of the pins of the insert (1). Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is a cylindrical element with a tongue (6) that fits into the key profile (7) of the key (3) and a pin (8) with a spring (12) ) that fits into the cavity of the fixed part of the lock. Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the special locking element (5) is a cylindrical element with a tongue (6) that fits into the key profile (7) of the key (3) and that in the cavity of the fixed part of the lock (10) fits a pin (8) in the form of a plate with a spring (12). Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the beard (14) of the key (3) via a hinge pin (13) on the handle (15).