WO1995005516A1

WO1995005516A1 - A lock arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1995005516A1
Application number: PCT/SE1994/000735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif Nyfelt
Original assignee: Scarinus Development Ab
Priority date: 1993-08-13
Filing date: 1994-08-11
Publication date: 1995-02-23
Also published as: SE9302630L; SE9302630D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock arrangement which includes a mechanical lock mechanism and an appropriate key, an electrically maneuverable device (6) which can be maneuvered between an active and an inactive state, control means (10) for controlling the electrically maneuverable device, and means (11) for detecting key turning-movements and for delivering to the control means signals corresponding to these turning movements. According to the invention, the control means (10) is adapted to move the electrically maneuverable device (6) from an active to an inactive state solely in response to the key being turned in accordance with a predetermined sequence of key-turning movements. The invention is particularly intended for preventing unlawful entry into vehicles.

Description

A Lock Arrangement

The present invention relates to a lock arrangement comprising a mechanical lock mechanism including a key that fits the lock, an electrically maneuverable device which can be maneu¬ vered between an active and an inactive state, control means for controlling the electrically maneuverable device, and means for detecting key turning movements and for delivering to the control means signals corresponding to the key turning movements. The invention is intended particularly, but not exclusively, for application in the doors of automotive vehicles.

The theft and burgling of cars is a serious problem in present day society. It is known that car thieves are able to open car doors extremely quickly, either by forcing the cylinder lock or by manipulating the pull-rods or like devices which activate the locking arm of the lock mechanism. One easy method of forcing a locked car door is simply to break a side window and pull up the inner lock button and therewith move the locking arm to its door release position, despite the long existence of this problem, the car industry has been unable to produce an acceptable thief-proof car.

One particular object of the present invention is to solve this problem, by preventing a locked door of a vehicle from being forced by an unauthorized person, or to render forcing of a locked door extremely difficult to achieve. More generally speaking, the object of the invention is to provide additional security in regard of lock arrangements that include mechanical lock mechanisms, against unauthorized open¬ ing of the lock.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with a lock arrangement of the kind defined in the introduction which is characterized in that the control means is adapted to move the electrically maneuverable device from its active to its inactive state only when the key is manipulated in accordance with a predetermined pattern or sequence of key-turning movements. As a result of this construction, forcing of the cylinder lock in vehicle door lock arrangements which include an electrically maneuverable latching element will not be sufficient to maneuver the latching element to a lock release position, since the key turning movements must be in accord with a predetermined sequence of movements. Neither is the removal of the cylinder lock sufficient to enable the lock arrangement to be opened by mechanical manipulation of the lock mechanism, since the latching element can only be moved after the control means has registered that the key has been moved through a predetermined sequence of movements, this sequence being impossible if the cylinder lock is removed or destroyed.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid predetermined sequence of key movements is comprised of mutually sequential key-turning movements in which the key is turned to specific positions with predetermined time inter¬ vals between the key-turning movements. The inclusion of time intervals between the key-turning movements in the predeter¬ mined sequence renders it practically impossible to imitate correct turning of the key by forcibly rotating a locked cylinder lock so as to move the cylinder with an element connected to the locking arm of the lock mechanism.

According to one advantageous variant of the invention, the lock arrangement includes a vehicle door locking and opening mechanism having a locking arm which can be moved between a locking position, in which the door release mechanism is locked, and a lock-release position in which the door can be opened, by turning a key inserted in a cylinder lock included in the lock arrangement, and in which the electrically maneuverable device is comprised of a latching device which is attached to the vehicle door in a not-readily accessible position and can be maneuvered into and out of a latching state in response to an electric signal, said locking arm of the door lock mechanism being latched against movement when the latching device occupies its latching position. The latching device also includes a connecting element which is made of a hard material, preferably hardened steel, and which is connected to the locking arm of the lock mechanism, and a latching pin which can be moved between a withdrawn or retracted position and an outwardly extended position, wherein the latching pin functions to prevent movement of the latching device connecting element, and therewith movement of the locking arm from the locking position, when the said latching device occupied its latching position. The latching pin of the latching device is spring-biassed towards its outwardly extended position and the connecting element includes a lower end-part which is connected to the remainder of the connecting element for axial movement in relation thereto and is spring- biassed towards the outwardly extended position and is so dimensioned and guided that when the locking arms is in its locking position the lower end-part will extend beyond the latching pin when said part is extended and will be located outside the movement path of the latching pin when said part is withdrawn. The lower end-part of the connecting element presses against the latching pin in the locking position of the locking arm, and the latching pin can only be moved to its withdrawn or retracted position when no load acts on the pin. The arrangement will preferably include a cassette which at least encloses the central part of the door locking and door release mechanism and the central part of the locking arm mounted in the interior of the vehicle door and to which the latching device is attached.

An exemplifying embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates very schematically a car door provided with a lock arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates schematically the most significant components of the lock arrangement shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3-5 illustrate schematically a latching device included in the lock arrangement shown in Figure l, and show the latching device in different functional states of the lock arrangement;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate respectively and schematically a perspective front view of a cassette according to a second embodiment of an inventive lock arrangement, and that part of a conventional release and locking mechanism which is intended to be mounted within the confines of a vehicle door, said Figures showing the mechanism in a dismantled and an assembled state respectively;

Figure 8 is a perspective rear view of the cassette and release and locking mechanism unit shown in Figure 7 in an assemble state; and Figures 9-11 illustrate schematically the latching device included in the lock arrangement shown in Figures 6-8 in different functional states of the lock arrangement.

The lock arrangement illustrated in Figures 1-5 includes a conventional lock mechanism having a locking arm 1 which can be moved between a locking position, in which the release mechanism of a vehicle door 2 is latched, and a lock-release position in which the door can be opened. The locking arm is typically connected to a lock cylinder 3 through the medium of a lever arm, so as to enable the locking arm to be moved to and from its locking position by turning an appropriate key inserted in the lock. The locking arm 1 is also connected to a locking button (not shown) situated internally of the vehicle, through the medium of a pressure rod 4, so as to enable the locking arm to be moved to its locking and release positions from within the vehicle. The conventional lock mechanism of the illustrated embodiment also includes a central lock 5 which is connected to the locking arm by means of a lever for movement of said arm.

According to the invention, the lock arrangement includes a latching device 6 which is mounted within the vehicle door and attached to the bottom thereof. The latching device 6 is compromised mainly of a latching element 7 and a pull-rod 8, one end of which is connected to the locking arm 1 and the other end of which can be held firmly by the latching element in a manner described in more detail herebelow. The latching element is maneuvered electrically and is connected to a control means 10 by an electric conductor 9.

According to the invention, the control means 10 is connected to a device 11 which functions to detect the rotational movements of the rotary device 23 in the cylinder lock, which is connected to the locking arm 1 via the pull-rod 24 and can be turned with the aid of the standard car key. In its simplest form, the device 11 is comprised of two switches which are operated by the rotary device 23, which can be turned between two end or terminal positions by means of the car key. At each terminal position of its rotary movement the rotary device functions to activate an operating arm for each of the two switches of the device 11. Turning movements of the key can thus be registered by the control means, by registering the signals from the two switches of the device 11 by the control means. The control means, which is preferably in the form of a microprocessor, is adapted so that the latching device 6 cannot be moved from its latching position unless the key has been turned through a prede- termined movement pattern or sequence. Current is supplied to the control means from the vehicle lighting circuit, which facilitates unlocking of a car when the battery is low or dead.

The latching element 7 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 3-5. As will be seen from these Figures, the bottom part of the pull-rod 8 is comprised of two parts 12, 13 which are mutually connected by means of a bolt 14 which extends through holes or bores whose axial extensions greatly exceed the diameter of the bolt. The lower most part 13 of the pull-rod 8 is terminated downwardly by a generally cylindrical head 15 which has a sharply cornered upper edge and a rounded bottom edge. The lower end of the pull-rod 13 extends in a bore 16 which extends axially in a cylinder piece 17.

The latching element 7 also includes a locking pin 18 which moves in a radial opening 19 in the cylinder piece and which is urged by a spring 20 to a position in which the pin projects out into the bore 16. The locking pin 18 is withdrawable from the bore 16 with the aid of a solenoid valve 21. That part of the locking pin which extends out into the bore has a semi-circular recess whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of that portion of the pull-rod part 13 which is located above the head 15. The latching element also includes a spring 22 which strives to press the head 15 of said part 13 downwards in the bore 16.

In the figure 3 illustration, the latching device 6 is in its latching position and the pull-rod 8, whose upper end is connected to the locking arm in its locking position, is prevented from moving upwards by the locking pin 18 which projects out above the head 15. This prevents the locking arm 1 from being moved out of its locking position, unless the pull-rod is destroyed. In order to make destruction of the pull-rod difficult to achieve, the rod is preferably manufac¬ tured from hardened steel. When wishing to unlock the car, the key holder turns his/her key in a specific key-turning pattern, for instance turns the key to the terminal position that corresponds to locking of the lock mechanism 1, and holds the key in this position for at least three seconds, whereafter the key is turned to a second key-turning position corresponding to unlocking the car, within five seconds from the time of turning the key to the first mentioned terminal position. When the control means has established that the correct key-turning movement pattern has been carried out, i.e. that the key had been turned to the locking-mode position and held in this position for three seconds, the circuit powering the solenc:'^•■?. valve 21 is closed and the solenoid becomes active and witr aws or retracts the latching pin 18. Turning of the key to the position corre- sponding to unlocking of the lock mechanism results in upward movement of the pull-rod, due to the locking arm being moved from it locking position to its release position. The control means is also constructed to deliver current to the solenoid valve for only a short period of time, and consequently the latching pin will again be inserted into the bore 16 when this time period has lapsed, wherein if the key has been handled correctly the pull-rod will have been drawn upwards by the terminating turning of the key. The latching element will now be in the release position shown in figure 4. If the key is held in the locking position for longer than 5 seconds, the latching pin will again latch the locking arm so as to prevent release of the lock when the key is turned in a direction towards the lock release position. In order to unlock or release the lock arrangement, it is then necessary to again try to turn the rotary device correctly.

In the case of the described lock arrangement, the rotary device cannot be turned to the release end position when the latching pin is located in its latching position and thus firmly holds the locking arm. The described device which functions to detect the turning movements of the rotary device solely enables registration of when and for how long the rotary device is located in the terminal position of the locking mode when the latching pin is located in its latching position. This means that three variable parameters are available on which a coded signal can be built, these parameters being the number of times the rotary device shall be moved to the locking-mode terminal position before the latching pin is moved out of its latching position, the time interval between the different key-turning movements and the time durations over which the rotary device is held in the locking-mode terminal position. It is mentioned in this regard that the aforesaid time durations and time intervals will, in practice, preferably be comprised of time intervals which will insure that the car owner is able to unlock his/her vehicle without difficulty.

Thus, it is possible to detect correct turning movement of the rotary device for releasing a vehicle door with the aid of one switch which is turned off or on when the rotary device is moved to its locking-mode terminal position.

It will be understood that latching of an unlocked door with the latching element in the state illustrated in figure 4 requires the application of both an electric signal and turning of a key. This insures that an unlocked door cannot be locked unintentionally from within the vehicle, which is important from a safety aspect should the control means be damaged in the event of any collision or some other form of accident and deliver electric current.

The control means is also preferably constructed so as to require a specific sequence of key-turning movements before the latching element 7 will adopt a latching position, for instance the key shall first be turned to the terminal position that corresponds to release of the lock, and held there for at least thee seconds, so as to permit the latching position to be reached. In the absence of this sequence of turning movements, the conventional lock mechanism can be manipulated in a conventional manner and with a conventional function independently of the latching device of the released state of the lock arrangement shown in Figure 4. Thus, if the locking arm 1 is moved to its locking position by the car key, an internal door-locking button or a centraling system lock, the latching element will take the position illustrated in Figure 5. Because the parts 12 and 13 of the pull-rod are coupled in a manner which enables these parts to move axially in relation to one another, the locking arm is able to move to its locking position without the part 13 being able to move to its bottom end position shown in figure 3. Such an embodiment is desirable to enable cars to be driven through areas of high criminal activity with the doors locked from inside the vehicle. So to insure that a door which has been locked from inside the vehicle cannot be latched involun¬ tarily, the latching-pin movement mechanism is constructed so that the pin can only be withdrawn from the bore 16 by the solenoid valve 21 when no load acts on the pin. As will be seen from Figure 5, when the door is locked from inside the vehicle, the pin 18 is loaded by the head 15 and by the force exerted by the spring 22. The pin will therewith be pressed down into abutment with the bottom surface of the opening 19. The solenoid valve is dimensioned so that the force generated thereby will be smaller than the sum of the force exerted by the spring and the frictional force acting between the pin and the bottom surface of the opening 19. Thus, because the pin cannot be withdrawn from the bore 16 when the lock arrangement is in the state illustrate in Figure 5, it is impossible to latch any door which has been locked from within the vehicle.

According to one variant of the latching element (not shown) the underside of the head on the bottom part of the pull-rod and the upper side of the latching pin include mutually coacting projections and recesses which function to prevent the latching pin from being drawn out of the bore when the door has been locked from within the vehicle. It is also conceivable to provide the underside of the pin with a projection which is pressed against an abutment surface in the radial opening of the cylinder piece when the pin is pressed downwards by the pull-rod head.

Figures 6-11 illustrate a second embodiment of an inventive lock arrangement, this second embodiment differing from the embodiment illustrate in Figures 1-5 by virtue of the latching device being attached to a cassette which protects the latching device and the lock release and locking mechanism against external forces, instead of being placed in a not- readily accessible place in the vehicle door. Those compo¬ nents of the embodiment of the inventive lock arrangement shown in Figures 6-11 that find functional correspondents with components of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-5 have been identified by the same reference signs to which a prime has been added.

Figure 6 is a front view of the part 35 of a conventional locking and release mechanism which is intended to be fitted within the confines of a vehicle door. By front view is meant a view from that side of the mechanism which is intended to be mounted in the short side of a vehicle door and which faces the viewer of Figure 6. The mechanism 35 includes two bolt holes 27, by means of which the mechanism can be attached to a vehicle door. The mechanism 35 also includes an aperture 28 which allows the locking pin of the mechanism to move. The locking pin can be moved by link arms in the mechanism into and out of the locking position of the pivotal locking plate in that part of a conventional locking and release mechanism that is intended to be fitted onto the outside of the short side of a vehicle door. Part of one of the link arms of the mechanism can be seen in Figure 6, as can also a lever 30 which is intended to be connected to an opening device in the interior of a vehicle door. Also visible in Figures 6-8 is the end of the locking arm 1' of the lock mechanism which prevents the link arms of the unlocking or release mechanism from moving the locking pin, by means of a locking shoulder. In the case of the lock arrangement illustrated in Figures 6- 8, that part 35 of the described conventional locking and release mechanism which is intended to be mounted within the confines of a vehicle door is placed inside a cassette 31. The cassette is provided with apertures 32 and 33 which are complimentary to the holes 27 and the aperture 28, therewith enabling the unit comprising the cassette 31 and the locking and release mechanism 35 placed therein and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 to be fitted in a vehicle door in the same way as a conventional locking and release mechanism, using the same bolt holes. As shown in Figure 8, the cassette 31 includes a plate 34 which covers the locking-pin aperture 28 of the mechanism 35, those parts of the link arms 29,36 of the mechanism 35 that can be manipulated to move the locking pin 37, e.g. by bending and deforming said arms, and the central part of the locking arm 1 . The locking pin 37 and the link arm 36 of the release mechanism of the conventional and release mechanism 35 are illustrated schematically in broken lines in Figure 8.

The cassette also carries a latching device 6' which is constructed in the same manner as the latching device 6 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-5. Thus, the main parts of the latching device 6' include a latching element 7' and a pull-rod 8' which is connected at one end to one end of the locking arm 1' and the upper end of which latching element can be secured in the same way as that described with reference to the latching element 7 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-5. The control means 10'of this embodiment is formed integrally with the latching device 6', which is firmly connected to the cassette 31 in some suitable manner, and is supplied with current through cables 39 which lead to the vehicle lighting circuit.

As with the control means 10 of the locking arrangement shown in Figures 1-5, the control means 10'is connected with a device for detecting the rotary movement of a key-operated rotary device of a cylinder lock installed in the door of the vehicle, and the locking and releasing operations function in the same manner as that described above with reference to Figures 1-5.

Figures 9-11 show the latching device 6' in different functional positions of the lock arrangement, corresponding to the functional positions of the lock arrangement according to Figures 1-5 shown respectively in Figures 3, 4, and 5. The lock arrangement illustrated in Figures 6-11 works in the same way as the lock arrangement shown in figures 1-5 and accord¬ ingly reference is made in this regard to the text relating to Figures 3-5.

As will best be seen from Figure 8, the upper end of the upper part 12' of the pull-rod 8' is forked-shaped and may be connected to the end of the locking arm 1'projecting out towards the vehicle interior with the aid of that end of the pull-rod 4' which is connected to the inner locking button of the door. Other types of connecting elements are also conceiv¬ able. For instance, the forked ends of the pull-rod 8' may by welded to a bolt pivotally mounted on the end of the locking arm.

The cassette 31 is manufactured from a strong material, such as sheet metal, hard plastic or reinforced plastic. Figure 8 illustrates the unit comprising the cassette and locking and release mechanism obliquely from beneath and it will be seen from the Figure that the cassette has a lid or cover part 38 which prevent access to the locking and release mechanism from above.

In one variant of the invention, the device 11 which detects turning of the key is carried by the lock cylinder 3 in a manner such that if the lock cylinder is removed the device 11 will fall down into the space between the inner and the outer wall of the vehicle door. The control means is connected to earth through the device 11, the cylinder and the vehicle chassis. Thus, removal of the cylinder lock will result in the earth connection of the control means being broken, and the control means is advantageously constructed so that it will be blocked for a given period of time, for instance 15 minutes, when the earth connection is broken.

It is extremely difficult to open a locked and latched vehicle door fitted with a lock arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention without authorization. Because the locking arm 1,1' is fixed in a locked position by the latching device 6,6', the links of the lock mechanism cannot be maneuvered by manipulating the pull-rods that connect the locking arm to the rotary device of the lock cylinder with the inner locking button of the vehicle door and with a possible central lock or connect a lever of the lock mechanism with the inner door opener of the vehicle door. Furthermore, the actual locking and release mechanism is protected from external interference by the cassette, thereby making it impossible to manipulate the locking pin of the lock mechanism. Conventional forcing of the lock is made impossible by virtue of the fact that the rotary device of the lock cylinder must be rotated according to a predetermined pattern or sequence in order for the latching device to permit the lock arrangement to be released.

The control means may also be constructed so that an alarm device inactivating signal will be delivered at the same time as the control signal which causes the latching pin to be moved from its latching position.

Although the invention is primarily intended for preventing unauthorized access to a vehicle, it will be understood that the invention may also be applied for other purposes and also with other types of lock arrangements than those described. For instance, the invention can be applied with lock arrange¬ ments for offices and like premises, so as to make access to such premises difficult outside office hours and/or to control the activation of alarm systems. The invention may also be applied with ignition locks on automotive vehicle engines, to prevent unlawful starting of the engine. In principle, the invention can be applied to all types of locks that are operated by turning a key and allow the key turning movements to be detected.

It will be understood that the described exemplifying embodiments of the invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, means other than switches can be used to detect a rotary movement of the rotary device, for instance contact- less-type detecting means. Furthermore, the detecting devices can be adapted to detect positions of the rotary device other than said terminal positions, and it is also possible to construct the detecting devices so that they will only detect the direction in which the key is turned. For instance, a switch may be provided with a two-arm pivotal operating part which when the rotary device is turned in one direction will engage one of the arms that is located in the movement part of the rotary device and move said arm out of said movement path while, at the same time, the second arm is swung into the movement path of the rotary device by subsequent pivoting of the operating part, and is activated by the rotary device when said element is turned back. Neither need the rotary device be comprised of that part of the lock cylinder which maneuvers the locking arms of the lock mechanism, but may be comprised of any part that can be turned by the key, including the actual key bit. The cassette may also be constructed to fully enclose the part 35 of the lock mechanism and the latching device 7'. This embodiment is not preferred, however, as fitting of the pull-rods to which the locking arm and the link arms of the release are connected then becomes difficult. The upper part of the pull-rod of the latching device may alterna- tively have the form of a steel wire so as to obviate tele¬ scopic connection between the parts of said pull-rod and also to obviate the need for a pivotal connection with the end of the locking arm. The control means may also be constructed so that the latching device is blocked in the latched position for a given period of time after detecting one or more unsuccessful attempts to achieve correct key-turning move- ments. The invention is therefore restricted solely by the content of the following claims.

Claims

1. A lock arrangement comprising a mechanical lock mechanism (35) and a key that fits the lock, an electrically maneuver- able device (6,6 ') which can be maneuvered between and active and an inactive state, control means (10,10 ') for controlling the electrically maneuverable device, and a device (11) for detecting key turning movements and delivering to the control means signals which correspond to said key turning movements, characterized in that the control means (10,10 ') is adapted to move the electrically maneuverable device (6,6 ') from its active to its inactive state only when the key is turned in a predetermined sequence of turning movements.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined sequence of turning movements comprises mutually sequential movements of the key to specific positions with predetermined time intervals between the turning movements.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 which includes a vehicle-door locking-and-releasing mechanism (34) having a locking arm (1,1 ') which can be moved by turning a key, inserted in a cylinder lock included in the lock arrangement, between a locking position in which the door release mechanism is locked and an open position in which the door can be opened, characterized in that the electrically maneuverable device is comprised of a latching device (6,6 ') which is attached to the vehicle door in a not-readily accessible position and in response to an electric signalcan be maneu¬ vered to and from a latching position in which the latching arm (1,1 ') of the door lock mechanism is latched against movement.

4. A lock arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the latching device (6, 6') includes a connecting element (8, 8') which is made of a hard material, preferably hardened steel, and which is connected to the locking arm (1, 1') of the lock mechanism, and a latching pin (18, 18') which can be moved between a withdrawn position and an outwardly extended position, and which in the latching position of said latching device, prevents movement of the latching-device connecting element (8, 8') and therewith movement of the locking arm (1, 1') from the locking position.

5. A lock arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the latching pin (18, 18') of the latching device is spring biassed towards it outwardly extended position; in that the connecting element (8, 8') includes a lower end-part (13, 13') which is connected with the remainder of the connecting element for axial movement and is spring-biassed towards said outwardly extended position, and which is so dimensioned and guided that in the locking position of the arm (1, 1') the lower end-part (13, 13') extends in the outwardly extended position beyond the latching pin (18, 18') while in the withdrawn position said lower end-part is located outside the path of movement of the latching pin.

6. A lock arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that in the locking position of the locking arm (1,1 ') the lower end-par (13,13 ') of the connecting element presses against the latching pin (18,18 '); and in that the latching pin is arranged so that it can be only moved to its withdrawn position when no load acts on the pin.

7. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the arrangement includes a cassette (31) which encloses at least the central part of that part of the locking-and-releasing mechanism and the central part of the locking arm (1, 1') located within the vehicle door and to which the latching device (6, 6') is attached.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the control means (10') is attached to the cassette (31) .

9. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically maneuverable device comprises means for activating or inactivating an alarm device.

10. An arrangement according 21 of claims 3-8, characterizing in that the control means (10, 10') is adapted to control also activation and inactivation of a vehicle alarm device.