WO2010046429A1

WO2010046429A1 - Antitheft device for the steering column of an automobile

Info

Publication number: WO2010046429A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/063871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fréderic MALTAVERNE; Christophe Perrin
Original assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
Priority date: 2008-10-23
Filing date: 2009-10-22
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: FR2937598B1; DE112009002614T5; FR2937598A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an antitheft device for the steering column (2) of an automobile, comprising: a housing (3) in which is provided a mobile bolt (5) configured for locking the rotation of the steering column (2) and a latch (7) for controlling the movement of said bolt (5), and a clamping collar (9) configured to be mounted on the steering column (2) and including a first half-collar (9a) rigidly connected to the housing (3), and a second half-collar (9b) in which a first end (11) is hinged relative to the first half-collar (9a) about an axis (A2) substantially parallel to the axis (A1) of the steering column (2), as well as a second end (13) configured to be attached to the first half-collar (9a) upon mounting on the steering column (2) via a clamping means (37). According to the invention, the second half-collar (9b) includes, at the first end (11) thereof, a pivotal supporting shaft (15), and the first half-collar (9a) includes a bearing (17) associated with said supporting shaft (15) and a guide (19) for inserting said supporting shaft (15) into said bearing (17).

Description

Anti-theft device for a steering column of a motor vehicle

The invention relates to an antitheft device for a steering column of a motor vehicle. The invention more particularly relates to an antitheft device, of the type comprising a housing in which is arranged an antitheft mechanism provided for immobilizing the steering column. The immobilization is generally carried out using a movable bolt controlled in displacement by means of a rotary latch, between a rest position, in which the steering column is released, and an active position in which the steering column is locked in rotation.

To do this, we mount such a housing around the steering column. Among the locks known in the state of the art, some provide for mounting the housing on the steering column, a clamp fixed to the housing and mounted around the steering column. The known structure of the clamp comprises two half-collars joined firstly by means of a transverse pin and secondly by means of a screw for clamping the antitheft device on the steering column.

However, this clamping installation requires a robust connection between the two half-collars, which requires in the current state of the important and expensive mounting means. Indeed, the establishment of the pin requires the use of both hands of an operator to achieve this connection and requires the implementation of significant efforts.

In addition, the mounting difficulty generates significant rejects.

In addition, an antitheft device offering accessibility for mounting and therefore for disassembly, may allow a potential thief to intervene directly on the antitheft mechanism to cause the unlocking of the lock and thus seize the vehicle which greatly limits the anti-burglary role of the anti-theft device.

The present invention therefore aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art by providing an antitheft device for improved steering column for mounting the antitheft device on the simple and inexpensive steering column, while limiting the possibility of break-in .

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an antitheft device for a column of motor vehicle steering, comprising:

a housing in which is arranged a movable bolt configured to immobilize the rotating steering column and a latch for controlling the movement of said bolt, and a clamping collar configured to be mounted on the steering column, having a first half collar secured to the housing, and a second half-collar of which: • a first end is articulated relative to the first half-collar along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the steering column, and • a second end is configured to be fixed to the first half-collar when mounted on the steering column, by means of a clamping means, characterized in that the second half-collar carries at its first end a pivot support axis, and the first half-collar comprises a bearing associated with said support axis and an insertion guide of said support shaft in said bearing.

With this configuration, it eliminates the heavy mounting means for the connection between the two half-collars since simple and inexpensive manual insertion of the support shaft in the bearing is sufficient, and provides a robust connection.

The anti-theft device may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken separately or in combination:

- The first end of the second half-collar forms a housing for receiving said support axis, and the support axis is placed in the first half-collar with the second half-collar to ensure the connection between the two half-collars, which reduces the assembly time; said support axis is formed in the form of a pin, to ensure a mechanical resistance to the forces generated by the clamping of the two half-collars;

said support shaft is formed in one piece with the second half-collar, the support shaft thus integrated in the second half-collar, the number of inserts to be assembled in the antitheft device is reduced; said support axis is produced by a rolling operation of the first end of the second half-collar, to obtain a resistant support axis at a lower cost;

said insertion guide comprises an insertion slot formed in the first half-collar and extending along an axis substantially parallel to said support axis, which facilitates the insertion of the support shaft into the first half-collar; said insertion guide comprises at least one recess formed in a lateral face of the first half-collar, which facilitates the positioning of the support shaft in the bearing;

said insertion guide has a shape substantially "L" so as to allow a displacement of said support axis along two substantially perpendicular axes;

- Said device further comprises a locking means of said support shaft in said bearing, so as to avoid inadvertent disconnection of said half-collars before mounting on the steering column;

- The locking means comprises at least one pin cooperating with at least one corresponding hole provided on the first half-collar.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description given by way of example, without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents an antitheft device intended to be mounted on a steering column by means of a clamping collar,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clamping collar mounted on the steering column;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of first and second half-collars of the clamp, FIG. 4a illustrates a first embodiment of the clamping collar, and

- Figure 4b illustrates a second embodiment of the clamp.

In these figures and in the following description, identical or similar elements are designated by the same references.

The invention relates to an antitheft device and the mounting of the latter on a steering column of a motor vehicle, in order to secure the use of the column -A- direction.

FIG. 1 represents an embodiment for an antitheft device 1. This antitheft device 1 comprises:

a housing 3 having a first part 3a and a second part 3b, a bolt 5 movably mounted in the first part 3a, to engage a corresponding housing 2a provided on a steering column 2 so as to immobilize the steering column 2 in rotation, and

- A latch 7 rotatably mounted in the second part 3b, to control the movement of the bolt 5. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4b, there is provided a clamping collar 9 attached to the housing 3 and mounted around the steering column 2 by clamping to mount the housing 3 on the steering column 2. Of course, the clamp 9 can form an integral part of the housing 3.

This clamp 9, for example made of folded sheet, has an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the shaft of the steering column 2 to be arranged around it.

In addition, the clamping collar 9 has a first half-collar 9a and a second half-collar 9b.

The first half-collar 9a can be fixed to the housing 3 or be an integral part of this housing 3, more precisely to the first part 3a of the housing 3 incorporating the bolt 5, and the second half-collar 9b is connected to the first half-collar 9a. For this, the two half-collars 9a and 9b have complementary shapes.

The second half-collar 9b has a first 11 and a second end 13 respectively connected to the first half-collar 9a. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first end 11 is articulated with respect to the first half-collar 9a, along an axis A2 substantially parallel to the axis A1 of the steering column 2.

For a strong hinged connection between the first 9a and second 9b half collars, the first end 11 of the second half-collar 9b carries a pivot support shaft 15 shown in more detail in Figures 4a and 4b. For this, the first end 11 of the second half-collar 9b can form a housing for receiving the support shaft 15 (Figure 4a). In this case, the support shaft 15 is for example made in the form of a pin.

Alternatively (Figure 4b), the support shaft 15 is formed integrally with the second half-collar 9b, for example by a rolling operation of the first end 11 of the second half-collar 9b.

This support pin 15 cooperates with an associated bearing 17 of the first half-collar 9a. It is then expected that the first half-collar 9a comprises an insertion guide 19 of the support shaft 15. The bearing 17 is formed in a side face 21 of the first half-collar 9a disposed vis-à-vis the first end 11 of the second half-collar 9b.

The insertion guide 19 may comprise an insertion slot 23 formed in the lateral face 21 and extending along an axis A3 substantially parallel to the support axis 15 to enable the support shaft 15 to be introduced into the first half -collar 9a.

The insertion guide 19 may also include at least one recess 25 formed in the side face 21 of the first half-collar 9a.

In the example illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the insertion guide 23 has a shape substantially in "L". This "L" shape allows a displacement of the support axis 15 in two directions substantially perpendicular to each other.

In this example, the "L" shape of the insertion guide 19 is formed by the insertion slot 23 and the recess 25. In this case, the recess 25 is made along an axis B1 substantially perpendicular to the axis A3. of the insertion slot 23 and has a shape, for example semi-cylindrical, closed at one end by the bearing

17, and the insertion slot 23 opens on the open end of the recess 25.

Moreover, according to the embodiment illustrated, so as to facilitate the insertion of the support pin 15 into the bearing 17 of the first half-collar 9a:

the second half-collar 9b has a lateral portion 27 of reduced width relative to the remainder of the second half-collar 9b, and

- The first half-collar 9a has a recess 29 of corresponding width, formed on its side face 21 so as to form two projections 31, 33 on either side of the recess 29. According to this embodiment, the insertion guide 19 is provided on each projection 31,33.

In addition, one can provide a locking means of the support shaft 15 in the bearing

17 fixed on the first half-collar 9a, to avoid untimely separation of the half-collars 9a, 9b before mounting on the steering column 2. This locking means provides a cache function of the insertion guide and can be integrated the antitheft device or comprise an insert.

For example, the locking means comprises at least one pin 35 (FIG. 2) cooperating with at least one hole 36 provided on the lateral face 21 of the first half-collar 9a (FIGS. 4a-4b) so as to conceal the guide from insertion 23.

The locking means may also comprise a plastic material.

In addition, during the mounting of the antitheft device 1 on the steering column 2, the second end 13 of the second half-collar 9b is fixed to the first half-collar 9a by means of a clamping means 37 along an axis of clamping B2 substantially perpendicular to the axis Al of the steering column 2 (Figure X).

In this case, the force F exerted on the second half-collar 9b ensures the maintenance of the support shaft 15 in the bearing 17. Thus, when the antitheft device 1 is mounted on the steering column 2, the two halves 9a, 9b collars can not be detached without first removing the clamping means 37. According to an exemplary embodiment, the clamping means 37 comprises a screw 39 cooperating with tapped holes 41a, 41b respectively provided in the first 9a and second 9b half-collars.

Thus, the assembly of the housing 3 and the clamp 9 of the antitheft device 1, and the mounting of the latter on the steering column 2, is performed as follows. All the components of the housing 3 are assembled and introduced into the housing 3.

The first half-collar 9a is fixed to the housing 3. The support shaft 15 carried by the first end 11 of the second half-collar 9b is inserted into the associated bearing 17 of the first half-collar 9a with the aid of the guide. insertion 19. The blocking pin 35 is inserted into the corresponding hole 36 formed in the first half-collar 9a and thus holds in place the support axis 15 in the bearing 17.

The anti-theft device 1 thus assembled can be handled and transported without risk of inadvertent disconnection of the half-collars 9a, 9b to be mounted on the steering column 2. For mounting on the steering column 2, the first half-collar 9a is arranged around the steering column 2, the second half-collar 9b pivots so that its second end 13 is arranged facing the first half-collar 9a, and the latter is clamped to the first half-collar 9a.

The bearing 17 withstands the forces generated by the tightening of the two half-collars 9a, 9b, so that the support shaft 15 is held in the bearing 17 when the antitheft device 1 is mounted on the steering column 2.

It is therefore understood that the mounting of such an antitheft device 1 is simple and inexpensive, while ensuring a robust connection between the two half-collars 9a, 9b to withstand the force generated by the clamping on the steering column 2 and to resist burglary attempts.

Claims

Anti-theft device for a steering column (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing (3) in which is arranged a mobile bolt (5) configured to immobilize the steering column (2) in rotation and a latch ( 7) for controlling the movement of said bolt (5), and

- a clamp (9) configured to be mounted on the steering column (2), having a first half-collar (9a) integral with the housing (3), and a second half-collar (9b) of which:

A first end (11) is articulated with respect to the first half-collar (9a) along an axis (A2) substantially parallel to the axis (Al) of the steering column (2), and

A second end (13) is configured to be fixed to the first half-collar (9a) when mounted on the steering column (2), by means of a clamping means (37), characterized in that :

the second half-collar (9b) carries at its first end (11) a support axis (15) for pivoting, and in that - the first half-collar (9a) comprises a bearing (17) associated with said support axis ( 15) and an insertion guide (19) of said support shaft (15) in said bearing (17).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end (11) of the second half-collar (9b) forms a housing for receiving said support shaft (15).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said support shaft (15) is in the form of a pin.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support shaft (15) is formed integrally with the second half-collar (9b).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said support axis (15) is achieved by a rolling operation of the first end (11) of the second half-collar (9b).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said insertion guide (19) comprises an insertion slot (23) formed in the first half-collar (9a) and extending according to an axis (A3) substantially parallel to said support axis (15).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said insertion guide (19) comprises at least one recess (25) formed in a side face (21) of the first half-collar (9a).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said insertion guide (19) has a substantially "L" shape.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a locking means of said support shaft (15) in said bearing (17), so as to avoid inadvertent disconnection of said half-collars ( 9a), (9b) before mounting on the steering column

(2).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking means comprises at least one pin (35) cooperating with at least one hole (36) corresponding provided on the first half-collar (9a).