Locks – Operating mechanism – Key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2003-07-22
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3676)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Key
C070S373000, C070S451000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595033
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvement of an attachment structure for a key cylinder.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, in FIG. 5 of Japanese Registered Utility Model Publication No. 2539986 entitled “Articles Container Device for Motorcycles,” holder 48, leaf spring 49, cover 50, and key cylinder 51 are described. Particularly, the leaf spring 49 is a member which is fitted after the key cylinder is inserted into the cover 50 to prevent the key cylinder 51 from coming off.
An example of a leaf spring similar to the leaf spring
49
for fixing a key cylinder will now be described with reference to FIGS.
10
(
a
) and
10
(
b
). FIGS.
10
(
a
) and
10
(
b
) are diagrams for describing a conventional attachment structure of a key cylinder. FIG.
10
(
a
) is a side view and FIG.
10
(
b
) is a cross sectional view along the line
10
—
10
in FIG.
10
(
a
).
FIG.
10
(
a
) shows the structure in which an attachment hole
101
is provided on a rear fender
100
. A key cylinder
102
which is for lock release to detach a seat (not shown in the drawing) is inserted into the attachment hole
101
. A leaf spring
104
is hooked to a rectangular groove
103
provided on the key cylinder
102
from the inside of the rear fender
100
to thereby prevent the key cylinder
102
from coming out of the attachment hole
101
. Reference numeral
105
denotes a tail lamp. An attachment
105
a
for attaching the tail lamp
105
to the rear fender
100
is covered by the seat.
In FIG.
10
(
b
), the leaf spring
104
is shaped in the form of a fork, and inside ends of two spring tabs
106
,
106
are inserted into the rectangular groove
103
of the key cylinder
102
along the direction of the arrow A.
However, in the FIG.
10
(
b
), remarkable skill is required to insert a leaf spring
104
along the arrow A because the tail lamp
105
interferes with the insertion of the leaf spring, since there is insufficient working room. Accordingly, this condition results in high cost.
In addition, if the tail lamp
105
is attached after the leaf spring
104
is inserted, the assembly order is limited. The tail lamp
105
must be detached when the key cylinder
102
is attached.
Furthermore, when the key cylinder
102
is detached for maintenance, the seat must be detached and the tail lamp
105
must be detached by unscrewing a nut of the attachment
105
a
. Therefore, the cost of maintenance is undesirably high.
If the insertion direction of the leaf spring
104
is changed to the direction of the arrow B or arrow C in FIG.
10
(
b
) to solve the problem, although the leaf spring
104
can be inserted easily, this structure in which the key cylinder
102
can be detached as the seat remains attached is not preferable when considering theft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide an attachment structure for a key cylinder which is easily attached and allows the assembly order to be flexible.
To achieve the above object, the present invention includes an attachment structure for a key cylinder provided with a convex portion for preventing rotation on the peripheral surface and a rectangular groove for fixing the key cylinder. The key cylinder is inserted into a hole of an attachment unit of a body and a leaf spring is hooked on the rectangular groove to prevent the key cylinder from coming out of the hole. The leaf spring is a plate having a hole into which a key cylinder is inserted, a notch into which the convex portion is inserted, and spring tabs which can be bent elastically in the insertion direction of the key cylinder formed thereon. The top end of the spring tabs is inclined with respect to the bottom of the rectangular groove before bending so that the top end is partially brought into contact with an edge of the back wall after bending.
The key cylinder can be attached easily to the body simply by inserting the key cylinder into the hole of the attachment unit. Furthermore, the leaf spring is provided previously to the hole of the attachment unit. Accordingly, when other parts are attached around the hole of the attachment unit, the key cylinder can be attached without interference, and freedom of assembly order is increased.
The top end of the spring tab is inclined with respect to the bottom face of the rectangular groove before bending so that the top end of the spring tab is partially in contact with the back wall edge after bending. The insertion depth of the top end of the spring tab can be reduced.
As a result of this action, when the key cylinder is inserted into the hole of the leaf spring, the positional change of the top end from the position before insertion of the top end of the spring tab into the rectangular groove to the position after insertion is reduced. Furthermore, the vibration in the insertion direction of the key cylinder is reduced.
Furthermore, since the position of the top end of the spring tab in the insertion direction of the key cylinder is not changed even if the leaf spring is permanently set with time, the vibration in the insertion direction does not increase. Therefore the vibration in the insertion direction of the key cylinder is reduced.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1561254 (1925-11-01), Ledin
patent: 2948141 (1960-08-01), Vahlstrom
patent: 3503233 (1970-03-01), Russell et al.
patent: 4139998 (1979-02-01), Jeavons et al.
patent: 4586354 (1986-05-01), Smith
patent: 4873852 (1989-10-01), Neyret
patent: 4910982 (1990-03-01), Dana
patent: 5251467 (1993-10-01), Anderson
patent: 5297405 (1994-03-01), Manning et al.
patent: 5410899 (1995-05-01), McConnell
patent: 5435159 (1995-07-01), Ramsauer
patent: 5457975 (1995-10-01), Berger et al.
patent: 5548981 (1996-08-01), Kirk
patent: 5606883 (1997-03-01), Svec
patent: 5636540 (1997-06-01), Myers
patent: 5730011 (1998-03-01), Terai
patent: 5915725 (1999-06-01), Cuddihy et al.
patent: 8911765.4 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 258491 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 2539986 (1997-04-01), None
Hara Ikuo
Kojika Ken
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