Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Patent
1995-12-21
1997-08-05
Gall, Lloyd A.
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
70186, 70252, 70492, B60R 2502
Patent
active
056531311
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a key switch system for a vehicle, which is used in a motorcycle, an automotive vehicle or the like for operating a steering lock mechanism and a switch mechanism in operative association with the operation of a cylinder lock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Generally, a key switch system for the vehicle integrally includes a cylinder lock locked and dislocked by the operation of a key, a steering lock mechanism for locking a steering device in operative association with the operation of the cylinder lock, and a switch mechanism for turning ON an ignition circuit in operative association with the operation of the cylinder lock. In general, the cylinder lock includes an inner cylinder rotatably fitted in an outer cylinder. A plurality of tumblers are slidably supported in the inner cylinder to engage tumbler engagement grooves in the outer cylinder.
If a normal or predetermined key is inserted into a key hole in the inner cylinder, all the tumblers are retracted from the tumbler engagement grooves and hence, the inner cylinder can be turned by rotating the key to operate the steering lock mechanism and the switch mechanism. On the other hand, if a key other than the normal key is inserted, any of the tumblers is brought into engagement in the tumbler engagement groove. For this reason, even if the key is turned, the inner cylinder can not be turned and thus, the steering lock mechanism and the switch mechanism can not be operated.
The cylinder lock of the prior art key switch system for the vehicle inhibits the turning of the inner cylinder by engagement of the tumblers in the tumbler engagement grooves and moreover, the tumbler is formed of a plate-like member having a relatively low rigidity. For this reason, there is a problem that if a key other than the normal key is inserted and forcibly turned, the tumblers are damaged.
In order to eliminate such a disadvantage, a key switch system for a vehicle described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 108468/92 is designed such that if a key other than a normal key is inserted, an inner cylinder is axially pushed, whereby a control pin embedded in an outer cylinder is brought into engagement with a rotation arresting portion of a control groove provided in the inner cylinder. Thus, a rotational force of the inner cylinder can be received by the control pin to prevent a damage to the tumblers.
In the key switch system for the vehicle described in the above publication, the turning of the inner cylinder can be restricted by the control pin. However, the rigidity of the control pin is not necessarily sufficient, and it is desirable that a stronger rotation-restricting force is exhibited to prevent a damage to the tumblers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reliably prevent a damage to the tumblers, when the key other than the normal key has been inserted and turned, or when the key has been shallowly inserted and turned.
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a key switch system for a vehicle, comprising: a cylinder lock comprised of an outer cylinder formed in its inner peripheral surface with axially-extending tumbler engagement grooves, an inner cylinder rotatably carried on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and having an axially extending key hole, and a plurality of tumblers radially slidably carried in the inner cylinder and capable of being engaged into tumbler engagement grooves in the outer cylinder and disengaged from the tumbler engagement grooves by the insertion of a key into the key hole; a steering lock mechanism operated in operative association with the rotation of the inner cylinder of the cylinder lock to lock a steering device; and a switch mechanism operated in operative association with the rotation of the inner cylinder of the cylinder lock to turn ON an ignition circuit; wherein the system further includes a cylinder pin which is radially slidably carried in
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patent: 2155734 (1939-04-01), Olson
patent: 3708032 (1973-01-01), Suzuki
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patent: 4972692 (1990-11-01), Morikawa et al.
patent: 5287098 (1994-02-01), Janssen
Hirakata Yoshiaki
Shibata Kazumi
Gall Lloyd A.
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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