Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2002-05-21
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
C070S184000, C070S185000, C070S186000, C070S252000, C070S278300, C070S278200, C070S389000, C070S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06389856
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a lock apparatus, and more particularly to a lock apparatus which can be preferably applied to automobile steering by using an electronic key preferably.
According to considerations of the inventors of the present invention, there is an automobile steering lock apparatus as shown in
FIGS. 18
,
19
.
In
FIG. 18
, reference numeral
40
denotes a rotator and reference numeral
41
denotes a rotator casing. Reference numeral
42
denotes a lock solenoid for engaging or disengaging a stopper
43
with or from an engaging groove
44
so as to lock or unlock a rotation of the rotator
40
.
A slider hole
46
is provided in a lower portion of the rotator
40
such that it goes therethrough up to a key insertion hole
45
. The slider
47
is disposed in the slider hole
46
such that it is freely slidable in a direction perpendicular to the key insertion hole
45
.
A switch lever
49
is swingably supported by a pin
50
in a bottom portion of a housing
48
and an end of the switch lever
49
is urged upward by a spring
51
, so that the slider
47
is pushed upward by this end. Consequently, a top end of the slider
47
is protruded into the key insertion hole
45
.
Further, a key presence/absence detecting switch
52
having an actuating element
53
opposing the other end of the switch lever
49
is disposed in the bottom portion of this housing
48
.
If an insertion portion
55
of an electronic key
54
is inserted into the key insertion hole
45
, the slider
47
is moved downward. Consequently, pressing of the actuating element
53
by the other end of the switch lever
49
is released, so that the key presence/absence detecting switch
52
is turned ON.
The electronic key
54
contains a circuit chip
56
which memorizes a predetermined identity code (ID).
An annular antenna coil
57
is provided around an end portion of the housing.
With such a structure, when the insertion portion
55
of the electronic key
48
is inserted into the key insertion hole
45
and then, the key presence/absence detecting switch
52
is turned ON, the control unit
60
shown in
FIG. 10
carries out transmission and reception of electronic signal by electric wave between the antenna coil
57
and circuit chip
56
so as to verify ID of the electronic key
54
with ID memorized in the control unit
60
. Only when the IDs coincide with each other, a lock release signal is sent from the control unit
60
to the lock solenoid
42
so as to release the lock on the rotator
40
. At the same time, a driving permission signal is sent to an engine driving control unit
61
so as to enable a startup of the engine.
In such a steering lock apparatus, only when the IDs coincide, a rotation of the rotator
40
is enabled and an ignition switch
62
is turned ON (starter switch is actuated). Consequently, the driving permission signal is sent to the driving control unit
61
so as to enable the startup of the engine. Thus, when other key than the electronic key
54
is used, not only the rotation of the rotator but also the startup of the engine is blocked thereby contributing to prevention of stealing of a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, with the above described structure, when the slider
47
is pushed down by the insertion portion
55
even when the electronic key
20
is inserted incompletely, the key presence/absence detecting switch
52
is turned ON, so that the lock solenoid
42
is operated to release the lock. Thus, in such a case, the rotation of the rotator
40
is made free, so that the rotation of the ignition switch and releasing of the steering lock are enabled.
Thus, the present invention intends to provide a steering lock apparatus wherein when the electronic key is inserted incompletely, even when the lock on the rotating member by the lock actuator is released, the rotation of the rotating member by the electronic key and releasing of the steering lock can be blocked effectively so as to encourage the electronic key to be inserted appropriately.
To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock apparatus capable of being locked and unlocked by an electronic key, comprising: an electronic key having a circuit chip generating an electronic signal and an insertion portion formed at an end thereof; a control unit disposed on the lock apparatus and carrying out transmission and reception of an electronic signal between the electronic key and the control unit so as to perform ID verification, the control unit sending a lock release signal when as a result of the ID verification, an ID of the control unit and an ID of the electronic key coincide with each other; a casing disposed on the lock apparatus and having a first opening portion; a rotating member disposed rotatably inside the casing; a lock actuator receiving the lock release signal from the control unit so as to release a lock on the rotating member with respect to the casing; a key insertion hole disposed to the rotating member and capable of transmitting a rotation force of the electronic key to the rotating member when the insertion portion of the electronic key is inserted and engaged therewith; a first slider hole going through the rotating member in a direction perpendicular to the key insertion hole from an external peripheral face of the rotating member toward the key insertion hole; a first slider inserted into the first slider hole and disposed such that an inner end thereof is protruded into the key insertion hole, an outer end face thereof being submerged from the external peripheral face of the rotating member when the electronic key is not inserted or inserted incompletely, and the first slider being pushed by the insertion portion and slid outward when the electronic key is inserted normally, so that the outer end face makes flush with the external peripheral face of the rotating member; and a first check lever supported rotatably by the casing and in which one end thereof is an operating portion activating the transmission and reception of the control unit for the ID verification and the other end makes contact with the outer end face of the first slider through the first opening portion in the casing so as to transmit a sliding motion of the first slider to the one end of the first check lever, while when the rotating member is rotated by the electronic key, the other end of the first check lever is moved from the outer end face of the first slider to the external peripheral face of the rotating member and makes contact with the external peripheral face in slidable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic lock apparatus, in which transmission and reception of an electronic signal is carried out between a circuit chip that generates an electronic signal and provided in an electronic key and a control unit that is disposed on the lock apparatus so as to perform ID verification, and when as a result of the ID verification, an ID of the control unit and an ID of the electronic key coincide with each other, a lock release signal is sent from the control unit to a lock actuator so that a rotating member of the electric lock apparatus becomes capable of being unlocked to enable a rotation of the rotating member by the electronic key, comprising: a casing accommodating the rotating member rotatably; a key insertion hole disposed to the rotating member and capable of transmitting a rotation force of the electronic key to the rotating member when an insertion portion of the electronic key is inserted and engaged therewith; a slider hole going through the rotating member in a direction perpendicular to the key insertion hole from an external peripheral face of the rotating member to the key insertion hole; a slider inserted into the slider hole and disposed such that an inner end thereof is protruded into the key insertion hole, an outer end face thereof being submerged from an external peripheral face of the rotating member when the electronic key is
Ogata Satoshi
Tsukano Tetsuyuki
Watanuki Yoshio
Dayoan B.
Lugo Carlos
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Lock apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lock apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lock apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2831652