Locks – Special application – For automotive vehicles
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2002-05-07
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For automotive vehicles
C070S184000, C070S185000, C070S186000, C070S278200, C070S278300, C070S389000, C070S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06382003
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a lock apparatus and more particularly a lock apparatus which can be applied to automotive steering preferably by using an electronic key preferably.
According to considerations of the inventor of the present invention and others, there are automotive steering lock apparatuses shown in
FIGS. 9
,
10
.
In
FIG. 9
, 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 rotatably 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
4725
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
48
.
With such a structure, when the insertion portion
55
of the electronic key
54
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 an 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
61
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
60
so as to enable a startup of the engine.
In such a steering lock apparatus, only when the IDs coincide with each other, 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 such a structure, the insertion portion
55
of the electronic key
54
has a straight structure having a rectangular cross section and the key insertion hole
45
in the rotator
40
is a straight hole slightly larger than the insertion portion
55
.
Thus, when the electronic Key
54
is rotated with the insertion portion
55
being inserted into the key insertion hole
45
, the insertion portion
55
makes into substantially full contact with the key insertion hole
45
, so that a rotation force can be transmitted to the rotator
40
securely. However, when the insertion portion
55
is inserted, the tip thereof interferes with an opening edge of the key insertion hole
45
, so that it may be difficult to insert the electronic key
54
into the hole.
Although as a countermeasure, it can be considered that an opening diameter of the key insertion hole
45
is formed larger than the cross section of the insertion portion
55
, in this case, an oblique insertion of the electronic key
54
is allowed, so that an appropriate insertion condition of the electronic key
54
cannot be ensured.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock apparatus capable of improving an insertion performance of the electronic key and encouraging an appropriate insertion of the electronic key.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lock apparatus capable of being locked/unlocked by an electronic key, comprising: an electronic key having a circuit chip generating an electronic signal, and an insertion portion provided at an end thereof and comprised of a pair of opposing flat portions and slope portions on both sides so as to be formed in a tapered flat shape; and a rotating member having an insertion hole opening at an end face thereof and in which the insertion portion of the electronic key is to be inserted, an opening portion of the key insertion hole having a rectangular sectional shape corresponding to a cross section of the insertion portion and being larger than an end of the insertion portion, and an interior of the key insertion hole being formed in a tapered flat shape corresponding to the tapered flat shape of the insertion portion and having a slant wall as a side face. Here, a rotating force from the electronic key inserted into the key insertion hole is transmitted to the rotating member through substantially full contact between the opposing flat portions of the electronic key and the interior the key insertion hole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3708032 (1973-01-01), Suzuki
patent: 3782145 (1974-01-01), Wolter
patent: 3789636 (1974-02-01), Nakashima
patent: 4427967 (1984-01-01), Maiocco
patent: 4466262 (1984-08-01), Maiocco et al.
patent: 4716748 (1988-01-01), Watanuki et al.
patent: 5117097 (1992-05-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 5982295 (1999-11-01), Goto et al.
patent: 6003349 (1999-12-01), Nagae et al.
patent: 6095415 (2000-08-01), Shouji
patent: 6223571 (2001-05-01), Rector
Ogata Satashi
Tsukano Tetsuyuki
Watanuki Yoshio
Dayoan B.
Lugo Carlos
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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