Steering column lock

Claim 2

In an automotive vehicle-steering column lock of the type including steering shaft bolt means mounted on a stationary housing portion of the steering column for movement along a path extending longitudinally of the column between a locked position engaging a keeper fixed to the rotatable steering shaft element of the column and an unlocked position, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator rotatably mounted on said stationary column portion and being connected with switch means controlling the vehicle ignition system so as to cause energization of such system when rotated to an ''''on'''' Position and deenergization of the system when rotated to ''''off'''' and ''''off-lock'''' positions, said actuator being further connected with said bolt means for unitary movement therewith to locate the latter in the unlocked position thereof when said actuator is in ''''off'''' and ''''on'''' positions and to locate said bolt means in the locked position thereof in the ''''off-lock'''' position of said actuator, the improvement which comprises a blocking member mounted on said stationary housing portion for movement between blocking and unblocking positions, said bolt means including a blocking shoulder thereon, said blocking member including a blocking portion movable in a plane generally transverse the path of movement of said bolt means and located in the blocking position of said blocking member within the path of movement of said blocking shoulder to prevent movement of said bolt means and of said actuator from ''''off'''' to ''''off-lock'''' position, means biasing said blocking member to the blocking position thereof, said blocking member further including an operating portion disposed adjacent said actuator in a position with relation thereto permitting manipulation of the blocking member from blocking to unblocking position against said biasing means by one finger of the operator''s hand simultaneously with rotation of said actuator by other fingers of the same hand from ''''off'''' to ''''off-lock'''' position.

Claim 3

In an automotive vehicle-steering column lock of the type including steering shaft bolt means mounted on a stationary housing portion of the steering column for movement along a path extending longitudinally of the column between a locked position engaging a keeper fixed to the rotatable steering shaft element of the column and an unlocked position, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator rotatably mounted on said stationary column portion and being connected with switch means controlling the vehicle ignition and starter systems so as to cause energization of the ignition system when rotated to an ''''on'''' position, energization of the starter system when rotated from ''''on'''' to ''''start'''' positions, and deenergization of the ignition system when rotated to ''''off'''' and ''''off-lock'''' positions, said actuator being further connected with said bolt means for unitary movement therewith to locate the latter in the unlocked position thereof when said actuator is in ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start'''' positions and to locate said bolt means in the locked position thereof in the ''''off-lock'''' position of said actuator, the improvement which comprises a blocking member mounted on said stationary housing portion for movement between first and second operating positions, said bolt means including blocking shoulder means thereon, said blocking member including blocking means thereon movable in a plane generally transverse the path of movement of said bolt and located in the first operative position of said blocking member within the path of movement of said blocking shoulder means to prevent movement of said bolt means and of said actuator from ''''off'''' to ''''off-lock'''' position and located in the second operative position of said blocking member within the path of movement of said blocking shoulder means to prevent movement of said bolt means and of said actuator from ''''on'''' to ''''start'''' position, means biasing said blocking member to the first operative position thereof, said blocking member further including an operating portion manipulable to move said blocking member from the first to the second operative position against said biasing means.

Claim 4

In an automotive vehicle-steering column lock of the type including steering shaft bolt means mounted on a stationary housing portion of the steering column for movement along a path extending longitudinally of the column between a locked position engaging a keeper fixed to the rotatable steering shaft element of the column and an unlocked position, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator rotatably mounted on said stationary column portion and being connected with switch means controlling the vehicle ignition and starter systems so as to cause energization of the ignition system when rotated to an ''''on'''' position, energization of the starter system when rotated from ''''on'''' to ''''start'''' positions, and deenergization of the ignition system when rotated to ''''off'''' and ''''off-lock'''' positions, said actuator being further connected with said bolt means for unitary movement therewith to locate the latter in the unlocked position thereof when said actuator is in ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start'''' positions and to locate said bolt means in the locked position thereof in the ''''off-lock'''' position of said actuator, the improvement which comprises a blocking member mounted on said stationary housing portion for movement between first and second operating positions, said bolt means including blocking shoulder means thereon, said blocking member including blocking means thereon movable in a plane generally transverse the path of movement of said bolt and located in the first operative position of said blocking member within the path of movement of said blocking shoulder means to prevent movement of said bolt means and of said actuator from ''''off'''' to ''''off-lock'''' position and located in the second operative position of said blocking member within the path of movement of said blocking shoulder means to prevent movement of said bolt means and of said actuator from ''''on'''' to ''''start'''' position, means biasing said blocking member to the first operative position thereof, said blocking member further including an operating portion manipulable to move said blocking member from the first to the second operative position against said biasing means.

Claim 5

In an automotive vehicle-steering column including a rotatable steering shaft therein, a steering column lock comprising, lock bolt means mounted on said column for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof between ''''off-lock,'''' ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start'''' positions, vehicle ignition and starter switch means operAtively connected with said bolt and having operating modes controlled by movement of the latter between corresponding said positions thereof, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator including a housing mounted on said column and a core mounted rotatably within said housing and operatively connected with said bolt for selectively locating said bolt shiftably in any one of said positions thereof by selected rotation of said actuator core, said lock bolt means including a locking head movable into and out of locking relation with said steering shaft in the ''''off-lock'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said bolt means respectively and further including first and second blocking shoulders spaced on said bolt means longitudinally of the column, a blocking lever mounted on said column for rotation relative thereto between first and second operative positions generally in a plane disposed transverse the path of movement of said bolt means and including a blocking portion, means biasing said blocking lever to said first operative position thereof wherein said blocking portion is located within the path of movement of said first shoulder preventing movement of said bolt means and said actuator core from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof, said blocking portion in the second operative position of said blocking member being located in the path of movement of said second blocking shoulder to prevent movement of said bolt means and said actuator core from the ''''on'''' to the ''''start'''' position thereof, said blocking lever further including an actuating portion disposed adjacent said cylinder lock actuator housing for manipulation of said blocking lever from the first operative position thereof to the second operative position thereof against said biasing means by one finger of the operator''s hand simultaneously with rotation of said cylinder lock core by other fingers of the same hand from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof.

Claim 6

In an automotive vehicle-steering column including a rotatable steering shaft therein, a steering column lock comprising, lock bolt means mounted on said column for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof between ''''off-lock,'''' ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start'''' positions, vehicle ignition and starter switch means operAtively connected with said bolt and having operating modes controlled by movement of the latter between corresponding said positions thereof, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator including a housing mounted on said column and a core mounted rotatably within said housing and operatively connected with said bolt for selectively locating said bolt shiftably in any one of said positions thereof by selected rotation of said actuator core, said lock bolt means including a locking head movable into and out of locking relation with said steering shaft in the ''''off-lock'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said bolt means respectively and further including first and second blocking shoulders spaced on said bolt means longitudinally of the column, a blocking lever mounted on said column for rotation relative thereto between first and second operative positions generally in a plane disposed transverse the path of movement of said bolt means and including a blocking portion, means biasing said blocking lever to said first operative position thereof wherein said blocking portion is located within the path of movement of said first shoulder preventing movement of said bolt means and said actuator core from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof, said blocking portion in the second operative position of said blocking member being located in the path of movement of said second blocking shoulder to prevent movement of said bolt means and said actuator core from the ''''on'''' to the ''''start'''' position thereof, said blocking lever further including an actuating portion disposed adjacent said cylinder lock actuator housing for manipulation of said blocking lever from the first operative position thereof to the second operative position thereof against said biasing means by one finger of the operator''s hand simultaneously with rotation of said cylinder lock core by other fingers of the same hand from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof.

Claim 7

In an automotive vehicle-steering column including a rotatable steering shaft therein, a steering column lock comprising, a lock bolt assembly mounted on said column for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof between ''''off-lock,'''' ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start '''' positions, vehicle ignition and starter switch means operatively connected with said bolt assembly and having operating modes controlled by movement of the latter between corresponding said positions thereof, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator including a housing mounted on said column and a core mounted rotatably within said housing, said lock bolt assembly including a lock bolt and rack means operatively connecting said actuator core with said bolt for selectively locating said bolt shiftably in any one of said positions by selected rotation of said actuator core, said bolt including a locking head movable into and out of locking relation with said steering shaft in the ''''off-lock'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said bolt respectively, said rack means including first and second blocking shoulders spaced thereon longitudinally of said column, a blocking lever mounted on said column for rotation relative thereto between first and second operative positions generally in a plane disposed transverse the path of movement of said lock bolt assembly and including first and second blocking portions, means biasing said blocking lever to a first operative position thereof, said blocking lever first blocking portion being located in said first operative position of said blocking lever within the path of movement of said first shoulder preventing movement of said lock bolt assembly and said actuator core from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof but being removed from the path of said first shoulder in the second operative position of said blocking lever, said blocking lever second blocking portion lying within the path of movement of said second blocking shoulder when said blocking lever iS in said second operative position thereof to prevent movement of said lock bolt assembly and said actuator core from said ''''on'''' to said ''''start'''' positions thereof but being removed from the path of said second blocking shoulder in the first operative position of said blocking lever, said blocking lever further including an actuating portion disposed adjacent said cylinder lock actuator housing for manipulation of said blocking lever from the first operative position thereof to the second operative position thereof against said biasing means by one finger of the operator''s hand simultaneously with rotation of said cylinder lock core by other fingers of the same hand from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof.

Claim 8

In an automotive vehicle-steering column including a rotatable steering shaft therein, a steering column lock comprising, a lock bolt assembly mounted on said column for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof between ''''off-lock,'''' ''''off,'''' ''''on'''' and ''''start '''' positions, vehicle ignition and starter switch means operatively connected with said bolt assembly and having operating modes controlled by movement of the latter between corresponding said positions thereof, a key-operated cylinder lock actuator including a housing mounted on said column and a core mounted rotatably within said housing, said lock bolt assembly including a lock bolt and rack means operatively connecting said actuator core with said bolt for selectively locating said bolt shiftably in any one of said positions by selected rotation of said actuator core, said bolt including a locking head movable into and out of locking relation with said steering shaft in the ''''off-lock'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said bolt respectively, said rack means including first and second blocking shoulders spaced thereon longitudinally of said column, a blocking lever mounted on said column for rotation relative thereto between first and second operative positions generally in a plane disposed transverse the path of movement of said lock bolt assembly and including first and second blocking portions, means biasing said blocking lever to a first operative position thereof, said blocking lever first blocking portion being located in said first operative position of said blocking lever within the path of movement of said first shoulder preventing movement of said lock bolt assembly and said actuator core from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof but being removed from the path of said first shoulder in the second operative position of said blocking lever, said blocking lever second blocking portion lying within the path of movement of said second blocking shoulder when said blocking lever iS in said second operative position thereof to prevent movement of said lock bolt assembly and said actuator core from said ''''on'''' to said ''''start'''' positions thereof but being removed from the path of said second blocking shoulder in the first operative position of said blocking lever, said blocking lever further including an actuating portion disposed adjacent said cylinder lock actuator housing for manipulation of said blocking lever from the first operative position thereof to the second operative position thereof against said biasing means by one finger of the operator''s hand simultaneously with rotation of said cylinder lock core by other fingers of the same hand from said ''''off'''' to said ''''off-lock'''' position thereof.