Steering locking device for motor vehicles

Claim 1

A steering locking device for locking the steering shaft of a motor vehicle having a lock cylinder rotatable by a key inserted thereinto, locking means forced toward the steering shaft by a spring action and an ignition switch, comprising a generally cylindrical control member rotatable with said lock cylinder and operatively connected with said ignition switch, said control member having a recessed portion in its peripheral wall and a rotary member axially and circumferentially slidable relative to and resiliently connected to said control member and forced toward said lock cylinder by a spring action, said rotary member having a recessed portion with flat face, said locking means being supported by either of the peripheral walls of said control and rotary members when said key is held in its unlocking position to keep said locking means in a position raised from the steering shaft, wherein, as the key is rotated to the locking position, said control member and said rotary member are forced to rotate until said locking means is supported by an edge of said flat face of said rotary member and (is permitted protrude) upon removal of the key the spring acting on the locking means forces further rotation of the rotary member until said locking means is supported by said flat face with the locking means protruding to a position to lock the steering cylinder.