Vehicle controls and coincidental lock therefor

Claim 2

In an automotive vehicle including steering mechanism having a rotatable steering shaft, and power transmission apparatus provided with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a control apparatus support within the vehicle, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support between a plurality of positions each corresponding to a drive range of said power transmission, said knob having associated therewith remote transmission range control means adapted for interconnection with a remotely controllable device operative to place said power transmission in a selected drive range thereof corresponding to the position of said knob, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, ignition switch means mounted on said support and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, means connecting said actuator with said switch means for establishing selected circuit controlling conditions thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereof, steering shaft lock bolt means mounted on said support for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, means connecting said actuator with said steering lock bolt means for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, selector knob lock bolt means mounted on said support for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, cam means on said actuator operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuitcontrolling positions to cause movement of said lock bolt means radially of said knob toward the locked position thereof, and blocking means on said knob and said knob lock bolt means preventing rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-cOntrolling position thereof and movement of said steering and said knob lock bolt means by said actuator to said locked positions thereof except upon rotation of said knob to a predetermined rotary position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle power transmission.

Claim 3

In an automotive vehicle including a steering column provided with a stationary support tube having a rotatable steering shaft therein, and power transmission apparatus provided with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support tube between a plurality of positions each corresponding to a drive range of said power transmission, said knob and said support tube having mounted thereon rotary electrical contact means adapted for interconnection in circuit with remotely controllable electrical apparatus operative to select drive ranges of said power transmission in response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support tube concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support tube and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, means connecting said actuator with said switch for establishing selected circuit controlling conditions thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereof, steering shaft lock bolt means mounted on said support tube for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, means for connecting said actuator with said steering lock bolt means for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit-controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, selector knob lock bolt means mounted on said support tube for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, cam means on said actuator operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to cause movement of said lock bolt means radially of said knob toward the locked position thereof, and blocking means on said knob and said knob lock bolt means preventing rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolt means by said actuator to said locked positions thereof except upon rotation of said knob to a predetermined rotary position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle power transmission.

Claim 4

In an automotive vehicle including a steering column provided with a stationary support tube having a rotatable steering shaft therein, and power transmission apparatus provided with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support tube between a plurality of positions each corresponding to a drive range of said power transmission, said knob and said support tube having mounted thereon rotary electrical contact means adapted for interconnection in circuit with remotely controllable electrical apparatus operative to select drive ranges of said power transmission in response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support tube concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support tube and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, means connecting said actuator with said switch for establishing selected circuit controlling conditions thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereof, steering shaft lock bolt means mounted on said support tube for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, means for connecting said actuator with said steering lock bolt means for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit-controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, selector knob lock bolt means mounted on said support tube for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, cam means on said actuator operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to cause movement of said lock bolt means radially of said knob toward the locked position thereof, and blocking means on said knob and said knob lock bolt means preventing rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolt means by said actuator to said locked positions thereof except upon rotation of said knob to a predetermined rotary position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle power transmission.

Claim 5

In an automotive vehicle including steering mechanism having a rotatable steering shaft, and power transmission apparatus provided with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a control apparatus support within the vehicle, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support between a plurality of selectable positions each corresponding to a drive range of said power transmission, said knob including remote position control means adapted for interconnection in circuit with a remotely controllable device for selecting corresponding drive ranges of said power transmission is response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support concentrically of said knob and said actuator and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, a drive shaft extending axially from said actuator and connected with said switch for establishing selected circuit-controlling conditioNs thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereof, a shiftable steering shaft lock bolt mounted on said support for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, rack and sector means connecting said drive shaft with said steering shaft lock bolt for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit-controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, a selector knob lock bolt mounted on said support for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, means biasing said knob lock bolt to the unlocked position thereof, a cam on said actuator formed eccentrically thereof and operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to project said knob lock bolt radially of said knob from the unlocked to the locked position thereof against the action of said biasing means, and gate and stop structure on said knob operative in a predetermined position thereof to receive said knob lock bolt in the locked position thereof to prevent rotation of said knob and engageable with said knob lock bolt to prevent rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolts by said actuator to said locked position except upon rotation of said knob to said predetermined position thereof.

Claim 6

In an automotive vehicle including steering mechanism having a rotatable steering shaft, and power transmission apparatus provided with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a control apparatus support within the vehicle, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support between a plurality of selectable positions each corresponding to a drive range of said power transmission, said knob including remote position control means adapted for interconnection in circuit with a remotely controllable device for selecting corresponding drive ranges of said power transmission is response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support concentrically of said knob and said actuator and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, a drive shaft extending axially from said actuator and connected with said switch for establishing selected circuit-controlling conditioNs thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereof, a shiftable steering shaft lock bolt mounted on said support for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, rack and sector means connecting said drive shaft with said steering shaft lock bolt for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit-controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, a selector knob lock bolt mounted on said support for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, means biasing said knob lock bolt to the unlocked position thereof, a cam on said actuator formed eccentrically thereof and operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to project said knob lock bolt radially of said knob from the unlocked to the locked position thereof against the action of said biasing means, and gate and stop structure on said knob operative in a predetermined position thereof to receive said knob lock bolt in the locked position thereof to prevent rotation of said knob and engageable with said knob lock bolt to prevent rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolts by said actuator to said locked position except upon rotation of said knob to said predetermined position thereof.

Claim 7

In an automotive vehicle including a steering column provided with a stationary support tube having a rotatable steering shaft therein, and power transmission apparatus with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support tube between a plurality of positions each corresponding to a drive range of said vehicle power transmission, said knob and said support tube having mounted thereon rotary electrical contact means adapted for interconnection in circuit with remotely controllable electrical apparatus operative to select drive ranges of said power transmission in response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support tube concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support tube concentrically of said knob and said actuator and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, a drive shaft extending axially from said actuator and connected with said switch for establishing selected circuit-controlling conditions thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereon, a steering shaft lock bolt mounted on said support tube for shiftable movement between the locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, rack and sector means connecting said drive shaft with said steering shaft lock bolt for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, a selector knob lock bolt mount on said support tube for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, means biasing said knob lock bolt to the unlocked position thereof, a cam on said actuator formed eccentrically thereof and operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to project said knob lock bolt radially of said knob from the unlocked to the locked position thereof against the action of said biasing means, and gate and stop structure on said knob operative in a predetermined position theReof to receive said knob lock bolt in the locked position thereof to prevent rotation of said knob and engageable with said knob lock bolt to prevent rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolts and said actuator to said locked position except upon rotation of said knob to said predetermined position thereof.

Claim 8

In an automotive vehicle including a steering column provided with a stationary support tube having a rotatable steering shaft therein, and power transmission apparatus with a plurality of drive ranges, the combination comprising, a transmission selector knob mounted for selected rotation about an axis thereof on said support tube between a plurality of positions each corresponding to a drive range of said vehicle power transmission, said knob and said support tube having mounted thereon rotary electrical contact means adapted for interconnection in circuit with remotely controllable electrical apparatus operative to select drive ranges of said power transmission in response to rotation of said knob to selected positions thereof, a key-controlled cylinder lock actuator disposed on said support tube concentrically within said selector knob for rotation independently thereof between a plurality of positions, a rotary ignition switch mounted on said support tube concentrically of said knob and said actuator and adapted for operative connection with the electrical engine controls of the vehicle, a drive shaft extending axially from said actuator and connected with said switch for establishing selected circuit-controlling conditions thereof in response to selected rotation of said actuator between corresponding positions thereon, a steering shaft lock bolt mounted on said support tube for shiftable movement between the locked and unlocked positions with respect to said steering shaft, rack and sector means connecting said drive shaft with said steering shaft lock bolt for movement of the latter between the locked and unlocked positions thereof in response to rotation of said actuator to and from a preselected one of said circuit controlling positions thereof in which the actuator is lockable by withdrawal of the key therefor, a selector knob lock bolt mount on said support tube for movement radially of said knob between locked and unlocked positions relative to the latter, means biasing said knob lock bolt to the unlocked position thereof, a cam on said actuator formed eccentrically thereof and operative upon rotation of the latter to said preselected one of its circuit-controlling positions to project said knob lock bolt radially of said knob from the unlocked to the locked position thereof against the action of said biasing means, and gate and stop structure on said knob operative in a predetermined position theReof to receive said knob lock bolt in the locked position thereof to prevent rotation of said knob and engageable with said knob lock bolt to prevent rotation of said actuator to said preselected one circuit-controlling position thereof and movement of said steering and knob lock bolts and said actuator to said locked position except upon rotation of said knob to said predetermined position thereof.