Steering column lock for vehicles

Claim 2

For use in a vehicle having a steering column, retractable lock means movable between a locking position preventing turning of the steering column and a retracted position releasing the steering column for turning movement, spring means coacting with said retractable lock means for urging the latter to said locking position thereof, rotary, key-operated means forming part of an ignition switch assembly, said key-operated means being turnable between on and off positions when actuated by a key, motiontransmitting means coacting with said key-operated means for transmitting movement from the latter to said retractable lock means for retracting the latter to said retracted position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position thereof and for releasing said lock means for movement from said retracted to said locking position by said spring means when said key-operated means is returned from said on to said off position, and releasable holding means coacting with said key-operated means and with said lock means for releasably holding said lock means in opposition to said spring means in said retracted position when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position and for releasing said lock means for movement by said spring means to said locking position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said on to said off position, and a key is withdrawn therefrom, a support meAns surrounding and carrying said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a pair of levers pivotally connected to each other and carried by said support means for turning movement about a common axis, said levers coacting with each other for turning movement as a unit in a direction releasing said lock means for return by said spring means to said locking position and for independent movement when turning in an opposite direction, one of said levers engaging and coacting with said releasable lock means and the other of said levers coacting with said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a spring acting on said one lever for urging the latter with respect to said other lever to the position it has with respect thereto when said levers turn in the direction releasing said lock means for return to said locking position thereof, said releasable holding means including a displaceable member responding to insertion of a key in said key-operated means for displacement to a position turning said other lever with respect to said one lever in a direction opposite to the release direction, said lock means having an elongated portion engaging said one lever when said lock means is in said locking position thereof for limiting turning of said one lever with said other lever in said direction opposite to said reverse direction, said one lever being moved by said spring of said releasable holding means into the path of locking movement of said elongated portion of said lock means when said elongated portion is retracted beyond said one lever during displacement of said lock means from said locking to said retracted position thereof, so that said one lever coacts with said elongated portion of said lock means for releasably maintaining the latter retracted in opposition to said spring means, and an additional spring coacting with said other lever for swinging the latter and said one lever therewith in the release direction upon withdrawal of a key from said key-operated means after the latter has been returned from said on to said off position, said additional spring acting through said other lever to return said displacing member into the path of movement of a key which will subsequently be introduced again into said key-operated means.

Claim 3

For use in a vehicle having a steering column, retractable lock means movable between a locking position preventing turning of the steering column and a retracted position releasing the steering column for turning movement, spring means coacting with said retractable lock means for urging the latter to said locking position thereof, rotary, key-operated means forming part of an ignition switch assembly, said key-operated means being turnable between on and off positions when actuated by a key, motion-transmitting means coacting with said key-operated means for transmitting movement from the latter to said retractable lock means for retracting the latter to said retracted position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position thereof and for releasing said lock means for movement from said retracted to said locking position by said spring means when said key-operated means is returned from said on to said off position, and releasable holding means coacting with said key-operated means and with said lock means for releasably holding said lock means in opposition to said spring means in said retracted position when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position and for releasing said lock means for movement by said spring means to said locking position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said on to said off position, and a key is withdrawn therefrom, wherein said motion-transmitting means is connected with said rotary key-operated means for turning movement therewith and includes a camming portion engaging a portion of said lock means for camming the latter in opposition to said spring means to said retracted position upon turning of sAid key-operated means from said on position thereof, said lock means being in the form of a body formed with a substantially rectangular opening passing therethrough and having a locking projection extending therefrom, said motion-transmitting means extending through said opening of said body and having within said opening said camming portion which engages a portion of said body which defines part of said opening thereof, a support means surrounding and carrying said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a pair of levers pivotally connected to each other and carried by said support means for turning movement about a common axis, said levers coacting with each other for turning movement as a unit in a direction releasing said lock means for return by said spring means to said locking position and for independent movement when turning in an opposite direction, one of said levers engaging and coacting with said releasable lock means and the other of said levers coacting with said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a spring acting on said one lever for urging the latter with respect to said other lever to the position it has with respect thereto when said levers turn in the direction releasing said lock means for return to said locking position thereof, said releasable holding means including a displaceable member responding to insertion of a key in said key-operated means for displacement to a position turning said other lever with respect to said one lever in a direction opposite to the release direction, said lock means having an elongated portion engaging said one lever when said lock means is in said locking position thereof for limiting turning of said one lever with said other lever in said direction opposite to said release direction, said one lever being moved by said spring of said releasable holding means into the path of locking movement of said elongated portion of said lock means when said elongated portion is retracted beyond said one lever during displacement of said lock means from said locking to said retracted position thereof, so that said one lever coacts with said elongated portion of said lock means for releasably maintaining the latter retracted in opposition to said spring means, and an additional spring coacting with said other lever for swinging the latter and said one lever therewith in the release direction upon withdrawal of a key from said key-operated means after the latter has been returned from said on to said off position, said additional spring acting through said other lever to return said displacing member into the path of movement of a key which will subsequently be introduced again into said key-operated means.

Claim 4

For use in a vehicle having a steering column, retractable lock means movable between a locking position preventing turning of the steering column and a retracted position releasing the steering column for turning movement, spring means coacting with said retractable lock means for urging the latter to said locking position thereof, rotary, key-operated means forming part of an ignition switch assembly, said key-operated means being turnable between on and off positions when actuated by a key, motion-transmitting means coacting with said key-operated means for transmitting movement from the latter to said retractable lock means for retracting the latter to said retracted position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position thereof and for releasing said lock means for movement from said retracted to said locking position by said spring means when said key-operated means is returned from said on to said off position, and releasable holding means coacting with said key-operated means and with said lock means for releasably holding said lock means in opposition to said spring means in said retracted position when said key-operated means is turned from said off to said on position and for releasing said lock means for movement by said spring means to said locking position thereof when said key-operated means is turned from said on to said off position, and a key is withdrawn therefrom, wherein said motion-transmitting means is connected with said rotary key-operated means for turning movement therewith and includes a camming portion engaging a portion of said lock means for camming the latter in opposition to said spring means to said retracted position upon turning of sAid key-operated means from said on position thereof, said lock means being in the form of a body formed with a substantially rectangular opening passing therethrough and having a locking projection extending therefrom, said motion-transmitting means extending through said opening of said body and having within said opening said camming portion which engages a portion of said body which defines part of said opening thereof, a support means surrounding and carrying said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a pair of levers pivotally connected to each other and carried by said support means for turning movement about a common axis, said levers coacting with each other for turning movement as a unit in a direction releasing said lock means for return by said spring means to said locking position and for independent movement when turning in an opposite direction, one of said levers engaging and coacting with said releasable lock means and the other of said levers coacting with said rotary key-operated means, said releasable holding means including a spring acting on said one lever for urging the latter with respect to said other lever to the position it has with respect thereto when said levers turn in the direction releasing said lock means for return to said locking position thereof, said releasable holding means including a displaceable member responding to insertion of a key in said key-operated means for displacement to a position turning said other lever with respect to said one lever in a direction opposite to the release direction, said lock means having an elongated portion engaging said one lever when said lock means is in said locking position thereof for limiting turning of said one lever with said other lever in said direction opposite to said release direction, said one lever being moved by said spring of said releasable holding means into the path of locking movement of said elongated portion of said lock means when said elongated portion is retracted beyond said one lever during displacement of said lock means from said locking to said retracted position thereof, so that said one lever coacts with said elongated portion of said lock means for releasably maintaining the latter retracted in opposition to said spring means, and an additional spring coacting with said other lever for swinging the latter and said one lever therewith in the release direction upon withdrawal of a key from said key-operated means after the latter has been returned from said on to said off position, said additional spring acting through said other lever to return said displacing member into the path of movement of a key which will subsequently be introduced again into said key-operated means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and wherein a warning switch means coacts with said key-operated means for assuming a closed position as long as a key is not withdrawn from said key-operated means even when the latter is returned to said off position thereof, so that said warning switch means can form part of a circuit for warning the operator of the vehicle that the key has not been withdrawn from said key-operated means when the operator opens a door of the vehicle, whereby the operator will be reminded to withdraw the key from the key-operated means to free said releasable holding means for movement to said release position so that said lock means can assume said locking position thereof preventing turning of the steering column.