Steering column and ignition lock for motor vehicle

Claim 1

In a lock arrangement for a motor vehicle having a steering column, which comprises (a) a housing defining an axial bore and a cross bore intersecting therewith, (b) a key controlled lock cylinder mounted in the axial bore of the housing for spring-biased axial displacement from an outwardly into an inwardly displaced position, and for rotation by the key about the axis of the bore in the inwardly displaced position into selected operating positions including a driving position, a ready-to-lock position and a locking position, (1) the lock cylinder having an axial keyhole for inserting the key in one axial direction and withdrawing the key in the opposite axial direction, (c) a lock bolt mounted in the cross bore for displacement from a retracted position into a locking position upon withdrawal of the key from the keyhole in the opposite axial direction, (1) the bolt having a keeper engaging a recess in the steering column in the locking position, (d) spring means engaging the lock bolt and biased to displace the lock bolt into the locking position, (e) latch means mounted on the lock bolt and cooperating with the lock cylinder for maintaining the lock bolt in the retracted position when the lock cylinder is in the inwardly displaced position, and (f) actuating means arranged to displace the lock bolt between the retracted and locking positions, the bolt actuating means including (1) a driving member operated by the rotation of the lock cylinder to displace the bolt against the bias of the spring means into the retracted position to disengage the keeper from the steering column, the driving member including a control ring rotating and axially displaced with the lock cylinder, the control ring having a periphery for engagement with the latch means in the retracted position of the lock bolt, and a cam projecting from the control ring towards the lock bolt: (g) the improvement of a leaf spring having one end seated in a recess in the lock bolt and another end extending towards the cam, the leaf spring and the cam being arranged to press the lock cylinder axially outwardly in the ready-to-lock position and the leaf spring being moved by the lock bolt out of contact with the cam when the bolt is moved into the locking position.