Steering lock for automobiles

Claim 1

A steering lock for an automobile, actuated by a key to engage a steering shaft, said steering lock comprising: a frame; a housing disposed in said frame, said housing defining a cam groove and a locking cam groove; a partition defined by the housing separating the cam groove and the locking step cam groove; a key cylinder rotatably mounted in said housing for rotation about its axis and for axial movement within said housing, said key cylinder defining a key insertion slot and a radial bore, said key insertion slot extending axially in said key cylinder and said radial bore communicating with said key insertion slot; locking rod means movably supported in said frame, said locking rod means being movable between a retracted position wherein the locking rod means is disengaged from the steering shaft and a locking position wherein the locking rod means is located in locking engagement with the steering shaft, said key cylinder including a cam portion engaging said locking rod means; a first spring biasing said key cylinder away from said locking rod means; a control member slidably mounted in said radial bore and sliding axially along the housing between three positions including a first position where one end of the control member contacts the side surface of said key inserted in the key insertion slot and the other end of the control member engages said locking step cam groove, a second position wherein one end of the control member extends into the key insertion slot and the other end of the control member engages the partition upon the withdrawal of the key from the key insertion slot, and a third position wherein one end of the control member engages said cam groove and the other end of the control member extends to the key insertion slot; a second spring biasing said control member radially away from said key insertion slot, the bias of said first spring being greater than the bias of said second spring; said key cylinder being axially movable in a first direction by rotation of the key in said key insertion slot to move said control member from said cam groove to said locking step cam groove until said cam portion of the key cylinder moves said locking rod means to said retracted position; and said key cylinder being axially movable in a second direction opposite to said first direction by said first spring upon removal of the key from said key insertion slot to move said control member from said first position to said second position and said third position.