Freely Movable When Locked Patents (Class 70/188)
  • Patent number: 7516633
    Abstract: An electric lock includes a manual operation mechanism and an electric control mechanism. The manual operation mechanism includes a rotary knob unit, a first attracting member mounted fixedly to the rotary knob unit, a key-operated lockset, and a lock-connecting rod connected to and rotatable by the rotary knob unit and the key-operated lockset. The electric control mechanism includes a power source unit, a clutch gear driven by the power source unit to rotate in two directions, and a second attracting member mounted fixedly to the clutch gear. When the clutch gear is driven by the power source unit to rotate to align the first and second attracting members with each other, a magnetic attraction force is generated between the first and second attracting members to allow for co-rotation of the rotary knob unit with the clutch gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: EZ Trend Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 6684672
    Abstract: A cylindrical lock arrangement of the kind having a cylindrical housing attached to a door and a lock cylinder with lever tumblers provided to cooperate with a lock device, whereby the lock device is arranged to be actuated via a carrier provided to the cylinder lock. The invention has a connection device for transmission of force from the lock cylinder to the carrier is provided to be axially displaced in relation to the lock cylinder from a neutral position and in direction towards this during rotation of the lock cylinder with a fitting key. The connection device is provided to be brought to an active position in friction engagement with the carrier not until after the axial displacement from the neutral position, after which locking and unlocking respectively of the lock device is performed by further rotation of the lock cylinder by means of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB
    Inventors: Stig Hermansson, Helmut Ponn
  • Patent number: 6053067
    Abstract: An antitheft device is provided for locking a motor vehicle steering column against rotation. The steering column includes a gear wheel which is fixed coaxially to the steering column shaft, and a pinion with an axis parallel to the steering column axis. The pinion is mounted for rotation in a moveable pinion support which is displaceable between a disengaged position, in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel, and an engaged position in which the pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel. The steering lock also includes a clutch for preventing rotation of the pinion about its axis on the pinion support below a specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5992191
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering wheel and an inner cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering column. The outer boss is disposed about the inner boss and axially movable thereon with the steering wheel between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position the inner boss is coupled to the outer boss by a plurality of engaged locking teeth for operation of the vehicle. In the disengaged position locking teeth on the outer boss are axially separated from locking teeth on the inner boss and the outer boss and attached steering wheel are freely rotatable about the inner boss, operatively disengaging the steering wheel from the steering column and effectively disabling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Mark Nickeas, Martin Nickeas, Pasco C. Ponticelli, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5735151
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is fixed to the steering wheel and rotatably mounted on and about an inner cylindrical boss affixed to the steering column. A key actuated locking mechanism is carried by the outer boss which selectively engages the inner boss to operatively connect the steering wheel to the steering column. By unlocking the locking mechanism, this operative connection is interrupted and the vehicle cannot be controlled by the steering wheel and is thus disabled. As the disabling of the vehicle is obtained when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position as opposed to a locked position, damaging the mechanism by the application of excessive force will not overcome its disabling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Mark Nickeas, Martin Nickeas
  • Patent number: 5685180
    Abstract: An anti-theft security arrangement for the steering column of a motor vehicle includes a clutch which is adapted to resist turning of the steering up to a certain torque but thereafter to slip to avoid damage to the parts while still making control of the vehicle impractical. The clutch is arranged on a parallel axis to the steering column and is connected to the column through a high-ratio gear train comprising a gear wheel fast with the steering column and a pinion fast with the clutch. It is engaged and disengaged by sliding the assembly of clutch and pinion into and out of mesh with the other gear wheel. The clutch includes a rotatable shaft with teeth engaging between spring steel rods so as to turn in a series of discrete jerks if the limiting torque is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: C. E. Marshall (Wolverhamption) (Limited)
    Inventors: Michael G. Qualters, Derek H. Poole