US3595039A

US3595039A - Safety mechanism for antitheft arrangements applicable to automobiles

Info

Publication number: US3595039A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lucien Charles Hippolyte Juy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-05-21
Filing date: 1969-05-12
Publication date: 1971-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-27
Also published as: BE732501A; DE1925851A1; GB1275594A; FR95823E

Abstract

A safety locking mechanism for automobiles wherein the key turning with the lock rotor controls the switch of the vehicle circuitry through a rod coaxially carried by the rotor. The latter releases the bolt of actual locking means for a predetermined angular setting of the key which releases a yielding stop and allows thereby a spring to urge the bolt into its locking position. Another spring urges the rotor back into its normal position for which the engine is operative as soon as the starter has been actuated for a further position of the key. Repeated actuation of the starter is also prevented by an auxiliary contrivance.

Description

United States Patent SAFETY MECHANISM FOR ANTITHEFI' ARRANGEMENTS APPLICABLE TO AUTOMOBILES 15 Claims, 36 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 70/252 Int. Cl B60r 25/02, EOSb 65/ 12 Field of Search 70/252, 144, 186

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,370 4/1936 Smith 70/252 X 2,470,770 5/1949 Harvey 292/l69.21 X 2,615,744 10/1952 Colonna 292/169.2l FOREIGN PATENTS 1,451,316 7/1966 France 70/252 1,050,716 12/1966 Great Britain 70/186 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A safety locking mechanism for automobiles wherein the key turning with the lock rotor controls the switch of the vehicle circuitry through a rod coaxially carried by the rotor. The latter releases the bolt of actual locking means for a predetermined angular setting of the key which releases a yielding stop and allows thereby a spring to urge the bolt into its locking position. Another spring urges the rotor back into its normal position for which the engine is operative as soon as the starter has been actuated for a further position of the key. Repeated actuation of the starter is also prevented by an auxiliary contrivance.

PATENTED JU-LZ? an SHEET 1 OF 8 PATENTED JUL 2 7 I971 SHEET 2 0F 8 PATENTED JUL27 ml SHEET 5 UF 8 m m F O a w m A w i 0 N f 2 F PATENTED JULZ! I971 SHEET 8 OF 8 ATENTEU JUL 21 1911 SHEET 7 [IF 8 PATENTEU JUL2 71971 SHEET 8 OF 8 SAFETY MECHANISM FOR ANTIITI-IEFT ARRANGEMENTS APPLICABLE TO AUTOMOBILES My invention has for its object a safety mechanism for antitheft arrangements applicable to automobiles. This mechanism is of the type including a safety lock of which the stator or stationary section is secured within a body or casing while the rotor or rotary central section is actuable by a key. The rotor is rigid with or carries the safety lock in a manner such as to control the movements of a bolt which after the removal of the key prevents the operation of one of the main parts of a vehicle such as the steering column. The rotor is furthermore generally designed so as to control in synchronism with the lock the operation of a switch controlling one or more electric circuits chiefly the ignition circuit and the starter controlling circuit.

I have sought to provide a mechanism synchronizing the dif ferent control movements in a rational simple reliable manner.

The mechanism according to my invention includes chiefly a driving member angularly and axially rigid with the key actuated lock rotor, said driving member being rigid with a rod aligned with the rotor axis coinciding with the axis of the whole arrangement and extending freely through a bolt adapted to slide transversely within the body of the arrangement the free end of said rod cooperating in any suitable manner with a rotary switch of any known type; said driving member carries furthermore two suitably outlined projecting tenons adapted to cooperate with corresponding slopes and shaped surfaces on the bolt during the different operative stages while elastic means exert a pressure on the bolt so as to urge during predetermined operative stages its bolting end outwardly of the body of the lock. Furthermore the key extends beyond the driving member so as to cooperate with a pivoting block subjected to the thrust of elastic returning means, said block forming with the key a stop holding the bolt against progression for one predetermined pivotal direction while it is adapted to collapse through a pivotal movement in the opposite direction. The operations controlling the bolt throughthe tenons in the driving member and the switch through the axial rod are thus executed independently.

According to a further feature of my invention, a spring acting against torsion is fitted in the driving member and is tensioned annularly during the last stage of the angular shifting of the rotor and of the driving member controlling the operation of the starter this being provided through abutment between the outer radial end of said spring and a stud or the like stationary stop rigid with the stator. The thrust exerted by said spring against the bolt is compensated during said angular motion by a shaped tenon or projection engaging a slope on the bolt. Two main elastic systems arranged independently ensure in fact respectively an elastic thrust urging the bolt into a locking position for one of said systems and an elastic thrust returning the key back into its circuit-closing position for the other system. I

A still further feature of my invention consists in safety means preventing the actuation twice in sequence of the starter, this being obtained by a cam-shaped washer fitted just beyond the driving member between the latter and the bolt, said cam-shaped member allowing the tenons on the driving member to pass through it, as also the end of the key. Said washer is partly free during a fraction of its angular movements with reference to said driving member, the peripheral outline of the cam-shaped washer being such that it prevents during the first actuation of the starter an elastic push-rod fitted inside the body of the arrangement from entering a notch forming a stop at the periphery of the driving member said push rod dropping then inside the said notch while an operation in a direction opposed to that providing said actuation remains necessary before the actuation of the starter can be repeated.

According to a modification, the execution of the arrangement may be simplified and the assembling and operation of some parts of the mechanism may be improved while certain advantages may be underlined.

The above features and objects of the invention will appear clearly from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings given by way of exemplifiestion. In said drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically a steering column for an automobile provided with my improved antitheft arrangement.

FIG. 2 to 4 are respectively elevational, plan partly sectional and end views of my improved arrangement.

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view through line 5-5 of FIG. 3

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional plan view, the section line being shown at 6-6 in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a cross section through line 7-7 of FIG. 5

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross sections through lines 8-8 of FIG. 6 and 9-9 of FIG. 5 respectively.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the assembly of the torsion spring ensuring the return of the key into the position corresponding to normal running conditions of the automobile after actuation of the starter.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the different parts of the mechanism accordling to the invention.

FIGS. 13 to 21 illustrate successive operative stages of the mechanism FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the different parts of the safety means controlling the starter.

FIGS. 23 to 27 are all similar views showing in association with the cam-shaped washer and in cross section through line 23-23 of FIG. 22 the different stages of the operation of the safety means controlling the starter FIG. 28 is a general elevational, partly sectional view of the safety means incorporated with a modification of the antitheft arrangement, the switch associated with which being of any known type is consequently not sectionalized in said figure.

FIG. 29 is a corresponding plan view, partly sectional through line 29-29 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is an also exploded perspective view showing in their relative axially aligned position, the driving member and cam-shaped washer.

FIG. 31 is also a perspective view showing on the one hand the body of the lock partly sectionalized and on the other hand the bolt and surface of the driving member cooperating with said bolt.

FIGS. 32 to 35 are all similar views constituted by cross sections through line 32-32 of FIG. 28 and illustrating the different operative stages of the safety means controlling the starter.

FIG. 36 is a cross section through line 36-36 of FIG. 28 showing the key returned into an angular safety position with the rotor, the driving member and the bolt, after the key has been brought into its locking position and released without being removed.

I will now describe my invention with further detail, reference being made to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the above disclosed figures of the drawings.

The mechanism controlling the locking and release together with the intermediate position of the bolt is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 to I2.

The body or casing l of the lock is fitted as illustrated in FIG. 1 in a casing or the like support S drawn in dot and dash lines so as to cooperate with the steering column of an automobile.

A switch C of any suitable type is located beyond the body 1 so as to open and close in synchronism with the operation of the bolt one or more essential electric circuits carried by the vehicle. It is not necessary to describe said switch, which is in- I dependent of the arrangement forming, the object of my invention.

The body 1 is provided with an axial bore la and a transverse housing lb which latter opens at both ends into the periphery of the body I. The bore 1a encloses a safety lock of a well-known type including a stator 2 forming an outer cage and secured to the body 1 by a pin 3 or the like preventing any dismantling. The rotor 2a or central rotary section of the lock cooperates with a key 4. The latter may be removed from the rotor only for two positions assumed by it, to wit a first steering-locking position and an intermediate parking position for which the steering means are not locked, but for which the ignition circuit cannot be closed.

The end of the rotor inside the body I is angularly and axially rigid with a driving member 5. The latter is rigid with an axial rod 5a and two

lateral tenons

5b and 5c. The tenon 5c extends laterally so as to form a boss or nose-shaped sector 50' the thickness of which is smaller than the length of said tenon 5c. The axial rod 5a extends in alignment with the rotor axis which coincides with the axis of the whole arrangement. The free end of the rod 5a is designed in any suitable manner so as to cooperate with the rotary movable section of a rotary switch. Such a cooperation is an easy matte and may be executed without any further technical information. It should be remarked that the axial location of the rod controlling the switch allows resorting to a switch C the diameter of which may be equal to that of the body, which leads to the possibility of increasing the number of switch contact-pieces.

Inside the transverse housing lb there may slide freely a bolt unit 6 of which the total length is no greater than the diameter of the body 1. The bolt and its housing are provided with cooperating slideways. The locking end 6a of the bolt is narrower than the remainder of the bolt and may project completely outside the body 1 so as to engage the recess 8 formed in the ring B secured to the steering column. A slot 6b is formed in the bolt so as to allow the rod 5a to always pass freely through the latter whatever its transverse location may be. A spring 7 operating against torsion is fitted for instance round a bearing formed by a projection inside the transverse housing b (FIG. 7), which projection is bored for the passage of the axial rod 50, One end 70 of said spring engages a notch in the transverse housing while its other end 7b is urged against a projection 60 on the bolt 6 (FIG. 6). The spring 7 is fitted in a manner such that the bolt is urged by said spring into the positions to be occupied by it during the operative stages of the antitheft arrangement and extending between the locking position and the contact-making position. In contradistinction, the elastic thrust exerted by the spring 7 against the bolt 6 is compensated beyond the last-mentioned position up to the starter-controlling position under the action of the nose on the sector 5d engaging a slope on the bolt so that the latter may remain locked in its transverse position during said operative stage.

The bolt 6 carries on its surface facing the driving member 5 two projecting sections adapted to cooperate for certain operative stages with the tenons 5b and 5c5d. One of these projecting sections 6d is provided with a slope 6e adapted to cooperate with the tenon 5b and a relieved surface 6' preventing any contact of said projecting section with the sector 5d forming an extension of the tenon 5c. The other projecting section 6} is adapted to be engaged along its surface 6g by the tenon 5c and the nose on the sector 5d. Said tenon 5c may be brought into a position facing the recessed surface 6h an extension of which forms the shaped surface 6i said projection 6f. The latter is provided also with a relieved section 6) so as to provide room for the projecting end 4a of the key during the angular shifting of the latter, without any contact with the bolt.

A recess 6k is also formed in the bolt 6 and inside said recess, a block 9 is pivotally carried by a spindle 8 while a spring urges said block 9 into a position for which the latter acts as an abutment; inside the driving member 5 on the side facing the lock, there is formed an annular recess for a spring ll (FIGS. 10 and 11). The latter operates against torsion and its ends 11a and Ilb are bent radially and outwardly so as to engage the radial ends of a sector-shaped opening 5g formed at the periphery of the driving member 5. One end of the spring. for instance the end 11a, may be shifted for a predetermined angular position of the driving member 5 by a suitably positioned stationary stud 2b carried by the cooperating surface of the lock stator 2.

The end of the key 4 includes an extension 4a adapted to extend through the driving member 5 and to cooperate with the block 9 on the bolt during predetermined operative stages.

The design and execution of the lock thus provide the following features:

the switch is controlled by the axial rod 5a in a manner entirely independent of the means controlling the bolt through the tenons'Sb and 5c5d and the end 40 of the key. This eliminates any objectional reactions, wedging, complex structures and the like difficulties.

Two different elastic means, to wit the

springs

7 and 11, are provided of which the former acts on the bolt while the latter supplies the elastic thrust required for returning the lock into its normal operative condition after the starter has been operated. It is thus possible to resort in a highly satisfactory manner to springs which provide each as accurately as possible the power required for executing the desired thrust or elastic return of the key which power is obviously different for said two springs.

This is actually the case since, during the operative stage of the antitheft mechanism extending between the locking position and the contact-making position, only the spring 7 acts through its pressure on the lock 6 whereas beyond the contact-making position and up to the starter-controlling position, the action of the spring 7 is cut out by holding the bolt 6 against movement through the action of the sector 5d of the tenon SC on the shaped surface 6e, whereby the spring 11 operates alone and returns then the parts from the starter-controlling position towards the contact-making position.

The different operative stages are illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 21.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the key, the rotor and the driving member in their locking position. However the bolt is not actually set in its operative position since the key 4 remains engaged in the keyhole and consequently its end 4a prevents the block 9 on the bolt from moving. The

tenons

5b and 5c are in a position for which they cannot prevent or disturb the shifting of the bolt towards the recess I3 provided for it in the ring B and the sector 5d may freely move over the relieved portion 6 of the front surface of the projecting section 6d of the bolt.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show the actual locking position obtained through engagement of the bolt end 60 inside the recess B when the key 4 has been taken out of the lock. The bolt is urged automatically into its locking position by the spring 7. If the recess B does not actually register with the bolt the engagement of the latter ensuring the locking is obtained as soon as the steering wheel is slightly moved. The tenon 5b is then in contacting relationship with the slope 6e on the projection 6d.

FIG. 17 illustrates the mechanism when the key is reinserted inside the lock. The end 4a of the key is then located substantially underneath the block 9. When the key is actuated in the direction of the arrow F(FIG. 18) with the rotor and driving member so as to reach the circuit-closing position, the bolt is caused to slide in the direction F under the action of the tenon 5b on the slope 6e. During said sliding movement with the key engaged, the end 40 of the key enters a position in contacting relationship with the block 9 in the direction for which the pivotal movement of the block remains possible. Said block retracts and allows the movement of the key as illustrated.

FIG. 19 illustrates the parking position for which the steering gear is released while the electric circuits cannot be established so that the engine cannot be started. In such a case the tenon 5b registers with the end of the slope 6e while the tenon 50 enter its operative position with reference to the slope 6g. It will be observed that, except in its locking position, the bolt is always controlled by either of the tenons. During its circular movement the end 4a of the key is not in contact with the bolt by reason of the relieved surface 6 formed in the projecting section 6f of the bolt.

FIG. illustrates the contact-closing position allowing the vehicle engine to run. The angular movement of the key continuing in the direction of the arrow F the bolt has receded out of its housing and the ignition-controlling circuit is closed. The tenon 5c reaches the recess 6h so that its position is clearly determined and this is readily perceived by the driver.

In FIG. 21, an angular shifting has been imparted to the key in the direction of the arrow F. The tenon 50 passes over the shaped surface 6!. For this position it will be noted that the sector 50' and more particularly its free end 5!: cooperates with the recessed surface 6h of the bolt so as to prevent any movement of the latter. This forms consequently a compensation for the thrust exerted by the spring 7 on said bolt as soon as the key is shifted from the contact-closing position towards its starter controlling position. The tenon 5b is not disturbed in its angular movement by the block 9 since the latter retracts. This last position corresponds substantially to operation of the starter through action on the switch C. During the angular shifting leading to the position illustrated in FIG. 21, the spring 11 is subjected to an annular tensioning under the impact of its end 11a against the stud 2b (FIG. 11). As soon as the key is released, the spring 11 is alone operative and returns elastically the different parts into the contact-closing position illustrated in FIG. 20 and corresponding to normal running conditions for the engine. It is also possible, in accordance with my invention, for the elastic return from the starter-controlling position to the contact closing position to be obtained by resorting to the action of a spring associated with the switch C, which latter spring may replace the spring 11 fitted in the driving member 5 or else be associated with said spring 11.

My invention provides also simple arrangements adapted to prevent any undesired actuation of the starter during operation of the engine. Such arrangements provide the advantage, in addition to their simplicity of being possibly associated intimately with the above-described antitheft arrangement since they are grouped within a small block with the mechanical section of said antitheft arrangement.

A cam-shaped washer 12 is fitted adjacent the driving member 5 between the latter and the bolt 6. Said cam-shaped washer is defined along its periphery by an arcuate peripheral outline section 120 the diameter of which matches that of the driving member 5 and by a further arcuate peripheral outline 12b of a slightly smaller diameter, said washer including two projecting

teeth

12c and 12d between which if formed a recess 124:. The washer is furthermore provided with sectorshaped recess 12f and 12g for the passage of the tenons 5b and Sc and also for the sector 5d on the latter while a sector-shaped recess 12h provides a free passage for the end 4a of the key.

The peripheral part of the driving member adjacent said washer is provided for cooperation of the outline of the latter with a notch Se fonning a stop and followed by a circular outline section 5f the diameter of which matches that of the peripheral section 12b. A pusher member 13 engages in overlapping relationship both the cam-shaped washer 12 and driving member 5. A spring 14 urges the pusher member under pressure against both said parts. The pusher member and its spring are fitted in a radial housing formed in the body I. A disc 15 or the like means closes said housing. The angular arrangement and size of the different outline sections and recesses in the cam-shaped washer and driving member are obviously designed according to the requirements of the above-described arrangements and control means.

FIGS. 23 to 27 illustrate the operative stages of said safety means incorporated with the starter-actuating means.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the system is in its locking position withthe key inserted in its keyhole, that is in the position illustrated in FIG. 17.

Upon angular shifting of the key with the rotor and driving member in the direction of the arrow F, the circuit-closing position corresponding to engine running conditions with a closing of the ignition circuit is obtained, this being illustrated in FIG. 24. The

tenons

5b and 5c and the key have shifted the cam-shaped washer l2 angularly. The outline section 12b of said washer prevents then the pusher member 13 from dropping into the notch 52 and stopping the driving member.

FIG. 25 illustrates the continuation of the angular shifting in the direction of the arrow F which corresponds to the opera tion leading the lock to the position allowing operation of the starter. In this case, the tooth 12c has urged back the pusher member 13 and has passed beyond the latter so as to engage the depressed section 5fon the member 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the position into which the elastic means have returned the key and the driving member 5 is the contact-closing position. Consequently, the tenons and key assuming the position illustrated in said FIG. 26, the member 5 has been shifted in the direction of the arrow F" the stop formed by the notch 5e lies in front of the pusher member 13, now engaging said notch. It is therefore impossible to turn the key any further together with the rotor and the driving member in the direction of the arrow F in order to reach again the angular position for which the starter may be actuated.

If it is desired to reach again said angular position for actuation of the starter, it is necessary to first angularly shift the key, rotor and driving member 5 in the direction of the arrow F Said angular shifting should be such as to make the tenons Sb, 5c drive the cam-shaped washer 12 and thereby make the tooth 12c urge the pusher member 13 outwardly. Said pusher member then returns into engagement with the section of the washer outline (FIG. 27). It is then possible to repeat the operative cycle described with reference to FIGS. 24, 2S and 26.

The above operation demonstrates the impossibility of a fortuitous undesired operation allowing a repeated actuation of the starter.

In order to ensure an improved positioning of the camshaped washer the latter may be inserted between the driving member and the lock.

According to the modification illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 28 to 36, the arrangement includes, as before, the body 1, the switch C of any suitable type carried at the end of said body 1, a lock fitted inside an axial bore of the body and including a stator 2 and a rotor 2a, a key 4 driving the rotor 2a, a driving member 17 rigidly secured to the rotor and cooperating through its two tenons with corresponding parts of the bolt designed for this purpose, a spring 7 urging the bolt into its locking position, an axial rod 5a rigid with the driving member and consequently with the rotor 2a, said rod 5a controlling furthermore the switch C.

According to said modification, the cam-shaped washer 16 cooperates with the driving member 17 so as to form the safety means preventing any repeated actuation of the starter. The cam-shaped washer 16 is inserted between the driving member 17 and the end of the stator 2 of the lock. The washer 16 is provided with a large central circular opening 16a allow ing it to be fitted over a bearing surface 17a formed on an annular projection of the driving member 17. Said opening 16a is provided with a sector shaped extension 16b adapted to cooperate with the tailpiece 17b projecting radially outside the bearing surface 17a. The sector-shaped extension and tailpiece are given suitable angular positions taking into account the following conditions of operation.

Of course, the driving member 17 carries, as before, two

cylindrical tenons

17c and 17d (FIG. 31) with a lateral extension or tenon for cooperating in the manner disclosed for the first-described embodiment with projections and slopes provided on the bolt 18.

The periphery of the cam-shaped washer 16 is shaped substantially in the manner of the precedingly described washer 12, that is it includes an arcuate section 16a of a smaller diameter than the remainder of the periphery, while two

teeth

16d, 16c define between them a recess 16f.

The peripheral outline of the driving member 17 lying in contacting relationship with the washer 16 includes correspondingly a notch l7e forming a. stop for the pusher member 13 and an arcuate section 17] of a smaller diameter matching the arcuate section 16c of the washer in a manner corresponding to the precedingly described embodiment.

Said driving member and cam-shaped washer cooperate therefore, as before, with the pusher member 13 slidingly fitted in a radial bore formed in the body 1 and subjected to the pressure of the spring 14 bearing against the disc is closing the housing. As before, the pusher member engages simultaneously the peripheries of the washer to and of the driving member 17.

The operative stages of the safety means provided for the steerer as illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 35 are similar to those described hereinabove.

F IG. 32 shows the parts angularly set in the circuit-closing position corresponding to normal running conditions for the vehicle. For such a position, the pusher member cannot drop into the notch l7e since it is held radially by the arcuate outline 160 of the washer.

Upon angular shifting of the rotor and driving member in the direction of the arrow F" the washer 16 is carried along by the tailpiece 17b and the angular position corresponding to actuation of the starter is reached as illustrated in FIG. 33. The pusher member is then urged outwardly by the tooth 16c and is held outwardly by the arcuate section 17f on the periphery of the member 17.

When the key is released after actuation of the starter, elastic returning means urge the parts back in the direction of the arrow F into the angular position illustrated in FIG. 34 which is a safety position eliminating any undesired repetition of the actuation of the starter once the engine is operative. The notch 17:: forming a stop for the pusher member 13 prevents such an undesired actuation since the pusher member would arrest any tentative angular shifting in the direction F.

In contradistinction, if the driving member and washer are shifted in the direction of the arrow F to a sufficient extent as illustrated in FIG 35, the pusher member 13 engages again the arcuate section 16c of the washer periphery, which allows said pusher member to move beyond the notch 17e upon further actuation of the starter if required.

It should be noted that this fitting of the cam-shaped washer over a bearing surface of a large diameter with a minimum clearance and a highly accurate axial positioning of the member 17 with reference to the stator 2 leads to excellent results. The washer cannot be shifted or wedged and even with a reduced thickness it functions perfectly. Its shape is in fact simpler than that of the precedingly described washer 12.

In the last described modification, the spring returning the rotor elastically into its normal position together with the rotor and driving member from the position illustrated in FIG. 33 to that illustrated in FIG. 32 corresponding to running conditions for the vehicle is no longer fitted in a special housing within the driving member 17. In fact, it is incorporated with the electric switch C in accordance with a conventional procedure, the details of which need not be discussed. The rotary position of the switch C is defined by the end of the axial rod a as illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29 or in any other suitable manner. The structure of the driving member is also simpler without this affecting the chief features of the arrangement and its operation.

In order to prevent any objectionable contact between the end of the transverse slot 18a in the bolt 18 and the axial rod 50 controlling the switch when the bolt is urged by its spring into its actual locking position, the surface 18b of the bolt 18 facing the switch C is provided with a projecting stud 180 (FIG. 31). The corresponding transverse slideway lb in the body I of the lock which houses the bolt is correspondingly recessed at 1:: so as to allow the translational movement of the stud 180 with the bolt. The abutment surface 18d of said stud 18c and the corresponding transverse abutment surface id at the end of the recess 1e are provided at levels such that the contact between said abutment surfaces is obtained before the bolt can engage the rod St: at the end of its operative locking position.

Stress should also be laid on the safety effect obtained advantageously with the last-mentioned embodiment as illustrated clearly in FIG. 36. Said safety effect appears when the key, rotor, driving member 17 and bolt 18 are in the locking position, the key 4 is not removed and is consequently shifted. The spring 7 acting on the bolt exerts a double action, the first action consisting in urging the bolt 18 outwardly to an extent insufficient for locking purposes, since the translational movement of the bolt is limited while on the other hand the block 9 is shifted towards the key 4 and driving member 17. The cylindrical tenon 17c on the latter is subjected to an angular movement in the direction such that it impinges against the cooperating slope 18a on the bolt which is thus held against movement. Consequently if it is desired to obtain an actual locking it is necessary to purposely return the key into the position corresponding to a locking and to remove it. Consequently if the locking operation has been interrupted before it has been brought to an end by leaving the key in position and releasing it, said key cannot be removed until the driver has purposely finished said locking operation since he must then return the key into its angular locking position.

In the intermediate position described in which the key is drawn in interrupted lines the rotor was in fact away from its locking position.

What I claim is:

1. An antitheft arrangement controlling the ignition and starter circuits of an automobile comprising a lock including a rotor and a stator, a key slidingly engaging the rotor along a plane parallel with the axis of the latter and including an extension projecting beyond said rotor, said key being adapted to be angularly shifted between its normal position corresponding to a closing of the ignition circuit, a first locking terminal position and a second terminal position corresponding to the closing of the starter circuit, a driving member axially and angularly rigid with the lock rotor, tenons carried eccentrically by the driving member on the side facing away from the rotor, a rod coaxially rigid with the rotor, a rotary switch controlling the circuits and directly engaged by said rod to be controlled by said rod, a bolt adapted to slide transversely of the lock stator between an outer operative locking position and a retracted inoperative position and provided with a slot, parallel with the direction of its sliding motion and through which said rod freely passes for all positions of said bolt, said bolt having shaped sections cooperating successively and respectively with said tenons whereby the bolt is normally held in its inoperative position and released at the first terminal position of the key, elastic means urging the bolt into its locking position, a spring urged block pivotally carried by the bolt and adapted to be held against movement together with the bolt by the extension of the key for said first terminal angular position of the latter and to retract upon movement of the key away from said first terminal position the bolt being urged by its elastic means into its operative position upon removal of the key when in its first terminal position.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising an annular spring inserted against torsion coaxially within the driving member and a stationary stop adapted to engage one end of said spring upon angular shifting of the key beyond its nor mal position towards its second terminal position to tension said spring and make it urge subsequently the driving member back into the position for which the key is in its normal position, said annular spring being independent of and actuated separately from said elastic means.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the tenons on the driving member holds the bolt in its collapsed inoperative position and releases it solely when the key has been brought into its first terminal position and removed.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim ll wherein the elastic means includes a coiled spring operating against torsion and the ends of which engage respectively a stationary point of the vehicle and a projection on the bolt.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaped sections on the bolt include two systems of projections provided with slopes and recesses which systems carried by the side of the bolt facing the driving member cooperate each with a corresponding tenon.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the tenons cooperates with a slope on the bolt to hold the latter fast against the action of the elastic means for all the positions of the key between its normal and its second terminal position.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a safety mechanism preventing repeated closing of the starter circuit, including a cam-shaped washer coaxially engaging the transverse surface of the driving member and provided with cut out sections forming passages for the tenons and for the extension of the key and adapted to be angularly shifted to a limited extent with reference to the driving member, the periphery of the driving member being provided with a ratchet-shaped notch, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and washer and adapted to engage the notch in the driving member upon retum of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of its first terminal position to release the driving member by an angular shifting of the washer in the opposite direction.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a safety mechanism preventing repeated closing of the starter circuit, including a cam-shaped member coaxially engaging the transverse surface of the driving member and provided with cut out sections forming passages for the tenons and for the extension of the key and adapted to be angularly shifted to a limited extent with reference to the driving member, the periphery of the driving member being provided with a ratchet-shaped notch, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and washer and adapted to engage the notch in the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of its first terminal position to release the driving member by an angular shifting of the washer in the opposite direction, the peripheral outline of the cam-shaped washer including two arcuate sections of different diameters and the periphery of the driving member being that of a cylinder the outer diameter of which is equal to that of the larger of said two different diameters.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a thin annular disc fitted over an extension of the driving member in contacting relationship with the lock stator, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and disc and adapted to engage a notch in the outer periphery of the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted. beyond its normal position in the direction of the first terminal position to release the driving member upon angular shifting of the washer in the opposite direction.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a thin annular disc fitted over an extension of the driving member in contacting relationship with the lock stator, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and disc and adapted to engage a notch in the outer periphery of the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of the first terminal position to release the driving member upon angular shifting of the washer m the opposite direction, the driving member carrying a radial projection engaging with a clearance a recess in the central opening of the annular disc.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switch includes a spring urging the axial rod and thereby the key in the rotor back into its normal position.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising cooperating means on the bolt and on the stationary part of the vehicle and limiting the sliding of the bolt before the end of the slot in the latter reaches the axial rod.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising means wherein the release of the key after it has been set in its terminal locking position without it being removed allows the bolt to project slightly outwardly and the driving member to turn slightly, the return of the key into its locking position and its removal ensuring complete movement of the bolt into its locking position.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a safety means operable on said driving member for preventing successive actuation of said starter switch without preliminary movement of the key from said normal position towards said first terminal position.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tenons are two in number, one of which includes a lateral projecting portion, said shaped sections of the bolt including two sections which face said tenons, each section being successively engageable with an associated tenon, one section having a sloped surface engageable with the other of said tenons and a relieved portion preventing contact with said lateral projecting portion on said one tenon, the other of said sections having a surface engageable by said one tenon and its projection portion.

Claims

1. An antitheft arrangement controlling the ignition and starter circuits of an automobile comprising a lock including a rotor and a stator, a key slidingly engaging the rotor along a plane parallel with the axis of the latter and including an extension projecting beyond said rotor, said key being adapted to be angularly shifted between its normal position corresponding to a closing of the ignition circuit, a first locking terminal position and a second terminal position corresponding to the closing of the starter circuit, a driving member axially and angularly rigid with the lock rotor, tenons carried eccentrically by the driving member on the side facing away from the rotor, a rod coaxially rigid with the rotor, a rotary switch controlling the circuits and directly engaged by said rod to be controlled by said rod, a bolt adapted to slide transversely of the lock stator between an outer operative locking position and a retracted inoperative position and provided with a slot, parallel with the direction of its sliding motion and through which said rod freely passes for all positions of said bolt, said bolt having shaped sections cooperating successively and respectively with said tenons whereby the bolt is normally held in its inoperative position and released at the first terminal position of the key, elastic means urging the bolt into its locking position, a spring urged block pivotally carried by the bolt and adapted to be held against movement together with the bolt by the extension of the key for said first terminal angular position of the latter and to retract upon movement of the key away from said first terminal position the bolt being urged by its elastic means into its operative position upon removal of the key when in its first terminal position. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising an annular spring inserted against torsion coaxially within the driving member and a stationary stop adapted to engage one end of said spring upon angular shifting of the key beyond its normal position towards its second terminal position to tension said spring and make it urge subsequently the driving member back into the position for which the key is in its normal position, said annular spring being independent of and actuated separately from said elastic means.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elastic means includes a coiled spring operating against torsion and the ends of which engage respectively a stationary point of the vehicle and a projection on the bolt.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a safety mechanism preventing repeated closing of the starter circuit, including a cam-shaped washer coaxially engaging the transverse surface of the driving member and provided with cut out sections forming passages for the tenons and for the extension of the key and adapted to be angularly shifted to a limited extent with reference to the driving member, the periphery of the driving member being provided with a ratchet-shaped notch, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and washer and adapted to engage the notch in the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of its first terminal position to release the driving member by an angular shifting of the washer in the opposite direction.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a thin annular disc fitted over an extension of the driving member in contacting relationship with the lock stator, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and disc and adapted to engage a notch in the outer periphery of the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of the first terminal position to release the driving member upon angular shifting of the washer in the opposite direction.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a thin annular disc fitted over an extension of the driving member in contacting relationship with the lock stator, a spring-urged pusher member fitted in a stationary part of the vehicle radially of the driving member and disc and adapted to engage a notch in the outer periphery of the driving member upon return of the key from its second terminal position into its normal position and consequent relative angular shifting of the washer with reference to the driving member and to be held in said notch until the key is shifted beyond its normal position in the direction of the first terminal position to release the driving member upon angular shifting of the washer in The opposite direction, the driving member carrying a radial projection engaging with a clearance a recess in the central opening of the annular disc.