U.S. patent number 3,731,963 [Application Number 05/135,571] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-08 for electrically actuated lock mechanism.
Invention is credited to Raymond B. Pond.
United States Patent |
3,731,963 |
Pond |
May 8, 1973 |
ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED LOCK MECHANISM
Abstract
A locking mechanism includes a tubular sleeve adapted to receive
a shouldered projection extending from the closure member, a spring
biased plunger normally projecting into the projection seat to
engage the projection. A solenoid is associated with the plunger
for retracting the plunger from the tubular sleeve to release the
projection when it is required to unlock the closure member.
Inventors: |
Pond; Raymond B. (Greenfield
Park, Quebec, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22468678 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/135,571 |
Filed: |
April 20, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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837643 |
Jun 30, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
292/144; 70/241;
292/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
83/24 (20130101); E05C 3/40 (20130101); Y10T
70/5907 (20150401); Y10T 292/1028 (20150401); Y10T
292/1021 (20150401); E05B 81/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
47/02 (20060101); E05B 65/12 (20060101); E05B
65/19 (20060101); E05C 3/00 (20060101); E05C
3/40 (20060101); E05b 047/04 (); E05b 065/19 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/240,241,282
;292/144,302 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Craig, Jr.; Albert G.
Parent Case Text
This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of application Ser. No.
837,643 filed June 30, 1969.
Claims
I claim:
1. A locking apparatus for use in a body defining an opening and a
movable closure member associated with said body to normally close
the opening, the locking apparatus comprising a projection secured
to one of said closure member and said body, a housing on the other
of said body and said closure member defining a first bore adapted
to receive said projection, said projection adapted to move to and
from the housing along a predetermined path coextensive with said
first bore, said projection including an enlarged head defining an
abutment shoulder, an aperture provided in a side wall of a portion
of the housing normal to the axis of the bore, a second bore
defined in the housing communicating with said aperture and coaxial
with the axis of said aperture, a plunger member comprising a
continuous piece of magnetizable material having a rear portion and
a neckportion of smaller cross section than the rear portion and
forming a shoulder therebetween mounted for sliding movement in
said second and through said aperture bore and normal to the axis
of said first bore, spring means in the end of said second bore
normally urging the plunger towards said first bore, a single
solenoid coil provided about a portion of the second bore opposite
the first bore for retracting said plunger from a first position to
a second position out of engagement with the abutment shoulder of
said projection; the closure being locked when said projection is
in said first bore and said plunger is in said first position
engaging the abutment shoulder of said projection, and said closure
member being unlocked when said solenoid coil is activated to
retract said plunger member to said second position, and a third
bore substantially at right angles to the second bore, a
manually-displaceable, freely-slidable locking pin of a
magnetizable material in said third bore subject to the influence
of induced magnetism in said plunger by said single solenoid coil
for sliding movement therein between a retracted position clear of
said second bore and an engaging position projecting within said
second bore and engaging said plunger whereby the plunger is
retained thereby against said spring means in said second position
until manually retracted in said third bore.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a mounting bracket
is secured to one of the closure member and said body and the
projection extends from the mounting bracket.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket
and the projection are secured to the closure member while the
housing is mounted to the body.
4. A magnetically-operated locking mechanism for use on a body
defining an opening, a closure member associated with said body for
closing said opening, the locking mechanism comprising a projection
and a housing operatively connected between said body and said
closure member, said housing having a bore disposed in a path of
movement of said projection and removably receiving the same
therein, said projection including an abutment shoulder portion
positionable in said bore, said housing including a second bore
normal to said first-mentioned bore and communicating therewith
through a reduced cross-sectional aperture, a
magnetically-attractive plunger reciprocatably supported in said
second bore and including an axial projection extendable through
said aperture for engaging said abutment shoulder and locking the
projection in said first-mentioned bore, said axial projection
forming an intermediate shoulder on said plunger, a single
electrically-energizable coil in said housing for creating a
magnetic field about said plunger for withdrawing said plunger away
from said projection abutment shoulder and permiting said
projection to be withdrawn from said first-mentioned bore, spring
means in said housing operatively engaging said plunger and
normally urging it toward said first-mentioned bore when said coil
is de-energized, a third bore in said housing intersecting said
second bore, and a magnetically-attractive lock pin supported for
free sliding movement in said third bore and subject to the
magnetic field created in said plunger by said single coil, said
lock pin being engageable automatically with the intermediate
shoulder of said plunger for retaining the projection in an
unlocked condition in opposition to said spring means and being
manually displacable out of engagement with said shoulder for
"unlocking" said plunger to permit said plunger to be urged into
"locking" relation with the projection abutment under the influence
of said spring means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electrically operated locking
mechanism and more particularly to a lock for the hood or doors of
an automobile to protect the automobile from pilferage.
2. Description of Prior Art
Heretofore, developments have been made relating to locks,
particularly for the hood of an automobile. These locks can be
classified between two groups. The first group is of the mechanical
articulated type such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,723,552 --
Dlugatch -- 1955, wherein a key-operated rotary lock is articulated
to the latch-locking device of a hood. The other type of locking
device as represented in U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,292 -- Heath -- 1960
operates on the basis of an electrically influenced solenoid which
is combined with the latch-locking mechanism of the hood.
Both types of locking devices for hoods mentioned above utilize
relatively complicated lever devices which result in a more
expensive hood-locking device and one which is more subject to
tampering or breakdown, in view of the many lever elements
involved.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an
electrically operated locking device which has a minimum of moving
parts and which presents a high degree of security from
tampering.
A construction in accordance with the present invention for use in
a body defining an opening and movable closure member associated
with said body to normally close the opening, the construction
comprising a projection secured to one of said closure members and
said body, means on the other of said body and said closure member,
defining a seat adapted to receive said projection, said projection
adapted to move to and from the seat along a predetermined path,
means defining a plunger path in said seat substantially normal to
the path of said projection, a plunger member movable in said
plunger path and adapted to engage said projection in said seat in
a first position, means normally biasing said plunger member
towards said first position, electromagnetic means, when activated,
adapted to retract said plunger member, overcoming said biasing
means from a first position out of engagement with said projection;
whereby the closure is locked when said projection is in said seat
and said plunger engages said projection in the first position; and
said closure member is unlocked when said electromagnetic means is
activated to retract said plunger member from said seat and out of
engagement with said projection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the present
invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying
drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical locking mechanism as
it would appear in an embodiment associated with the hood of an
automobile;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism and a
schematic of the electrical circuit associated therewith;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary axial cross section taken through
the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 2 with the plunger means in a
first position; the retracted position of the plunger shown in
dotted lines;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a detail
shown schematically in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4
showing a different embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with the
elements in a different operative position.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the embodiment shown is directed towards a
lock for locking the hood of an automobile. In FIG. 1 an automobile
body is referred to by the numeral 10 with a hood 12 hinged to the
body 10 covering the engine recess 13. Mounted to the frame member
15 in the body 10 near the radiator 17 is the seat and plunger
housing 14. Mating with the seat housing 14 and mounted on the hood
12 to a bracket 24, is the projection 16. A push-button switch 18
is shown located in a grill 19 of the automobile body 10 with leads
passing from the housing 14 to a fuse panel 20 located at the
instrument panel of the automobile. The numeral 22 refers to an
ignition switch.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the projection 16 is shown as being
mounted to bracket 24, and the bracket 24 is mounted to a cross
member 25 of hood 12 by means of screws 26. In one embodiment, the
projection is threaded throughout its length at 28 and cooperates
with the threaded aperture in the bracket 24. Near the end of the
projection 16 is an enlarged head having shoulders 30 and a conical
tip 32. The projection 16 is threaded at 28 so as to be adjustable
in length for different types of automobiles in which the lock can
be mounted.
The seat and plunger housing 14 as shown in FIG. 3 includes a
tubular sleeve 34 defining a bore 36 with the opening to the bore
being beveled at 38. A threaded aperture 40 extends through the
wall of the sleeve 34 and communicates with the bore 36 at right
angles thereto. A threaded bushing 42 is engaged in the threaded
aperture 40. A plunger sleeve 44 which has a threaded inner surface
is engaged to the free portion of the bushing 42. The plunger
sleeve 44 defines a plunger bore 46 while a plunger member 48 is
adapted to slide in the bore 46. The plunger 48 has a neck portion
50 of smaller diameter which is adapted to pass through the bushing
42 and into the bore 36 of the tubular sleeve 34.
A cap 52 is screwed to the other end of the plunger sleeve 44 and
mounts a spring 54 which urges against the end of the plunger 48
and normally presses the plunger 48 and plunger neck 50 into the
position shown in full lines in FIG. 3 with the neck 50 extending
into the bore 36 of sleeve 34. A casing 56 is mounted about the
sleeve 44 and provides an annular space therebetween. A solenoid
coil 58 is provided at the rear portion of the sleeve 44 and an
annular insulated spacer sleeve 60 is provided between the annular
coil 58 and the tubular sleeve 34. An insulated annular ring 62 is
also provided in the space between the casing 56 and sleeve 44
against the face of the tubular sleeve 34.
A pair of leads extends from the solenoid coil 58 and are connected
to terminals 64 and 66 on the insulated spacer 60. A wire
communicates the terminal 64 with a terminal 65 on the push-button
switch 18 which is in turn mounted to a bracket 68 in the grill 19
of the automobile as shown in FIG. 4. A lead extends from the
push-button switch 18 to a ground connection. A wire connects the
terminal 64 through the firewall of the automobile to the
instrument panel and is connected to the accessories terminal on
the fuse panel 20 (FIG. 1). Of course, as is conventional, the
accessories terminal on the fuse panel 20 is connected directly
with the accessories terminal of the ignition switch.
In operation, if the bond is pivoted to a closed position, the
projection 16 including the conical tip 32 will travel along an
arcuate path passing into the bore 36 of the tubular sleeve 34. The
plunger 48 is normally urged into a first position by a spring 54
so that the neck 50 projects into the bore 36. As the projection 16
passes through the bore 36, the control surface 32 forces neck 50
and plunger 48 to move inwardly against the urging of the spring
54. Once the shoulder 30 of the projection 16 is past the axis of
the plunger 48, the spring 54 again pushes the plunger 48 and neck
50 into its first position so that the neck extends within the bore
to a position blocking the upward passage of the projection by
means of its abutment with the shoulder 30.
Since the axis of the plunger 48 is at right angles or is normal to
the axis of the bore 36, the force applied when someone attempts to
open the hood is not communicated to the spring 54 but is applied
radially of the neck 50 and therefore it is almost impossible to
force the plunger 48 back to allow the plunger to retract. When the
operator of the automobile wishes to open the hood, he must first
insert the key into the ignition switch 22 and turn the key to the
accessories or ignition position. This will communicate the power
source to the circuit of the locking device. However, the
push-button 18 which is normally in open position and until the
push-button is pressed to close the switch, the circuit will remain
broken. Once the operator has turned the key in the ignition switch
22 to the accessories or ignition position, he must then pass to
the front of the automobile and press the push-button 18 to
complete the circuit to the solenoid coil 58 and activate the
solenoid 58 thus retracting the plunger 48. This causes the neck 50
to free the bore 36 and upon raising the hood 12, the projection
will be removed from the bore 36 along its predetermined path.
Of course, the switch 18 could be located in the cab of the
automobile.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, all of the reference
numerals have been raised by 100 in relation to similar parts shown
in the embodiments of FIG. 3. The projection 116 extends from
bracket 124 which is fastened to a suitable mounting by means of
screws 126. The projection 116 has a conical-head 132 with enlarged
shoulders 130 and is adapted to pass in the bore 136 of the seat
and plunger housing 114. Similarly, the bore 136 terminates in a
beveled portion 138 near the ends thereof.
The seat and plunger housing 114 is of one-piece construction as
shown and defines a plunger bore 146 and a bore 142 of smaller
diameter breaking into the bore 136. The plunger 148 having a neck
150 of smaller diameter slides in the bore 146 and 142. The end of
the housing is closed by a cap 152 and is fastened to the housing
114 by means of screws 153. Solenoid coil 158 is also provided
about a projection of the bore 146. A spring 154 is mounted to the
cap 152 and urges the plunger 148 towards the bore 156.
AT right angles to the bore 146 is transverse bore 159 in which a
locking pin 160 is adapted to slide. When the hood is closed and
the projection 116 is in the bore 136, the pin 160 is normally
retracted as shown in FIG. 5 and the neck 150 of the plunger 148 is
in a position locking the projection 116. However, when the
solenoid is activated, the plunger 148 is forced rearwardly against
the urging of the spring 154. Also, in the course of the plunger
moving rearwardly, the magnetic effect of the solenoid 158 is also
induced in the plunger 148 protracting the sliding pin 160. Since,
in its terminal position the plunger 148 has cleared the bore 159,
the sliding pin 160 will be caused to move magnetically to the neck
150 thereby locking the plunger clear of the bore 136.
When it is required to again close the hood and place it so that it
is locked by the plunger 148, the locking pin 160 is simply
retracted manually allowing the plunger 148 to return to its
forward position as shown in FIG. 5 under the urging of spring
154.
The position of the locking pin 160 obviates the necessity of a
separate push-button switch 18, since when it is not required to
lock the plunger 116 by means of the plunger 148, the plunger is
simply locked in its rearward position by the locking pin 160.
* * * * *