Patent ID: 7260963
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An electric steering lock device for selectively locking a movable member, which moves in response to a steering wheel, the device comprising: a motor; a rotary member, which is rotated by said motor; a rotary shaft, which is selectively rotated in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and has first threads; a coupling mechanism, which is provided between said rotary shaft and said rotary member, and selectively connects said rotary shaft to said rotary member, whereby when the coupling mechanism connects said rotary shaft to said rotary member, rotation of said rotary member is transmitted to said rotary shaft; a movable body, which has second threads, threadably engagable within said first threads, moves along the axis of said rotary shaft as said rotary shaft rotates with the second threads threadably engaged within said first threads, moves in a third direction when said rotary shaft rotates in said first direction, and moves in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction when said rotary shaft rotates in said second direction; and a lock member, which is coupled to said movable body, moves between a lock position where the lock member is engaged with the movable member to lock said movable member and an unlock position where the lock member is disengaged from the movable member to unlock said movable member in accordance with movement of said movable body, moves toward the unlock position from the lock position when said movable body moves in said third direction, and moves toward the lock position from the unlock position when said movable body moves in said fourth direction, wherein as said rotary shaft rotates in said first direction with said lock member placed at said unlock position, said first threads permits said second threads to disengage from said first threads, thereby permitting rotation of said rotary shaft in said first direction with said second threads disengaged from said first threads, wherein said coupling mechanism disconnects said rotary shaft and said rotary member from each other as said rotary member rotates said rotary shaft in said second direction with said lock member placed at said lock position, thereby permitting rotation of said rotary member with said rotary shaft and said rotary member being disconnected from each other.