Apparatus for removing an ignition key cylinder

An apparatus for removing an ignition key or lock cylinder containing a shaft. A collet assembly which can grasp an ignition key cylinder or lock cylinder is also mounted on the shaft. An annulus is mounted on the collet assembly for maintaining a secure engagement on the ignition key cylinder and a casing is mounted over the collet assembly shaft and annulus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing a lock cylinder 
from its housing such as from a vehicle. More specifically, the present 
invention relates to an ignition key removal apparatus which upon the 
application of a force readily and easily pulls the ignition key out of 
engagement with the vehicle. 
Heretofore, whenever a dash mounted ignition key needed relacement in a 
vehicle, due to failure, jamming, etc., the ignition key was usually 
quickly removed through the utilizing of special tools or removal of nuts 
or other fasteners. Recently, however, ignition keys have been mounted on 
a steering column of a vehicle to prevent theft thereof. Standard removal 
procedure, unlike the dash mounted ignition keys, requires the disassembly 
of the steering wheel column and replacement of ignition key cylinder. Due 
to the matter of installation of the ignition key cylinder, this method is 
largely unavoidable. Thus, replacement of a relatively inexpensive key 
requires an inordinate amount of time and effort and accordingly, a large 
monetary outlay. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, which is convenient and easily utilized. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, which does not require the disassembly of a 
vehicle steering column. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, wherein a secure grip is maintained on the 
lock cylinder during removal. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, wherein the removal apparatus contains a 
shaft, a collet assembly and a casing. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, as above, wherein an annulus or other 
fastening device engages the collet assembly to assure a secure fit. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, as above, wherein a force is applied to a 
wrench or lever to remove the lock cylinder, said lever being mounted on 
said shaft. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, as above, wherein the collet assembly has a 
conical portion and said collet contains resilient fingers thereon which 
engage the lock cylinder. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, as above, wherein the annulus contains a 
recess and threadibly engages a portion of the collet assembly so that 
engagement of the annulus with the conical collet forces the fingers into 
a tighter securing engagement with the lock cylinder. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removal 
apparatus for a lock cylinder, as above, wherein a casing resides about 
the shaft, the collet assembly and the annulus and engages the housing 
holding said cylinder lock assembly so that upon the application of a 
force to the lever, the casing bears against the housing with the shaft 
and collet assembly being withdrawn therefrom. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from 
the following specification which describes in detail various embodiments 
without attempting to discuss all of the modifications in which the 
invention might be embodied. 
In general, an apparatus for removing an ignition key assembly comprises, a 
collet assembly, a shaft, said shaft assembly encasing said collet 
assembly, an annulus, said annulus engaging on said collet assembly, and a 
casing, said casing extending at least partially about said collet 
assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
According to the concepts of the present invention, an apparatus for 
removing a lock cylinder or an ignition key cylinder from its housing such 
as a vehicle is generally shown in FIG. 1. The removal apparatus is 
generally indicated by the numeral 10 and preferably is made of metal. 
Removal apparatus 10 can be quickly secured to the lock cylinder of any 
conventional lock maintained in place by a spring or other restraining, 
retaining or securing device which can be overcome by a small force. The 
removal apparatus desirably is attached to an ignition key cylinder and, 
through the application of a force to a lever, can quickly and surely 
remove the lock cylinder. 
As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a collet assembly is generally indicated 
by the numeral 12. The collet assembly contains a collet portion 13 which 
desirably is inclined such that it has a conical shape. End portion 14 of 
collet portion 13 extends outwardly for a short portion at no incline, 
that is parallel to collet base portion 31 hereinafter described. End 14 
of collet portion 13 has an inwardly extending flange 15 and thus forms a 
lip. Preferably, the inner portion of the flange is squared off or has 
square corners so that a good or secure grip can be maintained on an end 
flange portion of a convention lock cylinder 21. 
Collet portion 13 contains fingers 18 which are formed by slots 19 cut into 
the collet portion. The provision of slots provides a springing action to 
the collet portion so that upon insertion as over an ignition key 
cylinder, the fingers can spring apart or bend outwardly, that is, in a 
radial direction, and slide over a flange portion commonly found on the 
end of the lock cylinder. Of course, as lip flange 15 is moved entirely 
across the lock cylinder flange 22, lip flange 15 will spring back towards 
its original shape or position. Desirably, the opening or diameter of the 
lip flange is slightly smaller than that of the external diameter of the 
lock cylinder flange with the radial extent or distance of lip flange 15 
being sufficient to reside under at least a portion of the lock cylinder 
flange 22 to provide a bearing surface. 
Collet assembly 12 also has a base portion 31 which may be in the shape of 
a tube or cylinder. The entire collet assembly may be integral as shown in 
the drawings or may be joined together as through welding or the like. 
Collet base portion 31 has external and internal threads along at least a 
portion thereof and extending towards collet 13. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 
and 5, the base portion of the collet may contain two flat portions 32 
which are parallel but located on the opposite sides of the base portion. 
Additionally, the base portion contains an aperture 33 as shown in FIG. 5. 
The shaft, generally indicated by the numeral 41, desirably contains 
threads thereon or some other fastener device. Thus, in the embodiment 
shown, shaft 41 is connected to collet base portion 31 through a mating 
engagement of the shaft threads with the internal threads of the base 
portion. Of course, the shaft may be connected to the base portion in any 
other conventional manner such as through welding. In order to prevent 
shaft 41 from rotating freely within base portion aperture 33, either 
aperture 33 or an end portion of the shaft 41 may be tapered so that upon 
threading of the shaft a sufficient distance into base portion 31, a snug 
engagement is obtained. 
An important facet of the present invention relates to an annulus, 
generally indicated by the numeral 51. The annulus is generally in the 
shape of a cylinder having a conventional fastening means for engaging 
either shaft 41 or collet base portion 31. In the embodiments shown, 
annulus 51 has a reduced neck portion 52 which through threads matingly 
engages the threads of the collet base portion 31. Of course, although the 
utilization of threads constitutes the preferred embodiment, any number of 
conventional fastening engagements may be utilized. Similarly, shaft 41 
need not be a separate part as in the preferred embodiment, but may be 
integral with the collet assembly portion and thus have the same diameter 
as the collet base portion. 
Annulus 51 has a shoulder 53 located opposite neck portion 52. The internal 
diameter 54 of the annulus is less than that of the largest external 
diameter of the conical collet 13. Thus, upon rotation of annulus 51, 
shoulder 53 will engage the outwardly inclined fingers 18 of collet 13 and 
thereby springingly compress the fingers radially inward. Thus, when 
collet lips 15 have been applied above the ignition key cylinder flange 
22, rotation of annulus 51 will insure a positive and mechanical 
engagement as well as a secure fit of the collet assembly about the flange 
of the ignition key cylinder or lock cylinder. To facilitate rotation of 
annulus 51, the external or outside surface may be hexhagonal or otherwise 
to allow the wrench to engage the annulus and apply a substantial amount 
of force to fingers 18 of the collet portion 13. Hence, annulus 51 insures 
that a secure and tight mechanical engagement of collet assembly 12 with 
the cylinder lock is maintained. 
A casing, generally indicated by the numeral 61 encases collet assembly 12, 
annulus 51 and a portion of shaft 41. The main purpose of casing 61 is to 
provide a rest means as through casing shoulder 62 which abutts a lock 
cylinder housing or other bearing surface. In the preferred embodiment of 
the invention, the housing, of course, would be mounted on a steering 
wheel column of a vehicle. 
As shown in FIG. 1, casing 61 may simply be a cylinder having a base 
portion 63. The cylinder, of course, has a sufficient internal diameter so 
that it is larger or fits over the various above-identified components. As 
best shown in FIG. 3, base portion 62 has an aperture 64 which is of the 
sufficient size and shape to fit about shaft 41 and permit the shaft to 
extend therethrough. An optional feature of aperture 64 is that it may be 
shaped in a configuration such that it matingly engages flat portions 32 
of collet assembly 12. This provision permits annulus 51 to be hand 
tightened about collet portion 13 simply by holding the annulus in one 
hand, inserting the base portion of casing 61 over flat portions 32 and 
rotating the casing with the other hand. 
A lever or "T" wrench, generally indicated by the numeral 71, or other 
tightening device is applied to the free end of shaft 41 and tightened so 
as to bear against base portion 63 of the casing and to withdraw or pull 
shaft 41 towards the casing base. As shown in FIG. 1, lever or wrench 71 
may simply be a piece of metal of any shape having an aperture 72 
therethrough. Extending outward from the material and secured thereto are 
arms 73. One of the arms may have a recess 74 which is utilized to pry off 
the cover of the lock cylinder, if any, or of the ignition key cylinder 
thereby exposing lock or ignition key flange 22. In order to reduce the 
friction encountered between lever 71 and casing 61, a sliding or low 
friction ring 76 is provided within the lever. Any conventional assembly 
may be utilized such as ball bearing 77 and end washer 78. This 
arrangement permits the washer to bear against casing base 63 without any 
washer rotation and yet lever 71 is allowed to freely rotate. 
In the utilization of the lock cylinder or ignition key cylinder, the cover 
(not shown) of the lock cylinder or ignition key cylinder is removed. Then 
collet portion 13 is snapped over lock cylinder flange 22 and annulus 51 
rotated or screwed upon collet end portion 14 until shoulders 53 contact 
the conical or finger portions 18 of collet 13. Then, the annulus is 
tightened to effect a secure and mechanical engagement since finger lips 
15 are positioned under or behind cylinder lock flange 22 and secured in 
tight abuttment therewith. Casing 61 is then slid over the collet 
assembly, the annulus as well as a portion of shaft 41. Lever or wrench 71 
is then applied to the free end of shaft 41 and rotated until the lever 
engages casing base 63. Then the lever is tightened. Upon tightening, 
casing shoulder 62 will bear against the ignition key housing or other 
item or surface to which it is attached, and collet assembly 12 will then 
pull ignition key assembly or the lock cylinder from its housing. In 
conventional ignition key locks and the like, the lock is merely retained 
by a spring or other low shear device, the locking force of which, must be 
overcome. Once the restraining device has been overcome, the cylinder is 
removed and the new cylinder may be inserted. 
Utilization of the removal apparatus set forth in FIGS. 1 through 5 in a 
vehicle having an ignition key cylinder located in the steering column 
eliminates the requirement of tearing apart the entire steering column in 
order to remove the ignition key assembly. Moreover, the device herein 
described can be readily and inexpensively manufactured. 
It can thus be seen that the disclosed invention carries out the objects of 
the invention set forth above. As will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art, many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of 
the invention herein disclosed and described, the scope of the invention 
being limited solely by the scope of the attached claims.