This disclosure is directed to a key-activated, handle-operated three way (position) locking mechanism for removable automobile, or other vehicle, roof panels of the type wherein the handle customarily pivots from locked to open (unlocked) positions to permit removal of the roof "T-top" panels. The "T-top" lock-handle device of this invention comprises a latch stud adapter mechanism and locking cam mechanism each located substantially within a handle-housing and operative to permit locking and unlocking over a three position arc for the lock and a two position arc for the handle-housing and wherein unlocking is effected by meshing of notched surfaces on said adapter and locking cam whereby the locking cam drives the adapter upon rotation of the handle to unlock the "T-top" permitting its removal from the automobile roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
The adoption of various federal, state and related statutes, rules and 
regulations for automobiles has made the manufacture of convertibles very 
difficult and expensive. In order to circumvent these problems, the 
automobile manufacturers have introduced in place thereof what is called 
the "T-top". This "T-top" is a roof assembly having two openings in the 
front seat portion of the car. One opening is above and to the side of the 
driver and the other is above and to the side of the passenger in the 
front seat. Alternatively, the panels can be located only above the driver 
and passenger and need not extend to form a curved window portion 
positioned partially vertically with respect to the roof portion. In any 
event, these customarily glass or transparent plastic panels permit the 
driver and passenger to view the sky above when they are in place. When 
removed, they give the open air sensation of a conventional "rag top" 
convertible but are usually safer than such convertible in the event of a 
roll-over due to the fact that the additional steel or other roof 
reinforcement in the roof located between and around the "T-top" 
transparent panels permit the car to be substantially self-supporting when 
turned over on its roof. As mentioned, these glass or plastic panels are 
made to be easily removed from the openings in the roof so that they can 
be stored, for example, in the trunk of the vehicle thereby enableing the 
passengers to experience the open air sensation of the "rag top" 
convertibles. 
These "T-top" type panels are usually provided with a metal channel about 
their outer periphery and a customary plastic housing which conceals the 
roof locking studs. These studs may be of the bayonet-type which, upon 
locking of the "T-top" panels in place, mate with openings in the vehicle 
roof to accomodate the positioning and locking of the "T-top" panels in 
the car roof structure. In accordance with prior art and conventional 
practice, "T-top" conventional latch mechanisms operate lateral bayonet 
lugs, clips, etc., which interlock with female lateral keepers in the 
automobile roof portion to hold the "T-top" panels in place. These latch 
mechanisms include a stud which protrudes through the housing to engage a 
handle. 
Due to the fact that these "T-top" panels are intended and designed to be 
readily removable, great problems have been experienced by owners of such 
vehicles in theft of these panels. These "T-top" type transparent and 
removable panels are extremely expensive and there has been a need in the 
art to provide a reliable yet inexpensive locking mechanism which locks 
the "T-top" to the latch stud, particularly one which is readily adapted 
to retrofit into existing roof locking mechanisms. 
One of the prior art patents seeking to deal with this problem in the 
McAdams, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,045, which relates to an anti-theft 
mechanism for removable automobile roof panels. The McAdams, Sr., device 
includes a locking mechanism which engages a fixed post and a keeper bar 
to prevent removal of the keeper bar from the fixed part. The locking 
mechanism of McAdams, Sr., includes a nut which is threadably engaged with 
the fixed post and the keeper bar and a lockable housing which swivels on 
the fixed post and encloses the nut so that it cannot be removed. 
The patents to Roudanez, U.S. Pat. No. 1,624,563; Maszczyk, U.S. Pat. No. 
1,645,917; White, U.S. Pat. No. 1,678,174 and Reid, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,800,574 each relate to locking handles which are threaded on a bolt and 
can freely rotate when not in a locked position. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,242 to Young illustrates a locking assembly comprising 
a bolt, a socket adapted to receive an end part of the bolt, a lining for 
the socket and detent means which is moveable to operative and inoperative 
positions. 
Raleigh U.S. Pat. No. 1,628,740 relates to spare wheel locks for 
automobiles characterized generally as being screwed or otherwise rotated 
to locking position over a mounting member but which when in locked 
condition is free to be rotated without being released from the mounting 
member. 
Bronson U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,461 is directed to a car top carrier structure 
with locking means wherein the structure includes a frame for the material 
which mounts transversely of the roof by a pair of clamps which are 
attachable with rain gutters on the sides of the automobile roof. A key 
operated lock on each clamping assembly prevents removal thereof in an 
unauthorized manner. 
Corrado U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,787 is directed to a cover means for 
navagational instruments and radio equipment mounted on panels of aircraft 
including a cover provided with lock means that are arranged to coact with 
cooperating lock devices mounted on such aircraft instrument panel or 
other permanent structure of the aircraft so as to prevent removal of such 
cover from such panel and consequantly access to the instruments and 
equipment mounted thereon, thereby precluding their unauthorized removal 
or theft. 
It will be observed that none of the foregoing patents disclose the 
lock-handle combination of this invention containing a three-way lock, a 
locking cam and a latch stud adapter associated in combination within a 
two position handle as will be more fully disclosed herein below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Both the key and locking mechanism of the lock-handle combination device of 
this invention operate in the same number of a plurality of positions, 
usually three, over an arc which can range from about 60.degree. to about 
180.degree., usually approximately 180.degree., to define "assembly", 
"handle pivot but locked" and unlocked (open) positions whereas the handle 
thereof operates over a lesser degree arc, usually 90.degree., than said 
key and lock mechanism in a lesser plurality of positions, usually two. 
In many of the existing "T-top" lock devices, the handle has a horizontal 
position, indicating locked to the observer, and a vertical position, 
indicating open or unlocked and the "T-top" panels can be removed from the 
roof when the handle is in the vertical position. With the device of this 
invention, however, when the handle is in the substantially vertical 
position, the "T-top" panels can be either locked or unlocked depending on 
the concealed position of the locking cam and adapter, both located within 
the device, as the former is responsive to the position of the key-locking 
mechanism. 
The lock-handle device of this invention contains an internal locking cam 
which is cut or shaped in such a manner as to have one or more notches or 
surfaces P.sub.1 which can mesh with corresponding notches or surfaces 
P.sub.2 on the latch adapter 18 to drive same and permit opening the 
device. 
According to this invention the key and locking mechanisms operate over 
three positions. The first or assembly position, usually at 0.degree., 
allows the handle to be positioned on the extended stud of the existing 
roof latching mechanism of the automobile. These studs protrude through 
recessed areas of covers covering the roof latching mechanism from view. 
In this first position, the handle clears the locking mechanism. In the 
second key position, usually spaced at approximately 90.degree. from the 
first position in the case of a 180.degree. arc, the locking mechanism is 
in locked position and the handle remains in a horizontal position 
although it can be moved (pivoted) to a vertical position. Such a vertical 
position is normally visually associated in prior devices with the "T-top" 
being unlocked and readily removable. In the present device, however, it 
cannot be removed because the opening mechanism (locking cam notch meshing 
with adjuster notch) is not in proper position. In the third, or opening 
(unlocked) key position, usually about 180.degree. from the first 
position, with the handle in the horizontal position, portion P.sub.1 of 
locking cam 27 engages notched portion P.sub.2 of adapter 18 which is 
secured to latch stud 16 permitting unlocking and removal of the "T-top" 
upon rotating the handle 90.degree., viz., from the horizontal to vertical 
position. According to the present invention the deceiving vertical 
appearance of the handle, which is possible with the locking mechanism in 
the second position, tends to frustrate a would-be thief who could pivot 
the handle into the apparently unlocked (vertical) position yet be unable 
to remove the "T-top". 
As will be seen from FIG. 1 of the drawings, automobile roof 10 contains a 
plurality, usually two, "T-top" panels 11 located in the roof vicinity 
thereof. These panels can be a varity of shapes including curved from the 
roof portion down to the side windows. Located internally within the 
passenger compartment on either side of the automobile front seat are the 
lock-handle combinations 12. These combinations contain the locking 
mechanism and the adapter mechanism the latter of which conforms, viz., 
retrofits, the lock-handle combination of this invention to shaped 
surfaces 17 of existing latch shafts or studs 16 (FIG. 2) present on 
typical "T-top" panels. Such latch studs 16 protrude through the covers 14 
which conceal the roof locking mechanisms present in the typical existing 
"T-top" panels. In accordance with this invention the internal surface(s) 
or configuration of handle adapter 18 conforms with the exterior shape or 
configuration of stud 16 with surfaces 17, and with supporting mechanism 
permits attachment of the lock-handle combination to the protruding latch 
stud 16 on the existing "T-top" panel. 
As will be observed from FIG. 2 of the drawings, the three-way barrel cam 
lock housing 23 is locked and unlocked by use of key 30 in key slot 31. 
FIG. 3 shows the assembly of the handle adapter 18 with its friction 
washwer 19, e.g., rubber, elastomer, plastic, etc., along with adapter top 
20, lock washer 21 and screw 22, positioned so as to secure the handle, 
via the handle adapter and supporting mechanism, to the latch shaft or 
stud 16 shown to have flat surfaces 17 of a typical, existing "T-top" 
panel latch mechanism 15. 
While FIG. 3 of the drawings shows the assembly from the point of the 
existing latch mechanism 15 through the handle adapter and the lock-handle 
casing (housing) 13 of the lock-handle combination 12; FIG. 4 shows the 
assembly of this handle adapter from the opposite side, viz., from the 
handle casing side 13 through to the existing latch mechanism 15. Again 
referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the 
three-way barrel cam lock housing 23 is secured within the handle-housing 
13 as shown by the use of a locking ring 26. Washer 24 is placed over 
square tail portion 25 of housing 23. Tail portion 25 contains internal 
threading to accept locking screw 29 and orients locking cam 27 with the 
locking mechanism by fitting in a correspondingly shaped opening in cam 27 
so the cam 27 moves with tail 25. Lock washwer 28 assists in setting and 
maintaining the screw position. Handle casing 13 can, and preferably is, 
provided with a "break-away" groove G such that pressure on the gripping 
part of housing 13 will cause it to break away from the remaining portions 
of the lock-handle combination before the locking itself breaks due to 
forcing. FIG. 3 illustrates the positioning of the lock cam 27 during 
assembly, viz., its assembly position. 
FIG. 5 of the drawings shows the position of the lock as the handle is held 
in the horizontal position by friction of the friction washwer 19 in 
conjunction with the close fitting tolerance of the various portions of 
the lock. This permits the handle to rotate to a false open or unlocked 
position, viz., the phantom position shown in FIG. 5, but the latch does 
not activate to permit opening of the lock and removal of the "T-top" 
panel. Thus FIG. 5 shows in phantom the second position of the lock 
mechanism of this invention, the first position being the position of 
assembly, with the mechanism in locked position. 
FIG. 6 shows the third position of the lock wherein the notch P.sub.1 of 
the locking cam 27 is engaged in driving the notch P.sub.2 of the adapter 
18. When the handle-housing 13 is rotated to the phantom position shown in 
FIG. 6, the adapter 18 and the latch mechanism stud 16 are activated to 
the open, viz., unlocked, position which is shown in phantom in FIG. 6 and 
in the full view of FIG. 7. Thus it will be observed that although there 
are three positions taken by the key and the lock in which the key is 
inserted, there are only two handle positions. The second position of the 
handle can be the same during both the second and third positions of the 
lock. As mentioned previously, this gives the impression that the handle 
occupies the open or unlocked position whereas the "T-top" panel cannot be 
removed with the locking mechanism in its second position. 
The present invention is capable of wide variation, both in respect of the 
nature of the material of which the various parts are made and also in 
respect of the shape and configuration of the various parts, and whether 
or not the parts are joined and made integral or separate. Thus the handle 
housing can be aluminum, zinc, high impact plastic, chrome-plated zinc 
alloy, steel, made from powdered metal, combinations of metal and plastic, 
etc. 
Similarly, the handle may have a cylinder and/or barrel portion of the lock 
mechanism cast into it as shown in the modification of FIGS. 10 and 11 
wherein the lock-handle combination 12 has a built-in (cast) cylinder 
housing 35 for the barrel with a plurality of slots 36 to accomodate a 
conventional lock cylinder 37 having its key slot 31 for operation 
thereof. Comparing lock-handle modification 12' of FIG. 11 with 
lock-handle embodiment 12 of FIG. 3, both have three key and lock 
positions with two handle positions and operate under the same principle 
of this invention, viz., notch or surface P.sub.1 of locking cam 27 
engages and drives notch or surface P.sub.2 of adapter 18 (not shown in 
FIG. 11) to open. However, in the modification of FIGS. 10 and 11, 
components 23 and 25 of FIG. 3 are replaced by a conventional lock 
barrel-tumbler cylinder arrangement or insert 37 and the cylinder housing 
35 with its slots 36 is cast in and made integral with the handle housing 
13. Locking ring 26 of FIG. 3 is eliminated in the structure of FIGS. 10 
and 11. Insert 37 has a square tail 38 with internal female threads 
comparable to 25 of FIG. 3. Thus the barrel-tumbler insert 37 (FIGS. 10 
and 11) and its counterpart in FIG. 3 (component 23) provide alignment 
means to permit positioning of the locking cam 27 in response to the 
various key positions. 
Also, the adapter 18 can be made integral with the latch shaft 16, and the 
male member portion of the shaft, viz., coming out from the "T-top" latch 
mechanism, can be serrated, splined, round, rectangular, squared, part 
round and part squared and/or rectangular, oblong, round having a set 
screw, etc. In short, this male shaft or stud 16-17 can be of any 
geometric shape or configuration with the adapter being either female 
shaped to conform thereto or made in any shape and configuration with some 
form of keeper adapted to keep the stud in fixed position on the adapter 
mechanism. For example, as will be apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9 of the 
drawings, adapter 32 can be a one-piece adapter having a splined hub 33 
and a slot, e.g., a substantially hemispherical slot, 34, to permit 
fitting onto a correspondingly shaped male shaft or stud coming from the 
existing latch mechanism of the "T-top" panel. 
It should be apparent that although the drawing figures illustrated in 
FIGS. 2 through 7 of the present drawings illustrate a right hand operated 
handle, a reversal of the various parts and positions can just as will be 
employed to accomodate the left-hand operated handles on the opposite side 
of the vehicle. Although the attachment means shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 
of the present drawings illustrate the use of screw means to attach the 
various lock and adapter mechanisms to the existing "T-top" latch 
mechanisms; it should be apparent that in place of the screw and nut means 
shown, rivets, clips and other equivalent attachment means can be employed 
just as well. 
As shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, and this also applies to the 
embodiment of FIG. 3, the barrel cam lock housing has basically three 
positions. The first position or position A is the position occupied by 
the locking mechanism upon assembly. Then 90.degree. spaced therefrom is 
the locking position L. Finally, there is the open position O located 
180.degree. from the assembly position A. In accordance with this 
invention a torsion spring S (FIG. 11) can be added to maintain the handle 
slippage in the 90.degree. horizontal (unlocked) position. Such spring can 
be attached to stud 16 and extends within the handle-housing 13 to hold 
the handle-housing in a horizontal position.