Electric safety lock more specially for motor vehicle doors

Electric safety lock, more specially designed for motor vehicle doors, in which each vehicle door as well as the motor bonnet, the petrol tank cap and the luggage boot of the vehicle are each equipped with a set consisting of a case in which an electric micro-motor is mounted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an electric safety lock more specially for 
motor vehicle doors or the like, which has been studied to obtain a very 
light-weight device, which can be easily placed in modern motor vehicles, 
and which exactly meets the modern safety rules and regulations, and can 
be operated by remote control so that all doors as also the motor bonnet 
and the petrol tank cap as well as the luggage boot may be simultaneously 
unlocked by a same operation. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Moreover it will be noted that many conventional locks for motor vehicle 
doors comprise a door blocking and unblocking device which is electrically 
or manually operated but in such a way that it is always necessary to 
operate the manual controls in order to unbolt the lock and allow it to be 
disengaged. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the present case, the electric safety lock is used for unbolting a door, 
specially a door of a motor vehicle in order to allow it to be open. In 
the present lock, all usual operating-levers have been eliminated and 
merely replaced by an electronic device which works only when programmed 
for unbolting. 
To ensure that the lock can be mounted from the outside in the door field 
thus resulting in a very important labour-saving, and that the lock can be 
unbolted in case of failure of the electronic circuit, the present 
invention provides a number of complementary features. 
The present electric safety lock allows the rear doors to be blocked when 
children are to be transported and also meets the regulations in force for 
protection from rape in the U.S.A. so as to shield the occupant or 
occupants of the car when stationary. 
The present invention provides an electric lock the main feature of which 
consists in means for electrically unbolting the lock, so that a door can 
be opened by rotation as a result of a simple motion, since it is the 
pressure of the joints surrounding the door that pushes the latter so that 
it opens. 
According to the invention, the shaft of a motor mounted in a case drives a 
pinion which cooperates with a reducer that permanently engages with a 
toothed cam having a protruding part which cooperates with a push-finger 
which passes through the above mentioned case in the inner wall of a 
casing so as to control the rotation of a ratchet the end tooth of which 
engages into the teeth of a rotating bold fitted in the case and 
comprising an hollow-cut part receiving the bar which forms the 
lock-staple and the motor feeding is controlled by a printed circuit which 
may open the door or temporarily close it with the help of switches and 
circuit-breakers for shielding the occupants of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicates a plate 1a on one side of 
which is fixed a casing 1 which contains in its right part an electric 
micro-motor 2 the shaft 3 of which carries a pinion 4 which engages into 
the teeth 5 of a disc-shaped part 6 rigidly fixed to a shaft 7 the central 
part of which is equiped with an endless screw 8. The shaft 7 is supported 
by bearings 9, 10 in the case 1. The case 1 is fixed by screws 11 on the 
plate 1a. A casing 12 having an essentially rectangular shape is fixed on 
the other side of the plate 1a and comprises on the one side a ratchet 13 
and on the other side a bolt 14 described hereafter. The endless screw 8 
in the case 1 engages into a cam 15 which is also mounted in the case 1 
and comprises a shoulder 16 (FIG. 3), which is supported by the inner side 
1b of the case 1, and a circular extension 17 centered on a boss 18 
protruding from the front side of the case 1. The circular extension 17 
comprises on its outer side a number of teeth 19 which permanently engage 
into the endless screw 8 of the shaft 7. 
The cam 15 comprises a step 15a cooperating with a pushing finger 20 which 
passes through an arcuate opening 21 which has been made in the case 1 and 
in the inner wall of the casing 12 and is connected with the ratchet 13. 
Thus, the ratchet 13 may be rotated by the pushing finger 20 about the pin 
13a on which it is rigidly fastened and which is mounted in the walls of 
the case 12. The sharp-pointed fore-end 13b of the ratchet 13 is intended 
for cooperating with the teeth 14a of the bolt 14 which is also mounted so 
as to rotate about a pin 23 rigidly mounted on the walls of the case 12. 
As particularly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the bolt 14 comprises a cut off part 
24 having an essentially circular shape and receiving a bar 25 which forms 
the staple of the lock and which is fastened to the door post or frame of 
the vehicle. 
As also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the central upper part of the case 12 
coimprises an opening 27 provided to receive the bar 25. 
As shown in FIG. 7, a printed circuit C1 provides a supply of the motor 2 
with electric current under the control of following switches: 40 for 
unbolting, 41 for bolting, 42 for unblocking the doors when one of them 
bangs, 43 for controlling the door through an inner button, 44 for 
blocking each door for children's safety, and 45 for limiting the movement 
of the cam 15. The control device for the limit switch 45 is shown in FIG. 
1 with its deformable finger 46. The source of electric power is the 
electric power battery 70 of the vehicle. Because of the design of the 
printed circuit which distributes the functions, the various controls may 
be mounted in any place in the vehicle. 
The preceding description makes clear the working of the locking device. 
When the lock is open, the staple 25 (FIG. 5) is entirely disengaged from 
the hollow part 24 of the bolt 14, and the ratchet 13 is disengaged from 
the teeth 14a of the bolt 14. 
When the door is closed, the staple 25 engages into the casing 12 through 
the opening 27 and into the cut part 24 of the bolt 14 which turns in the 
direction of the arrow F5 (FIG. 5) in the position represented by FIG. 4, 
i.e. in which the door is closed, bolted and blocked since the 
sharp-pointed end 13b of the ratchet 13 is engaged in one of the teeth 14a 
of the ratchet 14 under action of a spring, not represented. 
In order to open the door, the motor 2 is supplied with electric power, 
which causes rotation of the endless screw 8, a rotation of the cam 15 and 
consequently a rotation of the pushing finger 20 which unbolts and 
disengages the ratchet 13 from the teeth 14a of the bolt 14 which becomes 
free and can easily pivot in direction of the arrow F4 (FIG. 4). Thus the 
door can be opened since the staple 25 is disengaged. 
Of course, this lock is controlled either through the above mentioned 
switches represented in FIG. 7 or, as known, through the motor vehicle key 
which operates the switches 43, 44. 
It will be noted that due to its electric construction, this lock is 
appreciably lighter than other locks which are controlled either through 
an electromechanical element or through a pneumatic jack. 
In order to get a sufficient security in the case of an interruption of 
power supply, it is possible to provide a supplementary current plug 
accessible from the exterior of the vehicle which may be mounted on the 
vehicle and allow the door to be open by application of an electric 
current which would not be produced by the vehicle. However opening the 
vehicle in this case is possible only with the specific key of the 
vehicle. 
In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 8-13, the lock shown at 80 is 
mounted in the thickness of a vehicle door schematically represented in 
FIG. 12 by the sheet 81 while the staple 82 formed by cylindrical bar is 
fixed through an extension 83 on the sheet 84 of the door post, i.e. on 
the vehicle body (See FIG. 9). Reference number 85 indicates the 
counterplate of the staple 82 which is terminated by an asymetrical head 
82a. 
The lock 80 comprises a case 86 containing an electric motor 87 supplied 
through cables 88-89. A pinion 90 is fixed to the shaft 87a of the motor 
87 which pinion 90 is guided during its rotation by a bore 91 drilled in 
the fore-part of the casing 86. The pinion 90 cooperates with a reducer 92 
comprising of a first pinion 93 which engages with a double toothed ring 
94 held by a fixed ring 95 and with a pinion 96, resulting in a rotation 
speed of the pinion 96 which is reduced with respect to that of the motor 
87. 
As shown in FIG. 11, the pinion 96 has on its front side the shape of a cam 
96a which, when turning in direction of the arrow F40 causes a rotation, 
in direction of the arrow F41, of a hook 97 mounted on a pin 98 in the 
casing 86. Movement of the hook 97 drives a finger 99 which can move in an 
arcuate opening 100 (FIG. 8) of the plate 101 which closes the case 86. 
The pushing finger 99 is rigidly fixed to the ratchet 113 inside the 
housing 112 situated on the other side of the plate 101. 
As better shown in FIG. 8, reference number 113a designates the end tooth 
of the ratched 113 which is supported by a pin 114 about which is mounted 
a compression spring 115 which tends to push away through its free ends 
the pushing finger 99 in the direction of the arrow F42. 
The ratchet 113 cooperates with a bolt 116 which is substantially V-shaped 
and freely mounted on a pin 117. The bolt 116 comprises two teeth 118, 119 
each intended for cooperating with the end tooth 113a of the ratchet 113. 
A compression spring 120 tends permanently to cause a rotation of the bolt 
116 in direction of the arrow F43. 
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the hook 97 comprises on a part 
of its periphery two guides 97a, 97b which support flexible cables 125 
which enable, in case of failure of electric power, to draw the cables 125 
in the direction of arrow F45 (FIG. 11) to unbolt the ratchet 113 from the 
bolt 116 in order to free it. 
The locking device described above works as follows. 
When a door equiped with this locking device is open, the various elements 
are at rest in the position indicated by FIGS. 8 and 12. 
However, the bolt 116 is entirely pivoted to direction of the arrow F43 
(FIG. 8) so that it is easy by bringing the door nearer to the frame 84, 
to engage the staple 82 into the bolt 116, thus causing the rotation of 
this bolt 116 in the direction inverse of that of the arrow F43. The 
ratchet 113 engages first into the tooth 118 and then into the tooth 119 
of the bolt 116. As a result, the door is bolted since the staple 82 is 
held inside the bolt 116 which in its turn is blocked by the pushing 
finger 99 and the spring 115 (movement of the ratchet 113 in the direction 
of the arrow F42). The tooth 113a of the ratchet 113 is made in such a way 
that a rotation reaction of the ratchet 113 does not take place when a 
force is exerted on the teeth 119 and 118, what results in selfblocking. 
The spring 115 holds the tooth 113a of the ratchet 113 in the teeth 118, 
119 when no pressure (rotation force) is exerted on the bolt 116. 
The preceding explanations may apply to locks of all other doors bonnets, 
boots or caps of a given vehicle. 
The power supplying circuits of the various motors 87 are each closed by a 
contact-breaker 140 (FIG. 11) controlled by a second cam 96b of the pinion 
96. 
When it is desired to open the bonnet or the doors of the vehicle either 
from the inside or from the outside, it is possible, by using fingers, the 
voice, a magnetic card or a specific key of the vehicle, to order the 
electronic circuit to interrupt supply of the various corresponding motors 
with electric power. For instance, the electronic circuit may comprise a 
microprocessor. 
Each motor 87 drives, through a pinion 90, the reducer 92 which causes a 
one-revolution rotation of the cam 96 so that the pushing finger 99 is 
raised in the direction opposite to the arrow F42 (FIG. 8) thus causing 
unbolding of the ratchet 113. Each bolt 116 being free, each compression 
spring 120 will cause a rotation of the bolt 116 in direction of the arrow 
F43, which disengage each staple 82. Under the pressure exerted by the 
tight joints, the doors, bonnets, boots and caps can now rotate in the 
direction of opening. 
As explained above, it is possible by using controls operated by hand and 
consisting of cables 125, to unblock the locks in case of a failure in the 
electric power supply, but it is possible also to incorporate, in the 
power circuit of the motors 87, a dry cell or battery which can perform an 
unblocking action by unbolting the ratchets 113. 
As indicated above, the locks according to the invention are intended for 
unblocking, i.e. for unbolting, in order to enable a door or a bonnet or 
the like to be opened by using the pressure exerted by the tight joints so 
as to separate the lock elements from the corresponding staple. 
Of course, in the same way as indicate above the electronically controlled 
electric circuit enables (1) an outer and an inner control, (2) a security 
for children by preventing an untimely unbolding of doors and (3) to block 
the doors and bonnets and the like according to the "anti-rape" rules and 
regulations in force in some foreign countries and particularly in the 
United States. 
As a non restrictive example, FIG. 13 represents an electric diagram for a 
motor car comprising four motors 87A, 87B, 87C, 87D which are each supply 
from a battery 130 through a conductor 131 leading to a printed circuit or 
microprocessor 132 and then to circuits controlling the various motors and 
diagrammatically shown at 133, 134, 135, 136. 
The circuits 133, 134, 135, 136 are monitored through the printed circuit 
or microprocessor 132 by means of control buttons 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d 
(control buttons outside the vehicle) and 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d (control 
buttons inside the vehicle). Moreover the various fonctions provided by 
the printed circuit or microprocessor 132 are controlled by function 
buttons 303.sub.1, 303.sub.2, 303.sub.3, 304.sub.1, 304.sub.2, 305.sub.1, 
305.sub.2, 306, 307, 308. 
This been said, the device may work as follows: 
Outer buttons 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d 
It is possible to supply the motors 87A, 87B, 87C, 87D in order to unbolt 
the doors from the inside. 
Inner buttons 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d 
It is possible to supply the motors 87A, 87B, 87C, 87D in order to unbolt 
the doors from outside. 
Function 303 (303.sub.1, 303.sub.2, 303.sub.3) 
It is possible to block the rear doors (security for children) and by using 
the functions 303.sub.2 and 303.sub.3 to temporarily block the rear door 
on the right or on the left without leaving the vehicle. 
Function 304 (304.sub.1, 304.sub.2) 
In order to open the doors, various means may be used: conventional key 
operating a switch, electronic means (electronic key, magnetic card, code 
numbers on a finger key-board . . . ) 
Function 306 
When one door is open it is impossible to block the doors. 
Function 305.sub.1, 305.sub.2 
It is possible to block the four doors of the vehicle from the inside. 
Function 308 
It is impossible to open the doors from the inside of the vehicle if they 
have not been previously unblocked from outside (protection from theft). 
Function 307 
It is possible to entirely or partially unblock the doors by using an 
inertia system for instance in the case of an accident. It is also 
possible to provide other functions in the printed circuit or 
microprocessor. 
87z designates a check lamp or lem.