GEARSHIFT LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract: A locking device incorporated on a gearshift lever (10) also including a control rod (5), said device comprising a lock member which is supported around, by or within said lever (10), said lock member (4) having a turnable cylinder (11) and a locking means (7) for locking said gearshift lever (10) and wherein said lock (4) produces translation of said lock member (7) by means of rotation of a key in said lock apparatus (4).

Description: GEARSHIFT LOCKING DEVICE The present invention relates to a security fitting and, though not exclusively, is concerned with locking devices for gearshifts in motor cars. More particularly, to a device for locking a T-bar gearshift unit in order to immobilize the road vehicle and prevent unauthorised removal thereof. Theft proof devices are very common at the present time, some, being sold as "after market" accessories whereas others being built in on motor vehicles from the assembly line these devices are designed to frustrate attempts at theft of the motor vehicle however, such devices where they relate to gear levers and the like are of little value if it is possible to loosen or dislodge them from their designed locking engagement. It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking device which is substantially an improvement or ameliorates some of the disadvantages of some of the prior art devices Throughout the specification and claims the words "T-bar" or "gearshift" are used to denote any form of mechanism which is connected to a motor vehicle transmission in order to control the speed of the vehicle. Further, the expression "disc cylinder lock" means a cylinder lock having turnable locking disc(s) or any other mechanical mechanism which is turned by means of a key, the key being inserted into the lock which allows the lock mechanism to operate. According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a gearshift locking device for a gearshift said gearshift comprising a gearshift lever and a control rod adapted to slide relative to each other, said locking device adapted to releasably secure said lever and said rod relative to each other. According to another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a locking device for securing together two relatively movable elements, a device comprising a lock member adapted to be attached to one of said elements and a lock receiving member adapted to be attached to the other of said elements whereby said lock member and said lock receiving member lie in proximity to each other when said elements are in a position in which they are to be secured. Preferably said lock member is a disc cylinder lock which produces linear movement from a rotating movement which cooperates with said lock receiving member being a separate keeper which includes an aperture. The lock member is movable relative to a lock body requiring in a push button action to utilise the lock. The lock member being movable from a first inoperative position to a second locked position. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a locking device incorporated on a gearshift lever also including a control rod, said device comprising a lock member which is supported around, by or within said lever, said lock member having a turnable cylinder and a locking means for locking said gearshift lever and wherein said lock produces translation of said lock member by means of rotation of a key in said lock apparatus. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a rear view of a gearshift lever of the present invention in the unlocked position; Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus of Fig. 1 wherein said lever is in a position to be made movable; and Fig. 4 illustrates a side view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing the gearshift lever in the lock position. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a locking device generally designated 1, comprises a push button lock mechanism 4 which is located at an upper portion of a gearshift lever 10. The locking device 4 is adapted to be connected to the T-bar or handle 21 both of which are then adapted to be mounted onto the gearshift shaft 10 by means of locking screws or the like. "On the floor" automatic gearshift levers are characterised in that a push rod either surrounding the gearshift lever 10 or as in the case of Fig. 1 to 4 enclosed within it (rod 5) passes down the gearshift lever 10 to engage or disengage a locking mechanism which holds the gearshift lever 10 in gear or in which ever selected position at the gearbox. Where the push rod surrounds the gearshift lever 10 the push rods usually activate or release the locking mechanism by an upward motion. As mentioned previously and as illustrated in Figs. I to 4 the control rod 5 is adapted to slide within the gearshift lever 10. This rod 5 moves in a vertical direction and its motion in the downward direction is controlled by means of pushbutton 12 and in the upward direction by a spring means which is not illustrated. The pushbutton 12 is biased in the unengaged position by means of the spring 2. To release the locking mechanism at the gearbox, the pushbutton 12 of Fig. 1 is pushed to the left against the bias of the spring 2 which, by virtue of the engagement of angled planes 22 and 23 on the pushbutton 12 and rod 5 respectively, forces the rod 5 in the downward direction. Release of the pushbutton 12 allows the spring means (not illustrated) to push the rod 5 back to its upward (rest and locked) position. The rod 5 has located in it a hole 8 which is of a diameter or size which allows a lock rod 7 to be inserted therein. The recess or hole 8 need not be of a through dimension but need only be of a depth which allows the rod 7 to be inserted and thereby locked. The lock 4 is comprised of four main components namely a lock body 41, a tumbler barrel 11, spring mechanism 9 and locking rod 7. To move the locking rod 7 in a substantially transverse direction it is necessary to insert a key into the tumbler barrel 11 and push said barrel 11 against the spring bias of lock spring 9, and then rotate the barrel II to the lock position. By insertion of the key into the barrel 11 and rotating it to the "unlock position" will enable the bias of spring 9 to move the lock 11 in the opposite direction to the locking action. Depending on the lock utilised it may not be necessary to insert a key into the tumber barrel 11 but rather just a simple "pushing in" action of the tumbler barrel 11 will then lock the rod 5 into position. The lock 4 and its corresponding components are able to lock the gear lever 10 when the gear lever itself is in its lock position to prevent its movement at the gearbox unless desired. However it is advantageous to allow the lock 4 and tumber barrel 11 and lock rod 7.to engage the apperture 8 at a point which first requires partial depression of the rod 5 within the gearshift lever 10. By this partial depression, accidental locking of the system can be prevented whilst the vehicle is in motion, i.e. a two-handed operation may be required required and unless the components are matched (ie. the hole 8 is matched up with the position of the rod 7 and this they are designed not to do with the rod 5 at its rest position) then the gearshift lever rod 5 cannot be locked relative to the gearshift lever 10. In this way, a third type of tumbler barrel 11 which allows the pushing in of the tumbler barrel 11 when the rod 7 is not in line with the appature 8 thus creating a spring tension in the righthand direction of Fig. 2 so that when the rod 5 is moved in a downward position and the aperture 8 then comes into line with rod 7, rod 7 will just fall into place by means of the stored spring bias. For this system to work the length of travel of the rod 5 in order to disengage the gear lever 11 from the gearbox must be measured so that for example half distance travel of the rod 5 still maintains the lock rod 5 in the lock position on the gearbox. Instead of a half distance travel, possibly a one quarter distance travel of the locking distance might be utilised for location of the lock rod 7 relative to the hole 8 in the stationary position. It will be understood, that some vehicles utilise an upward motion to unlock the gearshift lever from the gearbox whereas others as is illustrated in the present invention use a downward motion. The foregoing describes some embodiments of the present invention and modifications made by those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: THE CLAIMS: 1. A gearshift locking device for a gearshift said gearshift comprising a gearshift lever and a control rod adapted to slide relative to each other, said locking device adapted to releasably secure said lever and said rod relative to each other. 2. A locking device for securing together two relatively movable elements, a device comprising a lock member adapted to be attached to one of said elements and a lock receiving member adapted to be attached to the other of said elements whereby said lock member and said lock receiving member lie in proximity to each other when said elements are in a position in which they are to be secured. 3. A locking device incorporated on a gearshift lever also including a control rod, said device comprising a lock member which is supported around, by or within said lever, said lock member having a turnable cylinder and a locking means for locking said gearshift lever and wherein said lock produces translation of said lock member by means of rotation of a key in said lock apparatus. 4. A locking device is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein to activate said lock said lock is pushed in thereby charging a locking rod for engagement with an aperture on the member or element to be locked. 5. A locking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said locking action must be performed by a key. 6. A locking device as claimed in the preceding claim wherein said aperture and said locking rod must be in register before said locking rod can be biased for entry or moved into said aperture. 7. A locking device is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the aperture on the control rod is in register with the locking rod, when said control rod is at a point intermediate of the rest position and the unlocked position in the gearbox. 8. A locking device claimed in claim 7, wherein said control rod is located external of the gearshift lever. 9. A locking device is claimed in claim 7, wherein the control rod is located internally of the gearshift lever. 10. A locking device being a substantially has herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: PAL LEONHARD JOHANN GERHARD, PAL, LEONHARD, JOHANN, GERHARD
Applicants: PAL LEONHARD JOHANN GERHARD, PAL, LEONHARD, JOHANN, GERHARD
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25