Patent Publication Number: US-7213428-B2

Title: Apparatus for locking and unlocking vehicle door

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
   Japanese priority application No. 2004-139746, upon which the present application is based, is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising a cylinder lock in which a rotor which rotates in response to a key operation is rotatably supported at a cylinder body, a door lock mechanism including a key operation input shaft which rotates to switch a locked state and an unlocked state of a door, and a torque cable for transmitting rotation of the rotor to the key operation input shaft, in which one end of the torque cable is connected to the rotor via a gear transmission mechanism accommodated in a gear case mounted to the cylinder body. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, the apparatus using the torque cable as means for transmitting the rotating force of the rotor of the cylinder lock to the key operation input shaft of the door lock mechanism in order to bring the door lock mechanism into an unlocked state in response to the key operation of the cylinder lock is known by U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,382, for example. In this apparatus, a second bevel gear fixed to one end of the torque cable is meshed with a first bevel gear coaxially connected to the rotor, whereby the torque cable makes a twisting operation in response to the rotation of the rotor. 
   When a variation occurs to the mounting position of the cylinder lock and the door lock mechanism to the door, there arises a possibility of lowering the ease of assembling the torque cable to the door lock mechanism due to excess or insufficiency of the torque cable. 
   In the above-described conventional apparatus, the torque cable is placed to have bending, and therefore some of the aforementioned variation is considered to be absorbed, but when the torque cable is placed linearly without having bending, or when the torque cable is guided by a guide member which cannot be bent, there is a possibility that the ease of assembling the torque cable to the door lock mechanism is lowered due to the variation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door which is capable of avoiding reduction in the ease of assembling a torque cable to a door lock mechanism, even if a variation occurs to the mounting position of the cylinder lock and the door lock mechanism to the door. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to a first feature of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising a cylinder lock in which a rotor which rotates in response to a key operation is rotatably supported at a cylinder body, a door lock mechanism including a key operation input shaft which rotates to switch a locked state and an unlocked state of a door, and a torque cable for transmitting rotation of the rotor to the key operation input shaft, in which one end of the torque cable is connected to the rotor via a gear transmission mechanism accommodated in a gear case mounted to the cylinder body, wherein the gear transmission mechanism is constructed by a face gear coaxially connected to the rotor, and a pinion gear which has an axial line perpendicular to an axial line of the face gear, is connected to the torque cable, and is meshed with the face gear, and wherein the pinion gear is accommodated in the gear case to be capable of being displaced in an axial direction in a limited range while keeping a meshed state with the face gear. 
   With the first feature, the gear transmission mechanism interposed between the rotor and the torque cable to transmit the rotating motion of the rotor to the torque cable is constructed by the face gear coaxially connected to the rotor, and the pinion gear which has the axial line perpendicular to the axial line of the face gear and is meshed with the face gear, and the pinion gear is capable of being displaced in the axial direction in the limited range while keeping the meshed state with the face gear. Therefore, even if a variation occurs to the mounting position of the cylinder lock and the door lock mechanism to the door, it is possible to absorb the variation by the displacement in the axial direction of the pinion gear, and the ease of assembling of the torque cable to the door lock mechanism can be enhanced with the length of the torque cable between the cylinder lock and the door lock mechanism substantially fixed at all times. 
   According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, a fitting recessed part in which the rotor is fitted to be incapable of relatively rotating is provided at a central part of the face gear, and a projection projecting to the side of the rotor is projectingly provided at a closed end of the fitting recessed part with its surface in a curved surface shape. 
   With this feature, even in the state in which the gear case is disengaged from the cylinder body and the connection of the face gear and the rotor is released, the projection part is placed in the fitting recessed part at the central part of the face gear. Therefore, it is difficult to insert a tool or the like into the fitting recessed part, and it is difficult to hold the projection part because the surface of the projection part is in a curved surface shape. Accordingly, it is difficult to operate the face gear to rotate undesirably, thereby enhancing an anti-theft effect. 
   The above-mentioned object, other objects, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from an explanation of a preferred embodiment, which will be described in detail below by reference to the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 to 13  show one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle door. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a connected state of a cylinder lock and a door lock mechanism. 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing one part of a handle case from a rear side. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken on line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock and a gear case. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on line  6 — 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7  is a partially cutout front view of the door lock mechanism showing a connecting portion by cutting out the torque cable. 
       FIG. 8  is a view of a part of an inside of a housing case of a door lock mechanism seen in the arrow direction of line  8 — 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken on line  9 — 9  in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a connecting part of the torque cable to the door lock mechanism by exploding it. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 9  in a state before the torque cable is connected to the door lock mechanism. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a state when the insertion inhibiting member is mounted to the casing. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 12  for showing a state of an insertion inhibiting member in the state in which the engaging cylindrical part is disengaged from the fitting cylindrical part. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   One example of the present invention will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 13 . First, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a right side door D in a passenger vehicle, for example, is provided with a cylinder lock  21  and a door lock mechanism  22  for switching a locked state and an unlocked state of the door D corresponding to a key operation of the cylinder lock  21 . A rotating force as a result of the key operation of the cylinder lock  21  is transmitted to the door lock mechanism  22  via a torque cable  23 . 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a handle case  24  is mounted on an outer surface side of the door D, and an outside handle  25  is rotatably mounted to the handle case  24 . A cylinder body  26  is mounted to a metal protector  27  with a pair of screw members  28 , and an engaging projection part  27   a  capable of engaging with an engaging hole  29  provided at an inner surface side of the handle case  24  is provided to project at a lower portion of the protector  27 . A metal support plate  30  is mounted to the inner surface side of the handle case  24 , and an upper portion of the protector  27  is fastened to the support plate  30  with a screw member  31  with the engaging projection part  27   a  engaging with the engaging hole  29 . Therefore, the cylinder body  26  of the cylinder lock  21  is mounted to the handle case  24  so as to coaxially correspond to an opening  32  provided in the handle case  24  in its inner side. 
   A rotor  36  having a key hole  35  is rotatably inserted into the cylinder body  26 , and a plurality of tumblers  38  of which engagement with the cylinder body  26  is released by inserting a regular key  37  into the key hole  35  are placed at a plurality of locations spaced in an axial direction of the rotor  36 . A return spring  39  for returning the rotor  36  to a neutral position is provided between the rotor  36  and the cylinder body  26 . 
   When the regular key  37  is inserted into the key hole  35  and thereby, the rotor  36  is rotated, for example, 70 degrees in the clockwise direction from its neutral position, the door lock mechanism  22  in the unlocked state is switched to the locked state, and when the operating force applied to the key  37  is released, the rotor  36  returns to the neutral position. When the regular key  37  is inserted into the key hole  35 , and thereby, the rotor  36  is rotated, for example, 70 degrees in the counterclockwise direction from its neutral position, the door lock mechanism  22  in the locked state is switched to the unlocked state, and when the operating force applied to the key  37  is released, the rotor  36  returns to the neutral position. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 5 , a gear case  40  is mounted to a rear portion of the cylinder body  26 . This gear case  40  is constituted of a first case half piece  41  made of a synthetic resin, and a second case half piece  42  made of a synthetic resin in which a part of the first case half piece  41  is fitted. The first and second case half pieces  41  and  42  are connected to each other by engaging projections  43  and  44  a pair of which are provided to protrude at each of opposite sides of the first case half piece  41  engaging with locking holes  45  and  46  a pair of which are provided at each of opposite sides of the second case half piece  42 . 
   The first and second case half pieces  41  and  42  connected to each other are placed so that the first case half piece  41  is sandwiched between the second case half piece  42  and the cylinder body  26 , and are fastened to the cylinder body  26  with three screw members  47 . The first case half piece  41  is integrally provided with one positioning pin  48  and a pair of positioning projecting ridges  49  and  49  extending upward and downward, and the cylinder body  26  is provided with a positioning hole  63  in which the positioning pin  48  is fitted, and positioning grooves  64  and  64  in which both the positioning projecting ridges  49  and  49  are fitted. The position of the gear case  40  with respect to the cylinder body  26  is fixed by fitting the positioning pin  48  into the positioning hole  63  and fitting both the positioning ridges  49  and  49  into the positioning grooves  64  and  64 . 
   The torque cable  23  is formed by inserting an inner cable  51  into an outer casing  50  of which one end portion is connected to the gear case  40 , and one end of the inner cable  51  projecting from one end of the outer casing  50  is connected to the rotor  36  via a gear transmission mechanism  52  which is accommodated in the gear case  40 . 
   The outer casing  50  and the inner cable  51  are placed to extend downward from the gear case  40  with their one end portions perpendicular to the axial line of the rotor  36 , and the one end portion of the outer casing  50  is sandwiched between the first and second case half pieces  41  and  42  at the lower portion of the gear case  40 . 
   The gear transmission mechanism  52  transmits the rotating motion of the rotor  36  by converting it into the twisting motion of the inner cable  51 , and is constructed by a face gear  53  coaxially connected to the rotor  36  and a pinion gear  54  which is fixed to one end portion of the inner cable  51  and is meshed with the face gear  53 . 
   The first case half piece  41  in the gear case  40  is provided with a through-hole  55  coaxial with the rotor  36 , and the face gear  53  is constituted of a circular plate part  53   a  provided with a number of tooth portions  56  on an entire surface of an outer peripheral portion, and a support cylindrical part  53   b  which is integrally connected to a central portion of one surface of the circular part  53   a  and is fitted into the through-hole  55 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the support cylindrical part  53   b  of the face gear  53  forms a fitting recessed part  57  facing the rotor  36  side, and a projection part  58  projecting toward the rotor  36  is integrally provided to project at a closed end of this fitting recessed part  57  to form a support recessed part  59  at a back side of the projection part  58 . Thus, one surface of the circular plate part  53   a  is in sliding contact with and supported by an inner surface of the first case half piece  41  around the support cylindrical part  53   b , and a support shaft part  42   a  which is fitted in the support recessed part  59  is integrally provided to project at the second case half piece  42 . 
   The fitting recessed part  57  is formed to have its section perpendicular to its axis formed to be in non-circular shape, and the fitting recessed part  57  is formed to have a substantially elliptic section perpendicular to the axis in this embodiment. The projection part  58  is also formed so that its section perpendicular to the axis becomes an elliptic shape substantially corresponding to the fitting recessed part  57 , and the surface of the projection part  58  is formed to be a curved surface. 
   A connecting shaft part  36   a  is coaxially and integrally provided to project at a rear end of the rotor  36 , and the shape of the section perpendicular to the axis of the connecting shaft part  36   a  is formed to have a substantially elliptic shape of the section perpendicular to the axis so that the connecting shaft part  36   a  is fitted in the fitting recessed part  57  to be incapable of relatively rotating, and that the projection part  58  is fitted into the connecting shaft part  36   a.    
   The pinion gear  54  is integrally provided at a cable end  60  which is fixed to one end portion of the inner cable  51  by crimping or the like, and at the cable end  60 , a shaft part  62  which is fitted into a bottomed support hole  61  provided in the second case half piece  42  in the gear case  40  is also provided coaxially and integrally with the pinion gear  54 . In addition, the pinion gear  54  is accommodated in the gear case  40  while maintaining the state meshed with the face gear  53  and allowing the displacement in the axial direction in the limited range, and the shaft part  62  is slidably fitted into the support hole  61 . 
   According to a construction of the above gear case  40  and gear transmission mechanism  52 , the gear case  40  is mounted to the cylinder body  26  which is in the state mounted to the protector  27 , whereby the face gear  53  of the gear transmission mechanism  52  is connected to the connecting shaft part  36   a  of the rotor  36  supported by the cylinder body  26  to be incapable of relatively rotating, and the gear transmission mechanism  52  converts the rotating force corresponding to the rotor  36  of the cylinder lock  21  rotating by the key operation into the twisting movement of the inner cable  51  in the torque cable  23 . Thus, after the gear case  40  is mounted to the cylinder body  26 , the protector  27  is mounted to the handle case  24 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  again, a casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22  is provided with an admission groove  67  which a striker (not shown) at the side of a vehicle body is capable of entering, and the door D is locked in the closed state by inhibiting rotation of a latch  65  which is rotatably supported at the casing  66  to engage with the striker entering the admission groove  67  and rotate when the door D is closed. The door D is released from the locked state and brought into the unlocked state by allowing the rotation of the latch  65 , and in this unlocked state, the door D can be opened. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 7 , the casing  66  is constituted of a metal casing body  68  provided with the admission groove  67 , and a housing case  69  which covers the casing body  68 , and the housing case  69  is constructed by connecting a pair of case half pieces  70  and  71  made of a synthetic resin to each other. 
   The housing case  69  is formed into a substantially L-shape to construct a cover part  69   a  which is formed into a box shape with a side of the casing body  68  opened and covers the casing body  68 , and a case main part  69   b  raised from the cover part  69   a , and an operation chamber  72  is formed in the case main body  69   b.    
   In  FIG. 8 , a door lock motor  75 , a worm  76  which is coaxially connected to an output shaft of the door lock motor  75 , a worm wheel  77  which is meshed with the worm  76 , a gear  78  which is coaxially connected to the worm wheel  77  to be relatively rotatable with the worm wheel  77  in the limited range, a drive member  80  integrally having a sector gear  79  which is meshed with the gear  78 , a door lock lever  74  of which one end portion is connected to the drive member  80 , a key operation input lever  81 , and a first link  82  which is provided between the other end portion of the door lock lever  74  and the key operation input lever  81  are accommodated in the operation chamber  72 . 
   The door lock lever  74  is fixed to a door lock lever shaft  73  which has the axial line parallel to the direction in which the admission groove  67  extends and is rotatably supported at the case main part  69   b . Thus, the locked state and the unlocked state of the door lock mechanism  22  can be switched by the door lock lever  74 , namely, the door lock lever shaft  73  rotating between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
   The door lock motor  75  is rotatable in the normal and reverse directions, has an axis of rotation which is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axial line of the door lock lever shaft  73 , and is fixedly accommodated in the case main part  69   b . The worm wheel  77  and the gear  78  are rotatably supported by a support shaft  83  which has the axial line that is parallel to the door lock lever shaft  73  and is supported by the case main part  69   b . In addition, a spring not shown is provided between the worm wheel  77  and the case main part  69   b , and the spring works to return the worm wheel  77  to the position before the rotation in both the normal and reverse direction when the operation of the door lock motor  75  is stopped. The drive member  80  is supported by the case main part  69   b  to be rotatable around the axial line which is parallel to the door lock lever shaft  73 . 
   In order to fix the relative position at the time of assembling the sector gear  79  and the gear  78 , the sector gear  79  is provided with a positioning projection  84  projecting to the side of the gear  78 , and the gear  78  is provided with a positioning recessed part  85  in which the positioning projection  84  is capable of being fitted. 
   An arm part  80   a  which extends to one end of the door lock lever  74  is integrally provided at the drive member  80 , and a tip end portion of the arm part  80   a  is connected to the one end portion of the door lock lever  74  via a connecting shaft  86 . One end portion of the first link  82  is connected to the other end portion of the door lock lever  74  via a connecting shaft  87 . A click spring  88  for moderately rotating the door lock lever  74  between the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 8  and the locked position rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8  from the unlocked position is provided between the door lock lever  74  and the case main part  69   b.    
   The key operation input lever  81  is formed into a sector shape, and a key operation input shaft  90  which has an axial line parallel to the door lock lever shaft  73  and is rotatably supported by the case main part  69   b  is integrally provided at the key operation input lever  81  at the position corresponding to a pivot portion of the sector shape, and the rotating force corresponding to the key operation of the cylinder lock  21  is inputted to this key operation input shaft  90  via the torque cable  23 . A long hole  91  in a circular arc shape with an axis of the key operation input shaft  90  as a center is provided in the key operation input lever  81 , and an engaging pin  92  which is provided at the other end portion of the first link  82  is inserted through the long hole  91 . 
   Thus, when the cylinder lock  21  is operated by a key to the unlocked side, the key operation input lever  81  rotates in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 8 , and the key operation input lever  81  engages with the engaging pin  92  at one end side of the long hole  91 , thereby rotating the door lock lever  74  in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 8  via the first link  82 . The key operation input lever  81  returns to a neutral position by the rotation to the side to eliminate twist of the torque cable  23  corresponding to release of the operating force to the unlocked position side at the cylinder lock  21  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this case, the door lock lever shaft  73  and the door lock lever  74  remain at the unlocked position without the key operation input lever  81  exerting a force onto the first link  82  at the other end side of the long hole  91 . The drive member  80 , namely, the sector gear  79  and the gear  78  also rotate in response to the rotation of the door lock lever  74 , but the gear  79  in this case rotates without exerting the rotating force onto the worm wheel  77 . 
   Next, when the cylinder lock  21  is operated by the key to the locked position, the key operation input lever  81  rotates in the counterclockwise direction from the neutral position in  FIG. 8 , and the key operation input lever  81  engages with the engaging pin  92  at the other end side of the long hole  91 , thereby rotating the door lock lever  74  in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8  via the first link  82 . Also at this time, the key operation input lever  81  returns to the neutral position shown in  FIG. 8  by the rotation of the torque cable  23  to the side to eliminate twist corresponding to the release of the operating force to the locked position side at the cylinder lock  21 , and the door lock lever shaft  73  remains in the locked position. 
   When the locked state and the unlocked state of the door lock mechanism  22  is switched by the operation of the door lock motor  75 , the power from the door lock motor  75  is transmitted to the door lock lever  74  via the worm  76 , the worm wheel  77 , the gear  78  and the sector gear  79  of the drive member  80 , and the door lock lever  74  rotates between the unlocked position and the locked position. However, the engaging pin  92  at the other end part of the first link  82  in this case only moves inside the long hole  91  of the key operation input lever  81 , and the power is not transmitted to the key operation input lever  81  via the first link  82  from the door lock lever  74 . 
   One end of a slide plate  93  is connected to the sector gear  79  of the drive member  80 . The slide plate  93  is formed of a synthetic resin so as to extend along a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the sector gear  79 , and is in sliding contact with an inner surface of the case main part  69   b . In addition, the slide plate  93  is provided with a long hole  94  which extends along its longitudinal direction, and a pin  95  provided at the case main part  69   b  is inserted through the long hole  94 , whereby the slide plate  93  is guided to move along its longitudinal direction. 
   A pair of movable contacts  96  conducting to each other are fixed to the slide plate  93 , and conduction/shutoff of a plurality of fixed contacts which are fixed to the case main part  69   b  as shown by the chain line in  FIG. 8  and both the movable contacts  96  is switched by the slide operation of the slide plate  93 , namely, the rotation of the sector gear  79 , the door lock lever shaft  73  and the door lock lever  74 , whereby the locked position and the unlocked position of the door lock lever shaft  73  and the door lock lever  74  are detected. 
   A pair of movable contacts  97  conducting to each other are fixed to the key operation input lever  81 , and the fact that the key operation input lever  81  is rotated into the locked position and the unlocked position, namely, the fact that the locking/unlocking operation by the cylinder lock  21  is performed, is detected by conduction/shutoff of the fixed contacts fixed to the case main part  69   b  as shown by the chain line in  FIG. 8  and both the movable contacts  97 . 
   A knob lever  98  of which axis of rotation is coaxial with the drive member  80  is placed at the case main part  69   b  to allow relative rotation with the drive member  80 , an operating force when a lock operation knob  99  (see  FIG. 1 ) is operated at a vehicle compartment side to switch the locked state and the unlocked state of the door lock mechanism  22  is inputted to the knob lever  98  via a push/pull cable  100 . 
   When the lock operation knob  99  is operated to the locked side, the knob lever  98  rotates in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 8 , and when the lock operation knob  99  is operated to the unlocked side, the knob lever  98  rotates in the reverse direction and is in the position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   A super lock mechanism  101  which is capable of switching connection and disconnection of the lock operation knob  99  and the drive member  80  is interposed between the lock operation knob  99  and the drive member  80 . 
   The super lock mechanism  101  includes a super lock motor  102 , a worm  103  coaxially connected to an output shaft of the super lock motor  102 , a worm wheel  104  which has an axial line parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive member  80  and is meshed with the worm  103 , a super lock lever  105  which is coaxially connected to the worm wheel  104  to be capable of relative rotation with the worm wheel  104  in a limited range, a guide lever  106  which is coaxially connected to the knob lever  98  to rotate with the knob lever  98 , and a second link  107  of which one end portion is connected to the super lock lever  105  and which extends to the side of the drive member  80  and the guide lever  106 . The super lock mechanism  101  is accommodated in the operation chamber  72 . 
   The super lock motor  102  operates to the side to release the connection between the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  by, for example, carrying out a locking operation of the cylinder lock  21  twice within a set time so that the super lock motor  102  is fixedly supported by the case main part  69   b . The worm wheel  104  and the super lock lever  105  are rotatably supported by the support shaft  108  supported by the case main part  69   b . In addition, a spring not shown is provided between the worm wheel  104  and the case main part  69   b , and the spring works to return the worm wheel  104  to the original position at the time of stopping the operation of the super lock motor  102 . 
   The super lock lever  105  is provided with a long hole  109  in a circular arc shape with an axis of rotation of the drive member  80  as a center, and an engaging pin  110  provided at the drive member  80  is inserted through the long hole  109 . A click spring  111  for moderately rotating the super lock lever  105  between a connection position shown in  FIG. 8  and a connection released position rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8  from the connection position, is provided between the super lock lever  105  and the case main part  69   b.    
   One end portion of the second link  107  is connected to the super lock lever  105  via a connecting shaft  112 , and an engaging pin  113  provided at the other end portion of the second link  107  is inserted through a first guide hole  114  provided in the guide lever  106 , and a second guide hole  115  provided in the drive member  80 . While the first guide hole  114  is formed to extend long along a radius direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the guide lever  106  and is provided at the guide lever  106 , the second guide hole  115  is formed into a substantially L shape having a part extending along the radius direction with respect to an axis of rotation of the drive member  80  and a part extending from an inner end of the part to guide the engaging pin  113  around the axis of rotation when the drive member  80  rotates from the locked position to the unlocked position, and is provided in the drive member  80 . 
   In such a super lock mechanism  101 , the engaging pin  110  included by the drive member  80  only moves inside the long hole  109  included by the super lock lever  105  from one end side to the other end side when the drive member  80  rotates from the unlocked position to the locked position, and the rotating force from the drive member  80  does not act on the super lock lever  105 . Further, the engaging pin  113  of the second link  107  is inserted through the first guide hole  114  of the guide lever  106  and the second guide hole  115  of the drive member  80 . Thus, by the force which acts on the engaging pin  113  from the drive member  80  by rotation of the drive member  80  to the locked position from the unlocked position, the second link  107  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8  with the connecting shaft  112  as the support point, and the knob lever  98  rotates to the locked position corresponding to the guide lever  106  rotating with the drive member  80 . 
   Even if the lock operation knob  99  is operated to switch from the unlocked state to the locked state, the lock mechanism  22  and the super lock mechanism  101  operate as described above. 
   In the above locked state, when the super lock motor  102  is operated by, for example, carrying out the locking operation of the cylinder lock  21  twice within a set time, the super lock lever  105  rotates in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8 . Thereby, the engaging pin  110  included by the drive member  80  only returns from the other end side to the intermediate portion inside the long hole  109  of the super lock lever  105 , and the rotating force does not act on the drive member  80  from the super lock lever  105 . The second link  107  rotates to move the engaging pin  113  along the first guide hole  114  of the guide lever  106 , and the engaging pin  113  moves to the intermediate portion of the second guide hole  115  of the drive member  80 . 
   In this super lock state, when the rotating force to the unlocking side acts on the knob lever  98  from the lock operation knob  99  via the push/pull cable  100  the knob lever  98  and the guide lever  106  rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the engaging pin  110  inserted through the first guide hole  114  of the guide lever  106  also rotates with one end portion of the second link  107  as the center. However, the second guide hole  115  of the drive member  80  is formed into the shape which makes the engaging pin  110  strike at the air so as not to engage with the drive member  80  in the super lock state, and therefore, the rotating force is not transmitted to the drive member  80  from the knob lever  98 . Namely, connection between the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  is in the released state by the operation of the super lock mechanism  101 . 
   When the door lock motor  75  is operated to the unlocking side in the super lock state, the drive member  80  rotates in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8 , and thereby, the door lock lever  74  in the locked position rotates in the clockwise direction to be in the unlocked position. In this case, the first link  82  of which one end portion is connected to the door lock lever  74  also moves downward in  FIG. 8 , but the engaging pin  92  at the other end portion of the first link  82  only moves inside the long hole  91  of the key operation input lever  81 , and thus, the first link  82  does not have influence on the key operation input lever  81 . When the drive member  80  rotates to the unlocked position from the locked position, the engaging pin  110  included by the drive member  80  engages with the super lock lever  105  at one end side of the long hole  109  of the super lock lever  105 , and the super lock lever  105  rotates in the clockwise direction. With this, the engaging pin  113  of the second link  107  is returned to the position shown in  FIG. 8  through the first and second guide holes  114  and  115 . The guide lever  106  rotates to the unlocked position side with the drive member  80 , and the knob lever  98  is rotated to the unlocked position. In this case, the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are connected to each other with one of them made to follow the rotation of the other one to the locked position side. 
   Namely, when the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are in the disconnected state by the operation of the super lock mechanism  101 , the drive member  80  is rotated to the unlocking side by the operation of the door lock motor  75 , so that the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are brought into the connected state. 
   When the releasing operation of the cylinder lock  21  is performed in the operating state of the super lock mechanism  101 , the key operation input lever  81  rotates in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 8 , and the engaging pin  92  engages with the key operation input lever  81  at one end side of the long hole  91  included by the key operation input lever  81 , so that the door lock lever  74  rotates in the clockwise direction via the first link  82 , whereby the door lock lever  74  in the locked position is brought into the unlocked position. When the door lock lever  74  is rotated to the unlocked position side, the engaging pin  110  included by the drive member  80  engages with the super lock lever  105  at one end side of the long hole  109  of the super lock lever  105 , and the super lock lever  105  rotates in the clockwise direction. Also with this operation, the engaging pin  113  of the second link  107  returns to the position shown in  FIG. 8  in the first and the second guide holes  114  and  115 , the guide lever  106  rotates to the unlocked position side with the drive member  80 , and the knob lever  98  also rotates to the unlocked position. Also with this operation, the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are in the state connected to each other in such a manner as to make one of them follow the rotation of the other one to the locked position side. 
   Namely, when the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are in the disconnected state by the operation of the super lock mechanism  101 , the drive member  80  is rotated to the unlocked side by the releasing operation of the cylinder lock  21 , whereby the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are in the connected state. 
   In this manner, the super lock mechanism  101  for preventing the door lock mechanism  22  from being in the unlocked state even if the lock operation knob  99  placed at the door D at the side facing the vehicle compartment in the locked state of the door lock mechanism  22 , is constructed to be able to switch the state in which the connection between the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  is released in response to the operation of the super lock motor  102  included by the super lock mechanism  101  and the state in which the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are connected in response to the operation of the drive member  80  to the unlock side when the knob lever  98  and the drive member  80  are in the disconnected state, and is accommodated in the housing case  69  connectively provided at the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22 . 
   Accordingly, as compared with the one in which the super lock mechanism is placed apart from the door lock mechanism  22 , it becomes possible to reduce the number of components, and it becomes also possible to simplify the management of the components on the assembly line, and the number of assembling steps for the door D can be reduced. In addition, even in the model which does not include the super lock mechanism  101 , the housing case  69  can be used as it is by only excluding the components of the super lock mechanism  101 . 
   An open lever  116  (see  FIG. 2 ) is supported at the casing body  68  in the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22  to rotate in response to input of the door opening operation force. One end portion along the longitudinal direction of the open lever  116  projects from the casing body  68 , and the operation force is inputted to the one end portion via a rod  117  in accordance with the operation of the outside handle  25  provided at the outer surface side of the door D (see  FIG. 1 ). An input lever  120  which is rotated by a pulling operation of a cable  119  in response to the operation of an inside handle  118  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided at the inner surface side of the door D, is rotatably supported at the cover  22  of the door lock mechanism  22 , and the power in the door opening direction is transmitted to the open lever  116  from this input lever  120 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , a sliding contact support part  125  in a circular plate shape which slides in contact with one surface of the key operation input lever  81 , a cylindrical part  126  of which inner end is coaxially connected to an outer periphery of the sliding contact support part  125 , and a taper part  127  of which small diameter end is coaxially connected to an outer end of the cylindrical part  126 , are integrally provided at the side of the case half piece  70  at the lower portion of the case main part  69   b  so as to form a recessed part  128  which is recessed inwardly as a whole. A fitting cylindrical part  129  of which inner end is coaxially connected to a central part of the sliding contact support part  125  is integrally provided at the side of the case half piece  70  at the lower portion of the case main part  69   b  so that its outer end projects outward from the recessed part  128 . Meanwhile, a support recessed part  130  coaxial with the fitting cylindrical part  129  is provided at the side of the case half piece  71  of the case main part  69   b , and a key operation input shaft  90  integral with the key operation input lever  81  with one surface slid in contact with the inner surface of the sliding contact support part  125 , has its one end portion fitted into an inner end portion of the fitting cylindrical part  129  and the other end portion fitted into the support recessed part  130 , whereby the key operation input shaft  90  is rotatably supported at the case main part  69   b.    
   The key operation input shaft  90  is provided with a fitting recessed part  131  which is opened at one end side of the key operation input shaft  90 , and an engaging recessed part  132  which connects to an inner end of the fitting recessed part  131  along one diameter line of the key operation input shaft  90 . 
   A notch  133  which extends in an axial direction is provided at a lower side wall of the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and a pair of ribs  134  and  135  which sandwich the notch  133  from opposite sides are provided between a lower outer surface of the fitting cylindrical part  129  and an inner surface of the recessed part  128 , and a rib  136  is provided between an upper outer surface of the fitting cylindrical part  129  and the inner surface of the recessed part  128  at the position corresponding to the central part between the opposite ribs  134  and  135 . 
   Each pair of slits  137  and  137  which extend in the axial direction are provided at both left and right side walls of the fitting cylindrical part  129  so that engaging parts  138  and  138  which are elastically bendable in a radius direction of the fitting cylindrical part  129  are formed between the respective slits  137  and  137 . Engaging projections  139  and  139  are provided to project at inner surface of intermediate portions of both the engaging parts  138  and  138 . 
   A holder  140  made of a synthetic resin which holds the end portions of the inner cable  51  and the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  in a predetermined shape is mounted to the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  in the torque cable  23 . 
   The holder  140  integrally has a holder main part  140   a  curved in a circular arc shape, a holding part  140   b  which is connected to an end portion of the holder main part  140   a  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  and formed to have a larger diameter than the holder main part  140   a , and an engaging cylindrical part  140   c  which projects from the holding part  140   b  so as to be able to be fitted into an outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical part  129 . A large diameter insertion hole  141  into which the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  is inserted, and a small diameter insertion hole  142  which has a smaller diameter than the large diameter insertion hole  141  are provided at the holder  140  so as to form a step part  143  therebetween. 
   Thus, the outer casing  50  is inserted into the large diameter insertion hole  141  so that its end portion at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  abuts on the step part  143 , and the inner cable  51  which projects from the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  penetrates through the small diameter insertion hole  142  to project from the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  in the holder  140 . 
   A reinforcing rib  144  is projectingly provided at an inner peripheral side of the holder main part  140   a . An opening  145  for facilitating an insertion operation of the torque cable  23  into the holder  140  is provided at an outer peripheral side of the holder main part  140   a.    
   An annular recessed locking part  146  is provided at an outer periphery near a tip end of the fitting cylindrical part  140   c  to be capable of elastically engaging with the engaging projections  139  and  139  included by both the engaging parts  138  and  138  of the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and a taper surface  147  having a diameter decreasing forward is formed on an outer peripheral part of the tip end of the fitting cylindrical part  140   c.    
   A cable end  150  is fixed to the end portion of the inner cable  51  which projects from the holder  140 , and a tip end portion of the cable end  150  is crushed to be flat to form a flat engaging part  150   a  which engages with the engaging recessed part  132  of the key operation input shaft  90 . 
   Thus, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the cable end  150  is inserted into the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  of the holder  140  is fitted into the fitting cylindrical part  129 , both the engaging parts  138  and  138  of the fitting cylindrical part  129  are expanded by the engaging projections  139  and  139  abutting on the taper surface  147  at the tip end of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c , and when the taper surface  147  passes through both the engaging projections  139  and  139 , the engaging projections  139  and  139  of both the engaging parts  138  and  138  elastically engage with the locking part  146  of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this case, the cable end  150  is fitted in the fitting recessed part  131  so that the flat engaging part  150   a  at its tip end engages with the engaging recessed part  132  of the key operation input shaft  90 . In this state, the inner cable  51  makes twisting motion, whereby the key operation input shaft  90  and the key operation input lever  81  rotate. 
   An engagement release inhibiting member  151  capable of inhibiting release of engagement of the engaging parts  138  and  138  with the locking part  146  is fitted to the holding part  140   b  of the holder  140  to be capable of displacement between an engagement release allowing position which allows release of engagement and an engagement release inhibiting position which inhibits release of engagement. 
   The engagement release inhibiting member  151  is formed of a synthetic resin to be basically into a cylindrical shape to be capable of engaging with the fitting cylindrical part  129  in the state in which the engaging parts  138  and  138  are elastically engaged with the locking part  146 , to keep the elastic engaging state of both the engaging parts  138  and  138  with the locking part  146 . The holding part  140   b  of the holder  140  is also formed to have substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the fitting cylindrical part  129 . 
   A ridge of guide projection  152  is provided to project at an outer surface of the holding part  140   b  in the holder  140 , and a guide groove  153  in which the guide projection  152  is slidably fitted are provided in an inner surface of the engagement release inhibiting member  151 . Therefore, when the engagement release inhibiting member  151  is fitted onto the holding part  140   b , the relative position in the circumferential direction of the holding part  140   b , namely, the holder  140  and the engagement release inhibiting member  151  is kept constant. 
   The engagement release inhibiting member  151  is integrally provided with, for example, a pair of operation parts  154  and  154  project to opposite sides for performing displacement operation of the engagement release inhibiting member  151  between the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position, and the holding part  140   b  of the holder  140  is integrally provided with an operation part  155  projecting downward to facilitate the operation when the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  of the holder  140  is pressed into the fitting cylindrical part  129 . 
   Positioning holding means  156  is provided between the holding part  140   b  of the holder  140  and the engagement release inhibiting member  151 , to position and hold the engagement release inhibiting member  151  at the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position. 
   This positioning holding means  156  is constructed by a pair of engaging claws  157  and  157  which are provided at the end portion of the engagement release inhibiting member  151  at a side opposite from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , a pair of engaging recessed parts  158  and  158  which are provided at an outer periphery of the holding part  140   b  to elastically engage with both the engaging claws  157  and  157  when the engagement release inhibiting member  151  advances to the engagement release inhibiting position from the holding part  140   b  to be fitted onto the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and a pair of locked surfaces  159  and  159  which are provided at an end portion of the holding part  140   b  at the side of the holder main part  140   a  so as to elastically engage with the both engaging claws  157  and  157  when the engagement release inhibiting member  151  returns to the engagement release allowing position which is retreated from the engagement release inhibiting position. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 12 , an insertion inhibiting member  160  which is displaceable so as to enter the fitting cylindrical part  129  from the notch  133  corresponding to disengagement of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , is mounted to the case main part  69   b  in the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22 . 
   The insertion inhibiting member  160  is made of an elastic material, and one end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  is fixed to the case main part  69   b . Namely, a support boss  162  which extends parallel to the fitting cylindrical part  129  is integrally provided at the case main part  69   b  below the fitting cylindrical part  129 . At a tip end portion of the support boss  162 , an annular recessed part  163  is provided, and a support pin  164  surrounded by the annular recessed part  163  is integrally provided. Thus, one end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  is inserted through a notch  162   a  provided at the support boss  162 , and inserted into the annular recessed part  163  to surround the support pin  164 . In addition, an open end of the annular recessed part  163  is closed with a closing member  165  which is press-fitted to the support pin  164  with the one end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  inserted into the annular recessed part  163 . 
   Therefore, the one end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  is fixed to the case main part  69   b . The insertion inhibiting member  160  of which one end portion is in a fixed state exhibits an elastic force to make its other end portion enter the fitting projection part  129  from the notch  133 , and the engaging part  160   a  which is bent in a substantially U-shape is formed at the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160 . 
   A pin-shaped position restricting part  161  which restricts the position of an engaging part  160   a  provided at the other end of the insertion inhibiting member  160 , is projectingly provided at the rib  134  placed at one side of the notch  133  in the case main part  69   b , and this position restricting part  161  is capable of engaging with an intermediate portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160 . 
   Thus, in the state in which the position restricting part  161  engages the intermediate portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160 , the position of the engaging portion  160   a  is restricted to the position at which it slightly projects into the fitting cylindrical part  129  from the notch  133 , and when the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  of the holder  140  mounted onto the outer casing  50  is fitted into the fitting cylindrical part  129  in this state, the engaging part  160   a  is pushed outward with the taper surface  147  at the tip end of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c , so that the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  is fitted into the fitting cylindrical part  129  to elastically engage the engaging parts  138  with the locking part  146 . In addition, the engaging part  160   a  also engages with the locking part  146  in the state in which the engaging parts  138  elastically engage with the locking part  146  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   When the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  is pulled out of the fitting cylindrical part  129  by displacing the engagement release inhibiting member  151  to the engagement release allowing position to release the outer casing  50  from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , the other end side of the insertion inhibiting member  160  is displaced outward in the axial direction of the fitting cylindrical part  129  along the notch  133  as shown in  FIG. 13 , because the engaging part  160   a  engages with the locking part  146 . Therefore, the engagement of an intermediate portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  with the position restricting part  161  is released, and the insertion inhibiting member  160  is in the displaced state so that its other end side deeply enters the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and in this state, insertion of a tool or the like into the fitting cylindrical part  129  is inhibited. 
   Namely, the position restricting part  161  engages with the intermediate portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  to restrict the position of the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  so as to allow the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  to be fitted into the fitting cylindrical part  129 , and allows the displacement of the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  to the side entering the fitting cylindrical part  129  by releasing the engagement with the insertion inhibiting member  160  when the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  is disengaged from the fitting cylindrical part  129 . 
   The operation of this embodiment will next be described. At the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  in the torque cable  23 , the locking part  146  capable of elastically engaging with the engaging parts  138  and  138  provided at the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22  is provided, and the engagement release inhibiting member  151  capable of inhibiting release of engagement of the engaging parts  138  and  138  with the locking part  146  is fitted to be capable of displacement between the engagement release allowing position which allows the release of engagement and the engagement release inhibiting position which inhibits the release of engagement. 
   Accordingly, when the inner cable  51  of the torque cable  23  is connected to the key operation input shaft  90  of the door lock mechanism  22 , the engagement release inhibiting member  151  is placed at the engagement release allowing position, and the engaging parts  138  elastically engage with the locking part  146 , whereby it is possible to connect the outer casing  50  through which the inner cable  51  is inserted to the door lock mechanism  22 , and ease of assembling the inner cable  51  and the outer casing  50  to the door lock mechanism  22  side can be enhanced. In addition, by displacing the engagement release inhibiting member  151  to the engagement release inhibiting position, release of engagement of the engaging parts  138  and the locking part  146  is inhibited. Therefore, the outer casing  50  can be inhibited from being disengaged from the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22  in spite of an external force and shock action, and occurrence of the state in which it becomes impossible to manipulate the operation of the door lock mechanism  22  on the cylinder lock  21  side can be reliably prevented. 
   Since the holder  140  which keeps the end portions of the inner cable  51  and the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  in the predetermined shape is mounted to the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22 , the operation of assembling the inner cable  51  and the outer casing  50  to the door lock mechanism  22  is facilitated, and occurrence of twist to the inner cable  51  and outer casing  50  due to the impact of opening and closing the door D can be prevented, thus restraining unwanted stress from acting on the connecting portions of the inner cable  51  and the outer casing  50  to the door lock mechanism  22 . 
   The engagement release inhibiting member  151  is assembled to the holder  140  to be able to be displaced between the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position, and the holder  140  and the engagement release inhibiting member  151  are made into a unit. Therefore, management of the engagement release inhibiting member  151  is not complicated, and it becomes possible to displace the engagement release inhibiting member  151  to the engagement release inhibiting position easily and immediately after the outer casing  50  is connected to the casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22 . 
   In addition, the positioning holding means  156  which positions and holds the engagement release inhibiting member  151  at the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position respectively is provided between the holding part  140   b  of the holder  140  and the engagement release inhibiting member  151 , and therefore, engaged and connected state of the outer casing  50  to the casing  66  can be reliably maintained. 
   The engagement release inhibiting member  151  is integrally provided with the operation parts  154  and  154  for operating the engagement release inhibiting member  151  to be displaced between the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position, and therefore, it becomes easy to operate the engagement release inhibiting member  151  to be displaced between the engagement release allowing position and the engagement release inhibiting position. 
   The casing  66  of the door lock mechanism  22  is integrally provided with the fitting cylindrical part  129  for fitting the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  provided at the end portion of the outer casing  50  at the side of the door lock mechanism  22  to connect the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  to the casing  66 , and is also equipped with the insertion inhibiting member  160  which is capable of being displaced to enter the fitting cylindrical part  129  in response to the disengagement of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  from the fitting cylindrical part  129 . Therefore, even if the fitting cylindrical part  140   c  provided at the outer casing  50  is undesirably released from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , the insertion inhibiting member  160  enters the fitting cylindrical part  129 . Thus, even if a similar tool to the torque cable  23  is tried to be connected to the key operation input shaft  90  from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , insertion of the tool into the fitting cylindrical part  129  is inhibited by the insertion inhibiting member  160 , so that an improper rotational operation of the key operation input shaft  90  can be prevented. 
   The one end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  made of an elastic material exhibits the elastic force for causing the engaging part  160   a  at the side of its other end to enter the fitting cylindrical part  129  and is fixed to the casing  66 , and the casing  66  is provided with the position restricting part  161  which engages with the intermediate portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  to restrict the position of the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  to allow fitting of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  into the fitting cylindrical part  129  so that the displacement of the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  to the side to enter the fitting cylindrical part  129  is allowed by releasing the engagement with the insertion inhibiting member  160  at the time of disengagement of the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  from the fitting cylindrical part  129 . Therefore, when the engaging cylindrical part  140   c  which is provided at the outer casing  50  is disengaged from the fitting cylindrical part  129 , the other end portion of the insertion inhibiting member  160  can be made to enter the fitting cylindrical part  129  with a simple structure. 
   The one end portion of the inner cable  51  is placed to be perpendicular to the axial line of the rotor  36  in the cylinder lock  21 , the gear transmission mechanism  52  which transmits the rotating motion of the rotor  36  by converting it into the twisting motion of the inner cable  51  is interposed between the rotor  36  and the inner cable  51 . Therefore, the structure which connects the inner cable  51  to the rotor  36  does not occupy a large space behind the cylinder lock  21 , and it is not necessary to consider interference with the glass and the like which are placed behind the cylinder lock  21 . 
   In addition, the gear transmission mechanism  52  is constructed by the face gear  53  coaxially connected to the rotor  36 , and the pinion gear  54  which has the axial line perpendicular to the axial line of the face gear  53  and which is meshed with the face gear  53 , and is accommodated in the gear case  40  mounted to the cylinder body  26  of the cylinder lock  21 , and the pinion gear  54  is accommodated in the gear case  40  to be able to be displaced in the axial direction in the limited range while maintaining the meshed state with the face gear  53 . Therefore, even if a variation occurs to the mounting position of the cylinder lock  21  and the door lock mechanism  22  to the door D, it is possible to absorb the variation by the displacement of the pinion gear  54  in the axial direction, and ease of assembling the torque cable  23  to the door lock mechanism  22  can be enhanced with the length of the torque cable  23  between the cylinder lock  21  and the door lock mechanism  22  substantially fixed at all times. 
   The fitting recessed part  57  relatively unrotatably fitting onto the rotor  36  is provided at the central portion of the face gear  53 , and the projection part  58  which projects to the rotor  36  side is provided to project at the closed end of the fitting recessed part  57  with its surface in the curved surface shape. Therefore, even in the state in which the gear case  40  is disengaged from the cylinder body  26  and the connection of the face gear  53  and the rotor  36  is released, it is difficult to insert a tool or the like into the fitting recessed part  57  because the projection part  58  is placed inside the fitting recessed part  57  at the central portion of the face gear  53 , and it is difficult to hold the projection part  58  because the surface of the projection part  58  is in the curved surface shape. Therefore, it is difficult to operate the face gear  53  to undesirably rotate, thereby enhancing an anti-theft effect. 
   The embodiment of the present invention is explained thus far, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims. 
   For example, in the above-described embodiment, the engagement release inhibiting member  151  is fitted to the holder  140  mounted to the outer casing  50 , but the engagement release inhibiting member  151  may be fitted to the fitting cylindrical part  129  of the casing  66  included by the door lock mechanism  22 .