Patent Description:
Conventionally, in a known steering lock device, a lock state is turned on by inserting a rod into an opening formed on a steering shaft side to lock steering, and an unlock state is turned on by extracting the rod. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a steering lock device which includes: a motor that rotates a motor shaft mounted on a frame member; a worm attached to the motor shaft; a gear that is engaged with the worm and rotates along with rotation of the worm; a cam member which is provided integrally with the gear and rotates around the same axis as the gear; and a rod that operates along with rotation of the cam member. However, since the motor shaft is inclined with respect to a frame surface, and a rotation surface of the gear is orthogonal to the frame surface, the steering lock device has a three-dimensional structure which is disadvantageous in respect of space.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a steering lock device in which an axial direction of a motor shaft and a rotation surface of each gear are disposed in parallel with respect to a frame surface. Since the steering lock device has the above arrangement, various configurations are disposed in a planar manner, and the entire steering lock device has a planar structure, which is advantageous in respect of space.

A steering lock device of this discloser includes a motor, a worm, a main gear, a cam member, and a rod. The motor is configured to rotate a motor shaft. The worm is attached to the motor shaft of the motor. The main gear is configured to rotate along with rotation of the worm. The cam member is integrally provided with the main gear. The rod includes an insertion and extraction portion which is configured to be inserted into and extracted from an opening provided on a steering shaft side in accordance with an operation of the cam member along with rotation of the main gear. At least a part of at least one member of the worm and the insertion and extraction portion is configured to be accommodated in a circumferential region of the main gear when the main gear is viewed in a plan view along a rotation axis direction of the main gear.

A steering lock device of this discloser includes a motor, a worm, a two-stage gear, an internal teeth gear, and a rod. The motor is configured to rotate a motor shaft mounted on a frame member and extending along a planar portion of the frame member. The worm is attached to the motor shaft rotated by the motor and extending along a planar portion of the frame member. The two-stage gear is configured to rotate along the planar portion and includes a first gear engaged with the worm and a second gear having a rotation axis that is coaxial with a rotation axis of the first gear. The internal teeth gear is configured to rotate along the planar portion and includes internal teeth engaged with the second gear of the two-stage gear. The rod is configured to transition between two states along with rotation of the main gear, the two states being a state that rotation of a steering shaft is restricted and a state that the restriction is canceled.

The above disadvantages can be overcome with the technical features of claim <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described according to a preferred embodiment. The present embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described below, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the present embodiment. In the embodiment described below, some configurations are not shown or described, but it goes without saying that a known or well-known technique is applied as appropriate to details of an omitted technique within a range in which no contradiction occurs to contents described below.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing details of a steering lock device according to the present embodiment, and <FIG> is a perspective view of a case where a part of configurations shown in <FIG> are assembled to each other. <FIG>, and <FIG> are enlarged views showing a part of the configurations shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a top view of a part of the configurations shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is schematically configured by a frame member <NUM>, a motor <NUM>, a worm <NUM>, a two-stage gear <NUM>, a main gear <NUM>, a cam member <NUM>, a rod <NUM>, a motor cover <NUM>, a printed board <NUM>, and a cover <NUM>.

In such a steering lock device <NUM>, the worm <NUM>, the two-stage gear <NUM>, the main gear <NUM>, and the cam member <NUM> are operated along with an operation of the motor <NUM>, and the rod <NUM> is inserted into and extracted from an opening (reference sign O in <FIG> described below) of a steering post (reference sign SP in <FIG> described below) in which a steering shaft (reference sign SS in <FIG> described below) is inserted. A state when the rod <NUM> is inserted is a lock state in which rotation of the steering shaft is restricted, and a state when the rod <NUM> is extracted is an unlock state in which the restriction is canceled. Hereinafter, each portion will be described in detail.

The frame member <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a metal member that supports various components of the steering lock device <NUM>. The frame member <NUM> includes a plate-shaped planar portion <NUM>, a screw receiving portion which has a wall portion standing oppositely to the planar portion <NUM> and a screw hole, and the like.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the motor <NUM> has a motor shaft <NUM>. The motor shaft <NUM> is rotated upon receiving a power supply. The motor <NUM> is mounted on the frame member <NUM>. The motor shaft <NUM> is disposed in a manner of extending along the planar portion <NUM> of the frame member <NUM>.

Here, a motor housing portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) is formed in the frame member <NUM>. The motor housing portion <NUM> is configured by a pair of curved walls 12a that match a shape of a side surface <NUM> of the motor <NUM>, a front wall 12b and a rear wall 12c that are in contact with a front surface <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM> of the motor <NUM>. An upper opening U-shaped groove 12d through which the motor shaft <NUM> passes is formed in the front wall 12b of the motor housing portion <NUM>. A circular opening 12e is formed in the rear wall 12c of the motor housing portion <NUM>. Here, as shown in <FIG>, the rear surface <NUM> of the motor <NUM> includes a cylindrical protruding portion 24a that holds the motor shaft <NUM>. The cylindrical protruding portion 24a of the motor <NUM> is fitted into the circular opening 12e of the rear wall 12c.

The worm <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a screw-shaped gear made of metal or resin, which is attached to a tip end side of the motor shaft <NUM>. The two-stage gear <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a metal or resin gear in which a first gear <NUM> and a second gear <NUM> having different numbers of teeth are provided coaxially with a rotation shaft <NUM> so as to overlap with each other in two stages in an integrated manner. The first gear <NUM> of the two-stage gear <NUM> is engaged with the worm <NUM>, and the second gear <NUM> is engaged with the main gear <NUM>. The number of teeth of the first gear <NUM> is more, and the number of teeth of the second gear <NUM> is less. The two-stage gear <NUM> rotates along the planar portion <NUM> of the frame member <NUM> along with rotation of the worm <NUM>.

The main gear <NUM> is a metal or resin gear that is engaged with the second gear <NUM> of the two-stage gear <NUM>, and is configured to rotate along the planar portion <NUM> of the frame member <NUM> like the two-stage gear <NUM>. A large number of internal teeth are formed in the main gear <NUM>. The large number of internal teeth are engaged with the second gear <NUM>.

Here, a main gear housing portion <NUM> is formed in the frame member <NUM>. The main gear housing portion <NUM> is configured by wall portions 13a, 13b and a bottom surface 13c formed along an outer shape of the main gear <NUM>. A substantially circular groove portion is formed by these wall portions 13a, 13b and the bottom surface 13c, and the main gear <NUM> is fitted into the groove portion. The bottom surface 13c is parallel to the planar portion <NUM>, and is formed to be flush with the planar portion <NUM>, or is formed at a height different from a height of the planar portion <NUM>. A rotation shaft 13d of the main gear <NUM> protrudes upward at a center of the bottom surface 13c of the main gear housing portion <NUM>. With such a configuration, the main gear <NUM> rotates around the rotation shaft 13d in a manner of sliding on the rotation shaft 13d or the wall portions 13a and 13b. As shown in <FIG>, a rotation shaft 40a of the two-stage gear <NUM> is provided on the bottom surface 13c of the main gear housing portion <NUM>. The rotation shaft 40a is provided closer to the second wall portion 13b side than the rotation shaft 13d. The two-stage gear <NUM> rotates around the rotation shaft 40a.

The main gear <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is an arc-shaped (substantially semicircular) gear having inner teeth in an arc shape which forms a part of a circle. Therefore, the main gear <NUM> has a shape in which a space <NUM> is secured in a remaining portion of the circle (a portion exclusive of the substantially semicircular main gear <NUM>), and a stopper <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) can be formed in a portion of the space <NUM> in a circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM>. As is apparent from <FIG> and <FIG>, the stopper <NUM> protrudes from the first wall portion 13a toward the rotation shaft 13d into the main gear housing portion <NUM>, and is in contact with the main gear <NUM> to restrict excessive rotation.

More specifically, in the main gear <NUM>, portions extending in radial directions of the gear having the substantially semicircular shape function as an unlock side stopper portion 50a and a lock side stopper portion 50b. The stopper <NUM> of the frame member <NUM> also includes an unlock side stopper portion 14a and a lock side stopper portion 14b (see <FIG>). When the main gear <NUM> rotates in a rotation direction RD <NUM> described below, the rod <NUM> operates so as to enter an unlock state. At this time, the unlock side stopper portion 50a of the main gear <NUM> is in contact with the unlock side stopper portion 14a of the stopper <NUM> to prevent excessive rotation of the main gear <NUM> or the like. Similarly, when the main gear <NUM> rotates in a rotation direction RD <NUM> described below, the rod <NUM> operates so as to enter a lock state. At this time, the lock side stopper portion 50b of the main gear <NUM> is in contact with the lock side stopper portion 14b of the stopper <NUM> to prevent the excessive rotation of the main gear <NUM> or the like (a state shown in <FIG>).

The cam member <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a member that rotates along the planar portion <NUM> along with rotation of the main gear <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the cam member <NUM> is provided integrally with the main gear <NUM> in an upper portion of the main gear <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the cam member <NUM> includes an inclined portion <NUM>. The inclined portion <NUM> extends along a rotation direction of the main gear <NUM> and is inclined with respect to the planar portion <NUM>. The inclined portion <NUM> includes a first inclined portion 61a located on an inclined lower side and a second inclined portion 61b located on an inclined upper side. Here, a direction in which the inclined lower side of the cam member <NUM> rotates as a head is referred to as one rotation direction RD <NUM>, and a direction opposite to the one rotation direction is referred to as the other rotation direction RD <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a width w1 of the first inclined portion 61a (a distance from a rotation center of the cam member <NUM>) is smaller than a width w2 of the second inclined portion 61b. That is, a width of the inclined portion <NUM> of the cam member <NUM> on the one rotation direction RD <NUM> side is smaller than a width on the other rotation direction RD <NUM> side.

The rod <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a plate-shaped metal member, which includes a contact portion <NUM> that can contact the inclined portion <NUM>, and an insertion and extraction portion <NUM> that is inserted into and extracted from the opening of the steering shaft. Further, the steering lock device <NUM> includes a spring member <NUM> that urges the rod <NUM> in a predetermined direction and inserts the rod <NUM> into the opening on the steering shaft side. The spring member <NUM> is held by a pair of arc walls <NUM> formed in the frame member <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

In an example shown in <FIG>, the rod <NUM> is in a lock state in which the rod <NUM> is inserted into the opening on the steering shaft side. In this state, the main gear <NUM> rotates, and the cam member <NUM> is rotated in the one rotation direction RD <NUM> along with the rotation of the main gear <NUM>. In this case, first, the inclined portion <NUM> of the cam member <NUM> contacts the contact portion <NUM>. The cam member <NUM> further rotates in the one rotation direction RD <NUM>, then the cam member <NUM> pushes up the rod <NUM> in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction against an urging force of the spring member <NUM>. As a result, the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> of the rod <NUM> is pulled out from the opening on the steering shaft side, thus the steering lock device <NUM> enters the unlock state.

<FIG> is enlarged perspective view of a motor cover <NUM> shown in <FIG>, FIG. <NUM>(a) is an upper perspective view of the motor cover <NUM>, FIG. <NUM>(b) is a bottom perspective view of the motor cover <NUM>, and FIG. <NUM>(c) is a view taken along Arrow C in FIG. The motor cover <NUM> shown in FIG. <NUM>(a) and FIG. <NUM>(b) includes a press-fitted wall <NUM> and a shaft receiving portion <NUM>.

The press-fitted wall <NUM> is a portion press-fitted between the front surface <NUM> of the motor <NUM> and the front wall 12b of the motor housing portion <NUM> in a state where the motor <NUM> is disposed in the motor housing portion <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is fixed by press-fitting the press-fitted wall <NUM>. A first U-shaped groove 81a, a second U-shaped groove 81b, and a protrusion 81c are formed in the press-fitted wall <NUM>.

The first U-shaped groove 81a is a groove cut upward from a lower end of the press-fitted wall <NUM>, and a cylindrical protruding portion 23a formed on the front surface <NUM> of the motor <NUM> is sized to fit therein. The second U-shaped groove 81b is formed in the first U-shaped groove 81a, and is cut upward from the lower end of the press-fitted wall <NUM>. The second U-shaped groove 81b is a groove used as a passage of the motor shaft <NUM>. The protrusion 81c protrudes from an inner surface side of the motor cover <NUM>, and is fitted into the U-shaped groove 12d of the front wall 12b when the press-fitted wall <NUM> is press-fitted. Therefore, a position of the motor shaft <NUM> is limited by the U-shaped groove 12d of the front wall 12b and the protrusion 81c of the motor cover <NUM>.

The shaft receiving portion <NUM> is a portion that supports the tip end of the motor shaft <NUM>. The shaft receiving portion <NUM> includes a shaft receiving groove 82a that receives the tip end of the motor shaft <NUM>. A lower side of the shaft receiving groove 82a is opened, so that the tip end of the motor shaft <NUM> is fitted therein at the time when the press-fitted wall <NUM> is press-fitted after the motor <NUM> is installed in the frame member <NUM>.

Further, the motor cover <NUM> shown in FIGS. <NUM>(a) and <NUM>(b) includes a gear bearing portion <NUM> and a pressing portion <NUM>. The gear bearing portion <NUM> serves as a receiving portion of the rotation shaft <NUM> of the two-stage gear <NUM>, a bearing hole 83a where the rotation shaft <NUM> is fitted is formed on an inner surface side of the gear bearing portion <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> is a portion that prevents rising caused by rotation of the main gear <NUM> and the cam member <NUM>, as shown in FIG. <NUM>(c), the pressing portion <NUM> is provided with a contact portion 84a that has a hemispherical shape (a shape of a cross-section R). The contact portion 84a is configured to hold a rotation axis RA of the main gear <NUM> and the cam member <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> prevents the main gear <NUM> and the cam member <NUM> from rising, thereby preventing the main gear <NUM> from escaping out of the main gear housing portion <NUM>. Particularly, when an R portion of the contact portion 84a abuts on the rotation axis RA, the rotation axis RA can be held stably even if the rotation axis RA of the main gear <NUM> is inclined.

In addition, the motor cover <NUM> includes a fixing portion <NUM> that extends laterally. A circular opening 85a is formed on an inner surface side of the fixing portion <NUM>. A cylindrical protrusion 16a formed in the frame member <NUM> is fitted in the opening 85a. Therefore, the fixing portion <NUM> functions as one instrument for fixing the motor cover <NUM>.

The printed board <NUM> shown in <FIG> is provided with a circuit that drives the motor <NUM> and the like. Here, as shown in <FIG>, a magnet housing portion <NUM> is integrally formed on the other rotation direction RD <NUM> side of the cam member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a magnet M is housed in the magnet housing portion <NUM>, and a magnet case MC is attached to the magnet housing portion <NUM>. A circuit capable of detecting a position of the magnet M and detecting rotation amounts of the main gear <NUM> and the cam member <NUM> is mounted on the printed board <NUM>.

The printed board <NUM> is formed with through holes <NUM>, <NUM> through which two cylindrical protrusions 16b and 16c formed on the frame member <NUM> are fitted, and two screw holes <NUM> and <NUM> through which screws SC <NUM> and SC <NUM> are inserted. The two screw holes <NUM> and <NUM> correspond to two screw receiving portions 17a and 17b formed in the frame member <NUM>. The two screws SC <NUM> and SC <NUM> reach the screw receiving portions 17a and 17b of the frame member <NUM> via the screw holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the printed board <NUM> and are fastened.

Here, a through hole <NUM> is formed in the motor cover <NUM>. The first screw receiving portion 17a of the two screw receiving portions 17a and 17b is inserted into the through hole <NUM>. A position of the motor cover <NUM> is fixed by inserting the first screw receiving portion 17a. That is, the first screw receiving portion 17a functions as one instrument for fixing the motor cover <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a laminated state of the first screw receiving portion 17a, the motor cover <NUM>, and the printed board <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first screw receiving portion 17a is inserted into the through hole <NUM> of the motor cover <NUM>, and the upper end of the first screw receiving portion 17a protrudes from the motor cover <NUM> (protrudes by α in <FIG>). Here, since the motor cover <NUM> is made of resin while the frame member <NUM> is made of metal, the printed board <NUM> can be attached to the metal frame member <NUM> having high rigidity through providing such a protruding state.

The cover <NUM> shown in <FIG> houses various components together with the frame member <NUM>. A plurality of openings <NUM> are formed on a side surface of the cover <NUM>. Protrusions <NUM> formed on the frame member <NUM> are fitted into the plurality of openings <NUM>, thus the cover <NUM> is attached to the frame member <NUM> by fitting the protrusions <NUM> into the opening <NUM>.

Particularly, the steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is as shown in <FIG>, the entire worm <NUM> and a part of the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> of the rod <NUM> are included in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM> when the main gear <NUM> is viewed in a plan view along the rotation axis RA of the main gear (see <FIG>). In the present embodiment, both the worm <NUM> and the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> are included in the circumferential region <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration may be employed in which only one of the worm <NUM> and the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> is included. Further, although the worm <NUM> is entirely included in the circumferential region <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration may be employed in which only a part of the worm <NUM> is included in the circumferential region <NUM>. Similarly, although the part of the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> is accommodated in the circumferential region <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> may be entirely included in the circumferential region <NUM>.

Next, functions of the steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment has a structure that is made compact for the following reasons.

The steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is configured such that the entire worm <NUM> and the part of the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> are included in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM> when the main gear <NUM> is viewed in the plan view. Therefore, the worm <NUM> and the rod <NUM> are arranged in a manner of overlapping with the main gear <NUM>, thus the device of the present embodiment is made compact.

Particularly, as is apparent from <FIG>, the worm <NUM> is located on the predetermined direction side of the motor cover <NUM>, and does not exceed an upper end surface of the cam member <NUM> in a height direction. That is, since the worm <NUM> is included in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM> and is lower in height than the upper end surface of the cam member <NUM>, a thickness is not increased even if the worm <NUM> is overlapped in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM>, thus the device of the present embodiment is further made compact.

Further, since the motor shaft <NUM> extends along the planar portion <NUM> while the two-stage gear <NUM> and the main gear <NUM> rotate along the planar portion <NUM>, a planar structure is formed as a whole, thus the device of the present embodiment is made compact.

In addition, since the main gear <NUM> having the internal teeth is provided, a part of the two-stage gear <NUM> (a part as shown in <FIG>, but the entire two-stage gear <NUM> may also be acceptable) is disposed in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM>, thus the device of the present embodiment is more compact when compared with a case where the main gear <NUM> and the two-stage gear <NUM> are adjacent to each other along the planar portion <NUM>.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the two-stage gear <NUM> can be disposed on the main gear <NUM> to achieve a compact size, a diameter of the main gear <NUM> is also increased as a result. Therefore, a substantial number of teeth of the main gear <NUM> (the number of teeth that should exist when the main gear <NUM> is a circular gear) can be increased, and a reduction ratio may be increased. Accordingly, reduction in an operating force of the rod <NUM> due to the compact size is also prevented.

For example, in the present embodiment, the first gear <NUM> of the two-stage gear <NUM> has a number of teeth of 2X (X is an arbitrary integer), and the number of teeth of the second gear <NUM> is X. Further, since the main gear <NUM> is an arc-shaped gear having an actual number of teeth of Y, and the substantial number of teeth when the main gear <NUM> is assumed to be a circular gear is, for example, 2Y. When the number of teeth is as above, the reduction ratio can be (2X/<NUM>) × (2Y/X) = 4Y.

<FIG> is a schematic view showing a case when a single-stage gear is employed instead of the two-stage gear <NUM>, while an external teeth main gear is employed instead of the internal teeth main gear <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a single-stage gear G1 and an external teeth main gear G2 are provided in a space similar to the present embodiment, and the single-stage gear G1 and the external teeth main gear G2 are adjacent to each other along the planar portion <NUM>. Further, the single-stage gear G1 has the same number of teeth as the second gear <NUM>. In this case, since a diameter of the external teeth main gear G2 is smaller than the diameter of the internal teeth main gear <NUM>, even if the number of teeth is increased as much as possible, the main gear G2 has the same substantial number of teeth as the main gear <NUM>, which is 2Y. Therefore, the reduction ratio is (X/<NUM>) × (2Y/X) = 2Y, and the operating force of the rod is reduced to a half as compared with the present embodiment, for example. Meanwhile, in order to realize the same reduction ratio as the reduction ratio of the present embodiment, it is necessary to set the number of teeth of the main gear G2 to 4Y, which leads to an increase in a size of the main gear G2, which makes it difficult to make the device of the present embodiment compact.

As described above, the steering lock device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is not only compact but also prevents the reduction in the operating force of the rod <NUM> caused by the compact size.

In the present embodiment, since the main gear <NUM> is configured as an arc-shaped gear, the stopper <NUM> can be disposed in the space <NUM> which is a remaining portion of the circumferential region <NUM>, or a part of the rod <NUM> can be disposed therein, thereby making the device of the present embodiment compact.

Further, in the present embodiment, an initial operating force at the time of pulling out the rod <NUM> is improved. <FIG> is schematic cross-sectional view showing a lock state and an unlock state of the steering shaft, <FIG> shows the lock state, and <FIG> shows the unlock state. As shown in <FIG>, an opening O is formed in the steering post SP through which the steering shaft SS is inserted. The steering shaft SS is formed with a plurality of (for example, six) protruding portions SSP protruding radially outward. When the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> of the rod <NUM> is inserted into the opening O, the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> reaches between the protruding portions SSP of the steering shaft SS, the steering shaft SS can only rotate between the protruding portions SSP and is in the lock state. In this lock state, since the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> may be in contact with a side wall SSL of the protruding portion SSP, it is preferable that the initial operating force at the time of pulling out the rod <NUM> is high.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the width w1 of the first inclined portion 61a is smaller than the width w2 of the second inclined portion 61b. A force generated by each of the inclined portions 61a and 61b (a force that pulls up the rod <NUM>) depends on a distance from the rotation center to each of the inclined portions 61a and 61b. Therefore, the rod <NUM> can be pulled out by the force of the first inclined portion 61a which is larger than the force of the second inclined portion 61b, and the initial operating force is realized without interfering with transitioning to the unlock state.

In this way, according to the steering lock device <NUM> of the present embodiment, since the entire worm <NUM> and a part of the rod <NUM> (at least a part of at least one of the worm <NUM> and the rod <NUM> is also acceptable) are included in the circumferential region <NUM> of the main gear <NUM>, the worm <NUM> and the rod <NUM> are overlapped with the main gear <NUM> when the main gear <NUM> is viewed in the plan view, thereby providing the steering lock device <NUM> which can be made compact.

Since the motor shaft <NUM> extends along the planar portion <NUM> while both the two-stage gear <NUM> and the main gear <NUM> rotate along the planar portion <NUM>, the planar structure is formed as a whole, thus the device of the present embodiment can be made compact. Further, since the two-stage gear <NUM> is provided, which includes the first gear <NUM> engaged with the worm <NUM> and the second gear <NUM> engaged with the internal teeth main gear <NUM>, the two-stage gear <NUM> can be disposed in a manner of overlapping with the main gear <NUM> (at least a part of the two-stage gear <NUM> can be disposed in the circumferential region <NUM>), thus the device of the present embodiment can be more compact when compared with the case where the main gear <NUM> and the two-stage gear <NUM> are adjacent to each other along the planar portion <NUM>. Therefore, the steering lock device <NUM> can be provided with a compact size.

Since the two-stage gear <NUM> can be disposed on the main gear <NUM> (in the circumferential region <NUM>), the diameter of the main gear <NUM> is increased, thus the substantial number of teeth of the main gear <NUM> and the reduction ratio can be increased. Accordingly, the reduction in the operating force of the rod <NUM> due to the compact size can be prevented.

Further, since the width w1 of the inclined portion <NUM> from the rotation center on the one rotation direction RD <NUM> side is smaller than the width w2 from the rotation center on the other rotation direction RD <NUM> side, when the inclined portion <NUM> is rotated on the one rotation direction RD <NUM> side, the force acting on the rod <NUM> can be improved since the width w1 is small, and the initial force when the rod <NUM> is moved in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction can be increased. Accordingly, the rod <NUM> is in contact with an opening side wall OL of the steering shaft SS or the like, and the required initial force can be realized when the rod <NUM> is pulled out and the restriction is canceled.

In addition, since the main gear <NUM> is the arc-shaped gear having inner teeth in the arc shape, the space <NUM> is formed in the remaining portion of the circle, the stopper <NUM> and other members can be disposed in the space <NUM>, thus the device of the present embodiment can be made more compact.

The steering lock device according to the present embodiment is described above on the basis of the embodiment, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present embodiment, and other techniques may be combined if possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the steering lock device <NUM> is assumed to have a configuration in which the rod <NUM> pierces the opening O of the steering post SP, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and another member may be operated by the rod <NUM> and pierce the opening O. Further, the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> of the rod <NUM> according to the above embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in <FIG> as long as the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> is inserted into and extracted from the opening on the steering shaft SS side. For example, the insertion and extraction portion <NUM> may be configured to be inserted into and extracted from an opening provided in the steering shaft SS, and other configurations may be employed as long as a lock state can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the two-stage gear <NUM> is employed from the viewpoint of improving the operating force of the rod <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, a single-stage gear that is vertically elongated in the height direction may be used instead of the two-stage gear <NUM>, for example. An external teeth main gear having a substantially semicircular shape may be employed, and the part of the worm <NUM> or the rod <NUM> or the like may be included in the circumferential region using the remaining space of the circle. Further, a main gear and a two-stage gear (or a vertically elongated single-stage gear) having outer teeth in circular shapes may be employed, and all or a portion of the worm <NUM> may be contained within the circumferential region.

Claim 1:
A steering lock device comprising:
a motor (<NUM>) configured to rotate a motor shaft (<NUM>);
a worm (<NUM>) attached to the motor shaft (<NUM>) of the motor (<NUM>);
a main gear (<NUM>) configured to rotate along with rotation of the worm (<NUM>);
a cam member (<NUM>) integrally provided with the main gear (<NUM>); and
a rod (<NUM>) including an insertion and extraction portion (<NUM>) which is configured to be inserted into and extracted from an opening provided on a steering shaft side in accordance with an operation of the cam member (<NUM>) along with rotation of the main gear (<NUM>),
wherein at least a part of at least one member of the worm (<NUM>) and the insertion and extraction portion (<NUM>) is configured to be accommodated in a circumferential region of the main gear (<NUM>) when the main gear (<NUM>) is viewed in a plan view along a rotation axis direction of the main gear (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the main gear (<NUM>) is an arc-shaped gear including teeth in an arc shape, which forms a part of a circle, wherein the main gear (<NUM>) has a shape in which a space (<NUM>) is secured in a remaining portion of the circle, i.e. a portion exclusive of the substantially semicircular main gear (<NUM>), and a stopper (<NUM>) is formed in a portion of the space (<NUM>) in a circumferential region (<NUM>) of the main gear (<NUM>) .