TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to the construction and mechanism of an improved keyless steering/handlebar lock for vehicles. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a keyless steering lock which provides swift locking/unlocking the steering of the two-wheeler vehicle by pressing a button when an authentic key is in the vicinity of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
The information in this section merely provides background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, vehicles such as, but not limited to, two wheelers such as bikes, scooters and the like are provided with ignition locks integrated with a steering lock, also referred to as handle bar lock, of the vehicle. The said steering lock provides locking of the handle bar of the vehicle while parking, to prevent theft. Such locks generally comprise a casing having a locking means disposed in the interior. During locking/unlocking operation the driver has to manually insert the correct key in a key insertion slot of the said steering lock to manually lock/unlock the handle bar and start the engine of the vehicle. However, one major drawback of such steering locks is that the user/driver must always perform the cumbersome task of manually inserting the key into the locking means to lock/unlock the steering lock of the vehicle.
With the ongoing efforts, a number of arrangements have been proposed to provide a technically advanced and user-friendly locking mechanism for steering locks. One such arrangement provides a keyless system for locking/unlocking the steering of vehicles. Such keyless systems comprise a push-button coupled with a motor and an electronic circuit/control unit adapted to recognise correct ID codes of a correct key when the correct key is in vicinity of the vehicle. Therefore, the user/driver has to press a button, and upon authentication of the correct key by the control unit, the steering is unlocked. However, one major shortcoming of such keyless steering lock mechanisms is that they require powerful motors to generate ample torque to operate
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the locking means. One more limitation of such systems is that a larger sized motor results in substantial increase in size of the said steering lock.
In other words, the researchers are constantly working to develop a user friendly and technical advance a steering lock for vehicles. More specifically, a keyless steering lock that overcomes the one or more the shortcomings associated with the prior-art.
SUMMARY
One or more drawbacks of conventional steering locks as described in the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through a keyless steering lock as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a keyless steering lock. The keyless steering lock comprises a cover securable with a casing and forming an encapsulation. A primary gear being rotatable by an actuating means. The primary gear is rotatably coupled with a secondary gear. The secondary gear comprises at least a spiral groove for operating a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a pin supporting the secondary gear and a sliding actuator comprising a projection engaged in the spiral groove. The sliding actuator translates axially on rotation of the secondary gear. The locking mechanism further comprises a lock bar being coupled with the sliding actuator and being movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. The keyless steering lock further comprises a control unit for selectively operating the actuating means.
In an embodiment, the primary gear is mounted in the encapsulation along a vertical axis YY.
In an embodiment, the actuating means comprises a motor coupled with a worm gear.
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In an embodiment, the worm gear is in meshed connection with the primary gear.
In one embodiment, the pin is formed on a bracket.
In an embodiment, the bracket is disposed in a channel of the sliding actuator.
In one embodiment, the sliding actuator is movable with respect to the bracket.
In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to identify an authentic key through RFID communication and operate the actuating means to lock/unlock the keyless steering lock.
In an embodiment, the sliding actuator comprises a protruded arm comprising a magnet.
In one embodiment, the control unit comprises one or more sensing means for identifying locked/unlocked conditions of the keyless steering lock by detecting a position of the sliding actuator and the lock bar.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent with reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
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Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a keyless steering lock for vehicles in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the keyless steering lock according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the motor and worm gear of the keyless steering lock according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the secondary gear of the keyless steering lock according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of bracket of the keyless steering lock, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the sliding actuator of the keyless steering lock, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assemblies and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Before describing in detail, the various embodiments of the present disclosure it may be observed that the novelty and inventive step are in accordance with a keyless steering lock. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art can be motivated from
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the present disclosure and can perform various modifications. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly, setup, system, device that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system or device or setup. In other words, one or more elements in the system or apparatus or device proceeded by "comprises a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly or system or apparatus. The following paragraphs explain present disclosure. The invention in respect of the same may be deduced accordingly.
Accordingly, it is an aim of the present disclosure provide a keyless steering lock that requires a less powerful motor to operate the steering lock.
Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide a keyless steering lock that is compact in size, more economical and facilitates swift locking/unlocking of the steering of the vehicle.
Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to a keyless steering lock. The keyless steering lock comprises a cover securable with a casing and forming an encapsulation. A primary gear being rotatable by an actuating means. The primary gear is rotatably coupled with a secondary gear. The secondary gear comprises at least a spiral groove for operating a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a pin supporting the secondary gear and a sliding actuator comprising a projection engaged in the spiral groove. The sliding actuator translates axially on rotation of the secondary gear. The locking mechanism further comprises a lock bar being coupled with the sliding actuator and being movable between a locked condition and an
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unlocked condition. The keyless steering lock further comprises a control unit for selectively operating the actuating means. The primary gear is mounted in the encapsulation along a vertical axis YY. The actuating means comprises a motor coupled with a worm gear. The worm gear is in meshed connection with the primary gear. The pin is formed on a bracket. The bracket is disposed in a channel of the sliding actuator. The sliding actuator is movable with respect to the bracket. The control unit is configured to identify an authentic key through RFID communication and operate the actuating means to lock/unlock the keyless steering lock. The sliding actuator comprises a protruded arm comprising a magnet. The control unit comprises one or more sensing means for identifying locked/unlocked conditions of the keyless steering lock by detecting a position of the sliding actuator and the lock bar.
Reference will now be made to a keyless steering lock which is explained with the help of figures. The figures are for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as limitations on the assembly and mechanism of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, referral numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, there is provided a keyless steering lock (100) mountable on a steering column of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the steering lock (100) comprises a cover assembly. The said cover assembly comprises a hollow casing (4) being secured with a cover (1) from a top side of the casing (4) so as to form an encapsulation for mounting the various components and sub-assemblies of the keyless steering lock (100). In one embodiment, the cover assembly comprises a locking mechanism configured with a control unit (12) for selectively locking/unlocking the keyless steering lock (100). The control unit (12) may be configured with a push button (not shown) for locking/unlocking the steering lock (100). In one non-limiting embodiment, the control unit (12) is configured electronically with an actuating means of the steering lock (100). Disposed vertically in the encapsulation is a primary gear (2). The term "vertically" herein refers to a direction along axis YY. In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure the primary gear (2) is a spur gear. The primary gear (2) comprises a guide pin (13). The primary gear (2) is rotatable by the actuating means. In an embodiment, the actuating means comprises a motor (5). A shaft of the motor is axially fixed with a worm gear (5A). The said motor (5) is
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disposed horizontally in the casing (4) on a support plate (8) with motor cover (6). The term "horizontally" herein refers to a direction along axis XX. A rubber pad (7) may be used to dampen vibrations from the motor (5). As shown in figure 3, the worm gear (5A) is in direct coupling with the motor (5) along axis XX so as to be operable by the motor (5). In the mounted condition, the worm gear (5A) is in meshed connection with a first end of the primary gear (2) such that the primary gear is rotatable by the motor (5).
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the said steering lock comprises a locking mechanism disposed in the encapsulation. The locking mechanism comprises a bracket (9), a sliding actuator (10) and lock bar (11). The sliding actuator (10) has a generally rectangular configuration and comprises a channel (10D) for accommodating the bracket (9). The bracket (9) comprises a pin (9A) extending upwardly towards the cover (1). In the mounted condition, the pin (9A) is received in a central hole (3B) of the secondary gear (3) such that the secondary gear (3) is rotatably supported on pin (9A). The secondary gear (3) is in meshed connection with a second end of the primary gear (2) such that torque from the motor (5) is transmitted to the secondary gear (3) through the primary gear (2). In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary gear (3) is a spur gear.
The sliding actuator (10) comprises a projection (10A) extending upwardly towards the cover (1). The projection (10A) is engaged in a spiral groove (3A) of the secondary gear, such that the sliding actuator (10) translates axially on rotation of the secondary gear (3). The lock bar (11) is coupled with the sliding actuator (10) so as to be movable with the sliding actuator (10). It is understood by a person skilled in the art, that the lock bar (11) in an extended condition outwardly from the casing (4), may be engageable with a groove, slot or the like (not shown) to define a locked condition of the keyless steering lock (100). Accordingly, in a retracted condition of the lock bar (11) inwardly towards the casing, the lock bar (11) may disengage with the groove, slot or the like to define an unlocked condition of the keyless steering lock (100).
In an embodiment, the bracket (9) is screwed to the casing (4) to restrict the vertical movement of the sliding actuator (10). The said bracket (9) the bracket (9) is disposed
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in a channel (10D) such that the sliding actuator (10) is movable with respect to the bracket (9).
During operation of the keyless steering lock (100), when a user actuates a push button (not shown), the control unit (12) searches for a correct/authentic key of the vehicle through RF communication. Upon successful recognition of correct ID codes of the correct key when the correct key is in vicinity of the vehicle, the control unit (12) activates the motor (5) to rotate the worm gear (5A). Rotation of the worm gear (5A) results in rotation of the primary gear (2) which in turn rotates the secondary gear (3). Due to the spiral like configuration of the groove (3 A), the rotary motion of the secondary gear (3) is transformed into linear motion along axis ZZ by CAM mechanism between the projection (10A) and groove (3A). The linear motion of the sliding actuator (10) actuates the lock bar (11) in the linear direction along axis ZZ, thereby performing the locking/unlocking of the keyless steering lock (100).
In one embodiment, the sliding actuator (10) may be provided with a protruded arm (10B) having a slot (10C) to house a magnet (14). A sensing means such as a hall sensor (not shown) is mounted at a predetermined position. The hall sensor acts as position sensor to determine the position of sliding actuator (10) and the lock bar (11), thereby identifying locked and unlocked conditions of the keyless steering lock (100) and signals the control unit (12) to power off the motor (5) when the desired locking/ unlocking operation has been successfully performed.
List of reference numerals:

100 Keyless Steering Lock
1 Cover
2 Primary Gear
3 Secondary Gear
3A Spiral Groove of Secondary Gear
3B Central Hole of Secondary Gear
4 Casing
5 Motor
5A Worm Gear of Motor
6 Motor Cover
7 Rubber Pad
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8 Support Plate
9 Bracket
9A Pin
10 Sliding Actuator
10A Projection of Sliding Actuator
10B Protruded Ann of Sliding Actuator
IOC Slot in Protruded Ann of Sliding Actuator
10D Channel of Sliding Actuator
11 Lock Bar
12 Control Unit
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terais herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural pennutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, tenns used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two
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recitations,'* without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A keyless steering lock (100) comprising:
a cover (1) securable with a casing (4) and forming an encapsulation;
a primary gear (2) being rotatable by an actuating means; wherein the primary gear (2) is rotatably coupled with a secondary gear (3); wherein the secondary gear (3) comprises at least a spiral groove (3 A) for operating a locking mechanism;
the locking mechanism comprising;
a pin (9A) supporting the secondary gear (3);
a sliding actuator (10) comprising a projection (10A) engaged in the spiral groove (3 A); wherein the sliding actuator (10) translates axially on rotation of the secondary gear (3); and
a lock bar (11) being coupled with the sliding actuator (10) and being movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition; and
a control unit (12) for selectively operating the actuating means.
2. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary gear (2) is mounted in the encapsulation along a vertical axis YY.
3. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating means comprises a motor (5) coupled with a worm gear (5A).
4. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 3, wherein the worm gear (5A) is in meshed connection with the primary gear (2).

5. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin (9A) is formed on a bracket (9).
6. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 5, wherein the bracket (9) is disposed in a channel (10D) of the sliding actuator (10).
7. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 5, wherein the sliding actuator (10) is movable with respect to the bracket (9).
8. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (12) is configured to identify an authentic key through RFID communication and operate the actuating means to lock/unlock the keyless steering lock (100).
9. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding actuator (10) comprises a protruded arm (10B) comprising a magnet (14).
10. The keyless steering lock (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (12) comprises one or more sensing means for identifying locked/unlocked conditions of the keyless steering lock (100) by detecting a position of the sliding actuator (10) and the lock bar (11).