TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to an improved cylinder lock for vehicles. More
specifically, the present disclosure is directed towards the construction and
mechanism of cylinder/ignition lock for swift locking/unlocking of the handle bar in
vehicles.
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, most two-wheeled vehicles such as bikes, scooters etc. are provided with
cylinder/ignition locks for locking the handle bar of the vehicle to prevent theft. Such
locks generally comprise a casing having a locking means disposed in the interior.
During manufacturing, for manually assembling the said locking means in the casing,
as shown in figure 1, a locking pin is inserted externally to secure the said locking
means in the casing. For the same a through hole is provided on the casing of the
cylinder lock and a corresponding groove is formed on the locking means to engage
with the locking pin. During operation, correct orientation of the locking pin in the
groove helps in achieving smooth operation of the cylinder/ignition lock, thereby
resulting in locking/unlocking of the handle bar of the two-wheeled vehicle. However,
one major drawback of such existing cylinder/ignition locks is that the pin has to be
manually inserted in the casing so as to engage with the locking means. Due to human
error, many a times, the pin is not properly inserted in the casing, thereby result in
faulty engagement with the locking means. On numerous occasions, the pin may be
over-inserted, which might result in resistance while rotating the locking means for
performing the locking/unlocking functions of the cylinder lock. This results in
decreased reliability of the cylinder lock. Further, the existing cylinder/ignition locks
are not swift in operation and cause inconvenience to the users.
In other words, the researchers are constantly working to develop a user friendly and
technical advance a cylinder lock for vehicles. More specifically, the construction and
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mechanism of a cylinder lock whereby the cylinder lock is more reliable and the
operation of locking/unlocking can be performed swiftly.
SUMMARY
One or more drawbacks of conventional cylinder locks as described in the prior art are
overcome and additional advantages are provided through the improved cylinder lock
for vehicles 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 an
improved cylinder lock for vehicles comprising a housing being coupled co-axially
with a casing and having a hollow internal space, wherein the housing has an integral
locking pin disposed in the hollow internal space. A locking means configured to
lock/unlock the steering handle of the vehicle and turn ON/OFF the ignition
mechanism of the vehicle; wherein the locking means is mounted in the housing and
is movably configured with the locking pin by means of a guiding slot; wherein the
guiding slot receives the locking pin between the LOCKED, UNLOCKED/OFF and
ON conditions of the improved cylinder lock. A circlip for securing the locking mean
in the housing.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the guiding slot comprises a first stopping
face, a second stopping face, an open end and a slant face.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking means is rotatable in the
housing during operation of the cylinder lock, so as to define a first, second and third
position of the pin in the guiding slot.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking pin abuts with the first
stopping face of the guiding slot in the LOCKED condition of the improved cylinder
lock.
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In one more embodiment of the disclosure, the locking pin abuts with the second
stopping face of the guiding slot in the UNLOCKED/OFF condition of the improved
cylinder lock.
In a still further embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking pin is disposed
near the open end of the guiding slot in the ON condition of the improved cylinder
lock.
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:
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the existing cylinder lock.
Figure 2 depicts an exploded view of the present cylinder lock, according to an
embodiment of the present invention, depicting the various components of the present
disclosure.
Figure 3 depicts an isometric view of the housing of the present invention according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
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Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the guiding slot of the locking means according
to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5 depicts an isometric view of the circlip according to one more embodiment
of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 depicts an isometric view of the present invention whereby the improved
cylinder lock is in the ‘ON/START’ condition.
Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the present invention whereby the improved
cylinder lock is in the ‘OFF’ condition.
Figure 8 illustrates an isometric view of the present invention whereby the improved
cylinder lock is in the ‘LOCK’ condition.
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 that are in accordance with an
improved cylinder lock for vehicles. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art
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can be motivated from 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 to provide an improved cylinder
lock for two wheeled vehicles for smooth locking/unlocking of the said lock.
One more aim of the present disclosure is to provide an improved cylinder lock
wherein the external locking pin has been replaced with a locking pin that is
integrated with the casing of the cylinder lock.
Yet another aim of the present disclosure is to provide an improved cylinder lock that
is user-friendly and more serviceable.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an improved cylinder lock for vehicles
comprising a housing being coupled co-axially with a casing and having a hollow
internal space, wherein the housing has an integral locking pin disposed in the hollow
internal space. A locking means configured to lock/unlock the steering handle of the
vehicle and turn ON/OFF the ignition mechanism of the vehicle; wherein the locking
means is mounted in the housing and is movably configured with the locking pin by
means of a guiding slot; wherein the guiding slot receives the locking pin between the
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LOCKED, UNLOCKED/OFF and ON conditions of the improved cylinder lock. A
circlip for securing the locking means in the housing.
Reference will now be made to an improved cylinder lock for vehicles 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.
Accordingly, figures 2 to 8 illustrate an improved cylinder lock in a non-limiting
aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 2 shows the improved cylinder lock for
vehicles wherein the said cylinder lock comprises a casing (1) having a generally
cylindrical shape. It is to be noted that the shape and configuration of the said casing
(1) may be selected as per the available space, type of application, aesthetic
requirements etc. depending on the suitability of the manufacturer/user. Depending
upon such factors the shape can be cylindrical, rectangular or any combination
thereby. The said casing (1) is a rigid structure having a hollow cylindrical section
formed internally for accommodating the sub-parts and components of the improved
cylinder lock. The said casing (1) is configured to be coupled co-axially with a
housing (3). The said housing (3), having a proximal end (3b) and a distal end (3c),
has an outer diameter such that it can be coupled co-axially with the casing (1) along
axis XX. The housing (3) has a hollow internal space so as to receive a locking means
(2) co-axially in the assembled condition of the said improved cylinder lock. The
locking means (2) is movably configured in the housing (3) so as to lock/unlock the
steering handle of the vehicle and turn ON/OFF the ignition mechanism of the vehicle
when a user inserts the correct key in the key insertion slot of the locking means. The
correct key is movable in the key insertion slot of the locking means between
‘LOCK’, ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ conditions of the cylinder lock; wherein the ‘LOCK’
condition of the improved cylinder lock corresponds to a condition of the vehicle
whereby the steering handle is locked and the engine cannot be started. The ‘OFF’
condition of the improved cylinder lock corresponds to a condition of the vehicle
whereby the steering handle is unlocked but the engine cannot be started. The ‘ON’
condition of the improved cylinder lock corresponds to a condition of the vehicle
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whereby the steering handle is unlocked and the engine can be started
manually/electrically by the user.
As illustrated by figure 2, the locking means (2) is secured in the housing (3) by
means of a circlip (4). The circlip (4) has a generally circular shape corresponding to
the locking means (2). The locking means (2) is configured with the ignition
mechanism of the vehicle by means of a cam (6) disposed in the internal space of the
housing (3) by a spring (5) and slide plate (7). The cam (6) is configured with a spring
slide plate (8), a lock bar (9) and a switch body (10). Adapted to be mounted coaxially
in the switch body (10) is a carrier (11) in the vicinity of the distal end (3c) of
the housing (3). The said carrier (11) is configured with electrical terminals connected
to a base assembly (12). The housing (3) is covered at the distal end (3c) by means of
a switch cover (15); the said switch cover being secured to the distal end (3c) of the
housing (3) by a washer (13) & a fastening means (14) such as screw.
As shown in figure 3, the housing (3) has an integral locking pin (3a) disposed in the
hollow internal space of the housing (3). The said locking pin (3a) is formed
perpendicularly inwardly on the inner periphery of the housing (3). The locking pin
(3a) is a cylindrical projection that is adapted to be operatively engaged with a
guiding slot (2a) on the external periphery of the locking means (2). In the assembled
condition of the said improved cylinder lock, the locking means (2) is mounted in the
housing (3) so as to be movably configured with the locking pin (3a) by means of the
guiding slot (2a). During actuation of the cylinder lock by the user, when the key is
rotated, the locking means (2) rotates about axis XX in the housing (3). During this
rotation of the locking means (2), the guiding slot (2a) receives the locking pin (3a)
between the LOCK, OFF and ON conditions of the improved cylinder lock.
As shown in figure 4, the guiding slot (2a) comprises a first stopping face (2b), a
second stopping face (2c), an open end (2d) and a slant face (2e). During assembly of
the locking means (2) in the housing (3) the locking pin (3a) is to engage with the
guiding slot (3a) from the open end (2d). During operation of the said cylinder lock,
the locking means (2) rotates in the housing (3) so as to define a first position, a
second position and a third position of the locking pin (3a) in the guiding slot (2a).
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In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the first position, the locking pin (3a)
abuts with the first stopping face (2b) of the guiding slot (2a) corresponding to the
‘LOCK’ condition of the improved cylinder lock. In the second position, the locking
pin (3a) abuts with the second stopping face (2c) of the guiding slot (2a)
corresponding to the ‘OFF’ condition of the improved cylinder lock. In the third
position, the locking pin (3a) is disposed near the open end (2d) of the guiding slot
(2a) corresponding to the ‘ON’ condition of the improved cylinder lock.
In the assembled condition, as shown in figure 5, a circlip (4) is used to secure the
locking means (2) in the housing (3). Additionally, the circlip (4) secures the locking
pin (3a) in the guiding slot (2a), thereby preventing the locking pin (3a) from exiting
the open end (2d) of the guiding slot due to vibrations of the vehicle.
The ‘ON’ condition of the improved cylinder lock is defined by a position of the
locking pin (3a) near the open end (2d) of the guiding slot (2a), as depicted in figure
6. At this position, the ignition of the vehicle is turned on and the engine is in running
condition or can be started by mechanical/electrical. When the user, in order to turn
off the engine, rotates the key in the locking means in the anti-clockwise direction, the
said locking means (2) rotates with respect to the housing (3) about axis XX. The
guiding slot (2a) therefore moves such that the locking pin (3a) abuts the second
stopping face (2c). In this position, the key cannot be rotated further, and the cylinder
lock is said to be in the ‘OFF’ condition, as illustrated in figure 7.
In this position, in order to lock the handle bar of the vehicle, the key has to be pushed
in the downward direction so as to push the locking means (2) towards the distal end
(3c) of the housing (3) and then rotated further in the anti-clockwise direction. This
results in the locking means getting pushed downwards, along axis XX. In this
condition, the pin (3a) is no more in contact with the second stopping face (2c) and
can be further rotated in the anti-clockwise direction. When the locking pin (3a) abuts
the first stopping face (2b), further rotation of the key is stopped. In this position, the
‘LOCK’ condition of the said cylinder lock is said to have been achieved, as shown in
figure 8. In this condition, the handle bar of the vehicle is immobile and the engine
cannot be started, thereby preventing theft.
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During opening of the said cylinder lock from locked condition, when the user turns
without pushing the key in the clockwise direction, the locking means (2) rotates
clockwise about axis XX such that the locking pin (3a) travels on a slant face (2e) of
the guiding slot (2a). This movement of the locking pin (3a) over slant face (2e)
enables the downward movement of the locking means (2) until the pin (3a) slides off
the slant face (2e) to abut with the second stopping face (2c). In this position, the OFF
condition of the improved cylinder lock is said to have been achieved, whereby the
steering handle of the vehicle is unlocked but the engine cannot be started. Upon
rotating the key further, the pin (3a) reaches near the open end (2d) of the guiding slot
(2a). Thus the ‘ON’ condition of the cylinder lock is said to have been achieved,
whereby the steering handle of the vehicle is unlocked and the engine can be started.
List of reference numerals:
1 Casing
2 Locking Means
2a Guiding Slot
2b First Stopping Face of Guiding Slot
2c Second Stopping Face of Guiding Slot
2d Open End of Guiding Slot
2e Slant Face of Guiding Slot
3 Housing
3a Locking Pin
4 Circlip
5 Spring
6 CAM
7 Slide Plate
8 Spring Slide Plate
9 Lock Bar
10 Switch Body
11 Carrier
12 Base Assembly
13 Washer
14 Fastening Means
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those
having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the
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singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various
singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms 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
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. An improved cylinder lock for vehicles comprising:
a housing (3) being coupled co-axially with a casing (1) and having a
hollow internal space; wherein the housing (3) has an integral locking
pin (3a) disposed in the hollow internal space;
a locking means (2) configured to lock/unlock the steering handle of
the vehicle and turn ON/OFF the ignition mechanism of the vehicle;
wherein
the locking means (2) is mounted in the housing (3) and
is movably configured with the locking pin (3a) by means of a
guiding slot (2a); wherein the guiding slot (2a) receives the
locking pin (3a) between the LOCKED, UNLOCKED/OFF and
ON conditions of the improved cylinder lock; and
a circlip (4) for securing the locking mean (2) in the housing (3).
2. The improved cylinder lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding slot
(2a) comprises a first stopping face (2b), a second stopping face (2c), an open
end (2d) and a slant face (2e).
3. The improved cylinder lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means
(2) is rotatable in the housing (3) during operation of the cylinder lock, so as to
define a first, second and third position of the locking pin (3a) in the guiding
slot (2a).
4. The improved cylinder lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pin
(3a) abuts with the first stopping face (2b) of the guiding slot (2a) in the
LOCK condition of the improved cylinder lock.
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5. The improved cylinder lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pin
(3a) abuts with the second stopping face (2c) of the guiding slot (2a) in the
OFF condition of the improved cylinder lock.
6. The improved cylinder lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pin
(3a) is disposed near the open end (2d) of the guiding slot (2a) in the ON
condition of the improved cylinder lock.