DESC:Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an automotive lock mechanism and more particularly, to a lock mechanism for an ignition switch cum steering wheel.

Background of the invention

Conventionally, ignition switch cum steering locks are locked when a key is pushed and rotated counter clockwise. In the previous design, a rotor is assembled to a stator from a front side of the stator. Previous designs due to large number of child parts suffer many drawbacks such as high costs, quality issues and the like.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a lock mechanism for an ignition switch and a steering wheel / column that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Object of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide low cost locking of an ignition switch and a steering wheel using lesser child parts.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a lock mechanism for ignition switch cum steering wheel. The lock mechanism is a push to lock mechanism and comprises of a stator, a pin, a rotor, a fixing plate and a cam actuating means. The stator includes a slot configured thereon, and has three positions- ON, OFF and ACC marker thereon. The pin is a lock pin and is capable of being pushed down into the slot configured on the stator to enable a push to lock function. The rotor is removably fitted within the stator and is secured therein using the pin. Specifically, the rotor is assembled on a rear side of the stator using the pin. The rotor is capable of rotating inside the stator to move to any one of the ACC, ON and START position on the stator. The pin is capable of being pushed downward into the slot of the stator once the rotor is assembled inside the stator. The pin after being pushed downward inside the slot enables a lock function by restricting rotational movement of the rotor thereby enabling locking of the ignition switch. The cam actuating means is removably fitted within the rotor, and further includes a fixing plate removably assembled therein. During locking operation, the pin is pushed downwardly in Y-axis direction of the lock mechanism at the ACC position of the rotor to move into the slot on the stator and enable push to lock mechanism to facilitate locking of the ignition switch. Thereinafter, a key is inserted in Y-axis direction to displace the pin downwardly in Y-axis direction of the lock mechanism causing movement of the fixing plate into the cam actuating means, followed by rotational movement of the lock mechanism in a counter clockwise direction to facilitate locking of the steering wheel and steering column.

Thus, the lock mechanism uses a single lock pin to enable a push to lock function. The pin serves multiple functions and thus reduces number and cost of child parts, tool as well as quality issues. The lock mechanism finds application in locking the ignition switch as well as the steering wheel and the steering column.

Brief description of the drawings
The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 shows a lock mechanism for an ignition switch and a steering wheel, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the lock mechanism of figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows three positions of the lock mechanism of figure 1.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a lock mechanism for ignition switch cum steering wheel. The lock mechanism is a push to lock mechanism that uses a single pin to enable a push to lock function of the lock mechanism. The pin serves multiple functions and thus reduces number and cost of child parts, tool as well as quality issues. The pin provides push to the lock mechanism, holds a rotor at Y-axis direction and also acts as a stopper of the rotor.

This present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring now to figures 1 to 3, in one aspect, a lock mechanism (100) for an ignition switch (not shown) and a steering wheel (not shown), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The lock mechanism (100) is a push to lock mechanism for an ignition switch cum steering wheel. The lock mechanism (100) comprises of a stator (10), a pin (20), a rotor (30), a fixing plate (40) and a cam actuating means (50).

The stator (10) is a fixed hollow part of the lock mechanism (100). The stator (10) includes a slot (not numbered) configured thereon. The stator (10) includes three positions (accessories - ACC, ON and START) marked thereon.

The rotor (30) is removably fitted inside the stator (10). Specifically, the rotor (30) is assembled on a rear side (not numbered) of the stator (10) using the pin (20). The rotor (30) is capable of rotating inside the stator (10) to move to any one of the ACC, ON and START position on the stator (10).

The pin (20) is capable of being pushed down into the slot on the stator (10) once the rotor (30) is assembled inside the stator (10). The pin (20) holds the rotor (30) at Y- axis and also acts as a stopper of the rotor (30) during rotation. The pin (20) is a lock pin that eliminates the need of a cover/child part as shown in figure 3. The pin (20) enables a push to lock function of the lock mechanism (100). The pin (20) serves multiple functions and thus reduces number and cost of child parts, tool as well as quality issues.

The rotor (30) includes the cam actuating means (50) removably fitted therein. The cam actuating means (50) includes the fixing plate (40) assembled therein. In an embodiment, the cam actuating means (50) is provided for operating the electrical switch and is adapted of converting rotational motion to linear motion for lock bolt.

Thus, both sub-assemblies of the rotor (30) and the pin (20) and the fixing plate (40) and the cam actuating means (50) are removable parts that get assembled within the stator (10).
Referring again to figures 1 to 3, in another aspect, an operation of the lock mechanism (100) for locking the ignition switch and the steering wheel is described in accordance with the present invention. The lock mechanism is adapted in locking the steering column along with the steering wheel.

During the locking operation, the pin (20) is pushed downward in Y-axis direction at the ACC position of the rotor (30) (refer figure 3) to move into the slot on the stator (10) and enable push to lock mechanism (100) by facilitating locking of the ignition switch. Thereinafter, a key is pushed in Y-axis direction thereby causing displacement of the pin (20) downwardly in Y-axis direction causing movement of the fixing plate (40) into the cam actuating means (50). Thereinafter, the lock mechanism (100) rotates in a counter clockwise to facilitate locking of the steering wheel.

In an embodiment, the lock mechanism (100) is performed from a front side assembly of the rotor (30) into the stator (10) and one other part (cover) is assembled on top of the rotor (30) for holding the rotor (30).

Advantages of the invention

1) The lock mechanism (100) includes reduced number of child parts.
2) The lock mechanism (100) reduces cost of child parts and tool.
3) The lock mechanism (100) reduces probable product quality issues and eliminates cover (figure 3).

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is, understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A lock mechanism (100) for ignition switch cum steering wheel, the lock mechanism (100) comprising of:

• a stator (10), the stator (10) having three positions- ON, OFF and ACC marked thereon, the stator (10) including a slot being configured thereon;
• a pin (20), the pin (20) being capable of being pushed down into the slot thereby enabling a push to lock function;
• a rotor (30), the rotor (30) removably fitted within the stator (10) using the pin (20), the rotor (30) being capable of undergoing rotational movement within the stator (10) for arriving at any one of the three positions- ON, OFF and ACC marked thereon, wherein the rotational movement of the rotor (30) is arrested by the downward movement of the pin (20) within the slot in the stator (10) thereby facilitating the push to lock function; and
• a cam actuating means (50), the cam actuating means (50) removably fitted within the rotor (30), the cam actuating means (50) having a fixing plate (40) being removably assembled therein;

wherein, the pin (20) is pushed downward within the slot in the stator (10) at the ACC position of the rotor (30) to facilitate locking of the ignition switch, and thereinafter a key is inserted in Y-axis direction to displace the pin (20) downwardly in Y-axis direction causing movement of the fixing plate (40) into the cam actuating means (50) followed by rotational movement of the lock mechanism (100) in a counter clockwise direction to facilitate locking of the steering wheel.

2. The push to lock mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor (30) is assembled on a rear side of the stator (10) using the pin (20).

3. The push to lock mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor (30), the pin (20), the cam actuating means (50) and the fixing plate (40) are movably assembled within the stator (10).