EP0083259A1 - Lock with a rotating knob - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A lock operable by means of a rotary knob and which can be disabled by a key, this lock including essentially a body (1) provided with a rotary knob (2) and containing a cylinder (3) and a locking member (4) rotatable in the body about the same axis (X-X') as that of the knob (2) the actuation of which allows or does not allow the actuation of the member (4) depending on whether the lock is enabled or disabled by the key (11) co-operating with the cylinder (3), characterized in that the disabling or the enabling of the lock, obtained, respectively, by mutual disconnection or connection, by rotation, of the member (4) and the knob (2) is controlled by an independent plate (5) arranged between these two elements and movable transversely to the axis (X-X'), which plate has a first face (5a) provided with abutment means co-operating with an eccentric pin (iO) jointly movable with the cylinder (3) and a second face (5b) provided with cam means co-operating with an intermediate element (18) jointly movable in rotation with the locking member (4).

Description

The present invention relates generally to a lock which is actuated by a rotary button and which can be locked by a key.

Locks of the general type are already known above and which equip, for example, the closure panel of the luggage compartment of certain motor vehicles. But the locks proposed until now included a relatively complicated mechanism and did not completely satisfy the functional objectives of use, nor in the long run, good operating reliability.

The object of the present invention is in particular to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an improved lock with a particularly simple mechanical design and the locking of which can be obtained by a minimum of simple structural elements and consequently having all the required operational reliability. , even after long use of the lock.

To this end, the subject of the invention is essentially a lock actuated by a rotary button and intended to equip the access panel to a volume, such as for example that of the luggage compartment of a vehicle, this lock essentially comprising a locking member rotating along the same axis as that of the button, the operation of which allows the actuation of said member depending on whether the lock is locked or not, and being characterized in that whether or not the lock is locked , obtained by mutual connection with rotation or not of the member and the button, is controlled by an independent part disposed between these two elements and transversely movable to said axis.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the above-mentioned independent part is controlled by the eccentric stud of a barrel arranged along the aforementioned axis and controlled by a key from outside the aforementioned volume.

It will be added here that the aforementioned independent part can also be actuated by a linkage and / or an electro-mechanical control device from inside the aforementioned volume, that is to say for example that of the luggage compartment of a vehicle, or even from the interior of an adjacent volume, which may be that of the vehicle cabin.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention; the aforementioned independent part is constituted by a sliding plate whose first face facing the barrel comprises stop means cooperating with the aforementioned stud and whose second face also comprises cam means cooperating with an intermediate element integral in rotation with the aforementioned locking member.

According to a preferred embodiment, the abutment means of the first face of the plate are constituted by two parallel blanks between which the barrel pin struggles to control the transverse movement of said plate under the effect of the rotation of the barrel controlled by a first type of key.

It will also be noted here that between the two aforementioned blanks, the first face of the plate further comprises a lug or the like capable of preventing rotation of the barrel when it is controlled by a second type of key which has an additional length compared to the first type of key mentioned above.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cam means of the second face of the plate preferably consist of a recess made in this face and cooperating with the above-mentioned intermediate element to make it integral in rotation or not with the rotary button .

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the intermediate element consists of a cup provided on one face with a conical stud or the like permanently urged against the second face of the plate and capable of cooperating with the aforementioned recess, while that the other face of the cup is provided with a rod mounted axially movable in the aforementioned locking member.

The lock according to the invention is further characterized in that a spring is wound on the aforementioned rod and is mounted between the body of the lock and the cup to constantly urge the latter in position disconnected from rotation with the button.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the rotational connection of the button with the member locking is ensured by the rim of the aforementioned cup engaging with the rim of a base or the like secured to the rotary button.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with at least one lock meeting one or the other of the above characteristics.

• La figure 1 est une vue de côté et en coupe longitudinale d'un verrou suivant l'invention en position décondamnée.
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe du verrou de la figure 1, faite suivant la ligne II-II de cette figure.
• La figure 3 est une vue identique à la figure 2, sauf qu'elle montre le verrou en position condamnée.
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe faite suivait la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2 et montrant plus particulièrement la position de la platine lorsque le verrou est décondamné.
• La figure 5 est une vue en coupe faite suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 3 et montrant la position de la platine lorsque le verrou est condamné.
• La figure 6 est une vue partielle en perspective montrant la platine coopérant avec une clef, dite de service, et interdisant la décondamnation du verrou; et
• La figure 7 est une vue extérieure du bouton tournant suivant la flèche VII de la figure 1.

However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings, given by way of example only, and in which:

• Figure 1 is a side view in longitudinal section of a lock according to the invention in the unlocked position.
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of the lock of Figure 1, taken along line II-II of this figure.
• Figure 3 is a view identical to Figure 2, except that it shows the latch in the locked position.
• Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2 and showing more particularly the position of the plate when the lock is unlocked.
• Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of Figure 3 and showing the position of the plate when the lock is locked.
• Figure 6 is a partial perspective view showing the plate cooperating with a key, called service, and prohibiting the unlocking of the lock; and
• FIG. 7 is an external view of the rotary button according to arrow VII of FIG. 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment, and with reference to the appended drawings, a lock according to the invention essentially comprises a body 1 on and in which is mounted a rotary button 2, and which essentially contains three elements and namely a barrel 3, a locking member 4 and an independent part 5 which is interposed between the barrel 3 and the locking member 4, and which has the general shape of a slide or a plate capable of moving transversely to the axis XX 'of rotation of the barrel 3 and of the locking member 4.

The lock body 1 can be fixed on the panel 6 for access to a volume, which can for example be that of the luggage compartment of a vehicle, this fixing being ensured by means of a clips or the like 7 and a seal 8.

The barrel 3 has on its face 9 opposite the plate 5 an eccentric stud 10 which, under the effect of the rotation of a key 11 introduced into said barrel, allows the transverse movement of the plate 5 in order to lock or unlock the lock, as explained below.

As shown schematically at 12 in Figures 2 to 5, the transverse sliding of the plate 5 can be controlled by a linkage and / or by an electro-mechanical control device. Thus, in the case of the luggage compartment of a motor vehicle, the plate 5 can be controlled from the interior of the trunk previously made accessible or even from the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, the plate or slide 5 has a first face 5a, opposite the face9 of the barrel 3, which first face has two parallel stops or blanks 13,14, between which the stud 10 of barrel 3 for controlling the transverse movement of plate 5 under the effect of rotation of the barrel controlled by a first type of key 11 visible in FIG. 1. Between the two parallel stops 13 and 14, the first face 5a of the plate 5 further comprises a lug 15 capable of prohibiting the rotation of the barrel 3 when the latter is controlled by a second type of key which has been shown partially at 16 in FIG. 6. We will explain below how rotation of the barrel 3 is prohibited when the key 16 is used, and it will simply be said here that the key 16 has an additional length 16a (FIG. 6) relative to the key 11.

The other face or second face 5b of the plate 5 comprises a means forming a cam, such as for example a recess 17 formed in said face., As can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 5. This recess 17 cooperates with an intermediate element 18 which is integral in rotation with the locking member 4 and which will now be described in detail.

This intermediate element 18 is constituted by a cup 19 provided on one face with a conical stud or the like 20 capable of cooperating with the recess 17, by the fact that the cup 19 is permanently urged against the second face 5b of the plate 5 thanks to a spring 21. It could very well, without departing from the scope of the invention, provide the recess 17 on the cup 19 and the stud 20 on the face 5b of the plate 5, which would not change anything in operation.

On its other face, the cup 19 is provided with a rod 22 mounted axially movable in a bore 23 of the locking member 4 being understood, as has been said previously, that the rod 22 is integral in rotation with said member locking 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the spring 21 is wound on the rod 22 and is mounted at its two ends between the lock body (as seen at 24 in FIG. 3) and the cup 19 (as seen in 25 in Figure 1).

Thus, as can be understood, the spring 21 works not only in axial compression but also has a function of return in rotation of the locking member 4, and of the button 2, as will be explained below.

The connection in rotation of the button 2 with the locking member 4 is ensured by the rim 19a of the cup 19 which comes into engagement with the rim 26a of a base or the like 26 integral in rotation with the rotary button 2, as is see at 27 in FIG. 1. As can be understood, the rotary button 2 and the locking member 4 will be integral in rotation through the cup 19 when the conical stud 20 is not housed in the recess 17 of the plate 5 (see Figures 1 and 2). On the other hand, when the conical stud 20 is housed in the recess 17 (FIG. 3), we will be in the disengaged position, since the flanges 19a and 26a of the cup 19 and of the base 26 are no longer in engagement, and the button 2 can no longer rotate the locking member 4.

A return spring of the barrel 3 has been shown at 28, which spring surrounds the barrel and is held by a fixed sleeve 29 forming a lock spacer.

The operation of the rotary button lock according to the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

We will start from the unlocked position of the bolt visible in Figures 1 and 2. In this position, the rotation of the button 2 along the arrow F ₁ of Figure 7 will cause, as we said above, the rotation of the locking member 4 which can thus actuate a lock not shown. In other words, it will thus be possible and for example to open and close the boot of a vehicle by acting on the button 2, it being understood that the latter will always return to its initial position thanks to the return spring 21 operating in rotation return as in explained previously.

To lock the lock, simply move the plate 5, which can be done using the master key 11 or by internal action from the trunk by pressing 30, or from the driving the vehicle, by a remote control not shown and actuating the linkage 12. If the key 11 is used, it is understood that a rotation of the key according to arrow F ₁ in FIG. 7 will cause a corresponding rotation of the barrel 3 and eccentric pin 10 which, by bearing on the stop 14, as seen in Figure 6, will move the plate 5 which will take the position visible in Figure 5. It should be noted here that by releasing the key, that -this will be returned to its initial vertical position thanks to the spring 28. In other words, as can be seen in FIG. 5, after the slider 5 has been moved the stud 10 of the barrel will automatically pass from position 10a to position 10 thanks to the return spring 28. In such a position of the slide 5, the stud 20 of the cup 19 will enter the recess 17 of the slide 5 under the effect of the spring 21, so that the cup 19 will be released from the base 26 integral with the rotary button 2. In other words, the ro tation of this button will have no effect on the locking member 4 which is disengaged. This means that the lock is locked, the rim 19a being released from the rim 26a.

To unlock the lock, simply turn the key 11 in the opposite direction F ₂ to that of the arrow F1 in Figure 7. Thus, the stud 10 in the position in solid lines shown in Figure 5, will act on the stop 13, so that the slider will take the position visible in FIG. 4 or again in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this position, the stud 20 of the cup 19 has come out of the recess 17 of the slider 5, which achieves as can be understood, the clutch of the locking member 4 with the operating button 2. As can be seen on the FIG. 4, after releasing the key 11, that is to say after having unlocked the lock, the stud automatically switches from position 10b to position 10 thanks to the return spring 28. Thus, the stud 10 is located in a position ready to effect a new locking of the lock by action on the stop 14, as explained above.

It will also be added here that when the locking member 4 is in the engaged position as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 21, after actuation of the button 2, will always recall the latter via the cup 19 and the base 26. This spring also, as said above, exerts an axial force to disconnect the cup 19 from the base 26 when the slider 5 allows it.

The lock according to the invention operates with a key 11, called the master key, but it cannot operate with the key 16 visible in FIG. 6 and which can be called the service key. In fact, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the additional length 16a of the key 16 means that, when we want to turn this key, it cannot exert any action on the stop 13 since, when it turns, it will get stuck between said stop and the lug 15. Thus, when one wishes to entrust his vehicle to a third party, such as for example a garage owner, one can give him the service key 16 which will allow him to have access to all the parts of the vehicle except in the luggage compartment.

We therefore produced according to the invention a rotary button lock of great reliability due to the simplicity of its mechanical design which essentially resides in the provision of a small plate independent cooperating with a cup and whose transverse movement allows or not the rotation of the locking member controlling the lock.

Claims (11)

1.- Lock actuatable by rotary button and intended to equip the access panel to a volume, such as for example that of the luggage compartment of a vehicle, this lock essentially comprising a locking member rotating along the same axis as that of the button, the maneuver of which allows the actuation of said member depending on whether the lock is locked or not, and being characterized in that the locking or not of the lock, obtained by mutual connection with rotation or not of the member ( 4) and of the button (2) is controlled by an independent part (5) disposed between these two elements and transversely movable at said axis (X-X '). 2. A lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned independent part (5) is controlled by the eccentric stud (10) of a barrel (3) disposed along the above-mentioned axis (X-X ') and controlled by a key (11) from outside the aforementioned volume. 3.- Lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned independent part (5) can also be actuated by a linkage (12) and / or an electro-mechanical device for controlling from inside the aforementioned volume or of an adjacent volume. 4. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the aforementioned independent part (5) is constituted by a sliding plate whose first face (5a) facing the barrel (3) comprises stop means cooperating with the aforementioned stud (10) and the second face (5b) of which also comprises cam means cooperating with a intermediate element (18) integral in rotation with the aforementioned locking member (4). 5.- Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutment means of the first face of the plate (5) are constituted by two parallel blanks (13,14) between which struggles the stud (10) barrel (3) for controlling the transverse movement of said plate under the effect of the rotation of the barrel controlled by a first type of key (11). 6. A lock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that between the two aforementioned blanks (13,14), the first face (5a) of the plate (5) further comprises a lug (15) or the like capable prohibit the rotation of the barrel (3) when it is controlled by a second type of key (16) which has an additional length (16a) compared to the first type of key mentioned above (11). 7. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cam means of the second face (5b) of the plate preferably consist of a recess (17) formed in this face and cooperating with the 'the aforementioned intermediate element (18) by making it integral in rotation or not with the rotary button (2). 80- Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned intermediate element (18) consists of a cup (19) provided on one face with a conical stud or the like (20) which is permanently urged against the second side (5b) of the plate (5), and on its other face of a rod (22) mounted axially movable in the aforementioned locking member (4). 9. Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring (21) is wound on the aforementioned rod (22) and is mounted between the body (1) of the lock and the aforementioned cup (19) for constantly request the latter in disconnected position of rotation with the button (2). 10.- Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary connection of the button (2) with the locking member (4) is ensured by the flange (19a) of the aforementioned cup (19) coming in engagement with the rim (26a) of a base or the like (26) integral with the rotary button (2). 11 ₀ - Motor vehicle equipped with at least one lock according to one of the preceding claims.

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