Steering lock device for motorcycle

• US 20080156050A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Konno, Takeshi, Takeuchi, Yoshiaki, Onozuka, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/233
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/306 Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0221 restraining means joining the steering wheel with another part of the car, e.g. pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/04 acting on the handlebars or equivalent
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5664 Latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles

Abstract

A steering lock device has a steering catch mechanism including a handlebar attached to a steering stem, and a locking arm attached to this handlebar and being equipped with a lock pin for engagement on the tip end portion thereof. The steering catch mechanism also includes a locking claw as an engaging portion that is engagable with the lock pin. The locking claw is usually biased in the unlocking direction. In this catch mechanism, the locking claw is disposed on a rotation track of the lock pin. Accordingly, when an external force is applied to the lock pin such that the lock pin is in contact with the locking claw of the catch mechanism, the locking claw is moved in the locking direction so that the locking claw can be engaged with the lock pin. Therefore, a steering-lock stand-by state is accomplished.

Claims

1. A steering lock device of a motorcycle comprising:

a steering catch mechanism including;

a steering handlebar attached to a steering stem;

a steering locking arm attached to the steering handlebar, the steering locking arm being equipped with a pin on a tip end portion of the steering locking arm for engagement; and

an engaging portion engagable with the pin and biased in a unlocking direction, the engaging portion being disposed on a rotation track of the pin,

wherein when external force is applied to the pin such that the pin is brought into contact with the engaging portion of the steering catch mechanism, the engaging portion moves in a locking direction to be in a steering-lock stand-by state, the engaging portion being engaged with the pin in the steering-lock stand-by state.

2. The steering lock device of claim 1 wherein the steering locking arm is attached to and extend outward from the steering stem that supports the steering handlebar.

3. The steering lock device of claim 2, wherein the steering catch mechanism is equipped with an unlocking mechanism for releasing the engagement of the pin and the engaging portion, the steering lock device further including a control unit to perform an identity verification process with a portable key carried by a rider, and to cause the unlocking mechanism to perform an unlocking operation according to the verification result.

4. The steering lock device of claim 3, wherein the steering catch mechanism further includes a stopper, when the identity verification process is unsuccessful, the stopper rotating to block a rotating movement of the engaging portion to prevent the pin from being disengaged with the engaging portion, such that the steering catch mechanism enters from the steering-lock stand-by state into a steering locked state.

5. The steering lock device of claim 1, wherein the steering catch mechanism is equipped with an unlocking mechanism for releasing the engagement of the pin and the engaging portion, the steering lock device further including a control unit to perform an identity verification process with a portable key carried by a rider, and to cause the unlocking mechanism to perform an unlocking operation according to the verification result.

6. The steering lock device of claim 1, wherein the steering catch mechanism further includes a stopper, when an identity verification process is unsuccessful, the stopper rotating to block a rotating movement of the engaging portion to prevent the pin from being disengaged with the engaging portion, such that the steering catch mechanism enters from the steering-lock stand-by state into a steering locked state.

7. The steering lock device of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is biased in the unlocking direction by a spring, the engaging portion having a groove, the pin entering into the groove of the engaging portion in the steering-lock stand-by state.

9. The steering lock device of claim 1, wherein the pin moves along the rotation track when the steering handlebar is steered clockwise or counterclockwise, when the pin is in contact with the engaging portion, the pin rotating the engaging portion until the steering handlebar is steered to the steerable maximum extent.

8. The steering lock device of claim 8, wherein the pin enters into the groove of the engaging portion when the steering handlebar is steered clockwise or counterclockwise to the steerable maximum extent.

10. A steering lock device of a motorcycle comprising:

a steering catch mechanism including;

a steering handlebar attached to a steering stem;

a steering locking arm attached to the steering stem, the steering locking arm being equipped with a pin, the steering locking arm rotating with the steering stem when steering handlebar is steered; and

an engaging portion biased in a unlocking direction,

wherein when the steering handlebar is steered to a predetermined degree, the pin is brought into contact with the engaging portion of the steering catch mechanism to move the engaging portion to a locking direction such that the steering catch mechanism enters into a steering-lock stand-by state, the engaging portion being engaged with the pin in the steering-lock stand-by state.

11. The steering lock device of claim 10, further comprising

a control unit to perform an identity verification process,

wherein the steering catch mechanism further includes a stopper, when the identity verification process is unsuccessful, the stopper rotating to block a rotating movement of the engaging portion to prevent the pin from being disengaged with the engaging portion, such that the steering catch mechanism enters from the steering-lock stand-by state into a steering locked state.

12. The steering lock device of claim 11, wherein the steering catch mechanism is equipped with an unlocking mechanism for disengaging the pin from the engaging portion, the control unit causing the unlocking mechanism to perform an unlocking operation when the identity verification process is successful.

13. The steering lock device of claim 10, wherein the engaging portion is biased in the unlocking direction by a spring, the engaging portion having a groove, the pin entering into the groove of the engaging portion in the steering-lock stand-by state.

14. The steering lock device of claim 13, wherein the pin enters into the groove of the engaging portion when the steering handlebar is steered clockwise or counterclockwise to the steerable maximum extent.

15. The steering lock device of claim 10, wherein the pin moves along the rotation track when the steering handlebar is steered clockwise or counterclockwise, when the pin is in contact with the engaging portion, the pin rotating the engaging portion until the steering handlebar is steered to the steerable maximum extent.