Vehicle storage box locking device

• US 20100077807A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamada, Katsuhisa, Ichiriki, Tsuguhito, Takeuchi, Yoshiaki, Nishijima, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US12/585,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20100077807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/158
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/23 above or alongside the rear wheel B62J9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/30 characterised by locking arrangements, e.g. top case locks integrated in a vehicle central locking system
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/46 Luggage carriers forming part of frame luggage carriers per se B62J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/08 using electromagnets or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield

Abstract

A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle includes a lock configured to place the storage box in a closed state or an open state, and an actuator configured to drive the lock. The locking device further includes a button configured to place the storage box in the open state. The locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the button is operated and the storage box is closed. When the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated, the lock is configured to place the storage box in the open state. When the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the lock being driven. When the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the lock is configured to be driven to place the storage box in the closed state. When the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the lock being driven.

Claims

1. A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:

a lock configured to place the storage box in a closed state or an open state;

an actuator configured to drive the lock; and

a button configured to place the storage box in the open state,

wherein the locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the button is operated and the storage box is closed,

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated, the lock is configured to place the storage box in the open state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the lock being driven, and

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the lock is configured to be driven to place the storage box in the closed state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the lock being driven.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the lock is further configured to maintain the storage box in the closed state, when the storage box is held in the closed state for a predetermined period of time and when the portable key is not authenticated.

3. The locking device of claim 1, further comprising:

an authenticator configured to perform the authentication of the portable key,

wherein the authenticator is configured to terminate the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle, and

wherein the authenticator is configured to continue the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is not the valid portable key for the vehicle.

4. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking device is configured to be implemented on the storage box of a motorcycle.

5. A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:

an open/close latch configured to change the storage box between a closed state and an open state;

an open lever configured to drive the open/close latch in an open direction;

a lock knob configured to be

disposed outward of a vehicle body,

manually changed from an unlocked position to a locked position,

placed in the unlocked position from the locked position only by an actuator, and

selectively placed in one of

the locked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into a locked state by prohibiting the open/close latch from being driven in the open direction, and

the unlocked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into an unlocked state by enabling the open/close latch to be driven in the open direction,

the locking device further comprising

the actuator configured to selectively place the lock knob in one of the locked position and the unlocked position,

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the open lever is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, wherein when the portable key is authenticated when the open lever is operated, the lock knob is configured to be driven into the unlocked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the lock knob is configured to be held in the locked position, and

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate the portable key, when the lock knob is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the lock knob is operated, the lock knob is configured to be held in the locked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuator is configured to place the lock knob in the unlocked position.

6. The locking device of claim 5, further comprising:

an authenticator configured to perform the authentication of the portable key,

wherein the authenticator is configured to terminate the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle, and

wherein the authenticator is configured to continue the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is not the valid portable key for the vehicle.

7. The locking device of claim 5, wherein the locking device is configured to be implemented on the storage box of a motorcycle.

8. A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:

securing means for placing the storage box in a closed state or an open state;

actuating means for driving the lock device; and

releasing means for placing the storage box in the open state,

wherein the locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the releasing means is operated and the storage box is closed,

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the releasing means is operated, the securing means is for placing the storage box in the open state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the releasing means is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the securing means being driven,

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the securing means is for placing the storage box in the closed state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the securing means being driven.

9. A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:

latching means for changing the storage box between a closed state and an open state;

levering means for driving the latching means in an open direction;

securing means disposed outward of a vehicle body for

manually changing the locking device from an unlocked position to a locked position, and

selectively placing the locking device in one of

the locked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into a locked state by prohibiting the open/close latch from being driven in the open direction, and

the unlocked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into an unlocked state by enabling the open/close latch to be driven in the open direction,

the locking device further comprising

actuating means for selectively placing the securing means in one of the locked position and the unlocked position,

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the levering means is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, wherein when the portable key is authenticated when the levering means is operated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means into the unlocked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means into the locked position, and

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate the portable key, when the securing means is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the securing means is operated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means to be held in the locked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuating means is for placing the securing means in the unlocked position.

10. A method for changing a locking device of a storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state by performing authentication of a portable key uniquely set for a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the storage box is in a closed state or an open state;

performing the authentication of the portable key, using a locking device, when a button is operated and the storage box is closed;

placing the storage box in the open state, when the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated;

holding the storage box in the closed state without the locking device being driven, when the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated;

placing the storage box in the closed state, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed; and

holding the storage box in the open state without the locking device being driven, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining the storage box in the closed state, when the storage box is held in the closed state for a predetermined period of time and when the portable key is not authenticated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

terminating the authentication of the portable key when a determination has been made that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle.

13. A method for changing a storage box in a vehicle between a locked state and an unlocked state by performing authentication of a portable key uniquely set for the vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the storage box is in a closed state or an open state;

performing the authentication of the portable key, using a locking device, when an open lever is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, the performing comprising

driving the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the unlocked state, when the portable key is authenticated when the open lever is operated, and

holding the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the locked state, when the portable key is not authenticated; and

performing an authentication of the portable key, using the locking device, when the lock knob of the locking device is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, the performing comprising

holding the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the locked state, when the portable key is authenticated when the lock knob is operated, and

actuating the locked knob to place the storage box in the unlocked state, when the portable key is not authenticated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

terminating the authentication of the portable key when a determination has been made that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle.