Lock for the doors of automobiles

• US 4,249,161 A
• Filed: 04/02/1979
• Issued: 02/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saseb AG
• Original Assignee: Saseb AG
• Inventors: Mohnhaupt, Dietrich F. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US06/025,945
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 D, 340/522, 340/540, 340/542, 340/547, 340/549, 340/687, 200/61.64, 200/61.67, 200/61.68, 200/61.76, 200/61.81, 70/239, 70/251, 70/432, 70/434, 70/DIG. 30, 70/DIG. 49, 70/DIG. 59
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/72 the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5898 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A lock for the door of an automobile which is provided with an electrical signalling circuit for indicating to the driver whether the lock is opened, partially closed, or fully closed. The lock has a main supporting body. A movable member is held on the body and assumes a first position when the lock is closed, a second position when the lock is partially closed and a third position when the lock is open. The lock also includes a magnet switch which is connected in the electrical signalling circuit. A projection is connected with the movable member such that when the movable member is in the first position at which the lock is fully closed, the projection is interposed between the reed relay and the permanent magnet and this interrupts the magnetic flux lines between the magnet and the reed relay contacts, causing the contacts to open and opening the electrical signalling circuit. The movable member and projection thereon are so placed that when the movable member in the second or third positions at which the door lock is respectively either partially closed or fully open, the projection is not positioned to interrupt the magnet flux lines and the switch contacts remain closed, energizing the electrical signalling circuit.

Claims

1. A lock for the door of an automobile, the lock being provided with an electrical signalling circuit for indicating to the driver whether the lock for the door of the automobile is open or partially closed, said lock comprising a supporting body and a movable member which is held by said body and is able to assume a first position when the lock is closed, a second position when the lock is partially closed, and a third position when the lock is open, the lock being further provided with a magnetic switch, contained in said electrical signalling circuit, said magnetic switch including a reed relay, which is held by said supporting body and is connected to said electrical signalling circuit, said switch also including a permanent magnet carried by said supporting body near said reed relay and said magnet having the characteristic of causing the contacts contained in said relay to be closed, said movable member being provided with a projection which is interposed between said reed relay and said permanent magnet when said movable member is in said first position so as to interrupt the magnetic flux lines between said magnet and the contacts of the relay so as to cause said contacts to open, and means controlling said movable member to cause said switch contacts to close when said movable member is in said second and third position.

2. The lock according to claim 1 wherein said movable member is constituted by a lever which is pivoted on the supporting body of said lock and is adapted to be connected, through a mechanical transmission means, to a handle for opening the lock from within the automobile, said projection being constituted by a small plate disposed perpendicularly to said lever.

3. The lock according to claim 2 wherein said small plate is a right-angled element having two arms, one arm of said element is secured on said lever and the other arm of said element is disposed perpendicularly to said lever in a plane perpendicular to the axis about which said lever pivots.

4. The lock according to claim 3 wherein said other arm of said small plate that extends perpendicularly to said lever is provided with a slot, said supporting body of the lock being provided with a pivot which is adapted to slide in this slot to guide the movement of this plate.

5. The lock according to claim 1 further comprising a supporting member made of plastics material secured to said supporting body of the lock, said reed relay and the corresponding said permanent magnet being carried by said supporting member.

6. The lock according to claim 5 wherein said supporting member comprises an U-shaped portion having two arms, in one arm of the U is lodged said relay and in the other arm of the U is lodged the corresponding said permanent magnet, and said projection is housed in the cavity of said U-shaped portion when said movable member occupies said first position.

7. The lock according to claim 1 wherein said projection is so placed on said movable member that said projection is not interposed between said reed relay and said magnet when said movable member is in said second and said third positions.