Electric lock apparatus for vehicular tool box

• US 5,123,691 A
• Filed: 06/10/1991
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ginn, James
• Original Assignee: Ginn, James
• Inventors: Ginn, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/712,666
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.6, 296/37.7, 296/24.1, 296/37.1, 296/97.22, 292/201, 292/144, 292/34.6, 220/324, 220/315
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0013 more than one motor for the same function, e.g. for redundancy or increased power electric spare devices E05B2047/0087
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0091 Retrofittable electric locks, e.g. an electric module can be attached to an existing manual lock electrically driven keys E05B2047/0083
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0065 Operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

In a vehicle having a tool box, an electric lock apparatus for the tool box is provided. The tool box has a latch for preventing the opening of a lid on the tool box. The latch is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A motor is provided in the tool box. The motor alternatively releases and engages the latch. A switch is provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The switch is connected to a vehicle power source and to the motor. The switch operates the motor and allows the tool box to be either locked or unlocked from the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a) a passenger compartment;

b) a tool box for containing and storing objects, said tool box being mounted to said vehicle, said tool box having a lid for allowing access to an interior compartment of said tool box;

c) latch means for latching said tool box lid closed, said latch means being movable between a latched position, wherein said latch means engages said lid so as to prevent said lid from opening, and an unlatched position, wherein said latch means is unengaged from said lid so as to allow said lid to be opened;

d) blocking means for blocking the movement of said latch means from said latched position to said unlatched position, said blocking means being located adjacent to said latch means;

e) electric motor means for moving said blocking means between a blocking position, wherein said latch means is prevented from moving to said unlatched position, and a non-blocking position, wherein said latch means is allowed to move to said unlatched position, said motor means being coupled with said blocking means;

f) switch means for actuating said motor means, said switch means being located in said passenger compartment, said switch means being electrically connected with said motor means and to a power source on said vehicle, wherein said switch means selectively connects said power source to said motor means.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said blocking means is coupled to a lock cylinder mounted to said tool box, said lock cylinder being adapted to receive a key for moving said blocking means between said blocking and non-blocking positions.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said motor means moves said blocking means by way of gears, there being a first gear coupled to said motor means and a second gear coupled to said blocking means and to said locking cylinder, said first and second gears being meshed together.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said motor means is mounted to said tool box by way of a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket being coupled to said lock cylinder so as to allow said mounting bracket to swivel about said lock cylinder so that said motor means can be positioned inside of said tool box.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said lock cylinder has a pin protruding therefrom, said pin being rotatable relative to an outer casing of said lock cylinder, said blocking means and said second gear being coupled to said pin so as to rotate therewith, wherein a key can be used to move said blocking means.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a) a passenger compartment;

b) a tool box for containing and storing objects, said tool box being mounted to said vehicle, said tool box having a lid for allowing access to an interior compartment of said tool box;

c) latch means for latching said tool box lid closed, said latch means being rotatable between a latched position, wherein said latch means engages said lid so as to prevent said lid from opening, and an unlatched position, wherein said latch means is unengaged from said lid so as to allow said lid to be opened;

d) electric motor means for rotating said latch means between said latched position and said unlatched position, said motor means being coupled to said latch means;

e) switch means for actuating said motor means, said switch means being located in said passenger compartment, said switch means being electrically connected with said motor means and to a power source on said vehicle, wherein said switch means selectively connects said power source to said motor means.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said latch means is coupled to a lock cylinder mounted to said tool box, said lock cylinder being adapted to receive a key, wherein aid latch means can be rotated between said latched position and said unlatched position by either said motor means or by said lock cylinder.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a) a passenger compartment;

b) a tool box for containing and storing objects, said tool box being mounted to said vehicle, said tool box having a lid for allowing access to an interior compartment of said tool box;

c) latch means for latching said tool box lid closed, said latch means being movable between a latched position, wherein said latch means engages said lid so as to prevent said lid from opening, and an unlatched position, wherein said latch means is unengaged from said lid so as to allow said lid to be opened, said latch means being coupled to a lock cylinder mounted to said tool box, said lock cylinder being adapted to receive a key for moving said latch means between said latched position and said unlatched position;

d) electric motor means for moving said latch means between said latched position and said unlatched position, said motor means being coupled to said latch means;

e) switch means for actuating said motor means, said switch means being located in said passenger compartment, said switch means being electrically connected with said motor means and to a power source on said vehicle, wherein said switch means selectively connects said power source to said motor means;

f) said motor means moves said latch means by way of gears, there being a first gear coupled to said motor means and a second gear coupled to said latch means and to said locking cylinder, said first and second gears being meshed together.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a) a passenger compartment;

b) a tool box for containing and storing objects, said tool box being mounted to said vehicle, said tool box having a lid for allowing access to an interior compartment of said tool box;

c) latch means for latching said tool box lid closed, said latch means being movable between a latched position, wherein said latch means engages said lid so as to prevent said lid from opening, and an unlatched position, wherein aid latch means is unengaged from said lid so as to allow said lid to be opened, said latch means being coupled to a lock cylinder mounted to said tool box, said lock cylinder being adapted to receive a key for moving said latch means between said latched position and said unlatched position;

d) electric motor means for moving said latch means between said latched position and said unlatched position, said motor means being coupled to said latch means;

e) switch means for actuating said motor means, said switch means being located in said passenger compartment, said switch means being electrically connected with said motor means and to a power source on said vehicle, wherein said switch means selectively connects said power source to said motor means;

f) said motor means is mounted to said tool box by way of a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket being coupled to said lock cylinder so as to allow said mounting bracket to swivel about said lock cylinder so that said motor means can be positioned inside of said tool box.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said lock cylinder has a pin protruding therefrom, said pin being rotatable relative to an outer casing of said lock cylinder, said latch means and said second gear being coupled to said pin so as to rotate therewith, wherein a key can be used to move said latch means.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a) a passenger compartment having doors that allow access into said compartment, said doors having door lock actuators for locking and unlocking said doors;

b) said passenger compartment having electric door lock switch means for operating said door lock actuators, said switch means being located in said passenger compartment and being connected to a vehicle power source;

c) a tool box for containing and storing objects, said tool box being mounted to said vehicle, said tool box having a lid for allowing access to an interior compartment of said tool box;

d) latch means for preventing the opening of said lid, said latch means being releasable from an engaged position so as to disengage from said lid, wherein said lid can be opened, said lid being prevented from being opened when said latch means is in said engaged position;

e) electric motor means for alternatively releasing and engaging said latch means, said motor means being coupled to said latch means, said motor means being electrically connected to said switch means, wherein said switch means operates said motor means.