Actuator with an anti-theft mechanism for vehicle door locks

• US 5,538,298 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo
• Inventors: Ikeda, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US08/341,116
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/DIG. 27, 292/DIG. 23, 292/336.3
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/005 Disconnecting the handle E05B13/101, E05B47/0676, E05B55/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/36 Geared sectors, e.g. fan-shaped gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/40 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/27 Disconnectable handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

An actuator for use with a vehicle door lock comprises an output member rotated by the motor, a first lever changed between locked and unlocked positions by the rotation of the output member and a key cylinder, a second lever connected to an inside locking button, an anti-theft member having an anti-theft position where the unlocking action of the second lever is not transmitted to the first lever and to the anti-theft cancelled position where the second lever and first lever are connected to each other, a changing member for changing the position of anti-theft member in response to the rotation of the output member; and a cancelling lever for causing the anti-theft member to be returned to the cancelled position by rotation of the output member without moving the first lever.

Claims

1. An actuator for use with a vehicle door lock comprising:

a reversible motor;

an output member arranged to be rotated by the motor;

a first lever arranged to be changed between a locked and an unlocked position by rotation of the output member and a key cylinder of the door;

a second lever connected to an inside locking button of the door;

an anti-theft member arranged for movement between an anti-theft position where an unlocking action of the second lever is not transmitted to the first lever, and an anti-theft cancelled position where the second lever and first lever are connected to each other; and

a changing member for changing each said position of the anti-theft member in response to the rotation of the output member,

wherein the first lever is further so arranged that when the first lever is changed to the unlocked position by the key cylinder, the first lever is brought into contact with the changing member and causes the anti-theft member to be returned to the cancelled position,

wherein the output member is biased towards a neutral position by the elasticity of a return spring.

2. An actuator set forth in claim 1, wherein the first lever is arranged to be displaced between the locked and the unlocked position by the key cylinder without moving the output member from the neutral position.

3. An actuator set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuator has a housing accommodating said motor, said output member, said first lever, said second lever, said anti-theft member and said changing member.

4. An actuator set forth in claim 3, wherein a first and a second shaft which support said first lever and said second lever respectively, protrude outward, passing through said housing.

5. An actuator set forth in claim 4, wherein said first shaft rotates coaxially within a hollow of said second shaft.