Retrofit electric truck door lock

• US 5,058,258 A
• Filed: 02/16/1990
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steve M. Harvey
• Original Assignee: Steve M. Harvey
• Inventors: Harvey, Steve M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US07/480,820
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 70/462, 70/256, 70/257, 70/279, 292/201, 292/244, 29/401.1, 29/402.03, 29/402.08
• US Class Current: 29/401.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0607 the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/28 Linearly reciprocating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8865 Reversible structures

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described, for converting vehicle door locks that can be only manually operated, into door locks that can be either electrically or manually opened and closed. The door lock originally has a key-operated lock device with a key cylinder projecting to the outside and with a lock member that can be moved to prevent rotation of a latch (22, FIG. 5) to its open position to enable opening of the door. The original door lock device is removed and a power pack (60) is installed, which includes a mechanism (64) that can engage the door latch, with the mechanism being operated by either an electrically energized action motor (70) or a key operated lock device (40A). The key operated lock device on the power pack has a cylinder (84) that mounts in the same position as the key cylinder of the original lock device that was removed.

Claims

1. A method for converting a door lock of the type that has a door lock frame with an inside and an outside, a door latch mounted on the door lock frame to move between open and closed positions, a handle on the outside of the frame and coupled to the latch to manually move it, and an original key-operated lock device with an original key cylinder and a lock member that can prevent turning of the latch, wherein said lock frame has a key lock mount portion which holds said lock device and wherein said lock frame has a cylinder-receiving hole which holds said original lock key cylinder with a keyhole thereof accessible from the outside of the lock frame, wherein the method allows for remote electrical control of the door lock comprising:

removing said original lock device;

mounting a power frame on said door lock frame, wherein said power frame has a latch-engaging mechanism that is operable between a closed position wherein it prevents opening said door latch and an open position wherein it allows opening of said door latch, an electrically energizable action motor for operating said mechanism, and a key operated power pack lock device which can be key operated to operate said mechanism, wherein said power pack lock device has a key cylinder with a keyhole;

said mounting a power frame including projecting said key cylinder of said power pack lock device through said cylinder-receiving hole, with the keyhole accessible from the outside of said door lock frame;

installing a lock device on said power frame to serve as said key operated power pack lock device, by using a lock which is substantially identical to said original lock which was removed, with said lock being installed in an orientation wherein it is rotated about an axis of said original lock cylinder from the position of the original lock device, whereby to enable use of a lock removed from the same or a similar door lock.